A method of providing data blocks describing three-dimensional terrain to a renderer. The data blocks belong to a hierarchical structure which includes blocks at a plurality of different resolution levels. The method includes receiving from the renderer one or more coordinates in the terrain along with indication of a respective resolution level, providing the renderer with a first data block which includes data corresponding to the one or more coordinates, from a local memory, and downloading from a remote server one or more additional data blocks which include data corresponding to the one or more coordinates if the provided block from the local memory is not at the indicated resolution level.

The present invention relates generally to terrain displays, and specifically to computerized displaying of real-life three-dimensional images of terrain.
Pilots frequently wish to plan their flight route ahead of time and familiarize themselves with the points they plan to pass and approach. Maps and flight charts are used to plan routes before actually flying. However, not all pilots can easily appreciate all the features and difficulties of a route from a map. Furthermore, some information may not appear on the map in sufficient detail. For this reason, Jeppesen Sanderson Inc., of Englewood, Colorado, provides pilots with actual photographs of runway environments together with graphical presentations of terrain and other obstacles, as well as other pertinent local traffic information.
Flight simulators allow pilots to practice flying without leaving the ground. The simulator shows the view seen by the pilot at every point of the flight. However, most existing simulators do not show real images, but rather animated views, and they cannot provide full acquaintance with real-life terrain.
In addition, there exist Internet sites which display still images and/or video streams of different locations, for those who wish to see the location before visiting there. Although streaming of video images over the Internet is known in the art, Internet video streams are limited in the information they provide and would not allow the pilot to interactively probe the terrain over which he is going to fly.
Computer rendering of three-dimensional terrain images is known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,972, which is incorporated herein by reference, suggests displaying to a pilot of an aircraft a synthetic image of the ground terrain over which the pilot is flying. U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,073 which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for allowing a pilot to preview a route either in flight or on the ground. The ""073 patent also suggests allowing the pilot to take over and try out different flight strategies. However, the data volume required to display flight routes in accordance with the above-mentioned patents is very large. The ""073 patent suggests representing the terrain as polygons in order to save computer storage space, but even so, the amount of storage on most home computers allows only a limited area and/or resolution level to be displayed. The ""073 patent suggests using a CD-ROM to store the required data. However, the delivery of the CD-ROM to home users requires time and prevents pilots from preparing for last minute flight scheduling. Furthermore, changes in the terrain, such as seasonal changes, require frequent updates of the data on the CD-ROM.
It is an object of some aspects of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for displaying on a remote computer actual images of an area as seen from a viewpoint which is chosen interactively.
It is another object of some aspects of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for training a pilot to fly a preplanned flight course while allowing the pilot to see the view seen at any point along the flight course at substantially any desired angle.
It is still another object of some aspects of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for displaying on a client computer images of ground terrain stored in a remote server, which are conveyed to the client via a network, preferably the Internet.
It is still another object of some aspects of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for streaming data required for rendering three-dimensional terrain images on a remote computer.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a processor simulates flight of a virtual airplane along a selected route. At substantially any viewpoint along the route, the processor displays the view seen from the viewpoint in three-dimensional real-life images. A user may select at substantially each point along the route the direction of view and may change the direction dynamically.
Preferably, the user controls the speed of progress along the route and may stop the progress and/or reverse direction along the course.
Preferably, the user views the three-dimensional images without having to store a large database of terrain images on the user""s processor, and without requiring that the processor have an unusually large memory capacity. Rather, the user connects to a pilot training server, which stores all the required data, and the user""s processor downloads the data dynamically according to the data required to display each specific scene. Preferably, the processor connects to the server via a communication link, preferably a public network, such as the Internet. Preferably, the data is conveyed by a standard modem at sufficient speed for relatively smooth display of the images.
Alternatively or additionally, the required data is downloaded prior to the displaying of the scene, or the data is retrieved from a CD or other memory apparatus associated with the processor.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the user may change the parameters of the movement of the virtual airplane, including the speed, height and angle of the airplane, and even deviate from the preplanned route.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the route includes access to an airport according to the access rules of the airport. Alternatively or additionally, the route may include military maneuvers for bombing or access to enemy locations. Further alternatively or additionally, the route may be selected from routes of access to canyons, mountain areas or any other hard-to-access points, for example, in order to train rescue helicopter pilots.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, an operator of the server and/or the user may add to the data which describes the terrain annotations which describe specific points in the scene, such as runways or other destinations. Alternatively or additionally, the operator may add three-dimensional objects, such as planned buildings, vehicles, etc. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a group of vehicles are tracked according to their position, and they are constantly superimposed on the landscape images.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/939,948, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method of rendering three-dimensional terrain images. The method allows fast rendering of images by comparison with other methods known in the art. The method of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/939,948 uses a hierarchical database in which substantially each terrain area is described in a plurality of blocks at different resolution levels. The blocks at lower resolution levels include less detail per unit area, while the blocks of higher resolution levels include more detail per unit area. The additional storage space required in order to store the additional data required due to the hierarchical structure is xe2x80x9cpaid backxe2x80x9d in improved time performance of the rendering.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the data is stored at the remote server in accordance with the hierarchical structure described in the ""948 application. When data describing a specific area is needed in order to render the current view, the processor first downloads a block with a low level of resolution, which requires less data volume per area unit, and renders the view using the lower resolution block. Afterwards, if available bandwidth on the communication line permits, blocks which cover the specific area from higher resolution levels are downloaded, and the processor uses these blocks to improve the rendered view.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the processor manages a local cache memory in which the processor stores blocks which cover terrain areas in the vicinity of the current viewpoint. Preferably, the processor stores in the cache memory all blocks downloaded from the server. Preferably, when the communication link is not needed to download blocks required for currently rendered images, the processor downloads blocks in the vicinity of the viewpoint. Preferably, the processor stores in the cache memory an equal number of blocks from each resolution level. Further preferably, the number of blocks in the cache memory is such that the cache memory has all the required blocks to render the view from the current viewpoint in any view direction. Preferably, when downloading blocks, the processor first downloads blocks from lower resolution levels.
Preferably, when the processor requires a number of blocks, the first block sent is the block of the lowest level. If two blocks of the same level are required, the one which is requested last is sent first. Thus, when the viewpoint changes, the blocks sent first are for the new viewpoint, and only afterwards are blocks sent for the old viewpoint. Preferably, if a block requested earlier is relatively far from the viewpoint, it is not sent, since it is obviously not needed anymore.
Preferably, when the processor needs to render a new image, the processor first uses the data blocks stored in the cache memory and concurrently sends download orders for higher resolution level blocks.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the processor runs a rendering program which displays the three dimensional images based on the viewpoint, the size of the displayed image and the blocks received from the server. The rendering program orders the blocks it needs using a cache manager, which is preferably a software routine running on the processor. If the cache manager has the ordered block, it provides it to the rendering program. However, if the block is not carried by the cache manager, it is ordered from the server, and a replacement block from a lower resolution level is passed to the rendering program.
When the rendering program requires a block including a new point or area for display, the cache manager first requests the block of the lowest resolution level which covers the area with the least detail and then requests subsequent blocks with successively increasing detail, until the block with the level of detail required by the rendering program is sent. The rendering program renders the three-dimensional image using the blocks it has on hand. Each time another block is received, the image is rendered again. Thus, the user sees an image at substantially all times and is not prevented from moving the viewpoint while additional data is being sent from the server.
There is therefore provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing data blocks describing three-dimensional terrain to a renderer, the data blocks belonging to a hierarchical structure which includes blocks at a plurality of different resolution levels, the method including receiving from the renderer one or more coordinates in the terrain along with indication of a respective resolution level, providing the renderer with a first data block which includes data corresponding to the one or more coordinates, from a local memory, and downloading from a remote server one or more additional data blocks which include data corresponding to the one or more coordinates if the provided block from the local memory is not at the indicated resolution level.
Preferably, providing the first data block includes providing the data block from the highest resolution level which includes data corresponding to the one or more coordinates.
Preferably, downloading the one or more additional data blocks includes downloading a block at a resolution level higher than the resolution level of the first block.
Further preferably, downloading the one or more additional data blocks includes downloading the blocks from a succession of resolution levels, from the level immediately higher than the resolution level of the first block up to the maximal existent resolution level on the server not above the indicated resolution level.
Preferably, receiving from the renderer the one or more coordinates includes receiving a plurality of coordinates included in a plurality of respective distinct blocks, and downloading the one or more blocks includes downloading blocks including data corresponding to at least some of the plurality of coordinates.
Preferably, downloading the blocks includes downloading the blocks in an order determined according to their resolution levels.
Further preferably, downloading the blocks includes downloading blocks of lower resolution levels before blocks of higher resolution levels.
Preferably, downloading the blocks includes downloading first the block for which the coordinates were provided last among blocks at a common resolution level.
Preferably, downloading the blocks includes downloading the blocks according to the order in which the coordinates were provided.
Preferably, downloading the blocks includes downloading first the block for which the coordinates were provided last.
Preferably, the method includes downloading excess blocks not currently needed by the renderer to fill up the local memory when not downloading blocks required by the renderer.
Preferably, the renderer renders a view from a current viewpoint, and downloading the excess blocks includes filling the local memory with substantially all of the blocks surrounding a point in the terrain seen from the current viewpoint within a predetermined distance range.
Preferably, downloading excess blocks includes filling the local memory with substantially the same number of blocks from each different resolution level.
Preferably, filling the local memory includes filling the memory with substantially all the blocks within the range from a lower resolution level before downloading blocks of higher resolution levels.
Preferably, downloading the data blocks includes downloading the blocks via the Internet.
There is further provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of displaying three dimensional images, including establishing a communication link between a local processor and a server, transferring data blocks describing terrain over the communication link from the server to the local processor; and rendering a three-dimensional terrain image at the local processor responsive to the data blocks.
Preferably, establishing the communication link includes establishing a low-speed communication link.
Preferably, transferring the data blocks includes transferring the blocks via the Internet.
Further preferably, transferring the data blocks includes transferring the blocks responsive to a list of coordinates generated by the processor.
Preferably, the list of coordinates is prepared responsive to a viewpoint from which the image is rendered.
Preferably, the viewpoint changes over time following a predetermined course.
Preferably, the predetermined course is received from the server.
Preferably, the predetermined course describes a suggested course for landing in an airport.
Preferably, a user of the processor changes the view direction from the viewpoint without removing the viewpoint from the predetermined course.
Preferably, the viewpoint is controlled by a user of the processor.
Preferably, transferring the data blocks includes transferring blocks which include altitude data of the terrain.
Preferably, transferring the data blocks includes transferring blocks which include optional objects to be overlaid on the terrain.
Preferably, rendering the images includes rendering the images with at least some of the optional objects according to settings of the user of the local processor.
There is further provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of pilot training, including loading a course of a flight vehicle into a local processor, establishing a communication link between the processor and a server, transferring data blocks describing terrain viewed from the course over the communication link from the server to the local processor, and rendering a three-dimensional terrain image at the local processor responsive to the data blocks.
Preferably, the course describes a suggested course for landing in an airport.
There is further provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, apparatus for providing data blocks describing three-dimensional terrain to a renderer, the data blocks belonging to a hierarchical structure which includes blocks at a plurality of different resolution levels, the apparatus including a local memory, which stores data blocks corresponding to coordinates proximal to a current viewpoint of the renderer, a communication link, through which the memory receives the data blocks from a remote server, and a processor which receives one or more specified coordinates along with indication of a respective resolution level from the renderer, provides the renderer with a first data block which includes data corresponding to the one or more specified coordinates from the local memory, and downloads over the communication link one or more additional data blocks which include data corresponding to the one or more coordinates if the first block is not from the indicated level.
Preferably, the processor provides the first data block from the highest resolution level which includes the one or more coordinates currently available in the local memory.
Preferably, the processor downloads a block of a resolution level higher than the resolution level of the first block.
Preferably, the processor downloads blocks from the resolution level immediately higher than the resolution level of the first block up to a maximal resolution level of blocks stored on the server that is not above the indicated resolution level.
Preferably, the processor receives from the renderer a plurality of coordinates included in a plurality of respective distinct blocks and downloads blocks including at least some of the plurality of coordinates.
Preferably, the processor downloads the blocks in an order determined according to their resolution levels.
Preferably, the processor downloads blocks of lower resolution levels before blocks of higher resolution levels.
Preferably, the processor downloads in first precedence the block for which the coordinates were provided last among blocks from a common resolution level.
Preferably, the processor downloads the blocks according to the order in which the coordinates were provided.
Preferably, the processor downloads in first precedence the block for which the coordinates were provided last.
Preferably, the processor downloads excess blocks not currently needed by the renderer to fill up the local memory when not downloading blocks required by the renderer.
Preferably, the renderer renders a view from a current viewpoint and the processor fills the local memory with substantially all the blocks surrounding a point in the terrain seen from the current viewpoint in a predetermined range.
Preferably, the processor fills the local memory with substantially the same number of blocks from each resolution level.
Preferably, the processor fills the local memory with substantially all the blocks from a lower level before downloading blocks of higher resolution levels.
Preferably, the communication link includes a connection to the Internet.
There is further provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for displaying three dimensional images, including a processor, a communication link between the processor and a server over which data blocks describing terrain are transferred, and a display on which the processor renders three-dimensional terrain images responsive to the data blocks.
Preferably, the communication link includes a low-speed communication link.
Preferably, the data blocks are transferred responsive to a list of coordinates from the processor.
Preferably, the list of coordinates is prepared responsive to a viewpoint from which the image is perceived.
Preferably, the viewpoint follows a predetermined course.
Preferably, the predetermined course is received from the server.
Preferably, the predetermined course describes a suggested course for landing in an airport.
Preferably, a user of the processor may change the view direction from the viewpoint without moving the viewpoint from the predetermined course.
Preferably, the viewpoint is controlled by a user of the processor.
Preferably, the communication link includes a connection to the Internet.
There is further provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, pilot training apparatus, including a processor which tracks a predetermined course of a flight vehicle, a communication link between the processor and a server over which data blocks describing terrain are transferred responsive to the course, and a display on which the processor renders three-dimensional terrain images viewed from the course responsive to the data blocks.
The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings in which:

