A curable particulate silicone composition is disclosed. The composition comprises: (A) hot-melt silicone fine particles having a specific reactive functional group; (B) an inorganic filler; and (C) a curing agent. The content of component (B) is in the range of from 87 to 95 vol. % of the total composition. The curable particulate silicone composition provides a cured product having an average linear expansion coefficient of not greater than 15 ppm/° C. in a range of from 25° C. to 200° C. The curable particulate silicone composition provides a cured product having a very low average linear expansion coefficient over a wide temperature range when cured and is particularly suitable for overmold molding and the like.

Curable silicone compositions are utilized in a wide range of industrial fields because they are cured to form cured products having excellent heat resistance, cold resistance, electrical insulation, weather resistance, water repellency, and transparency. The cured product of such a curable silicone composition is also suitable as a sealant for optical materials and semiconductor devices because it is hardly discolored as compared with other organic materials, and physical properties are less deteriorated.
The present applicant has proposed, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a so-called hot melt curable particulate silicone composition and a reactive silicone composition. These hot-melt silicone compositions are easy to handle for handling workability, particularly used for overmold molding, etc. On the other hand, cured products obtained by curing these silicone compositions provide a large average linear expansion coefficient especially at a temperature of from room temperature to a high temperature of about 150° C., and the hardness and toughness thereof are insufficient in some cases. Furthermore, since the cured products obtained by curing these silicone compositions change the storage modulus significantly at a high temperature of particularly about 250° C., further improvements in physical properties have been desired for application to semiconductor applications, especially power semiconductor applications, which are expected to operate at high temperatures.
On the other hand, the present applicant has proposed a liquid (pasty) curable silicone composition having an average linear expansion coefficient (average linear expansion coefficient) of 200 ppm/° C. or less at 25° C. to 200° C. However, these liquid or pasty curable silicone compositions are excellent in physical properties such as average linear expansion coefficient, but since they are liquid, it is difficult to use for molding by overmolding, and warp or breakage problems may occur due to insufficient mechanical strength of the cured product. Furthermore, in recent overmolding applications, when a lower average linear expansion coefficient is required, only a composition with an average linear expansion coefficient of 20 ppm/° C. or higher has been disclosed or realized as a silicone composition that has not been subjected to organic modification (epoxy group modification, isocyanuric group modification, or the like) with conventional technology, and a hot meltable curable silicone composition that provides a cured product with an average linear expansion coefficient of 15 ppm/° C. or lower has been unknown.

Curable granular silicone composition, semiconductor member comprising same, and forming method thereof


A child carrier includes a frame, wheels disposed at the lower portion of the frame, a hand-pushed bar joined to the frame, a seat attachable to the frame by a fore swing arm and a rear swing arm. The fore swing arm and the rear swing arm are hinged respectively to the front and rear of the frame and are capable of swinging the seat. The child carrier further includes a switching device that permits a caregiver to adjust the distance between the lower ends of the fore and rear swing arms so that the seat can swing in a horizontal gliding motion or a pendulum type rocking motion. The carrier can also be used as a common hand-pushed carriage when the seat is fixed. The child carrier further includes an anti-swing latch capable of coupling the frame to the fore swing arm to prevent the seat from moving relative to the frame. The seat is adjustable to provide a forward or rearward facing stroller or carriage seat and is removable from the frame to provide a bassinet. The seat includes a seat back, a seat bottom, a foot rest, and an extendible front bar that may be positioned in different positions relative to each other so that the child carrier may be configured in a carriage position or stroller position. The frame is collapsible and movable between an unfolded use position and a folded storage position.

