Bipolar and field effect molecular wire transistors are provided. The molecular wire transistor comprises a pair of crossed wires, with at least one of the wires comprising a doped semiconductor material. The pair of crossed wires forms a junction where one wire crosses another, one wire being provided with Lewis acid functional groups and the other wire being provided with Lewis base functional groups. If both wires are doped semiconductor, such as silicon, one is P-doped and the other is N-doped. One wire of a given doping comprises the emitter and collector portions and the other wire comprises the base portion, which is formed by modulation doping on the wire containing the emitter and collector at the junction where the wires cross and between the emitter and collector portions, thereby forming a bipolar transistor. Both NPN and PNP bipolar transistors may be formed. Analogously, one wire may comprise doped semiconductor, such as silicon, and the other wire a metal, the doped silicon wire forming the source and drain and the metal wire forming the gate by modulation doping on the doped silicon wire where the wires cross, between the source and drain, to form a field effect transistor. Both P-channel and N-channel FETs may be formed. The construction of both bipolar transistors and FETs on a nanometer scale, which are self-aligned and modulation-doped, is thereby enabled.

The present invention relates generally to electronic devices whose functional length scales are measured in nanometers, and, more particularly, to transistors based on crossed nanometer-scale wires, at least one of which is a modulation-doped semiconductor, joined by functionalized groups at the intersecting junctions.
The silicon (Si) integrated circuit (IC) has dominated electronics and has helped it grow to become one of the world""s largest and most critical industries over the past thirty-five years. However, because of a combination of physical and economic NOMIC reasons, the miniaturization that has accompanied the growth of Si ICs is reaching its limit. The present scale of devices is on the order of tenths of micrometers. New solutions are being proposed to take electronics to ever smaller levels; such current solutions are directed to constructing nanometer scale devices.
Prior proposed solutions to the problem of constructing nanometer scale devices have involved (1) the utilization of extremely fine scale lithography using X-rays, electrons, ions, scanning probes, or stamping to define the device components; (2) direct writing of the device components by electrons, ions, or scanning probes; or (3) the direct chemical synthesis and linking of components with covalent bonds. The major problem with (1) is that the wafer on which the devices are built must be aligned to within a small fraction of the size of the device features in at least two dimensions for several successive stages of lithography, followed by etching or deposition to build the devices. This level of control does not scale well as device sizes are reduced to nanometer scale dimensions. It becomes extremely expensive to implement as devices are scaled down to nanometer scale dimensions. The major problem with (2) is that it is a serial process, and direct writing a wafer full of complex devices, each containing trillions of components, could well require many years. Finally, the problem with (3) is that high information content molecules are typically macromolecular structures such as proteins and DNA, and both have extremely complex and, to date, unpredictable secondary and tertiary structures that cause them to twist into helices, fold into sheets, and form other complex 3D structures that will have a significant and usually deleterious effect on their desired electrical properties as well as make interfacing them to the outside world impossible.
The present inventors have developed new approaches to nanometer-scale devices, comprising crossed nano-scale wires that are joined at their intersecting junctions with bi-stable molecules, as disclosed and claimed in application Ser. No. 09/282,048, filed on even date herewith, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,095, issued Oct. 1, 2002. Wires, such as silicon, carbon and/or metal, are formed in two-dimensional arrays. A bi-stable molecule, such as rotaxane or pseudo-rotaxane, is formed at each intersection of a pair of wires. The bi-stable molecule is switchable between two states upon application of a voltage along a selected pair of wires.
Prior solutions to the problem of constructing a nanometer scale transistor (a three-terminal device with gain) involve the precise positioning of three or four components within a nanometer. A proposed prior solution is to position a quantum dot between two wires, which act as the source and drain of the transistor, in tunneling contact with the quantum dot (this is known as a single-electron transistor, or SET, and was originally proposed by K. Likharev); see, e.g., K. K. Likharev, xe2x80x9cCorrelated discrete transfer of single electrons in ultrasmall tunnel junctionsxe2x80x9d, IBM Journal of Research and Development, Vol. 32, pp. 144-158 (Jan. 1998). A third wire is positioned in capacitive contact with the dot, which is the gate. The voltage on the gate changes the energy levels in the quantum dot, which creates a coulomb blockade to current flowing from the source to the drain.
The problem with the foregoing construction is that a total of three wires plus a quantum dot have to be precisely positioned. This precision of placement must clearly be better than the sizes of the components being placed, which are in the order of nanometers. Such devices have been fabricated using conventional lithography, in which case they are so large they must be operated at very low temperatures (near absolute zero). They have also been fabricated using electron beam lithography and utilizing scanning probe microscopes as direct-write tools.
Thus, there remains a need to provide a nanoscale transistor that affords the advantages of prior art devices, while avoiding most, if not all, their disadvantages.
In accordance with the present invention, a molecular wire transistor is provided, comprising a pair of crossed wires, with at least one of the wires comprising a modulation-doped semiconductor material. A first semiconductor wire is of a first conductivity type and a second wire is provided with either Lewis acid functional groups or Lewis base functional groups to create a region of modulation doping of a second and opposite conductivity type in the junction.
If both functionalized wires are doped semiconductor, such as silicon, one is P-doped and the other is N-doped. One wire of a given doping comprises the xe2x80x9cemitterxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ccollectorxe2x80x9d portions and the other wire induces the xe2x80x9cbasexe2x80x9d function in the first wire containing the emitter and collector at the junction where the wires cross, between the emitter and collector portions. The xe2x80x9cbasexe2x80x9d region is always modulationoped in the present invention. Both PNP and NPN transistors that are analogous to bipolar transistors may be formed in this fashion.
One functionalized wire may comprise doped semiconductor, such as silicon, and the other functionalized wire may comprise a metal. Here, the doped semiconductor wire comprises the xe2x80x9csourcexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cdrainxe2x80x9d and the metal wire induces the xe2x80x9cgatexe2x80x9d function on the doped semiconductor wire where the wires cross, between the source and drain, to form a field effect transistor. The xe2x80x9cgatexe2x80x9d region is always modulation-doped in the present invention. Both N-channel and P-channel transistors that are analogous to field effect transistors may be formed in this fashion.
Further, a molecular memory effect (state change) may be incorporated into the coatings that dope the wires. By choosing the molecule that does the doping of the gate to have two distinct oxidation-reduction (redox) states, a conductive state and a relatively insulating state with a large I-V hysteresis separating the two, it then becomes possible to have a special type of transistor. If the state change is set, then a transistor is formed, but if the state change is not set, then either an open or closed switch is formed. Whether a switch is open or closed depends on the state of a wire coatingxe2x80x94whether it is oxidize or reduced.
A second version of molecular memory effect (molecular configuration bit) is to use a bi-stable molecule such that if the memory bit is set, the semiconductor wire is N-doped along its entire length and conducts. But if the memory bit is reset by applying a sufficient voltage difference between the two wires, then the molecule induces a P region through modulation doping, and the semiconductor wire will not conduct across the region where the wires cross. The N and P regions can be interchanged to make another form of the invention.
The present invention enables the construction of transistors on a nanometer scale, which are self-aligned and modulation-doped. It is very difficult at a nanometer scale to position and align the three components of a bipolar transistor (emitter, base collector) or a field effect transistor (source, gate, and drain). It is also very difficult at a length scale defined in angstroms to control the exact properties of the doping that defines the electrical properties of the semiconductor.
The present invention allows transistors to be formed with a size on the order of tens of nanometers to a few nanometers. By choosing the molecules which form the doping layer, it is possible to build transistors with a wide variety of specifically desired electrical properties. The inclusion of an electrically settable memory bit, through an electrochemical reaction with a large hysteresis loop in its I-V characteristic, as part of the molecules that define the gate region allows a new and useful function to be added to transistors. Another advantage of this invention is that the same technology allows one to choose to build both NPN and PNP bipolar transistors as well as P-channel and N-channel FETs.


A telescoping cotton harvester basket includes latches adjacent the four corners of the basket and spring loaded to automatically lock a basket extension in position as the extension moves from a retracted storage position to an extended harvest position. The latches are connected by fore-and-aft extending linkages and a transverse shaft for operation in unison from a single location to release the basket extension for movement back to the retracted storage position. A reset mechanism automatically moves the latches to a closed or locking position in preparation for the subsequent movement of the basket back to the extended harvest position so that only one manual activation of the latches is required for a complete basket extension-retraction cycle.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to basket structure for cotton harvesters, and more specifically to latch structure for releasably securing a telescoping basket in the extended harvesting position.
2) Related Art
Some presently available cotton harvesters such as the John Deere Model 9965 Cotton Picker include an upper basket extension which is telescopingly received within a main lower basket section. Hydraulic cylinders move the extension between a reduced height transport or storage position and a raised harvest position wherein basket capacity is increased. Usually, some form of mechanical latching arrangement positively locks the basket in the harvest position.
Many previously available latching arrangements lock the basket extension in place only after a manual operation has been performed. A second manual operation is required to release the basket extension for movement to the transport position. In the past, manually removable pins have been used to secure the corners of the baskets. Over-center channel members with quick lock pins, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,831, have also been used. Locking and unlocking of the basket extension requires the operator to move to up to four different locations on the basket to carry out the latching and unlatching functions. At times, the operator has some difficulty inserting or removing pins. As a result, moving the basket extension between transport and raised positions can be time consuming and inconvenient.


