A method and apparatus for treatment of skin or other tissue, using a source of thermal, electromagnetic radiation, electrical current, ultrasonic, mechanical or other type of energy, to cause minimally-invasive thermally-mediated effects in skin or other tissue which stimulates a wound-healing response, in conjunction with topical agents or other wound healing compositions, for application on the skin or other tissue which accelerate collagenesis, such as in response to wound healing. The dosage and time period of application of the compositions are adjusted to prevent external or surface tissue damage.

Collagen is the single most abundant animal protein in mammals, accounting for up to 30% of all proteins. The collagen molecule, after being secreted by the fibroblast cell, assembles into characteristic fibers responsible for the functional integrity of tissues making up most organs in the body. The skin is the largest organ of the body occupying the greatest surface area within the human body. As age advances and as a result of other noxious stimuli, such as the increased concentration of the ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum as radiated from the sun, structural integrity and elasticity of skin diminishes.
Crosslinks between adjacent molecules are a prerequisite for this integrity of the collagen fibers to withstand the physical stresses to which they are exposed. A variety of human conditions, normal and pathological, involve the ability of tissues to repair and regenerate their collagenous framework. In the human, 13 collagen types have been identified. Of the different identifiable types, type I is the most abundant in skin where it makes up 80 to 90% of the total collagen connective tissue. This type of collagen, however, is less dynamic in the full-grown individual than its counterparts in which collagen is involved in active remodeling. In this case the normal collagen synthesizing activities in skin is relatively quiescent exhibiting slow, almost negligible, turnover.
The extra-cellular matrix of the various connective tissues, such as skin, consists of complex macromolecules, collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The biosynthesis of these macromolecules involves several specific reactions that are often under stringent enzymatic control. The net accumulation of connective tissues is thus, dependent upon the precise balance between the synthesis and the degradation of the connective tissue components.
Previous disclosures, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,799 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,539 have described methods and apparatus for achieving controlled shrinkage of collagen tissue. These prior inventions have applications to collagen shrinkage in many parts of the body and describe specific references to the cosmetic and therapeutic contraction of collagen connective tissue within the skin. In the early 1980's it was found that by matching appropriate laser exposure parameters with these conditions, one had a novel process for the nondestructive thermal modification of collagen connective tissue within the human body to provide beneficial changes. The first clinical application of the process was for the non-destructive modification of the radius of curvature of the cornea of the eye to correct refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. New studies of this process for the previously unobtainable tightening of the tympanic membrane or ear drum for one type of deafness have been made.
In addition to addressing the traditional method of collagen shrinkage wherein the ambient temperature is elevated within the target tissue by about 23 degrees Celsius, the "thermal shrinkage temperature" of collagen, Ts, a novel method for obtaining controlled contraction of collagen at a much lower temperature has been developed. Evidence exists to elevate the mechanical role played by the GAGs in the collagenous matrix. Removing or altering these interstitial chemicals by enzymes or other reagents as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,169 considerably weakens the connective tissue integrity and influences the thermal transformation temperature (Ts). Shrinkage temperature may be defined, therefore, as the specific point at which disruptive tendencies exceed the cohesive forces in this tissue. This temperature, thus, makes this an actual measurement of the stability of the collagen bearing tissue expressed in thermal units.
The cause of wrinkles around the eyelids, mouth and lips is multifactorial: photodamage, smoking and muscular activity such as squinting and smiling all contribute. The end result is a general loss of elasticity, which is a textural skin condition as opposed to a skin redundancy or excess of skin tissue. The surgical injection of reconstituted collagen is commonly used in order to flatten the perioral lines. While oculoplastic surgeons may treat this problem around the eye inappropriately by blepharoplasty, it has been observed that even transconjunctival blepharoplasty for removal of prolapsed retrobulbar fat fails to address the fine periocular lines or wrinkles. Until recently, the main approach to treating these blemishes has been chemical peeling by means of trichloroacetic acid or phenol. Complications of chemical peels may include hypopigmentation, scarring, cicatricial ectropion and incomplete removal of the wrinkles.
Many patients are acutely aware of these cosmetic blemishes as evidenced by the large quantity of money spent each year in the U.S. and abroad upon home and spa remedies for a more youthful appearance. With the advent of laser technology as an alternative to chemical peels or dermabrasion, dermal ablation techniques with both the conventional carbon dioxide lasers and the high energy, short duration pulse waveform CO2 lasers, high tech solutions appear to provide substantial benefits to patients.
CO2 laser resurfacing is not a new technique. CO2 lasers have been used for several years, but regular continuous wave CO2 lasers can cause scarring due to the tissue destruction caused as heat as conducted to adjacent tissue. Even superpulse CO2 lasers produce excessive thermal damage. The Ultrapulse CO2 laser introduced by Coherent, Inc. is an attempt to assuage these drawbacks by offering a high energy, short duration pulse waveform limiting the damage to less than 50 microns allowing a char-free, layer by layer vaporization of the skin tissue.
All of the foregoing procedures depend for their success upon primary damage and the reparative potential induced by the inflammatory process in the tissue. Associated with inflammation are, of course, the four cardinal signs of inflammation of rubor (hyperemia), calor (thermal response), dolor (pain), and tumor or edema or swelling. Coincident with these manifestations is the risk of reduced resistance to infection. One must not forget that these collateral effects accompany a cosmetic enhancement procedure and, for the most part, are not associated with a therapeutic procedure. Therefore, the development of a more efficacious method would be beneficial in this regard.
Various undesirable skin conditions would be improved if the collagen underlying the region of the condition could safely be improved without damage to the overlying region. Wrinkles related to photodamage and acne scars are example of such conditions.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,976,709, 5,137,530, 5,304,169, 5,374,265, 5,484,432 issued to Sand, disclose a method and apparatus for controlled thermal shrinkage of collagen fibers in the cornea using light at wavelengths between 1.8 and 2.55 microns. However strong absorption of the laser energy by water limits the penetration depth to the most superficial layers of skin.
The CoolTouch (trademark) 130 laser system by CoolTouch Corp of Auburn, Calif., was first introduced at the Beverly Hills Eyelid Symposium in 1995. It utilizes a laser at a wavelength of 1.32 microns to cause thermally mediated skin treatment. In this device the treatment energy is targeted at the surface of the skin with in depth optical heating of the epidermis, papillary dermis, and upper reticular dermis. The energy is primarily absorbed in tissue water with a skin absorption coefficient of 1.4 cm−1, corresponding to an absorption depth of 0.71 cm. Scattering of the 1.32 micron wavelength light by skin microstructures alters the distribution of light from an exponential attenuation to a more complex distribution, which has much faster attenuation approximating an absorption depth of 0.1 cm. Most of the energy is absorbed in the first 250 microns of tissue. To prevent overheating of the epidermis pulsed cryogen spray precooling is used. U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,040, issued Sep. 29, 1998, describes a dynamic cooling method utilizing pulsed cryogen spray precooling. Skin treated with this device has improved texture and a reduction in wrinkles and scarring due to the long term renewal of dermal collagen without significant skin surface wounding.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,801 teaches a method and apparatus for treating a wrinkle in skin by targeting tissue at a level between 100 microns and 1.2 millimeters below the surface, to thermally injure collagen without erythema, by using light at wavelengths between 1.3 and 1.8 microns. The parameters of the invention are such that the radiation is maximally absorbed in the targeted region. The invention offers a detailed description of targeting the 100 micron to 1.2 mm region by utilization of a lens to focus the treatment energy to a depth of 750 microns below the surface. Because of the high scattering and absorption coefficients, precooling is utilized to prevent excess heat build up in the epidermis when targeting the region of 100 microns to 1.2 mm below the surface. The wavelength range of use is 1.3 microns to 1.8 microns in order to avoid the wavelength range of Sand. However the wavelength range of 1.4 to 1.54 microns and the range between 2.06 and 2.2 microns have identical effective attenuation coefficients in skin. Also the range from 1.15 to 1.32 microns has a fairly uniform effective attenuation coefficient in skin of about 6 to 7 cm−1. The effective attenuation length in skin for the range of wavelengths of 1.3 to 1.8 microns varies from 6 cm−1 at 1.3 microns to 52 cm−1 microns, corresponding penetration depths in skin of 200 microns to 2 millimeters. Specific laser and cooling parameters are selected so as to avoid erythema and achieve improvement in wrinkles as the long term result of a new collagen formation following treatment.
Kelly et al, report improvement in skin due to collagen remodeling after treatments with an Nd:YAG laser at 1.32 microns and cryogen spray precooling. In this case the method was designed to provide a series of treatments with parameters selected to produce erythema and mild edema, with some improvement in facial rhytids several months following a series of treatments. However, there is a risk of pigmentary change or transient pitted scarring because of the high fluence level of the laser, greater than 30 joules per square centimeter in 20 millisecond exposures, and the high level of pulse cryogen cooling.
Mucini et al. reported effective dermal remodeling using a 980 nm diode laser with a spherical handpiece which focused irradiation into the dermis avoiding the high scattering and absorption characteristic of longer wavelengths. The device requires a small lens of a few millimeters in contact with skin and results in a slow procedure when used for facial areas.
Ross et al., reported the use of an Erbium:YAG laser operating at a wavelength of 1.54 microns fired in a multiple pulsed mode has been described for eliciting changes in photodamaged skin. A chilled lens in contact with skin at the treatment site was used in an attempt to spare the epidermis. Treatment occurred during a period of several seconds with a sequence of cooling and heating with the laser and handpiece. At 1.54 microns the optical penetration depth 0.55 mm and the authors reported that the surface must be chilled before the laser exposure requiring a complex method of cooling and laser exposure. The authors state that a more superficial thermal injury may be needed than could be achieved, and that there are increased patient risks because it would demand more accurate and precise control of heating and cooling.
Bjerring et al, reported the use of a visible light laser, operating at 585 nm wavelength, to initiate collagenesis following interaction of laser energy with small blood vessels in skin.
Other methods of creating subepidermal wounding may utilize electrical current, ultrasonic energy or non-coherent light sources. In all of these methods, including those using lasers, collagen remodeling is a long-term minimal response to the application of energy. Since the objective is a non-invasive or minimally invasive procedure the stimulation of collagenesis must be below the threshold for creating an open wound, resulting in a minimal treatment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,788 describes a method of producing recombinant transforming growth factor .beta.-induced H3 protein and the use of this protein to accelerate wound healing. The protein is applied directly to a wound or is used to promote adhesion and spreading of dermal fibroblasts to a solid support such as a nylon mesh which is then applied to the wound.
It is heretofore unknown to combine the adverse effect caused by excessive photothermal, mechanical or other type of energy applied to skin or other tissue coupled with a topical or other administration of growth factor(s) or wound healing factor(s) in order to amplify the natural stimulation of growth or collagenesis caused by the wound.

