An endoscopic camera has two or more cameras positioned at a distal end, positioned to provide partially overlapping fields of view. The cameras communicate captured digital images the length of the flexible endoscope, where they may be saved and processed to provide additional imaging features. With partially overlapping images from two or more cameras, image processing can provide panoramic images, super resolution images, and three-dimensional images. One or more of these image modes may also be enhanced to provide a virtualization window that displays a portion of a larger or higher resolution image. The virtualization window displays the selected area of the image, and may be moved or zoomed around the image to provide a virtual endoscope repositioning experience, where the endoscope remains statically positioned but the virtualization window presents a sense of movement and navigation around the surgical area.

Image-guided surgery (IGS) is a technique where a computer is used to obtain a real-time correlation of the location of an instrument that has been inserted into a patient's body to a set of preoperatively obtained images (e.g., a CT or MRI scan, 3D map, etc.), such that the computer system may superimpose the current location of the instrument on the preoperatively obtained images. An example of an electromagnetic IGS navigation systems that may be used in IGS procedures is the CARTO® 3 System by Biosense-Webster, Inc., of Irvine, Calif. In some IGS procedures, a digital tomographic scan (e.g., CT or MRI, 3D map, etc.) of the operative field is obtained prior to surgery. A specially programmed computer is then used to convert the digital tomographic scan data into a digital map. During surgery, special instruments having sensors (e.g., electromagnetic coils that emit electromagnetic fields and/or are responsive to externally generated electromagnetic fields) are used to perform the procedure while the sensors send data to the computer indicating the current position of each surgical instrument. The computer correlates the data it receives from the sensors with the digital map that was created from the preoperative tomographic scan. The tomographic scan images are displayed on a video monitor along with an indicator (e.g., crosshairs or an illuminated dot, etc.) showing the real-time position of each surgical instrument relative to the anatomical structures shown in the scan images. The surgeon is thus able to know the precise position of each sensor-equipped instrument by viewing the video monitor even if the surgeon is unable to directly visualize the instrument itself at its current location within the body.
While IGS navigation systems provide useful views and information during a surgical procedure, a surgeon may also desire real-time photographs and video of an anatomical structure being operated on. In such cases, an endoscope may be deployed to the surgical site with the aid of IGS navigation in order to capture images of the anatomical structure, and may also be paired with or otherwise deployed with other surgical instruments, such as cutting tools. Photographic images and video captured in this manner may be more useful than IGS navigation images, which may only provide generalized and simulated images.
Images captured by an endoscope may also be somewhat limited as compared to direct visual observation by a surgeon, as they are limited to two dimensional (2D) representations of an anatomical structure. As a result, cutting, cauterizing, and other critical actions may be performed using a combination of 2D endoscopy and IGS navigation, neither of which can provide the sense of depth perception available with true three dimensional (3D) observation. Manipulating and operating surgical tools without the benefit of 3D observation can increase the time spent positioning tools, and can increase the possibility of error. While some 3D endoscopic cameras exist, they have a high complexity and cost, and are most commonly available in variations having rigid and inflexible portions, making them difficult or impossible to use for some procedures. Implementations having both flexibility and 3D features require expensive and fragile fiber optic components to transfer captured images, as light, from a distal camera to a proximal viewer. As a result, conventional options for 3D endoscopy are expensive, limited in available features, and unsuitable for high volume use and disposability.
While several systems and methods have been made and used in surgical procedures, it is believed that no one prior to the inventors has made or used the invention described in the appended claims.
The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the invention may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.


Accelerated protection switching in a multi-platform network switch may be achieved by allocating connectivity slots from the port cards to the switch cards for all states of a connection through the switch and forming maps of the allocations for use by the port cards and switch cards. By allocating connectivity slots to all states of the connection, the connection will not be blocked in connection with a state change. By storing the slot allocation in maps a connection state change may be implemented by the switch by causing traffic on the connection to be transported using the allocated slots. Various protection modes can use the same connectivity slots with collision avoidance via prepared maps Thus, having predefined paths via allocated slots provisioned through the network element enables the network element to switch very quickly from working to protection to comply with applicable standards and minimize disruption of network traffic.

1. Field
This application relates to communication networks and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for accelerated protection switching in a multi-switch network element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data communication networks may include various computers, servers, hubs, switches, nodes, routers, proxies, and other devices coupled to and configured to pass data to one another. These devices will be referred to herein as "network elements" or "nodes". Data is communicated through the data communication network by passing protocol data units, such as frames, packets, cells, or segments, between the network elements by utilizing one or more communication links. A particular protocol data unit may be handled by multiple network elements and cross multiple communication links as it travels between its source and its destination over the network.
Communication networks may be configured in multiple different topologies, such as ring-based topologies and mesh topologies. Ring-based topologies advantageously provide fast protection switching such that if a failure is experienced on a portion of the ring, traffic may be diverted the other way through the ring to minimize disruption on the network. One common ring-based topology has been successfully deployed in North America and several other areas of the World is commonly referred to as BLSR which runs on Synchronous Optical NETwork (SONET) equipment. Another similar standard that is used extensively in Europe and several other areas is commonly referred to as MS-SPRing which runs on Synchronous Data Hierarchy (SDH) equipment. SONET/SDH divides the total capacity on a link up into time slots, referred to in the standards as Synchronous Telecommunication Signals (STS#s). Although one or more embodiments of the invention may be described herein in connection with a SONET/SDH network implementation, the invention is not limited in this manner and may be more broadly utilized in a network element operating in a network configured in other than ring-based or mesh-based networks, and not limited to the SONET/SDH physical (layer 1) protocol.
Mesh topologies enable nodes on the mesh to communicate with multiple other nodes so that traffic is not required to be communicated to a specific node as it progresses through the network. To increase the speed at which traffic may be protection switched through a mesh network without requiring a new path to be found through the mesh network, it is possible to organize protection cycles (p-cycles) and reserve a portion of the bandwidth on those p-cycles to carry protection traffic in the event of a failure.
P-cycles enable portions of a mesh network to be designated to back up particular links in the mesh to enable the network devices to perform fast link restoration without requiring notification of the source or destination nodes. Thus, in a mesh network the working path will be carried over the mesh network, while the restoration path will be carried over the logical ring. Restoration of traffic from a failed arc, however, should not have an unplanned negative impact on traffic which normally uses the restoration path. Mesh networks may be based on the SONET physical layer or other physical layer protocol.
As used herein, the term "restoration" will be used to convey the notion of restoring a connection once there has been a failure. Thus, for example, if a connection is provisioned through the network and there is a problem on the network, the connection may be restored on the network by finding a new path. Restoration within a network element is similar—if the connection through the network element is required to change, the connection through the network element is restored by finding a new path through the network element for the connection after the failure has occurred.
One restoration approach is to use a re-dial approach. Once it is required to switch from the original path, the re-dial approach calculates a new path on the fly. If this calculation is fast enough, the approach can be used in place of protection; otherwise, it can only be used for restoration.
Protection, by contrast, refers to the notion of having a back-up path should there be a problem in the path carrying the connection. On a network level, a protection path is a path that is reserved or specified as being configured to carry the connection should there be a problem on the working path. Furthermore, although a signaling protocol may be used to trigger the protection operation, no new connection commands have to be sent to any node to achieve this. Protection carries a similar meaning at the network element level—a backup path for the connection is already preconfigured through the network element to carry the traffic in event the primary cannot be used because of a an internal or external failure. Similarly in this case, no new internal connection commands have to be centrally calculated and/or distributed.
Protection may be dedicated or shared. Dedicated protection refers to resources that are reserved solely to protect the connection or group of connections associated with the dedicated protection. Shared protection refers to having greater working traffic than protection capacity on the protected network.
As networks have evolved to handle increasing amounts of data, the complexity of network elements configured to operate on the communication networks has increased as well. Large conventional network elements configured as network switches include multiple port cards and one or two switches or switch cards configured to switch signals to/from the port cards. One way to increase the capacity of a network element is to use multiple working switches or switch cards, with minimal or no switch to switch connectivity, within the network switch, and optionally include one or more back-up switches or switch cards to be used in the event of a failure of a primary switch card.
Using multiple switches or switch cards requires routing to take place to cause the connections being handled by the network element to be allocated to one or many of the switches or switch cards. In doing so, the routing algorithm should minimize or ideally eliminate the possibility that one or more of the input signals will not be able to be transmitted/handled by the network element during normal operation or when the signals are switched to the protection path through the network element. An inability to switch to protection from working or between arbitrary STS#s will be referred to herein as blocking. Additionally, depending on the protocols in use on the network, additional constraints may be imposed. For example, in a SONET network, the four-fiber ring standard (GR1230) provides that a failure on a ring should be detected in less than 10 msec and that the time to switch traffic to protection should be accomplished in under 50 msec. Additionally, ideally, a network element should be able to process ring-to-ring connection set-up requests at an acceptable rate. To accommodate these requirements, the routing algorithm should be able to be implemented and operated in a relatively quick and hence simple manner. Moreover, once a connection is implemented on the network switch, the switch should not cause the connection to be blocked if traffic is required to switch e.g., from working to protection on a ring.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a way to route and switch at an arbitrary granularity, for example at an STS-1 level, and to enable accelerated protection switching in a network switch.

