A microcomputer in a device body operates so as to store every update of a maximum discharge current value (IMAX (A)) of a secondary battery (the whole plurality of cells), and operates so as to indicate the ratio value of the remaining capacity defined in a remaining capacity definition table with respect to a discharge voltage value (V (V)) of the secondary battery while reducing the ratio value in accordance with the maximum discharge current value (IMAX (A)) when obtaining the discharge voltage value (V (V)) from a protection circuit.

As broadly known, an electronic device such as a notebook type personal computer PC and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) is contrived to be supplied with electric power from the secondary battery. A majority of this type of electronic devices displays the residual quantity of the secondary battery at a rate against a full capacity, and hence an operator can grasp the residual quantity of the secondary battery through the residual quantity rate.
The secondary battery, as disclosed in Non-Patent documents 1 through 3, has such a discharge characteristic that a discharge voltage decreases on a step-by-step basis as accumulated electric power is consumed in a state approximate to a full charge and in a low charge state and decreases sharply as the accumulated electric power is consumed in a state approximate to a full discharge. Further, as indicated by a graph representing a relationship between the discharge voltage and the discharge capacity in FIG. 6, the secondary battery also has a discharge characteristic that the discharge capacity and the discharge voltage become lower in a large current discharge state IH (A) than in a small current discharge state IL (A). This is because an internal resistance of the secondary battery is higher in the large current discharge state IH (A) than in the small current discharge state IL (A).
By the way, when the secondary battery excessively gets approximate to the full discharge, battery performance deteriorates to such an extent as to be disabled from recovering. Therefore, a discharge cutoff voltage value VCUTOFF (V) is determined as a limit to which given performance is kept in the secondary battery. A housing of the secondary battery is mounted with a protection circuit, which is contrived to monitor the discharge voltage value of the secondary battery and to, when the discharge voltage value becomes lower than the discharge cutoff voltage value VCUTOFF (V), stop discharging the electricity of the secondary battery (stops supplying the electric power to the device).
The residual quantity rate displayed by the electronic device described above is calculated based on a difference between the discharge voltage value and the discharge cutoff voltage value VCUTOFF (V). Hence, for example, in the small current discharge state IL (A), when the discharge voltage value slightly exceeds the discharge cutoff voltage value VCUTOFF V) (state SA in FIG. 6) and when the small current discharge state IL (A) continues as it is, a capacity remaining in the secondary battery can be used, and therefore the operator does not get confused even when the electronic device displays "Residual quantity still remains".
When the discharge current rises with an increase in demand for the electric power with the result that the large current discharge state IH (A) occurs, however, the discharge voltage value decreases under the discharge cutoff voltage value VCUTOFF (V) (state SB in FIG. 6), and the protection circuit stops discharging, resulting in disabling the capacity remaining in the secondary battery from being used. At this time, the electronic device displays "Residual quantity still remains", and nevertheless, since the supply of the electric power is abruptly stopped as the demand for the electric power rises, it follows that the operator gets confused.
Thus, the discharge cutoff voltage value VCUTOFF (V) is used as a threshold value, in which case it might happen that the residual quantity of the secondary battery is not properly displayed.
Further, Patent document 1 discloses that whether there is the residual quantity of the battery capacity is determined depending on whether a quantity of electric current consumption of the electronic device reaches a maximum capacity CMAX (Ah) that is predetermined with respect to the secondary battery. In this Patent document 1, the quantity of electric current consumption of the electronic device is obtained by taking a total sum of the quantities of electric current consumption of the respective units within the device. Further, the quantities of electric current consumption of the respective units are calculated by recording the current values when operating and when standing by as required and integrating the current values at the respective points of time. Moreover, in this Patent document 1, the maximum capacity CMAX (Ah) of the secondary battery is a capacity measured by actually discharging the electricity of the secondary battery.
The maximum capacity CMAX (Ah) predetermined with respect to the secondary battery, however, differs depending on whether the measurement is done in the large current discharge state IH(A) or in the small current discharge state IL(A). Therefore, for instance, the maximum capacity CMAX (Ah) is measured in the large current discharge state IH (A), in which case a capacity smaller than the capacity actually remaining in the secondary battery is displayed as the residual quantity when the quantity of the electric current consumption of the electronic device is a quantity accumulated in the small current discharge state IL(A), and it follows that the quantity of the electric current consumption reaches the maximum capacity CMAX (Ah) and the supply of the electric power is thereby stopped irrespective of the usable residual quantity being left in the secondary battery. Further, e.g., in the case where the maximum capacity is the capacity measured in the small current discharge state IL(A), when the quantity of the electric current consumption of the electronic device is the quantity accumulated mainly in the large current discharge state IH (A) the capacity larger than the capacity, which is actually left in the secondary battery, is displayed as the residual quantity, and "Residual quantity still remains" might be displayed even when the discharge voltage is under the discharge cutoff voltage value VCUTOFF.
Thus, even in the case of using the maximum capacity CMAX (Ah) as the threshold value, the residual quantity of the secondary battery is not properly displayed as the case may be.


A breast implant injector device comprising a hollow guide cylinder having an open injection end and an opposed filling end, the cylinder having an elongated slot extending from the injection end toward the filling end, and an elongated plunger which can be pushed through the interior of the hollow cylinder. An unfilled breast implant can be inserted in the cylinder and a fill tube extending from the implant can extend from the interior of the cylinder through the elongated slot. Pushing the plunger through the cylinder pushes the implant through the open injection end, which can be directed into the open incision for injecting the implant therein.

Reconstruction of the human breast involves introducing a fixed or changeable-volume sac-like silicone rubber structure into a body cavity surgically created to receive such an implant. The implants and coverings therefore are described, by way of illustration and not by limitation, in: Braumann U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,880; Hamas U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,244; and Ledergerber U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,907.
The usual skin incision is on the order of 3–8 centimeters in length and is stretched open with retractors to facilitate the introduction of the implant. In various surgical procedures, a breast implant is placed within the surgically formed body cavity for subsequent inflation and/or deflation with a fluid.
In plastic and reconstructive surgery, when a breast implant or tissue expander is placed in the dissected pocket, it is typically filled via a fill connector coupled to fill tubing which is attached to a filling material (e.g. saline solution) source.
There are currently three basic types of fill connectors used to connect the fluid source to the implant, the choice of which often depends on the implant and the particular surgical approach used. The first is a permanent attachment of the fill tubing to the implant. A common means for this attachment is to make a small opening within the body or shell of the implant and insert the tubing securing it by means of connecting materials such as sleeves, patch assemblies, adhesives or vulcanizing compounds.
The other two common connectors are for temporary attachment of the fill tubing to the implant by means of a valve in the implant which seals after the fill tubing is removed. One of these two temporary attachment means is most commonly used with saline-fill breast implant devices that include a diaphragm valve within the shell. The valve has an opening that requires a rigid male implement to be inserted in the opening thus opening the valve and allowing fluid transfer. This male implement is the fill tip end of the fill connector, which has on the opposite end one or more barbs which accept the flexible (e.g. silicone or vinyl) fill tubing. In use, the fill connector and fill tubing attach to the implant normal to the implant surface.
Since breast implants are usually placed into the body through incisions considerably smaller than the implant, it has always been a challenge to introduce them. With greatly increased friction at the interface between the surface of newer texturized implants and the wound margins (body tissue), it has become correspondingly more difficult to introduce these implants. Increased manipulation of both implants and patient tissue often results in trauma to both implants and patient tissue, thereby increasing the risk associated with the procedure both in terms of immediate consequences as well as delayed structural failure and the implications deriving therefrom. Postoperative infection has also been a troublesome consequence of the need to manipulate the implant into place. It has become a matter of some urgency to be able to introduce breast implants atraumatically.

Breast implant injector and method of use


A method of preparing a compound of formula I

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates generally to selective esterification. More particularly, the disclosure relates to selective esterification of a carboxylic acid functional group in the presence of phenolic functional groups.
2. Brief Description of Related Technology
The honeybee hive product propolis is a folk medicine employed for treating various ailments. Many important pharmaceutical properties have been ascribed to propolis, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, immunostimulatory, and carcinostatic activities. See, for example, Kujmgiev et al., Pharmazie, vol. 48, p. 785 (1993); Focht et al., Arzneim.-Forsch., vol. 43, p. 921 (1993); and Khayyal et al., Drugs Under Exp. Clin. Res., vol. 19, p. 197 (1993). Propolis extracts have provided an active component identified as caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), which is a carboxylic acid ester with two free phenolic hydroxyl groups. An individual study on CAPE has shown that it inhibits growth of prostate cancer in cell cultures. Differential cytotoxicity has been observed in normal rat/human versus transformed rat/human melanoma and breast carcinoma cell lines in the presence of CAPE. See Grunberger et al., Experientia, vol. 44, p. 230 (1988).
Nakanishit et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,441 (Apr. 16, 1991), Burke et al., J. Med. Chem., vol. 38, p. 4171 (1995); and Stanwell et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,185 (Mar. 11, 1997) describe the esterification of caffeic acid with phenethyl alcohol by refluxing the two reagents in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid in benzene. The product CAPE was obtained in about 40% yield after chromatography.
Hashimoto et al., Z. Naturforsch. vol. 43c, p. 470 (1988) and Son et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull. vol. 49(2) p. 236 (2001) describe the sodium salt of caffeic acid with phenethyl bromide in hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) to synthesize CAPE. Yields up to 70% were reported, although HMPA is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen and once again a chromatography step is required for the purification.
Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) is another reagent which has been used for esterification of caffeic acid with alcohol under mild conditions. See Chen et al., Cancer Letters, vol. 108, p. 211 (1996). However, this process also required chromatographic purification, and resulted in only about 38% yield.

