Disclosed is a high-gain wideband antenna apparatus. The high-gain wideband antenna apparatus, includes: a feeding antenna configured to radiate a signal; a cover configured to be disposed on a front surface of the feeding antenna based on a radiation direction of the signal and including a conductor pattern formed in a specific shape; and a ground surface configured to be disposed on the feeding antenna based on the radiation direction of the signal. By this configuration, the conductor patterns are approximately configured on both surfaces of a dielectric material to control a phase of a reflection coefficient in a specific frequency band, thereby increasing a gain and a bandwidth of an antenna and metal surfaces are additionally mounted on sides of a feeding antenna, thereby improving a front back ratio of the antenna.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relates to a high-gain wideband antenna apparatus, and more particularly, to a high-gain wideband antenna apparatus capable of controlling a phase and a magnitude of a reflection coefficient by including a cover in which conductor patterns having a specific shape are arranged on both surfaces of a dielectric material.
Generally, an antenna, which is an essential apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal in a wireless communication system, is resonated with an electromagnetic wave of a specific frequency to transmit and receive an electromagnetic signal of a corresponding frequency.
Recently, with the rapid development of the wireless communication system, a use of the antenna has been diversified. Further, various methods for improving a gain and characteristics of the antenna have been proposed.
As a method for improving the gain of the antenna, a method for improving the gain of the antenna while an electromagnetic wave from the antenna being resonated in a resonator by disposing a feeding apparatus of the antenna in a Fabry-Perot resonator has been proposed.
The Fabry-Perot resonator type antenna can improve the gain of the antenna, but has a too narrow bandwidth and thus, cannot be easily applied for transmission and reception of a wideband signal.
As the related art, there is US Patent Laid-Open No. 2007/0200788 (Publication in Aug. 30, 2007: Antenna Unit Having A Single Antenna Element And A Periodic Structure Upper Plate).
The above-mentioned technical configuration is a background art for helping understanding of the present invention and does not mean related arts well known in a technical field to which the present invention pertains.

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A valved insert for insertion into a coupling body is disclosed. In one embodiment, the valved insert includes a housing and an internal valve slidably disposed within an internal passage of the housing. The housing can be configured to have a sidewall defining an internal flow passage, a first open end and a retaining clip recess. The sidewall has a first thickness at the first open end and a second thickness adjacent to the clip recess. In one embodiment, the retaining clip recess has a height that is greater than one half the first thickness and less than or equal to one half the second thickness. The internal valve and the housing can also be provided with corresponding stop surfaces to limit the inward motion of the internal valve into the housing. In one embodiment, the stop surfaces are angled to form ramped surfaces.

Quick disconnect couplings are often used in applications where it is necessary to connect and disconnect fluid lines with some regularity. In some applications, the quick disconnect coupling is provided with a valve structure in an insert and a valve structure in a receiving coupling body that allows fluid to flow through the coupling when in a connected state, but prevents flow through either line when in a disconnected state. Often, these types of couplings have spring-biased valves which make it necessary to lock the coupling together with a locking mechanism such that the valves and/or line pressure do not force the insert and coupling body apart undesirably. Such locking mechanisms can be manufactured from a metal, while the insert and coupling bodies are manufactured from a plastic. In such an arrangement, the insert is often subjected to eccentric side loading and point stress from the locking mechanism, which can limit performance of the coupling.


Described here are devices, systems, and methods for accessing the pericardial space through the pericardium. The access devices may include a plurality of elongate members having lumens that may be advanced together through the body to the pericardium. The elongate members may have different lengths and may be slideably positioned one within the lumen of another. At least one of the elongate members may comprise a distal tip configured to pierce tissue. In some instances, the access devices may also comprise a locking member to constrain the position of one elongate member relative to another.

It may be desirable to gain access to the internal and external structures of the heart for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In some cases, the treatment may involve the delivery of one or more devices to the heart. A heart may be accessed in a number of ways. For example, a heart may be accessed for device delivery using an intravascular approach. In such an approach, a device may be advanced from a femoral vein to the vena cava, through which the chambers and valves of the right side of the heart (e.g., right atrium, right ventricle, etc.) may be accessed. The left side of the heart may also be accessed using an intravascular approach through a transseptal procedure. Alternatively, the left atrium and left ventricle may be intravascularly accessed by a retrograde pathway from the aorta.
Intravascular access to the heart may not be ideal in all circumstances, for example, for the delivery of larger devices, and especially if external structures of the heart are targeted. In such circumstances, the heart may also be accessed through an opening or puncture in the pericardium. Approaching the heart through the pericardium may provide direct access to the external (epicardial) surface of the heart. The ability to access the heart via a non-vascular pathway may be useful for a variety of applications, including device or drug delivery, left atrial appendage exclusion, ablation of fibrillating tissue, placement of leads, and the like.
Despite these benefits, puncturing the pericardium without contacting and/or damaging the heart itself may prove challenging. Current methods that attempt to reduce this risk involve grasping and/or suctioning the pericardium prior to puncturing it. But, at times, the presence of epicardial fat and other irregularities may prevent direct access to the pericardium. In some cases, highly trained users may be able to pierce the pericardium without piercing the heart by carefully advancing a needle toward the heart. They may rely on tactile feedback to avoid puncturing the heart and use this tactile feedback to accommodate and/or compensate for the displacement of the heart and pericardium during a beating heart procedure. However, advancing conventional needles to the heart by tactile feedback may be particularly risky for inexperienced users, as these conventional needles may be accidentally advanced into the heart.
Decreasing the diameter of the needle used to access the pericardial space may help to decrease the risk of puncturing the heart. However, reducing the size of the needle presents additional challenges. For example, decreasing the size of a needle tends to increase its flexibility, which may make it more difficult to steer to the pericardium. Additionally, smaller needles may catch on tissue and kink more easily. Furthermore, using a smaller needle to access the heart may prevent the placement of a guide wire large enough to advance a desirable treatment device. Using a needle with a larger diameter may be advantageous, but it presents other concerns. Larger needles may be more rigid and easier to steer, but, as mentioned above, they may present a significant risk of puncturing the heart. Additional methods and devices for accessing the pericardial space are desirable.


An assembly is disclosed for adjusting the radial position of one or more blade tracks radially encasing the blades of a turbine stage in a gas turbine engine. The assembly comprises a static turbine casing, a plurality of blade track carriers, an annular control ring, an actuator, and a plurality of blade tracks. The blade tracks have a radially inner surface that defines a flowpath boundary of the turbine stage. The blade tracks are carried by the blade track carriers, which are engaged with the annular control ring. Actuation of the actuator moves the control ring in an axial dimension and this movement is translated into an adjustment of the radial position of the blade track.

Rotating machines may comprise a bladed disc, typically attached to a rotating shaft, encased by a shroud. Examples include axial compressors, centrifugal compressors, and turbines.
In many applications of rotating machines, such as a gas turbine engine, systems and methods are employed to ensure an appropriate gap is maintained between the blade tips of the bladed disc and the shroud. This gap is often referred to as the blade tip clearance, and is an important factor in determining the efficiency of an engine. An insufficient gap increases the risk that a blade tip will impinge—or rub—against the shroud, potentially damaging one or both of the blades and shroud and ultimately reducing engine efficiency. Conversely, when an excessive gap exists gasses flowing through the engine may pass between the blade tips and the shroud, thus constituting leakage which also reduces the engine efficiency. Maintaining an appropriately-sized blade tip clearance through a wide range of operating conditions and transients is therefore important to the efficient operation of a turbine engine or, indeed, many rotating machines.

Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.


The invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition of topiramate, an anticonvulsant which is useful for treating epilepsy. More specifically, the present invention provides a solid dosage formulation of topiramate intended primarily for use by pediatric patients, or for patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets. Processes for preparing the pharmaceutical composition are also described.

