A method and an apparatus for upgrading an existing personal control system. The upgrade is achieved by replacing the personnel data input unit of an existing personal control system with a biometric interface device capable of reading physical characteristic and an access control signal in the format of the existing personnel control system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for upgrading existing personnel control systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to replacing the interface units of existing personnel control units with a biometric interface capable of outputting a signal compatible with the format of the currently installed personnel control system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Increasingly, security problems are becoming a more noticeable part of modern life. Security was once primarily the preserve of classified government installations, but increasing losses and calamity have forced the review of security equipment and procedures for government and industry. Cargo losses and the theft of corporate secrets cost industry billions of dollars annually. Public safety is endangered by the ability of intruders to access secured places, such as aircraft and airport buildings.
Personnel control and personal identification are daily problems, and continue to be the object of significant expenditures by organizations needing to identify employees, vendors, etc., who are to be allowed access to the secured areas. Typical personnel control applications include: computer center; radioactive or biological danger areas; controlled experiments; information storage areas; airport maintenance and freight areas; hospital closed areas and drug storage areas; apartment houses and office buildings; manufacturing facilities and construction sites; safety deposit boxes and vaults; and computer terminal entry and access to information.
Obtaining an individual's identity is a common problem in any access control application. Many existing personnel control applications establish a person's identity using a personal identification code or a card having encoded identification information. More recently, in order to increase security, some organizations are installing biometric devices with personnel control capabilities. These devices electronically scan a personal physical characteristic of an individual, such as a portion of the epidermis or human eye. After scanning a personal physical characteristic, these devices generate a pattern which is compared against a library of patterns that identifies the individuals permitted access to a controlled area.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,282 discloses a palm print identification system. In one example, a number code, encoded on an I.D. card, uniquely identifies a palm of an individual. The system reads the I.D. card and the actual palm of the individual. The number code is used as an index to retrieve a stored palm print pattern. Then, the stored palm print pattern is compared to the fresh palm print pattern to verify the identity of the individual.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,899 discloses a fingerprint-based personnel control and identification apparatus. The apparatus reads a human fingerprint and transmits an electronic representation of the fingerprint to a centralized image processing unit. The centralized image processing unit determines access to certain areas, terminals or doors based on the specific fingerprint read.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,043 discloses a personnel control system using data stored in the form of a barcode. A fingerprint pattern of the keyholder is stored in the form of a barcode on the key. After the key is placed on the keyway of a terminal at a personnel control point and read, the keyholder may then be prompted to place a finger against the fingerprint reader. The fingerprint is scanned and compared at the access control point terminal with the key encoded information. If a match is made, the personnel control point decision and the keyholder identifying code are sent to a remote central processor or host computer. The central processor determines whether a keyholder is permitted to access a particular area at the particular time that the card is read. A signal indicating that access is granted or denied is sent to the terminal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,145 provides an apparatus which scans a fingerprint and provides positive confirmation of an individual's identity at a particular location at a particular time. The terminal utilizes fingerprint scanners with magnetic cardreaders to reduce fraud in credit card transactions by sending the scanned card and fingerprint to a credit verification company.
All these new biometric devices are not compatible with the presently installed personnel control devices which establish a person's identity utilizing a personal identification code or encoded card. Often, presently installed devices must be deactivated or removed, which adds to the expense of installing a new control access system. Therefore, there is a need for an inexpensive biometric interface device to upgrade existing personnel control units.

Biometric interface device for upgrading existing access control units


Apparatus, including a multiplexer, having a first output and multiple first inputs receiving analog input signals and an analog feedback signal and cycling through and selecting the signals for transfer in sequential signal groupings to the first output. The apparatus also includes an amplification circuit, having a second output and a second input connected to the multiplexer first output, that amplifies signals corresponding to the analog input signals with a selected gain so as to generate respective amplified analog signals at the second output. Circuitry selects a characteristic of the respective amplified analog signals from an initial signal grouping, feeds the characteristic back for input to the multiplexer as the analog feedback signal, selects a subsequent characteristic of the respective amplified analog signals from a subsequent signal grouping, and adjusts the amplification circuit gain so that the analog feedback signal and the subsequent characteristic have the same amplitude.

