Bioconversion processes are disclosed in which biocatalysts including microorganisms or isolated enzymes that are substantially irreversibly retained in the interior of an open, porous, highly hydrophilic polymer are cycled between at least two different fluid media for the bioconversion of one or more substrates to one or more bioproducts. The processes are particularly attractive for using gas phase or using liquid feedstocks containing the substrate.

Metabolic processes have long been proposed for anabolic and catabolic bioconversions. Microorganisms of various types have been proposed for these bioconversions and include bacteria and archaea, both of which are prokaryotes; fungi; and algae. Metabolic processes are used by nature, and some have been adapted to use by man for millennia for anabolic and catabolic bioconversions ranging from culturing yogurt and fermentation of sugars to produce alcohol to treatment of water to remove contaminants. Metabolic processes offer the potential for low energy consumption, high efficiency bioconversions in relatively inexpensive processing equipment and thus may be and are often viable alternatives to chemical synthesis and degradation methods. Often anabolic processes can use raw materials that are preferred from a renewable or environmental standpoint but are not desirable for chemical synthesis, e.g., the conversion of carbon dioxide to biofuels and other bioproducts. Catabolic bioconversions can degrade substrates and have long been used for waste water treatment. Considerable interests exist in improving metabolic processes for industrial use and expanding the variety of metabolic process alternatives to chemical syntheses and degradations.
In some instances difficulties can occur where it is not desirable to contact the gaseous or liquid feedstock containing the substrate with the aqueous medium containing the microorganism for the metabolic process. For example, the gaseous or liquid feedstock may contain components that could build up in the aqueous medium such as solids; or a liquid feedstock containing the substrate may result in dilution of the aqueous medium requiring large reactor sizes. Additionally, the feedstock may not be aqueous or may contain two liquid phases. Introducing a gas phase feedstock into an aqueous medium may require compression of the gaseous medium in order to overcome the hydraulic head of the aqueous medium resulting in capital and operating expense.
Especially for substrates that are sparingly soluble in water, economic viability of commercial-scale bioconversion processes will not only depend upon the bioconversion rate and efficiency but also on the rate of mass transfer of the substrate from the gas phase to the aqueous phase. The mass transfer rate will be reflected, in part, by the surface area between the gas and liquid phases and the duration of contact. Accordingly, proposed bioreactors trend toward the use of smaller bubbles of gas and contact times sufficient to enable a desired amount of mass transfer of gas into the aqueous phase to be achieved both of which can add to capital and operating expenses. The challenges faced are even greater where the substrate is in a low concentration in the gaseous fluid.
Bioreactor designs have been proposed for treating gas phase feedstocks where the microorganisms are contained on a solid structure. Typically these reactors maintain the microorganisms and the solid structure externally wet in order to maintain the microorganism.
Birdwell, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,823 disclose an apparatus for removing pollutants from air by spraying a microbial laden liquid into incoming polluted air in a wet plenum chamber having a liquid level therein. The air passing out of the wet plenum chamber enters a wet sill chamber having a filtration medium that is sprayed with liquid laden microbial agents to provide further dwell time. The patentees suggest that their process is useful for the removal of volatile organic compounds, air toxins and odors.
Apel in U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,751 discloses a biofilter for the removal of nitrogen oxides from contaminated gases under aerobic conditions. The biofilter is a porous, organic filter bed, preferably wood compost. At column 3,lines 33 et seq., the patentees state that moisture lost can be replenished periodically by the addition of a liquid, such as a buffer solution, to the compost.
Barshter, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,114, disclose a biofilter using modular panels where contact between the gas and the microbial population on the filter removes contaminants. The patentees propose the use of the filter for the removal of hydrocarbons, reduced sulfurs, ammonia, and the like. At column 3, lines 57, et seq., the patentees state that moisture is preferably added periodically by means of sprinklers or perforated hose.
Breckenridge in U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,672 discloses a moving bed biofilter and condenser for flue gas pollutant removal and collection. In his process, a moving belt conveying a wet mat of chopped biomass impregnated with bacteria that feed on nitrogen oxides is used. The gas is passed through the belt.
Ren, et al., in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2012/0208262 disclose improved biotrickling filters for treating waste gas. Waste gases pass through a packed bed which is maintained wet using sprays. The apparatus involves changing the direction of the gas flow.
Another trickle bed is discussed by Jiang, et al., in Nitrogen oxide removal from flue gas with a biotrickling filter using Pseudomonas putida, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 164, pages 432-441 (2009). The authors noted several practical problems with trickle bed bioreactors. First, the pressure drop through the bed can be material in commercial units where using the smaller diameter supports (about 2 to 3 millimeters in diameter) to provide high surface area per unit volume. Second, microbial contamination can occur. Third, biofilm build up can occur that can cause failure of the system. Fourth, the microorganisms, and sought biofilms, can be washed from the surface of the supports thereby making backwashing difficult. And fifth, start-up of bioreactors to enhance adhesion of the microorganisms on the support may require a laborious empirical approach.
A yet another approach is to use biofilm membranes where the gas to be treated is maintained on one side of the membrane and an aqueous medium is provided on the other side. Microorganisms may form a biofilm on aqueous medium side of the membrane. A driving force provides for the permeation of the sought substrate through the membrane where bioconversion occurs. Energy is required for the transport of the substrate through the membrane, which has to have sufficient strength to provide physical integrity. Moreover, the formation of excess biofilms or microbial contamination can adversely affect the performance of the biofilm membranes.
Accordingly improved processes are sought for bioconverting substrate where the feedstock supplying the substrate presents challenges to bioconversions where the microorganisms or enzymes need to be retained in an aqueous medium.

Cyclic bioconversion processes and bioreactor assemblies


A rendering apparatus acquires graphic information of a figure to be rendered in a rendering area; specifies for each division area of the rendering area, graphic information of a figure to be rendered in the division area; calculates based on data size of the specified graphic information and for each division area, total data size of graphic information of the figure to be rendered in the division area; selects a division area as a rendering destination, based on each calculated total data size and a data capacity of a memory area to which graphic information is to be stored that is among the acquired graphic information and for the figure to be rendered; writes to the memory area, the graphic information of the figure to be rendered in the selected division area; and generates based on the written graphic information, an image for the selected division area.

A conventional technique of rendering a figure respectively in areas into which a rendering area of a graphic screen is divided, is known. For example, according to a known technique, when the required clip size exceeds the available clip size, a current black-and-white image rendering command is divided into divided black-and-white image rendering commands and a current color image rendering command is divided according to areas corresponding to the divided black-and-white image rendering commands. According to another known technique, a rendering command for rendering in one page is divided into multiple bands, band heights are determined temporarily in order for each band to keep band heights equal to or lower than a threshold value, and a list of graphic displays for one page is distributed to multiple bands. According to still another known technique, a print command to a printer is generated based on rendering range information created by dividing a rendering range, in which a figure is to be rendered, into multiple ranges and on bit-map data written in an intermediate language based on a print command from an application program, and the generated print command is sent to the printer. According to yet another known technique, when a rendering memory area for an application program cannot be established, a rendering memory area for a priority-given application program is established preferentially and rendering memory areas for other application programs are established according to a value obtained by subtracting the established memory area from the entire rendering memory area (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2007-079934, 2000-238349, 2001-047673, and 2009-212826.
According to the conventional techniques, if an image is generated for each area, the memory capacity of a buffer temporarily storing a rendering command and an image may decrease. As a result, the writing of all the rendering commands to the buffer may become impossible, making proper rendering of an image difficult.

Rendering apparatus, rendering method, and computer product


An improved internally illuminated display apparatus for displaying indicia at a front of the apparatus. The invention is comprised of a light source for providing internal illumination to the display. A plurality of axles are connected to the light source to transfer the light emitted from the source to a plurality of light emitting locations located along the length of the axle. Display elements are rotationally connected to the axles at the light emitting locations and include display faces that may be rotated to produce an image on the front face of the apparatus.

The present invention provides improvements in changeable signs. The inventor of this application, Fred M. Black, is the inventor of U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,905 entitled "Scanned Electromechanical Display" and U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,442 entitled "Scanned Electromechanical Alphanumeric Display Apparatus". Additionally, Fred M. Black is a co-inventor of U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,891 entitled "Changeable Sign". The disclosures of these patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The '905 and '442 patents provide a description of certain designs of the prior art in the field of the present invention. Additional improvements are disclosed in application Ser. No. 08/761,125, filed Dec. 6, 1996, and application Ser. No. 08/831,071, filed Apr. 1, 1997, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The cited patents and applications disclose sign elements which can display alphanumeric or graphical information through the selective arrangement of individual display elements. The display elements are rotatably mounted elements that have multiple display faces, only one of which is noticeable to an observer at a time. The overall pattern of pixel display faces makes up an alphanumeric or graphical indicia of the sign. The present invention has these notions in common, but provides improved design features to create a superior product.
The previous designs require the use of an external light source during low lighting conditions to provide illumination of the display face. Although this arrangement performs adequately, it requires special mounting hardware for mounting the external light source. In many instances, the displays are mounted in small, isolated positions that do not have space or available positions to mount the external lighting.
There is a need for a display apparatus made up of individually illuminated pixels. Present displays provide for internal illumination of the entire display face or for entire columns or rows of pixels. The individual pixels can not be either "on" in which they are internally illuminated or "off" having no internal illumination. There is no ability for the individual pixels to be either "on" or "off" in correlation to the display being presented to the viewer.
Thus, there exists a need for a display apparatus having individually illuminated display pixels which together form a display front for showing alphanumeric or graphical indicia.


