The invention provides a method for communicating the need to move a mobile robot, such as an AGV, from one location (node) to another, on a node-by-node basis, incrementally, among the nodes established in a physical environment such as a factory. The invention also provides the means to generate the commands necessary to accomplish this motion, by providing specific steering and drive information such as angle and speed to the mobile robot or AGV. The invention accomplishes these tasks in response to direct commands from a stationary controller as well as in response to continuous node-by-node position updates provided by an external navigation system, such as a visual navigation system, or an internal dead-reckoning navigation system, or both.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to guidance and control methods for automatically guided vehicle (AGV) systems such as mobile robots and more specifically to methods for directing an AGV to move at a specific speed and angle (from one fixed location to another), to methods which allow two or more AGVs to cross paths without conflict, to methods which provide on-board control of an AGV's steering and drive mechanisms, and to methods for checking, coordinating, and communicating differences between the AGV's absolute position and its calculated position.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional automatically guided vehicles such as those used to move materials in warehouses and factories provide minimal point-to-point movement control. Most such systems involve AGVs which follow a fixed guide track, usually either a radio transmitter antenna wire buried in the factory floor, a reflective stripe painted on the floor, or a reflective tape glued to the floor. Such methods are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 45,300,056, 4,554,724, 4,562,653, 4,593,238, and 4,593,239. All of these schemes purposely limit the individual AGV's freedom of movement by constraining the AGVs to follow a physically fixed path.
Most such systems rely on on-vehicle proximity detection, such as active bumpers or ultrasonic sensors, to deal with collisions with other AGVs, stationary objects, or personnel. In such systems, the AGVs also may move only one direction along the track.
Systems such as those described in the related Texas Instruments applications achieve true point-to-point movement by implementing control schemes which allow multiple AGVs to coexist in the same pathways without collision or excessive queuing and by using free-roving AGVs having programmable bi-directional paths. These new methods maximize the degrees of freedom of AGV movement. The control scheme set forward in TI-11104, co-pending, implements a scheme of "static" collision avoidance for AGV systems. Essentially, that method uses a rule-based computer program to examine the "mapped environment" set forward in TI-10942, U.S. application Ser. No. 771,397 and to report only those pathways determined "passable to AGVs" to a central data base, from which another scheduling program can draw the data necessary to move AGVs from one point to another in the system without attempting to place two AGVs in the same place simultaneously.
Important disadvantages of the prior art are: it is either limited to closed pathways, unidirectional motion, lack of external control of AGV motion, or to "static" collision avoidance (i.e., path planning as opposed to path supervision).

Method for controlling the movements of a mobile robot in a multiple node factory


The present invention includes a process for navigating an object according to signals from satellites by propagating the position of the object forward in time using successive changes in the carrier-phase measurements. The process computes at a low rate matrices required for solving for the position of the objects, and repeatedly uses the most recently computed matrices to compute position updates at a high rate until the next low-rate computation is completed.

Satellite positioning systems such as the global positioning system (GPS) use satellites in space to locate objects on earth. With GPS, signals from the satellites arrive at a GPS receiver and are used to determine the position of the GPS receiver. Currently, two types of GPS measurements corresponding to each correlator channel with a locked GPS satellite signal are available for civilian GPS receivers. The two types of GPS measurements are pseudorange, and integrated carrier phase for two carrier signals, L1 and L2, with frequencies of 1.5754 GHz and 1.2276 GHz, or wavelengths of 0.1903 m and 0.2442 m, respectively. The pseudorange measurement (or code measurement) is a basic GPS observable that all types of GPS receivers can make. It utilizes the C/A or P codes modulated onto the carrier signals. The measurement records the apparent time taken for the relevant code to travel from the satellite to the receiver, i.e., the time the signal arrives at the receiver according to the receiver clock minus the time the signal left the satellite according to the satellite clock.
The carrier phase measurement is obtained by integrating a reconstructed carrier of the signal as it arrives at the receiver. Thus, the carrier phase measurement is also a measure of a transit time difference as determined by the time the signal left the satellite according to the satellite clock and the time it arrives at the receiver according to the receiver clock. However, because an initial number of whole cycles in transit between the satellite and the receiver when the receiver starts tracking the carrier phase of the signal is usually not known, the transit time difference may be in error by multiple carrier cycles, i.e., there is a whole-cycle ambiguity in the carrier phase measurement. Various techniques have been developed to resolve this whole-cycle ambiguity. An excellent overview of such techniques is found in Chapter 7, Section 7.8, "Ambiguity Fixing," in GPS Satellite Surveying, 3rd edition, by Alfred Leick, published by John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2004.
Thus, to navigate an object, a GPS receiver attached to the object receives GPS measurements from a multitude of satellites and these GPS measurements are processed by a computer system coupled to the GPS receiver to produce updates to the position of the object. To compute the updates to the position of the object, the range or distance between the GPS receiver and each of the multitude of satellites is calculated by multiplying a signal's travel time by the speed of light. These ranges are usually referred to as pseudoranges (false ranges) because the receiver clock generally has a significant time error which causes a common bias in the measured range. This common bias from the receiver clock error can be solved for along with the position coordinates of the GPS receiver as part of the normal navigation computation. Various other factors can also lead to errors or noise in the calculated range, including ephemeris error, satellite clock timing error, atmospheric effects, receiver noise and multipath error. With standalone GPS navigation, where the GPS receiver obtains code and/or carrier-phase ranges with respect to a plurality of satellites in view, without consulting with any reference station, one is usually very limited in ways to reduce the errors or noises in the ranges.
To eliminate or reduce these errors, differential operations are typically used in GPS applications. Differential GPS (DGPS) operations involve a base or reference station having a base or reference GPS receiver, a navigation system having a rover or navigation GPS receiver attached to the object being navigated, and a communication link between the reference station and the navigation system. The reference station is usually at a known position and the measurements obtained and/or corrections computed thereat are transmitted to and used by the navigation system to cancel out most of the error factors. Differential operations using carrier-phase measurements are often referred to as real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning/navigation operations.
The fundamental concept of Differential GPS (DGPS) is to take advantage of the spatial and temporal correlations of the errors inherent in the GPS measurements to cancel the noise factors in the pseudorange and/or carrier phase measurements resulting from these error factors. However, while the GPS satellite clock timing error, which appears as a bias on the pseudorange or carrier phase measurement, is perfectly correlated between the reference receiver and the user receiver, most of the other error factors are either not correlated or the correlation diminishes in wide-area applications, i.e., when the distance between the reference and user receivers becomes large.
To overcome the inaccuracy of the DGPS system in wide-area applications, various regional, wide-area, or global DGPS (hereafter referred to as wide-area DGPS or WADGPS) techniques have been developed. The WADGPS includes a network of multiple reference stations in communication with a computational center or hub. Error corrections are computed at the hub based upon the known locations of the reference stations and the measurements taken by them. The computed error corrections are then transmitted to users via communication link such as satellite, phone, or radio. By using multiple reference stations, WADGPS provides more accurate estimates of the error corrections.
With the errors more or less corrected using any of the stand-alone, the RTK, and/or the WADGPS system, the computer system coupled to the navigation GPS receiver typically computes an update to the receiver position once in each of a series of epochs. A number of different techniques have been developed to update the position of the GPS receiver using the GPS carrier-phase measurements. Examples of these techniques are the least-squares and Kalman filter processes. The least-squares technique is addressed at length in Chapter 4, "Least Squares Adjustments," in GPS Satellite Surveying, 3rd edition, by Alfred Leick, published by John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2004. The Kalman Filter is addressed briefly at the end of the chapter. In a conventional GPS navigation system, the position of the GPS receiver is typically updated at the rate of 1 Hertz, i.e., one update per second. For objects with moderate and high dynamics, it is often desired that the position updates are calculated at a higher rate. Because of the complexity of a full least-squares or Kalman filter process, however, the computational capabilities of the computer system can be exceeded if the position updates are computed at a rate significantly higher than the 1 Hertz rate. Therefore, there is a need for a satellite navigation technique that significantly increases the rate at which accurate position updates are produced while minimizing computational complexities.

GPS navigation using successive differences of carrier-phase measurements


Disclosed is a method of restoring data in a non-volatile semiconductor memory which has a memory cell array that a plurality of electrically programmable memory cells to be set of several threshold voltages are matrix-disposed, a data erasing means that divides the memory cell array into several blocks and erases in the lump data stored in memory cells included in the divided block, a data writing means that writes data into the memory cells, a data reading means that reads out data from the memory cells, and a control means that controls the operations of the data erasing means, data writing means and data reading means, wherein the non-volatile semiconductor memory has a function that detects the deterioration of data stored in the memory cells and then restores it, the method having the steps of: detecting the data-deterioration state of memory cells included in the block; conducting a light erasing operation with a threshold voltage change smaller than that of an ordinary erasing operation to an erase block including a memory cell with a data-deterioration state that cannot be restored by additional writing; then detecting the data-deterioration state of the memory cells again; and restoring data of a memory cell that a data deterioration is detected.

