A process for styling dyed hair fibers in a manner which inhibits subsequent color loss during shampooing involving contacting the dyed hair fibers with a composition containing: (a) at least one polyamine compound having at least two amino groups; (b) at least one anionic silicone; (c) at least one film-forming polymer; and (d) optionally, at least one surfactant, and wherein (a) is present in the composition in an amount sufficient to inhibit color loss during shampooing.

The present invention relates to a process for styling dyed hair fibers in a manner which inhibits subsequent color loss during shampooing. The process involves contacting the dyed hair fibers with a composition containing at least one polyamine compound having at least two amino groups, at least one anionic silicone, and at least one film-forming polymer.
There are essentially two dyeing methods used for imparting color onto hair fibers: "permanent" dyeing and "semi-permanent" dyeing.
The first, also known as oxidation dyeing, uses "oxidation" dye precursors, which are colorless or weakly colored compounds. Once mixed with oxidizing products, at the time of use, these precursors lead to colored compounds and dyes via a process of oxidative condensation. In this case, the colorations obtained are generally very colorfast and strong.
The second, also known as direct dyeing, uses direct dyes, which are nonionic or ionic dyes and colored compounds capable of producing a more or less pronounced change of the natural color of the hair, resistant to shampoo-washing several times. These dyes may or may not be used in the presence of an oxidizing agent.
In contrast with oxidation dye precursors, a direct dye is a relatively voluminous molecule that does not penetrate easily into the core of the fiber. Consequently, even though considerable progress has been made in this field, the phenomenon of bleeding of the coloration during shampooing is still non-negligible, even if the dye(s) used is (are) chosen from cationic species. Moreover, the use of certain cationic direct dyes may be reflected by a reduction in the working qualities of the shampoos used after coloration, especially as regards the duration of the lather.
Fixing the hairstyle is an important element in hair styling, and involves maintaining a shape that has already been carried out, or simultaneously shaping and fixing the hair.
In accordance with the invention, the term "hair styling composition" relates to any kind of hair composition that can be used to affect hair styling. The most prevalent hair styling compositions on the cosmetic market for shaping and/or maintaining the hairstyle are spray compositions containing a solvent, usually alcohol- or water-based, and one or more materials, generally polymer resins. One of the functions of polymer resins is to form links between the hairs, these materials also being called fixatives, in a mixture with various cosmetic adjuvants. This solution is generally packaged either in an appropriate aerosol container, which is pressurized with the aid of a propellant, or in a pump flask.
Some other known hair styling compositions include styling gels and mousses, which are generally applied to the wetted hair before brushing or setting it. In contrast to the conventional aerosol lacquers, some types of these other known hair styling compositions disadvantageously are not designed to allow the hair to be fixed in a shape created before their application. In fact, these compositions are essentially aqueous and their application wets the hair; hence these compositions are not designed to maintain the initial shape of the hairstyle. In order to shape and fix the hairstyle, therefore, it is necessary to carry out subsequent brushing and/or drying with these types of compositions.
The polymers contained in these types of hair styling compositions affix themselves not only to the hair fibers themselves, but also to dyes present thereon. Consequently, when the dyed hair is shampooed, both the polymers and some of the dye itself are washed from the hair.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a process for styling dyed hair in a manner which reduces the degree of color loss during shampooing.

Process for styling dyed hair and inhibiting its color loss during shampooing


A medical treatment device, in particular for surgical purposes, having at least one treatment instrument in the form of a hand piece which can be connected to a control unit by means of a flexible supply line, there being associated with the treatment device, preferably with the control unit, a source of treatment agent, in particular for cooling fluid, to which it is possible to connect a treatment agent line, which extends at least in part through the supply line to the front end of the hand piece, in the form of a hose, the treatment agent line having a hose section which extends with radial play for movement in the supply line as far as the hand piece and is there connected to a plug-in spigot which is plugged in a releasable manner in an axial plug-in socket in the hand piece and has an axial and a radial channel section, of which the axial channel section issues from the hose connection and the radial channel section is connected to the continuing treatment agent line.

In the treatment of the human or animal body with a medical treatment instrument, in many cases it is necessary to add a gaseous or, in particular, fluid treatment agent, which can be air, water or a mixture thereof (spray). In many cases, in particular in surgical and microsurgical treatment, a cooling fluid is required, in which case it is usual to use a salt solution (NaCl).
The treatment agent is fed to the treatment instrument through a flexible tube line, in particular a hose line. It has already been proposed to arrange the flexible tube line on or in the supply line. On account of it hollow construction, the flexible tube line is sensitive to severe bending, something which often cannot be precluded during the treatment. The life of such a flexible tube line can therefore be reckoned to be shorter than other lines, for example, electric cables. If a defective flexible tube line is exchanged, the supply line itself can therefore be used further.
In particular after surgical treatment, sterilization not only of the treatment instrument, but also of the supply line fixedly connected therewith is necessary, this occurring in many cases by means of steam pressure sterilization. The strength and life of the flexible tube line are impaired in particular as a result of this thermal stressing.
In particular when a mineral solution, such as for example a salt solution, is used as a cooling fluid, there is then the danger of crystallization and deposits in the flexible tube line which can diminish the latter's free cross section or even block it and thus can impair the cooling. This danger is greater the smaller the cross section of the flexible tube line. Removal of the flexible tube line from the supply line is not possible in the case of the known treatment devices without unjustifiable effort or expense.
It has also already been proposed to guide the flexible tube line in the end region of the supply line remote from the treatment instrument substantially radially out of this region and thus, by by-passing the plug-in connection for the supply line, be able to connect it to the available treatment agent source or pump respectively.

Medical treatment device, in particular for surgical purposes


A cooling apparatus arranged in a vacuum or reduced pressure atmosphere for use with an optical element having an illuminated area onto which light is irradiated concave part includes a temperature variation mechanism that changes a temperature of part of the cooling apparatus in a non-contact manner.

The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus, and more particularly to a cooling apparatus for cooling an optical element in an exposure apparatus that exposes an object, such as a single crystal substrate and a glass plate for a liquid crystal display ("LCD"). The present invention is suitable, for example, for an exposure apparatus that uses ultraviolet ("UV") and extreme ultraviolet ("EUV") light as an exposure light source.
Reduction projection exposure apparatus have been conventionally employed which use a projection optical system to project a circuit pattern formed on a mask or a reticle onto a wafer, etc. to transfer the circuit pattern, in manufacturing such fine semiconductor devices as semiconductor memories and logic circuits in photolithography technology.
The minimum critical dimension ("CD") to be transferred by the projection exposure apparatus or resolution is proportionate to a wavelength of light used for exposure, and inversely proportionate to the numerical aperture ("NA") of the projection optical system. The shorter the wavelength is, the better the resolution is. Recent demands for finer semiconductor devices have promoted a shorter wavelength of ultraviolet light from an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp (i-line with a wavelength of approximately 365 nm) to KrF excimer laser (with a wavelength of approximately 248 nm) and ArF excimer laser (with a wavelength of approximately 193 nm).
However, the lithography using the ultraviolet light has the limit to satisfy the rapidly progressing fine processing of semiconductor devices, and a reduction projection optical system using EUV light with a wavelength of 10 to 15 nm shorter than that of the ultraviolet (referred to as an "EUV exposure apparatus" hereinafter) has been developed for efficient transfers of very fine circuit patterns.
Due to the remarkably increasing light absorption in a material with the shorter wavelength of the exposure light, it is difficult to use refraction elements or lenses for visible light and ultraviolet light. No glass material is viable to a wavelength range of the EUV light, and a reflection-type or cataoptric optical system uses only a reflective element or mirror, such as a multilayer mirror.
A mirror does not reflect all the exposure light, but absorbs the exposure light of 30% or greater. The absorbed exposure light causes residual heat, deforms a surface shape of the mirror, and deteriorates its optical performance, in particular, imaging performance. Thus, the mirror is made of a low thermal expansion glass, for example, having a coefficient of linear expansion of 10 ppb, so as to reduce a mirror's shape change as the temperature changes.
Since the EUV exposure apparatus is used to expose circuit patterns of 0.1 μm or smaller and required to meet very high critical dimension accuracy, only a deformation of about 0.1 nm or smaller is permissible on the mirror surface. When the mirror has a coefficient of linear expansion of 10 ppb, the mirror surface deforms as the temperature rises and the mirror surface shape changes by 0.1 nm when the temperature rises by 0.2° C.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 14, the instant assignee has already proposed to arrange a radiation plate RP on a rear surface MN opposite to the front (reflective) surface MR of a mirror M that reflects exposure light EL, and to cool the mirror M through radiation (see Japanese Patent Application No. 2002 -222911). FIG. 14 is a schematic structure showing one exemplary cooling method for the mirror M.
There has not been proposed, for example, a temperature adjustment for mitigating a temperature distribution among an illuminated area IE and a non-illuminated area NIE on the mirror M's reflective surface MR, and a rear surface IB of the illuminated area IE, and for maintaining the mirror M at a reference temperature. Therefore, the reflective surface MR of the mirror M thermally deforms due to the temperature distribution inside the mirror M, changes its curvature between the original reflective surface MR and the thermally deformed reflective surface MR′, as shown in FIG. 15, and deteriorating the imaging performance. FIG. 15 is a schematic structure showing a thermally deformed curvature of the mirror M.
In addition, only the mirror's improved internal temperature distribution is insufficient. If the mirror cannot be maintained at the reference temperature, the temperature variance changes a mirror position and deteriorates mirror's optical performance.


