Controlled-release formulations providing a xe2x80x9cpulsedxe2x80x9d plasma profile of a sedative-hypnotic compound having a particularly short half-life are provided. The formulation contains a sedative-hypnotic compound or precursor thereof that is metabolized to generate a sedative-hypnotic compound in vivo, wherein the compound has a mean plasma half life ranging from 0.1 to 2 hours; and at least one release retardant such that, following administration of the formulation to a patient, the patient has specified pulsed plasma profile for the sedative-hypnotic compound as disclosed herein. In a preferred embodiment, the sedative-hypnotic compound is NBI-34060.

The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods for the treatment of insomnia and related conditions. The invention is more particularly related to controlled-release sedative-hypnotic compositions with particularly short half-lives, and methods for using such compositions to promote rapid sleep onset and sleep maintenance.
Many physiological functions are characterized by diurnal rhythms, in which levels of circulating hormones, catecholamines and other compounds fluctuate during the day and/or night. Certain medical disorders, such as insomnia, are associated with abnormalities in these rhythms. The time, within a 24 hour period, of administration of drugs for the prevention and treatment of such disorders can be a critical factor in determining efficacy of the therapy.
The term xe2x80x9cinsomniaxe2x80x9d refers to the perception of inadequate or non-restful sleep by a patient. Insomnia is a frequent complaint, reported by 32% of the adult population surveyed in the Los Angeles area (Bixler et al, Amer. Journal of Psychiatry 136:1257-1262, 1979), and 13% of the population surveyed in San Marino, Italy (Lugaresi et al., Psychiatric Annals 17:446-453, 1987). Fully 45% of the surveyed adult population of Alachua County, Florida, reported trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep (Karacan et al., Social Science and Medicine 10:239-244, 1976). The prevalence of insomnia has also been shown to be related to the age and sex of the individuals, being higher in older individuals and in females.
Early treatments for insomnia commonly employed central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as barbiturates. These compounds are typically long acting (on the order of 8-50 hours) due to long terminal half-lives, and have a well-known spectrum of side effects, including lethargy, confusion, depression and next day hangover effects. In addition, chronic use has been associated with a high potential for addiction involving both physical and psychological dependence.
During the 1980""s, the pharmaceutical treatment of insomnia shifted away from barbiturates and other CNS depressants toward the benzodiazepine class of sedative-hypnotic agents. This class of compounds produces a calming effect that results in a sleep-like state in humans and animals, with a greater safety margin than prior hypnotics. The therapeutic actions of benzodiazepines are believed to be mediated by binding to a specific receptor on benzodiazepine GABA complexes in the brain. As a result of this binding, synaptic transmission is altered at neurons containing the benzodiazepine GABA complex. The clinical usefulness of different benzodiazepine hypnotics relates largely to their pharmacokinetic differences with regard to this binding and, in particular, to the half-lives of the parent compound and its active metabolites. However, many benzodiazepines possess side effects that limit their usefulness in certain patient populations. These problems include synergy with other CNS depressants (especially alcohol), the development of tolerance upon repeat dosing, rebound insomnia following discontinuation of dosing, hangover effects the next day and impairment of psychomotor performance and memory. Next day sleepiness and memory impairment, which can include amnesia for events occurring prior to and after drug administration, is of particular concern in the elderly whose cognitive functions may already be impaired by the aging process.
More recent treatments for insomnia have used non-benzodiazepine compounds, which show an improved side effect profile over the benzodiazepine class of sedative-hypnotics. The first of these agents to be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing in the United States was Ambien (zolpidem), which is based on the imidazopyridine backbone (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,382,938 and 4,460,592). In addition to Ambien, another compound known as Sonata (zaleplon), which is a pyrazolopyrimidine-based compound (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,538), was recently approved by the FDA. Other non-benzodiazepine compounds and/or methods for making or using the same have also been reported (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,794,185, 4,808,594, 4,847,256, 5,714,607, 4,654,347; 5,538,977, 5,891,891). Attempts have also been disclosed to provide controlled-release dosage forms, particularly in the context of zolpidem and salts thereof (see WO 00/33835 and EP 1 005 863 A1).
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for sedative-hypnotic compositions that induce and maintain sleep as single dose nocturnal formulations, but without the side effects associated with the longer acting hypnotics. The present invention fulfills this need and further provides other related advantages.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides compositions and methods for promoting sleep. Within one aspect, the present invention provides a controlled-release formulation, comprising (a) a sedative-hypnotic compound, or a precursor thereof that is metabolized to generate a sedative-hypnotic compound in vivo, and (b) at least one release retardant such that, upon administration of the formulation to a patient, the patient has a xe2x80x9cpulsedxe2x80x9d plasma profile of the sedative-hypnotic compound. As used herein, a xe2x80x9cpulsedxe2x80x9d plasma profile means that, following administration of the sedative-hypnotic formulation the patient has in the following order:
(i) a time to a first maximum plasma concentration (Tmax1) of the sedative-hypnotic compound ranging from 0.1 to 2 hours following administration;
(ii) a time to a minimum plasma concentration (Tmin) of the sedative-hypnotic compound ranging from 2 to 4 hours, wherein the plasma concentration of the sedative-hypnotic compound at Tmin is less than 80% of the plasma concentration at Tmax1, with the proviso that, in a preferred embodiment, the plasma concentration of the sedative-hypnotic compound at Tmin does not fall below a minimum effective concentration to maintain sleep;
(iii) a time to a second maximum plasma concentration (Tmax2) of the sedative-hypnotic ranging from 3 to 5 hours following administration, wherein the plasma concentration of the sedative-hypnotic compound at Tmax2 is from 80% to 150% of the plasma concentration at Tmax1;
(iv) a plasma concentration of the sedative-hypnotic compound at 6 hours following administration of at least 20% of the plasma concentration at Tmax2; and
(v) a plasma concentration of the sedative-hypnotic compound at 8 hours following administration of no more than 20%, and preferably no more than 15%, of the plasma concentration at Tmax2.
Sedative-hypnotic compounds of this invention have particularly short plasma half-livesxe2x80x94that is, less than 2 hours and, more preferably, on the order of about 1 hour. A representative sedative-hypnotic compound is N-methyl-N-(3-{3-[2-thienylcarbonyl]-pyrazolo-[1,5-a]-pyrimidin-7-yl}-phenyl)acetamide (also referred to herein as xe2x80x9cNBI-34060xe2x80x9d). Representative release retardants include, but are not limited to, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, poly (ethylacrylate methylmethacrylate), methacrylic acid copolymer (Type A, Type B, Type C), hydroxypropyl cellulose, carbomer, polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin, corn starch, stearyl alcohol, carnuba wax, white wax, glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl distearate, guar gum, xanthan gum and chitosan.
Within further aspects, the present invention provides methods for promoting sleep in a mammal, including a human (collectively referred to herein as a xe2x80x9cpatientxe2x80x9d) and particularly in the context of treating chronic insomnia, comprising administering to a patient a controlled-release formulation as described above. Such formulations may, for example, be administered orally, or by any other route that provides a plasma profile as described herein, and have been found to minimize next day residual effects.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following detailed description and attached drawings.

Controlled-release sedative-hypnotic compositions and methods related thereto


The present disclosure is directed to a cleanser including a balance of components for providing consumers with an enhanced exfoliation experience that smoothes skin immediately and sustains the smooth feeling for an extended period of time. Additionally, the cleanser provides a simultaneous cleansing and warming effect to the consumer's skin. Particularly, in one embodiment, the cleanser includes a combination of a water soluble carrier, a warming agent, a water soluble silicone surfactant, and an exfoliant.