Abstract: wherein R is a hydrocarbon and n is an integer from 1 to 5, including the steps of: contacting a compound of formula II

Abstract: with a compound selected from the group consisting of amines, and carbonates, bicarbonates, and hydroxides of alkali metals, and combinations thereof, in a solvent to produce a salt of a compound of formula II; treating the salt of the compound of formula II in a polar, aprotic solvent with an organic halide having a formula R—X, wherein X is selected from chlorine, bromine, iodine, and combinations thereof, to produce an ester of formula I; isolating a reaction product including the ester of formula I from the solvent by precipitation or solvent extraction; and purifying the compound of formula I, is disclosed.


The air bag gas generating composition of this invention comprises a nitrogen-containing organic compound and at least one oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of oxo halogen acid salts and nitrates. The invention provides an air bag gas generating composition without a high shock sensitivity and with an available burning velocity and gas output characteristics and featuring a comparatively low combustion temperature.

The so-called air bag system in which a nylon bag stowed in the steering wheel assembly or dashboard of a car is inflated on sensing a car crash occurring at high speed to thereby protect the driver and other passengers against being injured or killed by the impact against the steering wheel or front glass is claiming a phenomenally increasing share of the market reflecting the current rigorous requirements concerning driving safety.
In this air bag system, a gas generating composition is ignited, either electrically or mechanically, in an instant on sensing a car crash to thereby inflate the bag with the gas so generated. The gas generating composition is generally supplied as molded into a pellet or disk form. It is essential that such a gas generating composition insures an appropriate burning velocity. If the burning velocity is too low, the bag cannot be inflated in an instant so that the system fails to achieve its object. The gas generating composition is a powdery composition having the property to get ignited by a shock. Shock ignitability is the sensitivity of a powder to shock ignition and an excessively high shock sensitivity is undesirable from the standpoint of safety because it represents a high risk of explosion in the course of production, e.g. in the mixing stage or in the molding stage. Therefore, shock sensitivity is preferably as low as possible.
It is also necessary that the combustion temperature of the gas generating composition be not too high. This is because, to absorb the shock of a car crash to the driver or passenger and help him to escape, generally the inflated air bag then releases the internal gas to shrink but if the combustion temperature is too high, the released gas is also hot enough to cause the passenger to sustain a burn, perforate the bag to detract from its function, or burn the bag to induce a car fire.
The known air bag gas generating compositions comprise sodium azide as the gas generating base and certain additives such as an oxidizing agent e.g. metal oxides such as TiO.sub.2, MnO.sub.2, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, CuO, etc., nitrates such as NaNO.sub.3, KNO.sub.3, Cu(NO.sub.3).sub.2, etc., perchlorates such as KClO.sub.4, NaClO.sub.4, etc. and chlorates such as KClO.sub.3, NaClO.sub.3, etc.!, a reducing metal Zr, Mg, Al, Ti, etc.!, a cooling agent Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3, K.sub.2 CO.sub.3, CaCO.sub.3, FeSO.sub.4, etc.!, a pH control agent iron sulfate etc.!, a mechanical performance agent MoS.sub.2, KBr, graphite, etc.! and so on.
Such sodium azide-based gas generating compositions are in common use today partly because the generated gas is nitrogen gas for the most part and partly because they have adequate burning velocities and relatively low combustion temperatures. However, sodium azide has the following disadvantages.
(1) It has a risk for causing a fire on decomposition or combustion. Thus, since a fire may be induced in the course of production (on mixing with the oxidizing agent, in the final granulation stage, etc.), it requires a rigorous safety control. PA1 (2) It produces Na on decomposition. Since Na reacts with water to generate hydrogen and become ignited to produce a toxic fume, there is considerable difficulty in treatment. PA1 (3) It reacts with the oxidizing agent to liberate toxic substances such as Na.sub.2 O and its derivatives (such as NaOH), thus calling for careful handling in the course of production. PA1 (4) It is acknowledged that the gas generated on combustion or decomposition of sodium azide is rich in nitrogen and very lean in toxic substances so that there is practically no problem. However, for added safety, a further reduction in the level of toxic substances is desirable. PA1 (5) Sodium azide in gas generating compositions is hygroscopic and since the absorption of moisture leads to a decrease in combustibility, there must be an effective provision for the prevention of moisture absorption. PA1 (6) Since it is a toxic and hazardous substance, an additional capital investment is needed for securing safety. PA1 (a) The composition of this invention is remarkably low in toxicity and the potential to cause a fire on decomposition or combustion. Therefore, the risk of hazards in handling in the course of production is very low. It can be easily molded, too. PA1 (b) The composition of this invention has a low shock sensitivity which is either equivalent to or lower than that of the sodium azide-based gas generating composition and is, therefore, is very safe. PA1 (c) The composition of this invention is equivalent or superior to the sodium azide-based gas generating composition in burning velocity and gas output. PA1 (d) Like the sodium azide-based gas generating composition, the composition of this invention has a relatively low combustion temperature so that it does not have the risk of causing a burn to the driver, passenger or a perforation or burning of the bag. In addition, the level of toxic substances in the product gas is very low. PA1 (e) Since the base nitrogen-containing compound of the composition of this invention is not hygroscopic, it is not necessary to provide for the prevention of moisture absorption. PA1 (f) The composition of this invention can be produced at remarkably reduced cost. PA1 (g) Compared with the prior art gas generating compositions, the composition of this invention can be easily disposed of.
In view of the above disadvantages of sodium azide, the advent has been awaited of an air bag gas generating composition which, compared with the sodium azide-based gas generating composition mentioned above, would have an equivalent or lower shock ignitability, equivalent or higher burning velocity and gas output, and relatively low combustion temperature, and which is lower in the risk of fire and intoxication hazards and lower in costs than the sodium azide-based gas generating composition.
Meanwhile, several attempts have been made to use a nitrogen-containing compound as the base of a gas generating composition. For example, it has been proposed to subject a reducing metal, such as Zr or Mg, and an oxidizing compound, such as potassium perchlorate or potassium chlorate, to redox reaction to thereby ignite the gas generating base with the resultant heat of reaction. As the gas generating base, smokeless powder, nitrocellulose, azodicarbonamide, aminoguanidine and thiourea have been mentioned (Japanese Examined Patent Publications No. 9734/74 and No. 21171/74). However, the burning velocity that can be obtained by the above method is insufficient for practical application to the air bag. Moreover, since the mixture of reducing metal and oxidizing compound has a very high shock sensitivity, the risk of handling hazards is high. Furthermore, the combustion temperature is also suspected to be too high.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 118979/75 discloses an air bag gas generating composition comprising a nitrogen-containing compound such as azodicarbonamide, trihydrazinotriazine or the like and an oxidizing agent such as potassium permanganate, manganese dioxide, barium dichromate, barium peroxide or the like. However, the use of potassium permanganate as the oxidizing agent involves the problem of low heat stability (i.e., being prone to spontaneous ignition) and the use of manganese dioxide as the oxidizing agent does not insure satisfactory shock sensitivity or burning velocity, while the use of barium dichromate or barium peroxide as the oxidizing agent gives rise to toxic substances in the liberated gas.
It is an object of this invention to provide an air bag gas generating composition having a shock sensitivity either equivalent to or lower than that of the gas generating composition based on sodium azide.
Another object of this invention is to provide an air bag gas generating composition which is either equivalent to or even higher than the sodium azide-based gas generating composition in burning velocity and gas output.
A still further object of this invention is to provide an air bag gas generating composition which is free from the above-mentioned disadvantages (1) through (6) of the azide compound.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an air bag gas generating composition which is low in combustion temperature with a lower risk of fire and intoxication hazards as compared with sodium azide.


An application may store data to a dataset comprising a plurality of volumes stored on a plurality of storage systems. The application may request a dataset image of the dataset, the dataset image comprising a volume image of each volume of the dataset. A dataset image manager operates with a plurality of volume image managers in parallel to produce the dataset image, each volume image manager executing on a storage system. The plurality of volume image managers respond by performing requested operations and sending responses to the dataset image manager in parallel. Each volume image manager on a storage system may manage and produce a volume image for each volume of the dataset stored to the storage system. If a volume image for any volume of the dataset fails, or a timeout period expires, a cleanup procedure is performed to delete any successful volume images.