An information processing device that is connected via a network to a terminal device operated by a player, and provides a game space to the terminal device, has a memory component for storing item information related to items that the player can purchase with virtual currency and that allow the player to gain an advantage in a game, and player information related to the items possessed by the player and to the status of the player in the game; an item provision component that receives item purchase requests from the terminal device and updates the item information and player information; and a game processor that receives player input to the terminal device and executes processing to move the game forward on the basis of the item information and the player information, and the power of an item is changed according to the number of players who have purchased that item.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an information processing device, etc., that provides a space to play a game, and more particularly relates to an information processing device, etc., with which the user can relatively easily acquire items that give the user an advantage in a game, and which makes the game more interesting.
2. Related Art
Services that provide a space for game play on a portable terminal or a personal computer via a network have become popular in recent years. Many different games are available, such as fighting games, role playing games, and puzzle games. Many of these games involve multiple users (players), who compete against each other.
Also, some of these games involve the use of paid-for items that allow the player to gain an advantage in the game, and the users can purchase these items with virtual currency or the like.
With such games that involve paid-for items, however, users can be divided into two main groups: those who want to play without spending any money, and those who purchase a number of items. Because of this, there is the risk that users who do not purchase items will lose interest and leave the game because they are at a disadvantage to those who do purchase items.
The following Patent Document 1 proposes a way to deal with this problem. With the game operating device discussed in said publication, a new option is provided to boost capabilities without solely relying on charging fees. In order to realize a game that players will want to play continuously, when a player deposits virtual currency, that player will earn a benefit that gives them an advantage in battle.

Information processing device and program for increasing item power with increased purchasing


In a method and a device according to the present invention, two piezo-elements of a piezo-electric actuator are driven with two voltages having a mutual phase difference. One of said piezo-elements is charged by a capacitive voltage step-up means to a voltage exceeding an available power supply voltage. A capacitor is coupled to the piezo-element, which divides the voltage of the piezo-element and simultaneously transfers part of the energy stored in the piezo-element to said capacitor. A part of the energy transferred to said capacitor is later transferred back to said piezo-element, providing an energy-saving feature. The second piezo-element is driven in a similar way providing the required phase difference. In a further embodiment, the waveforms of the two driving signals are corrected using balancing capacitors.

Piezo-electric actuators are used in imaging systems to adjust the positions of zoom and focusing lens systems. Piezo-electric actuators are also used in other systems to move small objects. Driving devices providing suitable driving voltages are required to operate said piezo-electric actuators. Piezo-electric actuators are implemented by using one or more piezo-elements, which are deflected, expanded or contracted when coupled to an activating voltage.
An aspect in mobile devices is that the voltage of an available power supply is typically lower than the optimum driving voltage of the piezo-elements. Driving voltages higher than the power supply voltage are typically generated using voltage step-up means, which are coupled to the piezo-elements to provide charge transfer to and from said voltage step-up means. Further, in mobile systems, the available power supply is typically a battery with a limited capacity. Therefore energy consumption related to the driving of piezo-elements is a problem especially in mobile systems.
A piezo-element comprises a substantial internal capacitance, which stores energy when the piezo-element is charged by coupling to a driving voltage. U.S. Pat. No. 6,563,251 discloses a driving device for an actuator having a capacitive motor phase. Said patent teaches that energy liberated from a piezo-element during discharging operations may be stored to be used in subsequent charging operations. Said patent discloses the use of a set of voltage sources to charge/discharge a piezo-element in an energy-efficient way. At least one of the voltage sources may be capacitively buffered to provide a further energy-saving feature. A voltage step-up device is used to increase the driving voltage.


The present invention relates to a mitochondria targeting peptide, a fusion protein in which the peptide is bound to the carboxyl terminus of a protein transduction domain, a fusion protein in which the peptide is bound to the carboxyl terminus of a protein transduction domain and an antioxidant is bound to the carboxyl terminus of the peptide, an antioxidant composition and a composition for preventing or treating Parkinson's disease including the fusion protein in which the antioxidant is bound, a recombinant polynucleotide in which a polynucleotide coding a protein transduction domain, a polynucleotide coding the peptide, and a polynucleotide coding an antioxidant protein are sequentially bound, to an expression vector including the polynucleotide, and to a transformed host cell including the expression vector.

Mitochondria play a crucial role in numerous essential intracellular processes such as intracellular energetic metabolism, particular substance (e.g., fatty acids, etc.) metabolism, etc. Especially, mitochondria are directly involved in the formation and use of free radicals (FR) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Due to such characteristics, in relation to extreme reactive moieties which may influence many intracellular processes in a living cell, mitochondria has been reported to play a crucial role in programmed cell death.
ROS is produced by a redox reaction in various organisms and can induce deterioration of edible oil and fat or oxidative damage on several biological substances (e.g., lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates), consequently leading to cell damages through a number of steps (Yen G C. et al., J. Agric. Food Chem., 43, pp 27-32, 1995). An unsaturated fatty acid, which is a component of phospholipid membranes, initiates peroxidation by FR such as ROS in a chain reaction. Therefore, peroxidation by FR leads to overall cytotoxicity as well as increasing permeability of cell membranes, thus being involved in carcinogenesis by inducing aging and pathology of several aging-associated diseases. Radical activity greatly influences progression of various chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress such as atopic diseases, cancer, hypertension, myocardial infarction, arteriosclerosis, rheumatism, cataracts, Parkinson's disease, etc., (De Souza L C. et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 14, pp 5859-5861, 2004), and can act as a factor for weakening immune functions (Pike J. et al., Int. J. Vitam. Nutr. Res., 65, pp 117-120, 1995). Especially, oxidative stress induced by hypergenesis of ROS serves as a cause of many degenerative diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. Mitochondria are where ROS is mainly generated and are intracellular organelles most susceptible to damages by ROS. Therefore, a number of diseases in association with FR and ROS hypergenesis are known to be related to dysfunction of mitochondria.
Thus, for the purpose of recovering mitochondrial functions, carriers and/or drugs targeting mitochondria have been proposed. By repeatedly accumulating a substance in a target compartment of a cell, such approach can allow reaching an effective concentration of the substance. Thus, it has advantages of increased application efficiencies, reduced overall dosages, and reduced possibilities and intensities of side effects.
Currently, a very limited number of mitochondria-targeting biological active substances are known. Examples thereof are mitovitamin E (MitoVitE) or superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase mimetics associated with triphenyl phosphonium, which are disclosed in European Patent 1 534 720.

Abstract: The mitochondria targeting peptide according to the present invention targets mitochondria with high efficiency not only when the peptide exists alone but also when the peptide is bound to a protein transduction domain and/or to an antioxidant. Further, the peptide has a small size and is thus a very suitable targeting carrier. The peptide becomes processed when introduced into mitochondria, and thus stably delivers the drug carried by the peptide.

UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COOPERATION GROUP OF KYUNG HEE UNIVERSITY


The present invention relates to technetium imaging agents comprising radiolabeled c-Met binding peptides suitable for SPECT or PET imaging in vivo. The c-Met binding peptides are labelled via chelator conjugates. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions, methods of preparation of the agents and compositions, plus methods of in vivo imaging using the compositions, especially for use in the diagnosis of cancer.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), also known as scatter factor (SF), is a growth factor which is involved in various physiological processes, such as wound healing and angiogenesis. The high affinity interaction of HGF interaction with its receptor (c-Met) is implicated in tumour growth, invasion and metastasis.
Knudsen et al have reviewed the role of HGF and c-Met in prostate cancer, with possible implications for imaging and therapy [Adv. Cancer Res., 91, 31-67 (2004)]. Labelled anti-met antibodies for diagnosis and therapy are described in WO 03/057155.
c-Met has been shown to be involved in tumour growth, invasion and metastasis in many human cancers of epithelial origin. c-Met is expressed by most carcinomas and its elevated expression relative to normal tissue has been detected in many cancers, including: lung, breast, colorectal, pancreatic, head and neck, gastric, hepatocellular, ovarian, renal, glioma, melanoma and a number of sarcomas. In colorectal carcinoma (CRC), over-expression of c-Met has been detected in dysplastic aberrant crypt foci, the earliest pre-neoplastic lesions of the disease. In head and neck squamous cell cancer, c-Met is reportedly expressed or overexpressed in roughly 80% of primary tumours. In prostate cancer metastasis to bone, c-Met was reported overexpressed in over 80% of bone metastasis.
Under normal conditions, c-Met is expressed on epithelial cells and activated in a paracrine fashion, by mesenchymally derived HGF. The activation of c-Met in normal cells is a transient event and is tightly regulated. In tumour cells, however, c-Met can be constitutively active. In cancer, aberrant c-Met stimulation can be achieved through c-Met amplification/over-expression, activating c-Met mutations (e.g. structural alterations) and acquisition of autonomous growth control through creation of autocrine signalling loops. In addition, a defective down-regulation of the c-Met receptor will also contribute to aberrant c-Met expression in the cell membrane. While the over-expression of c-Met is HGF dependent (autocrine/paracrine), structural alterations caused by mutations are HGF independent (e.g. loss of extracellular domain).
WO 2004/078778 discloses polypeptides or multimeric peptide constructs which bind c-Met or a complex comprising c-Met and HGF. Approximately 10 different structural classes of peptide are described. WO 2004/078778 discloses that the peptides can be labelled with a detectable label for in vitro and in vivo applications, or with a drug for therapeutic applications. The detectable label can be: an enzyme, a fluorescent compound, an optical dye, a paramagnetic metal ion, an ultrasound contrast agent or a radionuclide. Preferred labels of WO 2004/078778 are stated to be radioactive or paramagnetic, and most preferably comprise a metal which is chelated by a metal chelator. WO 2004/078778 states that the radionuclides therein can be selected from: 18F, 124I, 125I, 131I, 123I, 77Br, 76Br, 99mTc, 51Cr, 67Ga, 68Ga, 47Sc, 167Tm, 141Ce, 111In, 168Yb, 175Yb, 140La, 90Y, 88Y, 153Sm, 166Ho, 165Dy, 166Dy, 62Cu, 64Cu, 67Cu, 97Ru, 103Ru, 186Re, 203Pb, 211Bi, 212Bi, 213Bi, 214Bi, 105Rh, 109Pd, 117mSn, 149Pm, 161Tb, 177Lu, 198Au and 199Au. WO 2004/078778 states (page 62) that the preferred radionuclides for diagnostic purposes are: 64Cu, 67Ga, 68Ga, 99mTc and 111In, with 99mTc being particularly preferred.
WO 2004/078778 teaches at Examples 14-17 methods of increasing the serum residence time of the c-Met binding peptides: conjugation to a moiety which binds non-covalently to human serum albumin; conjugation to PEG; fusion to serum protein and conjugation to maleimide.
WO 2009/016180 discloses imaging agents which comprises a conjugate of Formula I:
                where:        Z1 is attached to the N-terminus of cMBP, and is H or MIG;        Z2 is attached to the C-terminus of cMBP and is OH, OBc, or MIG,                    where Bc is a biocompatible cation;                        cMBP is a cMet binding cyclic peptide of 17 to 30 amino acids which comprises the amino acid sequence (SEQ-1):        Cysa-X1-Cysc-X2-Gly-Pro-Pro-X3-Phe-Glu-Cysd-Trp-Cysb-Tyr-X4-X5-X6;        wherein X1 is Asn, His or Tyr;                    X2 is Gly, Ser, Thr or Asn;            X3 is Thr or Arg;            X4 is Ala, Asp, Glu, Gly or Ser;            X5 is Ser or Thr;            X6 is Asp or Glu;            and Cysa-d are each cysteine residues such that residues a and b as well as c and d are cyclised to form two separate disulfide bonds;                        MIG is a metabolism inhibiting group;        L is a synthetic linker group;        BzpM is a benzopyrylium dye.
WO 2008/139207 discloses cMet binding cyclic peptide similar to those of WO 2009/016180, in this case labelled with a particular class of cyanine dyes.
The optical imaging agents of WO 2009/016180 and WO 2008/139207 are said to be useful for optical imaging to obtain images of sites of c-Met over-expression or localisation in vivo, particularly for imaging colorectal cancer.


A multistage analog/digital converter for converting in multi-step cycles an input signal into respective digital codes, each cycle step resolving at least one bit of a respective digital code. The converter includes: a sampling circuit inputting the signal and outputting a first sequence of analog samples; a generation block of a pseudorandom sequence of samples; a summing node, such as to input the first sequence and the pseudorandom sequence, obtaining in output a second sequence of analog samples including non-pseudorandom samples; a converter having a controllable digital gain receiving the second sequence and outputting bits of the digital codes; a feedback loop with a loop gain and including an analog amplifier; a digital calibration block to match the digital gain to the loop gain and including a prediction block to produce a digital estimation of said input signal starting from the bits resulting from converting the non-pseudorandom samples.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the technical field of conversion of analog signals into digital signals and in particular relates to an analog/digital converter and a method for calibrating said converter.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many electronic apparatuses, the need is felt to convert analog signals into digital signals. A significant example of this type of apparatus is given by the digital terminals of mobile communication. In these applications, the requirements for low consumption, low voltage and high performance create particularly severe conditions for the design of the integrated circuits which make up the electronic system of the terminal.
The possibility of producing said integrated circuits with an ever-increasing level of integration (e.g. pure CMOS technology) leaves a greater area available on the chip which can be used for implementing digital signal processing (DSP) techniques often directed at improving the performance of analog components/circuits, for example used to compensate for imprecision inherently introduced by analog components/circuits.
This trend is also present in the sector of analog/digital converters, in particular in the sector of multistage converters, for which correction methods have been developed, more commonly known as calibration methods, intended to correct errors present in the conversion result due to the non-ideality of analog components, such as capacitors or operational amplifiers, present in the converter. Said non-ideality is, for example, attributable to the capacitor mismatch of the sampling circuits present at the converter input and to the limited gain-bandwidth product of the real operational amplifiers.
Among the calibration methods which belong to the prior art, there is a first type of method which makes it possible to perform a foreground calibration, in other words calibration performed when the analog signal to be converted is not applied to the converter input. These methods have the advantage that they have only a limited circuit complexity and the advantage that they guarantee an accurate conversion result. However, the foreground calibration methods have the intrinsic drawback that they cannot be used when the analog signal to be converted is applied to the converter input. In some applications however continuous calibration during signal conversion is necessary.
To overcome this drawback, a second type of calibration method has been developed. In particular, these methods use correlation methods and they are able to operate during conversion of the analog signal without interfering with the normal operation of the analog/digital converter.
These methods normally work by adding, to the analog samples of the signal to be converted, respective samples of a pseudorandom noise sequence, so that the error to be corrected is modulated by said sequence. The digital output of the converter is processed by means of correlation operations so as to extract the modulated information with the aim to improve the performance of the converter. It has been empirically proved that between the convergence time tconv (time to reach half LSB precision) of said correction methods and the resolution N in number of bits of the converter, there exists a relation of the type:tconv=22·NTs
where Ts is the sampling period.
From the above relation it can be seen that, for example, by using one of the above-described background correction methods of the prior art in a cyclic converter with a resolution of 13 bits and operating at a frequency of 5 MS/s (mega-symbols per second), a convergence time of approximately 30 seconds is obtained. This extended convergence time makes the background calibration methods of the known art unsuitable for use in numerous applications.

Multistage analog/digital converter and method for calibrating said converter


Uplink transmission device and method for an audio signal via an audio interface are provided. In the device, a first pin of the audio interface is connected to a signal output terminal of an uplink audio signal generating device via a first circuit, and a second pin of the audio interface is connected to the signal output terminal of the uplink audio signal generating device via a second circuit. The first pin of the audio interface is one of a microphone pin and a ground pin, and the second pin of the audio interface is the other one of the microphone pin and the ground pin. The first circuit and the second circuit are attenuation circuits for each other.

An existing audio interface generally includes an audio output pin AUDIO, a ground pin GND and a microphone pin MIC. The audio output pin AUDIO generally includes a left-channel pin and/or a right-channel pin which normally are a third pin and a fourth pin of a four-section audio interface. There are two types of line sequences between a first pin and a second pin of the audio interface. As one type, the first pin is the microphone pin MIC, and the second pin is the ground pin GND. As the other type, the first pin is the ground pin GND, and the second pin is the microphone pin MIC.
When the audio interface is transmitting data, downlink audio signals are transmitted by an audio output pin AUDIO which may be one or both of the left-channel pin and the right-channel pin, while uplink audio signals are transmitted by the microphone pin MIC.
If not measured, a line sequence of the first pin and the second pin of an existing audio interface is unknown. Therefore, when transmitting an uplink audio signal, the line sequence of the first pin and the second pin of the audio interface needs to be measured so as to obtain the microphone pin MIC for transmitting the uplink audio signal. Measuring the line sequence of the first pin and the second pin of the audio interface requires extra works and is not convenient.
Thus, a device that ensures transmission of an uplink audio signal in case the line sequence of the audio interface is unknown is required.

Uplink transmission device and method for audio signal via audio interface


A portable trailer movable over a surface, includes a frame and a support leg connected to the frame. The support leg has a flexible joint including a first support member, a second support member separate from the first support member and a flexible member spanning a gap between the first and second support members. The flexible member preferably joins the first and second support members so that said first and second support members are capable of moving into one or more non-parallel orientations relative to one another for preventing damage to the support leg when the support leg comes in contact with the surface or an object on the surface. The support leg may also include a second flexible joint.

