A bladder catheter for transurethral introduction into the urinary bladder by the urethrae, includes an elastic catheter shank with a fillable balloon element secured thereto and connected to a filling channel incorporated into the wall of the catheter shank. The balloon element and the catheter shank are made of polyurethane, a polyurethane-polyvinylchloride mixture or similar polyurethane-based material.

When providing health care, the use of bladder catheters is often required. Bladder catheters in use today are composed of a flexible catheter shaft, to whose distal end, which is placed in the urinary bladder, a fluid-refillable balloon element is fastened. The catheter shaft has a filling channel, which leads into the balloon interior via an opening in the catheter wall. The main purpose of the balloon element is to securely mechanically anchor the catheter in the urinary bladder. In addition, when placed in the opening of the bladder, the balloon has a certain sealing function and prevents urine from flowing out of the bladder, past the catheter and through the urethra.
In the unfilled state, the balloon element resembles a sleeve pulled over the catheter shaft, fitting on the shaft all-around, typically under slight tensioning, in any case, however, in a fold-free manner. The sleeve is comparable to a hose fitting, and is usually fabricated from the same material or a substantially identical material as the shaft, but is modified in its elongation properties. Conventional balloon elements are designed with this specific type of construction, which, in the emptied state, fits closely on the shaft, to enable the balloon element to be advanced with as little as possible resistance, through the urethra into the bladder lumen. In this way, painful irritations or lesions of the urethra's mucous membrane, caused by folds or bulges in the wall of the balloon element that previously existed or formed during the advancing motion, are avoided when inserting the catheter. Once the balloon element is securely introduced into the bladder, the sleeve (balloon element) closely fitting on the shaft, is elastically expanded into a balloon by a fluid, under relatively high pressure. The material typically selected for the catheter shaft and the balloon element of conventional catheters, latex or silicon, permits an elastic expansion of the balloon element to a volume of 5 and 30 ml, respectively. These are the two standard balloon volumes for bladder catheters used in clinical practice.
Ideally, the balloon element, that has been elastically expanded into a balloon, fully retracts, even after a longer-term use of the catheter, and closely fits on the catheter shaft as a sleeve-type hose fitting, without forming folds or bulges. In this way, the drained balloon element does not cause any painful irritation or trauma to the sensitive urethra epithelium even during removal of the catheter. Typically, however, the balloon element, that has been elastically expanded for an extended period of time into a balloon, is not able to be fully elastically retracted onto the shaft. The partial loss of the sleeve elasticity caused by an elastic expansion of the balloon element over several days can be accelerated by the action of chemically aggressive urinary components (e.g., uric acid). In the case of latex-based catheters, given a long-period use, the urine regularly leads to a pronounced stiffening of the balloon element, but also to a considerable loss of elasticity of the catheter shaft. Once drained, balloon elements of the known type of construction, having a latex- or silicon-based sleeve, often exhibit residual, coarse folds or bulges in the (not fully) retracting envelope, and pose a considerable risk of injury to the patient.
Moreover, catheter materials customarily used up to now (latex, silicon, or latex- or silicon-based materials, and/or composite materials made of latex and silicon) have other clinically relevant disadvantages.
One drawback (particularly when latex materials are used) is that the balloon element does not always open out symmetrically with respect to form when elastically expanding and can burst in response to slight lateral weighting. The stability of the balloon anchoring in the opening of the bladder can be adversely affected by a pronounced asymmetry of the balloon with respect to form. Moreover, a pronounced asymmetry of the filled balloon element, depending on its placement in the opening of the bladder, can cause the catheter lumen to snap off.
A further disadvantage is that the balloon element of catheters of a conventional type of construction, as necessitated by the particularities of the manufacturing and the material, must remain below specific wall thicknesses. The minimum wall thickness of the elastically expanding sleeve, when filled to form the balloon, must be such that it is able to avoid, with certainty, falling below a lower, critical minimum wall thickness, below which the danger of rupture exists, in response to increasing shaping-out of the balloon (and the reduction in the balloon wall thickness accompanying the elastic expansion). The minimum wall thickness of the balloon element that fits on the shaft in the manner of a sleeve is typically within the range of at least 100 micrometers and requires relatively high pressures when the sleeve undergoes elastic expansion or deformation. During expansion, the balloon element assumes a shape predominantly in the radial, but also in the longitudinal direction (elongation). With increasing filling volume, the pressures forming in response to the predominantly radial elastic expansion of the balloon envelope in many cases cause a compression or stenosis of the drainage lumen of the catheter. This lumen-narrowing effect is furthered by the likewise occurring elastic expansion of the balloon in the longitudinal direction and, as a consequence thereof, the elongation of the catheter shaft in the balloon region. Both elongation components can lead to a considerable narrowing or stenosis of the catheter lumen.
It is a complex process to manufacture conventional bladder catheters, and one that requires many individual steps. In many cases, the particular dipping or molding processes do not ensure a satisfactory surface quality of the catheter and balloon. Above all, the silicon processing yields slightly rough and irregular boundary surfaces. This promotes the incrustation of urinary components, as well as the bacterial colonization of catheter surfaces.
The particular difficulty also arises when silicon is used, of water substantially permeating through the balloon envelope. To ensure that the balloon is adequately filled, it must typically be refilled in an almost daily cycle.


The invention provides methods of reducing the severity of mucositis, involving administration of a toll-like receptor 4 antagonist.

This invention relates to methods for reducing the severity of mucositis.
Mucositis is a condition characterized by swelling, irritation, and discomfort of mucosal linings such as those of the gastrointestinal tract and the oral and oralpharyngeal cavities, and can result in mouth and throat sores, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and tenderness, and rectal ulcerations. This condition occurs in approximately half of all cancer patients, and is a common side effect of cancer treatments involving radiation and/or chemotherapy. The goal of these approaches to cancer treatment is to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells but, unfortunately, other rapidly dividing cells are killed by the treatment as well, including cells that line regions such as the gastrointestinal tract, leading to mucositis. Symptoms of mucositis generally occur five to ten days after the start of cancer treatment, and can take two to four weeks after cessation of treatment to clear. The incidence of mucositis, as well as its severity, depends on factors such as the type and duration of the cancer treatment. Mucositis occurs, for example, in virtually all patients who are treated by irradiation of the head and neck. It is also highly prevalent in patients treated with high dose chemotherapy and/or irradiation for the purpose of myeloablation, in preparation for stem cell or bone marrow transplantation.
Mucositis adversely impacts the quality of life of cancer patients in several ways. For example, the mouth and throat sores of mucositis can cause significant pain and make it difficult to eat, drink, and even take oral medication. Mucositis is also accompanied by a severe risk of infection, as it can lead to a breach in the otherwise protective linings of the oral mucosa and gastrointestinal tract, which are colonized by a vast array of microorganisms. Further, efforts to counter the discomforts of mucositis can lead to disruptions in cancer treatment, alterations in treatment dosages, or shifting to different modes of treatment. Severe mucositis can also lead to the need for parenteral nutrition or hospitalization. The development of effective approaches to preventing and treating mucositis is therefore important for improving the care of cancer patients.

Methods of reducing the severity of mucositis


A metering device has a first token bucket with a profile, a rate, and a maximum number of tokens. The device has another token bucket with its own profile, two associated rates, and a maximum number of tokens. In operation, the device adds tokens in the first token bucket at its rate if the bucket has less than the maximum number of tokens for that bucket, and adds a number of tokens in the other token bucket at the same rate if the first token bucket is full and the other token bucket is not. Additionally, the device adds tokens in the second token bucket according to the second rate associated with the token bucket if it is not full. When receiving a packet, if the packet has a first marking, and the first token bucket has a sufficient number of tokens, the packet's marking is maintained and the number of tokens in the first bucket is decremented, else, if the packet has one of two markings, and the second token bucket has a sufficient number of tokens, the packet's second marking is selected and the second token bucket is decremented, else, if the packet has a marking other than one of the two markings, the packet's marking is maintained as other than one of the two markings.