Strollers and carriages are used by caregivers to transport infants and young children from one place to another. Typically, carriages include flat mattress-like surfaces for supporting infants while strollers include chair-like seats for supporting toddlers. A stroller or carriage typically includes a frame having a push handle, wheels mounted on the frame, and a child-receiving mattress or seat mounted on the frame.
Strollers and carriages are well known in the art. See, for examples of strollers, Chinese Patent No. 93220881.9 to Yu; U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,523,567 to Grant; 3,871,701 to Gesslein; 4,733,882 to Kassai; 5,257,799 to Cone et al.; 4,544,178 to Al-Sheikh et al.; and 4,280,716 to Vonsbaek et al.
Grant (U.S. Pat. No. 2,523,567) describes a baby carriage including an inner swinging basket having means for transmitting movement of a crank which is movably connected to the rear wheel for swinging or rocking the basket. Yu (Chinese Patent No. 93220881.9) describes a baby carriage including a swinging seat driven by an electric motor.
In Chinese Utility Model Application 92215144.X, published Oct. 14, 1992, an arc-shaped or curved mounting is provided at the lower portion of the baby carriage frame to add a cradle function to the baby carriage. When the carriage is to be used as a cradle, the wheels are folded upward to make the arc-shaped or curved mounting land on the ground to rock the carriage. When the carriage is to be used as a hand-pushed baby carriage, the wheels are lowered and locked so that the curved mounting is in a suspended state. However, due to the presence of a pair of curved mountings, complicated manufacturing processes are involved in the making of this type of baby carriage with a cradle function, resulting in an increased manufacturing cost. Moreover, it is inconvenient to use this type of baby carriage because the changeover from a hand-pushed carriage to a rocking carriage requires raising or lowering the wheels.
There are many examples of child carriers and seats which can be folded from their use positions to their storage positions. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,257,799 to Cone et al.; 4,544,178 to Al-Sheikh et al.; and 4,280,716 to Vonsbaek et al.


A gas feed pipe connecting screw for a continuous casting nozzle which is mounted to the continuous casting nozzle formed with an axially extending ring-shaped slit concentric with a nozzle bore. The screw connects the nozzle to a gas feed pipe for blowing a gas into the slit. The screw includes a screw body having a gas feed hole formed through its central portion, a flange fitted into a mounting hole formed in a side wall of the continuous casting nozzle, a male thread engaging a first female thread formed in the mounting hole, and a second female thread formed in the gas feed hole for connection of the gas feed pipe. The flange has a detent corner engaging refractory mortar filling the mounting hole.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a gas feed pipe connecting screw (hereinafter referred to as "connecting screw") mounted to a continuous casting nozzle (hereinafter referred to as "nozzle") formed with an axially extending ring-shaped slit substantially concentric with a nozzle bore for connecting to the nozzle a gas feed pipe blowing a gas into the slit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A nozzle used in continuous casting is formed with an axially extending ring-shaped slit substantially concentric with a nozzle bore in order that inclusion adherent to an inner wall of the nozzle during continuous casting may be eliminated. An inert gas such as argon gas is blown into the slit. A gas feed pipe feeding the inert gas is connected to a connecting screw mounted on a sidewall of the nozzle. JP-2001-219252-A discloses such a connecting screw. A female thread is formed so as to be continuous to a mounting hole of the nozzle side wall. A male thread adapted to be into mesh engagement with the female thread has three or more spot-welded portions w projecting from an outer circumference thereof. The mounting hole is filled with mortar y. The spot-welded portions are caused to engage the mortar y, whereby detent is provided as shown in FIG. 4.
However, each spot-welded portion has a lower detent strength than an integrally formed product. Moreover, a constant detent strength is difficult to obtain by achieving a uniform welding strength of each spot-welded portion, whereupon the detent strength differs from one product to another. As a result, the spot-welded portions would be broken due to high temperature, vibration or the like, so that the connecting screw would fall off from the nozzle. Additionally, a nut having a detent structure is proposed. However, the nut cannot be manufactured readily and the cost of the nut is increased since the nut has a complicated shape.

