An electric wire connection seat includes a contact switch, which is comprised of a connection seat major body, a contact switch, and a plurality of fixing guide-needles. An inserting groove is arranged on the back face of the connection seat major body. A connection hole is arranged on the lower portion of the connection seat in which is placed the contact switch. Thus, when the electric wire connection head is inserting into the inserting groove, contact arms of the contact switch will be pressed down by the electric wire connection head to separate from the contact-press-connection points and change the path state of the electric circuit.

The present invention relates to an improvement of an electric wire connection seat, especially to an electric wire connection seat with a contact switch arranged inside, with which an on or a break states of electric circuit are controlled to show the connection states of the electric wire without connecting another set of electric circuit to achieve this function and to improve and promote the product quality of the electric wire connection seat effectively.
Accordingly, with the continuous progress and the quick development of the digital technology, regardless of the professional manufacturing factories or daily living necessities all have developed toward the direction of application of digital technology to promote their product functions. On the other hand, the manufacturers are also continuously studying and producing out lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller products, so the electric wire connection seat, commonly and currently used in any kind of electric appliance and electric circuit board, must be improved accordingly to develop its maximum function. The prior electric wire connection seat is mainly comprised of a connection seat major body, and several fixing guide-needles. Therefore, prior art only has a connection function. As it can be seen, with the continuous progress, the quick development and the increasing requirements of the digital century, more functions whose objects are to create more conveniences, for instance, a user is easily aware that the connection does work or not when the connection seat is connected to the electric circuit. Hence, how to add more functions to suit the life of human being is the topic discussed in the present invention.
In the fore-mentioned structure of the connection seat, although it provides the connection function, it cannot reach the object of displaying the states of the connection of the electric circuit, and it also must connect another electric wire to a LED panel to display the states of the electric circuit. This is the shortcoming that obviously can not be overcome by the prior design.
The main object of the present invention is to provide an electric wire connection seat with a contact switch, which is comprised of a connection seat major body, a contact switch, and several fixing guide-needles. The major design concept: by an additional installation of a contact switch, when the electric wire connection head is inserted into the groove of the connection seat, the guide-needles of the contact switch will be pressed down by the electric wire connection head to separate the contact-press-connection points and chance the path state of the electric circuit. We can apply this phenomenon to control on or off of the electric circuit and display the different states of the electric circuit without connecting another circuit wire to the LED panel to display the states of the electric circuit. This design can match with the application of other logic electric circuit to promote the merits of product quality by the output of this kind of signal change.
An inserting groove is arranged on the back face of the connection seat major body and several grooves are arranged on the upper portion of the inserting groove. The guide-needles are then fastened up inside the grooves. To reach the object of an on state of an electric circuit by the connection of the electric wire connection head, a convex block is installed on the connection seat major body for providing the inserting-in and fastening-up functions of the electric wire connection head. A connection handle, arranged on the corresponding position of the electric wire connection head can be inserted into the inserting groove and fastened up fixedly with the convex block during connection.
For the characteristics and the functions of the present invention, a detailed description with corresponding diagrams are presented.

Electric wire connection seat with a contact switch


Methods, compositions and devices for inhibiting neoproliferative changes in blood vessel walls or other anatomical structures. One or more compounds of Formula I or I-A set forth herein are administered systemically and/or locally to human or veterinary patients to deter or prevent unwanted proliferative changes in blood vessels or other anatomical structures. The invention may be used to deter or prevent stenosis or restenosis of arteries following angioplasty and/or stent placement. In one embodiment, there is provided an implantable stent or stent graft from which one or more compounds of the present invention will elute or otherwise be delivered into an affected blood vessel wall.

Hyperplasia of blood vessel walls (e.g., neointimal hyperplasia, neocellullar proliferation) is believed to be an important step in the etiology of many stenotic lesions within blood vessels. In particular, neointimal hyperplasia has been identified as the primary cause of restenosis of diseased blood vessels following percutaneous balloon angioplasty and stent implantation.
Patients who suffer from diabetes have a relatively high rate of restenosis due to excessive neointimal proliferation. Additionally, in many diabetic patients, atherosclerotic disease is diffuse with ling lesions involving multiple vessels.
Currently, the treatments available to prevent restenosis following stent implantation involve either the delivery of ionizing radiation to the blood vessel wall (i.e., brachytherapy) or the delivery of antiproliferative drug such as Rapamicyn (Sirolimus) or Paclitaxel (Taxol).
Brachytherapy has been proven effective in reducing the rate of in-stent restenosis, but its use has been limited to date. Brachytherapy has been associated with untoward effects in some patients, such as subacute thrombogenicity of the irradiated blood vessel and renarrowing of the blood vessel at the edge of the stent (i.e., the "candy wrapper effect").
Antiproliferative drugs, such as rapamycin and paclitaxel, have been used systemically for purposes other than inhibition of neoproliferation of blood vessels. For example, Rapamycin (Sirolimus) inhibits T-lymphocyte activation and proliferation downstream of IL-2 and has been administered orally to deter organ transplant rejection. Paclitaxel (Taxol) inhibits mitosis and has been administered intravenously to treat a variety of cancers. When used to deter proliferative changes in blood vessels, rapamycin (Sirolimus) and paclitaxel (Taxol) are administered directly to the affected blood vessel wall by implantation of a drug eluting stent (e.g., the Cypher™ rapamycin-eluting stent manufactured by Cordis Corporation, a Division of Johnson & Johnson, Miami Lakes, Fla. and the Taxus™ paclitaxel-eluting stent manufactured by the Scimed division of Boston Scientific, Maple Grove, Minn.
Although the currently available drug eluting stents have been shown to significantly inhibit in-stent restenosis by preventing neoproliferative changes in blood vessel walls following angioplasty and stent placement, there remains a need in the art for the development of new and different agents which may be delivered locally (e.g., by a drug eluting stent or other implant or by injection into or near a blood vessel wall) or systemically (e.g., orally, transdermally, transmucosally or by injection) to deter restenosis or other neoproliferative changes in blood vessel walls.

Methods for inhibiting neoproliferative changes in blood vessel walls

The Regents of the University of California


An active noise canceller outputs a noise pattern learning request signal to a hard disk drive causing the hard disk drive to perform a predetermined operation, receives noise at this moment through a sound-receiving unit, and stores, in a nonvolatile memory unit, a relationship between the noise and a head operation data signal output from the hard disk drive. Based on the operation data signal outputted from the hard disk drive, the active noise canceller generates a noise-canceling sound while making a reference to the above relationship stored in the nonvolatile memory unit. Therefore, the signal processing needs a low degree of response for operating the noise-canceling sound.

As a disk storage unit of this kind, there has been known a hard disk drive which stores data by magnetizing a magnetic material evaporated on a disk by using a magnetic head.
In recent years, the hard disk drive has been widely used in general households owing to widespread use of personal computers in general households and owing to the advent of digital electric household appliances such as TVs, set-top boxes and TV game devices incorporating the hard disk drive.
An important function required by the hard disk drive under the above circumstances may be noise reduction.
The operational noise of the hard disk drive can be reduced by:    (1) a method of suppressing the propagation of a generated noise by wrapping the hard disk drive with a sound-absorbing material;    (2) a method of reducing the noise itself generated by the hard disk drive by reducing the diameter of the disk, reducing the rotational speed of the disk, reducing the operation speed of the head, or improving the bearings; and    (3) a method of canceling the noise by using an active noise canceller which generates a sound with a phase opposite to that of the operational noise of the hard disk drive.
According to the above method (1), however, a problem arises that is concerned with how to radiate heat generated by the hard disk drive and, hence, cost and size of a hard disk drive housing.
According to the above method (2), it becomes necessary to newly develop a hard disk drive or parts thereof for reducing noise which would cause problems such as increased cost of development, drop in a data transfer rate, and increase in a unit bit cost. When the disk rotational speed and the head operation rate are lowered, in particular, it becomes very difficult to reduce the noise while maintaining the performance.
According to the method (3), the active noise canceller must have an improved response performance in the signal processing and, hence, cannot be cheaply realized.

Noise reduction system, disk storage unit, hard disk drive and noise reduction method

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands BV


A readily removable two piece stretch fabric garment (3) with four pockets (4,5,6,7) for containing weights (4a, 5a, 6a 7a) is attached to the users athletic or conventional shoe (2) for the purpose of exercise, training and/or physical therapy. The weights are contoured to match the shape of that portion of the shoe which they overly and they are secured in their respective pockets by releasable Velcro (R) closures. A durable rubber or vinyl sole (8) connected to the toe portion of the footwear garment grips the toe segment of the shoe and forms a partial under surface for the garment to the shoe.

