A document service request at a mobile computing device is carried out using at least two communications channels. The document service request includes a first parameter identifying a document accessible to a document server. Device information identifying a type of output device available over one of two communications channels is obtained at the mobile computing device and added as a second parameter to the document service request. The parameters of the document service request are transmitted from the mobile computing device to the document server over one of the two communications channels. The mobile computing device controls a connection between the document server and the output device by communicating with the document server over one of its communications channels and with the output device over the other of its communications channels to transmit there between the document in a format suitable for the output device.

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for controlling the routing of documents from document servers to output devices via a mobile computing device, and more specifically, to a mobile computing device for bridging communications between a document server and an output device that operate on separate networks with no adequate preexisting connectivity.
Generally, while the use of mobile computing devices continues to increase, they continue to have limited storage capacities. Thus, although it may be possible to store documents on mobile devices, the size and number of documents stored on mobile computing devices is limited. In addition, since documents continue to increase in size because they include combinations of text, graphics, images, audio, and video, there exists a need for a capability to manage documents on mobile devices without requiring that they be physically present on the devices.
Besides the problem of limited storage on mobile computing devices, documents may need to be accessed in real time because they have been recently created or modified. That is, even if a document has been stored on a mobile computing device, a user may need to access the document from another location because recent updates are not incorporated in the document stored on the mobile computing device. Alternatively, real time access to documents may be desirable when unexpected access to a document that was not previously planned for is required and that document is not stored on the mobile computing device.
Token-enabled mobile computing devices provide one solution to these problems (hereinafter referred to as "the original token-based environment"). The original token-based environment is described in the following patent and patent applications, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,862,321 and 6,144,997 (entitled: "System and Method for Accessing and Distributing Electronic Documents"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,515,988 (entitled: "Token-Based Document Transactions"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,716 (entitled "System For Generating Context-Sensitive Hierarchically Ordered Document Service Menus"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,261 (entitled "Secure Token-Based Document Server"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,189 (entitled "Mobile Email Document Transaction Service"); U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,601 (entitled "Mobile Document Paging Service"); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,493,760 (entitled "Standalone Device For Identifying Available Document Services In A Token Enabled Operating Environment").
The original token-based environment distributes references to documents between mobile computing devices by transmission of the document references, rather than the documents themselves. More specifically, a mobile computing device described in the original token-based environment is adapted to store a collection of document identifiers (e.g., a URL "Uniform Resource Locator"). Each document identifier in the collection identifies a particular document, or service. Each mobile computing device thus holds document references, rather than the documents themselves, thereby eliminating the concern of storage capacity of the mobile computing device. Large documents containing any form of data can therefore apparently be carried using a mobile device and used to construct a print transaction request that can itself be submitted to a remote service such as a print service.
Mobile computing devices operating in the original token-based environment are thus programmed to receive, transmit, and store document identifiers. Each document identifier stored on a mobile computing device is associated with an electronic document stored in an electronic repository. In the original token-based environment, a document can be sent to a token-enabled (e.g., an IR transceiver equipped) network printer by "beaming" a document token, which references the document, from a mobile computing device to the network printer. The token-enabled network printer retrieves the complete document referenced by the document token, and immediately prints a copy of the document. So, to a user of the mobile computing device, documents are apparently passed between users, and output from, or input to token-enabled devices coupled to networks as expansive as the Internet.
In general, the original token-based environment provides that only a small amount of document data (e.g., document name and location) relating to a document is actually stored on the mobile computing device. Typically this is not a disadvantage since most mobile computing devices have a small display (or user interface) that limits the extent to which documents may be viewed. More importantly, this is not a disadvantage because mobile computing devices generally do not have application specific software installed which would impose additional storage and processing requirements for enabling the viewing and/or editing of documents stored in a particular application dependent format. For example, a document stored in the Microsoft® Word format cannot be displayed without software adapted to interpret that specific format. Thus, more generally it is not helpful to store documents on mobile computing devices because there tends to be inadequate storage and/or processing capacity for application software and data.
Presently, "non-token enabled" mobile computing devices operate using application specific and device specific programs that enable printing from a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) to a standalone infrared (IR) enabled printer. For example, application specific programs that operate on a PDA such as Quickoffice™ sold by Cutting Edge Software, Inc. allow a user to create, edit, and view documents in the Microsoft® Word format. In addition, printer (more generally device) specific programs operate with the application specific software such as PrintBoy™ sold by Cutting Edge Software, Inc. to enable beaming from a PDA to a standalone IR enabled printer through the printer's IR port.
In addition to requiring application specific and device specific programs, such non-token enabled mobile computing devices must be pre-configured with print drivers to render documents in particular printer dependent formats (e.g., postscript, PCL). In particular, less expensive printers tend to require more specific print drivers (i.e., more printer dependent) than more expensive printers. Absent specific printer dependent drivers, documents stored directly on such non-token enabled mobile devices cannot be readily rendered to a format that will insure the most accurate reproduction of a document when beamed to the standalone IR enabled printer. A disadvantage of such non-token enabled mobile computing devices over token-enabled mobile computing devices is that they only allow printing of documents stored directly on the PDA. An additional disadvantage of such non-token enabled mobile computing devices with application specific software loaded thereon is that the application specific software may not be exactly compatible with the original software that created a document. This incompatibility in software may cause the document to be rendered (i.e., print, view, etc.) at the mobile computing device different from the document creation software.
Unlike non-token enabled mobile computing devices, the mobile computing devices that are token-enabled with the original token-based environment (i.e., token-enabled mobile computing devices) do not require that application specific programs or print drivers be loaded directly onto the mobile computing device. Instead, a device such as a printer is token-enabled when it is has access to hardware and device specific software that enables it to receive both a document service request (over a wireless network), and the document to which the document service request references (over a wired network from a remote server coupled thereto). Token-enabling devices thus advantageously permits documents stored at locations other than directly on the mobile computing device to be output to devices such as printers.
However, because many output devices are not token-enabled, their services (e.g., printing, faxing, displaying, playing, etc.) are not immediately available to mobile computing devices that are token-enabled (i.e., loaded with a token-enabling device specific software). Devices not equipped to transmit, receive, and manage document tokens (i.e., non token-enabled devices), however, can be made token-enabled with the addition of a token-enabler unit (e.g., an infra-red transceiver, and associated computer and software). In this configuration, the non-token enabled device mounted with a token-enabler unit is made token-enabled as long as it has an existing network connection with a token-enabled server, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,493,760.
However even with the token-enabler unit, some token-enabled mobile computing devices may continue to have no connectivity with output devices that remain non token-enabled because there is no existing network connection between a token-enabled server and the output device. In addition, some token-enabled mobile computing devices may suffer from inadequate preexisting connectivity with token-enabled output devices. Inadequate preexisting connectivity (i.e., can't adequately get from a source to a destination) may exist when circumstances make it more advantageous to communicate with a token-enabled device over one communications channel instead of another. For example, printing in an existing token-based network may require that the content of the document be transmitted from a token-enabled server over an insecure and/or unreliable network such as the Internet to a printer.
There exists therefore a desire to provide an improved path for routing document service request originating at a mobile computing device and taking place between a token-based server and an output device that has either no existing network connectivity or inadequate network connectivity with the token-based server. It would be further desirable if such an improved path for routing documents would provide increased security (e.g., a secure channel) and/or reliability (e.g., guaranteed bandwidth) in the event there is an existing but inadequate connection between the token-based server and the output device.

Method and apparatus for controlling document service requests using a mobile computing device


The instant disclosure provides a light-emitting module and a method of manufacturing a single light-emitting structure. The light-emitting module includes two identical light-emitting structures disposed on the same plane. One of the two light-emitting structures disposed on the plane is rotated by 180 degrees relative to the other light-emitting structure, and the two light-emitting structures are connected to each other. Each light-emitting structure includes a base, a conducting element, a light-emitting element and an encapsulation element. The conducting element includes a plurality of conductors separated from each other and passing through the base body, where the number of the conductors is N and N>1. The light-emitting element includes at least one light-emitting chip electrically connected between at least two of the conductors. The encapsulation element includes a transparent encapsulation body disposed on the base to cover the conducting element and the light-emitting element.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant disclosure relates to a light-emitting module and a method of manufacturing a single light-emitting structure thereof; and in particular to a thin light-emitting module and a method of manufacturing a single light-emitting structure thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
For chip type LED package, a plurality of LED chips is usually mounted PCB substrate in array manner. The thickness for PCB substrate has a specific limitation when forming through holes on the side of the PCB substrate. However, the requirement for thinner design cannot be achieved due to the limitation. In order to obtain a single LED package, sawing process is needed to be processed. However, the immediate materials between each of LED packages are generated accordingly. It not only increases the BOM (Bill of material) cost but also requires human labor to separate each of the LED packages from the immediate materials.

Light-emitting module and method of manufacturing a single light-emitting structure thereof


Temperature- and pH-responsive copolymer compositions, and drug delivery devices, conjugates, nanoparticles, and micelles that include the compositions.