Apparatus and method for processing a stateful address auto-configuration protocol in an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) network are provided. The method includes multicasting, at an IPv6 network, a Router Solicitation (RS) message, acquiring and managing flag values of a Router Advertisement (RA) message received from at least one router, and setting an operation mode of a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol-for-IPv6 (DHCPv6) client according to the flag values of the RA message.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing a stateful address auto-configuration protocol in an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) network. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing a stateful address configuration protocol in an IPv6 network wherein, resources of the IPv6 host and loads on a network may be efficiently controlled by determining an operation mode of a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol-for-IPv6 (DHCPv6) client according to an address assignment protocol.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) currently exhausts its IP addresses due to an increasing number of network subscribers. The Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) was developed in order to overcome the address exhaustion and other drawbacks of the IPv4.
In general, the IPv4 is a 32-bit address system consisting of 4.2 billion IP addresses whereas the IPv6 is a 128-bit address system consisting of 3.4×1038 addresses. Thus, the IPv6 can support more subscribers than the IPv4.
Since the IPv6 has a 128-bit address length, the IPv6 can support increased growth in the use of the network (Internet). The IPv6 also has a plurality of advantages such as accelerated network speed, high-quality services through recognition of specific packets, packet source authentication through an expansion of headers, data integrity and improved security.
An IPv6 address auto-configuration is generally classified into a stateful address configuration and a stateless address configuration.
The stateful address configuration is a method for configuring IPv6 addresses and other pieces of configuration information according to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Similarly to the IPv4-IPv6 address system, an IPv6 host needs a DHCP-for-IPv6 (DHCPv6) server that acquires information necessary for the stateful address configuration based on a client/server structure.
The stateless address configuration protocol is a method in which an IPv6 host required for IPv6 address configuration preferentially acquires link local addresses of routers using a neighbor discovery mechanism and multicasts a Router Solicitation (RS) message to the entire IPv6 addresses.
When the RS message is received, a router transmits the prefix of all IPv6 addresses on a Router Advertisement (RA) message to the IPv6 host, which then generates an IPv6 address by combining the acquired prefix of the IPv6 addresses and an interface identifier.
Technical details on a method in which the IPv6 host configures the IPv6 address in the IPv6 network are described in the "Request for Comments (RFC) 2462 (IPv6 Stateless Address Auto configuration)."
The "RFC 2462" describes stateless IPv6 address auto-configuration using an RA message, which is used in IPv6 protocol stacks of most operating systems.
For example, the "RFC 2462" describes a method for operating a stateful address configuration protocol or a DHCPv6 client using a flag field, that is, Managed/Other (M/O) flags of an RA message. A brief description will be given below of the "RFC 2462".
When an RA message is received, an IPv6 host required for stateful address configuration stores M and O flag values set in the flag field of the RA message as a Managed Flag value and an OtherConfig Flag value, respectively. When the Managed Flag value changes from false (0) to true (1), the IPv6 host determines whether the DHCPv6 client is running. If the DHCPv6 client is not running, the IPv6 host acquires an IPv6 address and other pieces of configuration information from a DHCPv6 server by activating the DHCPv6 client.
In the meantime, when the Managed Flag value changes from true (1) to false (0), the IPv6 host does not affect an operation of the DHCPv6 client. In addition, when the Managed Flag value does not change, there is no change in the operation of the DHCPv6.
Likewise, when the OtherConfig Flag value changes from false (0) to true (1), the IPv6 host determines whether the DHCPv6 client is running. If the DHCPv6 client is not running, the IPv6 host acquires the other pieces of configuration information except for the IPv6 address from the DHCPv6 server by activating the DHCPv6 client. If the OtherConfig Flag value changes from true (1) to false (0) or is the same, there is no change in the operation of the DHCPv6 client.
According to the stateful address configuration protocol using the M/O flag values of the RA message, described in the "RFC 2462," a network operator can dynamically activate the DHCPv6 client of the IPv6 host by setting the M/O flag values of the RA message.
However, when the stateful address configuration protocol has to be changed into the stateless address configuration protocol due to, for example, the overload of the DHCPv6 server, that is, when a DHCPv6 service has to be stopped or the IPv6 host moves to another network without a DHCPv6 service, there are no methods for dynamically controlling the operation of the DHCPv6 client.
For example, in a state where the stateful address configuration protocol is set as the IPv6 network (Managed Flag=true, OtherConfig Flag=true), the IPv6 host acquires an IPv6 address and other pieces of configuration information from the DHCPv6 server by activating the DHCPv6 client. Since the IPv6 host continues to run the DHCPv6 client even if the protocol of the IPv6 network changes into the stateless address configuration protocol (Managed Flag=false, OtherConfig Flag=false), resources of the IPv6 host and unnecessary DHCPv6 messages lower efficiency in terms of network bandwidth.
However, an existing operating system, such as Windows Vista® and Windows 2008® of Microsoft, operates unlike the description of the "RFC 2462." Specifically, when the Managed Flag value changes from true (1) to false (0) or when the OtherConfig Flag value changes from true (1) to false (0) (Managed Flag=false (0)), the IPv6 host returns an assigned IPv6 address and stops running the DHCPv6 client.
While the operation of the existing operating system is based on a structure in which the IPv6 host is connected to one access network, the IPv6 host can generally access one or more access networks via one switch due to network expansion. Accordingly, the IPv6 host has a problem associated with operating the DHCPv6 client.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional IPv6 network, and
FIG. 2 is a conventional flow diagram illustrating an IPv6 address configuration method in which an IPv6 host configures an IPv6 address in the IPv6 network.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a description will be made of a network environment in which one or more IPv6 hosts 10 (10-1, 10-2, 10-3) can access a plurality of networks having different network protocols.
A first access network ISP A uses a stateful address configuration protocol, and a second access network ISP B (i.e., a local area network) uses a stateless address configuration protocol.
Since the first access network ISP A uses the stateful address configuration protocol, a first router 20-1 transmits a first RA message to the IPv6 hosts 10 via a switch 30 in step S10. In the first RA message, an M/O flag value is set to 1/x (x=don't care).
When the first RA message is received, since an M flag value is true (1), each of the IPv6 hosts 10 activates a DHCPv6 client to access a DHCPv6 server and receives IPv6 address information assigned therefrom in step S11.
The second router 20-2 is delegated with a prefix PB::/48 from the access network ISP B, and transmits a second RA message to the IPv6 hosts 10 via the switch 30 in step S12. Here, the second RA message includes prefix information PB:SLA::/64, which is used by each of the IPv6 hosts 10 to configure an IPv6 address.
Since the second access network (local area network) ISP B uses the stateless address configuration protocol, the second router 20-2 transmits the RA message by setting M/O flag values to 0/x (x=don't care) and setting prefix information in an option field.
When the second RA message is received, each of the IPv6 hosts 10 stops running the DHCPv6 client since the M flag value is zero (0) and generates an IPv6 address by combining the prefix information with an interface identifier in step S13. Here, each of the hosts 10 returns the IPv6 address, which was assigned from the DHCPv6 server.
The first router 20-1 periodically transmits the first RA message to the IPv6 hosts 10 in step S14.
When the first RA message is received, each of the IPv6 hosts 10 activates (restarts) the DHCPv6 client to receive an IPv6 address assigned again from the DHCPv6 server in step S15.
Since the first router 20-1 and the second router 20-2 periodically transmit the first RA message and the second RA message, respectively, each of the IPv6 hosts 10 receives an alternating first RA message and second RA message.
Accordingly, each of the IPv6 hosts 10 activates the DHCPv6 client to receive an IPv6 address assigned from the DHCPv6 server when the RA message with the M flag value set to one (1) is received and stops running the DHCPv6 client. Each of the IPv6 hosts 10 returns the assigned IPv6 address when the second RA message with the M flag value set to zero (0) is received. Since the alternating first RA message and second RA message are received, the IPv6 host 10 alternately performs a process of activating the DHCPv6 client to be assigned with the IPv6 address, stops running the DHCPv6 client and returns the IPv6 address.
As a result, the resources of the IPv6 host 10 are consumed and the DHCPv6 server and the network are subjected to an unnecessary load. In addition, since the IPv6 host 10 returns the IPv6 address, assigned from the DHCPv6 server of the access network using the stateful address configuration protocol, when the RA message with the M flag set to zero (0) is received, the IPv6 host 10 cannot stably access the network (Internet) through the access network using the stateful address configuration protocol.
Therefore a need exists for an apparatus and method for minimizing resources of an IPv6 host and minimizing loads in a network while processing a stateful address autoconfiguration protocol in an IPv6 host network.

