A retracting syringe of one use has a plunger comprising a handle portion and a needle retention portion forward of the handle portion. A positive locking structure in the syringe barrel ensures the syringe is not reused. In one embodiment, the positive locking structure is a stop in the syringe barrel. The handle portion separates after one use and is removed from the syringe. In a second embodiment, the handle portion has a plurality of stepped serrations and the positive locking structure is a clip which is movable with respect to both the handle portion and the barrel. In a third embodiment, the positive locking structure is a clip fixed in an enlarged back opening of the barrel with springing points which are protected from a plurality of stepped serrations on the handle portion by a sliding collar. This one use feature can be applied to a nonretracting syringe.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to medical devices for fluids, more particularly syringes with a retractable needle which cannot be reused after an injection has been made.
2. Background of the Prior Art
They syringe art has advanced rapidly in recent years because of the threat of AIDS and other infectious diseases and the inevitability of accidental needle sticks suffered by healthcare providers from the use of needles on infected patients. Used syringes with extended needles present a risk to medical personnel, sanitation employees and others in the disposal chain. The prior art has disclosed a large number of syringes and other medical devices with retractable needles, usually retracting into the barrel or into a needle receiving chamber within the syringe barrel. The most advanced of the retracting syringes are disclosed in our U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,385,551; 5,578,011; 5,632,733; 6,015,438; and 6,090,077, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. The syringes disclosed in the foregoing patents are retracted automatically by continued pushing on the plunger handle while an injection is being finished and offer one handed handling and retraction of the syringe so that the healthcare worker never needs to be exposed to a contaminated needle. Plunger actuated automatic retraction of these devices takes place before the needle is removed from the patient. These retractable syringes are suitable for mass production at low cost with a high degree of reliability and repeatability of operation. They are suited to automated production of parts and automated assembly in a number of different barrel sizes, needle sizes and for different uses.
While the syringes described above and other retractable syringes have eliminated or substantially reduced the needle stick problem, some have expressed a need for syringes of one-use which cannot be reused under any circumstances. Most, if not all, retractable syringes require the user to take some action to initiate retraction of the needle after an injection has been made. This leaves the retractable syringe open for a possible reuse if the user fails to retract the needle after one use. A solution to this problem has been proposed in the case of nonretractable syringes by means of various devices which mechanically lock the plunger handle after the first use of the syringe, but none of these devices have a retractable needle. Therefore, the needle remains exposed with the continued potential for needle sticks even though the syringe cannot be reused because the plunger cannot be withdrawn a second time. Examples of syringes with locking plunger handles but which do not retract, include Free et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,737, entitled xe2x80x9cSingle Use Disposable Syringexe2x80x9d; Allison et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,825, entitled xe2x80x9cInsertable Element for Preventing Reuse of Plastic Syringesxe2x80x9d; Kosinski, U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,310, entitled xe2x80x9cSingle-Use Syringexe2x80x9d; Kosinski, U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,728, entitled xe2x80x9cSingle-Use Syringe having Misuse Resistant Featuresxe2x80x9d; Shonfeld et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,691, entitled xe2x80x9cSingle Use Syringe Assemblyxe2x80x9d; and Shonfeld et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,623, entitled xe2x80x9cSingle-Use Syringe Assembly including Spring Clip Lock and Plungerxe2x80x9d. The disclosure of these patents is incorporated herein by reference.
The single-use syringes mentioned above cannot be reused after one injection is made, but a contaminated needle is still extended and must be capped, removed or otherwise disposed of before the syringe is rendered safe. Thus, there is a need for an improved syringe of one-use with a needle that retracts into the syringe barrel after use and which cannot be reused whether or not the needle is retracted.
The present invention is a retracting syringe of one use having a handle operated needle retention chamber which cannot be removed from the syringe barrel. The retracting feature obviates the danger associated with an exposed needle after an injection is made. The positive locking structure assures that the syringe is truly a syringe of one use and cannot be reused. In the various embodiments the movable parts comprising the handle portion and the needle retention chamber are limited in rearward movement and contained in the syringe barrel after one rearward movement of the handle to fill the syringe with fluid and one forward movement of the handle to discharge the fluid from the syringe. The invention serves to eliminate the risk that a retractable syringe, which is supposed to be retracted after one use, could possibly be reused because the operator chose to or failed to activate the retraction mechanism thereby leaving the needle exposed for a second use. This cannot occur because the positive locking structure prevents removal of the needle retention chamber by blocking its removal. The needle retention chamber is retained in the barrel whether or not the retraction mechanism is activated and whether or not the needle is retracted. This suggests that the advantage of the invention can also be applied to a nonretracting syringe where the needle is fixed in the front end of the barrel and this should be considered another aspect of the invention disclosed herein. In a nonretracting syringe, the invention works in the same way to limit or prevent withdrawal of the handle (plunger) from the barrel. If the handle cannot be drawn back a second time, the syringe cannot be refilled with fluid.
An elongated hollow syringe barrel having a front end and an open back preferably has a retractable needle retractably mounted in a retraction structure located in the front end of the syringe barrel and biased for retraction in a rearward axial direction. Movable parts comprising a handle attached to a needle retention chamber performs the function of an ordinary syringe plunger in the barrel. The front end portion of the needle retention chamber has a piston mounted in sliding sealed contact with the interior of the barrel. The movable parts are moved by means of the handle extending from the open back of the barrel. The back end portion of the handle portion has a cap for applying thumb force to the handle. The needle retention chamber has an openable sealed opening in front to receive the retracted needle into the needle retention chamber when the retraction mechanism is actuated by forward movement of the plunger after the fluid has been discharged during an injection into a patient. Retraction of the needle into the needle retention chamber is triggered by forward movement of the needle retention chamber against the retraction structure in response to movement of the handle after the injection is completed.
Positive locking structure is located within the syringe barrel to limit movement of the needle retention chamber in a rearward direction and prevent its removal from the syringe barrel after one use. The positive locking structure is adapted to have no effect on one rearward movement and one forward movement of the movable parts to the fullest extent of forward movement but subsequent movement of the needle retention chamber in a rearward direction is limited to maintain said chamber within the syringe barrel.
In the first embodiment, positive locking structure is fixed within the barrel at a fixed location. The locking structure comprises a constriction of the barrel diameter comprising a first stop while the needle retention chamber has a diametrically enlarged section comprising a second stop wherein the second stop can be forced passed the first stop in a forward direction by pressing on the handle but which resists movement in a rearward direction caused by pulling on the handle. The first embodiment further has a handle portion which is removably attached to the needle retention chamber and separable therefrom by a separation force which is less than the force required to force the second stop past the first stop in a rearward direction. The handle is preferably separable from the needle retention chamber by release of the separating parts without breaking them.
The first embodiment further preferably includes a catch on the front end portion which can be forced forward past the first stop by pressing on the handle before the second stop moves past the first stop. As long as the second stop does not move forward past the first stop, the handle can be withdrawn to fill the syringe. The catch on the front end portion of the needle retention chamber limits the amount of rearward travel of the movable parts to establish the maximum design fill volume of the syringe. The catch comes in contact with the first stop. When the plunger is depressed to make the injection, however, the second stop on the back of the needle retention chamber or some intermediate position on the needle retention chamber moves past the first stop and thereby provides the limiting feature previously described which causes a two part handle to separate when the handle is pulled to the rear. Once the handle is pushed forward with all stops beyond the first stop in the barrel, the syringe can be emptied and the retraction mechanism activated by continued forward movement of the handle.
A second embodiment of the invention has the elongated hollow syringe barrel preferably having a retractable needle retractably mounted in the retraction structure located in the front end of the syringe barrel and biased for retraction in a rearward direction. It has a movable handle in the syringe barrel having a front end portion having a piston in sliding sealed contact with the interior of the barrel, a back end portion having a cap at the back end for applying thumb force to the handle and a needle retention chamber in the front end portion of the handle for receiving the retractable needle. In the second embodiment, the positive locking structure is still located within the syringe barrel. It limits movement of the handle in a rearward direction and prevents its removal from the syringe barrel after one use. However, the locking structure moves relative to the barrel in the second embodiment.
The handle carries the locking structure which is movable in only one direction from a first position near the back of the handle to a second position nearer the front of the handle. The locking structure is adapted to positively engage the syringe barrel and limit movement of the needle retention chamber in a rearward direction after the locking structure is moved forward of the first position. The needle retention chamber is preferably located just forward of the second position of the locking structure. The handle preferably has a plurality of stepped serrations and the positive locking structure is preferably a clip having an inwardly angled tab relative to the stepped serrations which allows the clip to move forwardly on the handle while preventing the clip from moving rearwardly. The clip has at least one outwardly angled point which engages the syringe barrel to prevent withdrawal of the handle. The points simply slide along the surface of the handle because they are angled backwardly but prevent rearward movement which causes the points to dig into the inner surface of the barrel. The clip preferably circumscribes part but not all of the stepped serrations of the back end of the barrel in the form of something slightly more than a half circle shape.
A third embodiment of the invention includes all the other syringe features of the first and second embodiments except for a different positive locking structure. In the third embodiment, the positive locking structure to limit movement of the handle in a rearward direction is located within the syringe barrel in a fixed position relative to the barrel. More particularly, said structure is located inside the open back of the barrel. The structure mounted inside of the open back of the barrel in a fixed position relative to the barrel is preferably a springing clip having one or more forwardly angled points which are protected by a sliding collar carried by the handle from contacting the handle during an initial withdrawal of the handle to draw fluid into the barrel. This allows one withdrawal in the handle in a rearward direction from an initial forward position relative to the barrel without engaging the springing points with the handle. When the plunger is depressed in a forward direction, the sliding collar moves forward out of contact with the points of the springing clip whereupon the springing clip engages the handle to prevent its withdrawal. In the third embodiment, the back end portion of the handle has a plurality of stepped serrations like the second embodiment on which the sliding collar carried by the handle resides. The sliding collar has an angled surface which allows the plunger handle to move rearwardly relative to the collar but the collar has a catch which catches the edge of a stepped serration which causes it to move forward with the handle and away from the springing clip. The springing clips simply ride over the stepped serrations without interference as the handle is being moved forward but as soon as the handle is moved backward, the teeth dig into the handle and stop any rearward movement of the handle. A stop surface on the back of the needle retention chamber can contact the collar and prevent further withdrawal of the handle after the handle is pulled back to the maximum extent. The collar is trapped within the barrel.
Although the invention is most effective when combined with a retractable needle mounted in a retraction structure in the front of the syringe, the invention is primarily concerned with the issue of one use and therefore is applicable to syringes with fixed needles as well as syringes with retractably mounted needles.

