A network isolation apparatus is provided that permits data to be sent to a remote computer or network without a return path so that the isolated sensitive network may not be compromised. The isolation device spoofs the network so that the network believes it has a fully functional external connection. The invention has a first media converter for receiving data from a workstation on a sensitive network; this data is then passed to a second media converter and then transmitted to a remote computer. An optical signal generator sends signals to the workstation to imitate a standard transmit and receive connection, and also sends signals to the second media converter to imitate a standard transmit and receive connection. No physical connection exists for the remote computer workstation to compromise the sensitive network.

Information networks that interconnect numerous computational resources have proliferated into all aspects of society. These networks contain vast amounts of information, some of which is sensitive. These networks typically include several host computer systems or servers that are interconnected over a local area network (LANs) to individual workstations and other network resources. Some of the additional network resources may include various data acquisition units (DAUs) or programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that not only provide data, but also are able to control equipment remotely or automatically. As long as these resources stay local there is a controllable amount of risk to the LAN and any equipment that is connected that could be caused by a malfeasant or hacker. The amount of risk posed to sensitive networks increases greatly if these LANs are also interconnected to wide area networks (WANs) that include public networks such as the World Wide Web and the Internet.
There are many different types of hardware, software and communication protocols used in workstations, DAUs, PLCs, and networks. The prevalence of distributed network enterprise systems has created an increased need for computer security. There is a wide range of security measures that may be taken to ensure effective security. Among the most common are intrusion detection systems (IDS), firewalls and antivirus programs that attempt to identify hackers or intruders to systems and prevent any harm to the computer systems. These systems are usually software or a combination of hardware and software that must be configured for specific types of networks and computer systems. For example, the system installed on a UNIX based server would not necessarily be the same or even compatible with a Windows NT based server. It is also imperative that such protections be frequently updated to continue the back and forth battle between hackers and system administrators as no firewall prevents all attacks and is unable to combat some types of attacks such as denial of service attacks.
These types of protections can provide a good level of security and may be enhanced by good security policy and practice, but configuring and maintaining security applications can be extremely complicated, time consuming and resource intensive. Even security applications that were initially excellent often fail as time passes due to failures caused by hardware changes, missing security patches, and more sophisticated hackers. Short of simply not connecting to external computers or networks there is always a risk posed by outside hackers.
Some systems contain such sensitive data or operate critical equipment that the risk posed by hackers is simply too great to allow the system to be connected to external networks even though it would be extremely beneficial and efficient to do so. What is needed is a protection system that would allow the protected system to send data out to external networks, workstations, or other computers but not permit any possible attack from external malefactors.

One-way network transmission interface unit

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A design for a suture for use in suture appositioning techniques, and a method for use are disclosed. In one embodiment the suture may comprise a hollow length having a wall forming a lumen, which may serve as a conduit through which fluid may be pumped and discharged through a plurality of perforations in the wall. In another embodiment the suture may comprise a plurality of suture members connected by a connecting member. In one embodiment of a method disclosed, a suture having a hollow length having a wall forming a lumen, with a plurality of perforations in the wall, may be placed in a stitching procedure to apposition tissues, and a fluid such as an adhesive, adhesive activating agent or drug may be pumped through the lumen and discharged out the perforations for various beneficial effects.

Suture-based tissue appositioning techniques are relatively simple and have been in use for many years. Applications have included rejoining previously connected tissues separated by traumatic events. Applications also have included joining previously unconnected tissues as part of therapeutic procedures. For example, in procedures relating to bypassing or truncating organs forming body lumens, or removing diseased organs connecting body lumens, such as, for example, an intestinal resection or bypass or a prostatectomy, it is necessary to join previously unconnected tissues forming body lumens to restore/maintain bodily functions. More recently, suture-based applications have included joining tissues, such as, for example, portions of the stomach wall, in connection with bariatric stomach volume reduction surgery.
In any suture-based apposition of tissues, forces necessary to hold the joined tissues together cause concentration of stresses in the tissues about the sutures and their passages through the tissues. The magnitude and concentration of these stresses will be affected by the size of the suture material used, the number/frequency of stitches placed, the tension introduced into the sutures during the suturing procedure, the strength, resilience and firmness of the joined tissues, and the stresses placed on the tissues and the tissue connection as a result of patient movement and/or bodily function and activity following the suturing procedure. Depending upon one or more of these factors, concentrated stresses in the tissues surrounding the sutures may be conducive to erosion or tearing of the tissues about the sutures, loosening of the tissue connection, and even separation of the joined tissues. For example, when a patient eats following bariatric stomach volume reduction surgery, the reduced active portions of the stomach walls, or reduced stomach pouch, containing the food consumed, may be subjected to increased stress, increasing the stress concentrated in the stomach wall tissues proximate to the sutures. This may cause the tissues surrounding the sutures to erode or tear, possibly resulting in loosening of the stomach wall connection or even separation of the joined stomach wall tissues over a period of time, unacceptably reducing the amount of time the stomach volume reduction exists to provide the intended benefits for the patient.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a suturing method and/or device that reduce the likelihood of tissue erosion and separation of the joined tissues, and enhance the effectiveness and benefits of the suturing procedure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Adhesives for use with suture system minimize tissue erosion


Transducers are mounted in a housing or vessel to propagate signals along a fluid measurement path, and a plurality of massive elements are placed between transmitting and receiving transducers in the acoustic propagation path through the solid body of the housing or vessel to remove crosstalk. In a preferred embodiment, the elements are rings, which are attached to, or are machined from a thicker cylinder to leave a thin-walled cylinder that holds the transducer off from a conduit wall. Preferably the rings are closely spaced or contiguous, but contact each other only along a small point-like region, so that substantially all ringing acoustic energy flows to the rings via the thin-walled stand-off. In one embodiment, a thick-walled tube is formed with plural radially oriented slots to yield an equivalent structure of alternating masses. In a related embodiment, inner and outer thick-walled tubes so formed are joined at one end to provide a longer path. For measuring stack gases, the isolated transducer stand-off fits within a sleeve that channels purge gas to prevent excessive heating and prevent fouling. Different mounting systems provide high signal strength with varying amounts of crosstalk as the pressure varies.

The present invention relates to ultrasonic transducer and measurement systems of the type wherein an electrically actuated signal source, typically a piezoelectric crystal, is mounted in a mounting assembly fixed to a housing or wedge, or fixed directly to a conduit, to propagate ultrasonic signals through a medium flowing in the conduit. It particularly relates to such transducer and measurement systems wherein the medium has a low density, such as a gaseous medium, and wherein the size of the conduit or the signal path length through the medium raise considerations of crosstalk.
In these circumstances, the amount of signal energy which can be received through the medium is relatively small. Furthermore, because the signal propagates through the gas with a velocity difference from its propagation velocity through the solid structure of the conduit, it can be difficult to find a suitable timing window in which the received signal can be dependably distinguished from ringing or other energy propagated directly through the conduit walls.
To some extent the problem of signal strength can be addressed by appropriate impedance matching and the use of a large-area diaphragm to couple the crystal to the medium. However, suitable isolation remains a problem.
One approach to this problem has been discussed in the inventor's previously filed U.S. patent application entitled Snap-On Flow Measurement System, filed on Jun. 29, 1990 as Ser. No. 546,586. In that application, specifically with reference to FIG. 15A thereof, a construction is shown involving acoustically massive rings or a spiral body interposed in the solid body acoustic path between the transmitting and receiving crystals. The present disclosure is directed to related constructions and different practical embodiments of such transducer isolation and mounting structures.

Ultrasonic transducer system with crosstalk isolation


A ventilation system includes an electrochemical filter for depleting alkyl phenols, especially 2,6-diisopropyl phenol, in breathing gas. A method uses the filter for removing alkyl phenols, especially 2,6-diisopropyl phenol, from breathing gas.

2,6-Diisopropyl phenol (also called propofol) is an intravenously administered hypnotic, which is frequently administered for sedation and for suppressing consciousness during examinations and surgical procedures.
Furthermore, it is known that a patient is provided during anesthesia with a ventilation system, which monitors the breathing of the patient during the anesthesia, e.g., with a rebreathing system, in which the exhaled breathing gas of the patient is again returned to the patient after a processing step, which usually includes the depletion of carbon dioxide.

Ventilation system with electrochemical filter for alkyl phenols and method using the electrochemical filter


A system and method facilitating layout analysis is provided. The invention includes a layout analyzer having a connected component organizer, a connected joiner, a word organizer and a word joiner. The invention provides for the connected component organizer to organize connected components based upon color, horizontal position and/or vertical position. The invention provides for the connected component joiner to join connected components based, at least in part, upon color, vertical position, horizontal position, a distance between the connected components, height of the connected components and/or width of the connected components. The word organizer organizes words and the word joiner joins words into lines. The joining of words into lines can cause the connected component joining to attempt to further join connected components into words.