Method and apparatus for accelerated protection switching in a multi-switch network element


An LED driving and dimming circuit and configuration method are provided. The circuit can include a switch connected to an AC power supply, an LED driver circuit connected to the switch, a switch-status detection circuit connected to the switch, and a brightness-selection circuit having one end connected to the switch-status detection circuit and another end connected to the LED driver circuit. The switch-status detection circuit is configured to detect whether the switch is open or closed and to output a detected result to the brightness-selection circuit. The LED driver circuit is configured to control a brightness level of the LED lighting device, according to a voltage result from the brightness-selection circuit.

LED lighting may generally provide advantages in energy conservation, environmental protection, controllable lighting, solid state lighting, and long operational lifetime. LED lamps thus have been widely used in various areas for public, commercial, and/or indoor lighting.
Often, LED lamps may have lamp-head structures generally-designed similar to incandescent lamps, energy saving lamps, and other conventional lamps. Presumably, LED lamps may be used to directly replace other conventional lamps by an easy installation without changing original structures of a lighting system including other conventional lamps.
However, when other conventional lamps are replaced by conventional LED lamps, dimming feature of the LED lamps may not be applied, because those other conventional lamps do not include any dimmers to implement the dimming feature of the replaced LED lamps. To add a dimmer in those conventional systems can increase cost in use and can require complicated, additional installation.
In some LED lamps, a switch may be used to replace a dimmer to control brightness of an LED lamp. One method of using a switch for dimming control includes a stepless dimming process. When a user presses the switch for a first time, lighting brightness of the lamp may gradually change from a minimum brightness level to a maximum brightness level, which may take a few seconds. During this gradual changing process, if the user presses the switch for a second time, the lamp may be turned off and the brightness level at this point may be memorized by the LED lamp. When the user presses the switch for a third time, the lamp may provide the previously-memorized brightness. When the user presses the switch for a fourth time, the lamp may then be turned off. When the switch is pressed again, the process may be repeated. In some cases, after pressing the switch for the first time, the user may not press the switch during the time interval for gradually changing brightness from the minimum level to the maximum level. The lamp may then be operated at the maximum brightness level until the switch is pressed again to turn off the lamp.
In another method of using a switch for dimming control, a brightness level may be selected from several set-brightness levels. In a two-level dimming process, the lamp may be operated at a first set-brightness level when the switch is pressed for a first time. When the switch is pressed for a second time, the lamp may be turned off. When the switch is pressed for a third time, the lamp may be operated at a second set-brightness level. When the switch is pressed for a fourth time, the lamp may be turned off. When the switch is pressed for a fifth time, the lamp may be operated at the first set-brightness level, which is the same as for the step when the switch is pressed for the first time. Such a process may then be repeated.
In other cases, the brightness level may be selected using a dimming chip or a microcontroller (MCU). Such designs, however, require complicated circuit and increase the cost for the LED lamps.


An electrical connector assembly for the electrical connection of one or more minerally insulated cables (11), the assembly comprising a pot seal arrangement (10) arranged in use to connect the minerally insulated cable (11) to a connector (22); at least one cable alignment plate (21, 31); and, a backshell (20) shaped so as to contain the pot seal (10) and cable alignment plate (21); the cable alignment plate (21) and pot seal (10) being arranged so as to locate within the backshell (20) such that in use, connecting the backshell (20) to the connector (22) forces the backshell (20), cable alignment plate (21) and pot seal (10) into a cooperative engagement.

For high speed data bus and optical systems, a series of connectors and inserts have been recently developed. These allow the use of keyed inserts inside a standardised connector shell, wherein keyed flats ensure that inserts are correctly inserted within a connector housing.
In the case of a typical connector shaped conductors project from one side to the other and are held by an insulator mounted within a metal casing. This insulator would typically be made of epoxy, silicon rubber sealant or glass, as is the case with a standard "MIL-38999" type connector.
Most typically, wires are soldered or crimped onto the backs of pins to make a good mechanical and electrical contact. As such, the fronts of the conductors are shaped, for example, as pins which are designed to fit into sockets in a matching connector. The two connector casings (male and female) engage to ensure axial alignment via machined flats to ensure the correct angular orientation the male and female portions are matably received. Thus, through insertion of the male portion into the female portion, the pins and sockets are substantially aligned before they come into contact with each other and damage through incorrect insertion is thereby prevented, so being referred to as "scoop-proofing".
A number of connectors have been developed which allow a number of these small connectors to be assembled into a standard larger connector. Such large connector assemblies, which comprise multiple individual connectors, may also include a screw fixing to hold two halves of a connector together. Such large scale connectors usually contain further key-ways to ensure angular orientation between the two halves of said large scale connector.
Typically, minerally insulated cable, also known as MI cable, is used in high temperature applications. Therein, a flexible metal tube/casing is typically filled with one or more wires, the wires of which are often prevented from coming into contact with both each other and the casing by filling the tube with a mineral powder to provide both an electrical- and heat-insulating portion. In particular, the incorporation of a heat-insulating portion thereby makes MI cable particularly suitable for use in high-temperature environments.
Of particular difficulty when using MI cable is the connection and termination of the cable within a given electrical system. In particular, pot seals are known as a viable means for both connecting and terminating MI cable, wherein MI cable is fed into a casing, which is most typically metal and thereby referred to as a pot. However, MI cable is notoriously difficult to terminate and/or connect to other components using these methods, and these terminations are easily damaged such that they are rendered unreliable.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide an improved connector suitable for the connection or termination of MI cable without the aforementioned disadvantages.


An atomic force microscope is described having a cantilever comprising a base and a probe tip on an end opposite the base; a cantilever drive device connected to the base; a magnetic material coupled to the probe tip, such that when an incrementally increasing magnetic field is applied to the magnetic material an incrementally increasing force will be applied to the probe tip; a moveable specimen base; and a controller constructed to obtain a profile height of a specimen at a point based upon a contact between the probe tip and a specimen, and measure an adhesion force between the probe tip and the specimen by, under control of a program, incrementally increasing an amount of a magnetic field until a release force, sufficient to break the contact, is applied. An imaging method for atomic force microscopy involving measuring a specimen profile height and adhesion force at multiple points within an area and concurrently displaying the profile and adhesion force for each of the points is also described. A microscope controller is also described and is constructed to, for a group of points, calculate a specimen height at a point based upon a cantilever deflection, a cantilever base position and a specimen piezo position; calculate an adhesion force between a probe tip and a specimen at the point by causing an incrementally increasing force to be applied to the probe tip until the probe tip separates from a specimen; and move the probe tip to a new point in the group.