A vehicle brake device is provided which enables easier mounting of the proportioning valve(s), and easier assembly and better layout of the whole brake device. An auxiliary hydraulic pressure source and traction valve are positioned on the side face of a hydraulic pressure box (70), and dumping chambers (26), auxiliary reservoirs (31) and proportioning valve(s) (24) are positioned on the bottom of the hydraulic pressure box such that the axial centers are parallel, and the proportioning valve(s) (24) is (are) arranged below the axial center of the auxiliary hydraulic pressure source and below the traction valve (23), and positioned such that brake fluid therein flows from the bottom to the top.

This invention relates to a vehicle brake device equipped with a proportioning valve (P-valve).
In a conventional brake device, a proportioning (P-valve) is positioned externally to the brake pressure generating assembly. For example, in the invention as disclosed in Publication of Unexamined Patent Application Number H5(1993)-229414, the proportioning valve is positioned on the exterior of the actuator.
A conventional arrangement of the proportioning valve present the following problems:
1. Mounting of the brake device is difficult because the brake pressure generating assembly and proportioning valve are two separate units. PA1 2. Assembly is difficult because the brake pressure generating assembly and proportioning valve are connected by tubing. PA1 3. The layout is poor because the brake pressure generating assembly and proportioning valve must be installed in separate locations. PA1 1. The proportioning valves are housed inside a hydraulic pressure box, thereby making it easier to mount the brake device. PA1 2. The proportioning valves are housed inside a hydraulic pressure box, thus eliminating the need to connect the valves with tubing and other components, thereby facilitating assembly of the brake device. PA1 3. The proportioning valves are housed inside a hydraulic pressure box, thereby making more effective use of space, and enabling a better layout. PA1 4. The proportioning valves are positioned under the axial center of the auxiliary pressure source and below the traction valve, thereby making more effective use of space. PA1 5. Inside the proportioning valve, brake fluid flows from bottom to top, thus preventing the entrapment of air.

Vehicle brake device housing with proportioning, traction, inlet and outlet valves


A control system for actuating various types of clutches includes a first piston which contacts a clutch disc associated with a first shaft. The first piston forces the first shaft clutch disc into a corresponding clutch disc associated with a second shaft. A second piston is received within a fluid chamber, and is reciprocated by a motor to force fluid outwardly of the fluid chamber and against the first piston. In this way, the position of the second piston controls the force of the first piston against the clutch disc of the first shaft. An electronic control for the second piston motor accurately controls the position of the second piston to control the force of the first piston on the clutch discs. The first and second pistons, the ball screw motor, the fluid chambers and the fluid paths are all received in a casing for the shafts. In this way, the size of the clutch is reduced over prior art assemblies which typically required a separate pump removed from the casing.

This invention relates to a fluid control for actuating clutch discs which is compact and quickly operable compared to prior art systems.
In the prior art, hydraulically actuated clutches are often incorporated in various vehicular drive transmissions. Typically, a separate pump positioned remote from the transmission case selectively supplies a pressurized fluid to an actuating member, which selectively actuates the clutch. The separate pump requires a complex structure, with separate fluid lines leading to the case. These lines and the separate pump occupy an undesirably large amount of space. These prior art systems have typically used rotary hydraulic pumps, and cannot be actuated as quickly as desirable.
In modern vehicles, the relative torque between driven shafts is often adjusted in response to computer controlled sensors which sense various drive variables. As an example, sensors may detect whether a vehicle is turning, the vehicle speed or other variables, and control the relative torque between two driven shafts in response to the sensed conditions. With the development of such systems, a need has arisen for a clutch assembly which can simply, quickly and accurately control the relative torque between two shafts. The prior art systems have not adequately addressed this need.

Hydraulic actuator for clutch assemblies


A readily collapsible and easily erected shelter construction including: a roof, side wall and floor providing part having the dimensional size and area of the roof panels equal to that of the side wall and floor panels for allowing flat folding of the roof panels over the side wall and floor panels, and end wall parts formed to fit and close the otherwise open ends of the first mentioned part and to hold the structure erected for use. The end walls being further preferably hinged to a floor or roof providing part and for being folded in together towards each other, and tied, to hold the structure flat folded for easier storage, handling, packaging and shipment.

There are a number of instances when having an easily collapsible and erectable shelter for small animals would be a great convenience.
For example, when traveling and vising friends or relatives, with a pet dog or cat, there are many times when the animal needs to be let out or left outdoors for a period of time. Although the animal can be stacked out on a leash or short chain, if the weather is hot or wet most pets and owners require some shelter to allow their pets to get out of the sun or rain showers.
When traveling in a motor home, and parked for an over-night stay, it would be nice to be able to let the family pet stay outside, on a leash or chain, if some temporary shelter were available.
At the beach, out camping, during pet shows, etc., are other instances that come to mind.
Then there is the unexpected guest with a pet, or the unexpected gift of a pet which requires some temporary shelter.
Although cardboard boxes and such have been placed into emergency service, for such uses as mentioned, they are seldom satisfactory or acceptable to either the pet lover or the animal. They are usually not of the right size, seldom are of waterproof construction, are too lightweight and easily moved or knocked over by the animal, are hard to tie or stake down, and are not collapsible and capable of reuse and familiarity for the animal.
Aside from pets and small animals, there is also a need for temporary and readily collapsible and portable shelters for use as beach cabanas, ice fishing shanties, backyard play houses and such that would be large enough to accommodate one or two people and which would provide protection from the weather and/or privacy, as and when needed.
In both instances, what is needed is a prefabricated structure, of inexpensive materials and construction, which can be readily put together and erected, and just as easily and conveniently taken down and collapsed, for storage and easier handling, and which is of sufficiently sturdy construction to withstand the elements, during high winds and storms, as well as rugged use, to allow its being erected, used and collapsed, again and again without appreciably diminished servicability for its intended purpose.
For animals, or small children, it must also be reasonably tight and sturdy in construction to withstand the carefree and sometimes devilish use that they often subject things to. Sloped rather than flat roofs are preferable, and tied rather than fitted parts are recommended, for example.


Systems and methods of token-based protection for links to media streams are disclosed. For example, a computing device may generate a first token based on a private key and an encryption algorithm. The first token may be inserted into a link to a media stream. When the link is selected at a client device, a media request including the first token may be sent to a server. The server may generate a second token based on the private key and the encryption algorithm. The server may grant or deny the media request based on a comparison of the first token and the second token.

The popularity of the Internet, coupled with the increasing capabilities of personal/mobile electronic devices, has provided consumers with the ability to enjoy multimedia content almost anytime and anywhere. For example, live (e.g., sports events) and video on demand (VOD) content (e.g., television shows and movies) can be streamed via the Internet to personal electronic devices (e.g., computers, mobile phones, and Internet-enabled televisions).
Internet video publishers often publish webpages that include links (e.g., hyperlinks) to video streams. The publication cost of each video stream may depend on how many viewers access the video stream using the published link. To control publication costs, it may be beneficial to restrict the number of simultaneous and total viewers of a video stream. For example, if a paying subscriber shares a link to a video stream with a non-paying subscriber, it may be beneficial to prevent the non-paying subscriber from using the link to access the video stream, to reduce bandwidth costs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Token-based security for links to media streams


A curtain-type lading-restraining device for use in lading-carrying containers which employs decking which is positionable above the floor of the container so as to provide two surfaces for supporting cargo.. The lading-restraining curtain includes an upper curtain assembly for positioning above the decking and for cooperation with the cargo on the decking. The upper curtain assembly is suspended from a trolley positioned adjacent the ceiling of the vehicle container.. Track channels are provided in each of the sidewalls below the decking for supporting the lower curtain. Sliders are positioned in each of the channels for longitudinal movement therein and for supporting the lower curtain. The lower curtain is connected to the slider through a link chain system and can be positioned to engage cargo on the floor of the container. One end of the support chain includes a detachable hook so that one end of the lower curtain can be stored on the opposite side of the container.

