A pitch search method and device for digitally encoding a wideband signal, in particular but not exclusively a speech signal, in view of transmitting, or storing, and synthesizing this wideband sound signal. The new method and device which achieve efficient modeling of the harmonic structure of the speech spectrum uses several forms of low pass filters applied to a pitch codevector, the one yielding higher prediction gain (i.e. the lowest pitch prediction error) is selected and the associated pitch codebook parameters are forwarded.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an efficient technique for digitally encoding a wideband signal, in particular but not exclusively a speech signal, in view of transmitting, or storing, and synthesizing this wideband sound signal. More specifically, this invention deals with an improved pitch search device and method.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The demand for efficient digital wideband speech/audio encoding techniques with a good subjective quality/bit rate trade-off is increasing for numerous applications such as audio/video teleconferencing, multimedia, and wireless applications, as well as Internet and packet network applications. Until recently, telephone bandwidths filtered in the range 200-3400 Hz were mainly used in speech coding applications. However, there is an increasing demand for wideband speech applications in order to increase the intelligibility and naturalness of the speech signals. A bandwidth in the range 50-7000 Hz was found sufficient for delivering a face-to-face speech quality. For audio signals, this range gives an acceptable audio quality, but still lower than the CD quality which operates on the range 20-20000 Hz.
A speech encoder converts a speech signal into a digital bitstream which is transmitted over a communication channel (or stored in a storage medium). The speech signal is digitized (sampled and quantized with usually 16-bits per sample) and the speech encoder has the role of representing these digital samples with a smaller number of bits while maintaining a good subjective speech quality. The speech decoder or synthesizer operates on the transmitted or stored bit stream and converts it back to a sound signal.
One of the best prior art techniques capable of achieving a good quality/bit rate trade-off is the so-called Code Excited Linear Prediction (CELP) technique. According to this technique, the sampled speech signal is processed in successive blocks of L samples usually called frames where L is some predetermined number (corresponding to 10-30 ms of speech). In CELP, a linear prediction (LP) filter is computed and transmitted every frame. The L-sample frame is then divided into smaller blocks called subframes of size N samples, where L=kN and k is the number of subframes in a frame (N usually corresponds to 4-10 ms of speech). An excitation signal is determined in each subframe, which usually consists of two components: one from the past excitation (also called pitch contribution or adaptive codebook) and the other from an innovation codebook (also called fixed codebook). This excitation signal is transmitted and used at the decoder as the input of the LP synthesis filter in order to obtain the synthesized speech.
An innovation codebook in the CELP context, is an indexed set of N-sample-long sequences which will be referred to as N-dimensional codevectors. Each codebook sequence is indexed by an integer k ranging from 1 to M where M represents the size of the codebook often expressed as a number of bits b, where M=2b.
To synthesize speech according to the CELP technique, each block of N samples is synthesized by filtering an appropriate codevector from a codebook through time varying filters modeling the spectral characteristics of the speech signal. At the encoder end, the synthetic output is computed for all, or a subset, of the codevectors from the codebook (codebook search). The retained codevector is the one producing the synthetic output closest to the original speech signal according to a perceptually weighted distortion measure. This perceptual weighting is performed using a so-called perceptual weighting filter, which is usually derived from the LP filter.
The CELP model has been very successful in encoding telephone band sound signals, and several CELP-based standards exist in a wide range of applications, especially in digital cellular applications. In the telephone band, the sound signal is band-limited to 200-3400 Hz and sampled at 8000 samples/sec. In wideband speech/audio applications, the sound signal is band-limited to 50-7000 Hz and sampled at 16000 samples/sec.
Some difficulties arise when applying the telephone-band optimized CELP model to wideband signals, and additional features need to be added to the model in order to obtain high quality wideband signals. Wideband signals exhibit a much wider dynamic range compared to telephone-band signals, which results in precision problems when a fixed-point implementation of the algorithm is required (which is essential in wireless applications). Further, the CELP model will often spend most of its encoding bits on the low-frequency region, which usually has higher energy contents, resulting in a low-pass output signal. To overcome this problem, the perceptual weighting filter has to be modified in order to suit wideband signals, and pre-emphasis techniques which boost the high frequency regions become important to reduce the dynamic range, yielding a simpler fixed-point implementation, and to ensure a better encoding of the higher frequency contents of the signal. Further, the pitch contents in the spectrum of voiced segments in wideband signals do not extend over the whole spectrum range, and the amount of voicing shows more variation compared to narrow-band signals. Therefore, in case of wideband signals, existing pitch search structures are not very efficient. Thus, it is important to improve the closed-loop pitch analysis to better accommodate the variations in the voicing level.

Method and device for adaptive bandwidth pitch search in coding wideband signals


A portable collapsible work station for quick set up and storage is provided. The work station comprises an elongated frame structure including a pair of side frames. A collapsible wheel carrying frame is pivotally mounted at a first intermediate position of the elongated frame structure. The collapsible wheel carrying frame being pivoted on the elongated frame structure from a storage position lying within a horizontal plane through the elongated frame structure to an extended operating position for supporting the elongated frame structure. A support leg structure is pivotally mounted at a second intermediate position of elongated frame structure enabling the support leg structure to be moved from a storage position coplanar with the collapsible wheel carrying frame to the extended operating position for supporting the elongated frame structure. A power tool is rotatably secured to the elongated frame structure for rotation from a tool storage position located internally of the elongated frame structure to a tool operating position on top of the elongated frame structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a work station for power tools. More particularly, the invention pertains to a collapsible carpentry work station and push cart combination that can be easily transported in a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The importance and advantages of the portability of tools and work stations or work benches has long been known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,828,248 issued to Hallowell discloses a portable work bench having casters to allow for movement from place to place. U.S. Pat. No. 3,118,685 issued to Jordan discloses a combination tool chest and work bench that has a pair of wheels and an elongated handle to facilitate transportation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,531 issued to Blohm provides a portable apparatus for storing tools which also converts into a work bench.
While these devices serve to provide satisfactory tool boxes and work benches, they suffer from the disadvantage of being unable to accommodate the storage or portability of large power tools. Today, carpenters and home craftsman largely depend on the use of power tools such as table saws, miter boxes, routers, planers, and belt sanders. The increased weight of power tools over manual tools creates a problem when dealing with the issue of portability, especially if the work station or work bench must be capable of being loaded into a vehicle, such as a van, truck, or utility vehicle for on site use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,712 issued to Blackwell discloses a portable power table for power tools. While this device is capable of transporting a table adapted for use with a power tool mounted thereto, it suffers from a number of disadvantages. The device must be tilted 90 degrees for transportation in a vehicle, therefore the device must be limited in size and weight to allow an individual to be able to transport the device without the assistance from a second person. Furthermore, the device consumes a large amount of space in a vehicle due to extending legs and a vertically extending table top.
As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the work station of the present invention differs from those previously proposed.