Polymer systems that undergo phase transitions in response to environmental stimuli such as temperature and pH have been widely investigated for drug delivery, separations, and diagnostics applications. A key temperature-responsive class is based on alkyl acrylamide polymers, especially poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAm), which undergoes a sharp coil-globule transition and phase separation at its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in water. This spontaneous process is endothermic and is therefore driven by a gain in entropy associated with the release of hydrophobically-bound water molecules. The LCST of such thermally-sensitive polymers can be tuned to a desired temperature range by copolymerization with a more hydrophilic comonomer (which raises the LCST) or a more hydrophobic comonomer (which lowers the LCST).
pH-Sensitive monomers may also be copolymerized with NIPAAm. For these copolymers, the phase separation can also be triggered by a change in the pH at specific temperatures, such as 37° C. Readily available carboxylic acid monomers, such as acrylic acid (AA) or methacrylic acid (MAA), have been copolymerized with NIPAAm using traditional free radical polymerization techniques to form random copolymers with both temperature- and pH-responsive properties. However, the LCSTs of copolymers increase rapidly with increasing acrylic acid comonomer contents at all pH ranges because acrylic acid is intrinsically more hydrophilic than NIPAAm in both the protonated and unprotonated states. In addition, the critical transitions of pH responsive copolymers of NIPAAm with acrylic acid and methacrylic acid are usually below pH 5.0 due to the low pKa values of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid). Because of this, it has been a general challenge to design NIPAAm copolymers capable of responding to the physiologically-relevant pHs between 5.0 and 7.4.
The properties of NIPAAm copolymers with the hydrophobic acidic monomers 4-pentenoic acid, 6-acrylaminohexanoic acid, and N-acryloyl-L-phenylalanine have been previously reported. The LCSTs of these copolymers decreased at pH 4.0 and increased at pH 7.4 with increasing the content of comonomer 4-pentenoic acid or 6-acrylaminohexanoic acid.
Hydrogels can be made from stimuli-responsive polymers. Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have earned the reputation of "smart materials" because they are able to change abruptly their volume or properties in response to environmental conditions such as temperature, pH, light, and biomolecules. Among the "smart hydrogel materials," particular attention has been paid to temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAm) hydrogels. Like certain temperature-responsive polymers, pNIPAAm hydrogels undergo an abrupt phase transition in water upon heating above 32° C., when the hydrophilic extended coils collapse into hydrophobic globules causing the gels to shrink and expel most of the absorbed water. Such phase transition behavior is thermo-reversible. Some copolymer hydrogels of NIPAAm and acidic (e.g., acrylic acid, methacrylic acid) or basic comonomers are known to be both pH-sensitive and temperature-sensitive. These dual pH/temperature responsive hydrogels have a variety of applications in many fields including controlled drug delivery systems, chromatographic separation, cell culture, microfluidic actuators/valves, and biosensors.
Readily available carboxylic acid monomers, such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, have been copolymerized with NIPAAm using free radical polymerization to form copolymer hydrogels with dual temperature- and pH-responsive properties. However, the critical transitions of pH/temperature responsive NIPAAm and acrylic acid copolymer hydrogels are usually below pH 4.0 due to the low pKa values of poly(acrylic acid) (pKa≈4.25). One serious concern regarding these hydrogels is that many biomolecules, such as peptides and protein, are not stable at low pH. In addition, an increase of acrylic acid content in the NIPAAm copolymer hydrogel could reduce or even eliminate the temperature sensitivity because the hydrophilic acrylic acid comonomer units break pNIPAAm chain sequences into short, uncooperative network segments and, subsequently, weak thermally-driven hydrophobic aggregation of the pNIPAAm chain. Therefore, NIPAAm and acrylic acid copolymer hydrogels cannot show the abrupt and large volume phase transition in an ideal pH range as required in many applications such as microfluidic actuators/valves and drug delivery devices.
Despite the development of temperature- and pH-sensitive copolymers and hydrogels, a need exists for temperature- and pH-sensitive polymer compositions including temperature- and pH-sensitive copolymers and hydrogels having phase transitions at operationally useful temperature and physiological pH (about 5.0 to about 7.4). The present invention seeks to fulfill this need and provides further related advantages.

Temperature- and pH-responsive polymer compositions


An optoelectronic unit includes a base plate, an optoelectronic component carried by the base plate and having at least one optically active zone, and a lens body having at least one lens associated with the at least one optically active zone. The lens body has an integral spacing device resting directly against the optoelectronic component for establishing a desired clearance distance between the at least one optically active zone and the at least one lens.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an optoelectronic unit, having a base plate which carries an optoelectronic component with at least one optically active zone, a lens body having at least one lens associated with the optically active zone, and a spacing device being an integral component of the lens body.
In the production of optoelectronic units or modules, the precise optical coupling of the optically active zone of the optoelectronic component (such as a laser diode) to some further optical element (such as a fiber-optical waveguide) is problematic, especially if a plurality of optically active zones (such as a diode array) are to be coupled.
Published European Patent Application 0 506 438 A1, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,587, discloses a unit with an optoelectronic component in the form of a so-called LED array with a plurality of light-emitting diodes spaced apart in a line as the optically active zones and with a lens carrier which carries a number of individual lenses (lens array) corresponding in number and spacing to the diodes. The assembly and adjustment of the known unit is comparatively complicated and expensive, because of the lack of adjusting devices on the unit itself.
For the sake of easier assembly, Published European Patent Application 0 421 118 A1 describes a carrier body for a glassed-in lens that is fixed relative to a body which carries a laser diode. To that end, one flat side of the carrier body, after being adjusted, can be soldered to metallized small glass blocks that are secured to both sides of the body which carries the laser diode.
German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 43 42 844 A1, corresponding to U.S. application Ser. No. 08/661,076, filed Jun. 10, 1996, discloses a carrier that jointly carries an optoelectronic component with a laser diode array, and lenses that have to be positioned and fixed individually. Additional, separate lenses can be inserted into indentations in the carrier and form a mechanical stop for the component.
An optoelectronic unit which is known from Published European Patent Application 0 529 947 A1 includes as its first part a base plate (termination plate) which has a solder-coated contact spot for at least one optoelectronic component with an optically active zone, and reference points in the form of first alignment indentations. A component placed on the contact spot is automatically exactly positioned relative to the contact spot and therefore to the alignment indentations, upon reflux of the solder, utilizing the surface tension of the solder. An optical fiber to be coupled extends in a groove of a second plate and ends at the end region toward the base plate. An indentation is provided in the end region, preceding the end of the optical fiber, and a separate spherical lens can be inserted into it. Further alignment indentations are formed in the end region, cooperating with the first alignment indentations and forming receptacle spaces. Separate alignment balls can be inserted into the receptacle spaces and provide for positioning and mutual alignment of the two plates in the XYZ directions. The positioning of the optical fiber in the Z direction (axial direction) and the adjustment and positioning of the lens are not described in further detail and must be carried out separately. The known unit has comparatively many individual parts that must each be manufactured precisely, that involve tolerance and that have to be manipulated individually.
Published European Patent Application 0 117 606 A1, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,172, describes a collector for a light-emitting diode row in which each light-emitting diode is assigned a central lens with a concentric parabolic mirror surface, in order to shape light emitted by the light-emitting diode into a parallel beam. The collector is braced through a spacing device on a base plate that carries the individual light-emitting diodes. Therefore the conditions of coupling and beam formation depend not only on the structural height of the light-emitting diodes but also on the tolerances of the seam heights between the light-emitting diodes and the base plate on one hand, and the spacing device and the base plate on the other hand. In the described use of the collector in an electrophotographic recording device, such tolerances are acceptable. However, when light is coupled into an optical fiber, for instance, tolerances that are lower by at least one order of magnitude must be assured.
German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 38 30 119 A1 describes a unit of the type referred to at the outset, in which an optoelectronic component in the form of a laser chip with at least one optically active zone is fixed on a base plate. A lens body has a plane side surface toward the zone and an opposite, convex side surface having a curvature which serves as an aspherical lens. The region between the curvature and the plane side surface necessarily dictates a considerable spacing between the laser and the convex side surface acting as a lens, and that spacing is disadvantageous to the coupling efficiency. Moreover, a material that serves to prevent reflections has to be disposed between the plane side surface and the laser. The laser mirror surface can become stressed and damaged from contact with that material, particularly when there are frequent temperature change cycles.

Device for spacing at least one lens from an optoelectronic component


A container, suitable as a hot-fill container, includes a controlled deflection flex panel which may invert and flex under pressure, such as hot-fill conditions, to avoid deformation and permanent buckling of the container. The flex panel includes an initiator portion which has a lesser projection than the remainder of the flex panel and initiates deflection of the flex panel.