Apparatus and method of processing stateful address auto-configuration protocol in IPv6 network


When a communication system is constructed by use of a plurality of data relay apparatuses of the present invention, it is possible to control an execution/non-execution of a compression/decompression for voice data so that the compression/decompression is not repeatedly executed regardless of a PBX. An ATM multiplexer sends out a transmission pattern to an apparatus adjacent to the ATM multiplexer via a PBX, and stops the compression/decompression of the voice data to relay the voice data transmissively, only when the ATM multiplexer receives the transmission pattern from the adjacent apparatus via the PBX. In other cases, the ATM multiplexer relays the voice data while executing the compression/decompression operation for the voice data.

The present invention relates to a data relay apparatus for processing and restoring data to relay it from a communication device to another, more particularly to a voice data relay apparatus for compressing and decompressing voice data to relay it from a communication device to another.
An asynchronous transfer mode (hereinafter referred to as ATM) multiplexer which relays a voice call by use of an ATM network has been known as a relay apparatus for relaying voice data to a communication apparatus including a private branch exchange (hereinafter referred to as PBX) and the like. In such an ATM multiplexer, voice data to be relayed is compressed/decompressed so that a voice is compressed to be transmitted on the ATM network.
For example, a consideration is given to a case in which an ATM multiplexer c3301 and an ATM multiplexer d3302 perform relaying of a voice call between a PBX b3201 and a PBX e3202 in FIG. 3A.
As to a direction in which voice data tends from the PBX b3201 to the PBX e3202, the ATM multiplexer c3301 compresses the voice data received from the PBX b3201, and transmits the voice data to the ATM multiplexer d3302 via the ATM network 3101. The ATM multiplexer d3302 decompresses the voice data received, and then transmits the voice data to the PBX e3202. On the other hand, as to a direction in which the voice data tends from the PBX e3202 to the PBX b3201, the ATM multiplexer d3302 compresses the voice data received from the PBX e3202, and then transmits the voice data to the ATM multiplexer c3301 via the ATM network 3101. The ATM multiplexer c3301 decompresses the voice data received, and transmits the voice data to the PBX b3201.
A consideration is given to a case in which in FIG. 3A, to relay the voice call between a TEL a3401 and a TEL i3402 by use of a path passing through the PBX b3201, the PBX e3202 and a PBX h3203, the ATM multiplexer c3301 and the ATM multiplexer d3302 perform relaying of the voice call between the PBX b3201 and the PBX e3202, and the ATM multiplexer f3303 and the ATM multiplexer g3304 perform relaying of the voice call between the PBX e3202 and the PBX h3203.
Here, assuming that to relay the voice call between the PBX b3201 and the PBX e3202, the ATM multiplexer c3301 and the ATM multiplexer d3302 compress and decompress the voice data, and to relay the voice call between the PBX e3202 and the PBX h3203, an ATM multiplexer f3303 and an ATM multiplexer g3304 compress and decompress the voice data, the voice data of the voice call will be subjected twice to the compression and decompression as shown in FIG. 3B. Repetition of the compression/decompression of the voice data is not desirable because deterioration in a quality of the voice data is brought about.
For this reason, in the conventional system, a PBX recognizing that the PBX itself is not at an end of a relay path, that is, that the PBX itself only relay a voice call, has instructed an ATM multiplexer connected thereto not to execute the compression/decompression of the voice call. The ATM multiplexer that received the instruction has not executed the compression/decompression of the voice data of this voice call. Thus, the compression/decompression have not been executed repeatedly.
For example, in FIG. 3A, when the voice call between the TEL a3401 and the TEL i3402 is relayed by use of a path passing through the PBX b3201, the PBX e3202 and the PBX h3203, the PBX e3202 accommodating none of the TEL a3401 and the TEL i3402 recognizes that the PBX e3202 itself is not at the end of the path, that is, that the PBX e3202 itself only relays the voice call. Then, the PBX e3202 instructs the ATM multiplexer d3302 and the ATM multiplexer f3303 not to execute the compression/decompression of the voice data as to this voice call. Upon receipt of this instruction, the ATM multiplexer d3302 and the ATM multiplexer f3303 do not compress and decompress the voice data as to this voice call, and relay the voice data transmissively. Thus, the compression/decompression of the voice data as to this voice call is performed only once between the ATM multiplexer c3301 and the ATM multiplexer g3304, as shown in FIG. 3C.


According to an aspect, a correction factor for a fuel flow of a fuel system of an engine is determined. A nominal fuel flow is determined based on a metering valve stroke. The correction factor is applied to the nominal fuel flow to produce an estimated fuel flow to control combustion in the engine.

This disclosure relates to turbine engines, and more particularly to adaptive fuel flow estimation with flow meter feedback.
Fuel systems for gas turbine engines often include a fuel source and one or more pumps to deliver pressurized fuel to a combustor section of an engine. A fuel system typically includes a metering valve downstream of a pump to measure and regulate fuel flow to the combustor section and a bypass fuel line to recirculate fuel from a location between the pump and the metering valve to a location upstream of the pump. A typical fuel system also includes a pressure regulating valve to maintain a fixed differential pressure across the metering valve by controlling the fuel flowing through the bypass fuel line.
A common method of determining fuel flow through the fuel system includes using the position of the metering valve, also referred to as the metering valve stroke, to determine an associated fuel flow by referencing known fuel flow rates for the particular metering valve position values. Calculation or estimation of fuel flow can be performed based on a nearly-constant pressure regulation of the valve across a metering window. However, it can be difficult to accurately characterize many valves to establish the relationship over a long period of time.

Adaptive fuel flow estimation with flow meter feedback


An information processing apparatus 100 includes: a first casing 101 having an operation section 110 provided on a top surface; a second casing 102 having a display provided thereon; an opening and closing mechanism 120 configured to connect a far side portion of the first casing 101 to the second casing 102 such that the information processing apparatus 100 is openable and closable; and a belt 150 provided on a back surface side of the first casing 101. The belt 150 extends diagonally on a back surface 101a of the first casing 101 from a mounting portion provided on one side surface 101b side of the first casing 101, so as to approach the far side portion of the first casing 101 as a distance from the one side surface 101b side is increased, and reaches a mounting portion provided on a far side of the first casing 101.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus having a belt used for holding the information processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
WIPO publication No. WO2009/101800 discloses an information processing apparatus having: a back surface side casing section; a front surface side casing section opposing the back surface side casing section; a projection that is provided in a back surface portion of the back surface side casing section so as to project outward; and a belt fixed to the back surface side casing section so as to cover the projection. The belt has a penetration portion positioned so as to oppose a top portion of the projection. A user holds the apparatus so as to cover and grasp the projection with the palm of the user's one hand. At this time, a third joint of an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, or the like of the one hand, is protruded through the penetration portion. Thus, the back surface side casing section can be in very close contact with the one hand.

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


An object carriage system is developed which can suppress any vibration even if an object to be carried contains a source of vibration. The object carriage system comprises a carriage for carrying an object, a resilient supporting means for resiliently supporting the carriage over the floor, a vibration suppressing means for suppressing the vibration of the carriage relative to the floor, acceleration detecting means for detecting an acceleration of the carriage and producing a corresponding acceleration signal, a mass movably supported by the carriage, and driving means for driving the mass in the direction in which the acceleration takes place in accordance with the acceleration signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an object carriage system for carrying an object such as a precision machining device while eliminating external vibrations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An object carriage system is known having a resilient supporting means for resiliently supporting over the floor a carriage which carries an object, e.g. a precision machining device or an optical disk laser cutting device, and a vibration suppressing means for suppressing a vibration of the carriage relative to the floor.
Such a prior art object carriage system as shown in FIG. 1 has a carriage 1 which is to carry an object, resiliently supported by resilient supporting means or pneumatic springs 3a and 3b disposed on the floor and the wall respectively and also, urged by vibration suppressing means for dampers 4a and 4b for suppressing vibrations. When external vibrations are exerted from the floor 2 to the carriage 1 in the Z direction, the resulting vibrations on the carriage 1 will be attenuated by means of a mass ml of the carriage 1 and an attenuation coefficient c0 of the damper 4a. Also, the vibration in the X direction of FIG. 1 will be suppressed by means of the damper 4b.
However, if a source of vibration exists in the object per se carried by the carriage, the prior art object carriage system can hardly avoid vibrations derived from the particular source. More specifically, vibrations caused by e.g. a spindle motor of an optical disk laser cutting device cannot be suppressed thus increasing an error in the positioning of an optical information writing point.