One-use retracting syringe with positive needle retention


In a racket frame 2, stoppers 28 are each located on a tip side of a narrow diameter portion 26 protruding from a side of an inner circumferential surface 4b of a head 4. A steel sheets 16 is fixed on the side of the inner circumferential surface 4b opposing the stoppers 28 via the narrow diameter portion 26. Weights 14 each include a magnet sheet 32. The narrow diameter portion 26 is inserted through notches 36 and 38 of the weights 14. The steel sheets 16 and the magnet sheet 32 are bound with magnetic force. The notches 36 and 38 of the weights 14 are locked to a string protecting member 12. The stoppers 28 prevent the weights 14 from being detached form the head 4. The weights 14 are detachably mounted on the head 4.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to racket frames used in tennis. In more detail, the present invention relates to racket frames having a function for adjusting weight balance.
Description of the Related Art
Weight balance of a racket frame greatly affects characteristics of a tennis racket such as inertia moment etc. The weight balance affects basic performances such as flight, ease of swinging, and sensation of hitting etc. The weight balance is often changed in accordance with aptitude and preference of a player. Changing of the weight balance is performed by attaching a weight to the racket frame for adjustment.
For example, a weight is affixed to a racket frame. In order to additionally change the weight balance in the racket frame having the weight affixed thereto, it is necessary to replace the weight etc. Thus, time and effort are needed for adjusting the weight balance of the racket.
JP No. 3746268 discloses a dynamic damper in which vertical frame parts and horizontal frame parts are integrally molded into a grid pattern. The dynamic damper is affixed to a frame. In the dynamic damper, a string is threaded through openings formed on the grid pattern. In order to replace the dynamic damper, it is necessary to restring the string.
JP No. 4363006 discloses a dynamic damper detachably attached to a desired position on a racket frame. In the dynamic damper, a belt is attached to the frame. In this attachment structure, the belt enables the dynamic damper to be detachable. This dynamic damper can be replaced without restringing the string.
It is conceivable to attach a weight using the attachment structure of JP No. 4363006. With this attachment structure, replacing or reaffixing the weight can be performed easily compared to a structure of affixing the weight. By adopting this attachment structure, the weight balance can be adjusted easily.
In the attachment structure, the belt is also wound on an outer circumferential surface of the racket frame. The belt may make contact with the ground or a structure. With such contact, the position of the weight may shift or the weight may become separated from the racket frame. Such attachment structure may change the weight balance of the racket frame.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a racket frame that enables adjusting of weight balance easily with certainty.


A system and method for automated image analysis selects a Region Of Interest (ROI) within a frame, suitable for subsequent Quantitative Intima Media Thickness (QIMT) analysis. Presently, a time consuming manual analysis by a highly trained technician is required to select the ROI within the frame for subsequent automated analysis. The automated image analysis provides an immediate and accurate identification of the ROI within the selected frame. In one embodiment, the automated image quality analysis may be directed to an ultrasound image of the carotid artery.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and atherosclerosis (a progressive narrowing and hardening of the arteries over time) is the leading factor in heart disease. Although initial thickening of arterial walls develops over a very long period of time, the complications from atherosclerosis generally occur suddenly and often prove fatal. Further, because atherosclerosis is asymptomatic, the first symptom perceived by a patient may be a life-threatening event.
Several methods are available for measuring the progress of atherosclerosis. These include Electron Beam Computed Tomography (EBCT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD), Quantitative Intima Media Thickness (QIMT), and the like. Although MRI may be use for clinical measurements, it remains a costly procedure. FMD appears promising, but outcome studies are not available to validate its predictive ability.
Carotid Intima Media Thickness (IMT) has been shown to be a useful surrogate endpoint. A surrogate endpoint is an indirect measurement which correlates with an actual (i.e., clinical) outcome. A clinical endpoint, for example, could be death, loss of vision, or other major symptomatic event. A corresponding surrogate endpoint could be a measurement which indicates the development of a condition which is correlated with a clinical endpoint event, but which surrogate endpoint may not produce easily observable symptoms. In particular, IMT measurements of the far wall of the carotid artery, about 1 cm below the bulb, have shown high correlation with cardiovascular clinical endpoints.
Carotid IMT provides a suitable surrogate endpoint for all stages of atherosclerosis and is well suited for tracking the progress of atherosclerosis. Carotid IMT has predictive value with respect to cerebrovascular and cardiovascular clinical events in both men and women. It has further been found that providing an ultrasound image of the carotid artery to a patient has a substantial effect of motivating changes to behavior, and the provision of subsequent images showing progress helps patients remain motivated to sustain a healthy life style.
Carotid IMT may be measured by either analog caliper IMT or digital Quantitative IMT (QIMT). Both methods rely on the same image and attempt to measure the same quantity. Caliper IMT is a manual measurement of the IMT visible in an ultrasound image using calipers, and is similar to printing a photo, and then measuring a dimension of a characteristic of the photograph by laying a ruler on the photograph. QIMT is a computer analysis of IMT performed on a digital version of the ultrasound image. Results have shown that caliper IMT has four times the standard deviation of QIMT when performed on the same images. Because of the accuracy of QIMT measurements, QIMT is ideal for both absolute measurements of the IMT, and for tracking small changes in the carotid artery, and thus the progression of atherosclerosis. The ability to track small changes allows the success or failure of a given course of treatment to be analyzed and adjusted if necessary, before a critical state is reached.
Current practice in the field of QIMT is to record carotid artery ultrasound images on SVHS tapes, and later manually review the images to determine a Region Of Interest (ROI) within each frame for subsequent computer analysis using edge detection algorithms. Such manual review requires highly skilled technicians and is time intensive. Because of the present requirement for manual review, IMT presently is only available from specialized laboratories employing highly trained technicians. There is thus a need for an objective system and method to automate the determination of the ROI of carotid ultrasound images, which method does not introduce operator bias.

System and method for automatic determination of a region of interest within an image


The present invention is directed to a regio- and stereoselective bioconversion of selected aliphatic dinitriles into corresponding cyanocarboxylic acids. More particularly, the present invention provides methods for the conversion of 2-isobutyl-succinonitrile into (S)-3 cyano-5-methylhexanoic acid, which is a useful intermediate in the synthesis of (S)-3(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid (pregabalin). Pregabalin can be used for treating certain cerebral diseases, for example, in the treatment and prevention of seizure disorders, pain, and psychotic disorders.