The pharmaceutical industry employs a variety of dosage formulations for orally administering medicinal agents to patients. Typical formulations for oral administration include liquid solutions, emulsions, or suspensions, as well as solid forms such as capsules or tablets (as used herein, the term "tablet" means any shaped and compressed solid dosage form, including caplets). Since these conventional solid dosage formulations are usually intended for adults who can easily swallow large tablets whole, the often disagreeable taste of the active ingredient need not be taken into account in formulating the medicine, except for the provision of means to prevent the taste from being apparent during the short time that the medicine is in the mouth. Such means may include the provision of an appropriate coating on the tablet, the use of a capsule form (the gelatin outer shell of the capsule keeps the active ingredient inside until the capsule has been swallowed), or simply firmly compressing a tablet so that it will not begin to disintegrate during the short time that it is intended to be in the mouth.
Children, older persons, and many other persons have difficulty swallowing whole tablets and even capsules. Therefore, it is often desirable to provide the medicine either in liquid form or in a chewable solid form or an alternative solid form, e.g., small particles which can be sprinkled onto soft food and swallowed intact with the food, in addition to the tablet or capsule intended to be swallowed whole. Even where the medicine can be formulated as a liquid, it is desirable to provide a chewable solid form or an alternative solid form such as microspheres which can be sprinkled onto soft food (e.g., baby food) because it is often more convenient and easier to administer.
A major requirement of any such solid form is that it must be palatable, since an unpalatable formulation greatly increases the risk of a patient neglecting to take a medication. A further requirement of any solid dosage form is that it must be bioavailable; that is, once the formulation reaches the stomach, the individual particles should release the active ingredient rapidly and completely to ensure that substantially all of the active ingredient is absorbed. In cases where the active ingredient is particularly unpalatable and somewhat unstable, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to identify a solid form that fulfills both of these requirements (i.e., palatable and bioavailable).
A number of references are known which describe pharmaceutical compositions of unpalatable medicinal agents which are coated with a taste masking coating in order to hide the unpleasant taste. Julian et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,266, describe chewable medicament tablets made by coating granules of a medicament (especially, acetyl p-aminophenol) with a blend of cellulose acetate or cellulose acetate butyrate and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (also known as "PVP" and referred to hereinafter by its United States Pharmacopeia (USP) name as "povidone"). Mehta, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,278, discloses a pharmaceutical composition comprised of a pharmaceutical core of an active dose of a compound and a microencapsulating polymer which coats the pharmaceutical core and is capable of taste-masking the active compound. Bhardway, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,316, describe medicament cores coated with methacrylate ester copolymers which mask the bitter and unpleasant taste of the medicament.
A variety of chlorosulfate and sulfamate esters of 2,3:4,5-bis-O-(1-methylethylidene)-β-D-fructopyranose, and their anticonvulsant activity in mammals, and thus their utility in treating diseases such as epilepsy and glaucoma, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,006. More specifically, the compound 2,3:4,5-bis-O-(1-methylethylidene)-β-D-fructopyranose sulfamate, hereinafter referred to as "topiramate", is presently available for marketing as a tablet product in strengths of 25, 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of adults with partial onset seizures (TOPAMAX® (topiramate) tablets). Topiramate can be prepared following the processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,513,006 and 5,387,700, and preferably, by the process described in Examples 1 to 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,700. Difficulty in identifying a chewable solid form of topiramate has ensued due to the extremely bitter taste of topiramate and problems associated with stability of the active agent, especially upon exposure to moisture and heat which are known to cause degradation of topiramate. Degradation of topiramate is readily detected by changes in physical appearance, i.e., discoloration to brown or black, and by the formation of sulfate ions which can be readily detected by standard techniques know to those of ordinary skill in the art (e.g., HPLC).
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a stable solid formulation of topiramate for use in children and other patients who have difficulty swallowing conventional solid forms (e.g., tablets, capsules) which is both palatable and bioavailable. It is a further object of the invention to provide a palatable solid formulation of topiramate that can be sprinkled onto soft food prior to consumption (i.e., a "sprinkle formulation") and which provides immediate release of the active ingredient in the stomach.

Pharmaceutical composition of topiramate


An exercise arrangement includes a movable support that is movable in a fore-aft direction and simultaneously movable laterally, e.g. about a tilt axis. The support may be a platform movably mounted to a base. A roller and track arrangement may be provided between the platform and the base, to provide movement of the platform in the axial direction relative to the base as well as an axially neutral position of the platform relative to the base. The roller and track arrangement may be in the form of one or more curved roller and track engagement surfaces that extend in the axial direction and that provide a gravity bias of the platform toward the neutral position. The roller and track arrangement may provide tilting movement of the movable platform about the tilt axis. A tilt biasing arrangement biases the platform toward a neutral tilt position relative to the base.