The discharge lamp lighting circuit is structured such that positive and negative polarity voltages separately generated from two output terminals of a DC power source circuit are sent to the DC-AC conversion circuit 4. To switch these output voltage, a plurality of switch elements provided in a DC-AC conversion circuit are alternately operated by drive circuits. The resultant AC voltage is supplied to the discharge lamp. A current detection element is provided in the DC power source circuit, and the signal from the element is received by the current detection circuit to conduct current detection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting circuit for supplying an AC voltage to a discharge lamp by converting a DC voltage from a DC power source circuit. The circuit has a current detection means to detect a current flowing to the discharge lamp in the DC power source circuit.
2. Related Art
A lighting circuit for a discharge lamp, having a DC power source circuit, a DC-AC conversion circuit, and a starter circuit, is known.
For example, a lighting circuit has a DC-DC converter in the DC power source circuit, and a DC-AC converter containing a driver circuit and a full bridge circuit having two pairs of semiconductor switch elements for conducting switching control. The output voltage of the DC-DC converter is converted into a rectangular wave-shaped voltage by the full bridge circuit and supplied to the discharge lamp.
To detect a current flowing to the discharge lamp, a shunt resistance is inserted between the discharge lamp and the ground, and a signal after voltage conversion is detected.
However, the above configuration is subject to a surge voltage and may face safety problems.
When a discharge lamp is lighted, a surge voltage may be generated by a distributed or stray capacitor. For a mobile lighting circuit, a high voltage pulse of several kV""s to tens of kV""s generated by a starter circuit is sent to the discharge lamp through a high voltage cord. A shield is wrapped around the cord to suppress electromagnetic interferences brought on by the generation of radio frequency noise. The stray or distributed capacity are also charged between the high voltage cord and the car body or the shield, both at ground. Thus, when the discharge lamp breaks down and conducts after receiving the high voltage pulse, the electrical charge accumulated in the stray capacity or the distributed capacity discharges through the shunt resistance. Consequently, the shunt resistance or elements of the current detection circuit provided downstream to the resistance can be damaged.
Further, if the wiring between the shunt resistance and the discharge lamp short circuits by contacting, for example, the car body, the current stops flowing through the shunt resistance and flows out through the car body (ground potential). Since no current is flowing to the discharge lamp, the control circuit ramps the power supply to provide more current to the discharge lamp. A fail-safe circuit then detects the above condition to stop the operation. Circuits such as a fail-safe circuit increase costs, size, and the number of parts of the lighting circuit.
According to the present invention, a discharge lamp lighting circuit comprises a DC power source circuit to output a DC voltage, a DC-AC conversion circuit for converting the DC voltage into an AC voltage to be supplied to a discharge lamp, a current detection circuit to detect a current flowing to the discharge lamp, and a control circuit to control the output voltage of the DC power source circuit based on a status detection signal of the discharge lamp including a detection signal from the current detection circuit. The present invention can have the following structures, (A) to (C).
(A) A positive polarity voltage and a negative polarity voltage respectively from two output terminals of the DC power source circuit are sent to the DC-AC conversion circuit. A plurality of switch elements provided in the DC-AC conversion circuit for switching these output voltages are alternately operated by their driving circuits to generate AC voltage, which is supplied to the discharge lamp.
(B) One electrode of the discharge lamp is connected to one of the output terminals of the DC-AC conversion circuit through an inductive load, and the other electrode is connected to the ground.
(C) A current detection element to detect a current flowing to the discharge lamp is provided in the DC power source circuit, and a signal from the current detection element is received by the current detection circuit.
According to the present invention, the current detection element for detecting a current flowing to the discharge lamp is provided in the DC power source circuit and not connected to the discharge lamp. For example, the element may be inserted between the output terminal and the ground. Thus, problems associated with the surge voltage generated when the discharge lamp is lighted can be averted. Also, a protection circuit for protecting circuits is not needed because the current can be detected by the current detection element even if the current leaks to the car body.


Transistors having a plurality of channel semiconductor structures, such as fins, over a dielectric material. A source and drain are coupled to opposite ends of the structures and a gate stack intersects the plurality of structures between the source and drain. Lateral epitaxial overgrowth (LEO) may be employed to form a super-lattice of a desired periodicity from a sidewall of a fin template structure that is within a trench and extends from the dielectric material. Following LEO, the super-lattice structure may be planarized with surrounding dielectric material to expose a top of the super-lattice layers. Alternating ones of the super-lattice layers may then be selectively etched away, with the retained layers of the super-lattice then laterally separated from each other by a distance that is a function of the super-lattice periodicity. A gate dielectric and a gate electrode may be formed over the retained super-lattice layers for a channel of a transistor.

Device density in integrated circuits (ICs) continues to increase. Integrated circuits (e.g., microprocessors, chipset components, graphics chips, memory chips, optical chips, etc.) include transistors that now often have non-planar channel semiconductor structures, such as fin field effect transistors (finFETS). The density of such fins is an important metric for transistors, with higher fin density enabling transistors with higher currents/area or smaller footprints. To date, fins are typically formed by a lithographic process in which a photoresist layer may be spin-coated over a mask layer. The photoresist layer may be exposed to radiation through a patterned mask, and the exposed photoresist developed in order to form lines. Next, the hardmask may be etched and this line pattern translated into an underlying semiconductor material. One measure of the size of a trace is the critical dimension (CD). One measure of the spacing of a set of traces is their pitch. In the past, the sizes and the spacing of traces have progressively decreased. Various multi-patterning and pitch splitting techniques may be employed in an effort to further increase the density of a fin pattern. However, such patterning techniques are expensive and the surface roughness of fins resulting from these complex subtractive patterning techniques may still pose a practical limit in the lateral dimensions of the fins. Techniques and structures that enable further increases in fin density are therefore advantageous.
Fin leakage is another issue that becomes more problematic with transistor scaling. Losses through transistor leakage paths pose a significant program with respect to power consumption and signal integrity. In an effort to mitigate leakage through an IC substrate, transistors may be fabricated upon semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. SOI substrates are much more expensive than bulk semiconductor substrates and therefore transistor fabrication techniques and architecture that improve transistor isolation without reliance on SOI substrates are also advantageous, with techniques and structures that enable both a further increase in fin density and improved substrate isolation being all the more advantageous.

Transistors with high density channel semiconductor over dielectric material


A fast recovery diode has a single large area P/N junction surrounded by a termination region. The anode contact in contact with the central active area extends over the inner periphery of an oxide termination ring and an EQR metal ring extends over the outer periphery of the oxide termination ring. Platinum atoms are diffused into the back surface of the device. A three mask process is described. An amorphous silicon layer is added in a four mask process, and a plurality of spaced guard rings are added in a five mask process.

Fast recovery diodes are well known. The processes used for the manufacture of such devices frequently employ cellular and/or stripe and/or trench technologies in a silicon die with electron irradiation for lifetime killing. Such devices use a high mask count and are relatively expensive.
It would be desirable to make a fast recovery diode (FRED) with a reduced mask count and lifetime killing but with equal or better characteristics to those of existing FRED devices.

Fast recovery diode with a single large area p/n junction


A physically independent agitator for insertion in a liquid container is disclosed. An example agitator includes a central body having sufficient density to be immersed in the liquid in the container. The agitator includes a plurality of blades supported by the body. Each of the blades has a proximal end attached to the body, and an outer edge having a triangular cross section. The blades are propelled by the liquid to cause the agitator to spin when the container is shaken.

Liquid containers such as water bottles are often used for powdered compositions such as dietary supplements, drink mixes, and baby formulas. For example, water may be poured into the water bottle and such substances may be added to the water. Such substances are mixed with the water to form a composition. Other substances such as salad dressings, soups, etc. may be combined by such a process. The powdered composition often clumps forming aggregations of powder surrounded by a thick layer of paste that inhibits liquid from penetrating into the clump. These clumps may float, sink to the bottom of the container, or remain suspended at some level in the fluid. Powder may also stick to the sides or bottom of a container and resist mixing by simple shaking. One solution is to use a stirrer to mix the powder with the liquid. However, such a mechanism requires the user to keep the bottle open to stir the liquid. This process may be inconvenient and may have to be repeated if the mixed liquid is not immediately consumed as the clumps may reform or the substances may separate from the liquid.
Another solution is the insertion of an agitator that is sealed with the liquid in the bottle. The agitator allows a user to shake the bottle and results in dispersion of clumps and aggregations on the container walls as the agitator moves in the liquid. However, current agitators suffer from the fact that a user must continue to shake the bottle to keep the agitator functioning to disperse the powder in the liquid. The requirement for continuous shaking of the bottle is burdensome to the user.
Thus, there is a need for an agitator that may be inserted in a liquid container and allows agitation of liquid and additives by shaking a bottle. There is a further need for an agitator that remains orientated in one position relative to the liquid level. There is a further need for an agitator that has dynamic movement independent of attachment to a liquid container. There is also a need for an agitator that maintains the agitation motion even after a liquid bottle has stopped being shaken.


A substrate of an electrostatic chuck, which is a member for use in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, is formed of an yttrium oxide material that contains yttrium oxide (Y2O3), silicon carbide (SiC), and a compound that contains a rare-earth element (RE), Si, O, and N. The yttrium oxide material contains RE8Si4N4O14 as a compound that contains a rare-earth element (RE), Si, O, and N, wherein RE may be La or Y. Y8Si4N4O14 is produced during a sintering step of a raw material that contains the main component Y2O3 and an accessory component Si3N4. Y8Si4N4O14 and SiC in the yttrium oxide material improve mechanical strength and volume resistivity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an yttrium oxide material, a member for use in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and a method for producing the yttrium oxide material.
2. Description of the Related Art
An yttrium oxide material that contains 2% to 30% by weight of silicon carbide having a particle size of 0.03 to 5 μm has been proposed as a ceramic member for use in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. The yttrium oxide material has high electrical conductivity and exhibits high corrosion resistance and durability in a halogen plasma gas (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-69843).
Although the yttrium oxide material described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-69843 specifically contains silicon carbide to increase electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and durability in semiconductor manufacturing, these characteristics are still insufficient. Thus, there is a demand for further improvement in characteristics, including mechanical strength. While the yttrium oxide material described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-69843 has an increased electrical conductivity, there is another demand for yttrium oxide materials that have low electrical conductivity or high volume resistivity.
In view of the situations described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an yttrium oxide material that has high mechanical strength, a member for use in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and a method for producing the yttrium oxide material. It is another object of the present invention to provide an yttrium oxide material that has high volume resistivity, a member for use in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and a method for producing the yttrium oxide material.