Remote landscape display and pilot training


An air conditioning system for a high-rise building includes a condenser unit and a compressor separate from the condenser unit and in fluid communication with the condenser unit. The compressor is to be located at a floor of a high-rise building that is below a location of the condenser unit at a roof top of the high-rise building. The system may also include an oil separator to separate oil from a refrigerant. The oil separator is in a path of the refrigerant from the compressor to the condenser unit, where the oil separator is distal from the condenser unit and proximal to the compressor.

Air conditioning systems for high-rise buildings often have compressor/condenser units located on a roof top of a building and air handling units with evaporators located below the roof and at or close to the particular floors of the building that are air conditioned by the systems. Some buildings have some compressor/condenser units that are located at a lower floor of the building because of limitations on maximum vertical separation between the compressor/condenser units and the evaporators. For example, the vertical separation between evaporator units and the compressor/condenser units is typically limited to about 200 feet.
In general, the limitation on the maximum vertical distance between compressor/condenser units and the evaporator units of high-rise buildings is a result of lubrication oil entering the refrigerant lines of the cooling systems. To illustrate, lubrication oil is typically used to lubricate a compressor of an air conditioning system. Although the lubrication oil is intended to remain in the compressor, some of the oil may enter the refrigerant line at the compressor and circulate through the system along with the refrigerant. The path of the lubrication oil that enters the refrigerant line includes the piping from the compressor, that is typically located at the roof top in the same unit or otherwise along with the condenser unit, to the air handling unit with the evaporator that is located at a lower elevation than the compressor and condenser unit. The weight of the lubrication oil in the refrigerant line can limit the maximum vertical separation between the evaporator unit and the compressor. To illustrate, the maximum vertical separation between the evaporator unit and the compressor has to be limited to avoid excessive accumulation of the oil in the evaporator unit, which can result in a reduced efficiency and possible damage to the air conditioning system.
Locating compressor/condenser units at the roof top of a high-rise building may also pose additional challenges related to billing occupants/tenants individually because of the required high voltage wiring. Further, the landlord of the building, instead of the occupants/tenants, is often responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of the compressor/condenser units partly because of the inconvenient location of the units to occupants/tenants. Additionally, locating additional compressor/condenser units at a lower floor of the building for air conditioning of lower floors may take up a large area that can otherwise be used as for income generating purposes. Thus, a solution that enables providing air conditioning for high-rise buildings efficiently and cost effectively is desirable.
The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the example embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions or placements may be exaggerated to help visually convey such principles. In the drawings, reference numerals designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily identical, elements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Modular cooling system for high-rise building


An electronic equipment is provided with an antenna including a coil, a load, a power feeding unit for feeding power received by the antenna to the load, a communication unit for communicating with the outside world via the antenna, a switching circuit installed between the antenna and the communication unit, and a switching control unit for controlling ON/OFF of the switching circuit according to power to be received by the antenna.

One of systems with the electronic device of the type is, for example, disclosed in Patent Document 1. In a secondary device of Patent Document 1, one of a radio communication portion and a power reception portion is selectively coupled, by a switch, to an antenna consisting of a single coil.

