A base substrate of a color filter substrate includes a display region and a peripheral region. The display region includes a pixel area having a first unit area, a second unit area, and a third unit area that are disposed adjacent to each other, and a blocking area that surrounds peripheral portions of each of the first, second, and third unit areas. A first color filter is formed in the first unit area. A second color filter is formed in the second unit area and the blocking area. A third color filter is formed in the third unit area and on the second color filter in the blocking area. Therefore, the second and third color filters overlap each other so that light is blocked.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display substrate, a display panel including the display substrate, and a method of manufacturing the display substrate. More particularly, the present invention relates to a display substrate which may be made by a simplified is manufacturing process, a display panel including the display substrate, and the method of manufacturing the display substrate.
2. Discussion of the Background
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a liquid crystal display panel that displays images by using light transmittance of liquid crystal molecules and a backlight assembly disposed below the LCD panel to provide the LCD panel with light.
The LCD panel includes an array substrate having a thin-film transistor (TFT) formed thereon, a color filter substrate having a color filter formed thereon to face the array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the array substrate and the color filter substrate.
The color filter substrate may include a base substrate, a light-blocking layer formed on the base substrate, a color filter formed to cover the light-blocking layer, an overcoating layer formed on the color filter, and a common electrode formed on the overcoating layer. The light-blocking layer is formed in a light-blocking area of the base substrate.
A method of manufacturing the color filter substrate will be described. The light-blocking layer is formed on the base substrate and then the color filter is formed to cover the light-blocking layer. Next, the overcoating layer is formed on an upper portion of the color filter and finally, the common electrode is formed on the overcoating layer.
However, when the color filter substrate is formed with a plurality of elements, the number of manufacturing process steps required to manufacture the color filter substrate may increase.

Display substrate, display panel having the same, and method of manufacturing the same


It is possible to prevent excessive power generation of a fuel cell when a failure has occurred. When a start signal is input, a fuel cell system sets an open end voltage of the fuel cell as an initial value of the output voltage of the fuel cell corresponding to the output current zero of the fuel cell. When the failure is detected, the fuel cell system reads out the open end voltage of the preset initial value as the output voltage corresponding to the output current zero and controls the voltage so that the output voltage of the fuel cell coincides with the open end voltage.

A fuel cell system is an energy conversion system which supplies a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas to a membrane electrode assembly to cause an electrochemical reaction, thereby converting chemical energy into electric energy. Above all, a solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell using a solid polymer membrane as an electrolyte can easily be made compact at a low cast, and additionally the fuel cell has a high output density, whereby a use application as a car-mounted power source system is expected.
Output characteristics (current-voltage characteristics) of the fuel cell are not constant, and constantly fluctuate in accordance with a stack temperature, and the flow rate, pressure and humidity of a reactant gas and further in accordance with the fluctuation of an internal resistance due to the variance of water in a polymer electrolyte membrane and the like. Moreover, it is known that the output characteristics fluctuate depending on whether the operation state of the fuel cell is an excessive state or a steady state and that the output characteristics also noticeably fluctuate in accordance with aged deterioration or the like. In such situations, the constantly fluctuating output characteristics need to be grasped so as to appropriately control the operation of the fuel cell. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-241272, there is disclosed a method for estimating the output characteristics of the fuel cell based on the output current and output voltage of the fuel cell, to control a cell operation.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-241272

Fuel cell system for preventing excessive power generation


In order to position an optical semiconductor element in high accuracy and to readily fabricate the same, step is formed on an upper surface of a forward end of an electrode (123) projecting from a lead frame. A submount (102) is previously soldered to a lower stage surface (125), while solder (172) is applied to its upper surface. A collet (61) which is softly supported by a spring (63) in the vertical direction suctionally holds a laser diode element (101) and approaches the electrode (123) from above, to be stopped when its leg portion (61b) comes into contact with an upper stage surface (126). Thus, the laser diode element (101) is precisely positioned. In this state, the solder (172) is heated and cooled, to solder the laser diode element (101) to the submount (102). The laser diode element (101) molded with transparent resin, to be easy to fabricate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical semiconductor device such as a laser diode unit, a laser photoreceptor unit or an optical communication module and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly, it relates to improvements for increasing positional accuracy of an optical axis and simplifying the fabrication.
2. Background of the Invention
FIG. 24 is a front sectional view showing a conventional laser diode unit 1. In this laser diode unit 1, a laser diode element 12 and a photoreceptor 13 are fixed to a side surface of a conductor block 17 which is fixed onto a conductor substrate 14. The laser diode element 12 and the photoreceptor 13 are stored in a cap 9 which is fixed onto the substrate 14. A window which is covered with a transparent cover glass member 10 is provided on an upper surface of the cap 9, so that a laser beam emitted from the laser diode element 12 is transmitted to the exterior through this window.
Further, the laser diode element 12 and the photoreceptor 13 are electrically connected to the substrate 14 through the block 14, while the same are electrically connected to electrodes 15 and 16 which are fixed to the substrate 14 through insulators 11c, by conductor wires 18 and 19 respectively. A current is externally supplied through the substrate 14 and the electrode 15, so that the laser diode element 12 emits a laser beam. This laser beam is monitored by the photoreceptor 13. Namely, the photoreceptor 13 generates an output current in response to the intensity of the laser beam, so that this output current is taken out to the exterior through the substrate 14 and the electrode 16.
The laser beam which passes through the cover glass member 10 to be radiated to the exterior is guided through a prescribed optical path which is provided in the exterior, and employed for reading or writing information from or in an optical disk, for example. Alternatively, the laser beam is guided to an optical fiber member for communication, to be employed for transmitting information.
An external control unit (not shown) is connected to the substrate 14 and the electrodes 15 and 16, for supplying the current to the laser diode element 12. The output current of the photoreceptor 13 is so monitored that the value of the current which is supplied to the laser diode element 12 is adjusted to maintain light emission intensity of the laser diode element 12 at a constant level. Still another electrode (not shown) is connected to the substrate 14, so that the external control unit is electrically coupled with the substrate 14 through this electrode.
The cap 9 is adapted to protect the elements which are stored in its interior. Further, hermetic seals 11a, 11b and 11c are provided on joints between respective members defining the container storing these elements, thereby airtightly maintaining the container. Further, inert gas such as argon gas or nitrogen gas is injected into the container. Thus, the elements are placed in an inert gas atmosphere which is sealed against the exterior, so that the laser diode element 12 which is particularly weak against adhesion of a conductive substance such as moisture is protected.
In the conventional laser diode unit 1, as hereinabove described, the hermetic seals 11a, 11b and 11c are provided on three portions including a portion for taking out the optical output, a final sealing part and a portion for taking out the electrodes. In the first place, therefore, the fabrication steps are complicated and hence the fabrication cost is increased. In addition, it is difficult to locate the laser diode element 12 on a prescribed position, in the second place.

Optical semiconductor device for optical communications with increased positional accuracy of an optical access and method of fabricating the same


An ultrasonic system for identifying the location of personnel within a multiple room complex. The system includes ultrasonic transmitters adapted to be transported by the personnel. The transmitters periodically transmit pulse code modulated (PCM) transmitter signals representative of a digital code sequence characteristic of the person, and formed by a plurality of bit positions which are separated from adjacent bit positions by predetermined time intervals. Ultrasonic receivers for receiving the transmitter signals are positioned within each room of the complex. The receivers detect bits of the code sequence only during window periods corresponding to expected bit positions. Detected code sequences are compared to predetermined code sequences, and receiver signals are produced as a function of the comparison. A central station is coupled to receive the receiver signals, and provides a visual indication of the rooms in which the persons transporting the transmitters are located.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention is an electronic system for identifying the location of personnel within a multiple room complex. In particular, the present invention is an ultrasonic personnel location identification system utilizing pulse code modulated transmissions.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
In large multiple room complexes it is often desirable to identify the location of various persons within the complex. In a hospital ward, for example, it is often important for a head nurse or other attendant at a central station to know in which rooms various types of personnel such as other nurses or aides are located.
Personnel location systems of the type discussed above are well known and widely used in hospitals. One such system includes switches in each room which are actuated by a nurse and/or aide when they enter the room. The switches are interfaced to the central nursing station which provides an indication of personnel location. The problem with systems of this type is that personnel often forget to actuate the switches when they enter or leave the room. As a result, the information provided by the central station is often inaccurate and therefore unreliable.
Radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) personnel location systems are also in use. Systems of these types include RF or IR receivers in each room of the ward. Each receiver is interfaced to the central station. Portable transmitters worn by the personnel periodically transmit RF or IR signals characteristic of the persons. When they enter a room, the RF or IR signals are detected by the receivers. The receivers, in turn, provide location information to the central station.
Signals produced by the RF transmitters of these systems have a tendency to be detected by receivers in adjacent rooms. IR transmitters have the opposite problem. The signals transmitted by IR transmitters are very directional, and depending upon the person's orientation, may not be detected by the receiver within the room. In any event, use of either system can result in unreliable indications at the central station.
It is evident that there is a continuing need for improved personnel location identification systems. For convenience and accuracy, the system must operate without any actions on the part of the personnel whose locations are desired to be known. The system must also be able to recognize personnel irrespective of their position or orientation within the room, and be insensitive to personnel in adjacent rooms. Simply put, the system must provide highly accurate information which personnel at the central station can rely upon at critical times.