In an electrically programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory, such as a flash memory, a logic state is stored with a threshold voltage (hereinafter referred to as `cell Vt`) of a memory cell. For example, in storing binary information, data "0" can be represented by a cell Vt lowered by erase operation and data "1" can be represented by a cell Vt raised by write operation. Also, multi-valued information is stored in like manner. For example, in storing ternary information, data "0" can be represented by a cell Vt lowered by erase operation, and data "1", "2" can be represented by cell Vt's raised stepwise by write operation. On the contrary, in storing binary information, data "1" can be represented by a cell Vt raised by erase operation and data "0" can be represented by a cell Vt lowered by write operation. In like manner, in storing ternary information, data "2" can be represented by a cell Vt raised by erase operation, and data "1", "0" can be represented by cell Vt's lowered stepwise by write operation. The former example is taken for a channel hot electron (CHE) write type memory cell, and the latter example is taken for a Faurer-Nordheim (FN) write type memory cell.
In such a flash memory, in general, writing of data is conducted by one bit while checking a write state (cell Vt) and erasing of data is conducted by a group of memory cells (block) more than that of writing while checking an erase state (cell Vt) . In flash memories, cell Vt's are properly set corresponding to data "0", "1" and "2" in writing of data. However, a cell Vt may be changed by various disturbances and a leakage current from a charge-storage layer, thereby deteriorating or destroying the stored data.
Several methods of restoring a cell Vt to the original value (cell Vt just after writing) while detecting a change (deterioration) of cell Vt to prevent stored data from being destroyed have been proposed.
For example, Japanese patent application laid-open No.8-77785(1996) discloses a method and circuit that, in writing multi-valued information, a change in cell Vt (deterioration of stored data) is detected by applying different voltages to a word line and rewriting of data is then conducted to restore a cell Vt to the original value. Also, Japanese patent application laid-open No.8-249893(1996) discloses a method and circuit that, in writing multi-valued information, several detecting means for checking the insufficiency or excess of writing after the write operation are provided, and additional writing is conducted to a insufficient write cell or rewriting or additional erasing is conducted to an excessive write cell after erasing the memory cell.
Furthermore, Japanese patent application laid-open No.8-235887(1996) discloses a method that, in storing binary information, the deterioration of data stored in memory cell is detected by using two reference levels for verification provided other than a normal reference value for reading out, and the contents are transferred to a register and then rewriting is conducted when it is judged that the data restoring is necessary.
However, the conventional data restoring methods have some problems. First, the chip area has to be increased due to the excessive writing that requires registers of a same number as the number of the memory cells of an erase block. Second, the data restoring speed has to be reduced due to the data transfer time to the registers. Namely, when a memory cell of excessive writing is detected, all memory cells in an erase block have to be erased in a normal manner (initialization of stored data) and then the data (data to be rewritten) stored in the original memory cells have to be temporarily transferred outside the memory cells before the rewriting.

Method of restoring data in non-volatile semiconductor memory


The disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods provide for a displacement sensor with a multi-position image sensor. The displacement sensor includes an optical lens. The displacement sensor includes an image sensor configured to view an object through the lens along a plane of focus that is not parallel to an image plane of the image sensor. The displacement sensor includes a laser for illuminating the object by the displacement sensor, wherein the laser is: spaced from the lens at a fixed distance, and configured to project a line of light along the plane of focus of the image sensor. The displacement sensor comprises a first configuration wherein the image sensor is at a first location along an image plane with a first field of view along the plane of focus, and a second configuration at a second location with a different field of view.

Machine vision tools can be used to automate the inspection of parts of different sizes and shapes (e.g., during manufacturing processes). Displacement sensors, for instance, can be used to measure the displacement of an object from a plane of reference, such as while the object travels along a platform or conveyor belt, to measure the three dimensional displacement of the object. These and other machine vision techniques often require using different optics depending on the particular application, such as the size or shape of the feature being measured, or the amount of resolution required for the particular application. For example, if an image sensor is being used to inspect a small feature of an object (e.g., a corner of a microchip), then the image sensor may be configured with a small field of view ("FOV") to inspect the feature since it is relatively small and requires a high amount of resolution. If the image sensor is instead being used to inspect a larger object or a larger feature of an object (e.g., tire treads), then the image sensor may be configured with a larger FOV to inspect the larger feature (which may in-turn sacrifice resolution), because otherwise the image sensor may not be able to inspect the entire feature. The displacement sensor's measured height values form a 2D profile of the object in the FOV.
While it can be desirable to use a single sensor for different applications, it is often difficult to change the configuration of the image sensor to achieve multiple (or different) FOVs without changing other aspects of the sensor. For example, adjusting the FOV often requires adjusting parameters in the optical setup of the sensor, such as the distance between the image sensor and the lens of the sensor, the focal length of the lens, the angle between lens, sensor and/or plane of focus, and/or other parameters. Therefore sensors are usually designed and built such that they are configured for only one application (e.g., they can only achieve one FOV). However, changing between different image sensor housings to adapt a system to different imaging scenarios can increase manufacturing costs since different housings need to be machined, and can add complexities to managing machine vision applications for different products.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for a multi-position image sensor


A method and system used to detect characteristic information of internal body tissues applies multiple AC currents of different frequencies simultaneously to a human or animal body. After the modulated voltage signals are received, they are demodulated. Information from both the cardiovascular system and the surrounding tissues is extracted from the carrier waves of specified frequencies. System identification or channel estimation procedures are performed to separate the information from the cardiovascular circulation system and the surrounding tissues. The resistance and capacitance of the cardiovascular system and surrounding tissues are calculated separately. The calculated resistance and capacitance values are used to represent the states of body fluid and cardiovascular circulation. As a result, relevant state information is obtained accurately and reliably to enable accurate measurements of targeted tissues for acquiring health states.

Bio-Impedance and bio-reactance measurements as a non-invasive method to measure blood flow and body fluid levels have been explored widely. These technologies are well accepted in the medical field. But the technologies suffer some drawbacks. First, all the computed parameters are based on impedance, which is frequency dependent. These parameters can only indirectly represent the cardiovascular states. Also, since the parameters are frequency dependent, they will suffer frequency-selective impairment. Second, the connecting tissues' impedance plays a big role in the impedance measurements. Traditional bio-impedance and bio-reactance measurements suffer from the mixture of impedance from the targeted area and from the targeted area's surrounding tissues. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine which impedance dominates. Therefore, the mixed impedance varies for different people; even for the same person, the mixed impedance can vary for different tissue states. Therefore, bio-impedance and reactance are not good candidates to represent the characteristics of body fluid and cardiovascular circulation.
Bio-tissues are characterized as conductors and non-conductors from the electrical perspective. Conductors are measured by the conductance (inverse of resistance), while non-conductors can be measured by the capacitance or permittivity. One widely approved human or animal tissue model is the Cole Model. Basically, the AC current is mainly conducted by the extracellular liquid which is mainly resistance at low frequencies, such as 1 KHz. As the AC current's frequency increases, the AC current passes through both extracellular fluid and cells. Since cells have membranes which behave like capacitors, the AC voltage will have phase change. As the frequency keeps increasing, beyond 1 MHz, the cells' membrane effects in the total impedance become insignificant, and the total impedance becomes like a pure resistor again. The Cole Model describes this behavior.
Any bio-tissue's change will basically cause changes in their conductance and capacitance. Therefore, to represent the tissues' changes, the measurement of changes of tissues' conductance and capacitance is far more reliable than the measurement of bio-impedance mixed with bio-reactance, which include the connecting tissues' impedance and reactance. Since the tissues' conductance and capacitance are frequency-dependent, a frequency band has to be chosen. It has been widely accepted that the tissue's information is mainly in a 10 KHz to 1 MHz band. Accordingly, to measure the tissues' conductance and capacitance, multi-frequency alternating stimuli (electrical currents) in the 10 KHz to 1 MHz band may be used. From Ohm's Law, the tissues' conductance and capacitance can be computed from the multiple-frequency alternating electrical currents.

Non-invasive method and system to extract characteristic information of bio-tissues

Msheaf Health Management Technologies Limited


The present invention facilitates keeping the slot cells 8 of a generator rotor from migrating during operation of the rotor. The present invention utilizes a slot cell catch 10 that hold slot cells 8, both U-shaped and L-shaped, in position within a rotor body slot 6. The catch 10 limits movement to a pre-determined amount, usually only a fraction of an inch. The catch can withstand the forces of rotor in operation, and the limitation in migration reduces the need for inspection on the slot cells 8 as well as lowering the risk of grounds being created between the windings and the rotor body

Within a generator rotor, windings need to be electrically insulated from the rotor body. This is accomplished by lining the slots into which the windings are placed with insulation. The insulation is referred to as slot cells and they essentially form a receptacle within a rotor body slot where the windings are placed.
FIG. 1 illustrates a close up view of windings 2 within a slot 4 of a rotor body 6. The rotor body 6 has a series of radial/axial slots 4 into which the windings 2 are placed. The slot cell 8 insulation is placed along the length of the slots 4 and it axially extends from the end of the slot about 1.5 inches (3.75 cm). This is because the slot cells can slide, also referred to as migrate, during operation of the rotor. If the windings 2 come into direct contact with the rotor body 6 a ground path is created which causes considerable damage to the generator core.
The slot cells are typically either of a single U-shaped piece or two L-shaped pieces. The additional extension of the slot cells to either end of the rotor body slots allows for some migration of the slot cells during operation. However, the migration of the slots cells still has to be closely monitored and the risk of creating a ground through contact of the windings with the rotor body is always present.
What is needed is a method and apparatus that prevents migration of the slot cells without interfering with the normal function of a generator rotor.