Various types of indoor exercise equipment are designed to mimic or simulate exercise activities that are typically done in an outdoor environment. For example, a stationary treadmill allows a user to walk or run indoors as opposed to outdoors. Similarly, a stationary cycle allows the user to experience cycling-type exercise indoors as opposed to outdoors. As an example of the latter, a conventional bicycle can be mounted to an indoor bicycle trainer, which allows the user to adapt a bicycle, which is typically used outdoors, for use in an indoor environment.
While actual outdoor conditions cannot be exactly replicated when exercising on exercise equipment in an indoor environment, exercise equipment can be configured or controlled to simulate outdoor conditions. For example, in the case of the treadmill, the incline of the treadmill belt can be adjusted to simulate running or walking uphill or downhill. Stationary cycles and bicycle trainers, which most commonly are positioned upright and horizontal, have been designed to include features that allow the stationary cycle or bicycle and trainer combination to tilt side-to-side and to adjust an angle of inclination either upwardly or downwardly.
It is an object of the present invention to enable a user to more realistically experience movement that occurs in an outdoor environment when using an item of exercise equipment in an indoor environment. It is another object of the invention to provide movement of an item of exercise equipment in different directions or planes to enhance the user's experience when using the item of exercise equipment. It is a still further object of the invention to provide a support system for an item of exercise equipment that allows movement of the item of exercise equipment in different directions to enhance the user's experience, and that can be either incorporated in the item of exercise equipment during original manufacture or that can be used with existing items of exercise equipment.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, an exercise arrangement for use on a support surface includes a user support and input arrangement that is configured to support a user and that includes a user force input arrangement, and a movable support arrangement interposed between the support surface and the user support and input arrangement. The movable support arrangement is movable in a first fore-aft direction that includes a component that is generally parallel to the support surface, and simultaneously movable in a second direction that is non-parallel to the first direction in response to forces applied by the user to the user force input arrangement. Representatively, movement of the movable support arrangement in the first direction may be movement of the movable support arrangement in an axial or fore-aft direction, and movement of the movable support arrangement in the second direction may be tilting movement of the movable support arrangement about a tilt axis that extends in the axial direction.
In one embodiment, the movable support arrangement may be in the form of a platform that is movably mounted to a base, and the user support and input arrangement may be supported on the platform. The user support and input arrangement may be in the form of a bicycle and a bicycle trainer with which the bicycle is engaged. Alternatively, the user support and input arrangement may be in the form of an item of exercise equipment supported on the platform.
The movable support arrangement may be in the form of a roller and track arrangement interposed between the platform and the base, with the roller and track arrangement providing movement of the platform in the axial direction relative to the base in response to forces applied by the user to the user force input arrangement. The roller and track arrangement may be configured to define an axially neutral position of the platform relative to the base, and also configured to bias the platform toward the axially neutral position. Representatively, the roller and track arrangement may be in the form of one or more curved roller and track engagement surfaces that extend in the axial direction and that provide a gravity bias of the platform toward the neutral position.
The roller and track arrangement may be further configured to provide tilting movement of the movable platform about the tilt axis relative to the base. The movable support arrangement may further include a tilt biasing arrangement for biasing the platform toward a neutral tilt position relative to the base. Representatively, the tilt biasing arrangement may be in the form of a pair of springs between the base and the platform, with the pair of springs being located one on either side of the tilt axis.
In one embodiment, the platform may include a front platform section and a rear platform section that are secured together via a pivot connection, which enables the front and rear platform sections to be positioned in an operative use position and folded together about a transverse pivot axis to a folded storage position.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a cycle-type exercise system includes a cycle device, which may include pedals for enabling a user to apply input forces, such as pedaling forces, and a movable support arrangement that supports the cycle device above a supporting surface, with the movable support arrangement providing movement of the cycle device in a fore-aft direction along a longitudinal axis and simultaneous tilting movement of the cycle device about a tilt axis that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, in response to input forces applied by the user to the pedals of the cycle device. In one form, the cycle device is in the form of a bicycle engaged with a bicycle trainer. In this embodiment, the movable support arrangement is in the form of a platform on which the bicycle and trainer are supported, and a base interposed between the platform and the supporting surface. The platform is mounted to the base for fore-aft movement along the longitudinal axis and for tilting movement about the tilt axis. In another form, the cycle device is in the form of a stationary exercise cycle, and the movable support arrangement is incorporated into a frame of the stationary exercise cycle. In another form, the cycle device is in the form of a bicycle and the movable support is incorporated into the structure of a bicycle trainer with which the bicycle is engaged
In an embodiment in which the cycle device is in the form of a bicycle engaged with a bicycle trainer, the movable support arrangement may include a front support and a rear support, with the front support being configured to support a front wheel of the bicycle and the rear support being configured to support the bicycle trainer. Each of the front and rear supports includes a roller arrangement that provides movement of the bicycle and the bicycle trainer in the fore-aft direction along the longitudinal axis. The bicycle trainer is mounted to the rear support via an axially extending central support arrangement that provides tilting movement of the bicycle trainer about the tilt axis, and the front wheel of the bicycle is mounted to the front support via a central front wheel support that accommodates movement of the bicycle and the bicycle trainer about the tilt axis. In an embodiment in which the cycle device is in the form of a bicycle engaged with a bicycle trainer, the movable support arrangement includes a front support and a rear support, with the front support being configured to support a front wheel of the bicycle and the rear support being configured to support the bicycle trainer. Each of the front and rear supports may include an axial roller arrangement that provides movement of the bicycle and the bicycle trainer in the fore-aft direction along the longitudinal axis, and at least the rear support includes a transverse roller arrangement that provides movement of the bicycle trainer about the tilt axis.
In another embodiment, the movable support arrangement may be in the form of a first support, a second support and a third support, with the bicycle and the bicycle trainer being supported on the first support, the first support being supported on the second support via a first roller arrangement that provides movement of the first support in the fore-aft direction, and the second support being supported on the third support via a second roller arrangement that provides movement of the first second support and the first support about the tilt axis.
In yet another embodiment, the movable support arrangement may be in the form of a first support, a second support and a third support, with the bicycle and the bicycle trainer being supported on the first support, the first support being supported on the second support via a first roller arrangement that provides movement of the first support about the tilt axis, and the second support being supported on the third support via a second roller arrangement that provides movement of the second support and the first support in the fore-aft direction.
In a further embodiment, the movable support arrangement may be in the form of a first support on which the bicycle and the bicycle trainer are supported, a base configured to be positioned on a support surface, and a suspension-type engagement arrangement between the base and the first support, with the suspension-type engagement arrangement providing movement of the first support in both the fore-aft direction and about the tilt axis.
In a still further embodiment, the movable support arrangement may be in the form of a first support, a second support and a base, with the bicycle and the bicycle trainer being positioned on the first support, a suspension-type engagement arrangement being interposed between the first support and the second support for providing movement of the first support about the tilt axis, and a roller arrangement being provided between the second support and the base for providing movement of the second support relative to the base in the fore-aft direction.
In a still further embodiment, the movable support arrangement may be in the form of a first support, a second support and a base, with the bicycle and the bicycle trainer being positioned on the first support, a first suspension-type engagement arrangement being interposed between the first support and the second support for providing movement of the first support about the tilt axis, and a second suspension-type engagement arrangement being interposed between the second support and the base for providing movement of the second support in the fore-aft direction.
In a still further embodiment in which the cycle device is in the form of a bicycle engaged with a resistance device, the movable support arrangement may include a base positioned on a support surface, a support on which the bicycle and the bicycle trainer are positioned, a pair of front support arms extending from the base, a pair of rear support arms extending from the base, a suspension-type engagement arrangement interposed between the support and the front and rear support arms for providing movement of the support about the tilt axis, and a pivot connection associated with the front and rear support arms for providing movement of the support in the fore-aft direction.
In a still further embodiment in which the cycle device includes a frame, the movable support arrangement may include a base adapted to be supported on a support surface and a roller and track arrangement interposed between the frame and the base. The roller and track arrangement provides movement of the frame in the fore-aft direction relative to the base in response to forces applied by the user to the user force input arrangement, and further provides tilting movement of the frame about the tilt axis relative to the base. The movable support arrangement includes a fore-aft biasing arrangement for biasing the frame toward a neutral fore-aft position and a tilt biasing arrangement for biasing the frame toward a neutral tilt position. The roller and track arrangement includes one or more curved roller and track engagement surfaces between the frame and the base that extend in the fore-aft direction and that provide a gravity bias of the frame toward the neutral fore-aft position. The frame may include a pair of stabilizers or outriggers, and the tilt biasing arrangement acts on the pair of stabilizers or outriggers for biasing the frame toward the neutral tilt position.
In a still further embodiment in which the cycle device is in the form of a bicycle engaged with a resistance device, the movable support arrangement includes a base positioned on a support surface, a support with which the bicycle and the resistance device are engaged, and a roller and track arrangement interposed between the support and the base. The roller and track arrangement provides movement of the support in the fore-aft direction relative to the base in response to forces applied by the user to the user force input arrangement, and further provides tilting movement of the support about the tilt axis relative to the base. The movable support arrangement includes a fore-aft biasing arrangement for biasing the support toward a neutral fore-aft position and a tilt biasing arrangement for biasing the support toward a neutral tilt position. The roller and track arrangement may include one or more curved roller and track engagement surfaces between the support and the base that extend in the fore-aft direction and that provide a gravity bias of the support toward the neutral fore-aft position. The support may include a pair of stabilizers or outriggers, and the tilt biasing arrangement acts on the pair of stabilizers or outriggers for biasing the support toward the neutral tilt position.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a support for an exercise arrangement that includes a cycle device with pedals for enabling a user to apply input pedaling forces includes a base adapted to be positioned on a support surface and a movable support engaged with the base and that is configured to support the cycle device above the base. The movable support is movably mounted to the base for movement in a fore-aft direction along a longitudinal axis in response to input pedaling forces applied by the user to the pedals of the cycle device. The movable support is further movably mounted to the base for simultaneous tilting movement of the cycle device about a tilt axis that is coincident with the longitudinal axis. The cycle device may be in the form of a bicycle and trainer combination or a cycle-type exercise device. In one form, the movable support may be in the form of a platform mounted to the base for movement in the fore-aft direction and for movement about the tilt axis. The platform may include a front platform section and a rear platform section that are secured together via a pivot connection that enables the front and rear platform sections to be positioned in an operative use position and folded together about a transverse pivot axis to a folded storage position.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, a cycle-type exercise device includes a frame configured to support a user, a pedal arrangement movably mounted to the frame for enabling a user to apply input pedaling forces, and a support structure to which the frame is secured and that supports the frame above a support surface. The support structure provides movement of the frame in a fore-aft direction along a longitudinal axis in response to input pedaling forces applied by the user to the pedal arrangement. The support structure may further provide tilting movement of the frame about a tilt axis that is coincident with the longitudinal axis in response to input pedaling forces applied by the user to the pedal arrangement. Representatively, the support structure may include a base positioned on the support surface, and the frame includes a movable mounting arrangement by which the frame is mounted to the base, with the movable mounting arrangement providing movement of the frame in both the fore-aft direction along the longitudinal axis and tilting movement of the frame about the tilt axis. The movable mounting arrangement may include a roller and track arrangement interposed between the frame and the base, and the roller and track arrangement may provide movement of the frame in the fore-aft direction relative to the base and tilting movement of the frame about the tilt axis relative to the base in response to forces applied by the user to the pedal arrangement. The roller and track arrangement is configured to define an axially neutral position of the frame relative to the base in the fore-aft direction, and is further configured to bias the frame toward the axially neutral position. The roller and track arrangement may further include one or more curved roller and track engagement surfaces that extend in the fore-aft direction and that provide a gravity bias of the base toward the neutral position.
Other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating certain embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
In describing the embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the words "connected," "attached," or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection or attachment, but include connection or attachment to other elements where such connection or attachment is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art.


A fixing device includes a pressing rotary body to press against a fixing rotary body. A pivotable pressure lever rotatably mounts the pressing rotary body. A pressurization cam assembly pivots the pressure lever to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body and release pressure between the pressing rotary body and the fixing rotary body. A pivotable cleaning unit includes a cleaning web separably contacting the pressing rotary body to clean the pressing rotary body, a pressure adjuster contacting the cleaning web to separably press the cleaning web against the pressing rotary body, a take-up reel to reel up the cleaning web, and a supply reel to reel out the cleaning web. A cleaning unit cam assembly contacts the cleaning unit to pivot the cleaning unit to press against and separate from the pressing rotary body.

1. Technical Field
Example embodiments generally relate to a fixing device, an image forming apparatus, and a fixing method, and more particularly, to a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium, an image forming apparatus incorporating the fixing device, and a fixing method for fixing a toner image on a recording medium.
2. Background Art
Related-art image forming apparatuses, such as copiers, facsimile machines, printers, or multifunction printers having two or more of copying, printing, scanning, facsimile, plotter, and other functions, typically form an image on a recording medium according to image data. Thus, for example, a charger uniformly charges a surface of a photoconductor; an optical writer emits a light beam onto the charged surface of the photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor according to the image data; a development device supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor to render the electrostatic latent image visible as a toner image; the toner image is directly transferred from the photoconductor onto a recording medium or is indirectly transferred from the photoconductor onto a recording medium via an intermediate transfer belt; finally, a fixing device applies heat and pressure to the recording medium bearing the toner image to fix the toner image on the recording medium, thus forming the image on the recording medium.
The image forming apparatuses employ fixing devices of various types, such as a roller type, a film type, and an induction heating type.
For example, the roller type fixing device may include a fixing roller heated by a heater and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller to form a fixing nip therebetween. As a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip, the fixing roller and the pressure roller apply heat and pressure to the recording medium, melting and fixing the toner image on the recording medium.
The film type fixing device may include a fixing film and a heater contacting the fixing film as disclosed by JP-S63-313182-A and JP-H1-263679-A. For example, a pressure roller presses a recording medium bearing a toner image against the heater via the fixing film. As the fixing film sliding over the heater conveys the recording medium, the fixing film heated by the heater heats the recording medium.
The induction heating type fixing device may include a fixing sleeve incorporating a heat generation layer, a fixing roller disposed inside the fixing sleeve, and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing roller via the fixing sleeve to form a fixing nip between the fixing sleeve and the pressure roller. The heat generation layer of the fixing sleeve generates heat by induction heating. As a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip, the fixing sleeve heats the recording medium.
A contact member that contacts the recording medium, that is, the fixing roller, the fixing film, the fixing sleeve, or the pressure roller described above, may receive contaminants, such as unfixed toner and paper dust, from the recording medium. If the contaminants adhere to and accumulate on the contact member, the contaminants may be transferred onto a recording medium conveyed through the fixing nip. To address this circumstance, a roll type cleaning web may contact the contact member to wipe the contaminants off the contact member as disclosed by JP-2000-321914-A and JP-2011-215587-A. The cleaning web is reeled to bring a fresh portion of the cleaning web into contact with the contact member constantly. Hence, the contaminants do not accumulate on the cleaning web.
Since the cleaning web is reeled constantly, it is requested to reduce consumption of the cleaning web. However, it may be difficult to reduce consumption of the cleaning web because reduced consumption of the cleaning web may degrade cleaning performance to clean the contact member. Accordingly, the unclean contact member may damage the toner image on the recording medium, resulting in degradation in quality of the toner image formed on the recording medium.

Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method


In general, techniques are described for providing control plane messaging in an active-active (or all-active) configuration of a multi-homed EVPN environment. In some examples, the techniques include receiving a control plane message comprising at least one address that identifies that second PE network device. The techniques may include configuring, based at least in part on the control plane message, a forwarding plane of a first PE network device to identify network packets having respective destination addresses that match the at least one address. The techniques may include determining that at least one address of the network packet matches the at least one address that identifies the second PE network device. The techniques may include, responsive to the determination, skipping a decrement of the Time-To-Live (TTL) value of the network packet, and forwarding the network packet to the second PE network device.

A computer network is a collection of interconnected computing devices that can exchange data and share resources. Example network devices include layer two devices that operate within the second layer (L2) of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model, i.e., the data link layer, and layer three devices that operate within the third layer (L3) of the OSI reference model, i.e., the network layer. Network devices within computer networks often include a control unit that provides control plane functionality for the network device and forwarding components for routing or switching data units.
An Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) may be used to extend two or more remote layer two (L2) customer networks through an intermediate layer three (L3) network (usually referred to as a provider network), in a transparent manner, i.e., as if the intermediate L3 network does not exist. In particular, the EVPN transports L2 communications, such as Ethernet packets or "frames," between customer networks via the intermediate network. In a typical configuration, provider edge (PE) network devices (e.g., routers and/or switches) coupled to the customer edge (CE) network devices of the customer networks define label switched paths (LSPs) within the provider network to carry encapsulated L2 communications as if these customer networks were directly attached to the same local area network (LAN). In some configurations, the PE network devices may also be connected by an IP infrastructure in which case IP/GRE tunneling or other IP tunneling can be used between the network devices.
In some examples, EVPNs may include one or more Ethernet Segments. An Ethernet Segment generally may include one or more EVPN instances (EVIs), that each represents a different virtual layer two network with separate forwarding domains. In some examples, an Ethernet Segment may include a CE network device that is multi-homed to multiple PE network devices, such that network links between the PE network device and the CE network device may operate as a single logical network link for transmitting network traffic. In EVPNs, a PE network device typically uses the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) (i.e., an L3 routing protocol) to perform control plane messaging. For example, a PE network device may announce its presence within an Ethernet Segment by sending an Ethernet Auto-Discovery route using BGP to a multi-homed CE network device. In other examples, a PE network device may advertise to other provider edge network devices MAC addresses learned from local consumer edge network devices to which the PE network device is connected.
In some examples, a customer network includes a CE network device that is multi-homed to multiple PE network devices in a service provider network. The customer network may include hosts and other network devices that send traffic through the CE network device to PE network devices in the service provider network. As one example, a network device within the customer network may run one or more link-state protocols such as Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System Protocol (ISIS) and/or Open Shortest Path First (OSPF). The PE network devices may also similarly run such link-state protocols and exchange control plane messages with the network device within the customer network via the CE network device. Control messages may be uni- or multi-casted between the PE routers and the network device within the customer network. Such control plane messages may have time-to-live (TTL) values of 1 because the network device within the customer network assumes that the PE network devices are a single hop away from the network device.
In active-active (or all-active) configuration, the CE network device runs a load-balancing algorithm to evenly distribute the flow of network packets across all available PE network devices in an EVI of an Ethernet Segment. However, the CE network device may not treat network packets differently based on the packet header or packet contents when running the load-balancing algorithm to forward network packets to the Ethernet segment. Consequently, when a network device within the customer network sends a control plane message destined for one of the PE network devices, the CE network device may, due to its load-balancing algorithm, send the control plane message to a PE network device in the Ethernet Segment that is not the intended destination PE network device. The PE network device that receives the control message may decrement the message TTL value to 0, which causes the packet to be dropped before reaching the intended destination PE network device.

Control plane messaging in all-active multi-homed ethernet virtual private networks


Column wirings are divided into at least two groups of first column wirings and second column wirings. Image data corresponding to different rows in one frame are supplied to these groups of column wirings at the single timing. At the same timing, row signals are applied to the different wirings at e.g. j=1 and j=17. Rows and columns can be replaced by each other.