The present invention relates generally to atomic force microscopy and more particularly relates to an atomic force microscope and controller which minimize contact forces between a probe tip and a specimen and is well suited for the study of biological specimens.
In the study of biology, it is desirable to observe biological specimens under very high magnification in a native environment. Such observations allow scientists to monitor, in real time, biological processes at the molecular and sub-molecular level. Such processes include the interaction of proteins with DNA and with each other. Currently, these processes cannot be observed in real time with electron microscopes or x-ray crystallography techniques which are known in the art, as the specimens are not in their native environment when using these apparatuses. Accordingly, scientists have sought alternate methods to observe biological specimens. One such alternative is known as the atomic force microscope.
Atomic force microscopes (AFM), which are generally known in the art, physically probe a specimen to create an image of the specimen's surface. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical embodiment of an AFM known in the art. The AFM has two primary components, a scanner 10 and a flexible cantilever 12 having a probe tip 14 on a free end. The scanner 10 has a top surface 16 on which a specimen 18 to be imaged is placed. The scanner 10 typically employs three piezoelectric elements 20, 22, 24 to move the specimen 18 in three dimensions, X Y and Z, relative to the position of the probe tip 14. The probe tip 14 is affixed to the free end of the flexible cantilever 12 and contacts the specimen 18. The AFM includes a laser 26 directed onto the cantilever 12 and a photo detector 28 which is responsive to laser light to measure the deflection of the cantilever 12. As the degree of cantilever deflection is proportional to the contacting force between the probe tip 14 and the specimen 18, such force can accurately be calculated based on the angle of cantilever deflection.
To create an image of a specimen, the scanner 10 directs the specimen 18 in a raster-scan fashion in the X-Y direction while continuously sampling the contour of the specimen 18 in the Z direction. The sampling is generally performed using one of two techniques known in the art, namely contact mode or tapping mode. In contact mode, the scanner 10 is controlled in the Z direction such that the contacting force between the probe tip 14 and the specimen 18 is substantially constant. As the contour of the specimen changes, the deflection of the cantilever 12 also changes and a servo system driving the scanner 10 adjusts the Z coordinate of the scanner 10 to restore the desired constant force. At each specimen point, the coordinate of the Z axis is indicative of the specimen contour. Because the probe is constantly contacting (i.e. it drags along) the surface of the specimen during the X-Y raster scan, significant lateral forces are applied to both the specimen 18 and the probe tip 14. The probe tip 14, which is typically 200–300 Angstroms in diameter is subject to rapid wear and breakage under these forces. Also, when used on soft specimens, such as biological specimens, the probe tip is likely to destroy the surface of the specimen, making accurate and repeatable measurements impossible.
In tapping mode, the cantilever 12 is driven in an oscillatory fashion at the resonant frequency of the cantilever. This may be achieved by affixing the cantilever to a piezoelectric element 30 and driving the piezoelectric element 30 with a voltage signal at the resonant frequency of the cantilever. To determine the contour of the specimen in tapping mode, the scanner 10 moves the specimen in the Z direction until a predetermined reduction in oscillation amplitude is detected. The reduction in oscillation amplitude is the result of the probe tip 14 contacting the surface of the specimen 18 during each cycle of oscillation. Because the probe tip 14 repeatedly, but only momentarily contacts the specimen 18 at each point during the X-Y raster scan, the lateral force present during contact mode is substantially reduced. However, because the probe tip 14 is moving rapidly on arrival at the specimen surface, the contacting force, while short in duration, is large in magnitude. The force that results from tapping mode tends to be destructive to biological specimens. Thus, tapping mode is most useful in sampling hard surfaces, such as those found in integrated circuit manufacturing processes and the like. Also, tapping mode is difficult to use when measuring a fluid-based specimen. When the cantilever assembly is submerged into a fluid environment, the desired oscillation of the cantilever can be dampened and additional resonances are developed which can adversely affect operation and accuracy. Also, fluid flow induced by the tapping oscillation tends to erode the specimen. Because biological specimens tend to reside in a fluid environment, tapping mode is not well suited for measuring these specimens. Tapping mode is also incapable of separately measuring the contacting force and adhesion force at each pixel. Because tapping mode cannot separate the two forces, concurrent mapping of each force during scanning is presently not possible with AFM's employing tapping mode.
An alternative operating mode to both contact mode and tapping mode is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,606 to Elings et al. Elings et al. refers to "jump scanning" where the probe is momentarily brought into contact with the surface to be measured. The probe is then lifted away from the surface as the specimen is moved in the X direction and the probe tip is then brought back down into contact to take the next specimen. By jumping over the surface of the specimen, Elings et al. teach a method of increasing scanning speed with reduced risk of probe damage. However, when the probe tip and specimen contact one another, an attractive force tends to hold the probe tip in contact with the specimen. To ensure that the probe tip is able to release, the cantilever 12 must be formed with a sufficient spring constant to overcome this attractive force. Unfortunately, increasing the spring constant of the cantilever 12 increases the magnitude of the contact force between the probe tip 14 and specimen 18 which is required to achieve a measurable cantilever 12 deflection. Such stiff cantilevers, i.e., in the range greater than 0.1 Newtons per meter (N/m), which are required for jump mode, are incompatible with the more sensitive biological specimens which are easily damaged under the application of such forces.
The problem of overcoming the attractive forces between an AFM probe tip 14 and specimen surface was addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,719 to Lindsay. Lindsay operates in a mode where contact between the probe tip 14 and specimen surface is considered to be undesirable and recognized that when soft (low spring constant) cantilevers are used, the attractive interaction between the specimen 18 and probe tip 14 tends to draw the probe tip in and the probe tip 14 will contact and stick to the surface until enough force is applied to the cantilever base to release the probe tip 14. To address this problem, Lindsay teaches the addition of a magnetic particle attached to the cantilever in combination with a magnetic solenoid located proximate to the cantilever. The solenoid generates a magnetic field which is variable and precisely regulated by a servo circuit. The servo circuit monitors the deflection of the cantilever and continuously adjusts the magnetic field such that the attractive force between the probe tip 14 and specimen 18 is substantially neutralized. In this way, the probe tip 14, as taught by Lindsay, is kept at a distance from the specimen and never makes contact with the specimen. Therefore, it is impossible to measure an adhesion force using this method and difficult to measure the specimen profile at high lateral resolution because of the tip-specimen separation.
The use of a magnetic particle affixed to a flexible cantilever and controlled by a magnetic coil as used by Lindsay was first disclosed in an article by Florin et al., entitled "Atomic Force Microscope with Magnetic Force Modulation", published in the Review of Scientific Instrument, 65(3), March 1994. Florin et al. teach the use of a magnetic control system to drive the cantilever in an oscillating fashion such that the probe tip momentarily and adversely contacts a specimen, in a manner similar to tapping mode.
Current AFM techniques tend to be destructive to biological specimens. Therefore, there remains a need for an improved atomic force microscope adapted for use in a fluid medium: for the observation of biological specimens in their native environment under conditions completely controlling and quantitatively measuring the interaction forces between tip and specimen.


An electronic toll collection system with dynamically adjusted timing for operation of one or more subsystems. The timing is dynamically adjusted based upon the prevailing traffic speed for the roadway. The roadway traffic speed is determined based upon direct measurements of traffic speed by external equipment or based upon a variable correlated with traffic speed. The variable may include the average number of handshakes per transponder over an estimation period. The subsystem may include a vehicle position determination system, an enforcement system, a loop detection system, or other such subsystems.

A vehicle position determination system and method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,613, which is owned in common with the present application. The vehicle position determination system described therein determines the position of a vehicle in an open-road ETC system by counting the number of interrogation-response communications per antenna. Subject to some weighting, the antenna with the highest count is associated with the position of the transponder-equipped vehicle.
The described system makes its determination following expiry of a sampling time period, which is preset based upon the interrogation cycle time, the roadway speed limit, and various other factors. The sampling time period is set so as to allow the vehicle, under normal conditions, to traverse a significant portion of the coverage zone before the determination is made. If the vehicle is travelling at a slower-than-expected speed and only traverses a small distance into the zone, then the lane assignment may be incorrect and consequent problems with electronic toll transactions or enforcement may result.
In another embodiment, the sampling time period expires when the transponder-equipped vehicle no longer responds to any interrogations—i.e. when it leaves the coverage zone. In many circumstances it is advantageous to make a determination as to lane position for a vehicle before it leaves the coverage zone.
In addition to vehicle position determination, other sub-systems of the ETC system may operate on the basis of a preset time period, which is established based upon assumptions regarding vehicle travel time. For example, an in-ground loop detector system for determining the number of axles on a passing vehicle bases its decision on the number of axles detected within a certain time period. The time period takes into account the expected speed of the vehicles. If the vehicles are travelling much slower than expected, then the loop detector system may make an incorrect determination. Similarly, enforcement systems within the ETC system, like overhead cameras, may by triggered to operate when a vehicle passing through the communication zone may be expected to pass through the camera viewing field. The timing for operation of the camera may be partly based upon expected vehicle travel time from a detection point. Vehicles travelling at a slower than expected speed may not come within the field of view when expected.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide for an ETC system that addresses, at least in part, some of these issues.

Dynamic timing adjustment in an electronic toll collection system


The metal foil of the positive electrode 1a or the negative electrode 1b in the power generating element 1 is connected along the connecting plate portion 2b which is folded, twisted, and provided in a protruding condition from the main portion 2a of the current-collector connector 2; hence the shape of the current-collector connector 2 becomes easy to form, and a battery capable of enhancing current collection efficiency, reliability and workability can be provided.

FIG. 8 shows the conventional connection structure of power generating elements 1, current-collector connectors 2, and external connection terminals 3 in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. In this non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, two power generating elements 1 of an elliptic cylindrical shape are connected in parallel.
Each power generating element 1 such as shown in FIG. 3 is configured by winding a positive electrode 1a and a negative electrode 1b with a separator 1c therebetween into an elliptic cylindrical shape. In the positive electrode 1a, the surface of a strip aluminum foil 1d to be used as an electrode substrate is supported with a positive active material; and in the negative electrode 1b, the surface of a strip copper foil 1e to be used as an electrode substrate is supported with a negative active material. These positive electrode 1a and negative electrode 1b are provided with non-coated portions, where the active material is not applied to one side-edge portions of the negative strip and to the other side-edge portions of the positive strip, thereby allowing the aluminum foil 1d and the copper foil 1e to be exposed in the non-coated portions. And, in the formation of the power generating element 1 by winding, these positive electrode 1a and negative electrode 1b are wound with being shifted in the opposite direction from each other along the winding axis, so that only the aluminum foil 1d at the side-edge portions of the positive electrode 1a protrudes from one end face of the elliptic cylindrical shape and only the copper foil 1e at the side-edge portions of the negative electrode 1b protrudes from the other end face.
The above-described two power generating elements 1, 1 are aligned horizontally so that the flat side of each elliptic cylindrical shape overlaps each other in an upright stance. And, at both sides of the end faces of these power generating elements 1, 1, each electrode is connected to the current-collector connectors 2, 2 of a ribbed plate type, respectively. The aluminum foil of the positive electrode 1a or the copper foil of the negative electrode 1b protruding from the end face of the power generating element 1 is held in each of the concave portions of a ribbed plate type, ultrasonic welding is performed, and hence, the electrodes are connected and fixed.
However, there arose a problem in that the use of the above-described structure made it difficult for the current-collector connector to be connected to the power generating element. Moreover, in case of a battery having a large capacity, it is necessary to make a plate thickness of the current-collector connector 2 thick enough for a large amount of electric currents to pass, thereby causing another problem of easy occurrence of defective welding when ultrasonic welding was performed on the thin aluminum foil or copper foil which was held in it.