The present disclosure is directed to a cleanser including a balance of components for providing consumers with an enhanced exfoliation experience that smoothes skin immediately and sustains the smooth feeling for an extended period of time. Additionally, the cleanser provides a simultaneous cleansing and warming effect to the consumer's skin. Particularly, in one embodiment, the cleanser includes a combination of a water soluble carrier, a warming agent, a water soluble silicone surfactant for cleansing, and an exfoliant.
Today's market includes many existing products and formulations that achieve improved skin appearance and feel by removing or exfoliating the upper layers of the epidermis, which typically contains dead skin cells. Removal of these skin cells can provide a more vital, youthful appearance to the skin while imparting a smooth, supple feel. Generally, cosmetic formulations achieve this smoothing effect by the use of physical and chemical exfoliating agents. Particularly, physical exfoliating agents include particulates that are either natural or synthetic in origin and work by abrading the skin and resurfacing the top layers. The overall use level, mean particle size, distribution, and general morphology of the particulates will determine the degree of exfoliating and feel during the exfoliation process. Alternatively, chemical exfoliating agents provide an exfoliating effect by breaking bonds within the skin to create a smooth feel. Generally, these conventional exfoliating agents can be irritating to the skin and the benefits achieved are short lived, as environmental stresses and biological processes increase skin roughness.
Other products may comprise warming agents, which warm by a positive heat of hydration as water is added to the product. Such warming products, however, typically require an anhydrous base in order to prevent premature release of heat from the warming agent. Such bases can be oily and have an unpleasant aesthetic feel.
Some of these warming products may further include surfactants for cleansing. Traditional surfactants, however, have inherent problems in anhydrous formulations. Because of the anhydrous nature of warming products, it is often necessary to include in the formulations surfactants which foam well, but which have a high irritation rate, since these surfactants are necessary to generate sufficient amounts of foam. While such surfactants foam effectively, they also carry a high likelihood of irritation to the consumer's skin. Additionally, these surfactants increase the likelihood of stripping essential oils form the consumer's skin, leaving the skin dry, tight, and unpleasant to the touch. Both the elevated irritation potential and undesirable skin feel inherent to these types of formulations are of particular concern for facial care products.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a polysensorial formulation that combines multiple benefits in a non-irritating, aesthetically pleasing cleanser and that provides both an immediate and sustained skin smoothing effect. Additionally, it would be advantageous if the cleanser could further provide cleansing and warming benefits to the skin. The present disclosure describes such a substantially anhydrous cleanser and includes: a water soluble carrier; an exfoliant; a warming agent; and a water soluble silicone surfactant.

Polysensorial personal care cleanser comprising a quaternary silicone surfactant


A method for manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion module of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion module including a thermoelectric semiconductor part in which a plurality of p-type semiconductors and a plurality of n-type semiconductors are alternately arranged, and a high temperature side electrode bound to a binding surface of the p-type semiconductor and the n-type semiconductor on a high temperature heat source side and a low temperature side electrode bound to a binding surface of the p-type semiconductor and the n-type semiconductor on a low temperature heat source side, which electrically connect the p-type semiconductor and the n-type semiconductor adjacent to each other in series, and includes a binding step of binding at least one of the high temperature side electrode and the low temperature side electrode, and the p-type semiconductor and the n-type semiconductor together, by sintering a binding layer containing metal particles, which is provided between the electrode and the semiconductor.

A power generating system of a thermoelectric conversion module using a thermoelectric semiconductor of a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor as a thermoelectric conversion material has a simple structure and no movable part, and thus, has high reliability and easy maintenance and inspection. It is expected that such a power generating system is used in a small-scale dispersion type power generating system using an exhaust heat source such as a refuse incinerator or a cogeneration system, and an on-vehicle power generating system using the heat of exhaust gas of a vehicle or the like, and it is desirable that a power generation unit price is reduced and the durability of a thermoelectric conversion system is improved, from the viewpoint of the current environmental countermeasures.
The thermoelectric conversion module, for example, includes electrodes containing copper or the like, which are bound to both sides of the thermoelectric semiconductor, electric insulating layers containing mica or the like, which are provided on the other surfaces of the electrodes, and a high temperature side heat source and a low temperature side heat source laminated on each of the electric insulating layers (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1 described below). In the thermoelectric conversion system including such a thermoelectric conversion module, the air is blown in the low temperature side heat source, and exhaust gas or the like at a high temperature is supplied to the high temperature side heat source, and thus, a temperature difference can be provided on both ends of the thermoelectric conversion element, a thermoelectric force can be generated in the thermoelectric conversion element by the temperature difference, and a direct current can be taken out from the electrode.

Method for manufacturing thermoelectric conversion module, thermoelectric conversion module, and binder for thermoelectric conversion module


Systems and methods are disclosed for performing hemodialysis that include fluid handling systems that provide accurate control over the type and level of hemodialysis being performed. The system includes a first pump for pumping dialysate into a dialyzer and a second pump for pumping dialysate out of the dialyzer. The system also includes a third pump that provides improved control of a level of ultrafiltration, hemodiafiltration, or both.

Chronic dialysis has been performed on patients with kidney failure since the early 1960's. A dialyzer is a device for cleansing blood through hemodialysis by a process of diffusion and/or convection of waste products, dissolved solutes and fluid from the blood across a semi permeable membrane into a dialysis solution known as dialysate. A dialysis system is an assembly that includes the dialyzer and associated equipment to support the dialyzer, such a plumbing and pumps.
Diffusion is the principal mechanism in which dialysis removes waste products such as urea, creatinine, phosphate and uric acid, among others, from the blood. A differential between the chemical composition of the dialysate and the chemical composition of the blood causes the waste products to be drawn through the semi-permeable membrane from the blood into the dialysate. Ultrafiltration is a process in dialysis where fluid is caused to move across the membrane from the blood into the dialysate for the purpose of removing excess fluid from the patient's blood stream. Along with water, some solutes are also drawn across via convection rather than diffusion. Ultrafiltration is a result of a pressure differential between the blood compartment of the dialyzer and the dialysate compartment of the dialyzer where fluid will move from a higher pressure to a lower pressure. In some circumstances, by design or unintentionally, fluid in the dialysate compartment is higher than the blood compartment, causing fluid to move from the dialysate compartment into the blood compartment. This is commonly referred to as reverse ultrafiltration.
It would be convenient for a patient to be able to perform dialysis in his or her home. Unfortunately, current dialysis systems are large in size, making them generally unsuitable for use in a patient's home. Current dialysis systems are also energy-inefficient in that they use large amounts of energy and require enormous amounts of water for proper use. Although some home dialysis systems are available, they generally use complex flow-balancing technology that is relatively expensive to manufacture and most systems are designed with a system of solenoid valves that create high noise levels. As a result, most dialysis treatments are performed at dialysis centers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dialysis system with ultrafiltration control


The present invention generally relates to a water treatment system and a sanitization system and method. A sanitization fluid, typically water at a pharmaceutically acceptable temperature, is intermittently provided to the water treatment system for minimal periods of time.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a water treatment system and process and, more particularly, to a water treatment system and process utilizing intermittent sanitization.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Water treatment systems utilizing reverse osmosis units and electrochemical deionization units are typically operated continuously in a recirculation mode under ambient temperature in order to control microorganism growth during periods of low or no demand. In addition to continuously operating the water treatment systems to control microorganism growth, a sanitization fluid may be introduced into the system, typically for 60 minutes or longer on a weekly basis. Typically, hot water ranging in temperature from 65° C. to 80° C. is passed through a water treatment system to maintain the system at the desired temperature for about 60 minutes. The 60 minute or longer cycle at temperature commonly includes time to ramp up to, and cool down from, the desired temperature in addition to the 60 minutes hold at temperature. Water treatment systems disclosing sanitization cycles of 60 minutes or longer are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,915 by Ganzi et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,512 by Hirayama et al. and in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0016932 by Arba et al.


A locking device is disclosed for locking a steering column of a vehicle against rotation, relative to a fixed structure of the vehicle, the steering column including a steering shaft. The device includes a locking bar attached to the fixed structure of the vehicle, the locking bar being free to reciprocate between locked and unlocked positions adjacent to the steering shaft; and a member projecting transversely from the steering shaft for engaging with the locking bar to limit rotation of the steering shaft when the locking bar is in the locked position.

This invention relates generally to steering column locking systems and more particularly to a simplified, compact, and light weight device for preventing movement of a steering column when the ignition switch is locked.
Steering column locks for discouraging auto theft are well known and are included on all automobiles of current manufacture. These generally take the form of a pin or pawl which reciprocates either axially or radially, relative to the steering column, to engage a slot in a lock ring or a lock sleeve. When the ignition switch is turned to the locked position, the pin moves into engagement with the slot and prevents movement of the steering column.
Fabrication of steering columns including such locks requires manufacturing the lock collar or sleeve, staking or otherwise fastening it to the steering shaft, and aligning the reciprocation path of the pin or pawl with the slot(s) of the lock ring. This requires a degree of precision and a number of fabrication operations which increases manufacturing costs. Also, the locking ring is necessarily bulky and imposes space and weight penalties on the vehicle.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present steering column locking devices, and it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of those limitations. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.