Collapsible carpentry work station and push cart combination


A variable-optic powered or electronic ophthalmic lens may be utilized to augment the eye's natural ability to refract light or focus. The variable-optic powered lens comprises an electronic system that includes a power source, power management circuitry, clock generation circuitry, control algorithms and circuitry and lens driver circuitry. The ophthalmic lens may also comprise one or more sensors configured to detect ciliary muscle signals and adjust the optics of the lens accordingly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable-optic powered or electronic ophthalmic lens having a sensor and associated hardware and software for detecting ciliary muscle signals, and more particularly, to a sensor and associated hardware and software for detecting ciliary muscle signals in an individual to activate and control a variable-optic powered or electronic ophthalmic lens.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As electronic devices continue to be miniaturized, it is becoming increasingly more likely to create wearable or embeddable microelectronic devices for a variety of uses. Such uses may include monitoring aspects of body chemistry, administering controlled dosages of medications or therapeutic agents via various mechanisms, including automatically, in response to measurements, or in response to external control signals, and augmenting the performance of organs or tissues. Examples of such devices include glucose infusion pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators, ventricular assist devices and neurostimulators. A new, particularly useful field of application is in ophthalmic wearable lenses and contact lenses. For example, a wearable lens may incorporate a lens assembly having an electronically adjustable focus to augment or enhance performance of the eye. In another example, either with or without adjustable focus, a wearable contact lens may incorporate electronic sensors to detect concentrations of particular chemicals in the precorneal (tear) film. The use of embedded electronics in a lens assembly introduces a potential requirement for communication with the electronics, for a method of powering and/or re-energizing the electronics, for interconnecting the electronics, for internal and external sensing and/or monitoring, and for control of the electronics and the overall function of the lens.
The human eye has the ability to discern millions of colors, the ability to adjust easily to shifting light conditions, and transmit signals or information to the brain at a rate exceeding that of a high-speed internet connection. Lenses, such as contact lenses and intraocular lenses, currently are utilized to correct vision defects such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia and astigmatism. However, properly designed lenses incorporating additional components may be utilized to enhance vision as well as to correct vision defects.
Conventional contact lenses are polymeric structures with specific shapes to correct various vision problems as briefly set forth above. To achieve enhanced functionality, various circuits and components have to be integrated into these polymeric structures. For example, control circuits, microprocessors, communication devices, power supplies, sensors, actuators, light-emitting diodes, and miniature antennas may be integrated into contact lenses via custom-built optoelectronic components to not only correct vision, but to enhance vision as well as provide additional functionality as is explained herein. Electronic and/or powered contract lenses may be designed to provide enhanced vision via zoom-in and zoom-out capabilities, or just simply modifying the refractive capabilities of the lenses. Electronic and/or powered contact lenses may be designed to enhance color and resolution, to display textural information, to translate speech into captions in real time, to offer visual cues from a navigation system, and to provide image processing and internet access. The lenses may be designed to allow the wearer to see in low-light conditions. The properly designed electronics and/or arrangement of electronics on lenses may allow for projecting an image onto the retina, for example, without a variable-focus optic lens, provide novelty image displays and even provide wakeup alerts. Alternately, or in addition to any of these functions or similar functions, the contact lenses may incorporate components for the noninvasive monitoring of the wearer's biomarkers and health indicators. For example, sensors built into the lenses may allow a diabetic patient to keep tabs on blood sugar levels by analyzing components of the tear film without the need for drawing blood. In addition, an appropriately configured lens may incorporate sensors for monitoring cholesterol, sodium, and potassium levels, as well as other biological markers. This, coupled with a wireless data transmitter, could allow a physician to have almost immediate access to a patient's blood chemistry without the need for the patient to waste time getting to a laboratory and having blood drawn. In addition, sensors built into the lenses may be utilized to detect light incident on the eye to compensate for ambient light conditions or for use in determining blink patterns.
The proper combination of devices could yield potentially unlimited functionality; however, there are a number of difficulties associated with the incorporation of extra components on a piece of optical-grade polymer. In general, it is difficult to manufacture such components directly on the lens for a number of reasons, as well as mounting and interconnecting planar devices on a non-planar surface. It is also difficult to manufacture to scale. The components to be placed on or in the lens need to be miniaturized and integrated onto just 1.5 square centimeters of a transparent polymer while protecting the components from the liquid environment on the eye. It is also difficult to make a contact lens comfortable and safe for the wearer with the added thickness of additional components.
Given the area and volume constraints of an ophthalmic device such as a contact lens, and the environment in which it is to be utilized, the physical realization of the device must overcome a number of problems, including mounting and interconnecting a number of electronic components on a non-planar surface, the bulk of which comprises optic plastic. Accordingly, there exists a need for providing a mechanically and electrically robust electronic contact lens.
As these are powered lenses, energy or more particularly current consumption, to run the electronics is a concern given battery technology on the scale for an ophthalmic lens. In addition to normal current consumption, powered devices or systems of this nature generally require standby current reserves, precise voltage control and switching capabilities to ensure operation over a potentially wide range of operating parameters, and burst consumption, for example, up to eighteen (18) hours on a single charge, after potentially remaining idle for years. Accordingly, there exists a need for a system that is optimized for low-cost, long-term reliable service, safety and size while providing the required power.
In addition, because of the complexity of the functionality associated with a powered lens and the high level of interaction between all of the components comprising a powered lens, there is a need to coordinate and control the overall operation of the electronics and optics comprising a powered ophthalmic lens. Accordingly, there is a need for a system to control the operation of all of the other components that is safe, low-cost, and reliable, has a low rate of power consumption and is scalable for incorporation into an ophthalmic lens.
Each eye contains a ciliary muscle, which is located around or proximate to the crystalline lens. Zonules attach to the ciliary muscle and, additionally, attach to the crystalline lens. The ciliary muscle controls accommodation for viewing objects at varying distances by changing the shape of the crystalline lens. For example, when focusing on a nearby object where a short focal distance is needed, the ciliary muscle contracts and slackens the zonules causing the crystalline lens to become rounder and more compressed. However, when focusing on a distant object and a lengthened focal distance is needed, the ciliary muscle relaxes and the zonules pull on the edges of the crystalline lens causing it to be thinner and flatter. Accordingly, the ciliary muscle and the electrical signals derived therefrom may be utilized as a way to activate and control a powered ophthalmic lens.
Powered or electronic ophthalmic lenses may have to account for the various ciliary muscle signals detected from the individual utilizing the powered or electronic ophthalmic lens. More specifically, powered lenses have to detect and differentiate between various ciliary muscle signals, and from one or more of other signals, noise, and interference. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means and method of detecting ciliary muscle signals and utilizing them to activate an electronic or powered ophthalmic lens according to the type of ciliary muscle signal detected by a sensor, such as contraction or relaxation of the ciliary muscle.

Neuromuscular sensing for variable-optic electronic ophthalmic lens


A gutter guard for preventing the entrance of debris into the trough of a gutter includes an outwardly convex portion extending lengthwise over the trough of the gutter. A plurality of hoods extend upwardly from the outwardly convex portion and over lie a first set of apertures. The upwardly extending hoods direct water flowing over the convex portion through the first set of apertures. A second set of apertures outwardly from the first set of apertures has downwardly extending hoods underlying, such downwardly extending hoods deflecting water on the inner surface of the outwardly convex portion.

Gutter guards of various types and designs have been used for many years in an attempt to prevent leaves and other debris from entering the main trough of the gutter and obstructing such gutters and downspouts extending therefrom. Examples of prior art gutter guards or screens include the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,198,714; 7,143,549; 7,104,012; 4,036,761.
Many prior art gutter guard systems utilize round or slotted holes which are perforated through the upper surface of the gutter guard. During periods of heavy rain, such round or slotted holes are unable to receive therethrough all of the water flowing down the roof and into the gutter. As a result, a significant amount of water will pass over the holes across the upper surface of the gutter guard and flow over the upper edge of the gutter and onto the ground below and, therefore, not be directed to the trough of the gutter and the downspout connected thereto.


The present invention relates to a novel delivery system for delivering therapeutic agents into living cells, and more particularly, to novel chemical moieties that are designed capable of targeting and/or penetrating cells or other targets of interest and further capable of binding therapeutic agents to be delivered to these cells, and to delivery systems containing same.

One of the most challenging targets is to deliver genetic materials to cells safely. The identification of defective genes responsible for disease states, either through defective control of gene expression, which leads to overproduction or underproduction of key proteins, or the production of defective proteins, offers new possibilities for the treatment of disease. By controlling the defect at the genetic level, a range of diseases could potentially be treated effectively rather than by merely treating the symptoms of these diseases.
The use of genetic material to deliver genes for therapeutic purposes has been practiced for many years.
Generation of therapeutic gene products (such as polypeptides, proteins, mRNA and RNAi) by expression of therapeutic gene product-encoding DNA in transformed cells has attracted wide attention as a method to treat various mammalian diseases and enhance production of specific proteins or other cellular products. This promising technology, often referred to as gene therapy (Crystal et al., Science 1995, 270, 404), is generally accomplished by introducing exogenous genetic material into a mammalian patient's cells. Transformed cells can be accomplished by either direct transformation of target cells within the mammalian subject (in vivo gene therapy) or transformation of cells in vitro and subsequent implantation of the transformed cells into the mammalian subject (ex vivo gene therapy) (for reviews, see Chang et al. 1994 Gastroenterol. 106:1076-84). The introduced genetic material can be designed to replace an abnormal (defective) gene of the mammalian patient ("gene replacement therapy"), or can be designed for expression of the encoded protein or other therapeutic product without replacement of any defective gene ("gene augmentation"). Because many congenital and acquired medical disorders result from inadequate production of various gene products, gene therapy provides means to treat these diseases through either transient or stable expression of exogenous nucleic acid encoding the therapeutic product. Although the initial motivation for gene therapy was the treatment of genetic disorders, it is becoming increasingly apparent that gene therapy will be useful for the treatment of a broader range of acquired diseases such as cancer, infectious disorders (such as AIDS), heart disease, arthritis, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
DNA is inherently an unstable material in an active biological environment where many specific enzymes capable of degrading and metabolizing DNA are found (Ledoux et al., Prog. Nucl. Acid Res., 1965, 4, 231). In addition, natural protection against alien DNA exists in the body. Thus, the gene therapy, antisense oligonucleotide therapy and gene vaccination approaches described above require that the DNA and DNA analogues would survive in such a hostile biological environment and in addition, that the DNA and DNA analogs would penetrate biological barriers, be taken up into cells and be delivered to the correct subcellular compartment to exert their therapeutic effects. While some DNA is taken up naturally into cells, the amount taken up is typically small and inconsistent, and expression of added DNA is therefore poor and unpredictable.
A number of strategies have been proposed to achieve delivery of DNA into living cells. These include the use of liposomes (Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1979, 76, 3348), cationic lipids (Felgner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad Sci USA, 1987, 84, 7413), and the use of cationic polymers, or polycations, such as polylysine and polyornithine as DNA delivery agents (Farber et al., Biochim. Biophys. Aca, 1975, 390, 298 and Wagner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA, 1990, 87, 3410).
Therapeutic approaches that involve intervention at the gene level are widely recognized as promising technologies, these methods are limited by the absence of an efficient and reliable method of delivering DNA and RNA.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a novel delivery system for delivering therapeutic agents such as DNA and RNA molecules into living cells, which would overcome the present limitations associated with gene therapy.