Ultrasonic personnel location identification system


A machine for cutting a log into a succession of pieces of predetermined length at a cutting station, moving the cut piece to a first splitting station, splitting said first cut piece at said first splitting station while the next piece is being cut at the cutting station, moving the said next piece to a second splitting station, splitting the said next piece at said second splitting station while a third piece is being cut at the cutting station, moving the said third piece to said first splitting station, and splitting the third piece at said first splitting station while a fourth piece is being cut and so on. The production of split wood is thus substantially increased by the use of two splitters combined with means for moving the successively cut pieces alternately to the splitters.

Machines for advancing a log step by step, cutting off the end portion to a predetermined length and then splitting the cut portion are well known in the art. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,862,651 and 4,076,061. All of the prior art devices however are necessarily limited in their output of split logs by the use of a single splitter which is unable to receive and split the logs as rapidly as they can be cut.

Apparatus for measuring, cutting and splitting logs

c/o Forest-All Corporation, Sheep Davis Rd.


A computer system is connected to a printer via a parallel interface, for point-of-sale (POS) applications employing one or more different paper sources, such as, continuous tape, document insertion, and sheet validation. A detector is associated with each paper source to sense a paper empty or out condition. The printer has an addressable latch that enables a choice of one or more of these detectors for connection through to a single status line within the parallel printer interface. The computer CPU can access the addressable latch prior to any printing so that the presence of an appropriate type of paper in its appropriate print position in the printer can be checked or tested utilizing an industry standard parallel printer interface, such as, the widely employed Centronics interface.

The present invention relates generally to computer printers and more specifically to the manner of controlling and reading status from specialized point-of-sale printers via standard interfaces. One such standard interface is the so-called "Centronics" parallel interface. Centronics was a company that first introduced this particular interface, but has since gone out of business. However, there is worldwide agreement in the industry of the adaptation and use of this interface as a standard. Another standard interface is the RS-232 serial interface, which is ubiquitous in modems.
The market for store automation equipment is changing rapidly with the widespread use of point-of-sale (POS) terminals. Even small retail stores now have POS equipment. Personal computers have been incorporated into such systems and that is expected to be responsible for higher demands in the future for standardized peripheral devices. But unfortunately, many competing POS terminal printers use mutually incompatible interfaces and command sets. As a result, the range of applications is limited and costs are higher necessary.
Once the most common interface in personal computer printers, the Centronics parallel interface has been succeeded by SCSI, serial, and Appletalk interfaces, especially with regard to laser printers. But IBM compatibles and especially POS equipment still make heavy use of the venerable parallel interface. Seiko Epson Corporation of Tokyo, Japan has promulgated a very popular software interface for the parallel interface called ESC/P.
When the Centronics interface was first defined, there was no need to provide for more than one "paper out" status signal, e.g., pin 12, signal "PE", as seen in Table I below.
TABLE I ______________________________________ (Parallel Printer Interface) Pin Signal I/O Function ______________________________________ 1 STROBE* Input STROBE* pulse width for reading data. Pulse width must be 0.5 microseconds or more at the receiver terminal. Normal state is HIGH. Data is read after the signal goes LOW. 2 DATA0 Input Parallel data bits 0-7. 3 DATA1 Input HIGH represents bit is "1". 4 DATA2 Input LOW represents data bit is "0". 5 DATA3 Input 6 DATA4 Input 7 DATA5 Input 8 DATA6 Input 9 DATA7 Input 10 ACKNLG* Output LOW means the printer is ready to receive data. The pulse width is about 10 microseconds. 11 BUSY Output HIGH means that the printer cannot receive data. LOW indicates that the printer is ready. This signal will go HIGH, 1. after power-on initialization; 2. when the receive buffer is full; 3. for error conditions; in OFF-LINE state; 4. during and after a self-test; and 5. during data entry. 12 PE Output HIGH indicates printer has run out of paper (when paper end detection is enabled by control command). 13 SLCT Output Pulled up to +5V with a 3.3K ohm resistor. 14 AUTO Input When this signal goes LOW, the FEED XT* printer executes one line feed for each carriage return received. 15 NC No connection. 16 GND Logic ground. 17 CHASSIS Chassis ground. GND 18 NC No connection. 19- GND Ground for twisted pair returns. 30 31 INIT Input Printer hardware reset. Normally HIGH, the printer will reinitialize when this signal goes LOW for more than fifty microseconds. 32 ERROR* Output This signal goes LOW. 1. after power-on and until the printer goes ready; 2. for mechanical error conditions; 3. in the OFF-LINE state; and 4. during self-test. 33 GND Ground for twisted pair return. 34 DRAWER Output Pulled up to +5V through a 3.3K KICK ohm resistor. The drawer kick out STATUS connector status signal is a direct output. (The host CPU sends an "ESC p" sequence to have the cash drawer pop out.) 35 +5V Output Pulled up to +5V through a 3.3K ohm resistor. 36 NC No connection. ______________________________________ *Indicates negative is true
Point-of-sale systems have become indispensable in the distribution and service industries. However, a POS environment as a whole reveals a number of deficiencies which needed to be addressed. With respect to printers, entirely different sets of commands have been defined by various manufacturers for particular applications. Only the basic commands seem to have been left alone so that there is some uniformity. The present invention defines a command set extension to the ESC/P, hereinafter referred to as ESC/POS, meeting the needs of the POS industry. ESC/POS divides printer functions and commands employed in the POS environment into clearly defined categories.
Conventional configurations are so limited that newer POS printers, which are capable of working with a variety of paper sources, were difficult to control because the paper status of individual paper sources for the POS printer could not be polled as to status. The system had to assume the paper was ready, and very often this was not the case.
Many ad hoc solutions appeared in the market place that implemented a few new commands, but these were one-time solutions that found little favor with the majority of POS manufacturers and were generally incompatible with one another. An object of the present invention is to provide an interface with a comprehensive set of commands that embrace the more established of these earlier individual commands.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a printer controller capable of selecting a specific detector, based on a previous command from the host computer and capable of halting printing operation until a detector indicates that a paper supply is ready.