This invention relates to load restrainers, and more particularly, to load-restraining devices for use in lading-carrying vehicles and/or containers.
Curtain-type load-restraining systems for use in lading-carrying vehicles, such as truck trailers which have longitudinal top, side and bottom walls are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 28,788. Such systems include: (1) a plurality of vertically-spaced fasteners or belt rails positioned along the sidewalls of the vehicle; (2) a curtain support which extends transversely across the vehicle adjacent the top wall and which is movable longitudinally within the trailer; (3) flexible lading-engaging curtain which is suspended from the support and extends across the width and height of the vehicle between the side walls and the top and bottom walls; and (4) horizontal load-restraining belts carried by the curtain and having fasteners at the end thereof for connection to vertically-spaced sidewall fasteners.
In some vehicles horizontal decking is employed so as to define a second surface upon which lading may be carried. One such system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 27,034.
It has been determined to be desirable to employ lading-restraining curtains in vehicles which employ decking systems. However, the present style curtain-type restraints are not suitable since the face of the lading on the floor may be substantially offset from the face of the lading on the deck.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a load-restraining curtain for use with lading-carrying vehicles or containers that employ decking systems.
This and other objects of this invention will become readily apparent from the following description and appended claims.

Two-piece curtain-like lading-restraining device


An extraction tool is provided for extracting an electronic circuit component. The tool includes an outer jaw assembly having a top plate and at least two outer legs coupled to the top plate defining an interior region therebetween. An inner jaw assembly is located in the interior region. The inner jaw assembly includes a bottom plate and at least two inner legs coupled to the bottom plate for engaging the chip. The apparatus also includes a slide collar slidably coupled to the outer and inner jaw assemblies. The collar is movable between a first position to permit the outer and inner legs to be inserted over the chip and a second position to lock the outer and inner legs in a predetermined engaging position relative to the chip. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for moving the inner jaw assembly relative to the outer jaw assembly when the collar in its second position to extract the chip. The length of the legs of the tool is selected to permit extraction of both large and small profile chips.

The present invention relates to an extraction tool for removing an electronic circuit component from a socket. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for removing electronic circuit component from a socket without damaging the electronic circuit component, the socket, or conductive traces on a printed circuit board coupled to the socket.
The present invention is designed to remove electronic circuit chips such as Pin Grid Array (PGA) devices from PGA sockets coupled to printed circuit boards. The present invention is designed to reduce the likelihood of bending or damaging leads on the chip during removal of the chip from the socket. In addition, the present invention is designed to remove the chip from the socket without damaging conductive traces on the surface of the printed circuit board.
One feature of the present invention is the provision of chip removal blades or legs which are biased to a normally open position. A slide collar is provided to lock the legs in engagement with the chip. Therefore, the legs are held in a closed position over the chip so that the chip will not slip out from the legs during removal or extraction of the chip. The length of the legs of the present invention is selected to permit the extraction apparatus to accommodate both large and small profile chips. Specifically, the length of the legs allows the legs to flex enough the accommodate large profile PGA devices which are typically 0.100 inch larger than small profile PGA devices. The legs also provide enough clearance to permit extraction of chips which include large heat sinks.
The extraction apparatus of the present invention uses the mechanical advantage of a screw assembly to generate the force required to extract the chip from the socket. The screw assembly moves a set of inner legs upwardly relative to a set of outer legs to extract the chip from a socket. Preferably, the apparatus applies the extraction force to all four sides of the chip to reduce the likelihood of damaging the chip.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for extracting an electronic chip. The apparatus includes an outer jaw assembly having a top plate and at least two outer legs coupled to the top plate defining an interior region therebetween. An inner jaw assembly is located in the interior region. The inner jaw assembly includes a bottom plate and at least two inner legs coupled to the bottom plate for engaging the chip. The apparatus also includes a collar slidably coupled to the outer and inner jaw assemblies. The collar is movable between a first position to permit the outer and inner legs to be inserted over the chip and a second position to lock the outer and inner legs in a predetermined engaging position relative to the chip. The apparatus further includes means for moving the inner jaw assembly relative to the outer jaw assembly when the collar is in its second position to extract the chip.
The moving means illustratively includes a threaded stem extending through the outer jaw assembly. The threaded stem is threadably coupled to the bottom plate to move the inner jaw assembly relative to the outer jaw assembly upon rotation of the threaded stem.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the outer and inner legs are situated at a predetermined angle relative to the top and bottom plates, respectively, so that the outer and inner legs are biased radially outwardly to a normally open position when the collar is in its first position. Each outer leg is situated adjacent to an inner leg to form an outer and inner leg pair. The collar includes a sliding surface adjacent each pair of outer and inner legs. The sliding surfaces force each pair of outer and inner legs radially inwardly to a closed position upon movement of the collar from its first position to its second position to lock the inner legs in engagement with the chip. Each of the outer and inner legs is formed to include an elongated slot therein for receiving a portion of a fastener therethrough to guide movement of the collar relative to the outer and inner legs. The fastener is movable in the elongated slots to permit movement of the collar from the first position to the second position.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, each inner leg is formed to include a radially inwardly projecting flange for engaging the chip to extract the chip from the socket as the inner leg assembly is moved by the moving means. Each outer leg is formed to include a radially inwardly projecting flange for engaging the socket. The flange of each inner leg is configured abut the flange of an adjacent outer leg. The abutting inner and outer flanges enter a gap between the chip and the socket as the collar moves from its first position to its second position to lock the inner legs in engagement with the chip.
Each outer leg is coupled to the top plate by a spacer block which permits limited movement of each outer leg relative to the top plate to maintain alignment between the flanges of the inner and outer legs. A compression spring is situated inside the interior region between the top and bottom plates to hold the inner legs in a predetermined position relative to the outer legs prior to movement of the inner jaw assembly by the moving means.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as present perceived.

Extraction tool for electronic circuit components


A hemopoietic stem cell augmenting agent in which at least one type of hepatocyte growth factor is contained as an active component is provided. The hepatocyte growth factor has an augmenting activity on undifferentiated pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells and is useful as a hemopoietic stem cell augmenting agent for treatment of bone marrow suppression and for treatment of bone marrow malfunctions and furthermore is useful for in vitro growth of peripheral blood stem cells and bone marrow stem cells. Furthermore, a hepatocyte growth factor derived from human normal fibroblasts which is considered to be a type of hepatocyte growth factor can be obtained by genetic recombination techniques, and said factor is also useful as a hemopoietic stem cells augmenting agent.

Recently, it has been found that in the differentiation of undifferentiated pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells to mature blood cells, a number of hemopoietic factors are mutually involved In various levels and thus a complicated hemopoietic network system is formed. Furthermore, most of the hemopoietic factors are being genetically cloned and several hemopoietic factors are being mass produced by genetic recombination techniques, and their clinical applications are in progress. On the other hand, although pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells are characterized by their self-replicating ability (growth), sufficient studies have not been done on the growth factors which affect the undifferentiated pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow.
It is known that bone marrow stromal cells play a major role in the growth of the pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells and their differentiation into mature cells; some kind of fluid factors secreted by the stromal cells, or intercellular reactions or the like are thought to be involved in hemopoieses in the bone marrow.
For example, it is known that bone marrow stromal cell line MC3T3-G2/PA-6(PA-6) which is established from the calvaria of C57B1/6 newborn mouse supports the growth of mouse pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells (Kodama, H. et al., J. Cell. Physiol., 112, 89, 1982).
In recent years, a ligand for a c-kit protein, which is a tyrosine kinase receptor being expressed in pluripotent stem cells, has attracted attention as a factor involved in the growth of undifferentiated stem cells and great efforts have been made to substantiate the ligand; in 1990, three research groups succeeded in genetically cloning the ligand. They were reported as SCF (stem cell factor; K. M. Zsebo et al., Cell, 63, 195-201, 1990), MGF (mast cell growth factor; D. E. Williams et al., Cell, 63, 167-174, 1990) and KL (c-kit ligand; Huang et al., Cell, 63, 225-233, 1990).
At present, the mechanism of the action of the ligand is being studied using the c-kit ligand which is mass produced by genetic recombination techniques and studies to date are clarifying that this factor acts on the stem cells which are differentiated to a certain extent (Hayashi et al., Int. J. Hematology, Suppl. No. 1, p198, 1991).
Accordingly, it is now considered that aside from this protein, other factors exist which act on pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells which are differentiated to a lesser extent in the bone marrow.
The hemopoietic factors having the above-mentioned activities can be made into useful pharmaceuticals such as therapeutic agents to restore bone marrow growth after the use of anti-cancer agents or after bone marrow transplantation and therapeutic agents for bone marrow malfunctions such as hypoplastic anemia and osteomyelodysplasia syndrome.
Furthermore, the hemopoietic factors having the above-mentioned activities can be used as a useful reagent or the like for in vitro proliferation of peripheral stem cells and bone marrow stem cells and furthermore as an analytical reagent or as an antigen for preparation of antibodies.