Yttrium oxide material, member for use in semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, and method for producing yttrium oxide material


A vivarium specifically designed for rehabilitating an aquatic fur-bearing mammal or bird, particularly a sea otter, includes an improved enclosure having large outwardly flared ports covered with soft flexible netting, curved and rounded joints, corners and edges, and surfaces which are smooth and projectionless. An improved swimming environment is sized to allow rehabilitative grooming behavior and an improved dry environment has weight bearing surfaces that do not focus pressure on discrete areas of an enclosed animal's skin. A further feature of the vivarium is that the enclosure and swimming and dry environments are supported on a base and can be nested inside the base for storage or transport.

This invention is the result of my work involved in the rehabilitation of oiled sea otters. The March, 1989 Valdez accident was the first oil spill to involve large numbers of sea otters, as well as other marine birds and mammals. Although to date there has been over a score of larger spills than Valdez, the March, 1989 accident represents the first spill to affect so many sea otters. An estimated 16,000 otters inhabited the area affected by the oil (DeGange, et al. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Sea Otter Symposium, Anchorage, Ak. 1990. Consequently large numbers of the area's sea otters might have been involved (Townsend & Hereman, The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: A Management Analysis, Cntr. Marine Conserv., DC 1989).
The Sea Otter Rehabilitation Program was developed in response to the need for such a program created by the Valdez spill. The Rehabilitation Program demonstrated that large numbers of oiled sea otters could be successfully rehabilitated following such an incident. However, the experience was often painful and always trying. The state of the art for rescuing, treating and rehabilitating marine animals at the time of the Valdez spill was woefully inadequate to accommodate a rehabilitation response of this nature and magnitude. The Rehabilitation Program led to many new and innovative techniques for treating fur-bearing marine mammals exposed to oil pollution. Prior to this experience, most aspects of the rehabilitation process were speculative and untested. Although break-through developments did occur in course of efforts to deal with the incident, and many stop-gap measures and responses were successful, there remained much need for improvement in many areas of the rehabilitation effort. This especially included a safe, easily storable and transportable means for holding sea otters, and other marine animals, during the course of their rehabilitation.
The present invention addresses the need for an improved holding facility for aquatic animals, particularly aquatic birds and fur-bearing mammals. The present invention embodies several improvements and advantages over cages and holding pens in use prior to and developed during the Valdez incident. The present invention specifically embodies improvements to maintain marine mammals and birds without injury. Additionally, the present invention embodies a vivarium which may be easily stored and readily transported in response to environmental emergency or other need.

Aquatic fur-bearing mammal and bird vivarium

Dept. Marine Biology, Texas A & M University, P.O. Box 1675


A time synchronization system includes a master station (100) and slave stations (200) communicably connected to the master station (100). The master station (100) includes a contention determiner (114) and a time synchronization frame processing unit (113). The contention determiner (114) determines, based on receipt timings of a plurality of first time synchronization frames transmitted from the respective slave stations (200), whether the plurality of first time synchronization frames have a possibility of contention over relay processing. The time synchronization frame processing unit (113) discards, when the contention determiner (114) determines that the plurality of first time synchronization frames have the possibility of the contention, out of first time synchronization frames that have a possibility of mutual contention, a first time synchronization frame received later.

As means for high-accuracy time synchronization of devices on a network, a precision time protocol (PTP) defined by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1588 is known. According to this protocol, time synchronization is achieved by periodic communication of time synchronization frames between a master station having a reference time and slave stations subordinate to the master station, and correction by the slave stations of times thereof to the reference time of the master station.
The time synchronization frames transmitted from the slave stations to the master station are transmitted from the respective slave stations at freely-selected timings. Thus, an increase in the number of the slave stations connected to the master station leads to an increase in the possibility that a frame loss occurs due to overlap of transmission timings at which the time synchronization frames are transmitted from the slave stations to the master station, resulting in a decrease in time synchronization accuracy.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for preventing such decrease in time synchronization accuracy by a master station managing, for each slave station, a transmittable segment that is a timing at which the slave station transmits a time synchronization frame.

Time synchronization system, master station, and time synchronization method


An elastic gear First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffer architecture is disclosed. The proposed elastic gear FIFO buffer uses a frequency monitor unit to control clock frequency compensation. By using an independent frequency monitor unit, the data latency and FIFO buffer size are best optimized. An elastic gear FIFO could be utilized in applications where clock compensation and asynchronous data width conversion are desired or required.

Computing and Input/Output (I/O) subsystems often need to pass data to each other. First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffers are often used to safely pass data from one subsystem to another. The implementation of the FIFOs is straightforward when both subsystems use the same clock domain or same data width.
When the subsystems use different port widths and different data width, things become more complicated. An elastic gear FIFO design is often required in such circumstances. Conventional asynchronous gear FIFO buffer design is composed of an asynchronous FIFO buffer design and a synchronous gear FIFO buffer. Asynchronous FIFO buffer designs usually have 2k locations. In such a design, the write pointer is converted to gray code and then synchronized to the read clock domain before being compared to the read pointer. Clock frequency compensation, FIFO full, and FIFO empty all depend on the pointer difference between the synchronized write pointer and read pointer. This constrains the asynchronous FIFO buffer design to have the same input and output data width. An additional synchronous gear FIFO buffer converter is often required to do the data width conversion that is necessary. Implementing an asynchronous gear FIFO buffer with another asynchronous FIFO buffer plus a synchronous gear FIFO buffer are not area effective and introduce unwanted data latency.

Elastic gear first-in-first-out buffer with frequency monitor

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A vehicle lamp detection method includes: obtaining an image block including an image of a vehicle; and performing vehicle lamp detection on the image block by means of a deep neural network, to obtain a vehicle lamp detection result.

In intelligent driving technologies, accurately detecting and determining vehicle surrounding information is significant for decisions such as selecting a driving path for an intelligent driving vehicle and evading and braking a vehicle.
A vehicle lamp on the vehicle may often function as delivering corresponding information (for example, a left turn, a right turn, a brake, etc.) to other vehicles and pedestrians. Accurately identifying information delivered by the vehicle lamps of the other vehicles in a driving environment has a certain meaning for intelligent driving decisions.

Vehicle lamp detection methods and apparatuses, methods and apparatuses for implementing intelligent driving, media and devices

BEIJING SENSETIME TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.


Disclosed is a pitch adjuster for a musical instrument having valves for selectively directing air flow through additional tubes and tuning slides on at least some of the additional tubes. The pitch adjuster automatically adjusts the tuning slides depending upon which valves are directing the air flow to pass through their additional tubes. There are a pair of adjustable linear solenoids connected between the additional tubes and their tuning slides, each of which adjusts the tuning slide when the solenoid is energized. There are sensors to detect whether each valve is directing the air flow through its additional tube. There is also a controller connected to sensors and solenoid for energizing the selected solenoids when the controller receives input from at least two sensors that the valves are directing the air flow to pass through their additional tubes.

Brass musical instruments, and trumpets in particular, use valves to change their pitch and commonly have tuning slides on their additional tubes to allow for tuning of the additional tube of each valve. Newman (U.S. Pat. No. 1,662,076), Holland (U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,804), and Holland (U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,233) each disclose a trumpet in which there is a finger trigger mechanism for adjusting the third valve additional tube tuning slide. Sawada et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,372) disclose a trumpet in which a solenoid actuator is used to operate the valves in response to sensors detecting finger pressure on the valve keys. Catalano et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 10,249,270) disclose a system for compromise tuning a valve operated instrument in which the tuning slide is moved by the musician or an actuator. Thibodeau et al. (Trumpet Augmentations and Technological Symbiosis) discuss the augmentation of a trumpet in which sensors are used to detect the position of the valves.

Pitch adjustment for a valve brass musical instrument


A water-based metalworking fluid is comprised of a polymeric boron species which includes at least B, N and H, together with a surfactant operable to provide an emulsion of the boron species with water. The polymeric boron species may be a polyborane or a borazine polymer and may be configured as a polyborane or borazine polymer backbone having side chains pendent thereupon. The side chains may include silicon and/or phosphorous. The silicon may be in the form of a silane or a siloxane species, including polymeric species. Disclosed are specific compositions as well as methods for using the compositions and methods for making the compositions.