Electronic equipment, module, and system


Affinity chromatography matrices are disclosed which are useful in purifying interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme (ICE) from crude or partially purified cell lysate preparations. The chromatographic matrices comprise a specific ICE inhibitor of Formula I which is attached to an affinity column support by means of a bifunctional spacer. ##STR1##

This invention relates to affinity chromatography. More particularly, the invention concerns the use of affinity chromatography matrices comprising a support, a bifunctional spacer and a compound (ligand) having a high and specific affinity for the compound sought to be isolated and/or purified. Even more particular, the invention relates to affinity chromatography matrices useful for purifying active interleukin-1.beta. converting enzymes (ICE).
The literature is replete with articles, monographs, and books on the subject of affinity chromatography, including such topics as affinity chromatography supports, crosslinking members, ligands and their preparation and use. A sampling of those references includes:
Affinity chromatography: general methods. Methods Enzymol. 1990, 182 (Guide Protein Purif.), 357-71; PA0 Novel affinity-based processes for protein purification. J. Ferment. Bioeng. 1990, 70(3), 199-209; PA0 Applications of preparative high-performance liquid chromatography to the separation and purification of peptides and proteins. J. Chromatogr. 1989, 492, 431-69; PA0 Large-scale purification of enzymes. Appl. Microbiol. Res., Ciba Found. Symp. 1985, 111(Enzymes Org. Synth.), 40-56 (Eng).; PA0 Purification of enzymes by heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. J. Chromatogr. 1980, 184(3), 335-45; PA0 Principles of multi-enzyme purification by affinity chromatography. Enzyme Eng. 1978, 4, 441-2; PA0 Purification of enzymes and other biologically active proteins by chromatography on low-molecular-weight substances immobilized on solid supports. Postepy Biochem. 1977, 23(1), 113 27; PA0 General ligand affinity chromatography in enzyme purification. Ligands, affinity chromatography, enzyme purification. J. Macromol. Sci., Chem. 1976, A10(1-2), 15-52; PA0 Affinity purification of enzymes. Chem. Technol. 1975, 5(9), 564-71; PA0 Chromatography, affinity. Encycl. Polym. Sci. Eng. 1985, 3, 531-48; PA0 Bioaffinity chromatography. Pract. High Perform. Liq. Chromatogr. 1976, 193-206; PA0 Affinity chromatography of plasma proteins--an overview. Proc. Int. Workshop Technol. Protein Sep. Improv. Blood Plasma Fractionation, 1977, 422-35; PA0 Affinity chromatography of enzymes. Affinity Chromatogr., Proc. Int. Symp. 1977 (Pub. 1978), 25-38; PA0 Protein immobilization and affinity chromatography. Biotechnol. Appl. Proteins Enzymes. Pap. Conf. 1976 (Pub. 1977), 83-102; PA0 Use of affinity chromatography in protein structure studies. Pept., Proc. Eur. Pept. Symp., 11th 1971 (Pub. 1973), 203-22; PA0 Affinity chromatography of enzymes. Fed. Eur. Biochem. Soc. Meet., [Proc] 1974, 30; PA0 Support materials for immobilized enzymes and affinity chromatography. Bonded Stationary Phases Chromatogr. 1974, 93-112; PA0 Supports for immobilized enzymes and affinity chromatography. Chem. Technol. 1974, 4(11), 694-700; PA0 Affinity chromatography. Enzyme-inhibitor systems. Methodol. Develop Biochem. 1973, 2, 109-12; PA0 Affinity chromatography. Specific separation of proteins. Chromatographia 1971, 4(12), 578-87; PA0 Affinity chromatography. A Practical approach, IRL Press Limited, Oxford England (1985); and PA0 Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 34: Affinity Techniques. Enzyme Purification: 1974. 810 pp.
A wide variety of affinity chromatography supports (with and without spacers) and support/ligands (with and without spacers) are disclosed in the SIGMA catalog, SIGMA CHEMICAL Co., St. Louis, Mo.
Interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme (ICE) has been identified as the enzyme responsible for converting precursor interleukin-1.beta. (IL-1.beta.) to biologically active IL-1.beta.. Accordingly, interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme is useful in the diagnosis of IL-1 mediated diseases or in enhancing the production of IL-1.
Mammalian interleukin-1 (IL-1) is an immunoregulatory protein secreted by cell types as part of the inflammatory response. The primary cell type responsible for IL-1 production is the peripheral blood monocyte. Other cell types have also been described as releasing or containing IL-1 or IL-1 like molecules. These include epithelial cells (Luger, et al., J. Immunol. 127: 1493-1498 (1981), Le et al., J. Immunol. 138: 2520-2526 (1987) and Lovett and larsen, J. Clin. Invest. 82: 115-122 (1988), connective tissue cells (Ollivierre et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 141: 904-911 (1986), Le et al, J. Immunol. 138: 2520-2526 (1987), cells of neuronal origin (Giulian et al., J. Esp. Med. 164: 594-604 (1986) and leukocytes (Pistoia et al., J. Immunol. 136: 1688-1692 (1986), Acres et al., Mol. Immuno. 24: 479-485 (1987), Acres et al., J. Immunol. 138: 2132-2136 (1987) and Lindenmann et al., J. Immunol 140: 837-839 (1988).
Biologically active IL-1 exists in two distinct forms, IL-1.alpha. with an isoelectric point of about pI 5.2 and IL-1.beta. with an isoelectric point of about 7.0 with both forms having a molecular mass of about 17,500 (Bayne et al., J. Esp. Med. 163: 1267-1280 (1986) and Schmidt, J. Esp. Med. 160: 772 (1984). The polypeptides appear evolutionarily conserved, showing about 27-33% homology at the amino acid level (Clark et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 14: 7897-7914 (1986).
Mammalian IL-1.beta. is synthesized as a cell associated precursor polypeptide with a molecular mass of about 31.4 kDa (Limjuco et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 83: 3972-3976 (1986). Precursor IL-1.beta. is unable to bind to IL-1 receptors and is biologically inactive (Mosley et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262: 2941-2944 (1987). Biological activity appears dependent upon some form of proteolytic processing which results in the conversion of the precursor 31.5 kDa form to the mature 17.5 kDa form. Evidence is growing that by inhibiting the conversion of precursor IL-1.beta. to mature IL-1.beta., one can effectively inhibit the activity of interleukin-1.
Mammalian cells capable of producing IL-1.beta. include, but are not limited to, karatinocytes, endothelial cells, mesangial cells, thymic epithelial cells, dermal fibroblasts, chondrocytes, astrocytes, glioma cells, mononuclear phagocytes, granulocytes, T and B lymphocytes and NK cells.
As discussed by J. J. Oppenheim, et al. Immunology Today, vol. 7(2): 45-56 (1986), the activities of interleukin-1 are many. It has been observed that catabolin, a factor that promotes degradation of cartilage matrix, also exhibited the thymocyte comitogenic activities of IL-1 and stimulates chondrocytes to release collagenase neutral proteases and plasminogen activator. In addition, a plasma factor termed proteolysis inducing factor stimulates muscle cells to produce prostaglandins which in turn leads to proteolysis, the release of amino acids and, in the long run, muscle wasting, and appears to represent a fragment of IL-1 with fever-inducing, acute phase response and thymocyte co-mitogenic activities.
IL-1 has multiple effects on cells involved in inflammation and wound healing. Subcutaneous injection of IL-1 leads to margination of neutrophils and maximal extravascular infiltration of the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). In vitro studies reveal IL-1 to be a chemotactic attractant for PMN to activate PMN to metabolize glucose more rapidly to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium and to release their lysozomal enzymes. Endothelial cells are stimulated to proliferate by IL-1 to produce thromboxane, to become more adhesive and to release procoagulant activity. IL-1 also enhances collagen type IV production by epidermal cells, induces osteoblast proliferation and alkaline phosphatase production and stimulates osteoclasts to resorb bone. Even macrophages have been reported to be chemotactically attracted to IL-1 to produce prostaglandins in response to IL-1 and to exhibit a more prolonged and active tumoricidal state.
IL-1 is also a potent bone resorptive agent capable upon infusion into mice of causing hypercaleemia and increase in bone resorptive surface as revealed by histomorphometry Sabatini, M. et al., PNAS 85: 5235-5239, 1988.
Accordingly, IL-1 has been implicated in infectious diseases where active infection exists at any body site, such as meningitis and salpingitis; complications of infections including septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and/or adult respiratory distress syndrome; acute or chronic inflammation due to antigen, antibody, and/or complement deposition; inflammatory conditions including arthritis, cholangitis, colitis, encephalitis, endocarditis, glomerulonephritis, hepatitis, myocarditis, pancreatitis, pericarditis, reperfusion injury and vasculitis. Immune-based diseases which may be responsive to ICE inhibitors of Formula I include but are not limited to conditions involving T-cells and/or macrophages such as acute and delayed hypersensitivity, graft rejection, and graft-versus-host-disease; auto-immune diseases including Type I diabetes mellitus and multiple sclerosis. IL-1 has also been implicated in the treatment of bone and cartilage resorption as well as diseases resulting in excessive deposition of extracellular matrix. Such diseases include periodonate diseases interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, cirrhosis, systemic sclerosis, and keloid formation.

Affinity chromatography matrix useful in purifying interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme


Steel contains each of C, Si, Mn, P, S, Al, N, O, at a range from ⅛ thickness centered around a ¼ sheet thickness from a surface to ⅜ thickness centered around the ¼ sheet thickness from the surface at a base steel sheet, a structure of the base steel sheet contains, in volume fraction, 3% or more of a retained austenite phase, 50% or less of a ferrite phase, and 40% or more of a hard phase, average dislocation density is 5×1013/m2 or more, solid-solution C amount contained in the retained austenite phase is in mass % 0.70 to 1.00%, X-ray random intensity ratio of FCC iron in an texture of the retained austenite phase is 3.0 or less, ratio between a grain diameter relative to a rolling direction and a grain diameter relative to a sheet width direction of the retained austenite phase is 0.75 to 1.33.

