A gate valve for a component which includes an elongated body and a flow passage extending generally longitudinally through the body, the flow passage including a generally lateral first branch connected to a generally longitudinal second branch. The gate valve comprises a gate which is moveable generally longitudinally across the first branch between an open position in which a hole in the gate is aligned with the first branch and a closed position in which the hole is offset from the first branch; a conduit which extends through the body from the gate; an actuating mechanism positioned in the conduit for moving the gate from a first position to a second position; and a return biasing mechanism for moving the gate from the second position to the first position; wherein one of the first and second positions corresponds to the open position of the gate and the other position corresponds to the closed position of the gate; and wherein the conduit extends generally longitudinally through the body.

The present invention relates to a gate valve which may be used to control the flow of fluid through various components of a flow completion system, such as a tubing hanger. More particularly, the invention relates to such a gate valve which is remotely operable and which is oriented generally longitudinally in the component and therefore occupies a minimum of the radial cross sectional area of the component.
The need to remotely and reliably control the flow of fluid through components having relatively small radial cross sectional areas is particularly strong in the field of flow completion systems for producing oil or gas from a subsea well. A typical horizontal-type flow completion system comprises a wellhead housing which is installed at the upper end of a well bore, a tubing spool which is connected to the top of the wellhead housing and which includes a central bore extending axially therethrough, and a tubing hanger which is suspended in the central bore and which supports at least one tubing string that extends into the well bore and defines a tubing annulus surrounding the tubing string. The tubing hanger is usually an annular component which includes at least one longitudinal production bore connected to the tubing string, a lateral production passageway that extends between the production bore and a production outlet in the tubing spool, and one or more service and control conduits for communicating control signals or fluids from external service and control lines to corresponding devices or positions located in or below the tubing hanger. In addition, the tubing hanger may include a longitudinal annulus bore for connecting the tubing annulus with the portion of the central bore located above the tubing hanger.
In operation of the flow completion system, flow through the annulus bore and the service and control conduits must be carefully controlled to ensure that well fluid does not escape into the environment. For example, during installation and workover of the flow completion system, the annulus bore must typically remain closed until a blowout preventer (xe2x80x9cBOPxe2x80x9d) is installed above the tubing hanger, at which point the tubing hanger may be opened to allow for circulation of fluid between the production bore and the tubing annulus. In the prior art, a wireline plug is typically used to close the annulus bore. However, each installation or removal of the plug requires a special trip from a surface vessel. Moreover, although several versions of remotely operable valves for controlling flow through the annulus bore have been patented, these valves have for the most part been impractical to implement due to the limited radial cross sectional area that is available in the tubing hanger for such valves.
Therefore, a need exists for a remotely operable valve which can reliably control the flow of fluid through a flow completion system component but which occupies a minimum radial cross sectional area of the component.
In accordance with the present invention, these and other disadvantages in the prior art are overcome by providing a closure member for a component having an elongated body and a flow passage extending generally longitudinally through the body, the flow passage including a generally lateral first branch connected to a generally longitudinal second branch. The closure member comprises a gate which is moveable generally longitudinally across the first branch between an open position in which a hole in the gate is aligned with the first branch and a closed position in which the hole is offset from the first branch, a conduit which extends through the body from the gate, an actuating mechanism positioned in the conduit for moving the gate from the closed position to the open position, and a return biasing mechanism for moving the gate from the open position to the closed position, wherein the conduit extends generally longitudinally through the body. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the actuating mechanism comprises a piston which is connected to the gate and which sealingly engages the conduit, and means for conveying hydraulic pressure to a first portion of the conduit which communicates with the piston.
Thus, it may be seen that the components of the closure member which move the gate are aligned generally longitudinally relative to the gate. In this manner, the closure member occupies a minimum amount of the lateral cross sectional area of the component compared to prior art closure members. In addition, since hydraulic pressure is used to actuate the gate, the closure member may be operated remotely.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the closure member is adapted for use in a tubing hanger which is suspended in a tubing spool and which comprises an elongated body having an annulus bore that extends generally axially therethrough, the annulus bore comprising a generally lateral first branch connected to a generally axial second branch. Accordingly, the closure member comprises a gate which is moveable generally axially across the first branch between an open position in which a hole in the gate is aligned with the first branch and a closed position in which the hole is offset from the first branch, a conduit which extends generally axially through the body from the gate, an actuating mechanism positioned in the conduit for moving the gate from the closed position to the open position, and return biasing mechanism for moving the gate from the open position to the closed position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuating mechanism comprises a piston which is connected to the gate and which sealingly engages the conduit, and means for conveying hydraulic pressure to a first portion of the conduit which communicates with the piston. Furthermore, the tubing hanger ideally comprises first and second annular seals positioned between the body and the tubing spool, and the closure member further comprises a gate cavity in which the gate is at least partially positioned and which extends into the body from between the first and second seals, wherein pressure within the gate cavity is contained by the first and second seals.
Therefore it may be seen that the closure member of the present invention permits flow through the tubing hanger annulus bore to be reliably controlled from a remote location without the use of wireline plugs. Furthermore, since the gate and its actuating mechanism are oriented generally axially within the tubing hanger, the closure member occupies a minimum radial cross-sectional area of the tubing hanger.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numbers are used to denote similar components in the various embodiments.

Internal gate valve for flow completion systems


A communication path control system includes a storage device which stores data of paths between communication nodes; and a communication path selecting device which selects a path candidate for setting a new communication path among path candidates, each of which can be provided as a communication path between the communication nodes. Based on the data of paths, the communication path selecting device obtains MAX(PN) for each of the path candidates P1, . . . , Pn, n being an integer of 2 or larger, where MAX(PN) is the maximum value of the number PN of already-established communication paths passing through each link which forms said each path candidate, that is, PN=[N1, . . . , Nm], is an integer of 1 or larger, and N is the number of the already-established communication paths passing through said each link; and the communication path selecting device selects the path candidate having the smallest value among the maximum values MAX(PN) of the path candidates.

In a network (called an "MPLS network", below) which uses MPLS (multi protocol label switching) (see Non-Patent Document 1), an "MPLS TE" (traffic engineering) technique (see Non-Patent Document 2) is used for controlling a large amount of traffic.
In the MPLS TE technique, a plurality of parallel links are connected between nodes, so as to handle a large amount of traffic. In order to efficiently use the links, it is necessary to equally distribute "MPLS TE LSPs (label switched paths)" (called "MPLS paths", and see Non-Patent Document 2) for the frequency band and the number of the paths, where the MPLS paths are arranged along links provided between the start node (as the start point of the relevant communication) and the end node.
When setting MPLS paths by using reserved bands, it is possible to equally distribute the MPLS paths, which are arranged along links between the relevant nodes, by using already-established techniques (see Non-Patent Documents 2 and 6).
However, when setting MPLS paths while there is no reserved band at present, if there is an ECMP (equal cost multi path) (see Non-Patent Document 3) in an MPLS network, then load distribution cannot be performed between the relevant nodes. In this case, a problem (e.g., path concentration at a specific link) occurs, which obstructs efficient establishment of MPLS paths.
Conventionally, systems disclosed in Non-Patent Documents 4 and 5 are implemented.
In addition, computation of MPLS paths is performed at the start node, by using LSA (link state advertisement) data (see Non-Patent Documents 3 and 6) defined in OSPF (open shortest path fast) protocol (see Non-Patent Document 3).
On the other hand, in order to distribute MPLS paths along links between the relevant nodes, it is proposed that the number of the MPLS paths be communicated to relevant systems, by using the OSPF protocol (see Non-Patent Document 7). However, a specific method of computing the MPLS paths has not been shown.
Non-Patent Document 1: E. Rosen, A. Viswanathan, R. Callon, "Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture", IETF RFC3031, January, 2001.
Non-Patent Document 2: D. Awduche, et al., "RSVP-TE: Extensions to RSVP for LSP Tunnels", IETF RFC3209, December, 2001.
Non-Patent Document 3: J. Moy, "OSPF version 2", IETF RFC2328, April, 1998.
Non-Patent Document 4: "How CSPF Selects a Path", retrieved from the Internet on Mar. 7, 2007.
Non-Patent Document 5: E. Osborne, A. Simha, "Traffic Engineering with MPLS", pp. 119-124, Cisco Press, 2003.
Non-Patent Document 6: D. Katz, et al., "Traffic Engineering (TE) Extensions to OSPF Version 2", IETF RFC 3630, September, 2003.
Non-Patent Document 7: J.-P. Vasseur, M. Mayer, K. Kumaki and A. Bonda, "A Link-Type sub-TLV to convey the number of Traffic Engineering Label Switch Paths signalled across a link", IETF Internet draft, June, 2006. (draft-ietf-mpls-number-0-bw-te-lsps-05.txt)
A conventional technique disclosed in Non-Patent Documents 4 and 5 has a problem, which will be explained with reference to a network shown in FIG. 7.
In the network shown in FIG. 7, links E-F, G-H, and I-J are provided in parallel between core routers R3 and R4. In addition, a link A-B is provided between an edge router R1 and the core router R3; a link C-D is provided between an edge router R2 and the core router R3; a link K-L is provided between an edge router R5 and the core router R4; and a link M-N is provided between an edge router R6 and the core router R4.
In the conventional technique, when establishing a plurality of MPLS paths between the edge router R1 (the start node) and the edge router R5 (the end node), many paths are concentrated at the link E-F between the core routers R3 and R4, or paths are not equally distributed among the links E-F, G-H, and I-J.
Therefore, even when a plurality of links is established between the relevant nodes so as to control a large amount of traffic, paths are concentrated to a specific link, and thus the network works (i) without using the other links, or (ii) while usage rates of each link are not equal. Therefore, the links cannot be sufficiently efficiently used.

