The plastic capsule, especially for large-volume bottles for use in dispensers, includes an openable zone (4) which is accessible from the outside and closed by a cap (3) is externally protected by a disc (5) which is made in a single piece with the capsule. The cap (3) is peripherally connected to the openable zone by easy-break ribs (6) and also by a thin annular skin (6a) which hermetically closes an annular space existing between the upper surface (1a) of the capsule and the disc (5).

The prior art has for a considerable time taught large bottles (usually 20 liters) containing water, which are inserted in water dispensers having a tap valve. In order to be usable with various types of dispenser, however, these bottles have to be of standard shape and size, especially as regards their mouths.
These bottles are generally closed by a single-use capsule, usually made of plastic, which has an opening zone that is accessible from the outside, so that at the moment when the bottle is inserted in the distributor a spout of the dispenser is also inserted, enabling the water in the bottle to be accessed. The openable zone is normally located in the centre of the capsule, and is closed by a cap which is pushed into the bottle itself by the spout when the bottle is inserted in the dispenser. The openable zone of the bottle capsule is externally protected by a guard, usually a cover or a thin paper or plastic disc glued onto the upper part of the capsule, which is removed before inserting the bottle in the dispenser. Internally of the capsule there is a seal disc which, when the capsule is inserted on the bottle, stays at the bottle mouth to guarantee a seal.
Some examples of these known capsules are described in EP 0816283, U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,867, U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,555 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,530.
When making these capsules, which are produced and used in considerable numbers, it is extremely important to limit the unit cost of production. For this reason it is extremely important to limit the number of pieces necessary for manufacturing the capsule, and the quantity of material necessary for realising the various pieces thereof.
The main aim of the present invention is to provide a capsule having a limited number of pieces and which uses a limited quantity of material for realising the various pieces, thus considerably reducing manufacturing costs.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a capsule which is extremely easy to use.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a capsule which can be used on standard-sized bottles.
These aims and advantages and more besides are all attained by the capsule of the invention, as it is characterised in the claims that follow.
In the figures of the drawings, 1 denotes a capsule destined to be used for closing large bottles 2, normally with a 20-liter capacity and destined to contain water. The bottles are inserted in special distributors which dispense water through a tap valve. In order to be inserted in the various types of distributors, the bottles are of a standard size and shape, especially around the area of their mouths, which exhibit a cylindrical annular projection 2a fashioned on the neck of the bottle at a predetermined distance from the mouth of the bottle, and a specially-shaped external annular projection 2b made on the external surface of the bottle 2 close to the mouth. Both the cylindrical annular projection 2a and the external annular projection 2b have standard locations and dimensions in the various bottles. As with known capsules of this type, the capsule of the invention comprises an openable zone 4 which is delimited by a cylindrical wall 1d which projects coaxially and internally of the capsule from the upper surface 1a of the capsule itself.
The openable zone 4 is, as will be described in more detail herein below, accessible from the outside. The openable zone is inferiorly closed by a cap 3 which is inserted sealingly in the cylindrical wall 1d. Water is removed through the openable zone 4, as will be better described herein below.
The capsule of the invention comprises a protection element for the openable zone 4 which in turn comprises a disc 5 which is fashioned superiorly of the openable zone 4 and made in a single piece with the capsule. The disc 5 is peripherally connected with the opening of the openable zone 4 by means of easy-break ribs 6, and is coplanar to the upper surface 1a of the capsule. For reasons that will be better explained herein below, two opposite ribs are preferable as illustrated in the figure of the drawings, though three could also be provided.
To complete the protection of the openable zone, the protection element of the capsule further comprises a thin annular skin 6a which is made in a single piece with the capsule during its injection-forming. The skin 6a is much thinner than the upper surface 1a, the disc 5 and the ribs 6. The skin 6a provides a hermetic closure of the annular space between the upper surface 1a of the capsule and the disc 5. As the capsule 1 is made by injection-moulding for food use, the thin annular skin 6a is manufactured as a sort of fin or burr, which is very easily obtained by leaving, in the zone corresponding to the annular skin 6a, a slight distance between the upper die and the lower die used for making the capsule.
The capsule of the invention also comprises an internal hoop 1b which is fashioned internally of the capsule 1 and coaxially thereto. The internal hoop 1b projects from the internal surface of the capsule 1 and is so dimensioned as to fit sealingly internally of the mouth of the bottle 2 when the capsule 1 is inserted on the bottle. The internal hoop 1b is obtained directly during the moulding of the capsule, and guarantees the seal of the capsule, eliminating the need for seal discs internally of the capsule.
The capsule further comprises an internal annular projection 1e which is internally fashioned on the capsule 1; the annular projection 1e defines, with the internal annular hoop 1b, a seating in which, when the capsule is inserted on the bottle, the external annular hoop 2b made on the external surface of the bottle neck 2 inserts. In this way a good and solid grip of the capsule on the bottle neck 2 is obtained.
The upper part of the capsule has a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the external hoop 1c and defines, in the connection zone between the external hoop 1c and the upper part of the capsule, an annular projection 1f having a hook-shape. This resulting hook means that the capsule is easily gripped by known-type machines typically used in bottling plants.
The capsule of the invention is press-inserted on the bottle in the bottling plant. Up until moment of use, the capsule remains solidly anchored to the bottle and its removal is particularly difficult because the external hoop 1c constitutes a sort of single surface with the external surface of the annular projection 2a of the neck of the bottle, making a manual extraction (even using tools) of the capsule from the bottle difficult.
The openable zone 4, which as in known capsules is inferiorly sealingly closed by the cap 3, is protected superiorly by the disc 5 and the annular skin 6a which completely close the openable zone 4, preventing any external agents such as dust or the like from penetrating inside the capsule.
Furthermore, the bottle cannot be opened without signal thereof due to the presence of the easy-break ribs 6 and the skin 6a, which constitute a sort of anti-tamper security device. Note that, both the protection in the openable zone and the security device are obtained directly during the manufacturing of the capsule, without any need, as there is in known capsules, to add further elements, such as glued-on discs and the like.
When in use, the disc 5 is manually removed; the operation is particularly easy because, following a slight pressure, the disc 5 rotates around the ribs, after rupturing the thin skin 6a, and can therefore be gripped by hand and pulled to break the ribs.
Thereafter, as happens with known capsules, a spout is introduced into the openable zone of the capsule, which, after having pushed the cap 3 into the bottle, penetrates into the bottle and enables the water to be removed. Note that the cap 3 exhibits no contamination from external agents because, up until the moment of use, the cap 3 is hermetically protected.
When the empty bottle is returned to the bottling plant, removal of the old capsule is made extremely easy by virtue of the presence of the annular projection 1f which enables the capsule to be easily gripped by the handling machines.

Plastic capsule for hermetically closing large bottles


A soil sampling implement and method have a sampler assembly supported from an implement frame for movement across a field. The sampler assembly includes a tapered cylindrical cutting shoe and a soil collection trough. The cutting shoe has a leading cutting edge arranged for movement through soil in a horizontal direction to cut a cylindrical core sample. A sensing device is provided for measuring at least one soil property. The sampler assembly is moved between a lowered position in which the cutting shoe is positioned at a selected sampling depth, and a raised position in which the cutting shoe is positioned above the soil surface and a soil sample contained in the soil collection trough is brought into contact with the sensing device. A cutting shoe scraper engages and cleans the leading cutting edge of the cutting shoe when the sampler assembly is moved between the lowered and raised positions.

Accurately and affordably mapping soil properties within a field has proven challenging for precision agriculture practitioners. The sampling density needed to capture small spatial scale variability is impractical using conventional sampling and analysis methods. Those methods involve the insertion of a soil probe into the soil, retracting the probe, removing the soil from the probe, placing the soil into a bag, repeating the process until the bag contains typically 5 to 10 cores, labeling the bag, and sending the composited cores to a soil testing laboratory where the soil is removed, ground, dried, and analyzed.
One of the main hindrances in analyzing soil on-the-go is that most analysis technology requires a certain length of time for an analysis to be completed. Movement of sensors across or through the soil means that sensors do not have the requisite time to measure the soil property of interest. Durability of the analysis equipment is another problem. Abrasion and damage from rocks and other field debris could cause significant damage to most lab sensors. If the soil sample can be extracted on-the-go, and immobilized for measurement, the problems of time and durability are both significantly reduced.
Automated soil collection devices have been developed that collect samples for submission to a soil testing laboratory. These devices provide advantages over the time-consuming and laborious practice of conventional core sampling described above. However, sending a large number of collected samples to a soil testing laboratory to map a field with a desired sampling density is expensive and often impractical.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,830 issued to Adamchuk et al. describes a soil collection system having a tray or platform that is dipped into the soil to collect a soil sample and then raised to bring the collected soil into contact with a pH probe. The '830 patent also includes provisions for geo-referencing the pH data. The present invention has been developed as an improvement to the soil sampling system described in the '830 patent and to satisfy a need in the industry for an improved on-the-go soil collection system that overcomes the problems of the prior art.