Status and command function extension for industry standard printer interfaces


A method for the inspection of a circuit board, capable of precisely detecting deviation in position between the electrodes to be inspected of a circuit board and the inspection electrodes of a tester, thereby achieving fine alignment between the two, with high reliability. The method includes repeating, in two different axial directions, the measurement of conduction state between the electrodes to be inspected of a circuit board and the inspection electrodes of a tester each time changing, by a small distance, the relative position of the inspection electrodes portion of the tester and the circuit board, to detect a position of high conduction state and two positions of low conduction state which are distant from the position and located so that the position is held between them, in each of the two directions. From the information thus obtained, determining the desired connection position in which the inspection electrodes are to be in the highest conduction state in relation to the electrodes to be inspected in one or both of the directions. And then, moving the inspection electrodes portion relatively to the circuit board to place the inspection electrodes in the desired connection position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for the inspection of a circuit board, particularly to a method for inspecting a circuit board having a number of pattern electrodes by inspecting the state of electrical connection of the electrodes.
2. Discussion of the Background
In order to inspect the electrical characteristics of a circuit board in which a number of electrodes are formed, it is generally necessary to contact the electrodes to be inspected of the circuit board with the inspection electrodes of a tester having the corresponding pattern arrangement as the electrodes to be inspected, thereby achieving electrical connection between the two. Hence, conventionally, alignment between the circuit board and the inspection electrodes portion of the tester has been conducted by, for example, a means of fitting the alignment pins of the tester into the corresponding pin holes of the circuit board, or other mechanical alignment means.
In recent years, the parts packing density of a circuit board has been increased and the density of pattern has become higher. As a result, it is being pushed forward to make the electrodes of the circuit board smaller and the connection lines of the circuit board finer and arrange them in a higher density. In inspecting such a circuit board, when the alignment between the circuit board and the inspection electrodes portion of a tester is effected by a simple mechanical alignment means, merely a rough alignment state is obtained and it is impossible to sufficiently achieve the desired electrical connection between the electrodes to be inspected and the corresponding inspection electrodes.
The reasons therefor are that even when the electrodes to be inspected of the circuit board and the inspection electrodes of the tester have basically the corresponding patterns, it follows that the electrodes of the circuit board or the inspection electrodes are actually located at positions deviated, though slightly, from the design positions for the reasons associated with the production of the circuit board and tester or owing to the deformation of the circuit board and tester themselves.
Under such circumstances, it is necessary to make rough alignment between the circuit board to be inspected and the inspection electrodes portion of the tester by, for example, a mechanical alignment means and then make fine alignment to achieve precise position adjustment of the electrodes to be inspected of the circuit board and the inspection electrodes of the tester.
For achieving such fine alignment, a method has been known which comprises forming an appropriate alignment mark on a circuit board in a specific position relation to the electrodes to be inspected; forming a control alignment mark on the inspection electrodes portion of a tester in the same relation to the inspection electrodes; fixing the circuit board onto a movable stage capable of moving the circuit board in the lengthwise or crosswise direction or about the rotating axis; mounting them on the tester and checking the positions of the two alignment marks by an appropriate detection means; based on the detection result obtained, displacing the circuit board relatively to the inspection electrodes portion of the tester via the movable stage to obtain a state in which the two alignment marks coincide in position with each other.
Such a fine alignment means, however, requires that, for example, an alignment mark-observing camera or other alignment mark-detecting means are provided in order to detect the alignment marks formed on the circuit board and the inspection electrodes portion. Moreover, such an alignment mark-detecting means must be arranged above the alignment mark and in a direction vertical to the circuit board, and, as a matter of course, the inspection electrodes portion of the tester must be arranged so that the surface of the circuit board is covered therewith; hence, the alignment mark-detecting means and the inspection electrodes portion of the tester must be provided at the same place, which makes it difficult to provide them each at an appropriate place.
Further, with respect to the alignment marks per se formed on the circuit board and the inspection electrodes portion of the tester, it is impossible to completely prevent errors in position and form from being caused in the formation of said marks. Moreover, an error is caused to a certain extent in the detection per se of the degree of position-adjustment of the two alignment marks. Consequently, a complicated procedure is necessary until the desired fine alignment is achieved satisfactorily, and the achievement of fine alignment is not fully reliable in respect of repeatability, etc.
As described above, all of the conventional fine alignment methods aim at alignment between the electrodes to be tested of a circuit board and the inspection electrodes of a tester, but it is not always possible to achieve alignment with high reliability because each of the methods uses an indirect deviation-detecting means placed in a specific position relation to the circuit board or the inspection electrodes portion of the tester.

Method for the inspection of circuit board


A device is designed to hold securely a mobile phone dialing device on the steering wheel of an automotive vehicle. The device is formed of a locating member and a restraining member. The locating member is provided at one end thereof with a connection portion for connecting the mobile phone dialing device, and at other end thereof with an arcuate recess corresponding in radian to the steering wheel. The arcuate recess makes an intimate contact with the steering wheel. The restraining member enables the locating member to be detachably fastened with the steering wheel of the automotive vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, a prior art device for holding a mobile phone comprises a main body 1, which is fixed on the dashboard of an automobile. The main body 1 is provided at the bottom thereof with a plate 2 on which a mobile phone 4 is placed. The main body 1 is further provided with two holding blocks 3 opposite in location to each other for confining the mobile phone 4. When a driver of the automobile in operation wants to dial the phone, he or she must take the mobile phone 4 out of the prior art device. In dialing the mobile phone 4, he or she must use one hand to hold the phone 4 and other hand to dial the phone 4. It is conceivable that the driver in question is in danger of an accident.

Device for holding securely a mobile phone dialing device on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle


Proposed is a cylindrical reactor (1) having a vertical longitudinal axis for continuous hydroformylation of a C6-C20-olefin or a mixture of C6-C20-olefins with synthesis gas in the presence of a homogeneously dissolved metal carbonyl complex catalyst,                having a multiplicity of Field tubes (2) which are oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reactor (1) and welded into a tube plate at the upper end of the reactor (1),        having a circulation tube (3) open at both ends which envelops the Field tubes (2) and at its lower end projects beyond said tubes,        having a jet nozzle (4) at the bottom of the reactor (1) for injecting the reactant mixture comprising the C6-C20-olefin, the synthesis gas and the metal carbonyl complex catalyst, wherein        the Field tubes (2) are configured in terms of their number and their dimensions such that        the total heat exchanger area of said tubes per unit internal volume of the reactor is in the range from 1 m2/m3 to 11 m2/m3 and        the cross sectional area occupied by the Field tubes (2) per unit cross sectional area of the circulation tube (3) is in the range from 0.03 m2/m2 to 0.30 m2/m2,        a gas distributor ring (5) is provided at the lower end of the circulation tube (3), at the inner wall thereof, via which a substream of the synthesis gas is feedable, and wherein        one or more distributor trays (6) are provided in the circulation tube (3).

The present invention relates to a cylindrical reactor suitable for exothermic heterogeneous reactions comprising injection of a gaseous reactant and a liquid reactant and especially for hydroformylation reactions. The invention further relates to a continuous process for producing aldehydes and/or alcohols having 6 to 20 carbon atoms by hydroformylation of olefins with synthesis gas in the presence of a transition metal catalyst homogeneously dissolved in the liquid reaction medium in such a reactor.

Cylindrical reactor and use thereof for continuous hydroformylation


A portable, hand-held light display that has a handle or barrel, a transparent enclosure mounted on the handle and a light display mounted for rotation on the handle, visible through the transparent enclosure, the light display having a first rotating support, at least one light support rotatably mounted on the first rotating support, and lamps mounted on the light support.

Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
Light display devices in which lamps of various sorts have been rotated about two, offset axes to produce different patterns, have been known for many years. Shigley U.S. Pat. No. 2,055,777 is an example of an early motor driven device. Klawitter patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,160 is an example of a mechanically driven device. None of the devices of the prior art, to the best of Applicant""s knowledge, have been hand-held.
One of the objects of this invention is to provide a lighting device in which one or more lights is rotated about two axes, which device is small and adapted to be hand-held.
Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the following description and accompanying drawings.
In accordance with this invention, generally stated, a hand-held light display device is provided which, in the embodiments shown, takes the form of a ball-point pen, although the device can take other forms, from a baby""s rattle to a baton.
The device has a barrel or handle, a transparent enclosure mounted on the handle and a light display mounted for rotation on the handle, visible through the transparent enclosure. The light display has a first rotating support and means for rotating that support. At least one light support is rotatably mounted on the first support, lamps are mounted on the light support, and means are provided for rotating the light support with respect to the first support when the first support is rotated. The lamps are thus rotated about two different axes, the axis of rotation of the first support and the axis of rotation of the light support. In the embodiments described, the first support is driven by a motor powered by batteries contained in the barrel. In the first embodiment, the light support is in the form of discs mounted for rotation on shafts carried by the first support, and rotated by virtue of the engagement of a roller with a rim of a fixed dish, the lamps being powered by the same batteries that power the motor, through brushes, sliding contacts, the use of which has been known since before Shigley patent U.S. Pat. No. 2,055,777.
In a second embodiment, a bracket, carried by the first support, carries a motor with a shaft extending perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the first support, and rotating the light support. In the embodiment shown and described, both motors are powered by batteries contained in the barrel or handle.
In both embodiments described, the barrel or handle is the stem of an oversized ball-point pen. In one embodiment, the cartridge of the ball-point pen serves as a plunger to close a switch energizing a motor driving a first rotating disc.
In another embodiment, in which two motors are employed, one to rotate the first support, and the other, mounted on the first support, driving a light support, on which lamps are mounted on an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the first support, the barrel is also illustrated as being part of a ball point pen, but the cartridge of the pen does not serve the function of a switch actuator, a separate switch being provided, mounted in the side wall of the barrel.


One or more elevators can be more efficiently controlled by considering the then-current spatial capacity of the elevator. Camera images or other sensor data indicative of the occupied space in the elevator are received and processed by a control device to determine whether or not the elevator should stop at a requested floor. If the elevator is determined to lack space for additional passengers, then the elevator can bypass the requested stop and proceed without delay. If space remains, however, the elevator can stop to accommodate additional passengers. Measured spatial capacity can also be used to coordinate the actions of multiple elevators operating within a building.

Many multi-story buildings use elevators to transport people and objects between floors of the building. People who work in tall buildings, for example, often ride in elevators several times during each workday as they arrive at work, attend meetings on other floors, go to lunch, depart for the day and/or for many other reasons.
Modern elevators are often scheduled and controlled by computing machinery for efficient operation. Nevertheless, many inefficiencies continue to occur. During a typical trip to or from the upper floors of a tall building, for example, many (if not most) elevator occupants will experience delays as the elevator stops to pick up additional passengers. In many cases, the elevator will stop for additional passengers even if the elevator is already full, thereby unnecessarily wasting the current occupants' time.
Although some attempts have been made to detect elevator occupancy based upon weight, weight-based determinations can be misleading. If several passengers are lighter than average (e.g., a group of children), for example, the total weight of the elevator would indicate that capacity remains even though no space is available for additional passengers. Similarly, if a passenger has a relatively large amount of baggage or other bulk, the weight of the car will not provide an accurate estimation of the current capacity that is available. As a result, the elevator will make unnecessary stops for additional passengers even though there is no space to accommodate those passengers. These unnecessary stops can create aggravation amongst passengers on the elevator as they are delayed. Moreover, the unnecessary stops are an inefficient use of the elevator itself, thereby creating additional delays for all others who are waiting for the elevator on other floors.
It is therefore desirable to create systems, devices and processes for more efficient control of one or more elevators operating within a building. These and other features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background section.

ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION


A solar power system supplying A.C. voltages at 60 Hz as required for irrigation control with frequency precision and voltage levels in accordance with specifications for off-the-shelf irrigation timers and controls.

In recent years the rapid expansion of the world's population coupled with the accelerated technological development of large sectors of the world has produced a dramatic increase in the demand for energy in all forms including fuels and electricity for heating, lighting, transportation and manufacturing processes. The construction of hydroelectric facilities and the development of fossil fuel resources has continued at a rapid rate, but it becomes increasingly evident for a number of reasons that these efforts are inadequate to keep pace with the demands of the growing population.
In the face of these growing demands and limited resources, there is one source of energy which is readily available to every country in the world in virtually unlimited quantities. This untapped source is solar energy. The World Book Encyclopedia (copyright 1963, U.S.) states that the amount of solar energy reaching the earth in one day equals the energy that could be produced by burning 550,000, 000,000 tons of coal, i.e., as much coal as would be dug in the United States in 1,000 years at the 1963 rate of mining. It further states that enough solar energy reaches the United States in 20 minutes to fill the country's entire power needs for one year.
The interest in this almost boundless resource and in its development and harnessing for use in homes and factories is rising as other resources dwindle. Its desireability is further enhanced by the fact that solar energy may be converted to practical use without the hazard of environmental contamination.
Apart from such important considerations as energy conservation and environmental concerns, solar power has other advantages to offer for special applications such as the control of remotely positioned irrigation systems, advertising sign displays and the like.
Irrigation systems are frequently installed in relatively remote locations where electric power at secondary voltages is not immediately available. Locations in this category include new housing development entries, highway medians, parks, golf courses, orchards and all types of landscaped areas. In such applications, solar power units permit fast and simple installations. There is no requirement for immediate utility line extensions with the attendant costs and inconvenience. The advantages continue after installation in the form of reduced operating costs. There are no utility bills to be paid. In addition, the absence of high voltages in the power unit significantly reduces safety hazards for service personnel or uninvited intruders. This is an especially important consideration in remote locations.

Solar irrigation D.C. to A.C. power system supplying A.C. voltage at a precise power frequency


A surface wave reflection filter includes an input transducer, an output transducer, and a reflector in a first propagation track. To compensate for undesired surface waves proceeding directly between the input and output transducers, as opposed to the desired surface waves which are reflected before reaching the output transducer, a second propagation track is provided. The second track includes a input transducer and an output transducer, and is either connected in phase opposition to compensate for the undesired signal, or is constructed to generate a signal in phase opposition. A sump may be provided in the second track, a second reflector may be provided in the first track or in the second track, and the two tracks may be on separate or the same substrates.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reflector filter operating with acoustic surface waves, having an input transducer, an output transducer and having a reflector structure. The signal is to proceed from the input transducer to the output transducer on an acoustic path via the reflector structure in order to obtain the required filtering effect. Direct signal transfer between the input transducer and the output transducer is undesired crosstalk, which is to be prevented as fully as possible. Known solutions to this problem are to arrange the input transducer and the output transducer on the substrate of the filter in such a way that the direct acoustic signal transfer from the input to the output is prevented. The opposite is the case with a resonator filter.
Reflector surface wave filters, referred to as RAC filters, are known from the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,484,160 and 4,520,330. One embodiment comprises an input transducer and an output transducer and two reflector structures which have reflector fingers that are positioned obliquely in such a way that an acoustic wave proceeding into one reflector is deflected by approximately 90.degree. and proceeds into the other reflector and, in turn deflected 90.degree. by the other reflector, is supplied to the output transducer. A filter of this type is suitable as a broadband filter for use in defining a time interval. The finger structures of the aforesaid reflectors can be weighted and/or dispersive in accordance with the desired transmission function. In particular, finger displacement weighting, finger omission weighting and finger rotation can be provided as finger weighting. Such a known reflector filter has two acoustic tracks and an input transducer and an output transducer are located in one of the two tracks in each case. As a result of the folded acoustic path, such a filter requires a smaller length of the substrate, which also incurs substantial savings. The known RAC filter has however a certain disadvantage, in that the angle accuracy of the reflection is temperature-dependent, even in the case of a substrate made of quartz.
Further embodiments of multi-track reflector filters with multi-strip couplers are disclosed in IEEE Trans. Ultrasonics, Vol. 35 (1988), pages 61 ff. The multi-strip coupler requires a substrate with a high electroacoustic coupling factor. However, such substrates are temperature-dependent to a relatively high degree with respect to their wave propagation properties. Moreover, multi-strip couplers are susceptible to losses and also make it more difficult to calculate the behavior of such a filter.
A prior art reference that is only of apparent relevance to the invention to be described below which has surface wave filters having reflectors with 180.degree. reflection arranged in two tracks is known from "Patent Abstracts of Japan", Vol. 10, No. 363 (E-462) (2429), p. 1286. However, an independent filter is realized therein in each of the tracks. One track is a resonator filter that serves as a component of an oscillator and the other track is the output filter for the entire circuit. None of the two surface wave arrangements is a reflector filter as provided by the invention with useful signal transmission of the signal frequency provided only via the reflector.

Surface acoustic wave reflector filter having two non-resonant tracks


Disclosed is a method of indirect tire pressure monitoring. The method includes: learning test variables (DIAG, SIDE, AXLE), which describe the rotational movements of the wheels; determining rolling circumference differences (ΔDIAG, ΔSIDE, ΔAXLE) from actually determined test variables and the learnt test variables; learning at least one torsion natural frequency fp for at least one tire from the oscillation behavior of the individual tires; determining at least one shift of the torsion natural frequency Δfp from at least one actually determined torsion natural frequency and from the at least one learnt torsion natural frequency; and combining the rolling circumference differences (ΔDIAG, ΔSIDE, ΔAXLE) with the at least one shift of the torsion natural frequency fp in a joint warning strategy for detecting and warning of tire inflation pressure loss.

The present invention relates to a method and a computer program product for indirect tire pressure monitoring including: learning of test variables (DIAG, SIDE, AXLE), which describe the rotational movements of the wheels; determining of rolling circumference differences (ΔDIAG, ΔSIDE, ΔAXLE) from actually determined test variables and the learnt test variables; learning of at least one torsion natural frequency fp for at least one tire from the oscillation behavior of the individual tires; determining at least one shift of the torsion natural frequency Δfp from at least one actually determined torsion natural frequency and from the at least one learnt torsion natural frequency; and combining the rolling circumference differences (ΔDIAG, ΔSIDE, ΔAXLE) with the at least one shift of the torsion natural frequency fp in a joint warning strategy for detecting and warning of tire inflation pressure loss.
In up-to-date motor vehicles, systems are employed at an increasing rate, which contribute to an active or passive protection of the occupants. Systems for tire pressure monitoring protect the occupants of a vehicle against vehicle damages, which are due to an abnormal tire inflation pressure, for example. An abnormal tire inflation pressure can also cause increase of e.g. tire wear and fuel consumption, or a tire defect (tire bursting) may occur. Various tire pressure-monitoring systems are known, which operate either based on directly measuring sensors or detect an abnormal tire pressure by evaluating rotational speed properties or oscillating properties of the vehicle wheels.
German patent application DE 100 58 140 A1 discloses a so-called indirectly measuring tire pressure monitoring system (DDS) detecting tire pressure loss by evaluating the rotational movement of the wheel.
EP 0 578 826 B1 discloses a tire pressure tester which determines pressure loss in a tire based on tire oscillations.
WO 01/87647 A1 describes a method and a device for tire pressure monitoring, combining a tire pressure monitoring system which is based on the detection of wheel radii, and a tire pressure monitoring system which is based on the evaluation of oscillation properties.
An object of the invention is to provide a method for tire pressure monitoring, which improves a known indirectly measuring tire pressure monitoring system by considering the torsion national frequencies to such effect that reliable detection of an abnormal tire inflation pressure is enhanced.