Metalworking fluids are employed in metalworking operations such as cutting, forming, stamping and rolling to provide cooling and lubrication to both the workpiece and the metalworking apparatus. The metalworking fluids also function to flush away oil and debris from the worksite and they provide corrosion protection to both the workpiece and the metalworking apparatus. Metalworking fluids were initially formulated from hydrocarbon oils and solvents. However, water-based metalworking fluids are coming to be widely used.
Water-based metalworking formulations typically comprise emulsified structures incorporating both water-soluble and water-insoluble materials in a stable, emulsified composition. Water-based metalworking fluids are more environmentally acceptable than are hydrocarbon oil-based fluids. Water-based fluids can be easily recycled, and waste handling and pollution control is minimized when such fluids are utilized. Problems do occur with water-based fluids, however, since such fluids may have lower lubricity than do oil-based fluids. Furthermore, various additive packages incorporated in water-based fluids are subject to depletion in the use of the fluids. Often, the depletion of the various components of the fluid does not proceed at the same rate, and it is frequently difficult to monitor the compositional state of the fluids.
As will be explained hereinbelow, the present invention provides for a class of water-based metalworking fluids which incorporate boron-based inorganic polymers. These boron-based polymers are very stable and hence are not prone to break down during use and storage of the compositions; hence, the compositions are stable and can be readily recycled and replenished. In addition, such materials can provide a high degree of lubricity to water-based compositions.

Water-based metalworking fluid incorporating polymeric boron materials


A first analog-digital converter circuit in a preceding stage converts an input analog signal into a digital value and retrieves the higher 4 bits. A second analog-digital converter circuit in a subsequent stage converts an input analog signal into a digital value and retrieves 3 bits including the 5th through 6th highest bits and a redundant bit, 3 bits including the 7th through 8th highest bits and a redundant bit, and 3 bits including the 9th through 10th highest bits and a redundant bit. Thus, the number of bits produced by conversion by the second analog-digital converter circuit in the subsequent stage of a cyclic type is configured to be smaller than the number of bits produced by conversion by the first analog-digital converter circuit in the preceding stage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an analog-digital converter and, more particularly, to an analog-digital converter including an analog-digital conversion part of a cyclic part.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a variety of additional functions are built in mobile appliances such as a mobile telephone set, including the image pick-up function, the image playback function, the moving image pick-up function and the moving image playback function. In association with this, there is an increasing demand for miniaturization and power saving of an analog-digital converter (hereinafter, referred to as an AD converter). One mode of AD converter that addresses this demand is known as a cyclic AD converter that cycles through stages (see, for example, the Related art list No. 1).

Analog-digital converter optimized for high speed operation


An ink ribbon feeder wherein a feed roll support section rotatably supports an ink ribbon feed roll and a take-up roll support section rotatably supports a take-up roll support section; a first driving section turns a take-up roll to wind the ink ribbon in an ink ribbon take-up direction, and a second driving section turns the feed roll in the opposite direction of the first driving section, to apply a tension to the ink ribbon. The first driving section and the second driving section are disposed on the same side of both the take-up roll and the feed roll in the ribbon take-up direction. The recording unit, inclusive of the recording head, the ink ribbon feed roll and the take-up roll are mounted in various ways to equalize the tension over the width of the ink roller.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an ink ribbon feed mechanism for a thermal recording type printing apparatus used in a facsimile machine and the like.
2. Description of Related Art
In a facsimile apparatus, which is but one example of a thermal recording type printing apparatus, an ink ribbon for recording is placed in the path of travel of the recording paper (generally, ordinary paper). The ink ribbon is usually wound on a feed roll and printing is performed while the ink ribbon is being taken up onto a take-up roll. The ink ribbon is held stretched between the feed roll and the take-up roll. Across the ink ribbon are oppositely arranged the recording paper and a recording head. With the heating of the recording head, the ink coated on the ink ribbon melts to be transferred onto the recording paper.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an ink ribbon feed mechanism used in a conventional facsimile apparatus.
In FIG. 9, an ink ribbon 51 is wound on a feed roll 52, and the leading end of the ink ribbon 51 is wound on a take-up roll 53. The take-up roll 53 turns in the direction of the arrow Y in the drawing. That is, the ink ribbon 51 advances in the direction of the arrow X in the drawing, being taken up on the take-up roll 53. The feed roll 52 and the take-up roll 53 are both supported nearly horizontally in relation to an unillustrated bottom plate of the facsimile apparatus by support frames 56A, 56B extending perpendicularly from the bottom plate.
The take-up operation of the ink ribbon 51 is effected by a friction mechanism 55 which drives the take-up roll 53. The friction mechanism 55 has a driving gear 58 which meshes with a gear 57 coaxially mounted on one end (on the right side in FIG. 9) of a spindle 53A of the take-up roll 53. To this driving gear 58 a specific driving effort is imparted. With the rotation of the driving gear 58, the take-up roll 53 turns in the direction of the arrow Y, taking up the ink ribbon 51. However, if the rotational speed of the driving gear 58 is fixed, the amount of the ink ribbon 51 taken up on the take-up roll 53 increases (namely, the take-up roll 53 taking up the ink ribbon 51 becomes larger in diameter), increasing the take-up speed of the ink ribbon 51. There occurs, therefore, a difference in rotational speed between the take-up roll 53 and an unillustrated platen roller for carrying recording paper. When a frictional force over a specific value is applied to the driving gear 58, or when the amount of the ink ribbon 51 wound on the take-up roll 53 has increased and the load to rotate the take-up roll 53 has increased over a specific value, the driving gear 58 idles to absorb the speed difference from the platen roller. The other end (the left side in FIG. 9) of the take-up roll 53 is rotatably supported on a bearing section 59 provided on a support frame 56A but no driving power is provided thereto.
Concurrently, on the left end of the feed roll 52 is provided a back tension mechanism 54. The back tension mechanism 54 has a driving gear 62 which is meshed with a gear 61 coaxially mounted on one end (the left side in FIG. 9) of a spindle 52A of the feed roll 52. A specific driving power is given to the driving gear 62. The end of the feed roller 52 on the opposite side of the back tension mechanism 54 is rotatably supported on a bearing 60 mounted on the support frame 56B, and is not provided with driving power.
With the provision of driving power to the driving gear 62, the back tension mechanism 54 gives a specific turning effort to the spindle 52A of the feed roll 52 in the direction of the arrow Z which is opposite to the direction of rotation of the take-up roll 53. Then, a force in the direction of feed (the direction of the arrow X) from the friction mechanism 55 and a force in the reverse direction (the opposite direction of the arrow X) of feed from the back tension mechanism 54 act on the ink ribbon 51.
As the friction mechanism 55 and the back tension mechanism 54 operate, the ink ribbon 51 is held with a fixed tension between the feed roll 52 and the take-up roll 53, thereby preventing the ink ribbon 51 from being broken and going slack.
In the conventional ink ribbon feed mechanism, however, the friction mechanism 55 and the back tension mechanism 54 are positioned on opposite sides, in the direction of travel (the direction of the arrow X), of the ink ribbon 51. That is, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 9, the friction mechanism 55 and the back tension mechanism 54 are arranged in diagonal positions of the wide ink ribbon 51. For example, the friction mechanism 55 is disposed on the right side, while the back tension mechanism 54 is on the left side. Therefore, when the ink ribbon 51 is taken up, the driving power from the friction mechanism 55 for taking up the ink ribbon 51 and the driving power from the back tension mechanism 54 are on the opposite end of the ink ribbon 51 and a twisting force is applied to the ink ribbon 51, producing a crease in the ink ribbon 51. A crease, if found in the ink ribbon 51, deteriorates or destabilizes the print quality.
Furthermore, since the driving mechanism and the gear mechanism are disposed on opposite sides of the ink ribbon 51, the ink ribbon feed mechanism itself increases in width. This destroys the goal of saving space.

Ink ribbon feeder that equalizes ribbon tension over the entire ink ribbon width


A wobble joint particularly useful for supporting a wash plate in a wash basket of an automatic washing appliance includes inner and outer races formed with mating part-spherical surfaces having common centers of curvature about a longitudinal axis of the joint. Anti-rotation structure acts between the inner and outer races to prevent relative rotation of the races about the longitudinal axis, and cooperates with the part-spherical surfaces to restrict the races to two degrees of tilting movement about respective tilt axes disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to one another, such that one of the races is thereby supported for wobbling movement relative to the other of the races. In a washing appliance application, the wash plate is fixed to the outer race and wobbles relative to the inner race.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,863 discloses an automatic washing appliance in which a wash plate is supported for wobbling movement within a wash basket for laundering cloths. FIG. 4 of this patent discloses a wobble joint which supports the wash plate for wobbling action during operation of the appliance. The joint is made up in total of at least 11 separate parts which, when assembled, operate to support the outer joint member for relative wobbling movement relative to the inner joint member.
It is an object of the present invention to simplify the manufacture and improve upon the performance of such wobble joints for use in washing appliances and other applications.


The present invention relates to a rotorcraft blade (1) provided with a distributed spar (10) on a leading edge (4), a suction side (2), and a pressure side (3) of the blade, and the invention also relates to a method of fabricating such a spar. The blade is provided with a fastener insert (20) integrated in the blade root for the purpose of fastening the blade to a rotor, the fastener insert (20) comprising a horizontal shaft (21) perpendicular to the span of the blade and to an axis of rotation of said rotor, with the distributed spar (10) of the blade being wound in part about the horizontal shaft.