System and method for mobile soil sampling


A manually-powered floor sweeper is provided according to the invention. In one embodiment, the manually-powered floor sweeper includes a chassis and handle, one or more agitator rollers rotatably affixed to the chassis and rotated by movement of the floor sweeper, and a vacuum port formed in the chassis and communicating with the one or more agitator rollers and adapted to receive a vacuum hose. Debris picked up and propelled by the one or more agitator rollers is drawn out through the vacuum port when a vacuum is introduced into the vacuum port.

A floor sweeper is a light weight, inexpensive device used to pickup debris from surfaces such as floors. A prior art floor sweeper generally includes a handle, a chassis, wheels, a rotating brush, and a collection bin. In operation, a person grips the handle and pushes the floor sweeper around in the area to be cleaned. The wheels rotate in response to the motion, and transmit rotation to the brush. The rotating brush lifts debris off the floor and propels it into a collection bin. The collection bin can be periodically emptied.
Floor sweepers have become increasingly popular. A floor sweeper is manually-powered and therefore does not include heavy and complex components such as motors, vacuum pumps, electrical switches and cords, etc. Moreover, it has few moving parts. As a result, it is inexpensive. In addition, a floor sweeper is lightweight and easily maneuvered. Consequently, a floor sweeper can be quickly taken out, used, and put away. The simplicity and manual power of a floor sweeper results in a device that is light and small.
However, there are drawbacks to floor sweepers in the prior art. Due to the use of a rotating brush to pick up debris, not all debris will be removed from the surface. For example, fine dust may be missed by the brush, and large particles may be too heavy for the brush to propel into a collection bin. Therefore, the pickup action of the prior art floor sweeper is not satisfactory. In addition, the collection bin of a prior art floor sweeper has to be accessed and/or removed in order to be emptied. This requires extra time, and may be difficult to perform without spilling any accumulated debris.

Manually-powered floor sweeper with vacuum port


A cloth accessory includes a cover member of a soft and flexible material, which forms an enclosure having an opening therein. An insert is configured to fit within the cover member and hold the opening of the cover member in an open position with a substantially constant size and shape. A cloth is coupled to the cover member and has a first and second configuration. The cloth is retracted substantially into the cover member for storage in the first configuration. In the second configuration the cloth is extended through the insert and the opening of the cover member, and substantially out of the cover member for use while remaining coupled to the cover member. An associated method for cleaning or treating a device includes providing a cloth accessory, orienting the cloth into the second configuration and contacting a device with the cloth to clean or treat the device.

A number of devices and surfaces benefit from the use of a cloth or other absorbent device for cleansing or polishing. Some devices and surfaces are easily soiled, smudged and fingerprinted, thus requiring frequent cleaning. Such devices may include lenses, such as glasses, goggles, high power magnification scopes, cameras, binoculars, safety glasses, sunglasses, etc. In addition, devices and surfaces that are touched or handled often may require periodic cleaning. These devices and surfaces include, among other things, telephones, electronic devices, such as cell phones, digital cameras, digital music players, personal digital assistants, video game consoles, handheld video game consoles, etc., as well as protective covers and cases for such devices. Surfaces such as those on windows, televisions, and computer display screens, may also require periodic cleaning to maintain suitable visibility.
Many of these surfaces and devices may require maintenance and cleaning during activities in which they are being used. Accordingly, it is desirable that the cleaning cloth for these devices and surfaces be handy, convenient, and easy to use during a variety of activities and in various settings.


A dispenser has a syringe having a nozzle at one end thereof and a plunger fitted in the syringe from the other end of the syringe. One end of a pipe is connected to a portion of the syringe between the one end and the other end of the syringe. A liquid material tank is connected to the other end of the pipe. The liquid material tank is arranged so that a level of the liquid material in the liquid material tank is higher than in the syringe. The dispenser can be used for drip injection method for producing a liquid crystal display device to stably drip droplets of a liquid crystal onto a substrate of a liquid crystal display device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dispenser for discharging a liquid material which is suitably used for a liquid crystal drip injection method, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display device is composed of a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal inserted between the substrates. For example, one substrate is a TFT substrate on which TFTs are formed, and the other substrate is a color filter substrate on which a color filter is formed. On one substrate, an annular seal made of a light curable sealing agent is formed, and the annular seal is cured when it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays after the pair of substrates are bonded to each other. Liquid crystal is inserted into a region surrounded by the annular seal.
In the conventional method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, an injection hole is provided in the annular seal. After a pair of substrates are bonded to each other, the liquid crystal is injected from the injection hole provided in the annular seal in a vacuum chamber. After that, the injection hole provided in the annular seal is closed, and a liquid crystal panel composed of the pair of substrates is taken out from the vacuum chamber.
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, which is called a drip injection method, has been recently proposed (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-229044, for example). According to the drip injection method, an annular seal is formed on one of the substrates, and droplets of the liquid crystal are dripped in the annular seal. Then, the pair of substrates are bonded to each other in a vacuum chamber. According to the drip injection method, the manufacturing process can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost of a liquid crystal display device can be lowered.
In the drip injection method, in order to drip the liquid crystal onto the substrate, a dispenser for discharging a liquid material is used. The dispenser for discharging a liquid material includes a syringe having a nozzle at one end, and a plunger engaged in the syringe from the other end of the syringe. When the plunger is advanced in the syringe, droplets of the liquid crystal are ejected from the nozzle.
In the drip injection method used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, it is necessary to uniformly and stably discharge a small quantity of the liquid crystal from the dispenser. When the quantity of the liquid crystal discharged from the dispenser fluctuates, the thickness of a liquid crystal cell fluctuates and the quality of the display is deteriorated, and further bubbles (a vacuum layer) are generated and mixed in the liquid crystal. When bubbles and foreign objects are mixed in the liquid crystal in the syringe, the cell thickness locally fluctuates and further the liquid crystal is polluted. In order to avoid the occurrence of the above problems, it is necessary to supply a predetermined quantity of liquid crystal into the syringe without causing bubbles in the liquid crystal. It is also necessary to discharge a predetermined quantity of liquid crystal from the syringe each injection time without causing bubbles in the liquid crystals.
Not only in the dispenser for discharging a liquid material, which is used for the drip injection method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, but also in the syringe of the dispenser for discharging a liquid material, which is used for discharging another liquid material, when a quantity of a supplied liquid material becomes unstable, a quantity of a discharged liquid material also becomes unstable. Therefore, it is impossible to supply and discharge the liquid material stably. In the case where foreign objects are mixed in the liquid material or the liquid material itself is polluted, various problems may be caused depending on the use.