System for delivering therapeutic agents into living cells and cells nuclei


An electrode for a plasma display panel (PDP) in which an electrode having a high adhesive power is formed on a glass substrate of a color plasma display panel and a method for forming the same. The electrode for the PDP includes a metal ceramic thin film formed between a metal electrode and a dielectric substrate. The method includes steps of forming a metal ceramic thin film on a predetermined portion of the dielectric substrate and forming an electrode having the same metal element as the metal ceramic thin film on the metal ceramic thin film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrode for a plasma display panel (PDP) in which an electrode having a high adhesive power is formed on a glass substrate of a color plasma display panel; and a method for forming the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a conventional PDP.
Referring to FIG. 1, a pair of upper electrodes 4 are formed on a front glass substrate. A dielectric layer 2 is formed over the pair of the upper electrodes 4 by employing a printing method and a protecting layer 3 is formed on the dielectric layer 2 by a deposition method. The pair of upper electrodes 4, and the dielectric layer 2 and the protecting layer 3 constitute an upper structure.
A lower electrode 12 is formed on a back glass substrate 11. Sidewalls 6 are formed in order to prevent crosstalk between adjacent cells. Luminescent materials 8, 9, and 10 are formed on the both sides of each of the sidewalls 6 and on the back glass substrate 11. The lower electrode 12, the sidewalls 6, and the luminescent materials 8, 9, and 10 constitute an lower structure. A non-active gas fills the space between the upper electrodes 4 and the lower electrode 12 such that a discharge region 5 is formed.
The operation of a general PDP will be explained.
Referring to FIG. 1, a driving voltage is applied to the pair of the upper electrodes 4 so that a surface discharge is generated in the discharge region 5, thereby generating ultraviolet 7. The ultraviolet 7 excites the luminescent materials 8, 9, and 10, to achieve a color display. In other words, the space charge which is present in the discharge cell is traveled to cathode due to the driving voltage. The space charge collides with non-active mixed gas which is a penning mixed gas added to by xenon (Xe), and neon (Ne), helium (He) which is the main component of the mixed gas, such that the non-active gas is exited and the ultraviolet 7 of 147 nm is generated. The non-active gas which fills the discharge has a pressure of 400-500 torr.
The ultraviolet 7 generated collides with the luminescent material 8, 9, and 10 on the sidewalls 6 and the back glass substrate 11, thus forming a visible ray region.
FIGS. 2a and 2b are cross-sectional views showing the upper and lower substrates of a PDP according to a conventional method.
As shown in FIG. 2a, for the lower substrate, a metal conductive material 30 such as nickel (Ni) or aluminum (Al) is formed on a back glass substrate 11 (dielectric substrate) by a printing technique. As shown in FIG. 2b, for the upper substrate, copper (Cu) 35 used as an electrode is formed in a front glass substrate 1 (dielectric substrate).
Cu, Ni, and Al all have a very low interfacial coherence with respect to glass. Thus, chromium (Cr) 40 is formed between glass and Cu 35, or between glass and Al 30 or Ni in order to maintain the coupling of the glass and the Cu 35, or that of the glass and the Al 30 or the Ni.
Referring to the forming process, a Cr thin film 40 is formed on the front glass substrate 1 of the PDP by means of a sputtering method in order to heighten the interfacial coherence. Then a Cu film (35) used as an electrode is formed on the Cr thin film 40. Next, another Cr thin film 40 is formed on the Cu film 35 using the sputtering method in order to heighten the interfacial coherence. Finally, employing annealing, a glass is made to cover the entire surface of the front glass substrate 1 inclusive of the Cu film 35 and the Cr thin films 40.
Like the glass substrate, a dielectric substrate is applied to the same manner as the glass substrate. In the same manner, there is formed the electrode on the front glass substrate 11 shown in FIG. 2a.
A conventional electrode of a PDP and a forming method thereof have the following disadvantages.
Since Cr is a pure metal, Cr has a poor interfacial coherence with respect to glass. Besides, in case glass is annealed at a high temperature, interfacial crack or foam is generated at the interface of the glass and the Cr due to their different expansions, and thus the discharge of the PDP becomes unstable and the life span of the PDP becomes shortened. Moreover, since the coupling is made by two metals that are Cu and Cr, that is, an electrode and an interfacial adhesives, sputtering process is carried out for the Cu and another sputtering process is also carried out for the Cr. Accordingly, the overall process is complicated.

Method for making plasma display panel electrode


An optical system is effective to illuminate and scan an interior wall of an object having an interior bore, such as a stent. The system includes a light source, an object support having a light conducting portion, an image taking lens, and a line scan camera. The interior bore and the light conducting portion of the object support are in axial alignment with a center optical axis of the image taking lens. A drive mechanism engages the object without impacting the axial alignment. Various aspect of this optical system include a rotating wheel or transparent plate as the drive mechanism. The object support may be an opaque rod having a light conducting portion or a transparent rod. Electronics associated with this optical system include a rotary encoder engaging the drive system to drive an electric circuit capable of triggering the line scan camera in response to rotation of the object, thereby building a line by line image of the interior bore and the line scan camera connected to a computer-based imaging system effective to identify cosmetic and functional manufacturing defects.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to scanning and illuminating systems and methods for automated optical inspection. More particularly, to systems and methods to illuminate and inspect the inner bore of a stent or other tubular or conical device having an interior bore, where the interior bore may be either a through hole or a blind bore.
2. Description of Related Art
Stents are small wire mesh tubes used to hold open compromised arteries and other fluid conduits within a human body. The critical use of these devices and their small size requires stents to be manufactured to the highest possible quality standards.
Balloon expandable stents are vulnerable to failure during deployment. A sharp edge may puncture the balloon under high pressure causing a deployment failure. Also, arteries and vessels in the body flex and bend and a deployed stent must conform. Manufacturing defects may cause a point of weakness in the stent that is vulnerable to fatigue and failure as this point of weakness is repetitively bent or flexed in the vessel. Still further, if a portion of the stent breaks off and travels through the bloodstream, the patient is a risk of a stroke if this broken piece travels to the brain and lodges in an artery.
In view of the potential for catastrophic failure, rigorous inspection of the stent is required prior to deployment. Within the industry, visual inspection of stents has historically been done by human operators utilizing a microscope at 40× to 80× magnification. The stents are typically placed between two rollers and rotated under the microscopes while the human operator observes. An automated inspection system for measuring the dimensions of a stent and inspecting exterior surfaces is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,403, "Repetitive Inspection System with Intelligent Tools," that is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
Summarizing the current state of the art and its deficiencies, to achieve an automated method for inspection, a complete image of the stent needs to be quickly taken in good focus with clear contrast. The current state of the art is to use a stereomicroscope such as the Olympus SZ40 and ringlight. The stent is placed between two rollers and manually rotated. Illumination is provided from above with a fiber optic ringlight. While a video camera can be used with such a microscope, as the stent rotates between the rollers it does not always turn smoothly so it can move in and out of focus. Human operators often readjust the focus knob of the microscope to accommodate this, but this would be difficult and time consuming for an automatic method. As such, systems and methods need to be developed to rotate the stent in a well-defined and fixed geometry so as to always keep the stent in focus.
Further video cameras that can be used in conjunction with microscopes generally can only bring a very small section of the stent in focus at one time. To image every section of the stent with such an approach would require a very large number of individual images. This would be impractically time consuming to generate. Thus a method is required to generate a complete image of the inside diameter of the stent in just a few seconds. The current state of the art also uses a ringlight that illuminates the top outer diameter of the stent as well as the inner diameter thus creating a confusing image with excess glare.
There remains a need for an automated system and method to illuminate and image the inner bore of a stent and thereby facilitate the inspection of that inner bore.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method to illuminate and image the inside diameter of a stent


This invention relates to a new and distinct apple tree rootstock clone that originated as a mutation of Malling 9 (M9). Standard growing apple cultivars propagated on this new rootstock are approximately 65% of the size of like apple trees growing on apple seedling rootstocks. Compared to its M9 parent, this new clone produces many more and larger lateral branches, has leaves with acute tips and has more sinuate serrations. The clone is also more vigorous and produces a larger number of rooted plants in a given area of stoolbed.