A rotorcraft is provided with at least one engine that drives the main rotor for the purpose of providing the vehicle with lift and also with propulsion. The rotor comprises a hub that is set into motion by a rotor shaft driven by the engine, and on which a plurality of blades are arranged.
As they rotate, the blades are subjected to a torser of forces, and consequently they are subjected to centrifugal force and also to multiple forces due to flapping, drag, and twisting, where twisting is caused in particular by changes of pitch for the purpose of altering the angle of inclination of the blade relative to the plane of the hub.
In addition, the hub generally has a plurality of arms, possibly flexible in flapping, with the blades being arranged at the ends of the arms. The forces due in particular to centrifugal force are then transmitted to the non-flexible central zone of the hub by the spar of the blade.
A first type of blade is known that is fitted with a spar extending from the root of the blade along the span of the blade and being arranged at the leading edge of the blade. That type of spar is referred to as a "leading-edge spar" for convenience in the text below.
That type of spar is effective, but appears to be insufficient for modern blades that present shapes that are complex, e.g. for acoustic reasons.
A second type of blade is known that has a spar referred to as a distributed spar. Such a spar consists in a leading-edge spar that is extended by two portions placed flat, respectively on the suction side and the pressure side of the blade.
Nevertheless, it is difficult to attach a blade fitted with a distributed spar to a rotor hub.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,422 discloses a device for performing such a function. At the root of the blade, the distributed spar is wound around a vertical axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor.
Nevertheless, in order to perform such a vertical winding, it is necessary to twist the portion of the spar that is placed flat on the suction side and on the pressure side of the blade. Such twisting through about ninety degrees presents the drawback of being potentially destructive insofar as the spar is constituted mainly by unidirectional fibers for blades made out of composite material.
It is also difficult to place the unidirectional fibers coming from the twisted section of the distributed spar flat on the suction side and the pressure side of the blade.
Twisting can then lead to poor reproducibility in terms of shape and also in terms of mechanical and vibratory characteristics from one blade to another.
Furthermore, if filler elements need to be arranged in the blade, they will be of complex shape and will vary from one blade to another because the twisting of the spar is not reproduced identically. It thus becomes difficult to automate blade manufacture.
It is then possible to envisage winding the spar "horizontally" in accordance with the proposal described by French patent No. 2 186 380.
Nevertheless, that solution is proposed solely for a spar that is placed flat on the suction side and the pressure side of the blade, but not on the leading edge of the blade. Consequently, that does not constitute a distributed spar but a spar of a completely different type. In addition, French patent No. 2 186 380 does not present any teaching relating to the method that enables horizontal winding to be performed.
Finally, that blade does not include fastener means. It is then arranged in an arm of a rotorcraft hub of a very special shape and is then secured to said arm by means of a pin passing through the arm to lock the spar of the blade where the spar is wound.
Presumably to prevent excessive flapping of the blade, the arm comprises top and bottom plates clamped onto the spar of the blade.
The blade of French patent No. 2 186 380 is thus a specific blade that does not have a distributed spar and that is suitable for fitting only to a special type of rotor hub.

Blade provided with a horizontally-wound spar, and a method of fabricating such a spar


A method for repairing an environmental protective coated article portion of a gas turbine engine article made of a Ni base superalloy including Cr and at least about 6 wt. % total of Al and Ti comprises removing the coating, exposing the article portion to a reducing mixture of gases including, by weight, greater than 6% up to about 20% hydrohalogen gas with the balance principally hydrogen gas, and preferably about 10-15 wt. % hydrogen fluoride gas. Exposure is at a temperature in the range of about 1600.degree.-2000.degree. F. for a time, greater than about 2 hours, and preferably about 2-10 hours, sufficient to remove from within the article portion metal sulfides, Al, Ti, oxides of Al or Ti, or their combinations. Then the article portion is recoated. One form relates to weld repairing the article portion by removing Al or Ti or both to a depth up to about 0.003". Another form removes metal sulfides, resulting from or relating to combustion, from within the body of the article portion to a depth up to about 0.005".

Most modern high temperature Ni base superalloy articles used in gas turbine engines, particularly those which are air cooled and have relatively complex inner cooling chambers and passages, are difficult and expensive to manufacture. Therefore, when such an article is damaged during engine operation, it is far more desirable to repair rather than replace the article. As a result, a variety of repair methods have been developed and reported.
Some reported methods use a form of fluoride ions to remove contaminants disposed on a surface in preparation for subsequent repair. For example, in preparation for the brazing type repair of a crack or crevice in an article surface, Keller et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,450 (patented Jul. 4, 1978), remove oxides of Al and/or Ti by exposing the surface of such damaged portion to fluoride ions. Then a repair alloy is flowed into the cleaned portion. Modification of such use of fluoride ions is reported in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,188,237 and 4,405,379 --Chasteen (patented Feb. 12, 1980 and Sep. 20, 1983, respectively), wherein it is intended to render article surfaces more brazable by cleaning through use of an organic resin as a fluoride ion source. Gases including fluorides have been used to decarburize surfaces as well as to act as a "getter" atmosphere for oxygen to attempt to avoid oxidation in some types of heat treatments.
All of such reported preparations of a surface for brazing do not address the problems associated with preparing a damaged portion beneath a surface of an article for welding in which a damaged portion, for example a crack, crevice, worn or abraded surface, or entire wall portion, is too extensive for brazing. In such an instance, a significant amount of repair alloy must be added by welding; and weld integrity, including weldabilty and adhesion, becomes a significant problem with engine-run Ni base superalloy articles, particularly in the repair of relatively thin outer walls of articles. The more highly alloyed advanced Ni base superalloys of the type manufactured as substantially single crystals or as directionally solidified elongated multigrain articles are particularly difficult to repair weld successfully. When the repair weld is at bands, projections such as platforms, and thin outer wall portions at which complex shapes exist, such as at the tips and leading and trailing edges of blades, the problem of repair welding becomes still more difficult.

Method for repairing a nickel base superalloy article


A RF crossover network includes a RF line, a DC/control line capacitively coupled to the RF line at a crossover of the RF line, and RF terminations coupled to the DC/control line. A RF signal carried on the RF line is unperturbed by the presence of a DC/control signal on the DC/control line. The RF line is mounted on a first dielectric layer including a ground plane. A second dielectric layer includes first and second surfaces with the DC/control line mounted on the first surface of the second dielectric layer and the second surface of the second dielectric layer positioned adjacent to the RF line. RF terminations are used on opposite ends of a half wave resonator. The RF terminations can comprise shunt capacitors, metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors in a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) embodiment, or open-circuited quarter wavelength transmission lines.

A traditional method for providing shielding between a crossover of a RF line and a DC/control line involves providing the DC/control line as a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable provides the necessary electromagnetic shielding so that an RF signal carried on a RF microstrip line is unperturbed by a DC/control signal on the DC/control line. The use of a coaxial cable for the DC/control line is unfeasible or impractical in a large number of applications, however.
An important application where the use of coaxial cable for the DC/control line is not suitable is in a multilayer board environment. The traditional method for providing isolation between crossing of RF and DC/control lines in such an environment entails using an intermediate ground plane layer in the multilayer board array. The ground plane layer is positioned between the RF and DC layers. This approach, however, requires three metallization layers: one for the RF transmission line metal, one for the ground plane layer, and one for the DC/control line metal. The use of three metalization layers is more costly in terms of material and fabrication than a two-layer design (one layer for the RF line and one layer for the DC/control line).
Thus, what is needed is a practical, economical method for providing isolation between crossing of RF and DC/control traces without the need for bulky and expensive shields or additional metalization layers.