Method for indirect tire pressure monitoring


A Neural Network (NN) scheduler and techniques to implement features of different possible NN schedulers are disclosed. In a first example, an NN scheduler that accepts NN models in an interoperable format and performs optimizations on this interoperable format as part of converting it to a run-time format is provided. In a second example, an NN scheduler analyzes operations and annotations associated with those operations to determine scheduling options based on hardware availability, data availability, hardware efficiency, processor affinity, etc. In a third example, an NN scheduler that may be integrated with a feed-back loop to recognize actual run-time attributes may be used to “learn” and adapt to change its future scheduling behavior. Each of these examples may be integrated individually, or together, to provide an NN scheduler that optimizes and adapts processing functions for an NN model either prior to processing or for just-in-time determination of operation scheduling.

In the field of neural networks (NNs), a variety of models and frameworks, are undergoing rapid and ongoing evolution. Such developments have led to the execution (training, testing, and inference) of NNs on different computational hardware. NNs are currently being developed on a variety of frameworks. A software framework can be thought of as a software environment (e.g., set of libraries, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and applications) that provides particular functionality as part of a larger software platform to facilitate development of software applications, products, and solutions, Software frameworks may include support programs, compilers, code libraries, tool sets, and application programming interfaces (APIs) that bring together all the different components to enable development of a project or system. A variety of different NN frameworks are commercially available and an appropriate framework may be selected based on the type of NN model (e.g., deep stacking, deep belief, convolutional, etc.) that may be implemented.
Concurrently with changes and availability of new software frameworks, multiple different hardware platforms that may be utilized, or even specialized, for running NN models are emerging to support the requirements of NN applications. These hardware platforms may be configured to take into account specifics of an NN's development and deployment. However, the current state of the widely used NN tools and frameworks do not appear to provide any intelligent mechanism to account for various computational requirements of NNs. Further, current NN tools may fail to perform comprehensive optimizations for the multitude of available platforms, frameworks, and hardware. As a result, there may be inefficiency in that any optimization designed for a first platform will likely not be applicable on a second platform. In short, optimizations across different execution environments may require different techniques. This is, in part, because an optimization technique for a first execution environment may be incompatible (or non-optimal) for a second execution environment due to differences in hardware and other factors.

Interoperable neural network operation scheduler

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A location system and method for determining the location of a tagged item in a facility. In one embodiment, the location system includes a plurality of room transmitters designed to be located throughout the facility. Each room transmitter has a unique signature. The system also includes at least one item or location tag affixed or otherwise associated with an item. Each tag is operable to send a signal having information related to the signature of a room transmitter within the reception range of the tag and information related to the identity of the tag. Signals from the tags are received by one or more locating receivers. Each locating receiver is operable to determine the identity of an item tag and the likely location of the item tag within the facility based upon the signal from that tag. The invention also provides a method of locating an item in a facility. In one embodiment, the method includes positioning room transmitters in multiple areas within a facility; configuring each room transmitter to generate a unique signature; fitting items with a tag; configuring each tag to generate a signal having a location portion and a signature portion; positioning a locating receiver within the facility; and determining the likely location and identity of that tag based on the tag's signal.

The present invention relates to systems used to locate equipment, people or, more broadly, items within a defined location. More particularly, the invention relates to a system to locate items within an institution, such as a hospital, school, manufacturing plant, or other facility where automated location is useful.
A variety of systems exist that are used to monitor or track equipment or people within a facility. For example, infant monitoring systems are used to alert facility personnel if an attempt is made to remove a tagged infant from a maternity ward. Other systems, such as the global positioning system (GPS) are used to determine the location of items equipped with specific transmitters. While existing systems are functional, they are often complex, expensive, and inaccurate. Further, most existing systems are not designed to work in conjunction with telemetry equipment that monitors equipment or physiological activity of people or animals at a facility.

Location system using retransmission of identifying information

GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Inc.


A silencer includes: a housing that has a draw-in portion drawing in fluid, and a plurality of sound attenuating portions arranged in a flowing direction of the fluid; a first partition provided with an intermediate communicating portion communicating the most downstream attenuating portion with the adjacent attenuating portion located adjacent to the most downstream attenuating portion; a valve portion disposed in the most downstream attenuating portion, the valve portion being capable of closing the intermediate communicating portion; a valve holding portion holding the valve portion, the valve holding portion being detachably attached to the housing; and a draw-out portion provided in a portion of the most downstream attenuating portion other than the valve holding portion, the draw-out portion drawing out the fluid from the most downstream attenuating portion.

JP 09-170554 A discloses an acoustic outlet piece for compressor, which includes attenuators symmetrically provided around a path having a uniform diameter.
In the acoustic outlet piece, the attenuator is formed such that the outer circumference gradually increases in the flowing direction to increase the thickness. Therefore, attenuation can be performed in an extremely wide frequency range, in particular, the entire frequency range generated in a compression pulse of a screw-type compressor, that is, in the range of 250 Hz to 6,000 Hz.
However, the path of the acoustic outlet piece linearly extends from an inlet to an outlet and thus, when the flow rate becomes large to increase the inner diameter of the path, or when the whole length is made small in terms of space to decrease the distance between the inlet and the outlet, only an insufficient silencing effect may be acquired in a high frequency range. In some cases, such compact configuration having a small length cannot attenuate sound in a wide frequency range.
JP 04-105920 U discloses a silencer provided with an inlet pipe having a deep bowl-shaped extending portion, an outlet pipe having a deep bowl-shaped extending portion, and an intermediate pipe that couples the bowl-shaped extending portions of the inlet pipe to the outlet pipe.
In the silencer, a shallow bowl-shaped core body having a contracted pipe port at its concave central region is provided at the coupling site of the inlet pipe and the intermediate pipe. A core body, and a valve body including a valve portion that opens/closes the pipe port of the core body on the side of the outlet pipe are provided at the coupling site of the inlet pipe and the intermediate pipe.
However, since the silencer includes the large valve portion having a support point at the coupling site of the inlet pipe and the intermediate pipe, the valve body cannot be readily accessed at maintenance.


I have devised a force modulating device, for use as a force modulating member of a ski device, in which I have made a first member thereof to be movably interconnected with a body member of the force modulating device and I have disposed therebetween fluid pressure means for floating the first member with respect to the body member and controlling the relative movement between such two members. The controlled movement of the first member relative to the body member provided by the fluid pressure means causes impact forces that are imparted to a ski device incorporating the present invention to be so modulated as to allow for good ski performance in terms of spring-action, smooth ride, handling, and service life. The fluid pressure medium of the fluid pressure means can be a gas, a liquid or a combination gas and liquid. The fluid pressure means can be provided with means for communicating with a fluid pressure supply source, illustratively located off of the ski, permitting external manual or automatic adjustments or changes to the fluid pressure means to be made after a ski device incorporating this invention has been fabricated so as to optimize the force modulating capability of the ski device for a particular user load and use. The force modulating device can be altered in its damping characteristics by a manually adjustable vibration damping assembly disposed between the movable and body members of the device. Mechanical and electrical control means can be adapted to the ski device incorporating this invention so as to cooperate with the fluid pressure means of the force modulating device in controlling the relative movement between the movable and body members of such force modulating device.

This invention relates generally to ski devices and particularly to ski devices that are adapted to modulating the impact forces to which they are exposed.
Materials are commonly added to ski devices for the purpose of altering the impact forces to which such devices are exposed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,861,699 (fiber reinforced plastic honeycomb core having hollow tubular members and upper and lower foam filled corrugations); U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,150 (ski body composed of a composite material of continuous reinforcing fibers embedded in a matrix of an elastomer modified plastic foam); U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,149 (ski provided internally with two or more strips of constrained viscoelastic material); U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,523 (rigid core with a number of elastomer strips reinforced with twisted fiber bundles); U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,946 (ski body provided with a stressed viscoelastic band); U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,020 (metal disk on low friction collar shifts between a pair of foam rings in a housing attached to the tip of the ski); U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,635 (damping unit of ski has viscoelastic means interposed between alternating one-end-free, one-end-secured flexible strips); U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,063 (cellular core structure). These devices have generally been found to be limited in their ability in altering such forces. They are also limited in the adjustments that can be made to their impact force altering characteristics once the ski device has been fabricated so as to make the device readily adaptable for a particular user load and use.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for generating a synthetic diffusion image. The method comprises the steps of acquiring multiple sets of initial diffusion scan data by means of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance scans at multiple initial b-values, deriving an initial diffusion image from at least part of the initial diffusion scan data, acquiring target diffusion scan data by means of a diffusion weighted magnetic resonance scan at a target b-value higher than each of the initial b-values, and generating the synthetic diffusion image by performing a cost function based reconstruction to apply a fidelity term in k space to the synthetic diffusion image based on at least the initial diffusional image, and the target diffusion scan data.