Enhanced noninvasive collagen remodeling


A camera device is provided with: an imaging unit for generating an area image obtained by shooting an area from above; and a display image generation unit for generating a display image of a target moving in the area using a clip image which is clipped from the area image. In this case, a rotation angle of a current frame is calculated on the basis of the rotation angle of the previous frame and a reference angle of the current frame. As a result, a rapid change in an orientation of the target displayed in the display image can be suppressed.

A system for generating an output image for display by processing a wide-angle image taken by a camera provided with a wide-angle lens such as a fisheye lens and the like has been proposed. As one of those image processing systems, a system for generating a clip image including a target from the image and displaying/outputting it is known.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, when a predetermined area is to be clipped from a image obtained by using a wide-angle lens such as a fisheye lens, the target is inclined in accordance with a position of the target. Thus, when a clip image is to be generated from the image, rotation processing according to the inclination is generally executed.
However, an orientation of the target in the clip image to be displayed is changed largely and rapidly by an influence of processing for rotating the clip image, and there is a problem that the display image is hard to be seen. This is particularly remarkable when a image obtained by a fisheye lens (see FIG. 7) with which an orientation of a target is inverted with respect to a center of the image is used or when the camera is installed on a ceiling or the like so that an optical axis direction of the lens goes vertically and the target passes in the vicinity immediately under the camera.

Image generation device, camera device, image display device, and image generation method

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A methodology and apparatus for measurement and identification of co-channel interferers in a GSM cellular wireless communication network is provided as part of a network survey (e.g., drive test). Repetitive time-of-arrival measurements of detected FCCH bursts on a given frequency channel are made in conjunction with power level and C/I ratio measurements of such FCCH bursts. Successful FCCH burst detection triggers SCH detection/decoding and successful SCH decoding triggers BCCH detection/decoding. Successfully decoded SCH BSIC data and possibly BCCH CellId data is associated with the corresponding FCCH burst information based on their time-of-arrival. This association is possible even with the FCCH bursts for which SCH and BCCH decoding was not successful due to the interference or some other impairment. It is sufficient to successfully decode SCH/BCCH only once per cell during the network survey in order for all detected FCCH bursts coming from this cell to be properly assigned to it. This does not requiring a priori knowledge of the network configuration or its geographical layout. Such methodology (and apparatus) can readily be adapted for other Time-Division-Multiple-Access (TDMA) cellular wireless networks.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to cellular wireless communication networks. More particularly, this invention relates to a methodology and systems for identification and measurement of interference in Global System for Mobil Communications (GSM) cellular wireless networks.
2. State of the Art
Because cellular wireless communication networks re-use frequency across geographic areas, all cellular wireless communication networks contain interference (both co-channel and adjacent channel). All modern-day wireless protocols, including the GSM protocol, take this into consideration. However, it is important for cellular network carriers to manage interference to its minimum possible levels because interference within a network reduces capacity (the number of subscribers, or amount of traffic, a network can accommodate). Thus, in order to maximize the amount of revenue a network can generate, maximize quality of service, and to minimize the capital expenditures necessary to support that revenue (i.e. purchasing new base stations), it is critical that the network interference be minimized.
The current solutions for optimizing cellular wireless networks involve a process of gathering network data and processing that data to determine the best possible optimization of network variables to minimize interference. The data can come from a number of sources, but drive testing is the most accurate. Drive testing is the process of driving the roads in a given market with a piece of test equipment that typically includes a laptop computer integrated with a wireless terminal, a GPS receiver and a demodulating scanning receiver. Once the drive test data is collected, the data is typically provided to post-processing tools which apply various mathematical algorithms to the data to accomplish network planning and optimization. An example of post-processing is automatic frequency planning (AFP), where the data is processed to determine the optimal arrangement of frequencies to cell site sectors to minimize network interference. Another post-processing application is automatic cell planning (ACP) which analyzes network variables to aid network engineers in making decisions on how best to minimize interference in the network. For GSM networks, these network variables include: the frequencies per cell site sector, the cell site antenna's height and/or azimuth and/or tilt, the cell site sector's transmission power, cell site locations or new cell site locations, and a host of other variables that impact radio frequency propagation.
When analyzing a cellular wireless system, it is important that such analysis be able to distinguish between signals originating from different base stations. Two phenomena make such separation difficult: co-channel interference and adjacent-channel interference. Co-channel interference occurs when transmitters in a given area use the same frequency channel. Adjacent-channel interference occurs when base stations in a given area transmit on adjacent channels.
A number of techniques have been developed to achieve the stated goal of signal separation. One class of techniques associate signals with transmitting base stations based on the ability to decode base station identifiers (also referred to as color codes) in the transmitted signals. If the base station identifier can be detected, the signal is ascribed to the nearest base station with this base station identifier. These techniques require measuring position of the measurement instrument as well as a priori knowledge of the network geographical layout and the assignments of identifiers to the base stations of the network. Moreover, these techniques are ineffective in the presence of interference (either co-channel interference or adjacent-channel interference) because base station identifiers cannot be detected.
Another technique involves joint-decoding of the color code signal components with channel estimation for each signal path. This technique, which is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,382, relies on accurate estimation of the transmission channel characteristics for the signal paths from each interfering base station. In practice, this technique suffers from poor decoding performance in addition to its low measurement speed.
An improved technique is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication US2001/0034208, published Oct. 25, 2001, commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This technique uses correlation with known signal patterns (for example, synchronization and training sequences), which yields a significant processing gain. This gain allows signal detection in the presence of interference even when its level is substantially below the level of one or more interfering signals. Signal identification (i.e., association with transmitting base stations) is based upon the Global Positioning System (GPS) position of the measurement instrument and time-of-arrival of individual Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH) correlation peaks at different measurement points. The power level of the signal at a given FCCH peak is stored in a database together with its time of arrival. When color code decoding is successful, all instances of the given FCCH peak during its lifetime in the database are back-annotated with the newly-found color code. This technique provides improved signal detection in the presence of interference; however, it requires successful color code decoding associated with a given FCCH peak for the instances of the given FCCH peak to be back-annotated with the decoded color code. Moreover, it is possible for the same color code to be used by different base stations. In this case, the identification of base stations based on color codes may not provide unique base station identification, and thus require complex post processing to resolve such situations. Finally, it relies on the difference between time-of-arrivals for FCCH peaks to identify base stations corresponding thereto in the event that the FCCH peaks never have a color code decoded from them during a given session. Thus, data measured and stored for multiple sessions or with multiple instruments cannot be efficiently associated between them. The present invention builds upon the methodology and apparatus described in U.S. Patent Application Publication US2001/0034208 to provide a more efficient solution and add additional features not described therein.

Method and apparatus for measurement and identification of co-channel interfering transmitters


The present application provides systems and/or methods for accessing a portion of a mass-fragment spectrum, constructing a vector that is responsive to an intensity-balance of the spectrum, and selecting the spectrum responsive to the vector.