The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of optically active amino acid amide. L-amino and D-amino acid amides are mixed in the presence of 0.5-4 equivalents of an aldehyde, relative to the quantity of amino acid amide, in the presence of a solvent and water. The mixture is converted in whole or in part by means of an optically active carboxylic acid into a salt of the amino acid amide and the carboxylic acid. A portion mainly consisting of one of the diastereoisomers of that salt is separated from the reaction mixture obtained. Instead of a mixture of L-amino and D-amino acid amides, it is also possible to use a mixture of the Schiff bases of an amino acid amide and an aldehyde, in which case it is not necessary to add extra aldehyde, and the required quantity of water amounts to at least 1 equivalent relative to the quantity of Schiff base. With this process, a high yield of optically active amino acid amide or the corresponding amino acid is rapidly obtained.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of optically active amino acid amide whereby a mixture of L-amino and D-amino acid amides, in the presence of an aldehyde and a suitable solvent, is converted in whole or in part, by means of an optically active carboxylic acid, into the salt of the amino acid amide and the carboxylic acid. A portion mainly consisting of one of the diastereoisomers of that salt is then separated from the reaction mixture obtained.
2. Background Information
A related process--an asymmetric transformation, as described for instance in `Enantiomers, Racemates and Resolutions`, Jean Jacques, Andre Collet, Samuel H. Wilen; John Wiley & Sons, New York (1981), pp. 369 ff.--is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4072698. In particular, this patent describes a process whereby optically pure nitriles, amides or Schiff bases of nitriles or amides, are prepared with an optically active acid in the presence of a ketone or an aldehyde. That publication is notably aimed at the preparation of optically pure nitriles, in particular 2-amino-2-(optionally p-substituted) phenyl acetonitrile, using optically pure tartaric acid and a ketone.
The yield of salt of nitrile and tartaric acid in the examples described in U.S. Pat. No. 4072698 is relatively low, i.e. not higher than 85%. With respect to amino acid amides and Schiff bases, no experimental data are mentioned, nor are claims made for processes utilizing such compounds as starting material

Process for preparation of an optically active amino acid amide


A flywheel-type variable resistance generating device for an exercising apparatus includes two actuating arms disposed outboard of a flywheel, a pulling cord having two anchoring ends coupled with a tightening-force adjusting member and a lever, and two pull-activating members connected to the pulling cord so as to move the actuating arms. The actuating arms are movable among a starting position where they are disengaged from the flywheel, an adjusted position where they are partially engaged with the flywheel, and a braking position where they are fully engaged with the flywheel. When the lever is operated to move one anchoring end with a braking force, the other anchoring end of the pulling cord is pulled back to its initial locus to move the actuating arms to the starting position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an exercising apparatus, more particularly to a flywheel-type variable resistance generating device for an exercising apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional exercising bicycle 1 is shown to include a frame 11, a flywheel 12 and a swing arm 13 pivotably mounted on the frame 11, a braking pad 14 pivoted to one end of the swing arm 13 and confronting the rim of the flywheel 12, a resistance generating unit 15, and a pedal unit 16 operable by a user to drive rotation of the flywheel 12. The resistance generating unit 15 has a sleeve tube 151 extending through the frame 11, an inner tube 152 extending through the sleeve tube 151 and pivoted to the other end of the swing arm 13, and a lever 153 pivoted to the sleeve tube 151, and a threaded bolt 154 threadedly engaging the inner tube 152.
During pedaling, the user can turn the threaded bolt 154 to lift the inner tube 152 so as to swing the swing arm 13 for adjusting the friction force between the braking pad 14 and the flywheel 12, thereby generating variable levels of resistance. When it is desired to immediately stop rotation of the flywheel 12, the lever 153 is pressed to lift the inner tube 152 through the threaded bolt 154 so as to swing the swing arm 13 for retarding the rotation of the flywheel 12 while preventing the user from undesirably touching the pedal unit 16.
When the rotation of the flywheel 12 is stopped, since the threaded bolt 154 is prevented from moving by the threaded engagement with the inner tube 152, the user must rotate the threaded bolt 154 back to its initial position before resuming pedaling, which is inconvenient to the user.

Flywheel-type variable resistance generating device for an exercising apparatus


A developer cartridge includes: a first rotary body having at least one detected part; and a second rotary body. The first rotary body is configured to rotate between a first position, in which a transmission part is disposed opposite the second rotary body, and a second position, in which a non-transmission part is disposed opposite the second rotary body. The first rotary body includes a contacted part. A photosensitive body cartridge includes a moving member. When the moving member is in a third position, the moving member contacts the contacted part of the first rotary body disposed in the second position, causing the first rotary body to rotate to the first position. Thereafter, in association with rotation of the first rotary body, the moving member moves to a fourth position, in which the moving member is unable to contact the contacted part.

There is conventionally known such a cartridge that is mounted in an image forming apparatus and that has a photosensitive body cartridge and a developer cartridge. The photosensitive body cartridge is provided with a photosensitive body, while the developer cartridge accommodates developer therein. The photosensitive body cartridge and the developer cartridge can be changed with new cartridges individually from each other.
The conventional developer cartridge has a sensor gear that rotates irreversibly when receiving input of a drive force from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The sensor gear is provided with a contact projection. An actuator is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus. Depending on whether the contact projection contacts the actuator, the image forming apparatus can detect whether the developer cartridge is in a new state.

Cartridge having photosensitive body cartridge and developer cartridge


A phytoestrogen oral supplement and ointment, and methods of preparing the supplement and ointment, are described. The oral phytoestrogen supplement is prepared by extracting pomegranate seeds with an aqueous solvent, and admixing the pomegranate seed extract with an herbal extract containing shizandra berries, Chinese asparagus root, and optionally Chinese licorice root and Chinese angelica root. The phytoestrogen ointment is prepared by pressing pomegranate seeds to obtain a pomegranate seed oil, and mixing the pomegranate seed oil with coconut milk to form the ointment. The phytoestrogen ointment can also contain an ethanolic extract of Chinese asparagus root and schizandra berries.

The present invention relates to phytoestrogen supplements and, more particularly, to phytoestrogen supplements derived from botanical sources which can be administered in a variety of ways.
Steroidal estrogens are typically derived from animal sources and are used to treat conditions such as menopause. Menopause occurs as ovarian function gradually declines, leading to the cessation of ovulation, menstruation and finally secretion of estrogen by the ovaries. The decline and cessation of estrogen secretion leads to a number of symptoms, including hot flashes, mood disturbances such as depression, atheromatous disease and osteoporosis.
Although animal-derived steroidal estrogens, such as estradiol, estratriol and estrone, can be successfully used to treat these symptoms, many women are reluctant to take these substances, and many medical professionals are equally reluctant to prescribe them. These estrogens have been linked to an increase in cancer in women to whom they were administered. Thus, it would be advantageous to find a substance or group of substances which mimic the desirable effects of estrogens, namely the cessation of symptoms associated with menopause, yet which are not carcinogenic.
Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal compounds found in a variety of plants, which exert estrogenic effects in animals. Phytoestrogens from botanical materials may reduce the frequency of hot flashes in Japanese women. Such phytoestrogens were shown to be excreted at a high level in the urine of these women, and are associated with a high level of intake of soy products which contain phytoestrogens Adlercreutz, H., Hamalainen, E., Gorbach, S. and B. Goldin, The Lancet, 1992, 339:1233!. Estrogenic effects were shown in postmenopausal women after dietary supplementation with soy flour and linseed, which contain phytoestrogens Wilcox, G., Wahlqvist, M. L., Burger, H. G. and G. Medley, British Medical Journal, 1990, 301:905-6!.
Such phytoestrogens are known to be present in pomegranate seeds. The level of phytoestrogens was measured by preparing an acetone extract of the pomegranate seeds and then subjecting this extract to HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) Moneam, N. M. A., El Sharaky A. S. and M. M. Radreldin, Journal of Chromatography, 1988, 438:438-442!. Both non-steroidal phytoestrogens and steroidal estrogen were found in the extract.
The estrogenic activity of another preparation of pomegranate seeds has also been described in ovariectomized mice and immature rabbits A. Sharaf and S. A. R. Nigm, Journal of Endocrinology, 1964, 29:91-92!. This preparation was made by extracting the pomegranate seeds with ether and showed clear estrogenic activity in both the mice and the rabbits, specifically measured by cornification of the vaginal cells and an increase in uterine weight.
The presence of sex hormone-like substances in milk from immature coconuts has also been demonstrated B. Punghmatharith, Warasan Songkhla Nakkharin, 1988, 10:221-226!. Furthermore, these substances were shown to have estrogenic activity in rats, altering the uterine growth in these animals.
As noted above, a number of botanical materials have been shown to contain phytoestrogens, such as soybeans from Soja max. Other sources of phytoestrogens include Glycyrrhiza glabrata or liquorice, Medicago sativa or alfalfa and Malus sylvestris or apple K. R. Price and G. R. Fenwick, Food Additives and Contaminants, 1985, 2:73-106!.
Although such phytoestrogens have only recently come to the attention of Western medicine, the use of plants to treat female patients for conditions related to the reproductive system has been known in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. For example, Chinese angelica root (Angelica sinensis), Chinese licorice root (Glycyrrhizae uralensis), Chinese asparagus root (Asparagus lucidus) and schizandra berries (Schizandra chinensis) have all been used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat female patients, specifically for complaints concerning the reproductive system Chinese Tonic Herbs, by R. Teeguarden, Japan Publications, New York, 1985!. Typically, preparations containing these botanical materials were given orally, and were considered to be highly effective.
Other examples of botanical preparations include skin creams. A cream for oily skin has been prepared which includes a carbonic acid extraction of rinds and seeds of pomegranates, as described in USSR Patent No. 1,602,533. However, such an extract has the disadvantage of being prepared with carbonic acid, rather than with a less toxic solvent. Furthermore, no suggestion was made that such an extract could also be used as an oral phytoestrogen supplement, rather than simply as a topically applied skin cream. Certainly, if such an extract were to be used orally, a less toxic solvent would be needed.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, an oral phytoestrogen supplement prepared from pomegranate material, such as pomegranate seeds, as well as a skin cream prepared from such material. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to include other botanical sources of phytoestrogens for increased effectiveness of the oral supplement and skin cream. Finally, it would be advantageous to use these sources of phytoestrogens in a vaginal cream.

Phytoestrogen supplement prepared from pomegranate seeds and a herbal mixture or coconut milk