The amount of information available via computers has dramatically increased with the wide spread proliferation of computer networks, the Internet and digital storage means. With such increased amount of information has come the need to transmit information quickly and to store the information efficiently.
Textual documents are often kept or transmitted in bitmap form (e.g., fax, paper, or bitmaps). In such form, the text cannot be easily extracted, searched, re-flowed, cut and pasted, re-purposed, or compressed, because it is not known a priori which pixels should be interpreted as text, background, image, or just noise.
There is, therefore, a need to recover structure, such as words, lines, and paragraphs and blocks from the pixel representation of a document. The indiscriminate pixels can be referred as "dead bits", and the task is to recover the "live" structure of the document. The recovered structure can be used to locate the good candidate for textual characters and, thus, can facilitate optical character recognition (OCR). The textual structure can also help text selection for features such as "cut & paste". Similarly, the textual structure can give hint(s) about how to insert and reflow text (e.g., reflow only the current paragraph while moving the next paragraphs as whole). Finally, the structure can help compression greatly by predicting the position of characters with respect to their current line, or block.
Additionally, data compression of digital documents should make use of an intended purpose or ultimate use of a document. Some digital documents are employed for filing or providing hard copies. Other documents may be revised and/or edited. Many conventional data compression methodologies fail to handle re-flowing of text and/or images when viewed, and fail to provide efficient and effective means to enable compression technology to recognized characters and re-flow them to word processors, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, and the like. Therefore, if hard copy office documents are scanned into digital form, current compression technology can make it difficult, if not impossible, to update, amend, or in general change the digitized document.


Eyeglasses with lenses changeable include an elongate frame, a nose pad supporter, a lens set and two nose pads. The frame is provided with a lengthwise fitting groove for an upper lengthwise side edge of the lens set to fit therein so that the lens set may be combined removably with the frame. Then different lens sets may be assembled with or disassembled from the frame for changing lens sets if wanted. The assembling or disassembling of the lens set with the frame is effected by engagement of a protrusion formed on an engage block and an engage hole with a notch formed in the lens set. The engage block is formed integral with the nose pad supporter, which is formed integral with the frame. So the lens set is easily assembled with or disassembled from the frame.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pair of eyeglasses with lenses changeable, particularly to one provided with an elongate frame, and a lens set easily removably combined with the frame for changing the lens set in case of need. A nose pad supporter is formed integral with an inner side of an intermediate portion of the frame, and an elastic engage block is formed in an upper side of the nose pad supporter, with a protrusion provided in the front of the engage block, and an inclined surface formed respectively at two sides of an inner end of the protrusion. The lens set is provided with two lenses, a protrusion hole formed in an upper side of a center portion and between the two lenses, and a notch formed on the protrusion hole and communicating with the protrusion hole. In combining the lens set with the frame, the notch of the lens set is moved along on the inclined surfaces of the nose pad supporter and push on the engage block, letting the protrusion fit and move in the notch, and then the nose pad supporter is pushed forward to let the engage block insert in the engage hole of the lens set to stabilize the lens set in place combined with the frame. On the contrary, in disassembling, the protrusion of the nose pad supporter is pressed to let the engage block released from the engage hole of the lens set, and then the lens set is taken off the frame.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional eyeglasses generally have a frame, and the frame has its two ends respectively provided with an opening, and a fixing base formed respectively at two sides of the opening, with the fixing bases locked with screws so as to stabilize two lenses in the frame rims. If lenses are to be affixed or replaced in the frame, a screw driver is used to loosen the screws so that the lenses may be fitted in or taken off, needing some time and work, and the work has to be done skillful technician. Otherwise common people cannot do it for themselves. Provided the screws should fall off, the lenses may also fall off the frame rims, possible to be broken. Another kind of eyeglasses is made of plastic, so the lenses may not be combined with the frame unless the frame and the lenses are warmed, not easily replacing the lenses with other ones, even if they are wanted to be replaced with other colored ones.


A leg massage apparatus is provided which enables the user to easily and comfortable engage the various muscles of the leg, providing the leg muscles with a therapeutic massage which helps to loosen and relieve sore or damages muscles. The apparatus may also be used to assist in the removal of cellulite from areas of the leg. The apparatus is basically comprised of a name structure means, a user engagement means, a coupling means, and an optional resistance means. The frame structure means has at least two main support members coupled together in such a manner that the leg of the user may be placed within, with the main support members surrounding a significant portion of the leg. The main support members are adjustably coupled together by the coupling means such that they may alternatively move away and towards one another, as the various leg muscles of the user are being engaged by the user engagement means. The optional resistance means may be used to provide motion resistance.

This invention relates to a leg massage apparatus which has a frame structure composed of at least two support structures, each having a generally arc shaped inner surface, with the support structures being adjustably coupled together. Each support structure has rounded user engagement elements along the arced inner surface of the structure which may be used to engage the thigh and calf of the user, allowing the user to perform body therapy routines on these areas of the lower body. These therapy routines may be performed while the user is in any type of relaxed position by grasping the invention with their hands and moving the invention over the desired thigh or calf area of the lower body. The invention will automatically adjust itself to different thigh and calf contours, since these muscles are typically smaller at the lower ends. The ability of the apparatus to engage any area of the leg muscle with the engagement elements of the support structure, and also its ability to easily adjust itself for the various thickness and contours of the thigh and calf muscles, allows for an easy and comfortable massage type therapy for those particular leg muscle groups which are sore or have been traumatized due to an accident or illness. The invention may also be used to assist in the removal of fat tissues and cellulite from any affected leg muscle area.
It is the object of this invention to provide a therapeutic apparatus which may provide the user an efficient and inexpensive means for messaging the leg muscle groups of the lower body. The main purpose of this application demonstrate an apparatus which performs the stated function, and to demonstrate the many options and configurations this apparatus may take on.
Briefly stated, the apparatus that forms the basis of the present invention comprises a frame structure means, a coupling means, and a user engagement means. The frame structure means may be comprised of at least two main support members, each having an arc shaped inner surface onto winch the user engagement means may mount. The main support members may include a hand engagement member so that the user may easily grasp the structure with their hands. The coupling means of the apparatus couples the two main support members together so that they may easily move in a controlled manner away and towards one other as the varying contours of the leg muscles are being engaged by the user engagement means. Movement may be in either along a generally arced path or along a generally linear path, depending upon the design of the apparatus. The apparatus may also utilize a resistance means which provides resistance to the members moving apart from one another, and which may also provide a force against the leg muscles by the user engagement means.
In order to operate the apparatus, the user will grasp the main support members with their hand, place their leg within the opening created by the main support members, and move the leg therapy apparatus along the thigh and/or calf area of the lower body, in either a linear or circular pattern. As mentioned, the leg of the user will be placed within the apparatus, which has a tin type form when the two main support members are coupled together. As the apparatus moves along an area of the leg, such as the thigh muscles, the main support members will begin to separate, or move opposite one another, as the apparatus moves over the larger areas of the thigh muscles. This separation may be resisted by the hands of the user, or by the optional resistance means, or both. Also, as the apparatus moves back over the smaller areas of the thigh muscles, the main support members will more back towards one another, either by the user pushing the members back together or by the force exerted on the members by the optional resistance means which pulls them back together, or both. The resistance to separation, as provided by either the hands of the user or the optional resistance means, thus allows a force to be applied to the thigh area as the apparatus moves along its various contours.
Also, other configurations may be possible which allow the apparatus to increase it flexibility. The apparatus may be designed to utilize more than two main support members coupled together to increase the amount of leg muscles area being engaged at any given time. Also, additional resistance components may be added to the apparatus to easily vary the amount of resistance to separation, and thus the amount of force provided by the apparatus against the leg muscle of the user. Also, having a user engagement means which is a completely separate component from the main support member may be preferred.
The overall basic design of the apparatus is such that the user engagement means may be a component which mounts upon the arced inner surface of the main support member and provides the main contact with the leg muscle of the user. The user engagement means may be a series of user engaging elements which are rounded, nodule-like elements which extend outward from the arced inner surface of the main support members. They may be spaced apart from each other so that maximum contact is provided upon the leg muscle. The user engaging elements may be a molded part of the main support member, individually attached components, or part of a user engagement means which is separately attached. The user engaging elements may also be a type of roller bearing elements which roll as they engage the leg muscle of the user. As mentioned previously, the force exerted on the leg muscles by the user engaging elements may be applied by the hands of the user by an optional resistance component, or both. The user engaging elements will therefore apply a firm force against the leg muscles, and provide a deep therapeutic massage. The arc design of the inner surface of the main support members allows numerous engaging elements to simultaneously be in contact with the leg muscles, allowing for a maximum therapeutic effect. The arced inner surface of the main support member also allows the apparatus to be easily moved by the user along the leg muscles not only in a forward and backward linear motion, but also in a circular motion around the leg muscle, either individually or simultaneously. In addition to providing a type of therapeutic exercise of the thigh and calf muscles as described, the apparatus will also assist with the removal of fat tissues and cellulite from affected areas of the leg by breaking the down and allowing the body to naturally dissolve the fat tissue.