The present invention relates to a two-dimensional surface light emitting element array and a method and apparatus for driving it, and more particularly to a two-dimensional surface light emitting element array capable of shortening a time required for patterned light emission of one frame and reducing power consumption on signal wirings to restrict generation of heat and a method and apparatus for driving it.
One example of previously known two-dimensional surface light emitting element arrays in a matrix wiring format is disclosed as a two-dimensional surface light emitting laser array in e.g. "PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETTERS" issued 1994, Vol. 6, pages 913 to 917. FIG. 11 shows such a two-dimensional surface light emitting laser array composed of vertical resonator type surface light emitting laser elements 102 arranged in a two-dimensional array on a semi-insulating semiconductor substrate 101. Each of the surface light emitting semiconductor lasers 102 is provided with an anode electrode 103 having an opening 103a. The anode electrode 103 is connected to a row wiring 104 having a row pad 105 at its end. A cathode electrode is connected to a column wiring 107 on the semiconductor substrate 101. The column wiring 107 is connected to a column pad 108. The respective columns of the two-dimensional surface light emitting lasers 102 arranged in an array are isolated by high resistance layers 109 formed by ion-implantation.
In the configuration described above, the row wirings 104 are selected in order by a clock signal. When the voltage corresponding to an image data is applied to column wirings 107 in synchronism with this, a light emission pattern corresponding to the image signal can be obtained.
FIG. 12 shows a two-dimensional surface light emitting laser array in a matrix wiring format having n.times.m (32.times.120=3840) surface light emitting lasers 102. In this array, 3840 surface light emitting lasers 102 are arranged at the intersecting points of 32 lines of row wirings 104 and 120 lines of column wirings 107.
FIG. 13 shows a driving apparatus for making patterned light emission of the two-dimensional light emission laser array. The driving apparatus includes first 12 (twelve) shift registers 11 for receiving image data 16 serially simultaneously on the basis of the clock 10, 12 (twelve) latch circuits 12 for receiving the image data from the first shift registers 11 simultaneously in parallel on the basis of a latch signal 17, 12 (twelve) drivers 13 connected to a power supply Vss, each of them serving to supply driving signals to corresponding 10 (ten) column wirings 107 in accordance with the image data latched in the latch circuit 12, a second shift register 14 for shifting a transfer signal 18 on the basis of the clock 10, a selector 15 connected to power source Vcc for selecting a row wiring 104 on the basis of the shifting position of the transfer signal 18 in the second shift register 14, and 3840 surface light emitting lasers 102 arranged at the intersecting points of the row wirings 104 and the column wirings 107, each represented by a resistance R and a laser diode LD.
FIG. 14 shows operation timings of driving the two-dimensional surface light emitting laser array. Using clock 10, the image data of ten bits are simultaneously supplied to each of the first twelve shift registers 11. Thus, the image data 16 having a total of 120 bits are allotted to the 120 column wirings 107. By the latch signal 17, the image data are latched in the latch circuit 12. At the same timing as the latch signal 17, the transfer signal 18 is produced and supplied to the second shift register 14. When the transfer signal 18 is located at the first bit of the second shift register 14, the selector 15 selects the row wiring 104 at j=1 by producing a select signal. Then, the driver 13 supplies the column wirings 107 from i=1 to i=120 in accordance with the image data latched in the twelve latch circuits 12. As a result, on the row wiring 104 at j=1, the surface light emitting laser(s) 102 having received the driving signal "1" through the column wiring(s) 107 emit(s) light whereas the surface light emitting laser(s) 102 having received the driving signal "0" does not emit light. The duration of such an operation is 20 ns.
Next, the transfer signal 18 is shifted to the second bit position of the second shift register 14. Simultaneously, the subsequent 120 bits image data 16 are supplied to the first registers 11 and latched in the latch 12. Therefore, the selector 15 selects the row wiring 104 at j=2. The driver 13 causes the surface light emitting laser (s) on the selected row wiring 104 to emit light. In this way, the row wirings 104 are selected sequentially from j=1 to j=32 so that display of the light emission pattern of one frame is completed.
In the above operation, since the surface light emitting lasers 102 are sequentially driven in a time-divisional manner for a duration of 20 ns, the time T taken for the light emission pattern of one frame is
T=3840.times.20 ns/120 PA1 =640 ns PA1 T=3840.times.20 ns/12 PA1 =6.4 .mu.s PA1 T=3840.times.20 ns/1 PA1 =76.8 .mu.s PA1 a wiring matrix including a first wiring group of plural electrodes arranged in parallel to each other, a second wiring group of plural electrodes arranged in parallel to each other and crossing the first wiring group; and PA1 plural surface light emitting elements connected to respective electrodes of said first wiring group and said second wiring group and arranged two-dimensionally at the intersecting points of said first wiring group and said second wiring group, wherein PA1 at least one of said first wiring group and said second wiring group includes plural groups of electrodes separated electrically in a wiring direction of the electrodes; and PA1 the electrodes of one of said electrode groups are provided with an external connection section for driving said surface light emitting elements connected to the electrodes individually from the surface light emitting elements connected to the electrodes of the remaining electrode groups.
FIG. 15 shows another driving device for driving the two-dimensional surface light emitting laser array as shown in FIG. 12 to make patterned light emission. This driving device is different from the driving device shown in FIG. 13 in that it further comprises a third shift register 19 for shifting a second transfer signal 20 on the basis of the clock 10 for divisional driving of the column wirings 107 and AND circuits 21 arranged in a pattern of divisional driving and taking a logical product of the outputs from the third shift register 19 and latch circuit 12 so that it is supplied to the driver 13.
FIG. 16 shows operation timings of driving the two-dimensional surface light emitting laser array shown in FIG. 12 by the driving device shown in FIG. 15. First, the row wiring 104 at j=1 is selected for a duration of 200 ns. The column wirings 107 at i=1 to 120 are divided into ten groups of wirings each having twelve surface light emitting lasers 102, i.e., i=1, 11, . . . 111, i=2, 12, . . . 112, . . . . . . i=10, 20, . . . 120 in accordance with the shifting position of the transfer signal 20 in the third shift register 19. In the above duration of 200 ns, each group of wirings is driven for a duration of 20 ns. Next, the row wiring 104 at j=2 is selected. Likewise, the column wirings 107 are driven in a divisional manner. In this way, the row wirings to j=32 are selected sequentially. By the selection of each of the row wirings 104, the surface light emitting lasers 102 are driven divisionally on the basis of divisional driving of the column wirings 107. Thus, patterned light emission of one frame is performed.
In the above operation, since for each of the row wirings 104, ten groups each having twelve two-dimensional surface light emitting lasers 102 are driven divisionally, the time T required to obtain one frame patterned light emission is
FIG. 17 shows another driving device for driving the two-dimensional surface light emitting laser array as shown in FIG. 12 to make patterned light emission. This driving device is different from the driving device shown in FIG. 15 in that it further comprises a third shift register 19 for shifting a second transfer signal 20 on the basis of the clock 10 and AND circuits 21 arranged in a pattern of divisional driving and taking a logical product of the outputs from the third shift register 19 and latch circuit 12 so that it is supplied to the driver 13, and in that in this configuration, by the selection of each of the row wirings 104 at j=1 to 32, the column wirings 107 at i=1 to 120 are divided into 120 so that the surface light emitting lasers 102 are driven one by one.
FIG. 18 shows operation timings of driving the two-dimensional surface light emitting laser array shown in FIG. 12 by the driving device shown in FIG. 17. First, the row wiring 104 at j=1 is selected for a duration of 2400 ns. The column wirings 107 at i=1 to 120 are divided into 120 sets of wirings each having a single surface light emitting lasers 102, i.e., i=1, 1=2, . . . . . . 120 in accordance with the shifting position of the transfer signal 20 in the third shift register 19. In the above duration of 2400 ns, each wiring is driven for a duration of 20 ns. Next, the row wiring at j=2 is selected. Likewise, the column wirings 107 are driven. In this way, the row wirings 104 to j=32 are selected sequentially. By the selection of each of the row wirings 104, the surface light emitting lasers 102 are driven divisionally on the basis of divisional driving of the column wirings 107. Thus, patterned light emission of one frame is performed.
In the above operation, since for each of the row wirings 104, each of the surface light emitting lasers 102 is driven sequentially, the time T required to obtain one frame light emission is
However, when the conventional matrix shape two-dimensional surface light emitting laser array is driven by the driving apparatus of FIG. 13, for the selected row wiring, all the corresponding surface light emission lasers connected to the selected row wiring are driven simultaneously so that the heat generated from adjacent laser elements influence on each other to deteriorate the element characteristic. In order to obviate this inconvenience, the divisional driving by the driving devices of FIGS. 15 and 17 can be proposed. Such driving, however, reduce the number of the surface light emitting lasers driven in time division, thus lengthening the time required for one frame. The power consumed in the row wirings and column wirings results in the sum of the product of the number of the surface light emitting lasers driven in time division and the resistances of the column wirings and the product of the square of the number and the resistances of the row wirings. Development of the high density two-dimensional surface light emitting element array is limited by increase of power consumption and heat generation.

Two-dimensional surface light emitting element array


A peripheral nerve stimulator can be used to stimulate a peripheral nerve to treat essential tremor, Parkinsonian tremor, and other forms of tremor. The stimulator can have electrodes that are placed circumferentially around the patient's wrist or arm. Specific nerves in the wrist or arm can be targeted by appropriate spacing of the electrodes, Positioning the electrodes on generally opposing sides of the target nerve can result in improved stimulation of the nerve. The stimulation pattern may alternate between the nerves. Improved stimulation algorithms can incorporate tremor feedback, external data, predictive adaptation, and long-term monitoring data.

Hand tremors are one of the most common movement disorders, affecting an estimated 10 million people in the U.S., with growing numbers due to the aging population. The prevalence increases with age, increasing from 5-10% of the population over 65, to above 20% over 95. Essential tremor is characterized by oscillatory movement, for example between 4-12 Hz, affecting distal limbs, like the hands. Unlike Parkinson's tremor, which exists at rest, essential tremor affects postural and kinetic activities, meaning tremor is invoked by holding a limb against gravity or during intentional movement, respectively. Tremor is also a significant problem for patients with other diseases, such as orthostatic tremor, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease. Treatment options for these conditions are limited, have undesirable side effects, or have high risk relative to the potential benefits, so alternative treatment, is warranted. A number of conditions, such as tremors, can be treated through some form of transcutancous peripheral nerve stimulation.
Designing a device to accomplish such a treatment is challenging. One difficulty in designing a product for patients with tremors is creating u device that is easy to position and configure for individuals whose hands are unsteady. People have a wide variation in wrist diameters, nerve locations, nerve depolarization characteristics, and skin conduction that leads to challenges in designing a device to comfortably, safely, and reliably target peripheral nerves for stimulation across a broad population. For instance, in a wrist-worn device targeting the median, ulnar, and radial nerves at the wrist, the band circumference for tire adult population would have to vary from 13.5-19.8 cm to accommodate 5th percentile female to 95th percentile male. See Henry Dreyfus Associates, "The Measure of Man and Woman", Wiley, 2001. In addition to differences in size, there are variations in the location, depth, and branching of nerves. Thus, a system and method that can reliably stimulate one or more nerves in the wrist across a wide range of wrist sizes would be advantageous in treating hand tremors.
A second challenge to designing such a device is that tremors vary between different people. Even within the same person tremor can occur at variable times throughout the day, depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to the patient's stress level, fatigue, and\ diet. Thus, individually customized and responsive therapy capable of treating the tremor when it occurs or is likely to occur can provide a more effective, yet power efficient device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems for peripheral nerve stimulation


The use of a data link between two or more smart devices for voice communication allows for the enhancement of voice quality in a collaborative way through the exchange of well-defined meta-data between the smart devices. The meta-data may be exchanged on a separate IP data link or as part of the exchanged voice data packets.