Thermocouple signals are typically in the millivolt or even microvolt range, and thermocouples typically have a relatively high impedance. Both factors, the low signal levels and the high source impedance, lead to signals from the thermocouples being very susceptible to noise. In addition, particularly in a medical scenario such as an ablation procedure, where thermocouples may be used for critical measurements on patients, it is important that noise from thermocouples is reduced and that the signals derived from the thermocouples give true temperature readings. Methods for compensating or reducing noise levels from thermocouples, and for ensuring that the signals are valid, are known in the art.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,742, to Blewett, et al., whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a temperature measuring circuit which is coupled to the prostate and urethral thermocouples. The disclosure also describes a controller which operates from AC line voltage that is filtered to reduce noise.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,644,523, to Clemow, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a digital circuit arrangement for an ambient noise-reduction system. The arrangement converts analog signals into N-bit digital signals at a sample rate and then subjects the converted signals to digital filtering.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,226,791, to McCarthy et al., whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes an interface module which may include an input/output (I/O) port that receives digital thermocouple signals from an integrated catheter tip. The digital signals are provided by an analog-to-digital converter.
Documents incorporated by reference in the present patent application are to be considered an integral part of the application except that, to the extent that any terms are defined in these incorporated documents in a manner that conflicts with definitions made explicitly or implicitly in the present specification, only the definitions in the present specification should be considered.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A water filtration system for residential homes having at least one U-shaped filter device, in the form of a tube, containing a three-layered particulate bed of a sand layer between anthracite layers held by end screens, for removing iron and manganese contaminants. Pressure gauges, an alarm element and a clarity analyzer containing a photocell are included in the system, for monitoring and controlling the filtration system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a water filtration system for residential homes. More particularly, the water filtration system comprises one or more units of filtering U-shaped elements. Each filter element contains a three-layer bed of anthracite, sand and anthracite in particulate form held by end screens for removing iron and manganese contaminants. Also, pressure gauges, an alarm and a clarity analyzer containing a photocell are included in the system for monitoring and control. A backwashing procedure provides effective cleansing and regeneration of the water filtration system periodically. The filtration system can be housed in an insulated case with a lid on top and installed either in the ground, above the ground or in a basement.
2. Description of the Related Art
A common problem with household water is the excessive iron and manganese content which causes an objectional taste, a discoloration of the water, and accretion in the plumbing and washed clothes. The excessive contamination cannot always be eliminated by the local public water system. Therefore, pressure loss in house plumbing and outside pipes such as for repairs can cause the accreted contaminants to release and enter the water supply. There is, therefore, a need for an affordable, low-maintenance water filtration system for a dwelling. The design of the present invention includes screens which eliminates the loss of filter media during use and backwashing. It is known to reduce the chlorine taste of drinking water from a kitchen faucet by utilizing small portable activated charcoal units, but these units are inadequate to handle the incoming water supply of a dwelling.
The related art of interest describes various water filtration systems. The related art will be discussed in the order of perceived relevance to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,497,068 issued on Feb. 24, 1970, to A. Adler Hirsch describes blended granular beds for water and wastewater filters. During the 1930's, dual bed filters containing an anthracite layer (1 mm. particles) on top of a sand layer (0.5 mm. particles) were used but discounted as not performing throughout the depth of the filter as a continuous unit. This fact was to be shown by a backwash catchment curve plotted in a FIG. 10 not present in the patent. Subsequently, a third finer and heavier layer of magnesite or garnet was added under the sand layer. This modification was considered disadvantageous as having a limited filter run and being less economical. Therefore, Hirsch shows the blending of fine and coarse granular material before placement and laid in shallow laminae in a downflow filter so that the average grain and pore size varies continuously and decreases with depth. The Hirsch filter is distinguishable for a large installation requiring a concrete filter box containing a specific blended filter bed over a gravel layer and an underdrain with downflow only of the unfiltered water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,426 issued on April 7, to Daniel H. Werfelman describes a cylindrical deep bed filter for filtering food processing liquids. The tank (8 ft. high, 8 ft. diameter) has an inlet pipe on top and the outlet pipe at the bottom. A top screen, an intermediate movable (upward) media separator and a false bottom screen are provided and have the dimensions of #8 mesh, 0.032 in. square openings, and 8 ft. in diameter. The media separator separates a layer 2 ft. deep of #2 size anthracite from a packed bed of #50 size sand 4 ft. deep. During backwashing with air, caustic at pH 14, and air, the sand bed expands to elevate the movable media separator held by guides. The effluent Ph is maintained below 3 to prevent solubilization of the fats, oils and grease. The filter apparatus is distinguishable for its cylindrical, non-U-shaped structure and its essential movable intermediate screen required to separate the filter media.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,205 issued on Apr. 8, 1980, to Gene Hirs describes a vertical deep bed filter having multiple distinct layers starting from the bottom of sand, anthracite, nut or fruit shells, and a granular material comprising hydrophilic, hollow (spherical, cylindrical or frustro-conical) silica beads dispersed in a matrix of cured cement. The deep bed layers must increase in density and decrease in size from top to bottom. The filter bed is distinguishable for its multiple different composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,029 issued on Feb. 15, 1983, to Rajan A. Jaisinghani describes a regenerative filter for removing oil from a ship's bilge water. The filter bed consists of a 6 in. layer of anthracite coal particles (0.75-0.85 mm.) over a 4 in. layer of silica sand grains (0.40-0.55 mm.) over a 20 in. layer of garnet sand (0.25-0.35 mm.). The filter bed is supported further by a five-layer bed starting from the top consisting of a first coarse rock layer (1 in. depth), first granite particle layer, a silica sand layer, a second granite particle layer, and a second coarse rock layer (3.5 in. depth). The filter is regenerated by backwashing with water, air, and water steps. The filter bed is distinguishable for its numerous layers for removing fuel oil from bilge water rather than the three-layer U-shaped filter of the present invention for filtering potable water.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,750 issued on Jun. 14, 1994, to Milos Krofts describes a two-stage water clarifier with a first filtrate isolation and improved backwashing and improved bubble generation. An inner cylindrical tank serves as a first stage flotation tank. The outer annular cylindrical tank serves as a second stage filtration tank with baffles in an upper region over a filter bed consisting of a sand layer (0.35 mm. diameter) under an anthracite layer (0.8-1.0 mm. diameter) with each layer 30 cm. in depth. The flotation water containing the sludge is filtered to supply backwashing water with compressed air. The two-stage water clarifier is distinguishable for the difference in structure and the use of only two layers of filter media.
Japan Patent Application No. 1-315388 published on Dec. 12, 1989, for Nittetsu Mining KK describes a sand filter for removing phosphorus from waste water comprising a ground cristobalite (0.5-3 mm.) layer below an anthracite layer and optionally above a zeolite layer to remove phosphoric acid values. The filter is distinguishable for its requirement for cristobalite which is quartz heated to 1200.degree. C.
Russia Patent Application No. 1662626 published on Jul. 15, 1991, for Lvov Railway describes an effluent water contact clarifier tank using several layers of filtering grain with different grain sizes and with different layer heights. Seven gravel layers increasing in size from 10-20 mm. to 0.3-0.7 from the bottom are utilized with the bottom layer surrounding an apertured distribution pipe. The influent liquid traverses the filter bed from the bottom to an overflow region on top. The apparatus is distinguishable for utilizing seven gravel layers.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a water filtration system solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


Method for varying the power consumption of capacitive loads, in particular compact fluorescent lamps which are operated using a phase-gating dimmer by a converter (step-up converter). According to the invention, in the case of a nonconducting dimmer (i.e. no system power supply to the load), the switch (T1) in the converter (step-up converter) is closed. In the case of a conducting dimmer (i.e. when a system voltage is applied to the load), the step-up converter operation takes place until a predetermined maximum voltage is reached across the smoothing capacitor of the load.

Lamps such as discharge lamps, in particular compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), are usually operated on the power supply system by means of a rectifier circuit for rectifying an AC voltage supply and charging a capacitor, which is often referred to as a smoothing capacitor. The term lamp used here relates in particular to the compact fluorescent lamps mentioned, but may also be understood to mean other lamps such as halogen lamps. The DC voltage present across the capacitor serves the purpose of supplying power to an inverter, which operates the compact fluorescent lamp. The invention generally relates to varying the power consumption of capacitive loads, the term "capacitive" in the case of lamp circuits meaning the so-called smoothing capacitor at the input of the inverter.

Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur Elektrisch Gluhlampen mbH


The present invention provides a method and system for monitoring vehicle occupant safety. Biometric conditions of an occupant within an autonomous vehicle currently in motion are monitored via a plurality of sensors. The biometric conditions are analyzed with respect to predetermined baseline biometric conditions associated with the occupant and a medical emergency situation associated with occupant within the autonomous vehicle currently in motion is determined. In response, predetermined actions associated with resolving the emergency medical situation are executed and a resulting notification indicating the medical emergency situation is transmitted to a predetermined entity.