A headband apparatus includes a flexible, resilient C-shaped core member. A first absorbent layer is attached to the core member. A cloth layer is attached to the first absorbent layer, and a second absorbent layer is attached to an inside portion of the first absorbent layer under the cloth layer. The first absorbent layer jackets the core member. The core member is comprised of a flexible, resilient plastic material. The first absorbent layer is comprised of foam first material. The cloth layer jackets the first absorbent layer. The cloth layer is comprised of terrycloth material. The second absorbent layer is comprised of loose foam second material. When the midportion of the apparatus is placed on the forehead of a person, the first absorbent layer, the cloth layer, and the second absorbent layer are all capable of absorbing perspiration from the person""s forehead.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to headbands and, more particularly, to headbands especially adapted for absorbing perspiration from a person""s forehead.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When perspiration forms on a person""s forehead, it often flow downward into the person""s eyes and/or onto the person""s eyeglasses. To avoid this undesirable result, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to headbands, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,856,116, 5,146,630, 5,826,277, 5,946,734, and 5,987,647. More specifically, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,856,116 and 5,987,647 disclose headbands in which an absorbent core is provided with a covering. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,116, there is no tapering either from midportion height to end portion height or from midportion thickness to end portion thickness. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,647 there is a tapering from midportion height to end portion height, but there is no tapering from midportion thickness to end portion thickness. Thus, in both U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,856,116 and 5,987,647, there is no tapering from midportion thickness to end portion thickness. Because most perspiration forms at the midportion position, and lesser amounts of perspiration form at the end portion positions, it would be desirable if a headband apparatus were provided in which the midportion thickness were greater than the end portion thickness.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,630 discloses a headband in which a removable package containing granular moisture absorbent material is provided. To avoid the necessity of employing extraneous packages of granular perspiration absorbent material, it would be desirable if a headband were provided which does not include packages of granular perspiration absorbent material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,277 discloses a headband which includes an elastic band and inelastic sponge material sewn onto the elastic band at predetermined alternating intervals. At the sewn seam locations, a minimum exposure of the inelastic sponge material is provided. To avoid a situation in which a minimum exposure of absorbent material is alternated with maximum exposure of absorbent material, it would be desirable if a headband were provided which does not include inelastic sponge material sewn onto an elastic band at alternating intervals.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,734 discloses a headband which includes rupturable, pressurized, fluid filled cells that provide impact protection to a person wearing the headband. However, the material comprising the rupturable, pressurized, fluid filled cells is inherently not perspiration absorbent. Thus, to maintain the desirable property of having a headband being perspiration absorbent, it would be desirable if a headband does not include rupturable, pressurized, fluid filled cells.
Still other features would be desirable in an absorbent headband apparatus. For example, it would be desirable to provide an specific absorbent layer, which is closest to the wearer""s forehead, in which a midportion layer thickness is greater than the thickness at the ends of the specific absorbent layer. In this respect, the specific layer midportion tapers to the specific layer end portions.
Another desirable feature in a headband is to have the midportion height greater than the end portion height. In this respect, the present invention provides a headband in which the midportion height is greater than the end portion height.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use headbands that absorb perspiration from a wearer""s forehead, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest an absorbent headband apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) the midportion thickness is greater than the end portion thickness; (2) does not include packages of granular perspiration absorbent material; (3) does not include inelastic sponge material sewn onto an elastic band at alternating intervals; (4) does not include rupturable, pressurized, fluid filled cells; (5) provides a specific absorbent layer, which is closest to the wearer""s forehead, in which a midportion layer thickness is greater than the thickness at the ends of the specific absorbent layer; and (6) the midportion height is greater than the end portion height. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique absorbent headband apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a headband apparatus which includes a flexible, resilient C-shaped core member. A first absorbent layer is attached to the core member. A cloth layer is attached to the first absorbent layer, and a second absorbent layer is attached to an inside portion of the first absorbent layer under the cloth layer. The first absorbent layer jackets the core member. The core member is comprised of a flexible, resilient plastic material. The first absorbent layer is comprised of foam first material. The cloth layer jackets the first absorbent layer. The cloth layer is comprised of terrycloth material. The second absorbent layer is comprised of loose foam second material. When the midportion of the apparatus is placed on the forehead of a person, the first absorbent layer, the cloth layer, and the second absorbent layer are all capable of absorbing perspiration from the person""s forehead.
The apparatus has a midportion and two end portions. The midportion has a midportion thickness. Each of the two end portions has an end portion thickness, and the midportion thickness is greater than the end portion thickness, whereby the thickness of the apparatus tapers from the midportion to the two end portions. Also, the midportion has a midportion height. Each of the two end portions has an end portion height, and the midportion height is greater than the end portion height, whereby the height of the apparatus tapers from the midportion to the two end portions.
The second absorbent layer includes a layer midportion which has a midportion layer thickness and includes two layer end portions which have an end layer thickness. The midportion layer thickness is greater than the end layer thickness, whereby the thickness of the second absorbent layer tapers from the layer midportion to the layer end portions.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved absorbent headband apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved absorbent headband apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved absorbent headband apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved absorbent headband apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such absorbent headband apparatus available to the buying public.
Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved absorbent headband apparatus in which the midportion thickness is greater than the end portion thickness.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved absorbent headband apparatus that does not include packages of granular perspiration absorbent material.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved absorbent headband apparatus which does not include inelastic sponge material sewn onto an elastic band at alternating intervals.
Even another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved absorbent headband apparatus that does not include rupturable, pressurized, fluid filled cells.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved absorbent headband apparatus which provides a specific absorbent layer, which is closest to the wearer""s forehead, in which a midportion layer thickness is greater than the thickness at the ends of the specific absorbent layer.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved absorbent headband apparatus in which the midportion height is greater than the end portion height.
These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.


The present invention pertains to an improved rotor bar design and method of fabrication of asynchronous motors using such rotor bars. The rotor bar design employs "T"-shaped rotor bars that are interleaved around a magnetic core forming a rotor having a minimum amount of bonding interfaces between the rotor bars and end ring portions. The "T"-shaped rotor bars may either be formed from a single piece or from multiple pieces of copper. The single piece rotor bar method provides N bonding interfaces per end ring, where N is the number of rotor bars used. Where the "T"-shaped rotor bars are formed from three pieces for a rotor having N rotor bars, there will be 2N bonding interfaces for each end ring. Also, the "T" shape of the rotor bars may be added after straight rotor bars have been installed in the rotor bar channels in the magnetic core with their end portions extending beyond the rotor bar channels. In addition, high-speed operation is facilitated by the addition of a shrink-fit beryllium-copper containment ring on each end ring. This containment ring acts to contain the copper end rings against outward forces developed during operation of the motor while having a similar coefficient of thermal expansion to copper (the end ring material) so that significant thermally derived differential forces are not developed between the end rings and their containment rings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to the field of squirrel cage-type asynchronous motors such as alternating current induction motors. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a rotor bar design and method of assembly of the rotor bars which results in the ends of the rotor bars interleaving to form rotor end rings.
2. The Prior Art
High-speed, high efficiency induction motors such as those for use in electrically powered vehicles and other applications require strong, highly conductive end rings. Previous lower efficiency designs required resistive end rings in order to develop start-up torque and/or simplify control. Copper is generally recognized as the material of choice for fabricating such highly conductive end rings, but its material properties pose two major difficulties. First, the large number of bonded interfaces (brazed, soldered or welded) between the individual rotor bars reduces the overall electrical conductivity, and second, the physical strength of copper metal, being a relatively soft and ductile material, is not adequate for long endurance high-speed operation.
One previous assembly method, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,990 issued Jan. 2, 1979 to Roach, utilized cast end ring assemblies to facilitate rotor assembly. According to this method, rotor bars are inserted through the stack of rotor laminations which form the magnetic core of the motor with end portions of the rotor bars protruding beyond the end laminations at opposite ends of the magnetic core. A pair of end rings disposed at opposite ends of the core are joined to the protruding end portions of the rotor bars. The axially facing inner end surface of each end ring has a series of arcuately spaced radially extending channels formed therein with intervening arcuately spaced radially extending ribs defined therebetween, with the channels receiving the protruding end portions of the rotor bars therein, and with the ribs bearing tightly against the end laminations at opposite ends of the laminated core to maintain the laminated core in tightly compressed condition. While fit for its intended purpose, this method presents a very large number of surfaces which need to be successfully bonded for good electrical conductivity throughout the end rings. A further drawback of the method is the requirement for specially cast end ring assemblies.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,941 issued Feb. 8, 1994 to Meyer et al. describes a method for brazing rotor bars to end rings of an asynchronous AC motor which employs treated copper end rings and copper rotor bars in a process that allows brazing without temperature extremes affecting the mechanical properties of the pre-treated copper. While fit for its intended purpose, a drawback of this method is the limited nature of the rotor bar to end ring electrical contact which will result in a higher resistance in the end ring than is desired for certain applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,424 issued Nov. 13, 1990 to Nakamura et al. discloses a high speed induction motor using aluminum rotor bars and aluminum end rings with an iron containment/balancing ring around each cast aluminum end ring. As pointed out in the patent, aluminum end rings suffer from operation at high speed and tend to fracture, hence the need for an iron containment ring about them. While fit for its intended purpose, the end rings formed of aluminum have less electrical conductivity than end rings formed from copper. Copper has a significantly greater coefficient of thermal expansion than iron and, accordingly a structure having copper end rings with an iron containment could not be easily manufactured as there would be risk of fracture of the containment at high operating temperatures or during the manufacturing process itself.