The present application is directed to polymers consisting of monomers having masses drawn from a limited pool. Examples are peptides where the monomers are a limited set of amino acids (typically about 20), or glycans where the monomers are a small set of monosaccharides (typically about 5). More particularly, the application is directed to the automated quality assessment of mass-fragment spectra generated from such molecules. Details of the automated quality assessment are discussed with a focus on peptide spectra generated through the use of tandem mass spectrometers (MS/MS). However, it is to be appreciated other techniques can also be utilized to obtain substantially similar results. Furthermore, it is to be understood that while the following discussion makes reference to peptide analysis, the concepts of the present application are applicable to other polymers. Furthermore, concepts of the present application can be applied to other molecules that can form fragmentation spectra.
By way of example, the peptide (which might be obtained from a chromatography device) is applied to a first mass spectrometer, which serves to select, from a mixture of peptides, a target peptide of a particular mass. The target peptide is fragmented to produce a mixture of the "target" or parent peptide and various component fragments, typically peptides of smaller mass. This mixture is transmitted to a second mass spectrometer that records a mass-fragment spectrum. In some instances, the mixture is recycled back through the same and/or similar mass spectrometers for one or more subsequent mass spectrometry operations. This mass-fragment spectrum will typically be expressed in the form of a histogram having a plurality of peaks, each peak indicating the mass-to-change ratio (m/z) of a detected fragment and having an intensity value.
It is often desired to use the mass-fragment spectrum to identify the material (e.g., peptide or glycan) that resulted in the fragment mixture. Previous approaches have typically involved using the mass-fragment spectrum as a basis for hypothesizing one or more candidate amino acid sequences. This procedure has typically involved human analysis by a skilled researcher, which is both time and labor intensive. Therefore, automated procedures have been developed, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,693, "Identification of Nucleoticles, Amino Acids, or Carbohydrates by Mass Spectrometry," Yates, III, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,897, "Use of Mass Spectrometry Fragmentation Patterns of Peptides to Identify Amino Acid Sequences in Databases." Both patents are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.
These patents describe the use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and database-search software, such as SEQUEST, to identify unknown test materials. Such a design, however, produces a large number of spectra, many of which are of too poor quality to be useful. Therefore, it has been suggested by Tabb, D. L., et. al. ("Protein Identification by SEQUEST." In P. James, (ed.) (2001), Proteome Research: Mass Spectrometry, Springer, Berlin.), hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, to employ a filter to eliminate poor spectra prior to the database search to improve throughput and robustness. More particularly, Tabb, D. L. et al. discusses spectral quality assessment, and mentions certain rules for prefiltering, such as minimum and maximum thresholds on the number of peaks and a minimum threshold on total peak intensity. The article specifically states that such rules can remove 40% or more of the bad spectra.
It is considered to be advantageous to provide an improved filter to limit the number of spectra needed to be compared in an automated proteomics process.


A computer-implemented system includes an edge module and at least one input device coupled to the edge module. The at least one input device is configured to generate data input signals. The system also includes a cognitive module coupled to the edge module. The cognitive module includes a perception sub-module coupled to the edge module. The perception sub-module is configured to receive the data input signals. The cognitive module also includes a learning sub-module coupled to the perception sub-module. The learning sub-module is configured to adaptively learn at least in part utilizing the data input signals.

The field of the invention relates generally to computer-implemented programs and, more particularly, to a computer-implemented system with adaptive cognitive learning features.
Most known supply chains include a system of organizations, people, and technology that initiate and manage activities, manage the flow of information and resources that manufacture, assemble, and distribute products and materials. Such organizations and people include suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. The supply chains also facilitate relationships between the organizations and people.
At least some known computer-implemented supply chain management systems include sufficient programming to execute supply chain operation based on static data. For example, such systems can determine a least cost method of transporting a product between two points based upon statically-established fuel costs, labor costs, and shipping periods. However, such systems have limited resources for processing the large amounts of data, both static and dynamic data, as well as time sensitive data, typically associated with large-scale, international supply chain networks. Such data includes aging weather forecasts and traffic conditions. Also, such systems lack mechanisms to distinguish between valid data and invalid data.
Many such known systems require routine human intervention to input emergent data and to correct for unforeseen events. For example, human dispatchers facilitate enhancing the efficiency of a fleet by taking into account static variables such as delivery windows, contracted levels of service, and estimated times of arrival (ETA). In addition to these static variables, dispatchers also respond to dynamic conditions, for example, seasonal traffic conditions, unanticipated disruptive weather, and real-time driver behavior. For emergent adverse conditions, the dispatchers react to reduce the impact of those adverse conditions on operation after some period of latency associated with data collection, report delivery, and human deliberation. Furthermore, such systems require humans to perform pre-delivery planning and post-delivery analysis, wherein the post-delivery analysis is used as a feedback mechanism for subsequent pre-delivery planning. Moreover, since such systems lack adaptive cognitive features, including adaptive learning features, subsequent corrections for real-world, real-time, unanticipated events need to be directed by a human agent.

Computer-implemented system with adaptive cognitive features and method of using the same


A method for treating a sleep disorder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes administering a composition comprising an extract of Hibiscus syriacus as an effective ingredient to a subject in need thereof. Because the Hibiscus syriacus extract of the present invention has an effect of improving sleep time deteriorated by stress, and an effect of reducing the content of corticosterone, which increases due to stress, and increasing the content of serotonin in blood. In addition, the composition has an effect of enhancing in a significant sense the expression of GABAR A α1 in cerebral cortex, which decreases due to stress, in a group administered with Hibiscus syriacus extract. As such, the composition comprising Hibiscus syriacus extract as an effective ingredient as an effective ingredient can be advantageously used as a functional health food composition or a pharmaceutical composition for preventing, ameliorating or treating sleeping disorders.

Sleep is a state in which conscious activity is in rest with eyes closed, and it is an important process of restoring the energy consumed during daytime activity and recovering from the fatigue accumulated through physical activities. Sleep is not only a period during which energy restoration and fatigue recovery occur but also a period during which the growth hormone that is essentially required for human growth are secreted in the largest amount.
In human body, the brain governs all physiological functions for sustaining life and, for maintaining a suitably balanced activity, the brain needs a rest, which is mostly achieved during sleep. Due to the overwhelming and busy daily cycle of modern life, increased prevalence in obesity, population aging, and the like, the number of patients who are treated after diagnosis with sleep disorders has increased in last several years. The number is expected to continue to rise in the coming years.
Among the various types of sleep disorders, insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders and it is defined as a symptom of having difficulty with sleep like difficulty to fall asleep, difficulty to maintain sleep, shallow sleep, or poor sleep quality. Regardless of the stage of insomnia, it is reported that three in ten adults suffer from sleep disorders and the ratio is even higher in women and seniors.
The reason of having drastically reduced sleep duration by people in the modern world is based on various causes like an increase in mental disorders that are based on psychological reasons such as anxiety about future, depression, anxiety disorder, or stress, alternating day and night shifts resulting from diversity in jobs and society, unhealthy lifestyles, and the like. Namely, the more complex society becomes, the more jobs to be done and the more stress to be dealt with, yielding chronic sleep deficiency. In addition, drinking excess amounts of caffeinated beverages like coffee is also considered to be one reason of having sleep deficiency. Temporary acute insomnia easily occurs due to the irregular sleeping habit caused by temporary stress, change in sleeping habit, or the like. Temporary acute insomnia can be overcome when regular sleeping habit is practiced and underlying issues or stress for causing insomnia are removed so that normal sleeping habit can be restored. However, if a person continues to have a bad sleeping habit or deals with the insomnia in wrongful way, chronic insomnia in which he or she has trouble falling and/or staying asleep every night is caused. Symptoms of chronic insomnia impair the quality of life and increase a risk for depression by 10 times of more. In addition, sleep disorders caused by insomnia increase the prevalence of various diseases by causing problems in controlling high blood pressure, blood sugar level, obesity or the like, and they also exhibit an influence on social aspect of a patient including higher medical cost, increased risk of having accidents during daytime, poor performance at work, or the like.
Meanwhile, Hibiscus syriacus is the other name of rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus L.), and as a herbal medicine name, Hibiscus syriacus skin, Hibiscus syriacus flower, Hibiscus syriacus root, and Hibiscus syriacus seed are used. Rose of Sharon is a deciduous tree belonging to Malvaceae family, and, in South Korea, it is found a region below Pyeongnam province and Kangwon province. According to the Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (Herbal Medicine), skins of stems and roots of rose of Sharon are defined as hibisci cortex. According to the descriptions of Donguibogam (i.e., a classic book on Korean traditional medicine), it is described as follows: "[I]t has a mild pharmaceutical property without any toxicity, can stop chronic furuncle and bleeding, is effective for thirstiness after diarrhea, and can promote sleeping. The flower has a cold pharmaceutical property without any toxicity, is useful for treating red dysentery and white dysentery, and taken after roasting or as a tea for treating chronic furuncle and bleeding." According to the description of Bonchogangmok (i.e., another classic book on Korean traditional medicine), it is useful for treating red leucorrhea or white leucorrhea of women, stopping pains associated with abscess, yielding clear eyes when washed with water boiled with plant as an agent for treating scabies, and also promoting blood circulation.
As a technique relating to treat sleep disorders using Hibiscus syriacus that is known to date, it is described in Chinese Patent Publication No. 106360532 that mum flower sauce containing petal and flow extract of rose of Sharon is effective for treating insomnia. In Chinese Patent Publication No. 105194490, it is described that a mixture containing 16 kinds of medicinal herbs in addition to Hibiscus syriacus skin has an effect of treating insomnia. However, so far there is no disclosure of a composition for preventing, ameliorating or treating sleep disorders comprising medicinal herb extract as an effective ingredient as it is disclosed in the present invention.