A laser projector steers a pulsed laser beam to form a pattern of stationary dots on an object, the pulsed laser beam having a periodicity determined based at least in part on a maximum allowable spacing of the dots and on a maximum angular velocity at which the beam can be steered, wherein a pulse width of the laser beam and a pulse peak power of the laser beam are based at least in part on the determined periodicity and on laser safety requirements.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a light projection system, often referred to as a "laser projector," and especially to a light projection system that projects a glowing light pattern onto an object without requiring retroreflective or cooperative targets.
Light projection devices are used in a variety of applications to project images onto objects. In some applications, an illuminated three-dimensional (3D) pattern, also referred to as a "template," is projected onto an object. The template may be formed, for example, by projecting a rapidly moving, vector-scan, light beam onto the object. In some systems, the projected light beam is a laser beam. The light beam strikes the surface of the object following a predetermined trajectory in a repetitive manner. When repetitively moved at a sufficiently high beam speed and refresh rate, the trace of the projected beam on the object appears to the human eye as a continuous glowing line. The projected pattern of light appears as the glowing template that can be used to assist in the positioning of parts, components and work pieces.
Currently, light projection systems are mainly used within production facilities. Light projection systems potentially useful outside production facilities, for example, in construction sites to assist in constructing of buildings or other objects. However, until now, limitations have made the use of light projection devices impractical in such applications. Examples of such limitations include (1) power limitations that make battery operation largely impractical, (2) cumbersome sharing of information with computers and accessory instruments, (3) relatively large instrument size, and (4) dynamic range limitations making many types of measurements impractical. In addition, a problem seen within production facilities and outdoors at construction sites is poor visibility of projected laser beams in certain circumstances, particularly when distances being measured are large, when flicker cannot be tolerated, and when laser safety standards are desired be observed.
Accordingly, while light projection systems and methods are suitable for their intended purposes, the need for improvement remains, particularly in enabling power efficient battery operation, methods of easily sharing data with computers and instruments, reducing instrument size, increasing measurement dynamic range, and maintaining high visibility of projected light.


A method for assigning individual contact processing resources of a contact center to contacts in the contact center is disclosed. On receiving a new contact at the contact center, a contact object corresponding to the new contact is provided within a population of contact objects corresponding to contacts being processed by the contact center. A programmed processing object corresponding to each individual contact processing resource of the contact center is provided. Each processing object is arranged to adaptively and independently select contact objects from the population of contact objects based on a value received for processing contacts from the population and a value spent on processing contacts from the population. Once a programmed processing object selects a contact object, an associated contact processing resource is assigned to the contact.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved contact center system and method for assigning individual contact processing resources of the contact center to contacts in the contact center.
Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, contact centers 22, including traditional voice-only call centers as well as multimedia contact centers adapted to handle contacts in other media, employ numerous agents 20, 40, having various skillsets to service customers 16, 18.
The contact center of FIG. 1 is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 12 and to the Internet 14. An Internet telephony gateway 15 is provided to translate between a private branch exchange (not shown) in the contact center and the Internet 14. Alternatively, the contact center could be enabled for voice over IP (VoIP) communications, such that direct telephony communications with the Internet may be made, and in such cases, translation between the VoIP environment of the contact center and the PSTN 12 can mediated by appropriate equipment in known manner. Using the PSTN 12 and Internet 14, respectively, customers 16, 18 may connect to the contact center using conventional telephony equipment, as in the case of customer 16, or using Internet-enabled hardware or software, as in the case of customer 18 (e.g. dedicated voice or video Internet telephony equipment, or a computer with appropriate software for such telephony, or a computer with instant messaging or e-mail software).
The most common solution for handling contacts is to maintain within a queuing system 24, queues for agents (resources) 25 and queues for contacts 23 and matching contacts to agents according to priority, skillset etc.
The contact center server 22 is typically programmed with workflows 28 so that an incoming contact from a customer 16, 18, is processed in accordance with the instructions contained in a workflow 28. Typically, this may involve placing a call in a conference with an interactive voice response (IVR) server 30, which plays recorded announcements to the customer and requests inputs from the customer. These inputs are stored and used by the contact center to traverse an IVR workflow until all relevant information has been gleaned from the client, and subsequently, to place the contact in one of the queues 23. Usually, this is done by assigning the contact to one or more skillsets, each skillset being serviced by an agent or group of agents with the requisite skills to handle queries relating to that skillset.
If an agent is free, the contact can be assigned directly to an agent (by manipulation of appropriate software objects in the queues 24), with the result that the customer is placed in conference with one of the agents 20, 40, who can then deal directly with the questions or concerns of the customer. More typically, agent resources are limited and the contact is assigned to a contact skillset queue 23 along with other contacts, which are waiting for the same agent resources. The contacts are serviced according to various criteria including waiting time, priority, urgency, media type and so forth. When a contact reaches the top of a queue, it is assigned to the next available agent. During the time that a contact is in a queue, the caller will typically be placed on hold and provided with entertainment, music, announcements, advertisement or other content, represented in FIG. 1 by music-on-hold server 32. It is not unusual in such circumstances to occasionally provide the customer with an indication of the position in queue or the wait time expected until an agent is free, or to allow the customer to request such information by making appropriate key presses or speaking appropriate key words.
Separately, it is also known to provide a work assignment engine (WAE) within a contact center with a view to providing a queueless contact center. Here, contacts and agents are maintained as data objects within the contact center. The WAE constantly sweeps over the data objects allocating contacts to agents according to customer need and contact center goals.
Meeting the needs of the customers 16, 18 in a timely and efficient manner is paramount to a successful and profitable contact center and it is an object of the present invention to further optimize contact center performance.

Method and system for optimizing contact center performance


A head mountable device for measuring eye movement includes: a frame; a camera system comprising a first camera, wherein the camera system is coupled to the frame, and is configured to obtain a first set of images of a first eye of a user; and a first liquid crystal display (LCD) shutter configured to control passage of light to the first eye based at least in part on a first control signal, the first LCD shutter is configured to operate in a first primary mode and a first secondary mode, wherein the first LCD shutter is configured to allow less light to reach the first eye in the first secondary mode than in the first primary mode.

There is an ongoing investigation towards developing measurement techniques and equipment for measuring eye movement of humans. Various ophthalmologic, vestibular and neurologic tests exists which involves observing eye movements. Tests may comprise observation of eye movements during concurrent sight deprivation of either one eye or both eyes. Tests incorporating deprivation of sight of either one or both eyes may comprise HINTS tests, or individual parts of the HINTS tests, such as test of skew and/or tests of nystagmus.
Tests may comprise measuring fast eye movements, e.g. eye saccades, lasting approximately between 20-200 ms and involving angular speed up to 900 deg/s. Such fast movements may be visual to the clinician, but may be difficult to quantify consistently. Tests may comprise measuring very small eye deviations, e.g. skew, which may be difficult to detect and/or quantify subjectively.
It is desirable to circumvent subjective measurements and provide a possible standardized test, which is independent of the clinician or other person performing the test. Furthermore, in some environments, such as in pre hospital settings, it may be problematic, if not impossible, to accurately perform the test when relying on subjective measurements.
Furthermore, sight deprivation is conventionally performed by placing a black cover over the patient's eye. The cover may be a hard plastic or the hand of the clinician. Some devices may comprise a black cover, such as a visor, which is able to be lowered over the patient's eyes. However, it is desirable that a device capable of performing the above mentioned tests is able to control the deprivation of sight in an accurate, consistent, secure, comfortable, and easy way.

Head mountable device for measuring eye movement


A toilet hinge apparatus that automatically initiates a regulated closing of the toilet lid and seat when the toilet is flushed providing a safety barrier for child and pet protection as well as for sanitary and aesthetic reasons. A pressure tee attached to the ballcock or tank valve thread at the water supply inlet to the toilet tank designed to amplify the difference between a low pressure when the toilet is flushed and the tank is filling and a high pressure when the tank is full and the tank valve is closed. An internal expanding brake mechanism that creates friction between the rotating parts of the hinge assembly relative to this pressure making the toilet seat and lid rotate easier at low tee pressure than at high tee pressure. A pair of independent torsion springs that force an open toilet lid and seat to close when the toilet is flushed and frictional braking is released with one spring providing torque to the toilet seat, counterbalancing it so that it will descent but not strike the china bowl unless assisted by the descending toilet lid and with the other spring partially counterbalancing the weight of the toilet lid. An internal displacement of a viscous dampening fluid to retard the opening and closing of the toilet lid. A check ball designed to seal the pressure tube and provide high pressure protection of the hinge assembly and prevent water leakage in the advent of a leak in the hinge assembly. An isolation bladder that prevents contamination of the water supply by the non-freezing fluid in the hinge assembly cavity that transfers the pressure to the expanding frictional brake surfaces that is volumetrically adjustable to establish the checking pressure for the check ball.

