A blood processing centrifuge includes a disposable fluid processing assembly having a fluid processing chamber. Fluid is communicated to and from the fluid processing chamber through a flexible umbilicus. The fluid processing chamber spins while the centrifuge pulls the umbilicus around an axis of centrifugation. The centrifuge engages the umbilicus through a thrust bearing received in a gimbal assembly carried on a rotating wing plate. The gimbal assembly allows the umbilicus to pivot relative to the wing plate under the forces developed during centrifugation. The gimbal assembly includes a bearing retainer adapted to securely retain umbilicus thrust bearings of differing sizes a gimbal that loosely but securely retains the bearing retainer. Clearance between the gimbal and the bearing retainer enable the bearing retainer to accommodate thrust bearings of differing sizes without causing gimbal binding. The ability to accommodate umbilicus thrust bearing of differing sizes enables the thrust bearings to be manufactured to looser tolerances, thereby improving manufacturing ease and economy.

This invention relates generally to blood processing systems and apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to centrifuges for processing blood and, specifically, to a mount for supporting a thrust bearing at the middle of an umbilicus used in the fluid processing assembly of such a centrifuge.
Various blood processing systems now make it possible to collect particular blood constituents, rather than whole blood, from donors. Typically, in such systems, whole blood is drawn from a donor, the particular blood component or constituent is removed and collected, and the remaining blood constituents are returned to the donor. By thus removing only particular constituents, less time is needed for the donor's body to return to normal, and donations can be made at more frequent intervals than when whole blood is collected. This increases the overall supply of blood constituents, such as plasma and platelets, made available for health care.
Whole blood is typically separated into its constituents through centrifugation. This requires that the whole blood be passed through a centrifuge after it is withdrawn from, and before it is returned to, the donor. To avoid contamination and possible infection of the donor, the blood is preferably contained within a sealed, sterile system during the entire centrifugation process. Typical blood processing systems thus include a permanent, reusable centrifuge assembly containing the hardware that spins and pumps the blood, and a disposable, sealed and sterile fluid processing assembly that actually makes contact with the donor's blood. The centrifuge assembly engages and spins the fluid processing assembly during a collection procedure. The blood, however, makes actual contact only with the fluid processing assembly, which is used only once and then discarded.
To avoid the need for rotating seals, and to preserve the sterile and sealed integrity of the fluid processing assembly, blood processing systems often utilize centrifuges that operate on the "one-omega, two-omega" operating principle. This principle, which is disclosed in detail in Brown et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,449, enables centrifuges to spin a closed system without the need for rotating seals and without twisting the components of the system. Blood processing systems that make use of the principle typically include a fluid processing assembly that includes a plastic bag that is spun in the centrifuge and that is connected to the blood donor through an umbilicus. The umbilicus is turned back on itself so that an end portion of the umbilicus is coaxially aligned with the axis of rotation of the bag. The intermediate portion of the umbilicus is twisted as the bag is spun to counteract the twisting that would otherwise take place as the bag is spun. The effect is that the end of the umbilicus, which is opposite the bag and is connected to the donor, does not twist as the bag is spun. The sealed, sterile integrity of the fluid processing assembly is thus maintained without the need for rotating seals.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,942 to Brown et al., commonly owned by the assignee hereof, discloses one such blood processing apparatus based on the "one-omega, two-omega" operating principle. In this apparatus, a disposable fluid processing assembly having an umbilicus and a processing chamber is mountable within a centrifuge assembly. On end of the umbilicus is held rotationally stationary substantially over the axis of centrifugation. The other end of the umbilicus joins the processing chamber and rotates with the processing chamber around the axis of centrifugation at the two-omega speed. The mid-portion of the umbilicus is supported by a wing plate that rotates around the axis of centrifugation at the one-omega speed. A thrust bearing mounted on the umbilicus permits the umbilicus to rotate relative to the wing plate as the wing plate and the processing chamber turn at different speeds. The thrust bearing slides into a one piece gimbal mounted in a recess provided on the wing plate. The gimbal helps keep the fluid processing assembly properly positioned during the centrifugation procedure. When the procedure is completed, the thrust bearing can be slid out of the gimbal in the wing plate to permit removal of the fluid processing assembly.
In prior fluid processing systems, it has proven difficult to achieve a reliable slide fit between the umbilicus thrust bearing and the one piece gimbal mounted in the recess in the wing plate. Ideally, the retaining forces developed between the thrust bearing and the gimbal should be great enough to reliably hold the thrust bearing against the forces developed during high speed centrifugation, but should not be so great as to distort the gimbal and thereby cause it to bind. This has required that the thrust bearing and the gimbal both be manufactured to very close tolerances. A thrust bearing that is slightly oversized physically distorts the gimbal thereby causing it to bind in the mounting recess. A slightly undersized thrust bearing results in excessive clearance and the possibility of inadvertent disengagement between the thrust bearing and the gimbal during operation. Additionally, the use of plastics in the manufacture of the umbilicus thrust bearing results in dimensional changes with changing humidity conditions. Thus, even when manufactured within the proper range of tolerance, a thrust bearing can still go out of tolerance with changing climatic conditions.


Various implementations of a horn system include one or more force sensors disposed on a first portion of a driver air bag module and one or more actuators disposed on a second portion of the driver air bag module. For example, the force sensors may be disposed adjacent a perimeter of a base plate of the driver air bag module, and the actuators may extend inwardly toward the force sensors from an inner surface of a cover of the driver air bag module, or vice versa. To actuate the horn, the cover is moved axially toward the base plate, causing the actuators to apply force to the force sensors. Force signals received from the force sensors are used by one or more processors to determine characteristics of the force received and/or select a control message for communicating to the horn system based on the force signal characteristics.

Horn switches may be integrated into a driver air bag module within a vehicle. For example, the driver air bag module may be secured onto a frame of a hub of a steering wheel in the vehicle. The driver air bag module may include an electrical contact that completes an electrical circuit of a horn system when the air bag module is moved toward a corresponding electrical contact on the steering wheel frame. Typically, the contact on the driver air bag module is biased away from the contact on the steering wheel frame using springs, and the vehicle operator must push the driver air bag module with sufficient force to overcome the biasing force of the springs. The horn signal produced by completing the circuit is an on/off signal. In addition, depending on the location and number of the contacts, the force required to actuate the horn in the center of the driver air bag module may be higher than the force required to actuate the horn from the periphery of the driver air bag module. Furthermore, the horn may be actuated advertently if the vehicle is subjected to vibration, such as off road conditions.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved horn system.


The present invention achieves highly reliable optical-fiber loss adjustment at low cost, with easy work. An optical fiber is inserted from an optical fiber insertion opening into a space between an internal wall and a plurality of optical-fiber support members and, due to its self-resilience, comes in contact with the support members on its outer side. Since the radius of curvature of the fiber is sufficiently small, a loss can be adjusted with the number of turns of the fiber. The support members have a cylindrical shape and therefore come in point contact with the fiber, which can prevent microbending. Moreover, the interval (angle) between adjacent ones of the support members and the radius thereof are set such that the fiber can be led into and out of an optical-fiber adjustor, with no stress imposed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for adjusting the loss or attenuation caused by the curvature of an optical fiber and, more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for adjusting an intensity loss of an optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber, as well as to an optical transmission system using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a multiple-relay wavelength division multiplexing transmission system, a large number of optical multiplexers/demultiplexers, optical amplifiers and the like are used. These optical devices are constituted in such a manner that two or more optical components are connected by fiber fusion splicing. To prevent variations in loss among multiple principal signals, adopted is loss increase splicing, which intentionally gives a loss.
To accomplish this intentional increase of a loss, generally employed is a method by which the cores of spliced fibers are intentionally misaligned when fusion splicing is performed. However, although this loss increase splicing ensures the quality of transmission on one hand, an expensive optical fiber fusion splicer is needed, as well as many hours of work required, to splice fibers with their cores misaligned, on the other hand. Therefore, there are problems such as increased manufacturing costs and lead times.
For another method, Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 2001-228337 discloses an optical attenuator which utilizes the phenomenon that the amount of loss in an optical fiber depends on the curvature radius of the optical fiber. This optical attenuator includes: a main body composed of a base with a plurality of projections thereon; and an optical fiber placed on a face of the base, bent in a predetermined circular shape by being brought in contact with the projections. According to an optical-fiber loss adjusting method employed in this optical attenuator, a coarse adjustment is first made in which the amount of optical attenuation per turn of the optical fiber is large with a reduced radius of curvature of the optical fiber, and thereafter, a fine adjustment is made in which the amount of optical attenuation per turn of the optical fiber is reduced by increasing the curvature radius of the optical fiber. In this manner, the level of an optical signal, or the amount of optical attenuation, is adjusted by setting two curvature radii or more, without changing the number of turns of the optical fiber.
However, the optical attenuator employing this conventional method has such a structure that the optical fiber is placed on the face of the seat while being wound round to make double circles, one with a lager radius of curvature and the other with a smaller radius of curvature, the shapes of which are maintained by a support member. Accordingly, there are possibilities of the occurrence of an unexpected loss (microbend) and the loosening of the optical fiber, depending on the shape of the support member where the circle with the larger radius of curvature is connected to the circle with the smaller radius of curvature.