The enzymatic hydrolysis of organic nitrites to corresponding carboxylic acids and amides provides an important alternative synthetic method to a broad spectrum of useful compounds. Conventional chemical hydrolysis of nitrites to the corresponding carboxylic acids and amides is typically carried out using a strong acid or base catalyst at high reaction temperatures making it incompatible with compounds which contain sensitive functional groups. Furthermore, the poor selectivity of chemical hydrolysis may result in unwanted by-products along with large quantities of inorganic salts. In contrast, enzymatic nitrile hydrolysis occurs under mild conditions (neutral pH, 30° C.) offering the potential for high chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. As an added advantage, the formation of by-product inorganic salts is avoided.
The best-known industrial applications of nitrile-converting enzymes are the production of acrylamide (T. Nagasawa et al., Tibtech., 1992, vol. 10, 402-408) and nicotinamide (T. Nagasawa et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 1998, vol 54, 1766-1769), using a nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus rhodochrous J1. Several recent reviews (L. Martinková et al., Current Organic Chemistry, 2003, vol. 7, 1279-1295 and D. Cowan et al., Extremophiles, 1998, vol. 2, 207-216) describe the biochemistry and potential industrial applications of nitrile converting enzymes.
Enzymatic nitrile hydrolyses are catalyzed by nitrilases, which convert nitrites to the corresponding carboxylic acids, and nitrile hydratases, which convert nitrites to the corresponding amides. Amidases, which hydrolyze amides to the corresponding carboxylic acids, can be used in combination with nitrile hydratases to convert nitrites to carboxylic acids.
The use of a nitrilase enzyme to prepare a carboxylic acid from the corresponding nitrile is disclosed in WO 02/072856. Incorporation of the enzyme into a polymer matrix with cross-linking provided a catalyst with improved physical and biochemical integrity.
The regioselective preparation of ω-nitrilecarboxylic acids from aliphatic ∝, ω-dinitriles with a biocatalyst was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,508. For example, a catalyst having nitrilase activity was used to convert 2-methylglutaronitrile into 4-cyanopentanoic acid.
K. Yamamoto, et al. J. Ferment Bioengineering, 1992, vol. 73, 125-129 describes the use of microbial cells having both nitrile hydratase and amidase activity to convert trans 1,4-dicyanocyclohexane to trans-4-cyanocyclohexanecarboxylic acid.
Regioselective biocatalytic conversions of dinitriles to cyano substituted carboxylic acids, have been reported for a series of aliphatic α, ω-dinitrile compounds using microbial cells having an aliphatic nitrilase activity or a combination of nitrile hydratase and amidase activities (J. E. Gavagan et al. J. Org. Chem., 1998, vol. 63, 4792-4801).
Stereoselective enzymatic conversions of nitriles have been described for the preparation of chiral carboxylic acids and amides enriched in one enantiomer (M Wieser et al., Chapter in Stereoselective Biocatalysis, Marcel Dekker Inc.: New York, 2000, 461-486). A stereoselective nitrilase enzyme from Alcaligenes faecalis ATCC 8750 is used to prepare (R)-mandelic acid from racemic mandelonitrile (K. Yamamoto et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 1991, vol. 57, 3028-3032). A nitrilase from Rhodococcus rhodochrous NCIMB 11216 preferentially hydrolyzes (+)-2-methylhexanitrile in a racemic mixture of 2-methylhexanitrile leaving (−)-2-methylhexanitrile unreacted (M. Gradley et al., Biotechnology Lett., 1994, vol. 16, 41-46). U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,871 disclosed a process for preparing 2-alkanoic acid amides enriched in one enantiomer, from nitriles using microorganisms containing stereoselective nitrile hydratases. Enantiopure α-amino acids and amides were prepared from racemic α-aryl and α-alkyl-substituted glycine nitriles using Rhodococcus sp. AJ270 containing a stereoselective nitrile hydratase and a stereoselective amidase (M.-C. Wang et al., J. Org. Chem., 2002, vol. 67, 6542). The foregoing references are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety.
The therapeutic value of racemic pregabalin, particularly its efficacy as an anticonvulsant, has been found to be attributable primarily to the (S)-enantiomer. Toward the goal of providing cost-effective pregabalin drug therapy, a number of synthetic routes to the (S)-enantiomer enriched compound have been investigated. For example, asymmetric hydrogenation of the appropriate cyano substituted olefin followed by reduction of the cyano group to the corresponding amine provides pregabalin substantially enriched in the (S) enantiomer (United States Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0212290).
The synthesis of pregabalin, its derivatives and analogs by purely chemical methods is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,642,398; 6,635,673; and 6,046,353.

Stereoselective bioconversion of aliphatic dinitriles into cyano carboxylic acids


The nacelle of a horizontal axis wind turbine is fixedly mounted on a tower, and the tower is mounted off-center with respect to a ring around which it is rotatable. The tower is a tripod. Two legs of the tripod are of fixed length and lie in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the turbine blades. The third leg of the tripod is of adjustable length and is aligned with the axis of rotation of the turbine blades. The third leg thus may be controlled to adjust for pitching of the base and other purposes. Multiple turbines, spaced apart laterally, may be mounted on a platform in a fixed orientation, with the platform rotatably mounted off-center relative to a base.

This invention relates to horizontal axis wind-driven turbines (HAWTs). It has particular applicability to floating wind-driven turbines, but its utility is not limited thereto.
Traditional wind turbines are horizontal-axis machines having generally vertical blades supported by a hub carried by a horizontal shaft. The horizontal shaft is connected to a gearbox or other drive train, a brake assembly, and a generator. The horizontal shaft, drive train, brake assembly, and generator are covered by a nacelle, which is in turn rotatably mounted on a vertical mast or tower. The blades are generally mounted upwind of the mast to avoid turbulence caused by the mast. The nacelle and the assembly of parts contained by the nacelle are frequently referred to as the "nacelle," and that terminology is used herein, unless otherwise clearly indicated. The nacelle's rotational position ("yaw") is controlled by positioning motors directly below the nacelle. The yaw motors keep the axis of rotation of the blades constantly aligned with the wind when the turbine is in operation (zero degree angle of attack).
Commercial wind turbines (HAWTs) typically have a cut-in wind speed (at which the turbine starts to turn and produce power) of about seven to nine miles per hour (3-4 m/sec), a rated wind speed (at which the turbine first generates its rated power) of about thirty-three miles per hour (15 m/sec), and a cut-out speed (at which the turbine is prevented from turning to prevent damage to the turbine) of about fifty-six miles per hour (25 m/sec). Commercial wind turbines are designed to produce a constant electrical output at wind speeds between rated wind speed and cut-out wind speed. To maintain a constant rotational speed, the efficiency of the blades is decreased as wind speed increases above the rated speed. This is typically accomplished with "blade-pitch" motors in the hub, which turn the blades to alter their angle of attack. The blade-pitch motors are controlled by a computer which receives signals from sensors measuring such things as wind speed, blade position, and rotational speed (power production). When wind speed exceeds the cut-out value, the blade-pitch motors furl the blades by turning them with their leading edge facing the wind, and brake the rotor (horizontal shaft). The blade pitch-control mechanism produces an area of weakness in the blade-hub structure and adds complication to the design.
Industrial wind turbines typically have blades ranging from 100 to 150 feet in length, mounted on a tower (mast) that is about 200-270 feet tall. The steel tower is anchored in a platform of more than a thousand tons of concrete and steel rebar, thirty to fifty feet across and six to thirty feet deep. The platform is critical to stabilizing the immense weight of the turbine assembly. A typical industrial wind turbine weighs between one hundred fifty and three hundred fifty tons; the nacelle weighs fifty to seventy five tons, the blade assembly weighs thirty-five to forty-five tons, and the tower (mast) weighs seventy to two hundred twenty tons (www.wind-watch.org/faq-size-p.php).
Wind turbines also require a great deal of clear space—ten rotor diameters in the direction of the wind, and three rotor diameters in every other direction. In a location in which the wind can come from more than one direction, this requires a spacing of ten rotor diameters in every direction, or a total clear space of over eighty acres per tower.
Placing wind turbines off-shore has long been seen as desirable, to obtain the unobstructed space required, and to take advantage of the relatively high average wind speed in these locations. Wind speed is particularly important, because the kinetic energy of wind is proportional to the cube of its speed. If the average speed of wind off-shore is double the speed onshore, the energy available to be harvested is eight times as great. Off-shore wind turbines may be even larger than land-based industrial turbines, because they, or their components, can be transported on ships rather than by road (www.energy.gov/eere/wind/how-do-wind-turbines-work).
Building off-shore wind turbines in the United States is more difficult than in many European locations, where many suitable off-shore locations are in shallow water. Most of the U.S. suitable locations are located in deep water, having a depth of sixty meters or more. Traditional bottom-mounted supports, as are used in shallow water, are not economical at such depths.
Floating platforms, tethered to the sea floor, have been proposed and have been tested. Such platforms are generally based on oil and gas platform technologies. The dynamic nature of the wind turbine and its top-heaviness place additional requirements on a floating platform. Three principal schemes have been proposed—a spar buoy which relies on a large submerged mass to maintain stability; a semisubmersible design, in which several spaced-apart cylinders are filled with ballast, such as water; and a tension-leg platform in which anchors are connected by tension lines to spaced-apart tie points on the platform. As applied to a horizontal-axis wind turbine, all of these approaches, particularly the first two, require a very large weight as compared with the swept area of the turbine. The ratio of swept area to overall weight is increasingly recognized as an important consideration in floating wind turbine design.
Although the approaches previously suggested may be sufficient to keep the structure afloat, they do not provide the kind of stability needed for efficient operation of the turbine. A horizontal-axis turbine generally requires that wind striking the blades be parallel to the axis of rotation within a very few degrees. Any rotational movement of the turbine's mast toward or away from the wind ("pitch") greatly reduces the efficiency of the turbine. Otherwise stated, any pitch in the floating platform will cause a corresponding change in the angle of attack. An angle of attack varying from zero by even two or three degrees greatly reduces the efficiency.
The axis of the turbine must also rotate around the vertical axis of its mast ("yaw"). The stability problem of all conventional horizontal axis wind turbines, both on land and particularly off-shore, is exacerbated by the need for yaw positioning motors, frequently eight or more motors, at the top of the mast. These yaw motors make the turbine even more top-heavy.
Further background of the invention is found in my aforesaid provisional applications, in Selsam, U.S. Pat. No. 10,024,307, and in von Heland, U.S. Published Application 2017/0241408.