Gas feed pipe connecting screw for continuous casting nozzle


A vehicle control apparatus includes a steering torque sensor (1) for sensing a steering torque, a motor (3) for generating a steering assisting force, a CPU (22) for determining a motor drive direction based on at least the steering force and a motor drive direction restricting circuit (25) for restricting the drive direction of the motor (3) determined by the CPU (22) based on a steering force determination level as a motor drive direction determination criterion and the steering force, and the steering force determination level is changeable. With this arrangement, there is provided the vehicle control apparatus with safety and reliability by which the motor can be controlled with redundancy, the steering force determination level does not require such accuracy as to use pinpoint accuracy and further even if an abnormal state is caused in a motor output when a steering wheel is released from a hand and a steering torque exceeding the steering force determination level is generated, the steering force determination level is instantly changed to thereby restrict a motor drive direction so that the self-turn of the steering wheel is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle control apparatus having a motor drive direction restricting means for restricting a motor drive direction, and more specifically, to an electrically-driven power steering control apparatus for assisting and urging steering operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a method of preventing the rotation of a motor in an unexpected direction caused by the abnormal state of a CPU is proposed by Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-51475 and the like filed by the inventors. This method is realized by an electrically-driven power steering apparatus for assisting and urging steering operation comprising a microcomputer for outputting a motor rightward drive signal and leftward drive signal based on the output from a steering torque sensor, a motor drive direction determination circuit for outputting a rightward drive signal and leftward control signal from the output of a steering torque sensor provided with a motor control circuit unit, and an AND circuit for outputting, when the output from the microcomputer coincides with the output from the motor drive discrimination circuit, a signal for driving a motor in the direction of the coincidence.
FIG. 29 is a circuit diagram showing a motor drive direction discrimination circuit (torque direction discrimination circuit) in the conventional electrically-driven power steering control apparatus disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-51475.
In the drawing, a torque signal is input to the inverting input terminal of a comparator CMP1 and the non-inverting input terminal of a comparator CMP2. Further, a first fixed reference voltage E1 and a second fixed reference voltage E2 which are obtained by dividing a power supply voltage Vt by resistors R1, R2 and R3 are input to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator CMP1 and the inverting input terminal of the comparator CMP2, respectively.
Next, the operation of the circuit will be described.
The comparator CMP1 compares the torque signal t with the reference voltage E1 and when t>E1, the output Ex1 of the comparator CMP1 is at an L level. Whereas, when t<E1, the output Ex1 is at an H level.
Likewise, the comparator CMP2 compares the torque signal t with the reference voltage E2, and when t>E2, the output Ey1 of the comparator CMP2 is at the H level. Whereas, when t<E2, the output Ey1 is at the L level.
When the output Ex1 of the comparator CMP1 is at the H level, a rightward output is prohibited. Likewise, when the output Ey1 of the comparator CMP2 is at the H level, a leftward output is prohibited.
FIG. 30 is a view explaining a motor output and the operation of the torque direction discrimination circuit.
In the figure, a relationship T4<T1<T0<T2<T3 is established in torques from T0 to T4. The torque signal t<T0 results in a leftward torque, the torque signal t>T0 results in a rightward torque and the torque signal t=T0 results in neutral. When the torque signal t is between T2 and T3 or between T4 and T1, a value proportional to the torque signal t is determined as the motor output, when the torque signal t is equal to or less than T4 or larger than T3, the motor output is fixed to the maximum value Imax of a motor output current and when the torque signal t is between T1 and T2, the motor output becomes zero. Further, the relationship between torque determination reference values E1.sub.T and E2.sub.T corresponding to the reference voltages E1 and E2 of the torque direction discrimination circuit, respectively and the torque signals T1 and T2 are set to T1<E2.sub.T <E1.sub.T <T2. With this arrangement, when a torque is equal to or less than the reference value E1.sub.T, motor rightward drive is prohibited and when a torque is larger than the reference value E2.sub.T, motor leftward drive is prohibited. Further, when a torque is between the reference value E1.sub.T and E2.sub.T, both of rightward and leftward motor drive are prohibited.
The substitution of the non-inverting input terminals for the inverting input terminals of the comparators CMP1 and CMP2 of the torque direction discrimination circuit results in a torque direction discrimination circuit or a motor drive direction discrimination circuit as shown in FIG. 31.
In the drawing, the torque signal t is input to the non-inverting input terminal of a comparator CMP3 and the inverting input terminal of a comparator CMP4. Further, a third fixed reference voltage E3 and a fourth fixed reference voltage E4 which are obtained by diving the power supply voltage Vt by the resistors R1, R2 and R3 are input to the inverting input terminal of the comparator CMP3 and the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator CMP4, respectively.