'Hot-Fill' applications impose significant and complex mechanical stress on a container structure due to thermal stress, hydraulic pressure upon filling and immediately after capping, and vacuum pressure as the fluid cools.
Thermal stress is applied to the walls of the container upon introduction of hot fluid. The hot fluid will cause the container walls to soften and then shrink unevenly, causing distortion of the container. The polyester must therefore be heat-treated to induce molecular changes resulting in a container that exhibits thermal stability.
Pressure and stress are acted upon the side walls of a heat resistant container during the filling process, and for significant period of time thereafter. When the container is filled with hot liquid and sealed, there is an initial hydraulic pressure and an increased internal pressure is placed upon containers. As the liquid, and the air headspace under the cap, subsequently cool, thermal contraction results in partial evacuation of the container. The vacuum created by this cooling tends to mechanically deform the container walls.
Generally speaking, containers incorporating a plurality of longitudinal flat surfaces accommodate vacuum force more readily. Agrawal et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,855 discloses a container with a plurality of recessed collapse panels, separated by land areas, which allows uniformly inward deformation under vacuum force. The vacuum effects are controlled without adversely affecting the appearance of the container. The panels are drawn inwardly to vent the internal vacuum and so prevent excess force being applied to the container structure, which would otherwise deform the inflexible post or land area structures. The amount of 'flex' available in each panel is limited, however, and as the limit is approached there is an increased amount of force that is transferred to the side walls.
To minimise the effect of force being transferred to the side walls, much prior art has focused on providing stiffened regions to the container, including the panels, to prevent the structure yielding to the vacuum force.
The provision of horizontal or vertical annular sections, or 'ribs', throughout a container has become common practice in container construction, and is not only restricted to hot-fill containers. Such annular sections will strengthen the part they are deployed upon. Cochran U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,455 discloses annular rib strengthening in a longitudinal direction, placed in the areas between the flat surfaces that are subjected to inwardly deforming hydrostatic forces under vacuum force. Akiho Ota et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,788 discloses longitudinally extending ribs alongside the panels to add stiffening to the container. Akiho Ota also discloses the strengthening effect of providing a larger step in the sides of the land areas. This provides greater dimension and strength to the rib areas between the panels. Akiho Ota et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,290 discloses indentations to strengthen the panel areas themselves.
Akiho Ota et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,129 discloses further annular rib strengthening, this time horizontally directed in strips above and below, and outside, the hot-fill panel section of the bottle.
In addition to the need for strengthening a container against both thermal and vacuum stress, there is a need to allow for an initial hydraulic pressure and increased internal pressure that is placed upon a container when hot liquid is introduced followed by capping. This causes stress to be placed on the container side wall. There is a forced outward movement of the heat panels, which can result in a barrelling of the container.
Thus, Havashi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,141, discloses a panel configuration that accommodates an initial, and natural, outward flexing caused by internal hydraulic pressure and temperature, followed by inward flexing caused by the vacuum formation during cooling. Importantly, the panel is kept relatively flat in profile, but with a central portion displaced slightly to add strength to the panel but without preventing its radial movement in and out. With the panel being generally flat, however, the amount of movement is limited in both directions. By necessity, panel ribs are not included for extra resilience, as this would prohibit outward and inward return movement of the panel as a whole.
Krishnakumar et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,128 discloses another flexible panel that is intended to be reactive to hydraulic pressure and temperature forces that occur after filling. Relatively standard 'hot-fill' style container geometry is disclosed for a 'pasteurizable' container. It is claimed that the pasteurization process does not require the container to be heat-set prior to filling, because the liquid is introduced cold and is heated after capping. Concave panels are used to compensate for the pressure differentials. To provide for flexibility in both radial outward movement followed by radial inward movement however, the panels are kept to a shallow inward-bow to accommodate a response to the changing internal pressure and temperatures of the pasteurization process. The increase in temperature after capping, which is sustained for some time, softens the plastic material and therefore allows the inwardly curved panels to flex more easily under the induced force. It is disclosed that too much curvature would prevent this, however. Permanent deformation of the panels when forced into an opposite bow is avoided by the shallow setting of the bow, and also by the softening of the material under heat. The amount of force transmitted to the walls of the container is therefore once again determined by the amount of flex available in the panels, just as it is in a standard hot-fill bottle. The amount of flex is limited, however, due to the need to keep a shallow curvature on the radial profile of the panels. Accordingly, the bottle is strengthened in many standard ways.
Krishnakumar et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,834 discloses still further 'flexible' panels that can be moved from a convex position to a concave position, in providing for a 'squeezable' container. Vacuum pressure alone cannot invert the panels, but they can be manually forced into inversion. The panels automatically 'bounce' back to their original shape upon release of squeeze pressure, as a significant amount of force is required to keep them in an inverted position, and this must be maintained manually. Permanent deformation of the panel, caused by the initial convex presentation, is avoided through the use of multiple longitudinal flex points.
Krishnakumar et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,184 discloses still further 'flexible' panels that claim to be movable from a convex first position to a concave second position in providing for a grip-bottle comprising two large, flattened sides. Each panel incorporates an indented 'invertible' central portion. Containers such as this, whereby there are two large and flat opposing sides, differ in vacuum pressure stability from hot-fill containers that are intended to maintain a generally cylindrical shape under vacuum draw. The enlarged panel side walls are subject to increased suction and are drawn into concavity more so than if each panel were smaller in size, as occurs in a 'standard' configuration comprising six panels on a substantially cylindrical container. Thus, such a container structure increases the amount of force supplied to each of the two panels, thereby increasing the amount of flex force available.
Even so, the convex portion of the panels must still be kept relatively flat, however, or the vacuum force cannot draw the panels into the required concavity. The need to keep a shallow bow to allow flex to occur was previously described by Krishnakumar et al in both U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,834 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,128. This in turn limits the amount of vacuum force that is vented before strain is placed on the container walls. Further, it is generally considered impossible for a shape that is convex in both the longitudinal and horizontal planes to successfully invert, anyhow, unless it is of very shallow convexity. Still further, the panels cannot then return back to their original convex position again upon release of vacuum pressure when the cap is removed if there is any meaningful amount of convexity in the panels. At best, a panel will be subject to being 'force-flipped' and will lock into a new inverted position. The panel is then unable to reverse in direction as there is no longer the influence of heat from the liquid to soften the material and there is insufficient force available from the ambient pressure. Additionally, there is no longer assistance from the memory force that was available in the plastic prior to being flipped into a concave position. Krishnakumar et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,128 previously disclose the provision of longitudinal ribs to prevent such permanent deformation occurring when the panel arcs are flexed from a convex position to one of concavity. This same observation regarding permanent deformation was also disclosed in Krishnakumar et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,834. Hayashi et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,141 also disclosed the necessity of keeping panels relatively flat if they were to be flexed against their natural curve.
The principal mode of failure in prior art containers is believed by the applicant to be non-recoverable buckling of the structural geometry of the container, due to weakness, when there is a vacuum pressure inside the container, and especially when such a container has been subjected to a lowering of the material weight for commercial advantage.
The present invention in contrast, allows for increased flexing of the vacuum panel side walls so that the pressure on the containers may be more readily accommodated. Reinforcing ribs of various types and location may still be used, as described above, to still compensate for any excess stress that must inevitably be present from the flexing of the container walls into the new 'pressure-adjusted' condition by ambient forces.

Container having pressure responsive panels


Systems and methods are described herein that include flow control mechanisms that provide a receiving device with the ability to reclaim buffers that have been previously advertised to a sending device. Data structures and communication methods are described that facilitate the communication of flow control messages between sending and receiving devices that allow an advertised window to be reduced, and buffers to be released, by a sending device in response to a flow control message from the receiving device.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) defines how data is transferred between sending and receiving devices through a network. To enable transmission of data from a sending device, a receiving device communicates an "advertised window" of memory capacity that sets an upper limit on the amount of data the sending device can send without receiving acknowledgement from the receiving device. The term "buffer" is often used to refer to some standard quantity of memory and the advertised window may communicate a number of buffers that have been allocated to the sending device and thus are available at the receiving device.
The sending device tracks how many "buffers" of data that the sending device has sent and will cease sending data when the sending device has sent data equivalent to the number of buffers in the advertised window. As the receiving device receives data from the sending device, it acknowledges receipt of the data and may communicate an additional quantity of buffers (e.g., a new advertised window) that have been allocated to the sending device. The sending device can then send data enough to fill the new advertised window. Thus, in TCP communication, the advertised window communicated to a sending device by a receiving device controls the flow of data from the sending device to the receiving device.


A histamine concentration level of a fish item is determined by illuminating the fish and analyzing the resulting spectral image data. Specifically, an algorithm is applied to the fish image data so that a histamine concentration value is calculated for every pixel of the fish image. A corresponding histamine concentration image of the fish is produced based on the collective histamine concentration values. The fish is accepted or rejected based on the collective histamine concentration values and/or the histamine concentration image. The histamine concentration image may be used to identify specific parts of a fish fillet that exceed (or do not exceed) a predetermined histamine concentration level.