Unified assembly for slot cell insulation


The present invention relates to novel antidiabetic compounds, their tautomeric forms, their derivatives, their stereoisomers, their polymorphs, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, their pharmaceutically acceptable solvates and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions containing them. This invention particularly relates to novel azolidinedione derivatives of the general formula (I), and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. ##STR1##

Insulin resistance is the diminished ability of insulin to exert its biological action across a broad range of concentrations. In insulin resistance, the body secretes abnormally high amounts of insulin to compensate for this defect; failing which, the plasma glucose concentration inevitably rises and develops into diabetes. Among the developed countries, diabetes mellitus is a common problem and is associated with a variety of abnormalities including obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia (J. Clin. Invest., (1985) 75:809-817; N. Engl. J. Med. (1987) 317: 350-357; J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., (1988) 66:580-583; J. Clin. Invest., (1975) 68:957-969) and other renal complications (See Patent Application No. WO 95/21608). It is now increasingly being recognized that insulin resistance and relative hyperinsulinemia have a contributory role in obesity, hypertension, atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The association of insulin resistance with obesity, hypertension and angina has been described as a syndrome having insulin resistance as the central pathogenic link-Syndrome-X. In addition, polycystic ovarian syndrome (Patent Application No. WO 95/07697), psoriasis (Patent Application No. WO 95/35108), dementia (Behavioral Brain Research (1996) 75:1-11) etc. may also have insulin resistance as a central pathogenic feature.
A number of molecular defects have been associated with insulin resistance. These include reduced expression of insulin receptors on the plasma membrane of insulin responsive cells and alterations in the signal transduction pathways that become activated after insulin binds to its receptor including glucose transport and glycogen synthesis.
Since defective insulin action is thought to be more important than failure of insulin secretion in the development of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and other related complications, this raises doubts about the intrinsic suitability of antidiabetic treatment that is based entirely upon stimulation of insulin release. Recently, Takeda has developed a new class of compounds which are the derivatives of 5-(4-alkoxybenzyl)-2,4-thiazolidinediones of the formula (II) (Ref. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1982, 30, 3580-3600). In the formula (II), V represents substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic group and U represents various groups which have been reported in various patent documents. ##STR3##
By way of examples, U may represent the following groups:
(i) a group of the formula (IIa) where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or hydrocarbon residue or heterocyclic residue which may each be substituted, R.sup.2 is hydrogen or a lower alkyl which may be substituted by hydroxy group, X is an oxygen or sulphur atom, Z is a hydroxylated methylene or a carbonyl, m is 0 or 1, n is an integer of 1-3. PA1 vi) a group of formula (II 1), where R is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6) alkyl groups, cycloalkyl group, furyl, thienyl, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, X is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, chloro or fluoro. PA1 reacting the compound of general formula (III), where G is a CHO group with 2,4-thiazolidinedione or 2,4-oxazolidinedione to yield a compound of general formula (XII) ##STR29## where A, B, D, X, Ar, k, p and Z are as defined earlier and removing the water formed during the reaction by conventional methods.
These compounds have been disclosed in the European Patent Application No. 0 177 353 ##STR4##
An example of these compounds is shown in formula (IIb) ##STR5## (ii) a group of the formula (IIc) wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different and each represents hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, R.sup.3 represents hydrogen, acyl group, a (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6) alkoxycarbonyl group or aralkyloxycarbonyl group, R.sup.4 -R.sup.5 are same or different and each represent hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkoxy or R.sup.4, R.sup.5 together represent C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkenedioxy group, n is 1, 2, or 3, W represents CH.sub.2, CO, CHOR.sup.6 group in which R.sup.6 represents any one of the items or groups defined for R.sup.3 and may be the same or different from R.sup.3. These compounds are disclosed in the European Patent Application No. 0 139 421. ##STR6##
An example of these compounds is shown in (IId) ##STR7## iii) A group of formula (IIe) where A.sup.1 represents substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, acyl group, an aralkyl group wherein the aryl moiety may be substituted or unsubstituted, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, n represents an integer in the range from 2 to 6. These compounds are disclosed in European Patent No. 0 306 228. ##STR8##
An example of this compound is shown in formula (IIf) ##STR9## iv) A group of formula (IIg) where Y represents N or CR.sup.5, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 represents hydrogen, halogen, alkyl and the like and R.sup.6 represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl and the like, n represents an integer of 0 to 3. These compounds are disclosed in European Patent Application No. 0 604 983. ##STR10##
An example of this compound is shown in formula (IIh) ##STR11## v) A group of formula (IIi a-d) where R.sup.1 represents hydrogen atom, halogen, linear or branched (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl or cyano groups and X represents S, O or NR where R.dbd.H or (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl group. These compounds are disclosed in European Patent Application No. 0 528 734. ##STR12##
An example of this class of compound is shown in formula (IIj) ##STR13##
Still another class of antihyperglycemic agents are 5-substituted oxazolidine-2,4-diones and 2-substituted-1,2,4-oxadiazolidine-3,5-diones which can be represented in the formula (IIk), ##STR14## where V represents substituted or unsubstituted divalent aryl or hetero aryl group, W represents various groups which have been reported in various patent documents, A represents nitrogen atom or a CH group and B is an oxygen atom.
By way of examples, W may represent the following groups:
These compounds have been disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5 037 842. ##STR15##
An example of these compounds is shown in formula (IIm). ##STR16## (vii) A group of formula (IIn) wherein A.sup.1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclyl group; R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an aralkyl group, wherein the aryl moiety may be substituted or unsubstituted or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, n represents an integer in the range of from 2 to 6. These compounds have been disclosed in the patent application No. WO 92/02520. ##STR17##
An example of these compounds is shown in formula (IIo). ##STR18## (viii) A group of formulae (IIp) and (IIq), where R.sup.1 is hydrogen, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.8)alkyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.8)alkoxy, trifluoroalkoxy, halogen or trifluoromethyl group, R.sup.2 is hydrogen or methyl and X is oxygen or sulfur. These compounds have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5 480 486. ##STR19##
An example of these compounds is shown in formula (IIr) ##STR20##

Heterocyclic compounds having antidiabetic, hypolipidaemic, antihypertensive properties, process for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them


A cooling device of an electronic component. The cooling device comprises a carrier having one or more openings, a piezoelectric member moveably disposed in one of the openings, a plurality of conductive wires disposed within the carrier and extending into the openings, wherein one or more conductive wires being coupled to the piezoelectric member, and an interconnecting member connecting the conductive wires to a power source, wherein when power is supplied, the piezoelectric member vibrates to circulate air and dissipate heat.

Aspects of the present invention pertains to a substantially noiseless cooling device for cooling electronic devices such as a hard drive, an optical device, a battery, a central processing unit (CPU) or other integrated circuit device of a computer (or an enclosure skin of a system) and more particularly, of a notebook computer.
Advances continue to be made in the manufacture of solid-state electronic devices, resulting in increasing functionality, density, and performance of the integrated circuits (ICs). The amount of heat generated, and accordingly the amount of power needed to be dissipated, by modern integrated circuits generally increases with increases in the density and speed of the circuits. Removal of heat produced by the integrated circuits therefore continues to be of significant concern of modern integrated circuit package and system designers, considering the loss of performance and the degradation in reliability of integrated circuits when operated at elevated temperatures.
In addition, the trend toward more compact electronic systems is also continuing, exacerbating the thermal problem produced by the high-complexity and high-performance integrated circuits. For example, laptop or notebook sized computers have recently become quite popular, with continuing market pressure toward even smaller computer systems such as personal digital assistants (PDA). However, these small computer systems eliminate many of the traditional techniques for heat removal available for large-scale computer systems, such as the use of fans for convection cooling of the integrated circuits. As such, many modern computer systems utilize thermal conduction as the primary mode of heat removal from the integrated circuits in the computer system.
Many methods and apparatuses have been developed to remove heat from heat generating components located within the confines of a computer system enclosure. One method includes a simple attachment of a finned heat sink to the top surface of the device. Another method includes using finned heat sinks having integral fans. Another method includes the use of large, flat heat spreading plates attached directly or indirectly to the device to be cooled off. Many methods involves coupling the heat spreading plate to a heat pipe or other low resistance thermal path.
Although various methods or apparatuses have shown sufficient in the past, they do not provide the heat removal capacity and/or efficiency needed to cool current and future high-performance microprocessors or electronic devices included in computer systems, especially portable computer systems or other thin profile electronic devices. For example, because of the density of electronics inside a notebook computer, a number of strategies (e.g., heat pipes, radiator fins, and fans) have been used to provide adequate cooling to the components inside such computer. However, at least for some models of the notebook computer, the lower surface of the computer becomes quite hot during operation. If adequate ventilation to the devices are not provided, overheating of the internal components may result along with possible malfunction. Also, inadequate ventilation may cause discomfort to user using such notebook computer due to the overheating factor.
As processors and power devices get faster and hotter, and as package densities increase, the need for reliable, effective, and efficient thermal management devices become crucial. Thus, there is a need for a heat-dissipating device that can dissipate heat generated from an IC, ICs, or IC containing electronic devices.

