A contact includes: an insulating housing, including a first face and a second face opposite to the first face, and formed with an insertion hole parallel to the first face and the second face, the first face formed with a first slit extending in an axial direction of the insertion hole, the insertion hole opening through the first slit; an electrically conductive case, formed with a second slit extending in the axial direction, and inserted into the insertion hole, the second slit facing the second face, a part of the case projected from the first face through the first slit; an electrically conductive plunger, disposed in the case, and having a distal end portion projected from the case; and a spring coil, disposed in the case, and urging the plunger in the axial direction.

The present invention relates to a contact in which a spring connector is disposed substantially in parallel with a circuit board.
Referring to FIGS. 11A to 12, an example of a related-art contact in which a spring connector is disposed substantially in parallel with a circuit board will be briefly described. FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C show an outer appearance of the related-art contact, in which FIG. 11A is a front view, FIG. 11B is a bottom view, and FIG. 11C is a side view. FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 11B, in which an internal structure of an electrically conductive metal tube is omitted. In FIGS. 11A to 12, each of spring connectors 10 includes a conductive metal tube 12 which is open at one end and closed at the other end, a spring coil (not shown) which is inserted into the conductive metal tube 12 from the open end side, and a plunger 14 formed of conductive metal which is additionally inserted into the conductive metal tube 12. The open end of the conductive metal tube 12 is narrowed so that the plunger 14 can move in an axial direction having its distal end portion projected outward from the open end, but may not escape. Moreover, an insulating housing 16 formed of insulating resin or the like substantially in a shape of a box is provided with bottomed insertion holes 16a which are in parallel with a bottom face thereof and open at a side of the bottom face in a shape of slit in the axial direction. The spring connectors 10 are respectively inserted into these insertion holes 16a, and portions of outer peripheral faces of the respective conductive metal tubes 12 are slightly protruded from the openings on the bottom face of the insulating housing 16, whereby the contact is constructed. The contact having the above described structure is mounted on the circuit board, and the portions of the outer peripheral faces of the conductive metal tubes 12 which are protruded from the bottom face of the insulating housing 16 are soldered to connecting terminals of the circuit board by solder reflowing or the like, whereby electrical connection is established. An art similar to the related art having such structure is disclosed in JP-A-2000-195600.
In the structure of the related-art contact as described above, as shown in FIG. 12, a height H of the contact from a soldered face of the circuit board is a sum of an outer diameter D of the conductive metal tube 12 and a thickness T of the insulating housing 16 at a position where it covers this conductive metal tube 12. Recently, a mobile phone or the like becomes more and more compact and thin, and therefore, it is keenly desired that the contact is also made thinner. However, in order to reduce the outer diameter D of the conductive metal tube 12, it is required that the spring coil and the plunger 14 incorporated therein are made compact. This is technically difficult, and makes production difficult. Besides, by reducing the thickness T of the insulating housing 16 at the position covering the conductive metal tube 12, mechanical strength of the insulating housing 16 would be weakened, and this has a limit in itself. It is to be noted that the contact having the above described structure is used, as an example, for electrical connection of battery packs in electronic appliances and so on.


This invention relates to an apparatus and method to permit a photographer to take accurate portraiture pictures. There is provided a camera reference device for adjusting the settings on a camera comprising a reference member with qualitative indicia for determining picture sharpness and colour for adjusting the settings on the camera and which allows for the taking of a picture of the face and head of the subject within the same photographic image beside the reference member. Using the device, there is provided a method of taking a photographic image comprising: taking a picture of the subject in combination with an apparatus comprising a reference member with qualitative indicia for determining photographic image qualities for adjusting the settings on the camera and which allows for the taking of a picture of the face and head of the subject within the same photographic image beside the reference member.

In the past, it has been difficult to provide consistent standards in photographs of people for identification documents such as driver's licenses, passports, health cards, to name a few. The conditions within which the pictures are taken and the settings of the cameras vary so greatly, that often the photograph does not provide a useful and accurate image of the subject.
This is well known and accepted to the extent that great latitude is given to people using these cards. Consequently, borrowing or use by people other than the subject of the photograph, and misidentification occurs. This raises problems for deceit and security.
There is therefore a need for an apparatus and method which would permit the photographer to consistently meet a high standard of image reproduction with the camera, and which would provide an indication to the person looking at the photograph that, besides being accurate, also indicates any critical distinguishing characteristic of the subject.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which would permit the photographer to consistently meet a high standard of image reproduction with a camera.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method which would permit the photographer to take a consistently accurate picture of his subject.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus which permits the photographer to take a photograph whereby the photograph would indicate to the person reviewing the photograph the quality of the picture.

Camera reference device and method of taking a photographic image using a camera reference device


A method of knitting a knit fabric which is knitted by a flat knitting machine with a plurality of yarn carriers having the following steps: (a) knitting the first half knitting portion of a course to a plating stitch with a first ground yarn and a plating yarn; (b) knitting the second half knitting portion of the course to a plating stitch with a second ground yarn and the plating yarn; (c) knitting the first half knitting portion of a next course to be coupled with the course to a plating stitch with the second ground yarn and the plating yarn; and (d) knitting the second half knitting portion of said next course to a plating stitch with the first ground yarn and the plating yarn.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of knitting a plating stitch capable of forming a clear colored pattern and a knit fabric.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A colored design can be knitted by a plating stitch using a flat knitting machine having a plurality of yarn carriers which can be driven independently of one another and through which threads reciprocatingly move to the right and the left (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-321101). The term "plating stitch" used hereinafter is defined as a method of knitting carried out using two types of different threads each having a different color, gloss, thickness, twist and fiber material wherein one of the threads appears on a front side and the other appears on a back side.
For example, when a knit fabric A as shown in FIG. 5 is to be knitted, a plainly stitched structure portion A1 is knitted by an plating yarn "c" only at the first half portion of a first right-going course C1. The platingly stitched portion A2 of the plainly stitched structure is knitted by a ground yarn "a" and the plating yarn "c" in the second half portion of the first course C1. A similar platingly stitched portion A2 is knitted in the first half portion of a next left-going course C2, the plainly stitched structure portion A1 is knitted by the plating yarn "c" only in the second half portion of the next course C2 and the same procedure is repeated thereafter.
As a result, there can be knitted the knit fabric A having a colored pattern and design arranged such that the plating yarn "c" and the ground yarn "a" appear to the surface of the plainly stitched structure portion A1 and the platingly stitched portion A2, respectively. Since this knitting method can continuously form the plainly stitched structure over the entire portion of the respective courses C1 and C2 and thus since it is sufficient only to cause all the needles to carry out knitting operation, the method has high productivity and there is no possibility that a defect in the outside appearance of the stitched structure occurs at the boundary A0 between the plainly stitched structure portion A1 and the platingly stitched portion A2.
It should be noted that in FIG. 5, the symbols (c, a) in the second half portion of the right-going course C1 and the symbols (a, c) in the first half portion of the next left-going course C2 shows the plating stitch made by the ground yarn "a" and the plating yarn "c". The reason why the symbols a and c are reversed in those courses is that a thread fed from the yarn carrier preceding a knitting direction appears to a front stitch and a thread fed from the thread feed port following the above thread feed port appears to a back stitch in the plating stitch. Further, arrows shown in the respective courses C1, C2 show the directions in which the respective courses C1, C2 are knitted and symbol trains .OMEGA., .OMEGA. . . . .OMEGA. written parallel to the straight lines showing the respective courses C1, C2 show that the needles for knitting the respective courses C1, C2 carry out knitting operation.
In the above noted prior art, since the plainly stitched structure portion and the platingly stitched portion forming the colored pattern of the knit fabric. The plainly stitched structure portion is knitted by the plating yarn only and the plating stitch of the latter is formed by the ground yarn and the plating yarn. As a result, there is a drawback that since the thickness the platingly stitched portion of the knit fabric forming the colored pattern is different twice as compared with that of the plainly stitched structure portion, the range to which the knit fabric is applied is limited. Further in the case where the thickness of the ground yarn is reduced to flatten the variation of the thickness of the knit fabric by extremely thinning the size of the ground yarn, it is difficult to completely cover the plating yarn with the ground yarn and it is observed that the plating yarn is mixed with the front stitch of the platingly stitched portion, there is a possibility that the tone of color of a colored pattern is lowered.

Method of knitting plating stitch and knit fabric


An island of material has an insulating trench structure. The trench structure includes a first insulating trench surrounded by a second insulating trench. The trenches are joined together by at least two transverse linking trenches.