Communication path control system, program, and storage medium therefor


A humidity-sensitive porous layer (13) of a humidity-sensitive element section (3) of a humidity sensor (1) is formed of a crystalline phase oxide grains such as Al2O3—SnO2—TiO2 and of a glass phase such as silicate glass covering the crystalline phase. The glass phase contains an alkali metal oxide and/or alkaline earth metal oxide such as Li2O. The humidity sensitive porous layer (13) assumes a skeletal structure that is formed of crystalline phase oxide grains covered or coated with the glass phase. A heater (17) of the humidity sensor is controlled to heat the humidity-sensitive element section (3) at a temperature ranging from 500° C. to 800° C. so as to clean off the humidity-sensitive element section while an internal combustion engine is running and exhausting fouling substances. Measurement of Humidity in an exhaust gas exhausted from an exhaust gas purifying apparatus of an internal combustion engine is carried out by using the humidity sensor (1), so long as the exhaust gas temperature does not exceed 100° C. regardless of whether or not the engine is running.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an impedance-variation-type humidity sensor for use in an exhaust gas exhausted from, for example, a smoke discharge apparatus, an exhaust duct, or an exhaust-gas purifying apparatus of an internal combustion engine, as well as to a method of using the humidity sensor in the exhaust gas.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in order to detect humidity with high accuracy over a long period of time, the impedance-variation-type or rather resistance-variation-type humidity sensors commercially available for industrial use are periodically subjected to heat-applied cleaning so as to burn out fouling substances such as dust, deposits, carbon, coke (insufficiently fired fuel) and crystal water deposited on a humidity-sensitive element thereof.
For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a method of recovering the measuring accuracy of a humidity sensor when the measuring accuracy is lowered as a result of adhesion of tar from cigarette smoke to a humidity-sensitive element held in an ambient atmosphere. Specifically, a ceramic heater of the humidity sensor is electrically energized to heat the humidity-sensitive element to a temperature of about 500° C. for one minute or so, thereby cleaning off or burning out adhered fouling substances from the surface of the humidity-sensitive element so as to refresh the sensor element and recover the impedance of the sensor element degraded by the fouling substances formed on the surface thereof.
With regard to the resistance-variation-type humidity sensor for use in an exhaust gas atmosphere of an internal combustion engine, Patent Document 2, discloses a method of avoiding a condition under which water condensation or coking is prone to occur, by actuating a heater in accordance with an operating condition (e.g., duration of idling) of the internal combustion engine.
[Patent Document 1]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,211 to Yagi et al.
[Patent Document 2]
United States Patent Application Publication US 2001/0025484 A1 to Ueno et al.
3. Problems to be Solved by the Invention:
However, the inventors have found that heat-applied cleaning of the humidity sensor element under a temperature of about 500° C. as proposed in Patent Document 1 above fails to completely remove fouling substances adhered on the humidity-sensitive element of the humidity sensor when subject to an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, resulting in a failure to detect humidity with high accuracy and durability.
With respect to a humidity sensor applied to an internal combustion engine, the technique as described in Patent Document 2 fails to sufficiently clean the humidity sensor. This is because exhaust gas temperature is generally low at a position located under the floor of a vehicle where the humidity sensor is mounted.
However, even though the heater is energized when the engine continues to idle, the heating temperature is high enough only to evaporate condensed water adhered on the humidity sensor. In other words, the heating temperature is not sufficiently high to completely remove other fouling substances from the humidity-sensitive element, resulting in a failure to detect humidity with high accuracy over a long period of time.

Humidity sensor and method of using the humidity sensor


To obtain a superconducting driver circuit which can obtain an output voltage of several millvolts or above, can use a DC power source as a driving power source, can form no capacitance between it and a ground plane, and has a small occupation area, the superconducting driver circuit is constructed by superconducting flux quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) each constructing a closed loop having as components two superconducting junctions and an inductor. The SQUIDs share the inductors and are connected in series in three or more stages.

The present invention relates to the superconducting electronics field. More specifically, the present invention relates to a superconducting driver circuit of a superconducting flux quantum circuit which uses a flux quantum permitting high-speed signal processing as the carrier of a signal and is used for a measuring circuit for high-speed signal observation, an analog-to-digital signal converter circuit for high-speed analog signal processing, or a high-speed digital data processing circuit.
Two types of prior art driver circuits which are used for the output part of a superconducting flux quantum circuit and have a signal voltage amplifying function are considered and are used in a superconducting circuit. The prior art and embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Only when discriminating between the parts indicated by the reference numerals, numerical subscripts will be identified as needed.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a constructional example of a squid type superconducting driver circuit with a control line which has been used. Superconducting flux quantum interference devices each having a closed loop by superconducting junctions 1 and an inductor 7, that is, SQUIDs 6 are connected in series and have a control line 21. A signal line inputting a signal 22 from a superconducting flux quantum circuit is connected to the control line 21 of the SQUIDs connected in series. The numeral 3 denotes a bias current source; the numeral 5 denotes an output line; and the numeral 8 denotes a ground.
There are two control line wiring methods. In one of the methods, one superconducting line is wired to SQUIDs in series as the control line of all the SQUIDs. In the other method, one signal line is branched to wire control lines to SQUIDs in parallel. When connecting the control lines in parallel, a signal is inputted to the SQUIDs at the same time, thereby enhancing the frequency characteristic.
The flux quantum signal 22 from the superconducting flux quantum circuit is inputted as a current signal to the control line 21. The output voltages of the SQUIDs 6 are changed by the current signal. A change in output voltage per SQUID is a small value of about 0.1 mV. To increase a change in voltage, ten or more squids are connected in series ("Josephson Output Interfaces for RSFQ Circuits" O. A. Mukhanov et al., IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 7, p. 2826, 1997).
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another constructional example of a superconducting driver circuit using superconducting junction lines which has been used. One end of a superconducting junction line 1001 and one end of a superconducting junction line 1002 connecting superconducting junctions 1 in series are connected in parallel via resistances 31 and an inductor 9. An AC power source 32 supplies an AC voltage to the midpoint of the inductor 9. An output signal 5 is fetched from the midpoint of the inductor 9. The other end of the superconducting junction line 1001 and the other end of the superconducting junction line 1002 are grounded. The first stage of the superconducting junction line 1001 is connected to an input line to input a flux quantum signal 22. In the superconducting driver circuit, a superconducting junction exhibiting the hysteresis characteristic in the current-voltage characteristic is used.
The signal current pulse 22 from a superconducting flux quantum circuit is injected into a superconducting junction 11 in the first stage of the superconducting junction line 1001. When an electric current of the signal current pulse 22 and a bias current of the AC power source 32 exceed a critical current, the superconducting junction 11 is switched from the superconducting state to the voltage state. The resistance value of the superconducting junction in the voltage state is relatively high. The bias current selectively flows to the superconducting junction line 1002. The current values of the superconducting junctions 1 constructing the superconducting junction line 1002 exceed the critical current. The superconducting junctions 1 constructing the superconducting junction line 1002 switched together from the superconducting state to the voltage state. The resistance of the superconducting junction line 1001 including one superconducting junction 11 in the voltage state is lower than that of the superconducting junction line 1002 in which the superconducting junctions 1 switched together to the voltage state. This time, the bias current exclusively flows to the superconducting junction line 1001. The remaining superconducting junctions of the superconducting junction line 1001 all switched from the superconducting state to the voltage state ("Applications of Synchronized Switching in Series-Parallel-Connected Josephson Junctions" H. Suzuki et al., IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, vol. 37, p. 2399, 1990).
The superconducting junctions exhibiting the hysteresis characteristic are used in the superconducting driver circuit shown in FIG. 3. Unless an applied current is lower than a predetermined value, the superconducting junctions which once switched to the voltage state are not returned to the zero-voltage state. When the superconducting junction exhibiting the hysteresis characteristic switched, a voltage value is at millivolt level. It is possible to obtain an output voltage sufficiently higher than 0.1 mV to 0.5 mV as signal voltages of a flux quantum.

International Superconductivity Technology Center, the Juridical Foundation


A Camellia extract obtained by extracting by ultrasound a powder of Camellia japonica flowers, the powder being impregnated with a fatty substance or a mixture of fatty substances, with a hydroalcoholic solvent, and a cosmetic composition including such an extract having in particular a soothing effect for the skin. Also, a non-therapeutic use thereof for soothing the skin.