A rate color marker can meter packets in a traffic stream and mark the packets based on traffic parameters. Such metering and marking can be used to enable services such as quality of service or congestion control in communication networks. Two similar color rate markers are documented in Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Informational Request For Comments (RFC) 2697 and 2698. See Heinanen, J. and R. Guerin, "A Single Rate Three Color Marker", RFC 2697, September, 1999, and Heinanen, J. and R. Guerin, "A Two Rate Three Color Marker", RFC 2698, September, 1999.
The referenced RFCs describe color rate marker algorithms in the context of an Internet Protocol (IP)-based packet switched internetwork. However, such algorithms can be implemented in cell-switched networks as well. Each color marker meters a traffic stream, for example, an IP packet stream, and marks its packets one of green, yellow or red.
The Single Rate Three Color Marker (srTCM) described in RFC2697 marks packets in an IP stream based on a traffic rate, Committed Information Rate (CIR), and two different burst sizes, Committed Burst Size (CBS), and Excess Burst Size (EBS). In short, a packet is marked green if it does not exceed CBS, yellow if it does exceed CBS but does not exceed EBS, and red if it exceeds both CBS and EBS. srTCM is limited in that it uses the length, but not peak rate, of a burst of traffic to determine the color associated with the traffic. A service, or a level of service, is then provided to the traffic based on its color.
The Two Rate Three Color Marker (trTCM) described in RFC 2698 marks packets in an IP stream based on two different traffic rates, Peak Information Rate (PIR), and Committed Information Rate (CIR), and corresponding burst sizes Committed Burst Size (CBS) and Peak Information Burst (PBS). According to trTCM, a packet is marked red if it exceeds PIR, and if the packet does not exceed PIR, it is marked yellow or green depending on whether it exceeds CIR or does not exceed CIR. By making use of two rates, a peak traffic rate (or simply, peak rate), and a committed rate, trTCM is able to monitor peak rate traffic separate from committed rate traffic.
Both srTCM and trTCM contemplate a metering device that meters each packet in a traffic stream and forwards, or passes, the packet to a marker that colors the packet. Both algorithms operate in one of two modes, color-blind mode, in which the meter receives the traffic stream as if it is uncolored, and color-aware mode, in which packets in the received traffic stream are already colored ("pre-colored"), for example, one of colors green, yellow, and red. The details of the pre-coloring process and how the meter detects or determines the color of a packet is implementation specific and outside the scope of the RFCs as well as this invention.
The RFCs disclose the marker recoloring a packet based on the results of the meter, and provide, as an example, coding the color as a codepoint in the Diffserv (DS) field of the packet in a per-hop behavior (PHB) specific manner, and refers one to IETF RFC2474 for further information. See Nichols, K., Blake, S., Baker, F. and D. Black, "Definition of the Differentiated Services Field (DS Field) in the IPv4 and IPv6 Headers", RFC 2474, December, 1998. The color can be coded as a drop precedence of the packet, according to RFC2597. See Blake, S., Black, D., Carlson, M., Davies, E., Wang, Z. and W. Weiss, "An Architecture for Differentiated Services", RFC 2475, December 1998.
Both color markers can mark packets in a traffic stream, for example, such that different levels of assurance are provided to packets based on whether the packets are green, yellow or red. Decreasing levels of service may be provided to green, then yellow, then red, packets. For example, green packets may be guaranteed delivery, or at least forwarded with a low probability of being discarded or dropped, while yellow packets may be forwarded on a best effort basis, and red packets dropped.
The RFCs describe Three Color Markers as a way of controlling the admission rate, burst size, and drop precedence of a single stream of packetized data. They do not address how to control these characteristics when the data is divided into multiple streams of different priorities.
Prior approaches to using these markers for data streams with multiple priority levels include:                a. Divide the data into separate streams for each priority using a single marker per priority, or        b. Treat all data of all different priorities as a single data stream using a single marker, or        c. Combine the above two approaches in an hierarchical fashion by first dividing the streams and using a marker per priority, then combining the streams again and meter them with a single, second-level marker.
The advantages and disadvantages of each approach depend on whether the objective is to control the aggregate rate of the combined stream, or the individual rates of each priority stream. In either case, it is desirable to give preferential treatment to the higher priority traffic. For example, as long as the incoming rate and burst characteristics of the highest priority data stream is within the committed rate and committed burst size of the marker used for that data stream, all of the highest priority data packets should be marked green regardless of how much lower priority data is present. In some cases it is acceptable to control the rate and the burst of each priority stream independently, in which case the first approach above meets the requirements. The disadvantage of this approach is that in the absence of higher priority traffic, the lower priority traffic cannot use the bandwidth reserved for the higher priority traffic. This results in lost bandwidth and inefficient network utilization.
The second approach controls the aggregate rate of all priorities by effectively ignoring the priority. This allows lower priority traffic to consume the full rate in the absence of higher priority traffic, but it cannot provide preferential treatment to higher priority traffic when packets of multiple priorities are intermixed.
The hierarchical structure in the third approach can be configured to partially meet both objectives of giving preferential treatment to higher priority traffic while allowing lower priority traffic to consume full bandwidth in the absence of higher priority traffic. If the sum of the rate and burst sizes of the committed rate buckets for all priorities in the first level is equal to the rate and burst size of the committed rate bucket in the second level, then preferential treatment for higher priority traffic can be guaranteed (within the committed rate and burst size specifications). The sum of the rate and burst sizes of the excess rate buckets for all priorities in the first level can then be configured to exceed the rate and burst size of the excess rate bucket in the second level. This allows any priority traffic to consume the excess bandwidth. The combined effect is that preferential treatment of higher priority traffic is guaranteed within the committed rate and burst size for that priority, but any bandwidth unused by higher priority traffic can only be consumed by lower priority traffic if the lower priority traffic is marked as excess. Significantly, this approach cannot meet both objectives when configured as a single rate two color marker.

Multi-priority multi-color markers for traffic metering


A lens case for disinfecting, cleaning, or storing contact lenses is described that provides a sealing and venting system for allowing the release of gas while avoiding liquid leakage. The venting means allows venting of gas when internal pressure increases, while maintaining a seal that is substantially gas and liquid-impermeable at other times. The lens case includes a cap securable to a container barrel and a mating cap. The venting of gas occurs via a tortuous-path mechanism resulting from appropriate surface roughness being produced on at least one of a pair of mating surfaces forming a seal between the cap and the container. In a preferred embodiment, a relatively roughened surface is produced on a cap flange that is in the shape of a circular lip downwardly extending from the inner surface of the cap. The mating surface of the cap flange sealingly presses against the rim portion of the container. The apparatus is particularly useful for the disinfection of contact lenses with hydrogen peroxide in which excess peroxide is decomposed into water and oxygen.

The proper maintenance of contact lenses requires periodic sterilization or disinfection to eliminate harmful bacteria and other microorganisms. A number of maintenance processes involve chemical reactions which involve the generation of gaseous by-products. For example, one conventional method of disinfecting contact lenses involves contacting them with a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,451 to Gaglia. By immersing a contact lens in a solution of hydrogen peroxide in a container, sterilization of the lens is relatively quickly accomplished.
Although hydrogen peroxide is highly effective in disinfecting contact lenses, hydrogen peroxide must be removed from solution in contact with the lenses prior to placing the lenses in a patient's eye, since the peroxides would otherwise cause eye irritation and patient discomfort. Typically, an agent for decomposing or "neutralizing" the peroxide into water and gaseous oxygen is present so that peroxide is reduced to a satisfactory level before the treated lens is removed from the solution in the container. The neutralizing agent typically may be a metal catalyst such as platinum or an enzyme such as catalase.
Because gaseous oxygen is produced by the neutralizing agent following oxidative disinfection it is necessary to avoid the buildup of excessive internal gas pressure in the container holding the lenses in solution. On the other hand, it is desirable that a lens case not allow indiscriminate leakage of liquid so that the peroxide solution does not escape from the container if the container is moved from the vertical or falls on its side. The container is, therefore, typically scaled to prevent liquids from being discharged from the container during the disinfection of the lenses and the neutralization of the disinfectant. A seal between the container and its cap should be designed to prevent spillage of liquid if the container falls on its side or is upset during transport. Typically, this means that when the pressure is near atmospheric pressure, little or no liquid can escape from the container even if held upside down.
In view of the need to both prevent the leakage of the disinfecting solution and to allow the discharge of gas when pressure builds up in the container, containers have been designed to provide a mechanism for the venting gases to the environment while otherwise maintaining a seal that is selectively resistant or impervious to the passage of liquids. Such venting mechanism is necessary in order to avoid risking fracture and/or explosion of the closed container.
A wide variety of venting and sealing means for lens cases have been developed for the above purpose. One approach has been to employ a gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable membrane having a porosity and/or hydrophobicity that allows gas but not liquid to escape from the lens case. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,396,583 to LeBoeuf discloses a vented case having a cavity in its cap for supporting a vapor-permeable, liquid impermeable barrier through which gas is vented. Similarly, Ryder et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,919 describes a contact lens cleaning container having a mating cap in which a filter assembly is positioned in a vent passageway. The filter assembly includes a hydrophobic membrane that continuously vents the gas generated within the container during the decomposition of peroxide. The pores in the hydrophobic membrane are sufficiently small to inhibit liquid leakage from the container while allowing the passage of gas under pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,078 to Braun discloses a lens case having cap on the inner surface of which is positioned a hollow pedestal. Inside the hollow pedestal is sealingly positioned a hydrophobic impermeable gasket adjacent to an aperture in the top surface of the cap for discharging gas. The gasket fits snugly into the hollow pedestal and is provided with an aperture of sufficient dimension to discharge gas at an appropriate rate but small enough so that there is no significant discharge of liquid from the system even when the case is inverted or lies horizontally.
Another approach to venting lens cases has been to provide a deflectable gasket or diaphragm that resiliently deflects under pressure to allow the release of gas. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,156 issued to Kanner et al. discloses a disinfecting system which includes a cap having a bore in which a resiliently-deflectable diaphragm is sealingly positioned to prevent liquid leakage while allowing gas to pass when sufficient internal pressure develops to deflect the diaphragm. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,156 discloses the diaphragm deflecting when the pressure exceeds 75 psia. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,266 issued to Kanner discloses a lens treating apparatus, including a container and a cap, in which gas is vented through a type of check valve in the cap. The check valve includes a disc having a linear slit therethrough. The slit generally provides a liquid-impermeable barrier, but when internal pressure is generated, the slit opens to allow gas to pass to the environment. In a slightly different approach, U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,027 issued to Kanner discloses a disinfecting system that comprises a self-reseating unitary gasket positioned between the cap and container of the device to provide a liquid-tight seal. Increased internal pressure during use causes the gasket to unseat at least partially, allowing gas to pass between the cap and container and to the environment.
A known disadvantage of the above venting mechanisms has been their complexity which increases their manufacturing costs. Efforts have been made to reduce the number of separably manufactured parts that need to be assembled in the cap. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,610 issued to Ryder discloses a disinfecting lens case having a cap that includes a resiliently deflectable flange which acts as a check valve in conjunction with the container rim. In operation, the cap flange is typically in a closed position, thereby preventing liquid leakage. When sufficient internal pressure develops, the cap flange deflects, allowing gas to pass through the loosely threaded container-cap connection to the outside of the container.
Another example of a deflectable venting means is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,846 to Alvord et al. Instead of a flange on the cap deflecting, the periphery of a container is designed to deflect. The cap includes a sealing rim adapted to mate with the periphery of the container at the open end of the container, thereby forming a primary sealing and venting means. When the pressure builds up to a certain point the during neutralization of the peroxide, the plastic at the top of the barrel deforms so as to release pressure. Secondarily, a hole in the cap positioned between the external periphery of the cap and the sealing rim allows gas to escape to the environment. The plastic then returns to the normal configuration when the pressure is below the deformation point. The plastic of the cap remains undeformed or rigid as this is happening. The proper flexing of the container periphery, therefore, depends on reduced strength in the container periphery relative to the cap sealing rim, preferably by reduced thickness relative to the sealing rim.
Alvord et al. state that, both from a manufacturing perspective and from an operational perspective, their device is less complicated than earlier devices that similarly involve resiliently deflectable parts. Since the sealing and venting means is an integrally molded part of the cap and container structure, additional parts are unnecessary.
One disadvantage of the venting mechanism described by Alvord et al. is that it is complicated to design, since the materials used for the container and cap, their properties, and the dimensions of various parts thereof can all affect the relative movement of parts. The materials and dimensions must be selected so that deformation of the container periphery consistently occurs under excessive pressure. Since the flexibility or other properties of the moving parts may change during use, consistency of venting and sealing may be difficult to achieve after extended use. Repeated movements of relatively rigid, highly stressed parts may result in structural fatigue or cracking. Since relatively high pressures are required to deflect the container periphery, there is a greater risk that a failure to vent for some reason, for example if the case fails to deform as expected, might result in the lens case exploding.
The previously described patents describe practical venting alternatives for peroxide-based lens cleaning/disinfecting devices. However, many of the prior systems involve relatively complex structures, increasing the cost of the device, as well as adding to the difficulty of manufacture. Other systems, while having fewer parts and being less costly to manufacture, require complicated engineering design to provide the required movement of certain parts based on material properties and carefully crafted dimensions. It would be desirable to obtain a lens case of simple design which vents gas without requiring extra parts such as membranes, diaphragms or gaskets and without depending on moving parts that must deflect or deform only after relatively high pressure builds up in the lens case. It is would be especially desirable to have a lens case that simply and reliably allows the venting of gaseous by-products without requiring the buildup of high or excessive pressure.