Magnetic resonance imaging allows anatomical and physiological features of living human and animal bodies to be observed. Recently, there has been interest in the magnetic resonance technique known as magnetic resonance diffusion imaging for the detection of cancer where the image signal is dependent upon the diffusivity of the tissue. Diffusion imaging includes diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), q-space imaging, and many other diffusion techniques. For the purpose of clarity and brevity, the description hereinafter is described with particular reference to DWI. It is to be understood that this description is for illustrative purposes and also finds application in other usage scenarios and/or diffusion imaging techniques.
DWI measures the magnitude of random motion (Brownian motion) of water molecules, which is often referred to as apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The physiological basis of using DWI for cancer diagnosis is that the densely packed cells within a cancer restrict the normal random motion. A low level of random motion is an indicator of cancer. DWI acquisitions are defined by their b-values, where the b-value is defined by the amplitude, duration and temporal spacing of the DWI gradients which allows for the probing of different diffusion coefficients. DWI images with different b-values and different diffusion directions are normally combined with one another in order to calculate ADC maps. Moreover, researchers have proposed many models to describe the complicated diffusion in human tissues, such as the mono-exponential model which refers to the so-called ADC map, and the bi-exponential model which refers to IVIM map, DTI map, and DKI map, which are collectively referred to as diffusion parameter map herein. The IVIM model is preferred in tissues with high perfusion, DKI model has been investigated in liver, and DTI model has been studied in brain mostly. Diffusion weighted images and/or diffusion parameter maps can be used by radiologists to distinguish areas with low random motion that are suspicious for cancer.
DWI collected at higher b-values, e.g., greater than 1000 s/mm2, allows for increased delineation between tumors and normal tissues. However, a challenge faced in using high b-values is that the acquired images at high b-values have low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and serious distortion. An alternative approach to achieve high b-value DWI is computed DWI in which diffusion weighted images using high b-values can be mathematically derived from lower b-value DWI images using a computational model, rather than directly acquired. Although many studies have suggested the images generated by computed DWI are diagnostically comparable to acquired high b-value DWI, radiologists still have no enough confidence in feasibility of computed DWI since the computed DWI is only a simulation of acquired high b-value DWI. Moreover, the computed DWI often results in abnormal contrast, which further undermines radiologists' confidence in computed DWI. Furthermore, the image quality of computed DWI depends on computational models, b-values, tissues of interest, etc., which calls for more clinical investigation to evaluate the efficacy of computed DWI before it is widely accepted.
"Improved Multi B-Value Diffusion-Weighted MRI of the Body by Simultaneous Model Estimation and Image Reconstruction" by Freiman Moti discloses a Bayesian model of the expected signal with the signal decay model utilized as the prior information, which allows a simultaneous model estimation and image reconstruction for multiple b-values at once.

Diffusion MRI method for generating a synthetic diffusion image at a high B-value


A clamp apparatus including first and second clamp arms, which are supported rotatably on a body, with a cover being installed to cover outer sides of the body. The cover includes openings through which portions of the first and second clamp arms are inserted and rotatably operated. An unloading tray is arranged in the body at a position below the openings in the direction of gravity. Spatter, which invades into the clamp apparatus from the openings when a welding operation is carried out on a workpiece that is clamped by the first and second clamp arms, is deposited on the unloading tray, and the spatter is eliminated by taking out the unloading tray to the exterior of the clamp apparatus.

Heretofore, in an automated assembly line for automobiles, an assembly process has been performed in which clamping is carried out by a clamp apparatus under a condition in which pre-formed frames are positioned in an overlaid manner and the frames are welded together.
In one such clamp apparatus, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4950123, left and right clamp arms are provided as a pair, the clamp arms being disposed for rotation respectively through pins. Further, proximal ends of the clamp arms are supported pivotally by a base to which a drive unit in the form of an air cylinder is connected, whereby distal ends of the clamp arms are operated to open and close. Thus, a workpiece such as a frame or the like is gripped from the left and right by the distal ends of the pair of clamp arms.


A dual-system-based data storage method, comprising the steps of (S301) judging whether the data is important data when storing data in a first system; and (S302) storing the data into a second system if it is judged that the data is important data. Thus, in a dual-system environment, the important data handled by a user in a first system can be quickly and conveniently stored into a second system, thereby sufficiently protecting information security for the user.

A dual-system mode of a communication terminal refers to that two independent operating systems, including a first system and a second system, can be mounted in a communication terminal such as a cell phone, wherein a user processes important data in the second system, and processes ordinary data in the first system. The second system is different from a private application program, because a private application program is just a safe application program, and the second system adopts system-level partition and isolation with even better safety. The first system and the second system run concurrently, and the user can choose to enter one of these operating systems, so that data is directly stored into the chosen system where the user handles the data. For example, when the user handles certain data in the second system, the data is automatically stored into the second system and cannot be accessed or processed in the first system. But the user might also handle important data in the first system, and if this important data is automatically stored into the open first system alike, then privacy content of the user easily gets leaked.
To sum up, the prior art in practical use apparently has inconveniency and defects, and it is therefore necessary to improve the prior art.

Dual-system-based data storage method and terminal

YULONG COMPUTER TELECOMMUNICATION SCIENTIFIC (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.


A novel mouth whistle capable of a very loud whistle sound and comfortable to hold and use orally is shaped with a somewhat flattened hemi-oblate body with a cavity opening to the front, the back end being rounded and the front opening end being cut off substantially flat in a single plane, transverse to the upper and lower opposed walls defining the cavity. The upper and lower walls are each perforated with a single, centrally located aperture substantially coaligned and in communication with the cavity.

Mouth whistles have been used for some time for musical as well as signal purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 733,122, issued Jul. 7, 1903, describes a musical type mouth whistle with a horn section in front and a laterally straight, folded over, rear wall. The horn section has upper and lower walls with laterally extending apertures for engagement with the lips of the player to prevent ejection of the whistle.
U.S. Pat. No. 805,817, issued Nov. 28, 1905, also describes a whistle with an anterior horn section with ridges to assist retention in the mouth of the user and with a reed within the horn. This whistle also has a laterally straight rear wall.
British patent 241,974, granted Nov. 5, 1925, shows a mouth-held whistle formed of a metal blank of sheet metal folded upon itself, with substantially opposed holes in the upper and lower walls adjacent the rear wall, the rear wall being formed by simply bending a circular blank upon itself along substantially the diametric line. The whistle is provided with an edge closure or sidewall adjacent and connected to the lateral ends of the sidewall to form an amplifying chamber, or, the opposed edges of the upper and lower walls are ground or cut away adjacent the rear wall in an arcuate shape to receive a thumb and forefinger, respectively, of the user, to provide the desired side closures. The rear wall of this whistle is also defined along the straight line of the linear fold of the metal blank.
Australian patent 136,866, granted Apr. 3, 1950, shows and describes another whistle made by bending a circular or octagonal blank of sheet metal upon itself, but also by forming the opposed complementary metal walls adjacent the fold into a bulbous chamber to allegedly improve the tonal qualities of the note produced. By utilizing a springy sheet metal, the user can exercise further control of the emitted sound by pressing the upper and lower walls closer together or releasing the walls as desired. As in the other whistles described, the whistle has a liearly straight rear wall that is inserted into the mouth of the user.


A method for increasing the yield of cheese from milk involving the adding of lecithin in an amount of 0.001% to 0.15% to the milk prior to the coagulation or the precipitation of any curd in the milk.

In the manufacture of cheese, it is important to control the process so as to yield as much cheese as possible from the milk. One of the obvious advantages derived from the increased yield is the lower cost for the manufacture of the cheese. Obviously, the more cheese derived from the raw material, the less expensive it is to manufacture the cheese.
Another advantage gained from increased yield relates to the disposal of the whey which is left after the cheese is formed. This byproduct is one for which few uses have been found and therefore is frequently disposed of through the sewage waste system. With increased yield from the milk, less whey is formed with a resulting reduction in pollution to our environment.
Whey is the serum or watery part of milk that separates from the curds in the process of making cheese. It is the largest byproduct of the huge dairy industry and is one of the most troublesome byproducts produced by any industry to the extent that it is now having considerable impact on economic and environmental affairs. The unused organic nutrients make whey a costly pollutant in the nation's sewage systems and waterways. Biological oxyen demand (BOD) values for cottage cheese wheys range from 30,000 to 45,000 milligrams per liter. A load of 1,000 gallons of raw whey discharged into a sewage treatment plant has been calculated to equal the load normally imposed by 1,800 people. Because BOD removal is usually not completed in the sewage treatment plants, this hugely oxygen-demanding effluent is partially passed into rivers and streams. Every 1,000 gallons of raw whey discharged into a stream requires the dissolved oxygen in over 4,500,000 gallons of water for its oxidation. Obviously, disposing of whey direction into a water system is very detrimental of the environment.
Whey can be processed by spray or roller-drying and by using membrane technology. Other methods of handling whey involve using it as animal food or fertilizer, but these processes have not been successful at this time.
It is the purpose of the present invention to increase the yield of cheese from milk and thereby reduce the amount of whey waste while not adversely affecting the taste and edibility of the cheese.