A multi-layer hydrocarbon vapor-impermeable tube is formed with a nylon outer layer and a vapor barrier inner layer such as ETFE, bonded together by two adhesive layers. The laminated tube is coextruded. The shear on the two adhesive layers are adjusted to bias the first adhesive layer towards the nylon outer layer and the second adhesive layer towards the ETFE barrier layer. This permits rapid coextrusion of the laminated tubing. Preferably, both adhesive layers are formed from a blend of nylon and ETFE. The ratio of nylon to ETFE can be adjusted so that the first adhesive layer is preferentially adherent to the nylon layer, and the second adhesive layer is preferentially adherent to the ETFE layer, and both adhesive layers are adherent to each other.

Hydrocarbon emissions have become a major concern with environmental agencies throughout the world. One way to reduce hydrocarbon emissions from automobiles is to prevent hydrocarbon vapor emissions through fuel lines and vapor lines. In the past, these fuel lines have been formed from nylon which is particularly strong, but has relatively poor hydrocarbon vapor barrier characteristics. A solution to this has been to provide a laminated fuel line having one or more layers that provide improved barrier characteristics laminated to nylon. Fuel lines, as opposed to vapor lines, also require an inner conductive layer to permit dissipation of static charge created as the fuel passes through the fuel line.
Most of the barrier layers tend to be fluorinated hydrocarbons such as ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The problem with these barrier layers is they do not adhere well to nylon. Plasma treatment of the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymers has been employed and is successful to some extent, but still suffers problems with delamination and further, is relatively expensive. Noone et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,087 discloses using an outer nylon layer bonded to an inner barrier layer by a compatibilizing adhesive. Unfortunately, in practice it is very difficult to get both the nylon and the fluorinated polymer to both adhere to the compatibilizing adhesive.


A windproof ashtray (10) comprising a main body (12) for receiving cigarette ashes and cigarette butts therein. A top portion (14) is on the main body (12). A base (16) is for stabilizing the main body (12) upon a support surface (18). A structure (20) in the top portion (14) is for guiding cigarette ashes deposited therein into main body (12), while preventing the cigarette ashes from being blown out.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates generally to cigarette extinguishers and more specifically it relates to a windproof ashtray. The windproof ashtray will prevent any cigarette ashes deposited therein from being blown out by the wind and contains at least one structure for extinguishing a burning end of a cigarette and depositing it therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous cigarette extinguishers have been provided in prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,936,765 to Talkington; 3,522,812 to Chism; 3,871,387 to Busse and 4,548,217 to Saculla all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
A cigarette extinguisher comprising an ash tray including opposed side walls. A bar is mounted horizontally in the tray on the side walls. The bar has a circular opening therein. A tapered receptacle for extinguishing the burning end of the cigarette is mounted in the opening and depends from the bar. A flange on the upper end of receptacle is engaged on the bar. A bracket is on the lower portion of the receptacle. A plunger is slideable in the bar and bracket. A closure for the lower end of the receptacle is fixed on the plunger. A coil spring engaged with the bracket is for securing the receptacle in the opening and is operatively connected to the plunger for actuating same for engaging the closure with the receptacle.
A flat-bottomed can provides a self-standing receiver. The top of the can has an upstanding screw-threaded neck for a screw cap having a lid portion that is centrally apertured and embodies a truncated conical adapter into which the depending discharge neck of an upstanding funnel is secured. A coiled spring atop the funnel provides cigarette seating and gripping members so that ashes, butts and refuse gravitate and accumulate in the receiver for emptying and disposition.
The ashtray comprises a housing and a U-shaped insert inserted into the housing. An upper portion of one side of the insert is included downwardly and an upper portion of the opposite side is bent first inwardly and then upwardly to form a fulcrum edge. A balance-like cover member is loosely supported on the fulcrum edge and one arm thereof is operable to abut from below against the edge of the downwardly sloping side portion whereas the other arm is provided with a weight urging the one arm into a gap closing position. The one arm is preferably provided with a U-shaped attachment forming together with the sloping side a cigarette butt extinguishing chamber.
Herein disclosed is a compact, highly attractive combination cigarette extinguisher and ashtray. The device comprises a body portion of generally cylindrical formation adapted to be supported on a table top, desk or the like with its axis vertical. The peripheral wall of the body provides a plurality of vertically-extending recesses each adapted to receive a cigarette butt with the lighted end of the latter downward. A cap fits over the upper portion of the body and is rotatable to align an opening in the cap with a selected one of the vertically-extending recesses to permit deposit of a cigarette butt in such recess. The cap is then rotated to close off the recess and the light on the butt is quickly extinguished. A filter element is disposed between the upper surface of the body and the inner surface of the cap, to restrict passage of the odor of the extinguished butt from passing into the room in which the combination cigarette extinguisher and ashtray is disposed.


Disclosed is a power system comprising a condensation injection system positioned downstream of an EGR cooler. The condensation injection system comprises a condensation pump and a condensation injector. The condensation injector is positioned downstream of the condensation pump. The condensation pump is configured to pump the condensation to the condensation injector, and the condensation injector is configured to inject the condensation into the intake gas, the intake gas being a combination of a fresh intake gas and a recirculated portion of an exhaust gas.

All engines—diesel, gasoline, propane and natural gas—produce exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides ("NOx"). These emissions are the result of incomplete combustion. Additionally, diesel engines also produce particulate matter ("PM"). As more focus is placed on health and environmental issues, governmental agencies throughout the world are enacting more stringent emissions laws.
Because so many diesel engines are used in trucks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its counterparts in Europe and Japan first focused on setting emissions regulations for the on-road market. While the worldwide regulation of nonroad diesel engines came later, the pace of cleanup and rate of improvement has been more aggressive for nonroad engines relative to on-road engines.
Manufacturer of nonroad diesel engines are expected to meet specific emissions regulations. For example, Tier 3/Stage III A emissions regulations required an approximate 65 percent reduction in PM and a 60 percent reduction in NOx from 1996 levels. As a further example, Interim tier 4/Stage III B regulations required a 90 percent reduction in PM along with a 50 percent drop in NOx. Still further, Final Tier 4/Stage IV regulations which will be fully implemented by 2015, will take PM and NOx emissions to near-zero levels.
PM is a non-gaseous product of combustion commonly seen as smoke. It is made up of carbon, which is incompletely burned fuel and hydrocarbons, and is the visible, black smoke. PM also contains sulfuric acid which is created from the sulfur found in diesel fuel. PM and ash may both be trapped in, for example, a diesel particulate filter ("DPF").
To reduce the remaining NOx, a power system may comprise an exhaust gas recirculation ("EGR") system. The EGR system recirculates a portion of the engine's exhaust gas back into an intake manifold of the engine. The recirculated portion of the exhaust gas reduces the concentration of oxygen therein, thus lowering the combustion temperature, slowing the chemical reactions, and decreasing the formation of NOx. However, because the recirculated portion of the exhaust as may contain water vapor—the amount of water vapor being dependent on the humidity of the air and the fuel quantity burned—excessive cooling may result in condensation in the EGR system.
One problem associated with condensation, in the recirculated portion of the exhaust gas, is that it may not uniformly flow into the engine's cylinders. This may result in excess NOx in some cylinders and simultaneously excess PM in other cylinders. Another problem is that under some other operating conditions, there may be so much condensation that it may form pools and rivers. Such conditions may lead to poor ignition characteristics. What is needed, in the art, is a condensation injection system that addresses these issues.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Power system comprising a condensation injection system