When a person traveling in an autonomous automotive vehicle, i.e. a driverless vehicle, requires emergency medical attention it sometimes takes a long time for specified help to reach the autonomous automotive vehicle and the person in need. For example, minutes and seconds can be critical in saving the person's life such that a system may quickly bring together the autonomous automotive vehicle with specified help.

International Business Machines Corporation


A data packet transmission method and a border routing bridge device, where the method includes receiving, by a first border routing bridge device of a first area, a first data packet sent by a border routing bridge device of a second area to the first area, determining, a device identifier group of the second area according to the first data packet, determining, from the device identifier group of the second area, according to the first data packet, a device identifier of a border routing bridge device used to forward a return data packet sent by the target device to the source device, and sending, by the first border routing bridge device, a second data packet carrying the determined device identifier to the target device, where the determined device identifier is used as a source routing bridge device identifier of the second data packet.

The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is widely used on a data forwarding layer of the Ethernet. As a network protection technology, the STP is used to generate a tree, to prevent a network loopback on a local area network, and resolve a "broadcast storm" problem on an Ethernet network on which a loop occurs. The STP is a data-link-layer (layer 2) communications protocol that is based on an open system interconnection reference model (OSI). However, because the STP blocks some ports to prevent a loop, that is, does not allow multipath routing, all data packets are transmitted in one tree (that is, the data packets are transmitted along a non-optimal path), and even if there is an idle link, the idle link cannot be used. Consequently, bandwidth cannot be fully utilized.
To eliminate the defect of the STP, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) puts forward the Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL) protocol. In the TRILL protocol, the Intermediate System to Intermediate System Routing Protocol (IS-IS) of layer 3 is introduced in layer 2 to replace the STP, to allow multipath routing and allow data packet transmission along a shortest path such that bandwidth can be utilized more fully. A device running the TRILL protocol is referred to as a TRILL switch or routing bridge. In the TRILL protocol, fields such as an identifier (nickname), a virtual local area network (VLAN), and a Media Access Control (MAC) address are encapsulated in a data packet. The nickname is a device identifier of a TRILL switch, and the MAC address is a device identifier of a source device or a target device. To resolve a scalability problem of a TRILL network, the TRILL network is divided into multiple areas. The areas are connected to and communicate with each other using border routing bridge devices (BRBs). That is, all routing bridges inside one area form a level 1 (L1) network, and the areas are interconnected to form a level 2 (L2) network. In an existing multi-level TRILL network solution, for an L1 area, an aggregate nickname is used to represent an L1 area (pseudo node), and the pseudo node is regarded as a routing bridge on an L2 network. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a multilevel TRILL network on which an aggregate nickname is used. FIG. 1B is a topological diagram of the network shown in FIG. 1A on an L2 network. As shown in FIG. 1A, an aggregate nickname 15961 is used to represent a left area, and an aggregate nickname 15918 is used to represent a right area. A network topology of the network shown in FIG. 1A on the L2 network is shown in FIG. 1B. RB1 and RB4 shown in FIG. 1A are routing bridge devices on the L1 network. As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, RBb, RBc, RBd, RBe, RBf, RBg, RBh, RBi, and RBj are routing bridge devices on the L2 network. BRB2 and BRB20 are border routing bridge devices in the left area, and BRB3 and BRB30 are border routing bridge devices in the right area. BRB2, BRB20, BRB3, and BRB30 belong to both the L1 network and the L2 network. When a source device S sends a data packet to a target device D and the data packet passes through BRB2, BRB2 changes a source nickname of the data packet from a nickname 27 of RB1 to the aggregate nickname 15961 of the left area. After receiving the data packet whose source nickname has been changed, RB4 learns that the source device S can be reached using routing bridge 15961. Further, when any data packet needs to return to routing bridge 15961 from routing bridge 15918 (data packet from a nickname 44 of RB4), it is always determined, according to a shortest path algorithm defined in the TRILL, to forward the data packet using BRB2. Consequently, a load imbalance is caused.

Data packet transmission method and border routing bridge device


A wireless communication device comprises a wireless communication interface, a processing system, and a user interface. The wireless communication interface is configured to wirelessly receive a mixed media signal comprising a plurality of audio streams originating from different source devices. The processing system is configured to isolate the audio streams and generate graphical representations of each one of the audio streams. The user interface is configured to display the graphical representations of each one of the audio streams and receive audio stream modification instructions from a user. The processing system is configured to process the audio stream modification instructions to generate at least one modified audio stream based on the audio stream modification instructions. The user interface is configured to display a graphical representation of the modified audio stream and audibly output a modified mixed media signal comprising the modified audio stream.

Wireless communication devices typically utilize wireless communication networks to communicate with further communication networks and equipment. Individuals have become increasingly reliant on wireless communication devices to send and receive information. For example, an individual may utilize a wireless communication device for voice communications, research, business, and entertainment.
A user of a wireless communication device can also use the device to take part in a multi-party communication session. Such sessions may include conference calls, bridged calls, three-way calling, video conferences, or web conferences, for example. In the case of a bridged call, the parties typically utilize a conference bridge. The conference bridge is a specialized type of telephony equipment used to link multiple communication devices to the same conference session. To participate in the conference call, a user calls the bridge using a special access code. The conference bridge then combines the audio streams originating from all connected communication devices and transfers the mixed signal to every device participating in the conference call. In the case of three-way calling, a caller initially calls a first party, and once connected, calls a second party to add the second party to the three-way call. In this manner, the three parties are connected and able to communicate simultaneously. Thus, as with a conference bridge, each party receives a combined signal comprising multiple audio streams originating from the different source devices that are party to the three-way call.