The invention relates to a portable compressor transportable over a towing surface where the portable compressor includes a support leg, and more particularly the invention relates to a portable compressor having a support leg where the support leg includes a flexible joint for preventing damage to the support leg when the support leg comes in contact either with the towing surface, or with a stationary object located on the towing surface.
Rigid support legs sometimes referred to as jacks or prop legs are rigidly connected to the frame of a portable compressor and are used to support the front end of the compressor frame before and after the portable compressor frame is disconnected from a tow vehicle. Such support legs are a common feature in portable compressors and are usually provided with means for raising or swinging the support leg out of an extended support position while the compressor is being towed, to prevent the support leg from coming in contact with the towing surface or an object located on the towing surface. Frequently, compressor operators forget to raise or swing the support leg out of the extended support position before towing the compressor and as a result, the clearance between the support leg and the towing surface is not sufficient to prevent the support leg from being damaged by the towing surface or a stationary object on the towing surface.
A conventional portable compressor 10 that includes a prior art support leg 12 is shown in FIG. 1. The support leg is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. Current portable compressors like the compressor shown in FIG. 1 and identified at 10, generally include a compression module 11 supported by frame 14 equipped with two wheels 15 for transporting the compressor 10 over a towing surface.
The support leg 12 is removably attached to the compressor frame 14 at the front end 16 of the frame by a pin connection 19 or by another conventional connection means. The support leg includes a first tubular member 18 that is removably connected to the frame 14, and a second tubular telescoping member 20 nested within the first tubular member. The first member 18 includes ends 21 and 23. Either wheel 22 shown in FIG. 1 or support pad 24 shown in FIG. 2 may be attached to the end of the second tubular member located outside of first member 18.
A nut 26 or other threaded member is fixed to the end of the second tubular member located in the hollow interior of the first tubular member 18 and threadably receives an elongate threaded member 28 which is rotated by a hand crank 30 operably connected to elongate threaded member 28. The elongate threaded member 28 extends through the second tubular member 20 into the interior of the second tubular member. See FIG. 2. Conventional bearing member 32 located along the threaded member 28 adjacent the hand crank 30, supports rotation of the hand crank. The bearing member may be any suitable bearing well known to one skilled in the art including a thrust bearing or bushing for example.
When the portable compressor 10 is delivered to a job site, the support leg second member 20 is extended to support the front end 16 of the compressor frame 14. The hand crank is rotated in a first direction to cause the nut and member 20 to move in a telescoping manner outward from member 18 along axis 17. The support leg is extended until the support pad or wheel is located on the towing surface.
When use of the portable compressor at the job site is completed, the second member 20 is retracted in a telescoping manner into the member 18 by rotating the hand crank in a second direction to cause the nut and member 20 to translate upward into member 18 along axis 17. The second member is retracted to provide sufficient clearance between the support leg wheel 22 or pad 24 and the towing surface as the compressor is towed to the next job site.
When the clearance between the support leg and towing surface is relatively small, and the support leg comes in contact with both stationary objects on the towing surface or the towing surface itself the support leg is usually damaged beyond repair since the support leg 12 is rigidly connected to the compressor frame 14 and does not include means for preventing damage to the support leg as a result of such contact.
Additionally, the compressor support leg may also be damaged at the job site. After the support leg has been extended, the compressor may roll or otherwise move from a stationary position at the job site and as the compressor moves, the support leg is frequently damaged by contact with the towing surface or an object or curb at the site.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present devices and methods. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.

Portable compressor having support leg with flexible joint


The present invention provides a controllable gear lapping process whereby the lapping process may be modified at discrete locations on the tooth surface in order to selectively modify the tooth flank surface.

Lapping is a well established process for finishing the tooth surfaces of bevel gears. It is a process that provides an economical alternative to other hard finishing processes for bevel gears.
In the lapping process, a pinion and ring gear are mounted, via appropriate workholding equipment, to respective spindles in a lapping machine which has the same basic design as a testing machine. In most instances of rolling of the gear set, the pinion is the driving member and the ring gear is braked. The gears are rolled in mesh and lapping compound, which can be a mixture of oil (or water) and silicon carbide or similar abrasive, is poured into the meshing zone. An example of lapping and/or testing machines can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,355 to Stadtfeld et al.
Most lapping and testing machines have three degrees of freedom available for realizing relative motion between a ring gear and pinion. The first freedom being relative movement in the direction of the ring rear axis (gear cone distance) which shall be referred to as direction G or the G-axis, the second freedom being relative movement in direction of the pinion axis (pinion cone distance) which shall be referred to as direction P or the P-axis, and the third degree of freedom being distance between the ring gear and pinion axes which shall be referred to as direction E or the E-axis. The direction E is also known as the "hypoid offset" or "pinion offset."
In lapping or testing processes, relative movement in the E, P and G directions effect positional changes in the contact pattern of the members of the gear set, in effect modifying the contact pattern. Lapping involves rotating the gear members in mesh with contact at a desired position on the tooth surfaces. Thus, the members are located at particular E and P positions along with a particular G-axis position to effect the desired backlash.
Typically, the E, P and G movements each have an effect on both the lengthwise and depthwise position of the localized tooth contact pattern, the primary effect of the E-axis movement being on the relative lengthwise position of the contact pattern, the primary effect of P-axis movement being on the relative depthwise position of the contact pattern, and the primary effect of G-axis movement being on the backlash.
As the gear set is lapped, contact is usually shifted from the center of the tooth toward one of the outer (heel) or inner (toe) portions of the tooth surface by changing the E and P settings as necessary to effect such a shifting of the contact position. As E and P are changed to effect the shifting, the G-axis position must also be changed to maintain the desired backlash. When the desired heel or toe position is reached, E and P axes positions are again changed to shift contact to the other of the heel or toe positions with the changing E and P positions being accompanied by an appropriate G-axis change to maintain backlash. The contact position is then returned to the beginning position at the center of the tooth. Lapping carried out by shifting of contact from heel-center-toe (or toe-center-heel) along the tooth length as described above may be referred to as "3 point sweep lapping."
Material removal is different in different areas or "zones" of a tooth flank surface depending on local sliding velocities, normal forces as well as hydrodynamic effects which support or prevent the sufficient access of lapping compound between the flanks in the contacting zone. The material removed on the pinion member is also different than the amount of material removal on the ring gear flank surfaces. One reason for this is the usual lower number of teeth on a pinion results in more pinion revolutions per unit of time than ring gear revolutions. Another reason is the different surface curvature and velocity direction of a pinion versus a ring gear results in different trends in material removal.
The consolidation of different effects and dependencies leads to a complex higher order relationship between lapping parameters and the amount of material removed on the tooth flank surfaces. Lapping part programs in modern lapping machines, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,355, normally use three target points (at heel, center and toe) to move the contact zone in a slow motion between those three points (while the axis rotates at up to 2000 RPM or more). In general the pinion drives the ring gear which provides some resistance with a rather low torque usually between 3 and 30 Nm. The pinion changes the direction of rotation to lap the opposite flanks (e.g. starting with coast side lapping followed by drive side lapping). The sequence of coast side lapping and drive side lapping is preferably repeated several times to complete a lapping cycle. The gear torque can also be changed from resisting the pinion rotation to the same direction of the pinion rotation in order to lap the opposite flanks. The combination of two directions of rotation and two directions of torque application enable a so-called "four quadrant" operation.
Developing a lapping program for a certain gear design requires a significant practical experience since the influence of a lapping process on a flank surface is complex and usually difficult to control. There are no theoretical aids that can help to reliably predict the influence of lapping on the tooth contact pattern, the motion transmission error or the flank form.
As a result, there are no coordinate measurements conducted subsequent to lapping to detect and improve the flank surface versus a nominal flank form. The most common measurements after lapping are roll tests which show the tooth contact under light load and the transmission quality. However, if, for example, the transmission error is too large or the contact pattern has the wrong position within the boundaries of the teeth, it is not possible to calculate changes to the lapping process in order to achieve the desired results. Presently, corrections to the lapping process are made intuitively and/or by trial and error.


An anode assembly (14) is mounted by a bearing assembly (20-28) in a bearing housing (30). The bearing housing is constructed of substantially pure copper or other high thermal conductivity metal. The bearing housing defines a shoulder portion (36) between a side wall (34) and a mounting shank (38). The mounting shank is threaded (66) to be clamped into a mounting assembly (60) which provides substantially the sole support for the bearing and anode assembly. A steel reinforcing collar (52) with an integral seat portion (54) supports the shank and shoulder portions of the bearing housing. A vacuum envelope (40) of the x-ray tube includes a metal cap portion (44) which is sealed between the seat and shoulder portions in a vacuum tight relationship. In this manner, relatively soft substantially pure copper is used in the bearing housing to conduct thermal energy from the anode while the reinforcing collar provides sufficient structural strength that the weight of the cantilever mounted anode and bearing assembly to resist deformation of the copper shank and shoulder portion.