Addition of lecithin to increase yield of cheese


A spot welding electrode of a donut-shaped electrode wherein even when a welded member of a steel sheet is slanted with respect a plane perpendicular to an axis of the spot welding electrode, a cross tensile strength (CTS) of the spot welded joint can be improved. The donut shape spot welding electrode according to the present invention has an electrode tip and an electrode support. The electrode tip contacts the electrode support to be able to move. Due to this, it is possible to strikingly raise the ability of the donut-shaped electrode to track a steel sheet and make the entire surface of the donut shape contact-and-conduction part contact the steel sheet, so it is possible to secure a high CTS value even if the steel sheet is slanted.

"Spot welding" is the process of superposing two welded members, bringing columnar electrodes into contact with a weld location from the top and bottom, and applying pressure while running current so as generate Joule's heat by the resistance of the conduction path and using this to form a weld (below, "nugget").
In recent years, to realize performance such as compliance with safety standards for vehicle bodies and reduction of the environmental load, high strength steel sheet having a 1500 MPa or more tensile strength is used.
However, for example, NPLT 1 reports that the tensile shear strength (TSS) of a spot welded joint tends to increase along with the strength of the steel sheet, but the cross tensile strength (CTS) of the spot welded joint falls when the strength of the steel sheet becomes 780 MPa or more. In high strength steel sheet with a strength of the steel sheet of 780 MPa or more, improvement of the cross tensile strength (CTS) of the spot welded joint is a critical issue. The spot welding electrode according to the present invention does not have to be limited to a steel sheet as the welded member, but in this Description, the welded member will be explained as a steel sheet.
It is known that the cross tensile strength (CTS) of a spot welded joint is improved if the nugget increases in outer circumferential length. R&D has been conducted to increase nugget size. However, the problem is faced that if trying to enlarge a nugget, the current required for the spot welding also becomes larger and as a result the spot welding apparatus also has to be made larger.
Therefore, R&D is underway for realizing a suitable cross tensile strength (CTS) of a spot welded joint by using a suitable size spot welding apparatus.
PLT 1 discloses a welding electrode designed to improve the cross tensile strength (CTS) of a spot welded joint by making the nugget a donut shape and thereby increasing the circumferential length without changing the area. Specifically, it discloses a spot welding electrode making the electrode a donut shape so as to enable the formation of a donut-shaped (ring-shaped) nugget and providing a cylindrical shaped hollow part so that the center does not contact the steel sheet.
FIG. 18 is a conceptual view of a spot welding apparatus having conventional spot welding electrodes, while FIG. 19 is a conceptual view of a conventional spot welding electrode.
In FIG. 18, 140 indicates a spot welding apparatus having conventional spot welding electrodes, 50 indicates steel sheets, and 100 indicates conventional spot welding electrodes.
In FIG. 19, a contact-and-conduction surface 105 of a contact-and-conduction part 104 contacting and conductive with the steel sheet is, for example, formed as a donut shape (circular ring shape) projection. By the projection contacting the steel sheet, a so-called donut-shaped nugget is formed. In the Description, an electrode having a donut shaped contact-and-conduction part will be called a "donut-shaped electrode".
PLT 2 discloses a method of judging whether a nugget is suitably formed so as to manage the quality of spot welding. PLT 2 describes to perform spot welding using for at least one welding electrode among the pair of welding electrodes performing spot welding a welding electrode with an electrode surface of a substantially projecting curved surface and with a center of the electrode surface formed with a recess set to a predetermined depth whereby the weld formed in the metal surface reaches the deepest part when spot welding forms a good nugget and to judge that the spot welding zone is suitably formed with a nugget based on the fact of the resistance value at the time of welding becoming a balanced state.

Spot welding electrode and welding apparatus and welding method using same


A system and method for treating gastrointestinal and other disorders via electrical stimulation of plural portions of a patient""s gastrointestinal tract uses an implantable control module, sensors attached to various structures of the gastrointestinal tract, and electrodes also attached to various structures of the gastrointestinal tract. Signals received from the sensors are analyzed to identify events in the gastrointestinal system, and electrical stimulation is applied to structures of the gastrointestinal tract, in sequence, to restore normal function or achieve other clinically desirable results.

This invention is in the field of devices for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in human subjects.
At least 8% of the population has acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), that is not controlled by the current treatment of choicexe2x80x94ion pump inhibitors that block acid production and other medications that affect contraction of the esophagus and gastroesophageal sphincter.
Some patients may experience transitory relaxations, typically of 5 to 35 seconds in duration (see Dent, J., Patterns of lower esophageal sphincter function associated with gastroesophageal reflux., Am. J. Med., Nov. 24, 1997; 103(5A): 29S-32S) of the gastroesophageal sphincter (GES, also known as the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES); this is the most common cause of reflux of acid and secretions from the stomach up into the lower esophagus. Armenian, B., Transitory relaxation of the esophageal inferior sphincter and gastroesophageal reflux, Rev Med. Suisse Romande, 1997; 117(10): 797-9. This reflux of secretions may cause pain and an increase in the risk of cancer of the esophagus even with use of medications.
Surgery is currently the only remaining choice for those who fail to respond to these medications. The results of surgery are often unsatisfactory. Other gastrointestinal disorders also involve disturbances of motility and sequential coordinated contraction from the esophagus to the lower bowel.
These disorders are frequently a result of a combination of lifestyle, excessive weight, and the effects of other medications (e.g. narcotics, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatories). The main problem is lack of sequential action of the gut musculature (e.g. loss of gastrocolic reflex due to diabetes, neuropathies, and medications such as narcotics, tranquilizers, and antidepressants).
Attempts to correct this problem have largely failed due to failure to consider coordinated sequential action of the GI tract.
Familoni et al. have shown in the dog model that the optimal frequency for stimulating stomach contraction is at four to five times the intrinsic rate of five cycles per minute. Familoni, B. O. et al., Electrical stimulation at a frequency higher than basal rate in human stomach, Dig. Dis. Sci., 1997 May; 42(5): 892-7. For the stomach, stimulation of one part will produce appropriate contraction of the whole stomach because the stomach acts as a syncytium (an integrated whole). While recent results of stimulation of the stomach in dogs have demonstrated efficacy in achieving motility (see Mintchev, M. P. et. al, Microprocessor-controlled movement of solid gastric content using sequential neural electrical stimulation, Gastroenterology, 2000 February; 118(2): 258-63), no implantable system has been envisioned to responsively stimulate the normal sequential action of more than a single segment of the gastrointestinal tract. To be successful in alleviating human gastrointestinal tract disorders, a treatment will often need to stimulate two or more segments of the gastrointestinal tract.
Numerous medications have been developed to suppress appetite or attempt to speed up the metabolism to treat obesity. None has been proven to be sufficiently specific or substantially free from side effects. Electrical stimulation of the brain to suppress or increase appetite has been shown in animals but the localization of the stimulation within the hypothalamus or other desired location is extremely difficult. There is ongoing work to determine if vagus nerve stimulation can successfully suppress appetite.
Fischell et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,449 describe a responsive programmable neurostimulator for the treatment of neurological events but does not describe the programming and techniques necessary for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.
Chen et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,691 describes a technique for pacing of the stomach and small intestine using phased stimulation with multiple electrodes, but does not consider using significant delays between stimulation of one organ and the next to emulate normal gastrointestinal tract function.
Familoni in U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,014 describes a system to sense and identify abnormal stomach electrical signals and to stimulate the stomach responsively to treat the detected gastric rhythm abnormalities. Familoni does not disclose the use of a system that involves the esophageal sphincter and would work for acid reflux, nor does he disclose the detecting of normal function and the use of the detected delays in normal gastrointestinal tract function to set the delays for triggering successive stimulation of gastrointestinal tract organs.
Bourgeois in U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,326 describes primarily enhancements to the Familoni invention for treating gastric rhythm abnormalities.
The present invention envisions an implantable neuromuscular stimulator with multiple (two or more) outputs producing sequential, prolonged pulses of 0.5 msec to 5 msec. Sequential and appropriate activation of the GI tract is produced by electrical stimulation pulses that are timed at intervals consistent with normal patterns of GI tract function for the specific spacing of the electrodes. In addition to creating gastrointestinal tract function similar to normal, this process has the potential to reeducate the GI tract to function near to normal patterns without stimulation. There is also good evidence that acid reflux can eventually cause esophageal cancer (after Barrett""s esophagus, a complication of GERD that frequently leads to esophageal cancer) and the presence of reflux seems to interfere with the normal pattern of GI function all the way to the bowel.
Important areas for electrode placement include the upper esophagus, lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, duodenum, small intestine (optional) and the large bowel (colonxe2x80x94optional).
The present invention is a neuromuscular stimulator for sequential responsive stimulation to restore normal GI function. The most likely scenario for treating acid reflux will involve electrodes placed at the esophageal sphincter and stomach wall. When initiated, the stimulator will close the esophageal sphincter and start a timer. At the end of a preset time (e.g. 0.5-2 hours) the stomach electrodes will be energized to empty the stomach. At the end of a follow on period of time, at which the stomach should now be empty, the device will turn off all stimulation and be ready for the next sequence. Stimulation may be patient initiated from external device. This device may include buttons for initiating the sequence of stimulation and buttons for temporary suspension of the program to allow snacking.
For specific patterns of electrical activity associated with eating a meal the sequence can begin automatically when no food has passed through the esophagus for a preset period of time (e.g. 10 min). Eating or drinking is easily characterized by a higher frequency of swallowing than is typical of just normal saliva swallowing. After the meal is over and the sequence has been started, if additional food or drink or just normal saliva swallowing is detected by signals picked up by an electrode on the esophagus, the system may go into suspend mode for a specified period of time (e.g. 1 to 10 sec).
The stimulator would typically involve two to four electrodes acting as sensing and/or stimulating electrodes.
The control module will have data recording capabilities and a physician""s workstation similar to that described by Fischell et. al in U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,449. The physician""s workstation would have the capability to retrieve the data recorded by the control module and to program the specific functionality of the control module including parameters for stimulation and detection of gastrointestinal tract function.
It is also envisioned that additional types of sensors other than electrodes may be used for identifying motion or actions by parts of the gastrointestinal tract. These additional sensors could include temperature sensors, motion sensors (accelerometers) and pressure sensors to sense pressure within a gastrointestinal tract structure or pressure changes caused by expansion or contraction of a gastrointestinal tract structure.
Applying electrical stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract can have the effect of suppressing appetite but more important still is the potential of electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract to produce xe2x80x9cintestinal hurryxe2x80x9d where the food is passed through the gastrointestinal tract more quickly than normal so as to reduce the body""s absorption of nutrients. Gastrointestinal tract hurry can be produced by stimulation of the stomach and/or small intestine. The closed loop system envisioned would detect food being swallowed and/or stomach activity and responsively stimulate the gastrointestinal tract to increase the speed of passage of food through the small intestine. This technique should be less invasive than current surgical methods to reduce nutrient uptake and if not successful, surgery can still be performed.
Gastrointestinal tract stimulation according to the invention may be continuous, intermittent, or responsive to patient initiation or gastrointestinal tract activity detection.
Thus it is an object of the invention to have a system for restoration of normal gastrointestinal tract function by sequential stimulation signals applied to two or more electrodes placed on or near the structures of the gastrointestinal tract.
Another object of this invention is to use the sensing of gastrointestinal tract activity to initiate responsive stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract.
Another object of this invention is to use sensing of gastrointestinal tract activity to set the timing of sequential stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract.
Still another object of this invention is to have a system of electrodes connected by leads to a control module, the entire system being placed under the skin and being essentially contained within the abdomen.
Still another object of this system is to have data recording capability within the control module.
Yet another object of the present invention is to have external equipment including a patient initiating device.
Yet another object of the present invention is to have external equipment including a physician""s workstation for reading out recorded data and programming the gastrointestinal tract stimulator.
Still another object of the system is to sense sphincter contraction or relaxation in order to activate electrical stimulation of the sphincter.
Still another object of the system is to sense sphincter contraction and augment or assist this with electrical stimulation and/or trigger assistance from an artificial sphincter. This has applications for any sphincter system (e.g. gastroesophageal, pyloric, anal, bladder or urethra).
Yet another object of the present invention is to stimulate the stomach and/or small intestine to produce gastrointestinal hurry where the speed of the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract is increased so as to reduce the absorption of nutrients as a means to achieve weight loss for obese patients.
These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in this art upon careful reading of the detailed description of this invention including the drawings as presented herein.