Biologically-inspired compositions, including color changing compositions, and corresponding embodiments such as sensors, textile materials, coatings and films, are provided which typically include a solid, transparent and nondegradable matrix. The matrix contains a plurality of (i) synthetic particles having a size in the micrometer or nanometer range, each synthetic particle including one or more aggregates of a pigment selected from phenoxazone, phenoxazine, and a derivate or precursor thereof, and a stabilizing material which has a refractive index larger than 1.45, the aggregates having a size larger than about 100 nm; or (ii) submicrometer natural particles extracted and purified from homogenized tissue.

New surface coating products and processes that prevent pollution, safeguard the environment, and adhere to environmental laws and regulations (e.g., NESHAPs for Fabric Printing, Coating, and Dyeing) are necessary for developing coatings that meet performance requirements, such as those required by the previous Sustainable Painting Operations requirement, PP-1-02-04. Many products and ingredients currently used for organic surface coatings are not safe or healthy for consumers and everyday users, are under increasing ESOH regulatory scrutiny, have undetermined composition, and may have poorly-understood ESOH future challenges. Without innovative, sustainable technology, consumers continue to remain at risk. Thus, new materials and compositions that are safe for the environment and the user are needed.

Biologically-inspired compositions that enable visible through infrared color changing compositions

US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army


A skating blade with a cross-section of three different portions. The upper portion is narrower, the middle portion is wider and the lower portion is trapezoidal to give improved ice penetration at the lower edges. The rocker is formed with two different curves. The front curve is defined by an arc of a circle and the rear curve is obtained by pivoting a radius forwardly along an arc of a circle and rearwardly along the rocker.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved skating blade. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a skating blade of increased rigidity thereby increasing its performance. The skating blade according to the invention also permits better ice penetration, with the resulting advantages. According to a preferred embodiment, the skating blade according to the invention has a rocker that is shaped in a way to provide more comfort and security to the skater.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Skating blades that are presently available have many disadvantages. These may be summarized as lack of rigidity or stiffness of the blade and insufficient ice penetration of the edges of the blade when a person is skating.
Normally, a skating blade is 3 mm wide and this has become a standard requirement by manufacturer of supports that are used to fix the blade. So, some kind of compromise is desirable in order to meet manufacturers standards.
On the other hand, presently available blades have the same width throughout, and their rockers are curved with different shapes depending on the choice of the manufacturer which is dictated by its own research. With 3 mm blades, it is not easy to provide edges with less than 90° for better ice penetration. Furthermore, sharpening of the blades is normally carried out by following the curve outlines provided by the manufacturer, even if the latter is not completely desirable, with all the resulting disadvantages. More specifically, if it is decided to provide edges with less than 90°, the blade must be wider than 3 mm, which is not acceptable for fitting the blade into the support.
Ice penetration is very important when the skater is inclined or changes direction. In such a case, the skater feels that his skates lack a feeling of release. It is therefore desirable to provide skates with edges wherein the angle is less than 90°.
The curve that is given to the rocker by a manufacturer is often a source of discomfort, lack of speed and even leads to risk of injuries, not to mention the ease with which an abrupt turn can be achieved.
The prior art makes suggestions to improve the skating blade, however it is not believed that the above disadvantages may be overcome by the teaching of the following references:
Published U.S. application.:    2001/0052678U.S. patents:    U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,890    U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,893    U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,658    U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,708    U.S. Pat. No. 3,026,119    U.S. Pat. No. 2,988,369    U.S. Pat. No. 2,150,964    U.S. Pat. No. 1,826,958    U.S. Pat. No. 1,749,298    U.S. Pat. No. 524,129    U.S. Pat. No. 187,697
Published British Application:    2 191 100A.
There is therefore a need to provide a skating blade that is generally free of the above disadvantages and finds satisfaction with most people using it.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a skating blade that overcomes most of the above disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a skating blade that gives improved ice penetration while affording comfort to the skater.
It is another object of the present invention to modify the shape of a skating blade in a manner that will provide skating edges with better ice penetration.
It is another object of the present invention to design the rocker of a skating blade with curves that will achieve comfort, better speed and less risk of injuries especially when turning abruptly, or in other skating phases.


The present invention relates to compositions comprising one or more extracts and/or compounds having retinol-like activity and properties and methods of using the compositions to treat the eye.

"Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, and accompanied by ocular symptoms, in which tear film instability and hyperosmolarity, ocular surface inflammation and damage, and neurosensory abnormalities play etiological roles." Craig, J. P. et al. TFOS DEWS II definition and classification report. Ocul Surf. 2017; 15: 276-283. Dry eye can result from abnormal or inadequate tear formation, and deficiency in mucin secretion (i.e., keratoconjunctivitis sicca). Dry eye symptoms can be manifest as a result of various underlying disorders such as autoimmune disorders that damage lacrimal (i.e., tear-producing) glands, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis and sarcoidosis. Dry eye can also be induced following eye surgery, such as Lasik® surgery. Dry eye is estimated to affect more than 13 million individuals in the United States.
Regardless of the underlying pathology, dry eye commonly involves the rapid breakdown of the pre-ocular tear film, resulting in dehydration of the exposed outer surface. Normal tear formation is required to keep the cornea and conjunctiva moist, and this in turn helps to prevent ulceration of both, as well as to maintain corneal transparency. In addition, tears facilitate movement of the eyelid over the eye surface (e.g., blinking) and removal of foreign substances from the eye. Tears also normally contain lysozyme which is useful in preventing infection in the eye. Dry eye can be associated with mild discomfort to severe pain in the eye. When it occurs for prolonged periods of time, it can cause blurred vision, grittiness and/or burning sensation, and itchiness. If the condition is allowed to persist without treatment, it can further lead to corneal ulcers and/or scarring.
Dry eye symptoms include eye pain or fatigue, increased blinking, and bloodshot eyes. Further, bacteria may enter through a scratch and cause infection, and if the scratch is deep enough it can even affect the vision of the person. In addition to eyestrain, causes of dry eye include Sjogren's syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, burns and injury to the eye, and side effects of hypotensive drugs, tranquilizers, eyedrops for treating glaucoma, and other such drugs.
Tear film is the bodies' natural defense against dry eye. The tear film contains ocular mucins and is essential for maintaining the homeostasis of the wet ocular surface. Mucins are produced, among other places, by corneal epithelial cells in the eye. Mucins are glycoproteins expressed by epithelial tissues of mucosal surfaces. They protect tissues by functioning as antioxidants and providing lubrication. Mucin genes associated with the tear film include MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUCSB, MUC7 and MUC16.
Mucin is also useful as an antimicrobial, for general wound healing, and is essential for overall eye health maintenance.
There is therefore a need for an ophthalmic pharmaceutical composition that would promote and/or improve the production and/or release of mucin from and/or in the cornea.
The present inventors have discovered compounds and/or extracts having retinol-like properties and/or benefits which can induce, promote and/or improve production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea.
Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention relates to compositions comprising a safe and effective amount of one or more compounds and/or extracts having retinol-like properties and/or benefits to induce, promote and/or improve the production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to compositions comprising a safe and effective amount of one or more compounds and/or extracts having retinol-like properties and/or benefits which induce, promote and/or improve production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea, which compositions can be administered to patients having a MUC5AC concentration in tears lower than 6 (or about 6), optionally 8 (or about 8), nanograms per milligram of proteins, such that the concentration of MUC5AC in the tears is raised to (or, is made to be) equal to or greater than 8 (or about 8) nanograms to 15 (or about 15) nanograms, optionally from 9 (or about 9) nanograms to 12 (or about 12) nanograms, per milligram of proteins.
In certain embodiments, the above-described concentration of MU5AC in the tears (i.e., equal to or greater than 8 (or about 8) nanograms to 15 (or about 15) nanograms, optionally from 9 (or about 9) nanograms to 12 (or about 12) nanograms, per milligram of proteins), resulting from the compounds and/or extracts having retinol-like properties and/or benefits which induce, promote and/or improve production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea, is maintained for a period of up to, at least, about 2 hours, optionally about 4 hours, optionally about 6 hours, optionally about 8 hours, optionally about 10 hours, optionally about 12 hours, or optionally from about 12 to about 24 hours.
Concentrations of MUC5AC in tears detailed above are determined using the Uchino Method (described below in the definitions).
Another aspect of the present invention relates to compositions comprising a safe and effective amount of one or more compounds and/or extracts having retinol-like properties and/or benefits which induce, promote and/or improve production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea for treating dry eye.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to methods of preventing and/or treating (e.g., reducing) eye symptoms associated with dry eye and/or resulting from decreased or low-level production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea by administering compositions comprising a safe and effective amount of one or more compounds and/or extracts having retinol-like properties and/or benefits which induce, promote and/or improve production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to methods of promoting healing or increasing the rate of healing of wounds in and/or on the eye (e.g., non-dry eye associated, eye trauma, postoperative surgical or nonspecific wounds) of a patient by administering compositions comprising a safe and effective amount of one or more compounds and/or extracts having retinol-like properties and/or benefits which induce, promote and/or improve production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea (i.e., which increase production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea, in certain embodiments, beyond the concentration level of mucin produced by such patient without (or absent) administration of the compositions comprising a safe and effective amount of one or more compounds and/or extracts having retinol-like properties and/or benefits which induce, promote and/or improve production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea).
Another aspect of the present invention relates to methods for improving the antimicrobial properties in tears (or the tear film of the eye) of a patient by administering compositions comprising a safe and effective amount of one or more compounds and/or extracts having retinol-like properties and/or benefits which induce, promote and/or improve production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea (i.e., which increase production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea, in certain embodiments, beyond the concentration level of mucin produced by such patient without (or absent) the administration of the compositions comprising a safe and effective amount of one or more compounds and/or extracts having retinol-like properties and/or benefits which induce, promote and/or improve production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea).