The present invention relates to isolating trenches and methods of producing such trenches.
In order to isolate components in integrated circuits from each other refilled trench structures have been developed. There are many different ways of forming such trenches which can be etched through a silicon layer into an underlying buried insulating oxide layer or through a silicon substrate into an underlying silicon layer which has the opposite type of doping in relation to the layer which is to be laterally insulated. Methods of making such trenches are shown in Wolf, S., "Silicon Processing for the VLSI Era Volume II", pages 45-56, ISBN-0-961672-4-5, 1990, Lattice Press USA.
A problem with the use of trenches for isolating components is that the small width of the trenches make them vulnerable to foreign particles or defects in the material, both of which can short circuit the desired electrical insulation. This is particularly difficult to cure in the case of components having long total trench lengths. Another problem with trench structures is that the different thermal properties of the materials in and surrounding the trenches can lead to mechanical stresses occurring in the trench material or the surrounding silicon. A further problem with trench structures is that steps are often formed over trenches during their manufacture. These steps can trap conductive material in undesirable regions during subsequent processing and can cause short circuits. An example of such undesirable conductive material is polysilicon strings which remain in the trench edges and can go all the way around a component. These strings can then cause short circuits between two conductors which cross the trench and are in contact with the strings.

Method and apparatus for insulating material using trenches


A current-mode four-quadrant analog multiplier is provided, which is constructed based on CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology, capable of generating an output current signal which is proportional in magnitude to the product of two input current signals. This current-mode analog multiplier is designed based on the translinear circuit principle. The current-mode analog multiplier has high precision, wide current dynamic range, and is insensitive to temperature and process, suitable for use in VLSI implementation of many analog circuits and systems, such as fuzzy logic controllers and analog neural networks.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to analog multipliers, and more particularly, to a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) current-mode four-quadrant analog multiplier, which is capable of generating an output current signal proportional in magnitude to the product of two input current signals.
2. Description of Related Art
An analog multiplier is a circuit that can accept two input signals in analog form and generate an output signal proportional in magnitude to the product of the two input signals. The input signals are typically voltages, in which case the analog multiplier is customarily referred to as a voltage-mode analog multiplier. An analog multiplier can be organized either as a two-quadrant or a four-quadrant circuit. A four-quadrant analog multiplier can multiply, divide, square, and extract the square root of the input signals when various external connections are made to the circuit.
Analog multipliers are widely used in analog circuits and systems, such as modulators, phase comparators, adaptive filters, AC-to-DC converters, sine/cosine synthesizers, to name just a few. Moreover, analog multipliers have found use in fuzzy logic controllers and artificial neural networks.
Most currently available analog multipliers, however, operate in voltage mode, which means that the inputs and output are all voltages, and therefore not suitable for use in current-mode systems. Moreover, conventional voltage-mode analog multipliers are sensitive to variations in temperature and process, and therefore are unsuitable for use in many VLSI (very large-scale integration) systems such as analog neural networks which require the use of a large number of multipliers.
There exists, therefore, a need for a current-mode analog multiplier which is insensitive to variations in temperature and process, allowing it to be suitable for use in various VLSI systems.

CMOS current-mode four-quadrant analog multiplier


An improved method and system for acquisition and release of locks within a software program is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a lock within a loop is transformed by relocating acquisition and release instructions from within the loop to positions outside the loop. This may significantly decrease unnecessarily lock acquisition and release during execution of the software program. In order to avoid contention problems which may arise from acquiring and keeping a lock on an object over a relatively long period of time, a contention test may be inserted into the loop. Such a contention test may temporarily release the lock if another thread in the software program requires access to the locked object.

The present invention relates generally to computer systems and software programs, and more specifically to locks in software loops.
In some software programs, it is necessary to acquire a lock on an object in order to perform certain operations that are dependent on the object being in a locked state. Subsequent to performing the operation(s), the lock is released. In some cases, such a lock is found within a software loop, and so lock acquisition on, and release of, an object may occur repeatedly, with each iteration of the loop. While placing the lock in the loop may be convenient and safe, repeated and unnecessary lock acquisition and release may significantly degrade the performance of the software program.
An improved method and system for acquiring and releasing locks within a software program is therefore desirable.

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a laminate panel (40; 40′; 40″; 40″′) with a carrier layer (41; 41′; 41″; 41″′) of wood or wood-based material, in which at least the upper side has a decoration and a layer of a cured resin (46; 46′; 46″; 46″′). The rear side of the laminate panel (40; 40′; 40″; 40″′) is provided with a paperless counteracting layer of a cured counteracting material (45; 45′; 45″; 45″′).

In the prior art a plurality of floor coverings are known such as real wood veneer laminate floors. Due to the relative cost efficient production possibilities in particular indoor laminate floors have become more popular in the last decades. Such laminate floors allow for example to imitate in a simple and cost efficient way the optically pleasing appearance of different kinds of wood or other natural materials.
Laminate floors are composed of laminate panels that therefore are provided at their edges with groove and tongue connections for connecting the panels with each other. Typically, such laminate panels are composed of a central carrier layer made of wood or a wood-based material such as MDF, HDF, particle board or OSB and further thinner layers that fulfil different functions.
For example, the appearance that is visible to the user is produced with the aid of a décor layer on the top surface of the carrier layer. This décor layer is directly printed on the carrier layer by means of the so called direct printing process. However, most common is the use of décor papers. The term "laminate panel" shall herein include both panels with paper layers and also direct printed panels, which are not necessarily provided with paper layers, but with a resin layer on the top surface.
When producing the décor by way of a décor paper at first a proper paper layer is printed with a décor for example a real wood imitation or also with a stone imitation. The printed paper is then saturated with a proper resin typically with an amino resin such as melamine and/or urea-formaldehyde resin. The so impregnated paper is then typically cured before further use, so that it can be rolled up on rolls or can be deposited in sheets on pallets and can be stored.
For further usage the impregnated and cured décor paper layer is applied onto the carrier layer before the resin is cured in a further step. The final curing of the resin namely the final curing of the resin molecule chains (and not the curing of the aqueous resin mixture where merely water is extracted) can occur in a separate curing step for example by using radiation such as electron, ultra-violet or infrared radiation. Typically, the curing is however made by the influence of heat and pressure when pressing the layer systems.
Further paper or resin layers can be arranged above the décor layer such as so called overlays. Such overlays are produced similarly to the décor paper layer by means of impregnated papers. A thin suitable paper is impregnated with a resin such as amino resin and is applied onto the décor layer. When curing the overlay layer this firstly opaque paper layer becomes transparent such that the décor lying thereunder becomes visible. The overlay layer serves for protecting the décor against exterior influences and it is known to add abrasion-resistant particles such as corundum particles additionally to the resin that is used for impregnating the overlays in order to increase the abrasion resistance of the subsequent laminate panels. Additionally, a core paper and overlay can be provided with a surface structure when pressing and curing that may match the visible structure of the décor, and simulates for example the haptic impression of the wood surface.
A known difficulty with producing laminate panels in particular using amino resins is that at the latest when pressing various layers of the layer systems to be pressed retract differently. When curing the resins, with which for example décor and overlay paper layers are impregnated, a contraction occurs as a result of a chemical polycondensation. During pressing a plurality of chemical bonds are formed dissociating water. The water moves out of the cured amino resin layer when pressing and thereby the volume shrinks significantly. Also, the used papers can exert tractive forces on the carrier layer during pressing. By these contractions of the layers forces are created that can result in undesired deformations of the carrier layer. The carrier layer bends by the contraction concavely to the top in the direction of the décor layer, or overlay layer respectively, such that the formed panel can only be used with difficulty.
To avoid such deformation of the panels a so-called counteractor is applied to the back surface opposite to the décor in the prior art, which counteractor shall compensate for the traction effects on the top surface. The easiest possibility to provide a counteractor that has the same tractive effect as the layers on the top surface is applying the same layers as on the top surface of the panel also on the back surface, such that the contraction effects of these layers exactly cancel each other out. For cost reasons it is however often not desired to use the high value layers that are used for forming the visible top surface of the panel also on the back surface that it is not visible during use. For this reason combinations of simple cost-efficient counteracting paper and of cost-efficient resins have been developed that are used as a counteracting layer on the back surface of the laminate panels in order to reduce the undesired curvature of the panels during pressing.
A typical example from the prior art is described in DE 199 03 912 A1. According to the method described therein firstly a coloring layer is applied directly onto the top surface of the carrier layer for a laminate panel in the direct pressing process. Onto this décor layer an impregnated overlay paper and onto the back surface of the carrier layer a counteractor is applied in the form of an impregnated counteracting paper. Optionally, it is proposed in DE 199 03 912 A1 for example to dry the impregnated overlay paper and to apply onto it an additionally melamine resin layer into which corundum is sprinkled, in order to provide an abrasion resistant surface for the panel this way. After applying these layers they are pressed in order to produce the finished laminate.
A further example from the prior art is described in DE 10 2008 027 235 A1. According to the application a décor paper that is imprinted and impregnated with an amino resin is applied onto a carrier layer for a laminate panel. To reduce rejects that result from mispressings this patent application proposes to provide also on the back surface of the laminate panel a further décor in the form of an impregnated décor paper instead of a cost-efficient counteractor in the form of a simple counteracting paper and corresponding resin. In other words, in this patent application it is proposed to produce a laminate panel, both surfaces of which are décor surfaces. According to this application it is thereby possible, if during pressing one of the two décor surfaces is damaged, to use the panel nevertheless, because a substitute décor exists on the opposite surface.
Because for each single paper layer costly impregnation steps are necessary, it is desirable to reduce the number of (impregnated) paper layers. Accordingly, the German application DE 10 2007 062 941 A1 proposes a laminate panel with a counteractor that enables to spare the usage of a counteracting paper layer. Instead of using an impregnated counteracting paper it is proposed in this application to apply multiple thin layers of an amino resin directly onto a back surface of a carrier layer for a laminate panel, wherein respectively prior to the application of a further amino resin layer, the prior amino resin layer is pre-dried. Although, it is possible with this method to spare a counteracting paper the alternating application and drying of single thin resin layers is time, cost and process consuming.
With regard to the above cited prior art, the present invention has the problem to provide a laminate panel and a method for its production as well as a counteracting material, whereby it will become possible to spare a counteracting paper for the laminate panel in a more cost-efficient and simple way.
These and other problems that are mentioned when reading the following description or can be recognized by the person skilled in the art are solved with a laminate panel according to claim 1, a method for its production according to claim 16 and a counteracting material according to claim 23.