In recent years, requirement for high-strengthening of a steel sheet used for a vehicle and so on becomes high, and a high-strength steel sheet whose tensile maximum stress is 900 MPa or more comes to be used. On the other hand, it is required to show excellent forming workability at a forming work time such as presswork. However, improvement in the strength easy to incur deterioration in the forming workability, and it is difficult to satisfy both requirements.
Accordingly, in recent years, a steel sheet using bake hardenability (BH-ability) by a coating/baking process (bake hardening process) after the forming work has been developed so that workability such as ductility and hole expandability and high-strengthening are both enabled.
Here, the bake hardening is a phenomenon in which C (solid-solution C) and N (solid-solution N ) remaining in a steel sheet in a solid-solution state diffuse to dislocations during a baking process (normally heated up to approximately 170° C., then kept for several dozen minutes) after coating, the dislocations are fixed, and thereby, a yield strength increases. The increased amount of the yield strength is a coated bake hardening amount (BH amount), and the BH amount is generally known to increase by increasing a solid-solution C amount or a solid-solution N amount.
In Patent Literature 1, a cold-rolled steel sheet is disclosed in which a hard structure made up of bainite and martensite is a main structure thereof, and a high bake hardening amount is secured by limiting a fraction of ferrite into 5% or less.
Besides, in Patent Literature 2, a high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet is disclosed in which bainite is a main structure thereof, a hardness ratio between bainite and ferrite is made small, and dispersion of hardness in each structure is made small to thereby improve the bake hardenability, the ductility, and the hole expandability.
Besides, in Patent Literature 3, a method is disclosed in which a steel sheet is made to be one containing tempered martensite and/or tempered bainite obtained by performing annealing for a hot-rolled steel sheet without performing cold-rolling, or performing the annealing for two times after the cold-rolling to thereby improve the workability and the bake hardenability.
Besides, in each of Patent Literatures 4, 5 and 6, an art improving the bake hardenability adding a lot of N is disclosed

High-strength hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, high-strength alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheet excellent in bake hardenability, and manufacturing method thereof

NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION


An objective lens for use in an optical pickup apparatus has a diffractive optical surface. A first light flux having a first wavelength of λ1 is converged as a first number diffraction order diffracted-ray other than the zero-th order diffracted-ray onto an information recording plane of the first optical information recording medium having a thinner protective substrate t1 by the diffractive optical surface and a second light flux having a second wavelength of λ2 (λ1<λ2) is converged as a second number diffraction order diffracted-ray other than the zero-th order diffracted-ray onto the information recording plane of the second optical information recording medium having a thicker protective substrate t2 (t1<t2) by the diffractive optical surface. The second number diffraction order is different from the first number diffraction order.

The present invention relates to an optical pickup device and an objective lens to be used in the optical pickup, and in particular, to an objective lens of an optical pickup device capable of conducting recording and/or reproducing of information for optical information recording media each being different by using a plurality of light sources each having a different wavelength, an optical pickup device and to a method for designing an optical element for the optical pickup device.
For example, there has been developed an optical pickup device capable of recording and reproducing information for optical information recording media each being different in terms of type such as, for example, DVD and CD, and the optical pickup device is now used for various purposes. As a light source of the optical pickup device, in this case, a semiconductor laser is used in general, and appropriate wavelength λ to be used for recording or reproducing information for DVD is about 650 nm, while, appropriate wavelength λ to be used for recording or reproducing information for CD is about 780 nm.
In this case, there is a problem when recording or reproducing information by using the same optical pickup device for optical information recording media each being different in terms of type such as DVD and CD. A thickness of a transparent base board (also called a protection base board) that protects the image recording surface of a standardized DVD is 0.6 mm, and a thickness of a transparent base board that protects the image recording surface of CD is 1.2 mm. Therefore, when the information recording surface of each of DVD and CD is irradiated by a light flux emitted from the light source through the same objective lens, there is the actual state of affairs that a distance from CD to the objective lens needs to be shorter than that from DVD to the objective lens, because of the difference of the transparent base board thickness. A distance from the objective lens to the surface of the optical information recording medium, in this case, is called a working distance.
In the past, therefore, when conducting recording and/or reproducing of information for CD after conducting recording and/or reproducing of information for DVD, for example, the objective lens set to the working distance of DVD has been moved to the position that corresponds to the working distance of CD. In the case of two different working distances existing in the optical pickup device stated above, when recording or reproducing at least one of the discs, it is necessary to force to the different position in the optical axis by impressing prescribed voltage on an actuator for focusing, which causes an increase of power consumption. For this problem, there is considered an idea of the structure to move the disc portion in the optical axis direction for the objective lens. However, this idea cannot be realized actually because a driving mechanism for high speed rotation for DVD and CD needs to be moved, though it is theoretically possible.
As a method for making working distances to agree with each other, an individual subject distance is set for using, for example, DVD and CD. Namely, by making a divergent angle or a convergent angle of a light flux (including a parallel light flux) that enters an objective lens to be different between an occasion to use DVD and an occasion to use CD, it is possible to make working distances for both occasions to agree with each other approximately. However, in the optical pickup device having such structure, the distance between the objective lens to one light source needs to be different from that from the objective lens to the other light source, and the structure of the optical system becomes complicated. The problem of this kind is especially conspicuous when an optical pickup device is structured by using a light source unit that is called the so-called 2-laser 1-package wherein two light sources each having a different wavelength are formed on one base board.

Objective lens, optical pickup device and method for producing optical element for optical pickup device


The present invention provides methods and apparatus for analyzing the particulate contents of a sample such that a high proportion of the sample particles are analyzed without discrimination against high electronegativity and high ionization potential elements. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention comprises an apparatus for analyzing the particulate content of a sample having particulate diameters in the range of 0.001-10 microns. The apparatus comprises an evacuable chamber equipped with a chamber entrance through which a particle-laden gas stream enters. An inlet device, such as a capillary, communicates with the chamber entrance for inputting the particle-laden gas stream to the evacuable chamber. A laser is positioned to produce a focused laser beam which intersect the particle-laden gas stream at position approximately 0.1 mm from the chamber entrance. The laser beam has a power density sufficient to fragment and ionize particles entrained within the particle-laden gas stream. A detector is positioned to detect the ionized species produced by the laser. The laser beam is focused so that the beam has a cross-sectional area in the plane of intersection between the particle-laden gas stream and the laser beam that is at least as large as the cross-sectional area of the particle-laden gas stream in the plane of intersection. In one embodiment, the lens is a set of two cylindrical lenses.

Particle detection and analysis is desirable in a variety of manufacturing and environmental contexts. For example, in clean rooms used for the fabrication of integrated circuits, highly accurate particle detection is required due to the small dimensions of the devices under production. Significant failure rates in integrated circuits are associated with the presence of particles greater than one-tenth the device linewidth. Typically, the smaller the size of the particle, the greater the number of particles which are present. Therefore, as linewidths decrease within the sub-micron range, particle removal becomes increasingly difficult and costly. Consequently, control of a particle source is usually more cost-effective than removal of particles once they are liberated from their source. Through real-time particle analysis, particle sources can be identified and controlled.
Particle detection and analysis in clean rooms and gas distribution systems is typically done by real-time, also known as on-line, counting of airborne particles followed by off-line analysis of deposited particles by microscopic or laser scan techniques. The former technique provides the rapid response required for monitoring particle generation events while the latter technique provides size and elemental composition information. Particle counting is frequently performed using standard light-scattering particle counters. However, these devices can only detect particles and provide no compositional information. While off-line analysis provides particle composition information, it is also limited by the particle sizes it can detect and cannot be time-correlated to particle generation events.
Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used for the accurate determination of molecular weights, identification of chemical structures, determination of mixture compositions, and quantitative elemental analysis. Molecular structure is typically determined from the fragmentation pattern of ions formed when the molecule is ionized. Element content of molecules is determined from mass values obtained using mass spectrometers. However, since mass spectrometers typically operate in vacuum, particulate analysis usually requires that nearly all of the particular carrier be separated from the particulate material prior to ionization in the spectrometer. This requirement increases the complexity of particle detection for particulates suspended in liquids and gases
Laser-induced mass spectrometry is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,794 issued Jan. 17, 1995, commonly assigned to the instant assignee, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. In the patent, an exemplary laser-induced mass spectrometry system is described in which particles enter an evacuable chamber through an inlet device such as a capillary. A laser, such as a pulsed laser is positioned such that the laser beam intersects the particle stream. As the particles pass through the path of the laser beam, they are fragmented and ionized. A detector, such as a time-of-flight mass spectrometer detects the ionized species. Mass spectra are produced, typically being recorded with an oscilloscope, and analyzed with a microprocessor. The mass spectra information permits real-time analysis of the particle size and composition.
While the laser-assisted spectrometry system described in the patent provides useful real-time particulate analysis, there is a continuing need to provide compositional and size evaluation for increasingly smaller particulates. There is a further need in the art for detection and analysis of a greater percentage of the particulate contents of a sample, to ensure accurate characterization. Finally, there is a need in the art for particulate analysis systems and techniques which do not discriminate against high electronegativity and high ionization potential elements. U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,462, issued May 20, 1997, commonly assigned to the instant assignee, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, solves these problems by introducing the particles into the chamber through a capillary tube. A laser is positioned to produce a focused laser beam which intersects the particle laden gas stream at a position approximately 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm from the chamber entrance. The laser beam has a power density sufficient to fragment and ionize particles entrained within the particle-laden gas stream. Although this method and apparatus does not discriminate against high electronegativity and high ionization potential elements, further improvement in the probability of particles being ionized for detection is desired.