Rotor construction for alternating current induction motor


Disclosed is a method for cleaning of the harmful gas, the method comprising mixing harmful gas, discharged from reaction processes using organic metal compounds as the reaction raw materials, with oxygen or air and thereafter bringing the mixture into contact with a catalyst obtained by carrying a noble metal on an inorganic support, a catalyst comprising at least one metal oxide selected from vanadium oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, silver oxide, cobalt oxide and nickel oxide or a catalyst obtained by carrying the metal oxide on an inorganic support, at temperatures between 100xc2x0 C. and 800xc2x0 C. to clean the harmful gas. Disclosed also is an apparatus used in the method. The invention ensures that harmful components can be purified in an efficient manner without discharging organic compounds and a large amount of carbon dioxide after the harmful gas is purified, requiring no aftertreatment.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning of the harmful gas discharged from a reaction process using an organic metal compound as a reaction raw material, and, particularly, to a method and apparatus for cleaning of the harmful gas discharged from an MOCVD (Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition) process, other CVD processes or the like in semiconductor-manufacturing processes.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Materials constituting an insulated thin film of a semiconductor device include SiO2 for a gate insulated film, Si3N4 for a capacitor insulated film, PSG (phosphorous/silicon/glass) and BPSG (boron/phosphorous/silicon/glass) for a layer insulated film and the like. Gaseous raw materials such as SiH4, NH3, PH3 and B2H6 have been used as materials for producing these films in CVD apparatus. With progresses in three-dimensional devices and multilayer interconnection, there is an increased demand for flattening of an insulated film. The adoption of CVD processes using, as starting material, a liquid organic metal compound is going to start, the liquid organic metal compound including tetraethoxysilane (Si(OC2H5)4), trimethoxyboron (B(OCH3)3) and trimethoxyphosphorous (P(OCH3)3) which are resistant to failures such as voids and enables the formation of high quality thin film. In addition, new types of thin film such as a Ta2O5 film having a dielectric constant several times that of SiO2 have been developed. As the raw material of the Ta2O5 film, pentaethoxytantalum (Ta(OC2H5)5) which is a liquid organic metal material is used.
Moreover, in recent years, as oxide type dielectric thin films for semiconductor memories, a lead titanate zirconate (PZT) film, barium strontium titanate (BST) film and the like which have a high dielectric constant and high step coverage have been developed and various filming methods relating these films have been examined. As to the raw materials of these films, Pb (DPM)2 (solid raw material) as a Pb source, Zr(OC(CH3)3)4 (liquid raw material) as a Zr source, Ti(OCH(CH3)2)4 (liquid raw material) as a Ti source, Ba(DPM)2 (solid raw material) as a Ba source and Sr(DPM)2 (solid raw material) as a Sr source are used.
Although as to solid raw materials among these raw materials, high purity raw materials can be obtained by keeping these solid raw materials at high temperatures to sublimate them and supplying the vaporized raw materials, it is very difficult to secure industrially sufficient supply amount. Therefore, these solid raw materials are used by dissolving each of these materials in an organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran in general. Also, in a multicomponent type MOCVD process as aforementioned, the supply amount of each raw material is decreased. Hence an organic solvent is sometimes added also to the liquid raw material to control the supply amount for the purpose of supplying raw materials quantitatively with high accuracy.
Most of these liquid raw materials, solid raw materials and organic solvents used for these raw materials have high toxicity or have not been confirmed as to whether they are safe or not. It is therefore necessary to clean these materials before these materials are discharged to the air after they are used.
Such a harmful gas as is discharged from MOCVD processes has been usually purified by a wet method, dry method or combustion method.
For example, as the cleaning method using a wet method, a method has been practiced in which harmful gas containing an alkoxide is brought into contact with an aqueous solution containing an alkaline component to absorb and decompose the harmful gas thereby cleaning the gas.
As the cleaning method using a dry method, a method is known in which harmful gas containing an alkoxide is brought into contact with a cleaning agent obtained by impregnating a metal oxide using, as major components, copper oxide and manganese oxide with an alkali compound, e.g., potassium hydroxide to clean the gas (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.6-327932). Also, a method is known in which harmful gas containing alkyl hydrides such as tert-butylarsine and tert-butylphosphine is brought into contact with a cleaning agent obtained by impregnating a metal oxide using, as major components, copper oxide and manganese oxide with a cobalt compound to clean the gas (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-60054).
Also, as the cleaning method using a combustion method, a cleaning method has been practiced in which harmful gas containing organic metal compounds is introduced into a flame of flammable gas, e.g., propane, and oxygen or air to burn the harmful gas.
Moreover, as a method for cleaning of the harmful gas containing organic metal compounds and organic solvents, a cleaning method is known in which the harmful gas containing harmful components is brought into contact with, for example, activated carbon or synthetic zeolite such as a molecular sieve to adsorb these harmful components.
However, the aforementioned cleaning method using the wet method has the drawback that the apparatus is large-sized and the aftertreatment of the used absorbing solution is troublesome.
The cleaning method using the dry method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-327932 has the drawback that methanol and ethanol produced by the cleaning of the alkoxide cannot be caught though metals contained in the alkoxide can be caught in the cleaning agent. The cleaning method using the dry method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-60054 has the drawback that butane and butene cannot be caught similarly to the above case.
The cleaning method using the combustion method has such a disadvantage that it requires high energy cost and a large amount of carbon dioxide is discharged since the state of burning must be maintained also during stand-by time when the harmful gas is not treated.
Moreover, the method for cleaning of the harmful gas containing organic metal compounds and organic solvents by using an adsorbent such as activated carbon or synthetic zeolite poses the problem that harmful components which have been once adsorbed dissociate depending upon treating conditions and the type of harmful component and the problem that aftertreatments such as incineration of the adsorbent after the cleaning of the harmful gas are troublesome. Further, when cyclic ethers such as tetrahydrofuran are contained as the harmful components, they produce peroxides in the presence of oxygen. Therefore, in the case of a large throughput, there is a fear that the aftertreatments are accompanied with risks.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems and to provide a method and apparatus for cleaning of the harmful gas, the method and the apparatus ensuring that harmful components can be purified in an efficient manner without discharging organic compounds and a large amount of carbon dioxide after the cleaning process and no aftertreatment is required when harmful gas discharged from, for example, semiconductor-manufacturing processes using organic metal compounds as reaction raw materials is purified.
The inventors of the present invention have conducted earnest studies to solve these problems and, as a result, found that harmful components can be efficiently converted into metal oxides, water and carbon dioxide to clean without discharging organic compounds and a large amount of carbon dioxide after the cleaning process and no aftertreatment is required by bringing the harmful gas discharged from reaction processes such as semiconductor-manufacturing processes using organic metal compounds as the reaction raw materials into contact with a catalyst obtained by carrying a noble metal on an inorganic support, a catalyst comprising of a metal oxide such as vanadium oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, silver oxide cobalt oxide or nickel oxide or a catalyst obtained by carrying each of these metal oxides on an inorganic support to run catalytic combustion. The present invention was thus completed.
Accordingly the present invention resides in a method for cleaning of the harmful gas, the method comprising mixing harmful gas, discharged from reaction processes using organic metal compounds as the reaction raw materials, with oxygen or air and thereafter bringing the mixture into contact with a catalyst, obtained by carrying a noble metal on an inorganic support, at temperatures between 100xc2x0 C. and 800xc2x0 C. to clean the harmful gas.
Also, the present invention resides in a method for cleaning of the harmful gas, the method comprising mixing harmful gas, discharged from reaction processes using organic metal compounds as the reaction raw materials, with oxygen or air and thereafter bringing the mixture into contact with a catalyst comprising at least one metal oxide selected from vanadium oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide silver oxide, cobalt oxide and nickel oxide or a catalyst obtained by carrying the metal oxide on an inorganic support, at temperatures between 100xc2x0 C. and 800xc2x0 C. to clean the harmful gas.
Also, the present invention resides in an apparatus for cleaning of the harmful gas discharged from reaction processes using organic metal compounds as the reaction raw materials, the apparatus comprising a pipe for introducing harmful gas, a pipe for introducing oxygen or air, a cleaning column which is connected to said two introduction pipes and filled with a catalyst obtained by carrying a noble metal on an inorganic support, a means for heating the cleaning column and an exhaust pipe for discharging the purified gas discharged from the cleaning column.
Further, the present invention resides in an apparatus for cleaning of the harmful gas discharged from reaction processes using organic metal compounds as the reaction raw materials, the apparatus comprising a pipe for introducing harmful gas, a pipe for introducing oxygen or air, a cleaning column which is connected to said two introduction pipes and filled with a catalyst comprising at least one metal oxide selected from vanadium oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide silver oxide cobalt oxide and nickel oxide or with a catalyst obtained by carrying the metal oxide on an inorganic support, a means for heating the cleaning column and an exhaust pipe for discharging the cleaned gas discharged from the cleaning column.