The skin is the body's first protective barrier against the environment. It therefore undergoes numerous external assaults which can lead to uncomfortable skin reactions or, in the event of very intense or more serious reactions, to phenomena of irritation and/or inflammation of the skin.
Uncomfortable skin reactions, or alternatively reactions of irritation and/or inflammation of the skin may in particular be induced by contact with chemical products such as cleansers, or may come from mechanical actions such as shaving, exfoliation, peeling, hair removal. They may also be a result of the temperature, climate, ultraviolet radiation, or atmospheric pollution.
There is always a need for new soothing agents in the cosmetic field. There also exists a need for new agents capable of treating and/or reducing skin irritation and/or inflammation reactions in the dermatological field.

Hydroalcoholic extract of camellia japonica and cosmetic compositions comprising it


A charge charge-pump circuit according to an embodiment of the invention includes: a first boosting capacitor; a second boosting capacitor series-connected with the first boosting capacitor; a first boosting clock driver connected between the first boosting capacitor and the second boosting capacitor and boosting the first boosting capacitor; and a second boosting clock driver connected with the second boosting capacitor and boosting the first boosting capacitor and the second boosting capacitor after the first boosting clock driver boosts the first boosting capacitor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a highly-efficient multi-stage charge-pump circuit and a boosting method for the charge-pump circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, a boosting circuit using a charge-pump circuit has been widely used as a high-side IPD (intelligent power device) equipped in an automobile. In order to generate a higher boosted voltage in a charge-pump circuit, the charge-pump circuit of the multi-stage configuration is required. FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing an existing, typical single-stage charge-pump circuit 800.
As shown in FIG. 8, the conventional single-stage charge-pump circuit 800 includes: a boosting clock driver 801 for receiving a clock signal OSC from an input terminal to drive a boosting capacitor 811; a first backflow preventative circuit 802 for applying a voltage corresponding to a power supply voltage VCC to the boosting capacitor 811 to prevent the backflow of charges; and a second backflow preventative circuit 803 for applying a boosted voltage to an output terminal OUT to prevent the backflow of charges in a like manner. The first backflow preventative circuit 802 and the second backflow preventative circuit 803 include N-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs).
The boosting clock driver 801 includes a P-channel MOSFET 821 and N-channel MOSFET 822 series-connected between a power supply potential and a ground potential. Drain terminals of these two MOSFETs are connected together, and their gates are connected to the input terminal. The boosting clock driver 801 outputs a signal obtained by inverting an input signal from the output (V81). In other words, the boosting clock driver 801 functions as an inverter.
The first backflow preventative circuit 802 is connected between the power supply potential VCC and one end of the boosting capacitor 811. The other end of the boosting capacitor 811 is connected with the output (V81) of the boosting clock driver 801. The first backflow preventative circuit 802 has an N-channel MOSFET having connected gate and drain with the drain being connected with the power supply potential. The N-channel MOSFET of the first backflow preventative circuit 802 attains a so-called diode connection. Its source terminal is connected with the boosting capacitor 811, and a node therebetween is denoted by V82.
The second backflow preventative circuit 803 is connected between the node V82 and the output OUT. The second backflow preventative circuit 803 has an N-channel MOSFET. The N-channel MOSFET has connected gate and drain with the drain being connected with the node V82. Further, its source terminal is connected with the output OUT. The N-channel MOSFET of the second backflow preventative circuit 803 attains the diode connection. A capacitive load 813 is connected between the source and the ground potential, and a node therebetween is the output OUT. Further, a well terminal connected to a backgate of the N-channel MOSFET is connected with the power supply potential. Hence, a parasitic diode hardly operates to realize a stable operation of the entire circuit.
FIG. 9 is a timing chart of the existing, typical single-stage charge-pump circuit. As shown in FIG. 9, the clock signal OSC supplied from the input terminal is a time-varying signal that changes its level between the power supply potential VCC and the ground potential at a constant frequency. The clock signal OSC reaches a High level (e.g., power supply potential) at a timing t1, and the boosting clock driver 801 outputs a voltage of Low level (e.g., ground potential) from the output (V81). The boosting capacitor 811 is charged with the first backflow preventative circuit 802. Provided that a threshold voltage of the N-channel MOSFET of the first backflow preventative circuit 802 is represented by Vtn 801 (for example, 0.8 V), a voltage obtained at the node V82 at the timing t1 is expressed by Expression (1) below:V82=VCC−Vtn801  Expression (1)
After that, the clock signal OSC shifts to a LOW level at the timing t2, and a terminal of the boosting capacitor 811 on the boosting clock driver 801 side is at the power supply potential. At this time, charges corresponding to the voltage derived from Expression (1) above are accumulated in the boosting capacitor 811, so the voltage at the node V82 is derived from Expression (2):V82=2×VCC−Vtn801  Expression (2)
This voltage is higher than the power supply voltage. However, the first backflow preventative circuit 802 prevents charges from flowing back to the power supply potential side, so the charges of the boosting capacitor 811 are never discharged to the power supply potential. Further, this voltage is applied to the capacitive load 813 through the second backflow preventative circuit 803. Charges corresponding to this voltage are accumulated in the capacitive load 813. Provided that a threshold voltage of the N-channel MOSFET of the second backflow preventative circuit 803 is represented by Vtn 802 (for example, 1.9 V), a voltage VOUT at the output OUT is derived from Expression (3):VOUT=2×VCC−Vtn801−Vtn802  Expression (3)
Japanese unexamined patent publication No. H06-153493 discloses such a single-stage charge-pump circuit. The charge-pump circuit disclosed in this publication aims at saving power consumed by a limiter for stabilizing a boosted voltage.
FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of an existing, typical two-stage charge-pump circuit 1000. As shown in FIG. 10, the existing two-stage charge-pump circuit 1000 includes a second boosting clock driver 1001, a second boosting capacitor 1011, and a third backflow preventative circuit 1002 in addition to components of the single-stage charge pump circuit 800 of FIG. 8. The same components as those of the single-stage charge pump circuit are denoted by like reference numerals, and their detailed description is omitted her. The second boosting clock driver 1001 has a gate connected with the output (V81) of the first boosting clock driver 801. The second boosting clock driver 1001 has a P-channel MOSFET 1021 and N-channel MOSFET 1022 series-connected between the power supply potential VCC and the ground potential. The second boosting clock driver 1001 outputs a signal from a node V101 at which drain terminals of these two MOSFETs are connected together. That is, the boosting clock driver 1001 functions as an inverter.
The third backflow preventative circuit 1002 is connected between the node V82 between the first boosting capacitor 811 and the first backflow preventative circuit 802, and the second backflow preventative circuit 803. The third backflow preventative circuit 1002 has an N-channel MOSFET. The N-channel MOSFET has connected gate and drain with the drain being connected with the node V82. Further, its source is connected with a drain of the N-channel MOSFET of the second backflow preventative circuit 803. That is, the N-channel MOSFET of the third backflow preventative circuit 1002 attains diode connection. A well terminal connected with a backgate of the N-channel MOSFET of the third backflow preventative circuit 1002 is connected with a power supply potential. Hence, a parasitic diode hardly operates to realize a stable operation of the entire circuit. Further, one end of the boosting capacitor 1011 is connected with the node V102 between the second backflow preventative circuit 803 and the third backflow preventative circuit. The other end of the boosting capacitor 1011 is connected with the output (V101) of the boosting clock driver 1001.
FIG. 11 is a timing chart of the existing two-stage charge-pump circuit 1000. As regards the operation of the two-stage charge-pump circuit, the voltage at the node V82 increases up to a level represented by Expression (1) above at the timing t1 similar to the operation of the foregoing single-stage charge-pump circuit. Next, at the timing t2, the voltage at the node V82 increases to a level represented by Expression (2) above similar to the operation of the foregoing single-stage charge-pump circuit. At this time, provided that a threshold voltage of the N-channel MOSFET of the third backflow preventative circuit 1002 is represented by Vtn 803 (for example, 1.9 V), a voltage that is calculated by replacing the threshold voltage Vtn 802 with the threshold voltage Vtn 803 is applied across the second boosting capacitor 1011. The same voltage is applied to the node V102. Next, at the timing t3, the first boosting clock driver 1001 outputs a voltage of High level from the output (V101). At this time, charges corresponding to the aforementioned voltage are accumulated in the second boosting capacitor 1011. Thus, the voltage at the node V102 is represented by Expression (4):V102=3×VCC−Vtn801−Vtn803  Expression (4)
This voltage is higher than the power supply voltage. However, since the first backflow preventative circuit 802 and the third backflow preventative circuit 803 prevent the charges from flowing back to the power supply potential side, the charges of the boosting capacitor 1011 are by no means discharged to the power supply potential. Further, this voltage is applied to the capacitive load 813 through the second backflow preventative circuit 803, and charges corresponding to the applied voltage are accumulated in the capacitive load. At this time, the voltage VOUT at the output OUT is derived from Expression (5):VOUT=3×VCC−Vtn801−Vtn802−Vtn803  Expression (5)
As mentioned above, in order to increase a boosted voltage, the following structure is generally adopted. That is, plural boosting capacitors are connected via the backflow preventative diodes between the power supply potential of the charge-pump circuit and the output terminal.
FIG. 12 is a graph showing a result of comparing a boosted voltage relative to the power supply voltage in a general single-stage charge-pump circuit with that in a general two-stage charge-pump circuit. As shown in FIG. 12, the boosted voltage is a voltage that is 1.4 to 1.6 times the power supply voltage with the single-stage one and is a voltage that is 1.8 to 2.1 times the power supply voltage with the two-stage one. In this case, the boosted voltage in the two-stage one is 1.3 times higher than that in the single-stage one. As mentioned above, the existing charge-pump circuit requires a multi-stage configuration for the purpose of obtaining a higher boosted voltage. Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2000-123587 discloses a technique for providing such a multi-stage charge-pump circuit.
FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of the layout of the single-stage charge-pump circuit. FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of the layout of the two-stage charge-pump circuit. In these existing semiconductor devices, a large capacitive element composed of a MOS capacitor occupies the most of a semiconductor chip area. The two-stage one requires an area 1.7 to 1.8 times larger than that of the single-stage one.
However, in order to increase a boosted voltage, the existing charge-pump circuit needs to have the multi-stage configuration. The multi-stage boosting circuit has a problem in that a chip area increases in proportion to an increase in the number of capacitive elements, so a semiconductor chip costs high.