Composition for preventing, ameliorating or treating sleep disorders comprising medicinal herb extract as effective ingredient


A system for producing a high contrast image of an ophthalmic lens under inspection, comprising: top camera to view ophthalmic lens through lens module; motorized mechanism for positioning top camera at two pre-programmed positions; three illumination modules; said illumination modules focusing light through ophthalmic lens under inspection, thereby producing a high contrast image of features of ophthalmic lens; wherein ophthalmic lens is contained within cuvette with optical power of positive of ten; said cuvette mounted with two optical windows, one of them being vertical and other at an angle; said cuvette having transparent bottom glass suitably designed to position ophthalmic lens under inspection; said cuvette designed to be filled with saline solution; accurately calibrated test object positioned to achieve image of ophthalmic lens overlaid with image of pattern present on test object; additional illumination source comprising laser diode; and second camera to view ophthalmic lens through slanted optical lens module.

A number of prior art measuring systems exist in which the optical power and other characteristics of ophthalmic lenses are measured at local points on the ophthalmic lens. Commercial instruments for performing optical power measurements that use probing beams combined with dynamic positioning to measure optical power of the lens are available. However these instruments cannot be integrated into high speed automated manufacturing systems because of the time required to inspect each lens, making them unsuitable for such a purpose. Ophthalmic lenses are manufactured to suit different types of eye characteristics. The lenses need to be appropriately categorized and segregated before distribution according to their optical power.
In light of the above, there is need for an automated system or apparatus and method to accurately and reliably measure the optical power of the lens within a fraction of a second, so as to be able to integrate the apparatus into automated manufacturing systems.

System and method for inspecting optical power and thickness of ophthalmic lenses immersed in a solution


The invention provides an output circuit in a semiconductor integrated circuit which comprises an input terminal for receiving input signals controlling output circuits, an output terminal for delivering output signals driving a load device being connected to the output terminal, high and low voltage supply lines for supplying high and low voltage driving the output circuit, a first current mirror circuit on its output stage including a single transistor being connected between the high voltage supply line and the output terminal, a second current mirror circuit on its output stage including a single transistor being connected between the low voltage supply line and the output terminal, a first logic circuit being connected between the input terminal and the first current mirror circuit for receiving input signals from the input terminal for a subsequent controlling of the first current mirror circuit, and a second logic circuit being connected between the input terminal and the second current mirror circuit for receiving input signals from the input terminal for a subsequent controlling of the second current mirror circuit.

The invention relates to an output circuit in a semiconductor integrated circuit, and more particularly to an output circuit having current mirror circuits in a semiconductor integrated circuit.
One of the most importance for circuit design of semiconductor integrated circuits is an improvement in high integration of the semiconductor integrated circuits. Indeed, the importance of high integration of the semiconductor integrated circuits is on the increase. As the output circuits are involved in the semiconductor integrated circuits, a minimization of the output circuit and thus a reduction of a occupied area by the output circuit are essential to improve the high integration of the semiconductor integrated circuits.
A typical circuit structure of the conventional output circuit, particularly an output circuit which exhibits a controllable output current will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The conventional output circuit is formed between a high potential side power supply line 1 and a low potential side ground line 3 so as to drive the output circuit by a power which is supplied from a power supply through the high potential side power supply line 1. The output circuit has a signal input terminal 2 which receives input digital signals and an output terminal 4 through which output signals are delivered. The output circuit includes a p-type MOS transistor P1, an n-type MOS transistor N1 and first and second current mirror circuits 5 and 6. The circuit structure of the output circuit may be regarded as a modification of the CMOS circuit structure wherein the p-type and n-type MOS transistors are connected to the output terminal 4 through the first and second current mirror circuits 5 and 6.
Thus, the p-type MOS transistor P1 which serves as a switching device is arranged at a high potential side in the output circuit. More particularly, the p-type MOS transistor P1 is connected at its source side to the high potential side power supply line 1 which supply a power to the output circuit. The p-type MOS transistor P1 is further connected at its drain side to the first current mirror circuit 5. The p-type MOS transistor P1 is further connected at its gate electrode to the signal input terminal 2 which receives digital input signals so as to exhibit a high speed switching operation based upon digital input signals which are transmitted to the gate electrode of the p-type MOS transistor P1 through the signal input terminal 2. When the gate electrode of the p-type MOS transistor P1 receives the high level signal, the p-type MOS transistor P1 takes OFF state. If the gate electrode of the p-type MOS transistor P1 receives the low level signal, the p-type MOS transistor P1 takes ON state.
The n-type MOS transistor N1 which also serves as a switching device is arranged but at a low potential side in the output circuit. The n-type MOS transistor N1 is connected at its source side to the ground line which supply the ground potential to the output circuit. The n-type MOS transistor N1 is further connected at its drain side to the second current mirror circuit 6. The n-type MOS transistor N1 is further connected at its gate electrode to the signal input terminal 2 which receives digital input signals so as to exhibit a high speed switching operation based upon digital input signals which are transmitted to the gate electrode of the n-type MOS transistor N1 through the signal input terminal 2. When the gate electrode of the n-type MOS transistor N1 receives the high level signal, the n-type MOS transistor N1 takes ON state. If the gate electrode of the n-type MOS transistor N1 receives the low level signal, the n-type MOS transistor N1 takes OFF state.
The first current mirror circuit 5 is arranged between the p-type MOS transistor P1 serving as a switching device and the output terminal 4. The first current mirror circuit 5 includes an n-type transistor N51 and p-type transistors P52 and P53. The p-type MOS transistor P53 is arranged on an output stage in the first current mirror circuit 5. The p-type MOS transistor P53 is connected at its source side to the drain side of the p-type MOS switching transistor P1. The p-type MOS transistor P53 is also connected at its drain side to the output terminal 4. The p-type MOS transistor P53 and the p-type MOS transistor P52 are connected to each other through those gate electrodes and source sides respectively. The p-type MOS transistor P52 and the n-type MOS transistor N51 are connected to each other through those drain sides. The p-type MOS transistor P52 has a short circuit connection between its gate and drain sides. The n-type MOS transistor N51 is grounded at its source side. The gate electrode of the n-type MOS transistor N51 receives a constant voltage V.sub.RP. The n-type MOS transistor N51 serves as a current source. The p-type MOS transistor P52 controls a source-drain current of the p-type MOS transistor P53 so that the respective source-drain currents of the p-type MOS transistors P1 and P53 are approximately proportional to each other. The ratio of the respective source-drain currents of the p-type MOS transistors P52 and P53 is defined by the ratio of channel widths thereof.
The second current mirror circuit 6 is arranged between the n-type MOS transistor N1 serving as a switching device and the output terminal 4. The second current mirror circuit 6 includes a p-type transistor P61 and n-type transistors N62 and N63. The n-type MOS transistor N63 is arranged on an output stage in the second current mirror circuit 6. The n-type MOS transistor N63 is connected at its source side to the drain side of the n-type MOS switching transistor N1. The n-type MOS transistor N63 is also connected at its drain side to the output terminal 4. The n-type MOS transistor N63 and the n-type MOS transistor N62 are connected to each other through those gate electrodes and source sides respectively. The n-type MOS transistor N62 and the p-type MOS transistor P61 are connected to each other through those drain sides. The n-type MOS transistor N62 has a short circuit connection between its gate and drain sides. The p-type MOS transistor P61 is connected to a high potential side power supply line which supplies a high voltage V.sub.DD. The gate electrode of the p-type MOS transistor P61 receives a constant voltage V.sub.RN. The p-type MOS transistor P61 serves as a current source. The n-type MOS transistor N62 controls a source-drain current of the n-type MOS transistor N63 so that the respective source-drain currents of the n-type MOS transistors N1 and N63 are approximately proportional to each other. The ratio of the respective source-drain currents of the n-type MOS transistors N62 and N63 is defined by the ratio of channel widths thereof.
Such conventional output circuit is, however, engaged with the following disadvantages. As described above, the p-type MOS transistors P1 and P53 are connected in series on the output stage in the output circuit in the semiconductor integrated circuits. The n-type MOS transistors N1 and N63 are also connected in series on the output stage in the output circuit. It appears that a relatively large source-drain current flows through either the p-type MOS transistors P1 and P53 or the n-type MOS transistors N1 and N63. Namely, it is required that the source-drain currents of the p-type MOS transistor P1 and P53 are the same. Similarly, it is required that the source-drain currents of the n-type MOS transistors N1 and N63 are the same. That is why it is required to so design both the p-type MOS transistors P1 and P53 as to have the same channel size and thus the same channel width and length. Of course, the n-type MOS transistors N1 and N63 are so designed as to have the same channel size.
Further, as described above, the p-type transistor P53 and P52 respectively exhibit source-drain currents which are proportional to each other. Thus, the p-type transistor P53 and P52 respectively are designed as to have channel widths which are proportional to each other. The ratio of the source-drain currents of the p-type MOS transistors P52 and P53 is defined by the ratio of the channel widths thereof. It is required for a high speed driving of a load that either the p-type MOS transistor P53 or n-type MOS transistor N63 on the output stage has an extremely large source-drain current as compared to the source-drain current of the p-type MOS transistor P52. This results in that the channel widths of both the p-type and n-type MOS transistors P53 and N63 are also extremely large as compared to the channel widths of the p-type and n-type MOS transistors P52 and N62. The transistors P53 and N63 on the output stage of the output circuit are forced to have an extremely large size as compared to the transistors P52 and N62 in logic circuits. Physically, the MOS transistors P52 and N62 has a small channel width no more than 10 micrometers to 20 micrometers. In contrast, both the p-type transistors P1 and P53 are required to have extremely large channel widths of approximately 2500 micrometers and large channel lengths of approximately 3 micrometers. The n-type MOS transistors N1 and N63 are also required to have extremely large channel widths of approximately 1250 micrometers and large channel lengths of approximately 3 micrometers. Each of the transistors P1, N1, P53 and P63 on the output stage in the output circuit requires an extremely large occupied area as compared to the other transistors in the logic circuit in the output circuit.
It is therefore necessary to improve a high integration and thus to minimize a occupied area of the output circuit involved in the semiconductor integrated circuits. Scaling down of each of the transistors on the output stage in the output circuit is difficult due to the requirement of those large source-drain current. Thus, a reduction of the number of transistors on the output stage in the output circuit is essential to improve a high integration of the output circuit and thus to minimize the occupied area of the output circuit.
It is, therefore, required to develop a novel output circuit which is so designed as to reduce the number of transistors having an extremely large occupied area arranged on the output circuits.