The inventor of the subject variety, Rene Nicolai, was the owner of Rene Nicolai Nursery, which propagated and sold Malling Nine (M9) apple tree root stock. Root stock are propagated by placing plants in a stool bed which encourages root growth and then dividing the resulting roots into individual plants. Over the years Mr. Nicolai searched the M9 stool beds for M9 mutants which were superior to the parent variety in those characteristics which are desirable for apple tree root stock.
The subject clone was selected in 1967 from a large stool bed of M9 plants that was planted in 1960 at the Rene Nicolai Nursery at Linderstoot, 22-B-3820 Alken, Belgium. The original source of the plants in the bed was the East Malling Research Station in England. Following its selection, the clone was assigned a number (RN19) and was propagated for further testing and evaluation.
Since all original M9 root stocks have been found to be virus infected, the RN19 plants were subsequently heat treated by application of dry heat, in order to obtain virus-free testing, the new root stock cone was again exposed to multiplication techniques (stooling) followed by continued testing and evaluation.
Virus-free RN19 progeny plants were expanded into small stool bed plantings at several locations which were planted separately in order to examine the new variety's individual characteristics in small semi-commercial stool bed sites. Since 1974 nearly 40,000 plants of the subject variety have been planted at the following six sites and, in the process, may generations of the tree have been produced.
1. A site at Deveaux, Belgium was planted in the spring of 1974 with 1,500 plants of the subject clone.
2. A site at Bordeaux, France was planted in 1977 with 200 plants of the subject clone.
3. A site at Wissenhoeve, Belgium was planted in the spring of 1980 with 2,058 plants of the subject clone.
4. A site near St. Truiden, Belgium was planted in the spring of 1982 with 100 plants of the subject clone. 5. A site at Henkaenrts, Belgium was planted in the spring of 1986 with 3,250 plants of the subject clone.
6. A site at Ephrata, Wash. was planted in the spring of 1990 with 2,000 plants of the subject clone.
Clone RN19 was subsequently finally selected as a rootstock clone that continues to possess growth and rooting characteristics that are distinctly different from its M9 parent.
It distinguished itself in these beds from its M9 parent in the following ways:
1. The subject clone produces many more lateral limbs (feathers or spurs) than its M9 parent and grows more robustly in the stoolbed (FIGS. 1 and 2; Charts 1 and 2). The average increase in height of daughter plants growing in the stoolbed is approximately 20% (FIG. 6, M 9; and FIG. 7, RN19) and the average increase in the number of feathers produced is approximately three-fold at Bordeaux, France and almost six-fold at Ephrata, Wash. (Charts 1 and 2). A significant difference in the average length of the individual feathers produced is also noted (Chart 2). Because of RN19's more robust growth and its characteristic habit of producing more and larger feathers, an increased difference in the average number of leaves produced per daughter plant also occurs (Chart 2). A slight increases difference in the average number of nodes per shoot and in the average stem circumference is also noted (Chart 2). RN19 exhibits a much lesser early bloom characteristic than does its M 9 parent (Chart 3). Leaf size (adding the length and width together) and the length of the leaf particles are consistently smaller than the virus-free M 9 (Chart 4).
CHART 1 ______________________________________ Percent of Layer Plants with Side Limbs (Feathers) (Test Stooling Beds at Bordeaux, France) Rootstock Year Clone 79/80 80/81 81/82 82/83 Average ______________________________________ M9 13 8 25 0 11.4 (virus-free) RN8 8 6 13 0 6.8 RN19 41 32 44 19 34.0 RN29 39 22 35 15 27.8 ______________________________________
CHART 2 ______________________________________ Growth Characteristics (Test Stooling Beds at Ephrata, Washington) Length Number Number Length Number Circum- of of of of of ference Rootstock Shoot Nodes/ Spurs/ Spur Leaves/ of Stem Clone (cm) Shoot Shoot (cm) Shoots (cm) ______________________________________ M9 66.80* 39.20 3.00 1.50 53.00 3.24 RN8 62.10 42.10 1.80 1.20 57.20 3.80 RN19 78.20 41.00 18.60 8.60 88.30 3.51 RN29 86.20 45.60 21.40 10.30 100.00 3.54 ______________________________________ *All numbers shown are the average of 100 plants selected at random.
CHART 3 ______________________________________ Bloom Characteristics (Research Station at Gorsum, Belgium - 1985) Rootstock % of Rootstocks With Bloom Clone (1 Year From Stoolbed) ______________________________________ RN8 29 RN19 4 RN29 0 M9 15 (virus-free) ______________________________________
CHART 4 ______________________________________ Leaf Size and Respetive Petiole Length of Respective Rootstock (Test Stooling Beds at Bordeaux, France) Rootstock Length, L Width, W L + W Length of Clone (mm) (mm) (mm) Petiole ______________________________________ M9 101.7 63.8 165.5 32.5 (virus-free) RN8 98.8 73.6 172.4 34.0 RN19 91.4 60.0 151.4 30.8 RN29 85.5 57.1 142.6 28.5 ______________________________________
2. The subject clone has the ability to produce many more rooted daughter plants per mother plant and per meter of stoolbed row than its M 9 parent (FIGS. 4 and 5; Charts 5, 6 and 7). Data collected at the Bordeaux test site in France shows an approximately three-fold increase in the number of daughter plants produced over a four-year period and data collected at the Deveaux test site in Belgium shows an approximately two-fold increase over six- and nine-year periods.
CHART 5 ______________________________________ RN19 Stoolbed Production (Deveaux, Belgium) No. Mother Plants - 555 Length of Bed (m) - 185 ______________________________________ Year 82/83 83/84 84/85 85/86 86/87 ______________________________________ Grade (mm) 10/12 1,000 825 575 2,250 4,000 8/10 0 0 1,500 0 0 6/10 17,200 12,800 0 0 0 6/8 0 0 12,490 11,300 9,650 5/7 0 0 0 0 0 4/6 8,800 8,100 10,080 10,300 12,700 04 0 1,600 0 0 150 #2s 4,000 2,9400 2,700 2,000 5,300 Totals 31,000 26,225 27,345 25,850 31,800 Per Mother Plant 20.67 17.48 18.23 17.23 21.20 Per Meter 62.00 52.45 54.69 51.70 63.60 ______________________________________ Average Year 87/88 88/89 89/90 90/91 82/91 ______________________________________ Grade (mm) 10/12 1,250 525 0 1,075 8/10 4,225 4,500 3,900 5,150 6/10 0 0 0 0 6/8 9,950 8,000 9,050 3.100 5/7 0 0 0 10,100 4/6 9,500 6,700 10,500 2,600 04 0 0 0 0 #2s 5,700 3,000 10,500 2,600 Totals 30,625 22,725 33,850 27,825 Per Mother Plant 20.42 15.15 22.57 18.55 19.06 Per Meter 61.25 45.45 67.70 55.65 57.17 ______________________________________
CHART 6 ______________________________________ M9 (Virus-Free) Stoolbed Production (Deveaux, Belgium) No. Mother Plants - 561 Length of Bed (m) - 187 ______________________________________ Year 82/83 83/84 84/85 85/86 86/87 ______________________________________ Grade (mm) 10/12 225 100 250 750 464 8/10 0 0 450 0 0 6/10 4,150 2,950 0 2,350 2,200 6/8 0 0 3,400 0 0 5/7 0 0 0 0 0 4/6 1,800 1,600 2,200 1,600 3,000 04 0 300 0 0 0 #2s 700 800 500 500 1,400 Totals 6,875 5,750 6,800 5,200 7,064 Per Mother Plant 12.25 10.25 12.12 9.27 12.59 Per Meter 36.76 30.75 36.36 27.81 37.78 ______________________________________ Average Year 87/88 88/89 89/90 90/91 82/91 ______________________________________ Grade (mm) 10/12 75 -- -- -- 8/10 450 -- -- -- 6/10 0 -- -- -- 6/8 2,700 -- -- -- 5/7 0 -- -- -- 4/6 2,200 -- -- -- 04 0 -- -- -- #2s 400 -- -- -- Totals 5,825 -- -- -- Per Mother Plant 10.38 -- -- -- 11.14 Per Meter 31.15 -- -- -- 33.43 ______________________________________
CHART 7 ______________________________________ Average Number of Plants Per Stoolbed Mother Plant (Test Stooling Beds at Bordeaux, France) Year Planted and Age Rootstock 79/80 80/81 81/82 82/83 Clone 2-Yr 3-Yr 4-Yr 5-Yr Average ______________________________________ M9 1.2 2.6 .5 4.0 8.3 (virus-free) RN8 2.1 3.9 3.8 6.4 16.2 RN19 2.6 4.4 6.5 9.1 22.6 RN29 4.4 5.6 5.7 11.3 27.0 ______________________________________
3. Leaves of the subject clone are more acutely tipped and have sinuate serrations along their sides than leaves produced on its M 9 parent (FIG. 3). The average number of leaf serrations per centimeter of length was consistently less than those recorded on leaves of its M 9 parent (Chart 8).
CHART 8 ______________________________________ Leaf Characteristics (Test Stooling Beds at Ephrata, Washington) Number of Leaf Rootstock Serrations Clone per cm ______________________________________ M9 3.5** RN19 2.7 ______________________________________ *All numbers shown are the average of 200 leaves taken from 100 plants selected at random.


A new PAINT TRAY COVER for ELIMINATING THE NEED TO CLEAN THE TRAY AFTER PAINTING. The inventive device includes a bag dimensioned for receiving a paint tray therein. The bag has an open end for receiving the paint tray therein. The bag has an upper surface, a lower surface and a hollow interior therebetween. The lower surface has a first pair of holes therethrough in a spaced relationship. The first pair of holes are dimensioned for receiving a pair of feet of the paint tray therethrough. The bag is closeable around the paint tray and will conform to the paint tray once the tray is filled with paint.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to PAINT LINERS and more particularly pertains to a new PAINT TRAY COVER for ELIMINATING THE NEED TO CLEAN THE TRAY AFTER PAINTING.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of PAINT LINERS is known in the prior art. More specifically, PAINT LINERS heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art PAINT LINERS include U. S. Pat. No. Des. 289,456 to Florentino; U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,123 to Caldwell; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 264,897 to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,242 to Millasich; U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,228 to Hickey; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,929 to Sapien.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new PAINT TRAY COVER. The inventive device includes a bag dimensioned for receiving a paint tray therein. The bag has an open end for receiving the paint tray therein. The bag has an upper surface, a lower surface and a hollow interior therebetween. The lower surface has a first pair of holes therethrough in a spaced relationship. The first pair of holes are dimensioned for receiving a pair of feet of the paint tray therethrough. The bag is closeable around the paint tray and will conform to the paint tray once the tray is filled with paint.
In these respects, the PAINT TRAY COVER according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of ELIMINATING THE NEED TO CLEAN THE TRAY AFTER PAINTING.