This invention relates to a removable garment that contains weights which fit around an athletic or conventional shoe and allows for total unrestricted mobility for use in exercise, training and/or therapy.
There are a number of weight devices for exercising that can be connected to a leg or attached to a shoe or foot and used principally for the purpose of improving strength in this are ankle cuff weights which are used by some runners and power walkers and do allow for unrestricted mobility of the limb. However, they usually cannot be sufficiently secured to the ankle to avoid some movement while running, jumping or walking. The movement of the cuff weights while engaged in such activities often results in skin irritations as well as other potential injuries. U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,056 to Ronca addresses this issue by firmly securing a weight apparatus to the lower leg proximal to the ankle. The fact that both of these weight devices are located at the ankle or proximal to it precludes their capability of strengthening the lower leg muscles whose tendons insert on the foot and/or toes. In addition both of these devices are likely to be perceived as unnatural encumbrances around the lower limbs of their users.
In regard to prior art there are four weight devices that can be attached to a shoe and one weighted shoe that allows for unrestricted mobility of the foot and limb while performing aerobic exercises including activities such as running and/or walking. They are U.S. Pat. No. 3,114,982 to McGowan, G.B. patent 2139103 to Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,432 to Stempski, U.S. Pat. No. 757,983 to Vaile and FR patent 2,535,211 to Deschamps.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,114,982 allows for weight adjustments and easy attachment on and off a shoe. One disadvantage of this device is that it does necessitate alteration of the shoe by requiring snaps to be permanently attached to the shoe so that weights can be secured to it. Another disadvantage is that the weights with this device are confined to just the lateral side of the shoe. This results in an imbalance of the weight distribution requiring excess effort on the part of the peroneus longus and brevis muscles which turn the foot out. It offers no resistance to the tibialis posterior which turns the foot in and little resistance to the tibialis anterior which raises the foot up nor does it provide resistance to the extensor digitorum longus, brevis and extensor hallicus longus all of which elevate the toes. This imbalance in strengthening primarily the peroneus longus and brevis muscles that turn the foot out could contribute to the development of a flat foot.
Though, G.B. patent 2,139,103 obviates this imbalance problem it limits the weight distribution to just two locations, one on the lateral side of the shoe and the other on the medial side. Rather than snaps, the weights with this device are secured to the shoe with laces and a strap. In addition to the disadvantage of having only two sites for weight distribution there is another disadvantage of this device that relates to the use of laces. In order to secure this device to a shoe and then remove it from the shoe a rather time consuming and tedious lacing and unlacing process is necessary since both the weighted device as well as the shoe have to be laced and unlaced together.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,432 does accommodate weights at the toe, heel and sides but it requires that the pockets be permanently attached to a runners athletic shoe. Since the toe pocket is confined to just the outer edges of the toe section of the shoe the amount of weight that it can hold is severely restricted. The total weight that can be added to this runners shoe is limited to only 10 to 12 ounces.
U.S. Pat. No. 757,983 reveals a weighted overshoe (FIG. 4) comprising a Cap F which includes sole portion and a strap f which fits around the heel. Here only a single weight over the toe can be accommodated and a metallic cap precludes its use with present day athletic shoes containing cleats or spikes.
Fr patent 2,535,211 is a weighted overshoe that can be attached to a foot or shoe. The weights are cylindrical in shape and are confined to the medial and lateral sides and lie horizontal while the remainder lie vertical and are located over the medial and lateral sides of the ankle. The former would appear to restrict movement of the ankle invertors and evertors while the overshoe itself may limit complete dorsiflexion of the foot. Though this device may be compatible with running and walking it appears to be more suitable for static exercise strengthening of the muscles proximal to the lower leg such as the quadriceps and hamstrings.
It is a recognized fact that the more distal from the joint center that a weight is placed the greater the work load or resistance will be in moving the respective limb segment through its range. Weights located more distal on a limb, i.e. the foot, than weights of equal density and mass located more proximal on the lower leg or thigh will necessitate greater muscular effort and in so doing enhance the users strengthening and conditioning regimen. Consequently, a need exists for taking advantage of this principal in which weights can be secured to the most distal parts of an appendage such as the foot and particularly the toe portion of the foot without restricting mobility of any of the joints of the limb and especially the toe joints. U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,432 does partially meet this need but at the expense of permanently altering a runners athletic shoe. It would be advantageous to have a device with a toe weight that covers most if not all of the toe area extending from the distal toe tip proximal to the metatarsal phalangeal joint line and at the same time accommodate weights varying from several ounces to several pounds or greater without altering the integrity of the shoe to which it is attached. In addition, a device that is easy to make and very inexpensive yet interchangeable with a variety of athletic shoes such as track, football, baseball, basketball etc. would certainly be cost effective for those engaged in multiple athletic pursuits.
The present invention fulfills the needs present in the prior art by providing a unique weight device as defined in the following description and claims.

Weighted footwear garment for exercise, training and/or therapy


A fiber optic cable with detectable ferromagnetic components may include a plurality of detectable ferromagnetic components distributed longitudinally along the cable and insulated from each other. The fiber optic cable may contain the typical layers of fiber core, cladding, coating, strengthening fibers, and cable jacket. Each of the detectable ferromagnetic components may be a ferromagnetic metal strip forming a band around the cable. The metal bands may be distributed at different locations of the cable. Other ferromagnetic materials than metal may be used, as long as they are detectable by a metal detector. The detectable ferromagnetic components may form patterns that may be identified by the metal detector.

Telecommunication providers (TELCOs) have made significant investments in fiber infrastructure in order to deliver fiber-based services to their customers. In the deployment of a fiber optical network, fiber optic cables may need to be buried near or on subscribers' premises. The distance between the top of the cable and the surface under which it is installed (depth of burial) shall be sufficient to protect the cable from damage imposed by expected surface usage. When the cable needs to be accessed or when someone needs to dig near the cables, the location of the cables needs to be determined. This may result in a call to the TELCO who sends a worker to mark the location of the buried cable. Typically, the location of the cable is marked through the use of continuous metallic tracing wires so that that a metal detector may be used to locate a buried fiber optic cable. These continuous tracing wires may be embedded in the fiber optic cable or may be separate entities placed along side the buried fiber optic cable. Continuous metallic wires need to be carefully grounded to safeguard personnel and the communication network against stray voltage and electrical faults. Therefore, workers need to be trained in the grounding of the cables and need to properly ground the cables.

Fiber optic cable with detectable ferromagnetic components


A process of smelting iron that comprises the steps of:. a) introducing a source of iron oxide, oxygen, nitrogen, and a source of carbonaceous fuel to a smelting reactor, at least some of said oxygen being continuously introduced through an overhead lance; PA1 b) maintaining conditions in said reactor to cause (i) at least some of the iron oxide to be chemically reduced, (ii) a bath of molten iron to be created and stirred in the bottom of the reactor, surmounted by a layer of slag, and (iii) carbon monoxide gas to rise through the slag; PA1 c) causing at least some of said carbon monoxide to react in the reactor with the incoming oxygen, thereby generating heat for reactions taking place in the reactor; and PA1 d) releasing from the reactor an offgas effluent, PA1 is run in a way that keeps iron losses in the offgas relatively low. After start-up of the process is complete, steps (a) and (b) are controlled so as to:. e) keep the temperature of the molten iron at or below about 1550.degree. C. and PA2 f) keep the slag weight at or above about 0.8 tonne per square meter.

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application No. 60/013,888, filed Mar. 22, 1996. The present invention relates generally to improvements in iron smelting processes. More particularly, the invention concerns a method of reducing iron losses in an iron smelting process utilizing post-combustion steel smelting technology. The method has particular utility in smelting processes using iron ores and iron bearing oxides such as steel plant dusts and sludge, but may also be incorporated into other processes with iron bearing feedstocks.
Methods of steel production using a source of iron oxide and coal-based fuels are well known in the art. During such smelting processes, a substantial amount of dust is produced by the smelting furnace. Traditionally, the dust emitted from furnaces have been feed to sinter plants. Over the years, however, many sinter plants in the United States have been shut down for a variety of reasons. Moreover, so far as Applicants are aware, the remaining sinter plants currently in operation are limited, in most cases, to using only steel plant residuals. Steel plant dust and sludges that contain zinc are generally poor iron oxide sources for sinter plants because the zinc tends to recirculate in the furnace and form destructive accreations. In addition, steel plant residuals often contain oils (rolling mill sludge) or alkalis (blast furnace sludge) that cannot be charged to sinter plants because of environmental concerns.
Several steel plants have attempted to remedy the previously mentioned deficiencies by agglomerating steel plant residuals and recycling the same back to the blast furnace. However, this approach adversely affects the performance of the blast furnace by lowering productivity and product quality, while simultaneously increasing operating costs. Moreover, the steel plant residues often have unacceptably high levels of iron relative to zinc that prohibit recycling the sludge back to the smelter. Consequently, in most steel plants in North America, waste oxides present in plant residuals are landfilled at substantial costs to the steelmaker. However, landfilling waste oxides is not considered a long term solution for environmental reasons. Consequently, it is preferable to reduce the total volume of waste oxides that are landfilled. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to produce an economical method of smelting that minimizes the environmental impact. To these ends, Applicants have developed a method to reduce iron loses resulting from such smelting processes.