Laminate panel without counteracting paper


A sheath device comprises a substantially rigid elongated body adapted to receive a chest tube. The body includes a first end and a second end, flexible seal at the first end, and an air-impermeable flexible joint at the second end. A base having a first side and a second side is provided at the joint, wherein the first side is connected with the flexible joint and the second side includes an adhesive for securing the base to a patient's chest. A method of preventing pneumothorax in a patient having a chest tube removed comprises attaching the sheath device to the patient's chest at the time of the chest tube placement, later withdrawing the chest tube into the airtight chamber of the sheath, and sealing the sheath device. Removing the base and flexible joint of the sheath device from the body of the sheath device leaves an air-impermeable dressing on the patient's chest.

In a healthy person, the pleural chest cavity is generally an airtight, airless environment. During normal respiration, the contraction of the diaphragm increases the volume of the cavity, which in turn decreases the pressure therein and causes the lungs to expand. Normally, air cannot enter or escape the pleural cavity.
Patients who have fluid or air in this cavity may be treated by inserting a chest tube into the pleural cavity to drain this fluid or air. The chest tube typically comprises a plastic tube having drainage holes at its tip and in a section of its sidewall and is inserted through an incision in the wall of the patient's chest. Ordinarily, the tube is connected to a collection container for holding the drained fluids. When the cavity of a given patient has been drained and the underlying cause of the fluid buildup has been addressed, the chest tube must be removed from the patient. This is done conventionally by withdrawing the tube and suturing the incision closed. In some patients, most notably children, no suturing is done, and petroleum jelly is used to seal the opening around the chest tube during the withdrawal of the tube. A gauze dressing is then placed over the incision and secured to the skin. However, if an inspiration occurs while the tube is partially pulled or before the incision is sealed, air can enter the pleural cavity due to the negative pressure therein.
Pneumothorax, or the passage of air into the pleural cavity, is undesirable because it allows the chest cavity to lose pressurization and decreases the expansion capability of the lungs. Complications of pneumothorax can include the collapse of part or all of a lung caused by pressure from free air in the chest cavity between the two layers of the pleura, which are thin membranes that cover the lung. Further complications associated with pneumothorax include respiratory failure and lung infection. Hospitalization and treatment with special equipment following minor surgery may be necessary for patients who suffer from pneumothorax.
Pneumothorax risk while removing a chest tube from a patient may be minimized by limiting the amount of air that can enter the chest cavity during and after removal of the tube. Ordinarily, upon removal of the chest tube from the body, a doctor or technician will attempt to hold the opening into the chest closed with the hand while undertaking to suture or bandage the opening. In many cases, however, the dressing placed over the opening is not completely air impermeable, or the attendant may have difficulty holding the opening closed while suturing the opening. While the pressure leaks may be minimal, these procedures are cumbersome to undertake, and the relatively minor leaks may compromise pressurization within the chest cavity and cause the patient some distress while breathing. More seriously, dressings or sutures may become completely undone, thereby allowing the cavity to depressurize more rapidly. This would, of course, more severely affect the ability of the patient to respirate properly and complicate a pneumothorax condition.

Sheath device with dressing for prevention of pneumothorax.


A coffee or tea maker includes a base shell including a vertically-oriented connecting sleeve; a flow heater accommodated in the base shell and having a vertically-oriented inlet nipple received in the connecting sleeve; a mains cable connection situated in the base shell; a machine switch situated in the base shell; an electric circuit board connected to the mains cable connection and to the machine switch and having plug-in pins; and a bottom closing off the base shell and locked thereto by a detent joint. All the plug-in and detent connections define a vertical joining direction for relative movement toward one another into a locked state during an assembling operation.

This invention relates to a coffee or tea maker including a base accommodating a flow heater and possibly a warming plate.
In the manufacture of conventional coffee or tea makers of the above-outlined type--which also includes an electrical system--technical difficulties have been encountered particularly in the assembly operation. Automatic assembly is possible only--if at all--with a highly complicated and expensive assembly system. Import regulations of certain countries, requiring a special, flame-proof accommodation of the electrical system, add to the manufacturing problems. Although such an accommodation of the electrical system can be effected in principle by the use of flame-proof plastics in the housing region, particularly since relatively inexpensive plastics available for construction of the housing can be made flame-proof by appropriate additives, such flame-proof plastics are physiologically not entirely acceptable, precisely because of the use of these additives. Consequently, in such a case it is appropriate to ensure that the water and the coffee or tea will not come in contact with such plastics under any circumstances.

Electric coffee maker with water heater and electrical components easily automatically assembled into a base shell


A method and apparatus is provided in which a data file acquisition program is operable to determine the data transfer speed of a plurality of devices containing a predetermined data file. The methodology calculates a priority ordering of the devices based upon the data transfer speed, and divides the data file request into portions for parallel access and delivery of the requested data file such that all of the portions are delivered to the user at approximately the same time whereby faster devices will be requested to access and deliver larger file portions and relatively slower devices will be assigned to access and deliver relatively smaller portions of the requested data file. Upon receipt of the portions, the requested data file is assembled for further processing by the user.

As computer systems and networked computer systems proliferate, information access time becomes more critical. For many reasons, access time to information databases has a tendency to increase even with frequent equipment upgrades and technology advances. This tendency is apparent in mostly all database accesses which involve extensive networks and mirrored networks which may contain the same information in a plurality of separate storage devices and files.
In many applications, desired information files are maintained in tact at several data storage devices such as, but not limited to hard drive storage units. In such cases, each copy is a so-called "data mirror", i.e. one of several listed devices which contain copies of the same information file which is sought by the user. Each device may be served by the same server or a different server in the same room or a different server in another city or even in another country. The access times to any of the mirror devices would depend on a number of factors including the read-out speed of each storage device.
A plurality of mirrored devices, such as disk drives, may also exist within a single system. In many applications, for both network and single system configurations, there are a plurality of disk drives and many of the disk drives contain many of the same files. On occasion, when a particular device is accessed, or if a system arbitrarily selects one device of a plurality of mirror devices to fill a request for a selected file, the device selected may not be the fastest device of those containing the requested file, or, the device may be equally fast, but the data busses may be of non-equal bandwidth. Moreover, if the non-accessed devices are not being used, those information resources are not being optimally utilized.
Accordingly, there is a need for an enhanced method and processing apparatus which is effective to determine an optimized methodology for accessing and returning a desired data file in a minimal period of time from a plurality of devices containing the desired data file.

Accessing stored files from multiple storage devices

International Business Machines Corporation


This invention relates to a method of stabilizing liposomes contained in aqueous compositions against lysis by anionic surfactants otherwise known to disrupt and lyse such liposomes by using certain surfactants as stabilizing agents and to the stabilized compositions obtained thereby as well as to a method of making detergent compositions containing such stabilized liposomes and anionic surfactants as well as to the compositions themselves. The compositions can be used as shower gels and shampoos. The liposomes are preferably vesicles derived from natural phospholipids or from synthetic nonionic amphiphilic compounds which are sometimes referred to as "niosomes" and may contain water soluble humectants or vitamins. From about 0.1% to 40%, and more preferably, from 2% to 10%, by weight of at least one surfactant such as fatty alkyl sulfosuccinates (fatty alkyl group contains from 8 to 22 carbons atoms), fatty acylamino polyglycol ether sulfates (fatty acyl group contains from 8 to 22 carbon atoms), fatty alkyl amine oxides (fatty alkyl group contains from 7 to 26 carbon atoms), fatty alkyl phosphate esters (fatty alkyl group contains from 8 to 22 carbon atoms), and N-acyl amino acid salts or salts of N-acyl derivatives of hydrolyzed proteins of up to about 2,500 daltons in weight average molecular weight (acyl portion is derived from a carboxylic acid having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms) is added to an aqueous composition containing from about 0.1% to 50%, and more preferably from 5% to 30%, by volume of liposomes to produce a stabilized liposome suspension. Such stabilized liposome suspensions can then be included in a detergent formulation containing from about 0.1 to 35%, and more preferably from 5% to 15%, by weight of at least one anionic surfactant which is known to lyse liposomes such as sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth-2 sulfate.