A door lock assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a base secured inside a vehicle door, a latch mechanism provided on the base and free to engage with and disengage from the body side of the vehicle, an opening lever provided on the base for operating the latch mechanism via a linking member, a locking lever provided on the base for manipulating the linking member to engage and disengage a transmission path from the opening lever to the latch mechanism, and a protective cover for covering the locking lever and the linking member. The protective cover has an opening and the opening lever has a connecting portion extending outwardly of the protective cover from the opening in offset relation to the opening, wherein the connecting portion is linked to an operating member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a door lock assembly for automotive vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An example of a door lock assembly of this kind is disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 2-30868 (Feb. 1, 1990). The disclosed door lock assembly includes a base secured inside a door hinged on the vehicle body in freely swinging fashion, a latch mechanism provided on the base which includes a latch and a pawl and is free to engage with and disengage from a striker provided on the vehicle body, a lifting lever provided on the base for operating the latch mechanism to disengage the striker and the latch mechanism, an opening lever provided on and connected to each of door handles the base for manipulating the lifting lever via an opening lifting lever, a locking lever provided on the base for manipulating the opening lifting lever to engage and disengage a transmission path from the opening lever to the lifting lever, and a key lever coupled with the locking lever. Various operating members provided on the vehicle door such as key lever and locking lever are connected to the opening lift lever, via respective rods.
In order to prevent the locking lever or opening lifting lever in a door lock assembly from being manipulated unlawfully, usually the lifting lever, opening lever, locking lever, opening lifting lever and key lever are covered by a protective cover secured to the base. In the door lock assembly described above, however, the fact that the operating members are connected to the opening lever, key lever and locking lever requires that the protective cover be formed to have openings large enough to enable the connection to the operating members. As a consequence, an implement such as a piece of wire for tampering with the locking lever or opening lifting lever can easily be inserted from the opening at the connection between the key lever and its operating member and the opening at the connection between the opening lifting lever and its operating member along the path of connection between these operating members and the key lever and opening lifting lever, which are disposed on the exterior side of the passenger compartment. As a result, the vehicle is prone to theft.

Door lock assembly for automotive vehicles


A field effect transistor (FET) device including a substrate and a plurality of semiconductor layers provided on the substrate, where a top semiconductor layer is a heavily doped cap layer and another one of the semiconductor layers directly below the cap layer is a Schottky barrier layer, and where a gate recess is formed through the cap layer and into the Schottky barrier layer. The FET device also includes a gate terminal having a titanium layer, an inhibitor layer provided on the titanium layer and a gold layer provided on the inhibitor layer, where the gate terminal is formed in the recess so that the titanium layer is in contact with the Schottky barrier layer, and where the inhibitor layer is effective for preventing hydrogen gas from being dissociated into hydrogen atoms so as to reduce or prevent hydrogen poisoning of the FET device.

Field
This invention relates generally to a field effect transistor (FET) device that includes a hydrogen inhibitor for preventing hydrogen poison induced degradation (HPID) of the device and, more particularly, to an FET device provided within a hermetically sealed package, where the FET device includes a hydrogen inhibitor that replaces platinum in a gate metal of the device, and where the hydrogen inhibitor prevents hydrogen gas from forming hydrogen atoms so as to eliminate HPID.
Discussion
It is known in the art to provide hermetically-sealed packages for integrated circuits, such as monolithic millimeter-wave integrated circuits (MMIC). One or more MMICs are fabricated on a semiconductor substrate, and mounted within a metal housing. A metal cover is then sealed to the housing in a vacuum environment to provide the hermetically-sealed package. These types of hermetically sealed MMICs have many applications, such as space-based applications, where device reliability is crucial.
MMICs that are contained with hermetically sealed packages usually include one or more FET devices, such as high electron mobility transistors (HEMT). A typical gate metal for the gate terminal of an FET device includes stacked layers of titanium (Ti), platinum (Pt) and gold (Au), where the gate terminal is covered with a silicon nitride passivation layer. In these types of packages, hydrogen gas H2 is out-gassed from the hermetic package and is contained therein. It is believed that the hydrogen gas H2 diffuses through the silicon nitride passivation layer and adsorbs on the surface of the platinum layer, which is catalyzed and dissociates into hydrogen atoms H. The hydrogen atoms H combine with the titanium in the gate metal to form TiHx, which reduces the device gate voltage Vg and decreases the device transconductance Gm, thus affecting device performance.
In order to alleviate hydrogen caused degradation of integrated circuit components within hermetically-sealed packages, sometimes referred to as hydrogen poison induced degradation (HPID), it has been proposed in the art to provide hydrogen getters within the package that absorb the hydrogen gas H2 to remove it from the sealed package. Particularly, it is known in the art to deposit certain layers of material within the hermetically-sealed package that operate to absorb the hydrogen gas H2 that may otherwise degrade device performance. For example, a hydrogen getter can be mounted to the cover of the hermetically sealed package discussed above. One known hydrogen getter includes a plurality of metal layers deposited on either the substrate wafer or the cover wafer, and may include titanium layers, nickel layers and palladium layers.
Although hydrogen getters have been effective for reducing or eliminating HPID in an FET device, fabricating the hydrogen getter in the sealed package increases the manufacturing cycle time of the integrated circuit including the FET device, which also increases cost. Further, hydrogen getters are not always reliable as they often degrade and/or malfunction before the end of the life of the FET device.

Embedded hydrogen inhibitors for semiconductor field effect transistors


A smart surface is disclosed that can stand alone or be contained within a portable computer or other system, for powering and communicating with single or multiple cord-free transducers. Operating or charging power is transmitted by the surface using a carrier signal that is on/off keyed or amplitude modulated with synchronization, clock, enable, address, modes, commands and other pulse width, encoded or digital data. The signal is transmitted to single or multiple cordless smart transducers located on or above the surface, such as pens with multiple pressure sensing and switch capability, pointers, stylus, cursors, pucks, mouse, pawns, implements and similar items. Overlapping resonant inductive circuits are used in the surface to transmit operating power and communicate data to the transducer(s).

The enclosed system, in operation with position resolving or tablet capability, serves the purpose of electronically reproducing pen handwriting, printing, sketching, drawing, menu and item selection as well as providing for the transmission from the pen or other transducer stored signatures or codes that can be compared with current writing, writing pressure or system codes for security and authorization purposes. Conversely, the surface can transmit digital data and information to the pen or receive data and information from the pen for other purposes. For example, if the pen receives information from one surface and is transported to another surface, the pen can then transfer or send the information to the other surface and associated computer system. This allows a convenient and rapid means of transferring a file from one system to another.
A number of pawns or other locating devices can be employed to represent graphic items such as trees, bushes or other items in a landscape drawing or rendition as the pawns can be moved around as a means to determine their optimum location. Alternatively, pawns or other items can be assigned as schematic symbols or numerous other items as a means to construct schematics, graphic or other position based information. If desired for some applications, the information and data transmitted to and received from the transducer or pen or can be encrypted for security purposes.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to efficiently provide a system and method, in a powering, communication and position-resolving surface using resonant circuits or coils, requiring minimum input power to transmit sufficient power or energy to simultaneously operate a number of cordless moveable smart transducer(s), such as a pressure-sensitive pen, on or above the surface.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a system and method capable of transmitting a wide range of analog and digital status and other information to and from the transducer(s), based on their individual characteristics and requirements.
It is a another object of this invention to perform the above functions and operation with the use of an independent or generic tablet incorporated within the surface to determine the transducer(s) position with immunity to noise and interference.
Still another object of this invention is to permit operation of a portable computer, PDA, terminal or other device or system that may have a display, lighting and other components within close proximity of the surface.


A rotor of a BLDC motor includes: a rotor divided into a north pole and a south pole on the basis of a magnetic pole separating line; and a stator at which the rotor is disposed with an air gap, the stator having a first pole shoe, a second pole shoe and a pair of detent grooves at its inner surface, wherein an air gap forming portion for enlarging an air gap between the rotor and the detent grooves is formed at both end portions of the rotor where the magnetic pole separating line passes, so that the rotor can maintain the motor performance and reduce resonance noise by reducing only higher degree of cogging torque from cogging torque generated when the motor is driven.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a skeleton type BLDC motor, and more particularly, to a BLDC motor which reduces resonance noise by reducing cogging torque.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skeleton type BLDC motor in accordance with the conventional art, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a skeleton type BLDC motor in accordance with the conventional art; and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2.
The conventional BLDC motor is made up of a stator 102 to which the power is applied; a rotor 104 disposed at an inner circumferential surface of the stator 102 with an air gap and rotated by interlocking with the stator 102; and a rotary shaft 106 mounted at the center of the rotor 104 and rotated together with the rotor 104, for transferring a rotary force to the outside.
A PCB 108 having a driver circuit for driving the rotor 104 therein is installed at one side of the stator 102, and the PCB 108 is embedded in a PBC cover 110.
The stator 102 is made up of a stator core 116 in which a plurality of sheets are laminated and coupled by a rivet, and in which a first pole shoe 112 and a second pole shoe 114 which accommodate the rotor 104 are formed as one body; a pair of bobbins 118 and 120 fixed to the stator core 116; and a pair of coils 122 and 124 wound on the pair of bobbins 118 and 120, respectively, the pair of coils to which the power is alternately applied.
For the initial starting, detent grooves 126 disposed symmetrically to the rotary shaft line of the rotor 104 are respectively formed at the first pole shoe 112 and the second pole shoe 114 in order that the rotor is not aligned at a position where torque of the rotor is zero.
As shown in FIG. 4, the rotor 104 includes: a circular magnet 130 whose one side is a north pole and the other side is a south pole on the basis of a magnetic pole separating line formed radially from the center of the rotor 104; and a magnet frame 132 disposed at an inner circumferential surface of the magnet 130 and having a rotary shaft 106 fixed to its center.
The rotor 104 is accommodated inside a motor housing 140, and a pair of bearings 142 and 144 rotatably supporting the rotary shaft 106 are disposed at the motor housing 140.
A location detecting sensor (not shown) for detecting a rotary location of the rotor 104 is disposed at the PCB cover 110, and the location detecting sensor is received in a sensor receiving portion 136.
An operation of the BLDC motor in accordance with the conventional art having such a construction will be described. When the power is applied, the location detecting sensor detects a rotary location of the rotor 104 by using information of the magnetic pole part line 128 of the rotor 104, and the DC power is applied to one of the pair of coils 122 and 124 on the basis of the detection result. Then, the stator core 116 is excitated to rotate the magnet 130. Then, the magnet frame 132 mounted on the magnet 130 is also rotated, and the rotary shaft 106 fixed to the magnet frame 132 is rotated.
At this time, the rotor 140 is not aligned to a position where torque is zero by means of the detent grooves 126 formed to have a large interval relatively to the first pole shoe 112 and the second pole shoe 114.
However, in the conventional skeleton type BLDC motor having such a construction, cogging torque, which is a tangential force whose tendency is to move in equilibrium with the minimum magnetic energy, is inevitably generated. Such cogging torque is generated between the first pole shoe and the second pole shoe regardless of the current.
In addition, when the magnetic pole separating line of the rotor passes the detent grooves by the rotation of the rotor, an air gap between the rotor and the stator changes and therefore magnetic flux density changes. Hereupon, higher degree of cogging torque as well as basic degree of cogging torque is generated. The cogging torque of higher degree becomes the main cause of resonance noise of the motor, thereby increasing noise of the motor.
In order to reduce the generation of the cogging torque, though research and development in noise reduction has been a primary focus by using a method for improving a magnetizing method of the magnet or a method for reducing the vibration source by changing a shape of the magnet, there is a problem that basic degree cogging torque as well as higher degree (the fourth degree, fifth degree, . . . ) cogging torque is reduced. Thus, there is a problem that the performance of a motor which requires a certain level of cogging torque is deteriorated.