A storage system typically comprises one or more storage devices into which information may be entered, and from which information may be obtained, as desired. The storage system includes a storage operating system that functionally organizes the system by, inter alia, invoking storage operations in support of a storage service implemented by the system. The storage system may be implemented in accordance with a variety of storage architectures including, but not limited to, a network-attached storage environment, a storage area network and a disk assembly directly attached to a host computer. The storage devices are typically disk drives organized as a disk array, wherein the term "disk" commonly describes a self-contained rotating magnetic media storage device. The term disk in this context is synonymous with hard disk drive (HDD) or direct access storage device (DASD). The storage operating system of the storage system may implement a high-level module, such as a file system, to logically organize the information stored on volumes as a hierarchical structure of storage objects, such as files and logical units (LUs). A known type of file system is a write-anywhere file system that does not overwrite data on disks.
The storage system may be further configured to allow many servers to access storage objects stored on the storage system. In this model, the server may execute an application, such as a database application, that "connects" to the storage system over a computer network, such as a point-to-point link, shared local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or virtual private network (VPN) implemented over a public network such as the Internet. Each server may request the data services of the storage system by issuing access requests (read/write requests) as file-based and block-based protocol messages (in the form of packets) to the system over the network.
A plurality of storage systems may be interconnected as a cluster to provide a storage system architecture configured to service many servers. In some embodiments, the storage system architecture provides one or more aggregates, each aggregate comprising a set of one or more storage devices (e.g., disks). Each aggregate may store one or more storage objects, such as one or more volumes. An aggregate may be distributed across a plurality of storage systems. The storage objects (e.g., volumes) may be configured to store content of storage objects, such as files and logical units, served by the cluster in response to multi-protocol data access requests issued by servers.
Each storage system of the cluster may include (i) a storage server (referred to as a "D-blade") adapted to service a particular aggregate or volume and (ii) a multi-protocol engine (referred to as an "N-blade") adapted to redirect the data access requests to any storage server of the cluster. In the illustrative embodiment, the storage server of each storage system is embodied as a disk element (D-blade) and the multi-protocol engine is embodied as a network element (N-blade). The N-blade receives a multi-protocol data access request from a server, converts that access request into a cluster fabric (CF) message and redirects the message to an appropriate D-blade of the cluster.
The storage systems of the cluster may be configured to communicate with one another to act collectively to increase performance or to offset any single storage system failure within the cluster. The cluster provides data service to servers by providing access to a shared storage (comprising a set of storage devices). Typically, servers will connect with a storage system of the cluster for data-access sessions with the storage system. During a data-access session with a storage system, a server may submit access requests (read/write requests) that are received and performed by the storage system.
Each server typically executes numerous applications requiring the data services of the cluster. For example, data for a particular application may be stored as a dataset on a particular storage system of the cluster. The dataset may comprise a plurality of storage objects (e.g., volumes) stored on the storage system. The particular application may access its dataset on the storage system to add, modify, or delete data of the dataset. In addition, the storage system may provide a backup data service that produces a backup image of an application's dataset. The backup image of a dataset may be used for example, to restore the dataset in case of data corruption of the dataset.
In current cluster storage systems, however, it is becoming more common for a dataset of an application to comprise a plurality of storage objects that are stored across a plurality of different storage systems. In this situation, it has become more difficult to produce a successful overall image of a dataset stored across many storage systems. In particular, conventionally it is difficult to coordinate and ensure that all storage systems have successfully produced their images and have not retained stale backup images from failed backup attempts. As such, an effective method for managing and producing an image for a dataset stored across multiple storage systems is needed.

System and method for managing and producing a dataset image across multiple storage systems


To sample liquids containing volatile materials, the liquid is pumped through a syringe needle into a container until the container overflows. The needle is removed slowly and the container is automatically closed as the needle is withdrawn, wherein liquid flows upwardly continuously as the needle is withdrawn through an opening. The cap for the container includes a closure having a valve opening extending upwardly and sized to narrowly receive a syringe in a perpendicular valve member opening. The valve member includes a flat member on one end adapted to be gripped by a cam follower for opening and closing of the valve opening in coordination with the movement of the syringe.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for sampling liquids under conditions that maximize precise analysis of ingredients.
In one class of methods and apparatuses for sampling liquids, the apparatus a automatically draws samples of known amounts of liquids at preprogrammed intervals and deposits them into containers, which are usually bottles. The prior art automatic samplers of this class fill open containers. This type of automatic sampler has a disadvantage if used to sample liquids with volatile materials in them because substantial amounts of the volatile materials escape before measurement.
Another class of sampler includes containers that can be opened to receive liquid and closed after filling without air space within them to preserve as much of the volatile materials that are within the liquid before being drawn as possible. A prior art type of sampler of this class includes a valve in an inlet conduit and a valve in an outlet conduit. This type of valve has a disadvantage in that it is difficult to automate because of the number and types of valves, the size of the valves and the size of the plumbing associated with the valves. A system of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,974,456 and 4,864,877.
Bladder pumps are known for drawing samples. However, bladder pumps have not been connected to automatic sample collectors to collect samples automatically. In the prior art, peristaltic pumps have been used with automatic samplers, probably because of their ability to pump with shallow liquid depth and because of the simplicity and economy that results from being driven by an electrical motor rather than compressed air as in the case of bladder pumps.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel liquid sampler.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel automatic liquid sampler that can preserve representative samples of liquids having volatile materials in them.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide sample containers having a single opening that serves as the inlet port, overflow port and as a closure for the containers wherein there is no air space and only liquid in a filled container after sampling.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel sampler that automatically draws samples and deposits them in containers with no air space in the containers.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel sampler that does not release volatile materials from the liquid so that the liquid in the container is representative of the sampled liquid.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a volatile liquid sampling system that only requires one valve for each container to fill it so that there is substantially no air space.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide an automatic sampling system in which a needle is passed through a valve opening to fill the container to overflowing and then withdrawn, with the valve opening being closed immediately upon withdrawal.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a sample collecting system in which a needle is within a socket with a portion of it sealing a central outlet of the socket while the lines are purged and then the needle moves through the central opening of the socket into a bottle cap connector and valve opening to deposit a sample in a container.
In accordance with the above and further objects of the invention, a filling station sequentially fills sample containers by moving a hollow needle into each container in sequence and completely filling each container with liquid. The needle is moved into each container by moving it through a valve dedicated to that container. After purging air from the container where this is part of the procedure, the needle is withdrawn, preferably from near the bottom of the container, as liquid flows: (1) radially outwardly from the needle to sweep bubbles from the walls of the container and needle; and (2) under the liquid in the container to avoid turbulence that otherwise could release volatile compounds.
As the needle approaches the valve before filling, the valve begins to open and a fluid socket closes the bottle cap. The shank of the needle and an end ball or plug on the end of the needle slide through the fluid socket, a cavity on the bottle cap and through the valve opening. It proceeds to a location near the bottom of the container and injects sample. The bottle may be filled with liquid for displacing air and the needle withdrawn, with liquid continuing to flow as it is withdrawn. As the needle is withdrawn, the valve outlet closes. The opening and closing of the valve, the movement of the hollow needle, the insertion and removal of the socket from a connector in the bottle, the pumping of liquid and the movement of bottles into and from a filling station are all synchronized to provide samples precisely representing the liquid in the aquafer or other body of water being sampled.
In the preferred embodiment, the valve closes by rotating, with the valve being opened when the valve inlet is facing upwardly toward the needle, and being closed when it turns so that it is sideways. Just before the needle tip is inserted, during the time the container is being filled and for a short period of time after the needle is withdrawn, the fluid socket closes the container cap and any overflow liquid flows out of the connector. As the valve closes, there is a head of liquid above the valve so that no air space is possible in the closed container.
When the socket is over the cap of a container with the needle extending through the valve opening, the socket seals the cavity in the cap and liquid fills the container from the needle. Liquid overflowing the container passes through the valve and into the socket where it leaves the outlet port. When the container has been filled and the needle withdrawn through the container valve opening to seal the central outlet of the socket, the socket can be withdrawn without releasing liquid to fall in the container.
At programmed intervals, different containers and at least one sampling station are moved with respect to each other and samples are taken to fill the containers. The containers are filled so that there is no head space and minimum loss of volatile compounds. Preferably, the containers are standard sample bottles and the samples are drawn with a bladder pump to reduce loss of volatiles from the samples. The containers are preferably open to the atmosphere for no more than a few seconds and should not be open for more than ten minutes during the entire operation to avoid contamination.
From the above description, it can be understood that the sampler of this invention has several advantages, such as: (1) it is completely automatic; (2) it can draw samples without substantial release of volatile compounds; (3) it can draw samples at predetermined intervals without human intervention; (4) a single valve permits the flow into a sample container, overflow from the container during purging of air and collection of the sample liquid in the container; (5) the liquid enters the containers with little turbulence that otherwise would cause the volatile compounds to be released before the container is filled and sealed; and (6) the containers are completely filled with sample without head space.


