The present invention relates to compositions and methods for delivery of siRNA to specific cells or tissue. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions and methods for cell type-specific delivery of anti-HIV siRNAs via fusion to an anti-gp120 aptamer.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for delivery of siRNA to specific cells or tissue. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions and methods for cell type-specific delivery of anti-HIV siRNAs via fusion to an anti-gp120 aptamer.
The publications and other materials used herein to illuminate the background of the invention, and in particular, cases to provide additional details respecting the practice, are incorporated by reference, and for convenience are referenced in the following text by author and date and are listed alphabetically by author in the appended bibliography.
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process of sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing triggered by small interfering RNAs (siRNA). The silencing is sequence specific and one of the two strands of the siRNA guides the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC) to the complementary target, resulting in cleavage and subsequent destruction of the target RNA (1). RNAi is rapidly becoming one of the methods of choice for gene function studies, and is also being exploited for therapeutic applications (2, 3). The successful therapeutic applications of RNAi are critically dependent upon efficient intracellular delivery of siRNAs (3).
Currently, there are several methods to deliver siRNA in vivo. These can be divided into physical and mechanical methods (hydrodynamic tail vein injections in mice (4-6), electroporation (7-9), ultrasound (10), and the gene gun (11)); local administration (3) (intravenous injection (12), intraperitoneal injection, subcutaneous injection); and chemical methods (cationic lipids (13, 14), polymers (15-20), and peptides (21-24)). However, the delivery efficiency (desired dose), uncontrollable biodistribution and delivery-related toxicitities must be carefully analyzed.
Recently, the cell type-specific delivery of siRNAs has been achieved using aptamer-siRNA chimeras (25). In this system, the aptamer portion mediated binding to the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a cell-surface receptor and the siRNAs linked to the aptamer was selectively delivered into PSMA expressing cells resulting in silencing of target transcripts both in cell culture and in vivo following intratumoral delivery. In a similar study (26) a modular streptavidin bridge was used to connect lamin A/C or GAPDH siRNAs to the PSMA aptamer. Consequently, this system induced silencing of the targeted genes only in cells expressing the PSMA receptor.
Thus, it is desired to develop compositions and methods for cell- or tissue-specific delivery of siRNA molecules for treatment.

Cell-type specific aptamer-siRNA delivery system for HIV-1 Therapy


A metal organic framework composite is provided. The composite includes a plurality of zinc ions, each coordinated with a salen ligand to form a salen complex metal-organic framework; and gold nanoparticles dispersed on a surface and pores of the salen complex metal-organic framework. Antibodies may be immobilized on a surface of the gold nanoparticles to be used in highly sensitive diagnostic methods for detecting and quantifying protein biomarkers such as human chorionic gonadotropin hormone.

Early detection of diseases and tumor biomarkers are very important for disease screening and development of treatment strategies. However, many medical laboratories' diagnostic tests are time-consuming, require several steps of sample preparation, and require infra-construction instruments and a well-trained staff [1]. Point of care testing (POCT) allows patients and clinicians to make initial fast decisions especially in resource-limited countries. The market size for self-testing devices and POCT devices has grown by about 10% in the last decade [2].
Generally, qualitative and quantitative tests for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone are commonly performed to determine the status of a woman's pregnancy [6]. However, hCG has many biological functions and biochemical properties with clinical applications beyond the determination of pregnancy status. The concentration of hCG is elevated in cases of trophoblastic placental tumors for women and also elevated in about twenty to forty percent of seminomas in men [9]. High concentrations of hCG in non-pregnant women are an indication of diseases such as tumors of the ovaries, pancreas, bladder, lungs, stomach, and liver [10]. The hCG hormone can be used in diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease, testicular germ cell tumors (testicular cancers), ectopic pregnancy, and different tumor neoplasms. The hormone may also be used in combination with other biomarkers for the screening of fetal aneuploidies cases [3, 11].
Thus, accurate, precise, and sensitive determination of hCG hormone in plasma, serum, or urine samples is an important research point for continuous development. Up to date, various analytical methods, technologies, and devices have been reported for the detection of hCG such as lateral flow assay [14, 15], HILIC-MS [16], electrochemiluminescence immunoassay [3, 7], voltametric immunosensor [17], chemiluminescence lateral flow immunoassay [18], colorimetric immunoassay [4, 19, 20], luminescence assay [21], nanosheet array-based immunosensor [22], and fluorescence method [23]. Each of the aforementioned methods or techniques have merits and advantages, but at the same time, have certain limitations and defects.
A colloidal-gold immune-chromatography method is one of a common, rapid, low cost test used for detection and on-site screening of various biomarkers [15]. This method joined the features of chromatography and immunoassay technologies [24, 25]. The immobilization of antibodies and the amplification of signals is the key component in the manufacture and development of these types of immunosensors.
On the other hand, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are an attractive category of crystalline heterogeneous highly porous materials having pores and channels with a specific size that allows for the capture of small molecules and gases as an example. Classically, MOFs comprise inorganic nodes (metal nodes or clusters) that are bonded by organic linkers via non-covalent and covalent bonding [26-30]. The topologies, morphologies and surface functionality (simple functionalization) of these materials can readily be controlled and tuned by changing the constituent metals, clusters, and/or types of organic ligand or linkers used [31]. MOFs have been developed as functional materials for encapsulating or embedding nanoparticles of noble metals such as Au and Pt [32, 33]. Salen based MOFs have also been developed [34-39], e.g. multi-metallic-salen-frameworks in which the metal-host forms adducting complexes with additional structural ordering based on the substrate binding [40-43]. MOFs have attracted a great attention, owing to versatile skeleton design, tunable pore size, large surface area, and high thermal and chemical stability [44-51].
Novel MOFs that can be incorporated into more efficient diagnostic methods are needed.

Gold@zinc salen-based metal organic framework composite and methods of use thereof


The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for sending and retrieving location relevant information to a user by selecting and designating a point of interest that is displayed on a graphical user interface and sending the location information associated with that point of interest to a receiver that is also selected using the graphical user interface. The location relevant information may also include mapped routes, waypoints, geo-fenced areas, moving vehicles etc. Updated location relevant information may also be continuously sent to the user while generating updated mapping information on the graphical user interface. The present invention may be practiced by using communication devices such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistance, in-vehicle navigation systems, or a mobile telephone.