Output circuit including current mirror circuits


The invention relates to a switching device for galvanically isolated 1:1 transmission of a direct current signal, with a transformer comprising a primary coil and a secondary coil, wherein the primary coil is powered with alternating current derived from an input direct current and the current induced in the secondary coil is rectified, and with a correction device for compensating transmission losses. To provide a DC transducer free of auxiliary energy, in which the output current is as close to equaling the input current as possible, it is proposed that the number of turns on the primary coil should be greater than the number of turns on the secondary coil.

This type of DC transducer with galvanic isolation are known for instance from DE 33 11 535 A1 or DE 20 2004 012 817 U1. A general problem with this type of AC rectifier switches is their energy requirement, which necessarily leads to a reduction in the output current. The primary current is transformed by a converter into an alternating current. This alternating current is transformed by a 1:1 transformer. The secondary current isolated galvanically from it is rectified. The entire switch must have very low loss, so that incoming and outgoing current are as close to equalized as possible. To reduce transformer losses, non-leaking single-aperture core transformers are used. Such transformers are, first of all, expensive. Secondly, single-aperture core transformers have a problem concerning high voltage tolerance, and it is impossible to correct bulk resistance or temperature influence.
The use of this type of DC transducers occurs especially in explosion-risk areas. In such areas, electrical systems galvanically isolated from the environment are found, such as sensors and actuators. The sensor signals can be current signals. As a rule, the sensor signal is a direct current. This direct current is the input current for the DC transducer. The input direct current should optimally be equal to the output direct current. This ideal situation cannot be achieved with conventional switches. Portions of the input current flow out in the form of parallel currents, transformer losses, or other loss currents over the entire switch. The sum of all loss currents is missing in the output current. To correct this, an additional current should be added to the output current. The state of the art sometimes makes use of auxiliary energy sources for this purpose.
DE 3139963 describes a switching device for galvanically isolated 1:1 transmission of a direct current signal. A measurement transformer is placed in the primary current circuit with a ticker, which produces an alternating current that is transmitted by a transducer to a rectifier. Here too an additional current source is provided. The DC transducer depicted in DE 2342294 also requires an additional current source in order to compensate for losses.

Galvanically isolated direct current transducer


A synchronous rectification switching power source device accurately determines the timing of the turning off of a synchronous rectifier switching element regardless of the state of the load, and a synchronous rectification period is utilized to the maximum. The switching power source device is configured of a main FET connected to a primary winding of a transformer, a snubber circuit connected to the primary winding, a synchronous rectifier FET connected to a secondary winding of the transformer, a diode connected to the synchronous rectifier FET, a synchronous rectifier FET drain voltage detection unit, an output voltage detection unit, and a drive control unit. The drive control unit accurately determines the timing of the turning off of the synchronous rectifier switching element using a unit that detects the on/off state of the main FET, a variable pulse generator unit, a count value generated by a counter unit, and a threshold value.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a switching power source device that outputs direct current voltage, and in particular, relates to a switching power source device that includes a synchronous rectification circuit.
2. Related Art
FIG. 9 shows a configuration of heretofore known technology (Japanese Patent No. 4,158,054) of a switching power source device using a synchronous rectification circuit. The switching power source device is configured of a main switching element FET1, connected in series to a primary winding N1 of a transformer T, a snubber circuit Sn connected in parallel to the primary winding N1, a primary side control circuit 2 that drives the main switching element FET1, a synchronous rectifier switching element FET2, connected in series to a secondary winding N2 of the transformer T, a diode D connected in parallel to the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2, and a secondary side control circuit 30 that drives the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2.
The secondary side control circuit 30 has a voltage divider circuit, which divides the drain-to-source voltage of the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2 using resistors R1 and R2, and a time constant generating capacitor C, which is charged via a diode D1 and resistor R5 in accordance with the drain-to-source voltage of the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2. A discharge resistor R6 is connected in parallel to the capacitor C. Also, a NOT circuit 31, whose output is inverted when the voltage of the capacitor C reaches a predetermined threshold value, is connected to the high potential side of the capacitor C. A connection point of the resistors R1 and R2 and the output terminal of the NOT circuit 31 are connected one each to input terminals of a NOR circuit 32, and the output terminal of the NOR circuit 32 is connected to a control terminal of the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2.
A series circuit of the primary winding N1 of the transformer T and the main switching element FET1 is connected to a direct current power source Vd. Also, a parallel circuit of a smoothing capacitor Co and load Ro is connected to a series circuit of the secondary winding N2 of the transformer T and the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2.
Next, a description will be given of an operation of the switching power source device configured in this way. The main switching element FET1 carries out an on/off operation such that frequency and duty ratio vary in accordance with the output voltage, wherein, when the main switching element FET1 is turned on, current flows through the primary winding N1, and energy is accumulated in the transformer T. At the same time, voltage is generated in the secondary winding N2 such that the potential on the side connected to the drain terminal of the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2 increases. At this time, the connection point of the resistors R1 and R2 is at an H level. Also, as the capacitor C is charged, the output of the NOT circuit 31 changes from an H level to an L level. That is, the output of the NOR circuit 32 is an L level, and the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2 maintains an off-state.
Presently, the main switching element FET1 is turned off, and the secondary winding N2 discharges the energy accumulated in the transformer T through the diode D. At this time, the connection point of the resistors R1 and R2 is at an L level. Also, as the capacitor C is charged, the output of the NOT circuit 31 is an L level. That is, the output of the NOR circuit 32 is an H level, and the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2 is turned on.
As the drain-to-source voltage is practically zero for the period for which the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2 is in an on-state, the capacitor C is discharged by the resistor R6. When the voltage of the capacitor C falls below the threshold value of the NOT circuit 31, the output of the NOT circuit 31 changes from an L level to an H level. That is, the output of the NOT circuit 32 changes from an H level to an L level, and the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2 is turned off.
Thereafter, the switching power source device repeats the heretofore described operation.
In this way, as a synchronous rectification period is generated without the current flowing through the transformer T being detected directly, the switching power source device is not affected by the on-state resistance of the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2. Therefore, as it is possible to normally operate a synchronous rectifier switching element FET2 with a smaller on-state resistance, it is possible to make efficiency high.
Also, the switching power source device is such that it is possible to prevent a reverse flow of power from the direct current voltage output side by the time constant of the capacitor C being regulated, and the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2 being turned off before all the energy of the secondary winding N2 is discharged.
Furthermore, the switching power source device is such that, as the synchronous rectification period is generated by an integrator configured of the resistors R5 and R6 and capacitor C, it is possible to suppress the effect of noise.
However, the switching power source device described in Japanese Patent No. 4,158,054 is such that the capacitor C charge and discharge voltage and time differ when a different load is connected. Because of this, there is a need for threshold value regulation in order to adjust the timing at which the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2 is turned off to the timing at which the current flowing through the secondary winding N2 reaches zero. That is, it is necessary to determine the turning off timing so that the synchronous rectifier switching element FET2 can be turned off with sufficient leeway before the main switching element FET1 is next turned on. Also, as the maximum value of the capacitor C charge voltage decreases in the case of a light load, the threshold value voltage is relatively high, and the synchronous rectification period becomes shorter.