Personal emergency response communication apparatus is a new and useful improvement for pager to access 911 system to call for help (Police, Fire Department and Paramedic). Equipped with a preprogrammed switch to 911 system, a micro computer chip for memory, mini speaker, microphone and an antenna. Upon triggering the emergency 911 switch, an internal preprogrammed system transmits an encoded message to 911 Emergency Response Center in the immediate area. The personal emergency response communication includes at least one communication system, remote communication device, and at least one MSC and PSTN System. In response to a paging message from a paging party, the communications system transmits audible messages corresponding to the paging messages via a communications link. Once connection is completed the "911" number characters will show on the display window of the pager. User can talk on the microphone and listen on the speaker for the emergency operator's response. Audible messages are uniquely possible through forward voice/control channels and reverse voice/control channels,a two-way communication system for real-time interactive conversation. User will be able to disclose nature of the emergency and his/her location;and appropriate action can take place in a few minutes. To end or disconnect transmission, simply turn-off the same switch previously used to activate/start the initial transmission. The right side design of the pager is contoured/rippled for easy grip.

The inevitable need of people to communicate gave birth to a communication device we now call pagers. Since its conception in the 1970's, the pager technology has gone through leaps and bounds making it a much needed communication device and a multi-billion dollar business.
Originally, these pagers were called "beepers" due to the fact that their main singular operative function was to send beep signals as a message. In its simpliest model, the beepers were invented for internal use, meaning, inside a building or premise as an interdepartamental communication system. They were widely utilized by hospital personnel and other organizations alike.
Although this conventional way to communicate was useful at that time, it was also unfortunately limited to its immediate surroundings. As the demand for a better communication increased, new and better beepers came into existence in the market. In the 1980's there was a slow, but steady growth in beeper communication technology.
Thus, the years of 1990 and 1991 marked the turning point for beeper technology as a personal communication device capable of both internal as well as external communication. Mega telecommunication companies, such as AT&T, Motorola, Nokia & Sony to mention a few, rallied to pioneer and advertise more sofisticated and versatile beepers. Along with new functions and designs came a new term called--pagers. Both terms beeper and pager can be used interchangeably. However, pager is the more appropriate term, which is named after its method of communication transmittal system known as the paging system.
Although, the beeper has some usefulness left, pagers on the other hand are more flavorable to the public, due to their new "Hi-Tech" multi-functional features and designs. From 1992 to present, the diversity in personal communication has exploded to keep up with busy and demanding life styles of the public. Accordingly, some if not all of the functions and features available in the market for prior art pagers are as follows:
(a) portable, light-weight and made with durable easy to clean materials; PA1 (b) battery operated (one AA size) no charging required and can even tell user "cell low" when battery is low; PA1 (c) beeps or vibrates to inform user of incoming call; PA1 (d) voice mail by numeric, alphanumeric & two-way only paging through Internet; PA1 (e) a camilian, easy to change case color (available only on certain type pagers). PA1 (a) 911 access--for life threatening situations; PA1 (b) interactive or real-time conversation, with forward voice & control channels and reverse voice and control channels communication; PA1 (c) a non-violent protection that can save lives; PA1 (d) cheaper compared to a cellular phone; PA1 (e) easy to use with one 911 switch to activate and disconnect; PA1 (f) a micro computer chip for memory used for the preprogrammed 911 access and for confirmation command; PA1 (g) more compact to carry around compared to cellular phones; PA1 (h) would appeal to people of all background, specially beneficial to the youngsters (teens), to the elderly, to the sick and frail and to women too; PA1 (i) will feasibly increase pager sales; PA1 (j) lastly, the 911 number characters will appear on the display window upon connection to confirm transmission.
With all of the stated functions prior art pagers has come a long way since its conception. It has satisfied most but not all of the demanding needs of the user. Prior art pagers are the personal communication of today's society.
To take the pager communication even further is the purpose of this invention. Personal emergency response communication is a new and useful improvement function to pagers. This invention incorporates a 911 access function to call for help, be it the police, the fire department or the paramedics. This invention added to the previously stated prior art pager features will be the pager of the future. Personal Emergency Response Communication paging apparatus is an obvious necessity the society needs. This is an invention that can save the life of its user. The advantages are, but not limited to as follows:
It is an important improvement that will enhance the personal communication technology of today and tomorrow.