1. Field of Invention
This present invention relates to a computerized mapping and real-time communication software program, and more specifically, to integrating or coupling computerized mapping and real-time communication software for the purpose of transferring location-related information using a real-time communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computerized mapping and real-time communication software are independently achieving widespread use today. Such mapping programs are commonly used to automate tasks of calculating routes, viewing location-specific geographical areas for their spatial content, such as addresses, roadways, rivers, etc., and for the purpose of being used with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices for various applications, such as a personal navigation application. Mapping software programs apply to a wide variety of uses, such as personal navigation, telematics, thematic mapping, resource planning, routing, fleet tracking, safety dispatching (i.e., Police, Fire, and Rescue organizations), and a wide variety of specialized Geographic Information System (GIS) applications, all of which are well known to people skilled in the art.
Real-time communication software applications are also being used today in various applications, like Instant Messaging (IM) applications such as American Online's (AOL) IM (AIM), Yahoo's IM, and Microsoft's IM, all of which are well known to people skilled in the art. None of these prior art IM software applications contain mapping capabilities. These applications provide presence information about other users on a user's roster or buddy list, such as online, busy, away, on the phone, offline, etc., and are primarily used for non-commercial applications, such as for conversing with friends or buddies that are online.
Prior art applications provide various features, such as displaying driving directions (i.e., routes), Points Of Interest (POI), waypoints (such as personalized, user-specific, points on a route or along a track), etc., but do not enable the transfer of such information to other users in real-time. A user will typically copy an image of map from a standard mapping program, usually with a highlighted route, and e-mail the bitmap image and/or directions to another user or group of users for the purpose of meeting at a specific location or POI, such as a restaurant. Alternatively, with the adoption of IM programs, users can transfer these images and directions, typically by using an integrated file transfer program (FTP) connection, in real-time to other users based on their presence, and obtain real-time feedback from their buddies about the destination POI or location and specific route used to get to the destination.
Current applications that integrate both mapping and real-time messaging are well known in the art, such as the Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) or Fleet Tracking industry, where vehicles that have position devices, such as GPS, report their position to a centralized computer for the mapping and display of the vehicle locations. Some of these prior art systems may incorporate real-time messaging for the transfer of logistical information, such as pickup and drop-off status messages. However, these existing applications do not provide a method for dynamically and graphically transferring location-relevant information coupled with a spatial map.
Additionally, these applications typically provide only one-way transfer of position information, from the mobile vehicle to the dispatcher application, either on a web-based or desktop-based program. Usually, there is no need to transfer the dispatcher's location to the mobile vehicle since the dispatcher's location is always stationary. Mobile devices typically use location telemetry devices to transmit their location in a pre-defined manner or by request, where the dispatcher's location request is usually initiated by clicking on a Graphical User Interface (GUI) or by using a set of preferences to automatically request position updates. These preferences are based on various parameters, such as reporting location updates based on the distance traveled by the vehicle or by using various time intervals to trigger position updates either by a push or pull method relative to the telemetry device.
Another problem with existing AVL software solutions are that most applications are web-based applications that only allow for static image-based mapping, such as those provided by various online mapping companies like MapQuest. Also, the mapping and communication systems are disjointed from each other, as is the case with various companies, such as Televoke, Inc. These static image-based mapping applications do not enable real-time graphical manipulation of POIs on the map, nor do they provide a graphical connection between the map and vehicle roster listing. Some AVL software solutions provide the ability to display moving vehicles on dynamically viewable maps. However, these solutions do not enable the user to select a vehicle on the map, nor a stationary representation of vehicle in a roster list, in real-time for the purpose of sending the vehicle's location to other users, and thus do not allow the creation of ad-hoc position transfers between various parties. Some dynamic mapping applications, such as Microsoft's MapPoint application, allow users to select Points of Interest (POI) generally for the purpose of providing additional information about the POI or enabling the user to add the POI to a route planner as a route start, end, or stop point. This POI is selected by 'right-clicking' on the object after it has been selected and then choosing the specific route option. However, prior art fails to provide real-time communication capability with location-relevant information (i.e., POIs) for the purpose of graphically sending location-relevant information in established or ad-hoc networks to other users or location-enabled devices.
Another problem with prior art, such as in the case of AVL software solutions, is that vehicles or other mobile devices that a user wishes to map must first be selected from a list of available position-enabled vehicles. These vehicles, however, must already be configured for mapping on a dispatcher's mapping application and do not enable position requests in an ad-hoc environment. Prior art AVL mapping and tracking systems, such as At Road Inc., only allow users to select from a list of pre-configured location-updating vehicles, and then require the user to press a button in order to map the location of the selected vehicle(s). A much better solution, as people skilled in the art will appreciate, is to select a user, device, or group of users and devices in a roster list and graphically drag-and-drop the selection onto an active map. This method significantly simplifies the process of identifying a single or group of user(s)/device(s) and mapping their location appropriately. Additionally, prior art AVL systems do not allow for the case of users or devices to disallow their position from being mapped on the current mapping application.
There also exists a need for the consideration of permissions in such a case of privacy concerns, where a real-time location request be sent across the real-time communication connection to the user, vehicle, or device, whose location information is being requested. The user, vehicle, or device can select the resolution of position information they want to communicate (i.e., latitude and longitude, or city, or state, or etc.) to control the level of accuracy to which they can be mapped. Once approved, this ad-hoc transfer of position information occurs and the graphical mapping of the received position information is completed on the requestor's mapping application. Thus, allowing users to initiate position requests graphically and in real-time, and providing the capability of ad-hoc position requests to other users not pre-configured to allow their location information to be mapped, provides an extremely efficient method and system when compared to prior art systems. Another 'drawback of prior art is that integrated mapping and communication programs, such as AVL applications, provide the ability for the receiving of position information for mapping purposes only. These prior art systems do not provide the capability of sending, or pushing, location-relevant information, such as POIs, to other mapping programs or textual devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), pagers, cell phones, etc. For instance, prior art mapping systems, such as Microsoft's MapPoint, allow the user to select POIs, such as restaurants and gas stations, but does not allow the user to transfer these POIs to other users, and more specifically does not allow users to graphically drag-and-drop these selections (i.e., POIs) for various purposes, such as to dynamically add them to a route planner for inclusion in an undefined route or pre-calculated route.
The integration of a highly dynamic mapping application and a real-time communication system enables users to select POIs, such as houses, theaters, city names, roads, etc., or icon representations of other users on a mapping program for the purpose of graphically sending location-relevant graphical information, such as the selected POIs, to a specific user on a roster listing of available online users in real-time. As people skilled in the art will appreciate, graphical location-relevant information is not limited to only POIs, but also includes mapped routes, waypoints, geo-fenced areas, planes, etc. A valuable feature that prior art fails to provide is the transfer mechanism that allows the ability to drag-and-drop this location-relevant map information (i.e., routes, geo-fenced areas, etc.) to the current application's roster list for such transfers.
Prior art systems, such as AVL software, also fail to provide the capability of allowing the map application user (i.e., in the case of an AVL software solution the user is typically denoted as the dispatcher) to send the position information of one vehicle to another vehicle on the user's roster list for an ad-hoc location transfer. This method of transferring information is best performed by dragging the icon representation of one vehicle to the icon representation of another vehicle in the user's roster list. Before the completion of the transfer of one vehicle's location information to another vehicle, where the user or dispatcher acts as the location-transfer hub, each user sets the appropriate permissions to allow the transfer. Thus, each of the vehicles' roster lists do not need to be included in the other vehicle's roster list, since the user or dispatcher has both vehicles on its roster list and acts as the hub for the transfer of the position information. This creates a dynamic environment for ad-hoc position transfers that are not available in prior art systems.
As an additional drawback of prior art systems, there is no way to provide real-time route planning of a system consisting of a real-time communication system integrated with a mapping and real-time communication program. In other words, it not currently possible for a roster icon representation of a vehicle or user to be graphically selected into, or dragged-and-dropped onto, a route planner for the purpose of setting a user's current position as a route's destination points, where the term 'destination' refers to a point or location on a map that the user indicates as a start of a trip, end of a trip, or stop or waypoint along a trip. Origin also is used to refer to the start of a trip. This route planning operation also applies to POI locations. For instance, prior art systems, such as Microsoft's MapPoint allows users to graphically alter a pre-calculated route, such as graphically indicating the portion of the route to alter.
However, current art systems do not allow the capability of selecting real-time location-enabled or static POIs (such as vehicles, restaurants, people, gas stations, houses, etc.) for the purpose of graphically adding to, or updating, a route's destination points in an undefined or pre-calculated route. Additionally, this prior art system application only allows the alteration of a route to a new destination by dragging the selected portion of the route to that new location. A more useful method, which can incorporate the integrated real-time communication system, is by allowing the user to drag a graphical representation of a location-relevant object, such as POI (i.e., restaurant, gas station, house, user, etc.), to the pre-calculated route itself or to a route planner, thus graphically altering the pre-calculated route by creating a destination point based on the dragged POI's location information. If the POI has a static location, and its position information is already known, then the real-time communication system is not utilized. However, if the POI is dynamic (i.e., a moving vehicle), then the real-time communication system is utilized to obtain the position information of the selected dynamic POI in real-time, thus producing a dynamically moving route, where the destination point can change its position in real-time, thus causing the route to continually update it parameters based on the moving object.
Another advantage for using the dynamic route calculation, is as the POI moves its location, the entire route need not be re-calculated in real-time, but only that portion of the route that needs to be re-calculated. An additional problem with current map planning applications or integrated mapping and real-time communication software applications, such as AVL software solutions, is that they do not provide the capability of allowing users to graphically transfer routes to other users in real-time. Current prior art systems that are capable of generating routes allow users to send route representations, such as bitmap images or driving directions, to other users either by e-mail or FTP connection, where these routes representations only provide a static set of information, such as the starting and ending (i.e., destination) points of the predefined route. The route is usually generated based on the sender's origin and destination, or is based on generic major roadways that are easily identifiable in the immediate area.
A more useful implementation, when compared to prior art systems, would enable users to transfer or 'share' pre-defined routes, including all of the destination and turn points of the route and all of the metrics used to calculate the route, in real-time, so that they can be incorporated into the recipient user's routes or dynamically viewed on the recipient user's map. In the case of an in-vehicle navigational system, transferring a vehicle's actual route to another vehicle or graphical application allows the other user to view in real-time the exact location of that vehicle relative to the route that vehicle is traveling along. An additional benefit of this more useful application would be that the recipient of the route would be able to use in their route planner tool the sent destination points (i.e., stop points, end point, etc.), and use their own current location as the route's origin. For example, prior art systems, such as MapQuest or MapBlast, allow users to send image representations of static routes to other users. However, these routes are relative to the sender's location. There needs to be a method to create a route that can automatically include the received route's destination points while recalculating the route relative to the recipient's current position.
Thus, a need exits for a method and system that allows users to graphically send, request, and plan, in real-time, location-relevant information between users and devices. Until now, an adequate solution to those problems has eluded those skilled in the art. Providing a solution enabling users to graphically send, request, and plan, in real-time, location-relevant information between users and devices would prove especially useful for wireless devices that incorporate positioning technologies, such as Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) devices. This provides great benefits to wireless in-vehicle navigational systems (i.e., telematics) and fleet tracking systems, since they would be able to make more efficient use of position information by including a real-time communication infrastructure and application with a graphically enabled interface.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for sending, retrieving, and planning location relevant information