Sealing and venting system for oxidative disinfection of contact lenses


The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for variable rate coding in a data processing system. As an example, a data processing system may include an encoder circuit. The encoder circuit includes at least a first encoder and a second encoder, and is operable to generate a first level encoded output that is the same length for a given code rate whether the first encoder or the second encoder is selected.

The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for variable rate coding in a data processing system.
Various data transfer systems have been developed including storage systems, cellular telephone systems, and radio transmission systems. In each of the systems data is transferred from a sender to a receiver via some medium. For example, in a storage system, data is sent from a sender (i.e., a write function) to a receiver (i.e., a read function) via a storage medium. In some cases, the data processing function receives data sets and applies a data decode algorithm to the data sets to recover an originally written data set. In some cases, the originally written data sets are different lengths and yet they use the same bandwidth for a transfer/store. Such an approach results in a waste of bandwidth.
Hence, for at least the aforementioned reasons, there exists a need in the art for advanced systems and methods for data processing.

Systems and methods for variable rate coding in a data processing system

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A levee gate and the process for the production thereof. The levee gate of the invention includes a rectangular sheet of thermoplastic material with a rectangular sleeve located on one edge of the thermoplastic material, the rectangular sleeve being a portion of the rectangular sheet fused to the rectangular sheet. The process for the production of the levee gate includes extruding a cylindrical tube of thermoplastic material, inflating the cylindrical tube as it is extruded to provide an inflated length of tube, flattening the inflated length of tube without fusing the opposed walls of the tube to each other, and continuously fusing a portion of the opposed walls together to form a seam.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to devices for preventing erosion of earthen levees between adjoining fields for growing rice or similar agricultural crops during the flooding of the fields. In particular the present invention relates to coated, woven thermoplastic rice levee gates or sheets having a sleeve into which a wooden plank may be inserted to anchor the levee gate to the earth beneath the gate.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is known in the art, rice is commonly grown in fields which must be periodically flooded with water, and levees made of earth are built around the fields to contain and channel the water in the fields. When it is desired to remove water from a field or to flow water from one field to another, or to evenly distribute water in a single field, commonly a hole or U-shaped channel is made in a levee by removing a portion of a levee to permit water to flow therethrough.
As water flows through the hole in the levee erosion occurs and an undesired portion of the levee can be eroded by water flowing through the levee if erosion of the levee is not prevented or controlled. To prevent such erosion, devices referred to in the art as "levee gates" are employed.
Levee gates of the prior art are rectangular sheets of coated, woven polyethylene. The coated, woven polyethylene sheets have a hem sewn therein parallel to one edge of the rectangular sheet. The hem is sewn sufficiently far from one edge of the sheet to form a sleeve for receipt of an anchor such as a common elongated wooden plank having an approximate 2" by 4" rectangular cross section to be inserted therein. The wooden plank functions as an anchor to hold the sheet in place and prevent water flowing over the sheet from washing the sheet away. A metal rod or other elongated member may be used to replace the wooden plank if desired.
After a hole is made in a levee containing water on one side thereof, the levee gate described above is placed on the bottom of the hole to prevent erosion and enlargement of the hole. The sleeve of the levee gate containing the anchor is placed on the upstream side of the levee parallel to the levee to prevent the levee gate from being washed away by the water flowing through the hole or channel in the levee. The levee gate may also extend up the sides of the U-shaped hole or channel in the levee if desired to prevent erosion of the side of the U-shaped hole or channel in the levee.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,598 discloses an erecting/lying-down dam or sluice gate made of flexible sheet. The dam has a flexible cover attached to a bottom sheet by fittings with corrugations formed between the fittings so that upon deflation the cover conforms to the surface of the corrugations, minimizing any floating cover portion. The corrugations may be formed as pipelike members, as molded portions integral with the bottom sheet or as part of the concrete foundation. Preferably the length between the fittings measured along the corrugation surface is at least 1.1 times the linear length therebetween. The corrugations are also preferably recessed to extend no higher than the bottom of the riverbed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,569 discloses a drip irrigation conduit and method of making the same which is an irrigation conduit comprising an extruded tube having a peripheral wall and at least one elongated passage, and an elongated supply tube having an elongated supply passage. The supply tube is formed of sheet material joined together along longitudinally extending portions to form a seam. A region of the sheet material extends at least part way around the perimeter of the extruded tube, and the extruded tube is retained on such region of the sheet material. Transfer ports extend between the passages of the two tubes and discharge ports extend from the passage of the extruded tube to the exterior of the irrigation conduit.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,832 discloses a process of manufacturing laminated web in which the gas and light barrier properties of a web of thermoplastic bags designed for aseptic packaging are improved by laminating a material of high gas and light imperiousness, such as metal foil, to the thermoplastic bag material during a blown film extrusion process. In one embodiment a pair of foil laminates are applied to opposite sides of the inflated length of a blown tube between the extruder and a first pair of nip rolls, with the laminates being pressed into opposite sides of the inflated tube by rollers which flatten the tube at their points of contact to provide flat surfaces for the laminates being applied to the tube. The resulting laminated web has a pair of aligned, uncovered strips running the length of the web along which a slit-seal is made to provide a pair of webs each having a layer of foil or other material laminated to all but one longitudinal edge thereof. In another embodiment a single sheet of foil is applied to a tube of film using, for example, a conventional tube former, with the foil wrapping less than the full circumference of the tube to provide a single web having an uncovered section running longitudinally thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,283 discloses a method of making aseptic packaging which are manufactured through a process which includes making an aseptic web of bags by first blow-extruding a continuous, closed thermoplastic tube using a non-contaminating gas, dividing the tube by means of partial, transverse heat seals into a series of interconnected bags intercommunicating with each other in a closed system by means of a continuous channel running across their open mouths an then, while maintaining the closed, and hence, sterile condition of the web of bags, filling the bags with a sterile product and sealing the bags, to produce sealed, aseptic packages.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,800 discloses inflatable barriers for watercourses, for example a river, and of the kind including at least one inflatable enclosure secured to an element anchored directly or indirectly in such watercourse and constructed in such a fashion as to prevent erosion. In order to enable the barriers to be easily removed from the watercourse, for example to be used in another location, the invention provides devices for anchoring the enclosure in relation to the watercourse bed, and this device incorporates an anchoring strip of supple material such as rubber that is securable to the bed, and this strip has a free extremity or edge provided with one or more devices for removably connecting the barrier to the strip. The anchoring strip may be secured to a rigid member arranged to be laid down in the soil of the bed of the watercourse and this rigid member may take the form of a block of masonry. Alternatively, the anchoring strip may be embedded in the soil of the bed of the watercourse and this rigid member may take the form of a block of masonry. Alternatively, the anchoring strip may be embedded in the soil of the watercourse by digging out a transverse trench using the removed aggregates to form a temporary dam, laying the anchoring strip in the trench preferably at an angle of 45.degree. to the plane of the bed, and then filling up the trench with the aggregates previously dug out, thus to secure the strip in relation to the soil of the bed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,647 discloses a duplex packaging material including a loose-bonded multiple-wall bag, in which the multiple wall includes inner and outer layers of material, and a method of making the same, the method including supplying a first web of bag wall material having properties of resilience and heat-sealability, supplying a second web of bag wall material having a property of relative non-resilience in comparison to the first web of bag wall material, bringing together the first and second webs to superimpose one upon the other, forming a loose-bonded multiple-wall sheet material by effecting a heat seal between the webs over spaced areas which are very limited in relation to the total contacting area of the webs, and forming a multiple-wall, loose-bonded bag from such sheet material by folding a section of the sheet material, securing together longitudinal marginal edge portions of the sheet material and securing together marginal edge portions of the sheet material at least one end of the portion of sheet material, whereby the multiple webs forming the walls of the bag are secured together at limited areas in relation to the total area of the walls.