Compositions and methods for treating the eye


A device and method for generating an interrupt for a microcontroller (MCU) are disclosed. The device includes a first storing circuit for storing signals received/transmitted through a plurality of input/output ports; a first comparing circuit for comparing the signals from the first storing circuit with a reference signal and determining a level of the signals based on the comparison result; an encoding circuit for encoding the signals output from the first comparing circuit; a second storing circuit for storing a signal received through a bus; a second comparing circuit for comparing the encoded signals received from the encoding circuit with the signal stored in the second storing circuit, and determining a level of the encoded signals based on the comparison result; an interrupt request generating circuit for generating an interrupt requesting signal based on an output of the second comparing circuit; and an interrupt enabling circuit for determining whether to permit an interrupt in response to the interrupt requesting signal from the interrupt request generating circuit.

The present invention relates to an interrupt generating device and, more particularly, to an interrupt generating device which generates an interrupt signal based on a number of input/output state signals being at a "high" or "low" level in a micro-controller (MCU).
Generally, a microcomputer uses a microprocessor as a central processing unit (CPU) for processing and controlling logic data. A microcomputer includes an input/output device (I/O part) for data input/output and a memory for storing programs and data. Therefore, a one-chip microcomputer or an MCU is a computer in which a microcomputer is integrated on a single chip.
A conventional interrupt generating circuit in the MCU will be explained with reference to the accompany drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional interrupt generating circuit.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional interrupt generating circuit includes an interrupt edge detecting circuit 1, an edge selecting register circuit 2, an interrupt request signal generating circuit 3, an interrupt enabling circuit 4 and a bus 5.
The interrupt edge detecting circuit 1 detects edges of signals received from peripheral devices through input/output ports (Ports A-N). The edge selecting register circuit 2 selects the detected edge signals in the detecting circuit 1. The interrupt request signal generating circuit 3 receives the selected edge signal from the interrupt edge detecting circuit 1, generates and applies an interrupt request signal to the MCU, and sets interrupt information bits. The interrupt enabling circuit 4 determines whether to use the interrupt information bits set in the interrupt request signal generating circuit 3.
The bus 5 is connected to the edge selecting register circuit 2 and the interrupt enabling circuit 4, for applying signals thereto from the MCU to write data thereon.
Herein, the interrupt request signal generated from the interrupt request signal generating circuit 3 represents a request for an interrupt of the CPU, i.e., the MCU, from a certain peripheral device to the MCU. Upon reception of the interrupt request signal, the MCU determines whether the MCU should proceed with the interrupt according to its own interrupt priority or ignore it. If it is in an interrupt permitting situation, the MCU issues an interrupt response to the peripheral device, according to which the peripheral device applies an interrupt signal to the MCU to activate interrupt of the MCU.
The operation of the aforementioned conventional interrupt generating circuit will be explained.
As shown in FIG. 1, according to data which is written in the edge selecting register circuit 2 through the bus 5, the interrupt edge detecting circuit 1 discriminates whether a signal applied to input ports A-N is in transit from logic "high" to logic "low" or vice versa. Here, the edge selecting register circuit 2 selects one of the ports A-N so that only the signal input to the selected port is discriminated by the detecting circuit 1.
Then, the edge signal detected in the interrupt edge detecting circuit 1 is applied to the interrupt request signal generating circuit 3. The edge signal sets the interrupt request signal generating circuit 3, which generates and applies an interrupt request signal to the MCU.
In response, among the enable bits corresponding to the input/output ports A-N, the MCU only sets the bits which it intends to use as interrupt information bits and applies them to the interrupt enabling circuit 4 through the bus 5. In this time, if the interrupt request signal generating circuit 3 is set and interrupt information bits are set, the interrupt is generated according to a preset priority.
However, among many of the request signals applied to the input/output ports, the aforementioned conventional interrupt generating device only detects one port signal according to the selection of ports and thereby generates only one interrupt.
Moreover, malfunctioning of the MCU can occur due to the high driving current when many input/output ports become high level.

Device and method for generating interrupts


A device capable of externally setting and modifying internal functions and a data processing apparatus using such a device are provided, outside the data processing apparatus, with a function data setting unit for reading and writing data for use in setting, modifying, and storing the internal functions; and an execution state stack unit for storing data indicating the state of the internal functions being executed. The data processing apparatus includes an internal resource management unit for setting and modifying the internal functions, and saving and restoring, through the execution state stack unit, the data indicating the state of the functions being executed. This system allows the processes to be freely performed by the device and the data processing apparatus at a high speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device capable of setting, in a program, internal functions, and to a computer and data processing apparatus using such a device, and more specifically to a data processing system having a device, a computer, and a data processing apparatus capable of performing a flexible operation by dynamically setting and modifying internal functions.
2. Description of the Related Art
The computer industry owes its recent progress to mainframes and personal computers of reduced size, and it has been attained by greatly increasing the power per unit price of a processor. The current processor architecture is designed to process a program described using commands each of which has a basic length, and a high-speed process has been realized by shortening the execution cycle of a computer.
Under such circumstances, clock speed of a processor is getting faster and faster. When the clocks signals of most modern processors running at several hundreds of MHz are used, it is required to apply up-to-date process technology to reduce the area of a chip in consideration of the delaying of a clock signal, thereby enormously increasing the time and cost spent on computer development. As a result, a new computer paradigm, that is, a basic configuration, has been demanded.
When a process is performed, the same processor architecture is normally used for all algorithms only for convenience. If a process can be performed using architecture appropriate for each algorithm, that is, a required process, then a high-speed process can be expected independent of the conventional method which depends on a high clock speed.
The architecture according to this concept is a VLIW (very long instruction word) architecture which is considered to be the architecture of the next generation of microprocessors. This type of architecture has been adopted in a super parallel computer, an ASIC product, etc.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a VLIW architecture. In FIG. 1, the architecture includes n issue slots 101 for determining the number of instructions executed in parallel; n function units 102, for example, ALUs, which correspond one-to-one to the n function units 102; a register file 103; and a read/write cross bar 104 for controlling the read/write of data from the function units 102 to the register file 103.
In the above described architecture, a plurality of instructions are issued in each clock cycle, and the plurality of instructions are executed in parallel by the n issue slots 101. At this time, a plurality of instructions to be simultaneously executed are assumed to be preliminarily selected, and the plurality of instructions are statically regarded by a compiler as a very long instruction (VLI). Therefore, no scheduling circuit is required. Furthermore, since the read/write cross bar 104 is used, it is not necessary to connect each function unit 102 to the register file 103.
Thus, the VLIW architecture more freely determines the length of an instruction than a conventional processor architecture, and therefore can perform a parallel process. However, it also has the problem that its intrinsic throughput cannot be fully utilized because a target algorithm should be replaced with prepared instructions or the width of the data bus is limited during the process. Therefore, circuit elements are required to more freely configure a function unit or connect a register file, and much attention is paid to the circuit elements capable of implementing functions through a program such as a programmable logic array (PLA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.
With these PLA and FPGA, a logic circuit and interconnecting wiring can be freely designed, but an area for storing a function and an area for selecting the connection of lines are required. Therefore, the PLA and the FPGA are inferior in integration to the ASIC, and can hardly be applicable to a central portion such as an ALU, etc. Since they are formed by the smallest possible number of logic cells and connection resources for connecting the cells, and a function is set only once before the operation, it is hard to set or modify a function through operations.