Method and apparatus for adjusting loss caused by optical fiber curvature, and optical transmission system using the same


An electronic device comprises a circuit board, a conductive member, and a spring contact. The conductive member is spaced from the circuit board and comprises a surface opposite to the circuit board. The surface defines a recessed portion. The spring contact is connected to the conductive member and contacts the circuit board to achieve grounding. The spring contact comprises an end movably received in the recessed portion.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device including an electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shield spring device.
2. Description of Related Art
EMI shield spring clips/contacts are known in the art, such as the EMI shield springs described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,428 to Radloff et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,170 to Barringer et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,269 to Garrett. The EMI shield spring clips/contacts contact a circuit board and a conductive member of an electronic device to achieve grounding. In certain instances, the EMI shield spring contacts/clips may lack sufficient resilience due to assembly errors, which may result in the EMI shield spring contacts/clips failing to contact the circuit board or the conductive member.
What is needed is an EMI shield spring device to solve the aforementioned problems.

Electronic device with EMI shield spring device


A binocular visual performance measuring method including: a parallax image displaying step of displaying left and right parallax images at a predetermined measurement start position on a display screen when a measurement item is designated; a parallax image changing step of changing one of the left and right parallax images relative to the other of the left and right parallax images in accordance with the designated measurement item; a timing detecting step of detecting a timing when the subject viewing the left and right parallax images from a position a predetermined distance away from the display screen becomes unable to achieve fusion of the left and right parallax images; and a measurement value calculating step of calculating a measurement value of the designated measurement item based on the predetermined distance and a difference between the left and right parallax images defined at the detected timing.

The present invention relates to a method and a program for measuring binocular visual performance, and design and manufacturing methods for designing and manufacturing eyeglass lenses using the measurement result.
One of eyesight test items, a binocular visual performance test is known. The binocular visual performance test includes a simultaneous perception test, a fusion test and a stereoscopic viewing test. Eyesight tests of this type are described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publications No. 2010-99335A (hereafter, referred to as patent document #1) and No. 2010-75755A (hereafter, referred to as patent document #2).
The stereoscopic viewing test described in patent document #1 is performed using a HMD (Head Mounted Display). Specifically, a subject views an object as a virtual image wearing the HMD on one eye, and simultaneously views the object with the other eye as naked vision. The subject perceives retinal images of the object as a three dimensional object when the object viewed as the virtual image and the object viewed with the naked eye are in Panum's fusional area although the retinal images are not at corresponding points. In the test, the virtual image is moved from a state where the subject is able to perform stereoscopic viewing, so as to change binocular parallax. As the binocular parallax changes, the left and right retinal images deviate from the Panum's fusional area at a certain point in time. At this time, the subject perceives a double image of the object. As described above, the stereoscopic viewing test in patent document #1 performs a test of the stereoscopic viewing by measuring a breaking point which allows the subject to achieve the fusion for the object.
In an ophthalmologic testing method described in patent document #2, the binocular visual performance is tested using an indicator projected on a shallow hemisphere screen of an ophthalmologic testing apparatus. For example, in the fusion test, an image for a left eye and an image for a right eye are projected to overlap with each other so that the images can be recognized as a single image. Then, the two projected images are moved to depart from each other. In the ophthalmologic testing method described in patent document #2, a breaking point at which the shifted two images are recognized as a double image is measured to perform the fusion test.

Binocular visual performance measuring method, binocular visual performance measuring program, eyeglass lens design method and eyeglass lens manufacturing method


A pedicle screw tulip head extender. The extender can include an upper body portion joined to a lower body portion. The upper body portion can have two opposing arms extending upwardly from a curved lower surface to define a substantially U-shaped interior channel having a first channel axis, the curved lower surface defining an access opening extending through the upper body portion in a direction generally perpendicular to the first channel axis. The lower body portion can extend downwardly as a protrusion from the upper body portion and can be joined to the upper body portion and can have first and second sides, the first and second sides being substantially planar and parallel and separated by an interior portion, the first and second sides defining a protrusion height and a protrusion width. A screw can be disposed in the interior portion and have external threads defining a thread diameter greater than the protrusion width.

Spinal fixation systems may be used to surgically fix, adjust, and/or align the spinal column. One type of spinal fixation system employs a spinal rod for supporting the spine and fixing, adjusting, and/or aligning all or portions of the spinal column into a desired orientation. Attachment of the spinal rod to the spinal column has been achieved using a variety of vertebral anchors. Pedicle screws have been used successfully as vertebral anchors. Pedicle screws and connectors in combination with spinal rods can align and correct deformities in the natural spinal alignment as well as repair traumatic injury. In general, a pedicle screw has a head with a receiving opening into which a spinal rod can be secured.
However, once a pedicle screw is set, i.e., screwed into a portion of the pedicle bone, the location of a spinal rod to be set into it is also set due to the fixed position of the head of the pedicle screw. It can be the case that during the process of spinal fixation it is discovered that the fixed location of the head of the pedicle screw, and, therefore, the fixed location of the reduced spinal rod, is not ideal.
Accordingly, there remains an unmet need for an apparatus, system, and method to provide for variable positioning of a spinal rod in a fixed pedicle screw.
Further, there remains an unmet need for spinal fixation apparatus that permits greater flexibility for neuromuscular and revision cases by providing for a greater variety of instrumentation.


A remotely controlled apparatus for reducing the size of energetic materials is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a remotely controlled cutter, retainer and a device for positioning the energetic material to be reduced. Also disclosed is a method for reducing the size of energetic materials by positioning a block of energetic material between the cutter and the retainer and causing the cutter to cut through the block of energetic material.

Solid energetic materials are used to power rockets as solid rocket propellant motors as well as in the explosives industry. These materials are often manufactured in large batches and, in the case of rocket motors, cast into large blocks or formed in situ in large motor casings. Many times through age or for other reasons such materials must be disposed of or new uses for the materials must be found. Such alternative uses or disposal techniques invariably require that the material be converted into a more manageable size.
In view of the nature of these energetic materials and the dangers associated with handling them it is important to be able not only to reduce the size of the individual blocks of energetic material, but to do it safely and economically. Therefore what is needed in this art is a safe, inexpensive means to form smaller units of energetic material from larger ones.

Method and apparatus for cutting blocks of solid energetic materials


A pump apparatus, which comprises: (a) a tubular portion comprising an electroactive polymer actuator that expands and contracts an inner volume of the tubular portion based upon received control signals; and (b) a control unit electrically coupled to the electroactive polymer actuator and sending control signals to the actuator. The pump apparatus can further include at least one valve that is in fluid communication with the inner volume of the tubular portion. The pump apparatus can be used, for example, as a heart-lung bypass pump apparatus. Also disclosed herein is a method of providing circulatory support for patient. The method comprises (a) providing the above pump apparatus; (b) placing an inlet of the pump apparatus in fluid communication with the venous side of the patient's vascular system; (c) placing an outlet of the pump apparatus in fluid communication with the arterial side of the patient's vascular system; and (d) sending control signals to the electroactive polymer actuator thereby pumping blood from the venous side to the arterial side of said patient's vascular system.

Bypass pumps are put into medical use in instances where a patient requires circulatory support. For example, bypass pumps are widely used in heart surgery to support blood flow while the surgeon repairs heart chambers, heart valves, coronary vessels and so forth. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common example of such surgery.
During a typical bypass surgical procedure, cannulas/catheters inserted into the patient's venous and arterial circulations are connected via tubing sets to an oxygenator and pump console. The pump console is typically based upon a roller-type pump. Unfortunately, roller type pumps suffer from a number of disadvantages, for example: (a) the squeezing of the tubing in the roller causes hemolysis, which is detrimental to the patient, (b) setup and sterilization of the complex pump-tubing-oxygenator system, and particularly of the roller-type pump, is time-consuming and expensive, typically involving specialized operating room perfusionist staff, (c) roller pump consoles are big, occupying a large amount of space in an already crowded operating room, (d) the priming volume of roller-pump systems is large; (e) priming with saline causes hemodilution and anemia, while priming with blood involves the risks that are attendant with transfusion, and (f) unlike the heart, roller pumps deliver a pulseless flow.
Many or the above and other disadvantages of the prior art are addressed by the bypass pumps of the present invention.

Electroactive polymer actuated heart-lung bypass pumps


A paper guide mechanism for guiding a movement of a paper in a printer includes a frame body having a lower roller and mounted in the printer, and a paper guide having an upper roller cooperating with the lower roller for guiding therebetween the paper, in which the upper roller is parallelly displaced with respect to the lower roller for biasing the paper in order that the paper can be guided through the paper guide smoothly. The paper guide further has an elastic rod being integrally formed with the paper guide and the elastic rod includes a retaining part to rotatably retain a shaft of the upper roller. The retaining part can have a retaining channel having an opening through which the shaft of the upper roller is received in the channel.

So far the design of the elastic plate of the paper guide in the printer is popularly seen and used to press the paper as it is moved between the feeding roller and the following roller to be printed. Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a prior paper guide assembly including a paper guide 10 and two metal elastic plates 11 separable from paper guide 10. Although the paper can be guided along a specific direction by the combination of the paper guide 10 and the elastic plates 11 with a frame body, it is necessary to mount eight slender strips 13 at both sides of each following roller 12 to suppress the vibration of the paper. It is troublesome, time-consuming and expensive to assemble the separable elastic plates 11 with the paper guide 10.
It is therefore tried by the applicant to deal with the above situation encountered by the prior art.