Charge-pump circuit and boosting method for charge-pump circuit


A base station is configured to perform a method for communicating with a plurality of user device (UD) multi-user multi-input multi-output (MU-MIMO) wireless system. The method includes receiving an indication of a selected beam from each of at least two UDs; determining, based on the indication of selected beam, a selected beam for each of the at least two UDs; generating a virtual UD for each combination of each selected beam; estimating a data rate for each virtual UD corresponding to the selected beam and the UD that selects the selected beam; estimating a power gradient for each selected beam; determining a power for each of the selected beams based on the power gradient for each of the selected beams; and scheduling outgoing radio frequency transmissions.

MU-MIMO allows for downlink transmissions to multiple UDs from a base station (BS), e.g., an eNode-B, a gNode-B, using common time-frequency resources, i.e., schedule blocks. To separate the transmissions, MU-MIMO relies on the availability of multiple transmit antennas at the base station and on significantly different spatial radio channels between the UDs and the radio base station.
In a MU-MIMO system, due to its hardware constraints and limited processing capability, the base station needs to select a set of UDs from a large pool of candidate UDs of users to serve simultaneously. The UDs share the same frequency band employing spatial multiplexing. However, due to co-channel interference (CCI), the achievable system sum-rate is dependent on inter-correlation among multiple UDs. Thus, selection of a group of UDs with small mutual interference to be scheduled becomes an important problem.

Method and apparatus for scheduling user device in multi-user multi-input multi-output wireless system


A method for purifying and sterilizing water using nano catalytic microelectrolysis and an apparatus therefore including three units of a nano catalytic microelectrolysis device, a sand filtration and a precise filtration are provided. 1/20 to ⅕ of raw water is delivered into the nano catalytic microelectrolysis. 19/20 to ⅘ of raw water is directly delivered into a neutralization tank to be mixed with nano catalytic microelectrolysis water to kill microorganism, algae and plankton and force suspended solids, colloid, charged particles and etc. to form into relatively large particles which are removed by the precise filtration unit; heavy metal ions gather at a cathode of the microelectrolysis to form cathode sediment to be removed; organic compounds are oxidatively decomposed by strongly oxidative substances produced by the microelectrolysis; phosphate ions move towards a cathode polarization layer and act with divalent cations on a cathode surface to produce phosphate precipitate to be removed.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for purifying and sterilizing water and a method therefor, and more particularly to an apparatus for purifying and sterilizing water using an integration of nano catalytic microelectrolysis technology and precise filtration and a method therefor.
2. Description of Related Arts
The shortage of freshwater resources and water pollution have been one of the three major environmental problems in the 21st century. Therefore, water purification, reuse of purified waste water, i.e., reclaimed water reuse, seawater desalination and brackish water desalination have become high and new technologies winning great attentions of each country and also important measures to solve water resource crisis. The water reusing in the tap water production, seawater use and desalination, brackish water use and desalination and waste water processing requires a purification of raw water. Among many conventional water purification methods already developed and applied, some have low efficiency, some have huge energy consumption and are not economical, and others need a big investment in apparatuses. Thus from the angle of economy, the conventional methods are still unsatisfactory.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show production arts of conventional water purification technologies.
Conventional water purification arts use a purification art which uses flocculants and disinfectants to precipitate microorganism, colloid and solid granules in water and then sand filtration, multi-media filtration and membrane filtration. The purification art has a high purification cost and leads to environmental pollutions of different degrees because of the flocculants and the disinfectants added. Besides, the purification art needs a big investment in disposable apparatuses.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for purifying and sterilizing water using nano catalytic microelectrolysis

Boying Xiamen Science and Technology Co., Ltd.


A preventive and/or therapeutic agent for inflammatory respiratory tract diseases containing, as an active ingredient, a steroid derivative represented by the following formula (1):

According to recent studies, respiratory tract diseases including bronchial asthma and nasal hypersensitivity conditions (e.g., allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis) should be considered to be inflammatory diseases characterized by chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract mucosa in which a variety of phagocytes such as mast cells, eosinophils, and lymphocytes are involved, and also by sthenia in respiratory tract hypersensitivity induced by the inflammation. Thus, therapeutic agents for the respiratory tract diseases have gradually shifted from those containing bronchodilators, antiallergic agents, or anti-histamines to those containing anti-inflammatory agents, which reduce basophils and eosinophils present in the mucosal epithelium of the respiratory tract and lymphocytes and which inhibit release of cytokines from lymphocytes; release of mediators from basophils; secretion from glandular cells; vascular permeability; etc. Among such anti-inflammatory agents, steroid compounds exerting great therapeutic effects and less side effects have become of interest in terms of topical therapy, and heretofore, several steroid drugs that can be administered to the respiratory tract through inhalation have been developed.
However, when steroids, which are generally thought to exert a local anti-inflammatory activity, are administered to the respiratory tract, satisfactory site selectivity is not always attained. Steroids which are used at present still have unsatisfactory site selectivity, and safety of these drugs is not fully assured (e.g., grave side effect is induced by long-term administration).
Therefore, there is a demand for development of a steroid for use as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory respiratory tract diseases which exerts an excellent anti-inflammatory effect and which exerts high site selectivity and no systemic effect due to low bioavailability, when administered directly to the nasal cavity or to the respiratory tract via inhalation.

Preventives/remedies for inflammatory airway diseases

Abstract: (wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, or —OCOR1 (wherein R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group which may be substituted by a halogen atom or a cycloalkyl group; a cycloalkyl group; or an aryl group)).

Abstract: These compounds can continuously suppress respiratory tract inflammation and respiratory tract hyperreaction and show a high site selectivity and little systemic effect when administered directly to the respiratory tract. By virtue of these characteristics, these compounds are remarkably useful in clinical medicine as highly safe preventive and/or therapeutic agents for inflammatory respiratory tract diseases which can be administered for a long period of time.


A system according to one embodiment includes a light source for generating light fringes; a sampling mechanism for directing a particle through the light fringes; and at least one light detector for detecting light scattered by the particle as the particle passes through the light fringes. A method according to one embodiment includes generating light fringes using a light source; directing a particle through the light fringes; and detecting light scattered by the particle as the particle passes through the light fringes using at least one light detector.

Properties of small particles, such as size, density and fluorescence, are critical for many applications, but the small size makes measurement difficult. A potentially lethal anthrax spore, for example, has a diameter of one thousandth of a millimeter, a mass of one trillionth of a gram, and is completely invisible to the naked eye. Nonetheless, if anthrax spores were to suddenly appear in a subway it is clearly important to rapidly and accurately detect them. This is a significant challenge. Different applications have different requirements, but the more information an instrument can provide about the particles, the better. Similarly, the speed and accuracy of virtually any such instrument should be maximized while the size, cost and complexity are kept to a minimum. It would thus be desirable to provide a system and method having the ability to measure multiple particle properties more accurately and rapidly than known commercial instruments yet having the potential to be made smaller and more inexpensively.
Particle detection and analysis continue to evolve. One approach uses particle velocity. When a gas travels though a properly designed pressure gradient, entrained particles are focused and accelerated to a terminal velocity dependent upon their aerodynamic diameter. Measurement of the subsequent particle velocity is thus a means to obtain accurate aerodynamic particle size data. This basic technique has been employed for some time in a range of instruments. The velocity is generally determined by measuring the time it takes for a particle to pass between two laser beams separated by a known distance. Because of noise and finite clock speed, velocity is determined most accurately when the spacing (and hence transit time) between laser beams is large. As the mean spacing between particles becomes comparable to the spacing between lasers, however, the system becomes increasingly confused by coincident particles, crossing particles and related phenomena. Unfortunately, high particle loads must be dealt with in many applications. To handle such loads the lasers can be moved closer together (reducing sizing accuracy) or more lasers can be used (increasing cost). The Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) from TSI is an example of an instrument in which two lasers are put close together to enable high analysis rates with rather low accuracy. The Aerosol Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (ATOFMS) from TSI is a system in which two lasers are relatively far apart, which enables accurate sizing but a low analysis rate. The BioAerosol Mass Spectrometry (BAMS) system developed at LLNL uses six lasers to achieve both high accuracy and a high analysis rate, but the system is complex and expensive.
Therefore, it would be desirable to determine aerodynamic size and trajectory with high accuracy and speed but with minimal complexity and cost.
The aerodynamic size of a particle is related both to its physical size and to its density. The relative importance of the physical and aerodynamic sizes vary from application to application, but measuring both of them simultaneously would be useful in that it provides information on the particle's mass density, which may be very useful. As with the aerodynamic size, many techniques and instruments have been developed to measure physical size. Optical techniques include measuring the total amount of light scattered from a particle, the spatial pattern of scattered light and other scattered light properties, but very few techniques measure both sizes simultaneously. At least a few instruments, such as the APS, ATOFMS and BAMS, are in theory capable of making such measurements, but generally in these instruments the physical size measurement is rather inaccurate being based upon the total amount of light scattered from a particle in a laser beam.
Therefore, it would be desirable to determine the aerodynamic size, physical size and consequently mass density with higher accuracy and speed but with minimal complexity and cost.
Single particle fluorescence has been measured in several ways. The Hach Homeland Security Technologies BioLert system measures single particle fluorescence with a single continuous wave (CW) laser and minimal collection optics. The fluorescence signal produced and detected is very weak and accurate quantification is a challenge. The system is, however, relatively inexpensive. General Dynamic's Biological Agent Warning System (BAWS) uses a randomly-fired, pulsed laser to deposit more energy into a particle, which does produce more fluorescence, but cost is increased. The BAMS system uses an even more powerful pulsed laser triggered by a separate tracking system and carefully designed optics to collect as much fluorescence as possible, but the result is a very expensive system. Other fluorescence systems exist as well.
Therefore, where desired, it would be desirable to determine a particle's fluorescence with high accuracy and speed but with minimal complexity and cost.