Recent developments in the area of smart devices (for example: smartphones, tablets and smart TVs) allow for the deployment of new use cases for the application of smart devices.
In particular, the deployment of so called 4G networks with increased data speed as well as the adoption of various Voice over Internet Protocol (VoiP) applications such as, for example, SKYPE or Facebook Messenger, indicates a trend that voice communication is moving from the traditional Cellular Networks such as GSM to Voice over Long Term Evolution (LTE) or VoiP networks. Unlike the traditional fixed line or cellular network voice calls where the exchange of the non-voice signal information is either non-existent or extremely limited, VoiP calls are based on the exchange of Internet Protocol (IP) data packets between call participants.
The emerging voice communications standards such as, for example, WebRTC, are capable of enabling peer-to-peer voice calls using a web page or browser or any type of HTML 5 browser application.
Background noise suppression is a feature on many smartphones that typically needs to be turned ON/OFF via a "Call Setting" device menu prior to making a voice call. The typical factory setting is OFF. The Background noise suppression feature can be tuned from mild background noise suppression to strong background noise suppression. However, the background noise suppression feature may also affect the quality of the transmitted voice signal. Strong background noise suppression may attenuate and/or distort the voice signal.

Method for metadata-based collaborative voice processing for voice communication


A method of treating a non-human dermatological disorder, wherein the method comprises topically administering to a non-human dermatological disorder a therapeutically effective amount of a topical composition containing: (1) an active component comprising at least one salicylate derivative; and (2) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable solubilizer.

It is widely known that animals experience several dermatological ailments and disorders requiring veterinary assistance in order to promote healing and/or aid in the prevention thereof.
For example, animals who are shaved prior to an in-office surgery frequently develop ingrown hair and related skin irritations. If left alone, these areas can become what are commonly know as "hot spots." That is to say that the animal will likely start to pick at the affected area to the point of self-mutilation. Current treatment for this condition includes the use of steroid medications to quell the irritation. Since long-term use of these drugs is often needed to treat these conditions, the animal can develop secondary adrenal gland suppression, which in turn can lead to symptoms further related to the adrenal suppression.
Additionally, horses, cows and other animals are frequently prone to develop a sore that starts with a minor tear in the skin, such as from an abrasion. This opening in the skin can serve as in incubator for several species of flies and other insects that enter the wound and begin to lay eggs. This inhabitation by flies and other insects creates an enlarging ulceration in the skin that is characterized by a white chalky appearance. Commonly know as a "Florida sore," there currently is no known effective treatment for this disorder and it has further proven to be unresponsive to traditional antibiotic treatment.
Still another common ailment frequently encountered by the ungulates, or hoofed animals, such as horses, cows and the like, is the softening of the hoof. Specifically, animals with hooves often suffer from a softening of the base of the hoof, commonly referred to as the "frog," when subjected to constant moisture. The soreness associated with this problem can lead to limping and therefore, in severe instances, to subsequent musculoskeletal injuries.
In addition to the disorders previously described, there are several other dermatological disorders frequently experienced by animals, including such conditions as fungal infections, parasitic and bacterial infections, sunburn, warts and the like. To this end, there is a need in the art of veterinary medicine for a more effective methods of treating these and other common dermatological disorders encounters by animals.

Topical compositions for veterinary uses


This invention provides methods for predicting calorimetric measurements of subtractive colors, in particular, when there is a measurable colorimetric change in one or more individual colorant relative to a set of baseline measurements. The invention is useful for, among other things, imaging applications or soft proofing environments to improve color modeling without requiring significant empirical measurements for adjustments to color models.

It is common for the paper used for printing magazines to vary significantly location to location, lot to lot, vender to vender. Less frequently, ink may also shift in color properties. For very color critical jobs, the client whose job is bring printed may be obliged to personally view and sign-off on the color appearance of a job, due to moderate changes in color of paper or inks. Virtual proofing has the potential to enable a remote "color sign-off". However, one thing that is lacking from virtual proofing is the ability to predict how a color shift in one component such as paper or one of the CMYK inks will impact all the other colors which may be printed.
In the event of a paper or ink change, conventional techniques require measurements of large numbers of color patches to calculate and re-calculate color profiles. If the paper or ink changes, conventional wisdom mandates the re-calculation of color profiles, if color accuracy is needed. Moreover, many graphic design applications, like Adobe Illustrator™, do not accurately predict color output for overlapping similar transparent colors. This shortcoming is due to conventional graphic design applications' use of only CIELAB data when making their color predictions. For example, a graphic designer using a product like Adobe™ Illustrator™ may draw a logo or design using spot colors such as Pantone™. The graphic designer may choose to overlap different colored objects, enabling a "transparency" function of the graphic design application. If the colors are very different, such as yellow and cyan, the mixed result may look reasonable on display, as shown in FIG. 1. However, as shown in FIG. 2, if the two colors are identical or nearly identical (such as two cyans of slightly different shades) the overlapping region between the circles may look similar to each of the two circles, rather than appearing darker and more saturated, as one might expect. As can be seen, the addition of two colors each similar to Cyan=100% results in a color which is also essentially Cyan=100%, rather than a new color "Dark Cyan"=100%. This is because with only CIELAB data available, no estimate has been available for performing a more valid prediction.
Although algorithms have existed for many years for calculating resulting colors from mixing paints, dyes, etc., these algorithms have not been applicable to graphic design application. Generally, these calculations have been spectrally-based, meaning that full spectral information is required regarding both colorants and substrates in order to predict how they would add together to create a resulting color. For example, the Kubelka-Munk equation (Yang 2002) defines reflectance for multiple colorants on a paper substrate, where the colorants have both an absorption coefficient (k(λ)) and a scattering coefficient (s(λ) as a function of wavelength λ.
            R      a                  (              λ        ,                  z          q                    )        =                              (                                    R              ∞                        -                          R              g                                )                                  ⅇ                                    -                              (                                                      1                    /                                          R                      ∞                                                        -                                      R                    ∞                                                  )                                                  sz                              -                        R          ∞                                  (                      1            -                                          R                g                                                          R                ∞                                              )                                                          R            ∞                                          (                                          R                ∞                            -                              R                g                                      )                                            ⅇ                                    -                              (                                                      1                    /                                          R                      ∞                                                        -                                      R                    ∞                                                  )                                                  sz                              -              (                  1          -                                    R              g                                                  R              ∞                                      )            where Rg (λ) is the reflectance of the paper substrate, z is the colorant thickness, s is the same as the s(λ function, and R∞ (λ) is the reflectance of an infinitely thick colorant, calculated as follows:
      R    ∞    =      1    +                  k                          (          λ          )                            s                          (          λ          )                      -                                        (                                          k                                                  (                  λ                  )                                                            s                                                  (                  λ                  )                                                      )                    2                +                  2                                              k                                            (                λ                )                                                    s                                            (                λ                )
One reason that these conventional calculations, such as the Kubelka-Munk equation, have not been applicable to graphic design applications is because such applications use ICC profiles to make their color predictions. These ICC profiles use CIELAB data and generally do not contain full spectral information. In this case, the above-discussed conventional calculations cannot easily be used for purposes of modifying profiles, updating profiles, or performing a priori mixing calculations on information obtained from ICC profiles.
Accordingly, a need in the art exists for efficiently and accurately predicting the appearance of mixed colors in the absence of full spectral information.

Techniques for predicting colorimetric measurements of mixed subtractive colors


Disclosed are surface immobilized (electro)catalysts that may be prepared by a condensation reaction that generates an aromatic unit that is robust to acid and base and elevated temperatures. Among their many desirable characteristics, the catalysts are far less prone to the bimolecular deactivation pathways commonly observed for homogeneous catalysts, and may be used in solvents with a range of polarities and dielectric strengths. The catalysts are suitable for a wide array of thermal catalytic reactions (polymerization, oxidation, hydrogenation, cross-coupling etc.) and as anodes and/or cathodes in fuel cells, electrolyzers, and in batteries and supercapacitors.

The interconversion of electrical and chemical energy requires the coupling of electron transfer with substrate bond rearrangement. This can be achieved at surface-exposed active sites of heterogeneous electrocatalysts or via redox mediation facilitated by a homogeneous molecular electrocatalyst. Molecular electrocatalysts yield readily to synthetic alteration of their redox properties, permitting systematic tuning of catalyst activity and selectivity. Similar control is difficult to achieve with heterogeneous electrocatalysts because they typically exhibit a distribution of active site geometries and local electronic structures, which are recalcitrant to molecular-level synthetic modification. However, heterogeneous electrocatalysts typically exhibit greater durability and are more readily integrated into functional energy conversion devices such as fuel cells and electrolyzers. In principle, the attractive features of heterogeneous and molecular catalysts could be combined if robust methods are developed for constructing tunable molecular active sites on the surfaces of conductive solids.
Typically, molecular electrocatalysts are heterogenized by introducing an inert tether between the active site and the electrode surface. However, there exists a paucity of surface connection chemistries that are both robust and well-defined. For example, thiol-based self-assembled monolayers provide for a high degree of surface uniformity but exhibit a limited range of electrochemical stability. In contrast, harsher ligation methods involving electrogenerated radicals forge robust covalent linkages with carbon surfaces but are prone to form ill-defined polymeric multilayers and are incompatible with sensitive molecular functionality. Additionally, these methods inherently impose a tunneling barrier for electron transfer, limiting the rate of electron flux to the active site.
Graphene is a single, tightly packed layer of carbon atoms that are bonded together in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice. It is an allotrope of carbon in the structure of a plane of sp2 bonded atoms with a molecule bond length of 1.42 Å. Each atom has four bonds, one τ bond with each of its three neighbors and one π bond that is oriented out of plane. The π bonds hybridize together to form π- and π*-bands. These bands are responsible for most of graphene's notable electronic properties, via the half-filled band that permits free-moving electrons.
Layers of graphene stacked on top of each other form graphite, with an interplanar spacing of 3.35 Å. At one atom thick, graphene is the thinnest compound known to man. It is the lightest material known (with 1 square meter weighing about 0.77 milligrams), the strongest compound discovered (between 100-300 times stronger than steel and with a tensile stiffness of 150,000,000 psi), the best conductor of heat at room temperature (4.84±0.44×103 to 5.30±0.48×103 W·m−1·K−1), and also the best conductor of electricity known (electron mobility greater than 15,000 cm2·V−1·s−1).
Atoms at the edges of a graphene sheet have special chemical reactivity. Graphene has the highest ratio of edge atoms of any allotrope, and defects within a sheet increase its chemical reactivity.
Many uses for graphene have been proposed or are under development, in areas including electronics, biological engineering, filtration, lightweight/strong composite materials, photovoltaics, and energy storage.

