A liquid-feeding system efficiently transferring liquid from a liquid storage to a liquid chamber and efficiently transferring gas from the liquid chamber to the liquid storage. The liquid-feeding system includes a liquid-using unit, the liquid storage, the liquid chamber in communication with the liquid-using unit, a plurality of communication paths facilitating communication between the liquid chamber and the liquid storage, the liquid chamber having a substantially enclosed space except where the space communicates with the plurality of communication paths and with the liquid-using unit, a pressure regulator disposed in the liquid storage and regulating the internal pressure of the liquid storage, and means for changing an internal pressure of the liquid chamber relatively higher than an internal pressure of the liquid storage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluid-communication mechanism for stably and effectively feeding liquid such as ink to, for example, a recording head or a pen as a liquid-using unit from an ink tank or the like serving as a liquid-storage and also for ejecting gas existing in the liquid-using unit to the liquid storage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Inkjet recording apparatuses form an image on a recording medium by accreting liquid ink onto the recording medium with a liquid-using unit, such as an inkjet recording head. These inkjet recording apparatuses have been used in recent years for performing a variety of printing job types, including color printing, since these apparatuses are relatively quite during recording and also allow small dots to be densely formed. One such inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet recording head receiving ink fed from an ink tank undetachably or detachably fixed to the apparatus; a carriage having the recording head mounted thereon so as to cause the recording head to relatively scan over a recording medium in a predetermined direction; and transporting means relatively transporting the recording medium in a direction perpendicular to the above-mentioned predetermined direction (that is, in a sub-scanning direction) and performs recording while discharging ink during the main scanning process of the recording head. Also, some of them have recording heads mounted on the carriage, discharging respective kinds of color ink, such as black, yellow, cyan, and magenta ink, so as to perform not only monochrome printing of a text image with black ink but also full color printing by changing the discharge ratio among these kinds of color ink.
In such an inkjet recording apparatus, gas, such as air entering an ink-feeding pathway or existing in the ink-feeding path, must be appropriately ejected.
Gas entering the ink-feeding pathway is generally classified into the following four types depending on where it comes from:    (1) gas entering from an ink-discharge port of a print head or generated in accordance with a discharging operation of the same;    (2) gas dissolved in ink;    (3) gas entering from outside through base material of which the ink-feeding pathway is composed, due to gas perminance; and    (4) gas entering when a cartridge-type ink tank is replaced with a new one.
Since a liquid path formed in an inkjet recording head has a very fine structure, ink fed from an ink tank to the recording head is required to be kept in a clean state in which no foreign particles such as dust is mixed. That is, when foreign particles such as dust are mixed, the foreign particles can clog in a discharge port, which is an especially narrow part of an ink flow path, or in a liquid flow path in direct communication with the discharge port, thereby sometimes preventing the recording head from performing a normal ink-discharging operation or from recovering its normal function.
In view of the above problem, many inkjet recording apparatuses generally have a filter member disposed in the ink flow path extending between the recording head and an ink-feeding needle protruding into the ink tank for preventing foreign particles from entering the recording head.
In recent years, in order to achieve high-speed recording, the number of discharge ports has increased, and a drive signal applied on an element generating energy for discharging ink has a higher frequency, thereby resulting in rapid increase in consumption of ink per unit time.
Although the above rapid increase causes an increase in ink passing through the filter member as a matter of course, in order to reduce a pressure loss caused by the filter member, it is effective to enlarge a part of the ink-feeding pathway so that the filter member disposed in the ink-feeding pathway has a large area. With this structure, when bubbles enter the ink-feeding pathway, they are likely to remain upstream of the filter member in the enlarged part of the ink-feeding pathway and are unlikely to be ejected, thereby preventing ink from being smoothly fed. Also, there is a risk that a fine bubble formed from gas remaining in the ink-feeding pathway is mixed in ink being introduced to the discharge port and inhibits the ink from being discharged.
Accordingly, it is important that gas remaining in the ink-feeding pathway be smoothly removed, and some methods for solving the above problem are proposed.
One such proposal is a cleaning operation described below.
Since an inkjet recording head performs printing by discharging liquid ink, for example, in a form of a droplet from its discharge port disposed facing a recording medium, the discharge port is sometimes clogged with ink having an increased viscosity, solidified ink due to its evaporation from the discharge port, dust accreted on the discharge port, bubbles entering the liquid path including the corresponding discharge port, or the like, thereby resulting in poor-quality of printing.
As a countermeasure against the above problem, the inkjet recording apparatus has a capping member disposed therein for covering the discharge port of the recording head when the head is in a non-printing operation mode, or a wiping member disposed therein for wiping the surface (discharge-port-forming surface) of the recording head if necessary. The capping member serves as a cap for preventing ink in the discharge port from the above-mentioned dehydration in a printing operation halt mode. Also, when the discharge port is clogged, the capping member covers the discharge-port-forming surface and to solve clogging of the discharge port due to solidification of ink in the discharge port, due to insufficient discharge of ink in the liquid flow path due to its increased viscosity, and due to insufficient discharge of ink due to bubbles mixed in the ink by exerting a negative pressure on the discharge port, generated by, for example, a suction pump in communication with the inside of the capping member so as to suck ink in the discharge port and to eject it from the discharge port.
A process forcefully ejecting ink for solving these problems of insufficient discharge is called a cleaning operation. This cleaning operation is executed, for example, when a print operation is restarted after long halt of the apparatus or when an operator detects deterioration in quality of recording image and operates, for example, a cleaning switch. In addition, a wiping operation is performed by the wiping member having an elastic plate composed of rubber or the like after ink is forcefully ejected as described above.
Also, during an initial filling period for filling ink in the flow path or liquid path of the recording head for the first time, or during the cleaning operation performed when the ink tank is replaced with a new one, bubbles remaining in the ink-feeding pathway are ejected at a high flow speed achieved by exerting a large negative pressure on the capped discharge-port-forming surface by driving the suction pump at high speeds.
Unfortunately, when the area of the filter member is increased so as to inhibit a dynamic pressure of the foregoing filter member, the area of the flow path is also increased. Hence, even when a large negative pressure is generated in the flow path by the foregoing cleaning operation, a high flow speed at which bubbles are effectively transferred is not achieved, whereby it is very difficult to remove bubbles staying in the ink-feeding pathway from the discharge port by the suction pump. In other words, as a condition under which bubbles pass through the filter member with the flow of ink generated by the suction pump, although ink is required to pass through the filter member at a predetermined flow speed or higher, a large difference in pressures between the both sides of the filter member must be generated in order to achieve such a flow speed. In order to achieve such a condition, in general, a flow-path resistance is increased by making the area of the filter member smaller or a suction pump having a larger capacity is used. In the former case, making the filter member smaller causes deterioration in performance of feeding ink to the head. In the latter case, even when removal of gas is tried with a large amount of flowing ink, a large amount of ink is ejected, thereby sometimes ending up consuming an amount of ink more than necessary.
With the above situation in mind, there are two other methods of removing bubbles: (1) ejecting bubbles directly outside; and (2) moving it to an ink tank and trap it in a part of the ink tank, which does not prevent ink from being fed. Although the former requires a structure in which a communication port extending to the outside is disposed in the feeding path, such a method is not preferable because of the following reason.
In many normal inkjet recording apparatuses, in order to prevent ink from leaking accidentally from the discharge port, a capillary-force-generating member such as a form is disposed in the ink tank or a negative pressure is generated in an ink-storing space in the ink tank by disposing an elastic member such as a spring, in a flexible ink-storing bag so as to exert an urging force on the bag and thus to increase the internal volume of the bag. In such a case, when the communication port merely for removing bubbles is disposed in the feeding path, atmospheric air enters the feeding path contrarily from the communication port, resulting in releasing the negative pressure. In order to avoid this problem, a pressure-regulating valve or the like must be disposed in the communication port, thus leading to complicated and increased structures of the ink-feeding system and the recording apparatus including the ink-feeding system. Also, in order to prevent ink from leaking from a bubble-ejection communication port, since a water-repellent film or the like allowing gas to pass therethrough and preventing liquid from passing therethrough must be disposed in the port, or since a device (a mechanism detecting an amount of bubbles, opening or closing the communication port, or the like) is needed, which opens the communication port and ejects bubbles through the port only when bubbles remain in the ink-feeding pathway, thereby resulting in an increased manufacturing cost or a complicated structure having an increased size.
The method of moving bubbles to the ink tank will be discussed. In this case, if ink in the ink tank, having an amount corresponding to the volume of bubbles to be moved to the ink tank can be transferred to the head, this method is preferable because a negative pressure equivalent to a holding force of a meniscus formed in the discharge port can be exerted on the recording head while the internal volume of the ink tank does not fluctuate, and the generated negative pressure is kept constant. Also, if bubbles can be moved to the ink tank, and when the ink tank is of a cartridge type, since it is replaced with a new one upon having no ink stored therein and accordingly the bubbles can be completely removed from the ink-feeding line, this structure is preferable.
However, many inkjet recording apparatuses widely available in the market as consumer-oriented products have a structure in which cartridge-type ink tanks having black ink and respective kinds of color ink stored therein are detachably placed on the recording head or the carriage having the recording head mounted thereon from above. That is, many ink cartridges feed ink to the recording head by having, for example, a hollow ink-feeding needle protruding therein, mounted upward on the carriage. Accordingly, the inside tube diameter of the ink-feeding needle connecting the ink cartridge and the recording head to each other is a matter of discussion. That is, although, the feeding needle is required to be thin for easily placing the cartridge with a small force, the smaller the internal tube diameter, a meniscus force becomes greater accordingly, whereby bubbles are unlikely to move smoothly.