A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT includes a plasmonic disk and a near-field oscillator pair. The near-field oscillator pair includes a receiving oscillator and an emitting oscillator. The receiving oscillator is operatively coupled to the plasmonic disk and configured to receive localized surface plasmons from the plasmonic disk and amplify a near field of the localized surface plasmons. The emitting oscillator is configured to receive the near field from the receiving oscillator and emit the near field toward a surface of a magnetic disk.

Some hard disk drives (HDDs) utilize heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) to increase the areal density of the HDD. A recording head of a HAMR HDD typically includes a laser, a near-field transducer (NFT) configured to briefly heat a small hot spot on a surface of a magnetic disk of the HDD, and a write pole configured to write data to the magnetic disk in the vicinity of the hot spot. The areal density of the magnetic disk is limited by the size of the hot spot generated by the NFT and the thermal gradient of the hot spot. Moreover, the NFT produces enormous amounts of heat which may degrade various components of the recording head, thus potentially reducing the life expectancy of the recording head and the HDD.

Heat-assisted magnetic recording head with a near-field oscillator pair


A desiccant air conditioning system (10) is provided for a passenger compartment (28) of a vehicle. Ambient air, to be eventually conditioned, passes through desiccant material maintained in a desiccant chamber (14) where it loses a portion of its moisture content while its temperature rises because of the release of the heat of vapor condensation. Subsequently, this hot, dry air is passed through a heat exchanger (20) where it is cooled down to a temperature close to the ambient. This very dry, cool air is then humidified by a humidifier (24), becoming cool, moist air, that is introduced into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Exhaust air (30) from the passenger compartment is further humidified by a humidifier (32), so as to cool it. This cooled, humidified air is then passed through the heat exchanger (20) to cool the hot, dry incoming air. The air conditioning system may also be used in a heating mode by simply deactivating the heat exchanger (20) and the two humidifiers (24 and 32) and using the exhaust air from the passenger compartment as the source of the air (42) incoming into the desiccant chamber. The desiccant material can be regenerated by means (40), such as by passing current therethrough, to drive off absorbed water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to air conditioners, and, more particularly, to automotive air conditioners, especially useful for electric vehicles.
2. Description of Related Art
The advent of an international agreement limiting production of certain refrigerants because of their detrimental effect on the atmosphere, particularly the depletion of the ozone stratospheric layer, has caused a sudden and intense concern in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. As is well-known, the Montreal Protocol has been signed by 24 nations, including the United States, and efforts are going forward to put its provisions into effect. The signatory nations in the Montreal Protocol have agreed that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) will be strictly controlled and that all production will cease in 1995. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a massive collection of rules and regulations that will be used to enforce cuts in the production and use of these refrigerants. During the second half of 1992, the EPA can begin enforcing these laws outlined in the 1990 U.S. Clean Air Act. Earlier this year, the U.S. administration implemented an accelerated phase-out schedule. According to the EPA rules, the sale of CFCs to the public becomes illegal. It is also illegal for anybody, including service persons, to vent CFCs in the air. Moreover, the law requires the collection and recycling of all the refrigerants in automotive applications. Anyone servicing an air conditioner must be EPA-certified and must use approved recovery and recycling equipment.
The refrigerants in question are the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) 11, 12, 113, 114, and 115. Of these, the banning of CFC-12 is of the utmost concern, as it is used in refrigerators, freezers, automobile air-conditioners, refrigerated vending machines, food display cases, and a variety of small home and business appliances. Moreover, of the aforementioned uses of CFC-12, the automobile air-conditioner one is the most critical use, as it comprises the largest inventory of the refrigerant as well as it offers the highest likelihood of escape to the environment.
In the past few years the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) 134a has been promoted as a substitute for CFC-12 in automobile air-conditioners. However, HFC-134a is not a drop-in replacement for CFC-12. The thermophysical properties of HFC-134a are such that it requires a bigger compressor, heavier fluid lines, and is not as efficient as CFC-12(fuel requirements are calculated to be 4% higher using HFC-134a compared to that of CFC-12). In addition, performance comparisons in vehicles between CFC-12 and HFC-134a show that the passenger compartment temperature is 1.degree. to 2.degree. F. (0.56.degree. to 1.1.degree. C.) higher at normal vehicle speed, and 4.degree. to 6.degree. F. (2.2.degree. to 3.3.degree. C.) higher at idle when HFC-134a is used.
It is therefore prudent to investigate other refrigeration alternatives, particularly with regard to automotive air-conditioning uses.
However, while there is a concern regarding the banning of CFCs, it will also be recognized that there are numerous applications where a potentially more energy efficient system may be desirable or necessary than the traditional vapor compression cycle, whether it makes use of CFC-12 or HFC-134a. Such is the case, for example, in an electric vehicle where a traditional air-conditioner draws significant amounts of power that reduce critically the in-between charging range of the vehicle. Electric vehicles, of course, are also becoming highly desirable because of reduced emissions of carbon dioxide and several air pollutants.
Thus, increased efficiency becomes a very important driving force regarding the development of alternative automotive air-conditioning systems.

Desiccant adsorption air conditioner for automobiles


A hydraulic construction unit for a heating facility or air-conditioning facility, includes a return connection (20) and a first feed connection (16) for a heating circuit (6), with a heat source outlet (12) fluid conducting connected to the return connection. A heat source inlet (14) is fluid conducting connected to the first feed connection and to a circulation pump assembly (28) in a flow path between the return connection and the heat source outlet (12) or in a flow path between the heat source inlet and the first feed connection. A second feed connection (18) for a second heating circuit (8), is fluid conducting connected to the heat source inlet and to the return connection. A mixing valve (54) is arranged in a flow path from the heat source inlet to the second feed connection and/or in a flow path from the return connection to the second feed connection.

Such a construction unit or housing unit for a heating facility is known for example from EP 2 397 777 A1. This construction unit comprises a circulation pump for delivering the heating medium, as well as in particular a heat exchanger for heating service (domestic) water. A switch-over valve is also provided, in order to switch the circuit for the heating medium between the mentioned heat exchanger and a connected heating circuit. The pump assembly can thus deliver the heating medium, in particular water, either through the heat exchanger for heating service water or through a connected heating circuit of a building, depending on the position of the switch-over valve. The construction unit moreover comprises connections for connection to a heat source, in particular to a primary heat exchanger of a boiler, via which the heating medium is heated in the circuit.
The disadvantage of these known construction units for heating facilities is the fact that a temperature regulation for the temperature of the heating medium is extremely difficult. As a rule, this is only possible by way of adapting the output of the heat source. Moreover, it is always the same heading medium temperature which is provided for all existing heating circuits.

Hydraulic unit for a heating or air-conditioning system


System, method and program for data mirroring. In response to identification of a new storage volume on a primary storage subsystem being designated for use, a plurality of parameters for the new storage volume needed for data mirroring are automatically determined. Also, a corresponding storage volume in a second storage subsystem to mirror data from the new storage volume in the primary storage subsystem is automatically determined. The parameters of the new storage volume are automatically entered in a data mirroring table. The table identifies the new storage volume, the parameters for the new storage volume and the corresponding storage volume. The table also maps the new storage volume to the corresponding storage volume such that data updates to the new storage volume are mirrored to the corresponding storage volume. The parameters for the new storage volume can be determined by determining that a prior storage volume and a subsequent storage volume in the primary storage subsystem have same values for the parameters. In response, these values are entered for the parameters for the new storage volume in the data mirroring table.