Personal emergency response communication apparatus for pagers


An antifuse replacement determination circuit of a semiconductor memory device, in which the address of a bad memory cell is stored by destroying the insulation of an antifuse element, includes a charging circuit for charging a node of the antifuse element to have a predetermined voltage, and making the charge at the node self-discharge via the antifuse element after the charging of the node is completed; a comparison and determination circuit for comparing the voltage at the node of the antifuse element with a plurality of reference voltages when a predetermined time has elapsed after the completion of the charging of the node; and a determination part for determining, based on a determination result with respect to the comparison using the plurality of reference voltages in the comparison and determination circuit, whether or not replacement of the bad memory cell has been performed normally by using the antifuse element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antifuse replacement determination circuit of a semiconductor memory device, and in particular, those circuits for detecting that the replacement using an antifuse element has been reliably performed, and also relates to a relevant antifuse replacement determination method.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-146718, filed Jun. 1, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
With respect to dynamic memory circuits, a so-called "AF (antifuse) circuit" is known, in which an address of a bad bit (i.e., a bad memory cell) is stored by destroying a semiconductor element (a capacitance element or a MOS transistor), and when this address is selected, data is stored not in an ordinary DRAM memory cell, but in an SRAM element (or a flip-flop circuit). In the following description, such a replacement of an ordinary memory cell with an SRAM element (or a flip-flop circuit) is called "replacement by AF" or "AF replacement". In addition, the destroyed semiconductor element is called an "AF element".
When a memory device having an AF circuit is initialized so as to be actually used, the target address with respect to the AF replacement should be defined (this is called "Load", which will be explained in detail later) by determining whether the relevant AF element has been destroyed. Such a determination is performed by supplying, in advance, an (electric) charge having a specific level to a node (or contact point) in the vicinity of a node of the AF element, and comparing the level of the charge with a reference level so as to determine whether the charge has escaped through the node due to the destruction of the AF element. Generally, the reference level is set to an optimum value for determining whether or not the AF element has been destroyed (called "AF destruction determination" below).
With respect to DRAMs, the yield decreases when a device, which does not normally operate and is determined to be a substandard product in a screening process, is found. Such a decrease in the yield prevents the reduction of the screening and forwarding cost. Recently, in most cases, approximately one or two bits which have a physical defect in each relevant memory cell cause a substandard product. Therefore, when such one or two bits are replaced by an AF circuit so as to produce a standard product the screening yield can be improved, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
More specifically, when one bit is replaced, the AY circuit generally have a number of AF elements, the number corresponding to the number of addresses (e.g., 26 addresses, where X=X0 to X13, Y=Y0 to Y9, Bank0, and Bank1); corresponding AF circuits for destroying and determining the AF elements; and another AF element and another AF circuit for determining whether the antifuse of the relevant one bit is to be activated. That is, when there are 26 addresses, 27 sets of the AF element and the AF circuit are provided.
When a substandard product is found in a screening process, first, the address of the bad bit is confirmed, and the AF element corresponding to this address is destroyed. This operation is called "Store", and the process of performing Store is called a "Store process". Next, it is confirmed if the address, which has been stored due to the destruction of the AF element, coincides with the anticipated address. This operation is called "Verify", and the process of performing Verify is called a "Verify process".
After that, AF replacement is performed, and normal operation of the relevant DRAM is confirmed by performing the screening process again. In the normal function of re-screening or ordinary use thereafter, when the relevant DRAM is initialized immediately after the power-on, an AF destruction determination similar to the above Verify is performed, and the result thereof is latched (i.e., stored). This operation is called "Load", and the process of performing Load is called a "Load process".
When the address of the relevant bit, to which the AF replacement has been applied, is selected, data is written to or read from the relevant SRAM or flip-flop, instead of the corresponding DRAM memory cell, in accordance with an AF hit signal which is output from the relevant AF circuit based on the determination result stored in the Load process. As a bad memory cell is replaced with an SRAM or flip-flop, the relevant device, which is determined to be a substandard product without AF replacement, is converted into a standard product.
FIG. 5 shows a conventional AF destruction determination circuit. In FIG. 5, an AF destruction determination sequence control part 1A controls each part shown in FIG. 5 so as to perform the AF destruction determination. A charging control part 2 generates a "/Charge" signal for charging a node (or contact point) X1 of an AF element 11 via a node X0 in the vicinity of the AF element 11. A Verify execution part 3A generates a Verify signal for commanding the execution of the Verify process. A Load execution part 5 generates a Load signal for commanding the execution of the Load process. An AF destruction result determination part 6 determines whether a result of the AF destruction determination coincides with the anticipated result based on a determination result BB obtained through the Verify and Load processes.
Although detailed explanations of the AF element 11 and an AF element destruction circuit 12 are omitted, a DRAM-cell capacitance element or an N-channel transistor is used as the AF element and the AF element destruction circuit 12 generates and controls a high voltage for destructing such a capacitance element or a gate oxide film of the transistor. The AF element has the node X1, and the other node thereof is ordinarily connected to VSS (the source potential). Therefore, the node X1 of the destroyed AF element is conductive with VSS (via a low resistance).
The gate of a P-channel transistor P1 is connected to the output of a NOR circuit 13. When the Verify or Load signal input into the NOR circuit 13 has a value of "1", the P-channel transistor P1 is switched on. That is, in the Verify and Load processes, a control for making the node X1 of the AF element be conductive with the node X0 of a comparison and determination circuit 20 ("AMP").
In the Verify and Load processes, a P-channel transistor PO is switched on when charging the nodes X0 and X1 to an initial precharge level VCHARGE (e.g., 1.4V) The comparison and determination circuit 20 compares the potential of the node X0 with a reference level VREF0 (e.g., 1.1V). A flip-flop circuit 30 above the comparison and determination circuit 20 latches (i.e., stores) a determination result BB output from the comparison and determination circuit 20.
Below, the relevant AF destruction determination in accordance with a conventional technique will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In the AF destruction determination in the structure of FIG. 5, first, (i) the P-channel transistor P1 is switched on by means of the Verify or Load signal, so that the nodes X0 and X1 are conductive with each other, and (ii) the P-channel transistor P0 is switched on by means of the /Charge signal (see time t1 in FIG. 6), so as to precharge the nodes X0 and X1 to the level VCHARGE. This process corresponds to the "precharge period T1 using VCHARGE" in FIG. 6.
Next, the state of the /Charge signal is switched so as to switch off the P-channel transistor P0, thereby setting the nodes X0 and X1 to be in a floating state (see time t2 in FIG. 6). If the AF element 11 has not been destroyed, no charge loss occurs at the nodes X0 and X1, and thus they maintain the level VCHARGE (here, 1.4V, see the discharge curve Ds1 in FIG. 6). This level is higher than the reference level VREF0 (here, 1.1V) applied to the other input of the comparison and determination circuit 20. Therefore, a result of the AF destruction determination, which indicates that the AF element has not been destroyed, is obtained, and is stored as the determination result BB. In this case, as the anticipated value with respect to Verify indicates that the AF element has not been destroyed, it coincides with BB, so that the result of Verify is "Pass" (which means passing the relevant examination).
If the AF element 11 has been destroyed, the node X1 is conductive with the other node VSS, so that charge loss occurs from the nodes X0 and X1, and the potential levels thereof decrease (see the discharge curve Ds2 in FIG. 6). When the decreased level is lower than VREF0 (1.1V), a result of the AF destruction determination, which indicates that the AF element has been destroyed, is obtained, and is stored as the determination result BB. In this case, as the anticipated value determined in Verify indicates that the AF element has been destroyed, it coincides with BB, so that the result of Verify is Pass.
The speed and level of the above decrease with respect to the nodes X0 and X1 are considerably affected by the degree of the destruction of the AF element. That is, when the AF element has been sufficiently destroyed, it has a sufficiently low resistance, and the potential of the node X0 becomes sufficiently lower than VREF0 (1.1V). In this case, the determination is accurately performed. However, when the AF element has not been sufficiently destroyed, it has a relatively high resistance, so that the decreasing speed of the potential of the node X0 is low, and the potential level stays around VREF (1.1V) (see the discharge curve Ds3 in FIG. 6).
When the potential of the node X0 stays higher than VREF (1.1V), the result of the AF destruction determination, which indicates that the AF element has not been destroyed, is obtained even though the operator or user believes that the AF element has been destroyed. As this result is stored as BB, it does not coincide with the relevant anticipated value, so that the result of Verify is "Fail" (which indicates failing the relevant examination).
The above-described process corresponds to the "X0-reference level comparison and determination period T2", in which the level of the /Charge signal is high, the P-channel transistor P0 is switched off, and the comparison and determination circuit 20 is activated.
With respect to a device, which has been determined to be a Fail device in the Verify process, no address replacement by means of the AF element 11 is performed in the Load process during actual use. In the re-screening process performed after the AF replacement process) or during actual use, a DRAM memory cell (in such a device), which has been determined to be a bad cell in the former screening, is selected, so that the device is determined to be a substandard product, and thus does not contribute to an increase in the yield. Therefore, the operation from the Store process is performed again.
The relevant conventional AF replacement processes will be shown in FIG. 7. In a screening process 51, a bad address is extracted from a device which is determined to be a substandard product. The AF element 11 corresponding to the above address is destroyed in a Store process 52. In a Verify process 53, the result of the AF element destruction is confirmed by the Verify operation using VREF0 (1.1V) as the reference voltage. When the relevant device obtains a result of Pass, it is forwarded to the next rescreening process 54.
In a DRAM initializing sequence of the re-screening process 54, an AF destruction determination similar to that performed in the Verify process 53 is performed in the Load operation. The result thereof is stored, and the relevant bad bit is replaced by means of the AM element 11, so that the device which obtains the Pass result is forwarded for shipment.
On the other hand, a device which obtains a Fail result in the Verity process 53 is subjected to the Store process 52 again, so as to repeat the series of the relevant processes until it obtains a Pass result in the Verify process 53.
The most serious problem with respect to the above-described AF replacement is that the decreased potential of the node X0 reaches almost the same level of VRFF0 (1.1V) due to insufficiently-decreased resistance of the AF element b this case, every time the AF replacement determination is performed, a different result may be obtained. For example, if a device obtains a Pass result (in the Verify process 53) due to "the level at X0<VREF0" (which is narrowly satisfied) by which it is determined that the AF element has been destroyed, ten it may be determined that the AT element has not been destroyed (in the Load operation of the re-screening process 54) due to "the level at X0>VREF0". In this case, this device is determined to be a substandard product in the relevant re-screening process, and cannot contribute to an increase in the yield. Additionally, if such a device accidentally obtains a Pass result in the re-screening process 54 due to a determination that the AF element has been destroyed, and it is determined in the Load process during actual use (after the shipment) that the AF element has not been destroyed, then it causes a worse result such as the occurrence of a substandard market product.
In a conventional semiconductor integrated circuit device disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-074980), a specific node (e.g., "FUADD" in FIG. 1) is monitored so as to determine whether or not the relevant fuse should be subjected to a programmed operation.
As described later, the present invention provides a voltage comparison circuit for comparing the voltage at a node of the AM element with a plurality of reference voltages so as to more reliably determine the destruction or non-destruction of the AF element. Therefore, the method and structure for the determination are different between Patent Document 1 and the present invention.
As described above, in the conventional technique, a device having an unstable result of the AF replacement is obtained due to an insufficiently decreased resistance of the destroyed AF element and such a device does not contribute to an increase in the relevant yield, or produces a substandard market product as a worse result.

Antifuse replacement determination circuit and method of semiconductor memory device


A system and method provides protocol independent communication between mobile electronic devices. Multiple users may communicate using different applications running on different mobile electronic devices with different end-to-end protocols. A multimedia controller in connection with control agents provides the information to establish communications between mobile electronic devices having applications with incompatible communication protocols. A session and routing controller controls communication sessions and a Web hyperlink dictionary provides information regarding the location of the multimedia controller and control agents.

In our fast paced mobile society, the need to provide communication between different electronic devices, for example, laptop computers while in transit, has increased greatly. The different types of mobile devices now available, which may each use different communication applications with proprietary protocols, has added further complexity to providing communication between these devices. From transmitting data to providing communication using audio and visual interfaces, present devices must operate within different environments having different protocol requirements, while using different communication applications installed within these devices.
In order to communicate between devices using different communication applications having incompatible protocols, drivers or other interfaces typically must be provided to allow connectivity between the devices. Thus, an interface (e.g., a driver or plug-in module) is usually required and must be loaded or installed into one or both of the devices to provide communication. As a result, a specific driver or program may have to be installed into a device for a one-time event. Not only is extra time required to install the necessary components, but additional storage space is required. Further, there always exists a risk that the newly installed components will conflict with an already installed application or are otherwise incompatible with the operating system, further complicating the communication process. Increased cost and complexity thereby result from the incompatible communication protocols required by different applications.
Thus, there exists a need to manage communication between multiple electronic devices using different applications, each of which may require a different communication protocol.

Protocol independent communication system for mobile devices

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system and method are disclosed for executing a hardware component of a design in a hardware engine, where the component includes a pre-compiled library component. The hardware component is compiled to include an interface that supports a ‘forward( )’ function which, when invoked, requests that the hardware engine running the hardware component run such that interactions between the library component and the hardware component occur without communicating with the runtime system because interactions between the library component and the hardware component are handled locally by the hardware engine and not the runtime system. Handling the library component without the runtime system intervening allows the library component to run at a speed that is close to the native speed of the target re-programmable hardware fabric. In addition, library components targeted to the specific reprogrammable hardware fabric are available to the design without compilation.

As the semiconductor industry makes improvements in the size of a transistor, the number of transistors available on a semiconductor device of a given die area increases. However, the improved transistor density of the semiconductor device encounters a problem. As the transistor density increases, the device consumes more power and ultimately exceeds safe thermal limits for the given die area. Because the power consumed by the die is a direct function of clock speed, the power limit acts as a barrier that constrains the maximum clock speed and computing performance available from a single-threaded, general purpose processor. In response to this power barrier, processor architectures have incorporated parallelism in the form of multiple core processors. However, the power consumption problem remains even with multi-core processors, regardless of the multi-core architecture. In addition, the degree of parallelism achievable by multi-core architectures is limited, and this limitation along with the power barrier becomes a significant source of "dark silicon," i.e., unpowered silicon. In one study, the speedup of the system increased only by about a factor of eight although improved transistor density offered a potential performance increase by a factor of more than 32.
Clearly, the performance that is potentially available from improved transistor technology is not being realized by today's processing architectures. To extract more performance, alternatives to current processing architectures are needed. One alternative is the use of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The performance of FPGA-implemented tasks or functions can easily exceed the performance of a general purpose processor by several orders of magnitude. However, design of an FPGA is a difficult and lengthy process. The process involves writing a design in a hardware description language (HDL), such as Verilog or VHDL, simulating the design, synthesizing the HDL design to a register transfer language (RTL), and then placing and routing the design for a specific type of FPGA. This process can take hours or even days. In addition, if and when the design is loaded onto the FPGA and the result does not function as expected or has an error, the entire process must be repeated to find the error.
This design flow impedes the adoption of FPGA designs because the debug cycle is too long and the design is targeted to a specific type of FPGA. The long design cycles make the use of different FPGAs difficult and almost rules out optimizing the design, as the optimization would take even more design cycles. Therefore, an improved design process, including an improved simulation process, is desirable to make FPGA development easier.