This invention relates to the automatic closing and regulation of motion of the toilet lid and seat. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hinge for a toilet seat and lid, the hinge being able to regulate the opening and automatic closing of the toilet lid and seat.
It is well known that containers of all varieties with standing water are an attractive nuisance for small children. Recently, there have been much publicized incidents where small children have downed or been injured in the water contained in a five gallon bucket. These incidents have even led to the placing of warning labels on the buckets. Less publicized are the incidents where children have drowned or been injured in connection with a toilet. While functionally different for their intended purpose, both buckets and toilets operate by containing a standing volume of water. The present invention, however, pertains only to the latter.
Devices which raise and lower toilet seats and lids for sanitary, child safety and other reasons are well known in the art. Prior art designs, however, all have various limitations, mostly in that they are cumbersome and require dangling or protruding apparatuses which are bonded or affixed in various manners to the toilet assembly or surrounding areas. As a result, these designs do not adequately address the safety and sanitary issues associated with the toilet.
Accordingly, there exist a need for a safe and sanitary device to automatically accomplish the task of returning the toilet lid and seat to the closed position when the toilet is flushed. As a related concern, it is desirable that the device attempt to prevent young children from coming into contact with the toxic, unsanitary and dangerous conditions which may be present in an open toilet. Pet protection from these conditions is also an issue.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a new hinge mechanism employing mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic principals which can be retro-fitted to existing toilets and which will be compatible with existing seat and lid arrangements so as to provide for a safer, more sanitary and cosmetic operation of the toilet seat and associated lid.


A fluid connector for coupling a tubular member having an endform spaced from a first insertion end to an external component, including a connector body, including a bore having a first end for receiving the tubular member, and a first exterior groove spaced from the first end and arranged for receiving one or more projections of an assurance cap for latching the assurance cap to the connector body when the tubular member is fully inserted into the bore.

In an automotive application, the fluid carrying components are connected at one end to an automatic transmission and at another end to a cooler disposed within a vehicle radiator. Other automotive applications using fluid connectors include turbo connections. Such quick connectors, as they are often called, typically include a resilient clip carried on the fitting body which is adapted to snap behind a raised shoulder of an end form on the tubular member when the tubular member is fully inserted into the fitting body to lock the tubular member in place.
Assurance caps can be used to ensure full insertion of the tubular member in the body. As assurance cap is carried by the tubular member and slides over the tubular member insertion end of the body and snaps over the outer edges of the resilient clip. If the tubular member is not fully inserted in the body such that the resilient clip is not seated behind the raised shoulder on the tubular member, raised portions of the resilient clip extend further radially outward from the body and interfere with the complete movement of the assurance cap to its fully installed position thereby providing an indication to the installer that the tubular member is not fully latched in the body.
Thus, there is a long felt need for a connector body that is arranged to be engaged by a tubular member and an assurance cap such that the assurance cap may ensure that proper connection is made between the tubular member and the connector body.

Fluid connector with full insertion assurance cap with secondary latches


A method for analyzing a functional map of at least one tissue of a patient. The method comprises managing a plurality of functional maps each being associated with a plurality of first biological activity indications, receiving a functional map which is associated with a plurality of second biological activity indications, identifying a matching set of the managed functional maps by matching between the plurality of first and second biological activity indications, and using the matching set for a member of a group consisting of: an image data acquisition, a diagnosis of the received functional map, a classification of the received functional map.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a system and a method for analyzing a multidimensional patient profile and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a system and a method for analyzing a multidimensional patient profile that includes a medical image.
Systems and devices for visualizing the inside of living organisms are among the most important medical developments in the last thirty years. Systems like computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a positron emission tomography (PET), and a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanners allow physicians to examine internal tissues or areas of the body that require a thorough examination. In use, the visualizing scanner outputs a 3D medical image, such as a sequence of computerized cross-sectional images of one or more tissues, which is then interpreted by specialized radiologists.
It should be noted that other imaging devices and methods are also known, for example as disclosed in International patent application Pub. No. WO2006/051531, which has been published on May 18, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference. This patent application describes an apparatus for radiation based imaging of a non-homogenous target area having distinguishable regions therein. The apparatus comprises an imaging unit designed to obtain radiation intensity data from the target region in the spatial dimensions and one or more other dimensions. The apparatus further comprises an image four-dimension analysis unit associated with the imaging unit for analyzing said obtained intensity data in the spatial dimension, and the one or more other dimensions, in order to map the distinguishable regions.
Commonly, a patient is referred for a visual scan by a general practitioner or an expert practitioner. The 3D medical image is forwarded to and diagnosed by a general radiologist who is responsible for the analysis and diagnosis of the medical image. The medical images and the diagnosis thereof are sent back to the referring practitioner.
In most hospitals and radiology centers, the 3D medical images are transferred to a picture archiving communication system (PACS) before being accessed by the radiologists. The PACS is installed on one or more of computers, which are dedicated for storing, retrieving, distributing and presenting the stored 3D medical images. The 3D medical images are stored in an independent format. The most common format for image storage is digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM).
Typically, a PACS network consists of a central server that stores a database containing the images connected to one or more clients via a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) which provide or utilize the images. Web-based PACS is becoming more and more common: these systems utilize the Internet as their means of communication, usually via a virtual private network (VPN) or a secure sockets layer (SSL). The software in thin or smart client is loaded via ActiveX, Java, or .NET Framework. Definitions vary, but most claim that for a system to be truly web based, each individual image should have its own URL. Client workstations can use local peripherals for scanning image films into the system, printing image films from the system and interactive display of digital images. Modern radiology equipment, modalities, feed patient images directly to the PACS in digital form. For backwards compatibility, most hospital imaging departments and radiology practices employ a film digitizer.
Computer aided detection (CAD) systems that assist physicians in diagnosing pathological, traumatic, or healthy indications are known. However, these CAD system are usually based on fixed expert rules and a closed list of treatments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,988 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,786, which have been granted on Feb. 13, 2001, disclose systems, methods and computer program products for guiding selection of a therapeutic treatment regimen for a known disease such as HIV infection, are disclosed. The method comprises providing patient information to a computing device (the computer device comprising: a first knowledge base comprising a plurality of different therapeutic treatment regimens for the disease; a second knowledge base comprising a plurality of expert rules for selecting a therapeutic treatment regimen for the disease; and a third knowledge base comprising advisory information useful for the treatment of a patient with different constituents of the different therapeutic treatment regimens; and generating in the computing device a listing (preferably a ranked listing) of therapeutic treatment regimens for the patient; and generating in the computing device advisory information for one or more treatment regimens in the listing based on the patient information and the expert rules.

Method, a system, and an apparatus for using and processing multidimensional data


A self-expanding stent formed from helically wound and braided filaments of titanium or titanium alloys such as Ti-13Zr-13Nb.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to implantable, radially expandable medical prostheses which are frequently referred to as stents. In particular, the present invention is a titanium alloy self-expanding stent.
2. Description of the Related Art
Self-expanding medical prostheses frequently referred to as stents are well known and commercially available. They are, for example, disclosed generally in the Wallsten U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,771, the Wallsten et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,275 and in International Application Publication Number WO 94/24961, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Devices of these types are used within body vessels of humans and other animals for a variety of medical applications. Examples include intravascular stents for treating stenosis, stents for maintaining openings in the urinary, biliary, esophageal and renal tracts and vena cava filters to counter emboli.
Briefly, self-expanding stents of the type described in the above-identified patent documents are formed from a number of resilient filaments which are helically wound and interwoven in a braided configuration. The stents assume a substantially tubular form in their unloaded or expanded state when they are not subjected to external forces. When subjected to inwardly directed radial forces the stents are forced into a reduced-radius and extended-length loaded or compressed state. A delivery device which retains the stent in its compressed state is used to deliver the stent to a treatment site through vessels in the body. The flexible nature and reduced radius of the compressed stent enables it to be delivered through relatively small and curved vessels. After the stent is positioned at the treatment site the delivery device is actuated to release the stent, thereby a owing the-stent to self-expand within the body vessel. The delivery device is then detached from the stent and removed from the patient. The stent remains in the vessel at the treatment site.
Stents must exhibit a relatively high degree of biocompatibility since they are implanted in the body. Commonly used materials for the stent filaments include Elgiloy.RTM. and Phynox.RTM. spring alloys. Elgiloy.RTM. alloy is available from Carpenter Technology Corporation of Reading, Pa. Phynox.RTM. alloy is available from Metal Imphy of Imphy, France. Both of these metals are cobalt-based alloys which also include chromium, iron, nickel and molybdenum. Other materials used for self-expanding stent filaments are 316 stainless steel and MP35N alloy which are available from Carpenter Technology Corporation and Latrobe Steel Company of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and superelastic Nitinol nickel-titanium alloy which is available from Shape Memory Applications of Santa Clara, Calif. Nitinol alloy contains about 45% titanium. Yet another self-expanding stent, available from Schneider (USA) Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn., includes an Elgiloy.RTM. alloy case with a tantalum or platinum alloy core. The tantalum or platinum alloy core is radiopaque and enhances the visibility of the stent in fluoroscopy during implantation.
The strength and modulus of elasticity of the filaments forming the stents are also important characteristics. Elgiloy.RTM., Phynox.RTM., MP35N and stainless steel are all high strength and high modulus metals. Nitinol has relatively lower strength and modulus.
There remains a continuing need for self-expanding stents with particular characteristics for use in various medical indications. Stents are needed for implantation in an ever growing list of vessels in the body. Different physiological environments are encountered and it is recognized that there is no universally acceptable set of stent characteristics. In particular, there is a need for stents formed from moderate strength materials having lower moduli of elasticity than those of Elgiloy.RTM., Phynox.RTM., MP35N, and stainless steel from which certain stents are currently formed. Stents formed from moderate strength and relatively low moduli of elasticity materials would have properties adapted to an expanded range of treatment applications. Stents with lower moduli of elasticity material would be less stiff and more flexible than a stent made of the same size wire and same design utilizing a high modulus material. Stents of these types must also exhibit a high degree of biocompatibility. Furthermore, the filaments from which the stent is fabricated are preferably radiopaque to facilitate their implantation into patients.
The current self-expanding stents made of Elgiloy.RTM., MP35N, stainless steel, and nitinol can be made to have various characteristics by varying filament wire sizes and stent designs. However, a group of stent wire materials with properties between those of very high strength, high modulus materials (Elgiloy.RTM., MP35N, stainless steel) and of low strength, low modulus materials (NITINOL) would allow even more stent variants to be produced.
The implantation of an intraluminal stent will preferably cause a generally reduced amount of acute and chronic trauma to the luminal wall while preforming its function. A stent that applies a gentle radial force against the wall and that is compliant and flexible with lumen movements is preferred for use in diseased, weakened, or brittle lumens. The stent will preferably be capable of withstanding radially occlusive pressure from tumors, plaque, and luminal recoil and remodeling.