A device for closure of an opening formed in a body vessel includes a grasping member and a sheath movable thereover. The grasping member comprises a tubular body having a plurality of grasping fingers extending from a distal end of the tubular body. The fingers radially extend from the tubular body at a first angle, and are collapsible therefrom to a second angle. The fingers have a distal tip configured for grasping an outer wall of the body vessel surrounding the vessel opening when the fingers are at the first angle. The sheath is slidable over the tubular body and at least a portion of the grasping fingers for collapsing the fingers from the first angle to the second angle, thereby causing the collapsed fingers to at least substantially close the opening.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to the field of medical apparatuses. More particularly, the invention relates to a device and method for closure of an access site of a body vessel, such as a blood vessel.
2. Background Information
Numerous advances of considerable note have occurred in medical surgical techniques over the last few decades. Among the most significant advances has been the adoption, and now-routine performance, of a variety of minimally invasive procedures. These minimally invasive procedures are distinguishable from conventional open surgical procedures in that access to a body vessel of a patient, such as a blood vessel, is achieved through a relatively small incision through the wall of the vessel. A tubular medical device (or tubular portion of a device) may be inserted or introduced through the incision into the interior space of the vessel for carrying out a medical procedure. The tubular device, or device portion, keeps the incision open while permitting access to the vessel via the interior passageway of the tubular device.
When carrying out such minimally invasive procedures, communication with the lumen of the vessel is typically attained by inserting an access device, such as an introducer sheath, through the opening in the vessel wall. One typical procedure for inserting the introducer sheath is the well-known Seldinger percutaneous entry technique. In the Seldinger technique, a needle is initially inserted into the vessel, and a wire guide is inserted into the vessel through a bore of the needle. The needle is withdrawn, and an introducer assembly is inserted over the wire guide into the vessel opening. Typically, the introducer assembly includes an outer introducer sheath, and an inner dilator having a tapered distal end. The tapered end of the dilator stretches the opening in the vessel in controlled fashion, so that introduction of the larger diameter introducer sheath may then be carried out with a minimum of trauma to the patient.
Following advancement of the introducer sheath into the opening, the dilator is removed, leaving at least the distal portion of the larger diameter introducer sheath in place in the vessel. The introducer sheath is generally provided with a valve at its proximal end for inhibiting leakage of body fluids through the introducer. A catheter may be inserted through the valve and the lumen of the introducer sheath. The catheter is threaded over the wire guide, and the distal end of the catheter is inserted into position in the vessel for carrying out the medical procedure. As a result, the introducer sheath can facilitate insertion of various devices into the vessel while minimizing trauma to the vessel wall and minimizing blood loss during the procedure. Upon completion of the medical procedure, the catheter and introducer sheath are generally removed, leaving a puncture at the vascular access site.
The puncture at the vascular access site is typically closed by suturing, or by manually providing pressure on the site until clotting and/or wound sealing occurs. Suturing is more often utilized for larger punctures, whereas manual pressure is more often utilized in connection with smaller punctures. The manual method, however, can take half an hour or more, and requires the patient to remain substantially immobilized for at least that period of time while pressure is applied by medical personnel to the access site. In addition, it may be necessary for the patient to remain in the hospital for a period of time thereafter for observation. Furthermore, there may be a possibility of clot formation at the puncture site.
Utilizing sutures and/or collagen plugs to close the opening may have procedure variability, which may require additional time to close the vessel. When sutures are utilized to close a larger vascular access site, they typically are of the "purse-string" type. In this type of suture, a single thread is stitched to surround the access site, and then pulled tight (like a purse-string) to close the access site. Performing this suture typically requires a good deal of skill and practice on the part of the physician. It also may be difficult to perform this type of suturing in a key-hole type procedure, or in other types of surgery where there is limited access to the wound site.
It is desired to provide a device and method for closure of a vessel access site that overcomes the problems of the prior art.

Device and method for closure of vessel access site


Apparatuses and methods for preparing sol-gel solutions are provided. Specifically, apparatuses include a vessel optionally containing a stirrer; a pump; a fluidized bed reaction column; and multiple fluid lines. The multiple fluid lines connect the vessel and the pump in a first circulation loop and connect the vessel, the pump and the fluidized bed reaction column in a second circulation loop. Processes for preparing sol-gel solutions using such apparatuses are also disclosed.

In electrophotography, an electrophotographic substrate containing a photoconductive insulating layer on a conductive layer is imaged by first uniformly electrostatically charging a surface of the substrate. The substrate is then exposed to a pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation, such as, for example light. The light or other electromagnetic radiation selectively dissipates the charge in illuminated areas of the photoconductive insulating layer while leaving behind an electrostatic latent image in non-illuminated areas of the photoconductive insulating layer. This electrostatic latent image is then developed to form a visible image by depositing finely divided electroscopic marking particles on the surface of the photoconductive insulating layer. The resulting visible image is then transferred from the electrophotographic substrate to a necessary member, such as, for example, an intermediate-transfer member or a print substrate, such as paper. This image-developing process can be repeated as many times as necessary with reusable photoconductive insulating layers.
Image-forming apparatus such as copiers, printers and facsimiles, including electrophotographic systems for charging, exposure, development, transfer, etc., using electrophotographic photoreceptors have been widely employed. In such image-forming apparatus, there are ever-increasing demands for improving the speed of the image-forming processes, improving image quality, miniaturizing and prolonging the life of the apparatus, reducing production and ruling costs, etc. Further, with recent advances in computers and communication technology, digital systems and color-image output systems have been applied also to image-forming apparatuses.
Electrophotographic imaging members or photoreceptors are well known. Photoreceptors having either a flexible belt or a rigid drum configuration art commonly used in electrophotographic processes. Photoreceptors may comprise a photoconductive layer including a single layer or composite layers. These photoreceptors take many different forms. For example, layered photo-responsive imaging members are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,990 to Stolka et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a layered photoreceptor having separate photo-generating and charge-transport layers. The photo-generating layer disclosed in the 990 patent is capable of photo-generating holes and injecting the photo-generated holes into the charge-transport layer. Thus, in the photoreceptors of the 990 patent, the photo-generating material generates electrons and holes when subjected to light.
More advanced photoconductive photoreceptors containing highly specialized component layers are also known. For example, multi-layered photoreceptors may include one or more of a substrate, an undercoating layer, an intermediate layer, an optional hole- or charge-blocking layer, a charge-generating layer (including a photo-generating material in a binder) over an undercoating layer and/or a blocking layer, and a charge-transport layer (including a charge-transport material in a binder). Additional layers, such as one or more overcoat layer or layers, may be included as well. In view of such a background, improvement in electrophotographic properties and durability, miniaturization, reduction in cost, etc., in photoreceptors have been studied, and photoreceptors using various materials have been proposed.
As discussed above, silicon-containing compounds used in photoreceptor layers, such as in photosensitive and protective layers, have been shown to increase the mechanical lifetime of photoreceptors, under charging conditions and scorotron-charging conditions. However, there are shortcomings associated with photoreceptor layers that include silicon-containing compounds, including cross-linked siloxane-containing overcoat layers. For example, sol-gel solutions for making such layers must be prepared at the site at which the layers are prepared, because polymerization of the sol-gel solutions must be carried out during layer formation.
Sol-gel processes are generally known in the art, and embodiments of this disclosure include apparatuses and methods for preparing sol-gel solutions. In exemplary known processes, compositions formed by sol-gel processes and solutions comprise an organic-inorganic composite structure, generally characterized as an inorganic glassy polymer having an organic material dispersed in or interpenetrated into and/or chemically bonded into the inorganic polymer network.
The organic-inorganic composite structure includes a glassy polymer, such as an inorganic silica polymer such as a silica glass structure. The glassy polymer is prepared by a solution-gelation (or "sol-gel") process during which hydrolysis, followed by condensation polymerization, of a silicon alkoxide takes place in the presence of water and an alcohol. The general process for forming sol-gels is taught, for example, in C. J. Brinker and G. Scherer, Sol-Gel Science: The Physics and Chemistry of Sol-Gel Processing (Academic Press, Boston, 1990). This two-step reaction process, which transforms a miscible one-phase liquid solution into a two-phase material, is called "sol-gel transition". Generally, the silicon alkoxide/water/alcohol mixture is slow to hydrolyze. The hydrolysis rate is a function of the solution pH and, therefore, may be controlled by the addition of an acid or base as a catalyst. The reaction mixture can further include other materials, such as organic monomers or polymers or other additives, which can become either chemically bound into the glassy polymer network, or entrapped in the glassy polymer structure.
As is known in the sol-gel art, solution pH may influence the properties of the formed glassy polymer gel. Polymerization in an alkaline solution generally yields a polymer gel that is relatively porous and translucent, and is characterized by clusters of oxides of, for example, Al, B, Si, Sn, Ti, or Zr such as for example, silica, titania, alumina, zirconia, and aluminum phosphate, that are inked together to form the gel. Polymerization in an acidic solution, on the other hand, generally yields a transparent polymer gel that is characterized by a very fine porosity and by uniform, linear molecules that coalesce during subsequent sintering to form a high-density material at relatively low temperatures (e.g., about 800° C.).
Polymer gels formed by the sol-gel process are two-phase materials, denoted "alcohols," one phase of which contains a solid siloxane skeletal network (i.e., (—Si—O—Si—)n), and an aqueous phase containing water and alcohol in the pores. Once the alcohol is formed, it is dried by slowly heating the gel to vaporize the volatile species, such as alcohol. By properly driving off the volatile species by natural evaporation, the formed polymer gel comprises a two-phase, rigid xerogel (a gel containing an oxide skeleton and micropores). The number and size of the pores found in the final glass product (and, thus, the density of the final glass product) are a function of the rate of heating, the ultimate sintering temperature, and the period of time the xerogel is maintained at the ultimate sintering temperature. In sol-gel processes, an acid catalyst is generally used to speed the sol-gel reactions.
When used in applications relating to photoreceptor layers, sol-gel reaction components, and any desired additives, are mixed with conventional photoreceptor layer materials. The hydrolysis of the sol-gel reaction components takes place its situ in the coating solution. After coating, solvents used in the process evaporate, and a desired thin film forms. The condensation of the sol-gel reaction components takes place in situ during thermal drying, and an organic-inorganic interpenetrating network is formed, which unexpectedly provides better wear resistance, deletion control and other benefits.
However, these sol-gel formulations for preparing siloxane-containing materials, for example, can involve processes in which large volume changes may take place. Such issues make scaling sol-gel procedures beyond a laboratory scale difficult.
Thus, there remains a need for improved, scalable apparatuses and methods for preparing sol-gel solutions that will produce high yields of the desired sol-gel solutions having the electrical and physical properties on a large scale that are obtained on a laboratory scale.