Particle measurement systems and methods

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC


An electronic component mounting substrate includes an insulating substrate having a rectangular shape in a plan view of the electronic component mounting substrate, the insulating substrate including a mounting portion on a principal face thereof for mounting an electronic component; and first via conductor groups each including first via conductors and second via conductor groups each including second via conductors, the first via conductors and the second via conductors penetrating through the insulating substrate in a thickness direction thereof, a number of the second via conductors being larger than that of the first via conductors, the mounting portion, the first via conductor groups, and the second via conductor groups being disposed so as not to overlap each other in a transparent plan view of the electronic component mounting substrate, the first via conductor groups being located between the mounting portion and the second via conductor groups, respectively.

An electronic component mounting substrate in the related art includes a mounting portion which is disposed on one principal face of an insulating substrate and mounts an electronic component thereon, terminal electrodes which are disposed on the other principal face of the insulating substrate, and via conductors which are disposed inside the insulating substrate so as to extend from the mounting portion. In a case where an electronic device including an electronic component and an electronic component mounting substrate is joined to, for example, a module substrate with a joining material such as solder, terminal electrodes are joined to the module substrate via the joining material such as solder (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 2015-043374).

Electronic component mounting substrate, electronic device, and electronic module


A rear entry ankle brace for providing support and stability to an ankle includes a rigid internal support member covered on both sides by a soft durable material. The ankle brace is secured about a leg with an adjustable strap. A flexible heel is provided for facilitating walking.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ankle brace device, and specifically to an ankle brace that is easily put on and minimizes interference with walking.
2. Related Art
Ankle orthoses have become a standard treatment for orthopedic foot and ankle problems. Most are bulky and entirely rigid. Typically, a plurality of straps are required for attachment about the foot and ankle. These devices are cumbersome and time-consuming to apply and diminish proprioception while ambulating because the heel is covered by the device. Further, these devices are difficult to wear with standard footwear, leaving an individual self-consciously wearing only one shoe and an unsightly brace.
What is needed, but has not yet been provided, is an ankle brace which is easy to put on, which provides necessary support, which provides a comfortable fit, and which allows for easy walking.


Systems and methods for charging electric vehicles and for quantitative and qualitative load balancing of electrical demand are provided.

Improvements in battery technology provide the potential of economically viable electric-powered modes of transportation including, but not limited to, automobiles, motorcycles, buses, etc. One oft cited drawback of such electrical vehicles is the need to plug them in regularly to replenish their electrical charge. First, such charging will likely require more time than is typically required to fill up an automobile with a petroleum based product. As a result, the owner of an electrical automobile must often times adhere to a schedule of charging that renders the automobile unusable for protracted stretches of time. In addition, there exists a resistance to performing the act of plugging in an automobile and subsequently unplugging the vehicle in order to maintain a charged vehicle.


A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the following steps. A plurality of select gates are formed on a memory region of a semiconductor substrate. Two charge storage structures are formed between two adjacent select gates. A source region is formed in the semiconductor substrate, and the source region is formed between the two adjacent select gates. An insulation block is formed between the two charge storage structures and formed on the source region. A memory gate is formed on the insulation block, and the memory gate is connected to the two charge storage structures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device including one memory gate disposed corresponding to two charge storage structures for increasing the element density and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Semiconductor memory devices are used in computer and electronics industries as a means for retaining digital information or data. Typically, the semiconductor memory devices are divided into volatile and non-volatile memory devices depending on whether the data stored in the memory devices is completely lost or not in case of power interruption. The non-volatile memory devices, which can retain their data even when the power supply is interrupted, have been widely employed. As one kind of the non-volatile memory technology, a SONOS memory structure is to build a silicon nitride layer sandwiched between two silicon oxide layers for serving as the charge trap layer while the two silicon oxide layers respectively serve as a charge tunnel layer and a charge block layer. This oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) multilayered structure is formed between a semiconductor substrate and a silicon floating gate, and thus a SONOS memory structure is constructed.
Since the microprocessors have become more powerful, requirement to memory devices of large-capacity and low-cost is raised. To satisfy such trend and achieve challenge of high integration in semiconductor devices, memory miniaturization is kept on going, and thus fabrication process of memory structure is getting complicated. Therefore, it is always a target for the related industries to effectively enhance integrity and electrical performances by modifying the designs.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof


A cooling fan unit includes a hook groove locking a plurality of lead wires drawn out of a circuit board and being formed in a wall of a housing in a direction of drawing out the lead wires. The hook groove has a lead wire through path which extends substantially perpendicularly from an end edge of the wall of the housing and a lead wire guide which extends substantially perpendicularly from a bottom of the lead wire through path. At least two of the plurality of lead wires are crossed with each other between the hook groove and a connection portion of the circuit board with respect to the plurality of lead wires, so that at least one second lead wire inhibits displacement of a first lead wire, which is aligned closest to the lead wire through path out of the plurality of lead wires accommodated in the lead wire guide, to a direction of being disengaged from the lead wire through path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in a method for locking to and drawing out of a hook groove, which is provided in a housing, a plurality of lead wires which extend out from a circuit board of a cooling fan unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cooling fan unit used for cooling an electronic device includes an impeller having a plurality of blades, a motor for rotating the impeller, a circuit board mounting thereon a driver circuit for the motor, and a housing for fixing thereto the motor and the circuit board as well as accommodating therein the impeller. Connected to the circuit board are a plurality of (at least three) lead wires used for power supply and control, and there is attached, at ends of the lead wires, a connector for connection with an electronic device.
In accordance with a type, size, shape and the like of the cooling fan unit, there are various structures adopted for drawing the lead wires of the cooling fan unit out of the circuit board through the housing. There is a simple structure for a relatively small cooling fan unit in which a hook groove for locking the lead wires thereto is formed in an outer wall portion of the housing in a direction of drawing out the lead wires. Described below are examples of such a structure for drawing out lead wires in a conventional cooling fan unit.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are views of a structure for drawing out lead wires in a conventional cooling fan unit. FIG. 8A is a bottom view of the cooling fan unit seen from a side of a base portion in a direction of a central axis, while FIG. 8B is a partially enlarged cross sectional view of an outer wall portion of a housing of the cooling fan unit as seen from a direction of drawing out the lead wires. It is noted that an impeller is not illustrated in FIG. 8A.
A housing 1 of the cooling fan unit includes an outer wall 11, a base 12, and four joining portions 13 which connect the outer wall portion 11 and the base 12 with each other. The base 12 has a substantially cylindrical shape and accommodates therein a motor (not shown) and a circuit board 5. The circuit board 5 is partially exposed at a cutout 121 provided in the base 12. Lead wires 6 are soldered to a lead wire connection portion (including solder lands) which is provided at an area where the circuit board 5 is exposed. The lead wires 6 are attached at other ends thereof to a connector 7 which is used for connection with an electronic device.
There is formed a hook groove 110 in the outer wall 11 of the housing 1 in the direction of drawing out the lead wires. The hook groove 110 includes a lead wire through path 111 and a lead wire guide 112. The lead wires 6 are inserted sequentially one by one starting with a rightmost wire of FIG. 8A into the lead wire through path 111 and are accommodated in the lead wire guide 112.
There is another example of the structure for drawing out lead wires of the conventional cooling fan unit, in which there is provided a rib for guiding and accommodating the lead wires 6 from the connection portion of the circuit board 5 with respect to the lead wires 6 to the outer wall 11 of the housing 1. Further, there is a structure in which one of the joining portions 13 is formed to be wide to function also as a rib for accommodating the lead wires. However, these structures respectively have a drawback such that the wide rib for guiding the lead wires 6 counteracts airflow generated by rotation of the impeller. In order to overcome such a drawback, the conventional example shown in FIG. 8A adopts a structure in which there is provided no guide rib so that the lead wires 6 are exposed to airflow.
When the conventional cooling fan unit shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B is incorporated in an electronic device, one of the lead wires 6 aligned closest to the lead wire through path 111 (the leftmost lead wire in FIGS. 8A and 8B) is likely to be disengaged from the lead wire through path 111 depending on a way of drawing around the lead wires 6 within the electronic device. The lead wire 6 disengaged from the lead wire through path 111 (that is, the hook groove 110) may widely swing due to the airflow, which will cause noise. Further, the disengaged lead wire 6 may be brought into contact with another component within the electronic device to damage coating thereof or to be thermally deteriorated.
Disengagement of one of the lead wires 6 from the hook groove 110 can be prevented by applying an adhesive agent or an adhesive tape so as to block an opening of the lead wire through path 111. However, it is desirable not to perform such work which requires an additional cost and manufacturing step.