A temporary aqueous aerosol paint composition comprising an aqueous paint component, including an aqueous solvent, and an aqueous propellant component. At least one embodiment of the temporary aerosol paint composition includes an amount of water, and more particularly, an amount of filtered water, as the aqueous solvent. In addition, the temporary aerosol paint composition may include an amount of an aqueous dimethyl ether compound as the aqueous propellant component. The temporary aerosol paint composition is formulated to minimize and/or eliminate the hazards presented by the various volatile and non-volatile organic compounds present in known aerosol paint compositions, by eliminating or minimizing the inclusion of such organic compounds. Any one of a number of pigment compounds may be utilized in the temporary aqueous aerosol paint composition, including flourescent colored pigment compounds, thereby permitting use in a variety of applications. A simplified method for preparing a temporary aqueous aerosol paint composition includes adding the various compounds to a reaction vessel in which a plurality of mixing cycles are accomplished.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a temporary aqueous aerosol paint composition and a method for preparing the inventive composition. In particular, the aqueous aerosol paint composition of the present invention may be utilized in temporary marking applications such as, for example, marking the location of underground utility lines, as is common in the construction industry.
2. Description of the Related Art
Aerosol paints are utilized in a variety of applications, including those typically associated with standard (i.e. non-aerosol) oil or water based paints. This is a result of the numerous advantages of an aerosol delivery system. For example, the application of an aerosol paint often requires less skill than is typically required to properly apply a standard oil or water based paint. In addition, the use of an aerosol paint eliminates the need for cleaning paint brushes, paint rollers, paint trays, etc., as is required after the application of standard paints. Also, in certain instances, aerosol paint may be readily applied to surfaces which may be awkward and/or difficult to access, thereby hindering the application of standard paints.
Due to the numerous advantages of aerosol paints, their use has become widespread for both home and commercial applications. One particular area of widespread commercial usage of aerosol paints is in the construction industry, and in particular, the non-permanent identification of various structures and/or materials on or around a construction site, for example, site boundaries and/or locations specified by a surveyor, identification of the location of underground utility lines and/or other underground structures, identification of building materials, etc.
Historically, the aerosol paints utilized in the construction industry and, in fact, aerosol paints in general, comprise a mixture of volatile organic solvents, as well as, typically, an equally volatile aerosol propellant. While this combination of volatile compounds results in a stable and usable aerosol paint composition, the hazardous aspects of such volatile compounds are now all too well known. To begin, such compositions are typically flammable, due to the concentration of highly volatile compounds, and as such, these compositions are dangerous to store, transport, and handle, and the potential of a fire, or worse, an explosion, due to mishandling is a constant concern. In addition, it is also now well documented that exposure to such volatile organic compounds, even in limited amounts, presents a health hazard to the persons who are exposed to them. This exposure hazard exists for persons who are directly applying such volatile compositions as well as those who may simply be present in the general vicinity in which they are being applied. Aside from the potential fire, explosion, and health hazards presented by such volatile aerosol paint compositions, such compositions are also believed to be a factor in the further depletion of the ozone layer and thus, they are believed to contribute to the phenomenon now commonly known as "global warming," which, if left uncontrolled, is believed to pose a potentially devastating threat to the very existence of our planet.
Attempts to address the negative aspects of such volatile aerosol paint compositions, as outlined above, have resulted in the development of formulations which reduce and/or eliminate the reliance on volatile compounds in aerosol paint compositions, with varying degrees of success. For instance, although a number of aerosol paint compositions have been formulated which no longer require a volatile organic solvent, many of these formulations still utilize a volatile organic propellent, thereby still presenting the hazards presented above, albeit to a somewhat lesser degree. In addition, these formulations are reportedly prone to foaming problems upon application, due to entrapment of the volatile organic propellent in the non-volatile paint component. Also, many of these formulations are known to be unstable even after only a short period of time.
Further attempts to improve aerosol paint formulations include the use of essentially non-volatile compounds in both the paint component and the propellant component, however, many of these formulations still reportedly exhibit excessive foaming so as to limit their widespread commercial usage. In addition, these later formulations still typically contain other harmful organic compounds and, as such, they continue to present a health hazard to persons who directly apply them or are otherwise exposed to them.
In addition, the currently known and purportedly "temporary" aerosol marking paints utilized in the construction industry today are formulated such that they typically remain visible from between several months to and more than a year after application, depending upon the type of surface or material on which they are applied, and the climatic conditions in the region of application. Aside from the obvious eyesore such lingering markings present, a more serious issue is the safety hazard created due to potential confusion in determining exactly what the various and often overlapping markings are supposed to indicate. As should be appreciated, the potential of a construction crew digging or drilling in an area where underground gas, electric, water, and/or sewer lines are not clearly identified presents a serious risk to the health and well being of the crew, as well as the persons in the immediate and surrounding areas.
As such, it would be beneficial to provide an aerosol paint composition which minimizes and/or eliminates the negative attributes identified above, yet is formulated for ease of handling and consistency of application. More in particular, such an aerosol paint composition would preferably comprise an aqueous paint component, including an aqueous solvent, as well as an aqueous propellant component. It would be further beneficial for such an aqueous aerosol paint composition to comprise compounds which minimize and/or eliminate the hazards presented to users and the environment relative to the various volatile and non-volatile organic compounds typically included in aerosol paint compositions, as discussed above. Preferably, any such aqueous aerosol paint composition would be formulated to provide a highly visible marking in a variety of flourescent colors such that various structures and/or materials on or around a construction site may be clearly marked so as to eliminate confusion. Yet another benefit would be for such an aqueous aerosol paint composition to naturally and essentially completely degrade within weeks rather than months of application. A further advantage would be achieved by providing a simple and cost effective method for preparing and packaging such a temporary aqueous aerosol paint composition to permit widespread usage within the construction industry and elsewhere.

Temporary aqueous aerosol paint composition and method for preparing the composition


Systems and methods are described for seamlessly connecting devices based on relationships between the users of the respective devices. A media guidance application may determine that a first user has entered an environment (e.g., his/her mother's home) and may determine a frequency with which the first user enters the environment (e.g., daily). In response to determining that the first user visits frequently, the media guidance application may identify a second device in the environment (e.g., a smart TV) that a second user (e.g., the first user's mother) is authorized to grant access rights for. The media guidance application may determine a likelihood that the second user will grant the access rights for the second device to the first user, based on interaction data between the first user and the second user. In response to determining a high likelihood, the media guidance application may transmit the access rights.

In the related art, in response to receiving a request to share content from a sending device, a system may share the content with receiving device(s) that are capable of loading the content and are in close proximity to the sending device. However, the related art does not determine whether to connect the sending device with the receiving device based on the relationship of the users/owners of those respective devices. Furthermore, when sharing content from the sending device, with the receiving device, the related art does not consider whether the shared content features an individual related to the owner of the receiving device. The related art simply makes the connection based on the proximity of the devices and the type of content (e.g., video, photo, etc.) of the shared content. This may cause security and privacy concerns.

Systems and methods for seamlessly connecting devices based on relationships between the users of the respective devices


There is provided a pattern forming system of the present invention comprising a reticule on which a pattern is formed on one or more chips, an apparatus for preliminarily arranging a plurality of shot regions of a main surface of a wafer in a matrix manner in a case where regions where the pattern is formed by one shot are used as shot regions, an apparatus for calculating the number of the shot regions, which constitutes the matrix after sequentially moving the position of the shot regions to be a center of the matrix in a state that wafer is fixed, and the number of the chips wherein the pattern is completely formed on the main surface of the wafer, an apparatus for selecting a case in which the number of the shot regions constituting the matrix is the smallest and the number of the chips in which the pattern is completely formed on the main surface of the wafer is the largest, and an apparatus for forming the pattern, which is formed on the reticule, on each shot region constituting the matrix.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pattern forming system wherein a pattern formed on a reticule is demagnified and projected on a surface of a wafer by a step- and repeat photolithographic system with demagnification (hereinafter called stepper) and an application of such a system to an apparatus for exposing photoresist formed on the wafer in a step and repeat system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in a case where a pattern formed on a reticule is demagnified and projected on the surface of a wafer, and the pattern is formed on the surface of the wafer, the pattern formed on the reticule is formed on the surface of the wafer by one shot. Generally, a plurality of shots can be carried out to one wafer, and a plurality of the same patterns are formed on the surface of the wafer in a matrix manner. As a method for forming the plurality of the same patterns on the entire surface of the wafer by the plurality of shots, the following four cases can be considered as shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Array Method ______________________________________ X Direction Even Even Odd Odd Number Number Number Number Y Direction Even Odd Even Odd Number Number Number Number FIG. 7 FIG. 8 FIG. 9 FIG. 10 ______________________________________
The above four cases can be considered based on the assumption of a two-dimensional coordinate on the surface of the wafer. As shown in FIG. 1, the first case relates to shot regions (1 to 38), and shows that an even number of shot regions in which the patterns formed on the reticule exist in the respective X and Y directions from an origin of the coordinate axes. As shown in FIG. 2, the second case relates to shot regions 1 to 40 and shows that an even number of shot regions exist in the X direction and that an odd number of shot regions exist in the Y direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the third case relates to shot regions 1 to 39, and shows that an odd number of shot regions exist in the X direction and that an even number of shot regions exist in the Y direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the fourth case relates to shot regions (1 to 37), and shows that an odd number of shot regions exist in the respective X and Y directions.
In the mentioned cases, assuming that, for example, a diameter of the wafer is 5 inches and a size of one shot region is 15 mm.times.15 mm, the number of complete patterns to be formed in the wafer will be 38 according to the first case of FIG. 1, 40 according to the second case of FIG. 2, 39 according to the third case of FIG. 3, and 37 according to the fourth case of FIG. 4. Therefore, if the patterns to be formed by one shot constitutes one integrated circuit (IC), the maximum number of ICs to be obtained from one wafer can be obtained in the array method of the shot regions shown in FIG. 2. In other words, if the patterns on the reticule are formed on the surface of the wafer by use of the array method of the shot regions shown in FIG. 2, the maximum number of ICs can be obtained from one wafer, and efficiency of IC production can be improved.
In a case where the patterns formed on the reticule are actually formed on the surface of the wafer, it is necessary to chose the case in which the maximum number of ICs can be obtained from one wafer. In this case, conventionally, workers must actually count the number of ICs to be obtained from one wafer in each case in order to select the case in which the maximum number of ICs can be obtained.
However, if the size of each IC is made small, and the number of ICs to be obtained from one wafer is increased, counting the number of ICs is extremely hard work for the workers.
FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the size of the chip and the gross of the chip gross relating to an experimental value and a theoretical value. A theoretical value shown by a broken line of FIG. 5 is a number, which is obtained by dividing an area of a main surface of the wafer by an area of one IC. A chip gross shown by a solid line of FIG. 5 is a number of ICs, which are actually formed on the main surface of the wafer in a complete shape if the patterns are formed on the surface of the wafer by a predetermined array method. In other words, if the size of the IC is 3 mm.times.3 mm, both the experimental value of the chip gross and the theoretical value are about 1300, respectively. Due to this, it is impossible for workers to count the number of ICs formed on the surface of the wafer one by one.