Method for reducing iron losses in an iron smelting process


An improved position sensor printed circuit board (PCB) mounting structure for a commutatorless motor which includes a casing forming an outer housing of the motor includes a PCB holder having a convex shape and being integral with the casing, a sensor PCB having a plurality of position sensors and a plurality of sensor input/output terminal pads for lead wires provided on an upper surface thereof at mutually equal distances therebetween and mounting grooves provided on the PCB holder for detachably mounting the sensor PCB at the correct position thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a position sensor printed circuit board (PCB) mounting structure for a commutatorless electric motor, and in particular, to an improved position sensor PCB mounting structure for a commutatorless motor in which the sensing ability of a position sensor is enhanced, an easy operation of the motor is obtained and the service life of the motor is increased by making the replacement of a sensor PCB provided inside the motor easy and which has the benefit of improving a mounting structure of the sensor PCB and the position sensor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in FIG. 1, in a the conventional commutatorless motor, a stator 1 is disposed at both walls of a casing 4 which forms the outer housing of a motor.
On the peripheral surface of the stator 1, coils are wound, and when power is applied to these coils, a magnetic force is generated.
Inside the stator 1, a rotor 2 rotated by the magnetic force of the stator 1 is disposed spaced from the stator 2, and at a central portion of the rotor, an armature shaft 3 rotating together with the rotor 2 is provided.
At the ends of the armature shaft 3, bearings 6 are disposed for smoothly rotating the armature shaft 3, and on the peripheral surface of the rotor 2, a plurality of permanent magnets 5 having magnetic poles arranged at regular intervals from each other are provided.
And, at one portion inside the casing 4, a sensing unit 300 is fixedly installed for sensing the rotation of the motor by detecting the position of the rotor 2 and supplying the sensed position information to a driving circuit for applying power to the stator 1.
Now, the construction of the sensing unit 300 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a sensor printed circuit board (PCB) 11 is provided at one end of a sensor housing 12 mounted to the casing 4 with fastening screws 13, and is fixed by a PCB fastening screw 10.
And, a plurality of position sensors 8 for sensing the position of the magnetic poles of the rotor 2 and supplying the sensing information to the driving circuit for sequentially applying power to the coils of the stator 1, are mounted on the upper surface of the sensor PCB 11.
Here, the position sensors 8, as shown in FIG. 3, are disposed to have a mutually equal spacing on the surface of the sensor PCB 11 having a semicircumferential shape, and the leg 9 of each position sensor 8 is mounted to the sensor PCB 11 through soldering. A through hole type of leg 9 is used.
The sensor PCB arrangement of the conventional commutatorless motor will now be described in detail.
When the motor is driven, as shown in FIG. 1, the sensing unit 300 locates the position of the rotating rotor 2, and based upon the sensed position the driving circuit applies power sequentially to the stator coils, resulting in the generating of torque in the motor.
Here, in the radial direction, the position sensors 8 in the sensing unit 300 are positioned to have a distance of 12 mm from the inside of the permanent magnets 5 disposed in the shape of a hollow circular cylinder and having their magnetic poles equally divided, and in the axial direction of the armature shaft 3, as shown in FIG. 1, the position sensor 8 is positioned where the permanent magnets 5 axially protrude from the rotor 2.
Therefore, a signal is generated in each position sensor 8 as the magnetic flux from the permanent magnets 5 of the rotor 2 passes through the position sensor 8, and this signal generates a pulse signal through the driving circuit on the sensor PCB.
Here, since the position sensor 8 locates the position relative to the circumferential direction of the stator 1, the pulse signal locates the position of the rotor 2 relative to the stator 1.
That is, by using the position signal of the rotor 2 outputted from the position sensor 8, power is applied to each phase of the stator coil 1, but, the circumferential angle between the position sensor 8 and the stator 1 must be accurately set to generate the pulse signal at the correct point.
However, since the conventional commutatorless motor has a construction in which the sensing unit is installed inside the casing, it is difficult to place the position sensor installed in the sensing unit at the correct position when assembling the motor, and as a result there can occur much error.
Further, since the sensor housing must be provided, the material cost is high, and since the position sensor is mounted on the sensor PCB in the shape of cantilever beams, the position signals generated from the position sensors can be distorted due to the vibration of the position sensors caused by the rotation of the motor, consequently causing the motor to be abnormally operated.
In addition, when the motor is used for a long time, since the soldering mounting the position sensors to the sensor PCB is apt to fall off due to the vibration, the position sensors can become detached from the sensor PCB, resulting in the shortening of the life of the position sensor.

Position sensor PCB mounting structure for electric motor


The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art with a system for varying hand-drawn line width as a function of geometric or temporal properties such as curvature or time of the strokes as the user draws them. In one embodiment, the system of the present invention includes a stroke control module, a velocity adjustment module, a curvature adjustment module, a smoothing module, an adjacency verification module and a stroke dominance module. A stroke control module is operable on a processor to modify the width of input strokes and adjust them based on their curvature and/or the velocity at which they were received. The stroke control module cooperates with and controls the velocity adjustment module, a curvature adjustment module, the smoothing module and the other modules to provide overall width adjustment of strokes input by the user automatically to reflect the needs and intentions of the user and provide a natural-feeling drawing experience similar to that provided by paper.

The invention relates to techniques for displaying hand-drawn lines by a display device. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and method for varying the size of strokes displayed by a computing device to reflect the needs and intentions of the user.
There have been a number of attempts in recent years to increase the adoption rate for pen-based computing devices. A number of laptop computers now include a stylus and displays that allows users to interact with the computer using the stylus in place of the mouse for cursor control and stroke capture. Recently, handheld computing devices such as smart phones and personal digital assistants (PDA) have also started to incorporate stylus/tablet type interfaces.
One consistent problem with stylus-based tablets is that the user experience with the stylus and tablet does not match the experience one has when interacting with a writing instrument and paper. In particular, the strokes captured by the tablet and presented back to the user typically do not have any dimensions. In contrast, when a user writes on paper, the user employs pressure and a pencil angle to affect the width of the strokes drawn. But detecting angled pressure in a stylus-based tablet system is difficult and expensive. It requires both a complicated stylus and a complicated detection and reporting system. Such requirements for sophisticated stylus and reporting systems make such systems cost prohibitive.
The inability of the prior art systems to be able to render strokes that have an appropriate width has significantly diminished the user experience and the adoption rate of such stylus-based tablets. Users tend to feel a need to write in larger strokes than they would like to in order to preserve readability, including the usual ratios of ink-filled space to empty space within and between characters and lines and this is due in part to the inability of the prior art to render lines with varying widths. Especially when taking notes, it is frustrating for the user to be unable to write characters as small as they can on paper. In contrast, when drawing circles, arrows and boxes, the user wants them to be easily viewed from a distance and desires fairly broad strokes. However, the prior art does not provide an ability to manage and modify stroke width to reflect user intentions.

Varying hand-drawn line width for display


A method for routing, through a geographic region over a time interval, a sensor platform mounted on a vehicle is described. The method includes receiving a precision level for at least one constituent of an environment measured by a sensor of the sensor platform. The precision level corresponds to a mean concentration of the constituent(s) over the time interval. A reference dataset corresponding to the geographic region and the time interval is selected. From the reference dataset and the precision level, at least one minimum number of distinct samples for a plurality of geographic segments of the geographic region is determined. The method also includes determining a number of passes for the geographic region over the time interval using the minimum number of distinct samples for each of the plurality of geographic segments. Each pass of the number of passes is part of a route for the vehicle.

Monitoring of environmental conditions includes measuring the levels of various components of the surroundings, allowing detection of potentially harmful air pollution, radiation, greenhouse gases or other contaminants in the environment. Depending on the application, environmental monitoring systems can be used in outdoor or indoor settings. Monitoring of environmental conditions typically includes gathering environmental data. Environmental data includes detection and measurement of pollutants or contaminants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NO), ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), volatile organic compounds (VOC), air toxics, temperature, sound radiation and particulate matter. In order to assess the effects of such pollutants, it is desirable to associate environmental data sensing these pollutants at particular times with geographic locations (homes, businesses, towns, etc.). Such an association would allow individuals and communities to evaluate the quality of their surroundings. Thus, data collected that is representative of the region is desired to be collected. Further, the data collected is desired to meet desired error tolerances, and be collected and processed efficiently. Thus, a mechanism for improving collection and processing of environmental data is desired.

Routing method for mobile sensor platforms


The invention provides an improved system for separation technology intended to reduce unwanted catalyst/thermal reactions by minimizing contact of the hydrocarbons and the catalyst within the reactor.

Fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) reactor technology has evolved over the years, continuously searching to improve yield selectivity of hydrocarbons by minimizing unwanted reactions that occur outside of the FCC riser. Most FCC reactors use a catalyst which is an extremely porous powder that reacts with the hydrocarbon mixture to capture intermetal carbon and metal. In the process, the pre-heated hydrocarbon feed mixed with hot catalyst enters the reactor through one or more risers. The riser creates a fluidized bed where a concurrent upward flow of reactant gases and catalyst particles occurs. Nearly every FCC unit employs some type of separation device connected on the end of the riser which is intended to separate the bulk of the catalyst from the hydrocarbon vapors. The technology includes riser termination devices which range from providing a physical downward deflection of the catalyst as it exits the riser to directly attaching the riser outlet to sets of cyclones. The most commonly used separation devices are vortex separation systems (VSS) and vortex disengager stripper systems (VDS). The vortex separation system includes a tube with a split head located at the riser outlet to separate the mixture. The VDS system has a stripping unit at the bottom of a rough vortex evaporation system and usually forms two stage stripping.
Gases leave the reactor through the cyclones after separation from the powdered catalyst. The gas is then passed to a fractionator for separation into the product streams. The spent catalyst is commonly sent to a regenerator unit and is regenerated by combusting carbon deposits to carbon dioxide. The regenerated catalyst is returned to the reactor for further use. Separation of the gases from the catalyst is seldom totally efficient, whereas gases and catalyst may tend to recirculate in the separation device creating conditions resulting in over cracked gases and over fouling of the catalyst. The present invention provides an improved system for the VSS/VDS technology intended to reduce unwanted catalytic/thermal reactions by minimizing contact of the hydrocarbons and the catalyst outside of the riser.

FCC yield selectivity improvements in high containment riser termination systems


An LED light source for LCD backlighting is described that recalibrates itself over time so that color and brightness uniformity across the backlight is maintained over the life of the backlight. The backlight contains clusters of red, green, and blue LEDs, each cluster generating a white point. In one embodiment, each color in a cluster has its own controllable driver so that the brightness of each color is a cluster is separately controllable. One or more optical sensors are arranged in the backlight, and the sensor signals are detected by processing circuitry to sense the light output of any LEDs that are energized in a single cluster. The measured white point and flux are compared to a stored target white point value and flux for that cluster. The currents to the RGB LEDs are then automatically adjusted to achieve the target level for each cluster. This process is applied to each cluster in sequence until the recalibration is complete. The recalibration takes place at various times over the lifetime of the backlight to offset the effects of LED degradation over time. Variations of this technique are also described.

Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are commonly used in cell phones, personal digital assistants, laptop computers, desktop monitors, and televisions. LCDs require a backlight. For full color LCDs, the backlight is a white light. The white point of the white light is typically designated by the LCD manufacturer and may be different for different applications. The white point is specified as a heated black body color temperature.
Common white light backlights use either a fluorescent bulb or a combination of red, green, and blue LEDs.
For medium and large backlights, such as for TVs and monitors, multiple LEDs of each color are used. Typically, a number of LEDs of one color are connected in series on a printed circuit board (PCB). Generally, in backlights, external current drivers are used, each driving one or more strings of red, green, or blue LEDs. The amount of current through an LED controls the brightness. Groups of RGB LEDs are typically mounted on a single PCB, and there may be multiple PCBs in a large LCD.
It is important to have color uniformity across the entire LCD screen. This has been typically achieved by "binning" each LED according to its characteristics and then combining binned red, green, and blue LEDs on a PCB such that only boards with closely matching white points are used in a single backlight. The process to create boards with uniform light characteristics is costly and time consuming. Furthermore, variations within a PCB and between PCBs are not fully suppressed.
As a further obstacle to color uniformity, the brightness of an LED changes over time and not all LEDs change the same amount. Thus, a backlight with good initial color uniformity will become progressively nonuniform over time. Another problem is that, when an LED in series fails and becomes an open circuit, all the LEDs in the series will stop receiving power. This creates additional nonuniformity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

LED backlight for LCD with color uniformity recalibration over lifetime


A laminated core having a first number of magnetic poles, the first number being a natural number divided by two, of a rotary electric machine, includes a plurality of arc-shaped unit cores each having a second number of magnetic poles, the second number being a natural number except for an aliquot part of the first number. The unit cores are wound and laminated a predetermined number of times in a circumferential direction into a spiral shape in such a manner that an axial lamination amount of the unit cores is obtained by an equation of X=θ*t/360, X being the axial lamination amount, θ being a winding angle of the unit cores, and t being a thickness of the unit core. The unit cores are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction connected to each other at a part of an outer circumference thereof.

A known laminated core is disclosed in JP2003-528557A and JP2002-262496A. That is, a motor stator core formed by laminating multiple sheet parts, each of which is shaped as an arc, in a zigzag manner as is disclosed in JP2003-528557A. More precisely, the sheet parts are arranged next to each other and joined with each other to form a laminated core. Substantially arc-shaped sheet part segments with a peripheral length corresponding to an angle α=360°/n, n being a whole positive number and greater than or equal to two, are produced by stamping. The 'n' numbers of these sheet part segments are then arranged in one plane to produce a sheet part, the sheet parts arranged next to each other being connected and/or welded with at least one connecting element.
JP2002-262496A discloses a core structure of a rotary electric machine. Recess and projection portions provided on end faces in the circumferential direction of each fan-shaped segmented core are fitted to each other to form an annular rotor core. Then, laminations of the predetermined number of annular rotor cores form a cylindrical rotor core. Each block of the cylindrical rotor cores forms laminations in a bricklaying manner by an arrangement of respective portions where the recess and projection portions are meted to each other in a staggered manner in the circumferential direction.
However, according to the aforementioned JP2003-528557A and JP2002-262496A, the arc-shaped sheet parts or the fan-shaped segmented cores are required to be arranged in the staggered manner with a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction. In addition, contacting portions between the arc-shaped sheet parts or those between the fan-shaped segmented cores are displaced in the circumferential direction among layers so that the rotor core is unified and prevented from separating off. Therefore, in doing so, laminating process of the arc-shaped sheet parts or the fan-shaped segmented cores is troublesome, and may cause an increase of a laminating time. As a result, a cost of manufacturing a motor may increase. Further, according to JP2002-262496A, a connecting process in an axial direction is required for a connection between the recess and projection portions provided on the end faces in the circumferential direction of each fan-shaped segmented core, thereby increasing the laminating process.
Thus, a need exists for a laminated core of a rotary electric machine in which a time for a laminating process can be reduced and a mechanically high strength can be obtained.

Laminated core of rotary electric machine


To provide a photoacoustic probe capable of acquiring subject information for reducing generation of artifacts without increasing the number of wires connected to the outside. Provided is a probe including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the ultrasonic transducers are divided into a plurality of groups, two adjoining ultrasonic transducers belong to different groups, and the probe includes a group selection unit configured to switch signals of the ultrasonic transducers to be outputtable for each of the groups.

PTL 1 discloses a measurement system in which a subject is irradiated with light, an acoustic wave (which is typically an ultrasonic wave, but is described as a photoaccoustic wave in this specification) is generated from a measurement target in the subject by a photoacoustic effect, and the generated acoustic wave is received using a hemispherical probe. The hemispherical probe is constituted by a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed on a hemispheric surface.
This hemispherical probe is described with reference to FIG. 21. In FIG. 21, the reference numeral 10 denotes a subject, 11 denotes a light source, 12 denotes a probe, 13 denotes an ultrasonic transducer, 21 denotes light, 22 denotes photoacoustic waves, and 30 denotes a medium. The hemispherical probe 12 is hemispherical in shape, and is provided with a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 13 and a light source 11. The subject 10 is disposed to be partially surrounded by the hemisphere of the probe 12, the medium 30 is disposed to fill the space between the subject 10 and the probe 12. The subject 10 is irradiated with the light 21 from the light source 11. The photoacoustic waves 22 generated at the subject are received by a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 13 provided in the probe 12 and used for imaging the subject.

Probe, transducer unit, and subject information acquisition apparatus


An apparatus for producing a bound print item from unbound printed products supplied in a straddling position to be stitched with wire staples comprises a conveying device with a support that is slanted toward the side and consists of individual elements. The conveying device includes carriers for the synchronized transfer of the printed products to an intermediate conveyor that is installed upstream of a stitching section. The transfer region between the conveying device and the intermediate conveyor is provided with a side-mounted, synchronously operated support plate which has a recess along the circumference to which the carriers are allocated.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a bound print item from at least one printed product that is supplied in a straddling position, to be stitched with the aid of wire staples, wherein the apparatus comprises a conveying device with a support that consists of individual elements and is slanted toward the side, as well as carriers for the timed transfer of the printed products to an intermediate conveyor that is installed upstream of a wire-stitching section.
Apparatuses of this type are known from gathering and wire-stitching systems and are used to produce wire-stitched print items. The printed products are gathered with the aid of feeders, disposed along a single-belt or dual-belt conveying device, and are transported in a straddling position, one above the other, with the aid of carriers. Before the printed products reach a wire-stitching line, formed with the aid of a double circulating traction element, such as chains or belts, they are guided over a stationary guide rail. This guide rail has a section that is inclined toward the front end. However, a gap in the transition in the conveying direction is unavoidable. The conveying device end that moves downward at a slant in the transition region forms a slight bend together with the guide rail, which can change the trajectory of the transported printed products. In particular, shorter printed products will hit the guide rail and/or get stuck thereon, thus causing interruptions in the production because they cannot be picked up by the intermediate conveyor that operates jointly with the guide rail.