Isolation and modification of audio streams of a mixed signal in a wireless communication device


A computer controlled interactive display RFID (radio frequency identification) household system enabling a householder to track and manage a set of RFID tags containing household possessions located within short range RF limited boundaries of a household facility. The implementation includes the combination of a short range RF transceiver for identifying and communicating with all RFID tags within the household boundaries and apparatus for inputting data indicating whether a RFID tag within said household boundaries is in one of the set of household possessions. In such an environment, there also is an implement for inputting this tracking and management data, as well as for storing this input data. There is also provided a function for prompting said householder in response to the entry within said household boundaries of a RFID tag not in one of the set of household possessions. As will be described hereinafter in greater detail, such prompts help the householder to facilitate the tracking of new products that have been purchased without the need of the householder to periodically take time to enter newly acquired household possessions.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) of items through the use of RFID tags has been known for more than 50 years. It was first described in the Proceedings of the IRE, October 1948, in an article, Communication by Means of Reflected Power, Harry Stockman, pp. 1196–1204. RFID tags may be active or passive. The passive tags are minute, in the order of 0.4 mm, and cost a few cents each. These passive RFID tags do not have their own power supply and have a signal range in the order of 5 feet or less. On the other hand, active RFID tags usually have their own power source and currently may have ranges in the order of hundreds of feet and are more expensive. Also, the active RFID tags are commonly referred to as RFID transponders. Usage of RFID tags/transponders has been extensively documented for a wide variety of tracking functions. Low frequency RFID tags are commonly used for animal identification or anti-theft systems in automobiles, for example. Higher frequency RFID tags are used for book tracking, pallet tracking or airline baggage tracking. There are, of course, well developed technologies in the higher frequency RFID tag tracking systems, such as UHF RFID and Microwave RFID tags.
Unlike active RFID tags that require a small power source of some kind, passive tags do not require power. They get their operating power from the energy generated by the tag reader or transceiver. Also, passive tags have an almost unlimited operating life.
The RFID product identification is an old and well developed technology. Some US patents that are representative of the art are: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,918,416; 4,580,041; 4,236,068; 3,970,824; and 6,742,714. With the rapidly expanding usage of RFID tag systems in both the business and consumer sectors, the prices of the systems and tags have been dropping. This, in turn, has resulted in the industry seeking new uses of this technology. The present invention provides such a new function directed to a particular consumer market, i.e. householders responsible for the routine operation of a household.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) household system for tracking and managing RFID tag containing household possessions within short range RF limited boundaries of a household facility


A total property security system may be implemented to conduct security and surveillance operations. The system includes security operations centers that are connected to one or more sensors and vehicles for collecting and transmitting surveillance data to a database hosted on cloud services. The collected surveillance data is analyzed in order to automatically deploy security measures and/or recommend courses of action using a rules engine that can be configured to client-specific or user-specific security needs. The cloud services can provide a set of application program interface services that can act on the surveillance operations center. Sensor fusion data and other surveillance data can be also transmitted to vetted monitoring service providers on a subscription basis to provide physical security services to the area within the property perimeter. During the subscription period, the selected monitoring service providers can obtain time-based encryption token for accessing surveillance data.

Various property management and home surveillance systems exist in the art. Existing surveillance systems typically comprise built-in cameras that can be set to capture footage continuously or based on motion and motion-activated alarms for monitoring areas around a property for visitors. While existing surveillance systems provide some protection, these systems remain vulnerable to individuals that can bypass zones on an alarm system.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved surveillance system that can dynamically monitor properties to minimize bypassing and physical security breach. In this regard, the invention described herein addresses this problem by disclosing a security system that comprises a plurality of Internet-connected sensors, cameras, and unmanned vehicles that communicate with a security operations center to deliver a more comprehensive monitoring service.


A gas sensor having a sensor element which is immobilized in gas-tight fashion in a metal housing. The gas sensor has a double-walled protective tube with an outer protective sleeve and an inner protective sleeve, each of which possesses openings for the entry and/or exit of gas. The inner protective sleeve forms a gas space into which the sensor element projects with a section at the measurement-gas end. The outer protective sleeve is a sleeve having a closed enveloping surface, the openings for the entry and/or exit of gas being arranged in the cavity at the end face of the sleeve. The gas space formed by the inner protective sleeve has, perpendicular to the extension direction of the sensor element, a rectangular cross section.

The present invention proceeds from a gas sensor, in particular for determining the oxygen content in exhaust gases of combustion engines.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,850 discloses a gas sensor having a sensor element, in which the sensor element is surrounded at the exhaust-gas end by a double-walled protective tube having an outer cylindrical part and an inner cylindrical part. Gas openings are arranged respectively in the enveloping surface of the outer cylindrical part and at the upper end of the inner cylindrical part, so that between the walls of the cylindrical parts the exhaust gas experiences a deflection. This ensures that the exhaust gas does not flow in a straight line onto the sensitive section of the sensor element. The reason is that if the exhaust gas flowed directly onto the sensor element, the particles entrained in the exhaust gas, for example contaminants or condensed water, might damage the sensitive section of the sensor element.


Methods and apparatus for accommodating thermal expansion of a showerhead. In a first aspect of the invention, the showerhead is movably supported by resting a rim of the showerhead on a support shelf. In a second aspect, the showerhead is suspended from the chamber wall by a plurality of hangers that are connected to the showerhead, the chamber wall, or both by pins that slide within slots so as to permit the hangers to slide radially to accommodate thermal expansion of the showerhead in the radial direction. In a third aspect, the showerhead is suspended from the wall of the vacuum chamber by a plurality of rods or flexible wires. In a fourth aspect, the showerhead is connected near its perimeter to a second material having a greater thermal expansion coefficient than the showerhead. In a fifth aspect, a heater is mounted behind the showerhead to reduce the temperature differential between the top and bottom surfaces of the showerhead or to reduce heat transfer from the workpiece to the showerhead.

Electronic devices, such as flat panel displays and integrated circuits, commonly are fabricated by a series of deposition process steps in which layers are deposited on a workpiece and etch process steps in which the deposited material is etched into desired patterns. Such processes generally are performed within a vacuum chamber.
Commonly, the chemical reagents for a deposition or etch process comprise one or more gases, collectively called the process gas, that are dispensed into the vacuum chamber through a showerhead positioned directly above the workpiece. The process gas is dispensed through hundreds or thousands of orifices distributed across the surface of the showerhead so as to produce a desired spatial distribution of the process gas adjacent the workpiece.
In a plasma process, the showerhead also may be electrically connected to an RF power supply so as to function as an electrode. In this case, a reliable low impedance electrical connection must be provided between the showerhead and the RF power supply.
Such an RF-powered showerhead is described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,263 issued Aug. 8, 1989 to Chang et al.
Typically, the workpiece is substantially flat, and the showerhead has a surface facing the workpiece (referred to herein as the "front surface" of the showerhead) that also is substantially flat. Alternatively, the front surface of the showerhead may have a slight convex or concave curvature intended to maximize spatial uniformity of the deposition or etch process being performed on the workpiece.
The showerhead generally will be heated by the process being performed in the vacuum chamber. In non-plasma processes, the workpiece is heated by some means such as electrical resistance heating or radiant heating, which generally produces some heat transfer to the showerhead. In plasma processes, the plasma is an additional source of heat.
Heating generally causes thermal expansion of the showerhead, which can distort the original contour (i.e., flatness or curvature) of the front surface of the showerhead. Such distortion is undesirable because it may impair the spatial uniformity of the process being performed on the workpiece.
Distortion of the flatness or curvature of the front surface of the showerhead is especially likely to occur if the perimeter of the showerhead is rigidly mounted to the wall of the vacuum chamber, as in many conventional designs. Because the perimeter is fixed, thermal expansion of the showerhead will cause the showerhead surface to bow.
One solution to this problem of distortion of the flatness or curvature of the front surface of the showerhead in response to thermal expansion is to mount the showerhead by means of a flexible sheet, as described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,827.
A flexible sheet requires some care in handling to avoid damage to the sheet. Accordingly, there is a need for alternative designs that are easier to handle.