A broadband light source (e.g., an optical supercontinuum apparatus), can comprise a pump laser; a non-linear optical element configured for generating spectrally broadened light generated responsive to receiving pump laser pulses and one or more non-linear processes; an optical output for delivering spectrally broadened light to a target; a length of optical waveguide optically upstream of the output and in optical communication therewith; and a sensor apparatus. The length of optical waveguide can comprise at least a first waveguiding region configured for propagating spectrally broadened light in a forward direction toward the output and can be further configured for receiving backward propagating light responsive to the forward propagating light. The sensor apparatus can be configured for optical communication with the length of optical waveguide so as to sense the backward propagating light propagated by the length of optical waveguide. Methods for operating and using such broadband light source are disclosed, as are applications of the methods and apparatus.

Supercontinuum fiber lasers, such as those available from Fianium Ltd. of Southampton, UK (e.g., models SC400 and SC450, see www.fianium.com) can deliver "white" or broad bandwidth laser light. A highly non-linear optical medium is pumped with intense laser pump light (usually pulses of light) to generate the supercontinuum.
In certain supercontinuum lasers commercially available today, such as the SC400 and SC450, the source of intense laser pump light is typically a pulsed or ultrafast fiber-delivered laser and the non-linear optical medium is a highly non-linear optical fiber such as a photonic crystal fiber. The output of the pump laser and non-linear fiber are fusion spliced together to produce a homogeneous, continuous optical fiber. This configuration has advantages over free space launching of the pump light into the non-linear fiber through combinations of lenses in terms of reliability and mechanical robustness.
It can be of interest to sample the output of the supercontinuum laser. Such sampling can be desirable, for example, to achieve closed loop control or to monitor the output power to check for degradation or a break in the delivery fiber. Such a break could constitute a safety hazard, and it is preferable than a means is in place for detecting the break. As another example, sampling can often be useful for analyzing or monitoring of the spectral content of supercontinuum or filtered supercontinuum light delivered by an optical fiber. In-situ analysis or monitoring can be used for spectral characterization for real-time calibration of the source or of the illumination light beam when incorporated into instrumentation or experiments.
The output light can be sampled using free space techniques. A partial beam splitter or partially reflective surface can split off a portion of a free space beam, and the split beam can be analyzed using a spectrometer, CCD array, etc. Free-space sampling of the laser output is not convenient for many fiber-based applications, as often a free space beam is only available at the output of the delivery fiber of the supercontinuum source, which is typically positioned remotely from the laser source that houses the electronics and sources of electrical power.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to address one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art.

Methods and apparatus pertaining to the use and generation of broadband light


An apparatus for updating software of a vehicle terminal includes: a software information storage unit receiving latest version software information transmitted from a software providing server; an update controller receiving a software update request of a vehicle terminal transmitted from the software providing server and performing a software download and update; a battery charging determiner checking a state of charge of a battery installed in a vehicle and comparing the state of charge of the battery with an estimated battery consumption among the latest version software information; and an engine driver driving an engine of the vehicle when the state of charge of the battery is less than the estimated battery consumption.

(a) Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus for updating software of a vehicle terminal and a software providing server, and more particularly, to an apparatus for updating software of a vehicle terminal and a software providing server capable of updating software of a vehicle terminal into a latest version when latest version software of the vehicle terminal is released and preventing a vehicle battery from being discharged while the software is updated.
(b) Description of the Related Art
An engine control unit (hereinafter, referred to as "ECU"), a telematics unit, and a navigation unit in a vehicle are examples of vehicle devices which can provide a control function and/or a convenience function based on software stored in a microprocessor. The ECU, the telematics unit, and the navigation unit can store software of a version corresponding to the release of the vehicle. Car makers produce and distribute software of a subsequent version for the purpose of correcting bugs, improving performance of the existing function, adding a new function, etc., after the vehicle is released.
As defects disrupting safe driving of the vehicle frequently occur due to errors of ECU software in recent years, software updates have been recognized as a very important factor in maintaining safe driving of the vehicle. However, since software updates of a vehicle terminal are mainly performed in service centers designated by car makers, vehicle drivers suffer the inconvenience of having to frequently visit the service centers. Further, even when the vehicle driver directly downloads the latest version software update online to do the software update of the vehicle terminal, the driver must wait extended times until the software update is completed.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure, and therefore, it may contain information that does not form the related art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Apparatus for updating software of vehicle terminal and software providing server


In a webbing take-up device 10, a worm gear 34, which is connected to a motor 44, engages with a gear wheel 32, and when the worm gear 34 rotates, driving force is transmitted via the gear wheel 32 and a clutch 26, whereby a take-up shaft 20 is rotated in a take-up direction. Helix angles of teeth of the worm gear 34 and the gear wheel 32 are set so that thrust force generated at this time along the axial direction of the gear wheel 32 faces a leg plate 16 fixed side of a case 30. Accordingly, because the thrust force acts on the leg plate 16 fixed side of the case 30, i.e., on a frame 12, there is no need to provide the case 30 or a cover clutch 31 with high strength and rigidity.

A seat belt apparatus for restraining a vehicle occupant is equipped with a webbing take-up device. Some webbing take-up devices have been proposed which each include a so-called tension reducer mechanism for mitigating or eliminating an excessive sensation of pressure that the vehicle occupant feels when a webbing is applied to the occupant, or a pretensioner mechanism that eliminates a slight looseness called "slack" or the like by taking up a webbing belt onto a take-up shaft by a certain amount at the time when a vehicle rapidly decelerates or the like and that increases a restraining force by which the webbing belt restrains the body of the vehicle occupant, thereby allowing the body of the vehicle occupant to be held more reliably. Further, there also has been known a so-called motor retractor having a structure in which the aforementioned various functions are performed by a motor (by way of example, refer to the patent document 1 and the patent document 2 shown below).
In this type of motor retractor, for example, respective functions of the tension reducer and pretensioner as mentioned above can be not only demonstrated, but also an auxiliary operation for taking up or pulling out a webbing when the webbing is normally applied can be performed. Thus, an extremely beneficial effect is obtained.
Further, particularly in recent years, there has been considered, in the aforementioned motor retractor, a structure which detects a distance forward to another vehicle, an obstacle or the like using a forward looking monitoring device such as a distance sensor, and when the distance forward to the vehicle, an obstacle or the like is less than a certain value, activates a motor, and rotates a take-up shaft in a take-up direction by rotating force of the motor. In this type of motor retractor, a clutch is interposed between an output shaft of the motor and the take-up shaft so as to transmit rotating force of the motor to the take-up shaft and prevent transmission of rotation from the take-up shaft to the motor, and this clutch is structured to allow only the rotation from the output shaft of the motor to be transmitted to the take-up shaft.
Incidentally, in the conventional motor retractor as described above, in a case in which a driving force transmission mechanism that allows the rotating force of the motor to be transmitted to the clutch is comprised of a gear wheel or the like, if the motor is rapidly rotated so as to forcibly rotate the take-up shaft in the take-up direction, a large thrust force or reaction force acts on a case having the clutch accommodated and held therein, or a holding component for holding a gear mechanism, and the like. For this reason, it is necessary to improve extra strength of structural components such as a case, a cover and the like so that these components can resist such large thrust force or reaction force. This results in that realization of a light-weight device or cost reduction of the device would be impeded.    Patent document 1: JP-A No. 2001-130376    Patent document 2: JP-A No. 2001-347923


A DC to DC power converter which can suitably be used, for example, in a charger device for rechargeable batteries has an input and a load output, a resonant transformer provided with a transformer input and a transducer output coupled to the load output, an output rectifier circuit coupled to the load output, a controllable transformer control circuit, in the form of a pulse providing circuit, coupled between the input of the converter and the transformer input, and a synchronous output rectifier circuit coupled between the transformer output and the load output. The transformer control circuit receives a control signal derived from a signal constituting or proportional a signal at the transformer output. The output rectifier circuit shows a variety of possible embodiments, each embodiment including at least two transistor switches which are connected between a different end of the transformer output and a same end of the load output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a DC to DC power converter having an input and a load output, the converter comprising a resonant transformer provided with a transformer input and a transformer output coupled to the load output, an output rectifier circuit coupled to the load output, and a transformer control means coupled between the input of the converter and the transformer input. The present invention also relates to a power supply and a battery charger which are provided with such a converter.
2. Description Of the Related Art
Such a converter is known from DE-C-33 00 669 which discloses a converter utilized applied in a DC current power supply. The known converter comprises a resonant transformer in the form of a resonant piezo-electric transformer whose input impedance is connected to a transformer control means in the form of a self-oscillating pulse providing means which provides pulses at a pulse rate which is equal to the resonant frequency of the resonant transformer. An input converter AC voltage is rectified and stabilized and then fed to the resonant transformer through the self-oscillating pulse providing means. The transformer output of the resonant transformer is connected to the output rectifier circuit and a voltage stabilizer circuit to provide a high performance output power at the load output of the converter which is virtually independent of the open or short circuit state of the load. In particular, the known converter provides an alternately operated parallel arrangement of two piezo-electric transformer for enhancing the availability of the output power on the load means. A disadvantage of the known converter is that its flexibility in terms of variability and arrangement of the converter as a whole and the output rectifier circuit in particular is limited.