Cooling fan unit and method for drawing out lead wires thereof


A seed clutch actuating hydraulic piston & cylinder unit for a seed drill is attached directly to a cam plate on the seed clutch. The clutch actuating piston & cylinder unit is linked to a hydraulic lifting system for the seed drill such that, when a tractor operator operates the hydraulic lift for the seed drill, the clutch actuating piston & cylinder unit is retracted (or extended), with the piston then immediately rotating the seed clutch cam plate, which disengages the seed clutch. The seed clutch thus disengages the seed metering drive shaft so that seed metering is immediately shut off as the seed drill starts to raise. As the operator lowers the seed drill back down to an operating position, the clutch actuating piston and cylinder unit is extended to rotate the seed clutch cam plate back to its original position, which engages the clutch to reconnect operative power to the seed metering shaft. An optional time delay can be inserted into the extension side of the hydraulic controls to allow a timed delay in clutch actuation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a hydraulic seed clutch actuator for seed drills of the type used to plant seeds in agricultural operations. The term "seed drill" is intended herein to encompass various types of seed planters including traditional seed drills, row planters and other similar devices. More particularly, the invention relates to such a hydraulic seed clutch actuator which is linked to an OEM hydraulic lifting system on the seed drill. The inventive hydraulic actuator assures that, when an operator, typically a person driving a tractor towing the seed drill, operates a hydraulic control to lift the seed drill, as at the end of a planted row, the seed clutch is simultaneously operated to immediately cut off seed metering.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of seed drills are typically used in modern large scale agricultural crop planting operations. A typical seed drill includes a frame upon which one or more seed hoppers are positioned. The seed hopper(s) have a plurality of seed discharge openings, each of which feeds into a respective seed metering devices. The seed metering devices are typically linked via a common drive shaft which is powered from a linkage connected to ground engaging wheels on the seed drill. Seed metering rate is thus proportional to the ground speed of the seed drill. One or more seeds from the metering mechanisms are dropped into respective seed tubes with each few inches of travel, which dropped seeds are fed through the seed tubes and dropped into a furrow opened by a single or pair of furrowing discs. A tamping wheel and/or a closing wheel typically follow the disc(s) and the seed tube to tamp the seed into the furrow and then to close the furrow, respectively.
Considerable research goes into the development of improved strains of crops, many of which are patented by research institutions and seed companies. Many of these improved crops exhibit a variety of improved characteristics, including increased yield and greater resistance to pests and disease. However, the costs of these improved seeds is also considerably higher than that of conventional seed. Farmers are thus faced with tough decisions on whether to risk the extra cost for improved seed as a trade-off for the expectation or hope for better crop yields. As seed prices continue to escalate, the importance of conserving seed becomes ever more important.
In a conventional seed drill with which the present invention is concerned, a farmer will typically operate a hydraulically driven rocker arm which pivots to raise and lower the furrowing discs as the tractor and seed drill reach the end of each series of planted rows and resume the next series of rows, respectively. A mechanically operated seed clutch is attached to a linkage which links the seed clutch to the rocker arm. As the rocker arm pivots to lift the seed drill, the connected linkage disengages the seed clutch to isolate the seed metering drive shaft from a drive shaft driven by ground engaging wheels on the seed drill. The seed clutch is thus responsive to the raising of the seed drill to shut off power to the seed metering shaft, and to thus stop dispensing seed after the drill is lifted. The tractor and towed seed drill are then turned 180 degrees and the seed drill is lowered to start another series of planted rows.
A problem with this approach to actuating a seed clutch is an inherent delay in operation of the seed clutch due to the linkage operation. Typically, the seed clutch is not disengaged until the seed drill is near the fully raised position, and is reengaged as the seed drill is starting to lower. This means that seed continues to be metered out and dropped through the seed tubes as the drill is being lifted, and then again as the seed drill is being lowered. Depending upon the travel speed of the tractor, seed can be dropped on the ground for as long as six feet or more each time the seed drill is raised and lowered. Taking an average 40 acre field to be planted, and assuming a square shape and a seed drill width of 15 feet, a tractor would make 88 passes across the field during planting. With each pass, seed is dispensed past the planted row for an average distance of 6 feet, and ahead of the next row series for an additional 6 feet. Multiplying 12 feet times 88 passes means that 1056 feet of seed can be wasted in that field. Of course, if the field is irregularly shaped or includes terraces, the seed drill will need to be raised more often, which can increase the seed wastage. The problem of wasted seed is particularly costly in soy bean or corn plantings, but is a problem no matter what crop is being planted.
It is clear, then, that a need exists for an apparatus which quickly and positively shuts off and resumes seed metering in a seed drill under the control of an operator. Such an apparatus should be a convenient and economical retrofit for existing seed drills, and should be readily operable from existing tractor hydraulics and controls.

Hydraulic seed clutch actuator for seed drills


An all terrain vehicle includes a vehicle frame having lower arms and upper arms for suspending front wheels, the upper arms positioned above the lower arms, drive shafts arranged between the lower arms and the upper arms for conveying drive power from a front wheel differential unit to the front wheels, and shock absorbers including lower ends connected to the lower arms and upper ends connected to the vehicle frame. The shock absorbers are arranged further to the front than the upper arms so as to shorten the front portion of the vehicle frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an all terrain vehicle for traveling on uneven ground such as wasteland, grassland, and swamps. More particularly, the present invention relates to technology for a vehicle wheel suspension for a four-wheel drive vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an all terrain vehicle including independent suspensions that suspend left and right front wheels, so-called double wishbone type suspensions are sometimes provided. A double wishbone type suspension is a suspension having a lower arm and an upper arm arranged above the lower arm for suspending a front wheel. These lower arm and upper arms are formed in a V-shape.
Generally, a two-wheel drive all terrain vehicle driven only by rear wheels and provided with a type double wishbone type suspension for the front wheels includes shock absorbers connected to the lower arms (refer, for example, to Japanese Patent No. 2610268).
Specifically, body portions (telescopic portions) of the shock absorbers are arranged at an inner side of the V-shaped upper arms, between front arm portions and back arm portions. Upper ends of the shock absorbers are connected to a vehicle frame, and lower ends of the shock absorbers are connected to the lower arms.
If the shock absorbers are connected to the lower arms in this way, the center of gravity of the vehicle is low compared to when connected to the upper arms. Therefore, a comfortable ride is possible even if the vehicle is traveling over uneven ground.
However, in a four wheel drive all terrain vehicle provided with double wishbone type suspensions, it is difficult to connect the lower ends of the shock absorbers to the lower arms in a similar manner to the above described two-wheel drive vehicle.
That is, a four wheel drive all terrain vehicle includes front wheel drive shafts connecting the front wheels and a differential unit, and the drive shafts are arranged between the lower arms and the upper arms. As a result, the drive shafts obstruct the arrangement of the shock absorbers, and the lower ends of the shock absorbers cannot connect to the lower arms. If the body portions (telescopic portions) of the shock absorbers are positioned in front of or behind the drive shafts, and the lower ends of the shock absorbers are connected to the lower arms so as to avoid the drive shafts, the upper ends of the shock absorbers are likely to contact the upper arms when traveling.
To deal with this, for example, it has been considered as a solution to widen a distance between the front arm portions and the back arm portions of the upper arms in order to remove the danger of the upper portion of the shock absorbers contacting the upper arms. However, with this approach, in order to support the upper arms using the vehicle frame, it becomes necessary to extend the front of the vehicle frame forward. If this is done, when the vehicle moves up and down when traveling on uneven ground, there is a danger that a front lower portion of the vehicle will contact the ground.


A thermal position sensor includes a collection of micro-bolometers, each having an electrical resistance and each including a substrate and an absorptive element. The absorptive element is suspended above the substrate and configured to absorb infrared radiation, including 10-micron long-wavelength infrared radiation. A change in a temperature of the micro-bolometer causes a change in the resistance of the micro-bolometer. The collection of micro-bolometers is partitioned into a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and a fourth quadrant, where each of the quadrants represents a 90-degree segment of the sensor and includes at least one micro-bolometer of the collection of micro-bolometers. Each of the quadrants includes at least one output signal that provides information indicative of a temperature of the quadrant based on a resistance associated with the at least one micro-bolometer of the quadrant.