Just-in-time hardware for field programmable gate arrays


The R-TM-B permanent magnet member having an improved corrosion resistance comprising an R-TM-B permanent magnet body provided with a nickel plating layer and then with a chromate coating layer, which may be then subjected to an immersion treatment in an alkali solution.

The present invention relates to an R-TM-B permanent magnet member having an improved corrosion resistance.
Due to the recent trend of miniaturization of electric and electronic appliances having higher performance, permanent magnet members, parts of such appliances, are also demanded to have higher performance and smaller sizes. Conventionally most powerful permanent magnets are rare earth metal-cobalt (R-Co) permanent magnets, but a more powerful R-TM-B permanent magnet has been developed (U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,406). In the above R-TM-B magnet, R represents one or more rare earth metals including Y, TM represents a transition metal based on Fe or Co, part of which may be substituted by other metals or non-metals, and B represents boron.
However, since the R-TM-B permanent magnets are easily rusted, their surfaces are provided with anti-oxidizing coating layers to improve their corrosion resistance. The types of the anti-oxidizing coating layers proposed so far include a nickel plating layer, an anti-oxidizing resin coating layer, an Al ion plating layer, etc. Among them, the nickel plating layer has been paid much attention as an effective means for easily improving the corrosion resistance of the R-TM-B permanent magnets (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-54406). The nickel plating layer is more advantageous than the anti-oxidizing resin coating layer in that the former shows higher mechanical strength and smaller moisture absorption.
Nevertheless, unlike the anti-oxidizing resin coating layer, the nickel plating layer disadvantageously has pinholes. Therefore, despite its low moisture absorption, moisture permeates the nickel plating layer to a surface of the permanent magnet through pinholes of the nickel plating layer as the time elapses, causing corrosion of the permanent magnet.
To solve this problem, various attempts have been proposed: A two-layer Ni plating method, a method of coating a nickel plating layer with an anti-oxidizing resin to cover pinholes (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-110707).
However, in the above methods, the adhesion of a lower nickel plating layer to an upper nickel plating layer or to an anti-oxidizing resin coating layer, and the corrosion resistance of the upper nickel plating layer and the anti-oxidizing resin coating layer are not sufficient. Accordingly, these methods fail to provide a high corrosion resistance to the R-TM-B permanent magnet members.
In addition, the plated R-TM-B permanent magnet members are likely to be covered with a thin organic film, which prevents the R-TM-B permanent magnet members from being well adhered to substrates. Accordingly, in order to bond the R-TM-B permanent magnet members to the substrates of electric or electronic appliances strongly, it is important to improve the adhesion properties of the R-TM-B permanent magnet members.

R-TM-B permanent magnet member having improved corrosion resistance and method of producing same


An intracellular-reaction measuring apparatus for measuring intracellular reactions by the use of a specimen in which a plurality of cell colonies are contained in a non-contact state, the apparatus includes a device that specifies the intensity of first light emitted from the specimen in accordance with the presence of a stated protein is detected to specify, of the plurality of cell colonies, a noted colony containing cells where the stated protein is present, and a device in which the intensity of second light emitted from the specimen in accordance with the intracellular reactions is detected to select, of the detected intensity of the second light, the intensity of the second light emitted from the noted colony.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an intracellular-reaction measuring apparatus, and an intracellular-reaction measuring method, for measuring intracellular reactions by optical means. More particularly, this invention relates to an intracellular-reaction measuring apparatus and an intracellular-reaction measuring method which are suited for screening carried out in the course of developing phamaceuticals.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, optical measurement for intracellular reactions, e.g., changes in membrane potential as well as changes in ion concentration, has been made by en bloc detecting in a measurement visual field the intensity of light emitted from a specimen containing cells in a large number (see, e.g., Japanese Patent No. 3172060). Typical photodetectors for such en bloc detection include photomultiplier tubes and photodiodes.
For example, when the membrane potential changes are measured, a membrane-potential-sensitive fluorescent dye is previously introduced as a specimen. Also, when the ion concentration changes are measured, an ion-concentration-sensitive fluorescent dye is previously introduced as a specimen. These fluorescent dyes are fluorescent probes for measuring the intracellular reactions, and emit fluorescence having an intensity which differs depending on the membrane potential changes or ion concentration changes. Hence, the membrane potential changes or ion concentration changes can be detected by detecting the intensity of fluorescence emitted from the specimen.
However, in the above conventional method, the intensity of light (e.g., fluorescence) emitted from all cells present in the measurement visual field are en bloc detected, namely, an average light intensity in the measurement visual field is detected. Hence, where cells with a high reactivity and cells with a low reactivity are mixedly present in the measurement visual field, this makes low the sensitivity and reproducibility in the measurement of intracellular reactions.
In order to improve the sensitivity and reproducibility in the measurement of intracellular reactions, one may think of so preparing a specimen that it may contain only the cells with a high reactivity. However, it requires a very complicated operation to do so, and takes vast labor and time. That is, it is not practical to prepare such a sample containing only the cells with a high reactivity.

Apparatus and method for measuring intracellular reactions


Disclosed therein are a white smoke reducing system and a method of recovering waste heat and water using the white smoke reducing system. The white smoke reducing system includes a discharge gas inflow pipe, a water recovery part, a sensible heat exchanger, a first latent heat exchanger, a second latent heat exchanger, a steam separator, a discharge part, a circulation duct, and a mixing duct.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a white smoke reducing system and a method of recovering waste heat and water using the same, and more particularly, to a white smoke reducing system and a method of recovering waste heat and water using the white smoke reducing system, which can recover and reuse waste heat by heat-exchanging heat of high temperature contained in exhaust gas of high temperature and humidity without discharging the exhaust gas of high temperature and humidity to the air through a chimney or the like as it is in order to save energy required for operating industrial facilities, such as boilers, incinerators, driers, and so on, which can recover moisture contained in the exhaust gas of high temperature and humidity and reuse as available water using moisture condensation in the exhaust gas through heat-exchange of the exhaust gas in order to save an use amount of available water used when the industrial facilities, such as boilers, incinerators, driers, and so on, and which can remove heat and moisture contained in the exhaust gas of high temperature and humidity in order to remove white smoke of exhaust gas generated when the exhaust gas of high temperature and humidity is discharged to the air as it is.
Background Art
In general, in still mills and places where industrial facilities, such as boilers, incinerators, and driers, vapor is generated while the facilities are used. In detail, in the still mills, vapor is generated because water is used during the process of cooling materials, in the boilers and incinerators, vapor is generated while a direct cooling device is used in order to remove dust of exhaust air after high temperature combustion, and in the driers, vapor is generated while drying products.
In the meantime, the generated vapor is discharged to the outside through a chimney to prevent damages of the industrial facilities and not to disturb work of workers, and the exhaust gas discharged to the outside through the chimney causes a white smoke phenomenon when it is discharged through the chimney because it contains a great deal of moisture and solutes.
In this instance, the white smoke arises because heated humid air is mixed with cold air in the atmosphere and cooled below the dew point. That is, the white smoke arises when the heated humid air is cooled under the upper side of the 100% saturation curve of the psychometric chart, and gets more severe in the winter season that air temperature in the atmosphere is low.
Moreover, the white smoke is viewed as a visible pollution even though it is not a pollutant when solutes are not used, may give an unpleasant feeling to a person who is exposed to water drops because water drops, which are formed while exhaust gas of high temperature and humidity discharged in the form of white smoke through the chimney is cooled below the dew point due to cold air in the atmosphere, fall around the chimney. Furthermore, in the winter season, the water drops falling on the road form an icy road, and hence, passengers may slip on the icy road and hurt themselves.
Meanwhile, in order to solve the above problems, Korean Patent No. 10-1197283 discloses an apparatus for preventing white plume, which includes: a refrigerant compressor for compressing refrigerant at high temperature and pressure; a heating part for emitting heat to the outside while the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant compressor circulates inside the heating part so as to form a liquid of room temperature and high pressure; a refrigerant pipe to which the refrigerant discharged from the heating part is introduced, the refrigerant pipe having an expansion pipe; and a cooling part mounted below the heating part for cooling the outside discharged air while the refrigerant of low temperature and pressure liquefied after passing through the refrigerant pipe circulates inside the cooling part and is evaporated so as to condense vapor in the discharged air.
However, the above-mentioned prior art can just prevent white smoke but cannot recover waste heat or a great quantity of moisture contained in exhaust gas so as to reuse.
Additionally, the prior art has several problems in that it requires heavy costs in manufacturing the apparatus and requires additional costs in operating the apparatus because it is complicated in structure, and in that it requires frequent maintenance.
Therefore, in order to solve the above problems of the prior art, an improved white smoke reducing system and a method of recovering waste heat and water using the same is required.