Showerhead mounting to accommodate thermal expansion


A flexible board electrical connector includes an insulating housing having an opening and a pair of holding sections on opposite sides of the opening; a plurality of contact elements having fulcrum sections and spring contact sections disposed in the opening; a pressure member attached to the holding sections for rotation between a closed position where it is close to the contact elements and an open position where it is spaced apart from the closed position; the insulating housing having receiving faces for supporting a leading portion of a flexible board; the pressure member having a pressure edge and bearing faces such that when the pressure member is turned to the closed position, the pressure edge depresses the flexible board between the spring contact sections and the receiving faces while the bearing faces engage the fulcrum sections of the contact elements thereby preventing separation between the pressure member and the contact elements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors for flexible boards.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese patent application Kokai No. 142130/95 discloses an electrical connector of this type as shown in FIGS. 11-13. The spring contact sections 52A of contact elements 52 are disposed on an opening of a housing 51. The housing 51 has circular bearings on the opposite holding sections 53 for supporting a pressure member 54 for rotation (FIG. 11) between a closed position where the pressure member 54 is close to the contact elements 52 and an open position where the pressure member 54 is spaced from the closed position. The contact elements 52 are made by stamping a metal sheet so as to provide a fulcrum section 52B with their center aligned with the center of the circular bearings as shown in FIG. 12. The contact elements 52 are disposed in channels 51A of the housing 51 such that the fulcrum sections 52B form a comb-like cylindrical body or shaft between the circular bearings. The pressure member 54 has a concave bearing face 54A such that when the pressure member 54 rotates about the circular bearings, the bearing face 54a engages the comb-like shaft for rotation. The pressure member 54 has a pressure edge 54B for pressing a flexible board F against the spring contact sections 52A in the opening of the housing 51.
As shown in FIG. 12, the housing 51 has receiving faces 51B at a position deeper than the spring contact sections 52A for raising the leading edge of the flexible board F so that when the pressure member 54 is turned downwardly to the closed position, the pressure edge 54B of the pressure member 54 applies a pressure on the flexible board F between the spring contact sections 52A and the receiving faces 51b.
In operation, first of all, the pressure member 54 is turned upwardly to the open position as shown by phantom line in FIG. 12, and a flexible board F is put into the opening such that the connection conductors of the board F face down. At this point, the flexible board F is supported by the spring contact sections 52A and the receiving faces 51B. Then, the pressure member 54 is turned downwardly to the closed position as shown in FIG. 13, so that the pressure edge 54B depresses the flexible board F between the spring contact sections 52A and the receiving faces 52B. Thus, the connection conditions of the flexible board F are electrically connected under a predetermined pressure to the spring contact sections 52A of the contact elements 52.
When the pressure edge 54B abuts the flexible board F, the pressure member 54 receives a moment of a force and is pushed forwardly (to the left in the figure), but the fulcrum sections 52B engage the concave bearing face 54A to prevent the forward movement of the pressure member 54.
However, if the flexible board F is thicker than the expected, the operational force upon the pressure member 54 is larger, making the forward moving force larger. If the forward moving force is very large, the bearing face 54A can slip away from the fulcrum sections 52B. Especially, when the number of contact elements 52 is large so that the pressure member 54 is elongated, it is more likely to separate because of a flexure of the pressure member 54 between the circular bearings.

Flexible board electrical connector with pressure lever


The snowboard binding comprises a base plate that can be fastened at a spacing from the surface of the snowboard, a pin plate arranged between the surface of the snowboard and the base plate, from which pin plate several pins project, each of which extends through a recess of the base plate. In addition, it comprises a mounting plate with a central opening and comprises a retention plate comprising openings associated with the pins, which retention plate overlaps the opening of the mounting plate. Each of the pins has an annular groove. A tensioning plate has oblong holes formed as circular ring segments, associated with the pins and whose at least one lateral wall has an oblique run-up surface that engages into the particular annular groove.