DC to DC power converter including synchronous output rectifier circuit


This disclosure relates to multi-layer films having improved peel strength properties and comprising a core layer and a first tie layer made from at least 5 wt % of a grafted propylene-based polymer. Optionally, the multi-layer film may have one or more skin layers, and/or a second tie layer.

Propylene-based multi-layer films are widely used in packaging applications, such as pouches for dry food mixes, pet foods, snack foods, and seeds. Such multi-layer films must have the ability to resist peeling at the interface between the layers of the multi-layered film.
Typical multi-layered films include at least a core layer, typically comprised of polypropylene (PP), an outer layer typically known as a skin layer, typically comprised of polar polymers, and a tie layer located intermediate the core layer and the skin layer. Conventional tie layers are mostly maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) homopolymers, copolymers, or combinations of PP-g-MAH with non-grafted polyolefins. In general, these maleated adhesive tie layers lack peel resistance at their interfaces with other adjacent layers. This is because they are poor in stress dissipation and reactivity due to their high chain rigidity and interfacial tension. Many applications, such as laminates of toothpaste tubes, require much stronger interfacial strength than these conventional film compositions can provide.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,407 discloses a film reported to have enhanced machine direction (MD) tear properties. The film has at least one polymer layer comprising at least 50 wt % propylene and at least 5 wt % ethylene and/or one or more unsaturated comonomers, such as C4-C20 alpha olefins and dienes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,920 describes a method of producing bi-axially oriented oxygen and moisture barrier film comprising co-extruding at least one layer of polyolefin material (polyethylene or polypropylene or ethylene-propylene copolymers), at least one layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol and at least one adhesive layer. The adhesive layer used in the patent is Admer QF500B, which is a maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,721 describes a process for forming a firmly bonded co-extruded film combination. The process comprises forming an intimate combination of polypropylene and a maleic anhydride-modified olefin copolymer and forming a film of at least one layer of the intimate combination and an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. The adhesion is effected by orienting the film. The maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin is a maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene homopolymer and has a softening point of 157° C.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,706 describes a multilayer co-extruded film having been bi-axially oriented and comprising a five-layer structure, ABCBA. A is polyethylene, polypropylene or copolymers of ethylene and higher alpha-olefins. B is an adhesive layer and C is a layer of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. The adhesive layer includes an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and a maleic acid modified olefin polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,081 discloses an oriented multilayer film combination including (1) a propylene homopolymer or copolymer core layer; (2) a metallizable skin layer, including a material selected from an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), and polyester; and (3) an adhesive tie layer made from a material selected from a maleic anhydride modified polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer, a high density polyethylene (HDPE), and an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer. The adhesive tie layer is disposed between the core layer and the skin layer.
European Patent No. 1 614 699 provides a polypropylene composite film layer with 0-95 wt % of crystalline polypropylene and 5-100 wt % of propylene/1-butene random copolymer. The random copolymer contains: 60-90 mol % of propylene-derived units and 10-40 mol % of 1-butene-derived units, and has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 1 to 3, and a melting point of 40-120° C.
European Patent No. 1 541 602 discloses a propylene polymer with a propylene main chain having a stereo-block structure containing an isotactic block and a side chain containing a carboxylic acid group, an acid anhydride group or a carboxylic acid ester group. The propylene polymer main chain is obtainable by using a single site catalyst wherein the single site catalyst is a C1-symmetric ansa-metallocene compound having a transition metal-containing bridge group.
Other patents and publications of relevance to this disclosure include: European Patents 1,017,729; 629,631 and 629,632.
It would be very useful to the films industry to produce films that include tie layers with improved peel strength, greater elasticity, greater energy dissipation and lower interfacial tension with ethylene-based polar polymers and polar modified polyolefins of the skin layer, such as ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH).

Multi-layer films comprising propylene-based polymers


A phthalate-free long-lasting nail polish enamel composition consisting essentially of a film-forming agent, solvents, one or more colorants, one or more suspending agents, adhesion promoters and plasticizers selected from the group consisting essentially of the adipates, pentaerythrityl tetrabenzoate, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate, pentaerythrityl tetraacetate and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the nail composition is free of any toluene-containing components as well.

Cosmetics and their use as decorative applications for the human body have been in existence for centuries and are used extensively throughout the world. A multibillion dollar industry, cosmetics perform many different functions from lipstick to eyeliner, facial creams, powders, highlighters and nail polishes or lacquers. Although they are used primarily by women, their use is extraordinary and has made many of the cosmetic producing and marketing firms very profitable endeavors.
The nail polish sector of the cosmetic industry is extremely competitive and new colors, combinations and variations thereof are constantly being introduced in an attempt by the formulator to get and hold onto a bigger piece of the market share. The scientific research that is poured into these endeavors is considerable and new products and/or brand names are continually being introduced.
Nail polishes are essentially comprised of pigments and/or dyes that are incorporated and suspended in various solvents and bases. They must also be stabilized in suspension since if during the shelf life of the product the pigments should float, settle, separate or striate the product's appearance will be adversely affected. Nail polishes should also be formulated so that the film formed thereby is tough and durable and adheres to the human nail and will not readily crack, chip, peel or splinter when worn. This toughness should last for an extended time as well so that the polish enamel is durable.
Nail enamels conventionally comprise a film forming component, which is frequently nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate butyrate, or a combination of one or both of those cellulosics with a polyurethane or other polymeric compound. Nail enamels have also traditionally included plasticizers, typically a phthalate such as dibutyl phthalate, or camphor, and have also typically included as an adhesion promoter, a polymeric component formed by the condensation polymerization of formaldehyde or other aldehyde, typically an aromatic sulfonamide-aldehyde condensation resin such as o, .rho.-toluene sulfonamide formaldehyde resin, or a polyester resin such as phthalic anhydride trimellitic anhydride/glycol copolymer.
It has very recently become desirable to produce a nail enamel with reduced amounts of phthalate and aldehyde (e.g., formaldehyde) condensation products, in order to alleviate concerns that some wearers may be sensitized to these compounds or uncondensed aldehyde in the nail enamel. It is also desirable to reduce any volatile components since the volatility results in a loss of the component through evaporation which causes variability in the performance of the nail enamel. However, attempts to formulate such nail enamels have encountered difficulties because the nail enamel's desired properties such as long wear, high gloss, resistance to chipping on the nail, and compatibility with other nail enamel ingredients, are sensitive to changes in the ingredients in the nail enamel and to changes in the amounts of those ingredients. Therefore, there is still a need for a nail enamel formulation exhibiting satisfactory properties and containing little or no phthalate and/or aldehyde condensation products.
The prior art concerning nail enamels and/or lacquers strives to provide a nail enamel that exhibits superior suspension and stability characteristics for long shelf life duration as well as a high gloss, brilliant color and sheen that won't chip or crack during use and will withstand household chemical and temperature environments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,484 to Castrogiovanni et al discloses and claims a number of glycerol triesters useful as plasticizers in nail polish compositions. The formulation further comprises a film-forming component, a solvent, pigments and other optional compounds as is known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,670 also to Castrogiovanni et al. discloses similar nail compositions comprised of glycerol triacetates and trioctanoates as the plasticizers of choice. U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,185 also to Castrogiovanni et al. similarly discloses novel nail lacquers in which the formulation is free of formaldehyde and phthalate and the plasticizer is comprised of a copolymer formed by the condensation polymerization of formaldehyde and/or other aldehyde, typically an aromatic sulfonamide-aldehyde condensation resin. U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,155 also to Castrogiovanni et al. discloses further improved nail lacquers with glycerol triacetylricinoleate and glycerol tribenzoate as the plasticizers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,966 to Khamis discloses still further nail polish formulations comprising improved pigment suspension systems. More specifically, the suspensions comprise carboxylic acids and their salts with a resin carrier in a buffered coating process that allegedly yields a hydrophobic coating with increased dispersion characteristics. Surprisingly, these suspensions allegedly don't effect the uniform dispersion of the pigments or the gloss and color of the nail polish enamel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,996 to Weber et al. discloses nail enamels with improved floatation, migration and settlement characteristics. These improved features are achieved by coating the pigments with oxidized polyethylene.
None of the prior art nail polish compositions have been able to exhibit a high gloss, defined color, long wear and chip resistance and yet retain nail flexibility and adherence over extended periods of time. More specifically, none of the prior art formulations achieve this goal while at the same time providing a phthalate-free plasticizer that, during wear, retains its durability and prevents the enamel from hardening and becoming more brittle which invariably results in the cracking and breaking of the nail coating.

Phthalate free nail polish enamel composition


The invention is directed to a take-down and control device intended to be used by police officers when violent subjects need to be controlled before being arrested. The device consists of an elongated rod which slides in a tube. The rod at one of its ends has a hook that can be hooked around a subject's leg while the tube on its end that is close to the hook on the rod has an upstanding and curved plate having a general plane which is 90.degree. offset from the plane of the hook. After the hook is hooked around a subject's leg, the tube will be slid down on the rod until the curved plate engages the subject's leg at a point on the leg which is opposite of the point on the leg where the hook has been engaged. A ratchet mechanism on the tube keeps the tube and rod in a locked position. A T-handle on the other end of the rod allows the officer to twist the device in various directions until the subject loses his balance and is thereby taken down and can be controlled. The device is of a sufficient length to always keep the officer at a safe distance from the subject.

This invention pertains to a device that is particularly useful for policemen while performing their duties. Their duties include the apprehension of criminals and persons exhibiting antisocial behavior. The majority of individuals that are being arrested are under the influence of alcohol or drugs or both. If the individual is under the influence of crack or PCP, the only way to subdue that person is to use a choke hold (arm bar) to occlude both carotid arteries. This deprives the brain of oxygen and induces unconsciousness. Although most law enforcement agencies have forbidden the use of this method, an individual officer, faced with his own survival, probably will use it.
The officer's liability exposure is only a secondary consideration when personal safety is at risk. It is a known fact that individuals that are under the influence of alcohol or drugs and when faced with imminent arrest tend to become very violent and will resist arrest. Even some individuals that are not under the influence of any substances may become violent when being arrested because of their explosive temperament.
Therefore, the police officer in any of the above noted circumstances always faces great personal harm to himself because of being in close proximity to the individual facing arrest.
Many methods are being used to aid the officer in subduing the above noted individuals such as using maze, pepper spray or tazers including the officer's own night stick. However, all of the above noted methods still place the officer in close proximity of the individuals about to be arrested. Additionally, the officer, as well as the department under which auspices the officer operate, is faced with liabilities when personal harm befalls the individual about to be arrested which has been documented many times. If the officer can operate from a safe distance, his own confidence is strengthened.


Magnetic nanoparticles are applicable in imaging, diagnosis, therapy, and biomaterial separation. The magnetic nanoparticles comprise a core represented as FexMavZy and a shell of an inner-transition element Mb or the compound thereof, wherein Ma is an inner-transition element, Z is an element of the group Vla, x is greater or equal to 0, and v, y are positive numbers. The surface of the shell is optionally modified by liposome, polymer, aliphatic compound, aromatic compound or combinations thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to magnetic nanoparticles applicable in imaging, diagnosis, therapy and biomaterial separation, and more particularly to magnetic nanoparticles suitable for use as contrast agents in Magnetic Resonance Imaging and a fabrication method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the biotechnology field, magnetic nanoparticles are applicable in imaging, diagnosis, therapy, biomaterial separation and so on. It is used, for example, in imaging as a contrast agent or a tracer to enhance the imaging contrast or to trace the presence of a certain disease. Furthermore, magnetic nanoparticles are also applicable in drug delivery and cancer therapy.
Currently, a number of image analysis techniques such as Computer Topography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and ultrasound (US) are applied in disease diagnosis. The popular analysis technique of computer topography employs an X-ray to image for example, a human body by X-ray diffraction of various tissues with various densities. In addition, a contrast agent may be added during analysis to enhance the contrast among different tissues or organs. However, the radiation of X-rays may bring undesired side effects, thus Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been provided as an alternative analysis technique.
Magnetic resonance imaging is capable of showing selectively image several different characteristics of tissues. The level of tissue magnetization at specific signal recording times during the MR imaging cycle generally determines the brightness of a particular tissue in the MRI images. Contrast is produced when tissues do not have the same level of magnetization. There are three primary magnetic characteristics of tissue that are the source of image contrast. Two of these are associated with the longitudinal magnetization. They are proton density and T1, the longitudinal relaxation time. The third characteristic is associated with the transverse magnetization. It is T2, the transverse relaxation time.
Diagnosis of brain disorders has been markedly improved by using MRI, which can delineate detailed anatomic structures with excellent tissue contrast on T1, T2, and proton density-weighted images; however, the inherent tissue characteristics do not always produce adequate contrast for some clinical applications. The administer materials that will alter the magnetic characteristics within specific tissues or anatomical regions, and can disclose abnormal enhancement after intravenous administration of contrast agents due to brain-blood-barrier (BBB) disruption. Advanced MR imaging technique, which can detect in vivo physiological changes in human brain, such as water diffusion, blood volume and blood flow have been implemented in clinical MR scanners.
Certain materials are susceptible to magnetic field and become magnetized when located in field. The orbital electrons in the atom rather than magnetic properties of the nucleus determine the susceptibility of a material. Contrast agents used in MRI are generally based on susceptibility effects. Using dynamic susceptibility contrast technique takes the advantage of T2 signal changes during the first-pass of a bolus of contrast agents. Hemodynamic parameters can then be calculated in terms of cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF) and mean transit time (MTT) for diagnosis in clinical.
MRI provides a non-invasive diagnosis. An MRI with contrast agent enhancement increases sensitivity and specificity of imaging in many cases particularly when relaxation times among different tissues are similar.
MRI contrast agents can be classified differently according to their magnetic properties (paramagnetic, ferromagnetic or superparamagnetic). However, current commercial MRI contrast agents employing magnetic nanoparticles have poor specificity and their contrast enhancement could be improved.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,767 discloses iron oxide doped with an isotope, such as, 155Gd, 156Gd, or 157Gd. Pure isotopes, however, are much higher in cost than a natural isotope mixture. Further, the doping ratio and its effect on improving magnetization or transverse relaxivity (r2) are not discussed. The core/shell structure of the disclosed is a metal core coated by an organic molecular shell.
J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 79, No. 8, page 4869-4871 discloses lanthanide and boron oxide-coated α-Fe particles. The shell of the particles comprises inner-transition metal, and further comprises boron oxide as B2O3.
Similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,767, Appl. Phys. Lett. Vol. 78, No. 23, page 3651-3653 discloses a CoFe2O4 nanoparticle doped with lanthanide ions. The CoFe2O4 nanoparticles are only doped with lanthanide ions, and the lanthanide ions do not form a shell coating on the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles.

Core-shell magnetic nanoparticles comprising an inner-transition element

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A Call Alerting and Control System is provided in a communication environment to allow an Internet user (“user”) approximately real-time monitoring of information about an incoming call from a calling party while maintaining a connection with the Internet. The monitored information can include the calling party's name and telephone number. The system could also allow the user to provide an answering machine-type message to the calling party and the user to listen to the calling party's response to the message while still connected to the Internet. The system can further allow the user to reroute, answer or otherwise treat the incoming call while, at the user's discretion, either maintaining or disconnecting a connection to the Internet.

Many Internet users today connect their computers to the Internet over their telephone lines. As more information and services are available over the World Wide Web on the Internet, users spend more time connected to the Internet and thus occupying their telephone lines. If an Internet user has only a single telephone line, callers trying to reach such a user can encounter a busy signal for extended periods of time. Available Call Waiting services that typically allow a subscriber to answer an incoming call from a second party while conversing with a first party cannot be used while a user is connected to an Internet call. The Internet connecting software requires that the call waiting service be temporarily deactivated. Thus, the user is unaware of the incoming call.
Some systems today allow a user to view information about an incoming call when the user is connected to the Internet. Such information, however, is often limited. Information about the incoming call is often unavailable because the caller is out of the user's area or the caller has disabled the identification function. To answer the call, the user must disconnect from the Internet, and the call may turn out to be unimportant relative to the user's Internet session. Or, the user may use an answering service to prompt the caller of the incoming call to leave a message. The user will be unable to review, however, the incoming message until some time after the Internet session is discontinued.
Thus, there is a need for a system that addresses the above-mentioned problems.

Method and system of screening and control of telephone calls while using a packet-switched data network


A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a plurality of ECL gate groups. Each gate group includes a plurality of ECL gates each having a constant current source formed by a MOS transistor circuit. Each gate group also includes one gate voltage control circuit. When the gate voltage control circuit receives a signal indicating a selection state for the group, it applies a high potential bias voltage to the MOS transistor circuits of all the ECL gates within the gate group. On the other hand, when it receives a signal indicating a non-selection state, it applies a low potential bias voltage (GND potential) to them, thereby lowering the constant current to the minimum necessary amount. The circuit is capable of largely saving the current consumption by controlling the bias voltage for the MOS transistor circuits in two steps depending on the selection state or the non-selection state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device and, more particularly, to a semiconductor integrated circuit device having an ECL wired-OR circuit, constituted by a BiCMOS circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An ECL circuit ("Emitter Coupled Logic" circuit) has a smaller logical amplitude, about 800 mV.about.1,600 mV, as compared with that of a CMOS circuit since in such ECL circuit a pair of bipolar transistors whose emitters are commonly connected operate as a differential amplifier. Due to the operation of small logical amplitude, a delay caused by wiring resistance and wiring capacitance is small, so that such ECL circuit is widely adopted in a semiconductor integrated circuit device which requires super high speed operation.
FIG. 8 shows a basic circuit of such ECL circuit. The ECL basic circuit shown in FIG. 8 comprises two stages. The first stage is a differential amplifier stage DA that is composed of a bipolar transistor Q10 which receives at its base an input signal from a terminal A, a bipolar transistor Q20 which receives at its base a reference voltage VR10 whose threshold level is set at a mid-point between a high level and a low level of the input signal, and a constant current circuit CS10 which is formed by a bipolar transistor Q30 and a resistor R30. The second stage is an emitter follower stage EF that is composed of bipolar transistors Q40 and Q50, which receive signals from load resistors R10 and R20 in the differential amplifier stage DA, and a constant current circuit CS20 which is formed by bipolar transistors Q60, Q70 and resistors R40, R50. One output terminal A' is connected to the emitter of the transistor Q40 and the other output terminal A' is connected to the emitter of the transistor Q50.
Signals which are in phase and in opposite phase with respect to the input signal are forwarded out from the output terminals A' and A', respectively, to the succeeding stage. The constant current circuit CS20 in the emitter follower stage EF operates to discharge the load capacitance connected parasitically to the output terminals A' and A' and to cause the output terminal A' or A' to change from its high potential to its low potential. The value of constant current which flows in the constant current circuit CS20 in the emitter-follower stage EF is generally in the range of about 0.2 mA.about.0.6 mA although it depends on the value of load capacitance.
FIG. 1 shows an example wherein the above described ECL circuit is embodied in a semiconductor memory and a decoder circuit outputs sixteen decoder signals on the basis of four address input signals. In FIG. 1, an address buffer a, which is composed of an ECL circuit, receives such as an address input signal X0 and outputs such as signals X0' and X0' of in phase and in opposite phase with respect to the input signal X0, respectively. The bipolar transistors Q3 and Q4 are of multi-emitter configuration. The bipolar transistor Q3 supplies the opposite phase signal X0' with respect to the input signal X0 to signal lines 1 and 2, and the bipolar transistor Q4 supplies the in-phase signal X0' with respect to the input signal X0 to signal lines 3 and 4. Likewise, also from another address buffer a, from which another address signal X1 is supplied, the signals X1' and X1' are outputted by two lines for each. The in-phase signals X1' is supplied to the signal lines 1 and 3, and the opposite phase signal X1' is supplied to the signal lines 2 and 4. The relation between the potentials of such signal lines 1.about.4 and the address signals X0 and X1 is explained below.
Consideration is made for the case where both the address input signals X0 and X1 are of ECL level low potentials (usually, when the maximum potential is to be Vcc=0 V, a high potential and a low potential of the input signal are assumed to be respectively -1.6 V and -2.4 V, and a reference voltage VR1 is assumed to be -2.0 V). As to the signal lines 1.about.4, as shown in FIG. 1, the emitter follower outputs of two paired signals each of the paired signals X0', X0' and X1', X1' are wired-OR connected. The signal X0' and X1' are of low potential and the signal X0' and X1' are of high potential. Consequently, only the signal line 3, to which the signals X0' and X1' are connected, is of low potential, and since at least one of the address buffer output signals X0', X0', X1' and X1' is of high potential, the other signal lines (1, 2 and 4) become high potential. That is, a selected signal line becomes low potential. In FIG. 1, the same is true in the relation between the input address signals X2, X3 and the signal lines 5.about.8, so that the selected one line among the signal lines 5.about.8 becomes low potential.
Next, the theory that one gate is selected by such signal lines 1.about.8 among the sixteen ECL gates b is explained. In the 2-input ECL gate b, an output becomes a logical NOR output. In FIG. 1, the bipolar transistor Q5 of the ECL gate b is connected with one line among the four signal lines 1.about.4, and the bipolar transistor Q6 is connected with one line among the four signal lines 5.about.8. The sixteen ECL gates b each having a first input terminal and a second input terminal are divided into four groups of the ECL gate groups b-1.about.b-4. For instance, to each of the first input terminals of the four 2-input ECL gates b in the ECL gate group b-1, the signals of the signal lines each selected from among the signal lines 1.about.4 in accordance with the address input signals X0 and X1, are inputted, respectively. And, to each of the second input terminals of the above four 2-input ECL gates b, the signal on the signal line 5 which is selected from among the signal lines 5.about.8 on the basis of the input signals X2 and X3 is commonly inputted. Likewise, the signal lines 1.about.4 are respectively connected to each of the first input terminals of the four ECL gates b included in the respective ECL gate groups b-2.about.b-4. The signal line 6 is commonly connected to the second input terminals of the four 2-input ECL gates b in the gate group b-2, the signal line 7 is commonly connected to the second input terminals of the four 2-input ECL gates b in the gate group b-3, and the signal line 8 is commonly connected to the second input terminals of the four 2-input ECL gates b in the gate group b-4. As described above, among the signal lines 1.about.4 only one signal line becomes low potential and among the signal line 5.about.8 only one signal line becomes low potential, and all the other remaining signal lines become high potential. As a result, by the signal lines 5.about.8, one gate group is selected from among the ECL gates groups b-1.about.b-4. For instance, when the signal line 5 is selected and is of low potential while other signal lines 6.about.8 are of high potential, all the ECL gates b other than those included in the ECL gate group b-1 output low potential. Since the signal line 5 is of low potential and is commonly connected to the four ECL gates b included in the gate group b-1, each of the output potentials of these four ECL gates b is decided by the potentials of the signal lines 1.about.4. Now, for instance, when the signal line 1 is selected and becomes low potential since X0 is high potential and X1 is low potential, only the terminal 11 among the output terminals of the ECL gates b becomes high potential and other output terminals 21, 31 and 41 become low potential. In this way. only one ECL gate is selected from among the sixteen ECL gates in accordance with a combination of the levels of the address input signals X0, X1, X2 and X3.
The foregoing has explained as to how the particular one ECL gate is selected by means of the wired-OR connection of the emitter follower outputs. Now, power consumption that comes a problem when the ECL gates are used is explained. In the CMOS and BiCMOS gates, a direct current does not flow under the steady-state output, so that no power is consumed therein. Therefore, in the case where the CMOS gates or the BiCMOS gates are used for a decoder circuit, the power consumption thereby is not necessary to be taken into consideration under the steady state. However, in the case of the ECL gate, a certain power on a constant current is consumed constantly irrespective of the output state of the ECL gate because the output is taken out by having the divided current of the constant current source flow into a pair of bipolar transistors (right and left in the drawings) forming the differential amplifier. Such consumption of current is very large when a decoder is constituted by the ECL gates. In the conventional decoder circuit shown in FIG. 1, for example, one of the ECL gates b alone consumes usually 0.5 mA of the constant current (the constant current circuit being composed of a bipolar transistor Q9 and a resistor R4). Since the number of the ECL gates b are sixteen, the decoder circuit in the part concerned consumes 0.5 mA.times.16=8 mA. In the actual 16K bit ECL RAM, the memory cell array is arranged, for instance, in a matrix form of 128.times.128, hence 256 ECL gates. Therefore, the consumption of power reaches even half the power consumption of the entire 16K bit ECL RAM and this has been a great problem to a high integration density of the semiconductor devices.
The decoder circuit using the conventional ECL gates as explained above involves large current consumption since a constant current continues to flow there regardless of the potential in the output terminal, that is, whether it is in a select state or a non-select state. Such a characteristic of the circuit has been one of the causes hindering a high density of integration of the semiconductor devices.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device having ECL gate group circuits and gate voltage control circuits


A hydraulic coupling and method for producing such having a tubing with an end portion of a tubing wall outwardly bent and return bent upon itself to form a flattened double flanged end. The method of production using three separate press hits to secure a sleeve to the tubing, to form an annular V-shaped flange in the tubing wall and to compact the V-shaped flange into a flattened double flanged end.

The connection fitting of this invention creates an improved sealing action by using a tubing with a special flattened double flanged end. The flattened double flange end seals with a O-ring seal retained in an annular recess in the end face of a mating male connector. The flattened double flanged end is formed by doubling over and flattening a portion of the tubing wall against a collar fitting or sleeve. This flattened double walled flange design has several advantages over flat single flanged fittings. The flattened double walled flange guard against failure and provide increased strength over a single walled flange. The flattened double flanged end accommodates conventional fittings and does not require any special connectors, fittings or tooling for use in existing applications. Improvements in conventional fittings often require special fittings and tooling.
The improved flattened double flanged end is produced using a machine press with a unique three press hit method. A sleeve is loosely positioned on the end of the tubing with a portion of the tubing wall protruding beyond the sleeve. The length of the extending wall is approximately equal to twice the intended flange height. The tube and sleeve are firmly secured within the machine press by a set of specially designed clamp dies. The clamp dies hold the tubing and sleeve in the proper position.
Using three separate press hits with three separate contact dies, the machine press expands the tubing wall against the face of the sleeve, flares an end portion of the tubing wall and presses the flaring into a flattened end flange. Each contact die has a center pilot and a contact face. The first contact die has an inwardly inclined conical contact face. On the first press hit, the press drives the pilot of the first contact die into the end of the tubing. The slightly larger diameter of the center pilot expands tubing walls against the sleeve's inner bore to secure the sleeve to the tube. In the last distance of travel of the stroke in the first press hit, the exposed tubing end contacts the inclined contact face of the contact die crimping the tubing wall outward into a shallow U-shaped flange bubble.
The second press hit uses a second contact die. The second contact die is comprised of a conical contact face with a greater incline angle relative to the center pilot than the first contact die. The hit stroke further flares the U-shaped flange in the tubing walls. The final press hit uses a third contact die with a flat contact face. The third press hit compacts the flared U-shape flange bubble and drives the tubing wall into a recess in the contact face to form the flattened double flange. The pilot of the second and third contact dies simply prevent the tubing walls from intruding into the conduit opening.
The use of this method to produce the flattened double flanged end is well suited for production application because the entire tooling process can be performed within a very short period of time. The impact method also eliminates any complicated machining or forming. The simplicity of the impact press also decreases the failure rate, while allowing for mass quantity production.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a novel and unique flanged connection fitting.
Another object of this invention is to provide a tubing with a flattened double flanged end for use as a connection fitting.
Another object of this invention is to provide a method of efficiently producing a tubing with a flattened double flanged end for use as a connection fitting.
Other objects will become obvious upon a reading of the following specification taken along with the drawings.

Method of producing a tubing for use as a flow conduit


A translation system includes translation subsystems by a plurality of translation policies with different translation output tendencies, performs forward translation and reverse translation by a consistent translation policy, and ranks the plurality of translation policies based on a similarity between the reverse translation sentences and the original sentence. As a result, a translation policy that best matches each input object to be translated is selected from the plurality of translation policies for each input sentence and, as a consequence, it is possible to cover a wide range of natures of sentences to be translated.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a translation method and a translation system that translate an input expression into an expression in another language.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a system that outputs a plurality of translation sentences when performing machine translation from a first language to a second language. Moreover, there is a system that automatically evaluates the reliability of the translation sentence. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-53683, a technique of outputting N-best translation sentences in statistical machine translation is disclosed. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-78132, a technique of calculating the degree of similarity between a reverse translation sentence obtained by performing reverse translation (from a second language to a first language) of a translation sentence and a pre-translation original sentence and using the degree of similarity for the evaluation of the reliability of the translation sentence is disclosed.

Translation method and translation system for translating input expression into expression in another language

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA


A method and apparatus providing an imaging device with a system of convex and concave microlenses at different levels over an array of photosensors. The concave microlenses redirect leaking light, which is not directed by the convex lenses onto the photosensors, onto the photosensors.

Imaging devices, including charge coupled devices (CCD) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, among others, have commonly been used in photo-imaging applications. Non-limiting examples of CMOS imaging circuits, processing steps for fabrication thereof, and the functions of their components are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,630 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,868 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,366 to Rhodes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,652 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,524 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,205 to Rhodes, and U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0198008.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of a conventional four-transistor pixel cell 120 which may be used in a CMOS imaging device. During an integration period, light strikes the photosensor 124 to generate charges stored within an accumulation region of the photosensors. After the integration period and in response to a charge transfer signal TX, a charge transfer transistor 128 gates the photogenerated charges from the accumulation region to a storage node 126 which may be configured as a floating diffusion region. The transferred charges bias the gate, of a source follower transistor 132, which has a first terminal connected to a voltage source 130 (e.g., VDD) and a second terminal that transmits an output signal Vout indicating the amount of charge stored in the floating diffusion region 126. In response to a row select signal ROW, a row select transistor 134 gates the output signal Vout to a column line 136. In operation, the storage node 126 is reset by a turning on a reset transistor 142 connecting the voltage source 130 and the storage node 126, and a reset signal Vrst is consequently output as the output signal Vout. When the photosensor charge is transferred to the storage node 126 an image signal Vsig is output as the output signal Vout.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of a conventional CMOS imager system 40. As shown, the imager system 40 includes a pixel array 30 is connected to a row decoder/selector 42 and column bus 43 and a timing and control circuit 44 for controlling the row decoder/selector 42 and column bus 43. The output signals Vout (Vrst, Vsig) of the pixel cells are read out row-by-row. During readout, each pixel cell of a selected row transmits an output signal Vout, via its respective column line 136, to the column bus 43. The output signals Vout include the reset signal Vrst and the image signal Vsig, each of which are sent to a sample and hold circuit 45 controlled by the timing and control circuit 44. After the sample and hold circuit 45 acquires the reset Vrst and image Vsig signals for a pixel cell, those signals Vrst, Vsig are converted to a differential signal (Vrst-Vsig) by a differential amplifier 46, the differential signal (Vrst-Vsig) is digitized by a digitizer 47, and the digital pixel data is provided to an image processor 48.
FIG. 3 is a cross-section view illustrating a non-limiting example of a portion of a conventional microlens system 200, which may be used for a pixel array of an imaging device, including, but not limited to, that shown in FIG. 2. The FIG. 3 cross section is taken across a row of alternates red and green pixels in pixel array 30. As shown, respective convex microlenses 112 and color filters R, G of a Bayer color filter array are provided to each of two illustrated pixel cells 120 separated by isolation trenches 154. The Bayer color filter pattern provides a red, green, or blue filter to the pixel cells of a pixel array, such that only light of a respective wavelength range passes through a filter for detection. During image capture, a camera lens 111 transmits light of an image to the underlying convex microlenses 112, which in turn direct the light onto respective photosensors 124 of the pixel cells 120. In FIG. 3, for example, an incident light beam Lla is transmitted from point A of the camera lens 111 to the microlens 112 of the green pixel, and the light is then redirected as light beam L1b through the green filter G and onto to the right-side photosensor 124. When light contacts the photosensor 124 having a p-type region 124a and underlying n-type region 124b forming a photodiode, photogenerated electrons accumulate in the n-type region 124b.
Light may enter a desired pixel cell 120 but still fail to reach a respective photosensor 124. This may result, for example, from imperfections in the camera lens 111 and microlenses 112, from the arrangement of the camera lens 111 and microlenses 112, or from internal refractions within upper fabrication layers of an integrated circuit containing the pixel array 30. In FIG. 3, the camera lens 111 transmits a light beam L2a (again from point A) at an angle askew to the lens axis 113 of the receiving microlens 112. Consequently, the light beam L1a is redirected as a "leaking" light beam L2a (i.e., a light beam which is not aimed by a microlens 112 at a photosensor 124) and will not be detected. A microlens system for redirecting leaking light is desired.

Method and apparatus providing concave microlenses for semiconductor imaging devices


A phone application state management mechanism is described. The mechanism adopts the state storage format widely known as “Cookies” to store information in a cross-application standard format. Cookies for multiple users are stored on a single machine that retrieves phone applications using a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). Suitable state information for a particular user is automatically retrieved in connection with HTTP requests. Further, by phone based applications can set the values of suitable cookies. An enforced access policy can be used to prevent an application provided by a first legal entity from accessing state information stored by an application provided by another legal entity. The approach can also be used to reduce the passing of telephone identifying information between applications for user identification purposes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of electronic commerce. In particular, the invention relates to technologies for managing state in telephone applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following describes various techniques used in telephone systems to provide enhanced user features. First, telephone identifying information will be discussed. Many telephone systems that support enhanced user features use telephone identifying information as a basic component.
1. Telephone Identifying Information
The advent of automatic number identification (ANI) and calling number identification (CNID, CLID, or CID) within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) has supported the creation of a number of services that use these pieces of telephone identifying information. Comparable systems may be used in other numbering plans and countries to support similar services.
For example, when consumers receive credit cards in the mail, they have to call from their home telephone numbers to activate the cards. This is a typical use of ANI. In this instance, the credit card company matches the ANI information provided when the consumer calls to a previously provided telephone number. If the ANI matches the credit card company's records, the credit card company activates the card.
2. Cookies
Cookies are the colloquial term for the "HTTP State Management Mechanism" that as more fully defined in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request For Comment (RFC) 2109.
In a similar vein, a modified standard is being developed for proxy state management. See "HTTP Proxy State Management Mechanism" draft proposal to the IETF.
3. Storing State In Telephony Applications
Previous techniques have identified and personalized a user's phone experience through ANI, or other phone-specific device identification information, e.g. telephone identifying information. Alternatively, or in some cases additionally, an explicit user identifier and/or password had to be provided to the application. Then, the individual applications could maintain appropriate state information keyed to that ANI, or user identifier. The state information itself was stored in an application specific, e.g. proprietary, format.
Previous techniques do not preserve privacy of user information if multiple phone applications from different legal entities are provided. Previous techniques do not provide a uniform programming interface for developers of phone applications to store state information. Previous techniques do not provide transparent and persistent access to stored state information. Previous techniques do not allow existing web-based applications to be ported to phone applications that share a common back end and state management mechanism.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method and apparatus for providing state management for telephone applications that can operate in environments with applications provided by multiple legal entities and support multiple users from a single telephone and multiple telephones for a given user, provide a transparent and persistent state management mechanism, and provide easy porting of web based applications to telephone applications.

Phone application state management mechanism