Levee gate and process for the production thereof


A double-sided flexible printed board is manufactured by: (a) forming a polyimide precursor layer on a metal layer; (b) forming an upper circuit layer on the polyimide precursor layer by a semi-additive technique; and (c) imidating the polyimide precursor layer to form a polyimide insulating layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a double-sided flexible printed board using a polyimide insulating layer.
2. Related Art of the Invention
The following boards are commonly used as conventional polyimide-based double-sided flexible printed boards: (i) boards comprising copper foil, a thermoplastic polyimide adhesive, a non-thermoplastic polyimide film, and a thermoplastic polyimide adhesive and copper foil; (ii) boards comprising copper foil, a thermoplastic polyimide adhesive layer, and another copper foil, where the (i) and (ii) boards are fabricated by high-temperature pressing, heat lamination, or the like into a layered structure and (iii) boards fashioned by techniques in which a non-thermoplastic polyimide is cast-molded on copper foil and then a copper layer is formed by sputtering followed by electrolytic plating on the non-thermoplastic polyimide yield a layered structure that comprises copper foil, a non-thermoplastic polyimide film, and a copper layer comprised of a copper sputtered thin film and an electrolytic copper plating film formed thereon.
The double-sided flexible printed boards in (i) are disadvantageous, however, in that they have inadequate heat resistance because of the thermoplastic nature of the adhesive. The double-sided flexible printed boards in (ii) are disadvantageous in that their heat resistance is inadequate because of the thermoplastic nature of the adhesive layer and that their dimensional stability is inadequate because shrinkage is apt to occur during heating. The double-sided flexible printed boards in (iii) are disadvantageous in that the electrolytic copper plating layer containing a copper sputtered thin film on the non-thermoplastic polyimide film has relatively low peel strength, unsatisfactory reliability, and inferior long-term aging characteristics under conditions of heating and humidification.
To overcome these shortcomings, it has recently been proposed to use double-sided flexible printed circuit boards (metal foil/polyimide/metal foil) fabricated by a method in which a highly wettable polyamic acid varnish is applied to each of two metal foil and dried to give two laminates (each having such a polyamic acid layer); each metal foil is patterned, and the polyamic acid layers are imidated while laminated under conditions of high temperature and pressure to form a polyimide insulating layer (Japanese Patent No. 2746643). Such double-sided flexible printed circuit boards have excellent heat resistance and dimensional stability, develop adequate adhesion between the polyimide layer and the metal foil on both sides, and possess proper long-term aging characteristics.
When, however, the polyamic acid layers are laminated each other under conditions of high temperature and pressure following metal foil patterning, there is a danger that the moisture generated during imidation will corrode the metal foil without evaporating from the polyimide layer. Another drawback is that such double-side patterning impairs handling and results in reduced manufacturing efficiency. Yet another drawback is the need to provide high positional accuracy for lamination.

Method for manufacturing double-sided flexible printed board

Sony Chemical & Information Device Corporation


A program authoring system, prior to distributing a program, preprocesses the program to verify the integrity of the program. The program is written in a language that uses a restricted set of data type specific instructions. The program preprocessor, upon verification of the program's integrity, generates a modified version of the program containing an array of supplemental information. The supplemental information consists of data type snapshots of the program stack and local variables immediately prior to execution of each of a set of identified target instructions, which are successors of conditional jump, unconditional jump, branch and flow control instructions, if any, in the program. In client devices that receive programs, a program verifier verifies the integrity of each received program. The instructions of the program are emulated to determine whether any instruction in the program would violate the data type restrictions for that instruction.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a networked computer system 100, a first device 102 may download a computer program 103 residing on another device 104 or 105. In this example, the first device 102 will typically be a computer controlled device, such as a conventional computer workstation, or a telephone, pager, toy or even an industrial device. The first device 102 will generally have a central processing unit 106, memory 110 for storing an operating system 112, programs, documents and other data, and a communications interface 114 for connecting to a communications network 101 such as the Internet, a local area network or a wide area network. The network 101 and interface 114 may include a wired or wireless connection to the network. Memory 110 typically includes random access memory and possibly other types of memory such as read only memory. The first device 102 may or may not include a user interface 108. The devices 102, 104 are often called "nodes on the network" or "network nodes."
The second device 104 or 105 will often be a network server, but may be a user workstation or other computer.
The purpose of the verifier of the present invention is enable the first computer to verify the integrity of a downloaded program 103, prior to execution of the program. More specifically, the verifier determines whether the downloaded program 103 will underflow or overflow its operand stack, or whether the downloaded program 103 will violate files and other resources on the user's computer.

Memory efficient program pre-execution verifier and method


A substantially rectangular piece of flexible web having a first end and a second end and an elastic portion therebetween, stretchable along a longitudinal axis of the piece of web. The piece of web has a length great enough to encircle a user's waist such that the first and second ends overlap. The first end has a reclosable fastening system for attaching the first end to the piece of web near the second end in order to hold the piece of web around the user's waist when the piece of web is stretched. The back wrap further comprises a plurality of individual thermal elements embedded in the piece of web. The plurality of thermal elements have a substantially planar diamond-shaped pattern which approximates the shape of erector muscles in the user's back. The pattern has a gap transverse to the longitudinal axis which corresponds to the user's spine. The elastic back wrap may further include an individual thermal element located in the gap of the pattern such that the single thermal element covers the user's sacroiliac at the base of the user's spine. The elastic back wrap has a means for increasing friction between the piece of web and a user's body in order to reduce slippage of the wrap during use. The means for increasing friction may include a foam strip attached transverse to the longitudinal axis of the piece of web on the body-facing side thereof.

Chronic back pain is one of the most common complaints found in modern society. Heating pads and elastic compression bands are common devices used to relieve chronic back pain. More recently, combinations of elastic back wraps and heating pads have been available. Many of these combination devices utilize thermal packs which are reusable via the replenishment of thermal energy including heated water and microwaveable gels. In general, however, the state of the art is rather archaic. Such temporary pain relief devices are inconvenient to use on a regular basis because: thermal energy is not immediately available when needed; thermal energy is not released in a controllable or sustainable manner, positioning of thermal energy elements for heating only the back muscles, rather than the spine or other areas which do not benefit as much from thermal treatment, is inaccurate and difficult to maintain; or adjustability for waist size and tension comfort has been missing.
What is needed is an inexpensive disposable back wrap which provides instant heating in a controlled and sustainable manner, wrap alignment and position maintenance features, a fastening system which a wide variety of users can easily manipulate to achieve tension comfort, and a thermal element pattern which directs thermal energy to where it has the most temporary pain relief benefit.

Elastic back wrap having diamond-shaped thermal pattern and anti-slip means

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An exposure system having an exposure apparatus for transferring a pattern of a first object onto a second object, which includes an exposure apparatus having a detecting system for performing relative alignment of the first object and the second object, a transmitting system for transmitting, to a remote location and through a public data line, a mark detection signal obtained by detection of a mark of the second object made by use of the detecting system and shape information obtained by measurement of a shape of the mark on the second object, and a calculating system for performing calculation of an offset of the exposure apparatus, at the remote location. The calculating system transmits information, including the offset, to the exposure apparatus and through the public data line, and, on the basis of the information including the offset, alignment of the first and second objects is executed by using the detecting system and an exposure process is performed in the exposure apparatus.