System for dynamically setting and modifying internal functions externally of a data processing apparatus by storing and restoring a state in progress of internal functions being executed


The disclosure relates to a damper pulley that exhibits a good damping effect and has a preferable resonance ratio. An annular damper-mass member is joined to an annular surface of a plate portion of a pulley through a first resilient rubber member. Two fan-like concave portions are formed in the surface of the annular damper-mass member, which faces the annular surface of the plate portion, at symmetrical positions with respect to the center of rotation of the pulley. Two projections are formed on the annular surface of the plate portion so as to perpendicularly project into the fan-like concave portions. A second resilient rubber member is interposed between each concave portion and projection. When torsional vibrations are exerted, each second resilient rubber member produces compression deformation, thereby generating a large spring force, whereby the resonance frequency against the torsional vibrations sufficiently increases even when the inertia moment of the mass member is increased. By setting the line connecting the projections with each other nearly into agreement with the direction in which the bending vibrations are exerted, each second resilient rubber member as well as the first resilient rubber member produces shear deformation to generate a small spring force, whereby the resonance frequency against the bending vibrations decreases.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a damper pulley, and more particularly to a damper pulley for restraining both exerted bending and torsional vibrations.
2. Description of Related Art:
A damper pulley is generally provided with a pulley having a boss portion and a plate portion formed around the boss portion, and a dynamic damper having a resilient rubber member and a damper-mass member which is joined to the plate portion of the pulley through the resilient rubber member.
One example of such a damper pulley is illustrated in FIG. 3. In the drawing, a pulley 1 is composed of a boss portion 11 which is secured to a crankshaft (not shown), a plate portion 12 that projects radially outwardly from the boss portion 11, and a belt retaining portion 13 which is integrally formed with the outer periphery of the plate portion 12 for retaining a belt along the outer surface thereof.
An annular resilient rubber member 21 having a predetermined thickness is provided around the boss portion 11 on an annular surface 12a of the plate portion 12. An annular metallic damper-mass member 22 is joined to the resilient rubber member 21, thereby composing a dynamic damper 2.
When bending vibrations are exerted from the crankshaft, the pulley 1 vibrates in the radial direction thereof so that the resilient rubber member 21 radially deforms. Due to this deformation of the resilient rubber member 21, the dynamic damper 2 resonates with the pulley 1 with a resonance frequency FR which is determined by the radial deformation of the resilient rubber member 21 and the mass of the damper-mass member 22. Thus the bending vibrations are restrained.
When torsional vibrations are exerted from the crankshaft, the pulley 1 vibrates in the circumferential direction thereof so that the resilient rubber member 21 circumferentially deforms. Due to this deformation of the resilient rubber member 21, the dynamic damper 2 resonates with the pulley 1 with a resonance frequency F.THETA. which is determined by the circumferential deformation of the resilient rubber member 21 and the moment of the inertia of the damper-mass member 22. Thus, the torsional vibrations are restrained.
In order to sufficiently restrain both the bending vibrations and torsional vibrations of the crankshaft, it is preferable to set the resonance ratio (FR/F.THETA.) to about 0.7. To achieve this ratio, the moment of the inertia of the damper-mass member 22 has been reduced by tapering the outer surface of the damper-mass member 22, as shown in FIG. 3.
As the moment of inertia decreases, the resonance frequency F.THETA. acting against the torsional vibrations increases, but, the damping effect of the dynamic damper 2 is reduced. Therefore, in order to prevent such a reduction in the damping effect of the dynamic damper 2, the prior art has not decreased the resonance ratio of the conventional damper pulley to more than about 0.88.


A launch control system for a hybrid vehicle is described. The system includes overcharging an electrical energy storage unit of the hybrid vehicle, operating an internal combustion engine at an increased power level, and operating an electric motor at an increased power level with the overcharged electrical energy storage unit. The transmission during the launch is configured to connect the electric motor and the internal combustion engine to a drivetrain of the hybrid vehicle, and to selectively slip friction clutches to store energy and release it for the launch.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing launch control from a standstill for hybrid vehicles.
Conventional hybrid vehicles utilize a combination of one or more electric motors and an internal combustion engine to provide propulsion to the vehicle. Typically, a battery or batteries are provided to power the electric motors, and the internal combustion engine may be used to recharge the batteries through a generator or alternator.
In some situations it may be desirable to launch the vehicle using maximum performance acceleration from a standstill or from a very low speed. In conventional vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine, this is accomplished, in some cases using an automatic transmission, by fully depressing the brake and accelerator pedals, and then releasing the brake to launch the vehicle. This places the torque converter in a stall condition, in which maximum torque can be generated. When the brake pedal is released, the vehicle obtains a maximum acceleration.

Power development for rapid start in full-hybrid drives with optimized traction control

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A syringe pump having a drive head (1) mounted on a lead screw (2) which drives the drive head (1) to cause the plunger (P) of the syringe (S) to be advanced to deliver the contents of the syringe in a controlled manner. The drive head (1) supports a sensing module (3) having a cylindrical outer metallic body supporting a sensor disk (9) to which a sensing button (10) is attached. The disk (9) has a central insulating disk (15) supporting copper plates (16 and 17) and thin layers of dielectric (18, 19) separated from ground plates (20, 21) by an air gap (22) defining separate electrical capacitors each having a significantly different value of capacitance such that a large fall in capacitance occurs in the first capacitor while a large rise in capacitance occurs in the second capacitor. The capacitors are connected to an integrated circuit (23) which detects changes in capacitance caused by small forces applied to the button (10) to provide signals representative of contact with the button (10) and/or the force applied by the button (10) and the plunger (P). The drive head (1) also carries spring loaded pawls (26, 27) which engage behind the flange of the plunger (P) of the syringe (S) to prevent plunger movement caused by siphoning or other undesired movement of the plunger.

Various forms of syringe pump are commercially available and have been proposed in the patent literature. Examples of such patent literature include our own patents, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,741,732 Crankshaw et al and 5,034,994 Crankshaw et al.
A head switch which operates when the drive head or pusher makes contact with the plunger flange of the syringe is required to permit:
(1) Sizing of syringes by identifying correct engagement of the drive head in the empty and filled positions to permit calculation of the internal volume of the syringe from data entered by the operator;
(2) Identification of operator interference with the drive head;
(3) Detection of separation of the syringe plunger from the drive head, which may occur with spontaneous delivery of fluid, or siphoning, from the syringe in excess of that caused by the pusher;
(4) Disengagement of the drive head and hence depressurization of the contents of the syringe prior to the sounding of an occlusion alarm.
In each of the above patents, a conventional microswitch with dual contacts was utilized. While such switches are reliable, it is necessary to incorporate a small lever to reduce the actuating force to the 10 to 20 gram range. A force above 10 gram is necessary to avoid spurious actuation if the position of the syringe pump is changed suddenly. On the other hand the actuating force must be less than 20 gram so that the plunger of a small syringe is not operated by the switch before contact has been sensed. Even with the smallest switch available, the lever must travel an excessive distance before the switch operates. This leads to unacceptable delays in sensing the contact or the release of the pusher with the drive head. A further disadvantage of a microswitch is the difficulty of rendering it waterproof without considerably increasing the force necessary to operate it.


A continuous method and apparatus for making biodiesel fuel from glycerides such as vegetable oil employs a two-stage reactor provided with recycle. Yields of 95% and greater are readily achieved in a continuous mode of operation.

Fatty acids of alkyl esters are commonly known as biodiesel, a beneficial alternative fuel source due to its biodegradability, non-toxicity, and low emission profiles as compared to conventional fuel sources. Fatty acid alkyl esters are produced by transesterification; a reaction between triglycerides (animal fat and/or vegetable oil) and alcohol to form esters and glycerol.
Transesterification processes for producing alkyl esters have been known in the art. Historically, triglycerides in fats and oils have been methylated or otherwise esterified in a two-step process using an acidic catalyst, such as is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,411 to Stern et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,186 to Jeromin et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,506 to Kawahara et al. Such processes included a pre-transesterification step, where fats/oils were reacted with alcohol in the presence of an acidic catalyst, and a subsequent transesterification step, where an alkaline/alcohol blend was added for the reaction completion. Transesterification processes employing alkaline catalysts, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,126 to Basu et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,946 to Stern et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,146 to Turck, have been known in the art, as well.
The transesterification process is known to be accelerated by using either excess alcohol for the reaction mixture or by removal of the by-product, glycerol. For Example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0032826 to Hanna is directed towards a process for the production of fatty acid esters that includes a tubular reactor having several reaction zones in series, while fresh alcohol and possibly catalyst is introduced into each reaction zone. Once the reaction mixture of the '826 publication is withdrawn from the last reaction zone, it is treated for separating the alcohol, glycerol, and fatty acid alkyl esters. The flow of the mixture within the '826 publication reactor is characterized with a Reynolds number of at least 2100. There is also U.S. Pat. No. 6,489,496 to Barnhorst et al., which is directed towards transesterification of carboxylic acid esters with alcohols in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, where the reaction product is passed through centrifugal separation to remove the glycerol. The reaction product of the '496 process may be passed either through a second centrifugal separator or recycled several times through the reactor to increase the yield of alkyl esters.
Removal of glycerol, in addition to introduction of fresh alcohol feed into the reaction, has been known in the art as well. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,546 to Klok et al. is directed towards a process for producing fatty acid lower alkyl mono-esters which comprises a first transesterification step between triglycerides and alcohol, a separation step wherein the glycerol is removed from the mixture, and a second esterification step in which fresh catalyst and alcohol are added to the remaining mixture. The '546 patent requires a residence time of 10 minutes to several hours for the first transesterification reaction and 1 hour to several hours for the second transesterification reaction, while the separation step is static and requires settling time.
Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,820 to Assmann el al., which is directed towards a continuous two-stage process for the production of lower alkyl esters in the presence of a homogenous alkaline catalyst at temperatures of up to 100° C. and under pressures of up to 10 bar. The process described in the '820 patent includes two tubular reactors in series (with a residence time of about 1-10 minutes), removal of glycerol after the first reactor, and use of fresh alcohol and catalyst feeds into the second reactor. There is also U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,878 to Connemann et al., which is directed towards a continuous multistage production of lower alkyl esters in the presence of an alkaline catalyst at temperatures of up to 100° C. The '878 patent discloses the use of a premix of fatty acids, alcohol, and catalyst fed into the top pf a column-reactor such that the rate of flow through the column is lower than the sinking rate of glycerin, which is continuously/discontinuously withdrawn from the bottom of the column. The '878 patent discloses a process that includes three such reactors, whereas a stirring reactor and a separator are located at the exit of each column reactor. See also, Australian Patent No. PJ 1105/88 (1988). However, these patents require multiple reactors in series in order to continue the transesterification process after the glycerol removal.
It is likewise known in the art to utilize a centrifuge between sequential reactors which involves multiple vessels and controls.
Despite the plentiful art, there exists a need for an efficient, cost-effective transesterification apparatus and process that provides high yield and short residence time in a compact equipment design.