Histamine fish poisoning is an entirely preventable condition and is among the most common toxicities related to fish ingestion. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 37% of all seafood-related food-borne illnesses result from histamine poisonings.
In harvested fish, histamine is formed by the breakdown of histidine. Histidine exists naturally in many types of fish, and at temperatures above 16° C. (60° F.), histidine is converted to the biogenic amine histamine, via the enzyme histidine decarboxylase. The enzyme histidine decarboxylase is produced by enteric bacteria (including Morganella morganii). Histamine is not destroyed by normal cooking temperatures—consequently even properly cooked fish may cause histamine poisoning.
The US Food and Drug Administration established a regulatory threshold of 50 ppm histamine per 100 grams of fish. In most cases, histamine levels in illness-causing fish have been above 200 ppm. Histamine poisoning can cause severe discomfort. Histamine poisoning produces symptoms sometimes mistaken for those of allergic reactions (e.g. rashes, flushes, tingling, itching, etc.). In healthy adults the discomfort rarely lasts longer than one day, however in the young, elderly, or immunocompromised the effects may be more serious.
Members of the Scrombroidae family such as tuna, mahi mahi, and bluefish are most commonly associated with histamine poisoning. Rapid chilling of fish immediately after harvest is the most important element in any strategy for preventing histamine formation.
A number of test kits are currently available to test for the presence and concentrations of histamines. However, these kits require that a technician physically sample and interact with each piece of fish tested. Further, a negative result (i.e. an indication that the fish is safe) is only applicable to the specific sample of meat tested. Current tests do not yield (or guarantee) results for the entire piece of fish.
The need exists for a passive test that provides quick and reliable histamine concentration level information for the entire piece of fish inspected. The method described herein is quick and accurate and provides information regarding the histamine concentration on the entire piece of fish. Further, the current method is much less labor-intensive than prior art methods because it does not require a technician to physically touch any portion of the fish.

Method of determining histamine concentration in fish

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


An optical disc recording method and apparatus which records a clock stabilization information additionally on a discontinuous recording position in the signal track of the optical disc on which a support signal in the soft sector system is preformatted. The method and apparatus records a clock stabilization information on a part of unit blocks adjacent to the discontinuous recording position in the signal track of the optical disc on which a support signal for dividing the signal track into unit blocks is preformatted in a separate area different from the signal track. Further, a user information is recorded on the remaining part of the unit blocks adjacent to the discontinuous recording position. Accordingly, the user information recorded on a position adjacent to the discontinuous recording position in the signal track of the optical disc can be stabbly reproduced, and a recording capacity of the optical disc can be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a technique for recording an information onto an optical disc in which a support signal indicating the physical position of a signal track is preformatted on an area different from the signal track, and more particularly to an optical disc recording method which records an information onto an discontinuous recording position of the signal track and an apparatus thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the conventional optical disc, such as a compact disc, hereinafter referred simply to as "CD", and a digital versatile disc, hereinafter referred simply to as "DVD", a signal track on which an information is to be recorded is formed in the spiral or concentric shape. Also, in the optical disc, a support signal is preformatted such that the signal track can be accessed in a random basis. This support signal divides the signal track into unit storage areas having a constant size and indicates the physical position of these unit storage areas.
The support signal has been preformatted on the optical disc in the two methods, that is, in the hard sector system and the soft sector system. According to the former hard sector system, the support signal is preformatted on the optical disc by defining embossed pits in the partial area of the signal track of the optical disc. In an optical disc in which the support signal is preformatted in this way, as shown in FIG. 1, signal tracks in the concentric or spiral shape are divided into a constant size of sectors 14. Each of these sectors 14 consists of a sector identification signal portion 16 and a main information signal portion 18. The sector identification signal portion 16 includes a synchronous pattern, an address mark, a track number and a sector number, thereby to indicate a boundary portion with adjacent sectors and to be used as a support signal indicating the physical position of that sector. The support signal in such a hard sector system occupies a partial region of the signal track on which user information is otherwise recorded. This results in a recording capacity of the optical disc being reduced.
On the other hand, the support signal in the latter soft sector system is positioned within a separate area that different from the signal track of the optical area, that is, a so-called wobbled area, so that it is possible to make a recording capacity of the optical disc large. In an optical disc in which the support signal is preformatted in this soft sector system, as shown in FIG. 2, wobbled grooves 22 defined from the center to the circumference of the optical disc in the spiral or concentric shape, hereinafter referred to as "groove tracks", are wobbled in a certain period, and lands 20, hereinafter referred to as "land tracks", are arranged in parallel with the groove tracks 22 between the groove tracks 22. The support signal is preformatted on the wobbled portion in either side of the groove tracks, hereinafter referred to as "wobbled area".
A user information block recorded on the signal track of the optical disc in which the support signal in such a soft sector system is preformatted, consists of a user block identification portion and a user block information portion. This user block identification portion includes a synchronous pattern, an address mark, a track number and a block number, etc. similar to the support signal in the spare sector system. The user block identification portion configured in this way indicates the physical position of the signal track of the optical disc at the time of reproducing. Accordingly, the support signal in the soft sector system is mainly used in the case where the user information is recorded onto the optical disc.
Further, the support signal is preformatted on the optical disc in such a pattern that it is synchronized with a clock signal having a constant period, in order to represent a transfer rate of the user information, that is, the recording and reproducing speed. In other words, a constant period of clock signal is included in the support signal preformatted on the optical disc. Clock signals included in each of the user block identification portion and the sector identification signal portion in the hard sector system have the same period as bits of the user information while a clock signal included in the support signal in the soft sector system has a relatively large period compared with bits of the user information. That is to say, a reference clock signal included in the support signal in the soft sector system has a lower frequency in comparison to the user information bit. Owing to this, in the optical disc in which the support signal in the soft sector system is preformatted, the phase of the clock signal recorded on the signal track may be changed suddenly. If the phase of the clock signal is suddenly changed as mentioned above, then since a clock signal having a period different from bit of the user information is reproduced, a part of the user information blocks recorded on the signal track is not reproduced accurately. This phenomenon occurs at a recording position in the signal track of the optical disc recorded discontinuously, hereinafter referred to as "discontinuous recording position". Moreover, it occurs more frequently as the number of the information files recorded on the signal track of the optical disc increases. This discontinuous recording position appears in the case where the first information file is recorded in a range from the start position of the signal track to an optional position in the intermediate thereof and, after a certain time has lapsed, the second information file is recorded from the optional position, and in the case where a new information is overwritten to an optional position of the signal track on which an information was recorded.
In reality, as shown in FIG. 3, if the first user information was recorded in a region S1 (not shown) ranged from the left side of the signal track 20 or 22 of the optical disc to an optional point DCP and, after a certain time has lapsed, the second user information was recorded from the optional point DCP, that is, the discontinuous recording position, then the phase of a recording clock recorded on the signal track 20 or 22 becomes suddenly changed at the discontinuous recording position L.sub.t as shown at (A) of FIG. 4A. This results from the recording clock recorded on the signal track 20 or 22 of the optical disc being generated on the basis of a reference clock signal included in the support signal in the soft sector system. This recording clock is reproduced by the optical disc reproducing apparatus such that it has a long period during the time interval extending to a predetermined region from the discontinuous recording position DCP, as shown at (B) of FIG. 4B, or such that it has a short period during the time interval extending to a predetermined region from the discontinuous recording position DCP, as shown at (C) of FIG. 4C. As described above, since the recording clock signal recorded in a predetermined region from the discontinuous recording position DCP of the signal track 20 or 22 is reproduced to have a long or short period, the user information recorded in that region is not recorded accurately.
In order to prevent such an error in the user information at the discontinuous recording position of the signal track of the optical disc, there has been suggested an alternative which adds clock stabilization information which is referred to as "variable frequency oscillating signal", hereinafter abbreviated to "VFO signal", to the discontinuous recording position. This clock stabilization information, however, is usually recorded over a single sector region from the discontinuous recording position, thereby causing a waste in the signal track of the optical disc unnecessarily. As a result, the above method of adding the clock stabilization information has a disadvantage in that it reduces the recording capacity of the optical disc considerably as the number of discontinuous recording positions in the signal track of the optical disc increases.

Optical disc recording method and apparatus for recording clock stabilization information on a portion of a unit block adjacent a discontinuous recording position


Compositions of and methods for formulating and delivering biologically active agent formulations having enhanced physical stability, and wherein deterioration from the presence of oxygen and/or water is minimized and/or controlled, to yield a stable formulation. The compositions of and methods for formulating and delivering biologically active agents of the present invention further facilitate their incorporation into a biocompatible coating which can be employed to coat a stratum-corneum piercing microprojection, or a plurality of stratum-corneum piercing microprojections of a delivery device, for delivery of the biocompatible coating through the skin of a subject, thus providing an effective means of delivering the biologically active agents.