Dispenser for discharging liquid material


A cutting mechanism for use in an electrical discharge cutting machine that has a frame mounting a wire electrode cutter, a pair of rollers to feeder the wire electrode and a sensor for detecting the presence of the wire electrode. The frame can be moved from side-to-side so that it may be positioned to feed the wire electrode to a machining zone or to a disposal box when a portion of the wire electrode is to be cut off following a breakage of the wire electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a wire-cut electrical discharge machine, more particularly, to a wire-cut electrical discharge machine having a wire electrode cutting device capable of cutting off a predetermined length of a wire electrode, which is broken by an accident, before rethreading the wire electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the wire-cut electrical discharge machine, electrical discharge pulses are supplied in a machining zone between a wire electrode and a workpiece in order to cut a complex shape from the workpiece. In such a wire-cut electrical discharge machine, there is a need to forcibly cut off the wire electrode in two cases under ordinary working conditions. For example, after one workpiece has been cut, a new workpiece is to be set for cutting. At this time, the wire electrode must be forcibly cut off to smooth the wire electrode so that it can be placed into a starting position of the new workpiece. A similar case occurs when the wire electrode needs to be forcibly cut off because there is a pattern comprising several parts disposed independently of each other. To cut out the pattern from the workpiece, one part is first cut from the workpiece and, prior to cutting the next part from the workpiece, the wire electrode must be forcibly cut off so that the wire electrode can be placed into a starting position for that next part.
To cut the workpiece, electrical discharge pulses are supplied in the machining zone between the wire electrode and the workpiece. However, if the electrical discharge repeatedly occurs at the same point of the wire electrode, there is a probability that the wire electrode will break at that point. Upon such a accidental breakage of the wire electrode, a predetermined length of the wire electrode must be cut off before the wire electrode is rethreaded. Especially when the wire electrode is broken by the accident, such as described above, the breaking point of the wire electrode (the pointed head of the wire electrode) or the periphery thereof is usually deformed by the electrical discharges occurring in the machining zone between the wire electrode and the workpiece. Therefore, it is difficult to direct the wire electrode, whose point head is deformed and ragged, into a small wire guide of the wire-cut electrical discharge machine or into the starting position on the workpiece, that is, it is difficult to rethread the wire electrode in the wire-cut electrical discharge machine.
As a result, in the wire-cut electrical discharge machine, following a breakage, a predetermined length of the deformed wire electrode is cut off and scrapped. Then, since the wire electrode is sharp at the pointed head thereof, it is relatively simple to insert the wire electrode into the wire guide and to rethread the wire electrode in the wire-cut electrical discharge machine. Several types of wire electrode cutting devices capable of automatically executing the above-mentioned operations have been disclosed.
As a type of wire electrode cutting device, there is the wire electrode cutting device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,478. According to the disclosure of that wire electrode cutting device, the wire electrode to be cut off is tensioned between a brake device and a clamp device. The brake device is used for applying a back tension to the wire electrode upstream in the feeding direction of the wire electrode for machining. The rolling-type clamp device is disposed above the workpiece. The tensioned wire electrode is cut off by a cutting device disposed above the clamp device, and the bundle of scrap wire around the clamp is pushed off so as to fall in a disposal chute.
According to the above-mentioned structure, the pointed head of the broken-down wire electrode is wound around the clamp device so as to apply the tension. Therefore, after the wire electrode is cut off, the scrap wire electrode is tightly wound around the clamp device so that it is very difficult to push the bundle of scrap wire off the clamp device. As a result, the scrap wire push-off disposal device becomes very complex.
A wire-cut electrical discharge machine capable of solving the above-mentioned problems is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2-237724. In the disclosed wire-cut electrical discharge machine, a supply bobbin for holding the wire electrode, a brake for applying a braking force to the wire electrode, a cutting device having a pair of welding electrodes, a pair of tension rollers, a disposal box beside the tension rollers, and a detection circuit for detecting a breakage of the wire electrode are provided.
The wire electrode is fed from the supply bobbin across the brake and around a direction change pulley to a point where it is held by a pair of clamp rollers immediately above the cutting device. Immediately below the cutting device are the pair of tension rollers between which the wire electrode is passed. One of the pair of tension rollers is driven by a motor in a feeding direction for feeding the wire electrode. Provided immediately to the side of the pair of tension rollers is the disposal box.
When the wire electrode is to be cut, the brake is applied and the driven tension roller continues to feed the wire electrode thereby applying a tension to the wire electrode between the brake and the tension rollers. With the tension applied, the wire electrode is cut by the welding electrodes. At that time, the motor driving the driven tension roller must be reversed to feed the cut off broken portion of the wire electrode in a direction opposite to the feed direction so that it may be received in the disposal box. Thus, the timing for reversal of the motor driving the driven tension roller is critical, if the separation between the welding electrodes and the tension rollers is comparatively small, or the cut off broken portion of the wire electrode will be fed into the machining zone, and released from the tension rollers, before the reversal of the motor and the driven tension roller.
On the other hand, should the distance between the welding electrodes and the pair of tension rollers be large, so as to reduce the timing criticality, the machine will be unnecessarily and undesirably enlarged. In either case, the need to reverse the motor and the driven tension roller so as to dispose of the cut off broken portion of the wire electrode increases the complexity and the cost of the apparatus.

Wire-cut electrical discharge machine having wire electrode cutting device


The present invention relates to a method and a cooking apparatus for controlling a process for cooking food. The method comprises the steps of: detecting an initial temperature of the food; evaluating weighting factors of more than one temperature ranges according to the initial temperature, the more than one temperature ranges and preset cooking parameters of each of the more than one temperature ranges being predetermined; and controlling the cooking process based on the evaluated weighting factors and the preset cooking parameters. With this configuration, the cooking setting (temperature, time etc) can thus be determined based on the detected temperature ranges as well as the eliminated temperature ranges, so that possible detection inaccuracy can be eliminated to a large extent.

Automated cooking apparatus save users hassle in the kitchen, bring convenience to users, and at the same time guarantee consistent cooking results. A fully automated cooking apparatus requires little user intervention other than the user placing the food in the apparatus, choosing a desired cooking result (doneness) and pushing the start button.
Food of different initial status (i.e., initial temperature), such as frozen or non-frozen, may require very different cooking settings, to achieve optimal cooking results (texture, moisture etc). Therefore, the apparatus needs information about the food's initial status (amount, frozen or non-frozen etc), in order to determine a cooking strategy suitable for the food in question having a specific initial status, which is an important part of the automation. This information is currently provided by a user through manual input, which brings inconvenience especially to the non-experienced user, and which also leaves room for human errors. For instance, the user takes a bag of French fries out of the freezer, and leaves it at room temperature for 20 minutes, to finish other tasks, before starting the frying. The fries may be well above 0° C. at the surface but still frozen inside, which makes the definition of their status a tricky task.

Method and cooking apparatus for controlling a food cooking process


Provided are an information transmission method and apparatus, and a communication device. The method comprises: a first device entity acquiring header information of an Ethernet data packet from a second device entity, wherein the header information of the Ethernet data packet comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating whether the header information of the Ethernet data packet includes a target information domain.

Under a scenario that a public network system and a local network coexist, when a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session is Ethernet frames, an Ethernet PDU may or may not carry a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) sub-header, and the corresponding Ethernet frame structures are different. In a process of header compression, the header compression algorithms used for these two types of PDUs are different. However, in the prior art, there is no discrimination processing for this scenario.

Information transmission method and apparatus, and communication device

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A protective cover for a portable electronic device includes a main body and a plurality of cushioning structures. The main body is configured to receive the portable electronic device. Each cushioning structure includes an elastic body protruding from the main body and a clearance defined between the main body and the elastic body. The elastic body is deformed toward the clearance when the elastic body is impacted.

1. Technical Field
The exemplary disclosure generally relates to protective covers, and particularly to a protective cover for a portable electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to protect a housing of a portable electronic device, a protective cover can be used. The protective cover protects the portable electronic device from being stained or scraped. However, if the portable electronic device is dropped, the protective cover may not completely cushion the impact, which could cause damage to electronic components of the portable electronic device.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Protective cover for portable eletronic device


An image forming apparatus includes an image obtaining unit configured to obtain an image of a document, a document supplying unit configured to supply a document to the image obtaining unit, an image forming unit configured to form the image on a printing medium, a storing unit configured to store supply status information of the document, and a controller configured to perform a preparation for an image forming operation in response to at least one of the document being supplied to one of the image obtaining unit and the document supplying unit and an option setting command of the image forming operation being input. The controller, in response to the option setting command being input after the preparation for the image forming operation is stopped, is configured to perform the preparation for the image forming operation again based on the supply status information of the document.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the inventive concept relate to an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus configured to execute a first image forming operation in a swift manner by executing an image forming preparation operation, and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus such as, for example, a photocopier, a printer, or a multifunctional apparatus is configured to enter a power saving mode or a sleep mode within a predetermined time in order to save energy after a certain time has passed in a state in which a user has not used the image forming apparatus.
In response to an input from a user of a photocopy command during the power saving mode or the sleep mode, the image forming apparatus performs an image forming preparation operation to form an image, and when the preparation to form an image has been completed, a photocopy operation is performed. Unfortunately, this first image forming operation is not performed in a swift manner. Additionally, as the first image forming operation is slowed down, the time for a user to wait after inputting the photocopy command before receiving the image is extended.
To solve this difficulty, a conventional image forming apparatus is provided with a way to enhance the speed of the first image forming operation, after a user inputs the photocopy command, by executing an image forming preparation operation when a user that has a document prepared to be photocopied is detected.
However, in a case in which the photocopy command has not been input by a user within a predetermined time after the document has been prepared to be photocopied, the image forming apparatus enters into a standby mode. In this case, when a user inputs a photocopy command, the image forming apparatus again must perform an image forming preparation operation.

Image forming apparatus and controlling method thereof


A balloon catheter includes an elongate support member defining first and second openings therein, open proximal and distal ends, and an axial lumen; and a balloon disposed on the elongate support member, the balloon defining a balloon interior through which the support member extends, where the balloon interior has a proximal end region, a middle region, and a distal end region, with the first opening located in the middle region, and the second opening located in the distal end region, such that the support member lumen is in communication with the balloon interior through each of the first and second openings, and such that a pressurized liquid introduced through the open proximal end of the support member will enter the balloon interior through the first opening, and subsequently exit the balloon interior through the second opening, back into the lumen, and out the open distal end of the support member.