A method is described for preparing a mixture for quality control of 0.1 g glycine tablets for sublingual application. The mixture for quality control includes a 100:0.5 ratio of ethanol to porphyrized tablets, each tablet containing 0.1 g microcapsules of non-agglomerated crystals of amino-acetic acid covered with a polymeric film of water-soluble methylcellulose, each tablet further containing 0.001 g of magnesium stearate. The process for preparing the mixture includes dissolution of the tablet in ethanol for 20 minutes and is carried out at a temperature of 40° C. in an apparatus using a paddle rotation speed of 200 revolutions per minute. After the mixture is dissolved, it is allowed to stand for 10 minutes at room temperature, and then a light transmission coefficient is measured at 700±2 nm for a 10 mm thick layer of the mixture. A transmission value within the limits of 90% to 100% compared with 50% ethanol corresponds to the proper quality.

The invention relates to the chemical-pharmaceutical industry and specifically to mix for identification test in the process of quality control of the medicine "Glycine tablets for sublingual applying 0.1 g", methods of its preparation and identity evaluation during quality control of the specified medicine.
The medicine "Glycine tablets for sublingual applying 0.1 g" (hereinafter referred to as Glycine) activates inhibitory processes in central nervous system, exhibits properties of α1 adrenoceptor blocking agent and has stressprotecive, antistress, nootropic andxieuroprotecrive effect.
For production of the medicine "Glycine tablets for sublingual applying 0.1 g" there are used microcapsules in the form of non-agglomerated crystals of amino-acetic acid filmed by water-soluble methyl-cellulose, MC-100 and magnesium stearate. Long-term experience of Glycine utilization has demonstrated that the optimum efficacy is achieved by a tablet with the decomposition period varying from 10 to 20 minutes, crushing resistance ranging from 10 to 30 N, containing 0.101 g of microcapsuled glycine and 0.001 g of magnesium stearate.
Dissolution of the medicine with the specified composition and physico-chemical properties is attended by buildup of special structures which provide maximum therapeutic effect. In its turn character and degree of structuring by using particular methods render it possible to carry out quantitative assessment of tablet qualitative composition in aqueous medium. (EA B1 No. 7615, IPC 8 GO1N 21/17, 2006). In the process of manufacturing of the medicine Glycine, taking into consideration formulation and low content of adjuncts most difficulties occur with adherence to the interval of decomposition period since amino-acetic acid is easily water-soluble. It is easy to overcome these difficulties if pelletizing mass formulation is adhered to. Glycine plays part of a special ingredient structure in the form of microcapsules (non-agglomerated crystals of amino-acetic acid, filmed by water-soluble methyl-cellulose MC-100) in this formulation whereas a tablet itself as a 'substance' is composition structure, obtained by compression which save to the utmost microcapsules integrity.
Controllable decomposition period can be attained by use of microcapsuled glycine and strict adherence to the particular pelletizing mass formulation. (RU C1 No. 22171673, IPC 7 A61K 9/50, 2001). Preparation of the medicine "Glycine tablets for sublingual applying 0.1 g" of high efficiency requires strict adherence to qualitative and quantitative formulation, use of the particular ingredient structure (microcapsuled Glycine), included in palletizing mass and particular structure of final substance—medicine, that can be achieved upon condition that high production, standards are observed. Taking into account some difficulties in production of the drug "Glycine tablets for sublingual applying 0.1 g" (as related to decomposition period), lack of simple and accessible methods of identification of adjunct substances in the State quality standard of drugs leads to massive violations of the medicine formulation concerning adjunct substances by unscrupulous manufacturers for the purpose of frivolous cheapening. Such violations mostly result in self-tapering action and in some cases loss of its pharmacological effects. In this context it is worthy of note that 140 years after amino-acetic acid had been invented pharmacological effects were obtained only with the particular medicine structure and method of its utilization.
There is known mix for identity test of the medicine- "Glycine tablets for sublingual applying 0.1 g", involving purified water and porphyrized tablets in a ratio 100:1 with light transmission coefficient of 4 ml mix and layer thickness of 10 mm and wave length 700±2 nm in comparison with purified water ranging from 50% to 70%. (pharmacopeia FC 42-0159-05; EA B1 No. 7615, 1PC 8 G01N 21/17, 2006).
It has been shown practically" that the base mix specified makes us evaluate violations of the formulation identity for water-soluble and non-soluble substances. Adjuncts abundance and manufacturers sophistication referring to formulation violation require extra methods of evaluation for adulteration detecting.

Quality control mixture for glycine tablets, a method for preparing the mixture and a method for identifying the mixture

Nekommercheskoe Uchrezhdenie “Nauchno-Issledovateljskiyj Institut Citokhimii I Molekulyarnoyj Farmakologii”


Timing information and deeper trip planning can enhance conventional mapping functionality. A user provides a specified time of arrival and/or departure information along with a starting and end point, and receives a travel route with estimated arrival and departure times based on time-specific information, such as traffic or construction at specific times of day. The user can choose or be prompted to add one or more waypoints along the way. The user can get recommendations for hotels, restaurants, points of interest, and other such locations based on location, time of day, travel time, or other such aspects. Upon selecting a waypoint, the amount of time the user will be at that waypoint and the additional driving time are used to adjust one or more other times of the trip, such as the starting or departure times, or times of other waypoints.

Many people utilize computer-based mapping applications to obtain directions to various locations. A person typically inputs a starting point and a destination, and obtains one or more route options. Upon selecting a route, or obtaining a single route, the user can also receive directions for the route and a graphical representation of the route, along with a length of time that the route will take. The person is not able to enter a time that the user intends to leave the starting point, or a time at which the user desires to arrive at the destination. Conventional approaches provide a predicted length of time of the route, but do not offer actual departure and arrival times. If a person has an appointment at 1:15 p.m. and the trip is estimated to take 79 minutes, the person must figure out when the person must leave, which can be a potential source of error or confusion. Further, the time of day can affect the overall length of the trip. For example, going through a downtown of a major city during rush hour can take a significantly different amount of time than going through that city in the middle of the night. Conventional mapping approaches do not factor in this information.
Further, conventional mapping approaches do not provide for a deeper level of trip planning when getting information for a lengthy trip. For example, a person might plan a trip from Seattle to Los Angeles that may take about twenty hours. A conventional mapping approach will provide continuous directions to Los Angeles, without factoring in that the person might want to split the trip over two or three days, and might want to stop at various points along the way. If a person wants to obtain directions to hotels, restaurants, points of interest, or other such locations, the person typically must use a separate application to obtain the location of any of these stops and then manually obtain directions to each of these stops. Even when a mapping application enables a user to add a waypoint, the directions do not provide timing information or break up the trip according to how the user will actually follow the route.


A diagnostic biological array, kit or system, and method of using same unit for conducting simultaneously blood tests and determining the presence of diseases, the blood type, and blood quality of a blood sample and its applications.

When a person is coming to donate blood, he has to fill up a personal questioner in order to assess his health and the potential risks that can derive from his blood (e.g. Hepatitis C). In addition, the blood bank is running several tests to the donor and to the donated blood. The tests include hemoglobin levels and presence of contaminations (e.g. HIV) in the blood. These tests take around 8-10 hours and are usually done within the first 24 hours after blood donation. These tests are important in order to verify that the donated blood will benefit the recipient and will not harm him.
In many cases, a person receives a blood transfusion because of low levels of iron or hemoglobin. Therefore, it is surprising that in the end of the tests, the blood bank does not mark the levels or the hemoglobin content of the blood unit. Furthermore, it is a common knowledge that men have ˜25% more hemoglobin than women.
In addition, in the last few years there are different studies pointing out the quality of packed red blood cells (PRBC) as an important parameter in terms of their survivability and functionality after transfusion. RBC are unique cells that have the ability to go through small capillaries. In order to do that they have to be flexible and should not aggregate (create clusters) or adhere to endothelial cells. In other words, RBC have to have good flow-properties (FP). Inadequate FP of RBC can lead to many problems such as circulatory disorders (e.g. blood pressure) and anemias. Furthermore, if the RBC don't survive the transfusion, the patient dose not receive the hemoglobin content and his body has to deal with cell debris.
Antibodies arrays (protein chip) became a leading tool in biological research. The ability to test the presence and the levels of a certain protein in a sample advanced the understanding of cellular pathways. In addition, the sensitivity of the protein chips is very high and they can detect as low as a few picograms of proteins in a sample. Surprisingly, the use of protein chip is far under use in clinic.
Today, all the tests that are done at the blood bank in order to classify the blood type and the detection of pathogens can be done on a small volume within 2-3 hours. In addition, other tests, such as RBC FP, could be included on the same array and save time and money.


An implantable cardiac device that delivers electrical therapy to a patient's heart determines if a T wave alternan pattern of the patient's heart exists. The device includes a sensing circuit that generates an electrical signal including T waves representing paced electrical activity of the heart and a morphology detector that measures a metric of each T wave in the electrical signal. A T wave alternan pattern detector determines, responsive to the measured T wave metrics, if a paced activity T wave alternan pattern is present. The T wave alternan pattern detector may also detect for intrinsic T wave alternan patterns. A therapy control initiates suitable different responses for a paced T wave alternan pattern detection and an intrinsic T wave alternan pattern detection.