Switching power source device with timing control of synchronous rectifier


Provided is a method and apparatus for treating a substrate with a liquid. The substrate treating method comprises a pre-treating step for supplying the treatment liquid containing hydrogen fluoride (HF) to the substrate and treating the substrate before the surface modification step and a surface modification step for supplying an alkene-based chemical onto a substrate to change the surface of the substrate to a hydrophobic state. As a result, the surface of the substrate is uniform, and generation of particles can be reduced when the substrate is removed.

The present invention disclosed herein relates to a method and a apparatus for treating substrate with liquid.
In order to manufacture a semiconductor device or a liquid crystal display, various processes such as photolithography, ashing, etching, ion implantation, thin film deposition, and cleaning are performed on the substrate. From this kind of substrate treating process, a pattern may be formed on the substrate, and the formed pattern may be collapsed by the atmosphere or water. In order to prevent the collapse of the pattern, a step of changing the surface of the substrate from hydrophilic to hydrophobic (hereinafter, surface modification step) is performed.
Generally, in the surface modification process, a substrate having a hydrophilic surface is bonded to a silyl or hydroxyl group to modify the surface to be hydrophobic. Such a surface modification step should be performed sequentially in a first rinsing step, a first replacement step, a surface modification step, a second replacement step, a second rinsing step, and a drying step.
This requires rinsing and replacement steps before and after the surface modification step, respectively, and it takes a lot of time since the rinsing step and the replacement step are repeated. In addition, when the surface of a substrate is modified with a chemical containing a silyl or hydroxyl group, the surface of the substrate is uneven, and when removing this, a large amount of particles are generated.

Method and apparatus for treating substrate


An assembly for transferring solid particulate matter has a pressurized vessel for retaining a pre-determined quantity of the solid material. A transfer conduit connected to the vessel carries the solid material to a loading vessel, be it a processing tank, a storage vessel, or any other similar container. A discharge nozzle carried by a distant end of the transfer conduit is connected to a vacuum source, whereby a slight vacuum is created at the discharge opening. A separate dust removal conduit is secured immediately adjacent to the discharge nozzle for removal of the dust particles away from the discharge nozzle. The dust particles are collected in a separate vessel, which is mounted in a flow of air from the dust collection conduit and an exhaust fan. Mesh sleeves suspended in the vessel, capturing the dust particles on exterior surface thereof. Periodically, the dust particles are dislodged from the sleeves by blowing air through the sleeves. The dislodged dust particles are collected for disposal or recycling.

This invention relates to an assembly for transferring solid particulate matter, with the assistance of pressurized airflow into a loading container, which may be a storage container, a processing tank, or other similar vessel. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an assembly for transferring solid pelletized material, such as for instance a catalyst substance, into a loading container, wherein the pelletized material generates dust during the transfer process.
Many industries require transport, or delivery of solid particles from storage area or delivery container into another storage container or a processing tank. One of such industries is a chemical industry where pre-determined quantities of solid pellets are loaded into a processing vessel or converter. For instance, sulfuric acid manufacturing plants use a vanadium catalyst, which is supplied in a pelletized form in bags or drums. The catalyst pebbles then need to be loaded into the converter or container where a chemical reaction for generation of gases takes place.
Conventionally, acid processing tanks are upright vessels with a closed top. A plurality of levels or beds of catalyst is contained in each converter vessel. The loading takes place through the top of the converter in the first bed of catalyst and through opening in the sidewall of the converter in lower beds. During the loading operation, the catalyst pellets, being delivered by gravity, generate a significant amount of dust. The personnel who perform the loading operation, by necessity have to wear facemasks, respirators, and similar protective gear to avoid breathing in the dust that heavily permeates the area where the loading takes place.
Similar conditions exist in loading operations of other solid particles, for instance, during grain loading into silos and other storage facilities. The loading space has to be equipped with adequate ventilation to minimize the dust particles retention in the loading area and creation of health hazards in such areas.
A useful assembly for handling solid particulate matter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,635,011, which teaches the use of a pressurized vessel for retaining a pre-determined quantity of the solid material. A transfer conduit connected to the vessel carries the solid material to a loading vessel, be it a processing tank, a storage vessel, or any other similar container. A discharge nozzle carried by a distant end of the transfer conduit has a plurality of perforations that allow removal of the dust particles by suction from the discharge nozzle. A separate dust removal conduit is secured immediately adjacent to the discharge nozzle for removal of the dust particles away from the discharge nozzle. The nozzle is also connected to a dust collection container. A vacuum-assisted suction force is created in the dust collection container to facilitate entrapment of dust particles generated during transfer of the solid material through the discharge container and carrying of the dust particles away from the discharge opening of the discharge nozzle into the dust collection container. While the assembly according to the '011 patent works satisfactory in many circumstances, there was observed a need for a better control of the transfer process for moving the solid particulate matter through the transfer conduit. Additionally, it was discovered that there may be a more enhanced dust entrapment device that may be used in the system.
The present invention contemplates elimination of drawbacks associated with the prior design and provision of an improved loading system that improves the control over the transfer process for solid particulate matter while improving dust-collection capabilities.

System for delivering solid particulate matter for loading


A non-volatile status indicator switch is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to an aircraft electrical system including a fault detection circuit coupled to a relay, and a fault indicator circuit coupled to the fault detection circuit and to a control input of the relay, wherein the fault indicator circuit includes a nonvolatile memory element, wherein the fault detection circuit is configured to detect a fault and to provide a signal indicative of the fault to the fault indicator circuit, and wherein the fault indicator circuit is configured to respond to the signal indicative of the fault by providing a predetermined control signal to the relay and by storing information indicative of the detection of the fault in the nonvolatile memory element.

The present invention relates generally to the use of relays in aircraft electrical systems and more particularly to systems and methods for saving and indicating the status of a detected fault in the relays.
The primary functions of an aircraft electrical system are to generate, regulate and distribute electrical power throughout the aircraft. There are several different power sources on an aircraft that are used to supply power to aircraft electrical systems. These power sources can include engine driven AC generators, auxiliary power units, external power and ram air turbines. Aircraft electrical components operate on many different voltages levels using both AC and DC. However, most of the aircraft systems use 115V AC at 400 Hz or 28V DC. Further, 26V AC is also used in some aircraft for lighting purposes. DC power is generally provided by "self-exciting" generators containing electromagnets, where the power is generated by a commutator which regulates the output voltage of 28V DC. AC power, normally at a phase voltage of 115V, is generated by an alternator, generally in a three-phase system and at a frequency of 400 Hz.
Relays are commonly used in aircraft electrical systems to control the supply of power to various loads. A typical relay includes contacts that connect to a power supply and contacts that connect to a load. Electromechanical contacts are closed by a magnetic field generated by a coil. The coil is energized by a control current provided to the relay via a control input. Contact closure allows load current to flow.
Faults in aircraft electrical systems can be dangerous. In particular, faults in electrical loads such as fuel pumps can result in explosions. Examples of faults that can occur in an aircraft electrical system include ground faults (short circuit to ground) and arc faults (shorts between the power lines). Ground faults result in a net current imbalance, while arc faults do not.
Various fault interrupters are used for the aircraft electrical systems. These fault interrupters can include a universal fault interrupter (UFI), an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI), and thermally tripped circuit breakers (CBs) now commonly installed in cockpits.


A system for tracking school buses and school children to enhance the security and safety of schoolchildren and provide real-time information about the location of students and buses to teachers and administrators and parents. The system utilizes GPS components to determine a location of the school buses and biometric scanning technology to determine the identity of the students. The system transmits location and student identity data to a Main Station using a radio network component. Parents and school teacher and administrators can access the data to monitor.

Due to the alarmingly higher occurrences of school shootings over the past years, parents of school children have grown increasingly concerned about the safety of their school children, especially when the school children leave a school campus and travel back to their respective bus stops. In addition, if the child is unsure of his or her bus stop, the child can miss the bus stop and be dropped off at the wrong location. Further, if a school bus accident occurs or if the school bus is hijacked, the parents and the school are left unaware of the location of the school children. It is believed that the current education system lacks adequate safety systems for the tracking of school children and school buses. Hence, there is a need for a safety system to track the whereabouts of school children and school buses.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.