Apparatus and method for producing biodiesel fuel


A positioning device includes a base and two positioning mechanisms oppositely positioned on the base to position a workpiece. Each positioning mechanism includes a driver positioned on the base, a mounting member mounted on the base, a gear rack, a gear, and a positioning member. The mounting member defines a sliding groove. The gear rack slidably is received in the sliding groove and connected with the driver. The gear is rotatably connected with the mounting member and is meshed with the gear rack. The positioning member is fixedly-connected with the gear. The driver drives the gear rack to slide along the sliding groove to make the positioning member rotate and outstretch into an interior of the workpiece. The drivers drive two positioning members apply two opposite forces on the workpiece to positioning the workpiece.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to a positioning device and a positioning mechanism used in the positioning device for the positioning of a workpiece.
2. Description of the Related Art
Positioning devices need to be positioned in an interior of workpieces to avoid damaging outer surfaces of the workpiece, which have been machined first. The positioning device usually includes two opposite positioning mechanisms. Each positioning mechanism includes a first driver, a second driver, and a positioning member driven by the first and second drivers. Because two drivers drive the positioning members to reach the interior of the workpiece to position the workpiece, operating efficiency is relatively low. In addition, two drivers require to occupy significant amount of space.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Positioning device and positioning mechanism for same

HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.


A printmode for an inkjet printer including a plurality of print nozzles and an edge guide projecting into a printzone into which at least one of the plurality of print nozzles may be transported for deposition of a fluid onto a print media, the printmode including a printmask defining a print disable zone corresponding to a pre-selected area of the printzone that includes an area of the edge guide that projects into the printzone.

The general operation of thermal inkjet imaging devices is well known and one description of such operation may be found for instance in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,464,316 and 6,536,869, which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. An inkjet printer forms a printed image by printing a pattern of individual dots at particular locations of an array defined for the printing medium. The locations may be visualized as dots in a rectilinear array or pixels. Thus, a printing operation may be viewed as filling a pattern of pixels with dots of ink.
Inkjet imaging devices print dots by ejecting small drops of ink onto a print medium. Typically a movable carriage supports one or more printheads each including ink ejecting nozzles. The carriage traverses over the surface of the print medium, and the nozzles are controlled to eject drops of ink at selected times controlled by a microcomputer or other controller. The timing of the application of the ink drops is intended to correspond to the pattern of pixels of an image being printed.
A typical inkjet includes an array of nozzles attached to a printhead that includes an array of chambers for receiving ink from a reservoir. Each chamber is fluidly connected to a nozzle so ink can collect in the chamber and the nozzle. A firing resistor is associated with each chamber. Ejection of an ink drop is typically controlled by a microprocessor, the signals of which are conveyed by electrical traces to the firing resistors. When electric printing pulses heat the resistor, a portion of the ink vaporizes and a drop of ink is ejected from the nozzle. Nozzles are commonly arranged to form a dot matrix pattern. The controlled firing of each nozzle causes characters or images to be printed upon a media as the printhead moves past the media.
In inkjet printing, data representative of an image is composed of a set of data comprising a two dimensional array based on x and y coordinates of "pixels". Pixel location is specified by its x and y coordinates in the array. The x coordinate of the pixel may be referred to as the row coordinate value, and the y location of the pixel may be referred to as the column coordinate value. The term "image data" is used herein to refer to an array of pixels having digital code values that form an image.
Specific inking patterns used in each pass, and the manner in which the inking patterns cumulatively form an image, is known as a printmode. Manipulation of printmodes allow the printer to control various factors that influence image quality, including the amount of ink placed on the print media at any given pixel, (image density), the speed with which the ink is placed, and the number of passes required to complete the image. A printmask is a binary pattern that defines which ink drops are printed in a given pass, which passes are used to print any given pixel and which nozzle will be used to print any given pixel location. Thus, the printmask defines both the pass and the nozzle which will be used to print each pixel location, i.e., each row number and column number on the media. A printmode typically defines one or more printmasks used in printing an image, the number of passes required to complete any given portion of the image and the number of drops per pixel.
The printhead is scanned repeatedly across the width of the medium to be printed upon. At each of a designated number of increments of movement across the medium, each nozzle may or may not be print enabled or signaled to fire, according to an output of the controlling microprocessor. Each completed movement across the medium can print a pass approximately as high as the number of nozzles arranged in a column of the ink cartridge multiplied times the distance between nozzle centers. After each such completed print pass the medium may be advanced by a media feed mechanism a distance substantially equal to a height of the pass or a fraction thereof. The carriage reverses direction and the ink cartridge begins the controlled deposition of ink drops for a subsequent pass.
Under various environmental conditions and with duplex printing, media sometimes curls causing edges of media to lift off a platen surface where printing occurs. This may be a problem with scanning inkjet printheads because print quality is best when printheads are positioned close to media. If edges lift up, the printheads will catch on them and damage media, printheads and/or the printer as the printheads scan across the media. If the media edges are held down though the entire print-zone length, large print margins will be required.
Previous solutions have included holding the media down for the entire printzone length, observing a narrower printzone. This solution, however, does not allow for small margin or full bleed printing. Another solution has been to hold the media edges down just upstream of the printzone. Another solution has been to angle the media down at the platen where printing occurs and not support the media at the edges so the media continues to angle down away from the printheads as it progresses further into the printzone. Both of these solutions provide acceptable results for shorter printheads and printzones but become increasingly less efficient with the increase in size of printheads and printzones. Vacuum systems may also be employed to hold down media edges but these systems are expensive and vacuum levels may affect ink drop trajectory and linefeed advance accuracy.
It may, therefore, be advantageous to provide media guides in the printzone that engage the edges of the media and guide the media in through at least a portion of the printzone. Nevertheless, placement of edge guides within a printzone, even if such edge guides only obstruct a marginal portion of the print media pose a challenge to structuring print routines that are capable of either printing within or around such obstructions.
Advantage may also be found in providing a print routine operable by an inkjet imaging device that allows for small margin and/or full bleed printing in an area of the printzone that is defined as a print disable zone or that includes an obstruction between the print media and the printhead.

Hewlett-Packard Devleopment Company, L.P.


A system, method, and computer program product for implementing a tree traversal operation for a tree data structure is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving at least a portion of a tree data structure that represents a tree having a plurality of nodes and processing, via a tree traversal operation algorithm executed by a processor, one or more nodes of the tree data structure by intersecting the one or more nodes of the tree data structure with a query data structure. A first node of the tree data structure is associated with a first local coordinate system and a second node of the tree data structure is associated with a second local coordinate system, the first node being an ancestor of the second node, and the first local coordinate system and the second local coordinate system are both specified relative to a global coordinate system.