The use of intravascular medical devices has become an effective method for treating many types of vascular disease. In general, a suitable intravascular device is inserted into the vascular system of the patient and navigated through the vasculature to a desired target site. Using this method, virtually any target site in the patient's vascular system may be accessed, including the coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vasculature.
Catheters are often utilized to place medical devices such as stents and embolic devices at a desired location within the body. A medical prosthesis, such as a stent for example, may be loaded onto a catheter in a configuration having a reduced diameter and then introduced into the lumen of a body vessel. Once delivered to a target location within the body, the stent may then be expanded to an enlarged configuration within the vessel to support and reinforce the vessel wall while maintaining the vessel in an open, unobstructed condition. The stent may be configured to be self-expanding, expanded by an internal radial force such as a balloon, or a combination of self-expanding and balloon expandable.
Balloon catheters are used in a number of endovascular applications including temporarily or permanently occluding blood flow either distal or proximal of a treatment site during neurological examinations, delivering diagnostic agents such as contrast media, assisting in neurovascular embolic coiling of an aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation (AVM), and dilating narrowed blood vessels caused by vasospasm. During therapeutic procedures such as the ones mentioned above, fast aspiration-mediated deflation of the balloon catheter quickly restores sufficient or normal blood flow to the brain in order to avoid potential neurological impairment, such as weakness, loss of sensation, speech problems, etc.
Current single lumen balloon catheters have a few inflation/deflation ports either punched or laser drilled in the polymeric elongated distal shaft. An inadequate seal between the balloon distal tip and the guidewire may lead to blood entering the balloon, which may result in poor balloon visibility and clot formation around the inflation/deflation ports. In an emergency involving a balloon catheter, a physician may be forced to "bail out" by withdrawing the guidewire proximally away from the balloon to instantly deflate the balloon to restore blood flow to the brain. Poor balloon visibility and inability to quickly deflate the balloon during a procedure could lead to vessel damage and other serious complications.
In preparation for use, balloon catheters are flushed with fluid, such as saline. This fluid can be introduced using a syringe connected to a hub, such as a Luer fitting with a rotary selector valve. Air in these parts can be introduced as air bubbles into the balloon catheter during flushing. The difference between the outer diameter of the balloon support member and the inner diameter of the balloon results in the formation of an annular space and air bubble entrapment in the balloon catheter during flushing. Air bubble entrapment is especially problematic in larger diameter compliant and super compliant balloons.
Due to the pressure differential along the longitudinal axis of the balloon catheter, many air bubbles collect in the distal end of the balloon. However, with larger diameter balloons, air bubbles may also collect in the proximal end of the balloon. Collected air bubbles can be larger than 1 mm in diameter and may interfere with visualization of the balloon catheter. Further, air bubble may also dislodge from the balloon in vivo, resulting in air embolisms and strokes. Accordingly, after a balloon catheter is flushed during preparation, its balloon is inflated to a nominal diameter and visually inspected to identify any air bubbles above a certain size, e.g., 1 mm. If more than a predetermined number of such air bubbles are identified, the balloon catheter may be "re-prepped" by repeating the cycle of flushing, inflating, and inspecting. However, re-prepping the balloon catheter may expand the dead spaces in the balloon where air bubbles are entrapped, and the dead spaces may retain air bubbles after several cycles of prepping.
A number of different balloon catheters are known, each having certain advantages and disadvantages. However, there is an ongoing need to provide alternative balloon catheters, in particular, alternative balloon catheters that facilitate isotropic bending and rapid deflation, and methods of making such catheters. There is also an ongoing need to provide alternative balloon catheters with reduced air bubble formation during flushing.


A process and apparatus for producing multi filament yarn from polypropylene polymer. The process includes the steps of spinning an undrawn yarn using a spinnerette, and winding the undrawn yarn on a bobbin. Subsequently the undrawn yarn is unwound so that no twist is imparted to the yarn and the yarn is then drawn between godet rollers through a convection oven, the drawn yarn being wound on a bobbin.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the production of polypropylene yarn.
1. Field of the Invention
2. Description of the Related Art
Fibers or filaments made from polypropylene have been available from the early 1960's when the resin first became commercially available. The first polypropylene filament yarn was produced on conventional melt spinning equipment used for the production of nylon and polyester yarns. Initially a two-stage process was employed where the polypropylene was melt spun through a spinnerette, cooled in a stream of air, and then wound onto bobbins in the undrawn state. This undrawn yarn was then processed on a draw twister machine where it was stretched between heated godet rollers and then immediately twisted up on a ring twisting spindle. On such a machine the final yarn speed would be in the order of 50-100 meters per minute.
Polypropylene yarn produced by this method displayed medium to good strength with low elongation which made it suitable for some industrial applications. The main problem with the commercial development of this method of manufacture was due to the extremely high cost of draw twisting machines, plus a labor intensive operation with very low output.
A modified version of the Draw-Twister, known as a Draw-Winder, where the ring twisting spindle is replaced by a high speed winding unit, enables a considerable increase in operating speed. Although the increase in speed offsets the capital cost and labor intensity, the yarn produced at higher speed showed a considerable reduction in strength, with corresponding higher elongation. Polypropylene yarn with these characteristics is perfectly acceptable for domestic textile applications but it is unsatisfactory for industrial use where strength is a prime requirement.
During the 1960's, a new development was taking place in the synthetic fiber industry and a new process evolved known as the "Spin-Draw-Wind" process. In this process the yarn is melt spun through a spinnerette, cooled in a stream of air, and then immediately stretched between heated godet rolls and finally wound up on on a high speed winding machine. In this process yarn speeds of 3000 meters per minute or more can be achieved. However, polypropylene yarn produced on this system has a relatively low strength and high elongation. These properties are again acceptable for many domestic textile applications but are of no use for industrial applications where strength is a prime requirement.
During the 1970's a new process was specially developed for processing polypropylene. This is known as the "Short Spin" process. In this process a large volume of cooling air is blown at relatively high velocity, typically 10 meters per second, across the face of the spinnerette onto the molten filaments as they emerge. The filaments are rapidly cooled and solidify within a few centimeters of the face of the spinnerette. These filaments are then stretched in hot air or in a steam chest between a series of godet rollers.
The Short Spin method was primarily developed for the production of staple fiber for use in carpets and floor coverings, and as such, requires very low strength and high elongation.
A development of the Short Spin process was to produce continuous filament yarn by replacing the staple cutting equipment at the end of the production line, with suitable winders. By carefully adjusting the processing conditions it is possible by this method to produce yarns with medium to good strength, but the adjustment is extremely critical and a considerable variation in physical properties can be experienced even between yarns produced under identical conditions on the same machine. Variation of strength also occurs along the length of a single yarn. Such uncontrollable variation makes yarn produced by the Short Spin process unacceptable for critical industrial applications.
For the Short Spin process to work, the polymer used must have high melt strength to withstand the force of the cooling air blowing on the molten filaments at the face of the spinnerette. Polymers which display high melt strength are those which have a wide molecular weight distribution. It is because of the variation in molecular weight distribution that the resultant fibers display an unacceptable variation of physical properties.
To produce a polypropylene yarn with consistent physical properties, it is necessary to use a polymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution. These polymers are produced by controlling the rheology during the polymerization process. However the effect of this is that such polymer has a relatively low melt strength making it at best difficult, and generally impossible to use on the Short Spin process.
In view of the foregoing, it is obvious that there was no satisfactory viable process for the production of consistently high quality, high strength polypropylene yarns for use in industrial applications. It was for this reason that some 30 years after polypropylene had become commercially available, only a minute quantity had found acceptance in industrial applications, in spite of polypropylene's other properties such as immunity to attack by most solvents, and chemicals in general.
It is well-known that the tensile strength of a filament yarn is directly related to the degree of molecular orientation in the fiber. It is further known that the total amount of molecular orientation is the sum of the orientation that is imparted during the melt spinning phase, i.e. as the polymer flows through the holes in the spinnerette, and as it is drawn away from the face of the spinnerette under tension prior to the polymer changing from the molten state to the solid state, plus the orientation imparted during the final drawing stage.
It is also well known that by utilizing known processes very slowly, high tenacity yarns can be produced but at such a rate as to be totally unviable in a commercial sense.