Next, the operation of the circuit will be described.
The comparator CMP3 compares the torque signal t with the reference voltage E3 and when t>E3, the output Ex2 of the comparator CMP3 is at an H level. Whereas, when t<E3, the output Ex2 is at an L level. Likewise, the comparator CMP4 compares the torque signal t with the reference voltage E4 and when t>E4, the output Ey2 of the comparator CMP4 is at the L level. Whereas, when t<E4, the output Ey2 is at the H level.
When the output EX2 of the comparator CMP3 is at the L level, a leftward output is permitted. Likewise, when the output Ey2 of the comparator CMP4 is at the L level, a rightward output is permitted.
FIG. 32 is a view explaining a motor output and the operation of the torque direction discrimination circuit.
In the drawing, a relationship T4<T1<T0<T2<T3 is established in torques from T0 to T4. The torque signal t<T0 results in a leftward torque, the torque signal t>T0 results in a rightward torque and the torque signal t=T0 results in neutral. When the torque signal t is between T2 and T3 or between T4 and T1, a value proportional to the torque signal t is determined as the motor output, when the torque signal t is equal to or less than T4 or larger than T3, the motor output is fixed to the maximum value Imax of a motor output current and when the torque signal t is between T1 and T2, the motor output becomes zero. Further, the relationship between torque determination reference values E3.sub.T and E4.sub.T corresponding to the reference voltages E3 and E4 of the torque direction discrimination circuit, respectively and the torque signals T1 and T2 is set to E4.sub.T <T1<T2<E3.sub.T. With this arrangement, when a torque is equal to or less than E3.sub.T, motor leftward drive is permitted and when a torque is larger than E4.sub.T, motor rightward drive is permitted. Further, when a torque is between the reference value E3.sub.T and E4.sub.T, both of rightward and leftward motor drive are permitted.
Since the conventional apparatus is arranged as described above, it has the following problem.
That is, the torque determination reference values E1.sub.T to E4.sub.T are fixed in the conventional apparatus. As a result, when the motor drive direction determination level (torque determination reference value) of a steering torque as the torque signal t is represented by E1.sub.T, E2.sub.T (E2.sub.T <E1.sub.T), motor drive direction restricting means including the torque direction discrimination circuit prohibits motor rightward drive when the steering torque t satisfies t<E2.sub.T and prohibits motor leftward drive when the steering torque satisfies E1.sub.T <t. Further, when the steering torque t satisfies E2.sub.T .ltoreq.t.ltoreq.E1.sub.T, there are two methods of permitting motor drive (hereinafter, referred to as neutral permission) and prohibiting motor drive (hereinafter, referred to as neutral prohibition). The neutral permission has characteristics shown in FIG. 32 and the neutral prohibition has characteristics shown in FIG. 30.
In the neutral prohibition, even if a steering wheel is released from a hand in an abnormal motor output (steering torque is neutral), since motor drive is prohibited, inconvenience such as the self-turn (unintentional rotation) of the steering wheel and the like is not caused and safety is secured. However, when a steering torque is within the neutral determination region (for example, when the steering wheel is released), since the motor drive direction restricting means prohibits motor drive, the motor cannot be controlled. That is, since there is a problem that a motor control cannot be executed in the neutral prohibition, the motor cannot be controlled with redundancy.
Further, the motor drive direction determination levels E1.sub.T, E2.sub.T must be set to T.sub.1 <E2.sub.T <E1.sub.T <T2 From FIG. 30. This is because that when the motor drive direction determination levels E1.sub.T, E2.sub.T are set to E2.sub.T <T1<T<E1.sub.T, since a motor output is prohibited by the motor drive direction restricting means between E2.sub.T and T1 and between T2 and E1.sub.T, there is a problem that a motor current causes hunting. To cope with this problem, when the motor drive direction determination level is composed of an H/W, resistors and the like require pinpoint accuracy, and thus the cost of the H/W composed of the resistors and the like of pinpoint accuracy is increased.
Furthermore, since motor drive is prohibited when a steering torque is within the neutral determination region, there is a lack of an assisting force when the motor is driven so that when the steering wheel states to be cut, it is felt heavy. That is, the motor drive prohibition adversely affects the feeling in steering operation when a torque is neutral.
In addition, in the neutral permission, even if a steering torque is within the neutral determination region (between T1 and T2), a motor can be driven and thus the motor control can be executed with redundancy. However, since the motor can be driven even if a steering torque is within the neutral determination region, when the steering wheel is released from a hand in an abnormal motor output, there is possibility that the steering wheel turns by itself. To avoid the occurrence of a steering wheel self-turn mode and the like, the neutral permission region is conventionally set to a narrow region, wherein a problem is that the neutral permission region cannot be set in a wide range.
An object of the present invention made to overcome the above problems is to provide a vehicle control apparatus having both of the redundancy of a motor control as an advantage of neutral permission and the safety as an advantage of neutral prohibition by changing a steering force determination level and further capable of increasing the range of a neutral permission region and driving a motor even in a neutral prohibition region.