Apparatus for producing a bound print item


Apparatus, systems and methods for agile network isolation through use of packet level non-repudiation (PLNR) are provided. Using a fast cryptography to verify that incoming packets are undeniably being received from the identified source, real-time attack notifications can be independently verified and shared among the network devices to remove compromised nodes from the network. The ability to collaborate among nodes without trust may be achieved via PLNR, to share attack notifications in real-time may be achieved via Telling Attack Layer (TATL), and to establish the identity of an attack in a permanent and binding way may be achieved via DISCOvery (DISCO).

Securing ad-hoc, mobile networks, which typically do not have a perimeter defense is an issue that researchers have been attempting to, but failing to resolve for quite some time. Due to the decentralized nature of these networks (e.g. tactical networks, aviation networks, etc.), which lack an inside, an outside, a perimeter, or a gateway, no node can fully trust other nodes. One of the issues preventing a viable solution is the computational overhead of generating/verifying e-signatures on node resources.
In the event of military conflict, military operation and/or response to terrorist activity, a tactical network may be subjected to high intensity cyber-attack. Such an attack may only last for a short period of time and thus the attacker(s) may not be as concerned with being detected as with the ability to disrupt the network. For defenders of the network, manual investigation, incident response and re-provisioning may be too slow to ensure mission success. A network compromise of even an hour can result in mission failure and/or loss of life. For such highly contested networks, perimeter defense is insufficient: during a conflict, the adversary can be assumed to have compromised at least some nodes and may already be inside.
In view of these deficiencies in traditional mobile network security, the instant disclosure identifies and addresses a need for apparatus and methods to dynamically reconfiguring a mobile network to isolate one or more compromised nodes.

Agile node isolation using packet level non-repudiation for mobile networks


A method of fabricating an LCD device includes forming a gate line, a gate electrode, a gate pad electrode at an end of the gate line, and a common line on a substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode; forming an active layer on the gate insulating layer; forming an etch stopper on the active layer; forming first and second ohmic contact layers spaced apart from each other on the active layer and an impurity-doped amorphous silicon pattern contacting the gate insulating layer therebelow, outer sides of the first and second ohmic contact layers being outside the active layer; forming a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region, a data pad electrode at an end of the data line, and source and drain electrodes on the first and second ohmic contact layers, respectively; forming a pixel electrode and a common electrode in the pixel region to induce an in-plane electric field; and forming a gate pad terminal electrode on the gate pad electrode. At least one of the data line, the pixel electrode and the common electrode contacts the impurity-doped amorphous silicon pattern therebelow.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Until recently, display devices have typically used cathode-ray tubes (CRTs). Presently, many efforts and studies are being made to develop various types of flat panel displays, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, plasma display panels (PDPs), field emission displays, and electro-luminescence displays (ELDs), as a substitute for CRTs. Of these flat panel displays, LCD devices have many advantages, such as high resolution, light weight, thin profile, compact size, and low voltage power supply requirements.
In general, an LCD device includes two substrates that are spaced apart and face each other with a liquid crystal material interposed between the two substrates. The two substrates include electrodes that face each other such that a voltage applied between the electrodes induces an electric field across the liquid crystal material. Alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal material changes in accordance with the intensity of the induced electric field into the direction of the induced electric field, thereby changing the light transmissivity of the LCD device. Thus, the LCD device displays images by varying the intensity of the induced electric field.
The LCD device operated by the vertically induced electric field has a disadvantage in failing to achieve a wide viewing angle. To achieve a wide viewing angle, an IPS-LCD (in-plane switching mode LCD) device is suggested. The IPS-LCD device is operated by an in-plane electric field.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an IPS-LCD device according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the LCD device includes a lower substrate 10 referred to as an array substrate, an upper substrate 9 referred to as a color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal layer 11 between the two substrates 9 and 10. A common electrode 30 and a pixel electrode 17 are formed at the lower substrate 10 and induce an in-plane electric field L, and liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 11 are operated by the in-plane electric field L.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are views illustrating the LCD device in off and on states, respectively, according to the related art.
Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the off state changes into the on state, an in-plane electric field L is induced between the common electrode 17 and the pixel electrode 30. While alignment of liquid crystal molecules 11 a over the common electrode 17 and the pixel electrode 30 do not change, alignment of liquid crystal molecules 11b between the common electrode 17 and the pixel electrode 30 change in accordance with the in-plane electric field L. Since the liquid crystal molecules are arranged in according with the in-plane electric field, wide viewing angle can be achieved.
FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an array substrate of an IPS-LCD device according to the related art, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IV-IV of FIG. 3.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the array substrate includes a gate line 43 and a data line 60 crossing each other to define a pixel region P on a substrate 40. A common line 47 is spaced apart from the gate line 43.
A thin film transistor Tr is located in a switching region TrA at the crossing of the gate and data lines 43 and 60. The thin film transistor Tr includes a gate electrode 45, a semiconductor layer 51, and source and drain electrodes 53 and 55.
In the pixel region P, a plurality of pixel electrodes 70a and 70b and a plurality of common electrodes 49a and 49b are arranged alternately. The pixel electrodes 70a and 70b are connected to a connection pattern 69, and the connection pattern 69 is connected to the drain electrode 55. The common electrodes 49a and 49b are connected to the common line 47.
The array substrate is fabricated with five mask processes. For example, a first metal material is deposited on the substrate 40 and patterned in a first mask process to form a gate electrode 45, the gate line 43, the common electrodes 49a and 49b and the common line 47. A gate insulating layer 50 is formed on the substrate 40 having the gate electrode 45.
An intrinsic amorphous silicon (a-Si) layer and an impurity-doped amorphous silicon layer are sequentially formed on the gate insulating layer 50 and patterned in a second mask process to form a semiconductor layer 51. The semiconductor layer 51 includes an active layer 51a made of the intrinsic amorphous silicon and an ohmic contact layer 51b made of the impurity-doped amorphous silicon.
A second metal material is deposited on the substrate 40 having the semiconductor layer 51 and patterned in a third mask process to form the source and drain electrodes 53 and 55, and the data line 60. The ohmic contact layer 51b between the source and drain electrodes 53 and 55 is removed.
A passivation layer 65 is formed on the substrate 40 having the source and drain electrodes 53 and 55 and patterned in a fourth mask process to form a drain contact hole 67 exposing the drain electrode 55.
A transparent conductive material is deposited on the passivation layer 65 and patterned in a fifth mask process to form the pixel electrodes 49a and 49b.
Through the above-described five mask processes, the array substrate is fabricated. However, since production time and cost increase as mask processes increase, it is needed to decrease the number of the mask processes.
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an array substrate of an IPS-LCD device fabricated with four mask processes according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 5, one mask process decreases compared to FIG. 4. That is, source and drain electrodes 84 and 86 and a data line 82 are formed in the same mask process of forming a semiconductor layer 79. Accordingly, a semiconductor pattern 80 having the same stacking structure as the semiconductor layer 79 is formed below the data line 82. The semiconductor layer 79 includes an active layer 79a made of intrinsic amorphous silicon and an ohmic contact layer 79b made of impurity-doped amorphous silicon, and in a similar manner, the semiconductor pattern 80 includes a first pattern 80a made of intrinsic amorphous silicon and a second pattern 80b made of impurity-doped amorphous silicon. Common electrodes 75a and 75b are formed in the same process of forming a gate electrode 77 in a switching region TrA, and the source and drain electrodes 84 and 86 contact the ohmic contact layer 79b. A connection pattern 90 contacts the drain electrode 86 through a drain contact hole 89 in a passivation layer 88, and pixel electrodes 91a and 91b are connected to the connection pattern 90. A gate insulating layer 78 is on the gate electrode 77.
Since the active layer 79a protrudes outside the ohmic contact layer 79b and the first pattern 80a protrudes outside the second pattern 80b, photo current of a thin film transistor Tr increases and off current thus increases. Further, since the first pattern 80a protrudes outside the second pattern 80b, wavy noise occurs when backlight is on or off, and aperture ratio decreases. Accordingly, display quality is degraded in the related art IPS-LCD device.

Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same


The present invention relates to the field of rotary actuators. Specifically, the present invention relates to rotary actuators comprising a rotatable top piston assembly and a stationary bottom piston assembly wherein rotation of the top piston assembly can be caused by pressurizing one or more cavities between the top and bottom piston assemblies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of rotary actuators. Specifically, the present invention relates to rotary actuators comprising a rotatable top piston assembly and a stationary bottom piston assembly wherein rotation of the top piston assembly can be caused by pressurizing one or more cavities between the top and bottom piston assemblies.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A prior art rotary actuator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,900 to Garceau.