Method for the production of polypropylene yarn


A foldable table device has an upper plate, a lower plate coupling with the upper plate, a drawer disposed on a bottom of the lower plate, a first link bar connected to the lower plate, a second link bar connected to the lower plate, a first leg plate connected to the first link bar, a second leg plate connected to the second link bar, a third leg plate connected to the lower plate, and a fourth leg plate connected to the lower plate.

The present invention relates to a foldable table device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a foldable table device which can be folded easily.
A conventional foldable table device has a plurality of screws and bolts to fasten elements of the conventional foldable table device. However, the screws and bolts may be loosened after a long period of usage.


A liquid crystal display element comprises a liquid crystal material having a resistivity .rho..sub.LC (.OMEGA..multidot.cm) and a polymer matrix material having a resistivity .rho..sub.p (.OMEGA..multidot.cm). The ratio .rho..sub.LC /.rho..sub.p is defined to fall within a range of between 1 and 10.sup.5 (1.ltoreq..rho..sub.LC /.rho..sub.p .ltoreq.10.sup.5). Also, the particles diameters of the polymer matrix material or the liquid crystal material are distributed such that at least two peaks each having a half value width of at least 0.5 .mu.m are present within a range of between 0.5 .mu.m and 2.5 .mu.m. Further, a protective layer is formed to cover the outer surface of the liquid crystal material. The particular construction permits manufacturing a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element, which exhibits a high response speed, which can be operated with a low driving voltage, and which permits a high contrast.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element useful as, for example, a TV or flat panel display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element attracts attentions as a new type liquid crystal display element. The new type liquid crystal display element, which was disclosed for the first time in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 61-83519, is constructed such that a film prepared by dispersing a liquid crystal material in a polymer matrix material is held between a pair of electrodes.
In the polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element, the liquid crystal material dispersed in the polymer matrix material differs in the refractive index from the polymer matrix material, when an electric field is not applied across the film held between the two electrodes. As a result, scattering of light is brought about so as to make the film opaque. When an electric field is applied across the film by applying voltage between the two electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules dispersed in the polymer matrix material are oriented, with the result that the refractive index of the oriented portion of the liquid crystal is made substantially equal to that of the polymer matrix material. It follows that the film is made transparent.
The polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element, which utilizes the particular operation principle described above, makes it unnecessary to use a polarizer, an orientation film, etc., which are required in the conventional TN type liquid crystal display element used in, for example, a miniature TV receiver. It follows that it is possible to markedly simplify the manufacturing process of the polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element. In the conventional polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element, however, the polymer matrix material has a relatively high resistivity, leading to requirement of a high driving voltage. Also, the conventional liquid crystal display element of this type is low in its response speed. Further, the light shuttering function is performed by the scattering of light, leading to a low contrast.

Liquid crystal element with higher resistivity in the encapsulation medium than in the liquid crystal


A method of forming a pattern is provided. The method includes an etching step of forming a predetermined pattern in a silicon-containing film by etching the silicon-containing film deposited on a substrate through a mask by plasma generated from an etching gas containing a fluorocarbon gas, and a film deposition step of depositing a silicon oxide film or a silicon nitride film on a surface of the predetermined pattern by oxidizing or nitriding a silicon-containing layer adsorbed on the surface of the predetermined pattern by supplying a silicon compound gas, by using plasma generated from an oxidation gas or a nitriding gas.

When forming a deep hole (a contact hole) having a high aspect ratio by plasma etching, an amount of radicals reaching a bottom of the hole decreases as the bottom of the hole becomes deeper, and an etching rate decreases.
When the etching rate decreases in a depth direction as the bottom of the hole becomes deeper, a bowing shape is formed in the hole that has a hole diameter larger in a lower position than in an upper position (see [b] in FIG. 2). Moreover, when a side wall of the hole is etched as well as the bottom of the hole during the etching, an aspect ratio thereof decreases because of an increased critical dimension value (Critical Dimension) that is a diameter of the top of the hole, and desired semiconductor device properties cannot be obtained.
In the meantime, there are a variety of methods for depositing a film, and for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that protects a device by depositing a dense dielectric layer on the device by an ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) method.

Method of forming a pattern and substrate processing system


A system and method are provided to verify proper operation of and to adjust a particulate emission detector in a system including a dust collector bag house. A by-pass apparatus is provided around the dust collector bag house which includes a conduit downstream of the inlet to said dust collector bag house and an outlet in fluid communication with a fluid outlet conduit extending from said dust collector bag house.

This invention relates to particulate emission detectors. Particularly this invention relates to a method to verify the proper operation of a particulate emission detector. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a system verifying proper operation of a particular emission detector for a fluid stream, including particulate materials therein.
In filtration systems, particularly gas filtration systems, emission detectors are utilized therein to determine the concentration of particulate material in the gas stream. Many sensors are available to monitor particulate emissions from filter system, particularly dust collection bag houses wherein the sensors are manually adjusted to alarm upon reaching a user defined threshold value. However, these sensors must be adjusted from time to time to determine whether or not they are accurate in determining the concentration of the particulate matter in the gas stream. And, in most instances the system must be shut down when the particular emission detectors are adjusted or when proper operation thereof is verified.

System for and method to verify proper operation of a particulate emission detector


A pneumatic liquid injector de-icing system designed for use on air brake lines of a train includes an alcohol storage tank provided with fittings for engagement between the train air supply lines and the train brake lines. The storage tank may be provided with a pressure gauge for monitoring pressure in the system. In use, when operating in cold conditions where brake line freezing is encountered, alcohol is introduced into the brake lines. The alcohol absorbs moisture and thaws ice in the brake lines so as to prevent ice-up. In an alternative embodiment, one line of the storage tank is terminated by a plunger so it may be used to unclog toilets. In yet another alternative embodiment, one line of the storage tank is adapted to be connected to an RV so the latter may be winterized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for thawing out frozen air lines on trains. If the lines become frozen, the brakes on the train cars cannot be released. The freezing usually is created when low temperatures cause moisture in the air lines to turn into ice, thereby blocking the passage of air. Introducing anti-freeze or alcohol into the system will drastically lower the freezing temperature of the moisture, thereby thawing it out into a liquid again, thus allowing air to flow through the lines to the brakes.
2. Description oft he Prior Art
The use of de-icers is known in the prior art. More specifically, de-icers heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of thawing out air lines 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.
A typical fluid line de-icer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,013 issued to Donald W. Wilson. The de-icer disclosed includes an antifreeze solution storage tank which is mounted to the front panel of a tractor trailer. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,601 issued to Roemke discloses a pneumatic de-icer associated with an airport. None of the above mentioned de-icers are portable, and are therefore limited in their use.
In this respect, the de-icer 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 thawing out air lines in a variety of devices. Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved de-icers which can be easily moved from place to place. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


The invention relates to hair protective formulations which can be administered to a subject in a manner so as to protect hair follicles against oxidative stress. Additionally, the instant invention relates to a test model for assessing oxidative damage to hair follicles and to determine protection from same.

Hair and Hair Follicles
Visual terminal hair extends above the surface of the skin. Hair is a fully cornified structure that results from complete maturation of follicular matrical cells emanating from the hair follicle (HF).
Hair is not a biologically active structure. However, the HF, and, in particular, the matrix cells of the HF bulb, have high metabolic activity. Matrix cells of human scalp HFs and bone marrow cells have the most active replicating time of any normal tissue.
The scalp HF extends from the epidermis to the bulb situated in the subcutaneous fat. Histologically, the HF may be divided into the upper segment and lower segment. The upper segment is composed of an infundibulum part and isthmus part that extends to the site of the muscle erection. The lower segment extends from the point of attachment of the muscle of erection to the base. The lower segment consists of the stem and bulb.
Indeed, each HF can be considered an independent highly specialized organelle composed of many cell types, such as melanocytes, epidermal and mesenchymal cells. Cells in the HF are in all stages of growth and differentiation during the active anagen (growth) cycle. In addition, each cell type renders different function(s) for the development of the terminal hair. The follicular germ cells, which are the bulbar matrix cells, are responsible for the great mitotic proliferation in the HF.
During development, the cells in the matrix proliferate with an upward migration and differentiation into hair matrix, inner sheath and outer sheath cells. The hair matrix group, located in the central axis of the HF, further differentiates into the cells forming the medulla, hair cortex, and hair cuticle. These cells show a continuous upward migration with keratinization of the cortical and cuticle cells which are essential for the manufacturing process of hair in a growing follicle. (Chase HB, Physiol. Rev. 1954; 34: 113-126, Hashimoto K, Br. J. Dermatol 1970; 83: 167-176. DeVillez RL:In: Current Concept, A Scope Publication, by the Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, Mich., 1986; pp. 4-27; Takashima I, Kawagihi, I: In: Toda K, et al (eds): Biology and Disease of Hair. Baltimore, Univ. Park Press, 1976; pp. 457-471. Jakubovic H R, Ackerman A B In: Moschella S L, Hurley H J, eds: Dermatology. W. B. Saunders Co., 1992, pp. 3-87).
Oxidative stress produced from environmental chemical and physical agents as well as oxidants produced as by-products of cellular metabolism are extremely toxic to cells. Actively proliferating cells are highly susceptible to oxidant damage. Indeed, oxygen radical stress induced by environmental and/or as a result of endogenous metabolism can be overwhelming and lead to DNA damage. (Poot M, Mutation Res 1991; 256: 177-189).
The effect of oxidative stress and antioxidants on HF has not been previously elucidated. In the present invention, it is postulated that the HF, being an actively proliferating organelle, is highly susceptible to damage by environmental and/or endogenous oxidants.
It is an object of the present invention to provide protective formulations for the protection of HFs against oxidative stress.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide formulations which can be administered to a subject and which provide protection of HFs against damage by environmental and/or endogenous oxidants.