The patent and journal literature is replete with information concerning "liposomes" which term, as used herein, will mean bilayer vesicles derived from amphiphilic molecules which are either anionic or nonionic in charge. The liposomes can be unilamellar or multilamellar. Thus, "liposomes" can include vesicles derived from natural phospholipids as well as those from synthetic nonionic amphiphilic compounds which are sometimes called "niosomes".
The cosmetic use of such materials is rapidly gaining importance in the cosmetic marketplace. Recent summaries of information concerning liposomes include two articles in the May, 1990 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries, Vol. 105: "The Application of Liposomes to Cosmetics" by Suzuki et al. on page 65ff and "Liposomes in Dermatological Preparations Part I" by Lautenschlager on page 89ff, an article in the July, 1990 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries: "Liposomes In Dermatological Preparations Part II" by Lautenschlager on page 63ff ("Lautenschlager II"), as well as in the June, 1990 issue of Soap/Cosmetics/Chemical Specialties: "Liposomal Cosmetics" by Wendel et al. on page 32ff, the 1979 issue of International Journal of Cosmetic Science, Vol. 1: "Dispersions of lamellar phases of non-ionic lipids in cosmetic products" by Handajani-Vila et al. on page 303ff, and the January/February, 1989 issue of Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, vol. 40: "Liposomes: From theoretical model to cosmetic tool" by Strauss. The Strauss article notes that liposomes can encapsulate water-soluble cosmetics in their aqueous compartments. It states that detergents and surfactants are added, but are later removed by dialysis or gel filtration to form the liposomes (FIG. 2) while page 56 states that surfactants can be encapsulated in liposomes. Other examples of liposome preparation are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,438,052 to Weder et al., 4,536,324 to Fujiwara et al. (nonionic liposomes), 4,708,861 to Popescu et al., 4,853,228 to Wallach et al. (nonionic liposomes--charged surfactants can be added to alter the ionic nature of the liposome formed), and 4,911,928 to Wallach et al. and the Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, "Synthetic Bilayer Membranes with Anionic Head Groups", Kunitake et al., Vol. 51, No. 6, page 1877ff, 1978 (liposomes from synthetic anionic surfactants).
For cosmetic uses, liposome-containing formulations are generally in the form of lotions or creams which provide a vehicle which retains the bilayer structure of the liposomes. Liposomes, particularly those derived from phospholipids such as lecithin, are sensitive to other compounds which can lyse the bilayer forming the liposome particles. Lysis eliminates the presence of the vesicles comprising the liposomes and any cosmetic material such as a humectant carried within the aqueous interior compartment of the liposome is released into the surrounding aqueous media.
Skin creams and lotions are generally left on the skin or hair and are not rinsed off. It would be of significant cosmetic importance if liposomes could be included in products such as shower gels and hair shampoos. These products would both cleanse the body and impart the beneficial properties of liposomes to the skin and hair even though a shower gel or hair shampoo is normally rinsed away. Although the literature is somewhat contradictory on this point, anionic surfactants of the type typically used in shower gels and shampoos such as sodium laureth-2 sulfate act to lyse liposome vesicles. The liposomes are not stable in the presence of such surfactants and any beneficial effect they might have is reduced or eliminated by such lysis.
Liposome stability is particularly important when the liposomes are used to deliver an active ingredient such as a moisturizer or vitamin. For example, page 36 of the Wendel et al. article, supra, states "liposomal liquid soaps or shampoos generally cannot be formulated" in referring to natural phospholipid-derived liposomes. Wendel et al. further teach that liposomes are "quite stable in products with amphiphilic surfactants such as ethanol or ethylene glycol". U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,572 to Sundberg et al. teaches that liposomes are lysed by the addition of a surfactant with a critical micelle concentration of at least 0.1 millimole and states that examples of anionic surfactants used to lyse liposomes are sodium cholate and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Page 66 of the Lautenschlager II article states ". . . it is impossible to formulate liposomal liquid soaps or shampoos . . ." while page 70 refers to a stable oil-in-water cream containing liposomes as well as 0.5% polysorbate and 0.5% sorbitan mono-oleate as an example of a stable liposomal cream with very low proportions of emulsifiers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,971 to Oleniacz teaches liposome suspensions containing entrapped humectants where the liposomes comprise a ternary mixture of lecithin, dicetyl phosphate and cholesterol and the humectant can be sodium pyroglutamate or glutamic acid. Contrary to other journal reports, Oleniacz teaches that such liposomes can be delivered from a vehicle containing anionic or amphoteric surfactants. Example 15 gives a shampoo formulation containing an anionic surfactant--triethanolammonium lauryl sulfate, ethanol, another surfactant--bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkylamine oxide, ethanol and an aqueous composition containing liposomes in which sodium pyroglutamate was entrapped. The instructions state that the four ingredients are merely mixed together at room temperature while maintaining a pH of 5-6 until the solid components dissolve. Unlike Example 13 of Oleniacz where the stability of humectant-containing liposomes in the presence of 0.1 weight volume percent of various surfactants is reported, there is no indication that stable liposomes were present in the resulting shampoo composition. No specific order for mixing the ingredients together is given for Example 15.
In their article in Physica B 156 & 157 entitled "Neutron Small Angle Scattering of Liposomes in the Presence of Detergents" on page 477ff, Nawroth et al. conclude that small amounts of detergents such as bile salts (taurodexycholate sodium salt) can be incorporated into lecithin-based liposomes without destroying their structure. The liposomes were stabilized by the charged detergent. Nonionic detergents did not help to stabilize the liposomes while anionic and cationic detergents did. In this work, the detergents were incorporated into the liposomes during their formation.
Unlike the liposomes which are the subject of this invention, U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,159 to Miyake et al. teach a hair cosmetic which is a polymer vesicle obtained from the polymerization of a surfactant monomer vesicle having a quaternary ammonium cation and a polymerizable anion as a counterion. The products are said to be useful as a hair rinse to condition the hair. In addition to the polymeric vesicles, anionic surfactants can also be present.