Implantable cardiac stimulation devices are well known in the art. They include implantable pacemakers which provide stimulation pulses to a heart to cause a heart, which would normally or otherwise beat too slowly or at an irregular rate, to beat at a controlled normal rate. They also include defibrillators which detect when the atria and/or the ventricles of the heart are in fibrillation and apply cardioverting or defibrillating electrical energy to the heart to restore the heart to a normal rhythm. Implantable cardiac stimulation devices may also include the combined functionalities of a pacemaker and a defibrillator.
As is well known, implantable cardiac stimulation devices sense cardiac activity for monitoring the cardiac condition of the patient in which the device is implanted. By sensing the cardiac activity of the patient, the device is able to provide cardiac stimulation therapy when it is required.
As is well known, a cardiac cycle on an electrocardiogram (ECG) extends from one heart beat (QRS complex) to the next. During each cardiac cycle, a T wave occurs. The T wave is a low-frequency wave that follows the ST-segment and represents repolarization of the ventricular myocardium. Alternate occurring T wave amplitudes (i.e., high/low amplitudes occurring at odd/even beats) are referred to as T wave alternans (TWAs).
T wave alternan patterns are known to be a precursor for sudden cardiac death. In the past, detection of T wave alternan patterns has been performed using surface ECGs. Implementation of such detection has included the measurement, on a beat-to-beat basis, of the micro-volt level changes in the T wave amplitude from the surface ECG. Then, the long record of time series of T wave amplitude change is transformed into the frequency domain by Fourier series transformation (FFT). A prominent peak in the FFT at 0.5 Hz would verify the existence of a T wave alternan pattern.
Unfortunately, the above detection method requires the use of medical equipment that must be operated by medical personnel in a medical facility such as a physician's office. The detection requires long term recording of surface ECGs and off-line analysis with robust computation equipment. As a result, T wave alternan pattern monitoring has been inconvenient and cumbersome. As a result, it is difficult to provide continuous and regular T wave alternan pattern monitoring.
Many patients who would benefit from T wave alternan pattern monitoring have an implanted cardiac device such as an implantable defibrillator or a combined defibrillator pacemaker. It would thus be highly desirable if such an implanted device could detect for T wave alternan patterns. However, the prior art detection method does not lend itself for such application due to, for example, the required long term monitoring, surface ECG, and robust computational requirements for Fourier series transformation.
In order for an implanted cardiac device to provide T wave alternan pattern monitoring, there is a need for a new and different approach. With such a new approach, it would be possible to provide arrhythmia risk assessments on demand and more timely delivery of preventative therapy.

Implantable cardiac device providing rapid pacing T wave alternan pattern detection and method


The present invention utilizes color mixings with angle dependencies from adjacent R pixels, and in the case where a subject color is red, uses first and second B pixels as phase-difference pixels, allowing for an accurate phase-difference AF based on the output signals of the first and second B pixels. Here, it is unnecessary to provide phase-difference pixels dedicated to the case where the subject color is red, and the phase difference is detected using ordinary B pixels of an imaging element. Therefore, the resolution is not sacrificed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging device and an automatic focus adjustment method, and particularly to an imaging device and an automatic focus adjustment method for detecting a phase difference between imaged signals and automatically performing a focus adjustment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known an automatic focus adjustment (phase difference AF) in which first and second phase-difference pixels are provided in parts of an imaging element, a phase difference between the output signals of the first and second phase-difference pixels is detected, and the focal position of a focus lens is adjusted based on the detected phase difference.
When the first and second phase-difference pixels are provided in parts of the imaging element, there is a problem in that the focus detection accuracy decreases by the influence of a crosstalk from other pixels with different colors that are adjacent to the first and second phase-difference pixels.
For solving this problem, a focus detection device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-122524 corrects the output signals of the first and second phase-difference pixels, depending on the output signals of surrounding pixels, and detects the phase difference based on the signals after the correction.
Meanwhile, the saturation of pixels adjacent to the phase-difference pixels creates another problem in that the crosstalk correction is not properly performed and an error appears in the focus detection result.
For solving this problem, an imaging device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-257565 decides whether pixels surrounding the phase-difference pixels are saturated, and switches the crosstalk correction depending on the decision result.

Imaging device and automatic focus adjustment method


An air-fuel optimization logic for an electronic engine control system for optimizing the efficiency of a heat engine. The engine control system has a governor generating fuel command signals to maintain speed of the engine at a desired speed, means for generating a reference air-fuel ratio signal, means responsive to the fuel command signal and the air-fuel ratio signal for supplying air to the engine, and means responsive to the fuel command signal for supplying fuel to the engine. The air-fuel optimization logic has means responsive to a change in the fuel command signal to generate an optimized air-fuel ratio offset signal which when summed with the a reference air-fuel ratio signal produces an optimized air-fuel ratio signal. The air-fuel optimization logic increments the reference air-fuel ratio signal to find a lean offset and decrements the reference air-fuel ratio signal to find a rich offset. The lean and rich offsets are averaged to generate the optimized air-fuel ratio offset.

I. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to electronic control system for controlling the rate at which air and fuel are supplied to a heat engine and, in particular, to an air-fuel ratio optimization logic which optimizes the air-fuel ratio for the most efficient operation of the engine.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Various methods for controlling the operation of internal combustion engines are known in the art. Today, most of the engines in passenger cars are equipped with exhaust gas oxygen sensors which measure the partial pressure of oxygen in the exhaust. The electrical signals from these exhaust gas oxygen sensors are only indicative if the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture being supplied to the engine is either rich or lean with reference to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio in which the air completely oxidizes the fuel leaving little or no oxygen residue. In most closed loop engine control systems, the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture being supplied to the engine is fairly near to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
Other electronic engine control systems are known in the art which use other engine parameters for closing the loop from the engine to the electronic controller. L. Taplin in U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,816 teaches a lean burn system in which the air flow rate is held constant and the fuel rate is decremented until the engine vibrations reach a predetermined engine roughness. The fuel rate is then dithered to maintain the predetermined engine roughness. The engine roughness in Taplin's patent is measured by a vibration sensor attached to the engine.
C. K. Leung in U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,140 teaches an improvement to Taplin's engine control system in which the engine roughness is determined by measuring the instantaneous rotational velocity of the engine's flywheel. In the fuel control system taught by C. K. Leung, the roughness signal is used as a bias to maintain the engine roughness at a predetermined value.
In a like manner, Latsch in U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,162, Benachi et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,433, and Frolenius in U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,083, all disclose engine control systems in which the fuel delivered to the engine is controlled or adjusted to maintain the fluctuations of the rotational speed of the engine's output at a predetermined value. In an alternate engine control system, Latsch in U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,846, an engine control variable, such as fuel, air or ignition timing is modulated and the phase of the resultant variation in crankshaft acceleration is used to adjust the magnitude of an engine control variable.

Air-fuel ratio optimization logic for an electronic engine control systems


A seal assembly is provided for a fill pipe of a vehicle fuel system to provide a pliable seal between an end of the fuel pipe and a refueling nozzle inserted in the fill pipe.

Vehicle fuel systems are known to include a tank for holding fuel and a fuel fill pipe that functions as an inlet for supplying fuel to the tank from a nozzle at a refueling station. Vehicle fuel systems are known to include primary and secondary shutoffs to close the system.
The fuel fill pipe has an opening that can be exposed during refueling to receive the nozzle. Both capless and capped fuel fill pipes are known. An exposed end portion of the fuel fill pipe is of sufficient size to receive a discharge tube of a refueling nozzle at a fuel pumping system. It is known to have the nozzle fit relatively loosely in the fill pipe so that it can be inserted and removed easily, without undo physical interference. Accordingly, the fuel fill pipe is of greater diameter than the refueling nozzle, and a space exists between the nozzle and the fill pipe when the nozzle is position in the fill pipe.
Disadvantages experienced with some fuel systems during a refueling operation result from the relatively free airflow that can occur through the fill pipe via the space between the fuel fill pipe and the refueling nozzle outlet tube. The relatively brisk flow of fuel through the fuel fill pipe can entrain air therewith. The entrained air is readily replaced by air entering the fuel fill pip around the nozzle outlet tube, allowing the entrained air to be carried into the fuel tank. As the fuel tank fills with fuel, air displaced in the tank by the increasing volume of fuel is expelled from the tank. The expelled air carries hydrocarbons with it, whether the air was in the tank prior to when refueling commenced, or was carried into the tank by entrainment with the fuel stream entering the tank.
It is known to provide a vapor outlet system from the fuel tank, including a carbon canister to remove hydrocarbons from the air before the air is released into the atmosphere. However, since airflow is relatively unrestricted through the fill pipe and post the nozzle, escaping air and hydrocarbons from the tank can follow that path as well, avoiding the vapor outlet system and carbon canister, and being released into the atmosphere untreated.
The size of the carbon canister in the vapor outlet system is selected for the amount of hydrocarbons to be removed and for the volume of air to be processed through the canister. Accordingly, reducing air entrainment with the fuel during refueling, and thereby reducing hydrocarbon vapors expelled during refueling, reduces the hydrocarbon removal capacity required for the hydrocarbon canister. Decreasing the canister in both size and performance requirements can result in significant cost savings.


A video-signal-recording apparatus compresses video signals having different formats, and records the signals. The apparatus comprises a recognition means for recognizing input video formats, compression means for changing compression rates depending on the format recognition signal, and record means for compounding the format recognition signal and an output from the compression means. The apparatus records the video signals having different formats on a recording medium sequentially without any seams.