It was well known to backup critical data to nonvolatile disk storage for recovery purposes. There are a variety of known techniques to create backup or secondary copies of data. A known data "mirroring" technique involves physically copying or mirroring a set of disk volumes from a primary disk storage subsystem from which it is used during normal operations to secondary and/or tertiary disk storage subsystem(s). Typically, the primary storage subsystem resides at a primary (geographic) site and the secondary and/or tertiary storage subsystems reside at a secondary and/or tertiary (geographic) site, and the data mirroring occurs via a network between the different sites. To implement data mirroring, a data mirroring management program at the primary site maps pairs of corresponding disk volumes in the primary and secondary storage subsystems (or maps triplets of corresponding disk volumes in the primary, secondary and tertiary storage subsystems if all provided). The mapping indicates where data created and stored in the primary storage subsystem is mirrored to the secondary storage subsystem (and tertiary storage subsystem, if provided). A disk "volume" can be a named logical disk drive that holds computer data that can be made up of one or more physical disk drives. After such a mapping, data updates made at the primary storage subsystem are automatically copied to the secondary storage subsystem (and tertiary subsystem, if provided).
The data mirroring management program needs the following information for both the primary and secondary disk storage systems (and tertiary disk storage subsystem, if provided) to support a data mirroring process, i.e. establish a mapping between the primary and secondary storage systems and enable physical mirroring of data: storage system serial numbers, network identifications, network connection information, and other internal identifiers of subsystem IDs, internal addresses, and Logical Control Unit IDs. The following is other configuration information for the primary and secondary storage systems that may also be needed: Worldwide Nodenames, pooling Assignment numbers and Channel Connection Addresses. Presently, an administrator manually collects the foregoing information by paper documentation and querying the disk subsystem. Based on this information, the administrator creates commands at the primary system to define which disk volumes in the primary subsystem are mirrored to which disk volumes in the secondary storage subsystem (and tertiary storage subsystem, if provided), record the mirror information in a mirroring table and initiate the mirroring. The commands include the following:    Peer-Peer Remote Copy (PPRC) commands;
CESTPATH: Establish a PPRC physical link connection between a primary side Logical Control Unit(LCU) and a remote side LCU
CESTPAIR: Establish a PPRC mirror pair between a primary side volume and a remote side volume    Global Mirror commands;
RSESSION-START: Start command to establish the mirror session in a global mirror
RSESSION-PAUSE: Pause the mirror session so it does not attempt synch point
RSESSION-RESUME: Resume the mirror to take a synch point
RVOLUME: Define a volume to the global mirror that has already been established with a PPRC CESTPAIR command
RSESSION-DEFINE: Add a Logical Control Unit (LCU) to the global mirror configuration    Flashcopy Commands:    FCESTABL: Establish a flashcopy relationship between the secondary PPRC volume at the remote side and a tertiary volume at the remote side.Also, disk volumes occasionally need to be added to or removed from the primary and/or backup system. In such a case, the administrator needs to define and execute new commands to reflect the new or removed disk volumes.
An existing IBM Global Mirror Executive ("GME") program implements data mirroring in IBM servers running an IBM z/OS operating system. The IBM GME program provides the following features:
Initiates and Monitors the Entire Global Mirror Session.
Detects and adds new production volumes to the mirror with no manual intervention.
Operates in either "Modeling" mode or "Execution" mode.
Detects problems with the mirror and fixes them (if possible).
Reports via alert message any problems.
Detects and corrects (if possible) configuration problems.
Generates information and commands required for recovery.
Provides management reporting on data synchronization.
The IBM Global Mirroring Executive program operates as follows: GME program operates in an IBM Z/OS MVS system, running as a 'started task'. At startup, GME program reads in configuration files, a parameter options file, and a dynamically built 'current disk volume' file. GME program builds internal tables and checks to determine if all volumes that are supposed to be part of the mirror are actually included in the mirror as it is currently running. GME program will then take the following actions as required to ensure the mirror is functional: check the status of each mirrored volume pair, check the status of the secondary/tertiary volume pairs, and check the status of the mirror structure. Thus, an administrator must manually define the pairs (or triplets) of disk volumes in a primary storage subsystem and a secondary storage subsystem (and a tertiary storage subsystem if provided). The following are existing commands and parameters input by an administrator to define the initial data mirroring and subsequently change the data mirroring to reflect changes to existing disk volumes in either the primary or backup system: CESTPATH, CESTPAIR, RSESSION START, and RSESSION DEFINE, RVOLUME. The IBM GME program also monitors the data mirroring, responds to events such as New Volumes, removed volumes, offline paths, invalid states of volume pairs, configuration and mismatches by taking the required action appropriate for each event. This could be adding the new volume to the mirror, removing a volume address from the mirror (in case the volume no longer exists), bringing paths online, etc. IBM GME also generates a recovery solution, i.e. generating required sets of commands and data to recover at the secondary location in the event of an outage.
An existing IBM eRCMF solution functions mainly as an "open systems" mirroring management tool. It will establish a mirror based on command input from an administrator. Its main function is to process the 'revert commands' at the remote DR site in the event of a primary site failure.
An object of the present invention is to facilitate the configuration of a data mirror.

System, method and program for configuring a data mirror

International Business Machines Corporation


An electronic system includes: a communication unit is configured to communicate a challenge; a user interface, coupled to the communication unit is configured to select rich content for a point of view based on the challenge; and a storage unit, coupled to the user interface, is configured to capture a response to the point of view based on the challenge.

Modern consumer and industrial electronics, especially devices such as graphical display systems, televisions, projectors, cellular phones, portable digital assistants, and combination devices, are providing increasing levels of functionality to support modern life including three-dimensional display services. Research and development in the existing technologies can take a myriad of different directions.
These electronic devices can display information including statistics, pictures, cards, or purchases. The information is intended for a user of the device with a specific time or location, for social interaction or location based information. This social interaction or location based information is increasing popular.
Virtual interactions or exchanges are limited to text-centric or single media-centric solutions. Limitation including fixed amount of time per user, minimal if any use of contextual information, and indeterminate winner, plague current virtual interactions or exchanges such as head-to-head competition, trash talk, team-based chat room, head-to-head betting, or support for trash talk.
Thus, a need still remains for a three-dimensional electronic system with an improved system for challenges. In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations and the diminishing opportunities for meaningful product differentiation in the marketplace, it is increasingly critical that answers be found to these problems. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Electronic system with challenge mechanism and method of operation thereof


A method and system for improving link performance for a user terminal (UT) in a satellite network is disclosed. The method including: providing a first beam servicing a first service area that is adjacent a second service area serviced by a second beam; transmitting, from the first service area, a transmission via the first beam to a receiver via a satellite; beamforming the first beam and the second beam at the receiver; extracting the first beam and a remnant signal of the first beam from the second beam; and processing the first beam and the remnant signal to receive the transmission, wherein the remnant signal may include a portion of the transmission received by a second beam antenna of the satellite.

A multibeam satellite system employs frequency reuse in which different beams share the same frequency resource or bandwidth. Beams sharing bandwidth are known as co-channel beams. The closer the two co-channel beams are located geographically, the greater is the co-channel interference (CCI). CCI can have devastating impact on the performance, hence prior art systems mitigate CCI to maintain CCI at acceptable levels by typically employing a reuse factor where a total system bandwidth B is divided into equal parts. The reuse may take advantage of opposite circular polarizations (left-hand and right-hand) to mitigate CCI on each antenna polarization.
Small terminals such as cell phones operate with low transmission power. Moreover, the small terminals generally use omnidirectional antennas that do not extend beyond a chassis of the mobile device. Closing a transmit link from the small terminals to a satellite is a challenge. This challenge is further exacerbated by a mobility of the small terminal. Under such deployments, users at the edge of the co-channel cells experience severe CCI which adversely affects their ability to close a link, data rate and quality of service.
The CCI mitigation techniques applied at the satellite gateway such as precoding and beamforming are well known. Multiple beams are formed using an array of on-board feed elements by means of phased array beamforming. A Dynamic Beamforming Network (DBN) where the spot-beams can be added, deleted or repositioned to cater to hot-spot scenarios is implemented via a GBBF (Ground Based Beam Forming) technology. GBBF permits a greater flexibility and makes possible the use of more advanced, and computationally intensive, beamforming processes that lead to the use of a smaller frequency reuse factor and hence an improved bandwidth efficiency. In GBBF, multiple paths (one for each feed element) are maintained between the output of the DBN located on the ground and each feed element located on the spacecraft. GBBF mitigates CCI by introducing amplitude and phase offsets into the paths prior to sending to a feeder channel to the on-board feed elements to form the directional spot beams.

System and method for improving link performance with ground based beam former


A saw assembly for cutting a workpiece is disclosed. The saw assembly includes a platform for supporting the saw assembly on a surface. The saw assembly further includes a table assembly having a saw for cutting the workpiece and a table surface for supporting the workpiece during cutting. The table assembly is pivotably coupled to the platform and is adapted to pivot relative to the platform to position the table surface at an inclination relative to the surface.

Generally, circular saws, such as, table saws, miter saws, etc., are designed for cutting or performing other working operations on a workpiece. Circular saws, generally, include a table surface for supporting the workpiece during cutting or any other working operations, and a circular cutter that is adjusted relative to the table surface to vary a depth and/or angle of cut. As the table surface has a fixed length, the workpieces having long lengths may not be properly or adequately supported by the table surface. The lack of reliable support can cause inaccurate cuts, which may translate into loss of time, materials and/or profit for the user.