The invention relates to methods and compositions for delivering iron to an iron-deficient patient, more particularly, to methods whereby an iron complex comprising divalent or trivalent ionic iron complexed with one or more low molecular weight anions is administered to a patient by transfer from dialysate. A complex selected according to the invention is non-polymeric; soluble in an aqueous medium; chemically stable, thereby preventing the dissociation of iron ions from the anions under conditions according to the invention; and can be well absorbed into blood and the living body. Also provided are dialysate compositions including therein an iron complex selected according to the invention, and dialysate concentrates which may be diluted to yield an inventive dialysate composition.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods and compositions for efficiently delivering iron to a patient. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with dialysates and dialysate concentrates, and methods for delivering to a patient via dialysis a composition comprising ionic iron complexed with one or more anions. An iron complex selected according to the invention is non-polymeric; soluble in an aqueous medium; chemically stable, thereby preventing the dissociation of iron ions from the anions under conditions according to the invention; and can be well absorbed by blood and the living body.
2. Description of Related Art
Iron is a metal which is an essential requirement for tissue growth in humans and many animals. Therefore, an adequate supply of iron is critical to their survival and well-being. Although there is normally an ample amount of iron in the diet, the level of absorption of iron from food is generally low and, therefore, the supply of iron to the body can easily become critical under a variety of conditions. For example, iron is a necessary ingredient in the production of red blood cells, and a lack of iron may quickly lead to anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is commonly encountered, for example, in pregnancy and may also present a problem in the newly born. Moreover, in certain pathological conditions there is a maldistribution of body iron leading to a state of chronic anemia. This is seen in chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, certain haemolytic diseases and cancer.
Anemia is also uniformly present in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). The major cause of this anemia is the deficient production of erythropoeietin hormone (EPO) by the native kidneys. EPO stimulates the bone marrow to produce red cells, and when EPO is deficient, patients invariably become anemic. To counter the anemia of ESRD patients, recombinant EPO (which is very expensive) may be administered subcutaneously or intravenously. Recombinant EPO can effectively increase the hematocrit of patients with adequate iron stores, but the increased rate of production of new red cells quickly depletes body iron stores and, when this occurs, EPO becomes completely ineffective. As such, the delivery of iron to an ESRD patient is critical to his or her treatment. Methods in the prior art for delivering iron to a patient, such as an ESRD patient, have proven largely impractical and unsatisfactory, and there is a great need for improved methods of iron delivery.
It is well known that iron is very difficult to assimilate into the cells of a living organism and when an iron deficiency exists, oral iron supplements in relatively large doses are commonly administered wherein the iron may be in a wide variety of forms, i.e., usually as various organic and inorganic salts. Iron compositions which have been previously administered orally include, for example, ferrous gluconate, ferrous citrate, ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate and ferric-polysaccharide complexes. As a specific example of a condition where oral iron delivery is common, ESRD patients are typically directed to take oral iron tablets when EPO is started, as discussed above.
Oral iron administration, however, has several disadvantages. Patient noncompliance, gastrointestinal side effects, interactions with other oral medications and very poor absorption in ESRD patients markedly limit its effectiveness. For example, patients often stop taking these medications because of side effects associated therewith, such as constipation and gastric irritation. Additionally, these oral iron preparations cause a patient's stools to turn black, thereby making it difficult for caregivers to detect gastrointestinal bleeding during iron therapy. It is believed that these problems are all related to the administration of relatively high dosage levels of oral compounds due to the low level of iron uptake by the body, and these high doses are thought to also cause siderosis of the gut wall.
To overcome the above-described problems with oral delivery of iron, a great deal of effort has been directed to developing iron delivery methods wherein iron-containing compositions are delivered parenterally, either by intravenous or intramuscular injection. In this regard, it is currently widely believed that compositions used for non-oral iron administration must be in macromolecular form. This mindset is based upon the belief that the use of macromolecules eliminates the problem of osmolarity in the case of intramuscular injection, and, in the case of intravenous injection, the belief that macromolecular compositions are required to ensure that free iron is not introduced into the blood. Since iron is slowly freed from such macromolecules by the action of metabolism, and then bound by transferrin in the blood as it slowly becomes available, administration of iron in macromolecular forms is presently thought to be the only viable option with respect to intravenous administration techniques.
With respect to intravenous administration, iron-dextran (INFED.RTM.), which may be obtained from Schein Pharmaceuticals, Phoenix, Arizona, is commonly administered intravenously to ESRD patients to increase iron stores, with about 100-200 mg injected each successive dialysis until about 1000 mg are administered. Iron dextran is a macromolecule having a high average molecular weight ranging generally between about 100,000 and about 200,000. However, iron dextran occasionally causes severe allergic reactions, fever and rashes during injection and must therefore be administered slowly and after a small test dose. Ferric gluconate is another macromolecular iron complex for intravenous administration, and is relatively free of symptoms. However, each of these intravenous iron preparations is very expensive and requires a great deal of time and skill for administration. The large expense related to these intravenous preparations is associated in part with the necessity for sterilization of the injectant. Additionally, intravenous administration requires venous access, which is available during hemodialysis, but not commonly available in peritoneal dialysis patients. Finally, only about half of iron in iron dextran is bio-available after intravenous injection for red cell production. The fate of the rest is unknown.
With respect to intramuscular injection, iron dextrins and iron dextrans may be administered intramuscularly; however, as a result of their high molecular weights, absorption in the human or animal body is incomplete. Furthermore, the administration of these compositions intramuscularly is painful and often results in an undesirable discoloration at the injection site. Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,397 to Muller teaches an iron preparation for intramuscular injection which comprises a nonionic complex of trivalent iron supplied a ferric hydroxide with a complex forming agent consisting of sorbitol, gluconic acid and certain oligosaccharides (polyglucoses) in certain proportions and amounts. Other macromolecular iron preparations which may be administered via intramuscular injection are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,068 to Callingham et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,205 to Peters et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,983 to Hider et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,564 to Jenson. Many preparations, such as that taught in the Jenson patent, may be administered parenterally either by intramuscular or intravenous injection.
Recently, it has been proposed that iron may be administered to a mammal by intraperitoneal delivery of macromolecular iron dextran. It has been found that only about half of the iron delivered intraperitoneally in this form is bioavailable, passing to the blood and then to the reticulo-endothelial system and bone marrow, where it is incorporated into red cells. It appears that about 50% of the iron dextran is stored permanently in the body and is not available for red cell production. There is evidence that macrophages near the peritoneum pick up iron-dextran and store it within themselves, creating an abnormal physical condition which could lead to abnormal membrane changes in the peritoneum.
In light of this background, there is a great need in the art for improved methods for delivering iron to a patient. The present invention addresses the problems in the prior art by providing methods and compositions for delivering iron by transfer of a low molecular weight (non-polymeric) iron complex from dialysate. Inventive methods are surprisingly effective in light of conventional thought, which teaches that complexes selected according to the invention do not have sufficient solubility to be useful in this manner. Further, it is widely believed that soluble iron complexes are unacceptable iron delivery agents, this belief being based upon a fear of the toxicity of free iron in blood.
The present inventor has discovered that iron complex compositions selected in accordance with the invention are tightly complexed and are highly soluble, and can thereby be safely administered to a patient using dialysis with minimal staff effort and very little risk. This high solubility also advantageously allows an inventive complex to be included in dialysate concentrates, which are described in greater detail herein. For hemodialysis applications, the iron can be added to a dialysate or a concentrate, just as other solutes, in "clean" form and need not be sterilized. For peritoneal applications, the iron composition can be sterilized.

Method for iron delivery to a patient by transfer from dialysate


A probabilistic method of detecting viral intrusion into an original computer file is disclosed. In the method, a protection file is first created. In the preferred embodiment, the protection files is created by generating a test string. The test string is compared to the original computer file and is discarded in the event of a match. The test string is kept in the event of a non-match. The protection file is created by storing a plurality of non-matching test strings. In the detection stage, the file to be screened for possible viral infection is compared to each of the test strings of the protection file. The computer file being screened is determined to be probabilistically free of a viral infection if all of the test strings in the protection file do not match the file being screened. However, in the event of a match between a test string and the file being screened, then a change in the file being screened is detected.

As computer systems and software become more interconnected, e.g. hardware connection through networks and software connection through portability of computer programs and data, it becomes increasingly difficult to ensure the security of the computer system from unauthorized intrusions, by unauthorized users and unauthorized alterations, such as by viruses. Furthermore, as computers become more interconnected, it becomes more difficult to isolate the intrusion once an intrusion has occurred at one node of a computer network.
Virus detection programs are well known in the art. In a typical prior art virus detection program, the program seeks to determine the existence of a particular virus residing within the storage subcomponent (memory or disk) of a computer. However, such prior art anti-viral programs detect only a priori known viruses. If a new virus were developed and introduced into the computer program, with the anti-viral program not being able to identity the new virus, the anti-viral program would be unable to detect the existence of the newly introduced virus. Therefore, one of the short comings of the anti-viral programs of the prior art is that the anti-viral programs must be constantly updated to identify newly created viruses.
Similarly, another problem with the prior art anti-viral programs is that once a virus has "infected" one node of a computer on a network, and if the anti-viral program is unable to detect it, and if the same anti-viral program is residing on all of the other computers on the network, then the virus can spread undetected to all the other computers on the network. The result is that any new virus which can intrude into a node on a computer network, is virtually assured that it can spread and intrude into the entire computer network.
In the computer arts, programs that compare one file to another file to detect changes therein, similar to anti-viral programs, are also well known. In addition, file authentication methods, such as checksum, or the like are also well known in the art.
In the field of biology, immune system cells are well known in the art. T cells are part of the immune system. T cells have receptors on their surfaces that can detect antigens. These receptors are made by a pseudo-random genetic process and it is highly likely that some receptors will detect molecules from the body or "self molecules". T cells undergo a censoring process in the thymus called negative selection. In negative selection, T cells that recognize self molecules or molecules that are normal to the body, and in particular the molecules being peptides, are destroyed and are not allowed to leave the thymus. The T cells that do not detect self peptides leave the thymus and provide one basis for the immune protection against foreign antigens.