Substantially noiseless cooling device for electronic devices


A modular structure assembled with different prefabricated and measured interlocking component elements made from a light-weight synthetic material. The component elements, including vertical stud members, horizontal support members, wall truss support members, rafter members, slip connector members, corner connector members, and a center truss support member, are assembled in an interlocking manner with optional secondary fastening components for further securing of the elements together upon assembly where local building codes require such secondary fastening. The component elements are resistant to weather, rot and insect destruction and the assembly of the modular structure does not require tools or labor required in the assembly of structures using conventional building materials or lumber.

1. Field of Invention
A modular structure assembled with different prefabricated and measured interlocking component elements made from a light-weight synthetic material. The component elements are assembled in an interlocking manner with optional secondary fastening components for further securing of the elements together upon assembly where local building codes require such secondary fastening. The component elements are resistant to weather, rot and insect destruction and the assembly of the modular structure does not require tools or labor required in the assembly of structures using conventional building materials or lumber.
2. Description of Prior Art
The following United States patents were discovered and are disclosed within this application for utility patent. All relate to prefabricated building components.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,968 to Pullam, a wall framing system is disclosed having upper and lower beams and several studs secured to the beams using a securing system incorporating a perpendicular flange or tongue received within slots in the upper and lower beams at predetermined locations. The studs snap into the upper and lower beams using this securing means. A similar component structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,594 to Sucre F, which incorporates several structural panels and frames shaped and designed for direct interconnection by locking pins, panels and screws.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,968 to Pullam, uses a channel for the studs to be inset and held in place using a peg system and utilizes pre-drilled holes for wiring insertion within the studs. It also uses and I-beam stud configuration which does not possess the same characteristics and the lumber dimensional configuration of the present invention studs or other components with the honeycomb core. U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,530 to Price discloses honeycomb core features within large component panels. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,773 to Weir, large preformed wall panels attaching horizontally are disclosed, but without the vertical support disclosed by the present invention component structural support framework.

Modular structure from prefabricated synthetic component elements


Disclosed herein are formulations and methods of manufacture of compounds of formula (E):

Autopsies of soldiers killed by mustard gas in World War I indicated that sulfur mustard has a disproportionate effect on rapidly dividing cells and suggested that sulfur mustard compounds might have antitumor effects. Indeed, early researchers attempted to treat cancer by direct injection of sulfur mustard into tumors. This research was limited by the extreme toxicity of sulfur mustard compounds and nitrogen mustard analogs, such as mechlorethamine, were investigated as less toxic alternatives.

Because of the lack of selectivity of most mechlorethamine analogs, prodrugs, such as phosphoramide compounds, which can be activated by the high concentration of phosphoramidases present in neoplastic cells, have been investigated. Two phosphoramide alkylating agents, cyclophosphamide (CPA) and the isomeric compound ifosfamide (IFOS), have demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of a broad range of solid tumors and hematological cancers (Zhang et al., Current Drug Therapy 1: 55-84 (2006)). CPA and IFOS are used both as single agents as well as in combination with other anticancer agents to obtain synergistic antitumor effects. In addition to its application in cancer, CPA can also be used as an immunosuppressant to treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (Petri et al., Lupus 13:366-371 (2006); Leandro et al. Ann., Rheum. Dis. 61: 883-888 (2002); Verberg et al., Arthritis Rheum. 52: 421-424 (2005)).

The metabolism of CPA and IFOS has been described in detail by Zhang et al. (Zhang et al., Current Drug Therapy 1: 55-84 (2006)). CPA and IFOS are prodrugs that are activated intracellularly by 4-hydroxylation by the cytochrome (CYP) P450 oxidases, primarily CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and CYP2B6 in the liver, to produce cytotoxic nitrogen mustards that can react with DNA. Acrolein is a byproduct of this reaction. The in vivo metabolism of CPA and IFOS also involves inactivation by N-decholoroethylation by CYP3A4/5 and CYP2B6 prior to their conversion to the nitrogen mustards, resulting in production of dechloroethylated metabolites and the byproduct chloroacetaldehyde (CAA). Acrolein and CAA are implicated in toxicities of CPA and IFOS that are unrelated to the cytotoxic mechanism of action of the nitrogen mustard molecules (Zhang et al., Current Drug Therapy 1: 55-84 (2006)). Acrolein causes the urotoxicity, hemorrahagic cystitis, and liver damage, and CAA causes neurotoxicity and has also been implicated in renal toxicity. Co-administration of the sulfhydryl compounds, mesna and amifostine, which react specifically with acrolein in the urinary tract, can reduce the urotoxicity of acrolein but does not eliminate other toxicities (Zaki et al., Toxicol. In Vitro 17: 397-402 (2003)).
The nitrogen mustards of CPA and IFOS, phosphoramide mustard and isophosphoramide mustard, are bifunctional alkylating agents that bind covalently to nucleophilic groups of nucleic acids. At pH≧7, the mustards are dechlorinated to produce carbonium ions that react covalently with N7 of guanine residues. The reaction is referred to as DNA alkylation. Both inter- or intra-strand crosslinks result from the ability of each mustard molecule to react with two guanine residues (Zhang et al., Current Drug Therapy 1: 55-84 (2006)). Because the inter-strand crosslinks prevent strand separation required for DNA replication, DNA-alkylation is considered to be the major mechanism responsible for the inhibition of cell division by CPA and IFOS. In addition to the antiproliferative (cytostatic) effect, the DNA damage also induces apoptosis, i.e., programmed cell death (O'Conner et al., Cancer Res. 1: 6550-6557; (1991); Bahtia et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 1: 873-880 (1995)). The cytotoxic/cytostatic effects of the nitrogen mustards are mainly responsible for the antitumor activity of CPA and IFOS and, by preventing the proliferative expansion of autoreactive lymphocytes, also for the immunosuppressant activity of CPA in autoimmune disease. However, cross-linking of DNA in normal tissues by the nitrogen mustards also causes cytotoxic, mechanism-based collateral damage, particularly myelosuppression resulting in leucocytopenia, which is the principal dose-limiting hematological toxicity (Zhang et al., Current Drug Therapy 1: 55-84 (2006)).
Although phosphoramide mustard and isophosphoramide are chemically similar, isophosphoramide mustard interacts with DNA with a higher affinity than phosphoramide mustard (Boal et al., J. Med. Chem. 32: 1768-1773; 1989). Structural differences involving the intramolecular distance between the chloroethyl groups and their orientation appear to be responsible for the different affinities of the two mustards (Springer et al., J. Org. Chem. 63: 7218-7222 (1998)).
By administering cytotoxic nitrogen mustards directly to cancer patients, the "off-target" toxicities and the drug resistance associated with the prodrugs may be reduced. IPM has been synthesized and preliminary biological evaluations of the compound have been conducted; but, unfortunately, IPM itself is unstable and difficult to use directly for human treatment. Stabilized formulations of IPM might further reduce toxicity and allow metronomic administration of doses that are sufficient for both direct cytotoxicity against the tumor and antiangiogenic activity. Improved methods for formulation and manufacture of IPM and analogues and salts thereof are needed.

Synthesis and formulations of salts of isophosphoramide mustard and analogs thereof

Abstract: wherein X and Y independently represent leaving groups; and A+ is an ammonium cation.


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing a graphical user interface configured to present a view of a computer model of a network, wherein the model of the network includes a plurality of elements that represent physical objects in the network and wherein each of the elements is associated with one or more rule points; receiving user input selecting a rule point for an element presented in the view; accepting user input specifying programming logic to be associated with a first one of the predefined conditions of the selected rule point, the programming logic having been entered into a graphical user interface configured to present an interactive template of the predefined condition; enabling the predefined condition based on the accepting; and validating the model by simulating operation of network.

This specification relates to computer aided design tools.
Computer Aided Design (CAD) software tools are commonly used to plan, design, and analyze distribution networks. A CAD model can incorporate a physical model, e.g., representations of physical elements, such as capacitors, transformers, meters, risers, and the like that will be included in the utility network. Drawings prepared from such a model can be used in the actual physical construction of the corresponding utility network. The CAD model may be prepared and edited by various individuals, including utility engineers.