A selectively adherable paper-product sheet having on its back surface a concealed repositionable adhesive which is selectively revealable. The selectively adherable paper-product sheet comprises a single paper-product sheet having a front surface, a back surface, a main portion and a foldable border portion. The foldable border portion is folded to the back surface of the main portion and in contact therewith so that the back surface of the border portion and a portion of the back surface of the main portion have respective interfacing surfaces. A repositionable adhesive is disposed between at least a portion of these interfacing surfaces such that the folded border portion is releasably retained in a folded configuration. As a result, a paper-product sheet having a selectively-concealable repositionable adhesive on its back surface provides a convenient sheet of desired weight with selectable adhesive or non-adhesive characteristics as desired by a user. A preferred paper-product sheet is a conventional business card.

This invention relates generally to a paper-product sheet having a repositionable adhesive, and in particular to a paper-product sheet having a selectively-revealable concealed repositionable adhesive on its back surface which permits both selective retentive placement of the paper-product sheet on a surface as well as selective non-retentive placement on a surface.
The popularity and convenience of note paper having a repositionable adhesive on a portion of its back surface, such as that note paper manufactured by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn., under the trademark of "Post-It Notes," is well recognized. This note paper is usually provided in a pad from which individual sheets can be removed. Along one border of the back surface of each sheet is disposed a strip of repositionable adhesive which permits a user to removably secure the sheet on a surface such as on another piece of paper. Later, as desired, the sheet can be removed and placed elsewhere or discarded.
While the above-described sheets provide a great deal of convenience in many circumstances, they suffer from a significant inconvenience in that they always adhere to other surfaces, whether or not the user desires such adherence. This results in a non-utility for such a sheet if the user wishes to place the sheet in a pocket, stack it with other papers, or the like. As a result, a need is apparent for a paper-product sheet having a selectively-concealable repositionable adhesive on its back surface to thereby provide that paper-product sheet with adhesive or non-adhesive characteristics as desired by a user.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a paper-product sheet having a selectively-revealable concealed repositionable adhesive on its back surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper-product sheet having a foldable border portion and a main portion, with the border portion folded to the back surface of the main portion to interface with a portion of the back surface of the main portion, and including a repositionable adhesive disposed along at least a portion of the resulting interfacing surfaces.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of paper-product sheets each having a selectively-revealable concealed repositionable adhesive on its back surface and stacked and releasably bound to each other.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent throughout the description of the invention which follows.

Paper-product sheet having concealed repositionable adhesive


An improved method for attaching soft tissue to bone by passing a suture through an opening in the bone, e.g., a transosseous tunnel, and affixing the soft tissue with the suture. The improvement, for preventing the suture from migrating through the bone at the end of the opening, includes placing a eyelet into an end of the bone opening and passing the suture through the eyelet, as well as through the opening in the bone, in order to affix the soft tissue to the bone with the suture.

This invention pertains to surgical systems and, more particularly, methods and apparatus for attaching tissue to bone. The invention has application in, for example, rotator cuff repair.
It is not uncommon for tendons and other soft tissues to tear or to detach from bone. Athletes, for example, often suffer "rotator cuff" tears, in which the supraspinatus tendon separates from the humerus, causing pain and loss of ability to elevate and externally rotate the arm. Complete separation can occur if the should is subjected to gross trauma. Typically, however, the tear begs as a small lesion, especially, in older patients.
To repair a torn rotator cuff, surgeons must reattached the supraspinatus tendon to the humerus. Traditionally, this has been done by boring several holes obliquely through the greater tuberosity, that is, the bony structure on the outer side of the head of the humerus. Sutures are then passed through these holes, or transosseous tunnels, in order to secure the tendon.
Though use of such sutures to anchor the tendon have been referred to as the "gold standard," it has been shown that the sutures migrate through the bone itself; particularly, along the upper edge of the openings that define the ends of transosseous tunnels on lateral cortex of the greater tuberosity. This is particularly pronounced in older patients, whose bone structures tend to be weaker and, therefore, less resistant to degradation under the force of the sutures. On prior art solution has been to augment the edges of the transosseous tunnels by affixing plate-like pieces; see, Gerber et al, "Mechanical Strength of Repairs of the Rotator Cuff," Journal of Bone Joint Surgery, v. 76, n. 3, p. 371-380 (May 1994). See France et al, "Biomechanical Evaluation of Rotator Cuff Fixation Methods," The American Journal of Sports Medicine, v. 17, n. 2, pp. 176 et seq.
Drawbacks of plate-like augmentation of the greater tuberosity are the difficulties in positioning and affixing the plates. Though endoscopic surgery is generally preferred, use of augmentation plates necessitates that rotator cuff repair be performed by open surgery. Moreover, the plates must be affixed to the bone by surgical glues in order to avoid risk that they will migrate from the site in the event of suture breakage.
An object of this invention is to provide improved surgical systems and, more particularly, methods and apparatus for attaching tissue to bone.
Another object of this invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus for rotator cuff repair.
A related object of the invention is to provide improved methods for reinforcing the edges of transosseous tunnels against force of sutures.

Methods and apparatus for preventing migration of sutures through transosseous tunnels


Sensor packages and manners of formation are described. In an embodiment, a sensor package includes a supporting die characterized by a recess area and a support anchor protruding above the recess area. A sensor die is bonded to the support anchor such that an air gap exists between the sensor die and the recess area. The sensor die includes a sensor positioned directly above the air gap.

Field
Embodiments described herein relate to semiconductor packaging. More particularly embodiments relate to sensor packages and manners of fabrication.
Background Information
Sensor die can be formed from customized integrated circuits. Sensors are often used to sense environmental characteristics or act as a user input for electronic products. Sensors, unlike some general purpose integrated circuits, can have unique packaging and mounting requirements since sensors often require exposure to an ambient external environment, such as an ambient environment of a user using the electronic product having the sensor. As electronic products are becoming increasingly sophisticated and the size of the overall packages is reduced to meet market needs, these advances are associated with various packaging challenges to reduce cost and form factor of the packages.

Various stress free sensor packages using wafer level supporting die and air gap technique


A nasal splint and methods for using such splints are provided. The nasal splint may include an elongate generally planar member comprising first and second ends, and a first outer surface and an opposite second outer surface; a tubular airway extending along the first outer surface at least partially between the first and second ends, thereby defining a lumen having an opening adjacent the first end; and a structure on one of the elongate member and tubular airway adjacent the first end supporting a feature that is spaced apart from the first outer surface and configured to support a suture across the opening when the suture is directed through the elongate member adjacent the first end and the feature.