A bolometer is a device that can be used to measure the power of radiation that is incident on the bolometer. In general, a bolometer can be used as a resistive device whose resistance varies with a temperature of the bolometer or of a portion of the bolometer (e.g., an absorptive portion of the bolometer). In general, the temperature of the bolometer or portion of the bolometer may be affected by incident radiation, or lack thereof, on the bolometer. For example, as the bolometer or a portion of the bolometer is warmed by incident radiation, the resistance of the bolometer may increase. Conversely, when the bolometer or a portion of the bolometer is cooled, for example because of a reduction in intensity of incident radiation or removal of incident radiation on the bolometer or a portion of the bolometer, the resistance of the bolometer may decrease.
A quadrant detector is a sensor that includes four quadrants, where each of the four quadrants represents a sub-sensor of the overall quadrant detector sensor. The quadrant detector may produce output signals that may be read by a dedicated read-out circuit that is implemented as an integrated circuit.
A sight is a device used to aim a weapon. A telescopic sight, sometimes also called a "scope," is a sighting device based on an optical refracting telescope, and includes a reticle or graphic image pattern to provide an aiming point. A collimator sight or "red dot" sight typically uses a red light-emitting diode ("LED") at the focus of collimating optics that a user uses as an aiming point for the firearm.
A bipod is an attachment for a firearm. The bipod includes two legs, where each leg includes a base, or foot, at the end of the leg. The bipod can provide stability for the firearm when the feet of the bipod are rested on a surface, which can aid in steadying the firearm for improved aiming.

Bolometric infrared quadrant detectors and uses with firearm applications


The invention relates to a value document, such as a banknote (1), which includes one or more window zones (2A, 2B) with one for example optically active element each which rotates a polarization plane P0 of polarized light LA, LB, penetrating the window zone by a defined angle. If such value documents are stacked and polarized light penetrates the superimposed window zones, the number of stacked value documents can be determined by way of the overall rotation of the polarization plane PA, PB. The overall nominal value of a stack of banknotes can thus be determined. The window zones can have category-specific rotational characteristics for different categories or nominal values and/or can be disposed in category-specific positions in the valuable document.

Documents of value within the meaning of the present invention are particularly understood to mean documents of value with a predetermined nominal value, thus in particular banknotes, but also shares, postage stamps and the like. The invention is also applicable to other documents of value without a nominal value, such as checks, credit cards, ID cards, etc. and is suited in particular for the classification and quantity determination of such documents of value with no nominal value. In the following, the invention is described by way of example with reference to the particular problems encountered in banknote processing.

Valuable document and method and device for examining said valuable document


A system and method of distributing software licenses in a networked computing environment is provided. The system and method in one aspect comprise a management application and a plurality of agents. The plurality of agents each reside on computers in a network, for example, remote from the management application. The management application includes a user interface from which information about the plurality of computers in a network may be obtained via the plurality of agents and license information may be distributed to the plurality of computers.

Commercial software products frequently require some type of digital license "key" that enables the use of the product under certain conditions. The key itself is an arbitrary digital artifact that broadly reflects the terms and conditions under which a given customer may legitimately use the accompanying product. The actual policy represented by the license varies, but commonly may include items such as: specific identification of the computers where the software is eligible for execution, such as network host name or address, an internal serial number such as that used by network hardware (the so-called MAC address), a CPU serial number or hard disk serial number or combinations of all of the above; restrictions on use of the software, such as the maximum number of users that can be accommodated, expiration dates and so on; identification of the customer or user of the software; other policy items, for instance, whether the software can be executed on other computers of the same type, or only on the named computer; digital signatures and other data as needed to protect licenses from alteration.
In large computer networks, maintaining these licenses across the computer's lifecycle can be a difficult and error prone manual process. Licenses must be requested from the vendor, installed on the correct computers and monitored for errors such as impending license expiration. At large scale, thousands or tens of thousands of computer, the management problems associated with administering software licenses escalate enormously due to the workload and degree of manual effort required. Accordingly, an improved way to manage licenses is desirable that address many of these shortcomings.

System and method for distribution of software licenses in a networked computing environment


An apparatus for providing object-in-content information that includes a central control unit which creates and provides basic content information, receives the object-in-content information and provides the object-in-content information in a user-viewable format. The apparatus also features an object information interface unit which transmits a message containing the basic content information provided by the central control unit to an object-in-content information managing device, receives a message containing object-in-content information corresponding to the basic content information from the object-in-content information managing device, and transmits the object-in-content information contained in the received message to the central control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to providing information on objects in content, and more particularly, to an apparatus, system and method of providing information on objects included in content (hereinafter, referred to as "object-in-content information") without modifying the content when providing the object-in-content information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally specific content and object-in-content information are stored together upon production of a piece of media. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, where the piece of media is played by a content player 130, a user 140 receives the object-in-content information in an offline mode. In other words, a content producer 100 creates original content 105 to be provided to the user 140, an object-in-content information provider 110 inserts specific object-in-content information into the original content 105, and a media manufacturer 120 manufactures a piece of media 125. Where content stored in the piece of media 125 is played by the content player 130, the user can select an arbitrary object in the piece of media to obtain information on the selected object stored in the piece of media.
FIG. 2 illustrates a method of extracting object-in-content information in an online mode, by using a content player 240 and an object-in-content information providing device 215. A content producer 200 produces original content 205 to be provided to a user 250 and sends the original content 205 to an object-in-content information provider 210 to add object-in-content information to the original content 205. The object-in-content information provider 210 configures the object-in-content information and stores it in the object-in-content information providing device 215. The content 214 reconfigured by the object-in-content information provider 210 is delivered to the user 250 through a content provider 220. The content provider 220 includes a provider which provides content 222 over a series of broadcast networks 230 that broadcast the content 222 via ground wave, sky wave or wired networks. The content player 240 comprises a receiving/playing system which receives and plays the broadcast delivered from the content provider 220, and allows the user 250 to view the received broadcast content. While viewing the content 222, the user 250 may send a control message 255 to select an object in the content through the content player 240. In response to the control message, the content player 240 receives relevant object information 244 from the object-in-content information providing device 215. Here, the object information 244 has been provided by the object-in-content information provider 210, through a separate communication network other than the broadcast networks 230, so as to allow the user 250 to view the relevant object information 244. However, the related art methods illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 have a variety of problems.
For example, since object-in-content information or object recognition information for use in obtaining the object-in-content information is transmitted in a state where it is included in a broadcasting stream, a content provider requires a broad bandwidth when providing the content. Accordingly, the transmission/reception costs of the content including the object-in-content information increase.
Also, since an object that has been inserted into media or added to content for broadcasting is fixed, only objects that have been ahead set in the content can be selected and specific object information in the content, which has been stored in a piece of media or reconfigured and produced by an object-in-content information provider, cannot be added or modified.

Apparatus, system and method for providing information on objects included in content


A purification method excellent in removing particulates or the like from exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, in particular, a diesel engine or the like. The purification method uses an exhaust gas purification apparatus including an oxidation zone installed with an oxidation catalyst supporting both platinum and palladium, and a filtering zone installed with a particulate filter, along exhaust gas flow at the exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine. Hydrocarbon-based liquid is supplied to the inflow side of the exhaust gas of the oxidation zone at the time when 2 to 10 g of particulates per 1 liter of the particulate filter are caught, to raise temperature of the exhaust gas up to equal to or higher than 550° C. by the oxidation catalyst so as to make the residue of the particulate filter combusted.

A diesel particulate filter is used to catch PM (particulate matter) containing dark smoke or SOF (soluble organic fraction) exhausted from an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine or the like. However, accumulated PM causes an increase of pressure in the filter.
Therefore, to prevent an increase of pressure, a heating unit such as an electric heater is equipped around the filter to combust and remove PM so as to regenerate the filter.
Such a conventional purification apparatus for exhausted gas, however, required to switch a filter to another one while the regeneration of the filter is carried out. Every time when a certain amount of PM is deposited, it is necessary to switch between at least 2 filters to repeat catching and regeneration. Regeneration of a filter requires heating inside of the filter up to combustion temperature of PM; which in turn requires installment of a heating apparatus such as an electric heater or the like. To solve such a problem, a purification system has been proposed, where hydrocarbon adsorption zone supported zeolite, and a PM filtering zone supported an oxidation catalyst are installed at an exhaustion passage of an internal combustion engine, and as the oxidation catalyst, platinum, palladium, rhodium, cerium, copper, vanadium, iron, silver or the like is disclosed (JP-A-2002-89247).
In addition, a purification apparatus for exhaust gas from a diesel engine equipped with a filter for catching particulates from a diesel engine, a catalyst converter with high activity for injected hydrocarbon (HC) installed at the upstream for the filter, and a HC control unit which is capable of supplying a large amount of HC to the catalyst converter has been proposed (JP-A-60-43113).
Furthermore, a filter for particulates exhausted from a diesel engine, coated with a catalyst component thereon has also been proposed (U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,632A). In addition, a purification apparatus for exhaust gas from a diesel engine installed a filter which supported an oxidation catalyst at downstream of a turbo charger has been proposed. This filter catches fine particles and a fuel supplying unit to generate heat by exothermic reaction between oxygen and fuel using the oxidation catalyst has also been proposed (JP-A-05-44435). In addition, a purification system for exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine which is equipped with a diesel particulates filter of continuous regeneration type at the exhaust gas passage of the engine is proposed. In this system, accumulated particulate material is removed by regeneration mode operation, at the timing when an amount of the accumulated particulate material in the filter is equal to or more than a specified discrimination value. Furthermore, in this system, a purification system which is equipped with an estimation unit to estimate an amount of accumulated particulate material into the filter, and a control unit for limiting the maximal injection amount of fuel to an internal combustion engine, at the timing when amount of particulate material is equal to or more than a specified discrimination value, has also been proposed (JP-A-2004-108207).