The present invention relates to a video signal recording and reproducing apparatus that compresses video signals having different formats with a high efficiency, and records as well as reproduces the compressed video signals.
Recently, several new broadcasting systems, such as HDTV (high definition television), ATV (advanced television), etc. have been developed in the engineering field of broadcasting industry, and some of the new systems are now in operation.
On the other hand, various systems are proposed to be the next generation broadcasting system, e.g., a progressive signal method, in other words, a 480p signal method, which is converted from the interlace signal method of NTSC system where 525 scanning lines are employed. Meanwhile, the 480p signal method handles 525 scanning lines in the progressive method; however, a number of active lines are 480, thus the system is named for this number. The conventional interlace system is called xe2x80x9c480ixe2x80x9d in order to distinguish from the progressive method. The 480p signal method is now prescribed as the DTV (digital television) standard of the U.S.
The 480p signal of progressive signal method is described hereinafter.
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram depicting signal modes of interlace and progressive method. By the interlace mode, 30 frames of picture data are produced per second, one picture data (one frame) is scanned with every other scanning line of 525 lines, thus 60 picture data (field) per second, each frame scanned with 262.5 lines, are transmitted. A digital studio standard employing the interlace mode is prescribed in Recommendation ITU-R.601-3, of which sampling frequency is, luminance signal: 13.5 MHz, color difference signal: 6.75 MHz. This xe2x80x9c4:2:2 signalxe2x80x9d is referred to xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signalxe2x80x9d hereinafter to identify that this signal is in the interlace mode.
The progressive method, on the other hand, produces 60 picture data (frame) per second, and one picture data is scanned by 525 scanning lines (including 480 active lines) without interlacing. The progressive signal, of which picture is formed with 525 scanning lines, is digitized by a xe2x80x9c8:4:4 signalxe2x80x9d format, i.e., doubled sampling frequency of the digital studio standard in the interlace mode. The sampling frequency of the progressive signal is thus, luminance signal: 27 MHz, color difference signal: 13.5 MHz., which is twice as much as that of the xe2x80x9c4:2:2 signalxe2x80x9d. The xe2x80x9c8:4:4 signalxe2x80x9d is now studied to divide into a main signal and a sub-signal for transmitting, i.e., the main signal comprising one luminance signal and two color difference signals, and the sub-signal comprising also one luminance signal and two color difference signal so that the sub-signal interpolates the main signal. The xe2x80x9c8:4:4 signalxe2x80x9d is thus divided into the main and sub signals which are assigned to every other scanning line respectively. The main signal and sub signal of this method are an independent interlace signal having 525 scanning lines per frame, and are the same as the xe2x80x9c4:2:2 signalxe2x80x9d. The coupled main signal and sub signal is hereinafter referred to xe2x80x9c4:2:2:4:2:2 signalxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9c4:2:2p signalxe2x80x9d.
FIG. 18 depicts a sampling structure of the xe2x80x9c4:2:2p signalxe2x80x9d on a screen. As shown in FIG. 18, a video signal is divided into the main signal and sub signal in both an even frame and an odd frame. The main signals and sub signals are alternately arranged on vertical and horizontal lines in temporal-spatial wise.
When the xe2x80x9c8:4:4 signalxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9c4:2:2p signalxe2x80x9d is transmitted, the color difference signal of xe2x80x9c8:4:4 signalxe2x80x9d undergoes, e.g., a vertical filter as shown in FIG. 17 in vertical direction in order to limit its bandwidth before transmitting the color difference signal in each line, for the color difference signal carries less information than the luminance signal does, therefore the human visual property does not sense deterioration of the color difference signal. In FIG. 17, the filter comprises 1H delay line 120, 121 delaying a signal for one horizontal scanning period, a multiplier 122, 124 and an adder 123. The numbers printed in the boxes representing the multipliers 122 and 124 in FIG. 17 are coefficients of multiplication. The color difference signal is limited in its band by e.g., the vertical filter as shown in FIG. 17, then the signals are decimated in each line, then the color difference signal only on the main signal side are transmitted, while that on the sub signal side is not transmitted.
The above transmitted signal is called xe2x80x9c4:2:2:4:0:0 signalxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9c4:2:0pxe2x80x9d signal because the sub signal does not carry the color difference signal. The xe2x80x9c4:2:0p signalxe2x80x9d is prescribed as SMPTE294M standard. When the progressive signal is converted into the xe2x80x9c4:2:0p signalxe2x80x9d in transmission, recording or playing back, the transmission band can be effectively reduced without deteriorating a visual quality of the video signal.
On the other hand, the color difference signal decimated on the sub-signal side can be reproduced by providing the main signal with an interpolation filter as shown in FIG. 19 or 20. FIG. 20 shows the easiest way for the reproduction. In FIG. 19, the filter comprises 1H delay lines 130, 131 and 132 delaying a signal for one horizontal scanning period respectively, multipliers 133, 134, 135, 136 and 138, and an adder 137. The numbers printed in the boxes representing the multipliers are coefficients of multiplication. In FIG. 20, the filter comprises 1H delay line 140 active in one horizontal scanning period, an adder 141 and a multiplier 142. The number printed in the box 142 representing the multiplier is a coefficient of multiplication. Since the color difference signal on the sub-signal side can be reproduced by the filter shown in FIG. 19 or 20, the xe2x80x9c4:2:0p signalxe2x80x9d can be converted into the xe2x80x9c4:2:2p signalxe2x80x9d, further, the xe2x80x9c4:2:2p signalxe2x80x9d can be converted with ease into the xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signalxe2x80x9d by adding the main and sub signals and dividing 2 into the addition result, as FIG. 21 shows an example. In FIG. 21, a filter comprises an adder 150 and a multiplier 151. The number printed in the box of multiplier 151 is a coefficient of multiplication.
Besides the xe2x80x9c480p signalxe2x80x9d method, various methods are proposed in HDTV (high definition television) system and other systems aiming for the higher resolution than that of the present system. For instance, 1125i/1035i (1125 scanning lines including 1035 active lines), 1125i/1080i method in the interlace system, and 750p/720p (750 scanning lines including 720 active lines) in the progressive signal method of HDTV system are proposed.
Various proposals of TV systems accompany the developing of hardware corresponding to the systems such as acquisition devices, equipment for studios. The next generation broadcasting system; however, has just undergone a test operation, therefore, materials produced by the acquisition devices are converted into the present television system to be on-air. For instance, a program is produced by HDTV cameras and VCRs, and the program is on-air through the satellite broadcasting as HDTV, and also the program is converted into the present television system and on-air through the terrestrial broadcasting.
It sometimes happens that a program is produced using devices and equipment corresponding to various broadcasting methods, e.g., a program is produced by combined hardware including devices for high resolution television such as HDTV, 480p and other devices for the present television system, and the program thus produced is on-air through the present broadcasting system.
In such a case, the program must be undergone the process shown in FIG. 15 before on-air.
The conventional method shown in FIG. 15 is now detailed.
In FIG. 15, a first VCR 100 is used in xe2x80x9c480i signalxe2x80x9d system of interlace mode, and reproduces the xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signalxe2x80x9d where a sampling frequency ratio of luminance signal vs. color difference signals is 4:2:2. A second VCR 101 is used in xe2x80x9c480p signalxe2x80x9d system of progressive signal, and reproduces xe2x80x9c4:2:0p signalxe2x80x9d. A third VCR 102 reproduces HD signals containing e.g., 1125 scanning lines which includes 1080 effective lines. A fourth VCR 106 records and reproduces video signals formatted in xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signalxe2x80x9d of the present television system. All the VCRs handle compressed video signals.
The first VCR 100 reproduces and outputs xe2x80x9c4:2:2 signal 107xe2x80x9d. The second VCR 101 reproduces xe2x80x9c4:2:0p signalxe2x80x9d, which undergoes a scanning line converter 103 which is formed by a simple filter as shown in FIG. 21, and produces xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signal 110xe2x80x9d. The third VCR 102 reproduces a HD signal 109, which undergoes a format converter 104 to be converted into xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signalxe2x80x9d. The format converter 104, in this case, is called a xe2x80x9cdown converterxe2x80x9d, and has filters both in vertical and horizontal directions on the screen. The format converter 104 converts a number of scanning lines and samples per line to produce xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signal 111xe2x80x9d. A switcher 105 selects one of input signals 107, 110 and 111 of xe2x80x9c4:2:2-ixe2x80x9d system, and outputs the selected signal as an output signal 112 to the fourth VCR 106, which edits signals including the selected signal on its tape to produce a program.
In FIG. 15, if additional device of another system is used, the corresponding VCR as well as converter must be prepared, and signals are edited on the tape.
In the above conventional process, e.g., when a picture of xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signalxe2x80x9d is produced by combining a picture of xe2x80x9c4:2:0p signalxe2x80x9d and a picture of xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signalxe2x80x9d, the xe2x80x9c4:2:0p signalxe2x80x9d is firstly converted into the xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signalxe2x80x9d, then secondly compressed again for being edited on the tape. The repeating signal compression and decompression results in deteriorating a picture quality. Further, necessary times for decoding, line conversion and format conversion differ depending on formats of original picture as well as converted picture, it is thus impossible to record the signals in the fourth VCR on real time base. There are still other problems as follows in addition to the above problems:
1. Three VCRs in total are necessary, i.e., one for reproducing the xe2x80x9c4:2:0p signalxe2x80x9d, one for reproducing the xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signalxe2x80x9d and the other for recording the xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signalxe2x80x9d. Further a line converter for converting the xe2x80x9c4:2:0p signalxe2x80x9d into the xe2x80x9c4:2:2-i signalxe2x80x9d is required. These devices require much of labor and cost.
2. Editing process, such as insertion and assembly, does not allow any seams in a chain of signals and yet consumes a large number of times.
The present invention aims to address the above problems and provide a recording and reproducing apparatus which can record and reproduce video signals of different numbers of scanning lines and resolutions with no seams between video signals and without deteriorating picture quality.
In order to achieve the above goals, the present invention compresses a various of video signals, which have different numbers of scanning lines and resolutions, into signals having different bit-rates lower than the maximum bit-rate so that a recording and reproducing apparatus can process. The video signals can be thus continuously recorded and reproduced.
According to the first invention, a video signal recording apparatus comprises the following elements:
(a) compressing means which receives at least two kinds of video format signals, recognizes the formats and compress the signals instantly responding to respective information quantity of the video signals,
(b) recording means which records (1) the compressed signals and (2) format recognition signals for recognizing a format of the compressed signals without seams, on at least one helical track formed on a magnetic tape.
According to the second invention, a video signal recording apparatus comprises the following element:
Recording means which receives two or more different kinds of compressed video signals, and records (1) the compressed signals and (2) format recognition signals for recognizing a format of the compressed signals with no seams, on at least one helical track formed on a magnetic tape.
According to the third invention, a video signal reproducing apparatus comprises the following elements:
(a) reproduction means for reproducing signals from the magnetic tape in which the compressed video signals in different formats are recorded without seams on at least one track,
(b) decompressing means for (1) recognizing formats of the reproduced signals using the format recognition signals tapped off from the reproduction means, (2) changing a decompression rate instantly responding to the format recognized, and (3) decompressing the reproduced signals into respective original formats with no seams, and
(c) conversion means for converting the decoded video signals into another format.
The recording means and reproducing means of the present invention can thus realize to record and reproduce video signals continuously regardless of the formats of the video signals. As a result, video signals having respective numbers of scanning lines and resolutions can be recorded seamlessly on an identical magnetic tape. When producing a program with different video signals having respective numbers of scanning lines and resolutions, production staff are not requested to prepare VCRs for reproduction, conversion means of scanning lines or format, and VCRs for recording, i.e., all of the devices corresponding to respective video signals, therefore, the present invention can significantly save time and labor for producing a program, further the present invention can prevent the picture quality from degrading due to repetitive conversions of scanning lines as well as repetitive signal compression.
The present invention also ensures that no disturbance or no seam is observed when a magnetic tape containing the different video signals having respective numbers of scanning lines and resolutions is played back.