Implantable neuromuscular stimulator for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders


There is provided a disk cartridge including a case body in which a plurality of disk-shaped recording media are configured to be able to be received in an axial direction of a central shaft in parallel, and a first shell having a base surface section parallel to a recording surface of the disk-shaped recording medium and a second shell having a basal surface section parallel to the recording surface of the disk-shaped recording medium are coupled and separated through separation and connection in the axial direction, and a presser spring having a section to be attached, which is attached to the case body, and a pressing section configured to come in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the disk-shaped recording medium and to press the disk-shaped recording medium. The presser spring is formed of a resin material.

The present technology relates to a technical field of a disk cartridge, and more particularly, to a technical field of a disk cartridge including a case body having a first shell and a second shell, which are separable, and a presser spring configured to press a disk-shaped recording medium.
A disk cartridge configured to be able to receive a plurality of disk-shaped recording media in parallel in an axial direction of a central shaft thereof is provided. Such a disk cartridge is used in, for example, a disk reproducing apparatus for reproducing music, and a desired disk-shaped recording medium is extracted by an extraction mechanism to play music data recorded on the disk-shaped recording medium.
In addition, in recent times, a recording capacity of the disk-shaped recording medium has remarkably increased, and necessity of the disk cartridge used in a data center or the like, in which the plurality of disk-shaped recording media having a large recording capacity are configured to be received in parallel in the axial direction of the central shaft, has increased.
Among such disk cartridges as mentioned above, there is a type in which outer circumferential sections of the respective disk-shaped recording media are inserted and received in a pair of holding grooves. Since this type of disk cartridge may not provide a disk tray configured to hold the disk-shaped recording medium, a receiving space can be reduced to provide a compact structure and the number of receiving media can be increased to increase a stored data amount.
In addition, in the disk cartridge, there is a type in which a case body has a first shell and a second shell, which are separable, and in a state in which the first shell and the second shell are separated, reception and extraction of the disk-shaped recording medium with respect to the case body are performed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H02-53276).
In the disk cartridge disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H02-53276, a presser spring (a holding spring) is attached to a case body, the respective disk-shaped recording media received in the case body can be pressed by the respective pressing section of the presser spring to be held at predetermined positions.

Disk cartridge for storing disk-shaped recording media


An industrial microbicide which comprises at least one haloglyoxime derivative of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X is a halogen atom; Y is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a lower alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and Z is a hydrogen atom or an optionally halogenated lower alkanoyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; and a known industrial microbicidal ingredient selected from the group consisting of an organonitrogen-sulfur compound, an organohalogen compound, an organonitrogen compound and an organosulfur compound; and optionally a carrier or diluent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an industrial microbicidal or microbistatic agent and a method of killing microbes or inhibiting the growth of microbes for industrial use. More particularly, it relates to an industrial microbicidal or microbistatic agent and also to a method of killing microbes or inhibiting the growth of microbes for industrial use which is effective for antiseptic, microbicidal or microbistatic treatment of water used in the paper manufacturing steps in paper and pulp industries; water for cooling and for washing in various industries; fuel oil sludge; metal working fluid; textile oil; paint; antifouling paint; coating color for paper; latex; adhesive; etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Slimes generated due to the growth of bacteria and/or fungi in cooling water and process water of the paper/pulp industry or various industries deteriorate a quality of products and efficiency of production. Further, in various industrial products, such as heavy oil sludges, cutting fluids, textile oils, paints, various latices and sizings, putrefaction and contamination occur due to the growth of bacteria and/or fungi which reduce their value.
For the prevention of such problems caused by microorganisms, many microbicides have been used. Previously, organomercury compounds and chlorinated phenols were used for this purpose. However, the use of these compounds is to be regulated, because they have a strong toxicity to the human body, fish and shellfish and may cause environmental pollution.
Lately, organonitrogen-sulfur compounds such as methylenebisthiocyanate, 1,2-benzoisothiazolin-3-one and 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, organobromine compounds such as 2,2-dibromo-2-nitroethanol, 2,2-dibromo-3nitrilopropionamide, 1,2-bis(bromoacetoxy)ethane, 1,4-bis(bromoacetoxy)-2-butene and bis(tribromomethyl)sulfone and organosulfur compounds such as 4,5-dichloro-1,2-dithiol-3-one which have relatively low toxicity, are practically used [see BOKIN-BOKABI-JITEN (Dictionary of Antibacterial and Antifungal Agent) published by The Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Japan, 1986; Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. (HEI) 3-170404/1991, 3-83902/1991 and 3-167101/1991].
It is reported that dichloroglyoxime can inhibit the growth of representative gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, but its homologues such as glyoxime and dimethylglyoxime do not exert such inhibition (Dirasat, 13(7), 185-188(1986)).
However, it is not known that monohaloglyoxime shows more potent microbicidal property than dihaloglyoxime and the combination use of monohaloglyoxime and dihaloglyoxime and of such glyoxime derivatives and known industrial microbicides can expect synergistic microbicidal effects.

Industrial microbicide and a method for killing microbes for industrial use

Yoshitomi Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.