A wagering game developer can provide an online wagering game community, and receive continuous and current feedback about wagering games. The wagering game developer can use the online wagering game community to gauge popularity of wagering games, demonstrate wagering games, test wagering games, estimate wagering game life cycles, etc. Moreover, the wagering game developer can use the creativity of community members to modify and, perhaps, develop wagering games. The wagering game developer can decompose different aspects of a wagering game into executable code units that are platform independent, re-usable, and/or configurable (“wagering game widgets”). Users combine wagering game widgets, whether derived from a wagering game or user generated, to create a wagering game for playing in the online wagering game community. Wagering game developers can reward users who create the most popular wagering games, and develop proper versions of these user-created wagering games for deployment in wagering game establishments.

Wagering game machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines depends on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the subjective entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. The subjective nature of entertainment value leads developers to offer a variety of gaming options. Wagering game developers expend creative resources and research continually evolve the variety of gaming options to offer leading edge wagering games with the greatest appeal.


A caulk is provided for use in a fuel cell system having an externally manifolded fuel cell stack, forming a gas seal between a manifold gasket and the stack face. The caulk is formed of a ceramic material and a binder formed into a paste.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fuel cell systems with at least one fuel cell stack and an external manifold and, in particular, to a seal for use in a fuel cell system having at least one externally manifolded fuel cell stack. More particularly, the invention comprises a caulk member between a manifold and fuel cell stack that minimizes gas leakage, maintains electrical isolation and inhibits electrolyte migration.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fuel cell is a device that directly converts chemical energy in the form of a fuel into electrical energy by way of an electrochemical reaction. In general, like a battery, a fuel cell includes a negative electrode or anode and a positive electrode or cathode separated by an electrolyte that serves to conduct electrically charged ions between them. In contrast to a battery, however, a fuel cell will continue to produce electric power as long as fuel and oxidant are supplied to the anode and cathode, respectively.
In order to produce a useful amount of power, individual fuel cells are typically arranged in stacked relationship in series with an electrically conductive separator plate between each cell. A fuel cell stack may be categorized as an internally manifolded stack or an externally manifolded stack. In an internally manifolded stack, gas passages for delivering fuel and oxidant are built into the fuel cell plates themselves. An internal manifold design requires no external manifold seal, but is expensive to manufacture.
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an externally manifolded fuel cell stack. As shown in FIG. 1, the individual fuel cells 7 are left open on their ends and gas is delivered by way of manifolds or pans 1 sealed to the perimeter of the respective faces of the fuel cell stack 6. The manifolds provide sealed passages for delivering fuel and oxidant gases to the fuel cells 7 and preventing those gases from leaking either to the environment or to the other manifolds (not shown in FIG. 1). The manifolds must perform their functions under the conditions required for operation of the fuel cell stack and for the duration of its life.
The performance of an externally manifolded fuel cell stack depends in large part on the seal established between the manifold edge and the stack face. The typical design of a manifold seal assembly with external manifolds is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,018. The manifolds, which are constructed from metal, must be electrically isolated from the stack face, which is typically electrically conductive and has an electrical potential gradient along its length. Dielectric insulators, such as the dielectric frame 4 shown in FIG. 1, are used between the metallic manifold and the fuel cell stack to electrically isolate the manifold from the stack and to prevent the manifolds from shorting the stack. Dielectric insulators are typically made from brittle ceramic materials such as alumina and mica, which are rigid and may be easily damaged by thermal and mechanical stresses applied on the manifold system during fuel cell stack operation.
In order to withstand the stresses imparted on the manifold system during operation of the fuel cell stack while maintaining electrical isolation between the manifold and the stack, improvements have been made to the manifolds and to the dielectric insulators used to isolate them from the stack. For example, in the flexible manifold system described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,887,611, the manifolds conform to changes in stack shape and size. A common dielectric insulator assembly is designed as a rectangular frame with joints that allow for differential movement between the stack and manifold. Such a construction is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,294, which discloses a rectangular insulator frame having a plurality of segments interconnected by slidable spline joints that permit expansion or contraction with the walls of the manifold and the fuel cell stack. An alternate dielectric design is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,237, which describes a manifold and manifold sealing assembly having a plurality of dielectric frame assemblies. High-density and highly polished ceramics such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,514,636 are desirable for use in dielectric insulators, to provide the required voltage isolation by preventing or reducing electrolyte creep over the surface of the dielectric frame.
Manifold compression against the stack face and stack compaction during operation cause mechanical stresses which are not completely accommodated by the ceramic dielectrics and may still damage them. Accordingly, various improvements have been made to the manifold-stack seal to better accommodate thermal and mechanical stresses, as well as improve the ability of the seal to reduce gas leakage. For example, a compressible ceramic felt gasket placed between the dielectric insulators and the stack edge (e.g., gasket 5 in FIG. 1) may contain an embedded compliant member that accommodates growth of bipolar plates over time during operation of the fuel cell stack and conforms the gasket to the dielectric joints, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/627,035 filed Jul. 25, 2003, and assigned to the same assignee hereof.
However, due to the limitations of gasket materials and the non-uniform stack edge against which the gaskets are placed, the external manifold-stack seals presently used in the art are still not completely effective in eliminating gas leakage between the external manifolds and the stack face. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, which is a schematic side view of a portion of a fuel cell stack, each fuel cell in the stack has a cathode and anode (both generally represented by electrode 9 in FIG. 2), and an electrically conductive separator plate 10. Various designs of separator plates have been disclosed, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,475, which teaches a separator plate that can adjust to changes in thickness of cell parts during operation of the stack; U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,438, which teaches a stainless steel member with high corrosion resistance; U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,161, which teaches an improved bipolar separator structure that assists in electrolyte management by providing trough areas for dispersal or absorption of electrolyte; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,374, which teaches a bipolar separator plate with two pairs of opposing pocket members that are welded to a stainless steel plate member. Each cell also includes corrugated current collectors 11, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,045, and an electrolyte matrix 12. The fuel cells are stacked in series with a bipolar separator plate 10 between each cell.
As known in the art, the three-dimensional S-shaped structure of the bipolar plate is formed by welding the pieces that form top and bottom troughs of the separator plate to the edges of the center plate. When the edges are welded and the separator plate is folded and bended, the welded edge has a radius, which is referred to as a weld bead 13. Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 2, although the individual fuel cells provide solid edges against which a manifold gasket may be compressed, the edges of the fuel cell stack do not provide a smooth surface. Even with improved materials and structural features to accommodate growth of bipolar plates and changes in the stack shape, gaskets presently used in the art cannot form a completely effective seal when positioned against the rough surface formed by the stacked cells.
Another limitation of the seal or gasket presently used between the dielectric insulators and the edge of the stack face is that it generally has a small pore size such that it permits electrolyte to be easily absorbed during operation of the stack, which may cause undesirable transport of electrolyte from the top or positive end of the stack to the bottom or negative end. If unchecked, such vertical electrolyte migration can deplete cells of electrolyte at the positive end of the stack and cause the fuel cells at the negative end of the stack to flood. Another type of harmful electrolyte migration that can occur is movement of electrolyte from the stack across the dielectric and to the manifold, which can short the stack. Electrolyte migration is a significant factor in reducing the efficiency and shortening the life of a fuel cell stack.
Methods and devices for reducing or mitigating electrolyte migration in fuel cell systems have been discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,954, which teaches a passageway along the height of a fuel cell stack with electrolyte-wettable wicking material at opposite ends thereof, equalizing molten electrolyte content throughout the stack; U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,348, which teaches a fuel cell stack having a combination of inactive electrolyte reservoirs at the upper and lower end portions that mitigate the ill effects of electrolyte migration, and a porous sealing member with low electrolyte retention that limits electrolyte migration; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,692, which teaches a manifold gasket for molten carbonate fuel cells having an elongated porous member that supports electrolyte flow and barrier means for retarding such flow, which together control electrolyte flow and reduce electrolyte migration. None of these improvements, however, also provides a more efficient gas seal between the manifold gasket and stack face.
Therefore, there is a need for a manifold-stack seal that reduces or eliminates electrolyte migration, while providing an improved gas seal and maintaining electrical isolation of the manifold from the stack.
Another consideration is that fuel cells operate at very high temperatures. For example, molten carbonate fuel cells operate at about 650° Celsius. The selection of materials to be used in any manifold-stack seal must account for this long term operating temperature and allow the components to last for the life of the fuel cell stack, which is typically several years.
Accordingly, there is also a need for a manifold-stack seal that tolerates fuel cell stack operating temperatures and can accommodate stack movement and changes in stack dimensions.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a fuel cell manifold-stack seal for sealing a manifold to the face of a molten carbonate fuel cell stack that provides an improved gas seal between the manifold and stack and keeps the manifold electrically isolated from the stack, and also accommodates differential movements resulting from thermal stresses and internal fuel cell compactions during operation of the fuel cell stack.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a manifold-stack sealing assembly that inhibits both electrolyte migration from the positive end of the stack to the negative end, and electrolyte migration from the stack across the dielectric to the manifold.