DE 196 27 808 A1 shows a snowboard binding with a base plate that can be fastened by screws to the surface of a snowboard. Four threaded stay bolts extend vertically from the base plate. A flange plate has holes associated with these threaded stay bolts and has a cogging on its circumferential edge that engages in a countercogging of a customary mounting plate of a snowboard binding. The flange plate is held in a non-rotating manner on the threaded stay bolts but can be shifted linearly along the axis of the threaded stay bolts, wherewith the cited cogging can be loosened from the countercogging. A tensioning disk is arranged above the flange plate and has oblong perforations associated with the threaded stay bolts. Screw bushings with a widened head are inserted into these oblong holes and can be screwed into the threaded stay bolts. The longitudinal holes have lateral edges rising up like a ramp on which the widened heads of the screw bushings are supported. The screw bushings can change their spacing to the snowboard surface on account of the ramp-like edges of the longitudinal holes by means of rotating the tensioning disk relative to the stationary screw bushings, as a result of which the flange plate held in a non-rotating manner can be raised or lowered and its cogging can be brought into or out of engagement with the countercogging of the base plate. In the loosened state the base plate and therewith the entire binding can be rotated relative to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,085A shows a snowboard binding with a base plate that can be fastened directly onto the surface of the snowboard and comprises a central cylindrical projection with a threaded bore. This projection extends into an opening of a mounting plate of the binding, which opening is significantly larger than the projection so that the mounting plate can be shifted in the plane of the snowboard surface into two directions that are perpendicular relative to each other. In order to fasten the mounting plate relative to the base plate, a retention plate covering the opening of the mounting plate is used that can be fixed by a screw screwed into the threaded bore of the base plate.
EP 0 351 298 A2 shows another binding with a base plate that can be fastened by screws to the surface of a snowboard. The base plate has a recess in the form of an oblong hole through which a single central pin extends that projects from a pin plate that is arranged between the bottom of the base plate and the top of the snowboard and that can be shifted in the direction of this oblong hole. A mounting plate of the binding can be set onto the base plate. The mounting plate also has a recess through which this pin extends. The customary fastening elements for holding a shoe are attached to the mounting plate. A retention plate is arranged above the mounting plate and has a central recess through which a screw is inserted and can be screwed into a thread of this pin of the tensioning plate. Thus, when the screw is tightened, the mounting plate is fixed between the retention plate and the base plate in that the retention plate is drawn against the tensioning plate. The entire unit consisting of tensioning plate, mounting plate and retention plate can be shifted in the oblong hole by loosening the screw, wherewith the position of the binding can be adjusted in a longitudinal direction. The screw has an actuating handle so that it can also be tightened and loosened manually, that is, without tools.
EP 0 840 640 B1 shows a similar binding in which, however, the base plate with an oblong hole is introduced into the body of the snowboard and has a box-shaped profile with a longitudinal slot.
A similar binding is also shown in DE 295 01 515 U1 in which a guide profile is also introduced into the body of the snowboard. Instead of the retention plate, only a central screw is provided that extends through a corresponding bore of the mounting plate. Such a binding is also shown in FR 2 575 660 A1.
All the cited bindings have the common features that the position of the binding can be adjusted in a simple manner without tools only in one direction, that is usually the longitudinal direction of the snowboard, and that the fixing of the binding always takes place in this state of the art by frictional forces. In a few of these bindings such as, e.g., EP 0 840 640 B1 and EP 0 351 298 A2, the position of the rotation of the mounting plate can additionally be adjusted relative to an axis of rotation vertical to the snowboard surface.
FR 2 627 097 A1 and WO 98/08480 A1 also show snowboard bindings in which only the position of the rotation of the mounting plate can be changed without tools. In FR 2 627 097 A1 linearly shiftable toothed racks are attached to a rotary plate and engage into a countercogging. The shifting of the toothed racks takes place with a lever as a result of which the cogging can be opened or closed. In the case of WO 98/08480 A1 the mounting plate is fastened on a rotary plate and a catch pin that can shift vertically to the snowboard surface is attached to the rotary plate and can engage in holes of a counterplate. In these last-cited bindings only the position of rotation of the binding can be adjusted, but not its position relative to the surface of the snowboard.
All these bindings have the essential purpose of simplifying the particular adjustment so that these bindings are particularly suited for snowboard renting, in which instance bindings must frequently be adjusted to other skiers. Such bindings are also suitable for persons who would like to experimentally find their optimal binding position and would like to rapidly try out other binding positions or alignments on the course and without tools.
In general, the adjustment of the position and alignment of a snowboard binding should have three degrees of freedom, namely,                In the longitudinal direction of the snowboard,        In the transverse direction of the snowboard, and        In reference to an axis of rotation vertical to the snowboard surface,        in which the adjustment should take place without stages or with fine stages to the extent possible. It is desirable, as in the cited state of the art, if the adjustment can be carried out simply and without tools. Finally, the particular adjusted position should also be able to be reliably retained even under high forces like those occurring between the binding and the snowboard during snowboarding.
The older, not pre-published German patent application DE 103 13 342 explains a snowboard binding that meets these requirements. In it, a recess is provided in the base part which recess is so large that an adjustment is possible along two axes of a Cartesian coordinate system in the plate of the snowboard surface and that the fixing of the position takes place by positive cogging in both cited axes of the Cartesian coordinate system. This cogging is provided between the top of the tensioning plate and the bottom of the base plate as well as between the top of the base plate in the bottom of the retention plate. Note also that the pin plate has only one coaxial central pin here.


A transformer structure is proposed herein which includes a primary winding coil, a secondary winding coil, a bobbin module, and a magnetic core assembly. The magnetic core assembly is mounted within the bobbin module. The bobbin module includes a first winding window portion and a second winding window portion in which the first winding window portion allows the primary winding coil to be wound thereupon and the second winding window portion allows the secondary winding coil to be wound thereupon. Both of first winding window portion and the second winding window portion include a first lateral plate, and each couples or separate with each other by the first lateral plate, such that the primary winding coil and the secondary winding coil are separated with each other and the leakage inductance, and the safe distance of electrical security for the transformer is increased accordingly.