Method and device for controlling exhaust emission from internal combustion engine


A hydraulically-operable locking differential includes a retainer ring that is threadably connected with the axle housing for adjustably supporting the bearings at one end of a differential casing, which retainer ring contains ducting for supplying pressure fluid to a hydraulic actuator contained within the casing, thereby to activate a friction pack assembly to lock a side gear of the differential to the differential casing. The ducting for the hydraulic fluid includes a first passage contained in the retainer ring, a second passage contained in and extending longitudinally of a tubular end portion of the casing, and a third passage which affords continuous communication between the first and second passages during rotation of the casing relative to the axle housing.

1. Field of the Invention
An hydraulically-operable locking differential is disclosed including passage means contained within the casing adjustment ring for supplying pressure fluid to operate friction pack means to lock one side gear to the differential casing.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
It is well known in the patented prior art to include hydraulically operable friction pack means for connecting a side gear to the casing of a limited slip differential, as evidenced by the patents to Seitz et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,399, Mueller No. 4,263,824, Ozaki et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,463, Hirota U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,876 and Kobayashi U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,696, among others. In general, these systems are rather complex and expensive, and are not suitable for retrofit installation within a user's existing differential axle housing. One problem that occurs in such differentials is how to actuate hydraulically the friction pack means contained within the rotatably driven differential casing. The present invention was developed to provide an improved differential that avoids the above and other drawbacks of the known differential arrangements.

Hydraulically-operable locking differential including adjustable retainer ring ducting


A card reader for use with a card incorporated with an IC chip may include an insertion port into which the card is inserted; a metal detection mechanism structured to detect an external connection terminal of the IC chip provided in the card; and a tip end detection mechanism structured to detect a tip end in an inserting direction of the card inserted into the insertion port. The metal detection mechanism and the tip end detection mechanism may be disposed so that, when the tip end detection mechanism detects the tip end in the inserting direction of the card inserted into the insertion port in a correct posture, the metal detection mechanism detects the external connection terminal.

Conventionally, an IC card reader structured to process a contact type IC card which is incorporated with an IC chip has been known (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). The IC card reader described in Patent Literature 1 includes a width sensor for detecting a width of an object inserted into an insertion port, and a magnetic body sensor for detecting whether a magnetic body has been inserted into the insertion port or not. The width sensor is disposed on one end side of a card passage in a widthwise direction of a card inserted into the insertion port. The magnetic body sensor is disposed at a position where an external connection terminal of an IC card inserted in a correct posture into the insertion port (in other words, an IC card inserted into the insertion port in a direction where appropriate processing of the IC card can be performed in the IC card reader) is passed. Further, the card reader includes a shutter for opening and closing the card passage. The shutter is disposed on a rear side relative to the width sensor and the magnetic body sensor in the IC card reader.
In the IC card reader described in Patent Literature 1, it is determined whether an IC card has been inserted into the insertion port or not based on a detected result of the width sensor and a detected result of the magnetic body sensor. Further, in the IC card reader, when it is determined that an IC card has been inserted into the insertion port, the shutter is opened and the IC card is taken into an inside of the IC card reader.
A card reader described in Patent Literature 2 has been also known. A card used in the card reader described in Patent Literature 2 is formed with an external connection terminal of an IC chip. Further, the card reader described in Patent Literature 2 includes a card insertion part which is formed with an insertion port into which a card is inserted. The card insertion part includes a metal sensor for detecting an external connection terminal of a card and a shutter for closing a card passage where the card is to be passed. The metal sensor includes a core and an excitation coil and a sensing coil which are wound around the core. The metal sensor is disposed at a position where an external connection terminal of a card inserted in a correct posture into the insertion port (in other words, a card inserted into the insertion port in a direction where appropriate processing of the card can be performed in an inside of the card reader) is passed. A shutter is disposed on a rear side relative to the metal sensor in an inserting direction of a card.
In the card reader described in Patent Literature 2, it can be detected whether a card formed with an external connection terminal has been inserted into the insertion port or not (in other words, whether an IC card has been inserted into the insertion port or not) based on a detected result of the metal sensor. Further, in the card reader, the shutter closes a card passage in a standby state before a card is inserted into the insertion port. When it is detected that a card formed with an external connection terminal has been inserted into the insertion port based on a detected result of the metal sensor, the shutter is opened and the card is taken into the inside of the card reader.
A shape of an IC card into which an IC chip is incorporated is specified in the international standard and an IC card in conformity with the international standard is formed in a substantially rectangular shape whose four corners are rounded. The card reader described in Patent Literature 2 takes a card (IC card) formed in a substantially rectangular shape in its longitudinal direction into the inside and performs processing for the card. Further, conventionally, a card reader has been known in which a card (IC card) formed in a substantially rectangular shape is taken into in its short widthwise direction and processing is performed for the card (see, for example, Patent Literature 3). The card reader described in Patent Literature 3 includes a card insertion part which is formed with an insertion port into which a card is inserted. The card insertion part includes a shutter for closing a card passage where a card is to be passed.
In a contact type IC card in conformity with the international standard, as shown in FIG. 14A, an external connection terminal 2c of an IC chip is formed on a front face 2a of a card 2. Further, the external connection terminal 2c is formed at a predetermined position with one end face 2d of the card 2 in a short widthwise direction of the card 2 and one end face 2e of the card 2 in a longitudinal direction of the card 2 as references. A distance "L1" between the one end face 2d and the external connection terminal 2c in the short widthwise direction of a card 2 is different from a distance "L2" between the other end face 2f and the external connection terminal 2c in the short widthwise direction of the card 2. Specifically, the distance "L1" is shorter than the distance "L2". Further, a distance "L3" between the one end face 2e in a longitudinal direction of the card 2 and the external connection terminal 2c is different from a distance "L4" between the other end face 2g and the external connection terminal 2c in the longitudinal direction of the card 2. Specifically, the distance "L3" is considerably shorter than the distance "L4". Therefore, a length between the distance "L1" and the distance "L2" is a length of the external connection terminal 2c in a short widthwise direction of a card 2, and a length between the distance "L3" and the distance "L4" is a length of the external connection terminal 2c in a longitudinal direction of the card 2.


The inventive packaging item is e.g. a tray for packing fresh meat. It has at least on its bottom part (10) grooves (11) which open towards the inside of the packaging item. The openings of these grooves are narrower than the inside part of the grooves. If the groove opening is sufficiently narrow e.g 1mm or less, unwanted liquid oozing out of the packed meat is trapped in these grooves (11) and such separated from the meat and kept out of sight of a potential buyer.

The invention is in the field of the packing industry and relates to a method of producing packaging items according to the generic part of the first independent claim. The packing item made according to the method is applicable in particular for packing goods from which liquid tends to ooze, which liquid for different reasons is not wanted inside the package.
An example for such a liquid is the meat juice oozing out of packed fresh meat. If the meat is packed in a liquid proof packaging item and remains so for some time, the meat juice accumulates inside the package round the meat. This does not look nice and furthermore it constitutes a medium in which deterioration of the meat is accelerated. Therefore it is important to keep this meat juice not only out of sight of a potential buyer but it is also important to keep it, as far as possible, separated from the meat. Similar problems arise with any goods to be packed which goods produce a liquid whilst packed.
According to the state of the art the problem of unwanted liquid inside a liquid proof package is solved, in the case of packages made from polymers which do not absorb any liquid at all, by introducing an absorbing agent into the package, which absorbing agent absorbs the unwanted liquid. The absorbing agent mainly used in the case of packaged meat is a piece of absorbing paper. This piece of absorbing paper is usually positioned between the not transparent bottom part of the packaging item and the meat and it is smaller than the meat. Thus, the absorbing paper cannot be seen as long as the package is closed. Furthermore the piece of absorbing paper reduces the meat surface which is in direct contact with the absorbed juice, i.e. the absorbing paper solves the problem of the unwanted liquid in a satisfactory way.
However, the absorbing paper or any absorbing agent introduced in the package keeps the liquid meat juice out of sight of the customer only as long as he does not open the package. Then, this customer is confronted with the wet and not very appetizing absorbing paper which he has to separate from the meat and which he has to dispose of. Furthermore the absorbing paper or any other sort of absorbing agent constitutes a further piece of material adding to the weight and to the cost of the package.
A further known means for removing unwanted liquid in a packaging item from the view of a potential buyer and from the packed goods are grooves or holes in the bottom part of the packaging item which grooves or holes act as capillaries taking up the liquid and not releasing it any more. Such packaging items and methods for producing them are described in the publications U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,722 and FR-2717452.