Video signal recording and/or reproducing apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method of resetting a programmable logic device (PLD) for use with hardware co-simulation can include loading a full bitstream into the PLD. The full bitstream can program the PLD with a circuit design to be used with a first simulation. The method further can include loading a partial bitstream into the PLD thereby resetting at least one component of the circuit design that does not have a reset function such that the circuit design is initialized for use in a subsequent simulation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of integrated circuits and, more particularly, to facilitating more efficient co-simulation of physical implementations of integrated circuits with software environments.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic circuit designs can be constructed, simulated, debugged, and translated into electronic hardware using a High Level Modeling System (HLMS). Typically, an HLMS is implemented as a software-based design tool that provides blocks which can be combined to build an electronic circuit. A block refers to a high level software construct that represents a particular circuit function, such as multiplexing, addition, multiplication, or the like. Blocks may have ports that can produce and consume signals, and may be arranged within the HLMS to form a circuit and/or system. Communication among the blocks can be represented by wires, or signals, that graphically link the blocks. The design may be simulated within the HLMS once it is constructed. Some HLMS tools can generate a hardware implementation from the block representation of the circuit design. For example, an HLMS may generate the bitstream necessary to program a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or can generate the hardware description language (HDL) files necessary to specify the hardware design.
One example of an HLMS is System Generator for DSP™ (Sysgen), available from Xilinx, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. Sysgen is a system level modeling tool that facilitates FPGA hardware design. Sysgen provides a wide range of blocks that can be automatically compiled into a design suitable for an FPGA. Among these blocks are high level abstractions that implement complex functions, including digital signal processing as well as communication and control logic. In addition, access to underlying FPGA resources can be provided through low level block abstractions that facilitate the construction of highly efficient FPGA designs.
An electronic design typically is simulated in an HLMS using program logic that models block behavior. It also is possible to incorporate external hardware into an HLMS simulation. The process of simulating a circuit design where a portion of the circuit design is emulated in external hardware which works cooperatively with the HLMS is referred to as hardware co-simulation, or simply co-simulation, as used herein. The portion of the circuit design that is emulated using external hardware executes in a fraction of the time that would otherwise be required were that portion of the circuit design to be simulated in software. In consequence, co-simulation can dramatically increase the speed of simulation.
The "external hardware" used in co-simulation refers to an electronic circuit board, referred to as a co-simulation platform, that hosts one or more programmable logic devices (PLDs). Typically, the PLD is an FPGA, which is highly suited to co-simulation as different circuit descriptions can be compiled and executed on the same hardware device. In any case, the computer system hosting the HLMS is communicatively linked to the co-simulation platform. The portion of the circuit design that is emulated in external hardware is implemented within the PLD.
Presently, before a circuit design can be co-simulated, the PLD that is disposed upon the co-simulation platform must be programmed using an appropriate configuration bitstream. Typically, the PLD is fully reprogrammed at the start of each simulation to ensure it is initialized to a known state. Thus, responsive to a user command to begin co-simulation, the HLMS, prior to starting the simulation, first completely reprograms the PLD. The amount of time needed to program the PLD, however, can be lengthy and varies according to several different factors. These factors can include, but are not limited to, the size of the circuit design, and thus the size of the bitstream being loaded into the PLD, the bandwidth of the communication link between the co-simulation platform and the host processing system, and the like.
PLDs are fully reprogrammed at the start of each simulation to reset the device and place it in a known state. This ensures that the co-simulation hardware remains bit and cycle faithful to the software model from which the PLD implementation was derived. While many components within a PLD, and particularly within an FPGA, can be reset, others cannot. That is, some resources, such as block memories and SRL16 primitives which can be implemented on selected FPGAs available from Xilinx, Inc., lack an explicit reset mechanism. The only way to initialize such components is to fully reload the FPGA. Accordingly, the only way to ensure that circuit design is placed into a known state is to fully reprogram the FPGA prior to beginning each simulation.
It would be beneficial to reduce the amount of time needed to reconfigure a PLD while still ensuring that the device is properly initialized for use with co-simulation.

Fast hardware co-simulation reset using partial bitstreams


A system and device for welding training. In one example, a welding training system includes a position detecting system configured to detect a distance between the position detecting system and objects within a field of view of the position detecting system, and to produce a map corresponding to the objects. The welding training system also includes a markers configured to be coupled to a device of the welding training system. Furthermore, the markers are configured to be detected by the position detecting system.

The invention relates generally to welding and, more particularly, to a system and device for welding training.
Welding is a process that has increasingly become utilized in various industries and applications. Such processes may be automated in certain contexts, although a large number of applications continue to exist for manual welding operations. In both cases, such welding operations rely on a variety of types of equipment to ensure the supply of welding consumables (e.g., wire feed, shielding gas, etc.) is provided to the weld in appropriate amounts at the desired time.
To perform manual welding operations, welding operators may be trained using a welding training system. The welding training system may be designed to train welding operators the proper techniques for performing various welding operations. Certain welding training systems may use virtual reality, augmented reality, or other training methods. As may be appreciated, these training systems may be expensive to acquire. Accordingly, welding training institutions may acquire a limited number of such training systems. Therefore, welding operators being trained by the welding training institutions may have a limited amount of time for hands-on training using the training systems.


A carbide former is introduced into briquettes in the production of silicon in an electric-arc low-shaft furnace to improve the trapping of silicon oxide rising in the furnace and increase the silicon yield. The carbide former can be calcium, magnesium or aluminum, preferably in the form of the silicate and most advantageous is magnesium silicate.

The above described use of an electric-arc low-shaft furnace for the production of silicon and ferrosilicon is known. The principles are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,341 and in earlier patents including 4,366,137, 4,364,974 and 4,389,493. The production of raw material bodies especially suitable for producing silicon or silicon alloys is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,927, for example, and reference may also be had to U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,226. The production of briquettes is likewise described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,107.
Using these systems and the briquettes as described, the reaction in the first process stage can be described by the following equation: EQU SiO.sub.2 +3C=SiC+2CO,
This reaction in the first process stage is effected at a temperature of 1520.degree. C. and higher. The reaction in the second stage corresponds to the following equations: EQU Sio.sub.2 +2SiC=3Si+2CO, EQU Sio.sub.2 +C=SiO+CO,
and is effected at a temperature of 1800.degree. to 2000.degree. C. (see German Patent Document DE 20 55 564 and German Patent Document DE 30 32 720).
The compacts, i.e. the raw material bodies or briquettes must have chemical compositions corresponding to these equations and in general include a stoichiometric excess of carbon with respect to the reactions in which these compacts or briquettes play a role. In addition, the raw material compacts must have physical properties such that they satisfy the requirements of integrity along the path and the charge and remain intact from manufacture until they are introduced into the electric-arc low-shaft furnace, and in travel through the furnace until, of course, they participate in reaction with the molten quartz.
To produce such raw material compacts which satisfy the chemical and physical requirements, a number of processes have been proposed, including those identified above and those described in German Patent Documents DE 30 09 808, DE 34 25 716 and DE 39 39 018. For convenience, it is noted that DE 39 23 446 corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,927, that DE 35 18 151 and 35 41 125 corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,341, that DE 30 32 720 corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,137, that DE 30 09 808 corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,493, that DE 37 24 541 corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,107 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,226 and that DE 30 23 297 corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,974.
It is especially to be recognized as known that the porous and coke-like structure which is formed from the carbon and silicon carbide in the first stage within the briquette, contributes significantly to the silicon conversion because the silicon oxide formed in the second process stage and liberated as a gas would tend to be lost from the charge except that it taken up by the spongy coke-like structure of the briquettes and initially condensed so that it is entrained further in the charge with the briquettes and can be reacted within the pores of the compacted bodies to produce silicon.
Notwithstanding the fact that the briquettes as described contribute significantly to reduction in the loss of silicon monoxide and thus to greater silicon conversions, it has been found that further improvement is desirable.