Method of detecting changes to a collection of digital signals


Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method according to the present disclosure are provided. For example, an apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation to a structure can be provided. The exemplary apparatus can include a first arrangement having at least two wave-guides which can be configured to provide there through at least two respective electromagnetic radiations with at least partially different wavelengths from one another. The exemplary apparatus can also include a dispersive second arrangement structured to receive the electro-magnetic radiations and forward at least two dispersed radiations associated with the respective electro-magnetic radiations to at least one section of the structure. The wave-guide(s) can be structured and/or spatially arranged with respect to the dispersive arrangement to facilitate at least partially overlap of the dispersed radiations on the structure. In addition, another arrangement can be provided which can include at least two further wave-guides which can be configured to receive the electro-magnetic radiations from the dispersive arrangement. Each of the further wave-guides can be structured and/or spatially arranged with respect to the dispersive arrangement to facilitate a receipt of a different one of the such electro-magnetic radiations as a function of wavelengths thereof.

Spectrally encoded endoscopy ("SEE") is a technique that uses wavelength to encode spatial information on a sample, thereby allowing high-resolution imaging to be conducted through small diameter endoscopic probes. SEE can be accomplished using a quasimonochromatic or broad bandwidth light input into a single optical fiber. At the distal end of the fiber, a diffractive or dispersive optic disperses the light across the sample, which is reflected and returns back through the optic and optical fiber. Light from the optical fiber is detected by a wavelength detecting apparatus, such as a spectrometer. By detecting the light intensity as a function of wavelength, the image may be reconstructed. SEE techniques have been described in, e.g., U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2007/0233396 and 2008/0013960.
Conventional endoscopy uses RGB color information as cues to diagnosis. By using wavelength information to encode spatial location, SEE images utilize much of the color information to encode spatial location and therefore important color information may be lost. Accordingly, there may be a need to address and/or overcome at least some of the deficiencies described herein above.

Apparatus and methods for facilitating at least partial overlap of dispersed ration on at least one sample


In a semiconductor memory device incorporating a memory core circuit requiring a refresh operation, a clock signal modifying circuit receives an external clock signal to generate a modified clock signal which is ineffective from a timing when the control is switched from an active mode to a special mode to a timing when at least one clock pulse time period of the external clock signal has passed after the control is switched from said special mode to an active mode. A forced refresh request signal generating circuit generates a forced refresh request signal at predetermined time periods and an internal clock signal having the same period as said forced refresh request signal. An all-time refresh request signal generating circuit generates an all-time refresh request signal in synchronization with the modified clock signal and the internal clock signal. A multiplexer selects the forced refresh request signal in the special mode and selects the all-time refresh request signal in the actual mode. A refresh pulse generating circuit generates a refresh pulse signal in accordance with one of the forced refresh request signal and the all-time refresh request signal selected by the multiplexer and transmits the refresh pulse signal to the memory core circuit. A read/write pulse generating circuit generates a read/write pulse signal in synchronization with the modified clock signal and transmits the read/write pulse signal to the memory core circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device such as a pseudo static random access (PSRAM) device requiring a refresh operation and its driving method.
2. Description of the Related Art
As random access memory (RAM) devices, there are static random access memory (SRAM) devices and dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices.
Firstly, the SRAM devices have an advantage that the SRAM devices can be operated at a higher speed than the DRAM devices.
Secondly, the SRAM devices have an advantage that the SRAM devices can be accessed, i.e., read from or written to by a simpler control than that of the DRAM devices. That is, in the SRAM devices, when an address signal is simply supplied thereto, an access operation such as a read operation or a write operation is carried out. On the other hand, in the DRAM devices, when a row address signal associated with a row address strobe (RAS) signal and a column address signal associated with a column address strobe (CAS) signal are supplied thereto, an access operation such as a read operation or a write operation is carried out.
Thirdly, the SRAM devices have an advantage in that the power consumption can be smaller than that of the DRAM devices. That is, the DRAM devices require a refresh operation for holding the memory content thereof even in a standby mode, while such a refresh operation is unnecessary in the SRAM devices.
However, the DRAM devices have an advantage in that the DRAM devices have a smaller size than that of the SRAM devices. That is, in the SRAM devices, one cell is generally constructed by six MOS transistors, while in the DRAM devices, one cell is generally constructed by one MOS transistor and one capacitor.
Therefore, the SRAM devices are suitable for use in mobile stations in terms of the higher speed characteristics, the simpler controllability and the decreased power consumption, in spite of the smaller memory capacity.
However, recently, as mobile stations can communicate with E-mail and access Web sites, memories incorporated into the mobile stations have been required to have a larger memory capacity.
In order to satisfy the demand for memories incorporated into the mobile stations, pseudo SRAM devices having the above-mentioned advantages of the SEAM devices and the above-mentioned advantage of the DRAM devices have been focussed on. That is, in the pseudo SRAM devices, when an address signal without a RAS signal and a CAS signal is supplied thereto and is fetched by a chip enable (CE) signal, an access operation such as a read operation or a write operation is carried out in synchronization with an external clock signal at a higher speed than the DRAM devices.
The pseudo SRAM devices, however, still require a refresh operation for holding the memory contents in a standby mode, which is different from the conventional SRAM devices. That is, the pseudo SRAM devices have a similar cell configuration to the DRAM devices and an SRAM interface operated in synchronization with an external clock signal. A first typical pseudo SRAM device is a synchronous mobile SRAM (MSRAM) device whose cell is constructed by one MOS transistor and one capacitor (see: JP-2002-074944-A), and a second typical pseudo SRAM device is a dual port SRAM (2T-PSRAM) device whose cell is constructed by two MOS transistors and one capacitor (see: FIG. 2 of JP-2001-210074-A).
In the above-mentioned pseudo SEAM devices, an all-time refresh operation is carried out in an active mode by raising the voltages at refresh word lines triggered by an all-time refresh pulse signal in synchronization with an external clock signal, while a forced refresh operation is carried out in a special mode by raising the voltages at the refresh word lines triggered by an internally-generated forced refresh pulse signal. In this case, the all-time refresh pulse signal and the forced refresh pulse signal both have much larger periods than that of the external clock signal.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, in the active mode of the synchronous MSRAM devices, a read/write pulse signal RWP for normal word lines alternates with the refresh pulse signal REFP, thus avoiding the destruction of cell information. Note that, if the read/write pulse signal RWP and the refresh pulse signal REFP rise simultaneously, a multi-selection occurs to destroy cell information. Also, if a refresh pulse signal REFP rises while a restoring operation is being carried out after an all-time refresh pulse signal rises, cell information also would be destroyed.
On the other hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, in the active mode of the 2T-PSRAM, since use is made of a two-port configuration, a read/write operation using a read/write pulse signal RWP for the normal word lines is carried out for one port, while a refresh operation using a refresh pulse signal REFP for the refresh word lines is carried out for the other port, thus decreasing the control time.
Note that, in the active mode of the 2T-PSRAM devices, a small difference between the voltage at a first one of one pair of bit lines and a reference voltage is sensed by the read/write pulse signal RWP to carry out a read operation, while a refresh operation is performed by the refresh pulse signal REFP upon a second one of the pair of bit lines. Therefore, if the timing of the refresh operation is shifted or advanced from its optimum timing, the rapid change of the voltage at the second bit line affects the sense operation of the first bit line due to the noise by crosstalk, thus destroying cell information.
Four special modes other than the active mode will now be explained.
(1) Sleep Mode (ZZ Mode)                A sleep mode is defined by a state where no external clock signal CLK is supplied to the device.
(2) Stop Clock Mode (Chip Selection Mode)                A stop clock mode is defined by a state where an external clock signal CLK supplied to the device is temporarily stopped. This is also called a chip selection (CCS) mode.
(3) Clock Non-selection Mode                A clock non-selection mode is defined by a state where an external clock signal CLK is supplied to the device but the external clock signal CLK is not selected by a clock enable signal CKE within the device.
(4) Long Cycle Mode                A long cycle mode is defined by a state where the frequency of an external clock signal supplied to the device is lower than a predetermined value.
In the sleep mode, the stop clock mode or the clock non-selection mode, use is never made of the external clock signal CLK. In the long cycle mode, incomplete use is made of the external clock signal CLK.
In a special mode, a forced refresh pulse signal is generated as an internal clock signal within the device to carry out a refresh operation using the refresh word lines.
When the control is transferred from one of the special modes to an active mode, an access operation such as a read operation or a write operation is restarted by using a read/write pulse signal generated in synchronization with the external clock signal CLK.
However, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E, since a forced refresh pulse signal (internal click signal) REFB is not in synchronization with an external clock signal CLK which is substantially a signal CLK′ within the device, a refresh pulse signal REFP for the refresh word lines derived from the forced refresh pulse signal REFB is not in synchronization with a read/write pulse signal RWP for the normal word lines derived from the signal CLK′. As a result, in the synchronous MSRAM devices, when the read/write pulse signal RWP is superposed onto the refresh pulse signal REFP immediately after transition from a special mode to an active mode, a word line multi-selection would occur or a restore operation would be intercepted. On the other hand, in the 2T-PSRAM devices, when the read/write pulse signal RWP is shifted from the refresh pulse signal REFP immediately after transition from a special mode to an active mode, a sense operation would be incomplete.
Thus, it was difficult for the prior art pseudo SRAM device to smoothly transfer a special mode to an active mode.