The present invention relates to the mounting and support arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with the mounting of large diameter anode x-ray tubes and will be described with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated, however, that the invention may also find application in conjunction with the mounting of x-ray tubes of other design and in other applications in which heat transfer from a cantilevered load through the mounting arrangement is required.
In early x-ray tubes, electrons from a cathode filament were drawn at a high voltage to a stationary target anode. The impact of the electrons caused the generation of x-rays as well as significant thermal energy. As higher power x-ray tubes were developed, the thermal energy became so large that extended use damaged the anode.
One way to distribute the thermal loading and reduce anode damage was to use a rotating anode. The electron beam was focused near a peripheral edge of an anode disk. As the anode rotated, the portion of the anode where x-rays were generated moved along an annular ring. Each spot along the annular path was heated to a very high temperature during the generation of x-rays and cooled as it rotated before it returned for the generation of x-rays. If the path of travel was too short, the target area on the anode would still contain sufficient thermal energy that the added thermal energy from the electron beam caused thermal damage to the anode surface. Accordingly, as higher power x-ray tubes were developed, the diameter and the mass of the anode continued to grow.
Typically,.the anode was mounted on a stem which was supported by a bearing assembly. In one technique for removing thermal energy, the bearings were contained in a copper housing which was integrally connected with a copper shank. A vacuum envelope, typically glass, surrounded the cathode, rotating anode, and bearing assembly. The copper shank extended from the vacuum envelope providing both a thermal path for removing heat energy from within the envelope and a metal mounting element for the anode and bearing assembly. Typically, the x-ray tube was mounted in a cantilevered arrangement by the copper shank.
In today's CT scanners with high gantry rotational speeds, x-ray tubes with massive rotating anodes are still mounted in a cantilevered fashion by a thermally conductive shank at one end. Although additional support is provided for the evacuated envelope, the anode and bearing assembly is supported solely by the shank. The evacuated envelope is surrounded by an oil bath for removing the excess thermal energy. Under the weight of the large anode, the shaft tends to bend or deform, allowing the anode structure to sag. Even a slight deformation or wobble alters the x-ray beam sufficiently as to be unacceptable for CT and other precision applications.
One solution was to construct the bearing housing from stainless steel or other stronger metals. However, stainless steel lacked the thermal conductivity of copper. In high energy x-ray tubes, the stainless steel and heat radiation across the vacuum taken together were inadequate to remove the generated heat.
Another solution was to use a strengthened high thermal conductivity alloy, particularly a dispersion strengthened copper alloy. In order to maintain the vacuum, it was necessary to form a vacuum seal between the vacuum envelope and the shank. This seal was commonly performed by brazing. In a glass envelope tube, the glass was connected with a Kovar metal, which, in turn, was brazed to the copper bearing housing. Although pure copper was readily brazed to form this vacuum-tight seal, the dispersion strengthened copper alloy did not braze reliably.
The present invention provides a new and improved mounting arrangement which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.

Large diameter anode X-ray tube with reinforced support


The disclosure is directed to a system, apparatus, and method for continuously monitoring data output from a wireless sensor on a mesh network at a frequency higher than mesh formation/propagation. For example, the system may include a wireless gateway, an amplifier coupled to the wireless gateway, a first antenna coupled to the amplifier, a second antenna coupled to the amplifier, and a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor may be a wireless temperature sensor configured to monitor the temperature of a cryopreserved material product. The wireless gateway forms the mesh network. The first antenna may be located on a first level of a building, and the second antenna may be located on a second level of the building, where the second level may be at an elevation higher than the first level.

The invention relates to a system, apparatus, and method for monitoring data output from a wireless sensor at predefined time intervals on an existing network without the reporting delays that can come from communicating via a mesh network.
Typically, a wireless network may include a wireless gateway and numerous nodes, such as repeater instruments, connected to the wireless gateway. The wireless network may also include various network components, such as computing devices and wireless sensors, connected to each of the nodes.
A mesh network is a network topology in which each node can relay data for each other in the network. For example, if a network component loses direct contact with the wireless gateway, the network component may send the data to a first node of the mesh network, which can relay the data to a second node that can directly reach the wireless gateway. In that regard, the first node "passes along" or "hands off" the data to the second node of mesh network, which could then send the data to the wireless gateway.
Different techniques to relay or pass along data from one node to another node may be employed on mesh networks, such as "flooding" or "routing" techniques. With routing, data may be propagated along a particular network path by hopping from node to node until the data reaches its destination. Whereas, flooding refers to the controlled or uncontrolled sending of incoming data through every downstream link or connection, thus ensuring that the data reaches its destination.
However, the above-described routing and flooding techniques, as well as the overall functionality of a mesh topology, render it extremely difficult to monitor and/or obtain data output from a wireless sensor at short time intervals when direct connection between the sensor and the wireless gateway is lost. One reason for this difficulty is that it may take a long period of time to establish, relay, propagate, or pass along data between multiple nodes of the mesh network back to the gateway, especially if the mesh network is large and complex.


A regulator for a digital-to-analog converter having in input a digital signal and suitable for providing an analog signal in output, the regulator including at least one pair of buffers having in input the digital signal and the outputs connected to a pair of circuit branches connected to the output of the regulator; each of the at least two circuit branches having at least one resistance. To at least one of the at least one pair of buffers a variable resistance is associated, and the regulator includes a circuit having in input the analog signal and adapted for measuring its waveform and acting on the variable resistance in response to its possible anomalous waveform compared to a desired waveform.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to regulators for digital-to-analog converters and related converters.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital-to-analog converters are generally known and are used in various fields, such as for example for programming memory cells and in particular for programming Flash-type memories.
In this case the converters must have the requirements of high linearity and independence from temperature and feed voltage. In the case of Flash-type multi-level memories produced with CMOS technology, it is necessary to apply a fixed voltage to the drain of the cells while the gate terminal must be polarized with a controlled ramp voltage that varies by steps. To obtain very narrow distributions it is necessary that the steps of the ramp are well controlled and a check is made after each step in order to know whether the cell has reached the desired threshold voltage. Furthermore the magnitudes that vary less with temperature and the feed voltage in an integrated circuit are the reference voltage and the ratios of the resistances. For the reasons explained above, an R-2R type digital-to-analog converter is often used, making it possible to obtain much better controlled voltage steps and to produce in output a voltage proportional to the decimal value of the digital signal in input.
The regulator of an R-2R type digital-to-analog converter is shown in FIG. 1. In the regulator the output voltage is proportional to a ratio of resistances for the internal reference voltage of the device, which is the bandgap voltage VBGAP; in this way the voltage steps are independent from the temperature and the feed voltage. The regulator in FIG. 1 has seven buffers 1 having in input a digital data item BUS<i>with i=0 . . . 6, that is zero or one, being part of a digital word in input to the regulator. The buffers 1 are fed by the bandgap voltage VBGAP and the outputs are connected to each other by resistive branches 11-17 having resistances R of equal value in order to obtain an output
  OUT  =            ∑              i        =                  0                                                              …                                                              6                                        (                                            2              i                        *            BUS                    <          i          >                      *                          V              BGAP                                      )            /      128      where VBGAP is normally the reference voltage of a Flash memory; therefore the converter provides a voltage externally proportional to the decimal value of the digital bus in input. The output OUT is amplified, obtaining the output Vp of the converter, and sent as input to the gate terminal of CMOS type memory cells. The circuit branch 11 is connected through two resistances in series of value R to the earth GND.
The various steps needed to program the cells are obtained by increasing the digital word BUS<6:0> entering the regulator by one digital datum; after each increase a check is made to exclude the cells that have reached the desired voltage threshold Vtprog, for example set to 4 Volt, and the process continues until all the cells are programmed to the desired value. With each increase of the digital word there is in first approximation the variation of the Flash cell's threshold equal to the value of the step itself Vstep, set for example to 0.07V. For this reason it is important that all the steps generated by the regulator are uniform in any operating condition so that the Flash cell is programmed in a uniform controlled way. The voltage steps in output from the converter, which comprises the regulator in FIG. 1, that differ from the value Vstep by an amount greater than a predetermined value ΔOff (for example equal to ±15 mV) make the programming of the cells non-uniform and contribute to broadening the programmed distributions, with consequent degradation of the multi-level Flash memory's reliability.
Said converter is subject to problems when there are changes in the most significant bits of the BUS in input since small differences between the resistances of the most significant branches are sufficient to obtain anomalous steps in the output. For example, a variation of 0.5% in one of the resistances of branch 17 is sufficient to produce a variation of 16% compared to the value expected for the OUT signal when there is an increment in the BUS<6> from the value 0 to the value 1.
FIG. 2 is a graph of the magnitude of the voltage steps Vp in output from the converter of the regulator in FIG. 1 which must be sent to the memory cells of a multi-level Flash NOR device. From the graph it can be seen that there are anomalous steps corresponding to the changes in BUS<6> and BUS<5> and BUS<3>, so corresponding to said changes the voltage steps exceed the desired value Vstep by a quantity ΔOff, with ΔOff=15 mV. Therefore the anomalous voltage steps occur in the case of the most significant bits since a variation in a resistance in one branch has repercussions on successive branches and not the preceding ones.