Method of cleaning of harmful gas and cleaning apparatus


A method of controlling a mobile terminal, and which includes receiving, via a wireless communication unit, a wireless signal from an external wireless access point (AP); configuring, via a controller, a frequency band for searching a frequency transmitted from a mobile communication network based on information contained in the wireless signal; and searching a frequency transmitted from the mobile communication network on the configured frequency band. Further, the configured frequency band is a partial search frequency band of a full search frequency band.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal capable of accessing a mobile communication network and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal capable of searching a frequency of a mobile communication network to access the mobile communication network and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Terminals may be generally classified into mobile/portable terminals or stationary terminals. Mobile terminals may also be classified as handheld terminals or vehicle mounted terminals. Mobile terminals have become increasingly more functional. Examples of such functions include data and voice communications, capturing images and video via a camera, recording audio, playing music files via a speaker system, and displaying images and video on a display. Some mobile terminals include additional functionality which supports game playing, while other terminals are configured as multimedia players. More recently, mobile terminals have been configured to receive broadcast and multicast signals which permit viewing of content such as videos and television programs.
As it becomes multifunctional, a mobile terminal can capture still images or moving images, play music or video files, play games, receive broadcast and the like, so as to be implemented as an integrated multimedia player. In recent years, as mobile communication technologies have been developed, mobile communication providers offer services on second generation mobile communication technologies (2G), third generation mobile communication technologies (3G), fourth generation mobile communication technologies (4G), and the like.
For example, the second through the fourth generation mobile communication technologies include a mobile communication standard or radio access technology (RAT), for example, at least one of Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Code Division Multi Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A), and the like.
The mobile terminal can access a mobile communication network (or network) established according to the foregoing mobile communication technologies to perform wireless communication. Such a mobile communication network may have a specific RAT and a frequency band for each mobile communication technology. Further, as different mobile communication technologies are serviced for each region/country, the RATs and frequency bands for accessing a mobile communication network in each region/country may be different.
Accordingly, in the related art, when a mobile terminal moves to regions/countries providing different mobile communication networks, the mobile terminal searches all RATs and all frequencies for each RAT to access a mobile communication network provided from the relevant region/country, thereby lengthening a time for accessing the mobile communication network as well as increasing battery consumption of the mobile terminal.

Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same


A syringe assembly includes a barrel having a chamber for retaining fluid. The barrel has an open proximal end, a distal end and an elongated tip extending from the distal end having a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber. The tip has a diameter at its distal end of less than about 3.8 mm and a side wall tapered proximally outwardly at a taper of from 4% to 8%. A plunger rod includes an elongated body portion having a proximal end, a distal end and a stopper at the distal end. The stopper is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement in the barrel. An elongated projection extending distally from the distal end of the plunger rod is shaped to fit within the passageway of the elongated tip. Structure is provided for preventing proximal motion of the plunger rod with respect to the barrel after distal motion of the stopper to expel fluid through the passageway.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to syringes and needles and more particularly concerns disposable syringes and needles having re-use prevention and medication saving features.
2. Background
Throughout the world the multiple use of hypodermic syringe products, which are intended for single use only, is instrumental in drug abuse and in the transfer of contagious diseases. Intravenous drug users who routinely share and re-use syringes are a high risk group with respect to the AIDS virus. Also, the effects of multiple use are a major concern in some countries where repeated use of syringe products during mass immunization programs may be responsible for the spread of many diseases. Re-use of single use hypodermic syringe assemblies is also instrumental in the spread of drug abuse even in the absence of infection or disease.
Many attempts have been made to remedy this problem. Most notable are early contributions which relied on a specific act to destroy the syringe after use either by using a destructive device or providing a syringe assembly with frangible zones so that the syringe could be rendered inoperable by the application of force. Other attempts involve the inclusion of structure which would allow the destruction or defeating of the syringe function through a conscious act by the syringe user. Although many of these devices work quite well they do require the specific intent of the user followed by the actual act to destroy or render the syringe inoperable. These devices are not effective with a user having the specific intent to re-use the hypodermic syringe. Accordingly, there is a need for a single use hypodermic syringe which becomes inoperative or incapable of further use automatically without any additional act on the part of the user. This automatic function is much harder to provide because the means for rendering the syringe inoperable must not prevent its filling or use under normal conditions.
In single-use syringes using needle assemblies having a hub attached to a needle cannula there is a need to help prevent reuse of the needle assembly after its use with the single-use syringe so that the needle assembly cannot be used again with other syringes or fluid handling devices.
There is also a need in single-use syringes to minimize or eliminate wasted medication in the injection process. This is especially true in mass inoculation programs involving large numbers of people and in many cases limited financial resources. Medication which is not delivered, because it is trapped in the interior of the syringe tip after the plunger reaches its maximum distal displacement, can prove costly. Even with a small number of injections, an entire dose may be lost through medication which is trapped in the syringes and not delivered.
n operable syringe assembly includes a barrel having an inside surface describing a chamber for retaining fluid. The barrel includes an open proximal end, a distal end and an elongated tip extending from the distal end having a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber. The tip has a side wall tapered proximally outwardly at a taper of from 4% to 8%. A plunger rod includes an elongated body portion having a proximal end, a distal end and a stopper at the distal end. The stopper is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement in the barrel. An elongated projection extends distally outwardly from the distal end of the plunger rod and is shaped to fit within the passageway of the elongated tip of the barrel. Structure for preventing proximal motion of the plunger rod with respect to the barrel after distal motion of the stopper to expel fluid through the passageway is provided. A needle assembly includes a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therethrough and a hub having an open proximal end with a tapered cavity therein including a side wall tapered distally inwardly at a taper of about 4% to 8%. The cavity has a diameter of less than about 3.85 mm at the open proximal end. The hub includes a distal end joined to the proximal end of the cannula so that the lumen is in fluid communication with the cavity. A needle shield is removably connected to the hub so that the distal end of the cannula is in the needle shield. A package encloses the syringe assembly and the needle assembly.
In other embodiments the side wall of the tip has a taper of about 6% and the side wall of the hub has a taper of about 6%.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a needle assembly with a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therethrough and a hub having an open proximal end with a tapered cavity therein. The tapered cavity has a side wall tapered distally inwardly at a taper of from 4% to 8%, preferably 6%, and a diameter of less than about 3.85 mm at its open proximal end. The hub includes a distal end joined to the proximal end of the cannula so that the lumen is in fluid communication with the cavity.


A gauge for measuring the headspace dimension of a firearm chamber. The gauge includes a first member coupled to a second member in a telescopic fashion. The first and second members may be positioned in an open firearm chamber. With the firearm chamber subsequently closed, the first and second members are moved into a position that gives the actual headspace dimension and locked in that position. The gauge may then be removed from the chamber and measured to give the user the actual headspace dimension.