Refresh operation type semiconductor memory device capable of smoothly transferring special state to normal active state and its driving method


The invention concerns a device in wheeled walker or rollator, comprising a frame member (2) having a lower end (3), a handle support rod (4) having an upper end (5), a brake-control means (6) arranged at the upper end (5) of the handle support rod, said brake-control means (6) being movable between a neutral position and a brake-application position. The rollator comprises a wheel (7) located at the lower end (3) of the frame member, the distance between said wheel (7) and the brake-control means (6) being changeable, a brake element (8) located adjacent the wheel (7), an upper force-transmission member (9) connected to said brake-control means (6), a lower force-transmission member (10) connected to said brake element (8), and a coupling means (11) for coupling-together said upper and said lower force-transmission members (9, 10). The upper force-transmission member (9) and the lower force-transmission member (10) are arranged to move freely relative to one another, when the brake-control means (6) assumes its neutral position and. The upper force-transmission member (9) and the lower force-transmission member (10) are arranged to be interconnected by means of said coupling means (11), when the brake-control means (6) leaves the neutral position, in response to which braking force is transferred to the brake element (8).

Walking devices or rollators of the kind outlined above are well known. Rollators of this kind are wheeled devices on which motor-handicapped individuals may support themselves while walking. Such rollators often are adjustable e.g. vertically for adaptation to the height of the user. In addition, rollators conventionally are provided with at least one brake element, which is operated by means of a handle control means, allowing the user to brake the rollator and thus reduce its speed or lock it in the brake-application position. The braking force may be transferred, for example via a brake wire, to a brake means located adjacent the rollator wheel.
The vertical level of the handles including the associated handle control means of the rollator as a rule is adjustable relative to the rollator wheel. The brake wire is often mounted along a part of the external face of the frame to transfer the force from the handle control means to the brake adjacent the wheel.
In rollators of this kind, one consequence of the height-adjustability feature is that the length of the brake wire often constitutes an obstruction to the user.
In order to reduce the problems connected with the height-adjustment arrangement several different solutions have been tested. One solution suggests the use of adjustable rods instead of a brake wire, said rods arranged to be displaced inside the frame between the handle and the wheel in order to thus transfer the braking force. This solution does, however, necessitate adjustment also of the rods in a separate step of the height-adjustment operation, in order to ensure the intended effect of the brake in use.


The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a precursor for the synthesis of hexanoic acid derived statins and to the use of said precursor in the manufacture of a medicament.

Hexanoic acid derived statins of general formula (1) or salts thereof inhibit the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) and are thus useful as a hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic agents. Examples of these statins are cerivastatin wherein R1 is a radical of formula (C), fluvastatin wherein R1 is a radical of formula (F), pitavastatin wherein R1 is a radical of formula (P) and rosuvastatin wherein R1 is a radical of formula (R).

For the introduction of the chiral part of the abovementioned molecules, intermediates of general formula (2) play a pivotal role.

In the compounds of general formula (2) R2 and R3 each independently stand for an alkyl with for instance 1 to 12 carbon atoms and R2 and R3 may form a ring together with the carbon atom to which they are bound. The group R4 is a carboxylic acid protecting group. For preparative purposes, R4 must be a group that can be easily removed after formation of the statin structure. Suitable groups in this respect have proven to be sec-butyl, tert-butyl, iso-propyl and the like. R5 is an aryl group that is suitable for a one-pot or modified Julia-Kocienski olefination, examples of which are tetrazole-based groups and substituted phenyl and benzimidazole type compounds (e.g. P. R. Blakemore, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 2002, 2563). For the purpose of this olefination the compound of general formula (2) is oxidized to the sulfone of general formula (3).

A method for preparing chiral diol sulfones is described in WO 2002/098854 and WO 2001/096311. In these citations, a sulfone is prepared from an alcohol, more in particular tert-butyl 2-((4R,6S)-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-4-yl)acetate known as "Kaneka alcohol". The preparation of such an alcohol is described in EP 1024139. The synthesis in the prior art has several disadvantages, the most prominent being that many reaction steps are required and that trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride or another sulfonic acid derived activating agent is used to activate the alcohol function to an extent that a nucleophilic attack with a thiol is possible. Trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride is an extremely hazardous and expensive component, which causes costly work-up procedures due to environmentally problematic waste streams. It is an object of the present invention to provide a process, in which not only the use of an activating agent like trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride is omitted but which also reduces the number of chemical conversions required.

Process for the preparation of a thioprecursor for statins

DSM SINOCHEM PHARMACEUTICALS NETHERLANDS B.V.


A micro component steam reformer system for producing hydrogen-enriched gas to power a fuel cell adapted for scalable power requirements wherein fluid flow is configured in a circuit whereby, in serially interconnected fluid flow modules, a vaporized hydrocarbon is mixed with fuel cell off gas having a hydrogen component and combusted to heat vaporizers and a steam reformer, vaporized hydrocarbons and water vapor are introduced as a feed stock into the steam reformer to produce a syn-gas, which is cooled and purified, and the resulting principally hydrogen gas is introduced into a hydrogen fuel cell having an interconnection within the circuit in which off gas from the fuel cell is processed to provide hydrogen and water for use in the system cycle.

The present invention relates to a micro component hydrocarbon steam reformer system for producing hydrogen gas and a reaction cycle useful in the system. Particularly, the system relates to micro component apparatus and cycles useful in powering fuel cells adapted for motor vehicle use and other discrete systems having incremental and/or scalable energy requirements.
Hydrogen fuel cells are non-polluting, highly efficient power sources. See, for example, various publications at the web site of the United States Department of Energy and Fuel Cells Green Power, Los Alamos National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, 1999.
The use of fuel cells (despite their desirable characteristics) in motor vehicles, transportation, mobile and "small scale" applications (varying from powering a laptop computer to providing power for an entire home), where a discrete source of hydrogen is required, is hindered because a convenient, safe and/or mobile source of hydrogen having a size appropriate for the discrete use is not available.
It is an object of the invention to provide a hydrocarbon steam reformer system that produces a hydrogen-enriched gas, such as used to feed an electric power producing fuel cell. It is a further object to provide such a system in a configuration and using a cycle that is convenient, safe, and adaptable for small scale use and is incrementally scalable to adjust to predetermined power requirements.
Prior art convention in fuel cell technology, generally in automotive applications, employs an auto-thermal reforming system that, through a sequence of known chemical reactions, converts hydrocarbons, water and air into hydrogen-enriched gas that feeds a fuel cell. Steam reformer systems are known; but the art is skeptical of the adaptability of steam reformer systems for motor vehicle use. See "Fuel Cell Technology," Automotive Engineer, September 2000, pages 78 et seq. In contrast, the system of the invention enables the use of a steam reforming process for automotive and other predetermined power requirement applications, achieves improved operating efficiencies, and is adapted to scalable operation and expansion in discrete modular assemblies. The invention offers the advantages of small size and is volumetrically scalable with respect to flow rates as determined by power requirements for a specific situation.

Micro component steam reformer apparatus for producing a syn-gas from liquid hydrocarbons


Described herein is a system for generating financing structures. A learning engine may extract data sets associated with sellers of various products. The learning engine may be trained using the data sets. The learning engine may identify a subset of dimensions that cause a change in a determination of a final price for a given product. The learning engine may compute a value for each of the sellers with respect to each dimension. The learning engine may group the sellers into different clusters. The learning engine may generate using a model, including the subset of dimensions. The learning engine may receive a request to generate a financing structure for a specified product sold by a specified seller. The learning engine may generate financing structures for the specified product sold by the specified seller based on the generated model.

Different entities such as car dealerships, home builders, real estate agents, retail stores interface with different financial intuitions for financing a product for sale. The product may be automobiles, houses, appliances, furniture, and/or the like. Each of these entities may operate differently and may have different methodologies to determine a final sales price for a particular product.
Determining a financing structure without understanding an entity's needs may be a slow and error-prone process. The financial institution may not generate financing structures that best fit the entity even after multiple iterations. Transmitting multiple requests and receiving multiple financing structures may be computationally expensive and create a network bottleneck.
The drawing in which an element first appears is typically indicated by the leftmost digit or digits in the corresponding reference number. In the drawings, like reference numbers may indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

System and method for generating financing structures using clustering