Regulator of a digital-to-analog converter and related converter


A permanent magnet type synchronous motor includes an iron core rotor having a plurality of holes which are circumferentially spaced, permanent magnets mounted in the holes, an iron core stator and coils arranged in the stator iron core. The permanent magnets are defined by a flat surface extending tangentially of the rotor, tapered surfaces formed at both ends of the flat surface and extending obliquely outward in a direction approaching each other, and an arcuate surface joining the two tapered surfaces. Each permanent magnet is supported by tapered surfaces formed at opposing ends of the holes and extending obliquely and radially outward in a direction approaching each other. When the rotor is rotated, the centrifugal force is received at the tapered surfaces of the holes, rather than at their arcuate portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a permanent magnet type synchronous motor.
2. The Related Art
A permanent magnet type synchronous motor includes a rotatably supported rotor and a stator arranged around the rotor. The rotor includes an iron core and permanent magnets arranged circumferentially around the circumference direction of the iron core. The stator also includes an iron core, with coils arranged in a plurality of locations on the circumference of the stator iron core.
In a permanent magnet type synchronous motor of a surface magnet type, having sector-shaped permanent magnets exposed at the outer circumferential edge of the rotor iron core, the relative magnetic permeability of the permanent magnets is substantially 1 so that the effective air gap as taken from the stator side, is the sum of the gap between the stator and the rotor and the thickness of the permanent magnets. This lowers the reaction of the stator to make field-weakening control (by control of current to the coils in the stator) difficult.
There has been disclosed (in Published Japanese Patent Application laid-open No. 8-107639) a permanent magnet type synchronous motor of an internal magnet type in which the permanent magnets are buried within the rotor iron core. In this case, the effective air gap, as taken from the stator side, is equal to the gap between the stator and the rotor so that the responsiveness of the stator is increased to facilitate field-weakening control.
Since permanent magnets having a high magnetic resistance are arranged on a d-axis magnetic path, and not on a q-axis magnetic path, the magnetic resistance changes with the circumferential position so that a q-axis inductance Lq grows larger than a d-axis inductance Ld to thereby exhibit counter saliency. By feeding a proper d-axis current, therefore, it is possible to generate not only the magnet torque on the basis of the magnetic flux of the permanent magnets and the q-axis current, but also the reaction torque, to thereby reduce the q-axis current necessary for generating the torque.
In the aforementioned permanent magnet type synchronous motor, however, the portions of the iron core radially outward of the permanent magnets must be enlarged so that a sufficient strength may be provided against the centrifugal force exerted on the permanent magnets when the synchronous motor is rotated at a high speed. However, both the centrifugal force due to the weight of the rotor portions radially outward of the permanent magnets and the centrifugal force generated in the permanent magnets are exerted on the relative thin portions of the core radially outward of the end portions of the permanent magnets, so that the strength of the rotor iron core is lowered.
It is, therefore, conceivable to increase the thickness of the rotor portions radially outward of the end portions of the permanent magnets. In this case, however, the leakage of magnetic flux increases so much that a high torque cannot be generated and, moreover, a distortion is caused in the magnetic flux distribution in the gaps, which distortion generates harmonic components in the magnetic flux density waveforms and thereby causes torque oscillations.


A method for automatic diagnosis of a mechanical system of a group of mechanical systems sharing mechanical characteristics includes obtaining data relating to a vibration. The vibration-related data is acquired by a portable communications device configured to communicate with a remote processor. The processor automatically diagnoses the mechanical system by applying a relationship to the obtained vibration-related data. The relationship is based on sets of vibration-related data previously obtained from the mechanical systems. Each set of vibration-related data relates to vibrations of a mechanical system. The relationship is further based on sets of operation data previously obtained for mechanical systems of the group. Each set of operation data indicates a previous state of operation of a mechanical system. Each of the previous states of operation is associated with at least one of the previously obtained sets of vibration-related data.

Machines and mechanical systems with moving parts, such as motors, engines, bearings, compressors, or pumps, may generate vibrations. The vibrations may form a recognizable pattern. For example, a pattern may be characterized by a spectral distribution of the vibrations. Vibrations that are generated by mechanical systems typically have components with frequencies in the audible and ultrasonic ranges.
In many cases, a pattern of the vibrations that are generated by the mechanical system is related to a state of operation of the machine. For example, a speed of motion of a moving or rotating part may affect the vibration pattern. Thus, vibrations of a machine may be sensed and analyzed to indicate a state of operation of the machine.


A handle assembly for cordless roman shades to be installed on the bottom of a roman shade. It includes a handle, an anchor device and an extension plate. The handle has an ornamental plate and an anchor plate that are coupled together to form a clipping space between them. The handle has an upper end engageable with the anchor device. The extension plate is pivotally coupled on the backside of the anchor plate. When the roman shade is rolling or extending, the handle can be grasped by user's hand to exert a force. The anchor plate is coupled with a bracing bar on the bottom of the roman shade to facilitate control of the rolling and extending of the roman shade. The ornamental plate provides a desired adorning effect to enhance the appealing of the roman shade.

Window coverings are mainly installed on doors and windows to block sunshine and provide adorning function. In order to meet users's requirements, a wide variety of window coverings are available on the market nowadays, such as blinds, roman shades and the likes. The roman shades can be divided in cord controlled shades that are rolled and extended through a lift cord and a cordless roman shade 10 as shown in FIG. 1. The cordless roman shade 10 mainly includes an upper rail 11 which has an automatic winder 12 coupling with a control cord 121. The bottom of the upper rail 11 is coupled with a fabric shade 13. The fabric shade 13 has a backside coupled with a plurality of bracing bars 14 in an equally spaced manner. Each of the bracing bars 14 has a plurality of rings 15 to be threaded by the control cord 121. The control cord 121 has a bottom end coupled with the bracing bar 14 on the bottom.
When in use for rolling or extending the roman shade 10, first, user's hand grasps the bottom of the fabric shade 13 and pushes upwards. The automatic winder 12 winds the fabric shade 13 upwards through the control cord 121 and other relative elements. To extend the roman shade 10, the hand pulls the bottom of the fabric shade 13 downwards, and the automatic wonder 12 and the related elements mentioned above extend the fabric shade. Thus there is no need to provide a lift cord to control rolling and extending of the shade.
However, the cordless roman shade 10 previously discussed still has problems in practice, notably:
1. The fabric shade 13 is pliable and difficult to be moved by forces. The operations of grasping the bottom of the fabric shade 13 and moving upwards cannot always move the fabric shade 13 upwards as desired. Control of the rolling of the shade is difficult.
2. The bottom of the fabric shade 13 does not have any ornamental articles. The adorning effect of the roman shade 10 can only be provided by the patterns formed on the surface of the fabric shade 13. The total appealing is not desirable. With limited ornamental selections, it cannot motivate purchase desire of consumers.
3. During the rolling process of retracting the fabric shade 13 of the cordless roman shade 10 upwards, if user's height is not sufficient and the fabric shade 13 is lifted to an elevation beyond the reach of the user, user's hand cannot grasp the bottom of the fabric shade 13. Rolling operation becomes difficult.

Handle assembly for cordless roman shades


A layout for shop window construction includes a dormant frame and an opening frame of a closed tubular section defining an internal volume, the opening or dormant frames appearing in the form of an assembly of the profiles defining the closed tubular section, the profiles being joined edge against edge by their ends e1 e2. Each profile includes at least an opening element and a closing element and a fixation device for between the profiles, each opening element including at least a web and two wings defining at least two edges known as longitudinal, extending from one end to another of the profiles and connected wholly in part to the web and/or to said the wings. The fixation device includes an internal welding completing the volume, connecting the profiles at the level of their junction, the welding being envisaged before closing of volume by the closing element. The invention also relates to a window frame, glazed door and/or similar, composed of such a frame.

Currently, in the field of shop window construction, it is known to use frames or chassis formed of profiles, of closed cross-section steel, each delineating one of the sides of said frame or chassis and assembled together, edge to edge, by their ends. To do so, a weld seam is provided, on the exterior, at the level of the junction of the profiles, on the visible surfaces.
Although it is quite widespread, such a solution exhibits numerous shortcomings. The weld seam is not aesthetic and must be partially eliminated so that the manufactured frame or chassis preserves a satisfying aspect. Such a partial elimination of the weld seam is also necessary to allow correct operation of the fitted window, glazed door or similar. It is thus necessary to perform finish-machining operations, tricky to be performed.
Besides, these operations weaken the resistance of the weld seam up to 50 or 60% of its initial resistance. The frame or chassis loses some of its strength. Its water and air tightness properties also decrease, which limits its insulation power.
Besides, the presence of an external weld seam makes finishing operations more difficult such as, for example, polishing, application of patina or others.
The purpose of the invention is to propose a layout for shop window construction, consisting of a dormant frame and an opening frame, a closed tubular section defining an internal volume, which mitigates the above-mentioned disadvantages, and in which the profiles are fixed one to the other, without harming the aesthetic aspect of the aforesaid arrangement, while ensuring its robustness and/or its sealing.
Another purpose of the invention is to suggest a layout of assembled shop window profiles, edge to edge, by their ends whereof the finishing operations are facilitated.
Another purpose of the invention is to suggest a layout of shop window profiles, assembled edge to edge, by their ends wherein the fastening means of the profiles together can be masked, on the inside of their aforementioned closed tubular section.
Other purposes and advantages of the invention will appear during the following description which is only given for exemplification purposes and which does not purport to limit said invention.