Fluidized bed reaction apparatus and methods for using the same


A refrigeration cycle, an air conditioning system, and a method for controlling a refrigeration cycle are provided. The refrigeration cycle includes an outdoor unit, an indoor unit, a controller, and an inverter. The controller controls a compressor and an outdoor fan of the air conditioning system so as to minimize a total electric power consumption of the air conditioning system. The inverter controls the outdoor fan in a rotation state predicted from a capacity demand in an air conditioning space depending on an operation mode and sensor values. The controller predicts the capacity demand and controls a rotation rate of the outdoor fan based on a prediction of the capacity demand.

The present disclosure relates generally to a refrigeration cycle, and more particularly to a refrigeration cycle, an air conditioning system, and a method for controlling a refrigeration cycle.
A multiple packaged air conditioning unit system such as variable refrigerant flow (VRF) has been known for performing air conditioning of a building and the like. Such VRF system controls a plurality of indoor units by a shared outdoor unit and becomes popular and popular in an air conditioner of buildings. The VRF system may serve effectively air conditioning of buildings. However, there has been difficulty in optimal control of an outdoor fan and a compressor.
Inputs to an air conditioner may be dominated by a total value of a fan input and a compressor input and a trade-off relation is present where increasing an amount of airflow provided by an outdoor fan amounts reduces compressor inputs. Therefore, studies for obtaining an optimum control condition have been continued so far by increasing and decreasing a rotation rate of the outdoor fan.
For example, a prior art, Japanese Patent (Laid-Open) No. Heisei 05-118609 discloses the way in which rotation rates of the fan motor are increased and/or decreased so that a total value of electrical power consumption of the compressor and electrical power consumption of a fan motor for a condenser during cooling operation may become minimum.

Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc.


In a method or device for control of a printer or copier, a series of discrete signal states is generated with which a drive unit for conveyance of a carrier material to be printed is controlled. A control signal is generated to end the conveyance of the carrier material. Based on the control signal, the generated series of the discrete signal states is changed at an earliest with a changed signal state following the control signal. A positioning error of the carrier material is caused due to a time period between the control signal and the changed signal state is detected.

The preferred embodiment concerns a method and a device for control of a printer or copier, in which a series of discrete signal states are generated with whose help a drive unit for conveying a carrier material to be printed is controlled. A control signal for ending the conveying of the carrier material is generated. The series of the discrete signal states is at the earliest changed as of the signal state change following the control signal due to the stop signal. The signal state change of the series of discrete signal states that follows the control signal is thereby generated in the series provided before the control signal. The control signal thus has an effect only after the next signal state change providing the original signal series. A reaction to the stop signal thereby only occurs as of the next signal state change. No reaction to the stop signal thus occurs in the intervening time between the control signal and the signal state change following the control signal.
In particular in the printing of web-shaped paper webs, start/stop events of the paper web in which the paper web is halted is applicable retracted and accelerated before a new transfer printing event are necessary in the generation of a plurality of print images in succession, whereby the subsequent print image is either printed congruently over a previously printed print image or bordering on a previously printed print image. If a second print image should subsequently be generated on the paper web or be generated bordering a first, previously printed print image, it is desirable that the leading edge of the second print image abuts directly on the trailing edge of the first print image. A stop event of the paper web occurs after the first print image and a start event occurs before the second printing process, in which start event the individual components of the printer or copier (such as electrophotography, paper transport, fixing station, character generator etc.) must be synchronized with one another such that the subsequent print image to be generated is correctly positioned on the paper.
The start and stop processes are controlled with the aid of a control unit. In particular what is known as a trans-run signal is generated that predetermines the start and the end of an image generation process with the aid of a character generator, such that various further control units or sub-control units of the printer or copier can be synchronized with the aid of the trans-run signal. For example, the falling edge of the trans-run signal characterizes the beginning of a print image output by the character generator, i.e. the point in time at which the character generator begins to generate the first line of a latent print image. The character generator subsequently generates a print image with n page length line-by-line on a photoconductor, for example on a photoconductor drum or on an OPC band. The latent print image generated on the photoconductor in the form of a charge image with the aid of the character generator is preferably inked with toner material into a toner image that is subsequently transferred onto a transfer band.
With the aid of the transfer band, the toner image is transported to a transfer printing location at which it is transferred onto the paper web. The time from generation of a print image line with the aid of the character generator to the transfer of this line of the print image (which line is inked with toner material) onto the paper web is dependent on the geometry and design of the respective printer, however can be determined exactly for each printer or copier. Such a line of a print image is also designated as a μ-line of the print image.
Due to the known time between generation of a line of the print image with the aid of the character generator to the transfer-printing of this line on the paper web, the paper web is time-accurately accelerated to transfer printing speed with the aid of a paper transport device or a paper conveyance device before the arrival of the first line of the print image. The contact between the transfer belt and the paper web is preferably only generated at the moment in which the first μ-line of a print image to be transfer-printed arrives at the transfer printing location. The position of the paper web is thereby controlled such that the first μ-line of the print image impacts a position of the top of a page of the paper web. This top of a page preferably lies immediately at the end of a previous print image generated on the paper web, such that the trailing edge of the previously generated print image immediately borders the μ-line of the currently generated print image.
If no further position data is supplied to the printer for at least a short time and upon generation of a plurality of color separations to be printed on top of one another in multi-color printing, the paper web must be halted for at least a short time. A rising edge of the trans-run signal signals the end of the print image output by the character generator, whereby the rising edge of the trans-run signal is generated at the moment at which the character generator has completely generated the last μ-line of the print image to be generated. Based on the rising edge of the trans-run signal, a timer is started with a predetermined time period that is required from the generation of the last print image line with the aid of the character generator to the transfer of this line inked with toner material onto the paper web.
With the expiration of the timer, a control signal is generated via which the transfer band is raised from the paper web and the conveying event is subsequently stopped. The acceleration and stoppage of the paper web occurs with the aid of what are known as acceleration ramps via which the drive unit for driving the paper web is controlled such that the paper web is essentially uniformly accelerated and uniformly braked. The paper web is essentially driven with constant speed from the point in time of the transfer of the first line of a print image to the transfer of the last line of a print image.
After the transfer printing of the last line of a print image, a uniform braking of the paper web to a stop occurs, whereby the paper web is uniformly negatively accelerated. A retraction of a paper web subsequently occurs, whereby the paper web is conveyed a preset distance counter to the conveying direction in the printing of the paper web. This distance comprises the distance conveyed after the control signal for stopping the paper web up to the standstill of the paper web and furthermore the distance required for the subsequent acceleration of the paper web during a subsequent transfer printing process for acceleration of a subsequent print image. This required distance serves to accelerate the paper web to transfer printing speed upon arrival of the first μ-line of the subsequent print image at the transfer printing location.
Positioning systems for paper webs that can only be positioned stably in discrete steps are in particular used in electrophotographic printers or copiers. These steps are, for example, half-steps given the use of step motors or decoder increments given servomotors.
Given some predetermined page lengths, the problem thereby arises that, given a print stop at the point in time at which the last μ-line has been transfer-printed onto the paper web, this does not coincide with the end or with the beginning of a discrete step of the positioning system. After a stop event in which the paper web is uniformly braked to a standstill and after the retraction of the paper web after this stop event, a false positioning of the paper web by a maximum of one step is thus possible since the paper web has been transported by a maximum of one step too far. Given the transfer printing of a subsequent print image to be generated, the desired top of the page of the paper web reaches the transfer printing location before the first line of the print image to be transfer-printed, such that a gap is created between the two print images to be generated in succession or the pages to be printed in succession.
In known printers or copiers for printing of web-shaped paper webs, the possible page length to be preset would be limited to pages in which the smallest common multiple of character generator resolution, raster precision in the controller and paper transport position raster would be formed that serves as a raster for setting a possible page length. In the following table, the determination of the raster for possible page lengths to be set is shown for two printers selected as examples.
Printer 1Printer 2Character generator 1/600 inch 1/600 inchresolutionper μ-lineper μ-lineRaster precision 1/600 inch 1/300 orin the controllerper μ-line 1/600 inchper μ-linePaper transport 1/90 inch 1/120 inchpositioning rasterper motor half-stepper motor half-stepRaster for page 1/30 1/60lengthinch = 0.847 mminch = 0.4235 mm
In the prior art, the possible page lengths to be printed amount to a multiple of these determined rasters. The print images can in fact thereby be positioned exactly, however the spectrum of the selectable page lengths and thus also the application spectrum of the printer or copier is thereby limited.
The use of a step motor for driving a recording medium in an electrophotographic printer or copier is known from the document U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,180, in which different hold positions of the medium result after the generation of a color separation. For synchronization of the color separations, a position marker is provided whose position is detected with the aid of a sensor. It is thereby achieved that the position deviation of the medium comprises a half-step or one step of the step motor.
An image generation device and a method for control of the image generation device is known from the document US 2004/0013451, in which in particular three timers are provided in order to generate three different stop positions of an endless belt, i.e. of a photoconductor belt or a transfer belt.
From the subsequently published document EP 1 496 404 A1, an image generation device with a drive controller is known in which a deviation of the actual drive speed from a desired drive speed of a step motor is prevented, in particular in the acceleration of the step motor.