This invention relates generally to an alignment system and an alignment method. More particularly, the invention concerns an alignment system and an alignment method for use in a semiconductor manufacturing exposure apparatus, for performing a relative positioning (alignment) of a fine electronic circuit pattern (such as an IC, an LSI or a VLSI) formed on the surface of a reticle (first object) and a wafer (second object).
Currently used exposure apparatuses are mainly those called a stepper and those called a scanner. In this specification, however, for convenience, all of them are simply referred to as xe2x80x9cexposure apparatusxe2x80x9d, except in cases where they should be distinguished.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to a method for optimum use of an exposure apparatus, which is based on data communication between a place where the exposure apparatus is present (such as a semiconductor factory) and a place remote therefrom (e.g., a vendor such as a manufacturing apparatus maker or a consultation company), through an internet.
In order to meet further decreases in size and further increases in density of an integrated circuit, projection exposure apparatuses for manufacture of semiconductor devices are required to have an ability of projecting a circuit pattern of a reticle and printing it upon the surface of a wafer, with a high resolving power. Since the projection resolution of a circuit pattern depends on the numerical aperture (NA) of a projection optical system and the exposure wavelength (the wavelength used for the exposure), various exposure methods have been attempted such as, for example, an exposure method in which the NA of a projection optical system is enlarged while the exposure wavelength is fixed, and an exposure method in which the exposure wavelength is shortened such as, for example, from g-line to i-line, from i-line to an excimer laser emission wavelength, or, even in the excimer laser emission wavelength, to 248 nm, 193 nm and to 157 nm. As regards the exposure wavelength of 193 nm, commercial products are already available-
On the other hand, due to decreases in size of circuit patterns, there is a requirement for high precision alignment of a reticle (having an electronic circuit pattern) and a wafer. Alignment errors may be generally categorized into an apparatus factor and a process factor. Recently, errors attributable to any apparatus factor are well corrected, as much as possible. As regards errors attributable to any process factor, called WIS (Wafer Induced Shift), an alignment detecting system which can meet this has been proposed by the same assignee of the subject application, as an offset analyzer system.
First, as an example of WIS, due to a process error factor, the shape of an alignment mark or the shape of a resist on that mark becomes asymmetric. During a flattening process in a recently introduced metal CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) process, for example, the structure of an alignment mark frequently becomes asymmetric. This causes, in a global alignment process, a rotational error (FIG. 1A) or a magnification error (FIG. 1B) which directly leads to a deteriorated precision. Here, FIG. 1A illustrates a case where rotational errors are produced in a global alignment process. FIG. 1B shows a case where magnification errors are produced in a global alignment process. Straight lines in these drawings depict the direction and amount of the errors produced.
In an offset analyzer such as mentioned above, for relative alignment of a wafer and a reticle, the position of the wafer is detected by use of an alignment system of a non-exposure light TTL off-axis system having a stable baseline. Prior to this detection, as regards plural but the same marks formed on the wafer for use in the alignment process, the surface shape thereof before and after resist application is measured (at calibration, for example), outside the alignment system (exposure apparatus) and by use of a profiler (solid shape measuring device) such as an AFM (Atomic Force Microscope), for example. Then, an offset, when the three-dimensional relative positional relationship between the resist and the wafer mark is harmonized with a signal of a detecting system of the alignment system, is calculated. The alignment operation is made by using the calculated value. Through the procedure described above, degradation of precision due to the produced symmetry in the alignment mark shape can be avoided.
This is the system called an offset analyzer, in which, outside the alignment system (exposure apparatus), the surface shape is measured before and after resist application, by using a profiler such as an AFM, and in which an offset, as the three-dimensional relative positional relationship between the resist and the wafer mark is harmonized with the signal of a detecting system of the alignment system, is calculated.
FIG. 1C shows the results of measurement of actual alignment marks, made by use of an AFM. Signals are those after resist application. The structure of the alignment marks is such as called a metal CMP, as shown in FIG. 1D. FIG. 1D illustrates the structure of an alignment mark, called a metal CMP. It is seen from FIG. 1C that, as regards the shape of a resist upon alignment marks at left and right side shots as well as an alignment mark at a central shot, the surface shape at the central shot is symmetric whereas the surface shape at the left and right side shots is asymmetric. Also, it is seen that the asymmetry is inverted, between the left and right side shots. This is what called WIS. The WIS can be met by use of an offset analyzer, and high precision and a stable alignment method with a small baseline change can be accomplished.
Referring to FIGS. 1E and 1F, an already proposed offset analyzer will be explained. FIG. 1E is a schematic view for explaining the flow of a wafer and information where an offset analyzer is provided. FIG. 1F shows the structure of the offset analyzer.
Here, as described hereinbefore, a stepper, a scanner, an aligner or the like is called an exposure apparatus. An alignment detecting system is called an alignment scope. A system in which the surface shape is measured before and after resist application, outside an alignment system (exposure apparatus) and by use of a profiler and in which an offset as the three-dimensional relative positional relationship between the resist and the wafer is harmonized with the signal of a detection system of the alignment system, is called an offset analyzer.
Referring to FIG. 1E, the flow of a wafer and information will be described first.
In this example, as shown at step 2 in FIG. 1E, a wafer 31 is conveyed to an offset analyzer 32 before a resist is applied thereto. The shape (surface shape) of an alignment mark on the wafer 31 is measured by using a profiler.
Then, at step 3 in FIG. 1E, the wafer 31 is conveyed to a coater 33 for resist application, and a resist is applied to the wafer.
Then, at step 4 in FIG. 1E, the wafer 31 is conveyed again to the offset analyzer 32, and the surface shape of the resist on the alignment mark is measured by using the profiler.
Subsequently, a signal for the alignment mark on the wafer 31 is detected by use of a detecting system installed in the offset analyzer 32 and being similar to an alignment scope of the exposure apparatus.
Then, by use of a signal simulator of the offset analyzer 32, an offset is calculated. For this offset calculation, a three-dimensional relative positional relationship between the resist and the wafer mark should be harmonized. Specifically, while changing the three-dimensional relative positional relationship between the resist and the wafer mark, the relationship with which the result of the signal simulator is registered with the alignment mark signal, is taken as the three-dimensional relative positional relationship between the resist and the wafer mark. By using the relative positional relationship at that time, an alignment signal is obtained and, from it, an offset for alignment measurement is calculated. The resultant value is supplied to an exposure apparatus (stepper) 35.
On the basis of this offset, the exposure apparatus (stepper) 35 performs an alignment and exposure process (step 5). After exposures of all shots are completed, the wafer 31 is conveyed to a developer 36, and a developing process is performed there (step 6 in FIG. 1E).
Next, referring to FIG. 1F, the structure of the offset analyzer 32 (FIG. 1E) will be explained.
The offset analyzer 32 comprises a chuck 41 for supporting a wafer 31, an X-Y-Z stage for moving the water three-dimensionally, a profiler 43 for performing surface measurement with or without a resist, a detecting system 44 equivalent to an alignment scope provided in the exposure apparatus 35 (FIG. 1E), and a CPU 45 for controlling the offset analyzer 32 as a whole and having a simulator 46 for calculating an alignment offset (an offset amount in the alignment measurement) from the surface shape. A wafer conveying system and a focusing system for the wafer 31 are not illustrated.
Here, an apparatus error (TIS: Tool Induced Shift) of the alignment scope of the exposure apparatus 35 and the offset analyzer 32 should be controlled, or it should be detected. For example, coma aberration of the optical system or non-uniformness of the illumination system corresponds to it.
The alignment scope of the exposure apparatus 35 may be adjusted so that the error can be disregarded. Alternatively, the alignment scope of the exposure apparatus 35 and the alignment detecting system of the offset analyzer 32 may be adjusted to have the same error.
As a method of estimating such TIS, an example has been proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application, Laid-Open No. 280816/1997.
When the apparatus error information about the alignment scope of the exposure apparatus 35 is predetected, the offset analyzer 32 may not have an alignment detecting system equivalent to the alignment scope of the exposure apparatus 35. For example, the offset analyzer 32 may not have an alignment detecting system equivalent to the alignment scope of the exposure apparatus 35. For example, the offset analyzer 32 may be equipped with a bright field detecting system, while the exposure apparatus may be provided with a dark field detecting system. The offset amount may be calculated while taking into account this error, by using the simulator 46.
The offset analyzer 32 is provided separately from the exposure apparatus 35, which is an exposure machine. With respect to the throughput, it is effective to provide plural offset analyzers in association with plural exposure apparatuses 35 (the number may be different) such that the alignment offset can be calculated in a sequence which does not interfere with the exposure operation in the exposure apparatus.
As described, by measuring an alignment mark and by calculating an offset, to be produced thereby, beforehand, deterioration of precision due to a produced symmetry in the alignment mark shape can be prevented. Thus, a high precision and high throughput alignment method are accomplished.
The offset analyzer described above may be used for all wafers. Alternatively, it may be used in a sequence for a first wafer in restricted conditions. The obtained offset may be used for wafers following the first wafer.
Use of the offset for the wafers following the first wafer is limited to a case where, under restricted conditions (e.g., wafers in a certain lot), the asymmetry in the shape of alignment marks of the wafers has a small dispersion.
As described above, a sequence in which an offset analyzer is used at least once is possible.
As explained above, in a sense of meeting WIS, an offset analyzer can be very effective. However, in the exposure system as a whole, it needs addition of an offset analyzer.
Particularly, in the offset analyzer, an alignment signal is obtained by signal simulation using a simulator, and a measurement error is then calculated from the obtained signal. Each offset analyzer needs a simulator and a computer for driving it. For high speed operation, expensive computers capable of performing high speed calculation must be provided in each exposure system.
It is an object of the present invention to provide at least one of an adjusting system for an exposure apparatus, an alignment system, an alignment method, a data processing system and a device manufacturing method using one of them, by which an unwanted increase of the apparatus cost can be prevented while retaining the function of an offset analyzer.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Alignment system and alignment method in exposure apparatus