A dart flight base has a threaded split spigot which is screwed in to the rear of the barrel of a dart. A flight mounting pin has a head at one end, a ring frictionally fitted around the pin at a location spaced from the head and mounts a flight vane assembly between the head and ring. The flight vane assembly has a plurality of vanes mounted along and extending radially from a central tube. The pin passes through the tube and has a slightly smaller outside diameter than the tube inner diameter which allows the flight vane assembly to spin freely on the pin. The ring can be positioned along the length of the pin to compress the flight tube to a lesser or greater degree between itself and the head to control the degree of spin. The end of the pin opposite the head passes through a bore in the base and spigot and can be positioned to adjust the distance between the head and base. When the base is screwed into the barrel the sides of the spigot compress against the pin to hold it in the adjusted position.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dart subassembly and more particularly to a dart subassembly having an adjustable spin flight.
2. Discussion of the Relevant Art
Darts having fixed flights and spinning flights are well known. Darts having fixed flights are, for example, illustrated in U.K. Patent No. 498,823. Darts having spinning flights are, for example, illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,842,285 and 4,958,838.
Darts having spinning flights (i.e., nonfixed flights) have several advantages over their fixed flight counterparts. The most significant of those advantages being that the spinning flight minimizes deflections and allows for a tight grouping of darts. Fixed flight darts already embedded in a dart board, can, when a second dart is thrown and strikes the fixed flight, deflect the second dart in a direction not intended or even out of the play area. Failure to hit the play area results in lower scores. This problem is especially acute when one or more darts are thrown at the same spot on the dartboard, for example, the bull's-eye.
The resulting loss of points or inaccuracy caused by the fixed flight darts was at least one reason for the development of spinning flights. Further, fixed flight darts are prone to breakage because of their construction.
Spinning flights last longer because the flights spin out of the way of incoming darts and reduce the impact on the struck dart which in turn diminishes wear. Spinning flight darts also are more stable in flight.
Existing spinning flights, however, are not without their own problems. For example, the degree of flight spin, i.e., how freely the flight spins during flight, is not controllable -- dart players complain that some flights spin either too much or too little. Inconsistent flight spin results in aerodynamic inconsistency while the dart is in flight. The inconsistency is most often caused by variations and inconsistencies in the manufacturing process which result in varying degrees of friction between the flight and pin. Further, current spinning flight darts are susceptible to wear and breakage when assembled/disassembled.


Methods and apparatus for dose reduction in a computed tomography (CT) system are described. In one embodiment, the CT system includes a configurable multislice detector array and an adjustable source collimator. The detector array includes a photodiode cell array optically coupled to a scintillator array. The photodiode array includes a plurality of photodiodes arranged in rows and columns that may be combined to collect slice data from a number of inner and outer slices. The CT system also includes an x-ray source and a collimator. The x-ray source generates an x-ray beam that is collimated by the collimator to define the thickness of each outer slice. In operation, an operator determines the quantity and thickness of inner slices and the thickness of each outer slice. After altering the detector and collimator configuration, as defined by an operator, slice data for each inner slice and each outer slice is gathered.

In at least some computed tomograph (CT) imaging system configurations, an x-ray source projects a fan-shaped beam which is collimated to lie within an X-Y plane of a Cartesian coordinate system and generally referred to as the "imaging plane". The x-ray beam passes through the object being imaged, such as a patient. The beam, after being attenuated by the object, impinges upon an array of radiation detectors. The intensity of the attenuated beam radiation received at the detector array is dependent upon the attenuation of the x-ray beam by the object. Each detector element of the array produces a separate electrical signal that is a measurement of the beam attenuation at the detector location. The attenuation measurements from all the detectors are acquired separately to produce a transmission profile.
In known third generation CT systems, the x-ray source and the detector array are rotated with a gantry within the imaging plane and around the object to be imaged so that the angle at which the x-ray beam intersects the object constantly changes. X-ray sources typically include x-ray tubes, which emit the x-ray beam at a focal spot. X-ray detectors typically include a post patient collimator for collimating scattered x-ray beams received at the detector. A scintillator is located adjacent the post patient collimator, and photodiodes are positioned adjacent the scintillator.
Multislice CT systems are used to obtain data for an increased number of slices during a scan. Known multislice systems typically include detectors generally known as 3-D detectors. With such 3-D detectors, a plurality of detector elements form separate channels arranged in columns and rows. Each row of detectors forms a separate slice. For example, a two slice detector has two rows of detector elements, and a four slice detector has four rows of detector elements. During a multislice scan, multiple rows of detector cells are simultaneously impinged by the x-ray beam, and therefore data for several slices is obtained.
A multislice CT system requires source collimation to flood the detector with a uniform x-ray beam intensity in the z-axis. This is necessary to avoid image artifacts that would otherwise be caused by the normal movement of a non-uniform x-ray beam over a non-uniform z-axis detector response. Unfortunately, much of the x-ray beam typically falls unused off the ends of the detector resulting in low dose efficiency and a high patient dose.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a CT system that utilizes all of the x-ray beam which allows selection of the number and thickness of the scan slices to reduce patient x-ray dosage and improve x-ray beam efficiency.


A monolithic component for protection against over-currents liable to occur on a line in series with which is connected a detection resistor, comprises a first cathode-gate thyristor associated with an avalanche diode and a second anode-gate thyristor of the gate triggering type or forward breakover type, its breakover voltage being substantially equal to the avalanche voltage of the avalanche diode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protection component, and more particularly to a protection component designed to protect telephone lines.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
European patent application EP-A-0,687,051 filed by the applicant describes a circuit for protecting a telephone line interface and specific embodiments of the circuit in the form of a monolithic component. FIG. 1 of the present patent application is a copy of FIG. 4 of the above-mentioned application and represents an element of the circuit including two head-to-tail connected thyristors Th1 and Th2, respectively having a cathode gate and an anode gate. Thyristors Th1 and Th2 are connected between a line AB and a reference terminal G. The gates are interconnected to point B. A common terminal of thyristors Th1 and Th2 is connected to point A, a resistor Rd being connected between points A and B. The other common terminal of thyristors Th1 and Th2 is connected to the reference terminal G. A Zener diode Z1 connected between terminals B and G causes, when avalanching, thyristor Th1 to trigger. A Zener diode Z2 connected between terminals A and G causes, when avalanching, thyristor Th2 to trigger. When the current between terminals A and B exceeds a predetermined threshold, either one of thyristors Th1 and Th2 is triggered by its gate.
Thus, in the circuits of FIG. 1, depending on its biasing, either one of thyristors Th1 and Th2 becomes conductive if the current in resistor Rd exceeds a predetermined threshold or if the voltage on line AB exceeds the avalanche voltage of diode Z1 or Z2.
FIG. 2 of the present patent application is a copy of FIG. 7 of the afore-mentioned application and constitutes an embodiment of the circuit of FIG. 1. An indication of the locations of elements Th1, Th2, Z1 and Z2 of FIG. 1 has been added in FIG. 2.
When designing and realizing the invention related to the afore-mentioned application, the applicant noted that one of the main difficulties to be solved was to obtain similar sensitivities for the gate triggering of thyristors Th1 and Th2 and to obtain suitable hold currents. Thus, various means were indicated in the afore-mentioned application to solve this problem.
However, during the implementation of the circuit, the applicant noted that, although the triggering of thyristor Th1 due to the avalanching of the Zener diode Z1 raises no particular problem, the sensitivity of the triggering of thyristor Th2 due to the flow of current through resistor Rd should be further improved. More particularly, the triggering was too slow (duration longer than 1 .mu.s). Efforts of optimizing the location of the component (see FIGS. 8A-8B of European patent application 0,687,051) have been unsuccessful. Thus, when an overcurrent with a particularly sharp edge (for example, a standardized wave 0.5/700 .mu.s of a 30-A intensity) occurs on line AB, the thyristor Th2 becomes conductive after a slight delay and, during this delay, the protection component transmits the 30-A peak current, which can damage the integrated circuit that is to be protected.