Computer graphics uses a variety of methods to generate two-dimensional representations of a three-dimensional scene. For example, a three-dimensional scene represented as a plurality of geometric primitives (e.g., points, lines, triangles, quads, meshes, etc.) may be rasterized to project the geometric primitives to a projection plane and then shaded to calculate a color for one or more pixels of the projection plane based on the rasterization. Alternatively, another technique for generating two-dimensional representations of the three-dimensional scenes is to perform ray-tracing. As is known in the art, ray-tracing is a technique that includes the operation of sending out rays from a particular viewpoint and intersecting the rays with the geometry of the scene. When an intersection is detected, lighting and shading operations may be performed to generate a color value for a pixel of the projection plane intersected by the ray. Additionally, other rays may be generated based on the intersected primitives that contribute to the color of the intersected pixel or other pixels.
Because the number of geometric primitives in a scene may be quite large (e.g., on the order of millions of triangles, etc.) and the number of rays generated to test for intersection against those primitives is also large (e.g., on the order of millions or even billions of rays, etc.), a data structure may be generated to increase the efficiency of performing the intersection tests. One such data structure is a tree, such as a k-d (k-dimensional) tree or a bounding volume hierarchy. When an intersection test is performed for a given ray, a tree traversal may be performed in order to efficiently test the ray against all of the primitives included in the scene. Typically, a tree is traversed by pushing a root node to a traversal stack. The top element in the traversal stack is popped from the stack and the children of the node popped from the stack are tested for intersection with the ray. Any intersected child nodes are then pushed onto the stack and the process is repeated until the stack is empty.
One characteristic of this approach is that the tree traversal may return to a certain part of the tree multiple times. In massively parallel architectures, this can degrade performance because the memory for the same part of the tree may be fetched multiple times. This leads to unnecessary delays in performing the tree traversal. Furthermore, the memory consumption of the tree data structure may be uncomfortably high, and compression of the data may be desirable. Thus, there is a need for addressing these issues and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

Relative encoding for a block-based bounding volume hierarchy


Methods and devices for programming control information perform a lower-speed programming of a given cell type in a first area of memory array, confirm a result of the lower-speed programming of the given cell type in the first area of memory array, and perform a higher-speed programming of the given cell type in a second area of memory array after confirming the result of the lower-speed programming. An initial programming voltage of the higher-speed programming may be different from that of the lower-speed programming. The first programming may be a lower-speed operation, such as the writing of data, and the second programming may be a higher-speed operation, such as the writing of control information.

Recent developments in memory applications, such as mass storage, code memory, and other multimedia applications increasingly require memory devices with higher density. Mass storage applications may include memory cards (for example, for mobile computers), solid-state memory (for example, sturdy and/or reliable storage disks), digital cameras (for recording still or moving images and sound), and voice or audio recorders for recording near CD quality sound).
Code memory applications may include basic input/output systems (BIOS) or network applications (for example, memory in a personal computer, other terminal, router, or hub), telecommunications applications (for example, switches), mobile phone applications (for example, codes and/or data), and other electronic handheld information device applications (for example, codes and/or data for personal digital assistants (PDA), palm operating systems (POS), or personal communications assistants (PCA)).
Generally, mass storage applications use memory that is lower cost, higher density, and/or has better program/erase (P/E) cycling endurance, while code memory applications have faster random access and/or are executable in place (XIP).
Related art memories may include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), and non-volatile memory (NVM). Non-volatile memory may include mask read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory (for example, flash erase EEPROM), and ferro-electric memory. Non-volatile memory does not lose data when power is lost, but generally does not permit random access and is generally slower than volatile memory.
Flash memory may be formed by a combination of erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) and electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). Flash memory may be NAND or NOR flash memory. Erase and program operations may be performed in a flash memory by the application of different voltages to each flash memory cell.
NAND flash memory may include a string of serially connected cells (for example, 16 cells may make up a string). The string may include one or more string select transistors. NAND flash memory may have a relatively small "on" cell current and hence, relatively slow sensing time (for example, 10-25 ms). NAND flash memory may perform a read operation by simultaneously sensing and latching a page unit (for example, 512 bytes) to a page buffers. NAND flash memory may read data from a page buffer latch at a relatively high speed (for example, 50 ns).
NAND flash memory may perform program and/or erase operations by tunneling (for example, Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) tunneling). A program operation may include a relatively fast serial data loading to a page buffer (for example, 50 ns), where cells (for example, 512 bytes) are simultaneously programmed. An erase operation may be a block unit erase where a number of pages (for example, 32 pages of 16 K bytes cells) are simultaneously erased.
Reliable F-N tunneling may be performed at approximately 10 mV/cm. which may result in lower power consumption, lower temperature dependence, more uniform program/erase operation, and/or easier device/voltage scaling.
NAND flash program operation may utilize a coupling between a gate and a channel. For example, a cell to be programmed may have a larger voltage difference between the gate and the channel than a cell not to be programmed. NAND flash program operation may also utilize a threshold voltage distribution, an example of which is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates the relationship between a word line voltage Vword line (for example, 0V), a read voltage Vread, and a cell voltage distribution Vth of an unprogrammed (or erased) cell and a programmed cell. In FIG. 1, Y-direction represents the threshold voltage of the storage cell and X-direction represents the number of cells at a certain threshold voltage.
Conventionally, a cell voltage distribution Vth has been controlled by an increment step pulse program (ISPP). Example ISPPs are shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. FIG. 2a shows an example, related art ISPP, where the pulse width and amplitude remain the same. As shown, a voltage V0 (for example, 18V) is applied during a program period (for example, 30 μs) and another voltage V1 (for example, 1.2V) is applied during a verify period (for example, 5 μs). FIG. 2b shows an example, related art ISPP, where the pulse width remains the same, but the amplitude is varied. As shown, a voltage V0 (for example, 15V) is applied during a first program period (for example, 30 μs) and incremented (by for example, 0.5 V) for each successive program period until a final voltage Vn (for example, 19V) is reached. Another voltage V1 (for example, 1.2V) is applied during each verify period (for example, 5 μs). In both FIGS. 2a and 2b, the total duration is around 250 μs. The cell voltage Vth variation and the number of cycles for FIG. 2b are advantageously smaller than for FIG. 2a.
FIG. 3 illustrates a related art over-programming problem. If the cell threshold voltage Vth is higher than Vread, a normal read operation for a NAND cell string may not be performed properly. Related art procedures exist to prevent over-programming during ISPP.
Related art procedures also utilize a flag or other mark to indicate that a normal cell program operation has been properly completed. A flag or other mark is used due to the relatively long programming time (around 250 μs as indicated above) for a NAND flash memory. During this relatively long programming time, a power-off or other similar interruption may occur. The flag or other mark is used to confirm that the program operation was completed. FIG. 4a illustrates an example where the flag or other mark (for example, a confirm mark) was completed and FIG. 4b illustrates an example where the normal programming and/or the flag or other mark were not completed.
In related art procedures, when the normal cell program operation or operations are performed, a determination is made as to whether the operation is complete, and if so, the flag or other mark is written. The flag or other mark may be written in a spare cell region of memory.
FIG. 5a illustrates a related art normal cell program and confirm cell program, as well as, a related art normal cell program time and confirm cell program time. As shown, both the related art normal cell program time and the confirm cell program time include loops of one program period and one verify period. FIG. 5b illustrates an example, related art memory location to which the normal cell program and the confirm cell program may be written. As illustrated in FIG. 5b, for the cell program write:
1 page/1 program time=512 byte/1 program time=4 k bit/250 μs (200 μs˜300 μs)=16.4 bit/1 μs.
For the confirm mark write:
1 bit/1 program time=1 bit 250 μs=0.004 bit 1 μs.
As is clear from the above, the confirm mark write is less efficient than the cell program write.

Method and device for programming control information


The invention relates to modified plastics characterized in that they contain adhesion-reducing substances in such a quantity that the adhesion of microorganisms to their surface is lower by at least 50% than for non-modified plastics, and in that they contain biocidal substances in such a quantity that at least 60% of the microorganisms remaining are destroyed within 24 hours.