Device and method for control of a printer or copier through controlling signals


A method that includes: obtaining a computer code usable to process insurance claims; building a computer readable directed graph representing a control flow of the code and comprising nodes connected by edges, some of the nodes being decision nodes associated with decisions and some of the nodes being action nodes associated with actions; determining, on the graph, benefit action nodes that are each associated with at least one monetary outcome of a specified insurance claim; identifying all logic paths that lead to each benefit action node by traversing the graph from each benefit action node backwards, each logic path comprising a sequence of preceding decision nodes and action nodes connected by edges, each set of paths being associated with a specified benefit action node representing a benefit rule; and outputting all benefit rules by presenting each specified benefit action in relation to grouped logic paths associated with the specified benefit action.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of software code abstracting.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Computerized systems configured for processing of insurance claims are known in the healthcare industry and property and casualty insurance companies. Computer codes implementing these systems usually include tens of millions of lines written in proprietary, obsolete languages that are hard to understand, maintain and reuse. Any modernization effort of such systems requires reverse engineering of the existing computer code into benefit rules. Today, such a process is typically done manually, making the overall modernization costly and inefficient.

Abstracting benefit rules from computer code

International Business Machines Corporation


An image processing apparatus includes an access unit, a setting unit and an image generation unit. The access unit accesses RAW data representing a tone level of one channel for each pixel and attribute data attached to the RAW data. The setting unit sets generation condition to generate an image from the RAW data. The image generation unit generates an output image from the RAW data on the basis of the generation condition, attaches attaching the attribute data to the output image for an item of which generation condition matches the attribute data, and attaches the attribute data to the output image for an item of which generation condition does not match the attribute data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a digital camera and an image processing method.
2. Background Art
There is known a digital camera in which RAW data generated when an image is picked up, and an image generated from the RAW data are stored in a storage medium (see Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 11-261933, for example). After picking up or capturing an image, the digital camera is capable of generating the image from the RAW data. Another system (a personal computer, for example), which is different from the system that generates the RAW data, is also capable of generating an image from the RAW data and correcting the image. In an environment where the image can be generated from the RAW data after image pickup, a user is allowed to obtain a desired image even after the image was picked up in improper imaging conditions.
It is a common practice that in the digital camera, RAW data and images are stored in a storage medium in a state that attribute data, such as shutter speed, f-number and resolution, are attached to the RAW data and the images. Accordingly, the user may set proper imaging conditions when he/she picks up an image in an environment similar to that where the image was picked up, by referring to the image and the attribute data attached thereto.
When an image that is generated in certain imaging conditions is rendered bright over the entire image, a shutter speed and an f-number attached to the original image do not match tone levels of the retouched output image. Accordingly, in a situation where the user picks up an image in the same environment as that where an image not retouched, or original image, was picked up, while expecting that the same image as the retouched image will be generated, by use of a digital camera that is set at a shutter speed and an f-number, which are attached to the original image, an image captured is not as expected.

Image processing apparatus, digital camera, and image processing method for attaching proper imaging conditions to a captured image


A fault-tolerant computer has duplex systems each comprising a CPU subsystem for controlling access to a CPU and a storage unit, and an IO subsystem for controlling data which are input to the IO subsystem from an external circuit and output from the IO subsystem to the external circuit. Data with a transmission time assigned thereto is transmitted from one of the IO subsystems to the other IO subsystem, and is received asynchronously by the other IO subsystem. The other IO subsystem records a reception time of the data, and calculates an ideal reception time using the transmission time assigned to the data. A clock shift in the other IO subsystem with respect to the one IO subsystem is calculated from the calculated ideal reception time and the recorded reception time. Thereafter, the counter in the other IO subsystem is changed based on the calculated clock shift, and data is received using the changed counter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fault-tolerant computer with duplex systems and a method of controlling such a fault-tolerant computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, growing computer functionality has enabled computers to be used in a wider variety of fields. Such computers are required to operate continuously even in the event of faults. One solution to meet the requirement is fault-tolerant technology as disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 1998-177498, for example.
A fault-tolerant computer built on the fault-tolerant technology has duplex systems each including a CPU subsystem and an IO subsystem. The fault-tolerant computer detects the occurrence of a fault by comparing the duplex systems to ascertain whether the systems are operating in synchronism with each other or not.
Fault-tolerant computers with duplex systems employs a lock-step system for operating the two CPU subsystems synchronously with each other based on a common internal clock. Some fault-tolerant computers have a high-speed interface for communications between the two IO subsystems, the interface employing a serial link that operates out of synchronism with the internal clock. When one of the IO subsystems accesses the two CPU subsystems of those fault-tolerant computers, one of the CPU subsystems is accessed only through an internal path, whereas the other CPU subsystem is accessed through the high-speed interface. In order to gain synchronous access to the two CPU subsystems, therefore, the internal clock and the clock of the high-speed interface need to be synchronized with each other.
It has been customary to achieve synchronized communication timing between the CPU subsystems and the IO subsystems of the duplex systems by replacing the clock of the high-speed interface with the internal clock at a given time within certain cyclic periods.
However, the fault-tolerant computers have suffered a problem in that though the two systems operate based on the same clock, they tend to be shifted out of phase with each other due to a skew on clock lines and characteristics of PLLs in the systems. The problem has led to another disadvantage in that there are statically indefinite parameters exist in the receiving system.
Since the internal clock for operating the systems and the clock of the high-speed interface are different from each other, synchronism is achieved using a gearing generated from a global counter. However, unless the global counter and other component are stable, no gearing can be generated, and the receiving system has to perform data communications out of synchronism until a gearing is generated.

Fault-tolerant computer and method of controlling same


A system and method for identifying contact information is provided. A system to identify contact information may include an input to receive a data stream. The data stream may include audio content, video content or both. The system may also include an analysis module to detect contact information within the data stream. The system may also include a memory to store a record of the contact information.

Advertisers and others may provide contact information to users via audio or video media, such as television and radio. The contact information may be intended to provide audience members with a method of contacting an advertiser, for example. In some circumstances, it may be difficult for audience members to remember or write down the contact information. Hence, there is a need for an improved system and method of identifying contact information.