The present invention is to provide a charge controlling agent and negatively chargeable toner that do not contain any toxic metal, are essentially free from the risk of evoking ignition or explosion, and can exhibit a high charge amount and rapid initial increase in charging.

The image formation process by electrophotography involves forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body made of an inorganic or organic material, developing therefrom a toner image using a toner, transferring the toner image to paper or plastic film, and fixing the image thereon to provide a visible image. The photosensitive body is negatively or positively chargeable depending on its mechanism. When a printing character portion is left as an electrostatic latent image after exposure to light, a toner chargeable with electricity having the opposite polarity is used for developing a toner image. On the other hand, when the reversal development is performed by depriving a printing character portion of electricity while keeping the rest charged with electricity of one polarity after exposure to light, a toner chargeable with electricity of the same polarity is used for developing a toner image.
The toner contains a binding resin, a coloring agent, and other additives. Generally, the toner is further supplemented with a charge controlling agent so that it may be conferred therewith desired charging properties (charging speed, charge level, charge stability, etc.), storage stability, endurance to the change of environment, and the like. The performance of a toner may be greatly improved through the addition of such a charge controlling agent.
Suitable charge controlling agents previously proposed and actually employed for improving the negative charge controllability of a toner include mono azo metal complex compounds where the central metal is chromium, mono azo metal complex compounds where the central metal is iron, and metal complexes of alkylsalicylic acid or of aromatic oxycarboxylic acid, or their salts.
However, these charge controlling agents have the following problems. For example, they are not sufficiently affinitive to a binding resin of a toner, do not have a sufficient power to provide tribocharge, or do not allow the toner to be charged in a sufficiently short time (rate of initial increase in charging), and accordingly, images obtained at the initial phase of copying are short of clearness, or the quality of images is apt to fluctuate during continuous copying. Furthermore, if the charge controlling agent is composed of a metal complex or salt of alkylsalicylic acid or aromatic oxycarboxylic acid, the toner incorporating such a charge controlling agent greatly alters its charging performance depending on environmental conditions. Thus, the quality of images varies significantly depending on which time of the year they are copied.
Indeed there are some among mono azo chromium complex compounds that are sufficiently improved to be free from part of the aforementioned defects affecting the performance of toner. However, even such compounds, when they are burnt for disposal, may have the risk of producing hexavalent chromium or a harmful substance which may have adverse effects on the environment and human body, although the production amount of such toxic substance is likely to be minute. A toner incorporating a charge controlling agent containing a complex whose central metal is iron, instead of a complex whose central metal is chromium, has been disclosed (for example, see the following patent document 1). The toner incorporating such a metal complex has a sufficiently high charge level to be practical (at least −10 μc/g), but its initial increase in charging is lower than that of a corresponding toner incorporating a chromium complex. In addition, the lowering of charge level observed when the toner is exposed to a highly moist environment remains still unsolved.
Some azo iron complexes have also been disclosed (for example, see the following patent document 2). Of the complexes, those that ensure high performance are all azo complexes comprising two or more nitro groups. Thus, synthesis of such complex compounds is exposed at all times to the danger of ignition/explosion. The risk of ignition/explosion is particularly increased during the synthesis of complexes whose central metal is iron, and drying and pulverizing steps are extremely dangerous. Pulverized toners are generally produced by putting the material into an extrusion kneader, kneading the material, and pulverizing the kneaded material. Thus, it is not always unlikely that the powder explodes during the manufacture of the toner. As far as complexes whose central metal is chromium are concerned, the likeliness of ignition/explosion is low. Of them, however, the majority of azo chromium complexes comprising two or more nitro groups are self-reactive (Class V dangerous substances).
An iron complex having a pyrazolone skeleton is disclosed (for example, see the following patent document 3), although its application is directed towards the production of an optical information recording medium. Another iron complex having a pyrazolone skeleton is disclosed (for example, see the following patent document 4) which is used as an additive to toner. These pyrazolone compounds generally include compounds in which a phenyl group attached to a nitrogen atom of a pyrazolone ring has two or more substituent groups. However, the above patent documents do not give any mention or suggestion, in concrete terms, about a pyrazolone compound in which a phenyl group comprises two chlorine atoms at specified positions.    Patent Document 1: JP Kokai No. Sho 61-155464    Patent Document 2: JP Kohyo No. Hei 8-500912    Patent Document 3: JP Kokai No. Hei 11-20317    Patent Document 4: JP Kokai No. 2004-86224

Mono azo iron complex compound, and charge controlling agent and toner using the same

Abstract: The charge controlling agent is a mono azo iron complex compound represented by Formula (1):

Abstract: wherein J represents H, alkali metal, ammonium, or alkyl ammonium, or two or more of those elements in combination.


An organic solvent based polyester ink formulation having a fluorescing compound therein is suitable for ink jet printing applications. The ink is useful for producing invisible printing/markings on the surface of a variety of materials for identification, authentication, sorting, etc. Suitable printing substrates include porous and non-porous materials such as plastic, film, sheeting, fabric, paper, high gloss paper; metal, foils, plates; rubber; glass; cellophane; wood; and the like. The ink formulation contains at least one organic soluble polyester, having at least one near infrared fluorophore copolymerized therein, dissolved in an organic solvent. Suitable organic solvents include a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 carbon ketone, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 carbon organic ester, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 carbon alcohol, or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the polyester containing the copolymerized near infrared fluorophore is dissolved in a solvent comprising a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 carbon ketone and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 carbon alcohol.

This invention relates to organic solvent based ink formulations suitable for ink jet printing by the piezoelectric impulse drop-on-demand (DOD) method and by using several available continuous ink jet printing systems, and which contain a suitable organic solvent and one or more polyesters having one or more copolymerized near infrared fluorophores dissolved therein.
It is desirable to provide intelligible markings that are virtually invisible to the human eye on the surface of articles for identification, authentication, sorting, etc. It is known to use near infrared fluorescent compounds which have minimal light absorption in the visible light wavelength range of about 400-700 manometers (nm) and which have strong light absorbance in the near infrared wavelength region of about 700-900 nm with accompanying fluorescence to produce fluorescent radiation having wavelengths longer than the wavelength of excitation (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,093,147; 5,336,174; 5,423,432; 5,461,136).
Aqueous ink formulations for ink jet printing which contain at least one water-dissipatable sulfopolyester/amide containing near infrared fluorophore copolymerized therein have been reported in U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,008. These aqueous ink formulations are, unfortunately, only useful for printing onto porous cellulosic materials, such as, for example paper, wood, and the like. The aqueous formulations are slow to dry and are not suitable for printing on nonporous substrates, particularly glossy paper, glass, metal foils, metal sheeting, etc. The extended drying time may further result in the printed matter becoming smeared. Another disadvantage of the aqueous formulations is when these inks are printed on nonporous substrates, the printed markings do not sufficiently resist rubbing, scraping, scuffing, etc., to remain on the printed substrate. The disclosed sulfopolyester/amides containing copolymerized infrared fluorophores are not useful in formulating organic solvent base inks for ink jet printing because of their limited solubility in organic solvents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,595 discloses a water-based ink which provides markings that fluoresce when exposed to light in the near infrared wavelength. The water-based ink is used to mark documents such as bank checks for automatic identification. The dyes used to make the ink are water-soluble, cationic phenoxazines (e.g. 3,7-bis(diethylamino) phenoxazonium nitrate is the preferred fluorescent material). These dyes are not invisible. They impart blue shades to the marked substrate and the inks are not suitable for printing on nonporous substrates. The dyes have limited solubility in organic solvents utilized in ink formulations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,147 discloses infrared fluorescing inks which are useful for printing invisible markings on the surface of an article. The inks use known polymethine (cyanine) laser dyes. Although the dyes used provide invisible markings, the cyanine dyes, unfortunately, have the disadvantage of fading or decomposing upon brief exposure to ultraviolet light.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,630,941 discloses certain 16,17-dialkoxyviolanthrones (also called dibenzanthrones) to be useful as infrared fluorescent markers. However, they have a high molecular weight and at room temperature, have very limited solubility in solvents normally useful for preparing solvent based inks. These compounds also have significant absorption of light having wavelengths below 700 nm and, therefore, do not usually provide invisible markings.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application: Hei 3-79683 (Hanada, et al.) discloses ink formulations containing certain infrared absorbing naphthalocyanine compounds useful for printing bar codes and for identifying documents to prevent falsification and forgery. Various meltable waxes (e.g. Carnauba wax) and thermoplastic resins are used as vehicles in combination with alcohols and aromatic hydrocarbons to produce thermal transfer inks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,714 discloses aqueous coating compositions containing about 20 weight percent to about 35 weight percent of a water-dissipatable sulfopolyester dispersed in about 65% to about 80% by weight of water. The sulfopolyester includes 0.1 ppm by weight to about 10% by weight of a thermally stable near infrared fluorophoric compound. The coating compositions are not suitable for ink jet printing because the compositions plug the orifices of the jets.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,136 discloses polyesters having certain infrared fluorophores copolymerized therein to provide an invisibly marked or tagged polymeric composition. The patent also discloses a method of detection for the copolymerized polyesters. However, the polymer compositions are not adequately dissolved in the solvents normally used for solvent based inks resulting in sludge or sediment upon standing.
There is a need to provide ink formulations for printing of intelligible near infrared fluorescent markings which overcome the problems inherent in the prior art. These ink formulations need to be printable by available ink printing methods, such as an ink jet printer, at commercial speeds on a variety of substrates. The inks need to be fast drying and to provide markings which are tough enough to resist scuffing, scraping, rubbing, etc. In particular the inks should be suitable for printing on substrates such as glossy paper, glass, metal, plastics, etc.