Meanwhile, some mechanisms for moving bubbles to the ink tank are proposed.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-96744 discloses a structure in which the recording head is separated into a first compartment including an atmosphere communication port and a second compartment including a capillary-force-generating member, the first compartment and the ink tank are connected by at least two communication paths having openings in the first compartment, whose heights are different from each other, and air is fed to the ink tank through one of the communication paths. With such a structure, a negative pressure is exerted on the recording head with the head between the first compartment and the second compartment or by the capillary-force-generating member disposed in the second compartment, and the first compartment has the atmosphere communication port disposed therein.
Unfortunately, the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Patent Laid-Open No. 5-96744 is intended to introduce air into an undeformable ink tank in accordance with ink-feeding so as to use up ink in the ink tank, and is not intended to eject bubbles remaining in the ink-feeding pathway to the ink tank. That is, the art disclosed in the above patent document is not applicable for transferring gas in the ink-feeding pathway, in particular, in the second compartment or in the recording head, to the ink tank.
As another proposal, U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,984 discloses a structure in which, when a chamber for storing a negative-pressure-generating member and a liquid-storing chamber are disposed so as to be separable from each other, a gas priority vent path and a drain path are disposed in a connecting portion connecting these chambers so as to reliably introduce gas to the liquid-storing chamber. However, in the structure disclosed in this patent document, the ink tank and the recording head likewise have a capillary-force-generating member and an atmosphere communication port disposed therebetween, and gas can enter or come out freely through an opening of an ink-feeding path as the atmosphere communication port. Hence, similar to Japanese Patent Patent Laid-Open No. 5-96744, the ink-feeding path is open to the atmosphere; accordingly, the art disclosed in this patent document is not applicable for ejecting bubbles remaining in the ink-feeding pathway.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,863 discloses an ink container (50) having a structure in which drain conduits (66, 72, 74) and vent conduits (76, 82, 84) protrude downward, each drain conduit has an upper opening in the bottom of the inner wall, and each vent conduit has an opening disposed in the ink storing space of the container. An object of the art disclosed in the above patent document is intended to make up a system for refilling a member (14) including reservoirs (16, 18, 20) with ink, and is not intended to remove bubbles remaining in the ink-feeding pathway downstream of the reservoirs or in an ink-using unit. Also, since the heights of lower openings of the drain conduit and the vent conduit are not equal to each other, a meniscus once formed in either conduit may prevent liquid or gas from moving. Although no description about the atmosphere communication port is found in the above patent document, when a system made up by the ink container 50 and the member 14 has an enclosed structure, since continuous use of ink causes the inner negative pressure of the system to increase rapidly and hence makes it impossible to feed ink to the ink-using unit, it is imagined that an atmosphere communication port is disposed in any one of components. In view of the structure of each of the reservoirs (16, 18, 20) having a form (90) stored therein and the structures and the functions of the ink container, the vent conduits, and so forth shown in FIG. 2 in the patent document, it is imagined that each of the reservoirs (16, 18, 20) has an atmosphere communication port disposed therein. In either case, the art disclosed in the document has no intention to positively eject bubbles generated from any of the gas generally classified into the above-described (1) through (4) and remaining in the ink-feeding pathway.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,102 discloses a structure in which, a refilling tank for refilling a reservoir tank including a chamber for storing a negative-pressure-generating member and an ink-storing chamber with ink can be connected to the reservoir tank, and when the refilling tank is connected to the same in the upper and lower parts of the space of the ink-storing chamber, while ink is introduced from the refilling tank to the ink-storing chamber through a liquid communication conduit lying in the lower part, air is introduced from the ink-storing chamber to the refilling tank through a gas communication conduit lying in the upper part. However, the structure disclosed in the above patent document, in which the ink-storing chamber and the recording head likewise have a negative-pressure-generating member and an atmosphere communication port disposed therebetween, essentially makes no difference from those disclosed in Japanese Patent Patent Laid-Open No. 5-96744 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,984; accordingly, the art disclosed in the above-document is inapplicable for ejecting bubbles remaining in the ink-feeding pathway.
Also, as shown in FIG. 20, U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,630 discloses the structure of an ink-feeding system in which a sub-tank 1022 for refilling a main tank 1020 in communication with a recording head 1018 with ink is placed on the top of the main tank, in accordance with acceleration or deceleration of a carriage, while gas in the main tank is introduced to the sub-tank, ink in the sub-tank is fed to the main tank. In the structure disclosed in the above-document, although ink is stored in the main tank in communication with the sub-tank in a free state, the main tank includes means for introducing atmospheric air into the main tank, whereby the structure essentially makes no difference from those disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-96744, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,460,984 and 6,022,102. In other words, the art disclosed in the above document has no intention to positively eject bubbles generated from any of the gas generally classified into the above-described (1) through (4) and remaining in the ink-feeding pathway.
Common structures disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-96744, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,460,984, 6,022,102, and 6,520,630 are a detachable liquid storage (ink tank) in communication with the recording head through a plurality of communication paths, and atmospheric air-introducing means provided downstream of the communication paths (close to the recording head). Problems of the common structures will be described below with reference to U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,630.
FIG. 20 is a conceptual view illustrating the structure of an ink-feeding system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,630. Assuming that air movement (air movement to a sub-ink chamber 1081 of the sub-tank 1022 through a pipe 1056A) is at a halt in a state illustrated in the figure, the balance among forces exerted on a meniscus formed in the pipe 1056A will be discussed. Downward forces consists of a pressure Ha generated due to the head between the ink level in the sub-ink chamber 1081 and the position of a meniscus formed in the pipe 1056A and a meniscus force MA. Also, an upward force is a pressure P generated due to air stored in an ink bag 1100 disposed in the main tank 1020. With all these forces being balanced, the air movement is at a halt. In this case, the air pressure P balances with the sum of the pressure HA generated due to the head between the ink level in the sub-ink chamber 1081 and the meniscus position in the pipe 1056A (P=HA+MA). In addition, since ink in the sub-ink chamber 1081 and that in the ink bag 1100 are in communication with each other through a pipe 1056B, a difference in a downward ink pressure exerted on the meniscus formed in the pipe 1056A and the air pressure in the ink bag 1100 is equal to a pressure HB−HA generated due to the head between the meniscus position in the pipe 1056A and the ink level in the ink bag 1100. Resultantly, the pressure HB−HA generated due to the above head balances with the meniscus pressure MA, thereby keeping the equivalent state.
When ink is further consumed in this state, and the ink level in the ink bag 1100 is lowered because of, for example, introduction of bubbles from a bubble-generating device 1104, the pressure HB−HA generated due to the head between the meniscus position in the pipe 1056A and the ink level in the ink bag 1100 increases, and when it finally exceeds the meniscus pressure, air is introduced to the sub-ink chamber 1081, whereby ink in the sub-ink chamber 1081 is fed to the ink bag 1100.
However, when ink is discharged by the recording head 1018, since ink flows through the entire feeding system, a pressure loss occurs between the sub-ink chamber 1081 and the ink bag 1100 in accordance with a flow rate in the pipe 1056B. Accordingly, in addition to the foregoing meniscus pressure MA and the pressure HB−HA generated due to the head between the meniscus position and the ink level in the ink bag 1100, the pressure loss must be taken into account. As a result, the air movement occurs when the pressure generated due to the head between meniscus position and the ink level in the ink bag 1100 is greater than the sum of the foregoing meniscus pressure and the pressure loss. In other words, in comparison to the air-movement halting state, in an ink-discharging state or dynamic state, exchange between gas and liquid (hereinafter, simply referred to as gas-liquid exchange) does not take place only after the ink level in the ink bag 1100 is further lowered by an amount corresponding to the pressure loss in the pipe 1056B in accordance with the flow rate in the same. When the ink level at which the gas-liquid exchange starts to take place is lowered than the opening of the pipe 1056B, the gas-liquid exchange does not take place, whereby ink in the main tank 1020 is used up while ink in the sub-tank 1022 remains unused.
Accordingly, when the pipe is made thinner in order to easily place the ink tank as described above, since the pressure loss increases accordingly, the fact that the liquid level in the main tank at which the gas-liquid exchange starts to take place is lowered in accordance with an increase in the pressure loss must be taken into account. In other words, the size of the main tank inevitably increases, thereby leading to an increased size of the entire recording apparatus.
In addition, the structure shown in FIG. 20 has another problem in that the bubble-generating device 1104 is disposed in the lower part of the main tank. That is, in spite of a strong request about a structure in which transfer of bubbles to the discharge port of ink can be minimized, there is a risk that, in accordance with an ink discharge operation of the recording head, bubbles introduced from the bubble-generating device 1104 are drawn into a flow path 1041 in communication with the recording head 1018, together with ink flowing toward the recording head 1018. Accordingly, in order to prevent such bubbles from being drawn, it is necessary to restrict flow of ink in accordance with the ink discharge operation or to dispose the bubble-generating device 1104 remote from a filter member 1039, and any of these measures causes a further increased size of the main tank 1020.
The structures disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-96744, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,460,984 and 6,022,102, in which the atmospheric air-introducing means is provided downstream of the communication paths, close to the recording head have the same disadvantages as described above.
As described above, although the foregoing Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-96744, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,460,984, 6,347,863, 6,022,102, and 6,520,630 disclose the art that gas is introduced to the ink tank lying uppermost-stream, but according to these patent documents, any of the purposes that, in an operating state of the apparatus, gas remaining in the ink-feeding pathway having an enclosed structure, that is, the gas generally classified into the foregoing kinds (1) through (4), entering the ink-feeding pathway and staying there is smoothly transferred to the ink tank and that the gas is trapped in the same has not been achieved. In addition, according to the foregoing patent documents, when a flow rate of ink is increased so as to perform high-speed recording, sometimes, the apparatus fails to follow the flow rate for feeding ink and runs out of ink, or bubbles enter the recording head. In order to prevent the above problems, the size of the recording head is inevitably increased.