Component for protecting telephone line interfaces


Image sensors and methods of manufacturing an image sensor are disclosed. A disclosed photo diode may receive short wavelength light in its depletion region without exhibiting defective phenomenon such as noise and dark current. In the illustrated example, this performance is achieved by forming a trench type light-transmission layer to occupy a major surface of the photo diode so as to reduce the area available for defects on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. As a result of this reduction, the depletion region formed upon the operation of the sensor may extend toward the surface of the semiconductor substrate without concern for defects. The image sensor may be manufactured without forming a blocking layer in connection with a silicide layer.

Recently, with the rapid development of the electric/electronic technologies, various electronic devices (e.g., video cameras, digital still cameras, minicams adapted to personal computers (PC), minicams adapted to mobile phones, etc.), employing image sensor technologies have been widely developed and used.
In the conventional devices as described above, a charge coupled device (CCD) has generally been used as the image sensor. However, the CCD has drawbacks. For example, the CCD requires high driving voltage, and separate additional support circuitry. Further, the CCD has high per-unit prices. As a result of these drawbacks, usage of CCDs has been on the decline recently.
Recently, Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors have attracted attention as an image sensor which overcomes the disadvantages of the CCD. Since the CMOS image sensor is manufactured based on a series of CMOS circuit technologies, contrary to the existing CCD, The CMOS image sensor is advantageous in that it can be driven with low voltage, it does not require additional support circuitry, it has a low per-unit price and so on.
For example, prior art CMOS image sensors are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,484 entitled "Method of manufacturing photo diode CMOS image sensor", U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,059 entitled "Structure of a CMOS image sensor", U.S. Pat. No. 6,495,391 entitled "Invention for reducing dark current of CMOS image sensor with new structure", U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,603 entitled "Photo diode with tightly-controlled junction profile for CMOS image sensor with STI process", U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,127 entitled "Method of manufacturing for CMOS image sensor", and Japanese Patent No. 2000-31525 entitled "Photo diode of image sensor and manufacturing method thereof."
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional image sensor, (e.g., a CMOS image sensor), includes a photo diode 3 formed on an active region of a semiconductor substrate 1 defined by an element isolating layer 2 so as to generate and accumulate a series of photocharges through external incident light. It also includes a signal process transistor 10 disposed near the photo diode 3 so as to carry/discharge the photocharges generated and accumulated by the photo diode 3 toward an image processing circuit (not shown). In the illustrated example, the signal process transistor 10 includes, for example, a gate insulating layer pattern 11, a gate electrode pattern 12, a spacer 13 and an impurity layer 14.
In the example shown in the drawings, N type impurities (which are indicated as N+ in the drawing) of an impurity layer 3a for forming the photo diode 3 are relatively heavily doped compared with a P type semiconductor substrate 1. Thus, a depletion region (DR) formed upon the operation of the sensor is induced to extend inside the semiconductor substrate 1.
The reason why the DR is induced to extend inside the substrate 1 through the relatively heavy doping of the N type impurities compared with the P type semiconductor substrate 1 is as follows. If the N type impurities are relatively lightly doped compared with the P type semiconductor substrate 1 without a separate measure so that the DR formed upon the operation of the sensor is induced to extend toward the surface of the semiconductor substrate 1, various defects widely existing around a surface 1a of the semiconductor substrate (i.e., the surface of the photo diode) have bad effects upon the DR without a particular limit. Therefore, a finished photo diode operating in this fashion may exhibit various defective phenomena such as noise, dark current and so on.
In contrast, if the N type impurities are relatively heavily doped compared with the P type semiconductor substrate to induce the DR formed upon the operation of the sensor to extend inside the semiconductor substrate 1 as described above, the photo diode 3 must face the problem that light which cannot deeply penetrate the semiconductor substrate due to its short wavelength, (e.g., blue light), cannot normally be received in the DR. As a result, the finished image sensor has a greatly reduced ability to reproduce colors of short wavelength (e.g., blue) light.
Meanwhile, as shown in the drawing, a silicide layer 15 is additionally formed on a part of the signal process transistor 10. For example, the silicide layer 15 may be formed on the surfaces of the gate electrode pattern 12 and the impurity region 14 so as to improve a contact quality thereof.
However, if separate measures are not taken, the various defects caused by the formation of the corresponding silicide layer 15 are widely generated on the surface la of the semiconductor substrate 1. That is, if the formation process for the silicide layer 15 is forcedly performed in the state where the surface 1 a of the semiconductor substrate 1 is exposed without any separate covering means, damage will widely occur on the surface 1a of the semiconductor substrate 1 by various processing shocks applied during the formation process for the silicide layer 15.
In order to resolve such problems, in the prior art as shown in the drawing, a blocking layer 4 is previously formed on the surface 1a of the semiconductor substrate 1 so as to prevent damage on the surface 1a of the semiconductor substrate 1 caused by the formation of the silicide layer 15 through a function of the blocking layer 4. However, while damage to the semiconductor substrate 1 caused by the formation of the silicide layer 15 may be prevented in some degree by the blocking layer 4, other damage caused by the formation of the blocking layer 4 will necessarily be generated on the surface 1a of the semiconductor substrate 1, which greatly degrades a characteristic of the photo diode.
Furthermore, image sensor manufacturers face not only the degradation of the characteristic of the photo diode 3 due to the formation of the blocking layer 4, but also the reduction in the overall process efficiency inherent in the inclusion of an additional step to form the blocking layer 4.
In the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and so repetition of the description of the same or similar components will be omitted.

Image sensors and methods of manufacturing the same


Provided are systems, methods and techniques for predicting a communication channel parameter. In one representative embodiment, values of a communication channel parameter are estimated at a plurality of previous points in time, values are predicted for the communication channel parameter at a plurality of such previous points in time, using a plurality of the channel estimates, and then the channel estimates are updated using the predictions, with the latter prediction and estimation steps being repeated until a specified condition has been satisfied.

Both the magnitude and phase shift attributable to a communication channel often vary over time. In the case of a wireless communication channel, such changes can result from any of the number of different factors, e.g., related to movement of a mobile wireless device, and/or to changes in the environment between the two communicating devices (e.g., a cellular telephone and a base station) irrespective of any movement of either device.
In order to properly interpret received data, it is desirable for the wireless receiver to be able to predict or estimate such parameters for each time frame in which data are received. Unfortunately, in addition to the fact that the characteristics of the channel itself change over time, any transmitted information also is corrupted by noise (usually is modeled as white Gaussian noise), making accurate predictions or estimations of the channel more difficult.
Channel estimation often is performed using a technique in which the transmitter sends not only information symbols, but periodically also sends predetermined values (typically referred to as pilot signals). Then, any deviations in the received signal from the expected pilot can be attributed either to the communication channel or to noise. The main problem of both channel estimation and channel prediction is to be able to characterize the channel in the presence of such noise.
In addition to using the pilot signal for channel estimation, the received information symbols also can be used for this purpose. That is, the received and decoded symbols often can be assumed to be correct, so the channel can be estimated based on the signal that actually was received as compared with the signal that presumably was sent by the transmitter.
Channel prediction techniques generally rely on the assumption that channel characteristics will be correlated from one timeframe to the next and frequently can be modeled as a function that varies smoothly and not too quickly over time. Accordingly, channel prediction uses channel estimates from one or more time frames in order to predict the channel at a different time frame. From a frequency-domain perspective, the prediction technique generally operates as a low-pass filter, filtering out the higher frequencies of the added noise, and thereby improving the channel measurement signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
One category of channel prediction uses only past and current channel estimates to predict the next subsequent channel value. Unfortunately, these techniques often suffer from accuracy limitations, essentially requiring extrapolation to the next time frame.
In certain implementations, prior to channel prediction a filtering operation is performed using past, current and subsequent channel estimates. The goal of such filtering is to reduce the channel estimate noise before prediction. In other words, noisy channel estimates are filtered and then subsequently fed into the channel predictor. From the channel predictor's viewpoint, the input SNR is improved. However, the delay introduced by such techniques require the channel predictor to predict the channel farther away from the enhanced channel estimates, thereby detracting from the prediction.
In other words, the filtering used in such techniques tends to reduce sample noise, but the additional delay makes prediction more difficult due to the increased prediction distance, particularly when the channel is changing rapidly. In order to further reduce sample noise, the filter requires longer delays. As a result, there exists a limit on the sample SNR enhancement because longer filtering generally will reduce the benefit of the SNR-enhanced samples.