Molecularly tunable heterogeneous catalysts by edge functionalization of graphitic carbons


A high voltage inverter device uses, as an input voltage (Vin), a DC voltage or a voltage composed of a DC component with a pulsating current superposed thereon, switches the input voltage by a switching element (Qsw) to apply an exciting current to an excitation winding (NP) of a resonant transformer (10) and output an alternating-current high voltage (Vout) from an output winding (NS) of the resonant transformer. An abnormal voltage detection circuit (7) including a varistor (12) detects an abnormal voltage generated in the excitation winding (NP) of the resonant transformer (10), and when the abnormal voltage is detected, its signal is transmitted by a photocoupler (11) to a control circuit (20), thereby causing the control circuit (20) to stop its oscillation operation to stop a switching operation of the switching element (Qsw).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a high voltage inverter device such as a switching regulator, an inverter or the like used in a high voltage power supply unit, a power supply unit for discharge or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A high voltage inverter device using, as an input voltage, a DC voltage or a voltage composed of a DC component with a pulsating current superposed thereon, switching the input voltage to apply an exciting current to an excitation winding on a primary side of a transformer and output a high voltage from an output winding on a secondary side thereof is in heavily used as a high voltage power supply unit.
For example, atmospheric pressure plasma is applied to various industrial products as a means for surface treatment for improvement of surface quality, removal of contamination or the like. In the case where adhesion, printing, coating or the like is applied to a resin or the like, performing pre-treatment using the atmospheric pressure plasma can improve the wettability thereof.
In order to generate the atmospheric pressure plasma, a high voltage is required, and the high voltage needs to be safely obtained by an inverter device.
In an alternating-current inverter device generating a high voltage of several KV or more than 10 KV to 20 KV easily generating the atmospheric pressure plasma, the high voltage within the voltage range can cause electric shock, or ignition, smoking or the like due to spark and is extremely dangerous to a human body.
On the other hand, in the safety standard of International Standards IEC60950 (J60950), the input voltage is safe when it is within 60 VDC or its voltage peak value does not exceed 42.4V that is SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage). Therefore, it is essential to form a configuration that a voltage within SELV is used as the input voltage of the inverter device and a supply power is limited on the input side even if components of the inverter circuit have insulation breakdown for any cause.
Hence, it is required to instantaneously detect the effect of a load in the high voltage inverter device. When overload, insulation deterioration, short-circuit, earth fault, abnormal discharge or the like occurs in a load to which a high voltage is supplied or its power feeding circuit or the like, it is urgent to limit or cut off the power on the input side. If such a state is left as it is, the transformer experiences dielectric breakdown, thereby possibly delivering an electric shock or posing a risk more than that to a human body.
A back electromotive force due to inductance of the transformer increases according to current. Therefore, when the output of the inverter device suddenly becomes no load, a no-load voltage is abnormally generated at power-on of the inverter device, and the abnormal voltage causes breakage of insulation of an insulator or leakage, thereby breaking a component such as a transformer.
Conventionally, in the inverter device with an output power of several mW to several W, the dielectric breakdown and so on of the transformer can be prevented only by inserting a fuse into its input power supply circuit and limiting power.
Further, there is a technique as described, for example, in JP H5-199650A as a conventional abnormality detection device of a high voltage power supply unit. This technique detects a secondary output voltage of a high voltage transformer directly or after dividing the voltage, compares its detection value to a predetermined abnormality determination reference value, judges that an abnormality occurs when the detection value continuously becomes the reference value or lower for a predetermined period or longer, and cuts off the input into the high voltage transformer.
However, in the case that the high voltage power supply unit to be protected is a high voltage inverter device whose output voltage is an alternating-current high voltage exceeding 10 KV, even if it is tried to detect the secondary output voltage directly or after dividing the voltage, there is no resistor standing the high voltage between the output terminals. Even if a plurality of resistors are connected in series for use, the number of the resistors required is several tens or more.
Further, the voltage easily leaks to cause the circuit to malfunction or breakdown. Therefore, the secondary output voltage cannot be easily detected, and it is not easy to provide a protection circuit depending on its detection value.


An apparatus comprising a chip comprising a plurality of nodes, a first plurality of links connecting the plurality of nodes in a first ring network having a first topology, and a second plurality of links connecting the plurality of nodes in a second ring network having a second topology, wherein the first topology is different than the second topology.

As transistor and other component sizes become smaller and manufacturing techniques continue to improve, more functionality is being placed on single integrated circuits, or chips. The term system on a chip (SoC) generally refers to integrating all the functionality of a computer or other complex electronic systems onto a single chip. A SoC may comprise one or more memories, processors, or input/output ports, all integrated into a single chip. One way of allowing various components of a SoC to communicate is to use an on-chip network, sometimes referred to as a network-on-chip. An on-chip network is intended to replace conventional ways of communicating between electronic components in a complex system, such as conventional bus and crossbar interconnections.
Various topologies have been considered for on-chip networks, and ring topologies are sometimes used because of the relative simplicity of the routers that may be employed. For example, in a unidirectional ring network each router comprises two ports, one input port for receiving data from a first adjacent router and one output port for transmitting data to a second adjacent router. These routers occupy less area, consume less power, and can be clocked at higher frequencies compared to higher-radix on-chip routers, such as routers in mesh networks. However, ring networks may not scale well as the number of routers increases. This is because the average and worst-case packet bandwidth increase linearly with the number of routers. Network latency may be critical for a number of SoC applications that require ultra low latency communication and operate under tight power budgets.

Asymmetric ring topology for reduced latency in on-chip ring networks


Methods and systems for programmable power adaptors that can be programmed to adapt electrical power for one or more electronic devices. A programmable power adaptor optionally includes a user interface and/or other user input mechanism(s), which allows users to preset voltage requirements for one or more electronic devices. The pre-settings are stored in memory for future use. The programmable power adaptor is optionally configurable for multiple electronic devices, and/or multiple users. The programmable power adaptor optionally informs users of faults, proper device usage, and/or provides database access.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to power adaptors and, more particularly, to programmable power adaptors.
2. Related Art
Power adaptors are used to provide electrical power to, and/or charge batteries for, a variety of portable electronic devices, such as computers, mobile telephones, handheld personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), smartphones, MP3 players, DVD players, and the like.
Different portable electronic devices often have different electrical requirements. Different portable electronic devices also typically have physically distinct electrical input ports. As a result, conventional power adaptors are generally designed for particular electronic devices. Although some conventional power adaptors are designed to be interchangeable with multiple electronic devices, conventional power adaptors lack programmability and configurability. Thus, what is needed is a programmable power adaptor.