A great number and variety of biologically active agents are known in the art to have therapeutic benefits when delivered appropriately to a patient having a condition upon which such biologically active agents can exert a beneficial effect. These biologically active agents comprise several broad classes, including, but not limited to peptides or proteins, such as hormones, proteins, antigens, repressors/activators, enzymes, and immunoglulins, among others. Therapeutic applications include treatment of cancer, hypercalcemia, Paget's disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiac conditions, including congestive heart failure, sleep disorders, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and anabolic conditions, to name a few.
In the art, formulating such biologically active agent formulations in a therapeutically effective and commercially viable manner has been problematic, due in part, to the tendency of many biologically active agents to deteriorate in the presence of oxygen and water. Particularly susceptible to oxidation include the amino acids methionine and cysteine. Water causes degradation of large number of biological agents. This affects particularly peptides and proteins as a result of hydrolysis of the amide bond.
References have been published which discuss the effects of oxidation and hydrolysis on biologically active agents during manufacture and storage. For example, Pikal M J, Dellerman K, Roy M L. Formulation and stability of freeze-dried proteins: effects of moisture and oxygen on the stability of freeze-dried formulations of human growth hormone. Dev Biol Stand. 1992; 74:21-38; Lai, Mei C.; Hageman, Michael J.; Schowen, Richard L.; Borchardt, Ronald T.; Topp, Elizabeth M. Chemical Stability of Peptides in Polymers. 1. Effect of Water on Peptide Deamidation in Poly(vinyl alcohol) and Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) Matrixes. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (1999), 88(10), 1073-1080, address how biological active agents experience deterioration due to oxidation or hydrolysis when exposed to air or water over extended periods of time.
The deterioration of biologically active agents in formulations is particularly problematic when biologically active agents are administered by transdermal delivery. The word "transdermal", as used herein, is a generic term that refers to delivery of an active agent (e.g., a therapeutic agent, such as a drug, pharmaceutical, peptide, polypeptide or protein) through the skin to the local tissue or systemic circulatory system without substantial cutting or penetration of the skin, such as cutting with a surgical knife or piercing the skin with a hypodermic needle. Transdermal agent delivery includes delivery via passive diffusion as well as delivery based upon external energy sources, such as electricity (e.g., iontophoresis) and ultrasound (e.g., phonophoresis).
Numerous transdermal agent delivery systems and apparatus have been developed that employ tiny skin piercing elements to enhance transdermal agent delivery. Examples of such systems and apparatus are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,879,326, 3,814,097, 5,250,023, 3,964,482, Reissue No. 25,637, and PCT Publication Nos. WO 96/37155, WO 96/37256, WO 96/17648, WO 97/03718, WO 98/11937, WO 98/00193, WO 97/48440, WO 97/48441, WO 97/48442, WO 98/00193, WO 99/64580, WO 98/28037, WO 98/29298, WO 98/29365 and US PublicationNos. US2004/0062813, US2004/0265354, US2005/0090009, US2005/0106209, US20050123507, US2005/0226922, US2005/0256045, and US2005/0266011; all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The disclosed systems and apparatus employ piercing elements of various shapes and sizes to pierce the outermost layer (i.e., the stratum corneum) of the skin, and thus enhance the agent flux. The piercing elements generally extend perpendicularly from a thin, flat member, such as a pad or sheet. The piercing elements are typically extremely small, some having a rnicroprojection length of only about 25-400 microns and a microprojection thickness of only about 5-50 microns. These tiny piercing/cutting elements make correspondingly small microslits/microcuts in the stratum corneum for enhanced transdermal agent delivery therethrough. The active agent to be delivered is associated with one or more of the microprojections, usually by coating the rnicroprojections with the formulation or by the use of a reservoir that communicates with the stratum corneum after the microslits are formed.
The current manufacturing and packaging processes, however, are problematic, especially where the microprojections are coated with the formulation by drying the formulation on the microprojections, as described in U.S. patent application Publication No. 2002/0128599. The formulation is usually an aqueous formulation. During the drying process, all volatiles, including water are mostly removed, however, the final solid coating still contains typically about 3% water. The presence of water can lead to deterioration of the biologically active agent in the formulation because of hydrolysis.
The current manufacturing and packaging processes are also problematic because oxygen is present during each phase. While the manufacturing phase is a relatively short period of time, the packaging and storage phase can be quite lengthy. Storage times of transdermal delivery systems are likely to be for lengthy periods of time before they are used (i.e., extended shelf life of several months is not uncommon). The biologically active agents in the coatings, therefore, are subject to oxidation and deterioration. For purposes of this application, reference to the term "package" or "packaging" will be understood to also include reference to "storage" or "storing".
Accordingly, physical stabilization, especially minimizing the exposure of the biologically active agent formulations over time to oxidation and hydrolysis, is an important step in assuring efficacy of the therapeutic agents, particularly when the mode of delivery of the therapeutic agent is via a transdermal delivery device having a plurality of microprojections coated with an agent containing biocompatible coating.
It would therefore be desirable to provide compositions of and methods for formulating and delivering biologically active agents having enhanced physical stability.
It would be further desirable to provide compositions of and methods for formulating and delivering biologically active agents wherein deterioration of the biologically active agent from oxygen and/or water is minimized and/or controlled.
It would be further desirable to provide compositions of and methods for formulating and delivering biologically active agents that exhibit maximal or optimal shelf lives.


The invention is of a method of measuring timepiece beat interval accuracy comprising, according to the embodiment shown, a microphone and amplifier to transform the mechanical beat of a timepiece to an electrical signal and amplify that signal. The signal is then sent through a conditioning circuit that makes the signal into a uniform output that represents the beat of the timepiece. The uniform output is then submitted into an input/output port of a computer. This input is then interpreted by the associated software and the resultant data are displayed on a printer or monitor. The displayed material will consist of representations of the relative timing of the mechanical beats of the timepiece or the mechanical malfunction of that timepiece. The method of measuring the timepiece beat interval accuracy comprises the associated software that has been prepared to interpret the data submitted to the computer and to display that data in a predetermined format.

Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to electronic watch and clock timing analyzer equipment.
There are two methods generally used in the prior art for regulating clocks and watches with electronic timing analyzers. The first such method involves comparison of the frequency of beats (ticks) from a watch or clock to a fixed frequency. The second such method involves measurement of the time interval between beats (hereinafter referred to as "beat interval"), generally using a timer running at a much higher frequency than the timepiece's beat frequency.
Prior art commercial timing analyzers have used fixed frequency generators, which produce frequencies corresponding to common beat frequencies of clocks and watches. Some of the commonest values are 3,600; 18,000; 19,200; 19,800; 21,600; and 28,800 beats per hour. These timing analyzers allow the repair person to select one of the available frequencies, and then compare the beat frequency of the timepiece to it. A simple example is the drum used in the WatchMaster Watch-Rate Recorder; this drum spins at a strictly regulated rate of 5 revolutions per second, and every time a beat occurs a mark is recorded on the paper wrapped around the drum, (and the pen which marks the paper is moved slightly, in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum). If the watch is beating at exactly 5 beats per second, then a straight line will be marked across the paper. Any variations in rate will show up in deviations from that line. This approach has a distinct advantage in that beat frequency errors are very easily read and interpreted by the repair person.
The second technique used, that of measuring the time interval between beats (the reciprocal of the beat frequency), has the significant advantage of allowing much wider variation in the beat frequencies that can be measured easily. Currently available prior art devices which use this approach generally are of two kinds. The first kind displays on a digital display a numerical average of beat interval measurements (the user controls how many interval measurements are averaged together). This sort has the advantage of being simple to operate, but has the drawback of being difficult to read and interpret, especially if the beat rate is high. The second kind of prior art device displays, on a digital display, graphs of each beat interval, presented so as to resemble the results of the "drum method" mentioned above. This has the advantage of being easy to read and interpret, but has the drawback that it does not display the numerical average of a number of beat interval measurements; consequently, if presented with an antique watch or clock which does not run at one of the common beat frequencies, the user cannot determine what average frequency it is running at in order to get an idea of the ideal beat frequency for the timepiece.

System for measuring timepiece beat interval accuracy


A nonvolatile memory device includes a cell array, a distributed page buffer including a plurality of page buffer units disposed below the cell array, the plurality of page buffer units having a certain size; and a distributed page buffer control circuit including a plurality of page buffer control circuit units, each page buffer control circuit unit being arranged at one side of a corresponding page buffer unit, and configured to control operations of the corresponding page buffer unit, the plurality of page buffer control circuit units each having a predetermined size.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a nonvolatile memory device, and more particularly, to a nonvolatile memory device in which a page buffer circuit and a page buffer control circuit, which are disposed below a cell region in a distributed fashion.
2. Related Art
Nonvolatile memory devices are memory devices which retain stored data even when a power source is off. Therefore, various nonvolatile memory devices, for example, flash memories, have been widely used.
Recently, to increase the degree of integration of nonvolatile memory devices, which typically have a two-dimensional (2D) structure in which memory cells are formed in a single layer on a semiconductor substrate, nonvolatile memory devices having a 3D structure in which memory cells are formed along a channel layer vertically protruding from a semiconductor substrate have been introduced.
However, as the degree of integration of nonvolatile memory devices continuously increases, the capacity of the nonvolatile memory devices increases, and thus, an area of a cell region also increases. Therefore, it is difficult to secure a sufficient area for a peripheral circuit region.