According to one embodiment, a server includes a control unit which instructs establishment and end of connection for the video data communications between the client computers corresponding to the telephone terminals, in accordance with the call information event received by the call information event receiving unit, and a connection information transmitting unit which transmits connection information between the plurality of client computers for which one of the establishment and the end of connection is executed by the control unit, wherein even if the connection information transmitting unit receives a notification of completion or end of the connection from the client computers, when the connection information transmitting unit receives a notification which accompanies change of connection states of the client computers, the connection information transmitting unit transmits the connection information after waiting for the change of the connection states.

1. Field
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a visual communication server and a communication system, capable of implementing a visual communication function by, for example, an existing telephone system and an existing computer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, client software for television conference has been installed in computers, a system capable of easily and simply constructing a television conference mode in combination with telephones equipped with a speech function for television conference (visual communication system: hereinafter called VCS) has appeared. In such a television conference system of the mode in which the client software for television conference is installed in computers, the telephones need to be connected to computers, respectively, i.e. the telephones need to be prepared, at high costs.
Then, there is an idea of utilizing an existing telephone system which has been upgraded as infrastructure.
As for the prior art of utilizing an existing telephone system, for example, a technique of notifying a client terminal with notification of an incoming call of an extension telephone by associating a private branch exchange with a server, has been disclosed (for example, refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 10-240656).
According to the prior art, however, the server has only a function of repeating the notification of an incoming call of an extension telephone to the client terminal, and only speech conversation is subjected to communications. For this reason, to implement a speech and image-communications function, either of the above-explained television conference systems needs to be installed and, as a result, they can hardly be utilized due to high costs.

Visual communication server and communication system


An apparatus for treating lymphedema in the limb of a patient as an outer sleeve configured to encircle the limb of the patient. A plurality of straps are secured in a lateral configuration on the sleeve to tighten the sleeve about the limb of the patient. Detachable markers are located on each of the straps adjacent a reference point on the straps to permit the straps to be tightened, loosened and then retightened to the same positions. The method for treating edema in the limb of a patient at a multiplicity of spaced apart locations comprises encircling the limb of a patient with an elongated sleeve having an elongated open seam and a plurality of spaced apart laterally extending releasable enclosable tightening straps. Strap are closed to secure the sleeve to the patient's limb. One of the straps is released, and a partially air-inflated pneumatic bladder is inserted through the seam underneath the released strap to position the bladder adjacent the patient's limb and the interior of the sleeve. The released strap is then closed and tightened against the bladder to cause a predetermined increase of pressure to be achieved within the bladder. The tightened strap that extends over the bladder is then released and the bladder is removed from the sleeve. The strap that extended over the bladder is then tightened to the same tightened position that existed prior to the bladder being removed. The foregoing steps are then sequentially repeated in regard to the remaining straps.

Lymphedema is the accumulation of excessive lymph fluid and swelling of subcutaneous tissues due to the obstruction or destruction of lymph vessels. In breast cancer patients, lymphedema occurs in the arm and results in painful swelling. Excessive fluid accumulation, referred to as edema, can also arise in the arms, legs and, trunk from a variety of other causes, including infection, radiation therapy, and other conditions which result in damage to or destruction of portions of the lymphatic and/or venous system.
Sleeve devices have been previously used to apply pressure at various locations along the length of an arm, for example, to relieve swelling due to lymphedema and other causes. Such sleeves have a plurality of laterally extending strap elements which can be tightened to exert pressure points or lines against the skin to permit the release and flow back of fluid to the remaining healthy lymph nodes. Such a device and method of use are disclosed in co-pending application U.S. application Ser. No. 08/390,866 now abandoned. While such devices are effective, they incur some difficulty in use because they provide no way to measure the hardness or softness of the arm, and they provide no way of determining how much pressure should be or is applied to the limb being treated. One of the problems in this area of medicine is to measure how soft or hard the arm is. Is there a lot of fluid that is easily displaced, or is the tissue hard and fibrotic? Understanding this helps us guide therapy. Different treatments are used if the tissue is soft or hard. The soft, fluid filled edema is called pitting edema. In pitting edema, application of pressure with a finger, for example, will cause the fluid to move away from the area where the pressure is applied and will leave an impression of the finger, or a pit. After the pressure is removed, the impression of the finger will remain for some time. In other conditions there is no pitting, the tissue is hard and fibrotic and no pit is left in the skin after the application of pressure with a finger.
It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a method of determining the hardness or softness of the limb being treated.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method of determining the amount of pressure to be applied to the limb being treated.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a sleeve apparatus that will permit predetermined pressure to be applied to spaced apart areas of the limb being treated.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Method and means for treating limb swelling disorders and the like


A device, system and method for treating female urinary incontinence is provided. A flexible sheath having distally deployed wings and proximal retainer contains a flow control valve unit within. The wings can be tucked into side access holes to reduce the profile of the sheath for insertion distally into a female urethra. Once inserted sufficiently distally into a female urethra, the wings can be deployed by inserting the flow control valve within sufficiently far to force the tucked wings out of the constraining access holes.

Urinary incontinence, in both males and females, is a significant medical problem. The use of bladder flow control devices, sometimes referred to as artificial sphincters or prosthetic urethral valves, is well known. Bladder flow control devices may be required due to loss of control or removal of the urinary sphincter muscle. The use of such intraurethral valve apparatus and general knowledge in the field of art can be evidenced by, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,553,533; 4,679,546; 4,969,474; 5,123,428 and 5,140,999.
One goal in the design of such devices is the safe and secure retention of the bladder control or valve device in the female urethra. It is desirable to have the placement of the bladder control apparatus in the urethra performed easily and nonsurgically. It is important that the device be securely retained once placed in the urethra. It is also important that the device be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, allowing for wide-spread adoption and use. Optimally, device surfaces exposed to the human body would be formed of polymeric materials, to lessen chances of inflammation in patients susceptible to irritation caused by contact with metals. A device should have both soft, flexible surfaces for retaining the device and strong materials within the valve portion. Various prior art devices have not met all of these criteria.

Bladder control device retainer and method


Fluorescent patterns are provided registratively oriented on a support by coating a liquid precursor of a photolithographically patternable composition, containing fluorescent compounds, on said support and patternwise exposing and developing the coating on the support.

Fluorescent compounds and their applications are well known. For example, a group of organic fluorescent compounds generally referred to as coumarins, or another group generally referred to as rhodamines, are used at relatively low concentration in a suitable solvent in so-called dye-laser applications. Fluorescent compounds also find application as optical brighteners in fabrics and papers. Fluorescent compounds are also employed as radiation converters in medical radiology and as scintillation agents for detecting low level radiation.
In the above applications, fluorescent compounds are more or less uniformly dissolved, dispersed, imbibed or deposited in the liquid, or in or on the article, such as a fabric fiber or paper stock.
More recently, the use of fluorescent compounds dissolved in polymeric, organic, film-forming materials has been reported. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,206 by W. Viehmann is disclosed a fluorescent radiation converter, comprising a more or less uniform coating on a substantially transparent support of a polymeric material containing a fluorescent compound.
Other applications of unpatterned fluorescent coatings relate to their use in conjunction with solid-state radiation-sensing elements, such as silicon-based photovoltaic sensors or charge-coupled devices (CCD). Here, the unpatterned fluorescent, polymeric coating is applied more or less uniformly on an individual device for the purpose of extending the responsivity of the device to a spectral region or wavelength range where the native, uncoated device has little or no response to incident radiation.
Such applications of unpatterned, fluorescent polymeric coatings over radiation-sensitive elements are disclosed in: U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,849 by P. O. Kliem; W. Viehmann, et al, SPIE Vol. 279, "Ultraviolet and Vacuum Ultraviolet Systems", pages 146-152 (1981); F. E. Stuart, et al, SPIE Vol. 331, "Instrumentation in Astronomy IV", pages 52-68 (1982), and references contained therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,098 by K. Ogawa discloses a solid-state imager with inorganic fluorescent elements. Patterned fluorescent elements are inferred, but no teaching is provided about the patterning of such inorganic fluorescent elements.

Photolithographically patterned fluorescent coating


An adjustable bed having an upper frame mounted to translate with respect to a lower frame. A center support is connected to the upper frame and has a head support pivotally connected to one end thereof. A thigh support is pivotally connected to the other end of the center support and a foot support is connected to the other end of the thigh support. The bed includes an improved mounting for a massage motor in which a resonator board is mounted on resilient spacers on an upper surface of a support platform.