Firearms are inherently dangerous devices. A controlled violent explosion happens every time the trigger is pulled. Only by careful control of propellant charges, tolerances of manufacture, and strength of materials can they be made safe to handle and use. When reloading spent cartridges there are many ways to make errors that can have negative consequences. Therefore it is extremely important to know that all of the critical parameters are within specifications. One such specification is that of the chamber size which receives the loaded cartridge. If the chamber is too small the cartridge may jam and ignite without the bolt fully closed. If the chamber is to large, explosive gasses will escape around the cartridge and be expelled toward the user. The firearms industry relies on a rigorous set of specifications for chamber dimensions and corresponding loaded ammunition. These dimensions are known as the SAAMI specifications or "SAAMI specs". SAAMI stands for the SPORTING ARMS AND AMMUNITION MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE INC. Therefore, in theory if a firearm is manufactured with the proper size chamber all commercially available cartridges will fit in the chamber properly.
For each different firearm cartridge size, there are a set of SAAMI specifications for the firearm chamber and cartridge. While there are many dimensions that describe the size of a firearm cartridge, headspace is one that governs how the loaded cartridge fits into the chamber lengthwise when the bolt is locked into a battery or closed position. Battery refers the position of the bolt when the locking lugs of the firearm bolt or breach end of the chamber are closed and locked ready to fire. Because of manufacturing tolerances there is always some clearance in the fore/aft position of the breach locking lugs. Because the locking lugs are under spring tension from the firing pin assembly, they may not be held all the way against the aft surfaces which would define the largest closed bolt chamber dimension.
To help understand aspects of this description, the cartridge ignition process will now be discussed. A loaded cartridge is placed in the chamber of firearm. The bolt is in most cases moved forward pushing the cartridge into the chamber of a firearm such as, but not limited to, a rifle. The bolt is locked, usually by closing a handle. Once the trigger is pulled a spring urges the firing pin forward to strike the primer at the rear of the cartridge. The firing pin impact ignites the powder charge inside the cartridge. The release of the firing pin also releases spring tension on the locking lug surface holding the cartridge into the chamber. If there is any clearance or space between locking lugs of the bolt and the action retaining surfaces, the locking lugs will most likely jump rearwardly until they come to the hard stop of the action or breach. When the primer ignites the powder charge, the explosion expands inside the cartridge forcing the walls of the brass cartridge out against the walls of the firearm chamber until the cartridge can no longer expand because the cartridge is fully supported by the steel of the chamber and bolt face. In addition to radial expansion there is longitudinal expansion and movement. With no place else to go, expanding gases force the bullet out through the bore of the firearm. Before that happens, however, the expanding gases push the bullet forward towards the muzzle and push the brass case rearward against the bolt face. As the case moves rearward pushing on the bolt face and retaining lugs, it will take up any tolerances or space in the bolt lug interface with the action. This movement or jumping of the cartridge between ignition and expulsion of the bullet detracts significantly from the accuracy of a firearm. For example, if one cartridge is short and has to expand a long way before releasing the bullet, that bullet will have a different downrange point of impact than a bullet that is released from a properly sized cartridge.
In a perfect world the brass cartridge would be sized exactly to the fully expanded chamber size so that the brass cartridge does not jump or move around inside the chamber during the firing cycle. Because of manufacturing tolerances it is impossible to make every chamber of every firearm the same size. It is also impossible to make all cartridges of a particular type the same size. Due to manufacturing tolerances one must always have a slightly smaller cartridge than the chamber or else cartridges having lengths on the longer side of the tolerance will be too long to fit in the chamber. Therefore, cartridges are manufactured slightly undersized so that they will fit in even the smallest chamber size allowed by the SAAMI specs. A headspace gauge of the invention may be used, for example, for ammunition known as bottleneck cartridges most commonly used in long arms known as a rifle. The name bottleneck cartridge comes from the fact that there is a rather large case which holds the powder, and a shoulder on the case which has a frustoconical shape tapering to a cylindrical neck which holds the bullet in place at the end of the cartridge. SAAMI has determined that the best place to determine the overall length or headspace of a firearm chamber is at an imaginary datum diameter in contact with the shoulder of the cartridge. Therefore, the headspace is measured from the base of the cartridge to the datum circle on the shoulder. The reason SAAMI uses a predetermined datum diameter is that brass cartridges must have radiused edges to prevent stress cracking. Because different wall thicknesses will produce different radii it would be very difficult to determine headspace at an intersection point between walls and angled shoulders.
Those who strive for exceptional accuracy rely on custom sizing their brass cartridges to be certain that the cartridges that they make their loaded ammunition from are sized perfectly for the firearm chamber in which they will be used. Because factory made ammunition must be made to fit in every chamber, it cannot possibly have the accuracy of ammunition sized perfectly for a specific chamber. Therefore, those interested in accurate ammunition with exact tolerances must take steps to properly size the cartridges in dies during the reloading process. A gauge of this invention may, for example, be used by those who reload (shape the cartridge in a die) their own ammunition and need to know the exact true headspace of the firearm chamber in which they will make the most accurate cartridge case for that particular chamber.
As used herein, the term "true headspace" or "actual headspace" refers to the dimension measured from a closed chamber when all parts which define the chamber dimension have been expanded to their physical limits. Currently, there is no practical way to tell what the "true headspace" dimension of a chamber is because the chamber is inaccessible (other than through the bore of the firearm) when the bolt is closed. This is a very important distinction because the current practices to attempt to obtain this dimension are either very difficult to perform or give inferred measurements. The most common way to approximate the headspace is by measuring brass cases which have been fired in the chamber in question. This method has drawbacks, and most people are unaware that these drawbacks obtain incorrect results.
Currently, most reloaders measure a fired brass case to determine headspace. This practice is inaccurate for the following reasons. When a brass cartridge is fired the brass case expands radially outward to the chamber wall of the firearm and then retracts a bit due to the elastic limit the brass. The amount it retracts is related to the elastic limit and hardness of the brass. If a brass case has been fired several times it will work harden and spring inwardly away from the chamber wall more than a cartridge that is annealed prior to firing. Excessive explosive forces from loading high pressure or magnum loads can also stretch the brass and make it too long for the chamber. To make reloaded brass fit the chamber properly so that the bolt can be closed easily every time, it needs to be forced into a shape forming die to restore its shape to fit the chamber every time. Those interested in accuracy will anneal their cartridges with a carefully applied flame heat. This allows the brass cartridge to be resized during the reloading process by forcing it into a reloading die to shape the cartridge to the correct headspace. The problem is very few people will anneal each brass case prior to reloading. For example, an annealed case may only shrink back one or two thousands of an inch from the chamber. A cartridge that has been fired multiple times and is work hardened may shrink back 0.006 inch. For users with several brass cases, and various numbers of firings among the lot, it would be very hard to tell what the headspace is by measuring fired brass. This is one of the problems the invention solves by measuring the chamber and not the brass.
Most people who reload will have brass with different numbers of firings on the brass. This sets up an additional problem where amongst the population of brass cases which are going to be resized there can be many different brass hardness levels amongst the case population. This results in cases which come out of the die at different dimensions solely based on the brass hardness. The only way to get all the brass to be the same dimension is to anneal the cases prior to resizing. Therefore, the custom made properly sized cartridge which has been annealed and reshaped in a die will fit precisely in the chamber.
One current method of approximating headspace is to purchase a set of so-called Go, No-Go gauge pins. One gauge is too long and the other is too short for the specific chamber size of the firearm. In order to determine if the chamber is in specification one installs the Go gauge and makes certain that the bolt can be closed on that gauge. If the bolt closes, the chamber is long enough to accept the longest SAAMI spec ammunition cartridge. One then installs the No-Go gauge and the bolt should not be able to be closed. If the bolt closes, the chamber is too long. However, one never really knows what the dimension of the chamber is between the Go and No-Go gauge. One only knows that it is within the short and long limits. One can make a metal cast of the chamber with a special fixturing metal. The metal melts at a low temperature (˜160° F.) and can be poured into the chamber, allowed to cool and then removed. The problem here is that half of the headspace dimension is in the bolt face, the other half is in the barrel chamber. And there is no way to take into account the bolt lug clearance. So if you extract the cast of the portion of the chamber in the barrel you still need to figure out how much is in the bolt face and where the interface is between the chamber and bolt recess. This method also does not push the bolt locking lugs into their battery position against the aforementioned spring tension. On the other hand, using the brass measurement technique one encounters a whole new set of problems. Brass is a material which work-hardens. That means that as the material is stressed it changes properties. One of those properties is ductility. Therefore, if a brass cartridge is fired many times it will be harder and less ductile than one which is fired from an annealed state. This fact is lost on most people who measure brass cartridges to determine headspace in the chamber. Tools are currently sold which attach to off-the-shelf vernier calipers to measure headspace from a fired brass cartridge. To determine the headspace on a fired brass case one attaches a cylinder with a known inside diameter equal to the datum diameter used to measure the headspace.
Based on the summary of the procedure provided above, it will be appreciated that there is a need for a device that measures the true headspace of a chamber when the bolt is closed.