The use of splints and other reinforcing materials to maintain the position of tissues following surgery is a common technique in medicine. These structures are often secured in position using a suture tied to the surrounding tissue or tissues. Thin gauge suture material is used to minimize scarring and disruption to the anchoring tissue. While successful in doing so, the use of small-diameter suture material can introduce some difficulties when the splints are to be removed during the course of a patient's recovery. Thin suture material can be difficult to identify and isolate at the healing surgical site, leading to a potentially painful and cumbersome excavation procedure (patients are awake at the follow-up visits when the splints or reinforcing materials are removed). The devices and methods describe herein may simplify the identification and cutting of suture materials used to fix splints, stents, reinforcing materials, and the like in position at a surgical site.
As an example, septoplasty, or the surgical correction of problems of the nasal septum, is a procedure commonly performed to address a number of issues that can affect the quality of a patient's life. For example, the procedure may involve repairing a defect to the septum that is partially or fully occluding the airways in the nose (e.g., a deviated septum, in which the nasal septum does not equally divide the nasal cavity into two halves), uncontrollable nosebleeds, and to repair a hole in the nasal septum (i.e., a nasal perforation).
To perform a septoplasty, a surgeon generally makes an incision on one side of the nasal septum, lift the mucus membrane that covers the septum off of the cartilage and/or bone of the nasal septum, remove, modify, or move the structures of the nasal septum that are causing the patient's symptoms, and replace the mucus membrane over the surgically-altered structure of the nasal septum. The membrane may be held in place using sutures, splints, packing materials, or a combination thereof.
The maintenance of a midline orientation of the septum (dividing the nasal cavity into two approximately equal halves) is the prime goal following septoplasty. Nasal splints are commonly used to achieve this end. The placement of a splint on each side of the septum keeps it aligned during the critical healing period immediately following surgery. These splints are typically shaped and sized to support the septum and provide a clear airway during the recovery period, and are supplied in pairs (each individual unit configured for placement on the right or left side of the nasal septum). Splints of this nature are typically sutured to the nasal septum through the proximal end of the splints. One suture is used to bind both splints to the nasal septum; this is done by passing a suture needle through one splint, starting from the face situated away from the septum, through the septum, through the second splint on the other side of the septum, and back through the septum proximal to the splints. The two free ends of the suture are then tied off to maintain the position of the splints with respect to the nasal septum, while the size and structure of the splints maintain the position of the nasal septum with respect to the nasal cavity.
A common commercially available nasal splint is the Doyle splint. The basic design of the Doyle splint is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,859 and remains one of the most used nasal splints following septoplasty. The Doyle splint includes a flat plate contoured to accommodate the nasal septum and an integral tube running the length of the flat plate opposite to the side of the plate that would rest against the nasal septum. The top edge of the plate has a convex curve and the bottom edge of the plate is slightly concave. The anterior and posterior ends of the plate are rounded to provide ease of insertion and patient comfort. The tube extends almost the full length of the splint and provides a passageway for airflow.
The anterior ends of a pair of Doyle splints are typically sutured to the nasal septum after placement against the surgically repaired nasal septum (one splint on each side of the septum). Once the position of the Doyle splints has been secured with the suture, the spaces surrounding the splint are sometimes packed with gauze or other materials to fully support the septum. The presence of the tube allows the patient to breath while the packing material is resident.
Variations of the Doyle splint include the Breeze Nasal Airway Splint (Summit Medical), the Nasal Airway Splint, Doyle Open Lumen Splint, Doyle Combo Splint (Boston Medical Products), and the Doyle Bi-Valve Airway Splint (Medtronic), which add or change features of the original Doyle splint, but all are sutured into position in a similar fashion after placement. Other nasal splint designs exist that eliminate the tube feature of the Doyle-style splints, add pre-formed holes intended to facilitate placement of the suture, and/or change the geometry of the flat plate, but these too require fixation with a suture after the splint is placed in the patient.
The use of a suture to secure the position of existing splints may cause difficulties when the splints are removed at a post-surgical follow-up exam. At a typical follow up visit, the surgeon cuts the suture holding or securing the splints against the septum. This procedure can be difficult to perform while the patient is awake as the post-surgical mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity may be very sensitive to touch. Patients often move while the surgeon is attempting to locate and cut/release the suture. The procedure is further complicated by the tight apposition of the splint to the septum. Finding the suture can be difficult due to the small diameter or gage of the suture material that is typically used in these procedures (e.g., 3-0 silk) and the presence of encrustations of dried mucus and blood that can cover and obscure the suture site. Once found, positioning the surgical scissors to cut the suture without harming or causing discomfort to the patient can be a difficult and time-consuming task.
While existing nasal splints serve the purpose of supporting the septum and maintaining an open airway to the nasal cavity, there is a need for an intranasal splint that facilitates locating and cutting a stabilizing suture at the time of removal.


A lampsocket is provided with a body having an extension both of which contain a continuous bore of a first predetermined diameter dimension to prevent the seating and electrical connection of an electrical lamp having a neck dimension in excess of first predetermined dimension to thereby reject inappropriate lamps and only permit the seating and electrical connection of suitable lamps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to lampholders for receiving lamps, and more particularly to a family of lampholders for use with low wattage medium base metal halide lamps which reject inappropriately dimensioned lamps.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art teaches metal halide lamps which include a relatively centrally located arc tube situated within the confines of an outer glass bulb. These arc tubes are conventionally made of quartz and operate at extremely high temperatures and relatively high pressures. Under certain undesirable conditions, a system failure or internal factors will result in a safety hazard being created, whereby a violent shattering of the arc tube will send hot glass and lamp parts into contact with the bulb glass which, in turn, will break, releasing the hot glass and lamp parts into the surrounding environment. Under such conditions, there is an obvious risk of severe personal injury, fire and/or property damage.
For this reason normally such conventional metal halide lamps are supported within what are referred to as "enclosed" fixtures whose structure is designed to contain violently released hot glass and lamp parts. A cover lens is used in such fixtures. In addition, significant reductions in such potential violent failures can be achieved by relamping before the rated end of the life of the lamp. Another conventional manner in which such potential violent failures are reduced includes the user's periodically turning off the lamp to permit its cooling, so that upon relighting, a non-violent or less violent lamp failure is facilitated.

Lampsocket with means to reject incorrectly dimensioned lamps


In a plasma display, image data are mapped on N subfields, and the subfield with the greatest weight is determined from among the mapped subfields. When the subfield with the greatest weight is the Kth subfield (K>M), grayscales of the image data are expressed with the mapped data of the (K−M+1)th subfield to the Kth subfield, and the mapped data from the first subfield to the (K−M)th subfield may be ignored.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, to a method for expressing gray scales of a plasma display.
2. Discussion of the Background
Generally, in a plasma display, a field (1 TV field) is divided into a plurality of respectively weighted subfields. Gray scales may be expressed by summing weights of subfields selected to display an image from among the subfields.
However, expressing gray scales using subfields may cause contour noise. For example, when using subfields with weights set to 2n, contour noise may occur when a discharge cell expresses the grayscales of 127 and 128 in consecutive fields. Therefore, the number of subfields may be increased to reduce the weight of a higher weighted subfield.
Also, the number of subfields may be increased to improve gray scale expression. For example, fourteen subfields may be used to express 512 gray scales. However, each subfield may have an address period for selecting a discharge cell to emit light in the corresponding subfield. In the address period, many switching operations are performed to select discharge cells to emit light, thereby generating power consumption. Additionally, an address discharge is generated to select discharge cells, thereby increasing power consumption. Accordingly, increasing the number of subfields may increase the number of address periods, as well as power consumption in the address periods.

Plasma display and driving method thereof


Secure operations within an integrated circuit are protected. In order to perform the protection a plurality of single event upset detectors are distributed within the integrated circuit. The single event upset detectors include bit-registers. Each of the plurality of the single event upset detectors is monitored for a single event upset. When a single event upset in any of the single event upset detectors is detected, an error condition is indicated.

The present invention concerns security protection within an integrated circuit design and pertains particularly to detection of a single event upset detection and protection in an integrated circuit.
For some processing applications, it is essential to operate in a secure environment so that operations cannot be probed or altered. In the prior art, various methods have been used to provide for a secure processing environment.
For example, a mechanical chassis can be used to house processing equipment. This mechanical chassis can include tamper switches and other elements to detect and protect against tampering and alterations. Unfortunately, such a mechanical chassis can add a significant amount of expense to a product.
Alternatively, in order to restrict access to particular integrated circuits, the integrated circuits can be covered with epoxy or other chemical materials to hinder access. Unfortunately, often this can be easily defeated and so provides only a nominal amount of protection.
Another method to provide for a secure processing environment is to implement the system on a single integrated circuit. A portion of the integrated circuit, for example, can be used to perform secure operations. However, there may still be attempts to defeat this arrangement.
For example, an attacker may attempt to expose information about a security key or information about a security system by applying radiation or alpha particles in the proper location. The excess radiation or alpha particles can result in a single event upset (SEU). The single event upset can affect the data integrity of a secure operation. If the single event upset occurs in an operation related to a security key or data encrypted with the security key, this may weaken the effectiveness of the protection within the integrated circuit and perhaps provide an avenue to break the security system.
In order to protect against such an attack by radiation and alpha particles, analog circuitry could be added to an integrated circuit which measures the actual radiation levels and high frequencies. However, this is very expensive and not an efficient solution for a low cost digital system.

Single event upset detection and protection in an integrated circuit


A slider is disclosed for straddling relation with a profiled plastic zipper of a reclosable bag. The zipper has first and second interlocking profiles, and the straddling slider closes and opens the interlocking profiles by movement along the zipper. The slider includes a transverse support member and a pair of side walls extending downward from opposing sides of the support member. The side walls forming respective first and second shoulders extending inwardly toward each other. The first and second shoulders include respective first and second innermost ends facing and contacting respective adjacent portions of the reclosable bag below the respective first and second interlocking profiles. The first and second innermost ends define a tortuous path therebetween, and the adjacent portions of the reclosable bag pass through said tortuous path. The tortuous path is created by protrusions formed by at least one of the innermost ends.