[Problem] To provide a signal configuration device, a signal configuration system, a signal configuration method, and a storage medium storing a signal configuration program which enable suitable demodulation on the receiving side. [Solution] This signal configuration device 12 includes an information generating unit 21. The information generating unit 21 corresponds to a TMCC information generating unit 121 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The information generating unit 21 generates a transmission frame in which each of the multiple slots configuring the frame includes transmission mode information that indicates a transmission mode.

There are television broadcasts by which television program information or the like, which contains audio information, image information, and the like, is transmitted by being disposed in a plurality of slots.
One type of such television broadcasts is satellite digital broadcast in accordance with the standard specification (association of radio industries and businesses (ARIB) STD-B15).
PTL 1 describes a system to transmit information indicating a transmission mode for each slot, in this satellite digital broadcast.
Radio signals for television broadcast, especially radio signals of frequency bands used for satellite digital broadcasts, are more susceptible to meteorological situations, than radio signals of lower frequency bands are. In view of this, as a radio signal modulation system, it is considered possible to select a transmission mode in accordance with a modulation system having a high error resistance although having a low transmission rate under meteorological situations not suitable for radio communication, and a transmission mode in accordance with a modulation system having a high transmission rate although having a low error resistance under meteorological situations suitable for radio communication.

Signal configuration device, signal configuration system, signal configuration method, and storage medium storing signal configuration program


To provide an image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit for forming an image on an image bearing member; a transfer unit for electrostatically transferring the image on the image bearing member onto a transfer medium in a transfer portion, the transfer unit including a transfer member that is capable of nipping the transfer medium in a space with the image bearing member and a voltage application unit for applying a voltage to the transfer member; a control unit for performing a detection operation that detects a voltage-current characteristic concerning the transfer member at the time of a non-transfer operation of the transfer unit and determining a transfer voltage at the time of a transfer operation based on a detection result of the detection operation; and a potential changing unit that is capable of changing a potential of a surface of the image bearing member on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit and which does not yet reach the transfer portion, in which the control unit performs the detection operation at the time when the image bearing member surface processed by the potential changing unit passes through the transfer portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of determining an optimum transfer bias for transferring a developed image formed on an image bearing member onto a transfer medium, such as an intermediate transfer member or a transferring material, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer adopting an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system.
2. Related Background Art
As a conventional example of an image forming apparatus adopting the electrophotographic system, a full-color image forming apparatus using an intermediate transfer system is known in which electrostatic latent images are formed on one or multiple photosensitive drums that each serve as an image bearing member, developed images (toner images) in respective colors that are yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are formed by sequentially developing the latent images using toners in the colors that each serve as a developer, these toner images are transferred (primarily transferred) onto a drum-shaped or belt-shaped intermediate transfer member serving as a transfer medium so that the toner images are superimposed on each other, and the toner images on the intermediate transfer member are transferred (secondarily transferred) onto a transferring material by one operation, thereby obtaining a recorded image. As another conventional example, a monochrome image forming apparatus is known in which only a toner image in black is formed on a photosensitive drum and the toner image is directly transferred onto a transferring material.
In such an apparatus, in a transfer process where primary transfer from a photosensitive drum serving as an image bearing member is performed, a conductive transfer roller or the like is used as transfer means. The transfer roller is used while being abutted against the photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer member and is given electric charges necessary to transfer a toner image not through discharging but through charge injection. Consequently, it is advantageous because the amount of ozone generated is small.
By the way, it is known that the resistance of the transfer roller tends to fluctuate due to the temperature/humidity or energization in the apparatus. In particular, when an ion conductive transfer roller made of a material where an ion conductive agent or a surface-active agent is dispersed is used, the resistance fluctuations described above easily occur.
On the other hand, if an electronic conductive transfer roller where a conductive filler, such as carbon or a metallic oxide, is dispersed as a conductive agent is used, the resistance fluctuations due to the temperature/humidity or energization are suppressed. However, when the surface of the transfer roller becomes soiled by toner as a result of long-term use or the thickness of a photosensitive surface layer opposing the transfer roller is reduced due to wear, the overall resistance of construction elements including the transfer roller and the photosensitive drum changes.
In either case, the resistance fluctuations occur, so that even if a constant voltage is applied to the transfer roller as a transfer bias, a current flowing to the transfer roller fluctuates, which results in a problem that optimum toner image transfer becomes impossible.
In order to prevent the occurrence of a transfer failure ascribable to the resistance fluctuations of the transfer roller, a method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-125338 is used, for instance. With this method, a relation between a voltage applied to the transfer roller and a current flowing to a transfer part is measured as a pre-processing process and a transfer bias applied to the transfer roller is optimally controlled in accordance with a result of the measurement.
With this control method, a constant voltage obtained through constant voltage control is applied to the photosensitive drum from the transfer roller during pre-rotation before image formation (image creation), a current value at that time is detected, an optimum voltage V0 necessary to obtain an optimum current I0 is calculated from a relation between the voltage applied to the transfer roller and the current flowing to the transfer part, and the voltage V0 is applied as a transfer bias at the time of transfer during the image formation. As a result of these operations, even if the resistance of the transfer roller fluctuates, it becomes possible to cause the optimum current to flow to the transfer part at all times.
It should be noted here that in this specification, the term "pre-rotation" refers to a time slot, during which each image forming means operates, in a time period from the transmission of a print signal from the outside to the image forming apparatus to the arrival of the first sheet of the transferring material to a transfer position (transfer portion) of a developer image in an image forming process.
Meanwhile, as a method of developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum using toner, various developing methods are known. In particular, with a magnetic brush developing method using a two-component developer containing toner and a magnetic carrier, a uniform image is obtained with relative stability, so that this method is applied to a color developing system. With this magnetic brush developing method, however, when the surface of the carrier becomes contaminated with a toner component, it becomes impossible to sufficiently charge the toner and the developing efficiency of the toner is lowered. Consequently, this developing method has a shortcoming unique to a two-component developer that periodical replacement of the carrier is required.
In order to overcome this shortcoming, a developing method that uses a one-component developer composed of a magnetic toner and not containing a carrier is used. With this developing method, the carrier degradation problem does not occur, so that developer replacement becomes unnecessary. Consequently, this method is particularly suited for development in black that is frequently performed. This one-component developing method uses no carrier as described above, so that in order to give electric charges to the toner, a method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S54-43038 is used, for instance. With this method, electric charges are given to the toner through triboelectrification between the toner and a developer bearing member that is provided for a developing device for performing a developing operation and feeds the toner to the photosensitive drum.
In addition, there is a case where a sufficient amount of electric charges is not given to the toner only through the triboelectrification between the toner and the developer bearing member and therefore sufficient transfer efficiency is not obtained. In view of this problem, a method is adopted with which charge before transfer is performed using a corona charger before a transfer process. As a result of the charge before transfer, electric charges having the same polarity as the toner are given to a toner image on the photosensitive drum after development and the toner electric charge amount is adjusted so that the transfer efficiency increases.
When the transfer bias control described above is performed in an image forming apparatus that performs such charge before transfer, however, there occurs a problem described below.
When the charge before transfer is performed, the toner electric charge amount increases and the potential of the photosensitive drum also changes. The photosensitive drum surface potential displaces to a polarity side that is the same as the toner charge polarity and the transfer bias has a polarity opposite to the polarity of the toner. Therefore, when the charge before transfer is performed, a potential difference between the photosensitive drum and the transfer roller in the transfer part increases. The transfer bias control before the image creation is performed under a state of charge OFF before transfer, while the image creation is performed under a state of charge ON before transfer.
Therefore, the potential difference described above during the image creation is larger than that before the image creation. Consequently, if a voltage determined through the transfer bias control is applied at the time of transfer, an excess current flows and a so-called "re-transfer phenomenon" occurs in which toner once transferred onto a transfer medium, such as an intermediate transfer member or a transferring material, is re-transferred back to the photosensitive drum, which leads to a problem that an image density is lowered.