Nonvolatile memory device having page buffer units under a cell


An apparatus for slip-lining a pipeline with plastic pipe including a slip-line cable having four sections—a forward navigation section, an intermediate locking section connected to a back end of the forward navigation section, a rearward drive section connected to a back end of the intermediate locking section, and an impact driver connected to the rearward drive section. Also disclosed is a method for slip-lining a pipeline with plastic pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for slip-lining underground utility pipelines, both service lines and main lines. Slip-lining is a technique whereby a new plastic pipe is inserted into an existing pipeline, typically as a means for replacing the existing pipeline as the carrier, increasing the operational pressure of the pipeline, or improving the operating integrity of the pipeline.
2. Description of Related Art
To replace a leaking or deteriorated gas service line, utilities often insert a new plastic pipe through an existing pipe. The existing pipe is typically steel, but may be made of cast iron or any other material used for conduit. Generally, the pipe is replaced because of its age or operating condition, but other factors such as "preventative maintenance" or a need for changed operating conditions for which the existing pipe is not suited can warrant the replacement. The slip-line technique is used to reduce costs, risks, and inconveniences associated with trenching or boring in order to install the new pipe.
Slip-lining a gas service currently consists of initially excavating at each end of the pipe to be replaced, disconnecting the service from the main, disconnecting the service from the meter-set, then usually pushing either ½, ¾, or 1 inch plastic pipe, typically polyethylene (PE) pipe, through the "straight" section of existing pipe and connecting the plastic pipe back to the meter and main. Conventional slip-lining is not performed through pipes that have offsets. For those pipes having offsets, if slip-lining is practical at all, a hole is dug to remove the bend or offset so that the new plastic pipe can be inserted in both sections of straight pipe. Replacement of the main line may also be performed along with the service line replacements, using the insertion or slip-line method. To connect the new plastic service line to the newly inserted main line, a section of the old main line must be cut out to expose the new main line disposed within the old main line and to facilitate the attachment of the new plastic service to a new service connection fitting installed on top of the new main.


A window frame is formed of a plurality of plastic section pieces welded together at their ends. The ends of the plastic section pieces also have surfaces which abut one another. The plastic section pieces are not welded at the abutting surfaces. The unwelded abutting surfaces can therefore be used to define the length of the window frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for producing a window frame consisting essentially of plastic section pieces welded together.
The invention also relates to a window frame obtained using said production method.
2. Description of the Related Art
First of all, the expression xe2x80x9cwindow framexe2x80x9d is understood as meaning the fixed or opening frame of a window or a window jamb.
In general, a window comprises at least one pane of glass assembled with a mobile or non-mobile bearing frame hung on a jamb which is fixed into the stonework.
Conventionally, the window frame consists of a number of section pieces joined together in such a way as either to surround the opening made for this purpose in the stonework or to take a pane of glass, the section pieces therefore exhibiting a housing designed for this purpose and known as the glazing rebate.
When the window frame is made of plastic such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the section pieces are generally joined together by thermal welding at the corners of said frame. This assembly takes place by melting the plastic of each section plane over a few millimeters before clamping the section pieces together to obtain a weld. The clamping compresses the molten parts and causes a bead of material to form in the region of the join, this bead of material protruding from the visible surfaces of the frame. The welded parts then have to be deburred in order to eliminate the unattractive surplus material.
This method, although commonly employed, has a certain number of drawbacks which it would be desirable to alleviate, at least in part.
First of all, the result of such a method is that the desired final dimensions of the welded frame are not precisely achieved and generally vary by plus or minus 1 mm.
Thus, when, for example, the glazing is immobilized in the frame by attached glazing beads which are fixed to the frame by clipping or any other means of attachment known to those skilled in the art, each glazing bead has to be cut to the precise dimension observed after welding so that it fits perfectly in the frame.
In consequence, a product such as this generates a great many operations and involves a great deal of labor for implementing it.
What is more, it entails the carrying of a large stock of parts for making the frame and entails very precise management.
What is more, the removal of surplus material from the regions of the joints involves a lot of material in addition to the corresponding process time, and this further affects the profitability of the method.
The object of the present invention is to improve this type of manufacture.
The subject of the invention is therefore a novel method for producing window frames consisting essentially of plastic section pieces welded together which is easy to implement, which reduces the number of operations, and which makes stock management easier.
The invention proposes a method for producing a window frame consisting essentially of plastic section pieces welded together, such that the section pieces are cut so that at least part of the section of said section pieces determines the required length of the section pieces, and then the section pieces are thermally welded together, avoiding welding those parts of the sections of the section pieces that determine the required length of the section pieces.
The term xe2x80x9crequired lengthxe2x80x9d is to be understood as meaning the length of the section pieces, determined to within one millimeter, so as to produce the frame once the section pieces have been assembled.
As a preference, those parts of the sections of the section pieces that determine the required length of the section pieces act as limit stops during assembly by thermal welding.
Thus, having melted part of the ends of the section pieces, the clamping of the section pieces is blocked in its travel by the unwelded parts of the section pieces, and the assembling of the section pieces makes it possible to obtain a frame, the dimensions of which are precisely predetermined. Thus, any prefabricated additional component can be fitted without the need to measure the dimensions of the assembled frame after assembly in order to adjust the dimensions of the additional part.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the section pieces are cut while at the same time making at least one offset on the lateral sides of said section pieces, said offset determining the required length of said section pieces.
Thus, at the time of assembly, the lateral sides of the section pieces come edge to edge without being welded together, and the appearance of surplus material that needs to be eliminated is avoided.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the section pieces have at least one glazing bead integral with said section pieces and movable, and the section pieces are cut while at the same time making at least one offset at the glazing bead, said offset determining the required length of said section pieces.
Thus, the section pieces are joined together up to the point where the glazing beads come edge to edge. The frame obtained thus has the predetermined dimensions, the glazing beads determining the required length.
According to another alternative form of the invention, the section pieces are cut while at the same time making at least one offset in the region where a seal is to be positioned, said offset determining the required length of said section pieces.
The section pieces may be fitted with the seal after they have been assembled into the form of a frame, or alternatively before assembly, the seal possibly being coextruded onto the section piece at the time of the manufacture of the latter.
As a preference, the seal is a seal extruded separately (extruded xe2x80x9cby the kilometerxe2x80x9d), that is cut to the required length of the section piece before being fitted on the section piece in the positioning region designed for this purpose, aligning the ends of the seals with the offsets in said region.
In this alternative form, assembly is performed while avoiding the welding of the section pieces in the region in which the seal is positioned.
Thus, when assembling the section pieces, the welding of the seals and thus the appearance of excess material at their point of contact is avoided. All that is then required is for the free ends of the seals to be bonded together so as to seal the assembly.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is applicable to each embodiment or alternative form described hereinabove, the offset is between 1 and 3 mm.
According to one alternative form of the invention, a plastic or metal section piece is incorporated into the section pieces that form the window frame, this incorporated section piece having the required length of the section pieces so that it acts as a stop piece during assembly by thermal welding.
Another subject of the invention is a novel window frame that can be obtained from the production method described hereinabove.
The invention proposes a window frame essentially consisting of plastic section pieces welded together, such that the assembly surface of the section pieces exhibits at least one region which is not welded.
Thus, at the time of assembly, part of the section of a section piece is welded to a corresponding part of the section of a second section piece, and the remainder of the section of the section piece is simply in edge-to-edge contact with the corresponding remainder of the section of the second section piece.
According to an advantageous alternative form of the invention, the unwelded region is at least the lateral sides of said section pieces.
Thus, when the section pieces are assembled, the welded point is made in a part of the section pieces which is not exposed to view and there are no longer any regions of finish-grinding on the lateral sides, said region of finish-grinding corresponding to the deburring of the excess material resulting from the welding operation. Thus, the region of assembly is near the practically invisible region of the lateral edges.
According to a preferred alternative form of the invention, the section pieces have a double wall in the region of the lateral sides, the two walls being spaced apart, and the unwelded region is the outer wall of the double wall.
Thus, there is still one welded wall in the region of the lateral sides, which makes it possible to guarantee the leaktightness of the assembly and good overall weld strength, particularly in terms of resistance to breaking at the corners. Furthermore, the space between the two walls is able to catch the excess material that results from the welding operation, so that good edge-to-edge contact of the outer wall can be maintained, without the need for deburring.
According to an alternative form of the invention, the section pieces exhibit at least one glazing bead integral with said section pieces and mobile, and the ends of the glazing beads are not welded together.
According to an advantageous alternative form of the invention, the unwelded region of the section pieces is at least the region in which a seal is to be positioned. Thus, at the assembly surface, there is no node that corresponds to the welding together of the seals, such a node being unacceptable and having, of necessity, to be removed.
As a preference, the seals are bonded together at their ends. Thus, sealing is achieved around the entire periphery of the frame.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a plastic section piece is incorporated into the section pieces constituting the window frame, said plastic section piece having the same length as the assembled section pieces and not being welded at the time of assembly.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a metal section piece is incorporated into the section pieces constituting the window frame, said metal section piece having the same length as the assembled section pieces.
According to an advantageous alternative form of the invention, said incorporated section piece is a casement bolt.
The frame thus obtained advantageously has dimensions which are predetermine to within one millimeter, is easy to implement and simplifies the production method.