White smoke reducing system and method of recovering waste heat and water using the same


Sulfurized olefin compositions and compounds of the formula:

Sulfurized olefins, e.g. sulfurized isobutylene and lubricant compositions containing such sulfurized isobutylene, are well known in the art as lubricant additives imparting extreme pressure and antiwear capabilities.
The metal surfaces of machinery or engines operating under heavy loads, wherein metal slides against metal, may undergo excessive wear or corrosion. Often the lubricants used to protect the metal surfaces deteriorate under such heavy loads and as a result, do not prevent wear at the points of metal to metal contact. Consequently, the performance of the machine or engine will suffer, and in aggravated cases the machine or engine may become completely inoperative. While sulfurized olefins have shown some benefit when added as lubricant additive, in many instances their application is limited since some types of sulfurized olefins have: an undesirable corrosion property (especially towards copper), generate malodorous by-products in operation, and/or have stability and compatibility issues.
Sulfurized olefins have been extensively used in many lubricant applications requiring extreme pressure/antiwear activity. These sulfurized olefins which include sulfurized C3-C8 olefins such as isobutylene are described by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,703,504; 3,703,505; and 3,873,454. These patents and U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,958 generally employ methods of preparing their sulfurized products wherein the olefin is sulfohalogenated with a sulfur halide at some stage in their synthesis.
Sulfurized olefins have also been prepared by the direct sulfurization of olefins with sulfur and hydrogen sulfide, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,337,473; 4,119,549; 4,119,550; 4,191,659; 4,344,854 and 4,147,640. U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,640, for example, describes the sulfurization of various olefinic hydrocarbons such as dicyclopentadiene with sulfur and hydrogen sulfide. Also disclosed are methods of preparing sulfurized compounds by contacting an olefinic feedstock with sulfur and hydrogen. The olefin can be isobutene and the catalyst can be ammonia or an amine, typically these products are alkyl-alkenyl polysulfide mixtures and polymeric polysulfides.
The direct sulfurization of olefins such as diisobutylene and triisobutylene with sulfur is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,995,569 and 3,796,661. When triisobutylene is employed, these patents describe the formation of exclusively 4-neopentyl-5-tertiary butyl-1,2-dithiole-4-cyclopentene-3-thione with a minor amount of organic sulfides and polysulfides. The direct sulfurization process employed elevated temperatures at both low and elevated pressures. U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,221 discloses of several 1,2-dithiole-3-thione derivatives as intermediates to the thionium methosulfates. U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,514 discloses of alkylthio and alkylarylthio derivatives of 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones. U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,980 discloses cyclic sulfurized olefins prepared by reacting an olefin with a cyclic polydisulfide. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,345,380, 2,535,706, 2,535,705 describe methods of making various thiones by reacting elemental sulfur and isobutylene and other unsaturated hydrocarbons. U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,232 discloses high molecular weight trithiones prepared by reacting an olefin of at least 30 carbons in the presence of sulfur and a substituted trithione.
Thus, it is well known that many methods have been used for producing organic sulfides by treating olefins. It is also well known that many sulfurized organic compositions are useful as lubricant additives. Some of the prior art teaches that thiones are undesirable especially high levels of thiones, such as dithiol-thiones (or dithiolethiones), or high levels of thiones in combination with various complex sulfurized mixtures. Typically these thiones need to be removed. Dithiolethione-free sulfurized olefin compositions have been prepared by the reaction of sulfur, isobutylene and hydrogen sulfide as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,854 noted above, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,670 also employing a sodium sulfate nonahydrate, and for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,468 employing elemental sulfur, isobutylene and an amine base. U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,677 discloses extraction of 4-methyl-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione ("MDTT") from a sulfurized olefin feed stream using solvent extraction.
It has now been discovered that the reaction of sulfur and a highly reactive methylvinylidene polyisobutylene produces a low odor, sulfurized polyisobutylene reaction product having anti-wear, extreme pressure load capacity, and antioxidant characteristics; which is suitable for use, for example, as a lubricant additive. Such reaction product and resulting polyisobutyl-1,2-dithiole-4-cyclopentene-3-thiones reaction products are thermally more stable relative to the conventional sulfurized isobutylene, do not have a strong odor, and are anticipated to be more stable in the presence of acids. Accordingly, there is a need for methods to prepare and use these reaction products, to the components themselves as well as mixtures thereof, and to compositions employing them.

Sulfurized polyisobutylene based wear and oxidation inhibitors

Abstract: wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl; X is sulfur or oxygen; m is an integer from 1 to 9; and n is 0 or 1, and when n is 0 then R1 is methyl, and when n is 1 then R1 is hydrogen are disclosed. The resulting compounds are particularly the polyisobutyl-1,2-dithiole-4-cyclopentene-3-thione compounds and derivatives are useful in lubricating oils.


A kinoform optical element (KOE) has different surface relief heights in different zones of the kinoform surface, in order to optimize the first order diffraction efficiency in each zone. By increasing the first order diffraction efficiency, noise as well as ghost image problems may be reduced and contrast and resolution may be enhanced. In an exemplary embodiment, each zone, or even different areas of the same zone, has a non-constant step height that is preferably defined by a predetermined relationship between an optimal step height and an associated predominant angle of incidence associated with that particular zone or area. In the case of an optical system having a relatively large aperture and a relatively narrow field of view, each point of the KOE sees the entire image; the associated predominant angle of incidence at that point may be defined by a so-called "marginal" ray from the center of the entire image space (i.e., on the optical axis and at the effective "middle" of the usable depth of field). In the case of an optical system having a relatively small aperture and a relatively wide field of view , each point of the KOE sees only a portion of the image; the associated predominant angle of incidence at that point may be defined by an exemplary ray from the portion of the image space that is visible from that point. Since the optimum surface relief is dependent on the angle of incidence of the radiation relative to the orientation of the surface, diffraction efficiency can also be optimized by providing the kinoform with a non-planar surface contour such that all the predominant rays are normal to the active surface, in which case all the steps may have the same height.

A "Fresnel phase zone plate" is similar in appearance to a conventional Fresnel lens, in that it comprises several concentric rings, which from the side look like a series of sawtooth-shaped ridges. However, the phase element is based on diffraction rather than refraction and has many more zones and a much smaller difference in height between adjacent zones compared to a conventional Fresnel lens, with a typical height difference of a phase zone lens element corresponding to a phase change of only 2.pi. (one wavelength). It is typically produced by etching or machining the ridges into a surface, which may be a thin sheet of transparent material, or the spherical surface of a conventional refractive lens. A kinoform is a generalized form of Fresnel phase zone plate having an arbitrary phase profile, for example the interference pattern defined by two arbitrary coherent point sources on an arbitrary surface, to which an arbitrary 2-dimensional phase profile defined by an arbitrary polynomial may be added. In particular, a Fresnel phase zone plate may be defined by the interference pattern produced on a flat plane normal to the optical axis defined by the two points, with one point at infinity.
Diffraction efficiency for a given diffraction order is a measure of how much light goes into that order as opposed to all the other diffraction orders. Fresnel phase zone plates can provide a very high diffraction efficiency, at least in the first diffraction order. The spacing between adjacent zones of a conventional kinoform lens is not constant, but grows smaller as the distance from the optical axis increases; however, the grating height of each ridge, called the surface relief height, which is the distance between the highest point and the lowest point of the same zone (or of two adjacent zones) is usually constant. For collimated light at the design wavelength that is incident on the phase zone lens element in a normal direction, essentially all of the light will be diffracted in a direction corresponding to the first diffraction order.
The zones in a kinoform typically take the form of circular annular rings; however the zones may assume other shapes, such as bars (as in a conventional spectrographic grating) and ellipses (to produce different focal lengths at different angular orientations about the optical axis). Moreover, groups of zones may be arranged in a two-dimensional cellular array, with each cell functioning as an individual optical element. Within each zone, the theoretically optimal depth profile is a smooth curve extending continuously from a highest region to a lowest region; however for ease of manufacturablity, the optimal profile may be approximated as a series of steps (phase levels) each of constant depth.
Theoretical constraints limit the diffraction efficiency obtainable from either continuous or multi-level diffractive optical elements. Assuming that the underlying assumptions for the "scalar diffraction theory" (the incident light is bent by a small angle and the diffracted field is observed far from the diffraction structure), the "Fresnel approximation" (a spherical wave can be approximated by a quadratic) and "Fraunhofer diffraction" (the quadratic phase terms can be ignored) are all valid, the diffraction efficiency .eta..sub.q.sup.n of the q.sup.th order of an N-level diffraction zone is: ##EQU1## where .phi. is the phase depth change (in waves) of each subperiod (phase level) and .phi..sub.o =.phi..multidot.N is the total phase depth change (in waves) within each zone.
For an infinite number of phase levels N, this equates to: ##EQU2##
Thus, at least when the above assumptions are valid, the diffraction efficiency of the q.sup.th diffraction order can be approximated as a function which depends only on the number of phase levels N in each zone and the phase shift (in waves) (represented by .phi..sub.o); in accordance with the above equations, for first order diffraction (q=1), the theoretical maximum (100%) corresponds to a phase shift of one wave (.phi..sub.o =1).
Applying Snell's law to the case of a stepped diffraction plate formed from an optical material having an index of refraction n surrounded by air and a step height of .delta.d (measured in the normal direction), the effective phase height .phi. of each step is a function of the angle .theta. by which the incident light deviates from the normal of the surface: ##EQU3##
Thus, KOE diffraction efficiency for a phase zone plate having a given number of steps each of a predetermined height depends not only on wavelength and refractive index, but also on incident angle.
Although a solitary diffractive lens is generally not suitable for use over a wide range of wavelengths, diffractive lens elements have been used to compensate for aberrations inherent in spherical refractive elements in broadband applications in both the visible and the infrared spectra. Combining kinoform (diffractive) and optical (refractive or reflective) elements generally reduces the number of optical elements by one third and requires no special glass materials for secondary chromatic aberration correction.