Method of producing silicon using an electri arc low shaft furnace

Applied Industrial Materials Corporation


A method of forming an interconnect structure for an integrated circuit, including the steps of providing a substrate and forming a dielectric stack on the substrate including an etch-stop layer, a low-k dielectric layer, and a hardmask layer. The method further includes the steps of patterning a photoresist masking layer on the dielectric stack to define a plurality of feature defining regions and plasma processing the substrate in a plasma-based reactor, The processing step includes etching a plurality of features into the hardmask layer and at least a portion of the low-k dielectric layer and performing a plasma treatment process in situ in the plasma-based reactor, where the plasma treatment process includes flowing at least one hydrocarbon into the reactor and generating a plasma, where a mass flow rate of the hydrocarbon is at least 0.1 sccm. The method also includes forming a metal conductor in the plurality of features.

Interconnect (RC) delay is known to be a major limiting factor in the drive to improve the speed and performance of integrated circuits (IC). For performance and cost reasons, it is desirable to have adjacent conductors as close as possible to one another. Since interconnect delay depends on both the dielectric constant of the insulating material that separates the conductors and the thickness of this insulating material, the interconnect delay can be reduced by using low dielectric constant (low-k) materials. Low-k dielectric materials refer to those insulating materials that have a dielectric constant (k) lower than that of silicon dioxide (SiO2) (k=3.9) and generally having k≦3.
In recent years, low-k materials that have been developed to replace relatively high dielectric constant insulating materials, such as SiO2, have been utilized in the fabrication of integrated circuits. Unless otherwise noted, all k-values mentioned in the present application are measured relative to a vacuum. In particular, low-k films are being utilized for inter-level and intra-level dielectric layers between metal layers of semiconductor devices. Additionally, in order to further reduce the dielectric constant of insulating materials, low-k dielectrics can be formed with pores, commonly referred to as porous low-k dielectric films. Porous low-k films which provide k<2.6 are generally referred to as ultra low-k (ULK) films.
Low-k dielectric films, including ULK films, can be deposited by spin-on dielectric (SOD) methods similar to the application of photoresist, by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods, or by plasma enhanced CVD (PECVD) methods. Thus, the use of low-k materials is readily adaptable to existing semiconductor manufacturing processes. Examples of typical low-k dielectric materials include fluorine-doped silicon dioxide (also referred to as fluorinated silicate glass, or FSG), organosilicate glass (OSG), thermoplastic organic polymers, aerogel, xerogel, and other conventional low-k insulator materials.
However, these low-k dielectric films also present many fabrication challenges. First, low-k dielectric films tend to be less robust than more traditional dielectric layers and can be damaged during certain wafer processing steps, such as by plasma etch and plasma ash processes generally used in patterning the dielectric layer, as well as from barrier/seed deposition processes and chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP). Further, some low-k films tend to be highly reactive when damaged, particularly after patterning, thereby allowing the low-k material to absorb water and/or react with other vapors and/or process contaminants that can alter the electrical properties of the dielectric layer. As a result, low-k dielectric films, originally having a low k-value, as applied, can suffer damage leading to an increase in its k-value and other detrimental effects.
For example, an important class of low-k dielectric materials is referred to as substitution-group depleted silicon oxide. By way of definition, these low-k materials have the chemical formula R1R2SiOx, where R1 and R2 refer to hydrogen, oxygen, a methyl group (—CH3), an ethyl group (—CH2—CH3), a phenyl, or a dangling bond. Such low-k dielectric films, such as OSG films, provide a lower dielectric constant than stoichiometric SiO2. However, exposing such low-k dielectric films to plasma etch processes can damage the surface of the exposed low-k dielectric films. Similarly, plasma ash processes for removing masking materials, such as photoresist, that define the trench and via locations, can also damage the exposed surfaces of the low-k dielectric. For example, the plasma ash damage in these low-k dielectric films, such as OSG films, can be caused by a chemical reaction between constituents of the material and the excited species in the plasma. Specifically, the low-k dielectric film can be damaged by the conversion of silicon-hydrocarbon bonds in the material to silicon-hydroxide bonds when the material is exposed to oxidizing or reducing plasmas. Examples of these undesirable reactions are shown in FIGS. 1B through 1D.
FIG. 1A illustrates, in cross-section, a portion of a partially formed integrated circuit. Underlying structure 3 refers, in a general sense, to underlying structures and layers over which a subsequent metal layer will be formed. As such, underlying structure 3 may include the underlying semiconductor substrate and any epitaxial layers, wells, and doped regions formed at a surface of the substrate, overlying dielectric layers, conductive levels including polysilicon or metal gate layers and levels, and previous metal levels, including refractory metals, copper, or aluminum metallization. A low-k dielectric film 2, such as an OSG film, is applied over underlying structure 3. In an OSG dielectric film, silicon atoms are bound to three oxygen atoms and to one methyl group (CH3), corresponding to the organic content present in an OSG film. As evident from FIG. 1A, the low-k dielectric film 2 has been etched, using a masking layer 4 defining the features to be etched into the low-k dielectric film 2. Such masking layers are generally photoresist layers, hardmask layers, or any combination thereof, At the exposed locations, low-k dielectric film 2 is etched through to underlying structure 3. Alternatively, for example in the formation of a conductor trench, dielectric film 2 may only be partially etched through at this location.
FIGS. 1B and 1C illustrate, respectively, the reaction of low-k dielectric films, such as OSG films, resulting from a subsequent oxidizing and reducing plasmas, used to remove the remaining portions of photoresist 4 from the surface of dielectric film 2. Oxidizing plasmas, using plasma activated oxygen or CO2, and reducing plasmas, using plasma activated hydrogen, are commonly used in the art for photoresist removal. In either plasma, the bonds between the silicon atoms and the methyl groups in these surface molecules are typically lost or broken. In an oxidizing plasma, hydroxyl groups, as shown in FIG. 1B, may replace the lost methyl groups. Alternatively, in a reducing plasma, as in FIG. 1C, the bonds can be either left dangling (i.e., associated with an unpaired electron spatially localized at the site of the removed methyl group) or a hydrogen atom can attach to the silicon atom in the place of the removed methyl group. During subsequent processing, water molecules can react with the dangling bonds, as shown in FIG. 1D and attach hydroxyl groups either to the dangling bonds at the exposed surfaces of the low-k dielectric film 2, or replacing the hydrogen molecules that bonded to the silicon atom after the hydrogen plasma exposure.
In either case, the plasma process can degrade the integrity of low-k dielectric films 2, such as OSG films. One form of degradation which can increase the k-value of the low-k dielectric film 2 is due to the formation of silanol (Si—OH). In addition, the plasma damage can convert the surface of the normally hydrophobic low-k dielectric films, such as OSG, into hydrophilic films. Therefore, along with a degraded k-value, the surface of the low-k dielectric film can become vulnerable to chemical attack during exposure to wet chemical clean, which can result in significant loss of critical dimension (CD) control for low-k dielectric film comprising structures.
Thermal annealing of the low-k dielectric films, such as OSG, can negate some of the damage from plasma processing. Such thermal annealing removes some of the physically adsorbed, but unreacted moisture present at the surface of the low-k dielectric film. However, such annealing processes require annealing temperatures in excess of 250° C. for prolonged periods of time, such as on the order of 103 to 104 seconds, or annealing temperatures in excess of 400° C. for brief durations, such as on the order of 102 to 103 seconds. These temperatures and processing times are technically unfavorable, due to concerns of activating other thermal processes, such as copper stress migration. Also, significant equipment costs and increased cycle time are involved in such annealing processes. In addition, plasma-damaged low-k dielectric films that are annealed according to conventional processes, while removing the physically adsorbed moisture, can remain vulnerable to the re-adsorption of moisture and can result in the further formation of Si—OH in the low-k dielectric films.
Additionally, other properties of some low-k dielectric materials, such as in ULK dielectric materials, can lead to significant process integration challenges. ULK materials achieve lower k-values through the incorporation of non-polar covalent bonds (typically from the addition of carbon) and the introduction of porosity to decrease film density. These changes break the continuity of the Si—O—Si lattice of traditional oxides, leaving porous ULK dielectric films mechanically weaker than other dielectric films. Consequently, ULK dielectric films are more susceptible to kinetic plasma damage that can substantially increase their effective k-value. In some cases, the porous ULK films can collapse and thus densify, resulting in a higher k-value. Porous ULK films are also susceptible to the intercalation of plasma species, residues, solvents, moisture, and precursor molecules that can either adsorb into, outgas from, or chemically modify the film.