System and method of identifying contact information


A self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut with internal leveling control, particularly for motor vehicles, has an outer tube having an oil-filled high-pressure work space in the work cylinder, which high-pressure work space is under pressure by at least one gas cushion which is arranged in a high-pressure chamber and acts as a spring, a second work space on the piston rod side, and a piston which is supported by a hollow piston rod and which is axially displaceable in the work cylinder in a sealed manner, a piston pump which is driven by the spring movement of the vehicle and pumps oil out of a low-pressure chamber into the work space connected to the high-pressure chamber and which comprises a pump rod and a pump cylinder which is formed by the hollow piston rod, and the high-pressure chamber can be connected to the atmosphere by a flow connection which is arranged in the piston rod guide and has a closing element. The piston rod is sealed in the piston rod guide by means of at least two seals which are arranged one behind the other axially. A flow connection extends from between two adjacent seals into the low-pressure chamber. The flow connection is acted upon by a check valve which passes damping medium only in direction of the low-pressure chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
Disclosed is a self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut with internal leveling control, particularly for motor vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
Spring struts in which the high-pressure chamber is connected to a flow connection arranged in the piston rod guide are known, e.g., DE 101 04 358 C1, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. A fill hole, arranged in the outer tube, communicates with a flow connection in the incompletely assembled state of the piston rod guide. The fill hole is closed by the piston rod guide after the piston rod guide is inserted axially into the outer tube. A closed sleeve body whose shape can be changed and whose wall comprises a gastight barrier layer is provided as a high-pressure chamber. This design is advantageous for several reasons. The necessary internal parts such as the high-pressure chamber, the piston, the piston rod and the pump rod together with the piston rod guide, are inserted axially into the outer tube of the spring strut. Second, the spring strut is operational after filling at least the high-pressure chamber with pressure gas through the fill hole. Third, the fill hole is closed by the piston rod guide after the piston rod guide along with the work cylinder and the rest of the internal parts, are pushed in further axially so that the spring strut is completely assembled after flanging the outer tube.
In order to ensure axial insertion of the piston rod guide, it is necessary that the seal is arranged between the piston rod guide and the piston rod so as to be pretensioned. This results in a correspondingly high friction. An individual seal of this kind under such high stress tends to leak toward the atmosphere because the internal pressure must be entirely contained by this seal.

Self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut


A hollow article or sheet of a copolyester which comprises, as main components, terephthalic acid as a dicarboxylic acid component and ethylene glycol as a diol component and which is characterized by:. (1) isophthalic acid as a dicarboxylic acid component being from 0.5 to 3.0 mol %,. (2) diethylene glycol as a diol component being from 1.0 to 2.5 mol %,. (3) the intrinsic viscosity being from 0.60 to 1.50 dl/g,. (4) the concentration of terminal carboxyl groups being at most 18 eq/ton, and. (5) the content of a cyclic trimer being at most 0.40% by weight.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a copolyester useful for bottles, films or sheets. More particularly, the present invention relates to a copolyester which is capable of presenting a molded product with good productivity in its molding and having excellent heat resistance and mechanical properties and which shows excellent productivity in its production, and molded products made thereof.
2. DISCUSSION OF BACKGROUND
Polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter referred to simply as "PET") is excellent in the mechanical strength, chemical stability, transparency and sanitation and is light in weight and inexpensive. Therefore, it is widely used as packaging material in the form of various sheets and containers. Its use as containers for soft drinks, fruit juices, liquid seasonings, edible oils, liquors and wines has been particularly remarkable in recent years.
For example, in a case of a bottle, such PET is molded into a preform for a hollow molded product by an injection molding machine, and this preform is then subjected to stretch blow molding in a mold having a predetermined shape. In a case where the content of the bottle requires hot filling as in the case of a fruit juice beverage, it is common to conduct heat setting in the blow mold or in a separate mold to form a heat set bottle.
However, conventional PET chips used for molding usually contain oligomers in an amount of from 1 to 2% by weight in the case of melt polymerization chips and from 0.5 to 1.0% by weight even in the case of solid-state polymerization chips, as the amount of a cyclic trimer as the main component of the oligomers. Such oligomers tend to deposit on and contaminate the apparatus such as the mold during the molding operation. Contamination of the mold, etc. is likely to cause blushing or surface roughening of the resulting molded product. Therefore, it is necessary to frequently clean the mold, etc.
Heretofore, it has been attempted to reduce oligomers by prolonging the solid-state polymerization time or by increasing the amount of the catalyst. However, reduction of oligomers by such a method is rather limited and is not economical.
On the other hand, many copolyesters having properties similar to PET, such as a copolyester using terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid as the dicarboxylic acid components and a copolyester using ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol as the diol components, are also known. However, no copolyester has been specifically known with the oligomer content being reduced to a certain extent and having physical properties equal or superior to PET. Further, it has not been known that by copolymerizing a small amount of isophthalic acid to PET, the oligomer content of the copolyester obtainable by melt polymerization, followed by solid-state polymerization, can be lowered as compared with homopolymerized PET.

Hollow container and stretched film made of a copolyester


A semiconductor package, includes: element substrate having first surface, including: functional element on first surface, and extracting electrode on first surface and configured to output a signal of functional element, extracting electrode being disposed around functional element; rim substrate shaped into a frame, and configured to have first junction with element substrate to surround functional element, rim substrate including: first through hole through rim substrate, and connecting electrode which is: formed by packing first through hole with first conductor material, configured to seal signal extracting aperture of extracting electrode, and configured to electrically connect signal extracting aperture with takeout electrode; and cover substrate configured to have second junction with rim substrate to block aperture of rim substrate, cover substrate including: second through hole through cover substrate, and takeout electrode which is: formed by packing second through hole with second conductor material, and configured to take out signal of functional element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package where a functional element formed on a first surface of an element substrate is sealed in a closed space. The present invention also relates to a method of producing the semiconductor package and a semiconductor package assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wafer level package is known as a semiconductor package where a semiconductor element formed on a surface of a semiconductor element substrate is sealed in a closed space. In the above wafer level package, a substrate has a junction with a wafer formed with the semiconductor element, to thereby seal the semiconductor element in the closed space. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No 2005-251898 (=JP2005251898) discloses a conventional technology of a method of using solder for causing the substrate to have the junction with the wafer.
In the conventional wafer level package according to the JP2005251898, however, the solder is applied in such a manner as to surround the semiconductor element for the junction between the substrate and the wafer. By the way, the solder for the junction between the substrate and the wafer is made of metal. Therefore, for preventing the solder (for the above junction) from contacting an electrode pad of the semiconductor element, the solder and the electrode pad should be spaced apart. Therefore, the wafer level package according to the JP2005251898 is large, which is inconvenient.

Cover substrate attached to a rim substrate with electrically connected through hole


A battery separator is a microporous membrane. The membrane has a major volume of a thermoplastic polymer and a minor volume of an inert particulate filler. The filler is dispersed throughout the polymer. The membrane exhibits a maximum Z-direction compression of 95% of the original membrane thickness. Alternatively, the battery separator is a microporous membrane having a TMA compression curve with a first substantially horizontal slope between ambient temperature and 125° C., a second substantially horizontal slope at greater than 225° C. The curve of the first slope has a lower % compression than the curve of the second slope. The curve of the second slope is not less than 5% compression. The TMA compression curve is graphed so that the Y-axis represents % compression from original thickness and the X-axis represents temperature.