Variable surface relief kinoform optical element


This invention provides a thickened aqueous hard surface abrasive scouring cleanser having improved cleaning efficacy due to the presence of an organic solvent in the composition. It has surprisingly been found that an organic solvent can be included in an abrasive, surfactant, electrolyte/buffer, soap and colloidal alumina thickened composition without causing the system to become unstable. The abrasive cleanser of this invention has a smoothly flowable or plastic, preferably pourable, consistency and has stable abrasive-suspension characteristics over long periods of time.

A variety of thickened aqueous scouring cleansers are known in the art and these cleansers exhibit various characteristics. For example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,599,186, 4,657,692 and 4,695,394 to Choy et al. and in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/146,519 of Reboa et al. filed Jan. 21, 1988, thickened aqueous abrasive cleansers are disclosed which use colloidal alumina thickeners to provide abrasive cleansers which exhibit little or no syneresis over time.
Other abrasive cleansers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,920 to Culshaw and published patent applications EP 126545 to Buzzaccarini and EP 216416 to Iding, which contain clay type thickeners. While these cleansers contain hydrocarbon solvents, the clay thickeners do not provide the desired properties in terms of pourability and resistance to syneresis. The disclosure of Iding indicates that including solvents in abrasive cleanser compositions contributes to the instability and syneresis of these cleansers.
Other abrasive cleansers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,158,553 and 4,240,919 to Chapman; 4,396,525 and 4,129,423 to Rubin; 4,005,027 to Hartman; 4,457,856 to Mitchell; and Japanese Patent Application 60-108499 to Watanabe et al. None of the cleansers disclosed in these references provide the desired cleaning efficacy for certain applications together with the superior resistance to syneresis and the desired flowable or plastic consistency as exhibited by the Choy et al. cleansers. A specialized emulsion type skin cleaner composition for removing paint is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,634 to Elepano et al. as containing surfactants, solvents, an optional mild abrasive and a thickener as a protective colloid thickener for stabilizing the emulsion, which colloid can be colloidal alumina.
The disclosures of the above references are incorporated herein by reference.
In view of the above it has been found that there remains the need for a thickened aqueous abrasive cleanser having the characteristics of:
(a) having a smoothly flowable or plastic consistency, preferably pourable, and maintaining these properties over long periods of time;
(b) being stably abrasive-suspending, i.e., capable of suspending the abrasive so that it can be used without the need for prior shaking or agitation to resuspend the abrasive after standing for a period of time; and
(c) having improved cleaning efficacy for certain applications.
In the context of this invention the term "plastic" means that the cleanser is of a consistency which can undergo continuous deformation without rupture or relaxation of that consistency; the term "pourable" means that the cleanser is of a consistency which can be poured from an open container without the need for application of any force other than gravity; and the term "stably abrasive-suspending" means that the abrasive in the cleanser is and remains over long periods of time totally and fully suspended in the cleanser system, thus eliminating any need to shake, agitate or stir the cleanser before use to resuspend the abrasive mixture. In this regard, it should be noted that some liquid separation, i.e., syneresis, can occur in the cleanser, but so long as the abrasives remain fully and totally suspended, the cleanser is considered to be abrasive-suspending stable. Moreover, such liquid separation is not detrimental to dispensing or using the cleanser so long as the abrasive remains fully and totally suspended.

Thickened pourable aqueous abrasive cleanser


A testing device has plural pin electronics substrates and a control substrate. The control substrate includes a first instruction code memory storing an instruction code, a first program counter incrementing a count in synchronization with a clock, a code analysis circuit analyzing the instruction code read from the first instruction code memory in accordance with a counter value, and a control data output control circuit outputting control data for controlling the pin electronics substrates in accordance with the instruction code. Each pin electronics substrate includes a first pin memory storing pin data, a second program counter incrementing a count in synchronization with the clock, and a pin data output control circuit adjusting, based on control data, the count value of the second program counter and outputting pin data read from the first pin memory, the pin data being dependent on the count value of the second program counter.

The present invention relates to a testing device for testing a semiconductor device.
There have been testing devices each for testing a semiconductor device (hereinafter may also be referred to as a "DUT" standing for a device under test) removably coupled thereto, for example, via a socket. For such testing devices, it is imperative to improve testing efficiency by increasing the number of pins which can be tested simultaneously so as to facilitate mass-production of semiconductor devices. Each testing device is required to offer not only enhanced functions and performance but also flexibility to be compatible with diversified testing processes at reasonable cost.
To enable simultaneous testing of multiple pins while holding the price of the testing device low so as to facilitate testing cost reduction, such a testing device is comprised of plural pin electronics substrates for controlling plural pins, respectively, and a common control substrate for controlling all the pin electronics substrates together.
Each pin electronics substrate includes a memory storing pin data for the corresponding pin. The control substrate includes a program counter which outputs a count value to be an address of the above memory in accordance with an instruction code (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-151990). As operation common to all pins, in each pin electronics substrate, the pin data corresponding to the program counter value is read out and controlled.


A winding method for winding a yarn by mounting and removing a defining guide on and from a yarn guide of a drum winder, wherein the defining guide defines a movement of a yarn in one direction according to a winding width and the drum winder has a normal traverse drum and a yarn guide provided at the section via which the yarn is fed to the traverse drum.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for winding a yarn on a bobbin while being traversed by a traverse drum.
2. Prior Art
A cone, wound by a drum winder for winding a cone, is of the size of 6 inches, being the standard size in widest use. For example, in the case where it is used for a supply of yarn in a double twister, when two cones of 6 inch long are superposed, the yarn tension generated by ballooning of yarn (when unwound from a yarn guide above a spindle via a yarn guide tube which is radially formed in the storage portion and which passed through the spindle) is very large, 80 to 100 g. Therefore, in case of fine yarn of which yarn strength is only 50 to 60 g, yarn breakages occur. Therefore, for the supply of yarn in a double twister, a cone of 4 inches in normally formed.
An apparatus for winding cones having different winding widths and using one and the same drum winder has been known (Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 143873/1991 publication).
The above-described apparatus has a member which moves in and out of a traverse groove of a traverse drum to change a traverse width so that when the traverse width changing member is moved into the traverse groove, a defining guide for defining a movement of yarn to the side end of the traverse width changing member among yarn traverse directions is mounted on the yarn guide provided at the section via which the yarn is fed to the traverse drum.
Where the traverse width changing member is moved into the traverse groove by the aforesaid apparatus, and the traverse width is defined to be smaller by the yarn guide defining guide, if the yarn is to be wound, this has the disadvantage in that stitching (i.e., yarn which is dropped from an end of a package and is wound on the end face of a package) still occurs at the end of the small diameter side of the cone.


Facilitating declaration of a class or function using a programming language that is not a class-based object-oriented programming (OOP) language is disclosed. A call to a function, defined using the programming language, that has a name that is a near variant of the reserved word “class” is received. In response to the call, a new function that includes, if applicable, the methods and variables of a parent function designated, using a syntax that is a near variant of a corresponding class-based OOP syntax, to be a super class of the new function and includes one or more methods, variables, or both designated, using a syntax that is a near variant of a corresponding class-based OOP syntax, to be implemented by the new function is defined programmatically.

Scripting languages, such as JavaScript™, enable application developers to write code in a language that is relatively less complicated, more intuitive, and/or otherwise more accessible and/or easier to use than more traditional programming languages such as Java or Objective C. Unlike Java and Objective C, JavaScript and other scripting languages, however, are not class-based object-oriented programming (OOP) languages. Instead, they provide prototype-based inheritance, by which the parameters (functions and/or variables) of certain functions can be inherited by other functions, similar to the manner in which a child class inherits methods and parameters of its parent class. The syntax and techniques used to invoke such prototype-based inheritance is particular to the scripting language used and typically is different from the syntax used to invoke inheritance in a class-based OOP language.

Class declaration in a non-class-based programming environment


A method of playing preselected content by a processor-based communications device includes receiving an Internet radio broadcast from a personal radio server system, pre-selecting audio elements, storing the pre-selected audio elements, and playing the stored pre-selected audio elements by the processor-based communications device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for providing an unlimited number of users an independently customized broadcast. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for providing a customized radio station with the same variety and control provided today in traditional radio, but customized for each individual end user independently and simultaneously. The radio station generated for each user consists of audio elements that are customized for the individual end user.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for providing an audio element cache in a customized personal radio broadcast