A detachable backlight module of LCD TV comprises a casing with a detaching opening, a screen disposed in the front section of the casing, a detachable lamp rack disposed behind the screen and corresponding to the detaching opening, and a main circuit board disposed behind the detachable lamp rack; the main circuit board drives an illumination unit on the detachable lamp rack to evenly diffuse the light produced by the illumination unit through the screen to a plane light source and the detachable lamp rack can be detached from the detachable opening easily, and the foregoing constitute the detachable backlight module of a LCD television.

As the national income is growing, the demand for life quality is getting higher and higher. Since the volume of traditional cathode ray tube television (CRT TV) is large in addition to its problem of loosing originality of color and proportion, CRT TV is eliminated gradually. The Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) and Plasma Display Panel (PDP) will replace the CRT. However, ordinary consumers are not able to afford the price of the common large PDP television in the market. Therefore, the LCD television is considered to be the product of the next generation of the CRT television.
Most of the LCD televisions require a backlight module as the light source; the so-called backlight stands for the position of the light source coming from the backside of the liquid crystal panel. The basic structure of a backlight module mainly includes 3 main sections: light source, light guide plate, and optical film. The light source is divided into the following types: cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), hot cathode fluorescent lamp (HCFL), and light emitting diode (LED). The number of lamps can be changed according to the size of LCD television; generally speaking, the LCD television generally has about 2–40 lamps. The light guide plate uses the wedge type or panel type light guide plate to nebulize the linear light source produced by the light source and to generate an even area light source. The optical film will direct the non-scattering beam onto the reflector of the light guide plate according to different specific functions, so that the beam forms a diffusion and evenly diffuses the diffusion sheet to focus the beam and enhance the brightness enhancement film or prism, wherein the warranty of the light guide plate and optical film products is generally over 10 years. However, the light source structure is a consuming goods; regardless of the cold or hot cathode fluorescent lamp or the light emitting diode, the warranty generally covers 1000˜30000 hours (about 14˜40 months), and the life of the light source structure is shorter than other components. As to the consumers, once the light source structure fails, the high-price LCD television (about tens of thousand U.S. dollars) cannot be used anymore. Further, the traditional backlight module usually fixes the light source structure and the light guide plate for the assembling; if any of the components is damaged, it takes complicated and laborious procedures to replace the component, which is very inconvenient to the consumers. Particularly, the larger LCD television has more than 20 lamps and a weight of several kilograms, plus the factor of the fragility of the lamp, which make the lamp replacement more difficult, or may even damage other lamps.
Therefore, many manufacturers have been focusing on the research and development of the lamp replacement structure. For example, the R.O.C. Patent Publication No. 342950 entitled "Lamp replacing structure of LCD screen" comprises a screen with an opening and a long groove on its side, and a lateral cover for facilitating the replacement of lamp in the lamp base. However, such patent only disclosed a lamp replacement structure, but did not teach the connection of the LCD screen with the circuit board, and thus did not clearly describe the overall LCD screen structure. Furthermore, the number of lamps in such patent is only two, but the current LCD television is generally over 20 inches and has more than 8 lamps. The lamp replacement structure of such patent no longer fits the LCD television with many lamps. In addition, such patent only disclosed the concept of a lamp replacement structure, but is not operable for the present LCD television (since the LCD television disclosed in the patent does not have a diffusion structure including the circuit board, light guide plate, and optical film, etc). It is the reason why there is no LCD television with detachable backlight module in the market yet.


Described herein are systems and methods for replicating an original sequential data volume to a copied sequential data volume. The two sequential data volumes comprise corresponding data blocks with associated write session identifiers. The write session identifiers may correspond to an applicable write operation. When the original sequential data volume is modified, the copied sequential data volume may also be modified for consistency. The write session identifiers of the two data volumes may be sequentially compared to find a mismatch at a modified data block. The data blocks of the copied sequential data volume are replaced, beginning with the modified data block. Instead of replicating the entire original sequential data volume, the modified data block and any subsequent data blocks are replicated in the copied sequential data volume.

In order to protect tape data from technical failures, natural disasters and other catastrophic failures, users rely on making multiple copies of the data. The initial version of the data may be referred to herein as the "original version" of the data or the "original data set". A copy of the data generated, from the original version of the data, may be referred to herein as the "copy version" of the data, or the "copied data set". After the copied data set has been generated from the original data set, the user may modify the original data set. The copied data set may then need to be updated similarly. If only a portion of the original data set is modified, only the corresponding portion of the copied data set needs an update. However, some copying mechanisms copy the entire contents of the original data set to the copied data set as it is often unknown which portions of the original data set differ from the copied data set.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

Sequential storage volume replication based on comparison of write session identifiers


A trocar assembly for use in minimally invasive surgery including a housing having an opening formed therethrough and adapted to receive a selected surgical instrument therein. Positioned within the housing is a split seal having a slit extending therethrough. The split seal maintains a seal through the opening of the housing when a surgical instrument is not inserted through the bore of the sleeve. Also positioned within the housing is a seal assembly having a plurality of sealing structures effective to maintain a seal between the housing and a surgical instrument inserted through the bore of the sleeve, such that the plurality of seals accommodate and seal against surgical instruments having different diameters.

This invention relates in general to surgical instruments and in particular to an improved trocar assembly. Trocar assemblies are used in laparoscopic and other minimally invasive surgical procedures to puncture the abdominal wall and to form an opening or conduit therethrough. A physician can then perform the surgery through the relatively small opening which is held open by the trocar assembly. An inert gas is typically introduced into the abdominal cavity to expand the abdominal cavity. Surgical instruments or optical devices can then be inserted through a longitudinal bore formed through the trocar assembly for access to the expanded abdomen cavity.
Trocar assemblies typically include seals which generally prevent the inert gas from escaping from the abdominal cavity. The seals also permit the insertion of a shaft of an optical device or surgical instrument through the longitudinal bore of the trocar assembly while generally maintaining a seal during the insertion of the surgical instrument. Some trocar assemblies include multiple seals to allow for the sealing of surgical instruments having different shaft diameters which may be used throughout the operation. Typical shaft diameters are 5 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm. To change to the desired sized seal, the surgeon is generally required to manipulate the trocar assembly in some manner so as to change the position of the seals until the desired sized seal is aligned with the longitudinal bore formed through the trocar assembly. For many of the trocar assemblies having multiple seals, it is often cumbersome for the surgeon to manipulate the trocar assembly to position the desired sized seal. These types of trocar assemblies typically require the use of both hands of the surgeon, which is generally undesirable. It is therefore desirable to have a trocar assembly which is easy to use and provides for sealing of inert gas from within the abdominal cavity while allowing for different surgical instrument shaft diameters to be inserted therethrough.


Cellular-capable computing device and a related system and methodology are disclosed. The computing device includes a touch screen display, one or more processors, a memory device, and a first near field communication (NFC) module and first NFC antenna configured to be communicatively coupled to a second NFC module and second NFC antenna of an electronic device. The computing device includes a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the at least one electronic device based on a predetermined wireless communications protocol. The memory device stores one or more applications configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and the computing device is configured to transmit to the at least one electronic device a representation of one or more electronic credentials stored in the at least one memory device based on the first NFC antenna being within a radio frequency (RF) field of the second NFC antenna.