Detergent compositions containing liposomes and process therefor


A foreign matter detection device, for detecting a foreign matter on a photomask of transparent material with opaque patterns formed thereon, includes a laser source for emitting an S-polarized laser beam so as to impinge on a first surface of the photomask which reflects a P-polarized laser beam. A light source is provided to illuminate the photomask at an opposed surface to the first surface, from which a light transmits. This reflected P-polarized laser beam and transmitted light enters, through a condenser lens and a deflection plate, into a CCD in which an image representing the condition of the impinged surface is obtained. Since the P-polarized laser beam indicative of the corner edge of the pattern is offset by the transmitted light passing around the same corner edge, the pattern image is obscured and foreign matter is distinguishable in the obtained image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for detecting a foreign matter on a test piece for use in semiconductor production and, more particularly, on a photomask having a given pattern thereon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Two important problems faced in improving semiconductor production processes in recent years have been improving product reliability and yields. Most defects found during the initial production processes in large-scale integration semiconductor (LSI and VLSI) device production are caused by foreign matter in the processes. Developing equipment that can detect such foreign matter at high speed and with high reliability is the key to overcoming this production problem.
Most conventional foreign matter detection devices are based on detection of laser scattered light, and are capable of detecting foreign matter with a minimum size of approximately 0.2 .mu.m using devices that scan mirror-finish test pieces. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,515 issued Aug. 3, 1982, to Akiba et al. (corresponding to the Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 54-101390 published Aug. 9, 1979 (unexamined)). discloses a typical device which makes it possible to distinguish foreign matter from the pattern. Devices that scan test pieces with an imprinted pattern can detect foreign matter with a minimum size of approximately 0.5 .mu.m.
Referring to FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, the operation of a conventional device capable of detecting foreign matter on a patterned test piece is described below. This device works by impinging a S-polarized laser beam 1 on the test piece having a pattern, and detecting differences in the polarization characteristics of scattered laser beams from the pattern edge and foreign matter.
FIG. 9A shows a case in which the S-polarized laser beam 1 is emitted approximately parallel to the upper surface of a photomask 6a having a pattern extending in a direction V, perpendicular to the S-polarized laser beam 1. As a result, there is no change in the polarization of reflected laser beam 2a from the photomask pattern 6a, and it enters into an object lens 5 with the S-polarization. Because a deflector plate 4 is placed to pass the light having a polarization perpendicular to the S-polarization, the reflected laser beam 2a is quenched by the deflector plate 4 and can not reach a detection element 3 such as a photoelectric multiplier.
FIG. 9B shows a case in which the S-polarized laser beam 1 is emitted to a photomask 6b in a manner very similar to that of FIG. 9A, but a pattern of photomask 6b extends in a direction V' having an angle .alpha. with respect to the direction V. The reflected laser beam 2b from the pattern of photomask 6b is not incident to the object lens 5, much less the detection element 3, as shown.
FIG. 9C shows a case in which the S-polarized laser beam 1 is emitted to a foreign matter 7 in a manner very similar to those of FIGS. 9A and 9B. When the laser beam 1 is impinged on the foreign matter 7, a P-polarized laser beam 2c having a polarization perpendicular to that of S-polarization is further reflected therefrom in addition to the S-polarized laser beam. Because the deflector plate 4 passes only the light having a polarization perpendicular to the S-polarization as described before, only the reflected laser beam 2c therefore can pass into the detection element 3 through the object lens 5 and deflection plate 4. Thus, the information with respect to the polarization in reflected laser beams 2a and 2c can be utilized to detect the foreign matter 7 on the photomasks 6a and 6b.
In general, when a laser beam is impinged on a test piece such as a photomask, non-directional scattered light is reflected from foreign matter on the photomask, and directional scattered light is reflected from the pattern formed on the photomask, specifically from the edge of the circuit pattern formed by a light shielded material such as chromium. Therefore, the foreign matter can be detected by utilizing the deflection or similar factors to shut the directional scattered light caused by the pattern edges.
However, in the conventional device with the above described configuration, when the laser beam 1 is impinged on a surface of the photomask, some portion of the laser beam 1 is reflected by the impinged surface of the photomask and the remaining portion thereof is incident to the photomask through the impinged surface. This reflected or incident laser beam reaches the detection element 3 after repeated reflecting or scattering inside the device, causing the element 3 to produce a photoelectric signal indicating that scattered light from foreign matter was received even though there is not actually any foreign matter present. This is particularly a problem when extremely minute foreign matter must be detected, or when the incidence angle of the deflected laser beam is offset from the horizontal. Thus, the conventional devices can not detect foreign matter with precision and reliability enough to satisfy the requirement of the present semiconductor production field.
Furthermore, in the conventional foreign matter detection device, it is impossible to recognize the shape and content or type of the foreign matter. This is because a photomultiplier can only process the photoelectric level of the reflected laser beam and can not produce the scanned area's image based on such a reflected laser beam. Therefore, it is necessary to move the laser beam 1 on the scanning area of the photomask to obtain the information with respect to the positional relationship between the detected foreign matter and the photomask, requiring substantial scanning time and a complicated mechanism for scanning.
Still furthermore, in the conventional foreign matter detection device, the incident angle of the S-polarized laser beam with respect to the surface of the test piece must be controlled within 2.degree. to 30.degree.. This is because when the incident angle is less than 2.degree., the pattern hinders the laser beam from impinging the neighboring pattern (such patterns are placed very closely together). Also when the incident angle is greater than 30.degree., the scanning area on the test piece impinged by the laser beam becomes too small.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A fold rear-view mirror assembly (100) for motor vehicles is disclosed. It comprises a base member (120) to be mounted on a motor vehicle, a mirror housing (110), a shaft (140) for rotation of the mirror housing (110) to the base member (120) between operative and folded conditions, an elastic element (160) associated with the shaft (140) for applying a force on the base member (120) and the mirror housing (110), and a retaining mechanism (200) comprising a locking member (260) carrying a retaining element (250) clamped therein such that it can be moved to the locking member (260) between a release position where it can be moved to the shaft (140), and a lock position where it is received in a shaft recess (142) causing the retaining element (250) to be locked to the shaft (140) so that the elastic element (160) is axially retained against the locking member (260).

Known rear-view mirror assemblies comprise a base member for being mounted on a suitable outer portion of motor vehicles, and a mirror housing adapted for receiving a mirror pane therein. The mirror housing is arranged so that it can be rotated relative to the base member around a mirror rotation axis between at least a mirror operative condition, or drive position, and a mirror folded condition, or parking position, and vice versa.
A shaft is provided for rotation of the mirror housing relative to the base member. A compression spring is also provided surrounding the shaft so that it is compressed against a stop. Rotation of the mirror housing relative to the base member around the shaft causes the mirror housing to be displaced vertically relative to the base member compressing said spring until a determined mirror condition, such as said mirror folded position, has been reached. Then, the mirror housing is displaced downwards again relative to the base member releasing said spring.
The above mentioned stop against which the spring is compressed upon rotation of the mirror housing relative to the base member may be for example a push nut as disclosed in US2011255188. This push nut has elastic portions for clipping to the shaft. Due to elasticity of the elastic portions and the force of the spring an opening preventing portion is required to be formed on the shaft to avoid the elastic portions from being deformed from the inside to the outside in the radial direction of the shaft.
In order to avoid the need for an opening preventing portion to be securely mounted on the shaft, US2009086351 provides a stopper made of resin that is fixed to the shaft for compressing the spring. The stopper is a ring-shaped main body made of an elastic resin with a plurality of engaging nails arranged along an inner peripheral surface of the main body and elastically engaged with an engaging portion. As the shaft is inserted, the main body is elastically deformed and each of the engaging nails is brought into contact with the contacting portion. The main body elastically returns to an original shape when each of the engaging nails reaches the engaging portion.
In the rear-view mirror assembly disclosed in US2004233557, a spring clip fixedly positioned around the shaft is used as a stop of the spring. The spring clip has an inner retaining tab portion for engaging the shaft as it is press fitted thereon. In this rear-view mirror assembly, a bracing member is required between the spring and the spring clip to avoid direct contact therebetween. The spring clip is engaged with the bracing member so that it is locked in an upward longitudinal movement to the shaft.
None of the above prior art rear-view mirror documents provide a rear-view mirror assembly whose spring can be easily assembled and disassembled while its compression function is still performed efficiently. There is thus a need for a rear-view mirror assembly having a stop member for the spring that can be easily fitted into and removed from the shaft while performing a spring compression function efficiently.

Fold rear-view mirror assembly for motor vehicles


The invention is directed to an illuminating arrangement (5) for a surgical microscope (1) having an illuminating beam path (7) which runs essentially coaxially to the optical axis (9) of the surgical microscope. The illuminating arrangement (5) includes an optical ancillary element (15) having a positive refractive power. The ancillary element (15) can be selectively pivoted into and out of the illuminating beam path. The illuminating aperture in the region of the optical axis (9) of the surgical microscope (1) is increased by pivoting the optical ancillary element (15) into the illuminating beam path (7). This is done without changing the viewing focal intercept of the surgical microscope (1).

An illuminating arrangement of this kind is available commercially from Carl Zeiss under the product designation "Varioskop" together with the surgical microscope OPMI CS. In this known illuminating arrangement, even narrow surgical channels can be illuminated because of the illuminating beam path running essentially coaxially to the optical axis of the surgical microscope. The diameter of the illuminated area and the illumination intensity can be varied within certain limits.
Especially in neurosurgery, it has been shown to be desirable to further increase the illumination intensity for fluorescent excitation of tumorous tissue in order to be able to do without a special fluorescence illumination such as a hand-guided light conductor wherein light emanates from the end face thereof.

Illuminating arrangement for a surgical microscope


A packaging system for packaging granular food items for shipment includes a plurality of granular food item bags, each granular food item bag having a side surface. A folder has at least one crease with a first half having a first inner surface on one side of the crease and a second half having a second inner surface on an opposing side of the at least one crease. The side surface of each granular food item bag is attached to the first inner surface of the first half of the folder and the granular food item bags are arranged in and N×M array on the first inner surface of the first half of the folder. The folder is then folded along the at least one crease so the second inner surface of the second half of the folder is folded over the granular food item bags attached to the first inner surface.

The present disclosure pertains to packaging systems, and more specifically, to packaging systems for granular food items such as spices.
Many products are purchased remotely, such as over the Internet, and after purchase are shipped to the customer or purchaser through any of a variety of suitable shipping channels, such as Federal Express or the United States Postal Service. These products need to be suitably packaged for shipment and this packaging affects the cost and carbon footprint of shipping through the shape and weight of the packaging materials that are utilized. In fact, for many products the cost of shipping is primarily due not to the product itself but to the packaging materials required for shipment. Heavier packages generally incur greater shipping cost and carbon footprints. Similarly, rigid, thick packages generally incur greater shipping costs and carbon footprints than flexible, thin packages that can be handled as envelopes. In the case of shipping granular food items such as spices, both factors apply. These food items are typically very lightweight. They must, however, be placed in suitable containers, such as glass jars, and then these jars suitably packaged for delivery to a purchaser. The weight of glass jars typically accounts for the vast majority of the weight of the packaging materials for the spices and thus increases the cost and carbon footprint of shipping. Furthermore, the size of the jars results in a package profile that is relatively thick and rigid compared to a flatter more flexible profile like that of an envelope, and this increased thickness and rigidity also increases the cost and carbon footprint of shipping.
In general, improved packaging techniques are desired for the packaging of granular food items, such as spices, for shipment to purchasers.