A tractor includes a motor, transmission, drive shaft and rear differential for driving the rear axles mounted on a main tubular frame of a variable configuration. Forwardly extendable telescoping tubular frame members are actuated by respective rams to selectively increase the wheel base between the front and rear wheels. The front and rear telescoping tubes supporting each of the wheels are selectively extendable to significantly increase the wheel width of the tractor; the axles for the rear wheels are commensurately extendable. A toolbar dependingly supported from the main frame in front of the cab permits the operator to view the operation of attached implements while driving. The toolbar may include a row guide causing the toolbar to move laterally as necessary to follow a row and the toolbar is connected to the steering mechanism to control the direction of travel of the tractor. The front wheels are pivotally mounted on the corresponding telescoping tubes to provide sufficient clearance to permit near 180° pivotal movement. The steering mechanism is capable of pivoting each front wheel through an angle of about 180° and establishes an appropriate geometric relationship between the front wheels to permit the tractor to turn about any center of rotation intersected by the common axis of rotation of the rear axle, including pivoting about either rear wheel, while maintaining the axis of rotation of each front wheel in intercepting relationship with the center of rotation. Moreover, the turn radius at the end of a row is minimal and can be further reduced by temporarily reducing the length of the frame. Various implements, including a toolbar, can be readily attached directly to the tubular frame at any location intermediate the front and rear axles, as necessary.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tractors for use in farming operations and, more particularly, to tractors readily configurable to meet multiple unique operational requirements and to obtain the benefits therefrom.
2. Description of Related Prior Art
Conventional tractors of greater or lesser size have been used by farmers for decades to pull various implements and to perform various conventional farming operations. For the most part, these tractors are capable of performing the various operations required by a farmer but any reconfiguration, to the extent possible, requires relatively expensive implements and equipments available only from the manufacturer of the tractor. More specific inadequacies and limitations of conventional tractors will be summarized below.
The wheel width of conventional tractors is limited to the length of the associated fixed axles and the width of the tractor is fixed which creates burdens during transport of large tractors. The wheel hubs are fastened to a fixed axle and changing wheel centers is both time consuming and labor intensive. The front axle rocks on a center pin only which renders it impossible to raise one or the other front wheels to roll over obstacles or increase the weight on one or the other of the front wheels. The frame length of a tractor is fixed and by increasing the wheel width without lengthening the wheel base, crabbing results and some stability is lost. Because of the lack of uniformity of tractors from different manufacturers, equipment to be suspended beneath the tractor from the frame requires that each such piece of equipment be specifically designed for a particular tractor due to both the configuration of the frame and the often minimal ground clearance. Sometimes it is beneficial to add weight for traction and such weight must be added manually to a conventional tractor which is labor intensive and hard work. As the frame length of a conventional tractor is fixed, it cannot be shortened to obtain a smaller turning radius and thereby permit cultivation closer to the perimeter of a field. Conventional tractors provide traffic lanes of a two row width, which is an unavoidable limitation of the width of the root zone between the compacted traffic lanes. That is, the compacted traffic lanes create root barriers and reduce the yield.
The frames of most conventional tractors are of a monolithic design with cast-iron components attachable only at specific points of attachment. Thus, attachment of toolbars is generally restricted to front or rear fixed points. The power train components are unique to the configuration of the monolithic design and any repair or replacement requires expensive components available primarily only from the manufacturer of the tractor.
Because of limited clearance between the front wheels and the frame of a conventional tractor, the turning radius is limited. With such limitations and the geometry of conventional steering apparatus, the front wheels tend to plow in a turn and a true turning radius for each of the front wheels is not possible. Moreover, as the front wheels turn about a different point, one or both of the rear wheels may tend to plow or skid.
Toolbars are conventionally mounted at the rear of a tractor, which renders it difficult for an operator to visually monitor the toolbar and operation of the attached equipment. For harvesting and packaging purposes, it is beneficial to permit a farm hand to be on a work platform attached to a tractor but conventional tractors do not have such work platforms.
Conventional guidance systems cause a toolbar to shift and reliance is placed on the tractor to stabilize after such shift. This often causes the tractor to drift sideways.
The size of the tires used with conventional tractors generally cannot be changed. Thus, for greater traction, wider tires must be used or dual tires must be used. In the latter case, a much wider area is compacted to the detriment of crop yield. Usually, an auxiliary axle cannot be added to a conventional tractor to increase traction.


The invention is directed to a stability control system for an automatic control system, which includes a controlled system, a measuring unit for measuring a response characteristic of the controlled system, and a computing unit for processing the response characteristic to obtain a standard frequency transfer function and a varied frequency transfer function with a permissive variation to the standard frequency transfer function. A band division unit is provided for dividing the standard frequency transfer function and the varied frequency transfer function into a plurality of bands, respectively. A modeling unit is provided for mathematically approximating the standard frequency transfer function for each band and the varied frequency transfer function for each band, to obtain a standard approximate model and a varied approximate model, respectively. A variation computing unit is provided for computing a variation of the varied approximate model to the standard approximate model for each band. According to the variation in each band, a modern controller, e.g., H.infin. controller is set, thereby to provide a plurality of modern controllers, which are processed by a parallel processing unit in parallel with each other. Then, the controlled system is actuated according to a result processed by the parallel processing unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stability control system for use in an automatic control system, more particularly to the stability control system using a modern control to ensure a follow-up performance and a stability of the automatic control system.
2. Description of the Related Arts
In general, an automatic control system is provided for operating a controlled system automatically so as to adapt it to a desired state. As for an ordinary system performed in the automatic control system, is employed a PID (Proportional, Integral and Derivative) control system which is included in a so-called classical control system. The PID control system is a control system which is processed on the basis of characteristics in a frequency domain, and can be processed as a physical quantity, so that it has been utilized in various fields for a long time.
In contrast with the classical control system, is getting popular a modern control system which is processed on the basis of characteristics in a time domain, and in accordance with a mathematical principle. The modern control system is a system which is based upon a state-space system, as explained on pages 82-83 of a Japanese publication titled "Syouryoku to Jidouka" (Labor saving and Automation), published in December, 1992 by OHM Sha, for example. In the modern control system, a Hardy space (abbreviated as "H") is proposed, and combined with ".infin." (infinity) representing a norm of distance thereby to provide a "H.infin. control" (H-infinity control). With respect to the norm, it is described that a distance (X.sup.2 +y.sup.2).sup.1/2 on a plane (x, y) is referred to as a second norm, or "2 norm", while .vertline.x.vertline.+.vertline.y.vertline. is referred to as "1 norm". Then, the ".infin." is meant by ".infin. norm", so that it corresponds to MAX (.vertline.x.vertline.,.vertline.y.vertline.), i.e., a lager one out of the absolute value on the x coordinate and the absolute value on the y coordinate is used for the norm. Accordingly, it has been proposed to apply the H.infin. control to a Robust stability control, which is adapted to control a control system in a stable state, even in the case where a state-variation of the system is caused by a disturbance or the like.
As for a combination of the H.infin. control and the PID control, "PID Control Design by Model Matching in Frequency Domain" was proposed in a paper (on pages 201-204) provided for "The 17th Dynamical System Theory Symposium" held in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, during Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 1994. It is described in the paper that there was a problem when a designed H.infin. controller was installed in an actual apparatus, such that its order came to be higher than the PID controller, or the like. It is further described that in view of a reliability of the controller, maintenance such as re-tuning or the like, and a cost for installation, it would be appropriate to design a controller with a simple operating principle, so that a method for reducing the order of a higher order controller would be important. Accordingly, the paper presents a method for tuning a PID control gain, by specifying a frequency response characteristic of a loop transfer function as a reference model, and matching a loop transfer function of the PID control system with the reference model. With respect to the loop transfer function used for the reference model, the paper describes that it is possible to employ the loop transfer function obtained through the H.infin. control or the like. Thus, the paper proposes the reduction method for the PID controller of the higher order controller. Also, it is described in the paper that it would be possible to designate a frequency band for the matching operation, so that the proposed method would constitute a reduction method for a controller weighted by frequency. In practice, are described a first step to design a stability controller using the H.infin. control or H.sub.2 control and provide the loop transfer function obtained by the controller as the reference model, a second step to hypothesize the structure of the PID controller, and a third step to obtain a gain intersection frequency and a phase intersection frequency of the reference model, and designate a frequency band for matching the loop transfer function of the PID control system (steps 4-9 are omitted, herein). Then, employing an example applied to the controlled system in a vibration system, it is concluded that the PID controller can be designed to keep the performance of the H.infin. controller in part, if the matching frequency band is appropriately set.
As described before, the H.infin. control relates to the least value problem of the infinity norm as defined in the complex function space called Hardy space, and requires complicated computation repeatedly, so that the controller necessarily comes to be of higher order. By simplifying the design algorithm, it has become possible to reduce the order, recently. With respect to the controlled system having a lot of singular points, however, its computing process time would be prolonged, so that its application would be difficult.
According to the method as described in the paper, the reduction could be made, but the method was to limit a frequency band for model matching with a certain H.infin. controller to a range in which there is no unstable factor. Nothing is described in the paper about identification of the system, i.e., a method for obtaining the H.infin. controller itself is not described. Therefore, the control having a range out of that range can not be performed. The greater that range was expanded, the farther the control would remote from that region. In order to improve the Robust stability control, a lead/lag compensator must be used together. Accordingly, the prior method is not necessarily appropriate to the controlled system having a plurality of resonance points and anti-resonance points.
After all, while the H.infin. controller was used in the prior method described in the paper, the controlled system would be limited in view of the limit to the processing time, so that the application of the H.infin. controller would be very limited. If priority is given to shortening the processing time in the prior method, approximate accuracy will be lessened, so that it will not be easy to harmonize them.