The invention relates to plastics which are self-disinfecting. The invention relates in particular to dental plastics and impression materials in which a biocidal material is incorporated and the adhesivity of whose surface vis-à-vis microorganisms is reduced.
Disinfection is a permanent requirement in dental practices and dental engineering laboratories. The transmission of germs from contaminated gloves or even bare hands via equipment, tools or materials to humans presents an enormous risk for the patient, the dentist or dental technician and their assistants. Particularly in daily procedures in practice, the patient can come into contact with contaminated items or objects, microorganisms being able to enter the blood stream through open wounds. During a session, as a result for example of using contaminated gloves when mixing an impression material and using contaminated optical conductors for the light polymerisation of radiation-curable filling materials, the risk of infection can be increased. Although the hygiene regulations are very strict, no absolutely reliable protection against infection can be guaranteed.
The use of biocidal substances is known in other fields, for example the preparation of plasticized polyvinyl chloride for use as a swimming pool cleaner, (C. R. Jones, P. S. Handley, G. D. Robson, I. M. Eastwood and M. Greenhalgh xe2x80x9cBiocides incorporated into plasticized polyvinyl chloride reduce adhesion of Pseudomonas fluorescens BL146 and substratum hydrophobicityxe2x80x9d, Journal of Applied Bacteriology (1996) 81, 553-560). It is disadvantageous that the biocidal effect of the active ingredients 10,10-oxybisphenoxarsine (OBPA), 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (OIT), 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-(methylsulphonyl)pyridine (TCMP) and N-trichloromethylthiophthalimide (NCMP) introduced into the plastic comes fully into play only if the microorganisms to be destroyed come into direct contact with the surface. The reduction of adhesion necessary for this is achieved by chance by the biocidal substances used themselves.
Substances containing silver, copper or zinc also show a biocidal effect, for example DuPont products (MicroFree(trademark) AMP). Embedded in the most varied items made from plastic, an antimicrobial effect on the surfaces of such modified plastics is noted.
Another approach is the reduction of the adhesion of proteins on surfaces. As cell membranes of microorganisms are also built up from protein components, attempts are made to prevent the accumulation of microorganisms, but particularly also of blood components, by the reduction in adhesion of proteins. An extensive state of the art describes methods for changing the properties of plastics surfaces or complete plastics parts in order to make them biocompatible. Catheters, prostheses and implants obtain biocompatible surfaces by the methods described. The deposition of biological material, for example blood cells, on prostheses or catheters or the deposition of proteins from lacrimal fluid on contact lenses can be reduced if special plastics are used for the preparation of such objects or already pre-formed objects are coated with special polymers.
WO-93/01221 describes for example polymers made from one or more radically polymerizable monomers, these polymers having groups with a permanent positive charge and groups which are able to develop a bond on surfaces.
A further approach is known from WO-94/14897, in which the biocompatibility of polymers is obtained by the coupling with polymers containing amphoteric ion groups. The amphoteric ion group is normally an ammonium salt ester; the polymer which contains this group, can be prepared via the free radical polymerisation of ethylenically unsaturated monomers together with a monomer which contains an amphoteric ion group.
Compounds which contain phosphorylcholine groups are known for their haemocompatibilizing properties and for the adhesion-reducing effect of platelets on surfaces which are treated with these compounds or have been prepared from such compounds. WO-93/21970 describes for example methods for preparing surfaces which contain groups of the general formula
where R is the same or can be different and represents an alkyl radical with 1 to 4 C atoms and a can range from 1 to 4.
M. Humphries, J. F. Jaworzyn, J. B. Cantwell and A. Eakin described in FEMS Microbiology Letters (1987) 42, 91-101, the use of non-ionic ethoxylated and propoxylated surfactants in order to reduce the adhesion of bacteria to solid surfaces. Alcoholic ethoxylates and alkylphenolethoxylates (ICI Plastics and Petrochemicals Division, Wilton, U.K.) are used there in particular. In FEMS Microbiology Ecology (1986) 38, 299-308, M. Humphries, J. F. Jaworzyn and J. B. Cantwell described the use of biological polymers and synthetic surfactants in order to reduce the adhesion of certain bacteria species by the production of hydrophobic surfaces.
It is known however, that it is not sufficient to make the surfaces either hydrophobic or hydrophilic in order to lower the adhesion of microorganisms, as the nature of the cell walls can be completely different depending on the species.
The method of A. Pavesio, D. Renier, C. Cassinelli and M. Morra in Medical Device Technology (September 1997), 20 et seq is included in the series of coating processes, in which anti-adhesive surfaces are described by coatings with hyaluron derivatives.
More recent coating means, containing polymers with repeating units with polar or polarizable, modulating and hydrophobic fluoride-containing groups, are known from EP-0794756-A1 and EP-0794757-A1 (3M).
Preparations are also sometimes described which contain compounds which have both antimicrobial activity vis-à-vis certain bacterial strains and at the same time are intended to reduce their adhesion (Journal of Oral Rehabilitation (1988), 15, 405-411).
To summarize, the following methods are described in the state of the art:
reduction of the protein adhesion by surface treatment or by modifying the basic plastics,
destruction of the microorganisms on free surfaces by incorporated biocides.
The respective effects of these known processes are however still not satisfactory.
The object of the present invention is to prepare plastics which are improved regarding their adhesion-reducing properties or biocidal effects.
The object is achieved by specially modified plastics which are characterized in that they contain adhesion-reducing substances in such a quantity that the adhesion of microorganisms to their surface is lower by at least 50% than for non-modified plastics, and in that they contain biocidal substances in such a quantity that at least 60% of the microorganisms remaining are destroyed within 24 hours.
Permanently moist ambient conditions are present particularly in the field of dentistry. If a liquid film is located on the surface of plastics and impression materials, it is naturally permeated with proteins or microorganisms, which is extremely disadvantageous. No hopes were raised that biocidal substances would be incorporated in plastics as a result of using adhesion-reducing substances in these, as it was assumed that bacteria only briefly come into contact with the surfaces, because of the adhesion-reducing effect, at any rate too briefly for this biocidal effect to occur. Surprisingly, in spite of a clear reduction in adhesion of proteins to the surfaces of the plastics modified according to the invention, the contact time of the microorganisms with the surfaces is long enough, so that the microorganisms are predominantly destroyed.
The invention is described in detail below.
All known types of plastics can be used as plastics, depending on the modifier to be used; polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyvinyl chlorides, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, cellophanes, cellulose acetates, polyolefins, fluorinated hydrocarbons (Teflon), polyhydroxyethyl methacrylates (PHEMA) (Hydron), polymethyl methacrylates (PMMA), polysiloxanes, polyethers and polyether silicones maybe mentioned as examples without being limitative.
A step essential to the invention is to introduce biocides into plastics. Another step essential to the invention is the incorporation of adhesion-reducing substances into the plastics or the treatment of the plastic surfaces with adhesion-reducing substances. The order of the two steps can be freely selected and is governed by the technical procedures of the manufacture of the plastics.
In order to introduce biocidal materials into the plastics, the solvent casting method is suitable for example (J. M. Schierholz, A. Rump and G. Pulverer, Arzneim. Forsch. (1997) 47, 70 et seq).
It is furthermore possible to grind the cured plastics, mix them with the biocides and press them into shape again, optionally under the action of heat. The biocide can also be added during the plastic injection process. The incorporation of biocides into dental impression materials is also conceivable. The biocide is to be added to any component of the non-cured composition. A rubber which contains biocidal properties is then obtained by the setting process. It is also advantageous with this indication that, because of the adhesion-reducing properties, blood and saliva remnants first drain off from the impression material and then microorganisms which are present are destroyed.
Substances suitable as biocides are those which release silver, silver ions, copper, copper ions, zinc or zinc ions (MicroFree(trademark) AMP, DuPont), for example copper oxides or zinc silicates, but also the free metals. of course, all other obtainable biocides can also be used. Worthy of mention are, by way of example, ciprofloxacin-HCl (Bayer AG, Leverkusen), ciprofloxacinbetaine, 10,10-oxybisphenoxarsine, 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-(methylsulphonyl)pyridine, N-trichloromethylthiophthalimide, chlorohexidine, long-chained bisphenol esters (U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,345; 3M), sodium fluoride in combination with dodecylamine or other organic amines, benzalkonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, 4-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol (Triclosan), complex or simple fluorides such as SnF2, KZnF3, ZnSnF4, Zn(SnF3)2, potassium or zirconium hexafluorotitanate, N-oxides of saturated N-containing heterocycles substituted by quinolonecarboxylic acids or napthyridonecarboxylic acids (EP-0828715-A1). The biocides are incorporated in quantities of approx. 0.001 to 20 pts. by wt., preferably 0.01 to 10 pts. by wt., per 100 pts. by wt. of the total material.
Plastics or surfaces suitable as adhesion-reducing substances and methods for preparing adhesion-reducing plastics or surfaces are for example those based on phosphorylcholine or phosphorylethanolamine (WO-93/21970, EP-0199790-B1, WO-94/14897, WO-93/01221, EP-0641226-B1, EP-0518959-B1, WO-90/09384, EP-0157469-B1, WO-94/16749, WO-94/16748) or also those based on polyesters made from units which are derived from glycerophosphorylcholine or glycerophosphorylethanolamine and polyfunctional acids or their derivatives (EP-0275293-B1). The adhesion-reducing substances are introduced or applied as surface coating in quantities of approx. 0.05 to 50 pts. by wt., preferably 0.1 to 20 pts by wt., per 100 pts. by wt. of the total material.
Generally, the surface coating is carried out by dissolving the reactive agent in a compatible solvent, treating the surface with the solution and then drying it. Where necessary, the surface must be functionalzied; this can occur via known etching or derivatizing techniques, such as plasma discharge (see xe2x80x9cChemical Reactions of Polymersxe2x80x9d, Ed. E. M. Fettes (1964), Interscience, London). The diverse processes can be deduced from the previously mentioned documents, the disclosure content of which is thereby to be wholly included.
The plastics according to the invention are suitable for the preparation of plastics and plastic parts to be used in dentistry and dental engineering, for example housing parts of mixing or polymerisation equipment, also light rods of light polymerisation equipment, primary and secondary packaging materials for dental materials, application instruments for dental materials, for example for applying filling materials, as well as for dental materials themselves, for example impression materials. They are generally suitable for all plastic parts which are used when practising the dental or dental engineering profession.

Self-defining plastics and the use thereof in dentistry and dental technology