Reclosable plastic bags with sliders for operating the zippers of these bags are commonly used in various packaging applications. The zipper typically includes male and female tracks forming respective interlocking profiles. In the manufacture of a thermoplastic bag, the male and female tracks extend along the mouth of the bag and are adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to respective opposing flexible panels of the bag. The male and female tracks may be integral marginal portions of these flexible panels or they may be extruded separately and thereafter attached to the flexible panels along the mouth of the bag. The slider, which is mounted to the zipper, is used to open and close the zipper. When the slider is in a closed position, the profiles are interlocked with each other. In response to moving the slider to an open position, the profiles are disengaged from each other.
One example of a slider for operating a zipper of a reclosable bag is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. This slider 10 includes a transverse support member 12, a pair of legs 14a and 14b, and a pair of wings 16a and 16b. The pair of legs 14a and 14b extend downward from opposing sides of the support member 12. The pair of wings 16a and 16b are hingedly connected to the opposing sides of the support member 12 and, when the slider 10 is mounted to the zipper as shown in FIG. 1, the wings 16a and 16b extend downward from the opposing sides of the support member 12. To secure the slider 10 to the zipper after it has been mounted thereto, the wings 16a and 16b form respective shoulders 18a and 18b (see FIG. 2). The shoulders 18a and 18b extend inwardly toward each other and contact respective adjacent portions of the bag below their respective profiles 20a and 20b, thereby retaining the slider on the zipper.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the slider 10 mounted to the zipper. It can be seen that the gap D.sub.1 between the inwardly extending shoulders 18a and 18b is smaller than the distance D.sub.2 between the outermost portions of the interlocking profiles 20a and 20b. As a result, the shoulders 18a and 18b effectively maintain the slider 10 in mounting relationship with the zipper. Extremely high forces are required to separate the mounted slider 10 from the zipper. However, such forces could occur if, for example, the contents of the bag are extremely heavy and a user attempts to lift the bag by the slider alone. The present invention makes it more difficult to separate the slider from the zipper.

High-strength slider for a reclosable bag


An apparatus for transdermal molecular delivery, comprises a first electrode assembly having an anode and a cathode in closely spaced relation for engaging the stratum corneum through which to apply an electric field, first power supply including a first circuit connected to the first electrode assembly for applying a pulsed electric field of sufficient amplitude to induce pores in the stratum corneum, a second electrode assembly spaced from the first electrode assembly and comprising at least one of an anode and a cathode, second power supply including a second circuit connected to the first electrode assembly and the second electrode assembly for applying a low voltage continuous electric field of a preselected polarity and sufficient amplitude to induce migration of molecules through pores in the stratum corneum.

The present invention relates to drug and gene delivery pertains particularly to an apparatus and method combining electroporation and iontophoresis for the transdermal delivery of genes, drugs and other molecules.
The medical community has long sought improved methods of transdermal delivery of medications, drugs and other molecules and fluids without physical penetration or invasion of the tissue surface. In the aforementioned applications there are disclosed apparatus and methods for the transdermal delivery of molecules such as drugs, immunizing agents, and genes into underlying tissue, cells, and to remote tissue.
In the second aforementioned parent application, there are disclosed methods and apparatus for the electroporation of drugs, immunizing agents, and genes into surface cells. In that application, apparatus is disclosed for delivery of a fluid medium carrying preselected molecules to a tissue surface and thereafter applying electrical signals by means of electrodes to the surface tissue. The field is applied at a predetermined strength and duration in order to make the walls of the tissue surface transiently permeable to permit the molecules to pass through the tissue surface into underlying tissue. Further electroporation can enable the molecules to enter preselected cells without damaging them. In another U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,120, entitled ELECTROPORATION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTION OF DRUGS AND GENES INTO ENDOTHELIAL CELLS, certain methods and apparatus are disclosed for insertion of drugs and genes into endothelial cells. The teachings of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.
One difficulty with the prior apparatus is that the stratum corneum (SC) which consists of a thin layer of dead cells with a high electrical resistance presents a major obstacle to the administration of drugs and genes transdermally. This layer can be perforated by the administration of short high voltage electrical field pulses, which creates a dielectric breakdown of the stratum corneum forming pores which can allow the passage of molecules However, in order to transport molecules and solutions containing molecules through the pores, a driving force has been found to be needed. This driving force can be provided by any number of mechanisms as discussed in the aforementioned patents including iontophoresis. However the known electroporation apparatus and methods for efficient application of these principles is limited.
Among the prior art relating generally to this field is the Weaver et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,034 entitled "Control of Transport of Molecules Across Tissue Using Electroporation". Weaver seeks an alternative to the traditional syringe and gun injection ot medications. He describes a proposal for using high voltage, short duration electrical pulses on the skin surface to produce electroporation of the tissue to enable drugs and medication to pass into the tissue. However, his disclosed apparatus and methods have limited effectiveness.
The co-pending parent application presents an invention designed to overcome the problems of the prior art by providing means to overcome the resistance to the administration of drugs transdermally presented by the stratum corneum. In accordance with one of the co-pending applications, drugs, immunizing agents, or genes are loaded into vesicles, the vesicles are brought into physical contact with the skin surface and a pulsed electrical field is applied between the vesicles and the tissue by means of electrodes. This forms pores at the interface of the vesicles and the stratum corneum such that the vesicles are pulled through an opening by dielectrophoretic force. While that approach is shown to be successtul to transport effective amounts of molecules of drugs and the like in or into the skin, it requires encapsulation into vesicles.
Electroporation is typically carried out by applying high voltage pulses between a pair of electrodes which are applied to the tissue surface. The voltage that must be applied in proportional to the distance between the electrodes. When the space between the electrodes is too great, the generated electric field penetrates deep into the tissue where it causes unpleasant nerve and muscle reaction.
While electroporation provides new pathways through the stratum corneum for passages of molecules, it does not provide a needed driving force. It is desirable that electroporation be combined with techniques for providing a driving force such as electro-incorporation, pressure or concentration gradient, sonophoresis or iontophoresis.
It is known that iontophoresis wherein low voltage is applied between widely spaced electrodes for a long period of time can transport charged molecules through existing pathways such as hair follicles and sweat glands. However, the volumes of molecules transported is very small, and insufficient for many applications. Combining electroporation and iontophoresis can increase the amount transported initially while the created pathways are open. However, the paths created by the electroporation stay open for a short period ot time and then close.
It is desirable that a simpler apparatus and method be available to combine both electroporation and iontophoresis without the unpleasant side effects for transport molecules through or into the stratum corneum.

Method and apparatus for a combination of electroporation and iontophoresis for the delivery of drugs and genes


A sensor detects when a probe contacts liquid in a container due to a change in frequency of a probe oscillator. The sensor can have its output compared to a reference level to determine the presence or absence of liquid wherein the reference level is changed to follow the output of the detector. In one embodiment, it can be determined that liquid has been contacted when a count has been reached several times in a row (the count being a function of the probe output and changeable). In another embodiment of the invention, it can be determined that liquid has been contacted when a count has been reached within a certain threshold several times in a row, while still having the reference count change to follow the probe output (regardless of the threshold). A digital counter can be provided to determine the frequency of the probe oscillator. A reference counter can also be provided to tune the count (frequency) from the probe oscillator counter to thereby compensate for drift. And, the adjustable detection threshold permits control of the sensitivity by changing the parameters of the circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting a surface of a liquid in a container, and to a method and apparatus for use in an automated blood/plasma sampling system for detecting a surface of a liquid in a container and for controlling a position of a probe with respect to the surface of the liquid. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for maintaining accuracy of the liquid detection over a period of time.
An example of an automated blood/plasma sampling system for which the present invention is applicable is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,666 to Hulette et al. The subject matter of this patent to Hulette et al. is incorporated herein by reference. An example of a piercing and sampling probe is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,537 to Moreno. The subject matter of the patent to Moreno is incorporated herein by reference. Another example of a sampling probe is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,019, issued Jan. 12, 1993, to Keiter. The subject matter of the patent to Keiter is incorporated by reference herein. An example of a liquid level sensing probe and control circuit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,922, to Ramey et al. The subject matter of the patents to Hulette et al., to Moreno, to Ramey et al. and to Keiter are each assigned to the same assignee as the present application.
Automated sample handling systems are known which automatically dispense fluid samples, such as blood plasma and reagents, into a reaction well of a cuvette. Such instruments are useful in the field of biochemical analysis for measuring blood clotting times and for automatically carrying out chemical assays. An automated sample handling system for carrying out blood and plasma bioassays is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,666, to Hulette et al.
In this particular system, fluid samples, such as blood or plasma, are stored in containers, such as test tubes, which are vacuum sealed by way of a rubber septum that must be pierced in order to withdraw a measured amount of the sample for testing purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,537 to Moreno, discloses an example of a piercing and sampling probe suitable for piercing and sampling a measured amount of liquid.
The Hulette et al. system also includes a temperature controlled housing provided for storing fluid samples and reagents at a relatively cool temperature for preventing degradation of the samples and reagents prior to sample analysis. The temperature controlled housing typically maintains the fluid samples and reagents at a temperature of 10.degree. C. The actual analyses are generally carried out at 37.degree. C. (98.6.degree. F.), standard human body temperature. Accordingly, it is necessary to heat the fluid sample and reagents to 37.degree. C. prior to analysis. U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,019, to Keiter, discloses a sample probe device useful for heating fluid samples and reagents prior to analysis.
The piercing and sampling probes in the Hulette et al. system are raised and lowered in operation by a robotic arm which maneuvers a probe between reagent containers and a reaction cuvette for automatically aspirating and dispensing reagents. The surface of a liquid, whether a sample or reagent, is detected for accurately controlling movement of the probe. Basically, the surface of the liquid is detected by detecting a change in capacitance of the probe with respect to the chassis of the automated blood/plasma sampling system.