In batteries, for example, lithium ion batteries, thermal runaway is a potential problem. Thermal runaway may be initiated by, among other things, physical contact between the anode and cathode of the battery, due to the internal force created by the volume changes of the anode and the cathode during normal cycling, which, in turn, causes a rapid evolution of heat. The rapid evolution of heat may cause ignition of thermal chemical reactions of anode/electrolyte, cathode/electrolyte, anode/cathode, or electrolyte/electrolyte. The ignition scenario may lead to a hazardous situation for the battery.
Thermal runaway may be categorized as 'sudden' thermal runaway or 'delayed' thermal runaway. Sudden thermal runaway refers to very rapid heat evolution, i.e., arising in less than 1 second after inception. Delayed thermal runaway refers to heat evolution, i.e., arising in more than 3 seconds after inception. In lithium ion batteries, over 99% of failures are caused by sudden thermal runaway. Delayed thermal runaway may be safeguarded against by the use of a 'shutdown' separator (e.g., a separator that responds to increasing heat by pore closure that stops ionic flow between the anode and cathode), or by the rapid dissipation of heat from the cell. Sudden thermal runaway, however, has not been successfully dealt with.
Sudden thermal runaway of the Li-ion cells may be simulated in battery safety tests referred to as: the 'nail penetration' test or the 'crush' test (crush tests include: ball crush, bar crush, and plate crush). In each of these tests, an external force, applied via a nail, ball, bar, or plate, is exerted on the housing (or 'can') of the battery which, in turn, may cause the anode and cathode to come into physical contact.
The foregoing safety tests exacerbate the tight fitting situation already existing within the battery housing. For example, lithium ion batteries are, most often, produced in cylindrical and prismatic forms. The anode/separator/cathode are wound or folded, without electrolyte, into shape and then snuggly fit into their housing (can) and capped shut. When electrolyte is added, the anode/separator/cathode swell. This causes internal forces within the can to increase. Later, during 'formation' (i.e., when the battery is given an initial charge), the anode and cathode expand again (e.g., the anode may expand by about 10% and the cathode may expand by about 3%). The expansion during formation again causes internal forces within the can to increase. These internal forces, such as those from the nail penetration and crush tests mentioned above, are directed toward the center of the battery. When the external forces are exerted on the can, those forces are also directed toward the center of the battery. The result is extraordinary pressures within the battery and those pressures are forcing the anode and cathode into physical contact by compressing the microporous membrane separator placed therebetween.
The use of microporous membranes as battery separators is known. For example, microporous membranes are used as battery separators in lithium ion batteries. Such separators may be single layered or multi-layered thin films made of polyolefins. These separators often have a 'shut-down' property such that when the temperature of the battery reaches a predetermined temperature, the pores of the membrane close and thereby prevent the flow of ions between the electrodes of the battery. Increasing temperature in the battery may be caused by internal shorting, i.e., physical contact of the anode and cathode. The physical contact may be caused by, for example, physical damage to the battery, damage to the separator during battery manufacture, dendrite growth, excessive charging, and the like. As such, the separator, a thin (e.g., typically about 8-25 microns thickness) microporous membrane, must have good dimensional stability.
Dimensional stability, as it applies to battery separators, refers to the ability of the separator not to shrink or not to excessively shrink as a result of exposure to elevated temperatures. This shrinkage is observed in the X and Y axes of the planar film. This term has not, to date, referred to the Z-direction dimensional stability.
Puncture strength, as it applies to battery separators, is the film's ability to resist puncture in the Z-direction. Puncture strength is measured by observing the force necessary to pierce a membrane with a moving needle of known physical dimensions.
To date, nothing has been done to improve the Z-direction dimensional stability of these battery separators. Z-direction refers to the thickness of the separator. A battery is tightly wound to maximize its energy density. Tightly winding means, for a cylindrically wound battery, that forces are directed radially inward, causing a compressive force on the separator across its thickness dimension. In the increasing temperature situation, as the material of the separator starts to flow and blind the pores, the electrodes of the battery may move toward one another. As they move closer to one another, the risk of physical contact increases. The contact of the electrodes must be avoided.
Accordingly, there is a need for a battery separator, particularly a battery separator for a lithium ion battery, having improved Z-direction stability, and for a battery separator that can prevent or reduce failure arising from sudden thermal runaway.
In the prior art, it is known to mix filler into a separator for a lithium battery. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,730, a multi-layered battery separator is disclosed. The first layer, the 'shut down' layer, is an unfilled microporous membrane. The second layer, the dimensionally stable layer, is a particulate filled microporous layer. The second layer, in final form (i.e., after extraction of the plasticizer), has a composition weight ratio of 7-35/50-93/0-15 for polymer/filler/plasticizer. There is no mention of Z-direction dimensional stability; instead, dimensional stability refers to the length and breadth dimensions of the separator. The filler is used as a processing aid so that the high molecular weight polymer can be efficiently extruded into a film. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,586, a multi-layered battery separator for a high-energy lithium battery is disclosed. The separator has a first microporous membrane and a second nonporous ceramic composite layer. The ceramic composite layer consists of a matrix material and inorganic particles. The matrix material may be selected from the group of polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polyurethane, polyarcylonitrile (PAN), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polytetraethylene glycol diacrylate, copolymers thereof and mixtures thereof. The inorganic particles may be selected from the group of silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), titanium dioxide (TiO2), SiS2, SiPO4, and the like. The particulate makes up about 5-80% by weight of the ceramic composite layer, but most preferably 40-60%. There is no mention of Z-direction stability, and the particulate is chosen for its conductive properties.

Battery separator with Z-direction stability


Embodiments of the invention provide for user permissions based control of pooled FoD activation keys. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for user permissions based control of pooled FoD activation keys is provided. The method includes pooling one or more authorization codes for access by different end users in activating different features of a set of hardware components using FoD. The method also includes responding to an FoD request to activate one of the features by a particular one of the end users by determining whether or not a pre-defined code usage policy permits the particular one of the end users to use a pooled one of the authorization codes and if permitted according to the pre-defined code usage policy, generating an FoD activation key with the pooled one of the authorization codes and activating the one of the features with the FoD activation key.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to software licensing and more particularly to features on demand (FoD) key authorization.
Description of the Related Art
FoD is a licensing procedure to enable both hardware and software features on certain servers and components. The components activated by FoD are already integrated into the server or adapter or other option, for example additional communications ports, disk storage protocols such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID) or network adapter enhancements such as Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) or Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI). However, these components remain "locked" until an upgrade is activated and applied to the server through the acquisition and provision of an authorization code that is subsequently used to generate an activation key sufficient to "unlock" the desired feature or features. Consequently, FoD enables the customer to buy needed features on demand, for example access to additional hardware communications ports, while retaining the ability to enhance the system later with the needed additional ports, without requiring the customer to engage in hardware upgrades, which require costly, physical reconfiguration of the system. For those customers seeking access to the FoD components at the time of purchase of the server, the manufacturer can install an activation key on the server so that the FoD function is ready for use upon delivery of the server.
For field activation, the end user individually purchases the authorization code from the manufacturer and thereafter manually enters the authorization code into a user interface to acquire the activation keys entitled by the authorization code; the end user becomes the holder of the authorization code and the point of control for all authorizations of all components. Other end users requiring activation of features typically must request a key or this authorization code from an administrator who must account for used authorization credit and manage the distribution and utilization of the authorization code to acquire other activation keys for specific hardware elements to be unlocked. This cumbersome process results in delays and inefficiencies.
As another matter, once an authorization code has been used to create an activation key, there is no way at present to reassign the activation key to another device, or to reallocate credit for the authorization code to another user for use at a different time. Rather, because the activation key is bound to a specific instance of hardware, once the key has been generated, the key cannot be used to activate a different component on a different server. While a key library could be applied to overcome this deficiency, it remains impossible to prevent duplication of an activation key via simple copying. As such, a key library is impractical for managing the distribution of activation keys from the perspective of the manufacturer.
To account for the limitations of the authorization code distribution model, some software products make use of a license server approach. In the license server approach, a portion of software is centrally located in the customer environment and users obtain permission to use the portion of the software dynamically within limits established by the administrator of the license server. Limits may include a maximum capacity of simultaneous users, privilege-based user acquisition (in which users are only allowed to acquire a key if they have sufficient privilege), or a combination thereof.
The license server approach, however, is not applicable for the activation of hardware features as in FoD because hardware-based features typically must be activated during a system restart since they will often involve device reconfiguration that will require low-level reconfiguration before initializing an operating system. Also, the firmware operating environment in which this initialization occurs is not connected directly to a network and would require additional infrastructure to communicate with a license server at the time the activation permission is needed. Finally, there is no software agent that exists to relinquish the activation key once the key has been acquired and it would be inappropriate to forcibly restart a system with a key checked out in order to reallocate it to another system, even if the priority of the second system was greater than the priority of the key-holding, first system.

User permissions based control of pooled features on demand activation keys

LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.


An olefin polymerization catalyst which is obtained by contacting the following components (A) and (B): component (A): a product of contacting the following components (A.sub.1) and (A.sub.2):. component (A.sub.1): polyolefin powder having specific values of pore diameter, pore volume, average pore diameter and average particle diameter, PA0 component (A.sub.2): a solid component for a Ziegler catalyst comprising titanium, magnesium and a halogen as the essential components; PA0 component (B): an organoaluminum compound.. The supporting state of the catalyst is improved, and a contaminant-free polymer having a satisfactorily large particle diameter without the lowering of the activity or the stereoregularity of the catalyst is successfully obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an olefin polymerization catalyst. More particularly, the present invention relates to an olefin polymerization catalyst which exhibits high activity on its application to the polymerization of olefins and makes it possible to produce a polymer having high stereoregularity and a large particle diameter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hitherto proposed olefin polymerization catalysts comprising a solid catalyst component containing titanium, magnesium and a halogen as the essential components and an organoaluminum compound exhibit high activities and high stereoregularities. However, polymers obtained through their use generally have unsatisfactory average particle diameter and thus are required to be subjected to granulation process in the final step of the polymerization process. The elimination of the granulation process should drastically improve the production efficiency and thus successfully decrease the production cost.
In the polymerization without the use of a solvent, the increment of the polymerization amount of a rubber component primarily comprising a propylene-ethylene copolymer during the production of a propylene block copolymer by stepwise polymerization including the copolymerization with a small amount of ethylene often gives rise to deterioration of fluidity due to the adhesion of polymer particles and causes a very serious operational problem. The problem is believed to be mitigated by sufficiently increasing the particle diameter of the polymer particles. The overcoming of this problem indicates that a block copolymer having a high content of a rubber copolymer, the production of which the production has hitherto been considered very difficult or almost impossible, can be readily produced. Thus, it is desirable to develop a series of highly active and highly stereoregular catalysts which afford polymer particles having a sufficient particle diameter for accomplishing the above described object.
It is believed that a catalyst having a particle diameter corresponding to a granular polymer having a large particle diameter is required for the production of the granular polymer. In the case of a catalyst having a magnesium compound and a titanium compound as the essential components, a method of first preparing magnesium containing particles having satisfactorily large particle diameters is known as one of the aforementioned concept. For instance, Japanese Patent Publication No. 45643/1986 discloses a method of granulation by melting a dihalogenated magnesium compound and spraying it into a desired particle state. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 29591/1980 discloses a method of obtaining the desired particle state by forming an emulsion of a melt comprising a dihalogenated magnesium and an alcohol together with an inert medium and cooling it into a solid.
The aformentioned proposals however require large expenditures for equipment and produce a catalyst having a low activity per catalyst containing magnesium containing particles which have satisfactorily large diameters. Thus these proposals are considered to still have points to be improved. As an alternative method, the method for preparing a catalyst having a desired particle diameter by separately providing particles other then dihalogenated magnesium containing particles for a support having a sufficient diameter and supporting a catalyst on the particles is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 98604/1989 or 97508/1990 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,682. These catalysts, however, have unsatisfactory activity per catalyst containing the support particles, or may cause problems such as fish-eye during molding since the support particles are particles of a divinylbenzene-styrene copolymer which may be crosslinked.
The present invention seeks to solve problems such as those encountered in the prior art.