A simple and single step process for producing caprolactam comprising reacting 5-formylvaleric acid or an ester thereof in a solvent of water and/or an alcohol with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a noble metal catalyst supported by a carrier at 80.degree. to 300.degree. C. under a pressure of 10 to 120 atm, whereby amination, acidification, dehydration and cyclization occur to obtain caprolactam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing caprolactam. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for producing caprolactam from 5-formylvaleric acid and its ester using water, an alcohol or a mixture as a solvent and using a noble metal catalyst supported by a Group II or IV oxide.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Caprolactam is an important raw material for nylon 6 and nylon 6 can be obtained from subjecting caprolactam to open ring polymerization. Nylon 6 has a great variety of uses, and it is mainly used for fibrous material and engineering plastics. As a fibrous material, nylon 6 can be made into clothes, carpets, tire cords and filter cloths. As an engineering plastic, nylon 6 can be made into component parts of automobiles, machines and electronic equipment.
Conventionally, caprolactam is prepared from cyclohexane oxime, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,268,440 and 5,304,643. This process involves the Beckmann rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime to obtain caprolactam. The disadvantages of this process are the cost of investment is too high and a great amount of undesirable ammonium sulfate waste is produced. Therefore, many other new processes have been established.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,040 uses methyl 5-formylvalerate as a starting material to produce caprolactam. In this process, methyl 5-formylvalerate is first hydrolyzed in the presence of an acidic catalyst at 30.degree. to 200.degree. C. to 5-formylvaleric acid, which is then reacted with excess ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of Raney nickel or Raney cobalt as a hydrogenation catalyst at 50.degree. to 150.degree. C. under superatmospheric pressure to form 6-aminocaproic acid. After the unreacted ammonia and hydrogen gas are removed, the aqueous mixture is heated to 150.degree. to 370.degree. C. under 100 bar to induce dehydrolyzation and cyclization of 6-aminocaproic acid to form caprolactam. Such process is very complicated and the yield is not high enough.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,730,041 and 4,731,445 use methyl 5-formylvalerate as a starting material and an alkanol as a solvent to produce caprolactam. First, methyl 5-formylvalerate is reacted with excess ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of an alkanol as a solvent and in the presence of a magnesium silicate-supported nickel catalyst at 40.degree. to 130.degree. C. under superatmospheric pressure to form methyl 6-aminocaproate. After the unreacted ammonia and hydrogen gas are removed, methyl 6-aminocaproate is converted into 6-aminocaproic acid and then formed to caprolactam by dehydrolyzation and cyclization or by direct de-alcoholization and cyclization. Although the process does not involve the hydrolyzation procedure of 5-formylvalerate, it suffers from the disadvantage that the starting material has a very low concentration (only 10%) and a great amount of alkanol should be separated and recycled.
Japanese Patent No. 29148 (1968) uses ammonia water as a solvent to convert 5-formylvalerate into caprolactam by direct cyclization in the presence of Raney nickel at 230.degree. C. under 150 bar. This process suffers from the disadvantage that the yield is too low and fluctuates very greatly, and the pressure employed is too high, which can not meet the requirement for commercial production.
European Patent Application EP 729944 involves first contacting 5-formylvaleric acid with ammonia, contacting the resultant product with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form 6-aminocaproate, and heating the resultant product at 200.degree. to 350.degree. C. for de-alcoholization and cyclization to produce caprolactam. Although such process employs lower pressure, an additional amination step is needed, thus making the process complicated.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,672 discloses another process for preparing caprolactam, wherein the 5-formylvaleric ester is reacted with excess ammonia and hydrogen gas in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst supported by alumina under 40 to 100 bar at from 80.degree. to 140.degree. C. for conversion into methyl 6-aminocaprocate, the pressure is decreased to standard pressure, hydrogen is removed, and ammonia is replaced with xylene. After that, the pressure is increased to 70 to 100 bar and the resultant mixture is heated to 230.degree. to 350.degree. C. to convert methyl 6-aminocaproate into caprolactam by de-alcoholization and cyclization. This process is still complicated, and has the disadvantage that the pressure is increased, then decreased, and then increased again, and a great amount of xylene should be removed.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Various embodiments may relate to a method for determining life expectancy information of an LED module with a plurality of LEDs. The method includes detecting of forward biases of the LED module at instants of time which lie less than 100 ms apart from each other, comparing a currently detected forward bias with one or more earlier detected forward biases, in order to detect a voltage jump which reaches a minimum initial inverse voltage within a predetermined jump duration, wherein the minimum initial inverse voltage is at least 60 mV and the predetermined jump duration is less than 100 ms long, and determining life expectancy information based on one or more detected voltage jumps.

LEDs typically have a higher life expectancy than conventional illuminants such as e.g. light bulbs or compact fluorescent lights. Nevertheless, there is also a need in LED modules to detect an impending failure of the LED module. In particular, it is important to detect an impending failure of the LED module which is not due to a failure of one of the LEDs, but rather to another ageing phenomenon of the LED module. These other ageing phenomena lead typically distinctly more frequently and sooner to a failure of the LED module than the ageing of the LEDs themselves.
From the related art, it is known that individual operating parameters of illuminants, e.g. the voltage applied in constant current operation, gradually change with increasing age of the illuminant and therefore a residual life expectancy of the illuminant can be estimated.

Method and device for determining life expectancy information of an LED module


An exemplary method includes generating, by an external control device selectively and communicatively coupled to an implantable stimulator, a calibration table indicating transmit power levels required to achieve a plurality of distinct combinations of compliance voltages and maximum stimulation current levels by the implantable stimulator, determining, by the external control device, a maximum stimulation current level to be delivered by the implantable stimulator via one or more electrodes to one or more stimulation sites within a patient during a stimulation frame, determining, by the external control device, an optimal compliance voltage that allows the implantable stimulator to deliver the determined maximum stimulation current level, and selecting, by the external control device in accordance with the calibration table, a transmit power level that results in the implantable stimulator operating at substantially the optimal compliance voltage during the stimulation frame. Corresponding methods, apparatuses and systems are also disclosed.

Compliance voltage in an implantable stimulator governs a maximum level of stimulation current that can be delivered by the implantable stimulator via one or more electrodes to one or more stimulation sites within a patient. A compliance voltage that is higher than absolutely necessary to generate and deliver a desired stimulation current causes the implantable stimulator to operate in an inefficient manner. For example, the excess compliance voltage contributes to power loss that results in a reduced battery life of the implantable stimulator. On the other hand, a compliance voltage less than that which is needed to generate and deliver a desired stimulation current inhibits optimal stimulation performance by the implantable stimulator. For example, a sub-optimal compliance voltage limits the maximum stimulation rate at which the implantable stimulator may apply stimulation current to the one or more stimulation sites, causes undesirable stimulation artifacts, and diminishes an overall experience of the patient with the implantable stimulator.
Hence, it is desirable to maintain a compliance voltage at which an implantable stimulator operates at an optimal level. Unfortunately, maximum stimulation current level requirements vary significantly from situation to situation and from patient to patient, thereby resulting in corresponding variations in the optimal compliance voltage for these patients. For example, maximum stimulation current level requirements for a cochlear implant patient may vary depending on the particular listening environment in which the patient is situated, changes in electrode impedance, and changes in relative positioning of a cochlear stimulator implanted in the patient and its corresponding externally located sound processor. Because of such variations in maximum stimulation current level requirements, maintaining a fixed compliance voltage that is high enough to always account for a worst-case scenario is wasteful.

Dynamic compliance voltage management for an implantable stimulator


A method to provide control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system is presented. The laboratory system comprises an aliquoting device, a storage, a transport system, at least two analyzers, and a control unit. A total number of control sample aliquots and an aliquot volume for each control sample aliquot is determined based on a validation time schedule. A provided total control sample volume is aliquoted into the determined total number of control sample aliquots with the determined aliquot volumes. The generated control sample aliquots are transported to one or more of the at least two analyzers according to the validation time schedule.

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of automated in vitro diagnostic laboratory testing and, in particular, to a method and a laboratory system providing control samples for validating a diagnostic test within the laboratory system.
In automated diagnostic laboratory environments, a high number of test samples are analyzed using diagnostic tests in a cautious and efficient manner in order to produce accurate and reliable test results, which represent pivotal information for physicians. Inaccurate diagnostic tests may lead to incorrect test results, or in the worst case to false negative or false positive test results, causing misinterpretation of test results, inappropriate further testing, and initiation of treatments with potentially hazardous outcomes for the patient. Typically, automated diagnostic laboratory environments comprise laboratory systems with multiple analyzers for executing the same diagnostic test on test samples according to predefined laboratory workflows in order to improve throughputs and/or turn-around times.
During a diagnostic test, an analyte-related signal or parameter is measured on an analyzer and then processed to a test result indicating the presence and/or the concentration of the analyte of interest in a test sample. The quality, reliability, and comparability of test results depend on the status of used test reagents and/or analyzer operation status during diagnostic testing. It is therefore required to validate diagnostic tests on a regular basis during operation of an analyzer according to a validation time schedule for monitoring the performance and validity of a diagnostic test. For validating a diagnostic test, a control sample with a known analyte and known or determined analyte concentration is measured on the analyzer and the resulting validation result is compared to predefined permitted result ranges. Only if validation results are within the predefined permitted result ranges can the test results of diagnostic tests be released for further diagnosis. If validation results are out of range, corresponding measures have to be initiated in order to bring the analyzer back to the required specifications. The management and preparation of control samples for a laboratory system comprising multiple analyzers is very time consuming for an operator. Many manual steps are performed to execute a validation time schedule, which may introduce unnecessary errors potentially causing incorrect test results, test result delays or operation downtime.
With improved throughputs and turn-around times of laboratory systems, the number of control samples, which have to be provided for validation and the demand of the corresponding storage space is increasing. However, control samples as well as storage space are expensive and therefore have to be used efficiently. Furthermore, the availability and the time to transport control samples to analysers for validating a diagnostic test should not be the limiting factor in a laboratory workflow so that test results can be provided on time and with required quality for further diagnosis. Additionally, validation results generated by different analyzers executing the same diagnostic test have to be comparable to each other for reliable and consistent monitoring of the validity of a diagnostic test within a laboratory system.
Therefore, there is a need to provide control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system in a simple, reliable and cost-efficient way, thereby better serving the needs of automated in vitro diagnostic laboratory testing.

Method and laboratory system to provide control samples for validating a diagnostic test