Device and method for determining liquid-probe contact


High strength spun melt fiber is prepared by utilizing threadline oxidative chain scission degradation of hot fiber spun from polymer component(s) having a broad molecular weight distribution in conjunction with a delayed quench step.

A number of modern uses have been found for non-woven materials produced from melt spun polymers, particularly degraded polyolefin-containing compositions. Such uses, in general, demand special properties of the nonwoven and corresponding fiber such as special fluid handling, high vapor permeability, softness, integrity and durability, as well as efficient cost-effective processing techniques.
Unfortunately, however, the achievement of properties such as softness, and vapor-permeability, for example, present serious largely unanswered technical problems with respect to strength, durability and efficiency of production of the respective staple and nonwoven products.
One particularly troublesome and long standing problem in this general area stems from the fact that efficient, high speed spinning and processing of polyolefin fiber such as polypropylene requires careful control over the degree of chemical degradation and melt flow rate (MFR) of the spun melt, and a highly efficient quenching step capable of avoiding substantial over- or under-quench leading to melt fracture or ductile failure under high speed commercial manufacturing conditions. The resulting fiber can vary substantially in bonding properties.
It is an object of the present invention to improve control over polymer degradation, spin and quench steps so as to obtain fiber capable of producing nonwoven fabric having increased strength, toughness, and integrity.
It is a further object to improve the heat-bonding properties of fiber spun from polyolefin-containing melt such as polypropylene polymer or copolymer.

Process of making high thermal bonding fiber


A prism sheet capable of achieving an enhancement in light efficiency and viewing angle characteristics and a backlight unit using the prism sheet are disclosed. The prism sheet includes: a condensing film which transmits light incident to the condensing film; a plurality of prism crests on the condensing film having apexes; and a plurality of reflection patterns formed on the condensing film such that each of the reflection patterns faces a boundary of adjacent prism crests associated with the reflection pattern to reflect light incident onto the reflection patterns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a back light unit, and more particularly, to a prism sheet capable of achieving an enhancement in light efficiency and viewing angle characteristics and a backlight unit using the prism sheet.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, various flat panel display devices have been developed which can eliminate disadvantages of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) caused by the bulky and heavy structures thereof. Such flat panel display devices include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), and a light emitting display (LED).
Of such flat panel display devices, the LCD displays a desired image by adjusting the transmission level of light beams irradiated from a backlight unit using a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of liquid crystal cells and a plurality of control switches to apply video signals to the liquid crystal cells.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional backlight unit.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional backlight unit includes a lamp 10 that emits light, a light guide plate 20 that receives the light emitted from the lamp 10, and emits the light across the surface area, and a lamp housing 12 that encloses an incidence face 22 of the light guide plate 20 and the lamp 10. The conventional backlight unit also includes a reflection plate 30 that is arranged beneath the light guide plate 20, a diffusion sheet 40 that is arranged above the light guide plate 20 to diffuse light emerging from the light guide plate 20, and a prism sheet 50 which adjusts the propagation direction of light emerging from the diffusion sheet 40.
Generally, the lamp 10 is formed of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp. The lamp 10 is turned on by a lamp drive voltage supplied from an inverter not shown, to irradiate light to the incidence face 22 of the light guide plate 20 provided at one side of the light guide plate 20.
The lamp housing 12 is arranged at one side of the light guide plate 20 to enclose the lamp 10 and the incidence face 22 of the light guide plate 20. The lamp housing 12 has on an inner surface a reflection face to reflect the light from the lamp 10 toward the incidence face 22 of the light guide plate 20.
The light guide plate 20 enables the incidence light from the lamp 10 to reach a position spaced apart from the lamp 10 by a great distance, and guides the incidence light toward the diffusion sheet 40. A printed pattern is provided at an inclined lower surface of the light guide plate 20 to form an inclined reflection face, so that light incident to the incidence face 22 is reflected from the inclined reflection face of the light guide plate 20 at a certain angle such that the light travels uniformly toward the diffusion sheet 40.
The reflection plate 30 is arranged beneath the light guide plate 20 in order to reflect light incident thereto from the reflection face of the light guide plate 20 toward the light guide plate 20, and thus, to reduce loss of light.
The diffusion sheet 40 diffuses the light emerging from the light guide plate 20 over the entire region of the diffusion sheet 40, and irradiates the diffused light to the prism sheet 50.
The prism sheet 50 functions to condense the light emerging from the diffusion sheet 40. To this end, the prism sheet 50 includes a condensing film 52 made of polyester (PET), and prism crests 54 formed on an upper surface of the condensing film 52 in the form of stripes, as shown in FIG. 2.
Each prism crest 54 has first and second inclined faces each having a certain inclination from the apex of the prism crest 54. For example, each of the first and second inclined faces is inclined by about 45° from the upper surface of the condensing film 52.
When it is assumed that the condensing film 52 of the prism sheet 50 has a refractive index n1, and the outside of the prism sheet 50 has a refractive index n2, light incident to the condensing film 52 at an angle θ1 is refracted at an angle θ2 at the prism crests 54 in accordance with Snell's Law, as expressed by the following equation 1, and is then emitted to the outside of the prism sheet 50.
                                          n                                                                          1                                n                                                                          2                          =                              sin                                                                          θ1                                sin                                                                          θ2                                              equation                                                  1
In the above-mentioned conventional backlight unit, light emitted from the lamp 10 advances toward the diffusion sheet 40 arranged above the light guide plate 20 via the light guide plate 20. The light emerging from the light guide plate 20 is diffused by the diffusion sheet 40 over the entire region of the prism sheet 50. The diffused light is condensed while passing through the prism sheet 50, and is then externally emitted.
In the above-mentioned conventional backlight unit, however, the light incident to the prism sheet 50 may be divided into those of three regions, namely, a full reflection region, a condensing region, and a side lobe region, as shown in FIG. 3.
The light in the full reflection region, namely, light A vertically incident to the condensing film 52, is fully reflected by the first and second inclined faces of the prism crests 54, so that the light A is directed back to the light guide plate 20. Thus, the light A is condensed after being recycled.
The light in the condensing region, namely, light B incident to the condensing film 52 at a certain angle, is refracted by the first and second inclined faces of the prism crests 54, so that the light B is condensed.
On the other hand, light in the side lobe region, namely, light C incident to the condensing film 52 at a certain angle, is fully reflected by the first inclined face of the prism crests 54, so that the light C causes a degradation in light efficiency and a degradation in viewing angle characteristics.
For this reason, there are bright regions in the prism sheet 50 at opposite sides of a center line of the prism sheet 50, as shown in FIG. 4.                Thus, the conventional backlight unit has problems caused by the structure of the prism sheet 50, namely, viewing angle asymmetry caused by brightness asymmetry and a degradation in light efficiency caused by side lobes.

Prism sheet and backlight unit using the same


Dishwashers and methods of control for operation of dishwashers are disclosed. The dishwasher may include an upper rack in an upper portion of a washing compartment configured to receive small dishes, such as a cup having a small washing load, and a lower rack in a lower portion of the washing compartment for placing large dishes, such as a dinner bowl having a large washing load. The operation of the dishwasher can include wash and rinse cycles having a plurality of sub-cycles. During the sub-cycles, the upper and lower racks can be selectively sprayed with water and steam can be supplied to the washing compartment based on configured conditions, such as a water temperature or operation time being reached. The operation of the dishwasher can reduce excessive washing of dishes having small washing loads and reduce power consumption of the dishwasher.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure generally relates to dishwashers. In particular, the present disclosure relates to controls for a dishwasher that improves washing efficiency when dishes of varying washing loads are washed in a single washing compartment.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A conventional dishwasher is a machine that sprays washing water on dishes placed in a tub to remove foreign matter, such as food scraps left on the dishes. Generally, the dishwasher is operated based on a washing cycle, which sprays washing water mixed with detergent in a tub that contains dishes, in order to remove foreign matter left on the dishes. The dishwasher may also heat the washing water to improve performance. Typically, after the washing cycle, a rinsing cycle occurs which sprays washing water that is not mixed with the detergent in the tub to remove any remaining foreign matter. After the washing cycle, a drying cycle takes place, which dries the dishes.
Typically, more than one spraying arm and at least one rack (for placing dishes that need to be washed) are provided in a single tub of the conventional dishwasher. For example, a dishwasher usually has an upper rack and a lower rack in a bi-level configuration within the tub. A number of holders are then provided on the upper rack, which hold small dishes, such as small cups with a small washing load, and a smaller number of holders are provided on the lower rack, which hold large dishes, such as dinner dishes or large bowls with a larger washing load. An upper spraying arm and a lower spraying arm are then provided which spray washing water at the upper and lower racks, respectively.
The operation of a conventional dishwasher, including the wash, rinse, and dry cycles are well-suited for cleaning larger dishes. Unfortunately, the conventional dishwasher is not well-suited for smaller dishes. For example, it may be inefficient to wash large dishes, which have a large washing load, with small dishes, which have a small washing load in the same dishwasher (and in particular, the same washing compartment).

Dishwasher controlling method with selective water supply