A case for storing and winding a plurality of ratchet tie-downs removable from the case for use. The case includes a base having a plurality of compartments for storing first parts of the tie-downs. A plurality of reels are supported on the base for rotation relative to the base, each reel having a winding portion for winding a strap on the reel. The case includes a rotation mechanism for simultaneously rotating all the reels in a winding direction relative to the base thereby to wind the straps onto the reels. The case includes a lid for the case, the lid when in a closed position helping to retain the straps in the case. The case has a closed configuration adapted for placement on a retail store shelf and the lid having an exterior major side surface for holding retail information.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a retail package, or case, for winding, and storage of straps. In particular, the present invention relates to a case that is adapted to wind and store a plurality of straps, such as ratchet tie-downs, and that is also adapted as a retail package.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Items such as ratchet tie-downs are commonly used to secure snowmobiles, etc. A ratchet tie-down includes a ratchet assembly and a strap.
When a ratchet tie-down is displayed at retail, it is typically neatly packaged, but the packaging is thrown away once it is opened. When the tie-down is thereafter not in use, the strap is loose and unwound. If several are being used, they can be messy and can get dirty or tangled in, for example, the bed of a pickup truck.

Retail package for winding and storage of straps


A method and system to generate cardinality estimates for at least one query execution plan for a query using a histogram, the cardinality estimation being constrained by a q-error that is a factor by which the estimate deviates, at most, from a true value of the cardinality and a threshold value which the cardinality does not exceed; use the cardinality estimation to determine an optimal query plan for executing the query; and produce an output of the optimal query plan.

Query optimization depends in large part on efficient and accurate cardinality estimates of intermediate results and the plan for the order of a sequence or set of operators representative of a query. In some aspects, the order of the operators to implement the query may be determined with relative ease, particularly as compared to the process of accurately determining a cardinality estimate.
Various methods have been previously proposed for determining cardinality estimates. However, a number of the previous proposals may result in unbounded estimation errors. Also, since the building of a histogram typically involves the accessing of data via a data scan the manner in which the data is stored may impact the efficiency of the histogram construction.

Methods and systems for one dimensional heterogeneous histograms


Extended reach sluicer systems, devices, and methods for breaking up and retrieving chemical, radioactive, hazardous materials and/or other waste and/or other material from storage tanks with mechanical arms and nozzles to break up and transfer tank material. And this invention can work with tanks having high temperature or low temperature conditions.

At nuclear waste storage facilities, radioactive material is stored in underground tanks that can be up to 75 feet in diameter. Historically, typical storage tanks are cleaned using remotely operated arms with lengths that allow installation so that when installed, the end effector sits just above the waste depth. From this position the arm can be manipulated to clean the tank. However, because of vary waste depth heights, these systems lack the reach to clean the entire tank area from a single location.
Multiple machines can be strategically placed around the tank perimeter to clean the entirety of the tank. However, this is an inefficient undertaking with extensive operational costs. Also, these lengths limit the capability to clean obstructed areas.
A longer arm cleaning system can effectively position the end effector from the center or any off-center riser of the tank. However, waste depth in some tanks can be too high to allow an arm cleaning system of adequate length to be installed.
An additional problem with typical cleaning systems is end effector failure. Since the end effectors are closest to the radioactive waste, and see the most operation, they can succumb to premature failure while the rest of the arm is still fully functional. It is far too expensive with far too much liability to remove the entire machine for repairs. Therefore, the entire machine is rendered inoperable with these types of failures.
Furthermore, typical equipment only allows for single functionality in a catch all capacity, breaking up waste. Waste in tanks can vary in type and consistency where different methodologies are essential for optimal performance. Multiple machines can be used in a single tank, but this increases operational costs. This singular functionality also does not allow the opportunity to perform other functions in the tank such as collecting samples, or some other work other than cleaning that require specialized end effectors.
Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.
The present invention seeks to provide a solution that solves the above challenges and provides means to greatly reduce the amount of waste left in the tank.

Large riser extended reach sluicer and tool changer


A bucket tip shroud measurement fixture includes a frame extending from a first end to a second end through an intermediate portion having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first tip shroud fixing member extending from the second surface of the frame at the first end, and a second tip shroud fixing member extending from the second surface of the frame at the second end. The first and second tip shroud fixing members are configured and disposed to retain and establish an orientation of a bucket tip shroud relative the frame. A plurality of reference points are provided on the frame. The plurality of reference points are configured and disposed to receive a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) probe.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the art of turbomachines and, more particularly, to a measurement fixture for a turbomachine bucket tip shroud.
Turbomachines include a compressor portion linked to a turbine portion through a common compressor/turbine shaft and a combustor assembly. An inlet airflow is passed through an air intake toward the compressor portion. In the compressor portion, the inlet airflow is compressed through a number of sequential stages toward the combustor assembly. In the combustor assembly, the compressed airflow mixes with a fuel to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is combusted in the combustor assembly to form hot gases. The hot gases are guided along a hot gas path of the turbine portion through a transition piece. The hot gases expand along a hot gas path through a number of turbine stages acting upon turbine bucket airfoils mounted on wheels to create work that is output, for example, to power a generator.
Bucket airfoils may include a tip shroud having a Z-shaped geometry. The Z-shaped geometry establishes a sealing ring having small gaps between adjacent bucket airfoil tip shrouds. During operation, bucket airfoils may twist. A twist in one or more bucket airfoils may enlarge the gaps allowing hot gases to exit prematurely from the hot gas path. Changes in the gaps may also cause bucket airfoils to interact with one another in a manner that could result in damage. Bucket airfoils are periodically removed and measured to determine if, and how much, twisting may have occurred.

Bucket tip shroud measurement fixture and method of measuring bucket tip shroud orientation


A beverage bottling plant and method for filling bottles with a liquid beverage having a treatment device for beverage container caps. The treatment device for treating beverage container caps includes a first tower and a second tower provided with parallel axes and driven at the same peripheral speed. Transfer chutes are provided that emerge with their ends onto carrier rings of different towers, which chutes transfer caps from each tier of the first tower to a tier of the second tower, and from there, optionally via at least one additional tower and transfer chutes, to the next-lower tier of first tower.

1. Technical Field
The present application relates to a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage, having a treatment device for treating beverage container caps.
2. Background Information
A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material can possibly comprise a beverage filling machine with a plurality of beverage filling positions, each beverage filling position having a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material. The filling devices may have an apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material. The apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material further comprises an apparatus that is designed to terminate the filling of the beverage bottles upon the liquid beverage filling material reaching the predetermined level in bottles. There may also be provided a conveyer arrangement that is designed to move bottles, for example, from an inspecting machine to the filling machine. Upon filling, a closing station closes the filled bottles. There may further be provided a conveyer arrangement configured to transfer filled bottles from the filling machine to the closing station. Bottles may be labeled in a labeling station, the labeling station having a conveyer arrangement to receive bottles and to output bottles. The closing station and the labeling station may be connected by a corresponding conveyer arrangement.
A similar treatment device of the prior art is described in the subsequently published German Patent Application 10238633.1. A corresponding design was also previously disclosed by the publication of the brochure entitled "KHS Alfill Sterile CAP".
A device of this type is used to transport caps in a continuous, single-track or optionally also a multiple-track stream on a track for a relatively long period of time. The caps can be treated with a sterile gas during this period, for example, or before they enter the illustrated treatment device they can be treated with a treating fluid, such as H2O2 for example, which is vaporized in the device by the addition of air and heat. The continuous stream of caps must be treated in the device for a relatively long period of time, i.e. it must travel a relatively long distance.
The generic design of the prior art has a tower with carrier rings, whereby the transfer chutes connect carrier rings on different tiers of one and the same tower. Caps are thereby transported on a track in which they lie one behind the other alternately on carrier rings or transfer chutes. On the carrier rings, they are carried along by friction, i.e. driven, while they slide passively on the transfer chutes. As shown by the designs cited as the closest prior art, the transport is very smooth, and in particular no problems occur with jamming or backups.
In designs of the prior art, however, that can be said only for caps of a standard design, i.e. caps that have an essentially cylindrical basic shape. The fundamental problem is described below:
In the designs of the prior art, the transfer chutes are required to loop around the tower over a certain angle at circumference of 45°, for example, and therefore when viewed from overhead they run on a track that runs essentially in the circumferential direction. In addition, they must overcome the height difference from one tier to the next, which is determined essentially by the tallest cap that can be processed. Because the chutes must enter both carrier rings, at which they emerge with their rings, horizontally, the transfer chutes must have a downward curvature and a subsequent upward curvature in the vertical direction. In some areas, the surface of the transfer chutes must therefore be in the form of a helicoid surface.
Consequently, caps that lie one behind another on the transfer chute tip toward one another, and namely both around the axis of their direction of transport as well as around the transverse axis that runs perpendicular to the direction of transport. With caps that have a cylindrical basic shape, these mutual tipping movements do not cause major problems., But when the caps have a different basic shape, the caps become blocked and get stuck in the path that is described by the transfer chute, which has lateral boundaries.
Therefore, some shapes of caps that are extremely attractive for modern industrial applications cannot be processed using the devices of the prior art because of the danger of jamming. That is the case, in particular with sport caps, i.e. caps that have a built-in closure, a complicated shape and in particular a smaller diameter on the top than on the bottom. Even very flat caps, the basic shape of which is essentially that of a coin, of the type that are used, for example, as flat sealing caps underneath screw-on caps, cannot be processed, because their very low edges tend to ride over each other when they tip.