Organic solvent based ink for invisible marking/identification


An approach is provided for creating a virtual workspace among devices based, at least in part, on location information. The virtual workspace corresponds to an application or a service common to the devices. Monitoring of the movement of one or more of the devices causes manipulation of the virtual workspace, the application, the service, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the movement. Example applications and services include media editing, media playback, image processing, social networking, and social control functionality.

Mobile devices are rapidly becoming the computing device of choice for today's tech-savvy, on-the-go users. Very often, mobile device users desire to engage in real-time collaborative processing tasks or social networking sessions with other wireless device users. The rise in popularity of social networking mediums such as Facebook®, MySpace®, LinkedIn®, Twitter®, various blogs sites, chat rooms, peer-to-peer applications and the like, is due in much part to the fact that such interaction can be performed on-the-go.
The overall quality of experience of a mobile device user as they engage with others in a collaborative networking environment depends on various factors. In particular, the experience depends on the extent to which the user's device can visually depict all involved parties. Another factor is the ability of shared services or applications to promote seamless interaction amongst users (e.g., real-time file sharing). As yet another factor, the persistent movement, orientation, placement or whereabouts of users relative to a defined physical or network environment in which they interact impacts the quality of the experience. Unfortunately, while today's social networking and collaborative software applications are designed to readily facilitate user interaction, the small display of today's wireless devices limits the extent of this interactivity. The small form factor of mobile devices, while making them attractive for mobility purposes, allows only a limited amount of information to be presented at a time. This can diminish the collaborative visual and interactive perspective the user desires.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for generating a virtual interactive workspace


An illuminated controller having a membrane potentiometer for use as a light dimmer or other voltage controlling device. The controller has a backplate that acts as a sturdy base, and a cover, having sidewalls and a top wall with a central opening. The cover is mounted on the backplate and a layered structure is interposed between the cover and backplate. The layered structure includes a membrane potentiometer for varying voltage, and an electroluminescent panel, for generating light to illuminate the controller.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an illuminated controller, and more specifically to an illuminated membrane potentiometer for use as a light dimmer or other voltage controlling device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Potentiometers are well known for controlling voltage selection in numerous types of applications in both home and industry. For example, these devices may be used in the control panels of such things as aircraft and aerospace applications, computers, arcade games, kitchen appliances, or lighting systems to name a few.
In the past, prior art potentiometers for providing voltage selection have typically been operated using a mechanical wiper that is typically controlled by a knob or slider on a control panel. The wiper contacts a resistive element, which provides for voltage selection over a continuous range of voltages. The constant mechanical contact between the wiper and the resistive element tends to accelerate the wear and eventual failure of this type of potentiometer.
A more recently devised potentiometer uses a membrane comprising a continuous length of electrically resistive material, a corresponding continuous length of electrically conductive material, which serves as a wiper, and an electrically insulating spacer which serves to simultaneously support and separate the resistive and conductive layers. Either one or both of the resistive and conductive materials are designed as flexible members so that they can be pressed together at any selected location along their length to bring them into electrical contact.
If a voltage is applied across the resistive material, a voltage gradient is established along the length of the material. Thus, touching either the top or bottom surface of the flexible member will cause the resistive and conductive materials to contact each other, producing a voltage output on the conductive material or wiper. The advantage of this device is that it minimizes wiper contact and reduces wear and yet provides a continuous range of output voltage levels.
A potentiometer membrane as described can be used to make a reliable and economical dimmer and/or switch for use with a light fixture. However, since light switches and dimmers and other potentiometer controls must sometimes be found and used in poorly lit rooms, it is desirable to provide an illumination source on the control. Accordingly, it is known in the prior art to place an L.E.D on a potentiometer control (U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,364 to Okuya) or to use a photo-conductive element routed to the control knob surface (U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,174 to Oyama). However, these devices are only illuminated by a small point source of light. It is desirable to have a larger surface of the potentiometer illuminated so that it will be easier to see and softer on the eyes.
3. Related Art
Examples of patents that are related to the present invention are as follows, and each patent is herein incorporated by reference for the supporting teachings:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,308 is a force sensitive touch panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,562 is a membrane switch and fabrication method.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,364 is an illuminating type linear resistor for volume control.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,501 is a sliding foot controller.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,817 is a pressure responsive panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,366 is an illuminated variable resistor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,174 is an illumination type rotary variable resistor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,105 is a touch controlled circuit apparatus for voltage selection.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,848 is a transparent keyboard switch and array.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,381 is a slide potentiometer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,467 is a touch controlled voltage-divider device.
U.S. Pat. No. Re. 33,089 is a position sensing and indicating device.
The foregoing patents reflect the state of the art of which the applicant is aware and are tendered with the view toward discharging applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information which may be pertinent in the examination of this application. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that none of these patents teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, applicant's claimed invention.


An operational amplifier capable of compensating offset voltage includes an input stage circuit having a positive input end, a negative input end, a first current output end, and a second current output end, for outputting current corresponding to voltage received by the positive and negative input ends, an output stage circuit coupled to the first current output end and the second current output end of the input stage circuit, for outputting voltage according to current outputted from the first current output end and the second current output end, and an trimming device coupled between the input stage circuit and the output stage circuit, for adjusting current of the first current output end or the second current output end for compensating offset voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an operational amplifier capable of compensating offset voltage, and more particularly, to an operational amplifier compensating offset voltage through adjusting currents between an input stage circuit and an output stage circuit of an operational amplifier.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An operational amplifier is an important component of all kinds of electronic devices, and is widely used in home appliances, industrial fields, scientific instruments, etc. Circuit designers usually use operational amplifiers for different operations, such as buffers, filters, analog to digital converters, etc.
An ideal operational amplifier has the following characters: infinite input impedance, zero output impedance, infinite open loop gain, infinite common mode rejection ratio, infinite frequency bandwidth. However, due to limitations of semiconductor processes and integrated circuit techniques, there are difficulties in realizing an ideal operational amplifier. In order to present properties of a real operational amplifier, an offset voltage is used for representing the non-ideal effects in the prior art.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a schematic diagram of a prior art operational amplifier 10. The operational amplifier 10 comprises an input stage circuit 100, an output stage circuit 102, and an equivalent voltage source 104. The operational amplifier 10 receives differential signals from a positive input end Vp and a negative input end Vn, and outputs an amplified result from an output end Vo. The equivalent voltage source 104 represents non-ideal effects of the operational amplifier 10 (which does not exist in the actual circuit), a generated voltage Vos represents the voltage difference between the output end Vo and the positive input end Vp when the output end Vo is coupled to the negative input end Vn (forming a unit gain feedback structure), namely an offset voltage of the operational amplifier 10. Many reasons cause offset voltage, such as physical properties of semiconductors, flaws during process, component mismatches, etc.
Please refer to FIG. 2, which illustrates a schematic diagram of the input stage circuit 100 shown in FIG. 1. The input stage circuit 100 generates currents Id1 and Id2 to the output stage circuit 102 according to the positive input end voltage Vp and the negative input end voltage Vn, and includes input transistors P1, P2 and a current source 200. The input transistors P1 and P2 are both p-type metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors forming a common-source differential pair with a common mode voltage Vc. Under ideal conditions, properties such as channel lengths or channel widths of the input transistors P1 and P2 are identical, so a current Ib generated by the current source 200 will drift into the sources of the input transistors P1 and P2 evenly, making source-to-gate voltages of the input transistors P1 and P2 identical, which means that the voltage Vos equals 0, and the currents Id1 and Id2 are identical. However, in practice, the input transistors P1 and P2 do not match perfectly due to processing properties, so that threshold voltages of the input transistors P1 and P2 are not the same. In such situation, the source-to-gate voltages of the input transistors P1 and P2 are not identical, so that the offset voltage Vos does not equal 0, and the currents Id1 and Id2 are not identical.
Briefly speaking, due to physical properties of semiconductors, flaws during process, component mismatches, etc, the offset voltage of the prior art operational amplifier does not equal 0, and has an effect on the performance. Therefore, decreasing the operational amplifier offset voltage effect became one of the tasks in this art.

Operational amplifier capable of compensating offset voltage