Transformer has been widely introduced into a variety of electric appliances as a basic circuit component. Referring to FIG. 1, which shows a typical representation of a conventional transformer structure. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional transformer 1 includes a magnetic core assembly 11, a bobbin 12, a primary winding coil 13, and a secondary winding coil 14. The primary winding coil 13 and the secondary winding coil 14 are wound up and down in the winding area within the bobbin 12, and are separately isolated by a tape 15. The magnetic core assembly 11 is generally shaped in the form of an EE-core, an EI-core, or an ER-core, wherein a central leg 111 thereof is mounted in the hollow 121 of the bobbin 12 so that the magnetic core assembly 11 can achieve a magnetic coupling effect with the primary winding coil 13 and the secondary winding coil 14, and thereby perform voltage transformation.
The regulation on the leakage inductance of a transformer is an important factor for a power converter. This is because the leakage inductance of a transformer would influence the power conversion efficiency of a power converter. In order to improve the power conversion efficiency of a power converter, enormous efforts has been paid to strive for the increase of the coupling coefficient of the transformer windings, the reduction of leakage inductance, and the abatement of the power loss during voltage transformation process. In the transformer structure of FIG. 1, the primary winding coil 13 and the secondary winding coil 14 are wound up and down in the winding area within the bobbin 12, and thus the magnetic leakage induced between the primary winding coil 13 and the secondary winding coil 14 is lower, while the coupling coefficient is increased and the power loss during the voltage transformation process is abated. In this way, the power conversion efficiency of a power converter is improved.
However, the power supply system adapted for the new generation electronic product, such as LCD TV, incorporates a transformer with a leakage inductance as a mainstream circuit design rule. The current circulating in the power supply system generally flows through a LC resonant circuit comprising a leakage inductor L and a capacitive element C. In the meantime, a current having a quasi-semisinusoidal waveform flows through a field-effect transistor (FET) switch. When the current value is zero, the FET switch is turned on. After a period of a semi-sinusoidal waveform is elapsed and the current value returns to zero, the FET switch is turned off. Using such soft switch design with a resonant circuit, the switching loss and the noise of the switching element can be degenerated.
There are various ways to increase the leakage inductance of a transformer. The most common way to increase the leakage inductance of a transformer is to separate the primary winding coil and the secondary winding coil by a specific distance in order to decrease the coupling coefficient, and thereby increase the leakage inductance of a transformer. Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional transformer with a leakage inductance is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, the transformer 2 includes a bobbin 21, a primary winding coil 22, a secondary winding coil 23, and a tape 24, in which the bobbin 21 includes a first lateral plate 211, a second lateral plate 212, and a winding window portion 213. The tape 24 is wound up substantially in the middle of the winding window portion 213 and has a width d, so that the winding window portion 213 is divided into a first winding area 2131 and a second winding area 2132. The primary winding coil 22 and the secondary winding coil 23 are wound around the first winding area 2131 and the second winding area 2132, respectively, and are respectively separated from the first lateral plate 211 and the second lateral plate 212 by a first lateral tape 25 and a second lateral tape 26. By way of the isolation effect provided by the tape 24, a constant distance of electrical security can be maintained between the primary winding coil 22 and the secondary winding coil 23. In addition, a safe distance of electrical security can be maintained between the primary winding coil 22, the secondary winding coil 23 and the external conductor through the use of the lateral tapes 25 and 26. Furthermore, the larger the width of the tape 24 is, the lower the coupling coefficient of the transformer will be, and the larger the leakage inductance of the transformer will be. This would favor the regulation on the resonant circuit of the power supply system.
Although the transformer structure shown in FIG. 2 can increase the leakage inductance of transformer, there still exists numerous problems needing to be conquered. For example, the magnitude of the leakage inductance depends on the width of the tape 24 which is wound around the primary winding coil 22 and the secondary winding coil 23. Because the tape 24 is a soft material and is not possible to be thoroughly affixed, the transformer windings would bear a weak structure and would be susceptible to displacement after a long usage time. This would lead to a lower or unstable leakage inductance, and would further affect the regulation on the resonant circuit of the power supply system. Moreover, the arrangement of using the tape 24, the first lateral tape 25 and the second lateral tape 26 as an isolator requires onerous labor work to wind the tapes. Since the tape has viscosity and has a relatively small width, the laboring efforts expended on tape winding will be time-consuming and complicated. This would limit the promotion of yield and cause wastes on manpower and cost. Also, the quality of transformer would be seriously deteriorated due to the improper winding of the tapes.
More disadvantageously, because it is necessary to wind the tape 24, the first lateral tape 25 and the second lateral tape 26 around the winding window portion 213 of the bobbin 21, the area and capacity in which the primary winding coil 22 and the secondary winding coil 23 can occupy within the winding window portion 213 are significantly reduced, and the heat-dissipating performance of the transformer is worsened accordingly. Further, when the winding process and the taping process are finished, an additional tape is needed to be further coated on the primary winding coil 22 and the secondary winding coil 23 for the purpose of isolation. This would aggravate the poor heat-dissipating efficiency of the primary winding coil 22 and the secondary winding coil 23. What is worse, as the melting point of the tape is relatively low, the maximum operating temperature of transformer is unavoidably limited, resulting in a narrow applicability for the transformer.
Accordingly, there is an urgent need to develop a transformer with a leakage inductance that can overcome the deficiencies and difficulties encountered by the prior art.


A filter holder and gasket assembly for holding a candle filter element within a hot gas cleanup system pressure vessel. The filter holder and gasket assembly includes a filter housing, an annular spacer ring securely attached within the filter housing, a gasket sock, a top gasket, a middle gasket and a cast nut.

Modern industrial methods have resulted in a need for an apparatus that is capable of efficiently filtering high temperature combustion gases containing particulate material. In combustion turbine applications, for example, a combustion turbine uses energy generated from hot pressurized combustion gases produced by burning natural or propane gas, petroleum distillates or low ash fuel oil. When coal and other solid fuels are burned, particulates carried over from the combustion of such solid fuels can cause turbine blade erosion and fouling. An efficient system for filtering of such hot combustion gases would permit the use of such solid fuels. As another example, in conventional boiler operations, the boilers undergo routine shutdown for cleaning the fireside surfaces and for inspection. An efficient hot gas filtering system would greatly extend the life and operational time for a boiler to operate between inspections. Fouling of the fireside surface due to ash deposition and corrosion would be eliminated or minimized.
It would be desirable to provide a filtering apparatus that can filter high temperature, high pressure, aggressive gases, such as oxidizing gases, and/or reducing gases.
Additionally, it would be desirable to provide an improved filter holder and gasket assembly that can be employed with a conventional candle filter and a thin walled composite filter which can more easily be mounted within a pressure vessel than prior art filter holder and gasket assemblies.

Filter holder and gasket assembly for candle or tube filters


A method for storing a crypto key and an associated checkword of the crypto key stored in a non-volatile memory within a micrcontroller and then providing the crypto key and associated checkword to an encryption device. The method next loads the crypto key and associated checkword into the encryption device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a non-volatile memory interface for use with an encryption device. More particularly, the present invention relates a method which uses a Non-Volatile memory circuit connected to an encryption device for storing the crypto key and the key loader for the encryption device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The encryption device used for encrypting data to be transmitted to a ground station via a missile's telemetry system requires a crypto key to be loaded in the encryption device to permit the encryption of the data. The standard key loaders used by the military for crypto key loading are the KOI-18 and the KYK-13. The KOI-18 is a paper type reader that serially outputs the crypto key data and clock as a series of electrical pulses. The KYK-13 is an electrical device that can store up to three crypto keys with their corresponding check word. The KYK-13 outputs data in a manner which is similar to the KOI-18.
The missile's telemetry system encryption device includes a Non-Volatile Memory circuit which receives the crypto key and check word from the key loader. Upon receiving the crypto key and check word the Non-Volatile Memory circuit will load the encryption device with the crypto key and also display the status of a load. When power is removed from the encryption device, only the Non-Volatile Memory circuit will retain the key data including the crypto key. When power is re-applied to the encryption system, the Non-Volatile Memory circuit automatically reloads the encryption device with the key data. The crypto key will remain in the Non-Volatile Memory circuit until the key is erased from the circuit.
While the Non-Volatile Memory circuit used in the past perform their intended function of key data storage adequately, these circuits generally require substantially more space than is currently available on today's state of the art missile encryption systems. There is now a need to significantly reduce the size of Non-Volatile Memory circuit used with a missile's telemetry system encryption device.