A voice recognition device includes a vehicle state detecting unit for detecting a vehicle state of a vehicle having the voice recognition device mounted thereon, and an acoustic data matching unit for matching an acoustic feature value converted by a sound analyzing unit with a recognition dictionary stored in a recognition dictionary storage unit to recognize a voice input to a microphone. The device also includes a recognition parameter setting unit for setting a recognition parameter at the time when the voice input to the microphone is recognized, and a control unit for instructing the recognition parameter setting unit to change the recognition parameter when the vehicle state detected by the vehicle state detecting unit satisfies a predetermined condition.

Conventionally, a technique to adjust a threshold for voice recognition and so on in accordance with a usage (operating) environment of a voice recognition device is proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, the following voice recognition device is proposed: it is determined whether a vehicle is under a quiet environment or under a noisy environment by comparing a current speed of a vehicle with a reference value, a threshold (detection level) for detecting a section of voice activity under the quiet environment and under the noisy environment based on the said determination result is changed, and the threshold in a case under the noisy environment is set to be higher than that under the quiet environment, which solves an inconvenience such that an erroneous detection of the section of voice activity is rendered due to a sensitive reaction to a minute sound, a level fluctuation in the residual components of an audio sound, or the like.

Voice recognition device and navigation device


A device for epicardial support and/or the assuming of cardiac activity having a double membrane (1) consisting of an elastic inner membrane (2) and a non-expandable outer membrane (3) as well as a closed cavity (4) formed therebetween which can be inflated and deflated by means of a fluid. With the objective of further developing a device of the type as indicated at the outset which provides a simpler possibility of stimulating the heart in the critical post-operative phase, it is provided for at least one probe/electrode unit (7, 8) to be arranged on the inward facing side (6) of the inner membrane (2) to the heart (5) for epicardial ECG leads and/or signal transmission/conversion of an external pacemaker.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for epicardial support and/or the assuming of cardiac activity having a double membrane consisting of an elastic inner membrane and a non-expandable outer membrane as well as a closed cavity formed therebetween which can be inflated and deflated by means of a fluid.
2. Description of Related Art
Such a device—although one which works pericardially—is known for example from the document DE 199 51 220 A1. The device is a minimally-invasive, i.e. percutaneously implantable system for the mechanical support and temporary substitution of the heart's pumping function. After probing the pericardial sac, the device is inserted into the pericardial sac percutaneously in collapsed state or surgically positioned in the pericardial sac at the end of an operation with the double membrane surrounding the right and left ventricles. Thereby the device in its deflated state is so thin that a compression of the adjacent organs will be avoided. Subsequent implantation, the cavity of the double membrane is rhythmically supplied through a connecting tube with a fluid which can either be a gas (helium or CO2) or a suitable liquid. Due to this rhythmic inflation and deflation of the double membrane's cavity and because the outer membrane is not expandable in contrast to the inner membrane, the double membrane surrounding the heart effects pressure transmission and compression of the heart. In so doing, blood is urged from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery and simultaneously from the left ventricle into the aorta or, with available pumping function of the heart, aids in the systolic ejection of the cardiac muscle.
For patients who undergo heart surgery at the present time, however, a temporary pace-maker probe is still being attached epicardially at the end of the operation. In the case of asystolia (electrical cardiac standstill) or bradycardia (too slow of a heart rate) during the critical post-operative phase, the two temporary probes can stimulate the heart by means of an externally attached pacemaker. The probe cables are extracted after five to seven days, which is possible without reopening the chest. Yet regarded as a disadvantage is that those temporary pacemaker probe must every time be sewn on.
Should ventricular arrhythmias occur during the post-operative phase (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation), a defibrillator must be used to restore the heart's normal rhythm. An external defibrillator attachable to the body is hereby used, although it is known on the one hand that only 10-20% of the energy in the form of electric work generated by the defibrillator (200 to 360 joules) acts directly on the heart, while most is absorbed by the surrounding tissue. On the other hand, implantable defibrillators can be used, whereby the probes positioned in the ventricle are usually left inside the patient for many years. Yet also known in this case is that usually only 30-50% of the energy generated by an implanted defibrillator (16 to 34 joules) has any effect on the heart.

Device for the epicardial support and/or resumption of cardiac activity


A one-way pneumatic delivery system includes a plurality of sending units in fluid communication with a receiving unit via a duct system. Each of the sending units and the receiving unit include a door that selectively prevents fluid communication into the duct system. When the carrier is inserted in one of the sending units, a power unit applies a vacuum to the duct system and the doors of the other sending units and of the receiving unit are sealed. The power unit both decelerates the carrier prior to its reception in the receiving unit and is configured to prevent the insertion of foreign objects into the vacuum source. A second embodiment is presented wherein the power unit is disposed in an upside-down configuration above a ceiling.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to pneumatic delivery systems of the type intended for delivering small packages from one location to another and, more particularly, to a one-way pneumatic delivery system employing interconnected pipe structures that pneumatically deliver small packages from a plurality of initial locations to a single terminal location. Specifically, the invention relates to a one-way pneumatic delivery system employing a plurality of sending units that are attached via an interconnected duct system to a single receiving unit. A power unit applies a vacuum to the duct system to pneumatically deliver small packages from any of the sending units to the receiving unit.
2. Background Information
Numerous types of pneumatic delivery systems are known and understood in the relevant art. Pneumatic delivery systems typically include a duct system manufactured out of tubes having a circular cross section for delivering containers from initial locations to terminal locations. Such systems operate by applying a vacuum and/or a positive air pressure above ambient pressure to the duct system and, in turn, to the container therein to pneumatically draw and/or push the carrier through the duct system from the initial location to the terminal location.
Such pneumatic delivery systems typically are of either a one-way configuration or a two-way configuration. The one-way configuration is employed whenever delivery is desired only from an initial location to a terminal location. The return of any materials from the terminal location to the initial location must be achieved by hand carrying or through other delivery mechanisms. Such systems are particularly useful, for example, when small packages repeatedly need to be delivered from various locations to a central delivery location such as when numerous cashiers need to periodically deliver packages of cash and checks from cashier locations to a centralized accounting location.
A two-way pneumatic delivery system is a system wherein the container is delivered from an initial location to a terminal location and is then returned from the terminal location back to the initial location after the occurrence of a transaction. Such two-way pneumatic delivery systems are useful, for example, in drive-up banking applications wherein it is desired that the customer place deposit materials and/or a withdrawal slip into a container and deliver the container from an initial location at a drive-up window outside the bank to a terminal location inside the bank where the transaction is conducted by a teller upon receipt of the container at the terminal location. After the transaction has been completed, the teller returns the container through the duct system from the terminal location to the customer at the initial location.
The present invention is particularly directed to a one-way pneumatic delivery system. One-way pneumatic delivery systems typically include ducts or pipes having that extend from each of the initial locations to the terminal location with a vacuum and/or high pneumatic pressure being applied to the pipe to deliver a carrier inserted at the initial location through the pipe for delivery to the terminal location. The duct system typically includes individual pipes running from each initial location to the terminal location inasmuch as the vacuum and/or high pneumatic pressure must be applied to each pipe and must be of sufficient strength and with minimal leakage to ensure that the container is delivered completely through the pipe from the initial location to the terminal location without becoming stuck inside the pipe. Inasmuch as such pipes typically extend through walls, above ceilings, and below floors, such systems must be designed to ensure that the vacuum and/or high pneumatic pressure is consistently and reliably applied to the pipe such that the carrier never becomes lost or stuck within the pipe. As such, one-way pneumatic delivery systems have heretofore been designed with individual pipes or ducts running from each initial location to the terminal location.
While existing one-way pneumatic delivery systems are effective for their intended purposes, such one-way pneumatic delivery systems have not, however, been without limitation. For instance, the use of individual tubes running from each initial location to the terminal location results in a significant number of tubes disposed at the terminal location, each of which extends only to a single initial location. Such a quantity of tubes at the receiving location is typically cumbersome and requires significant space. Each such tube must be concealed behind a wall, ceiling, or other such structure, with such concealment needing to be performed in conjunction with the concealment of electrical wiring, communication systems, plumbing systems, and heating systems, as well as other materials that must be disposed behind walls and above ceilings such as insulation and lighting structures. As such, the concealment of such numerous pipes is expensive and must compete for concealment space with other necessary structures. Moreover, the cost of such quantities of pipe and the labor required to conceal it can be prohibitive. Still further, a relatively large vacuum source and/or compressed air source must be provided to supply a vacuum and/or high pneumatic pressure to one or more of the pneumatic tubes simultaneously. The size of such vacuum and/or high pressure systems is dictated by the number of tubes extending between the initial location and the terminal location, the distance between the initial locations and the terminal location, as well as the weight of the container that is being delivered through each of the tubes. It is thus desired to provide an improved one-way pneumatic delivery system that eliminates the need for individual tubes to run from each initial location to the terminal location and that can employ a relatively smaller power unit to pneumatically drive the container from the initial location to the terminal location.