This invention relates generally to beds and more particularly, to improvements to beds.
Adjustable beds have been used for many years to permit the user to adjust the head and foot sections of the bed to different positions. While originally only manually adjustable, more recently, the head and foot sections are moved by motors operated by the user via a remote control.
Adjustable beds were originally designed principally for use in medical environments by patients who had to spend long periods of time in bed for reasons of health, injury, etc. However, more recently, adjustable beds are also being used in residential environments by users who have no health or physical impairment. An increasing number of people place televisions and other entertainment devices in the bedroom, and more time is spent lounging in bed. Hence, the bed, and in particular, an adjustable bed, is considered by many users an alternative piece of leisure furniture. As the market for leisure beds grows, there is continuing effort by suppliers to provide leisure beds that are more comfortable, have more options, for example, massage capabilities, more sophisticated controls, and are more affordable.
One recent development in adjustable beds is the development of a xe2x80x9cwallhuggerxe2x80x9d adjustable bed. The wallhugger adjustable bed maintains the user in the same position with respect to adjacent appliances and furniture as the head portion of the bed is moved between flat and elevated positions. To achieve that purpose, as the head section pivots upward, an upper bed frame portion translates toward the head end of the bed with respect to a stationary lower bed frame section.
Almost all adjustable beds utilize one or more massage motors which are controllable by a user to provide a massaging action while the user is in the bed. In one embodiment, a massage motor is rigidly connected to an underside of a rigid platform, for example, a head board or a foot board, that is hinged to a center board or platform. Further, the whole articulated platform normally supports a mattress base, for example, a foam pad approximately 4 inches thick, over which is placed beneath a mattress. Thus, any vibration applied to the underside of the head board must vibrate the whole head board; and further, the vibration is partially absorbed and attenuated by the soft materials in the mattress base and the mattress. The resulting or net vibration applied to a user lying on the mattress is often substantially less than is desired. In other designs, the massage motor is rigidly mounted to a resonator board that is inserted into a centrally located slit and cutout portion of the mattress base. The resonator board is then bonded to an interior surface within the slit in the mattress base, and the massage motor extends downward through the cutout in the mattress base and a contiguous cutout in the platform supporting the mattress base and the mattress. As with the former design, the vibrating action of the massage motor is substantially attenuated by the thick foam mattress base.
Thus, there is a need for an improved bed structure for more effectively transmitting massaging actions or vibrations from a massage motor to a user lying on the bed.
The present invention provides a bed having an improved massage capability, thereby increasing the satisfaction of the user with the bed. The bed of the present invention is especially useful when used with an adjustable bed in which multiple massage motors are used.
According to the principles of the present invention and in accordance with one embodiment, the bed of the present invention has a bed frame and a support section supported by the bed frame and adapted to support a user. The bed further has a resonator board nonrigidly mounted to an upper surface of the support section, and a massage motor mounted to the resonator board. This massage mounting structure greatly improves the transmission of vibrations created by the massage motor to a user.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the bed has a mattress base having a thickness of approximately one inch for covering the support section. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the resonator board is resiliently mounted to the upper side of the support section; and the massage motor is mounted to a lower side of the resonator board. Thus, the resonator board is mounted such that vibrations from the massage motor are transmitted to the user with a minimum of attenuation by the foam mattress base and the mattress.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein.


An input circuit for a tractor includes one or more switches having open and closed positions, based on operating characteristics of the tractor, and a power transistor drawing a threshold current through the switches during short intervals during which the switch states are sensed by a microcontroller.

Tractors, grass mowing machines, and utility vehicles may have electrical circuits that stop or interrupt power if an input switch is opened and certain conditions are met. These circuits may be used for safety purposes. For example, one such circuit may stop rotation of cutting blades in the absence of a seated operator.
These circuits typically use low cost, unsealed switches. As a result, water may enter the switch body during vehicle operation. Water entering the switch body may contain fertilizer, organic material, or other dirty contaminants. Empirical tests of switches having water in the switch bodies shows they typically exhibit less than 1000 ohms of resistance, depending on the impurities in the water.
In the past, these circuits have powered relays drawing about 100 mA. The relays have a pull in voltage of about 6 volts, and a drop out voltage of about 1 volt. This provides the relay good hysteresis for input state monitoring. For example, it takes 6 volts at 100 mA to turn on a seat interlock relay. Water in the seat input switch may not provide a false indication (i.e., the switch will not appear closed) unless the resistance drops below about 60 ohms.
More recently, microcontrollers are used instead of relays in these circuits. Several problems may be encountered, as described below.
First, water in the input switch may appear to a microcontroller as a valid switch closure input. This is because a microcontroller in such a circuit may have high impedance inputs, typically about 10K ohms or higher. A 150 ohm resistor placed across each input switch (in order to draw approximately 100 mA at 14.5 volts) must have a continuous rating of 1.5 Watts. However, it is preferable to use resistors rated at about 0.125 Watts.
Second, multiple inputs may continuously dissipate heat into the electronics enclosure, which can be detrimental. For example, mowing machines with multiple inputs that may dissipate high wattage (i.e., 20 Watts or more) inside the control enclosure. Due to the heat, component life may be shortened significantly.
Third, if battery voltage is low, a circuit with a microcontroller may sense the input switch as open when the switch is closed. For example, if battery voltage drops to about 5 volts during cold cranking of an engine, a relay may stay energized due to its 1 volt drop out. However, a microcontroller with an input that is voltage based to a 6 volt threshold may stop cranking the engine because it incorrectly senses the input switch is open. Setting the voltage threshold lower can alleviate this problem, but makes the input more sensitive to water in the switch.
Attempts have been made to address the problems described above. For example, an analog to digital converter on each input may be used to evaluate the voltage being returned from the input switch. This is not a preferred solution because it requires costly analog circuits and wiring. Alternatively, some tractors address the problem through use of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor on each input switch to draw higher currents when the switch is first closed, then reduce the current. This also is not an optimal solution, because positive temperature coefficient thermistors are expensive and do not address the problem of an input switch that is properly closed, then opened with water inside it to falsely maintain the circuit. Additionally, the ptc current may be used more as a "cleaning pulse" to remove oxides or corrosion from switch contacts going into high impedance inputs on the controller.
An improved input circuit is needed for tractors, mowing equipment and utility vehicles that will reject water in an open input switch. A low cost input circuit is needed that will improve the operation of circuits used to ensure safe vehicle operation.

Input circuit to reject water in switches


The device for simulating a rectified constant impedance load provide by the present invention is to test a power product and comprises an analog-digital converter, a digital signal processor, a digital-analog converter, and an active electrical load module in order to replacing the passive components of a traditional rectified passive load. method for simulating a rectified constant impedance load being applied to test a power product and comprising the steps of: (S1) replacing the plurality of passive components of the rectified constant impedance load with a digital control module and an active electrical load module; (S2) establishing a passive load model function in order to represent the application relationships of the plurality of the passive components; (S3) executing the operation of the passive load model function by the digital control module in order to gain a load current value, and transferring the load current value to an analog control signal via the digital control module; and (S4) controlling the active electrical load module via the analog control signal so as to draw currents from the power product.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a device for simulating a rectified constant impedance load and a method thereof, more particularly to a device that simulates a rectified constant impedance load via an active electrical load.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An AC power product, such as UPS, etc., is widely applied in our normal life. And the scope of such application comprises general information, communication, consumer electronics, transportations, industry, military, etc. The functions to the power products are to drive electrical components and maintain voltages so as to keep a whole system working well. Hence, the main factors to the design of a power device are to decrease cost and increase liability.
General AC power products are mostly for routine works, and sometimes are no-loaded. The load characteristic of the routine work equipment is RLC (resistor, inductor, capacitor) load. Therefore, the characteristics of such AC power products are tested by RLC load. And a designer must consider the application situations of RLC load while in the step of design, that is, the control circuit shall be focused for stability.
General rectified AC load can be simulated by a network consisted of passive components as resistor, inductor, capacitor, diode, etc. And the manufacturers directly use such components to form a load circuit, as shown in FIG. 1A, which illustrates a schematic view of a rectified constant impedance load circuit. The disadvantage of such circuit is the volume thereof will be huge while demanding larger power; and it is inconvenient to adjust resistor value, capacitance value or induction value.
With reference to FIG. 1A, which represents that using a rectified constant impedance load (RECTCZLOAD) to test the characteristics of the AC power product. The rectified constant impedance load 100 includes a bridge rectifier 102, a serial resistor Rs, a serial inductor Ls, a load capacitor C, and a load resistor RL. The bridge rectifier 102 is usually consisted of four diodes in order to adjust the input voltage of an AC power product 200 to be the format of whole wave. The load capacitor C and the load resistor RL are a parallel connection, and then the parallel connection is serially connected to the bridge rectifier 102, the serial resistor Rs and the inductor Ls in order to form a rectified constant impedance load network for testing the AC power product 200. While the AC power product 200 is connected to the network and an output voltage is produced, the output load current is then known; further, the variation of the voltage caused by the load network is known as well.
With reference to FIG. 1B, which illustrates a voltage/current variation chart of testing the rectified constant impedance load of FIG. 1A. The rectified constant impedance load has a characteristic of pull as described below. When the load applied to the DUT, due to the output impedance characteristics (generally inductive), the output voltage of the DUT will be distorted when the load current has a value of higher CF (>2.5), which represent the steepness of the load current. Higher is the CF, larger the distortion of the output voltage of the DUT will be.
As aforesaid, the rectified constant impedance load may need resistors, capacitors, inductors, bridge rectifiers, etc. Each component will also need some other different components. Especially the volumes of the serial resistors Rs and the load resistors RL are huge, thus the idea of using an electrical load means for simulation is then produced.
However, general AC electrical load only provides the functions with certain currents, certain power, etc. Such functions are set by a controller and without the consideration of the voltage variation of the tested object; thus, a designed load waveform is directly drawn. Due to the load control signal without referring to the voltage of the tested object, an instance response can not be made for the output voltage variation of the tested object. So, the real simulation for the load characteristic can not reach.
Therefore, how to figure out the disadvantages of prior arts is an important issue to the skilled people in the art.