Provided is a wind turbine including: a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower, an electrical generator housed in the nacelle, a wind rotor rotatably coupled to the nacelle for rotating about a rotational axis and having at least one rotatable blade, two rotating shafts for connecting the wind rotor to the electrical generator, a shaft connector for rigidly connecting the two rotating shafts. The shaft connector includes: a hollow body, at least an inner flange protruding from the hollow body towards an axis of rotation of the shaft connector, the inner flange being connectable to one of the two rotating shafts, at least one hole provided on the hollow body for accessing the inner flange.

In the above defined technical field there is the technical problem of transmitting load between the main rotor shaft connected to the wind rotor including the blades, also known as low speed shaft, to the gearbox provided in the nacelle, between the wind rotor and the electrical generator.
The most used technology for this purpose is based on shrink discs. By such components, enough friction force to transmit torque is generated between the main shaft and the gearbox. The low speed shaft is generally inserted with tighter mating tolerances in a hollow section of the gearbox, typically called a hollow shaft.
Shrink discs consist or comprise of one inner ring and one outer ring, with corresponding conical surfaces. By axially moving the outer ring against the inner ring the outer ring will be pushed outwards and the inner ring will be pushed inwards. This axial movement of the outer ring against the inner ring may be done mechanically or hydraulically. The pressure between shaft and hub, created by this displacement, can be used to transmit a torque or an axial load, by using the friction between the two contact faces.
Due to the above described basic arrangement a large and heavy main shaft, gearbox, and hollow shaft are required, thus heavy and large drive trains and therefore heavy and large wind turbines are obtained. Additionally, despite shrink discs can be removed, tighter mating tolerances between shaft and gearbox usually leads to scratches and damaged components.

Shaft-to-shaft connector for a wind turbine


The present invention is to provide a propylene polymer composition capable of producing heat molded products having excellent balance between rigidity and impact resistance and to provide heat molded products produced from the composition, such as films and pipes. The propylene polymer composition comprises 10 to 90% by weight of a propylene polymer (A) and 90 to 10% by weight of a propylene polymer (B). The propylene polymer (A) has MFR.sub.A (measured at 230.degree. C. under a load of 2.16 kg) of 0.001 to 8 g/10 min, Tm (measured by a differential scanning calorimeter) of 95 to 145.degree. C. and a density (d.sub.A) of 885 to 905 kg/M.sup.3, and in this polymer, the content of constituent units derived from an .alpha.-olefin of 4 to 20 carbon atoms is in the range of 1.5 to 11% by mol. The propylene polymer (B) has MFR.sub.B (measured at 230.degree. C. under a load of 2.16 kg) of 0.1 to 600 g/10 min, Tm (measured by a differential scanning calorimeter) of 145 to 170.degree. C., a density (d.sub.B) of 905 to 916 kg/m.sup.3, and in this polymer, the content of constituent units derived from an (.alpha.-olefin of 4 to 20 carbon atoms is in the range of 0 to 2% by mol. The MFR.sub.A and the MFR.sub.B satisfy the relation 0.1.ltoreq.log (MFR.sub.B /MFR.sub.A).ltoreq.6.1, and the d.sub.A and the d.sub.B satisfy the relation 2.ltoreq.d.sub.B -d.sub.A .ltoreq.31.

Because of its excellent rigidity, heat resistance and impact resistance, polypropylene is molded by various molding processes and used in many fields. The properties required for the polypropylene differ from each other according to the molding process or the use of the polypropylene. For example, when the polypropylene is used as a material of sewage pipe, potable water pipe or gas pipe, excellent pipe fatigue properties, mechanical strength and moldability are required for the polypropylene. Recently, there has been a growing demand for improvement in rigidity for the purpose of increasing economical efficiency by for example thinning the pipe wall, and there has been a growing demand for improvement in moldability for the purpose of decreasing electric power consumption. When the polypropylene is used as a material of films, impact resistance is required and also transparency is occasionally required for the polypropylene.
The present inventors have studied propylene polymer compositions capable of producing heat molded products, particularly pipes and films, having excellent mechanical strength, and as a result they have found that heat molded products having excellent mechanical strength can be obtained from a composition comprising a propylene polymer of lower density which has a specific melt flow rate and a specific temperature at the maximum peak position of an endothermic curve measured by a differential scanning calorimeter and a propylene polymer of higher density which has a specific melt flow rate and a specific temperature at the maximum peak position of an endothermic curve measured by a differential scanning calorimeter and that pipes and films obtained from the composition particularly have excellent properties. Based on the finding, the present invention has been accomplished.

Propylene polymer composition and thermoformed object


An assembly for collection of a sample of a body fluid from a subject's body of the present invention includes a hollow tube defining an axis with an open end and a closed end. The hollow tube defines a chamber therewithin for receiving a sample of a collected fluid from a subject. The tube has a resilient closure disposed in the open end to close the chamber and to form a seal capable of maintaining a pressure differential between atmospheric pressure and a pressure less than atmospheric pressure within the chamber. The chamber contains an aliquot of an aqueous additive for treating the fluid sample. The chamber also includes a matrix formed from a fibrous material having capillary spaces therein for absorbing the aliquot of the aqueous additive and an aliquot of a water immiscible liquid with a density greater than about 1.07 grams per milliliter to encapsulate the aqueous additive absorbed on the matrix. The tube has a normally closed resilient valve disposed in the chamber to contain the aqueous additive, the liquid and the matrix between the closed tube end and the valve. The valve is openable by centrifugation when there is a sample in the tube thereby allowing the lower density fractions of the sample and the aqueous additive to collect above the valve and to mix.

Evacuated sample collection tubes have been in general usage in the United States for almost fifty years. Initially, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,460,641 to Klienert, the sample collection tube was simply an evacuated glass test tube with a resilient stopper and intended for use in blood collection. As practitioners recognized the utility of these evacuated blood collection tubes, (trade named "VACUTAINER" and available from Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, N.J.) the tubes are now supplied with various additives already in them to prepare the blood specimen for a particular test. The tubes now are also evacuated to selected less than atmospheric pressures to provide a preselected volume of blood drawn. The most widely used tubes are evacuated to provide a blood withdrawal volume of about four and one half milliliters.
One commonly used additive tube is termed a "coagulation" tube. According to a widely followed convention, these coagulation tubes contain a sufficient amount of buffered citrate in aqueous saline to provide a ratio of about 9:1 of blood to aqueous citrate. Coagulation tubes are often used to collect blood samples to assess the need for or to adjust the dosage of anticoagulant medications. When the freshly drawn blood contacts the citrate, the cellular fraction, i.e., red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells precipitate, leaving plasma as the supernatant liquid after the tube is centrifuged. Commonly, an aliquot of this plasma is then subjected to treatment with a coagulation agent such as thromboplastin reagent or similar and the time to clot is measured. These time to clot determinations are called the prothrombin time ("P.T.") and activated partial thromboplastin time ("A.P.T.T.").
More recently, clinical testing practitioners have recognized the hazards associated with blood-borne pathogens and manufacturers have begun to supply blood collection tubes from materials less likely to be broken by inadvertent mishandling than the original glass tubes. Evacuated blood collection tubes are now supplied formed from thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and similar materials. While these thermoplastic resin tubes have reduced the chance of breakage by inadvertent mishandling, the use of thermoplastic resin tubes to replace glass causes other problems. Some thermoplastic materials were found not to be capable of withstanding the stress of vacuum, other materials are permeable in varying degrees to gases such as oxygen, water vapor and the like. When the tube material is permeable to gases, the transmission into the tube of oxygen or nitrogen results in gradual loss of the vacuum. In the case of the citrate coagulation tubes and other tubes with aqueous additives, loss of water vapor through the tube wall during shelf storage results in changing the concentration of the aqueous additive. In the case of the coagulation tube, once the concentration of the aqueous saline buffer changes appreciably, the ratio of blood drawn to the aqueous saline buffer no long follows the convention of the 9:1 ratio, rendering the tube unsatisfactory for use. The loss of water through the tube wall has proved to be the limiting factor for thermoplastic coagulation tube shelf life.
The water loss problem through thermoplastic coagulation tubes has been addressed by two current commercial suppliers. One supplier, Terumo, Elkton, Md. supplies their thermoplastic coagulation tubes in a sealed tub containing about 15 tubes. As long as the tub is sealed, the water loss through the tubes is controlled, providing a usable shelf life. Once the tub is unsealed, the tubes begin to lose water through the tube walls. As a result, practitioners need to use up these tubes within a few weeks once the tub is opened. Another supplier, Greiner GMBH, Frickenhausen, Germany, provides a thermoplastic coagulation tube formed from two separate independently formed layers, one inside the other. In the Greiner tube, the inner tube is formed from polypropylene, a material that is substantially non-permeable to water vapor, and the outer layer is PET. The two layer tube provides a satisfactory shelf life by limiting water vapor transmission, but the manufacture and assembly of the two components into the two-layer tube is inefficient compared to a single layer tube.
If a single layer thermoplastic tube was available that limited water loss from tube additives, thus providing a shelf-life similar to that of borosilicate glass tubes with similar additives, the art of blood collection tubes would be advanced. Such a tube is disclosed herein below.

Evacuated sample collection tube with aqueous additive


A transmitter provides receivers conditional access to data transmitted via a network. A content encryptor is used to encrypt the data under control of a same authorization key before it is transmitted to all receivers. The transmitter has a storage with a plurality of device keys. A further encryptor is used for producing a key block with a plurality of entries, where each entry is associated with a respective one of the device keys. At least some of the entries contain a representation of the authorization key encrypted with the associated device key. The transmitter transmits the same key block to all receivers.

In a conventional conditional access system, data is transmitted by a transmitter to a plurality of receivers. The transmission can occur in many forms, for instance using terrestrial, satellite, or cable transmission. Usually, data is broadcast (i.e. the data is transmitted once for receipt by all eligible receivers). Access to the data is conditional, for instance depending on whether or not a subscription fee has been paid for a specific receiver. Such conditional access to the data services is realized by encrypting the data (usually the encryption occurs in the transmitter) under control of an authorization key and by transmitting the encrypted data to the receivers. Furthermore, the decryption keys necessary for the decryption of the data are encrypted themselves and transmitted to the receivers. Usually, symmetrical encryption techniques are used, where the encryption and decryption keys are the same. Only those receivers that are entitled to the data are able to decrypt the decryption key using a first decryptor. The receivers can then decrypt the data using a second decryptor for decrypting the data under control of the authorization key. Normally the encryption/decryption of the authorization key occurs in a secure environment. To this end, these functions are usually executed on a smart-card in or connected to the receiver. In the system describe above, the authorization key is used to directly control the encryption/decryption of the data stream.
It is also known from prior art systems to add one or more security layers to ensure that a malicious user does not retrieve the authorization key sent from the second decryptor to the first decryptor and supplies the key to data decryptors of other receivers. In such systems, the key used for encrypting/decrypting the data is changed frequently (e.g. once every second). This key is usually referred to as the content key. The content key itself is also transmitted (usually broadcast) to all receivers in an encrypted form (referred to as control word), using the authorization key. In this scenario, the authorization key directly controls the decryption of the control word, and indirectly the decryption of the data. The decryption of the control word also takes place in the secure module of the receiver.
It will be appreciated that it is important that the authorization can not easily be retrieved by malicious users. To that end, each receiver is equipped with a fixed device key incorporated in the secure module. The transmitter encrypts the authorization key separately for each receiver under control of the unique fixed key associated with the receiver. The transmitter sends the encrypted authorization key separately to each receiver. This requires a lot of messages and a high bandwidth in the system. This implies that the authorization key is only exceptionally updated, e.g. once a year. If an authorization key has been illegally retrieved, this usually does not result in updating the authorization key as long as the number of receivers illegally using the broken key is relatively low.

Abstract: The receiver has a subset of the device keys. A first decryptor is used to retrieve the authorization key by decrypting at least one entry of the key block that is associated with one of the device keys of the receiver. A second decryptor is used for decrypting the data under control of the authorization key.


A method of using an absorptive sensor element includes: providing the absorptive sensor element, heating the absorptive sensor element to a temperature in a range of from 30° C. to 100° C., exposing the absorptive sensor element to an analyte vapor, and measuring a capacitance-related property of the absorptive sensor element and/or a spectral feature upon reflection of incident light. The absorptive sensor element comprises: a substrate, a first member disposed on the substrate, a second member, and a detection layer comprising a polymer of intrinsic microporosity disposed between and contacting the first member and the second member.

The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is of potential importance in many applications due to environmental and safety concerns. Various methods for VOCs detection have been developed using photoionization, gravimetry, spectroscopy, and so forth. In many current commercialized VOCs detection technologies, VOCs cannot be identified. For example, the popular detection technology, Photo-Ionization Detection (PID), requires prior identification of any VOCs in order to obtain quantitative information. In order to identify VOCs, sophisticated and expensive equipment such as, for example, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) equipment is generally used. Despite miniaturization efforts, GCMS remains difficult and expensive to use in the field (e.g., in a manufacturing facility or shop).
Various absorptive capacitance sensors and optochemical sensors have been devised that include a dielectric microporous material such as, for example, a so-called-polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM) disposed between and contacting two layers, at least one of which is porous to analyte vapors (e.g., volatile organic compounds) that become absorbed by the dielectric microporous material. As used herein the term "absorb" refers to material becoming disposed within the dielectric microporous material, regardless of whether it is merely adsorbed to the pore walls, or dissolved into the bulk dielectric microporous material. These sensors detect changes in properties of the microporous material due to absorbed VOCs. For example, optochemical sensors detect changes in reflected light caused by a change in the index of refraction of the dielectric microporous material, and capacitance sensors detect changes in capacitance caused by a change in dielectric constant of the dielectric microporous material.

Method of using an absorptive sensor element


A dialyzer header cleaning device composed of: a connecting member for connecting the device to the header, the connecting member having a longitudinal passage with a longitudinal axis; and a flow directing member having first and second opposed ends and a fluid passage extending between a fluid inlet at the first end and a fluid outlet at the second end. The flow directing member has a portion that extends from the second end toward the first end and is held in the longitudinal passage. The flow directing member is manually rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the connecting member and is manually movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the connecting member. The fluid outlet of the flow directing member is constructed to eject at least one liquid stream in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis when fluid is supplied to the fluid inlet.

The present invention relates to devices for cleaning dialyzer headers.
Hemodialysis is an extracorporeal therapy whereby blood is pumped out of the body and through a dialyzer, also know as an artificial kidney, and returned back to the body. The dialyzer is composed of two regions: a blood region and a dialysate region, the two regions being separated from one another by a filter-like membrane possibly composed of hollow fibers or flat sheets. The membrane is porous and permits water and small and middle weight molecules to pass across.
The blood that is pumped out of the body is pumped through the blood region of the dialyzer. Dialysate, a fluid that contains the electrolytes the body needs and bicarbonate to aid in acid base balance in the body, is caused to flow through the dialysate region in counter current to the blood flow through the blood region. Toxins in the blood pass across the membrane from the blood region into the dialysate region by diffusion or convection. Electrolytes and bicarbonate pass from the dialysate in the dialysate region across the membrane into the blood region in a similar manner.
Many dialysis facilities reuse the dialyzers in order to save money. The costs associated with dialyzer reuse include: reuse space, water and electricity, the cost of machines specifically designed to reprocess the dialyzers, reprocessing chemicals, and employee salaries.
The steps involved in dialyzer reuse vary from clinic to clinic. However, certain steps are universal. After completion of a dialysis treatment, the first step in the reuse process is to rinse any residual blood out of the dialyzer. For this purpose, the dialyzer is connected to a water supply and fluid is flushed through the blood and/or dialysate regions. This process rinses out many of the large particles and blood components left in the dialyzer. After the dialyzer is rinsed the dialyzer is then reprocessed.
Although many clinics throughout the world manually reprocess the dialyzers, there are currently many machines, such as those marketed by Alcavis International, Inc. under the trade name ARM, Minntech Corp. under the trade name Renatron, Mesa Medical under the trade name Echo, etc., that are capable of automatically reprocessing dialyzers.
Automatic reprocessing is similar to manual reprocessing. In automatic reprocessing, the dialyzer is connected to the reprocessing machine by both blood ports (arterial and venous) and both dialysate ports. Water or other cleaning liquid is then flushed through both regions of the dialyzer to further rinse away blood products. This is done in several steps. The cleaning step of dialyzer reprocessing is performed by flushing a cleaning solution through the dialyzer. This is also performed in other steps including a backflush. The backflush process rinses the water and cleaning agent from the dialysate side through the membrane to the blood region and out of the blood region ports. This backflush process can loosen and remove any blood or blood products that are adhered to the inner wall of the dialyzer fibers.
Most reused dialyzers are taken out of use, or fail, because the volume of the dialyzer, i.e., the volume of the blood compartment, has dropped below acceptable levels. Any blood products that block the fibers will reduce the volume of the dialyzer. Very rarely does a dialyzer fail due to inadequate results on a leak test.
The headers of a dialyzer are the parts of the dialyzer where the blood enters and leaves the dialyzer. During dialysis, as blood is pumped through the dialyzer, microclots, fibrin and other biologic products react with the dialyzer and may also react with the extracorporeal circuit consisting of blood lines, the pump and the dialysate compartment. These biologic products commonly accumulate in the headers of the dialyzer, many times forming a sheet that can completely block the openings to the fibers and blood region of the dialyzer.
These biologic products must be removed from the dialyzer in order to obtain adequate blood volume during reuse testing. Currently, flushing water is the most common method used to remove the biologic products from the header of the dialyzer. However, due to the design of the dialyzer header, this is not always effective. Some dialyzers have header caps that can be unscrewed to facilitate cleaning. However, due to concerns of cross contamination, the complexity of properly reassembling such a dialyzer and damage to the dialyzers, removing the header caps is discouraged.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,050,278 by Arnal et al and 4,375,413 by Geel et al disclose dialyzer cleaning devices having needles for injecting water into the dialyzer head. The device disclosed by Geel et al has a single solid piece for spraying water, which is not capable of rotating or retracting. Arnal et al disclose a needle that may oscillate and retract. Oscillation is effected by a gear assembly that undergoes reciprocal motion created by a pulsating fluid. Thus, this is a structurally complex device.


An apparatus for imparting a predetermined profile to one end of a workpiece mounted on a main axis. The apparatus comprises a rotary head mounted for rotation about the main axis and at least two fingers pivotally mounted to the rotary head for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position. Each finger has a shaping tool adapted to engage the workpiece, and a cam mounted between said at least two fingers in riding contact with an inwardly facing cam surface thereof to pivot the fingers between said open and closed positions upon relative axial movement between the rotary head and the cam.

Over the years various apparatuses have been developed for performing swaging operation on workpiece. Such swaging apparatuses generally comprises a rotary head carrying a number of forming rollers press in rolling contact with the workpiece to be profiled while the rotary head is driven in rotation.
Known swaging apparatuses are not well suited for high speed operations and include rather complex and cumbersome roller actuating mechanisms.


A set for continuous epidural anesthesia has an epidural catheter and a device for determining its required length and including an epidural needle insertable into an epidural space and a ruler with shorter and longer scales designed so that when the epidural needle is inserted in the epidural space and the ruler is placed against a skin and parallel to the needle while the epidural catheter is placed parallel to the ruller, the required length of the epidural catheter for anesthesia can be determined on the longer scale.

The present invention relates to a set for continuous epidural anesthesia which includes an epidural catheter and an epidural needle.
It is known that a standard procedure for the continuous epidural anesthesia requires localization of the epidural space by the epidural needle, then insertion of the epidural catheter through the epidural needle, then removal of the epidural needle and positioning of the catheter within the epidural space. Proper positioning of the epidural space is 2.5-3 cm inside the epidural space, and this proper position will minimize occurence of complications. Since the distance between the skin and the epidural space varies from 3 to 8 cm, every case requires a time consuming calculation of the length of the catheter with the graduated epidural needle and catheter.
It is known that in this procedure for a continuous epidural anesthesia .when the epidural catheter is utilized, the Catheter in the epidural space can be the cause of various iatrogenic complications. In order to avoid leaving too great a length in the lumbar epidural space during epidural anesthesia, graduated Tuochy needles can be used together with graduated epidural catheters. On the latter, a special marking shows that, when it reaches the needle hub, the catheter tip is at the needle bevel. Approximately 5-7 cm of the catheter length are introduced into the epidural space. The needle is removed and placed upside down next to the catheter with the hub in contact with the patient's skin. In this position the distance between the special marking on the catheter and the graduation on the needle which marks the skin level is equivalent to the length of the catheter in the epidural space. This distance and therefore the catheter length can then be reduced to about 4 cm by carefully withdrawing the catheter. Knowing exactly how much of the catheter is within the epidural space can be of particular importance whenever that space is uncommonly far from the patient's skin, due to obesity, oedema, use of paramedian route or a very oblique angle of the needle in the sagittal plane. The above described method is quite complicated and it is to be understood that it is desirable to improve the same.
In the stressful atmosphere of the operating room the above specified measurements and calculations present unnecessary hardships and usually are done with a great degree of inaccuracy.


Method and apparatus for translating an imperative programming language description of a circuit into a hardware description is described. In one example, a state object in a function of the imperative programming language description is identified. Use of the state object in the function is compared against criteria associated with each of a plurality of hardware objects. The state object is mapped to a hardware object of the plurality of hardware objects such that the use of the state object in the function satisfies the criteria of the hardware object. At least one instance of the hardware object is generated in the hardware description.

Hardware description languages (HDLs) exist that can be used to provide a hardware description of a circuit. Exemplary HDLs include the Very high-speed integrated circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL) and VERILOG. After a designer specifies a circuit in HDL, the HDL hardware description may be readily implemented as hardware, such as an integrated circuit, using a standard implementation design flow. For example, the HDL description can be synthesized to gate-level abstraction, mapped, placed, and routed for a programmable logic device (PLD), such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
Presently, there is considerable interest in specifying a circuit using an imperative programming language description. Exemplary programming languages include C, C++, JAVA, MATLAB scripting language, and the like. Since standard implementation tools that process an HDL description into hardware are readily available, it is desirable to translate a programming language description of a circuit into a hardware description, such as an HDL description. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a method and apparatus that allows a designer to design a circuit in software fashion and have a tool map software objects to appropriate hardware components for instantiation in a hardware description, such as an HDL description.


An liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material practical as an organic semiconductor is provided. The material is a liquid crystal composition having a smectic liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material has a distyrylbenzene structure of formula (1). When heated to a temperature range for the smectic liquid crystal phase followed by being cooled, the material takes on a solid state as a result of phase transition from the smectic phase.

Liquid crystal compounds have widely been used as a display material of TV sets, personal computers, watches, and so forth. Studies in recent years have revealed that those having a smectic liquid crystal phase exhibit charge transport properties, and their applicability as a charge transport material or a luminescent material in organic electroluminescent (EL) devices has been suggested. Liquid crystal compounds are classified into thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals according to the phase transition behavior, or classified into three categories: smectic, nematic, and cholesteric according to the molecular alignment.
The inventor of the present invention has previously proposed, as a result of his study, a charge transport method using a liquid crystal compound having a smectic liquid crystal phase as a charge transport material (see Patent Document 1), a liquid crystal compound exhibiting excellent charge transport properties without requiring photoexcitation (see Patent Document 2), and a liquid crystalline organic EL device having high carrier mobility (see Patent Document 3).
Noting that, in his latest work, the molecular alignment of organic EL materials affects electron/hole transport, the inventor proposed an electroconductive liquid crystal material that is obtained by co-depositing two distyrylbenzene compounds different in length of alkyl groups and displays a smectic liquid crystal phase on being heated to develop high charge transport properties (see Non Patent Document 1).    Patent Document 1: JP 2001-351786A    Patent Document 2: JP 2004-6271A    Patent Document 3: JP 2004-311182A    Non Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-354744 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-140800)

Liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material, and semiconductor element or information recording medium using the same

Abstract: Wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a group of general formula (2):

Abstract: Wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and B represents —(CH2)m—, —(CH2)m—O—, —CO—O—(CH2)m, —CO—O—(CH2)m—O—, —C6H4—CH2—O— or —CO—.


The present invention relates to a skin management system, and in particular to a total skin management system and a total skin management method using the same which are capable of checking a state of skin and comprehensively managing a skin based on a type of skin. In addition, the present invention relates to a total skin management system and a total skin management method using the same which are capable of checking a state of skin and classifying the skin into numerous types by integrating and controlling the functions of a skin check, far infrared ray massage, ozone massage, low frequency massage, low frequency vibration massage and ultrasonic wave massage and comprehensively managing the functions of a skin cleansing, skin management, skin nutrition and skin elastic force increase through a certain skin exercise corresponding to a structure of skin based on a skin cell activity and metabolism in a proper combination with the functions of an infrared ray massage, ozone massage, low frequency wave massage, low frequency vibration massage and ultrasonic wave massage based on the checked type of skin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a skin management system, and in particular to a total skin management system and a total skin management method using the same which are capable of checking a state of skin and comprehensively managing a skin based on a type of skin, and further relates to a total skin management system and a total skin management method using the same which are capable of checking a state of skin and classifying the skin into numerous types by integrating and controlling the functions of a skin check, far infrared ray massage, ozone massage, low frequency massage, low frequency vibration massage and ultrasonic wave massage and comprehensively managing the functions of a skin cleansing, skin management, skin nutrition and skin elastic force increase through a certain skin exercise corresponding to a structure of skin based on a skin cell activity and metabolism in a proper combination with the functions of an infrared ray massage, ozone massage, low frequency wave massage, low frequency vibration massage and ultrasonic wave massage based on the checked type of skin.
2. Description of the Background Art
Since the history of human begins, the pursuit concerning beauty has been continued together with the dignity of human without stops as the most acutely natural desire of human.
The above desire for the beauty begins based on an effort for implementing a healthier and clean skin. Since the skin is directly affected by an external stress, in order to obtain a beautiful skin, the skin must be intensively cared, and the skin must be often checked.
However, a certain skin management method may damage the skin without a professional knowledge concerning the skin. The skin is delicate and sensitive, so that the skin is deemed as a barometer by which it is possible to directly check the state of health and trace of aging.
Therefore, the states of the delicate and sensitive skin must be often checked, and a proper skin management must be performed based on the state of skin. In order to effectively implement the above management, a certain skin management instrument is needed so that the damaged skin is improved.
In the conventional arts, as a beauty instrument capable of performing a massage with respect to a skin of face, there are known a far infrared ray jig capable of performing a blood way improvement function, an ozone jig capable of providing a tooth whitening function, an ion jig capable of providing a cleansing function and a vibration jig capable of providing a wrinkle prevention function.
However, the above far infrared ray massage or ozone and ion massage are separately implemented, so that only a simple impact is applied to the skin. In addition, since there is not provided an accurate skin checking unit by which it is possible to easily check the state of skin by a common user, it is impossible to accurately check the type of her/his skin, so that a proper skin management is not performed.
Furthermore, since the skin checking unit and the far infrared ray massage or ozone and ion massage are not comprehensively cooperated, even when her/his skin type is known, it is impossible to implement an efficient and comprehensive skin management based on the checked skin state.

Total skin management system and total skin management method using the same


A memory device for storing a sequential image data in succession and outputting the stored image data is provided. The memory device comprises a memory unit comprising N memory blocks, each memory blocks being capable of individual serving, a write address generator for generating a write address signal to write into the memory unit and a read address generator for generating a read address signal to read from the memory unit. The memory unit further comprises a controller for controlling the write address signal and the read address signal so that each start address for writing and reading for each image data is shifted as unit of the memory block and the writing and reading operation are not simultaneously performed to same memory block, each image data having a size being equivalent to one of M blocks (M less than N).

This invention relates to a memory device suitable for application as an image memory. Specifically, this invention relates to a semiconductor memory device making it possible to implement two-port operations for writing and reading while restraining an increase in the area of a chip.
FIG. 6 shows an example of a configuration of a conventional image memory 100. The present image memory 100 has a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 101, SRAMs (Static Random Access Memory) 102A and 102B, each used as a buffer memory disposed on the data input side (serial-in side). The memory 100 also has a serial Y decoder 103 for selecting write addresses for the SRAMs 102A and 102B, based on a Y-direction component of a write address signal, SRAMs 104A and 104B each used as a buffer memory disposed on the data output side (serial-out side), and a serial Y decoder 105 for selecting read addresses for the SRAMs 104A and 104B, based on a Y-direction component of a read address signal.
Now, the SRAMs 102A and 102B on the data input side are disposed as halves of an array of the DRAM 101 and alternately perform a transfer operation so that the writing of data can be made sequentially. Similarly, the SRAMs 104A and 104B on the data output side are also disposed as halves of the array of the DRAM 101 and alternately carry out a transfer operation so that the reading of data can be sequentially made.
Further, the image memory 100 includes an X decoder 106 for selecting an X-direction address (transfer address) related to writing or reading with respect to the DRAM 101, a write address counter 107 for generating a write address signal, a read address counter 108 for generating a read address signal, and an arbiter 109 used as an arbitration circuit for delaying write transfer when write and read transfer commands are brought into proximity with each other. In this case, the write transfer itself may be performed until the writing of data into the following SRAM (buffer memory) is completed, and there is sufficient lead-time to perform the write transfer.
For example, the image memory 100 shown in FIG. 6 is used to perform a flicker-free signal process for preventing screen""s flicker (dazzling) with the number of screens as two, for example. FIG. 7 shows write and read address changes in the flicker-free signal process. In this case, respective video data (1W, 2W, etc.) constituting one filed or frame are successively written into the image memory 100. Further, respective video data (1R, 2R, etc.) are continuously read twice in succession from the image memory 100 at a speed twice the speed of writing.
According to the image memory 100 shown in FIG. 6, since there are provided the buffer memories 102A, 102B, 104A and 104B therein, two-port operations for writing and reading can be performed without any problem even when the write and read transfer commands are brought into connection with each other. However, since the buffer memories 102A, 102b, 104a and 104B are large in size, it is inconvenient since the chip area of the image memory 100 will increase.
In recent years, there may be many cases in which a memory of a megabit class is constructed so as to be divided into a plurality of memory blocks (MAT division) which serve as separate memories respectively, from the restrictions in circuit length of word and bit lines. In this case, when read and write operations are performed with predetermined memory blocks, non-accessed memory blocks are placed in an inactivated state.,
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of this invention is to provide a memory device capable of implementing two-port operations for writing and reading while not increasing the chip area.
Another object of this invention is to provide a memory device capable of implementing a synchronous two-port operation for writing and reading without use of a buffer memory.
Another object of this invention is to provide a semiconductor memory device capable of effectively utilizing non-accessed inactive areas.
In order to attain the above objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, a memory device for storing a sequential image data in succession and outputting the stored image data is provided. The memory device comprises a memory unit comprising N memory blocks, each memory blocks being capable of individual serving, a write address generator for generating a write address signal to write read into the memory unit and a read address generator for generating a read address signal to read from the memory unit. The memory unit further comprises a controller for controlling the write address signal and the read address signal so that each start address for writing and reading for each image data is shifted as unit of the memory block and the writing and reading operation are not simultaneously performed to same memory block, each image data having a size being equivalent to one of M blocks (M less than N).
Also, each image data represents an image data for one field or one frame. Further, the image data for one field or one frame, which is written into the memory unit is continuously read out twice at a speed twice the speed at writing. The image data for one field or one frame, which is written into the memory unit is continuously read out twice at a speed twice the speed at writing to perform a flicker-free signal processing.
The memory device further comprises an arithmetic circuit for performing a certain signal process by obtaining access to the memory block in the memory unit, which is free from the write and read operation. The arithmetic circuit performs noise reduction processing and receives a current image data from a input terminal and a previous image data from the memory block that is free from the write and read operation. The arithmetic circuit performs the noise reduction processing to the current image data by using the previous image data to produce a noise reduced current image data.
The controller further replaces a predetermined number of bits from a most significant bit of the read address signal with a predetermined number of revised bits for selecting a memory block to read out the image data and replaces a predetermined number of bits from a most significant bit of the write address signal with a predetermined number of revised bits for selecting a memory block to write the image data.


A method and apparatus for in vivo removal of calcified deposits from an aortic valve. The apparatus includes an anchoring balloon catheter fixatable across the aortic valve, a tool for removing the deposits, and attachment means for securing the tool with respect to the anchoring balloon and the aortic valve. The method involves advancing an anchoring balloon catheter through the aorta and positioning it across the aortic valve, inflating the anchoring balloon to fixate it with respect to the aorta and aortic valve, and then operating a deposit removal tool secured to the anchoring balloon to remove the deposits.

Calcific aortic stenosis (i.e., the buildup of calcified deposits on the superior surface of the aortic heart valve) accounts for a large percentage of aortic stenosis cases. This condition is characterized by the buildup of calcified nodules on the upper or superior surface of the aortic valve leaflets. These nodules decrease the flexibility of the leaflets, thereby limiting their mobility and capacity to fully open to permit adequate blood flow. Absent anatomic correction, advanced aortic stenosis carries a poor prognosis.
Three techniques have been employed to correct aortic stenosis: valve replacement, intraoperative decalcification (debridement) of the heart valve, and balloon valvuloplasty.
Valve replacement during open heart surgery is currently standard therapy for symptomatic aortic stenosis. Ten year survival rates for isolated aortic valve replacement are generally very good, even in elderly patients. However, this technique requires that the patient be healthy enough to undergo open heart surgery. The operative mortality for this procedure, particularly among the elderly, is also significant--variously reported at between about 5% and 12%. In addition, a patient receiving a replacement valve typically must take anticoagulation drugs for the rest of his or her life--not all patients are capable of doing this. Moreover, some patients have an aortic root that is not large enough to easily accommodate conventional replacement valves. Thus, there are a significant number of patients for whom valve replacement is either impossible, impractical, or undesirable.
Intraoperative mechanical debridement (decalcification) of the aortic valve to treat aortic stenosis was successfully used for many years prior to the advent of mechanical replacement valves. In this technique, the aorta is entered surgically (as in a valve replacement procedure) but rather than replace the valve the surgeon manually removes the calcified deposits, using suitable surgical tools. The debridement techniques, although for some time completely forsaken in favor of valve replacement procedures, has enjoyed some recent revival, particularly for patients having a small aortic root and/or contraindications for anticoagulation therapy. In addition to mechanical tools, recently ultrasonic debridement has also been demonstrated to be effective to remove calcific deposits. Nevertheless, these techniques still require the patient to be healthy enough to survive and recuperate from thoracic surgery, and involve all of the costs and risks attendant with such surgery.
The third technique for correcting aortic stenosis involves percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV). In this procedure, an inflatable balloon catheter is advanced to the aortic valve and inflated to compress and fracture the calcified nodules in an attempt to increase leaflet mobility. Although this procedure eliminates many of the risks and disadvantages attendant with the preceding two techniques, restenosis is very common within one year, limiting the technique's usefulness to temporarily mitigating symptom for those patients who are poor surgical candidates or refuse surgery.

Method and apparatus for in vivo heart valve decalcification


Methods for increasing a total reactive power capability of a cluster of wind turbines operationally connected to a grid and systems for carrying out the methods. The method includes generating a voltage value representative of a grid voltage level, determining a total required reactive power value based on the voltage value, and activating at least one wind turbine in said cluster to increase the total reactive power capability from a present value to the required total reactive power value by a predetermined amount.

A wind turbine is an energy converting device that converts kinetic energy in the wind into electrical energy for use by customers connected to a utility power grid. This type of energy conversion typically involves using wind to turn turbine blades that, in turn rotates the rotor of an AC electrical generator either directly or through a gearbox.
The electrical power available from a wind driven generator and supplied to a utility grid is a function of the power available from the wind, its speed, losses in the grid and the characteristics of the distribution system and loads connected thereto. Because the wind speed and load fluctuates, voltage levels in the grid vary. Likewise since most electric power transmission components have a significant reactive component; voltages in the grid are also a function of the reactive characteristics of loads and components connected to the grid.
To prevent damage to equipment, grid voltage must be held within certain tolerances. One method of supporting grid voltage control is the use of suppliers or absorbers of variable amounts of reactive power to compensate for voltage changes due to the reactive nature of the grid. When overhead lines are primarily inductive, for example, a passive device such as an inductor absorbs reactive power and tends to lower grid voltages while a capacitor supplies reactive power which tends to raise grid voltages
The primary electrical output of an AC generator is from its stator. The output from the stator can be directly connected to the grid or pass through a power converter. One common generator of prior art systems is the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) where the output from the stator is controlled by the current in its rotor. The stator in such a system can be directly connected to the grid because the stator voltage and frequency, being controlled by the rotor, can be forced to match the grid voltage and frequency.
A DFIG can also be used as a supplier or absorber of reactive power and therefore contribute to voltage control. The state of the machine depends on whether the level of rotor current provided is greater or less than that needed to provide sufficient flux to generate rated output voltage. When excess current is applied to the rotor of a DFIG the machine is considered to be overexcited. In this state more flux than is necessary is generated by rotor current, the machine supplies or generates reactive power from the stator. By convention, the reactive power from the generator is considered to be positive (flowing from the generator) and typically labeled "+Q".
If on the other hand the machine receives too little rotor current it is considered to be under excited. In this state the machine absorbs reactive power into the stator to help supply flux. By convention, the reactive power is considered to be negative (flowing into the generator) and typically labeled "−Q".
A non-DFIG such as a synchronous generator or cage induction machine can also be used as the electrical generator in a wind turbine system that provides controlled reactive power. When these machine types are used in a variable speed configuration a full converter is needed between the stator output and a utility grid. Modern full converters used in wind turbine applications utilize self commutated devices which permit control of the ratio of real to reactive power as well as control of reactive power substantially independent of real power. Prior art systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,083,039 and 5,225,712 are examples of wind turbines that use a full converter and disclose power factor or reactive power control. Likewise for these systems the direction of reactive power flow (+Q or −Q) is based on the phase relationship between output voltage and current but the conventions regarding the sign of Q is the same as for generators; +Q indicates that the converter is supplying reactive power and −Q indicates that it is absorbing reactive power.
In some prior art systems, when two or more turbines are used in a wind farm a control system determines a particular reactive power for the wind farm or park that is based on either a sensed voltage or a system operator command or both. In this case each wind turbine provides substantially the same amount of reactive power. That is the total required reactive power divided by the number of turbines provides the reactive power support.
Alternatively each wind turbine in a park can adjust its reactive power output based on the same sensed voltage (which is transmitted to each turbine) without an intermediate conversion to a reactive power level for the park. An example is the prior art turbine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,174. As disclosed therein, the turbine uses a control system that linearly increases and decreases a phase angle between real and reactive output from each individual wind turbine once the sensed voltage is outside of a deadband.
With the increasing use of wind turbine generated electrical power, the amount of real power and reactive power provided by wind turbines has increased and the turbine's role in the control of grid operations has become of greater significance. Moreover with the ever increasing number of wind turbines grouped in wind parks, having each individual turbine controlling its reactive power in parallel with all others can lead to undesirable control system interactions. Prior art systems such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,083,039, 5,225,712, 6,137,187 and 4,994,684 disclose arrangements which control reactive power but do so on a per wind turbine basis.
According to embodiments of the present invention reactive power control is provided by the on-off control of a pre-stored value based on an overall reactive power capability of a cluster of turbines. This approach simplifies wind park design and reduces the load on the SCADA data transmission system. This reduced load results from the elimination of a need to continuously communicate to each turbine a reactive power requirement or a sample of the voltage to be controlled.

Apparatus and method for controlling the reactive power from a cluster of wind turbines connected to a utility grid


The present invention is a boom system comprising a first boom section having a distal end and a proximal end. A second boom section includes a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the second boom section is rotatably coupled to the distal end of the first boom section. At least one of the boom sections is substantially formed from composite materials.

The present invention relates to a conveying or hoisting boom system. In particular, the present invention increases the stiffness and the load bearing capacity of a conveying or hoisting boom system and attached pipeline by incorporating a composite reinforcement fiber matrix into its construction.
Boom systems offer a safe, cost effective and efficient method of lifting a load and reaching to a distant elevated position. Boom systems can be mounted on portable platforms such as trucks. Truck mounted booms are used as portable lifting and moving mechanisms, as well as to support piping for pumping liquids or semi-liquids (such as concrete, slurries, grout and industrial or waste material). Booms which support piping may be used in a variety of applications ranging from pumping concrete at construction sites to directing water onto upper stories of buildings. Boom systems typically have more than one boom section. Each boom section has a corresponding actuator assembly which supports and moves the boom section (for example by articulating or telescoping the sections).
Each boom section acts as a cantilevered beam (with no support laterally along its length). Booms are frequently subjected to work conditions where the loads supported by the boom system place significant stress and strain upon the boom sections. It is important that the boom sections have a sufficient load bearing capacity to perform such activities. Additionally, the boom systems can be subject to excessive vibrations and deflections which can interfere with safe and effective operation. Vibrations, deflections and flexural stresses are used as design criteria and serve to limit the operational reach of the boom systems.
In some applications, the booms must be articulated with a high level of precision to allow proper positioning of the boom and to avoid undesired contact (or impact) with external objects which can cause damage to the boom sections. Pipelines attached externally to the boom sections are particularly vulnerable to damage from contact with external objects. The required precise positioning of the boom is hindered by a condition known as "boom bounce." Boom bounce is a periodic movement of the boom proportional to the flexibility and length of the boom and to the magnitude of the applied force. A force which is applied to the boom (particularly if applied at the unsupported distal end) causes flexing of the boom. When the force is released, the boom acts like a spring, oscillating around its equilibrium position. When the boom is subject to sudden acceleration or deceleration, the weight of the boom itself can cause an inertial force to be applied to the boom resulting in the above described "boom bounce." It is important, therefore, for each boom section to be stiff enough to minimize boom bounce.
As mentioned, significant stress and strain can be placed upon the boom sections by the weight of the load being supported by the boom system. Additionally, the weight of the boom itself and any attached pipeline can cause stress and strain upon the boom sections. Therefore, while it is important that the boom have significant stiffness and load bearing capacity, it is equally important that the boom and attached pipeline have as little weight as is reasonably possible. The weight of a boom and pipeline at a boom section distal from the truck must be supported by the boom sections proximate the truck. Since each boom acts as a cantilever, the greater the weight of the boom sections, pipeline, and the load supported by the boom, the greater the moment generated by the boom with respect to the support system. A "moment" can be defined as the product of a force and the distance to a particular axis or point. If the boom is extended horizontally, the weight of the boom is moved farther away from the center of gravity of the boom and support system creating a larger moment about the support system. The increased moment causes an increased likelihood that the boom and support system may become unstable from dynamic or static load and tip over. Therefore, any increase in weight will decrease the stability and reach of a boom system. If a pipeline is attached to the boom system, it may be cantilevered from the end of a boom and must have the ability to support itself over a span, requiring the pipeline to be strong as well as lightweight.
Stress and strain causing forces can be applied to the boom in a number of ways. For example, when the boom contacts an external object, or an object is suspended from the end of the boom, an external force is applied to the boom. Alternatively, when the boom is subject to sudden acceleration or deceleration, the weight of the boom itself causes an inertial force to be applied to the boom (resulting in the boom bounce described above).
Any pipeline attached to the boom sections is typically used to pump liquids or semi-liquids under pressure (e.g. using piston style pumps). Typically, forces also act on the pipeline with each stroke of the piston. The resulting stress on the pipeline and boom sections is called "line shock." The force from the line shock causes the fluid to push transversely and/or longitudinally in a cyclical fashion against the pipe (and therefore the boom), producing a force normal or axial to the longitudinal axis of the boom. In some styles of pumps, impulse loads can be imposed on the boom system due to initial pressures (i.e., pressures which occur when the pump is started) imposed in the system, such as with centrifugal pumps.
Currently, boom sections and piping are typically manufactured of metal (steel, aluminum, etc.). The problem with using metals is that they are limited in length and reach due to their heavy weight and elasticity. Typical metals used in past boom systems have had a modulus of elasticity which causes them to easily flex, at least partially resulting in the "boom bounce" discussed above. Previously, to add stiffness to the boom system, larger cross-sectional boom sections were used, adding weight to the boom system. It is problematic, therefore, to produce a boom system which has strength and stiffness as its material properties, while still being lightweight and affordable. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a system which allows for increasing the load capabilities of a conveying or hoisting boom and attached pipeline system to withstand forces applied to the systems without significantly increasing the weight of the system components.

Boom utilizing composite material construction


Compositions and methods are provided for the reproducible derivation of germ cells and oocytes and spermatogonia therefrom. Also provide are methods of use of the same in reproductive and therapeutic cloning protocols.

Several publications and patent documents are cited throughout the specification in order to describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Each of these references is incorporated herein as though set forth in full.
Genetic modification of non-humans is useful for the production of genetically superior farm animals. Transgenic animals have been successfully produced via direct somatic cell nuclear transfer into a recipient enucleated oocyte which is then cultured under conditions conducive to blastocyst formation followed by transplantation of the resulting embryo into a surrogate animal. This methodology allows for the production of genetically identical individuals which have superior growth characteristics, e.g., greater milk production, leaner body mass, etc.
Therapeutic cloning methods for the repair of human tissues provides great promise for the treatment of human disease. To date, however such approaches have relied upon the use of human embryos which raises a variety of moral and ethical concerns. These concerns have hampered the progress of the research. It would be highly advantageous if compositions and methods were available for reproducibly generating germ cells from a continuous source of mammalian embryonic stem cells. If such germ cells could then be induced to form oocytes and spermatogonia, such methods would provide a powerful approach for the treatment of infertile couples. Oocytes so obtained could also be genetically transformed and induced to differentiate into desired cell types, for use in the generation of tissues for therapeutic cloning. Such methods would obviate the need for harvesting oocytes and would provide a continuous source for such cells. Additionally, the ethical concerns of harvesting human oocytes would be overcome by such a method.

Compositions for the derivation of germ cells from stem cells and methods of use thereof

Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A new cultivar of Antirrhinum, ‘Pmoore07’, that is characterized by its compact, upright plant habit, its extended bloom season, its narrow, elongated flowers that are purple-pink in color with a whitish yellow throat, and its increased resistant to fungal diseases, especially, Puccinia antirrhini (leaf rust) as compared to other Antirrhinum cultivars.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Antirrhinum majus and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'Pmoore07'. 'Pmoore07' represents a new snapdragon, a half-hardy herbaceous perennial typically grown as an annual.
The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program by the Inventor in Longstock, England. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new cultivars of Antirrhinum that are more disease resistant and produce unique plant forms and flower colors. The Inventor made a cross in July of 2010 between Antirrhinum majus 'Eve Grey' (not patented) as the female parent and an unnamed proprietary plant of Antirrhinum majus subsp. tortuosum from the Inventor's breeding program as the male parent. The Inventor selected 'Pmoore07' in August of 2011 as a single unique plant amongst the seedlings that resulted from the above cross.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor via softwood stem cuttings in October of 2011 in Longstock, England. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A twilight delay apparatus includes an automatic switching unit for switching a daytime running light control unit to an actuated state for a predetermined time, the daytime running light control unit being used to light the right and left head lamps by switching them to a series connection even in the daytime in response to a lit state maintaining output of a twilight delay unit instead of the operation of the start of an engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a twilight delay apparatus for maintaining lights in a lit state for a predetermined time when a driver gets off a vehicle etc. at night and the like.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, a so-called daytime running light (DTRL) for automatically lighting right and left head lamps by switching them to a series connection even in the daytime as an engine starts is legally compelled for vehicles etc. in such areas as, for example, Canada, Northern Europe, Great Britain and the like where even the daytime is in a twilight state by the effect of the midnight sun.
On the other hand, although a driver usually puts off head lamps when he gets off a vehicle, there is pointed out that, in countries and regions where the public order is not so good, there is a tendency that many crimes are committed when the driver leaves the vehicle in a completely dark state at night. As to this point, an apparatus called twilight delay is being put into practical use to prevent a complete dark state by lighting the head lamps for a predetermined time such as, for example, for two to three minutes by a timer even after a light switch is turned off.
However, in a conventional twilight delay apparatus, since right and left head lamps are continuously lit by a timer for a predetermined time in the same state as they are usually lit, a battery is made dead by the lighting due to a great current consumption, and it required a complicated wiring, which is liable to cause an increase of ratio of malfunctions and troubles.

Circuit keeping daytime head lamps on after engine and head lamp switch are turned off


A segmented electrical drive system comprising a DC power bus comprising a DC voltage supply and a capacitor in parallel, an inverter comprising a plurality of inverter segments, a motor including a plurality of stator winding segments each connected to an inverter segment, and a controller. The controller receives a control signal and sends a switching signal to each of the inverter segments, wherein the switching signal is based on a discontinuous space vector pulse width modulation (DSVPWM) scheme for a segmented inverter. The DSVPWM scheme includes a set of reverse sawtooth carrier signals that are at an optimal phase shift angle with respect to each other.

The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a segmented electrical drive system.
The goal of the drive system for the motor of an electric vehicle is to create a smoothly rotating magnetic field with an assigned magnitude and direction (a vector) to control the rotation of the wheels. In order to create this magnetic field vector (the "net vector") in a brushless motor, it is necessary for the drive system to add together a plurality of base vectors produced by the stator coils. The stator coils are at fixed positions around the stator, but it is still possible for the drive system to produce the net vector by varying the magnitude and polarity of the base vectors.
The drive system is able to control the base vectors' magnitudes and polarities by using a plurality of variable voltage AC signals, but the power source for an electric motor drive system is a DC battery with a fixed voltage level. The role of the inverter in an electric motor drive system is to convert the fixed voltage DC source into the plurality of variable AC signals needed to control the motor. The inverter cannot change the voltage coming from the fixed voltage DC source directly, but it can simulate a variable voltage AC signal by using "pulse width modulation"—switching the connection to the fixed voltage DC source on and off in a specific pattern to mimic the rise and fall of a variable voltage AC signal.
The controller of an electric motor drive system is responsible for determining the switching sequence needed to produce the desired variable voltage AC signals. First, the controller must determine the magnitude and polarity of each of the desired base vectors. Then, for each base vector to be produced, the controller calculates the AC signal needed to produce those magnitudes—this calculated signal is called the "reference signal." Once the controller has a reference signal, it compares the reference signal to a "carrier signal"—a basic, high frequency signal used to create a modulated signal that approximates the reference signal by varying one or more properties of the carrier signal to match the reference signal. In this case, in order to create the modulated signal (as used here, a signal modulated by pulse width), the controller overlays the reference signal on top of the carrier signal. Based on where the reference signal intersects the carrier signal and whether or not the carrier signal value exceeds the reference signal value at a given time, the controller sets the modulated signal value at either digital low or digital high.
The modulated signal is what the controller sends to the inverter switches in order to produce the switching cycle—a modulated signal value of digital high opens the switch and a modulated signal value of digital low closes the switch (or vice versa). For example, in a three-leg inverter, three sets of switches each open and close in rapid sequence, creating the three pulse width modulated signals that act as the AC signals for the motor. From these AC signals, the stator produces the base vectors needed to create the net vector and the directional magnetic field.
The switching process results in the creation of a ripple current "upstream"—although the DC voltage source is meant to be at a fixed voltage value, the variance in load results in a ripple current at the source. This ripple current is highly undesirable—it wastes power, heats components, degrades the battery, and impairs performance. It is possible to reduce and/or level out the ripple current by adding a capacitor in parallel to the DC voltage source, but inefficiencies in an inverter system require larger and larger capacitors, depending on how severe the inefficiencies are.
To reduce the inefficiencies resulting in a DC bus ripple current, U.S. Pat. No. 8,373,372 ("Su") discloses a segmented inverter, which essentially utilizes two inverters with their associated stator coils in parallel with each other. By introducing a phase shift between the signals of the two inverter segments (specifically, a phase shift between the carrier signals), Su's segmented drive system reduces the ripple current and therefore reduces the capacitance needed to keep the DC bus stable.
Ripple current is not the only concern for an inverter's efficiency. The process of flipping inverter switches on and off results in some power loss, in this context called "switching loss." It is possible to reduce the switching loss of an inverter by reducing the amount of switching performed. The most effective way of accomplishing a reduced switching loss is by using a "discontinuous" switching scheme where only some of the switch sets are pulse modulating at any given time, but this approach leads to a largely increased ripple current, negating the benefits of the segmented drive system disclosed by Su. Further, the discontinuous switching scheme results in increased total harmonic distortion, which risks harming the system.
It is desirable to find a method of operating a segmented drive system that reduces switching loss, reduces the capacitor ripple current, and improves the total harmonic distribution of the output current.

Method to improve output current harmonic distribution in a segmented drive system