Two substrates are placed opposite each other to form a hermetically sealed space between them. A metal-made partition wall is placed between the two substrates to partition the hermetically sealed space into unit light emission areas. Through holes 20Aa are formed in a matrix arrangement in a portion 20A of the metallic partition wall 20 opposite a display area portion of the back glass substrate 4. Dummy through holes 20Ba are formed in a portion 20B of the partition wall 20 opposite a non-display area portion of the back glass substrate 4. An insulating layer 20a covers the outer surface of the partition wall 20.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a display panel having a hermetically sealed space formed between two substrates, a method of manufacturing the display panel, and a partition wall included in the display panel.
The present application claims priority from Japanese Application No. 2002-345727, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Display panels used in display apparatuses include a flat display panel designed to have a hermetically sealed space formed between two substrates, such as a plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as "PDP") and a field emission display panel (hereinafter referred to as "FED").
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view illustrating the cell structure of a conventional PDP. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the V—V line in FIG. 1.
The conventional PDP includes a front glass substrate 1, serving as the display screen of the panel, having a back surface on which a plurality of row electrode pairs (X, Y), a dielectric layer 2 covering the row electrode pairs (X, Y), and an MgO-made protective layer 3 covering the back surface of the dielectric layer 2 are formed in this order.
Each of the row electrodes X (Y) includes transparent electrodes Xa (Ya) each formed of a wide transparent conductive film made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or the like, and a bus electrode Xb (Yb) formed of a metal film of a small width assisting the conductivity of the transparent electrodes.
The row electrodes X and Y are arranged in alternate positions in the column direction such that the transparent electrodes Xa and Ya of the respective row electrodes X and Y face each other with a discharge gap g in between, and each of the row electrode pairs (X, Y) forms a display line L in matrix display.
The front glass substrate 1 is opposite a back glass substrate 4 with a discharge-gas-filled discharge space S in between. On the back glass substrate 4, a plurality of column electrodes D are regularly arranged and each extend in a direction at right angles to the row electrode pairs (X, Y); a column electrode protective layer 5 covers the column electrodes D; a partition wall 6 formed in a shape partitioning the discharge space as will be described later; and red-, green-, and blue-colored phosphor layers 7 individually formed in such a way as to cover the column electrode protective layer 5 and the side faces of the partition wall 6.
The partition wall 6 is formed in a grid shape of transverse walls 6A and vertical walls 6B. Each of the transverse walls 6A extends in a row direction in a position opposite the bus electrodes Xb and Yb which are arranged back to back in between the respective and adjacent row electrode pairs (X, Y). Each of the vertical walls 6B extends in a column direction in a position opposite a midpoint between the two adjacent transparent electrodes Xa and between the two adjacent transparent electrodes Ya, the transparent electrodes Xa and Ya being lined up at regular intervals along the corresponding bus electrodes Xb and Yb of the respective row electrodes Y and X. The partition wall 6 defines discharge cells C in each of which the two transparent electrodes Xa and Ya of the row electrode pair (X, Y) face each other with the discharge gap g in between.
The partition wall 6 partitioning the discharge space into the discharge cells C is conventionally formed of insulating materials. For example, a thick coat of a partition wall material such as a glass paste or the like is applied on the back glass substrate 4 and then dried. Then, the resulting insulating materials undergo a sandblasting process through the medium of a mask, trimmed into a predetermined pattern, to be cut into the grid shape, and then a burning process for completion.
Such the foregoing conventional method of forming a partition wall is showed in JP Pat. Publication No. 2000-195431.
However, the conventional method of forming the partition wall with use of the sandblasting process has the problems of a degradation in productivity and an increase in manufacturing costs because of such a complicated manufacturing process.
Therefore, instead of the conventional partition wall formed by patterning the insulating materials, the use of metal-made partition wall covered with an insulating layer is suggested.
FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the structure of such a metal-made partition wall, and FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the metal-made partition wall mounted on a substrate.
In FIG. 3, a metallic partition wall 10 having the surface covered with an insulating layer includes a portion 10A situated in a position corresponding to the display area of the display panel. The portion 10A has a matrix arrangement of through holes 10Aa opened therein and each having a quadrangular opening.
The display area portion 10A is surrounded by a flat plate-shaped portion 10B situated in a position corresponding to the non-display area of the display panel.
As shown in FIG. 4, the metallic partition wall 10 is arranged on the column electrode protective layer 5, covering the column electrodes on the back glass substrate 4 (see FIG. 2), so as to place each of the through holes 10Aa into a position for defining the corresponding discharge cell C.
After that, a burning process is performed so that the insulating layer of the metallic partition wall 10 is fused to the column electrode protective layer 5 to secure the metallic partition wall 10 onto the back glass substrate 4.
At this point, however, the following problems are produced in the metallic partition wall 10 structured as illustrated in FIG. 3.
During the burning process for securing the metallic partition wall 10 to the back glass substrate 4, in the display area of the display panel, a binder (resin component) and the like evaporates from the column electrode protective layer 5 and then emanates from the through holes 10Aa of the metallic partition wall 10. However, the non-display area of the display panel has no escape route for the binder evaporating from the column electrode protective layer 5 and emanating from the non-display area portion 10B of the metallic partition 10 which is sited in the non-display area. As a result, after completion of the burning process, a difference in thickness is produced between the portion of the column electrode protective layer 5 corresponding to the display area of the display panel and the portion of the column electrode protective layer 5 corresponding to the non-display area.
Because of the this difference in thickness, thus, there may be occurrence of disjoining between the metallic partition wall 10 and the column electrode protective layer 5 in the boundary portion between the display area and the non-display area of the display panel.

Display panel, method of manufacturing the display panel, and partition wall used in the display panel


A control system processes a first neighbor list for a first base station to identify a second base station and a third base station. The control system processes a second neighbor list for the second base station and a third neighbor list for the third base station to determine if the second base station is on the third neighbor list and if the third base station is on the second neighbor list. The control system processes wireless coverage data for the second base station and the third base station to determine if a wireless coverage overlap exists between the second base station and the third base station. If the overlap exists and if one of the base stations is not on the other base station's neighbor list, then the control system indicates that the missing base station should be added to the other base station's neighbor list.

Wireless base stations transmit neighbor lists to wireless communication devices. The neighbor lists identify alternative base stations that the wireless communication devices may use if their current base station has a weak wireless signal. Thus, a wireless communication device monitors the signal strength of the base stations on the neighbor list to determine if they should be handed-off from their current base station to one of these alternative base stations. The neighbor lists may be manually configured by network engineers based on signal strength scans, business relationships, or network designs.

Neighbor list control for a wireless communication system


A method of and an apparatus for cleaning workpiece is suitable for cleaning a substrate such as a semiconductor substrate, a glass substrate, or a liquid crystal panel to a high level of cleanliness. The method of cleaning a workpiece comprises the steps of holding a workpiece, scrubbing the workpiece with a cleaning member, and rubbing the cleaning member against a member having a rough surface to carry out a self-cleaning of the cleaning member. The cleaning member which is contaminated by having scrubbed the workpiece is rubbed against the rough surface, and the rough surface scrapes the contaminant off the cleaning member. Therefore, the contaminant can effectively be removed from the cleaning member, and hence the cleaning member has a high self-cleaning effect.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for cleaning a workpiece, and more particularly to a method of and an apparatus for cleaning a substrate such as a semiconductor substrate, a glass substrate, or a liquid crystal panel to a high level of cleanliness.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
As semiconductor devices become more highly integrated in recent years, circuit interconnections become thinner and the distances between those interconnections also become smaller. While processing a semiconductor substrate, particles such as minute semiconductor particles, dust particles, or small crystalline pieces tend to be attached to the semiconductor substrate. If particles existing on the semiconductor substrate are greater in size than the distances between interconnections on the semiconductor substrate, then short-circuits will possibly be developed between the interconnections. To avoid such a drawback, any particles present on the semiconductor substrate are required to be sufficiently smaller than the distances between interconnections on the semiconductor substrate. This holds true for the processing of other substrates including a glass substrate for use as a photomask, a liquid crystal panel, etc. To meet such a requirement, there has been demands for a cleaning process capable of removing smaller particles in the submicron level from semiconductor substrates and other substrates.
It has heretofore been customary to clean a semiconductor substrate by scrubbing it with a cleaning member made of a brush or a sponge.
Research efforts have been made to find a cleaning member which can exhibit a cleaning effect better than the brush or the sponge. As a result, it has been found that an abrasive cloth, used in recent years to polish the surface of a semiconductor wafer to planarize the same in its fabrication process, is effective to clean a workpiece, as proposed in Japanese patent application No. 7-129588 (corresponding to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/434,754, now abandoned).
In scrubbing a workpiece with a cleaning member such as a brush, a sponge, or an abrasive cloth, since the cleaning member is held in direct contact with the workpiece, the cleaning effect of the cleaning member depends on the contamination of the cleaning member. Specifically, as the contamination of the cleaning member which is contaminated by the contaminant removed from the workpiece progresses, the contaminant deposited on the cleaning member contaminates the workpiece again, thus lowering the cleaning effect which the cleaning member has. Such a phenomenon is referred to as a reverse contamination. The cleaning member has to be replaced with a fresh cleaning member before the cleaning member causes the reverse contamination.
Replacing the cleaning member with a fresh cleaning member requires the cleaning apparatus to be shut off. Consequently, the processing capability of the cleaning apparatus is lowered, and dust particles produced in a cleaning environment by the replacement of the cleaning member poses problems.
It is desirable to purify the cleaning member without replacing the same when it is contaminated. Such a purifying process is known as a self-cleaning process. According to the conventional self-cleaning processes, it has heretofore been customary to rinse the cleaning member in a cleaning liquid or apply a water jet or an ultrasonically vibrated water stream to the cleaning member.
Inasmuch as the self-cleaning of the cleaning member governs the cleaning effect thereof, prolongs a service life of the cleaning member, and increases the processing capability of the cleaning apparatus, there have been demands for more effective self-cleaning processes.

Method of and apparatus for cleaning workpiece