Method for providing a crypto key and checkword to an encryption device

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


The invention relates to a pH-dependent controlled release pharmaceutical composition, comprising at least one pharmaceutical active ingredient, with the exception of opioids, wherein the core is coated at least by one coating layer, controlling the release of the pharmaceutical composition, wherein the coating layer comprises a polymer mixture of i) 40-95% by weight, based on dry weight of the polymer mixture, of at least one water insoluble essentially neutral vinyl polymer or copolymer, and ii) 5-60% by weight, based on dry weight of the polymer mixture, of at least one anionic polymer or copolymer, which is insoluble in a buffered medium below pH 4.0 and soluble at least in the range from pH 7.0 to pH 8.0. characterized in that the coating layer further contains 110 to 250% by weight, calculated on dry weight of the polymer mixture, of a non-porous inert lubricant and the is present in an amount of at least 60% by weight calculated on the weight of core.

US 2003/0118641 A1 describes a procedure for reducing the abuse potential of oral pharmaceutical forms which contain extractable opioids. In this procedure, resistance to active compound extraction by means of customary domestic solvents, such as isopropyl alcohol, vodka, white wine vinegar, hot water or peroxides, 0.01 HCl in diluted alcohol, should in particular be brought about. It is proposed to formulate the active compound with a matrix-forming polymer and an ion exchange material, e.g. styrene-divinylbenzene polymers, in micronized form. The ion exchange material is crucial for the function of increased resistance to active compound extraction. The matrix-forming polymer obviously serves as a structure-imparting agent for the pharmaceutical core. A long list of possible substances is specified for the matrix-forming polymers, which among many other substances also comprises polymethacrylates. Preferred matrix-forming agents are C1-C6-hydroxyalkyl-celluloses.
US 2004/0052731 A1 describes a pharmaceutical form, in particular suitable for opioid active compounds, which should contribute to the reduction of the abuse potential as a result of improper administration. It is proposed to combine a lipophilic active compound variant with a water-insoluble additive, such as, for example, a fatty acid or crosslinked water-soluble polysaccharides.
US 2005/0163856 A1 describes a therapeutic procedure for the treatment of patients suffering from pain with an oxycodone-containing pharmaceutical form having reduced abuse potential as a result of dissolution in a solvent and subsequent improper administration. To this end, the active compound should be formulated with a matrix-forming polymer selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl-cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose or hydroxyethylcellulose.
WO 2006/002884 A1 describes oral administration forms safeguarded against abuse, which contain a polymer, in particular a polyalkylene oxide, having a fracture resistance of at least 500 N.
WO 2006/094083 A1 describes a pharmaceutical form having controlled venlafaxine release characteristics. For the reduction of the abuse potential by addition of ethanol, the active compound is integrated into a matrix of a gelling, crosslinked polymer, e.g. xanthan. Further hydrophobic polymers, inter alia also poly-methacrylates, can be added as additives.
WO 2006/125483 describes the use of a polymer mixture for the production of coated pharmaceutical formulations and pharmaceutical formulations with mixed polymer coatings. The polymer mixtures are intended to provide modified release profiles, tailor made for the certain therapeutically requirements of different pharmaceutical ingredients, which cannot be achieved by using standard polymers. There is no indication about ethanol resistant pharmaceutical forms. In the examples pharmaceutical forms coated with mixtures of Eudragit® NE and Eudragit® FS at ratios from 5 to 50% by weight of Eudragit® FS are described. However no talcum is used in the examples or recommended in the description at high amounts as used in the present invention. The suitable thickness of the coatings from 2-20% by weight, based on the weight of the core, is much lower than those thicknesses required for the present invention.
WO 1994/0022431 A1 describes an oral pharmaceutical preparation containing a therapeutically effective amount of morphine for administration. It consists of at least 50 individual particles with an individual particle size in the range of 0.7 to 1.4 mm. Each particle has a core containing a salt of morphine coated with a barrier layer. The barrier layer contains at least one water insoluble component selected from the group of ethyl cellulose, copolymers synthesized from acrylic or methacrylic esters and natural waxes, and a plasticizer, for providing drug release through the coating barrier layer which is substantially independent of pH in the range of 1.0 to 7.0. The resulting serum concentration of morphine obtained is at least 50% of the maximum serum concentration during at least 12 hours after the administration of a single dose of said preparation.
US 2007/053698 discloses methods of sustained release administration of opioids, including but not limited to hydromorphone and oxycodone, that exhibit improved properties with respect to co-ingestion with aqueous alcohol.

PH-dependent controlled release pharmaceutical composition for non-opioids with resistance against the influence of ethanol


A combined service and parking brake apparatus, having a brake unit equipped with a brake disc and at least one brake pad in which a fluid pressure actuatable brake piston is able to place the brake pad against the brake disc and having a parking brake unit which includes an electric drive unit, a transmission, and a spindle unit equipped with a nut and spindle in order to mechanically lock the brake unit in a parking brake position, and in which the electric drive unit, the transmission, and the spindle unit are situated in series on a common axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a combined service and parking brake apparatus for vehicles and a method for executing an emergency braking action by means of the parking brake apparatus in the event of a failure of the service brake of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A wide variety of combined service and parking brake apparatus designs are known from the prior art. A brake apparatus of this kind includes, for example, a hydraulic service brake and a mechanical parking brake (emergency brake). Recently, parking brakes are no longer mechanically actuated solely by means of a control cable, but are instead actuated by means of an electric motor mounted directly on the wheel brake. The electric motor drives a spindle unit, which mechanically sets and locks the brake unit in a parking brake position.
When placing electric motors of this kind directly next to the wheel brake, however, space problems arise because there is very little space around the wheel brake. To this end, DE 197 32 168 C1 has proposed situating an electric motor or driving a parking brake apparatus on the wheel brake, to the side of the vehicle brake housing. In this instance, a driven shaft of the electric motor extends parallel to an axle of the spindle, spaced laterally apart from it. The driven shaft of the electric motor and the spindle are connected to each other by means of a step-down transmission. This arrangement, however, has the disadvantage that space must necessarily be available to the side of the wheel brake in order for the electric motor to be placed there.

Combined service and parking brake apparatus and method for executing an emergency braking action