Plasma treatment and repair processes for reducing sidewall damage in low-k dielectrics


A fuel tank from which fuel is supplied to an engine includes: overhang portions that project outward from left and right main frames in the vehicle width direction; and fuel pipes that pass the inside of the fuel tank from an area in the vicinity of a fuel filler port, and extend downward from the overhang portions arranged outside the pair of main frames in the vehicle width direction. The fuel pipes are constituted of a drain pipe through which spilled filling fuel or rain water collected around the fuel filler port is discharged to the outside of the fuel tank, and a breather pipe which makes the inside of the fuel tank and atmosphere communicate with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement of the arrangement structure of a fuel pipe provided to a saddle-ride-type vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
In a saddle-ride-type vehicle, a fuel pipe extends from a fuel tank. Various proposals have been made with respect to the arrangement structure of such a fuel pipe (see Japanese Patent No. 3223729 (FIG. 1), for example).
As shown in FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent No. 3223729, in the inside of a fuel tank (2) (numeral with a parenthesis indicating a symbol described in Japanese Patent No. 3223729, the same definition being applicable hereinafter), a breather pipe (44) that leads an evaporated gas to the outside from an upper space of the fuel tank (2) (hereinafter referred to as "fuel pipe (44)") extends rearward in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, and a lower end opening portion (44a) of the breather pipe (44) projects outward in the rearward direction from a rear surface (2a) of the fuel tank (2). A hose (66) is connected to the lower end opening portion (44a), the hose (66) extends rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and, further, extends rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle through between a pair of left and right main frames (12, 12), and is connected to a canister (4) by way of a rollover valve (6).
In the vehicle described in Japanese Patent No. 3223729, the lower end opening portion (44a) of the fuel pipe (44) and the hose (66) are arranged between the left and right main frames (12, 12). Since a large number of other parts are also arranged between the left and right main frames (12, 12), there is still room for improvement in operability relating to mounting and removal of the fuel tank.


Methods and television receivers for rejecting a co-channel interference signal from a first digital signal. A first digital signal is delayed to output a first delayed signal. In this method, an synthesized interference signal is generated based on the first digital signal. The synthesized interference signal is subtracted from the first delayed digital signal and produces a second digital signal. The second digital signal is equalized to output an equalized signal based on a first decision signal. The equalized signal is decoded to output the first decision signal. The equalized signal is delayed to output a second delayed signal. A compensation signal is generated based on the first decision signal. The compensation signal is subtracted from the delayed second signal and produces a fifth digital signal serving as an output signal.

The invention relates to television signal transmission systems and methods, and more particularly, to methods and systems for eliminating the effects of NTSC analog television signal interference components on digital advance television (DATV) signals when both are simultaneously transmitted in the same frequency band.
Recent years have witnessed the establishment of a standard for transmission of high definition television (HDTV) signals, over both cable and terrestrial broadcast modes, throughout the United States. Although it offers significantly enhanced picture resolution, terrestrial broadcast of HDTV signals is somewhat problematic due to the almost universally installed base of conventional NTSC broadcast and more particularly, reception equipment. The present system provides for simultaneous transmission (simultaneous broadcast) of HDTV signals and conventional NTSC analog television signals in order to provide high definition television services without rendering the installed base of NTSC receivers obsolete. Conceptually, program material is encoded into the two different formats (NTSC and HDTV) and simultaneously broadcast over respectively 6 MHz transmission channels. Viewers having conventional NTSC equipment would be able of receiving and viewing NTSC programming by tuning in the appropriate NTSC channel, while viewers equipped with HDTV equipment would be able to receive an HDTV program by tuning their receiver to the appropriate HDTV channel. While conceptually simple, simultaneous broadcast of NTSC and HDTV signals often results in characteristic portions of an NTSC signal interfering with adjacent channel or co-channel HDTV signals causing degradation to the HDTV signal.
The cause of this form of signal degradation is well understood by those familiar with high definition television transmission systems and is conventionally termed NTSC co-channel interference. Various means have been proposed in the art to reduce NTSC co-channel interference in current HDTV transmission methodologies, and particularly with respect to vestigial sideband (VSB) HDTV transmissions, which form the basis of the HDTV standard in the United States. Certain of these conventional NTSC interference rejection means are summarized in ATSC standard A/53 (1995) ATSC Digital Television standard. Briefly, the interference rejection properties of a conventional HDTV system are based on the frequency location of the principal components of the NTSC co-channel interference signal within the 6 MHz television channel.
FIG. 1 depicts a typical 6 MHz DTV channel spectrum, represented in baseband in the frequency domain (i.e., symmetric about DC). NTSC co-channel interference is generally recognized as being caused by the three principal carrier components of an NTSC signal; the video carrier, color carrier, and the audio carrier. In the illustrative channel spectrum diagram of FIG. 1, the location and approximate magnitudes of the three principal NTSC components are depicted with the video carrier, indicated at V, located approximately 1.25 MHz from the lower channel bard edge. The color carrier, indicated at C, located approximately 3.58 MHz from above the video carrier frequency, and the audio carrier A is located approximately 4.25 MHz above the video carrier frequency. As depicted in the Figure, and is as well understood in the art, NTSC carrier component interference is of particular concern due to the relatively large amplitudes of the video carrier V and color subcarrier C which characterize NTSC transmission. Although the audio carrier A is presented at a relatively smaller amplitude, it nevertheless contributes a significant interference characteristic. Thus, it will be understood that NTSC co-channel interference rejection is an important consideration in the design of HDTV channels in order to ensure the enhanced quality of an HDTV signal.
Conventional approaches to NOSC co-channel interference rejection are based on the frequency location of the principal components of the NTSC co-channel interference signal within the 6 MHz HDTC channel. FIG. 2A shows a conventional comb filter for NOSC co-channel interference rejection. It, however, has complex circuitry and degrades 3 dB of signal noise rate (SNR). Further, a detector is required to detect NTSC co-channel interference and decide whether to enable/disable NOSC co-channel interference rejection. If NOSC co-channel interference is very small or does not exist the delay lines DL1 and DL2 are bypassed to avoid degradation to the HDTV signal, and thus, its hardware cost is increased. FIG. 2B shows the relationship between signal to noise ratio (SNR) and desired to undesired ratio (DUR) of a digital television receiver with conventional comb filter shown in FIG. 2A. Curve C1 shows the relationship between SNR and DUR when the comb filter in the DTV receiver is disabled. Curve C2 shows the relationship between SNR and DUR when the comb filter in the DTV receiver is enabled. Typically, the comb filter must be disabled when NOSC co-channel interference is very small or not exist, thereby avoiding degradation to the HDTV signal.

Apparatus and method for rejecting co-channel interference signal


In a vacuuming motor used by being attached to a peripheral edge of a motor attaching hole provided at a vacuum chamber, an end portion on a load side of a motor main body is attached with a reduction gear main body having an attaching flange fixed to the motor attaching hole to interpose an O-ring therebetween and the attaching flange is fixed with vacuum seals and constituted by a resin and brought into contact with an output shaft of the reduction gear main body for partitioning an inner space of the reduction gear main body and the motor main body and an inner space of the vacuum chamber.

The present invention relates to a vacuuming motor attached to a vacuum chamber and used as a drive apparatus or the like of a board transporting robot or the like, and a vacuuming apparatus.
As disclosed in JP-A-10-243609 (Japanese Patent Application Publication Number: Hei10-243609), a conventional vacuuming motor is used by putting a total of a drive portion thereof in a vacuum environment constituted by a vacuum chamber. In this case, for sealing inside of the vacuum chamber and inside of the vacuuming motor, a clearance between a rotating shaft thereof and a fixed portion of a housing or the like is closed by using an expensive part of a magnetic fluid or the like.
However, according to the vacuuming motor and vacuuming apparatus of the conventional art, the following problem is posed.
(1) A case of the vacuuming motor serves also as a partition wall between the atmosphere and vacuum and therefore, the case needs to strengthen more than necessary mechanical strength. Therefore, a total of the vacuuming motor is enlarged and heavy.
(2) Only a material or the like used in the drive portion which is suitable for the vacuum environment can be used and therefore, the cost is increased. Further, the motor becomes a special order product and therefore, time is taken for fabrication thereof.


Metal oxide particles heated while immersed in water in a closed container are combined with membrane filtration to remove contaminants from water. The use of the heated particles reduces fouling of the membrane typically encountered when membranes alone are used to remove contaminants from water.

In recent years, membrane technology has been extensively investigated for water treatment. In addition to removing particulates, some membrane processes that use membranes with very small pores are able to remove a significant amount of natural organic matter (NOM); however, the NOM that is removed often contributes to fouling of the membranes, even when only a small fraction of the NOM in the feed solution is removed.
In conventional membrane systems, molecules that are larger than the pore size of the membrane and those that adsorb to the membrane surface are retained, while other molecules pass through the membrane along with the permeate flow. It has been proposed that powdered activated carbon (PAC) be used in conjunction with membranes to adsorb a portion of the NOM. Then, the membrane rejects the PAC particles and the adsorbed NOM. In this way, fewer NOM molecules remain in solution and contact the membrane directly. While the NOM removal efficiency of such a combined process can be quite high, membrane fouling is often not reduced proportionately, and in some cases it is even exacerbated.
In addition to powdered activated carbon, it has been proposed that freshly precipitated iron oxides (FeOOH or Fe2O3.nH2O) or aluminum oxides (Al2O3) be used in conjunction with membranes to reduce fouling of the membrane. Like PAC, these freshly precipitated oxides sometimes reduce fouling and sometimes exacerbate it. Also, if the oxides accumulate on the membrane until they form a continuous layer, that layer can impart a very large hydraulic resistance, making it almost impossible for water to pass through the layer and reach the membrane.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,792 describes heating precipitated iron oxide particles in an oven to produce heated iron oxide particles useful with membrane filtration to remove contaminants from water.
With the ever increasing concern about the quality of drinking water, there continues to be a need for improved systems for effectively and economically removing contaminants such as natural organic matter from liquids. Such systems should provide effective removal of contaminants from the liquids and reliably reduce membrane fouling.

Method for removing contaminants from liquids using membrane filtration in combination with particle adsorption to reduce fouling

University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization