A valve plate assembly is provided with a valve restraint for maintaining a valve within a recessed portion of the valve plate. The valve restraint further includes an irregular surface which contacts the surface of the valve when the assembly is in use, for example, in a compressor. The irregular surface may include through-holes at least partially through the surface which contacts the valve or may be a textured surface which contacts the valve during use. The valve plate includes a recessed portion having guides for receiving notched sections in the sidewalls of the valve and valve restraint.

The present invention generally relates to a valve assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flapper valve with a valve restraint on a valve plate for a piston compressor.
Typically, a valve plate is attached to a compressor cylinder block and has intake and discharge ports to the cylinder. The intake valve is mounted on the underside of the valve plate while the discharge valve is located on the top surface of the valve plate.
Reed valves are generally used to regulate intake and discharge port openings in alternative fashion where each port requires a separate valve. The reed valves are generally made of thin, resilient metal leaves and are held in place in a cantilever fashion by rivets, small screws, or by other suitable clamping means.
A reed valve assembly is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,490 in which the reed valve arrangement has a base formed by two rigid members between which an intermediate portion of the reed is sandwiched. One of the rigid members has a downstream facing seat for the intake port while the other of the rigid members has a downstream facing seat for the discharge port. This arrangement allows for a single reed to be utilized wherein one free end thereof acts as an intake valve member while the other free end serves as a discharge valve member.
Material requirements for the above-mentioned arrangement are extensive since two valve plates are used with the reed member sandwiched between the two base members. The recesses of the base member must then be manufactured in complimentary fashion in order for the reed to flex freely within the recess.
Also known from commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/889,254 filed May 26, 1992, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,125 to Leu is a valve plate having a flapper valve and a valve restraint mounted in a recess of the valve plate. The valve restraint prevents the flapper valve from moving outside of the recess so that it does not come in contact with, for example, a piston in a compressor cylinder. The restraint also provides better valve efficiency and lowers the stresses on the flapper valve. The recess in the valve plate provides for an error proof assembly of the flapper valve and the restraint in the valve plate. It is thereby insured that the flapper valve has its inherently curved surface pressed against the valve plate.
Guides are provided in the recess to eliminate the need for additional fixtures to position the flapper valve and valve restraint over the port in the valve plate. Furthermore, recessed intake ports eliminate the need for a screw clearance recess in the piston top and also allow any 90.degree. orientation of the valve plate and head.
Furthermore, the exhaust recess reduces clearance volume to offset the increase caused by the intake recess. The exhaust recess allows for the addition of sound-reducing/filtering material or baffles in the head without interfering with the valve movement and sealing. The valve plate assembly including flapper valve and valve restraint of Leu, however, has the drawback that the valve restraint typically adheres to the flapper valve when in use. As a result, the flapper valve may stick to the underside of the restraint and may not return to the sealed position.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved valve restraint for use with a valve plate having a flapper valve to overcome the deficiency of the prior art systems.


An electroluminescent wire includes a continuous base wire, plated with a metal modified layer. The metal wire is coated with a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is coated with a luminous layer made of electroluminescent powder added with YAG to emit light. The luminous layer is coated with a transparent conductive layer. The surface of the conductive layer connects to 1 to 4 protective conductive wires, and all are enclosed by a fluoroplastics layer. The fluoroplastics layer is enclosed by a plurality of transparent and translucent colorized plastic tubes. Fluorescent dye or paint and scattering agent or glass microballons are added into at least one layer of the plastic tubes respectively. AC is applied between the metal modified layer and outer protective conductive wire.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a kind of luminous display device, and more particularly, relates to an electroluminescent wire which utilizes electric field for light emitting purposes.
2. Description of Related Arts
Theoretically, an electroluminescent wire has the same luminous principle compared with the powder electroluminescent device, wherein the electroluminescent material is mainly the luminous material of II to VI groups. The luminous material will emit composite lights in the electric field. Furthermore, the luminous material consists of microcrystalline powder of 5 to 30 micron, in which a quantity of emitting line pairs existed so as to ensure the light emitting in the evenly distributed electric field.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,485,355, 5,869,930, 6,400,093, EP0693803A, JP7-235375, CN ZL01250547.1, and CN ZL01251151.X respectively described the structure of the electroluminescent devices, wherein the metal wire is exclusively used a base wire, durable moisture-proof green luminous material is used as light emitting material, ITO material is used as the transparent conductive layer, PVC plastic is used as sealing layer, and colorized organic fluorescer are used for coloring purposes. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,585,673, 5,156,885, and ZL01138921.4 also disclosed complex wrapping techniques for luminous material in the electroluminescent wire.
More or less, the luminous wires disclosed by prior arts have the following drawbacks:                A) The electroluminescent wire cannot be used independently for light emitting purposes. For example, it must be mounted or embedded into a certain surface. That is to say, it needs a groove, clip, glue, or bracket for positioning purposes. This greatly limits its application in all perspectives.        B) The white light is realized by adding pink organic dye into electroluminescent powder. However, such method is not stable, and the final product is short-lived. What is worse, the color purity is not well. Whenever the electroluminescent wire was exposed outside for 10 days or continuously being performed over 100 hours, the organic dye would have been fade, thus resulting white light changed into green or light blue, and leading other colors changed.        C) Due to the fact that PVC or PE is used as sealing material, the moisture-proof and durability function would not be guaranteed. As a result, the moisture-proof green luminous material, having a longer life span have to be used thus causing the overall costs of the luminous wire unnecessarily increased and manufacturing procedure complicated.        D) Since the transparent conductive layer uses ITO making of In2O3 and its dopant, its cost would be rather expensive and susceptible under bad weather. Therefore, such luminous wires are always kept within a low temperature refrigerator for maintaining a relatively short three-month storage life span.        E) The weight and hardness of the base wire would limit the applications of such luminous wires.
The present inventor has improved the durability, color stability, and structure of the electroluminescent wire for several times respectively in Chinese patents CN96118930.4, 98122739.2, 0018424.5, 01133342.1. However, the shortcomings of the traditional luminous wires still existed. For instances, the manufacturing process is still complex and the adhesion between the dielectric layer and the luminous layer is still weak. That is to say, the improved procedure is still not suitable for mass production. On the other hand, the life span of the improved luminous wires is not stable, and such product is still from independent usage.


A process for preparing ultrafine powders of biological macromolecules comprises atomizing liquid solutions of the macromolecules, drying the droplets formed in the atomization step, and collecting the particles which result from drying. By properly controlling each of the atomization, drying, and collection steps, ultrafine dry powder compositions having characteristics particularly suitable for pulmonary delivery for therapeutic and other purposes may be prepared.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to macromolecule compositions and methods for their preparation and use. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for preparing macromolecule compositions by spray drying under controlled conditions which preserve protein purity and results in good powder dispersibility and other desirable characteristics.
Over the years, certain drugs have been sold in compositions suitable for forming a drug dispersion for oral inhalation (pulmonary delivery) to treat various conditions in humans. Such pulmonary drug delivery compositions are designed to be delivered by inhalation by the patient of a drug dispersion so that the active drug within the dispersion can reach the lung. It has been found that certain drugs delivered to the lung are readily absorbed through the alveolar region directly into blood circulation. Pulmonary delivery is particularly promising for the delivery of macromolecules (proteins, polypeptides, high molecular weight polysaccharides, and nucleic acids) which are difficult to deliver by other routes of administration. Such pulmonary delivery can be effective both for systemic delivery and for localized delivery to treat diseases of the lungs.
Pulmonary drug delivery can itself be achieved by different approaches, including liquid nebulizers, aerosol-based metered dose inhalers (MDI's), and dry powder dispersion devices. Aerosol-based MDI's are losing favor because they rely on the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), which are being banned because of their adverse effect on the ozone layer. Dry powder dispersion devices, which do not rely on CFC aerosol technology, are promising for delivering drugs that may be readily formulated as dry powders. Many otherwise labile macromolecules may be stably stored as lyophilized or spray-dried powders by themselves or in combination with suitable powder carriers.
The ability to deliver pharmaceutical compositions as dry powders, however, is problematic in certain respects. The dosage of many pharmaceutical compositions is often critical, so it is desirable that dry powder delivery systems be able to accurately, precisely, and reliably deliver the intended amount of drug. Moreover, many pharmaceutical compositions are quite expensive. Thus, the ability to efficiently formulate, process, package, and deliver the dry powders with a minimal loss of drug is critical. While the permeability of natural macromolecules in the lung is well known, the combined inefficiencies of macromolecule production processes and macromolecule delivery has limited commercialization of dry macromolecule powders for pulmonary delivery.
A particularly promising approach for the pulmonary delivery of dry powder drugs utilizes a hand-held device with a hand pump for providing a source of pressurized gas. The pressurized gas is abruptly released through a powder dispersion device, such as a venturi nozzle, and the dispersed powder made available for patient inhalation. While advantageous in many respects, such hand-held devices are problematic in a number of other respects. The particles being delivered are usually less than 5 μm in size, making powder handling and dispersion more difficult than with larger particles. The problems are exacerbated by the relatively small volumes of pressurized gas, which are available using hand-actuated pumps. In particular, venturi dispersion devices are unsuitable for difficult-to-disperse powders when only small volumes of pressurized gas are available with the handpump. Another requirement for hand-held and other powder delivery devices is efficiency. High device efficiency in delivering the drug to the patient with the optimal size distribution for pulmonary delivery is essential for a commercially viable product. Conventional techniques used to deliver medication do not have the delivery efficiency required for commercialization. The ability to achieve both adequate dispersion and small dispersed volumes is a significant technical challenge that requires that each unit dosage of the powdered composition be readily and reliably dispersible.
Spray drying is a conventional chemical processing unit operation used to produce dry particulate solids from a variety of liquid and slurry starting materials. The use of spray drying for the formulation of dry powder pharmaceuticals is known, but has usually been limited to small molecule and other stable drugs which are less sensitive to thermal degradation and other rigorous treatment conditions. The use of spray drying for the preparation of biological macromolecule compositions, including proteins, polypeptides, high molecular weight polysaccharides, and nucleic acids, can be problematic since such macromolecules are often labile and subject to degradation when exposed to high temperatures and other aspects of the spray drying process. Excessive degradation of the macromolecules can lead to drug formulations lacking in the requisite purity. It can also be difficult to control particle size and particle size distribution in compositions produced by spray drying. For pulmonary delivery, it is critical that the average particle size be maintained below 5 μm, preferably in the range from 0.4 μm to 5 μm, and that the amount of the composition comprising particles outside of the target size range be minimized. Preferably, at least 90% by weight of the powder will have a particle size in the range from 0.1 μm to 7 μm. More preferably, at least 95% will have a size in the range from 0.4 μm to 5 μm. Moreover, it can sometimes be difficult to achieve a desired low moisture content required for physical and chemical stability in the final particulate product, particularly in an economic manner. Finally, and perhaps most important, it has been difficult to produce the small particles necessary for pulmonary delivery in an efficient manner. For high value macromolecular drugs, collection efficiencies (i.e., the amount of particulate drug recovered from the process in a useable form) should be above 80% by weight, preferably above 90% by weight, and desirably above 95% by weight. While spray drying has been used to prepare powder of macromolecules in laboratory scale equipment as described below, commercial spray driers are not designed to produce powders in the pulmonary size range. The methods for atomization, drying powder, and collection must be modified to economically produce a protein powder with the desired product characteristics for pulmonary delivery and in sufficient yield and at commercially acceptable production rates (in excess of 30 g/hr).
It is therefore desirable to provide improved methods for the spray drying of macromolecules for use in pulmonary and other drug delivery. In particular, it is desirable to provide improved process methods and powder composition which address at least some of the deficiencies listed above.
2. Description of the Background Art
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,260,306, 4,590,206, GB 2 105 189, and EP 072 046 describe a method for spray drying nedocromil sodium to form small particles preferably in the range from 2 to 15 μm for pulmonary delivery. U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,386, describes the preparation of particulate polysaccharide carriers for pulmonary drug delivery, where the carriers comprise particles sized from 5 to 1000 μm and having a rugosity less than 1.75. Mumenthaler et al., (1994) Pharm. Res. 11:12 describes recombinant human growth hormone and recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator. That study demonstrated that the proteins may degrade during spray drying and hence may not retain sufficient activity for therapeutic use. WO 95/23613 describes preparing an inhalation powder of DNase by spray drying using laboratory-scale equipment. WO 91/16882 describes a method for spray drying proteins and other drugs in liposome carriers.
The following applications assigned to the assignee of the present application each describe that spray drying may be used to prepare dry powders of biological macromolecules: application Ser. No. 08/423,515, filed on Apr. 14, 1995; application Ser. No. 08/383,475, which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/207,472, filed on Mar. 7, 1994; application Ser. No. 08/472,563, filed on Apr. 14, 1995, which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/417,507, filed on Apr. 4, 1995, now abandoned, which was a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/044,358, filed on Apr. 7, 1993, now abandoned; application Ser. No. 08/232,849, filed on Apr. 25, 1994, which was a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/953,397, now abandoned. WO 94/07514 claims priority from Ser. No. 07/953,397. WO 95/24183 claims priority from Ser. Nos. 08/207,472 and 08/383,475.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dispersible macromolecule compositions and methods for their preparation and use


A method and system for tracking the presence of persons, particularly security personnel, at a predetermined location within a prescribed window of time. Persons input information at predetermined locations and this input information is transmitted to a central server. The input information is compared to predetermined parameters and alerts are provided if the input information does not fall within permissible parameters.

The use of security personnel to provide security watch services for factories, offices, buildings, and a wide variety of other institutions is a practice which goes back hundreds of years in the United States. To assure that security personnel complete their required number of appointed rounds at predetermined time intervals, a variety of verification systems have been proposed. Well known by many, and still in practice at many locations, is the use of a clocking device carried by security personnel to an array of predetermined locations (watch stations). As security personnel make their rounds, a device, typically a key located at the watch stations to be visited, is inserted into the clocking device. Each insertion of the key into the clocking device is recorded. A record extracted from the clocking device enables the security supervisor to verify that the security personnel visited predetermined locations within predetermined windows of time. While the use of a clocking device and watch station keys have been in use for many years, the problem still remains that the reporting of the rounds of the security personnel is delayed by the time necessary to physically secure the clocking device and then download and review the information describing the insertion of watch station keys into the clocking device. The most critical time for determining if security personnel have missed a watch station within a predetermined window of time is just after the watch station has been missed—not hours or days later. A need remains, therefore, for a system that provides a real-time alert to a security supervisor indicating that one or more security personnel did not visit a particular watch station within a predetermined window of time.

System and method for tracking personnel


A system-on-chip bus system includes a bus configured to connect function blocks of a system-on-chip to each other, and a clock gating unit connected to an interface unit of the bus and configured to basically gate a clock used in the operation of a bus bridge device mounted on the bus according to a state of a transaction detection signal.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a system-on-chip (SoC) and, more particularly, to a bus system in an SoC and a method of gating root clocks therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the recent trend toward the convergence of computers, communications, and broadcasting, demands on general application specific ICs (ASICs) and application specific standard products (ASSPs) have driven demand for system-on-chips (SoCs). In addition, the light-weight, thin, short, small, and high-performance trends of information technology (IT) devices have become a factor accelerating SoC industry growth.

Bus system in SoC and method of gating root clocks therefor


A chemical switch device comprising a film which irreversibly reacts upon exposure to specific chemical components in the environment under the conditions of measurement. The reactions can lead to large changes in the physical and chemical properties of the film which are measurable electrically, optically or by other methods.

The present invention relates generally to a device and method for detection of specific chemical components in an environment containing many distinct chemical species. More particularly, the present invention relates to a chemical switch device comprising a film which irreversibly reacts upon exposure to specific chemical components in the environment under the conditions of measurement. The reactions can lead to large changes in the physical and chemical properties of the film which are measurable electrically, optically or by other methods. The term "conditions of measurement" is intended to mean any environmental conditions under which a reacted or unreacted state of the device can be determined. The chemical switches are "yes-no," intrinsically binary devices that can be miniaturized, mass produced and directly incorporated into digital electronic circuits.
Typically, electrical switches, such as fuses, are used to provide a break in an electrical circuit to prevent an electrical overload. Conventional irreversible switches are thermal fuses which fail by physical breakage of the electrical path due to resistive overheating. In the electrical embodiment of the present invention, an irreversible chemical switch can exhibit a large change in physical or chemical properties upon reaction of the switch material with a specific chemical component. The apparent physical or chemical change can manifest itself as a measurable increase or decrease of resistance due to an irreversible change in the switch material from a conductor or resistor to a resistor or conductor, respectively, upon reaction with a specific chemical component. The change is irreversible under the conditions of measurement, much like a conventional electrical fuse, except that the resistance of the irreversible chemical switch can either increase or decrease upon exposure to specific chemical components. Furthermore, other properties of the device, such as optical or thermal properties, can be used to monitor the extent of the irreversible reactions. The present invention also provides methods for detection of individual chemical components, e.g., hazardous gases, in an environment using an irreversible chemical switch.
The concept of an irreversible chemical switch, based upon irreversible chemical reactions, is believed to be heretofore unknown. In contradistinction to electrical fuses, which fail by thermal breakage of a conductive element, electrical irreversible chemical switches fail upon selective reaction of a conductive or resistive material with a chemical species; with failure being indicated by an increase or decrease in resistivity of the conductive or resistive material. The reaction between the conductive or resistive material and the chemical species causes an irreversible phase change in the conductive or resistive material as the chemical species to be detected forms a new phase, such as an alloy, amalgam or a corrosion product. The phase change creates a region or zone, propagated through the bulk of the chemical switch, which causes an abrupt change in the electrical resistance, electrical conductivity or other properties of the switch material. Optimally, the rate of change in electrical or other properties is rapid and has a sufficient magnitude to provide a reliable and measurable indication of the presence of specific chemical components.
An important aspect of the invention is the incorporation of highly durable materials as a selectively reactive element for the conductive or resistive material. These materials should be capable of being engineered in thin or thick-film form as the switch materials. For example, noble metals, either in substantially pure form, or as alloys with other noble metals, are very robust, being highly chemically inert, yet can be engineered for specific chemical reactivity. It is known from the prior art, however, that some noble metals undergo reversible surface reactions with certain chemicals when heated. Noble metal thin films (films of less than approximately 10,000 .ANG. thickness), operating on the basis of surface reactions, have been used as chemical sensors for a limited number of chemical species. Another large class of chemical sensors, metal oxide semiconductor materials, are typically heated to between 300.degree. C. and 1000.degree. C. to facilitate adsorption and desorption of the chemical species on the semiconductor material. Changes in resistivity of the semiconductor material are measured to determine the presence or absence of the chemical species.
Gold thin films have been used to detect the presence of mercury vapor. McNerney, J. J., et al., Mercury Detection by Means of Thin Gold Films, Science 178:611-612 (1972) disclosed detection of mercury vapor by linear changes in resistivity in gold thin films having thicknesses of 75 .ANG. and 400 .ANG., with sheet resistivities of 2 to 10 ohms, respectively. McNerney, et al. suggest that the effects of adsorbed mercury atoms on the conductivity of gold films is a surface effect rather than a bulk alloy effect. U.S. Pat. No. 3,714,562 to McNerney, issued in 1973, (hereinafter "McNerney '562") disclosed that thin film gold layers, having a film thickness of between 75 and 1,000 .ANG., preferably between 75 and 300 .ANG., undergo resistivity changes upon exposure to mercury vapor. The patent contemplates that other thin film metals may be used to detect the presence of other chemicals to which the metal has a chemical affinity. For example, the patent teaches that silver may be used to detect iodine.
The McNerney '562 patent further teaches that if thicker metal films are used, the resistance change becomes masked by the properties of the bulk material. It is taught that the thin films referred to have a mean free path for electrons which is significantly reduced when a contaminant chemical species is adsorbed onto the film. It was found that upon exposure to mercury vapor, the gold thin film exhibited immediate increases in resistance. Over time, the rate of change in resistance increased slowly, which was believed due to amalgamation of mercury with the gold; a reaction that can be reversed by heating the gold.
The sensor described in the McNerney '562 patent consists of a glass plate substrate on which a thin layer of gold has been deposited. The gold layer is configured to provide a reasonably large surface area of gold and a reasonably long resistance path between electrical terminals.
McNerney '562 recognized that the resistance change in the molecular thickness thin film is a function of concentration of the vapors adsorbed. The change in resistivity is due to adsorption of the chemical onto the metal layer. Because the chemical is adsorbed onto the metal layer, without reaction between the gold metal and the chemical, the adsorption is reversible by heating. (Col. 5, L. 13-15). The reversibility of the adsorption is a key difference between McNerney '562 and the present invention, which provides for an irreversible reaction between the switch material and the chemical to be detected. The present invention is also distinguished by the use of switch materials which can cause resistance to decrease, rather than increase, upon exposure to specific chemical components.
Justi, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,192, disclosed a device for providing an early detection of aerosol products of combustion originating at least partly from a polyvinyl chloride substance. The method consists of measuring the electrical resistance of a thin magnesium foil arranged to be exposed to the aerosol products of combustion. The magnesium foil is provided with a relatively deep corrosion layer of magnesium dichloride to accelerate the corrosion of the magnesium foil upon exposure to the aerosol products of combustion. This method is based on the aerosol products of combustion, which are formed on heating polyvinyl chloride substances to above 100.degree. C. in a moist stream containing hydrochloric acid that can rapidly corrode the magnesium foil. Although this reaction is irreversible, magnesium is a rather reactive alkali earth metal, not a noble metal, and, therefore, cannot reactive selectively or function as a selective sensor. For example, magnesium will readily react with steam to form flammable hydrogen.
Takahama, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,280, disclosed a device for detecting carbon monoxide which exhibits a stepwise change in film current over a pre-selected range. The Takahama et al. device employs a plurality of semiconductor films. Three embodiments of the device are disclosed. A first embodiment consists of a stannic oxide (SnO.sub.2) film formed on an insulating layer, with a second film layer of predominately platinum (Pt) formed on the first layer of stannic oxide. A second embodiment is identical, except that gold (Au) is added into the platinum layer in a gold-platinum alloy. The second layer is deposited with an average film thickness of 0.3 to 30 platinum atom layers, and the amount of gold ranges to 50 atomic percent of the platinum. A third embodiment contemplates that an electron donor of either antimony (Sb) or bismuth (Bi) is added to the first film layer, and an intermediate layer of stannic oxide having an electron acceptor selected from platinum, aluminum and boron is formed between the first and second films. The insulating film is silicon oxide (SiO.sub.2). Electrodes connected to lead wires are used to provide a current in the device. A stepwise change in current results from exposure of the device to an atmosphere containing carbon monoxide. In this invention, a film of platinum or platinum and gold, having an atomic thickness that is narrow enough such that the film does not show a metallic, electrical conductivity, is formed on a film which essentially contains stannic oxide. (Col. 10, lines 31-36). Col. 6, lines 54-65 suggest that use of a gold second layer, i.e., one which is 100% gold, did not yield the characteristic stepwise current change. The use of gold as the second layer is, therefore, not suggested by the reference. Furthermore, FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8 of this patent show that the sensors do not show a very large response to carbon monoxide and that this response strongly depends on the operating temperatures of the device, which must be above 150.degree. C. The inventors admit not to understanding the theoretical basis for the operation of this device. (Col. 6, lines 60-65). Although the inventors do not comment explicitly on the reversibility of their sensors, the response of heated stannic oxide devices is normally reversible.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,104 to Yannopoulos disclosed a gas combustible gas sensor which consists of an n-type semiconductor element. The semiconductor oxide is bismuth molybdate Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3.3MoO.sub.3. Detection of the combustible gases is based upon the change of electrical conductivity of a thick film of the semiconductor oxide. The semiconductor sensor does not require a catalyst. The express teaching of the of the Yannopoulos patent is that semiconductor sensors are feasible without the presence of a noble metal catalyst, such as platinum, palladium and rhodium. The presence of a catalyst was previously necessary to yield conductivity changes in semiconductor oxide films which were large enough to measure. This reference suggests that it is not necessary, or even desirable, to employ a noble metal element in a gas detector device. The Yannopoulos patent is also based upon the reversible response of this sensor to hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
Komatsu, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,967, disclosed a gas sensor using mixed oxides, namely tin oxide, at least one lanthanide oxide, and at least one of the IVa group element oxides, e.g., titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf) or Thorium (Th) in a sintered piece covered with a porous layer of ceramic. The IVa oxide is present in the range of 0.01-20 mol % to keep electric conductance. The gas sensor is constantly heated to 300.degree.-450.degree. C. to enable rapid adsorption and desorption of the sensed gas on the sintered semiconductor. This type of device would clearly be unsuitable for applications where operation at ambient temperature is required and it is not based upon irreversible reactions of the sensor material.
Yoshioka, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,767, describes a device for detecting internal faults in an insulating gas-charged electrical apparatus. The device consists generally of a substrate, a pair of electrodes on the substrate and a thin metal film covering the electrodes and exposed to the substrate surface. The film produces fluorides with low conductivity upon reaction with a decomposed gas produced by internal faults of the electrical apparatus. The patent discloses that the film may be made of silver deposited on a substrate of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, with gold electrodes. The device is used to detect faults in apparatus charged with SF.sub.6. SF.sub.6 gas escaping through a fault decomposes to SF.sub.4 or SOF.sub.2, which produces HF upon reaction with trace moisture contained in the SF.sub.6 gas. The silver film reacts with the HF to produce AgF which increases the resistance of the silver film. The patent discloses that an order-of-magnitude change in resistance occurs over many hours with a thin Ag film having thicknesses of between 100 .ANG.-1000 .ANG.. In one instance, there was a very rapid change in resistance, which required heating of the detection element to 80.degree. C. The need for heating the detection element to obtain sufficiently rapid increases in resistance renders this arrangement unsuitable for a positive identification of chemical species in an ambient environment. In addition, the method disclosed by this patent is restricted to use in special environments, since silver passivates in the presence of oxygen and is not very selective in its reactivity.
The Koda, et al. patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,928, disclosed a gas sensor designed for use at elevated temperatures, e.g., 300.degree.-400.degree. C. The device consists of a semiconductor material selected to be specific for the gas to be detected. For example, metal oxide semiconductors of SnO.sub.2, In.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 are used to detect combustible and toxic gases; BaSnO.sub.3, LaNiO.sub.3 and NiO are used to detect oxygen; and ceramics such as MgCr.sub.2 O.sub.3 or TiO.sub.2 are useful for detecting humidity. Noble metals are used for the heat generating members to heat the semiconductor material to facilitate adsorption and desorption of chemical species onto the semiconductor material, resulting in fluctuations in resistance characteristics of the semiconductor. Again, this type of device is unsuitable for applications where operation at ambient temperature is required, and it is not based on irreversible reactions of the sensor material.
Bell, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,021, and its related U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,574, disclosed a method for detecting a fluid component within a fluid mixture. The method entails the selective adsorption of the component onto a conductive thin layer of material having a chemical affinity for the component, and observing the resulting change of electrical resistivity of the layer. The adsorption is reversible by heating to desorb the chemical species from the thin layer. The patents disclose the use of ozone to increase the dynamic range of the sensor.
With the exception of McNerney '562, Yoshioka '767 and Bell '021, the prior art references teach the use of non-noble metals and/or oxides as the conductive fuse element where the metal oxide's conductance changes measurably upon the adsorption of the particular chemical species to be detected. Typically, the surface adsorption and desorption reactions between the metal oxide and the chemical species occurs at elevated temperatures in the range of 300.degree. C.-1000.degree. C. The ability of the semiconductor material to desorb the chemical species is critical to the various functions of almost all of the prior art detection devices.
McNerney '562 teaches the use of a thin film of gold as a conductive element which becomes resistive upon exposure to mercury vapor. McNerney '562 expressly teaches that there is no reaction between the gold and the mercury vapor, rather the change in resistivity of the gold layer is due to an amalgamation of the mercury, which sequesters gold layer electrons resulting in their unavailability for electrical conduction. While the use of thin layer gold to detect mercury vapor is disclosed, the device and manner of use of the McNerney '562 device is distinct from that of the present invention. Specifically, the McNerney '562 device is designed to detect and measure minute traces of selected chemicals, employing a metal non-reactive with the chemical species. The inert property of gold is utilized to assure that the adsorbed mercury vapor is capable of desorption upon heating of the detection device. As a consequence, the device does not act as an irreversible chemical sensor because the reaction is reversible.
A key difference between the present invention and the detection devices known in the art lies in the selective, irreversible bulk reaction of a chemical species with the chemical switch material in the present device. With the exception of Justi '192 and Yoshioka '767, the prior art discloses reversible surface reactions which induce electrical failure, but the present invention utilizes chemical activity within the bulk of the switch member to induce irreversible changes in the material properties. It is important, in the functioning of a switch, that the change be irreversible. Thus, the reversibility of the adsorption reaction at the surface of the sensors of the prior art sensors renders such devices inherently unsuitable for use as irreversible chemical switches. Furthermore, the nonselectivity, special atmospheres and operating conditions required for effective operation of the Justi '192 and Yoshioka '767 devices render them unsuitable for use as irreversible chemical switches to detect specific chemical components in the environment.
The device of the present invention is capable of undergoing a bulk reaction of the target chemical species at ambient temperature, as opposed to elevated temperatures required by prior art. This is advantageous because it has been found desirable to detect chemical species within the environment in which they may exist. For example, if chlorine gas should leak from a train tank car, a chlorine gas detector must be capable of operation within the temperature ranges in which the train tank car operates.
These devices have the potential to significantly advance emission detection and process control. For instance, in the emission detection arena, they have the unique advantages of being able to pinpoint leaks because they can be made sufficiently small to be placed at the source of the leak. Additional significant advantages of the inventive devices include low cost, low maintenance and no calibration. These chemical switches can find applications ranging from detecting leaks in individual tanks to tank farms to entire manufacturing facilities. Important chemical species with the potential to be detected include hazardous halogens, ammonia, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen sulfide and methane.

Chemical switch for detection of chemical components

Arizona Board of Regents, a body corporate of the State of Arizona, acting for and on behalf of Arizona State University


Disclosed are antiperspirant stick compositions that exhibit substantially less visible residue (whitening) upon application to the skin or after drying and which exhibit improved aesthetics and superior cosmetic properties. The compositions include (a) non-volatile emollients that are not silicone materials and which have (individually or as a mixture) a refractive index of at least 1.4460, and which have adsorption and desorption properties relative to the antiperspirant material sufficient to achieve the desired reduction in residue (whiteness); (b) a vehicle (for example, cyclomethicone), (c) a gelling agent (for example, stearyl alcohol and hydrogenated castor oil); (d) at least one active antiperspirant material (for example, particulate antiperspirant metal salts); and (e) a surfactant.

The present invention is directed to an antiperspirant stick composition which has improved aesthetics, which leaves less visible (for example, white) residue on skin after application or after drying, and which has superior cosmetic properties.
Wax-based stick compositions, which contain a wax-type solidifying agent, are known. It is also known to incorporate an antiperspirant active material, such as aluminum-zirconium-glycine complexes, in such wax-based stick compositions, to provide an antiperspirant stick. However, application of such wax-based antiperspirant stick product to the skin frequently results in objectionable aesthetic characteristics (such as unsatisfactory glide on the skin); moreover, such products unsatisfactorily leave visible residue (white residue) on the skin after application and after drying.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,934 to Deckner, et al. discloses wax-based cosmetic stick compositions containing specific amounts of a wax-type solidifying agent and a polyalphaolefin, and preferably an active component such as a sunscreen agent, analgesic, antiperspirant or deodorant active. This patent discloses that the stick composition preferably also includes at least one emollient, selected from as volatile and non-volatile silicone oils and non-polar fatty acid and fatty alcohol esters, and that compositions which contain an antiperspirant active and/or deodorant active also preferably include at least one emulsifier. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,934 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Various emollients have been suggested for use in cosmetic sticks such as antiperspirant/deodorant product. Some of these are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,879 to Shelton and U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,432 to May. Examples of such emollients include fatty acid and fatty alcohol esters and water insoluble ethers
There have been attempts to provide low-residue antiperspirant solid sticks. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,603 to Farris, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,332 to Greczyn, et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,381 to Greczyn, et al. Each of U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,238 to Tanner and U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,626 to Tanner discloses low residue antiperspirant sticks containing specific amounts of a volatile silicone material; a particulate antiperspirant active; a low melting point wax; and a non-volatile paraffinic hydrocarbon fluid selected from mineral oils, branched-chain hydrocarbons containing an average of from about 16 to about 68 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof. Non-essential components which can also be incorporated in the sticks include, for example, emollients, colorants, perfumes and emulsifiers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,188 to Abrutyn, et al. discloses underarm formulations which contain volatile and/or non-volatile alkylmethylsiloxanes having a specific structure, which formulations may contain other components such as astringent antiperspirant compounds, suspending agents, conventional waxes, emollients, perfumes, coloring agents and other ingredients normally used in making underarm products. Incorporation of the alkylmethylsiloxanes in underarm formulations provide characteristics such as modified hardness, reduced whitening, improved feel, compatibility of ingredients, and control of vapor pressure.
It has also been proposed to incorporate phenyltrimethicone in antiperspirant formulations containing cyclomethicone as a vehicle, stearyl alcohol and hydrogenated castor oil as gelling agents, PEG-8 distearate, and aluminum-zirconium-tetrachlorohydrex-Gly, the phenyltrimethicone acting as a masking ingredient for the antiperspirant active ingredient to avoid a visible residue of the antiperspirant active on the skin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,511 to Coe, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, discloses a non-aqueous antiperspirant product that includes a non-aqueous carrier vehicle; an antiperspirant active salt suspended in particle form in the carrier vehicle; and a non-volatile, water-soluble, liquid (at 25 degrees C.) masking agent that interacts with the antiperspirant active to essentially eliminate discernible whitening without substantially inhibiting the antiperspirant activity of the salt when the product is applied to the skin. The masking agent can be a non-volatile aliphatic compound (such as alcohols, ethers, silanols, silyl ethers, siloxanes and silicones) which contains disubstituted oxygen functionalities. This patent discloses that the masking agent preferably is a water-soluble, liquid, non-volatile emollient material, which reduces whitening by interacting with the particulates to produce an optical effect that tends to reduce light scattering and apparent whiteness. Illustrative masking agents disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,511 include PPG-10 butanediol and dimethicone copolyols. This patent discloses that, in addition, for solid products, gelling agents may be included, examples of suitable gelling agents including hydrogenated castor oil, and fatty alcohols such as stearyl alcohol, among others, as well as blends and combinations.
U.S. Pat. 5,531,986 to Shevade et al describes a low residue antiperspirant solid stick containing volatile and non-volatile silicone materials, dimethicone copolyol and high-melting and low-melting point waxes.
There have also been efforts to develop cosmetic compositions with improved aesthetics. U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,652 to Mayfield et al teaches the use of an oil absorbent particulate material to prevent dusting of liquid particles and the addition of a silicone polymer to prevent dusting by the oil absorbent particulate material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,882 to Strobridge discloses a gel-type sunscreen comprising polyethylene and an ester of benzoic acid and C12-C15 alcohols. The product is described as having a generally non-greasy feel and uses the benzoate ester to provide a translucent, anhydrous vehicle for the sunscreen.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,655 to Elmi teaches the use of benzoic acid esters made with C9-C15 linear primary alcohols as liquid carriers in a pump spray, pressurized aerosol or roll-on antiperspirants. The compositions (which also contain a suspending agent) exhibit a reduction in oily sensation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,693 to Scala discloses a substantially pure benzoic acid ester of isostearyl (C18) alcohol. This reference discloses that this ester has a lack of greasiness.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is still desired to provide an antiperspirant stick composition that exhibits substantially less whitening (residue) upon application to the skin or after drying thereon, which has desired cosmetic properties and antiperspirant efficacy, which has improved feel to the skin (in particular, reduced oiliness), better glide upon application and less tack.
It is a first object of the present invention to provide an antiperspirant stick composition which leaves less residue after application and drying than conventional antiperspirant stick products.
It is a further object to provide an antiperspirant stick composition having substantially reduced visible (white) residue on the skin after application and, after drying, an improved and less oily feel to the skin, and a method of making and using such antiperspirant stick composition.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an antiperspirant stick composition which exhibits substantially less visible residue on the skin after application and after drying, and which has good cosmetic properties (including good glide on the skin and good emolliency) and antiperspirant efficacy.

Antiperspirant stick with improved characteristics


A storage system having a pair of parallel, spaced side braces and a plurality of interchangeable wire racks, shelves and baskets secured and suspended between the side braces. The side braces are mounted directly to a wall or other flat surface. The side braces are provided in interlocking sections and can be joined together to form a side brace as long as desired. Each side brace has a plurality of evenly spaced keyhole-shaped openings formed in an inner surface. The openings in one side brace are parallel to the openings in the other side brace. Each shelf, rack or basket has side extensions designed to engage the openings. Each side extension terminates in a retention means, for example a knob that engages and is secured in the opening. The rack, shelf or basket can be moved between openings to raise or lower the height of the unit.

This invention relates to storage systems, more particularly to an adjustable wire shelving storage system having interchangeable components.
Shelving units are known to the art. In general, shelves must be built into a building upon construction or renovation to afford storage space to the inhabitant. In most cases, storage areas are planned into the building in the form of closets, cabinets or pantries. These planned storage areas generally contain some shelving to facilitate the orderly storage of belongings. Once the construction or renovation of the building is completed the storage space is limited to those preplanned storage areas. It is time consuming and expensive to add additional storage. It is not uncommon to discover, upon completion of construction or renovation, that the storage areas are limited. That is, the inhabitants of the building often discover that they need more storage space or that the storage space provided is unhandy. Furthermore, as the number of inhabitants increases, more storage space is needed.
Often a homeowner realizes that the closets or cabinets are too small to accommodate all of the items to be stored. For example, the closets may be too small to accommodate shoes as well as clothing. Or, the kitchen cabinets may not have the capacity to hold all of the food stuffs, spices or cooking utensils required by a growing family. Moreover, even in situations where there is sufficient storage space, it may be desirable to better organize the items stored. For example, toys, sporting equipment or cleaning supplies may be scattered about a room or house. Tools or automobile are randomly stashed in a garage or workarea. It would be desirable to have a storage system having interchangeable components that is easily installed to increase the amount of storage area to facilitate the organization and storage of personal belongings.

Vertical wall rack and variable shelf arrangement


A drive system includes a rotational driving member, a rotational driven member, to which a rotational resistance is applied, a holding member of a rotatable optical element supported by the rotational driving member and the rotational driven member, an insertion controller preventing the holding member from rotating when the holding member is in an inserted position, and a removal controller allowing the holding member to move to a fully removed position and prevents the holding member from rotating at a limited removed position. An insertion/removal operation of the holding member is performed by relative rotation between the rotational driving member and the rotational driven member, and when the holding member is prevented from rotating by the insertion controller and the removal controller, the rotational driven member and the holding member rotate with the rotational driving member about the optical axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive system for a rotatable optical element, which can be inserted into and removed from an optical path and which produces a required optical effect by being rotated about an optical axis when positioned in the optical path like a polarizing filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
A drive system for driving such a rotatable optical element has been proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-337695. Specifically, in this drive system an insertion/removal frame which is pivoted about a rotational shaft parallel to an optical axis of a photographing optical system is supported to be rotatable forwardly and reversibly (swingable) between an inserted position, in which the rotatable optical element is positioned in the optical path, and a removed position, in which the rotatable optical element is removed away from the optical path, and the rotatable optical element is held by an annular holding frame provided as a separate member from the insertion/removal frame. The annular holding frame is supported to be rotatable relative to the insertion/removal frame about a rotational axis parallel to the optical axis. A sun gear of a planetary gear mechanism for transmission of a driving force of a motor is coaxially supported by a shaft support portion of the insertion/removal frame, and a planet gear of the planetary gear mechanism that is in mesh with the sun gear is supported by the insertion/removal frame thereon. A circumferential surface gear is formed on the outer periphery of the annular holding frame, while a gear train capable of transmitting a rotational force between the circumferential surface gear and the planet gear is arranged on the insertion/removal frame. A friction having a predetermined magnitude is applied to rotation of a gear of the gear train. In a state where no restrictions are imposed on the rotation of the insertion/removal frame, rotations of the gears of the gear train are limited by the aforementioned friction, so that rotating the sun gear causes the planet gear to move (revolve) around the sun gear, thus causing the insertion/removal frame to rotate. The insertion/removal frame is prevented from further rotating beyond each of the inserted position and the removed position. If the sun gear is made to keep rotating in the same rotational direction with the insertion/removal frame prevented from rotating, the force resisting (limiting) the rotation of the insertion/removal frame exceeds the aforementioned friction, which causes the planet gear to rotate on its axis without revolving around the sun gear to thereby rotate the gears of the gear train. Consequently, the annular holding frame, to which the driving force is transmitted to the circumferential surface gear thereof, rotates relative to the insertion/removal frame. By making the annular holding frame perform this rotational operation when the insertion/removal frame is in the inserted position, a required optical effect of the rotatable optical element (e.g., a polarizing filter) on the annular holding frame can be obtained.
The polarizing filter drive system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication H03-192231 is provided with a drive ring which rotates about an optical axis of a photographing optical system by a motor and a rotational member which is rotatable relative to this drive ring. In addition, a polarizing filter is pivotally supported by the rotational member thereon, and a sector gear on the polarizing filter is engaged with an internal toothed portion formed on an inner peripheral surface of the drive ring. The polarizing filter is held in an inserted position, in which the polarizing filter is positioned in an optical path, by abutting against one of the two pins (stoppers) formed on the rotational member, while the polarizing filter is held in a removed position, in which the polarizing filter is removed from the optical path, by abutting against the other pin. When the drive ring is driven to rotate in a direction in which the polarizing filter is not prevented from rotating by the aforementioned two pins, this rotational driving force is transmitted to the polarizing filter via gears to thereby rotate the polarizing filter between the inserted position and the removed position without rotating the rotational member. On the other hand, in a state where the polarizing filter is in contact with one of the two pins which determines the inserted position of the polarizing filter, if the drive ring is driven to rotate in a direction to give the polarizing filter a force that further moves the polarizing filter in the filter insertion direction, the polarizing filter which is prevented from further rotating relative to the rotational member is rotated together with the rotational member about the optical axis.
According to the rotatable optical element drive system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-337695, simplification and miniaturization of this drive system can be achieved by making a single motor perform both the insertion/removal operation of the rotatable optical element and the rotational operation of the same optical element on the optical path. On the other hand, there is room for improvement in the rotatable optical element drive system in the following respects. Firstly, limitations exist on miniaturization and weight reduction of the insertion/removal operating parts because the rotatable optical element drive system has a structure in which the gear train and other components which are components of the rotatable optical element drive system are supported by the insertion/removal frame thereon. Additionally, the portion which supports the annular holding frame to be rotatable relative to the insertion/removal frame makes cylindrical surfaces, the axes of which are parallel to an optical axis of the photographing optical system (more precisely, conical surfaces which are slightly tapered with respect to the optical axis), slidingly contact each other, thus being required to have a certain amount of length in the optical axis direction. Therefore, limitations exist also in slimming down the insertion/removal frame and the annular holding frame in the optical axis direction. Secondly, since the gear train supported by the insertion/removal frame thereon serves as a reduction gear train, the torque required to rotate the annular holding frame tends to be great, so that there has been a problem with it being difficult to rotate the annular holding frame at a high speed.
In the rotatable optical element drive system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication H03-192231, the polarizing filter, which also constitutes part of the drive system that performs an insertion/removal operation with respect to an optical path, has a simple structure having no gear train or other moving parts, so that miniaturization, weight reduction and reduction in driving load can be achieved. On the other hand, since the polarizing filter can be inserted into and removed from the optical path from any position in the rotational direction about an optical axis, each of the rotational member and the drive ring needs to be formed as a large-diameter member, which corresponds to any removed position of the polarizing filter over the entire circumference of the drive ring, so that there is a possibility of the drive system being enlarged in the radial direction. In addition, if the polarizing filter reaches the inserted position and the removed position at different positions in the rotational direction of the rotational member, respectively, when the insertion/removal operation of the polarizing filter is performed, the configuration of the position detector becomes complicated and the degree of difficulty in position detection is high.

Drive system for rotatable optical element


This invention provides a method to identify compounds potentially useful for the treatment of neoplasia in mammals. The phosphodiesterase inhibitory activity of a compound is determined along with COX inhibitory activity. Growth inhibitory and apoptosis inducing effects on cultured tumor cells are also determined. Compounds that exhibit phosphodiesterase inhibiton, growth inhibition and apoptosis induction, but not substantial prostaglandin inhibitory activity, are desirable for the treatment of neoplasia.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention provides a method for identifying compounds potentially useful for the treatment and prevention of pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions in mammals.
2. Discussion of the Background
Familial adenomatous polyposis ("FAP") is an inherited condition where the victim's colon contains many polyps--virtually uncountable in most instances. Because such patients develop so many polyps--each of which has a significant risk of developing into a cancer--the typical treatment is surgical removal of the colon. In about 1983, Waddell discovered that the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ("NSAID") sulindac would cause colonic polyps (a type of pre-cancerous lesion) to regress and prevent their recurrence when that drug was administered to patients with FAP. Waddell's experience with sulindac in FAP patients has been confirmed in several subsequent studies. Unfortunately, since sulindac aggravates the digestive tract (not to mention side effects involving kidney and interference with normal blood clotting) of patients to whom it has been chronically administered, it is not a practical treatment for FAP or any other cancer or precancerous indication requiring long-term administration.
Waddell originally hypothesized that the mechanism of action of sulindac on colonic polyps involved the inhibition of the synthesis of prostaglandin (PG). (Waddell, W. R. et al., "Sulindac for Polyposis of the Colon," Journal of Surgical Oncology, 24:83-87, 1983). Prostaglandin ("PG") synthesis inhibition results from the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) caused by NSAIDs. A common benefit of NSAIDs is the reduction of inflammation, which is known to be caused by the reduction of PG levels. Since NSAIDs are known to inhibit COX, which inhibits PG synthesis, it is widely believed that the regression of colonic polyps is attributed to this property. In fact, notwithstanding recent discoveries to the contrary, it has become conventional wisdom that administration of an inhibitor of PG synthesis (e.g., an NSAID) to an FAP patient will result in the regression of colonic polyps due to a reduction of PG levels.
Recent discoveries, however, are leading scientists in a completely different direction--that it is not necessary to inhibit COX to treat FAP patients successfully. Pamukcu et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,774, disclosed that sulfonyl derivatives of sulindac, that were previously reported to be inactive as PG synthesis inhibitors (and therefore not an NSAID or an anti-inflammatory compound) unexpectedly inhibited the growth of a variety of tumor cells, including colon polyp cells. These sulfonyl derivatives have proven effective in rat models of colon carcinogenesis, and one variant (now referred to as aposulind) has proven effective in preliminary human clinical trials with FAP patients.
The importance of this discovery--and the de-linking of anti-cancer activity and COX inhibition--cannot be overstated. If those two phenomena were related, there would be little hope for a safe NSAID therapy for FAP patients because the side effects of NSAIDs, such as gastric irritation, are also caused by COX inhibition. Prostaglandins play a protective function in the lining of the stomach. When NSAIDs are administered, COX is inhibited and PG levels are reduced: gastric irritation is a common result. Those side effects may not manifest themselves in short-term (acute) NSAID therapy. However, during long-term (chronic) NSAID therapy, gastric irritation, bleeding and ulceration are very common. In significant numbers of cases, NSAID therapy must be stopped due to the severity of those side effects and other potentially lethal side effects. Furthermore, the severity of such side effects increases with age, probably because natural PG levels in gastric mucosa falls with age. Thus, useful compounds for treating neoplastic lesions should desirably inhibit tumor cell growth, but should not inhibit COX.
Conventional methods for finding (i.e. screening) compounds may be used to find improved compounds that inhibit tumor cell growth alone. Under this scenario, drugs may be screened using in vitro models. But conventional in vitro compound screening methods could pass many compounds that later are shown to be ineffective in animal models because of the cytotoxic effects of the compounds. Animal model studies are time consuming and expensive. Therefore, a more precise in vitro screening method that provides information on selectivity for treating precancer or cancer is needed to screen compounds prior to animal testing. This will allow for greater precision and efficiency whereby highly effective and safe compounds can be identified prior to animal testing.
Presently, rational drug discovery methods are being applied in the pharmaceutical industry to improve methods for identifying clinically useful compounds. Typically, rational drug discovery methods relate to a "lock and key" concept whereby structural relationships between a therapeutic target molecule (lock) and pharmaceutical compounds (key) are defined. Such methods are greatly enhanced by specialty computer software that accesses databases of compounds to identify likely geometric fits with the target molecule. Unfortunately, to use these systems, one has to have insight to the target molecule (lock). The target may be an enzyme, a protein, a membrane or nuclear receptor, or a nucleic acid, for example.
In complex diseases, such as cancer, scientists have identified a number of potential targets. However, many of the drugs available for the treatment of cancer are non-specific and cause toxicity to normal tissues. Greater understanding of the mechanisms involved in cancer may lead scientists on the path towards designing more specific antineoplastic drugs.

Method for identifying compounds for inhibition of cancerous lesions


The invention provides a method for protectedly debiting an electronic payment mechanism, such as a telephone card. In the communication protocol between the payment mechanism and payment station, an authentication is used to identify the payment mechanism during various steps of the protocol. According to the invention, the authentications are mutually related by states of a cryptographic process in order to be capable of detecting an interference in the protocol. The method may be applied to existing payment cards having a dynamic memory, it being guaranteed that the contents of the dynamic memory, in which there is located information related to the authentication, is not lost during the protocol.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method of debiting an electronic payment means, such as an electronic payment card provided with an integrated circuit ("chip card"). In particular, though not exclusively, the invention relates to a method for protectedly debiting prepaid electronic payment cards ("prepaid cards") as these are applied, e.g., for telephone booths. In the present text, the term payment means will be used irrespective of the form or the type of the specific payment means. A payment means may therefore be formed by, e.g., a revaluable payment card (i.e. a payment card whose balance may be increased) or a non-card-shaped electronic payment means.
In recent years, electronic payment means are being applied ever more frequently, not only for paying for the use of public telephone sets, but also for many other payment purposes. Since such a payment means generally comprises a (credit) balance which represents a monetary value, it is necessary to have the exchange of data between such a payment means and a payment station (such as a telephone set designed for electronic payment or an electronic cash register) run according to a protected method (payment protocol). Here, it should be ensured, e.g., that an amount (monetary value or number of calculation units) debited to the payment means correspond to an amount (monetary value or calculation units) credited elsewhere: the amount paid by a customer should correspond to the amount to be received by a supplier. The credited amount may be stored, e.g., in a protected module present in the payment station.
Prior Art payment methods, as disclosed in e.g. European Patent Application EP 0,637,004 which is incorporated by reference in this text, comprise: a first step, in which the balance of the payment means is retrieved by the payment station; a second step, in which the balance of the payment means is lowered (debiting the payment means); and a third step, in which the balance of the payment means is retrieved again. From the difference between the balances of the first and third steps the debited amount may be determined and therewith the amount to be credited in the payment station. In order to prevent fraud here, in the first step use is made of a random number which is generated by the payment station and is transferred to the payment means. On the basis of the first random number, the payment means generates, as a first response, an authentication code which may comprise an (e.g., cryptographic) processed form of, inter alia, the random number and the balance. By using a different random number for each transaction, it is prevented that a transaction may be imitated by replay. In addition, in the third step use is made of a second random number, which is also generated by the payment station and transferred to the payment means. On the basis of the second random number the payment means generates, as a second response, a second and new authentication code which may comprise a processed form of, inter alia, the second random number and the new balance. On the basis of the difference between the two transferred balances, the payment station (or a protected module of the payment station) determines by which amount the balance of the payment station should be credited.
Said known method is basically very resistant to fraud as long as a payment means communicates with one payment station (or protected module). The drawback of the known method, however, lies in the fact that the first and second authentication codes are independent. If a second or third payment station (or protected module) communicates with the payment means, it is possible, due to said independence, to separate the first step from the second and third steps. As a result, an apparently complete transaction may be achieved without the payment means in question being debited. It will be understood that such is undesirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,098, incorporated by reference in this text, discloses a method in which the identity of the security module of the payment station is used to ensure that a data exchange takes place between the card and one terminal only. The protection of the data exchange between the security module, the station and the card is relatively complicated and requires extensive cryptographic calculations.
Other Prior Art methods are disclosed in e.g. European Patent Applications EP 0,223,213 and EP 0,570,924, but these documents do not offer a solution to the above-mentioned problems.

Method of debiting an electronic payment means


A coupling piece coupling a cap body and a band is prevented from being cut off to tampering and the cutting-off thereof due to deformation of the band. An open/close cap a cap body to be screwed to an outer peripheral surface of a mouth portion of a pouring spout and a band extending in the circumferential direction of the cap body and engaged with the pouring spout, the band being formed with at least one portion at which the band 10 circumferentially separated, the end of the band being connected by a connection piece at that portion at which the band is cut off. The band is disposed below the lower surface of the cap body and coupling pieces are attached to the lower portion of the cap body. A band shape maintaining member is disposed to the lower end of the cap body.

In order to open or close the cylindrical pouring spout formed to a packaging container, there is provided a mouth plug structure in which an open/close cap is screw-engaged with a mouth portion of the pouring spout to be detachably. With such mouth plug structure, in order to surely hold the open/close cap to the pouring spout, there is known a structure in which a band is provided around the cap body so as to hold the outer surface of the pouring spout by the band (for example, refer to the following Patent Publication 1).
The open/close cap of such structure is constructed such that the band is disposed on the outer side of the cap body and the band is connected to the cap body by means of coupling piece. Further, the band is composed of a plurality of circular-arc-shaped band pieces which are connected to each other through a connection piece. Engaging pieces projecting toward inside are formed to the end portions in the circumferential direction of the inner surfaces of the respective band pieces, and these engaging pieces are engaged with the peripheral surface of the pouring spout of the open/close cap to thereby hold the cap to the pouring spout.
On the other hand, to the outer peripheral portion of the pouring spout, there is formed a claw portion projecting radially outward. When the cap is opened, the claw portion applies a load to the coupling pieces and the connection pieces to cut them off. That is, when the cap is rotated, the engaging pieces formed to the inner surfaces of the band pieces are engaged with the claw portions, and when the engaging piece is engaged with the claw portion, the load is applied to the coupling piece and the connection piece, thus cutting them off. According to such operation, engaging force of the engaging pieces to the pouring spout is loosened and the cap is therefore freely rotated around the outer periphery of the pouring spout.
The cap of such character is not opened when the coupling pieces and connection pieces are not cut off and the band pieces are mutually connected, and when the cut condition is observed, it is found that the cap has been once opened. This function will serve as tampering prevention function for preventing the inner content from tampering with mischief to the packaging container.
Furthermore, an open/close cap disclosed in the Patent Publication 2 is constructed such that a band is disposed below a cap body so that the band is connected to the cap body through a coupling piece. The band of this open/close cap is formed with two cut-off portions in its circumferential direction so as to be dividable into two pieces or parts in the circumferential direction. The rear portions of the respective band pieces in the cap opening direction are connected to the cap body through the coupling pieces.
With this open/close cap, a projection provided for the inner surface of each band piece is engaged with a ratchet formed to the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion of a container to thereby prevent the open/close cap from being rotated in the cap opening direction. On the other hand, when the open/close cap is rotated in the cap opening direction, the projection rides over the ratchet. In this instance, a load is applied to the band, and the cut-out portions connecting the band pieces are cut off.
As mentioned above, by confirming whether the band is cut off or not, the invention disclosed in the Patent Publication 2 can judge whether the cap is opened or not.
Patent Publication 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Application Publication No. HEI 5-124669
Patent Publication 2: Japanese Patent Laid-open Application Publication No. 2004-51195
However, after the pouring spout of the container has been tightly sealed by the open/close cap, when an external force is applied to the container during a conveyance in a conveyance line or circulation path, there is a fear of the coupling piece and connection piece being cut off. Especially, when the coupling piece has been cut off, the tampering prevention function has not been achieved.
In addition, in the conventional open/close cap represented by the invention of the Patent Publication 2, as shown in FIG. 20, for example, when the caps collide with each other during the conveyance of the containers, there were some cases that the band 100 is pushed inward and then deformed in the radially inward direction. When the caps are left in such deformed state, the cut-out portions 101 connecting the band pieces 100 might be cut off by the radially inward impact, thus damaging the rotation prevention function and opening checking function of the band (band piece) 100. Further, in FIG. 20, reference numeral 102 denotes a projection or protruded portion to be engaged with the ratchet.

Open/close cap and manufacturing method thereof


A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to provide wireless communication; a touch screen configured to display information; and a controller configured to receive a first tapping input on the touchscreen, and perform an output differently depending on whether a detected strength of the first tapping input is included in a first range or a second range.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal and controlling method thereof. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for facilitating a terminal to be used in further consideration of user's convenience.
Discussion of the Related Art
A mobile terminal is a device which may be configured to perform various functions. Examples of such functions include data and voice communications, capturing images and video via a camera, recording audio, playing music files and outputting music via a speaker system, and displaying images and video on a display. Some terminals include additional functionality which supports game playing, while other terminals are also configured as multimedia players. More recently, mobile terminals have been configured to receive broadcast and multicast signals which permit viewing of contents, such as videos and television programs.
Generally, terminals can be classified into mobile terminals and stationary terminals. In addition, mobile terminals can be further classified into handheld terminals and vehicle mounted terminals.
A terminal generally uses a touch screen as an input/output mechanism to secure its mobility or portability. That is, a touchscreen can perform both an input function and an output function. The touchscreen also plays a considerable role in providing an intuitive control of a mobile terminal
An intuitive control scheme is one of very significant elements in aspect of a user who uses a mobile terminal. Various kinds of terminals are utilized everywhere in human daily lives. In order to individually acquire methods of controlling these terminals, a user needs excessive learning processes. Thus, the development of mobile terminal controlling methods tends to be focused on the development of a further user-intuitive input method.
For example, a tapping method is an example of the intuitive input method. The tapping method is an input method for a user to tap a prescribed region (i.e., touchscreen) of a mobile terminal prescribed times (e.g., at least once). The tapping method is similar to a knocking action in daily life. According to a dictionary meaning, a knock means an action of indicating a presence of a person around by lightly striking a door before entering a room. Thus, a tapping action can be intuitively understood as an action of notifying a presence of a user to a mobile terminal or a prescribed counterpart with whom the user intends to make a contact through the mobile terminal.
In addition, the mobile terminal can detect the tapping input through various sensors/methods. A first method may include a detection of a tapping input through a touchscreen. When a touchscreen is currently active, a user's touch input applied to the touchscreen is detected and a tapping input can be then detected through the detected touch input. When using the first method, it is disadvantageous in that the tapping input is limitedly applied to the touchscreen only.
A second method may include a detection of a tapping input through an acceleration sensor. If a user applies a tapping input to a prescribed region of the mobile terminal, the acceleration sensor detects an acceleration change of the mobile terminal in response to the tapping input and can then deliver the detected acceleration change to a controller. The controller can then detect the tapping input through the delivered acceleration change of the mobile terminal. However, the second method is disadvantageous in that a sensitivity of the tapping input may be lower than that of other input method.
A third method may include a detection of a tapping input through the acceleration sensor while using the touchscreen. If both of the acceleration sensor and the touchscreen are used, the mobile terminal can detect the tapping input by complementing the disadvantages resulting from the method of using the touchscreen and the method using the acceleration sensor.

Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof


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A surface acoustic wave device that enables to reduce heating process, prevent from heat break, and make thin profile is to be provided. The surface acoustic wave device includes a substrate, a surface acoustic wave element having a comb electrode formed on a piezoelectric substrate, and being flip-mounted on the substrate using a bump in such a manner as the comb electrode is disposed opposite to the substrate, a first resin layer covering the surface acoustic wave element, and a second resin layer formed on the first resin layer, wherein the first resin layer and the second resin layer are thermosetting resins in which state transitions of being softened and thereafter cured are produced through heating process, and the first resin layer is formed of a resin material having greater fluidity caused by softening than the resin material of the second resin layer.

The surface acoustic wave device includes the surface acoustic wave element having comb electrodes formed on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate, and has an electric characteristic fit for a resonant circuit or a filter by a surface acoustic wave propagating between the comb electrodes.
Therefore, when enclosing the surface acoustic wave element in the surface acoustic wave device, space is necessary at least above the surface of the piezoelectric substrate on which the comb electrodes of the surface acoustic wave element are formed.
Further, if dust, moisture or the like is attached to the comb electrodes, propagation characteristic of the surface acoustic wave is varied. To prevent this, it is desired that the room above the surface on which the comb electrode is formed is airtight sealed.
One method to satisfy the above requirement, a technique has been disclosed in the official gazette of the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-124767 (hereafter referred to as prior art.) In this prior art, a bump is employed for connecting the substrate with the surface acoustic wave element (chip), and sealing walls are formed on both inside and outside the bump.
On examination of this configuration, an area is required to form the inside wall between the comb electrode and the bump, which becomes disadvantageous to the miniaturization of the surface acoustic wave element.
Further, the surface of the surface acoustic wave element facing the opposite side to the substrate is bare, which lacks reliability. To solve this problem, in the embodiment of the prior art, the surface acoustic wave element is sealed inside the bottom of a sealing case, using the aforementioned double wall structure. Further, this sealing case is mounted on the substrate in the state that the surface acoustic wave element faces upward.
However, with the above configuration, the surface acoustic wave device becomes inevitably large in size because of the sealing case.
Considering this point, the inventor of the present invention has proposed a structure of the surface acoustic wave device, which includes a surface acoustic wave element, having a substrate and a comb electrode formed on a piezoelectric substrate, flip-mounted on the substrate with a bump in a state such that the comb electrode faces the substrate; a first resin layer formed in the surrounding area of the bumps of the surface acoustic wave element; and a second resin layer covering the first resin layer and at least the side faces of the surface acoustic wave element (the Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-29880.)
In regard to this surface acoustic wave device, a cross-section structure and an exemplary manufacturing process are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, a surface acoustic wave element 10 (shown as C) having a comb electrode 11 formed on a piezoelectric substrate, and a substrate 20 (shown as B) having electrode patterns on both faces via a through hole 21 are prepared. Next, according to the process shown in FIG. 2, surface acoustic wave element 10 is chip bonded onto substrate 20 with a pad electrode 12, so that the face on which comb electrode 11 is formed is disposed opposite to substrate 20 (process P1).
Next, resin material forming a first resin layer (a) coats a pad electrode 12, an electrode pattern 22 and the side faces of surface acoustic wave element 10 using a dispenser, etc (process P2). Here, as the resin material forming the first resin layer (a), a liquid resin having a high viscosity is employed so as not to flow inside pad electrode 12.
Next, drying process follows for 15–30 minutes at 125–150° C. (process P3). After the drying, resin material of the second resin layer (b) having higher viscosity than the resin material of the first resin layer (a) is transfer molded, and one face of substrate 1 including surface acoustic wave element 10 is sealed, followed by heat curing the resin (process P4). The heating conditions at this time are, for example, for 3–5 minutes at 150–175° C.
Further, as a post cure, heat is added for 60–180 minutes at 150–175° C. (process P5).
Here, although not shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to form a plurality of surface acoustic wave devices at a time by chip bonding a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements 10 on a single substrate in the above process P1 and thereafter performing the above processes P2 to P4. In this case, the plurality of surf ace acoustic wave devices are cut into separated pieces by dicing (process P6). Thereafter, a characteristic test is performed for each surface acoustic wave device (process P7), and pieces having satisfactory quality is selected, packed and shipped (process P8).
According to the above-mentioned method having been proposed by the inventor of the present invention, a small-sized surface acoustic wave-device having a thin profile can be attained by adopting the structure of surf ace acoustic wave element 10 bonded on substrate 20. However, resin sealing by heating must be performed twice, which may cause a problem of the thermal stress received by the piezoelectric substrate forming surface acoustic wave element 10 becomes twofold.

Method for mounting surface acoustic wave element and surface acoustic wave device having resin-sealed surface acoustic wave element


A novel and improved device for interconnecting an integrated circuit package to a circuit board is presented. In accordance with the present invention an integrated circuit package having an central area devoid of surface contacts is positioned over a resilient or compressible connector system. The compressible connector includes an opening about its center which corresponds to the central area on the integrated circuit package. A component is mounted onto the circuit board within the opening of the compressible connector between the integrated circuit package and the circuit board.

This invention relates to schemes for interconnecting integrated circuit chip packages to circuit boards. More particularly, this invention relates to novel and improved schemes for interconnecting integrated circuit chip packages (such as land grid array type integrated circuit packages) having a center space under the chip package for housing a component which is sandwiched between the chip package and a circuit board.
It is well known in the field of micro-electronics that high frequency operation, particularly the switching of integrated circuits, can result in transient energy being coupled into the power supply circuit. Generally the prevention of the coupling of undesired high frequency noise or interference into the power supply for an integrated circuit is accomplished by connecting a decoupling capacitor between the power and the ground leads of the integrated circuit (IC).
One connection scheme which has been found to be quite successful is to mount a decoupling capacitor underneath an integrated circuit. Such decoupling capacitors are commonly available from Rogers Corporation, (assignee of the present application) and are sold under the trademark MICRO Q. Examples of these decoupling capacitors are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,475,143; 4,502,101 and 4,748,537 all of which are assigned to the assignee hereof.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,626,958; 4,667,267; 4,658,327; 4,734,818; 4,734,819; 4,853,826 and 4,853,827 are also assigned to the assignee hereof and incorporated herein by reference. These patents disclose decoupling capacitors which are particularly well suited for pin grid array (PGA) and plastic leaded chip carrier packages. For example, the PGA decoupling capacitor of U.S. Pat. No 4,853,826 comprises a dielectric material sandwiched between a pair of conductors. A group of flat strips or skirts extend outwardly a short distance generally in the plane of the metal conductors to which they are attached and are then bent downwardly so as to extend in the direction which is perpendicular to the planes of the conductors. The entire assembly, with the exception of the flat strips (i.e., leads), may then be encapsulated within a suitable non-conductive material.
This flat decoupling capacitor adapted for mounting directly under the PGA package results in a lower decoupling loop, thus a more effective decoupling scheme. The capacitor of U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,826 also contributes to a savings in board space, i.e., takes up less "real estate" on the printed circuit board, by resting entirely underneath the PGA package.
It will be appreciated that the aforementioned decoupling capacitors are well suited for use in conjunction with PGA packages.
The land grid array (LGA) package is a ceramic leadless package (basically a pin-less version of a PGA package) which reduces propagation delays and other detrimental effects. The LGA package is generally smaller than its PGA counterpart (for the same number of I/O's) and has connection pads in a pitch matrix array (e.g., 0.050" pitch matrix array). The LGA package is installed (surface mounted) onto the printed circuit board (PCB), on a corresponding array of conductor pads which in turn are connected to the rest of the board circuitry by traces or otherwise.
The actual mechanical and electrical attachment of the LGA package to the PCB is accomplished by means of solder or by some connector system. One of the disadvantages of solder attachment is that the solder joints cannot be inspected and that flux residue cleaning is extremely difficult, due to the very small gap between the LGA package bottom surface and the surface of the PCB.
Also, in many applications, it is necessary or desirable to replace the IC package (LGA) to reconfigure the digital system (e.g., computers, industrial control, etc) or to upgrade it, thus requiring a connector system. Such a pad-to-pad demateable connector system is commonly available from Rogers Corporation, (assignee of the present application) and is sold under the trademark ISOCON. This system comprises a piece of silicone elastomeric material with an array of rectangular apertures or holes drilled at an angle with respect to the top and bottom surfaces. A generally "S" shaped conductor pin is inserted into each aperture. The connector operates under the principle of compressing the elastomer piece, making the "S" shaped conductor pins rotate slightly, thus providing the required "wipe" action to the LGA and PCB contacts. The elastomeric material provides the necessary spring back force to achieve an effective mechanical contact as well as a low resistance contact between the LGA and PCB pads. A hardware system is provided to control and maintain the compression of the elastomeric material and to provide alignment and registration between the LGA contacts and the PCB pads. This type of connector system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,814, also assigned to assignee hereof and incorporated herein by reference.
Present decoupling practice for LGA package systems is to use one or several ceramic multi-layer chip (MLC) capacitors surface mounted on the PCB surrounding the LGA/Connector System. This practice suffers from several disadvantages. For example, the MLC capacitors, due to the area of the PCB occupied by the connector system itself, end up being located at relatively large distances from one another, i.e., the length of the electrical connections (made typically through the voltage and ground planes of the PCB) between the MLC capacitors and the voltage and ground pads of the PCB (connecting to the LGA) is large. This introduces large inductance in the decoupling loop, which results in noise in the power ground circuitry of the IC.
While well suited decoupling schemes for PGA packages are disclosed, a need exists for an improved decoupling scheme for use in conjunction with land grid array (LGA) type integrated circuit packages as well as for other IC chip packages having a central void or space therein.

Device for interconnecting integrated circuit packages to circuit boards