Segmented slotted spinning capillaries for producing hollow filaments afford enhanced fiber coalescence when the entrance angle to the capillary is unsymmetrical with respect to the center line of the slot.

This invention relates to spinnerets for the production of hollow filaments.
It is well known that spinnerets with specially arranged arc-like slots can be used in the manufacture of synthetic filaments having a hollow core. Molten polymer forced through a slot forms a bulge and, as a consequence of the bulging and the special arrangement, the polymer issuing at adjacent slot ends coalesces a short distance below the spinneret face. While spinnerets of the prior art function to produce hollow filaments, their use often leads to open or ribbonized filaments during operation.

Spinneret for the production of hollow filaments


This disclosure is related to photosensitive ink compositions comprising conductive nanostructures and a photosensitive compound, and method of using the same.

Technical Field
This disclosure is related to photosensitive ink compositions comprising conductive nanostructures, as well as methods of using or patterning the same.
Description of the Related Art
Transparent conductors are optically clear and electrically conductive films. They are in widespread use in areas of display, touch-panel, photovoltaic (PV), various types of e-paper, electrostatic shielding, heating or anti-reflective coatings (e.g., windows), etc. Various technologies have produced transparent conductors based on one or more conductive media such as metallic nanostructures, transparent conductive oxides (e.g., via sol-gel approach), conductive polymers, and/or carbon nanotubes.
To prepare a nanostructure-based conductive film, an ink composition, which is a suspension of conductive nanostructures in a suspending fluid, is deposited on a transparent substrate. In general, a transparent conductor further includes the transparent substrate on which the conductive film is deposited or coated.
Depending on the end use, the transparent conductors can be created with predetermined electrical and optical properties, as well as pre-determined patterns. There is a need for direct patterning nanostructure-based conductive films.

Photosensitive ink compositions and transparent conductors and method of using the same


A data management method is disclosed. The data management method includes receiving input image data including a plurality of frames, sorting a type of a frame included in the input image data, and erasing one or more I-frames among the plurality of frames included in the input image data or erasing at least a portion of data corresponding to the one or more I-frames among the plurality of frames included in the input image data. Thus, the data management method stores a low amount of image data in a limited storage space while minimizing loss of the image data, thereby effectively storing and managing data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data management apparatus and a data management method, and more particularly to a data management method that stores a low amount of image data in a limited storage space while minimizing a loss of the image data, thereby effectively storing and managing data.
2. Description of the Related Art
By virtue of recent developments in various media devices, contents containing image data and use thereof have been remarkably increased. However, content storage spaces of houses, offices, and the like are limited. Thus, it is difficult to store and manage contents to be retained due to the insufficient storage space.
In addition, as surveillance cameras have entered widespread use, high-capacity surveillance cameras and video information captured by surveillance cameras cover many buildings and streets. The amount of such data is remarkably increased, and thus, it is difficult to store the data for several months. Accordingly, there is a need for a technology for degrading and storing data.
As a conventional technology, one frame is stored for one to several seconds among data of several tens of frames per second. However, a high-performance video compression technology used for surveillance cameras has already been developed, and thus, conventional technology is not very effective. In addition, when only one picture is stored for several seconds, it is highly possible that information between stored frames disappears and evidence admissibility of an image captured by a surveillance camera lapses.

Data management apparatus and data management method


This invention relates to 4,4-disubstituted piperidine derivatives of the formula

Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disease characterized by metabolic disorders involving insulin, carbohydrates, fats and proteins, and disorders in the structure and function of blood vessels. The primary symptom of acute diabetes is hyperglycemia, often accompanied by glucosuria, the presence in urine of large amounts of glucose, and polyuria, the excretion of large volumes of urine. Additional symptoms arise in chronic diabetes, including degeneration of the walls of blood vessels. Although many different human organs are affected by these vascular changes, the eyes and kidneys appear to be the most susceptible. As such, long-standing diabetes mellitus, even when treated with insulin, is a leading cause of blindness.
There are three recognized types of diabetes mellitus. Type I diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is typically of juvenile onset; ketosis develops early in life with much more severe symptoms and has a near-certain prospect of later vascular involvement. Control of Type I diabetes is difficult and requires exogenous insulin administration. Type II diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is ketosis-resistant, generally develops later in life, is milder and has a more gradual onset. Gestational diabetes is related to Type II diabetes and associated with an increased risk of later development of that disease. Type III diabetes is malnutrition-related diabetes.
NIDDM is a condition that poses a major threat to the health of the citizens of the western world. NIDDM accounts for over 85% of diabetes incidence worldwide and about 160 million people are suffering from NIDDM. The incidence is expected to increase considerably within the next decades, especially in developing countries. NIDDM is associated with morbidity and premature mortality resulting from serious complications, e.g., cardiovascular disease. NIDDM is characterized by both fasting and post-prandial hyperglycemia resulting from abnormalities in insulin secretion and insulin action.
The hyperglycemia in patients suffering from NIDDM can usually be initially treated by dieting, but eventually most NIDDM patients have to take oral antidiabetic agents and/or insulin injections to normalize their blood glucose levels. The introduction of orally effective hypoglycemic agents was an important development in the treatment of hyperglycemia by lowering blood glucose levels. These existing oral therapies which comprise a wide variety of biguanide, sulfonylurea and thiazolidinedione derivatives have been used clinically as hypoglycemic agents. However, all three classes of compound have side effects. The biguanides, for example metformin, are unspecific and in certain cases have been associated with lactic acidosis, and need to be given over a longer period of time, i.e. they are not suitable for acute administration. The sulfonylureas, though having good hypoglycemic activity, require great care during use because they frequently cause serious hypoglycemia and are most effective over a period of circa ten years. The thiazolidinediones may cause weight gain and deterioration of cardiovascular function following chronic administration and troglitazone has been associated with the occurrence of serious hepatic dysfunction.
Thus, there is a significant and rising need for antidiabetic drugs that have novel mechanisms of action, thereby avoiding side effects produced by known therapies. The hormone somatostatin (SST) is primarily produced in the intestinal tract and in the pancreas. In addition it acts as a neurotransmitter. The hormone is involved through its receptors in the regulation of several other hormones and in immunoregulation. In particular, SST suppresses the secretion of insulin by pancreatic β cells and the secretion of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) by L cells.
Consequently, antagonizing the effect of SST would lead to increased peripheral glucose disposal and higher plasma insulin concentrations. Additionally, SSTR5 knockout mice demonstrated higher insulin sensitivity than littermates. In patients suffering from impaired glucose tolerance and NIDDM, these combined effects would moderate the dangerous hyperglycemia and accordingly reduce the risk of tissue damage. If such SSTR5 antagonists are sufficiently selective over the other four SST receptors, little influence is expected on secretion of other hormones. Particularly, selectivity over SST receptor subtype 2 avoids influences on glucagon secretion (K. Cejvan, D. H. Coy and S. Efendic Diabetes 2003, 52, 1176-1181; M. Z. Strowski, R. M. Parmar, A. D. Blake and J. M. Schaeffer Endocrinology 2000, 141, 111-117). Advantageous over established therapies is the dual mechanism of action to increase insulin secretion (directly on pancreatic β cells and indirectly through GLP-1 release from L cells) and to increase glucose disposal, whereby SSTR5 antagonists could have the potential to beneficially influence insulin resistance in patients with NIDDM. In summary, SSTR5 antagonists are expected to beneficially influence NIDDM, the underlying impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance, as well as complications of long-standing, insufficiently controlled diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: wherein A and R1 to R5 are as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, to a process for their preparation and to their use for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases which are associated with the modulation of SST receptors subtype 5.


A system for concentrating particulate mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic material in a fluid medium is presented. The system comprises a separation chamber comprising three or more processing compartments in series. Each processing compartment comprises a manifold for the introduction of teeter water that comprises a mixture of water and air bubbles, suspended solids that form a fluidized bed that is created by the upward movement of the teeter water through the suspended solids; and each processing compartment is independently operable. An overflow launder is located above the separation chamber and a dewatering compartment is located beneath the separation chamber.

Flotation separators are used to concentrate particulate mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic material. Through the attachment of air bubbles, hydrophobic particles can be extracted from a solid/liquid mixture. What is presented is a flotation separation system that provides improved recovery in a multi-stage approach that allows for independent operation of each process stage that can be adjusted based on operating conditions.

Multi-stage fluidized-bed flotation separator