Layout for shop window construction, as well as a window frame, glazed door and/or similar, composed of such a layout


A blade tensioner includes a blade shoe assembly with parallel stacked flat springs that pivots at one end and is supported in series by a spring loaded ramp at the opposite end. Providing a spring loaded ramp in series reduces the overall stiffness of the tensioner which enables a more uniform tensioning load as the tensioner takes up chain slack due to elongation from wear.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of spring blade tensioners. More particularly, the invention pertains to a series spring blade tensioner.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional blade spring tensioner may develop adequate force to control the new chain condition but lack sufficient force to control the worn chain condition. In order to develop sufficient tensioning load in a compact package, conventional tensioners may have a high system spring rate. A system with a high spring rate is highly sensitive to deflection. Consequently, the applied tensioning load may decrease too rapidly with a high system spring rate as the blade assembly deflects to take up chain slack. One solution is to increase the tensioning load for a new chain such that a minimum acceptable load is achieved when the chain is in the worn chain condition. This approach is undesirable since high tensioning loads for a new chain cause greater frictional losses, increased chain engagement noise and higher blade shoe and chain wear.


The present invention, a monolithic, high power, single mode electro-optic device is disclosed. The electro-optic device generally includes an electrically pumped device with a pn junction and an optically pumped device evanescently coupled to the electrically pumped device. In operation the electrically pumped device is driven by an external source into a high energy state to emit photons at a first wavelength. The optically pumped device is at a low energy state so as to absorb the emitted photons and re-radiated light at a second wavelength.

This invention relates generally to optical communications, and more particularly to high power semiconductor lasers and amplifiers.
Optical fiber communication systems preferably provide low loss and high information carrying capacity. In a typical optical fiber communication system, fiber amplifiers are used to maintain the amplitude of the signal and the integrity of the data it carries between a source and destination. However, as optical fiber systems increase in size and complexity, so does the need for higher output power fiber amplifiers and lasers.
The output power of semiconductor pump lasers and integrated laser amplifiers comprising a semiconductor laser optically coupled to a power amplifier is generally limited either by thermal effects or by beam instabilities. For example, the overall output power may be increased by the area of the device that is pumped. However, there are limitations on the size of the area that may be efficiently pumped. For example, if the width of the device is increased, the optical waveguide may support multiple spatial modes, potentially decreasing the stability of the beam. Further, if the length is increased, the output power may saturate when the internal optical losses become large compared to the mirror losses. Similarly, the operating current density and therefore the output power of a laser is often limited to avoid excessive device heating.
Recently, cladding pumped fiber lasers have been utilized to overcome the deficiencies of semiconductor pump lasers. Cladding pumped fiber lasers (i.e., the combination of a light source and a cladding pumped fiber) are advantageous in that they allow the coupling and magnification of light from high-power diode-laser arrays into a single mode fiber. However, cladding pumped lasers are often long in length and include non-circular inner cladding designs to more effectively couple the output of the laser diode into the cladding. Such designs are difficult to fabricate and to align with and splice to conventional transmission fiber.
Therefore, while good results have been obtained from cladding pumped fiber lasers, it would be advantageous to provide a high power semiconductor pump laser that can be readily coupled into a single mode fiber, wherein the laser has a reduced system size and cost.
In one aspect of the present invention, a monolithic, high power, single mode electro-optic device includes an electrically pumped device with a pn junction and an optically pumped device evanescently coupled to the electrically pumped device. In operation the electrically pumped device is driven by an external source into a high energy state to emit photons at a first wavelength. The optically pumped device is at a low energy state so as to absorb the emitted photons and re-radiated light at a second wavelength.

Monolithic optically pumped high power semiconductor lasers and amplifiers


The invention relates to an optoelectronic module having at least one leadframe, at least one carrier element connected to the leadframe, and at least one optoelectronic component connected to the carrier element, which component can emit and/or receive light. The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing an optoelectronic module that includes providing at least one leadframe, at least one carrier element and at least one optoelectronic component, connecting the optoelectronic component to the carrier element and connecting the carrier element to the leadframe, and at least partly encapsulating the optoelectronic component, the carrier element and the leadframe with a plastic.

Optoelectronic components are becoming more and more important with regard to the rising requirements made of fast and reliable optical data transmission paths. In order to be able to efficiently fit the individual optoelectronic components into printed circuit board environments or printed circuit board layouts, they have to be processed to form corresponding modules or be incorporated into housings which have good radio frequency properties in order to enable high data rates. For this purpose, the optoelectronic components have hitherto been incorporated into TO housings having transparent windows. However, TO housings are relatively costly to manufacture and have a high structural height.
DE 199 35 496 C1 discloses an optoelectronic component and a method for producing it in which the optoelectronic component is arranged on an auxiliary carrier and a leadframe. The auxiliary carrier has a cutout in this case.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,476 discloses an electro-optical module in which an optoelectronic component is arranged on a carrier element which, at the side opposite to the optoelectronic component, has a lens worked into the carrier element.

Optoelectronic module and method for producing an optoelectronic module


A clothing hanging system designed to be used in automobiles with built-in safety features.

As one skilled in the art will appreciate, transporting articles of clothing in automobiles can prove challenging. If some clothes that require ironing are not hung from hangers, wrinkles are sure to ensue. Many attempts have been tried to provide a clothes hanging system for automobiles to remedy the problem of wrinkled clothes during transport. However, these various systems create potential safety issues associated with clothes and hangers becoming dislodged in the cases of a rapid stop or accident.


A client application sends a request to a given server of a replicated group of servers, and expects a response to the request. If the client does not receive a response to the request, or if the server is otherwise unavailable, the client is automatically reconnected to another server of the replicated group. The servers of the replicated group do not, however, have to have any knowledge of the communication session of the client.

Distributed systems are highly-available, scalable systems that are utilized in various situations, including those situations that require a high-throughput of work or continuous or nearly continuous availability of the system.
One type of distributed computing environment is a client-server environment, in which a client sends requests to a server of the environment. These requests are processed by the server, and the results of the requests are forwarded from the server back to the client.
In such environments, mechanisms are typically in place to notify the client when the server is unavailable. This allows the client to resend its requests to another server, if desired. In this scenario, the servers are heavyweight in that they need to know which clients they will be receiving messages from and the state of those clients.
Thus, although some efforts have been made to detect failures and to resend messages, further enhancements are needed. In particular, a capability is needed that facilitates earlier detection of a failure and that allows a client to reconnect to another server efficiently. Further, the server is to be lightweight in that it does not need to have knowledge of the client's communication session.

Method, system and program products for automatically connecting a client to a server of a replicated group of servers

International Business Machines Corporation


A base film 9 on which a first pattern 31 is formed and a conductive foil 12 on which a second pattern 32 is formed are laminated by being passed through a gap between laminating rolls 7a, 7b which are provided with an adjusting means for adjusting the gap width and parallelism between them. Then, a relative position between the first pattern 31 and the second pattern 32 is detected. After patterning the conductive foil 12 to form a wiring 12w, displacements of the first pattern 31 and the second pattern 32 are detected, and the gap width and parallelism between the laminating rolls 7a, 7b are adjusted corresponding to the detected displacements. Thus, the laminate can be formed uniformly, and the base film 9 and the wiring 12 can be prevented from being deformed with the release of a residual stress in the patterning step. According to the manufacturing method of a high-precision film carrier tape, highly-integrated semiconductor devices are mounted with high productivity.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a manufacturing method of a film carrier tape for a TAB (Tape Automated Bonding) technology, and more particularly to a manufacturing method of a film carrier tape which is produced with high productivity and readily under quality controls.
The invention also relates to a film carrier tape to be used for the TAB technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
The TAB technology mounts electronic parts such as semiconductor devices on a long insulating film, which is called a film carrier tape and has a number of wiring patterns formed, by bumps or the like. A package having the semiconductor devices mounted on the film carrier tape is designated as the film carrier package or tape carrier package.
With high integration of the semiconductor device in these years, the size and arrayed pitch of the connection terminals of the semiconductor devices have become fine even further. Accordingly, the film carrier tape on which such semiconductor devices are mounted is also becoming small.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart describing a general manufacturing process of a film carrier tape.
First, a tape-shaped conductive foil such as a copper foil is laminated onto a tape of insulating resin such as polyimide, which has carrying guide holes (sprocket holes) and device holes formed by punching or the like, with an adhesive layer therebetween, and the laminated film is pressed by being passed through rollers into an integrally bonded form.
Then, a resist is applied onto the conductive foil, exposed and developed to etch the exposed portion with a predetermined wiring being covered, thereby forming a wiring pattern. And, the wiring pattern is plated.
Appearance, size and properties are examined, resulting in completing a film carrier tape on which a number of wiring patterns are formed in its longitudinal direction.
As described above, with the high integration of the semiconductor device in these years, the wiring pattern of the film carrier tape has also become fine still further. In the wiring pattern, a mounting pitch of a part, which is called an inner lead, to be connected to the connection terminal of the semiconductor device is made very small. For example, the mounting pitch has become smaller gradually from 100 .mu.m to 80 .mu.m, and to 60 .mu.m.
To improve reliability and productivity of the film carrier package, therefore, it is significant to improve the relative precision between the wiring pattern (especially, the inner lead) and the connection terminal of the semiconductor device. But, it is very hard to achieve satisfactory precision in actuality.
To provide a high-precision film carrier tape, it was conventionally practiced, for example, to control the thickness of an adhesive layer used to adhere a base film and a conductive foil and to monitor the quality of the wiring pattern (lead group) formed by etching. But, such measures were still not enough to produce a film carrier tape having satisfactory precision.
FIG. 6A is a plan view schematically showing the wiring of a film carrier tape in a portion corresponding to a single unit of the wiring. It is seen that a device hole is displaced from its proper location. FIG. 6B is a schematic view showing that inner leads of a conductor wiring were formed as being displaced from the appropriate location.
This film carrier tape is formed of, for example, a base film 91 made of an insulating resin such as polyimide and a wiring 92w formed on the base film 91. Sprocket holes 91s are formed as carrier guide holes on both sides of the base film 91 of the film carrier tape. And, on the base film 91, a device hole 91h is formed as a region where an electronic part such as a semiconductor device or the like is mounted. The wiring 92w is formed by patterning, for example, a conductive foil such as a copper foil, which is laminated with the base film 91, by a photoetching process or the like. And, the wiring has inner leads 92i which are protruded into the device hole, and to mount the semiconductor device on the film carrier tape, the inner leads are connected with connection terminals (not shown) of the semiconductor device. As described above, with the high integration of the semiconductor device, the size and forming pitch of the connection terminals of the semiconductor device are becoming fine even further. As a result, the inner leads 92i of the film carrier tape are also required to be made with high precision.
However, there were disadvantages that the device hole 91h is deformed in shape, the inner leads 92i of the wiring are displaced from the proper location and the like (FIG. 6B).
As described above, the film carrier tape, on which electronic parts such as a highly integrated semiconductor device having the connection terminals with a very fine size and mounting pitch are mounted, has disadvantages that it is hard to produce and poor in productivity. Thus, the conventional film carrier tape and method of manufacturing the same have disadvantages in providing a highly reliable film carrier package with high productivity.

Manufacturing method of film carrier tape, manufacturing apparatus of film carrier tape, and film carrier tape


An automated freezer stores food items stacked in a removable cartridge. The food items are dispensed from the automated freezer in response to a request for the food items. The food items are loaded into the cartridge outside of the automated freezer. When the cartridge is inserted into the automated freezer, the upper end of the cartridge is inserted into a buffer, pushing a plurality of arms in the buffer upwardly to allow food items to pass through the buffer. When the cartridge is removed from the freezer for reloading of food items, a resilient member biases the arms downwardly to retain any food items in the buffer and to prevent any food items in the buffer from falling.

The present invention relates generally to an automated freezer which stores frozen food in a cartridge and automatically removes the frozen food from the cartridge of the freezer component in response to a request for the food.
Freezers are used to keep objects frozen, such as food. Freezers are commonly used in residences, grocery stores, and restaurants. In the restaurant or food service industry, food is often stored in a freezer prior to preparation and serving. The food is usually manually placed into the freezer by an employee. When the food is to be prepared and served, the food is manually removed by an employee. A drawback to the prior art freezers is that additional manual labor is needed to remove the food from the freezer.
In one prior automated freezer, the food is manually stacked on a platform in the freezer compartment. When a request for the food is received, the platform is raised and a removal device removes the food from the automated freezer.
A drawback to this prior automated freezer is that the food is manually stacked in the automated freezer, and the freezer door is therefore open during stacking, allowing cool air to escape. It would be beneficial to use an automated freezer that employs a cartridge that is loaded with the food outside of the automated freezer.


Method and system embodiments herein add at least one trap area between abutting objects on an image to be printed by a printing engine. This trap area includes a central region between two outer regions. The method/system establishes a target toner concentration for pixels within the trap area based on toner concentrations of the abutting objects and corrects the target toner concentration to account for irregularities of the outer regions of the trap area to produce a corrected toner concentration for pixels in the trap area. The method/system performs this correction by first empirically testing the printing engine to establish a lookup table of correction values of the outer regions prior to a printing operation. Then, during the printing operation, the method determines a size relationship (weighting) between the central region and the outer regions for the trap area and calculates the corrected toner concentration.

Embodiments herein generally relate to corrections made to trap areas that are added between abutting objects on an image to be printed by a printing engine.
The art of color printer calibration has been well studied, the applications of which can be found in several consumer products today. Most of these methods employ the Neugebauer approach, whereby a series of uniform area patches is measured to develop a set of equations to describe the reflectance of a halftone pattern on paper. This set of equations, denoted the "printer model" is then inverted to determine one or more lookup tables, used to produce the desired printer output. These lookups will generally produce smooth monotonic output for each channel, and for CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) printers there may be an additional requirement to achieve gray balance between (CMY) and K. In many marking systems, in particular those involving electrophotography, the ink/toner densities at halftoned edges can be quite different relative to uniform regions.
As described in U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0114162, to McElvain, incorporated herein by reference, electronic processing of graphic and text images produces multi-color prints using multiple color separations. Typically, four process colors, cyan, magenta, yellow and black, are used to print multiple separations, which tend to have minor misregistration problems. The result of abutting or overlapping shapes is a boundary between adjacent regions of color that, under ideal printing conditions should have zero width. That is, one color should stop exactly where the abutting color begins, with no new colors being introduced along the boundary by the printing process itself. The "colors" which fill the shapes can be solid colors, tints, degrades, contone images, or "no fill" (i.e., the paper with no ink applied). In general, the "colors" represented in these adjacent regions are printed using more than one colorant. In practice therefore, the realization of a zero width boundary between regions of different color is impossible as a result of small but visible misregistration problems from one printed separation to another. The error is manifested as a "light leak" or as a visible boundary region of an undesired color.
Methods for correcting for this misregistration are known. The general approach is to expand one of the abutting regions' separations to fill the gap or misregistration border region with a color determined to minimize the visual effect when printed. Borders or edges expanded from a region of one color to another in this manner are said to be "spread". A border which has been expanded is referred to as a "trap", and the zone within which color is added is called the "trap zone". Edge detection and image manipulation to perform trapping may be done in any of several processes, including for example, the technique described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,117 to Klassen, incorporated herein by reference.
Certain marking systems produce variations in desired output color from print engine to print engine. These variations are due to specific physical characteristics of the particular print engine. A common technique for correcting for variations in color output is to measure a set of printed colors against a set of control colors and to provide a lookup table generated from an analytic function (such as a gamma correction function) to correct for variations in color output. Thus, all print engines of a particular model can be corrected to have the same desired output color.
Certain marking systems exhibit difficulty maintaining color uniformity near edges of abutting objects on the image. For example, it may be intended to place a 75% fill, which may be possible in the body of the fill object; however, within a few millimeters of the edges, more or less than 75% may be deposited, depending on the marking process. For trapping, this can be a significant problem, as the trapping operation fundamentally only modifies edge pixels of abutting objects. If the trapping engine specifies a trap color (for a given separation) of 35%, only 20% may be produced as a result of the edge physics, for example. It is therefore desirable to have the capability to correct for these edge modulations, in order to achieve traps that are more pleasing to the eye.
The current approach to resolving this problem is to apply a gamma correction to the trap colors (gamma<1), such that the trap colors are generally forced toward the darker of the two abutting colors (see U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0114162, to McElvain). This empirical approach, while providing nominally better trap color rendering in the midtones relative to no correction, can produce excessively dark traps in many cases. Furthermore, the correction percentage would need to change based on the trap width, since the printed color should be equal to the intended color as the trap width becomes large. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a correction mechanism that is robust across all colors and trap widths, and accounts for the physical behavior of the marking process at the edges.
For xerography, average edge tangential electric fields can have a significant effect on the density of the toner cloud, as well as its proximity to the photoreceptor. Likewise at edges, field components parallel to the PR surface can give rise to toner cloud displacements, and can result in artifacts such as lead-edge and trail-edge deletions. Both these factors are manifested in the form of reduced dot gain, and partial dots at edges will be either significantly reduced in size or completely eliminated. Clearly, modeling each of these edge nonlinearities from a theoretical standpoint is a formidable task, and such a model would not be amenable to applications that require real time corrections.
Edge processing processes such as trapping and anti-aliasing are most affected by these nonlinearities. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a thin strip of an intermediate digital value (C) is placed at the position of the original intersection between two patches (A and B). Because of the edge marking nonlinearities, the actual printed toner densities in these regions can be strongly distorted, and can lead to objectionable artifacts. Clearly these effects will be compounded for intersections involving multiple color separations. In the case of trapping, an intentional multi-pixel "defect" is added at color interfaces to mitigate registration errors, where the width of the trap is determined by the maximum misregistration of the marking system. Generally, the color of this defect is chosen such that it is not objectionably visible in the presence of the original two intersecting colors. For marking processes such as xerography, the printed color of the trap region may take on an undesirable color cast in the presence of nonlinearities, thus reducing the benefit of trapping. It would therefore be desirable to apply corrections to these regions to produce the colors that were originally intended.
As previously mentioned, a correction process involving a complete description of the edge development/transfer physics may provide an accurate edge color correction, but would generally not be practical for applications that require real time correction. On the other hand, a truly empirical correction process that does not include details of the edge behavior might be computationally efficient, but would most likely provide inadequate correction in certain regions of color space.

Page edge correction systems and methods