The present invention is directed to a control apparatus for use in an automotive air conditioning system which includes a variable capacity type refrigerant compressor. The automotive air conditioning system comprises a refrigerant circuit including a refrigerant compressor with an externally controlled variable capacity control mechanism and an evaporator connected to a suction chamber of the compressor, and a control apparatus which controls operation thereof. The control apparatus includes an adjusting device for adjusting a pressure control point in the compressor suction chamber. At the time operation of the refrigerant circuit is initiated, the pressure control point of the compressor suction chamber is adjusted to a predetermined constant value which is determined by air temperature immediately downstream from the evaporator. Shortly thereafter, but still during the initial stage of operation of the refrigerant circuit, the pressure control point of the compressor suction chamber is varied by a proportional control action as the air temperature immediately downstream from the evaporator becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value. Accordingly, a passenger compartment of the automobile can be more adequately air conditioned throughout the initial stage of operation of the automotive air conditioning system.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to an automotive air conditioning system, and more particularly, to a control apparatus for controlling operation of an automotive air conditioning system which includes an externally controlled variable capacity type refrigerant compressor.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Control apparatuses for controlling operation of an automotive air conditioning system which includes an externally controlled variable capacity type refrigerant compressor are well known in the art.
According to one conventional control apparatus, during the initial operation of an automotive air conditioning system including a variable capacity type refrigerant compressor, air temperature Te' immediately downstream from an evaporator is controlled as indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 5 and 6. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, from a time t0 when operation of the air conditioning system is initiated to a time t1' when the temperature Te' drops to a certain value T3 which is slightly greater than a set temperature Tset, the control apparatus maintains a pressure control point in a suction chamber of the compressor at a minimum boundary value of 1.0 kg/cm.sup.2 G to thereby quickly drop temperature Te'. This is accomplished by the control apparatus by outputting an electric signal having a certain amperage Ip1 to an externally controlled variable capacity control mechanism of the compressor. Once the temperature Te' drops to value T3, the pressure control point in the compressor suction chamber is varied to cause temperature Te' to approach set temperature Tset. This is accomplished by the control apparatus by outputting another electric signal having an amperage determined by the proportional control action of the control apparatus. The proportional control action is initialized at amperage Ip1.
As a consequence of the operation of the above conventional automotive air conditioning system, during the initial operation of the system, the air temperature Te' immediately downstream from the evaporator overshoots the set temperature Tset by an amount which is significant enough to delay the time period required for temperature Te' to approach the set temperature Tset. Accordingly, the passenger compartment of the automobile cannot be adequately air conditioned during the initial operation of the automotive air conditioning system.

Control apparatus for use in automotive air conditioning system


An example portable, retractable surface protection device. The example device includes a rotatable support bar, a first support base positioned to a first end of the support bar, a second support base positioned to a second end of the support bar, and a surface cover. A plurality of wheels are positioned to the second support base such that the device is wheelable. The device additionally includes a handle connected to the support bar for wrapping and unwrapping the surface cover onto the support bar. A plurality of removable weights positioned in the surface cover at least partially restrict movement of the surface cover when in a fully or a partially deployed position.

Recreational activities frequently include essential surfaces that are susceptible to damage from exposure to one or more surface damaging phenomena. For example, typical surface damaging mechanisms include physical contact resulting from participant interaction, exposure to inclement environmental conditions, and others. In this regard, maintenance and protection is required to safeguard a participant from injury and increase the lifetime of the surfaces.

Portable retractable surface protection device


The invention relates to a simple quantitative fluorescent assay method for determining the activity of transport proteins, more specifically multi-drug resistance associated proteins (MRPs). The method of the invention is performed on a well sealed culture of polarized cells expressing a transport protein of interest grown to confluency on a permeable support, said confluent cell culture forming well separated apical and basolateral compartments. The cells are contacted with a cell permeable non-fluorescent derivative of a fluorescent compound (e.g. calcein AM) in one compartment and, after a certain period of incubation, the fluorescence intensity detected in a sample taken from the opposite compartment is indicative of the activity of the transport protein of interest expressed in the cells. The invention also concerns methods for the qualitative and quantitative determination of inhibitors and activators of transport proteins of interest and methods for assessing basolateral and/or apical localization of plasma membrane bound transport proteins of interest in polarized cells.

The multi-drug resistance proteins (MDRs) and the multi-drug resistance associated proteins, MRP1 and MRP2 are members of the ABC-transporter superfamily, and may cause multiple drug resistance in malignant tumors. By now, at least six MRP-like proteins have been identified. The physiological role of these proteins may range from elimination of toxic agents to diverse secretory function, predominantly in epithelial cells. MRP1 is widely expressed in various tissues, while MRP2 is predominantly expressed in hepatocytes and epithelial cells of renal proximal tubules. Identifying novel compounds effectively inhibiting such transport proteins is, therefore, a major interest in trying to elaborate more effective chemotherapeutical treatment methods for drug resistant type of malignant disorders. Identifying activators of said transport proteins might also be of interest in other applications where the enhancement of their activity may help in the elimination of some undesired physiological states.
It has been previously shown that MRP1 extrudes negatively charged fluorescent compounds, e.g. calcein free acid, from the cells [Feller et al, FEBS Lett. 368, 385–388 (1995); Holló et al, FEBS Lett. 383, 99–104 (1996)]. We have recently found that this dye is rapidly expelled from cells also by MRP2. It is also possible that other members of this protein family transport this compound. In polarized cells, the distribution of these proteins is not homogeneous. Expression of MRP1 is restricted to the basolateral surface, while MRP2 is expressed solely in the apical membrane.
This feature makes possible the assessment of the function of these and other similar proteins in the so called vectorial transport assay performed on confluent cultures of polarized cells grown on permeable solid support (e.g. on porous membranes). The vectorial transport assay described so far [Evers, R. et al, J. Clin. Invest. 97, 1211–1218 (1996)], though being suitable to experimentally investigate the localization and activity of transport proteins like MRP1 and MRP2, suffers from the serious drawback of using exclusively radioactively labeled substrates for detection which, of course, requires the application of extra laboratory safety equipment and regulations. Another drawback is the previously described vectorial transport assay is that certain labeled substrates used for the assessment of the activity of the intracellular transport proteins of interest might be able to pass the tight junctions contacting the cells of the confluent culture used and, therefore, can get to the opposite compartment even without being transported, thus making very complicated to develop a suitable quantitative assay for the exact determination of the activity of the transport proteins of interest.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide simple qualitative and quantitative vectorial transport assay methods that are significantly easier to perform and automate than the previously described ones and can also be made quantitative by only detecting the transcellular export (and not the transport going possibly through the tight junctions of the polarized culture and thereby avoiding uptake and excretion by the cells). Another object of the present invention is to provide assay methods for the identification of inhibitors and activators of transport proteins of interest and, also, assay methods for the fast and easy assessment of the localization of transport proteins of interest in the basolateral and/or apical plasma membrane.
Calcein is a well known fluorescent substance (commercialized by Molecular Probes, Inc. USA) and the non-fluorescent acetoxy-methyl ester derivative of said compound (calcein AM) is known to be cell permeable due to its hydrophobic character. We have previously developed different assay arrangements using calcein AM for the assessment of the activity of MDR1 or other transport proteins which can extrude calcein AM from the cells but can not extrude calcein itself (U.S. Pat. No. 5,872,014; European Patent No. 0,784,699). We now have recognized that calcein and calcein AM (and other compounds of similar behavior) can also be used to elaborate assay methods for the assessment of the activity of MRP1, MRP2 and similar transport proteins which can effectively extrude calcein out from the cells.

Simple quantitative fluorescent assay method for determining the activity of transport proteins of interest


A keyboard apparatus has keys for operation by a user. The keyboard includes a first plurality of keys being coupled to electrical generator apparatus for generating electricity from their operation. A second plurality of the keys is not coupled to electrical generator apparatus. The first plurality of keys exhibits a greater average statistical frequency of usage per key than does the second plurality.