Device for simulating rectified constant impedance load and method thereof


A method for producing ice having substantially no undesirable taste and odor characteristics is disclosed.

Gaseous chlorine dioxide in low concentrations (i.e. up to 1,000 ppm) has long been recognized as useful for the treatment of odors and microbes. Its use is particularly advantageous where microbes and/or organic odorants are sought to be controlled on and around foodstuffs, as chlorine dioxide functions without the formation of undesirable side products such as chloramines or chlorinated organic compounds that can be produced when elemental chlorine is utilized for the same or similar purposes. For example, if a low concentration of chlorine dioxide gas can be maintained in contact with fresh produce for several days during shipping from the farm to the local retailer, the rate of spoilage of the produce can be decreased. In addition, chlorine dioxide gas is also generally considered to be safe for human contact at the low concentrations that are effective for deodorization and most antimicrobial applications.
Chlorine dioxide gas can be toxic to humans at concentrations greater than 1,000 ppm and it can be explosive at concentrations above about 0.1 atmosphere. Therefore, chlorine dioxide gas is not manufactured and shipped under pressure like other industrial gases, and conventional methods of on-site manufacture require not only expensive generation equipment but also high levels of operator skill to avoid generating dangerously high concentrations. These problems have substantially limited the use of chlorine dioxide to large commercial applications, such as water treatment and poultry processing, where the consumption of chlorine dioxide is sufficiently large that it can justify the capital and operating costs of expensive equipment and skilled operators for on-site manufacture.
Commercially, chlorine dioxide is produced from a variety of aqueous solutions of chlorine-containing salts, for example see U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,875.
Attempts have also been made to produce chlorine dioxide using mixtures of solid reagents. Generally, the prior art has focused on three systems for chlorine dioxide production using solid reagents. One system employs a solid mixture of a metal chlorite and an acid in a liquid, aqueous environment. A second system combines a metal chlorite and an acid where chlorine dioxide gas is released under dry conditions. A third system employs the combination of a metal chlorite and a solid organic acid anhydride to generate a highly concentrated flow of chlorine dioxide which must be diluted with a constantly flowing stream of inert gas.
Each of these solid reagent systems is disadvantageous for any one or more of the following reasons:
a) upon mixing there is normally a sudden, highly concentrated stream of chlorine dioxide generated; PA1 b) the mixture of reactants produces chlorine dioxide gas under dry conditions thereby reducing the shelf life of the reactants; and PA1 c) an inert gas stream must be used to reduce the concentration of chlorine dioxide gas in the atmosphere. PA1 a) forming a mixture of at least one metal chlorite and at least one second material, a dry solid hydrophilic material capable of reacting with the metal chlorite to produce chlorine dioxide gas in the presence of water vapor but not in the substantial absence of liquid water or water vapor (hereinafter "Second Material"); and PA1 b) exposing said mixture to an atmosphere comprising water vapor to produce chlorine dioxide gas in a sustained concentration of from about 0.025 to 1,000 ppm.
For example: U.S. Pat. No. 2,022,262 discloses the use of chlorine dioxide in aqueous solution in a stain removing process wherein the chlorine dioxide is produced upon acidification of an aqueous solution of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal chlorite salts (i.e. chlorites) with oxalic acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,071,091 discloses that chlorous acid which is produced upon acidification of solutions of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal chlorite salts is an effective fungicide and bactericide. This patent discloses solid compositions of metal chlorites and solid acids that will produce chlorine dioxide when dissolved in water. However, the materials of the '091 patent are useful only in "wet" applications where liquid water is available and where contacting a material to be treated with chlorine dioxide dissolved in liquid water is acceptable.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,071,094 discloses deodorizing compositions in the form of dry briquettes comprising a dry mixture of a soluble chlorite, an acidifying agent, and a filler of a lower solubility so that disintegration of a briquette is inhibited in the presence of liquid water. Generation of chlorine dioxide begins as the briquette dissolves in water. Such materials are subject to the same use limitations as those of the '091 Patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,482,891 discloses a material comprising a solid organic acid anhydride and an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal chlorite salt which is stabilized by the addition of a desiccant material. The combined solid material is described as evolving chlorine dioxide on contact with water. Example 1 describes the production of chlorine dioxide by contacting a mixture of sodium chlorite, phthalic anhydride and sodium monoxide with water vapor. It is not clear from the example whether or not the solid mixture was already in contact with liquid water. The resultant exit gas in this example contains a high concentration of chlorine dioxide gas. Also, the organic acid anhydride is potentially explosive in combination with the chlorite salt, as well as being a relatively expensive constituent. Therefore, this material has not been commercially successful.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,515 discloses solid pulverulent compositions comprising solid carriers having impregnated thereon stabilized solutions of chlorine dioxide or chlorites. When the solution-impregnated compositions are contacted with solid acids they release chlorine dioxide gas. Such materials are sold commercially today under the trade names OSTOBON.RTM. and ABSCENT.RTM. (by International Dioxide Inc., Clark, N.J.), but their commercial acceptance has been limited because they either prematurely release small amounts of chloride dioxide through the packaging on store shelves, or they require relatively complicated mixing of two ingredients by the user at the point of application.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,482 discloses a long-acting biocidal composition comprising a chlorite and an organic acid such that the pH of the composition is <7. Such compositions release chlorine dioxide in the presence of liquid water. This patent also discloses methods for producing dry microcapsules of such compositions with water having polymer shells such that the resultant dry materials release chlorine dioxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,381 discloses dry compositions for the sustained controlled release of gaseous chlorine dioxide comprising a dry inert diluent, a chlorite salt, and a dry agent capable of reacting with a chlorite in a dry state to produce chlorine dioxide gas. Such materials have not achieved substantial commercial success because they begin to release chlorine dioxide gas immediately upon formulation and, therefore, they must be mixed and utilized over a short time period.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,609 discloses the incorporation of a chlorine dioxide generating compound into a polymer or oligomer film which is then coated onto a substrate. The chlorite constituent is dissolved in a hydrogen bonded phase containing a monomeric or polymeric amide or alcohol. The hydrogen bonded phase is then mixed with an incompatible apolar phase containing an acid anhydride. Chlorine dioxide gas is released by direct reaction of the acid anhydride with the chlorite anion across the phase boundary. However, the process described in the '609 Patent employs relatively expensive materials and the reaction is potentially explosive due to the proximity of the strongly oxidizing metal chlorite with the carbonaceous polymers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,405 discloses the generation of chlorine dioxide gas from mixed beds of zeolite crystals, where the first bed comprises a zeolite that has been impregnated with an aqueous solution of sodium chlorite and the second bed comprises a zeolite that has been impregnated with phosphoric, citric, or acetic acid. Chlorine dioxide gas is released when acid migrates from the second bed and contacts chlorite on the first bed. The first and second beds may be physically mixed together. The process disclosed in the '405 Patent requires expensive equipment and results in a product having a relatively short shelf-life.
It would therefore be a significant advance in the art of generating chlorine dioxide gas for commercial applications to have a method, composition and system in which the chlorine dioxide gas is generated under controlled conditions at low concentrations. It would be a further advance in the art to provide a method, composition and system in which the reactants do not generate chlorine dioxide gas in the absence of water but do provide a controlled sustained release of chlorine dioxide gas in the presence of water vapor. As a result, the composition of the present invention can be prepared in advance and stored under dry conditions without the premature release of chlorine dioxide gas. In this manner the need for skilled personnel to prepare the mixture on-site is avoided and shelf-life is enhanced.

Method and composition for preventing odors in ice


Highly self-tapping dental implant system with hybrid cone type connection and interlocking rails, which allows high insertion (or removal) torque and double parallel cone locking between the implant, prosthetic abutment and internal screw, even in its 3.0 mm diameter embodiment, and gives the whole system high primary and secondary stability, optimal watertightness thanks to the double cone sealing, as well as predictable long-term fixation of the dental prosthesis on the implant.