The present invention relates generally to wireless media players and related systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wireless media system and player having improved features for establishing wireless connectivity with various electronic devices.
The ever increasing speed and the reduced size of electronic components has contributed to the proliferation of consumer electronic devices capable of processing digital media such as audio, video, images, animation, presentations, and other content. Handheld media players include for example, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, video players, game players, cameras, radios, televisions, CD/DVD players, Personal Video Recorders (PVRs), etc. Many existing media players are able to store large amounts of digital content, wirelessly connect to the Internet and exchange data over short ranges with other electronic devices.
It is often desirable to interact on a frequent basis with multiple electronic devices that contain different types of digital media. For example, users might have digital music stored in a pocket-size MP3 player, photos or video stored in a cellular phone, presentations stored in a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a variety of other digital media and applications stored on other portable electronic devices. The standardization of file formats for a variety of media types and the resulting availability of processing support for these media types has allowed users to transfer and share digital information between devices more readily.
A problem remains in that getting personal electronic devices to communicate with one another in order to transfer or access information is typically a cumbersome and time-consuming process. In some cases, a direct physical connection must be established between two devices prior to and during data transfer or access using, for example, a docking station interface, FireWire connector, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, or some type of cable. All of the above connectivity methods impose difficulties in that the devices must be directly attached or tethered to one another while communicating.
In other instances, connectivity between devices can be established using infra-red capability integrated into the devices. A major short-range infra-red (IR) communications network protocol, defined by the Infra-red Device Association (IrDA), is known as the IrDA standard. Infra-red technology restricts mobility by requiring the devices to be in direct line-of-sight to each other's infra-red port.
Wireless connectivity offers the most flexible means by which to connect devices and exchange information. Short-range wireless capability using standards such as Bluetooth, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), and others are presently being integrated into media player devices. Wireless technology obviates the need for peripherals such as docking stations, cables, and adapters and provides for mobility within a certain range.
However, one issue with wireless device-to-device connectivity is that some form of user configuration is typically required. For example, communication settings, software settings, security settings, and other information is typically required to be exchanged between and among the devices which are to communicate. In most cases, user configuration in this manner makes data exchange between the media devices insecure and time consuming. Known over-the-air techniques for configuration between two devices have also proven to be generally insecure.
As devices such as cellular phones, PDAs, MP3 players, and cameras and other handheld devices capable of storing and playing media become more prevalent and offer more and more features, it is increasingly desirable to provide interconnection between these devices for convenience and to take advantage of the rich feature sets available. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method, apparatus, and system for wirelessly connecting these devices and discovering each others' communication, media processing, and other capabilities. There is a further need for a solution that allows for the automatic establishment of a secure wireless connection between a source device and a target device and the automatic transmission of certain media assets to the target device. There is also a need for a solution that allows wireless media player devices to connect with and transmit media assets to other devices via the Internet.

Near field communication (NFC) method, apparatus, and system employing a wireless-communications capable computing device


A header (102) for an agricultural harvester (100) comprising a frame (104), a cutter bar (106), a draper belt and a cutter bar support sub-assembly connected to the frame is disclosed. The cutter bar support sub-assembly generally includes a draper support sub-assembly (200A,200B) and a support arm subassembly. The draper support sub-assembly is pivotably connected to the support arm sub-assembly and pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the support arm sub-assembly. The draper support sub-assembly includes a first draper support (608) that includes a curved surface engaging the draper belt and a cutter bar mount (606) supporting the cutter bar. The support arm sub assembly includes a support member connected to the frame.

An agricultural harvester e.g., a plant cutting machine, such as, but not limited to, a combine or a windrower, generally includes a header operable for severing and collecting plant or crop material as the harvester is driven over a crop field. The header has a plant cutting mechanism, e.g., a cutter bar, for severing the plants or crops via, for example, an elongate sickle mechanism that reciprocates sidewardly relative to a non-reciprocating guard structure or a row unit with gathering chains and deck plates.
After crops are cut they are collected inside the header and transported via a draper belt towards a feederhouse located centrally of the header. To help facilitate cutting crops, headers are often designed to allow the cutter bar to pivotally flex or pivot to accommodate changes in terrain so that the cutter bar can better track the surface. However, to ensure that the cutter bar has sufficient room to flex the draper belt must be spaced substantially away from the cutter bar. Consequently, if the cut crop is too short, the crop bunches up on top of the cutter bar rather than falling onto the draper belt where it can be collected. This results in loss of crop and decreased efficiency.
Thus, there is still a need for a header that is capable of accommodating for changes in terrain while still maintaining efficient crop gathering.

Draper support for a draper belt assembly of an agricultural harvester


The present invention is a system and method for allowing an administrator of a computer network higher up in a hierarchical arrangement to define the scope of policies for the services offered, and users lower in the hierarchical arrangement to customize policies within the scope defined by the administrator. While defining policy rules, administrators classify them as scoping or non-scoping. Users lower in the hierarchical arrangement can then customize scoping rules by defining sub-rules. Policy rules have a condition part and an action part, and the sub-rules can be used to change the scope of the condition and action parts. The present invention adds all the non-scoping policy rules, all the scoping policy rules, and all the sub-rules (with their scope limited by the scoping rules) to a rules database. This rules database is then used by any policy enforcement engine to enforce policy rules.

The present invention relates to Service Management Systems for computer networks. In particular, the present invention provides a Service Management Platform that allows an administrator higher up in a hierarchical arrangement to define the scope of policies for the services offered, and users lower in the hierarchical arrangement to customize the policies within the scope of policies thus defined by the administrator.
Managed Service Providers (MSPs) offer managed network services to their customers. They offer services such as firewall, intrusion detection and protection, anti-virus protection, virtual private network etc. to their customers, and manage these for their customers.
The managed services offered by MSPs today differ from MSP to MSP. It may, at minimum, be co-locations of servers and/or network equipment of the customer at the MSP location and accesses to them for the customer. Or, it may be the installation and management of equipment and servers for the customer by the MSP, or even managing policies and/or rules for the customer.
One of the major issues that MSPs face in managing services for the customers is the issue of how much control the MSP has and how much is available to the customer. While it is of utmost importance to the MSP to keep control over the service being offered to the customer, if they want to provide any service guarantees to the customer, this becomes an operational issue for both the service providers as well as customers. This is because if the customer has to approach the MSP for any customization in the service or any change in rules/policies, it would lead to delay and operational costs for both MSP and the customer.
The same reasoning applies for enterprise deployment as well. Since most multi-site (and/or multi-department) enterprises have multiple security devices with consistent security policies, these consistent security policies are maintained through communication means such as email, document sharing, paper guidelines, etc. These means, however, do not allow the global security policy to be enforced consistently without manual communication processes.
To overcome the above issues, MSP and enterprise administrators need a mechanism such that they can define service rules and allow customers/location administrators to redefine the rules within the scope of the service rules.
In the past, solutions have been developed that allow the customers some level of management. However, all these solutions have worked on principle of either partitioning the functionality of management, or allowing customers to only do a subset of the management operations that an MSP could do. Further, in some solutions, the monitoring aspects of management were made available to customers while the configuring or policy definition was retained by the MSP. No solution allowed the MSPs to define the policies/rules in such a way that the customers could customize the rules as per their needs within the scope of the policies defined by the service provider.

Scoping of policies in a hierarchical customer service management system


A document reading device is capable of facilitating attachment/detachment of a reading unit provided inside a U-shaped document conveying path formed in a document conveying device. The document reading device includes a U-shaped document conveying path extending from a sheet supply tray to a sheet discharge tray through a reading section and a reading unit disposed inside the U-shaped document conveying path, a downstream part of the sheet supply tray on which a document is placed and a guide member provided upstream of the document conveying path to continue from the sheet supply tray and is arranged to be attachable/detachable with respect to the sheet supply tray or document conveying path. The reading unit is removable from inside the U-shaped document conveying path through an opening through which the downstream part of the sheet supply tray and guide member of the document conveying path are removed.

Conventionally, as a document reading device that reads a double-sided document with images formed on both sides thereof, there are known a device including a document conveying device having a reversing mechanism for reversing the document and configured to conveying the document to a reading section for reading one side of the document, reversing the document using the reversing mechanism, and conveying once again the document to the reading section for reading the other side of the document, and a device including two first and second reading sections for reading one side of the document and the other side thereof, respectively.
In document reading devices that read both sides of the document using such two reading sections, there is known a device having a configuration in which a first reading unit is provided at a document reading device main body side, and a second reading unit is provided inside a U-shaped document conveying path.
Normally, the document conveying device is configured to be openable/closable with respect to an upper surface of a document reading device main body so as to allow a document placed on a contact glass for book reading to be read. Accordingly, shock or vibration often occurs in the document conveying device every time the document conveying device is opened/closed. Thus, inevitably, the second reading unit provided on the document conveying device side needs to be subjected to maintenance at a higher frequency than the first reading unit provided on the document reading device main body.
In a device where the second reading unit as described above is provided inside the U-shaped document conveying path formed in the document conveying device, a conveying guide constituting the document conveying path surrounds the second reading unit, so that it is necessary to pull the second reading unit for removal in a direction (document width direction) perpendicular to a document conveying direction, i.e., to a front side of the device (refer to, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).