Stability control system for an automatic control system


Molecularly imprinted conducting polymer (MICP) films were electro-polymerized on glassy carbon electrode having specific recognition sites for amino acid viz. L-tyrosine and/or L-cysteine. The amino acid templates in various imprinted films were ejected out by over-oxidation followed by washing and stabilization. Again, the template leached MICP films were modified with metal oxides [oxides of Cu2+, Hg2+, Pd2+, Au3+, Pt4+ etc]. The resultant leached MICP and metal oxide modified template leached MICP film based GCE will now selectively sense L-tyrosine and/or L-cysteine in aqueous media by direct and catalytic means respectively employing differential pulse voltammetric waveform. The sensitivity and selectivity of the sensors prepared by the invention are high and the stability is good, which will be widely used in clinical diagnostics, chemical industry, environment protection and other related fields.

Zhau et al [Electroanal. 18 (2006)830] have simultaneously determined tyrosine and tryptophan at unmodified boron—doped diamond electrode. Reference is made to several chemically modified electrodes viz. multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) modified GCE [Microchim. Acta 151 (2005) 47], L-Serine polymer film modified GCE [Colloids & Surfaces B. Biointerfaces 50 (2006)147], and MWCNT-4-aminobenzene sulphonic acid modified GCE [Colloids & surfaces B. Biointerfaces 61 (2008) 176] which are described for tyrosine sensing. Tang et al [Talanta 80 (2010)2182] have reported construction of electrospun carbon nanofibre modified carbon paste electrode for simultaneous voltammetric sensing of L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan and L-cysteine. Reference may be made to Overoxidized polypyrrole modified carbon paste electrode for sensing of tryptophan [Anal. Sci. 18 (2002) 417].
In 2008 Liu et al reported an improved voltammetric response of L-tyrosine employing MWCNT-ionic liquid composite coated GCE in presence of cupric ion [Electroanal. 20 (2008)2148]. Again, two other reports on adsorptive voltammetric determination of tyrosine [Fresnius J. Anal. Chem 351 (1995)689] and enrofloxacin using hanging mercury drop electrode are also described employing copper(II) during voltammetric sensing.
Yet another reference may be made to multifunctional and multispectral biosensor device for polynucleotides, polypeptides & peptides [Vo-Dinh U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,581; 2004], selector molecule adsorbed or immobilized poysiloxane coated biosensor [Levon et. al Inter. Pat. No. WO 059507; 2005], chemical sensor featuring dual sensing (surface plasmon resonance & fluorescence detection) motif for sensing pinacolyl methyl phosphonate [Booksh et al, U.S. Pat. No. 0,031,292; 2007]. References may be made to a method for a conducting polymer coated sensing electrode for detecting polar toxic species [Venkatasetty, U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,996; 1987], protein adsorbed shapable electroconductive polymer film[Wolfgang et al, Euro. Pat. No. 0658906; 1994], sensor comprising a substrate containing nanoparticles of a conducting polymer, polyaniline[Morrin et al, Int. Pub. No. WO2007/119229; 2007], a method of determining analyte concentrations by utilizing analyte sensors that employ conducting organic polymers covalently functionalized with an enzyme, antigen or an ion specific binding site and employed in a diagnostic device to selectively assay a liquid medium [Albarella et al, Euro. Pub. No. 0314009; 1988]. The drawbacks of the above mentioned matrices for sensing amino acids are the lack of selectivity, poor stability, need to incorporate selective recognition moieties in the conducting polymer or other matrices like MWCNT, L-serine etc. Another reference may be made to a few molecularly imprinted electrosynthesized polymer modified electrodes viz. copolymerization of o-phenylenediamine and resorcinol for sensing of dopamine [J. Solid state chem. 14 (2010)1909], polypyrrole for ascorbic acid sensing [Sensors 8 (2008)5792], overoxidised polypyrrole for sulphamethaxozole sensing [Sensors 8 (2008)8463] and molecularly imprinted poly (3,4-ethylene dioxy-thiophene-co-thiophene acetic acid] employing platinum electrode for atrazine sensing [Anal. Chim Acta 649 (2009)236].
Yet another reference may be made to imprinted polymer based quartz crystal microbalance sensors using polymerizable chiral derivatives of cysteine and homocysteine for peptide templates like Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Angiotensin II, Bradykinin and 15-mer peptide [Tai et al U.S. Pat. No. 0,226,503; 2008], dual MIP/QCM sensor for polychloroaromatic contaminants [Penelle, U.S. Pat. No. 0,166,581; 2004], analysis kit for sensing dopamine & ochratoxin A [Perollier et al U.S. Pat. No. 0,105,076; 2010], affinity electrode modified with synthetic polymers for the detection of phenols, morphines and phenoxy acid herbicides [Kroger & Mosbach GB Pat. No. 2337332; 1999], process for fabrication of ISFET based potentiometric sensor coated with molecular imprint of cholesterol [Vanaja et al, U.S. Pat. No. 0,147,683; 2010], molecularly imprinted sensor device for detecting drugs like gamma hydroxy butyrate (GHB), ketamine and cortisol [Murray et al U.S. Pat. No. 0,197,297; 2009], bionic nanosensing film of electrochemical transducer [Zhou et al Chinese Pat. No. CN 101196486; 2008], method for producing macromolecule identifying polymer [Minoura et al, U.S. Pat. No. 7,741,421; 2010], peptide imprinted polymers with integrated emission sites (PIPIES) [Bright, U.S. Pat. No. 7,598,087; 2009], method of combining surface molecular imprinting (SMI) with the production of self-assembled monolayers (SAM) on gold coated chip surfaces for the detection of cancer biomarkers [Levon et al U.S. Pat. No. 0,318,788; 2009] and a method of molecular imprinting for recognition in aqueous media [Naraghi et al U.S. Pat. No. 0,099,301; 2009]. MIPs are formulated as an adhesive in an in-vitro diagnostic device to release template molecules to capture target molecules [Meathrel et al U.S. Pat. No. 0,068,820; 2010].
The above mentioned references pertaining to molecular imprinted substrates are superior to other sensing platforms due to excellent predetermined selectivity, ruggedness, can afford absence of specific reagents for selective molecular recognition as the cavities inside the polymer matrices itself are tailor made for the analyte under consideration rendering a label free sensing. However, the present embodiment holds an extra advantage which synchronizes the high selectivity of imprinted polymers with the excellent conducting properties of conducting polymers viz. polypyrrole which improves the signal transduction considerably. Also, the enhanced catalytic properties rendered by metal oxide makes the present embodiment an excellent sensing platform with good sensitivities and remarkable selectivity.

Molecularly imprinted conducting polymer film based aqueous amino acid sensors

Council of Industrial & Scientific Research


A grill 10 is disclosed having: a burner housing 12; a frame 14 to support the burner housing 12; work surfaces 16, 18, and 20; and a gas supply system 22. These components provide a means for relatively easily adjusting the grill 10 between a cooking configuration and a storage configuration. Work surfaces 16 and 18 are positionable between a horizontal cooking position and a vertical storage position. A work surface 20 is removably attachable to grill 10. When work surfaces 16 and 18 are in a vertical position, and the work surface 20 is removed, the burner housing 12 and work surfaces define a first smallest perimeter around the grill. This configuration is ideal for moving and storing the grill 10. Depending on how many of the working surfaces 16, 18, and 20 are in a cooking position, second, third and fourth perimeters are defined. Thus, there is provided ample working surface space with optional reduction thereof for using, moving, and storing the grill 10. The gas supply system 22 includes a gas container or tank 24, a gas manifold 26, a carriage 28 for carrying the tank 24 and securing same to the gill 10. A gas transfer line 30 connects the manifold 26 to tank 24. For convenience and safety, the gas supply system 22 can be removed from the grill 10 as a unit without disconnecting the gas line 30. Also, no tools are needed to remove the gas supply system 22.

For various reasons, outdoor cooking grills are desirably portable. In recent years, and particularly in connection with gas grills, an effort has been made by the industry to increase cooking space and work space on the grill. Accordingly, size and complexity of the grills has increased. While certain of such grill designs have had a good degree of success, certain problems exist. For example, the added size and component complexity of these grills has reduced portability of the grills and has also made it more difficult to store the grills when not in use, such as in cold weather seasons.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a grill with ample cooking and work space but which is relatively easily transported and stored.
It is a further object to provide such a grill with features which provide enhanced structural stability and ease of operation and maintenance.
It is also an object to provide such a grill which is superior in construction with relatively minimum manufacturing cost and effort.

Grill with improved portability and storage configuration