In order to package an electronic component, a leadframe is provided having at least one flag portion (2) and at least one lead portion (7) extending towards the flag portion (2). The lead portion (7) includes an end portion (10) of reduced thickness adjacent the flag portion (2) and a channel (9) between the end portion (10) and the rest of the lead portion. The leadframe is etched to form the channel (9) and the end portion(10), which together form a locking step. The electronic component (3) is then mounted on the flag portion (2) and electrically connected to the end of the lead portion (7). The electronic component (3), the electrical connection (5), at least the end portion (10) and the intermediate portion (9) of the lead portion (7) and at least part of the flag portion (2) are encapsulated in a plastics molding compound, which enters and fills the locking step, and is then cured.

As is well known, in general, in a semiconductor chip package, a semiconductor die is mounted on a flag portion of a leadframe, and wires or connecting bridges electrically connect the die to inner ends of lead portions of the leadframe, the die, wires and the inner ends of the lead portions being encapsulated in plastic moulding compound to form the semiconductor chip package.
In high power plastic semiconductor chip packages, the bottom surface of the flag portion provides a heat sink for the semiconductor die; so it is not encapsulated in the moulding compound. Hence, encapsulation of the die, the wire bonds and the inner portions of the lead portions, without covering the bottom surface of the flag portion of the leadframe and without causing package integrity and delamination issues is critical. Package integrity and delamination are major concerns in electronic component packaging design. Moisture and/or ionic contamination from the atmosphere can sometimes penetrate through the junction of the plastic compound and the flag portion of the leadframe, which can cause reliability problems, i.e. a greatly reduced component operating life.
During the manufacturing process or under certain operating conditions, separation of the mold compound and the leadframe, or metal substrate carrier, on which the semiconductor device is mounted, may occur in some of the packages which have poor integrity, that is low adhesion between the mold compound and the substrate. Consequently, a gap may exist between the mold compound encapsulation and the leadframe. Moisture can then travel along the gap to the functional area of the electronic device. In the worst case, the plastic encapsulation might totally detach from the leadframe, leaving the electronic device completely exposed. This phenomenon is becoming more and more critical as the semiconductor industry moves towards packaging electronic devices in smaller and smaller packages.
Accordingly, a lot of effort has gone into trying to minimize the effect of or prolong the time for moisture diffusion to the area where the semiconductor die is mounted. In order to try to achieve this, additional features have been added to the leadframe substrate to try to provide both a barrier to moisture penetration and to enhance the "locking" between the mold compound and the substrate.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a known power plastic package is formed from a leadframe including a large flag portion 2, on which is mounted a semiconductor die 3. The semiconductor die 3 is electrically connected to inner ends 4 of the lead portions 8 using gold, copper or aluminium wires 5. The complete assembly is then encapsulated in an epoxy compound 1, except for the lower surface of the flag portion 2, which is left uncovered to provide a heat sink to dissipate heat from the die 3 to the external environment. Since the epoxy compound 1 does not cover the exposed heatsink, it cannot firmly lock to the leadframe.
As shown in FIG. 2, the lead portions 8 are bent downwards to facilitate soldering of the package to a printed circuit board. Thus, the inner ends 4 protrude towards the flag portion at a different level from the flag portion, thus allowing the epoxy compound to completely encapsulate the inner end 4 so as to improve the locking.
However, bending the leads requires a forming tool which must be designed and manufactured to form and stamp to the required precise leadframe downset dimension. This requires a considerable period of time (usually around 10-12 weeks), which delays introducing any changes into the leadframe design. An alternative is to use plastic or paper for rapid prototyping. However, this method does not provide functional parts that are capable of being used in early reliability testing of samples for customers.

Leadframe, method of manufacturing a leadframe, and method of packaging an electronic component utilizing the leadframe


The present invention relates to: parasitic helminth cuticlin proteins; parasitic helminth cuticlin nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such cuticlin proteins; antibodies raised against such cuticlin proteins; and compounds that inhibit parasitic helminth cuticlin activity. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from diseases caused by parasitic helminths.

Parasitic helminth infections in animals, including humans, are typically treated by chemical drugs. One disadvantage with chemical drugs is that they must be administered often. For example, dogs susceptible to heartworm are typically treated monthly. Repeated administration of drugs, however, often leads to the development of resistant helminth strains that no longer respond to treatment. Furthermore, many of the chemical drugs cause harmful side effects in the animals being treated, and as larger doses become required due to the build up of resistance, the side effects become even greater. Moreover, a number of drugs only treat symptoms of a parasitic disease but are unable to prevent infection by the parasitic helminth.
An alternative method to prevent parasitic helminth infection includes administering a vaccine against a parasitic helminth. Although many investigators have tried to develop vaccines based on specific antigens, it is well understood that the ability of an antigen to stimulate antibody production does not necessarily correlate with the ability of the antigen to stimulate an immune response capable of protecting an animal from infection, particularly in the case of parasitic helminths. Although a number of prominent antigens have been identified in several parasitic helminths, there is yet to be a commercially available vaccine developed for any parasitic helminth.
As an example of the complexity of parasitic helminths, the life cycle of D. immitis, the helminth that causes heartworm disease, includes a variety of life forms, each of which presents different targets, and challenges, for immunization. In a mosquito, D. immitis microfilariae go through two larval stages (L1 and L2) and become mature third stage larvae (L3), which can then be transmitted back to the dog when the mosquito takes a blood meal. In a dog, the L3 molt to the fourth larval stage (L4), and subsequently to the fifth stage, or immature adults. The immature adults migrate to the heart and pulmonary arteries, where they mature to adult heartworms. Adult heartworms are quite large and preferentially inhabit the heart and pulmonary arteries of an animal. Sexually mature adults, after mating, produce microfilariae which traverse capillary beds and circulate in the vascular system of the dog.
In particular, heartworm disease is a major problem in dogs, which typically do not develop immunity, even upon infection (i.e., dogs can become reinfected even after being cured by chemotherapy). In addition, heartworm disease is becoming increasingly widespread in other companion animals, such as cats and ferrets. D. immitis has also been reported to infect humans. There remains a need to identify an efficacious composition that protects animals and humans against diseases caused by parasitic helminths, such as heartworm disease. Preferably, such a composition also protects animals from infection by such helminths.
The cuticle is an important part of the nematode's exoskeleton and protects the animal from the environment under a variety of conditions. In addition, it also mediates the metabolic interaction of the animal with its environment and, in parasitic nematodes, the interaction with the host and its immune system. The nematode cuticle is a complex extracellular structure that is secreted by an underlying syncytium of hypodermal cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that the cuticle of parasitic nematodes is a dynamic structure with important absorptive, secretory, and enzymatic activities, and not merely an inert protective covering as was once believed. See, for example, Lustigman, S. 1993, Parasitology Today, 9:8, 294-297. In addition, immunological studies have shown the central importance of cuticular antigens as targets for protective immune responses to parasitic nematodes. In spite of the wide recognition of the importance of the cuticle in the nematode physiology and its potential role as a target for immunoprophylaxis, relatively little is known about the biology of the cuticle of filarial parasites. Though a number of collagen genes have been characterized in filarial parasites, very little is known about the non-collagenous cuticular proteins, including cuticlin, in filarial parasites. Prior studies in C. elegans have shown that cuticlin genes are developmentally regulated and that the message for one of the C. elegans cuticlins, cut-1, is up-regulated during larval molting. Antibodies raised against a cuticlin of Ascaris cross-react with the epicuticular structures of filarial parasites indicating that components of cuticlin are immunogenic. Since cuticlin proteins are highly conserved among nematodes, but not among other organisms, they could be an important target for protective immunity to parasitic helminths.