The present invention relates to the provision of electric power to portable electrical apparatus and, more specifically, to improved apparatus for deriving electrical power from a keyboard.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,529, entitled TYPING POWER and issued Jun. 15, 1999 in the name of Crisan, discloses a keyboard power generator having a plurality of keys with one or more magnets mounted on them. A plurality of coils are mounted on both ends of the magnets such that, when a user is typing, the magnet traverses the coils. The movement of the magnet over the coils causes an electric current to be generated. Various detailed arrangements are described for harnessing the power of movement of the keys on the keyboard for providing electrical power.
The energy provided by the keyboard described by in U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,529 is stated to be usable to lengthen the operating period of a portable computer, or in the alternative, it can be used to reduce the size of the primary battery so as to result in a lighter portable computer. The disclosure of the afore-mentioned patent is herein incorporated by reference to the extent not incompatible with the present invention.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, keyboard apparatus has keys for operation by a user. The keyboard comprises a first plurality of the keys being coupled to electrical generator apparatus for generating electricity from their operation; and a second plurality of said keys not being coupled to electrical generator apparatus. Keys exhibiting a relatively high usage rate are included in the first plurality of keys and keys exhibiting a relatively low usage rate are left in the second plurality.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a keyboard apparatus having keys for operation by a user comprises a first plurality of the keys being coupled to electrical generator apparatus for generating electricity from their operation; and a second plurality of the keys not being coupled to electrical generator apparatus, the first plurality of keys exhibiting a greater average statistical frequency of usage per key than the second plurality.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a considerable saving can be effected by equipping for electric power generation only a portion, appropriately selected, of the total number of keys on a keyboard because of the diminishing return on equipping little-used keys for power generation.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first plurality includes the two most frequently used keys based on statistics for a language for which the keyboard is to be used.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first plurality includes the three most frequently used keys based on statistics for a language for which the keyboard is to be used.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first plurality includes the four most frequently used keys based on statistics for a language for which the keyboard is to be used.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first plurality includes the N most frequently used keys based on statistics for a language for which the keyboard is to be used, where N is determined by design choice.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first plurality includes the N most frequently used keys based on statistics for a language for which the keyboard is primarily intended to be used, where N is determined by design choice.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, in a keyboard apparatus having keys for operation by a user, the keyboard comprises a key exhibiting the greatest average statistical frequency of usage of the keys, wherein that key is coupled to electrical generator apparatus for generating electricity from its operation; and the balance of the keys are not being coupled to electrical generator apparatus.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a keyboard apparatus comprises a plurality of keys for operation by a user, the keyboard comprising electrical power generation apparatus for generating electrical power from mechanical energy associated with operation of keys coupled thereto; a first plurality of the keys, herein referred to as generator keys, being coupled to the electrical power generation apparatus and exhibiting a first total relative statistical frequency of usage; a second plurality of the keys, herein referred to as non-generator keys, not being coupled to the electrical power generation apparatus and exhibiting a second total relative statistical frequency of usage; the number of generator keys divided by the number of non-generator keys forming a first ratio; the first total relative statistical frequency of usage of the generator keys divided by the second total relative statistical frequency of usage of the non-generator keys forming a second ratio; and the first ratio being smaller than the second ratio.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first and second relative statistical frequencies of usage are determined by observation from text samples in a language for which the keyboard is primarily intended to be used.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first and second relative statistical frequencies of usage are determined by observation from text samples in the English language.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a keyboard apparatus includes a plurality of keys for operation by a user, the keyboard comprising a first plurality of the keys which are coupled to electrical generator apparatus for generating electricity from their operation; and a second plurality of the keys not being coupled to electrical generator apparatus, the first plurality of keys exhibiting a total statistically greater frequency of usage than the second plurality.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a keyboard apparatus includes a given total number of keys for operation by a user. The keyboard comprises electrical generator apparatus for generating electricity from operation of keys, a first plurality of the keys being coupled to the electrical generator, the balance of the total number of keys, not being coupled to electrical generator apparatus. The first plurality of keys exhibits a first total relative statistical frequency of usage; the balance of the total number of keys exhibits a second total relative statistical frequency of usage; and the first total relative statistical frequency of usage is greater than the second.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for generating electrical power from a keyboard, comprises the steps of: determining a statistical frequency of usage for keys of the keyboard; forming a first group of keys having a given total statistical frequency of usage; forming a second group of keys having a total statistical frequency of usage less than the given total statistical frequency of usage; and coupling keys of only the first group to electrical generator apparatus for generating electricity from operation of such keys.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for generating electrical power from a keyboard, comprises the steps of: determining a statistical frequency of usage for keys of the keyboard; forming a first group of keys having a first average statistical frequency of usage per key; forming a second group of keys having a second average statistical frequency of usage per key that is less than the first average statistical frequency of usage per key; and coupling keys of only the first group to electrical generator apparatus for generating electricity from operation of such keys.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a keyboard apparatus having a given total number of keys for operation by a user, the keyboard comprising: electrical generator apparatus for generating electricity from operation of keys; a first plurality of the keys being coupled to the electrical generator; the balance of the total number of keys, not being coupled to electrical generator apparatus; the first plurality of keys exhibiting a first total relative statistical frequency of usage; the balance of the total number of keys exhibiting a second total relative statistical frequency of usage; the first and the second total relative statistical frequencies of usage being in a ratio to one another; and wherein the ratio is based on a design choice.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the ratio is determined based on a balancing of the increased cost of including more keys in the first plurality of keys against the benefit of a greater amount of power generation.

Apparatus and method for deriving electric power efficiently from a keyboard


An apparatus is disclosed configured for receiving a first alternating signal and for transmitting a second alternating signal. A detector is configured to receive a third alternating signal which is a reflection of at least a portion in power of the second alternating signal. The detector is further configured to convert the third alternating signal into a rectified signal and measure the power of said rectified signal. The measured power of the rectified signal is indicative of a power of the reflected third signal.

This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is in the prior art or what is not in the prior art.
As it is known, electronic equipment typically use power amplifiers in the final stages of circuitry before transmitting a signal, for example over an antenna in a wireless transmission system. The power amplifiers are typically in charge of amplifying a signal for transmission such that the amplified signal has sufficient power to propagate a specific distance to reach a destination station such as a receiver. Such power amplifiers may be used in wireless or wireline communication systems.

Technique for monitoring and managing output power


The technology described herein generally relates to a blister pack system. The blister pack system includes multiple cavities for storing products. For example, four cavities may hold four different products. A technician may extract the four different products in a particular order. The blister pack makes it easy for the technician to determine which product to use first, and to determine which successive product to use even if the orientation of the blister pack is changed during the process.

The present blister pack system is directed to a single package that may house a variety of different substances for systematic application.
Technicians working with hand and foot care and providing manicures and pedicures generally utilize a number of products to assist in the nail care process. They may create a soaking solution to soften the skin and nails. They may apply a scrubbing compound to help clean the nails and skin. They may apply a scrub, such as a sugar scrub to exfoliate or clean the customer. They may then apply a mask. They may then apply a lotion.
Previously, these products were supplied separately. For example, a salon would purchase a large container of concentrate for creating the soaking solution. Large quantities of the scrub, mask, and lotion compounds could also be purchased. In each case, the technician would need to measure out the amount needed for each individual customer. This would result in inefficiencies such as lost time in how long it would take to get out each of the large containers and use a measuring device to portion the products out. The products would need to be deposited into receptacles for use during the manicure or pedicure process. Manipulating multiple containers during a procedure would also lead to cross contamination or require the technician to switch out gloves repeatedly which was inconvenient and wasteful.
Different technicians would often use more product than was necessary leading to waste. The use of receptacles for products would also increase costs because the salon would need to purchase disposable receptacles or clean the receptacles.
One attempt at a solution was to prepare individual containers of the products. With that system, a technician would collect, for example, four separate pouches, each with a different product inside. The technician would then open each pouch in preparation for use. However, while that helped with portion control, the problem of requiring additional receptacles remained. Also, the pouches required a significant amount of material to form the overall pouch leading to a large increase in expense over the bulk containers. The pouches also required that the technician be able to read what the contents of the pouches were which was often a problem for foreign technicians. Thus, there is a need for a simple solution that manages the products, eliminates waste, is easy to use, eliminates the need for additional receptacles, and does not require the ability to read.


A coaxial cable connector tool includes a hollow elongated housing comprised of two halves hinged together. The halves are closed around a female coaxial cable connector. When the halves are closed, a hexagonal hole is formed at one end, and another hole is formed at the opposite end. The hexagonal sleeve on the connector is snugly positioned in the hexagonal hole, and the cable is positioned through the opposite hole. The sleeve is rotated by turning the housing by hand. The housing is substantially wider than the sleeve on the connector, and includes a hexagonal outer surface, so that it may be easily gripped and turned by hand. In a second embodiment, the housing is provided as a built-in component on new connectors.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to tools, such as wrenches, for turning coaxial cable connectors.
2. Prior Art
A typical coaxial cable includes a female connector at one end for connecting to a male connector on a piece of equipment, such as a television, computer network card, etc. The female connector includes a coaxial, freely rotating, internally threaded sleeve for screwing onto the threaded male connector. The sleeve includes a hexagonal exterior surface for being turned by conventional wrenches. However, having to find a wrench is inconvenient, and some households do not own wrenches. Most users connecting a television tend to turn the connectors by hand, but that is difficult and somewhat painful due to the tightness of the fit.