Currently, in the world of implantology, there is a tendency to shorten time by optimizing processes. Implants are placed immediately after the extraction of the dental piece, whether they are single pieces or complete arches, and at the same time patients demand the prosthesis supported on the implants that have just been placed (immediate loading).
This type of treatment has its advantages and disadvantages: On the one hand, if the load received by the bone through the implant does not cause a micro-movement of more than 150 microns, a higher quality union with the bone will be achieved, while at the same time the maturation of the soft tissues is a clear advantage with respect to the conventional protocol.
But if the implants are few, small, their design does not dissipate the mechanical stress well, or they move with the occlusal load, we will have serious problems.
As a rule, the literature says that immediate loading protocol should not be done on implants placed with a torque of less than 30 Ncm, since below that insertion torque figure primary stability is considered to be low.
In implantology, two different types of stability are considered:                Primary, a purely mechanical concept, and relating to the greater or lesser resistance to movement of a recently placed implant surrounded totally or partially by bone.        Secondary or definitive, which is obtained when the implant also has a biological union with the bone, approximately two months after implantation.
In this regard, there is a study by Dr. Paolo Trisi published in The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants 2011; 26: 837-849, entitled High versus Low Implant Insertion Torque: A Histologic, Histomorphometric, and Biomechanical Study in the Sheep Mandible. This is a comparative study of the same implants inserted into the jaws of sheep whose previous osteotomies varied in width or width.
In the narrow osteotomies, the torque applied when introducing the implant was an average of 110 Ncm, with peaks of 150 Ncm, while in the wide ones, the implants were introduced with an average torque of 30 Ncm, considered the ideal standard in the current state of the art. In it, primary and secondary stability is studied, as well as physiological and histomorphometric changes week by week, during the first six weeks.
The conclusions of this study are as follows:
"The results of the present study showed that a high implant insertion torque (up to 150 Ncm) in dense cortical bone, in a no-load protocol, does not induce bone necrosis or implant failure, but on the contrary, increases the primary and secondary stability of the implants, which is very relevant when immediate implant loading processes are performed.
Primary stability showed a marked reduction 7 days after implant placement, and one month later was necessary to achieve new stability from the neoformed bone (secondary)".
It is known that primary stability is lost due to the bone resorption of the cells immediately in contact with the implant, and at the same time, slowly but progressively, biological bonding is gained so that in the end the resulting stability is a mechanical-biological whole. The biological upward curve has been accelerated thanks to the microscopically textured surfaces that are capable of retaining the fibrin filaments and causing what is called contact osteogenesis, in which the first layer of new colonising bone cells is installed on the implant and from there they also proliferate in the opposite direction, towards the bone from which they originate.
However, this improvement path is limited, and it is difficult for the biological stability of the implant to be important before a period of six weeks, since we will always be obliged to wait for the biology, which we cannot change.
On the other hand, we can act in the area of primary mechanical stability by modifying the design of the implant. The idea is to achieve an implant that is inserted with high torque and that achieves levels of stability that are much higher than usual without damaging the surrounding bone.

Highly self-tapping dental implant system with hybrid connection and parallel double cone locking between prosthetic abutment, implant and infernal screw


An endoscope having an optical guide that is optically coupled to a first broadband light source and a second laser light source that emits light at a wavelength in a range of 350 nm to 420 nm. The endoscope has an image sensor at a distal end and collects a reflectance image including red, green and blue components with the image sensor in response to illumination by said broadband light source. The image sensor also collects an autofluorescence image having a blue component, a green component and a red component. A processor processes the fluorescence image by determining a ratio of the fluorescence image and the reflectance image to provide a processed fluorescence image.

The following relates to the development of a laser-induced fluorescence imaging endoscope for mapping cancerous or precancerous tissues in hollow organs. In initial clinical studies, on colon polyps, Ultraviolet (UV) light was used at 370 nm to excite visible fluorescence (400-700 nm), the spectral signatures of which enabled differentiating between normal and abnormal tissues. Previously endoscopic imaging has been achieved using an optics module mounted in one of the biopsy ports of a two-port standard (white light) colonoscope. The optics module employs a quartz optical fiber and associated optics to deliver the UV light to the tissue, and a coherent quartz fiber-optic bundle to transmit the resulting fluorescence image to the proximal side of the endoscope, where a filter removes the large background of reflected UV light and the fluorescence image is then captured by a high-gain CID detector array.
Endoscopically-collected autofluorescence images of colonic mucosa can be used as a screening tool for detecting pre-cursors to colorectal cancer (CRC). Fluorescence has been used to distinguish between normal mucosa and adenomas. In particular, spectra measured with single point contact probes with the use of several different excitation wavelengths.
Fluorescence spectra have been obtained through optical fiber probes with several excitation wavelengths. An in vitro study performed a search over a wide range of excitation wavelengths, and concluded that 370 nm is optimal for distinguishing between normal mucosa and adenoma. Both in vitro and in vivo studies using adenomatous polyps as a model for dysplasia have shown that with this wavelength dysplasia has less peak intensity at 460 nm and may have increased fluorescence at 680 nm compared with normal colonic mucosa. Furthermore, the morphologic basis for these spectral differences has been studied by fluorescence microscopy. The decreased fluorescence intensity in polyps was attributed to its raised architecture, increased vasculature, and reduced collagen in the lamina propria. The red enhancements arise from increased fluorescence of the crypt cells, which may be caused by higher levels of porphyrin.


A time of flight (TOF) positron emission tomography (PET) image (38) is generated from TOF PET imaging data (10) acquired of a subject using a TOF PET imaging data acquisition device (6). Iterative image reconstruction (30) of the TOF PET imaging data is performed with TOF localization of counts along respective lines of response (LORs) to iteratively update a reconstructed image (32). Values for at least one regularization or filtering parameter are assigned to the TOF PET imaging data or to voxels of the reconstructed image based on an estimated TOF localization resolution for the TOF PET imaging data or voxels. Regularization (34) or filtering (36) of the reconstructed image is performed using the assigned values for the at least one regularization or filtering parameter. In some embodiments, the varying TOF localization resolution for the TOF PET imaging data or voxels is estimated based on related acquisition characteristics such as count rates or operating temperature of the detectors.

In positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, a positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical is administered to a subject. Each positron-electron annihilation event produces two oppositely directed 511 keV gamma rays, which are detected as coming from a single annihilation event using coincidence detection. Particularly, the gamma ray detections are filtered to retain only those at 511 keV (within some energy window) and the 511 keV detection events are filtered using a time window to identify 511 keV pairs detected substantially simultaneously each such coincident pair is then assumed to be associated with a single annihilation event, which is located somewhere along a line of response (LOR) connecting the two detection events. In more advance reconstruction algorithms, random coincidences due to scattering or the like are corrected statistically.
In actuality, the two 511 keV detections produced by a true positron-electron annihilation event are usually not precisely simultaneous. A small finite time difference is caused by different time-of-flight (TOF) intervals for the two gamma rays to travel from the common starting point at the annihilation event to their respective detectors. Unless the annihilation event is located precisely equidistant from the two detectors, there will be a finite time difference between the two 511 keV detections due to one gamma ray having a shorter time-of-flight than the other. Conventionally, this is addressed by use of a finite coincidence detection time window, and/or is alleviated inherently due to the radiation detectors having insufficient temporal resolution to detect the small TOF time difference.
In time-of-flight (TOF) PET, the radiation detectors have sub-picosecond temporal resolution and are capable of measuring the TOF difference. In conventional PET each count along a LOR (that is, each coincident 511 keV detection pair along the LOR) merely localizes the annihilation event to having occurred somewhere along the LOR. By contrast, in TOF PET the time-of-flight information provides additional localization of each count along the LOR. The TOF information can be envisioned as a Gaussian or other peaked probability distribution along the LOR, with the Gaussian peak at a location defined by the time difference and the Gaussian width corresponding to the temporal resolution of the detectors (converted to a positional resolution using the known speed of light). In iterative TOF PET reconstruction, the TOF localization is employed to provide improved reconstructed image resolution and improved overall image quality. Some known iterative TOF PET reconstruction algorithms employ ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) or Maximum Likelihood Estimation Method (MLEM) to compare and optimize the (projected) reconstructed image with the projection data including TOF localization information.
The following discloses new and improved systems and methods.

Time-of-flight resolution-adaptive image regularization and filtering in positron emission tomography


A light emitting device, including a first electrode; a hole transport area on the first electrode; a first light emitting layer on the hole transport area, the first light emitting layer emitting a first color, and having a first thickness; a second light emitting layer adjacent to one side of the first light emitting layer, the second light emitting layer emitting a second color, and having a second thickness; a first shadow layer on the first light emitting layer, the first shadow layer including a same material as the second light emitting layer, and first shadow layer having a thickness corresponding to about 1% of the second thickness; an electron transport area on the first light emitting layer, the second light emitting layer, and the first shadow layer; and a second electrode on the hole transport area.

1. Field
The present disclosure herein relates to a light emitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A light emitting device may be composed of a light emitting layer inserted between a pair of opposite electrodes. The light emitting device may use a phenomenon that, when an electric field is applied between both electrodes, electrons are injected from a second electrode and holes are injected from a first electrode, and the electrons and the holes recombine in the light emitting layer to emit light by virtue of energy generated while a recombination energy level returns from a conduction band to a valence band.