Beverage bottling plant and method for filling bottles including a treatment device for beverage container caps


This invention comprises an impact-resisting glazing structure having a support frame and a multilayered composite secured in the frame wherein the composite comprises two sheets of glass spaced apart by an interior spacer positioned along the periphery of the glass sheets with a polyester film adhered to the interior surface of one of the glass sheets. The polyester film has an asymmetric orientation of crystals and molecules in the amorphous regions and having an in-plane distribution of crystalline and amorphous phases in which the (100) planes of said crystals lie in the film plane and wherein in the film, said crystals have chain axes oriented toward the transverse direction such that dominant physical properties are obtained in the transverse direction.

Various types of glazing structures have been developed which resist penetration by objects which are propelled against a surface of the structure. Glass laminations, commonly referred to as safety glass, consisting of a plurality of glass sheets and interlayers have been made. These structures are generally thick, heavy constructions which are not adaptable for use in usual framing applications and are expensive to fabricate. In addition, plastic sheeting, such as polycarbonate sheeting has been used. However, such sheeting is relatively costly and has limited chemical and weathering resistance. Other glass/plastic laminates are known, including insulated glazing structures. These structures suffer from the same deficiencies as noted above. Also, the insulated structures tend to fog due to condensation of moisture which enters the gas space between the glass panes. What is needed is a light weight impact resisting structure which is adaptable for use in usual framing applications which avoids the problems noted.


In a method of block coding, each character of the codeword may be thought of as a sum of characters of the message word, computed such that each message-word character that contributes to the sum is weighted by a respective weight coefficient. In the method described here, the weight coefficients are derived from a division polynomial of an elliptic curve.

It has long been known that when a message word in the form m=(m1, m2, . . . , mk) is to be sent over a noisy channel, recovery of the message at the receiving end of the channel can be enhanced by adding redundancy to the transmitted message. In one well-known approach, m is subjected, before transmission, to a linear transformation, thereby to produce a codeword c=(c1, c2, . . . , cn), in which the total number n of characters ci in the codeword is greater than the total number k of characters in the message word. The codeword, which incorporates desired redundant information, is transmitted over the channel and decoded at the receiving end.
Each character ci of the codeword is a weighted sum of characters of the corresponding message block. The respective weight coefficients can be expressed in the form of, for example, an n×k matrix. At the receiving end, the decoder uses the coding matrix, or equivalent information, in conjunction with well-known techniques to recover the transmitted message word.
Some examples of linear block codes are Reed-Solomon, BCH, Golay, Goppa, and Hamming codes.
One measure of the effectiveness of a linear code is the minimum code distance. Roughly speaking, the minimum code distance measures the amount of corruption a received codeword can sustain without being mistaken for a different codeword. In mathematical terms, the codewords of a given code are pictured as an array of points in an abstract mathematical space. Associated with the space is a measure of distance between pairs of points. One such distance measure is the well-known Hamming distance. With reference to such a space and such a distance measure, the minimum code distance is related to the separation between the closest pair of codewords.
Linear codes are typically characterized in terms of three values: the code length n, the message length k, and the minimum distance d. In linear codes of the prior art, however, it has not generally been possible to make independent selections of n, k, and d. For example, a primitive BCH code will be completely determined by the designed minimum distance d and the finite alphabet from which the message characters mi are to be selected. Since a Reed-Solomon code is a special case of a primitive BCH code, it will have the same property. (It should be noted that the message alphabet is often the binary alphabet {0, 1}.)
Thus, there has been a need for linear codes that can be designed with greater flexibility. There is a general requirement, known as the "singleton bound,", that d can never be greater than n+k−1. However, given a message alphabet, there has been a need for codes that can be designed, within the constraint imposed by the singleton bound, with greater independence among the choices of n, k, and d.

Block coding method having increased flexibility in choice of code length or minimum code distance


The present invention discloses compounds according to Formula I:

Janus kinases (JAKs) are cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases that transduce cytokine signalling from membrane receptors to STAT transcription factors. Four JAK family members are described, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2. Upon binding of the cytokine to its receptor, JAK family members auto- and/or transphosphorylate each other, followed by phosphorylation of STATs that then migrate to the nucleus to modulate transcription. JAK-STAT intracellular signal transduction serves the interferons, most interleukins, as well as a variety of cytokines and endocrine factors such as EPO, TPO, GH, OSM, LIF, CNTF, GM-CSF and PRL. (Vainchenker et al., 2008)
The combination of genetic models and small molecule JAK inhibitor research revealed the therapeutic potential of JAK inhibitors (JAKinibs) (Babon et al., 2014). The last decade has seen the development of JAKinibs with various degrees of selectivity profiles versus the JAK family members. In particular, whereas targeting multiple JAK may not be detrimental (Broekman et al., 2011), developing selective JAKinibs would be very desirable to develop treatment course tailored to the needs of the patient despite the challenge it represents (Fabian et al., 2005). For example, whereas JAK2 inhibition has proven useful in the treatment of polycythemia and myelofibrosis, undesirable effect associated with JAK2 inhibition were observed (O'Shea and Plenge, 2012) thus rendering compounds with JAK2 inhibition components unsuitable for the treatment of non-JAK2 mediated diseases.
Using TYK2 knockout mice, it has been shown that IL-6, IL-10, IL-11, IL12, IL-13, IL-19, IL-20, IL-22, IL-23, IL-27, IL-28, IL-29, IL-31, IL-35 and/or type 1 interferons signaling are dependent on TYK2 (Schwartz et al., 2016). However, it has recently been shown that whereas JAK1 is a key driver in IFNα, IL6, IL10 and IL22 signaling, TYK2 is involved in type I interferons (including IFNα, INFβ), IL23 and IL12 signaling (Gillooly et al., 2016; Sohn et al., 2013). Since the activity of IL12 and IL23 is particularly increased in patients with auto-immune diseases (O'Shea and Plenge, 2012) such as psoriasis and/or inflammatory bowel disorders, selective TYK2 inhibition may be particularly advantageous in the treatment of these diseases while avoiding JAK2 dependent erythropoietin (EPO) and thrombopoietin (TPO) signaling (Neubauer et al., 1998; Parganas et al., 1998).
Furthermore, TYK2 has been reported as a target for multiple autoimmune disorders, providing protection against inflammatory diseases as well as type 2 diabetes with a limited impact on the immune system. (Dendrou et al., 2016)
Accordingly, there remains a need for new compounds which would effectively and selectively inhibit JAK enzymes, in particular TYK2, thus allowing the design of specific treatments and dosages tailored to the pathology.

Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for the treatment of inflammatory disorders

Abstract: Wherein R1, L1, R2, L2, R3, Cy, and the subscript n are as defined herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds, methods for their production, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of treatment using the same, for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of allergic diseases, inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases, autoinflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, transplantation rejection, diseases involving impairment of cartilage turnover, congenital cartilage malformations, and/or diseases associated with hypersecretion of IFNα, IL12 and/or IL23 by administering the compound of the invention.