Mitsubishi Petrochemical Company Limited


A differential mechanism and output shaft connecting structure wherein an output shaft is tightly assembled to a side gear for preventing an oil seal for sealing a gap between a transmission housing and for preventing an output shaft from becoming damaged while the output shaft is being inserted into the side gear. The apparatus for connecting the differential mechanism and the output shaft includes a side gear of the differential mechanism, an output shaft designed to be splined to the side gear, and a connecting unit which serves to assemble the side gear and the output shaft by bringing one end of the output shaft into contact with the rotating shaft of a pinion gear when the output shaft is inserted into the side gear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a differential assembly for automotive vehicles, and more particularly to an apparatus for connecting a differential assembly and an output shaft for automotive vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, there are many known differential mechanisms in the prior art which are used to compensate for the slipping of one of the drive wheels of a pair of drive wheels of a vehicle.
The differential assembly, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises a ring gear 51 connected with a transmission (T) and fixed to a housing 50, a pinion gear 53 for meshing with a rotating shaft 52 within the housing 50, a side gear 54 engaged with the pinion gear 53, and an output shaft 56 inserted at one end thereof into the side gear 54 and mounted thereon with a joint 55 by suitable splines disposed therebetween (not shown).
Meanwhile, there is provided with an oil sealing member 57 between the housing 50 and the output shaft 56 to seal the differential assembly.
During normal operation a ring gear 51 is rotated by the torque output from the transmission (T), and the output shaft 56 rotates with the pinion gear 53 and the side gear 54 meshed in engagemt with the ring gear 51.
At this location, the side gear 54 and the output shaft 56 are interlinked by suitable splines. The side gear 54 and the output shaft 56 as shown in FIG. 4, are connected through a groove 58 formed on one end of the output shaft 56. A clip 59 is inserted within the groove 58 and elastically, protrudingly mounted within the output shaft groove 58, and a recess 60 formed on the side gear 54 for receiving the peripheral portion of the clip 59 when being mounted in the groove 58.
That is to say, the side gear 54 and the output shaft 56 are assembled together while the clip 59 is retained in the groove 58 provided in the output shaft 56. Thereafter the clip 59 is extended in a peripheral direction thereof by its elastic force and is partly received into the recess 60, thereby preventing the side gear 54 from being separated from the output shaft 56.
However, there is a problem in such a structure for connecting the side gear and the output shaft according to the prior art thus constructed, in that when the output shaft and the side gear are assembled while the clip is engaged within the groove contained in the output shaft, the exposed portion of the clip extending out of the groove causes the oil seal to become damaged which passing through the housing of the transmission.
There is another problem in that the output shaft becomes separated from the side gear when the clip, due to wear and tear shrinks within the groove contained in the output shaft in response to a drop in its elastic force.

Structure for connecting differential mechanism and output shaft


An implantable medical device having a prioritized multiplexor sensing circuit used for monitoring the condition or status of a patient. The device includes patient parameter sensors, such as electrodes, that are monitored for indications of significant events. Sensors indicating the presence of significant events may then be monitored more often than the other sensors.

The present invention relates generally to medical devices. In some embodiments, the invention relates generally to medical devices used for monitoring the condition or state of a patient.
Medical devices used for monitoring the condition or state of a patient may include diagnostic monitoring equipment, external medical device systems, implantable medical devices (IMDs), or combinations of such equipment, systems, and devices. As is known, IMDs can be used to monitor and/or treat patients suffering from a variety of conditions. Examples of cardiac IMDs may include implantable hemodynamic monitors (IHMs), implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), cardiac pacemakers, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacing devices, and drug delivery devices. Such IMDs are generally used to monitor the electrical activity of the heart, while some of the IMDs are also used to provide electrical stimulation to one or more of the heart chambers, when necessary.
IMDs generally utilize a plurality of electrodes and/or other sensors. In cardiac medical devices, for example, electrodes can be used to monitor the electrical condition and/or state of the patient. These electrodes are typically situated on one or more leads extending from such medical devices and positioned at corresponding locations within or proximate to the heart chamber. In use, the electrodes sense electrical signals within the cardiac tissue of the heart, and subsequently pass analog signals (e.g., corresponding to the sensed electrical signals) back to the medical devices. Within the medical devices, these analog signals are typically converted to digital signals, which are, in turn, stored within memory of the devices or transmitted to further devices having memory. As is known, for each electrode or other sensor which transfers analog signals corresponding to a cardiac parameter, one or more electrical components are located within the medical device in order to digitize the analog signals and/or condition such transmitted signals prior to their storage. In devices designed to subsequently provide therapy when necessary, such digitized signals are analyzed, e.g., by a controller within the device, so as to provide the appropriate therapy from the device.
What is needed are medical devices which enable the above-described general monitoring functionality, yet have more efficient designs. In turn, such devices may be less expensive to build. In addition, by making the devices more efficient, less space within the devices may be required in providing the above-described general functioning. As a result, the devices can be made more compact in size, or alternatively, such excess space can be further used in making the devices more versatile in their overall functioning.

Prioritized multicomplexor sensing circuit


Apparatus directed to the art of disengaging an input from an output at predetermined torque values. A torque limiting clutch capable of use as a solid drive unit and a torque limited unit for which the torque disengagement value is selectable. The torque limiting clutch has an overload assembly and a torque drive mechanism which may comprise a plurality of drive pins. Additionally, the torque limiting clutch may comprise seals to discourage contaminants from entering the clutch.

The invention relates to releasable torque transmitting couplings and it is concerned more particularly with a self-releasing clutch which will disengage when a predetermined amount of torque is experienced.
While the principal purpose of torque limiting clutches is to protect various types of power driven equipment against overload, such clutches have heretofore also been perfected to take care of several specific requirements. For instance, in many installations it is desirable that once the clutch has become disengaged due to an overload it should stay disengaged as long as the overload condition persists, and that the clutch can be reengaged by torque reversal at will when the overload condition has abated to the point where operation of the driven equipment can be resumed. When the clutch idles, that is, while its driving member continues to rotate and its driven member is at a standstill, friction losses between the driving and driven members and wear of the relatively engageable and disengageable clutch elements should be kept to a minimum.
Further, the torque load at which the clutch becomes disengaged should be precisely fixed, that is, disengagement should take place at the exact moment when the torque reaches a given limit. In its engaged driving condition the clutch should provide a positive driving connection between the driving and driven shafts, that is, there should be no gradual yielding between the driving and driven clutch parts. The driving connection should be disrupted instantaneously when the given torque limit has been reached. In some installations it is also desirable that the driving and driven clutch parts can be reengaged in only one rotatively adjusted position relative to each other. This requirement usually has the purpose of maintaining a time relationship between several operating units that are driven from a single power source. Provisions should also be made to vary the torque limit at which the clutch will automatically disengage under an overload, and such variation to increase or decrease the torque limit should be possible conveniently without dismantling the clutch. Another provision which is frequently desired is that the clutch should be unidirectional, that is, it should provide torque control in one direction and solid drive in the opposite direction. Incorporated herein by reference is U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,553.
Additionally, fluid or other contaminates entering a mechanism like the present invention may cause premature wear or failure. For example, fluid or other contaminants may enter during a parts cleaning procedure. The where exposure to fluid or dirt is possible, a clutch capable of limiting the exposure of internal parts to fluids or contaminates would be desirable.
Furthermore, clutch characteristics may change upon clutch break-in. Therefore, a clutch that is manufactured to take into account break-in patterns would be desirable.