A machine (40) is disclosed for crimping a terminal (12) onto a wire (10) thereby forming a crimped wire assembly (32). The machine includes a crimping bar 64 and a mating anvil (60) for performing the crimping operation. A terminal feed unit (70) is provided for feeding a strip (24) of terminals. The machine includes a wire guiding device (80) having an upper half (82) attached to the crimping bar (64) and a lower half (84) attached to the anvil (60). Each of the upper and lower halves include two wire guide members (88) that slide toward and away from a central axis (116) extending through the barrel (22) of the terminal (12) to be crimped. The ends of the four wire guide members (88), each having a quarter of a conical surface (118) formed thereon, are arranged so that the four surfaces form a complete conical section for guiding the wire (10) as it is being inserted into the barrel (22) of the terminal (12). The wire guide members (88) are arranged to retract as the leading edge (132) of the insulating jacket (16) engages the conical surfaces (118).

Applicator machines for the attachment of electrical terminals to very large conductors usually include a press having a movable ram that is arranged to undergo reciprocating motion toward and away from a bolster plate Crimping tooling is provided consisting of a fixed anvil that is attached to the bolster plate and a mating upper die that is attached to and carried by the ram. The terminals, arranged on a plastic carrier strip, are drawn from a reel by a feed mechanism and positioned, one at a time, in alignment with the anvil and upper die. A stripped end of a wire is manually inserted into the barrel of the terminal and the press actuated to crimp the terminal onto the wire. Such a machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,613 which issued Jun. 28, 1977 to Brown et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,180 which issued Aug. 9, 1977 to Brown. In both of these patents, the machine includes a pivotal lifting device that serves two purposes. The first purpose being to guide the multiple-stranded wire end during operator insertion of the wire end into the barrel of the terminal prior to crimping, and the second to separate the crimped wire assembly from the anvil as the strip of terminals is advanced to position the next terminal in alignment with the anvil. Both of these devices provide wire guidance, the device of the '613 patent guides a full 360 degrees while the device of the '180 patent guides only the lower 180 degrees of the wire. The guiding mechanisms of both these devices suffer from the inability of the guiding surfaces to yield and retract slightly after the wire has begun to enter the barrel of the terminal and the edge of the wire's insulation engages the guide surfaces. The wire must be fully inserted into the barrel of the terminal so that the edge of the insulation is against the end of the barrel prior to actuating the crimping press. Since the outside diameter of the insulation is greater than the outside diameter of the wire, as the insulation engages the guiding surfaces, the guiding surfaces must easily retract to allow the insulated portion of the wire to pass. The two part funnel mechanism of the '613 patent has an upper half that is pivotally attached to the lower half so that it can pivot away as the wire is inserted, however, the lower half cannot retract. The funnel opening formed is slightly larger than the diameter of the wire but less than the outside diameter of the insulation of the wire. Further, the two halves form two mating conical sections having sharp corners. As the edge of the insulation engages the two conical sections; they are urged apart. The upper half is urged to pivot upwardly while the wire insulation is forced slightly upwardly over the sharp corners of the lower half, the sharp corners of both the upper and lower halves biting into and damaging the outer surface of the insulation. Further, the sharp corners tend to inhibit movement of the wire as it is being inserted. Very elaborate guiding devices having complex retraction mechanisms have been developed to overcome this problem but such devices are costly to manufacture and to maintain.
What is needed is a wire guiding device that is effective in guiding the multi-stranded wire until it begins to enter the barrel of the terminal, and then the guiding surfaces should retract slightly as the insulation of the wire engages and passes them without sharp corners damaging the insulation or inhibiting insertion of the wire into the terminal barrel.

Wire lead-in funnel for a terminal applicator


The present invention encompasses compounds of formula (I), wherein the groups R1 to R5, X, Y and W have the meanings given in the claims and specification, their use as inhibitors of BCL6, pharmaceutical compositions which contain compounds of this kind and their use as medicaments, especially as agents for treatment and/or prevention of oncological diseases.

Germinal centers (GCs) are substructures of lymph nodes that are dedicated to the selection of B-cells expressing high-affinity antibodies (Basso and Dalla-Favera Nat Rev Immunol 15, 172-184 (2015)). In the GC reaction B-cells undergo cycles of fast cell division, somatic hypermutation of their immunoglobulin genes and selection for high affinity antibody expression via the interaction with follicular T-helper cells. B-cells producing high-affinity antibodies can leave the GCs and mature to antibody-producing plasma cells or memory B cells. Accidental mutations in the GC reaction can give rise to mutated B-cells that maintain an elevated proliferation and fail to differentiate, contributing to the genesis of diffused large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
The transcription factor BCL6 is required for the GC-reaction (Dent et al. Science 276, 589-592 (1997), Ye et al. Nat. Genet 16, 161-170 (1997)). BCL6 represses the expression of a broad set of genes that are required to sustain mutagenic activity without activating the DNA damage response or apoptosis (Basso and Dalla-Favera Nat Rev Immunol 15, 172-184 (2015)). BCL6 also prevents maturation to plasma or memory cells and helps to maintain a de-differentiated state. Its expression must be switched off to allow the B-cell to exit the GC cycle and differentiate.
BCL6 is an oncogenic driver for DLBCL (Basso and Dalla-Favera Immunol. Rev 247, 172-183 (2012), Hatzi and Melnick Trends Mol. Med 20, 343-352 (2014), Pasqualucci Curr. Opin. Hematol 20, 336-344 (2013)). Its expression is frequently elevated by mutations in DLBCL. Recurrent mutations leading to elevated expression of BCL6 include translocations (Ye et al., Science 262, 747-750 (1993)), promoter mutations (Migliazza et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A 92, 12520-12524 (1995), L. Pasqualucci et al. Blood 101, 2914-2923 (2003)) as well as mutations in regulators of BCL6 expression or stability (Ying et al. Nat Immunol 14, 1084-1092 (2013), Duan et al. Nature 481, 90-93 (2012), Pasqualucci et al. Nature 471, 189-195 (2011).). Dysregulated expression of BCL6 in mice leads to lymphomagenesis (Cattoretti et al. Cancer Cell 7, 445-455 (2005)).
BCL6 functions as a transcriptional repressor that binds specific DNA sequences via its Zn-fingers and recruits transcriptional co-repressor complexes by its BTB/POZ (Broad-Complex, Tramtrack and Bric a brac (Zollman et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91, 10717-10721 (1994)) or poxvirus and zinc finger (Bardwell and Treisman Genes Dev 8, 1664-1677 (1994)) domain. Mutation of the co-repressor binding interface on BCL6 has been shown to prevent the formation of germinal centers (Huang et al. Nat. Immunol 14, 380-388 (2013)). While germ-line deletion of BCL6 results in inflammatory defects (Dent et al. Science 276, 589-592 (1997), Ye et al. Nat. Genet 16, 161-170 (1997)), mutation of the co-repressor binding surface does not show overt pathological phenotypes. Thus, pharmacological inhibition of the interaction of BCL6 with corepressor proteins promises to block the oncogenic function of the protein with few or no side effects other than the lack of affinity maturation of B-cells.
The BTB domain is a protein interaction motif found at the N-terminus of several zinc finger (ZF) transcription factors, potassium channels and E3 ligase subunits. It forms a tightly intertwined head to tail homodimer (Ahmad et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95, 12123-12128 (1998)). Each dimer has two identical interfaces at the junction of the two subunits which, in the case of BCL6, can bind to sequences found on transcriptional co-repressors, such as NCOR1, SMRT and BCOR. Co-repressor peptides bind in an extended conformation to a groove formed at the dimer interface (Ahmad et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95, 12123-12128 (1998)). Low-affinity non-peptidic inhibitors of the BTB domain of BCL6 have been reported (Cerchietti et al. Cancer Cell 17, 400-411 (2010)), with compounds displaying half-maximal cellular activities around 35 μM (Cardenas et al. J Clin Invest, (2016)).
Protein levels of BCL6 are subject to control by regulated degradation. Activation of B-cell receptor signaling causes MAP kinase-dependent phosphorylation and degradation of BCL6 (Niuet al. Genes Dev 12, 1953-1961 (1998)). Genotoxic stress has been shown to cause phosphorylation of BCL6 by ATM and ATR kinases and ubiquitin-dependent degradation of BCL6 (Phanet al. Nat. Immunol 8, 1132-1139 (2007)). In GC cells, BCL6 degradation requires the E3 ligase FBXO11. Mutational inactivation of FBXO11 stabilizes BCL6 and is recurrently observed in DLBCLs (Duan et al. Nature 481, 90-93 (2012)). Mice lacking FBXO11 in the B-cell lineage display expanded dark zones in GCs, higher levels of BCL6 protein and develop lymphoproliferative disorders (Schneider et al. Blood (2016)).
WO2008/066887 (Melnick et al.); Cerchietti et al., Cancer Cell (2010); Cardenas et al., J. Clin. Invest. (2016) disclose various types of BCL6 inhibitors.
The aim of the present invention is to provide further compounds with BCL6 binding affinities and inhibition effects.
According to the invention, "BCL6 inhibitor(s)" means those compounds which inhibit the BCL6 functions as a transcriptional repressor as described above or those compounds which inhibit the BCL6 functions as transcriptional repressor and induce degradation of the BCL6 protein.

6-amino-quinolinone compounds and derivatives as BCL6 inhibitors