A brightness control apparatus and a brightness control method are provided. A conversion unit converts a first pulse width modulating signal, indicating brightness of a display, into a DC signal. An analog to digital conversion unit converts the DC signal into a second pulse width modulating signal according to at least one of an environmental condition and a load state of an electronic device, wherein the second pulse width modulating signal controls the brightness of the display.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a control apparatus and in particular relates to a brightness control apparatus and a brightness control method.
2. Description of Related Art
Computers may be categorized into two types, i.e. military computers and general computers. The difference between the military computer and the general computer is that the military computer usually needs to be operable in harsh environments, e.g. high temperature or low temperature. Thus, the requirements for military computer in terms of operability at various ambient temperatures are much stricter than general computer. Factors, such as slimness and light weight which are important to the general computer, but are not the main concern for military computer.
When the military computer operates in harsh environments such as high temperature or low temperature, the control of the brightness of a display thereof is necessary for the normal operation of the military computer. For example, at high temperature, the brightness of the display needs to be decreased so as to prevent the display from showing black screen. At low temperature, the brightness of the display needs to be decreased to avoid excessive power consumption (because starting-up takes longer time at low temperature and the work of other components needs adjustment for heating). In addition, in a heavy load state, the brightness of the display also needs to be reduced to lower the power consumption of the overall system.
Before Windows operating system Windows 8 is introduced, the brightness of the display is controlled by a pulse width modulating signal outputted by an embedded controller. Therefore, free adjustment of the brightness is possible. In the structure of Windows 8, however, the brightness of the display is controlled by Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM). In other words, the brightness of the display is controlled by the pulse width modulating signal outputted by a platform controller hub (PCH) under control of a driver of the Windows Display Driver Model. Thus, the traditional method for adjusting the brightness of the display to achieve normal operation of the computer at high temperature, low temperature, or heavy load is not applicable.

Brightness control apparatus and brightness control method


A system includes a substrate, a first and a second magnetic field sensor, and a computing device communicatively coupled to the first and second magnetic field sensors. The substrate has a surface encoded with a magnetic pattern sequenced along a direction of movement of the substrate. The magnetic pattern includes a data pattern that indicates a position of the substrate along the direction of movement and a clock pattern interleaved and substantially colinear with the data pattern that indicates a plurality of clock transitions. The computing device is configured to receive, from the first and second magnetic field sensors positioned above the magnetic pattern, a plurality of magnetic field signals detected from the magnetic pattern. The computing device is configured to determine, based on the plurality of magnetic field signals, the position of the substrate and output the position of the substrate.

Many industrial and mobile applications use hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders and rotating members to control the movement and position of machinery. Precise control of a piston's position within a cylinder or a shaft's position in a stator is often fundamental to controlling the machinery's operation. Accordingly, various mechanical, magnetic, acoustic, and optical techniques may be used to detect an instantaneous position of a moving piston or shaft with respect to the cylinder or stator. One technique for detecting an instantaneous position involves magnetically encoding information in a material of the piston rod or shaft. Typically, the substrate of the piston rod or shaft is made of a ferromagnetic material, such as steel, or a non-ferromagnetic material, such as aluminum. A magnetic layer can be added on top of the substrate and magnetized. To measure an absolute position of a piston rod or shaft, the rod or shaft may include a data track that includes a sequence of detectable and undetectable elements encoded in the data track and a clock track with regularly spaced elements that is separate from the data track. Elements of the data track may directly correspond to elements of the clock track, such that undetectable elements of the data track may be identified based on detection of a corresponding element of the clock track. To accurately decode the encoded data track, the sensors on the two tracks are well aligned relative to each other and the elements on the two encoded tracks.


A network device includes a group of queues, each having a weighted round robin mechanism. The priority queues on a port detect an overflow condition and transfer a flag to the weighted round robin device in response to detecting the overflow condition. The weighted round robin mechanism adjusts the weight associated with one or more of the priority queues in response to receiving the flag and transfers data from the queues based on the adjusted weights.

Network devices, such as multiport switches, commonly include a group of output ports through which data can be transferred. During high traffic periods, it is common for one or more of these ports to become congested. In a switch that implements output queuing, congestion at an output port is typically indicated by the port's output queue overflowing.
Currently, there is no way to automatically adjust the flow of data out of the network device's output queues to alleviate or avoid an overflow condition.

System and method for dynamically updating weights of weighted round robin in output queues


A power system includes a DC power source having a maximum output voltage, a DC/AC inverter having an input coupled via a connection to the DC power source and an output for supplying AC power to a load, and a control circuit for controlling the DC/AC inverter. The control circuit is configured to maintain a DC voltage at the input of the DC/AC inverter above a threshold voltage to inhibit arcing as a result of a break in the connection between the DC power source and the DC/AC inverter. The threshold voltage is substantially equal to the maximum output voltage of the DC power source less a minimum arcing voltage for the connection between the DC power source and the DC/AC inverter.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
One major issue in DC power systems is the electrical arcing that can occur when a current carrying conductor breaks, e.g., due to wear and tear, aging, friction between insulated wires and sharp objects, etc. In AC power systems, arcing faults can be less severe because the arc may extinguish itself during a zero crossing of the current. However, in DC power systems, the arcing can continue indefinitely, once ignited. This can create major safety and fire hazards in applications such as electric vehicles, telecommunications central office environments, DC data centers, aircrafts, and residential photovoltaic power generation, to name a few.
To address this issue, many DC power systems are configured to detect arcing and, in response to a detected arcing condition, shut down the power source or the load.


A system (100) includes a wireless device (101) and at least one transponder (102). The wireless device (101) includes a memory (201) with an area (202) for storing coupling range profiles, a processor (203), a bus (210), a receiver (206), a transmitter (205), an alarm (208), a location module (209), a user interface (211), an antenna (212) for receiving transmitted location information, a power controller (204), an antenna (207) for transmitting and receiving, and a clock (213). The transponder includes a memory (301) with an area (302) for storing a unique transponder ID, a processor (303), a bus (308), power controller (304), a receiver (306), transmitter (305), and an antenna (307). The wireless device (101) compares current context information to a coupling range profile and, based on the results of the comparison, transmits to at least one transponder (102) at an appropriate power level. If the transponder (102) is within the predetermined range, it will transmit and the wireless device (101) will receive a response signal. If the current location context changes, the wireless device (101) will automatically affect a change in coupling distance to the transponder (102).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of wireless devices, and more particularly relates to item location tracking using a wireless device.
2. Background of the Invention
Remaining in close proximity to moving items, such as children, is desirable for many reasons and in many situations. The definition of close proximity, however, varies with the particular surroundings. For instance, if a mother and her child are in the children's section at the local library, the distance a child can comfortably wander off is much greater than if the same mother and child are at a busy shopping mall. Also, the time of day might factor into how far a child can safely wander; a child playing in a park during the day is able to wander further than the same child in the same park at dusk.
Children aren't the only items that need to be tracked; pets, for instance, need to be monitored so they won't stray. Even adults often need to ensure that they stay in close proximity to another adult. For instance, adults hiking in the woods, riding bicycles, shopping in a mall, or any of a multitude of other situations, require attention to proximity of the other person. The maximum comfortable distance between adults, however, will most likely be much greater than that of an adult and child or adult and pet.
Additionally, people often have sets of objects that they need to have with them at different times during the day, such as keys, briefcases, PDAs, laptops, palmtops, messaging devices, and more. These items need to be monitored so as not to be unintentionally left behind. For example, when a person leaves home to go to work in the morning, the person may need keys to the house, keys to the office, keys to the car, a wallet or purse, and a variety of other items.
Further, some of these objects may be valuable. For example, a person may desire to take a laptop computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA) to work, to a library, or to some other location where the device might be put to use. In those locations, however, the person may leave the object for a few moments, for example, to look in the library stacks, leaving the object unguarded and vulnerable to being stolen. Clearly a need exists for tracking an item.
One solution to this problem is to attach a tracker tag to the item needing to be monitored and using a tracker to monitor the item. In this way, the item is coupled to the tracking unit. When the item travels beyond a specific distance, the tracker sounds an alert to notify the wearer that the item has traveled beyond a specified maximum distance.
The solution suffers from the disadvantage, however, that the range is static. Once the range is set as the desired distance, the range remains at that distance without regard to time, location, or any other factor. As discussed in the preceding paragraphs, the desired range for tracking an item varies with time, location, and other possible factors.
Accordingly, a need exists for a tracking system that provides automatic item coupling with the coupling range determined by context of the situation.

Mechanism for providing automatic item coupling with the coupling range determined by context information


A contact structure in a semiconductor device includes a layer of dielectric material and a via formed through the dielectric material. The contact structure further includes a spacer formed on sidewalls of the via using atomic layer deposition (ALD) and a metal deposited in the via.

In many existing semiconductor devices, interlayer dielectrics (ILDs) are formed between different layers of conductors. Subsequent to formation of an ILD, various processes may be performed to complete the formation of the semiconductor device(s). For example, one process includes etching an ILD (e.g., ILD0) to create a via for a contact between the semiconductor devices, or between conductors that interconnect various conductive structures in a semiconductor device. Creation of a contact typically involves etching the ILD to create the via, forming a spacer on the walls of the via, and filling the via with a metal. The spacer formed within the via typically includes silicon nitride, and is deposited using a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process. The high temperatures involved in LPCVD (e.g., 760 degrees C. or more), however, may cause "re-flow" of the ILD layer (e.g., ILD0), that may include a boro-phosphosilicate glass (BPSG) material, resulting in undesirable deformation (e.g., tilting) of the contact. The high temperatures involved in LPCVD of the contact spacer may also increase roughness of, for example, cobalt silicon (CoSi) in source/drain regions of the semiconductor device, thus, resulting in increased current leakage associated with the completed contact, such as, for example, at an interface of CoSi and silicon.

Contact spacer formation using atomic layer deposition