Parasitic helminth cuticlin proteins and uses thereof


In certain embodiments, a power generator has a rotor, a stator, a bridge rectifier, and one or more capacitors. The stator has one or more inductors that generate phased AC power when the rotor moves relative to the stator. The bridge rectifier, which is connected between the inductors and two output terminals of the power generator, converts the phased AC power into a DC output current at the two output terminals. The capacitors are connected to the inductors to electro-magnetically resonate when the rotor moves relative to the stator to increase peak amplitudes of the phased AC power and thereby increase the level of the DC output current. In certain applications, the increased. DC output current enables the power generator to charge a battery faster and more efficiently.

The present disclosure relates generally to electronics and, more particularly but not necessarily exclusively, to electronic systems for harvesting potential energy from power sources.
Many power sources are capable of producing potential energy at a voltage that is below the acceptance voltage of a power collection system, such as a power grid or a power storage system such as a battery. That lower-than-acceptance-voltage potential energy is untapped. For example, rectified alternator output to charge a battery is known in the art. In such systems, when the peak-to-peak AC voltage from the alternator is rectified to DC using a full-wave bridge rectifier, a DC voltage is generated. When this DC voltage exceeds the battery acceptance voltage, current flows from the rectifier to the battery, thereby charging the battery. When the DC voltage generated through the rectifier is below the battery acceptance voltage, there is no current and the battery is not charged.
In the context of this disclosure, the terms "speed" and "rpm" (i.e., revolutions per minute) may sometimes be interchanged. It is understood that most power generating systems are rotational in practice and have a rotor. The rotor is usually an electro-magnet or a permanent magnet whose rotation moves magnetic fields relative to a stator. As such, low-speed operation would be synonymous with low-rpm operation. Some power generating systems, for example a linear generator, do not have rotation and therefore no rpm, but it would have speed of operation and usually some cycle of, for example, up and down for wave-driven systems. This cyclical motion also moves magnetic fields relative to a stator. In the context of this disclosure, the term "rotor" encompasses both the rotary relative motion of an alternator and the cyclical relative motion of a linear generator, where alternators and linear generators are two types of power generators.
In a particular example of an alternator, conventional battery-charging systems are not able to capture potential energy for charging the battery during low-speed or moderate-speed conditions. For example, a conventional alternator in low-rpm conditions generates low-voltage AC, which is rectified to low-voltage DC. However, when the DC voltage is less than the battery acceptance voltage, no current flows from the alternator to the battery. The energy remains untapped potential energy, and the low-rpm alternator simply idles.
Even in mid-speed conditions, some energy potential is not harvested by the energy collection system. In mid-speed conditions, the AC voltage is higher and the rectified AC-to-DC voltage is higher, but the DC voltage has significant ripple. Some of the rippled DC voltage is higher than the battery acceptance voltage at the peaks in the voltage ripple. During such periods, current flows to the battery, and therefore the potential energy is harvested as useful stored energy. However, when the valleys of the rippled. DC voltage are below the acceptance voltage of a battery storage system, no current flows from the alternator to the battery, and the energy remains untapped potential energy.
The acceptance voltage of an energy storage or usage system, such as a battery bank or a power grid, may vary over time. For example, as a battery is charged, the voltage increases, and therefore the battery acceptance voltage increases. Or, for example, during peak power periods, a power grid may experience low voltage or brownouts. During such periods, the grid acceptance voltage is lower. A lower grid acceptance voltage makes it easier for low-voltage energy collection systems to release the potential energy into the grid. But a higher battery acceptance voltage makes it more difficult for low-voltage energy collection systems to provide the potential energy to the battery.
It is within the nature of conventional designs that some power generating systems generate AC output or rippled DC output. Many magneto-electric systems such as alternators, oscillating linear generators, induction generators, and the like are examples. The driving forces (such as wind, waves, engines, etc.) that drive these AC output or rippled DC output power generator systems, may have their own inherent oscillations, but the AC output or rippled DC output power generating systems impose a designed-in oscillation that creates the AC output or the DC voltage output. And, some of this designed-in oscillation voltage output potential is too low to be captured by power collection systems that have a higher acceptance voltage.
Three-phase alternators are more commonly used. However, single-phase and two-phase alternators are manufactured and sold. Also, alternators with greater than three phases are manufactured and sold.
"Improving Alternator Efficiency Measurably Reduces Energy Costs" by Mike Bradfield (Remy Inc., 2008), the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes the efficiency losses associated with alternators. As indicated by FIG. 23 of that report (reproduced (reproduced as FIG. 3 in this disclose, all losses in an alternator are graphed as a function of alternator rpm. The higher the rpm, the greater the losses.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,718 Calley et al. teaches a method of boosting alternator output voltage above a battery acceptance voltage by perturbing the alternator inductive circuitry using active components such as MOSFETs adapted to momentarily ground the inductors, increasing current flow and magnetic field flux, and then removing that ground, inducing field collapse and voltage spikes. Portions of those voltage spikes are higher than the acceptance voltage of the energy storage system, thereby tapping some of the potential energy from the modified alternator.
Some related art patents deal with EMI filtering and other filtering to reduce resonances, ripple, and harmonics from affecting three-phase power sources such as a utility. Such filtering is designed for a narrow range of fixed utility frequencies, for example, 50 Hz or 60 Hz. U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,716 (He et al.) is drawn toward EMI filtering for an existing three-phase power source. U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,357 (Illingsworth) employs a voltage-boosting circuit. U.S. Pat. No. 6,118,678 (Limpaecher et al.) is drawn toward filtering for an existing three-phase power source. U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,757 (Beyerlein et al.) is drawn toward harmonic reduction for an existing three-phase power source. US 2008/0013351 (Alexander) is drawn toward converting existing three-phase power source power for powering a motor. CN 101013817A is drawn toward filtering three-phase AC usage from a wind generator. CN 1038123668A (Yang et al.) is drawn toward filtering three-phase power usage from a utility. DE 4430394A1 (Gekeler) employs an active component boost means to convert three-phase power from a utility to DC power. EP 1,643,626 A2 (Takeda et al.) is drawn toward a three-phase power filtering circuit that reduces harmonics, feeding back to a utility, and generates DC power. U.S. Pat. No. 9,444,362 (Hartmann et al.) is drawn toward a three-phase power circuit that smooths and generates DC power. U.S. Pat. No. 9,929,636 B2 (Shinomoto et al.) is drawn toward a DC power supply that smooths and boosts incoming three-phase AC using active components.
KR 20150066378A (Roh et al.) utilizes a resonant circuit when converting three-phase AC to DC. The power factor is improved.
Some related art patents deal with converting an existing power source to a power output that is useful in welding. RU 98,652 is drawn toward an apparatus having an output useful for DC welding. RU 2,315,420 is drawn toward an apparatus with shunt capacitors for altering power factor and having an output useful for welding.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example prior-art battery-charging system 100 implemented with a driven alternator 120, a full-bridge diode rectifier 130, and a battery 160.
FIG. 2 graphically shows signals associated with the conventional battery-charging system 100 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the X-axis represents time (sec), and the Y-axis represents voltage or amperage. The dotted curve at the top of FIG. 2 is a representation of the DC voltage of the battery 160 as measured between connections DC+ and DC−. The oscillating curve represents a single AC phase, for example, L1 relative to battery ground DC−, peak-to-peak voltage (multiplied by two). When the AC voltage is multiplied by two, it approximates the amplitude of the rectified AC or DC voltage that charges a battery.
As the alternator 120 begins rotation, the frequency and amplitude of the AC voltage increases. Once the rectified AC voltage exceeds the battery's acceptance voltage (which, in this example, is the sum of (i)˜13.5 V DC and (ii) the rectifier's diode drop of approximately 0.6 V), rectified DC current (A Total), shown as the dark curve at the center of FIG. 2, is transferred to the battery 160. When the rectifier AC voltage is lower than the battery 160 voltage, no energy is extracted from the alternator 120. When the rectified AC voltage exceeds the sum of the rectifier 130 diode drop voltage and the battery 160 acceptance voltage, power is extracted from the alternator 120.
Therefore, during acceleration of the alternator 120 and at speeds that drive the alternator 120 to produce rectified AC voltages below the battery 160 acceptance voltage, the alternator 120 turns but produces no useful power. Furthermore, during low-speed conditions, the alternator turns but produces no energy. The energy is available but it is untapped potential power.