Firearm headspace measuring gauge and method


The present invention provides a metal-organic framework (MOF) for use in removing particular chemical species or compounds from a liquid. In particular, the present invention provides an MOF having a molecular formula of Zr6(μ3-O)4(μ3OH)4(OH)4(H2O)4(TBAPy)2, wherein TBAPy is 1,3,6,8-tetrakis (p-benzoic-acid)pyrene, (known as NU-1000) for use in complexing selenate or selenite from a liquid or liquid stream. Further, the selenium based oxy-anions are removed to concentrations below that specified for wastewater discharge by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for flue gas desulfurization operations in the fossil fueled electric power generation industry. Such water treatment results are achieved even in the presence of competing sulfate anion challenges and at elevated temperatures comparable to condensate cooling water.

Field of the Invention
The present invention and its embodiments relate to the removal of a given chemical species from a liquid. In particular, the present invention and its embodiments relate to the use of a metal-organic framework having particular properties suitable for adsorption of a given chemical species from a liquid stream.
Description of Related Art
Nuclear utilities are challenged with the removal of several impurities that significantly contribute to or drive dose, radioactive waste generation, environmental effluent waste concerns, and materials degradation issues. Analogously, fossil based power generation facilities are challenged by the regulatory discharge requirements for wastewater from flue gas desulfurization and from scrubber, fireside washing, and boiler cleaning operations, as well as by the mandates for groundwater remediation due to coal pile run-off and ash pond leachates. Current technologies (e.g, ion exchange) lack the ability to remove these impurities to the extent needed due to factors associated with the mechanism of capture and competition with other impurities.
Recently developed sequestration media offer organo-metallic ligands decorated on resin backbones (in the locations which would otherwise bear a cation exchange group) that are significantly improved removal media for analytes that are cations like cobalt. Unfortunately, such ligands cannot accommodate the larger geometry of oxy-anions of species like selenium that are found in the subject water streams. For example, ion exchange and adsorption technologies are typically used to capture chemical impurities in water streams. However, these technologies are subject to several significant drawbacks. They are non-specific (i.e., will capture many different species to some degree), subject to competition (i.e., higher concentration species will dominate), and are reversible (i.e., captured species will be released given changes in water conditions).
Nonetheless, removal of selenium from water streams is of particular interest. Selenium is a naturally occurring element that is essential, in low concentrations, for human health. Of all essential elements however, selenium has the most confining range between dietary deficiency (<40 μg/day) and toxicity (>400 μg/day). Selenium enters our waterways through a number of different sources such as agricultural runoff, mining, industrial production, and via flue gas desulfurization processes. As a consequence of the narrow range between deficiency and toxicity, it is very important to monitor and control the amount of bioavailable selenium in our drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes the dangers of selenium and has mandated the maximum acceptable level for selenium in drinking water to 50 ppb. However, in more recent proposals, regulatory plans to reduce selenium discharge requirements to 14 ppb and then as low as 10 ppb, making the present operation of many flue gas desulfurization wastewater cleanup facilities incapable of achieving such purity without methods beyond typical ion exchange or adsorption engineering unit operations.
Selenium can occur in both organic and inorganic forms, but the high solubility and hence bioavailabilty of inorganic species such as selenite (SeO32−) and selenate (SeO42−) makes these anions the primary focus of remediation techniques. Many techniques have been explored for the removal of selenite and selenate from water including the use of vertical flow wetlands and bioreactors, but high start-up costs and size requirements have limited the application of these techniques. An alternative approach that has been investigated involves using an adsorbing media to soak up and remove unwanted inorganic selenium. Iron oxides (hematite, goethite, and ferrihydrite) have been studied extensively as potential adsorbents for selenite and selenate in aqueous solutions. These iron-based materials have very low surface areas, meaning that a lot of the material is wasted due to the lack of available adsorption sites. Iron oxides also tend to be effective for selenite removal due to the formation of inner-sphere complexes between the selenite anion and iron oxide surface while selenate removal is not as sufficient because only weak, outer-sphere interactions occur.
Therefore, a novel technology is needed that effectively and efficiently removes specific impurities from water and other liquid streams in the presence of other competing species, and in a manner that specifically targets capture of that impurity—holding it with a much higher binding energy. In particular, a different type of structural media is required to specifically address removal of low levels of particular species, such as aqueous oxy-anions of selenium, with high enough binding energy to maintain near irreversible uptake as analyte concentrations are lowered while competitor concentrations are simultaneously raised.

Metal-organic frameworks for adsorption of liquid phase compounds


A gaseous fuel management system for an internal combustion engine having a source of gaseous fuel such as LPG or CNG, a throttle control and an exhaust system and having an air intake tube for conducting combustion air into the manifold of the engine and an angularly movable butterfly valve disposed in the air intake tube, responsive to the operation of the throttle control. A fuel delivery bar having an interior longitudinal fuel conducting bore is diametrically disposed in the air intake tube upstream from the butterfly valve and has a plurality of fuel delivery orifices in its downstream facing side which orifices communicate with the interior of the bar. A fuel lane interconnects the interior bore of the fuel delivery bar to the fuel source and an electronically controlled valve meters the amount of fuel admitted to the interior bore of the fuel delivery bar as a function of the oxygen content of the products of combustion in the exhaust system.

Delivery of gaseous fuels such as LPG or CNG to internal combustion engines presents a whole different set of problems than those encountered with liquid fuels, such as gasoline. For one thing, gaseous fuels are of different densities than the air with which they are to mixed to form a combustible mixture, causing the gaseous fuel to stratify and remain in boundary layers, separated from the air along the intake track. The stratification leaves clusters of fuel molecules which can be only partially burned, resulting in a loss of potential power from the engine, excessive fuel consumption and excess hydrocarbons and other undesirable pollutants to be present in the exhaust.
Furthermore, to achieve an energy or BTU output similar to that of gasoline, a significantly greater volume of the gaseous fuel is required, such as for exampie, two to three times more. Dealing with greater volumes of fuel further increases the difficulty of achieving a proper mixing of the fuel and the air, thus increasing the probability of undesirable exhaust emissions.
Mixing devices for mixing gaseous fuels and air are known, but most of such devices merely substitute a mixing chamber having a throttle controlled butterfly valve for the conventional carburetor in a liquid fuel type of engine. Such a device with upstream fuel delivery is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,303. Contrary to the present invention, where the pressure drop across a diametrically disposed fuel delivery. bar is primarily responsible for creating the fuel flow into the air intake tube, the '303 device depends upon throttling a fuel valve in response to negative pressure signals from a Venturi in the main fuel/air stream.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,969 discloses a propane gas feed system wherein controlled and measured quantities of gas are pre-mixed with air and then fed to a carburetor. An air cut off screen is used to control the air/fuel ratio relative to a changeover from propane to gasoline.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,083 a control unit senses operating pressures along the intake pipe system in the injection zone and in the zone downstream of the throttle valve in order to control an expander unit which feeds the gaseous fuel to a volumetric measuring device at a pressure equal to the sum of the absolute values of the two pressures at the pressure measuring points.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,155 discloses a pressure regulating system for preparing the mixture of gas and air for an internal combustion engine.
In other gaseous fuel management devices, for a particular engine icad requirement, gaseous fuel is drawn into the mixing chamber through a fuel valve which is responsive to the engine intake manifold pressure being sensed by a spring loaded diaphragm. One such arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,811. In some devices, a separate air valve is also supplied in an effort to achieve the correct fuel-air mixture for best combustion results and lowest undesirable emissions. Such a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,311,315.
One of the significant problems with arrangements which depend upon the suction created by the intake manifold pressure for establishing fuel flow and fuel control is the exacerbation of the exhaust emissions problem during the period immediately following a quick closing of the throttle valve for deceleration. When the throttle valve is suddenly closed, or its opening is substantially reduced, the air flow into the intake manifold is abruptly reduced, creating a high vacuum in the manifold which continues to suck or induce the delivery of higher levels of fuel than is required for the reduced amount of air being admitted into the intake manifold with the reduced throttle opening. The resultant excessively rich mixture is not completely burned and highly undesirable exhaust emissions are produced.
It is thus the primary object of the present invention to provide apparatus for improved blending of air and gaseous fuels prior to introduction of the mixture to the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine so as to reduce fuel consumption and give superior power performance.
A further object of the invention is to increase combustion efficiency in a gaseous fuel internal combustion engine and significantly decrease carbon monoxide emissions therefrom.
Another object of the invention is to provide gaseous fuel/air mixing apparatus which will be efficient enough to permit the internal combustion engine to operate on less fuel than is the case with prior art gaseous fuel engines.
A still further object of the invention is to provide fuel management apparatus which is immediately responsive to deceleration throttle commands and will not provide excessively rich fuel/air ratios and excessive emissions in the period of time immediately following a quick closing of the throttle.
Other and still further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred form of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Liquid petroleum gas fuel delivery systems