A set of telecommunications test plugs. A first test plug has a first test plug printed circuit board having circuit traces for establishing first predefined near end crosstalk between at least two of pairs of wires. The first predefined near end crosstalk is at a first level of a first defined range. A second telecommunications plug has a second printed circuit board having circuit traces for establishing a second predetermined level of near-end crosstalk. The circuit traces are positioned to establish second predefined near end crosstalk between at least two of pairs of wires. The second predefined near end crosstalk is at a second level of a second defined range.

Improvements in telecommunications systems have resulted in the ability to transmit voice and/or data signals along transmission lines at increasingly higher frequencies. Several industry standards that specify multiple performance levels of twisted-pair cabling components have been established. The primary references, considered by many to be the international benchmarks for commercially based telecommunications components and installations, are standards ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A (/568) Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard and 150/IEC 11801 (/11801), generic cabling for customer premises. The standards provide for differing levels of performance, and have been assigned to differing categories. For example, Category 3, 4 and 5 cable and connecting hardware are specified in both /568 and /11801, as well as other national and regional specifications. In these specifications, transmission requirements for Category 3 components are specified up to 16 MHZ. Transmission requirements for Category 4 components are specified up to 20 MHZ. Transmission requirements for Category 5 components are specified up to 100 MHZ. Category 5e standards have been adopted and Category 6 standards will be published in the new future.
The above referenced transmission requirements specify limits on near-end crosstalk (NEXT). Under TIA 568A, the contacts in a telecommunications plug are numbered sequentially 1-8 and are arranged in pairs represented by contacts 1-2, 3-6, 4-5 and 7-8. The TIA standards establish limits on pair-to-pair crosstalk for both category 5e and category 6.
Manufacturers of telecommunications connectors such as plugs and outlets are faced with the task of testing telecommunications connectors to meet standards such as category 5e and category 6. For example, outlets must be tested with plugs having various NEXT levels so that performance of the outlet is confirmed across the spectrum of category 5e and category 6 components. Unfortunately, providing test plugs with NEXT values across the category 5e and category 6 spectrum currently requires numerous test plugs and is time consuming.
Test plugs are currently terminated using a number of wires that enter a plug housing and are terminated at insulation displacement contacts (IDCs). The wires are originally arranged in twisted pairs, untwisted and routed into the plug. The untwisting causes variability between test plugs and is difficult to control. The particular arrangement of the wires after untwisting creates difference in NEXT values between pairs and thus makes it difficult and time consuming to produce test plugs having specific NEXT values between pairs. Given these difficulties, as many as 18 different test plugs may be needed to establish the needed NEXT values between pairs for testing both category 5e and category 6.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Telecommunications test plugs having tuned near end crosstalk


A method and apparatus for inspection of an object. The apparatus comprises an array of light sources and a support structure. The array of light sources is configured to generate beams of coherent light with a substantially uniform distribution of the beams of coherent light in an area on a surface of an object in the area that results in a number of speckle patterns in light reflected from the surface of the object in the area in response to the beams of coherent light in the area. The support structure is associated with the array of light sources.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to inspecting objects and, in particular, to inspecting objects using interferometry systems. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to inspecting objects using laser interferometry inspection systems.
2. Background
Aircraft are being designed and manufactured with greater and greater percentages of composite materials. Composite materials are used in aircraft to decrease the weight of the aircraft. This decreased weight improves performance features such as payload capacity and fuel efficiency. Further, composite materials provide longer service life for various components in an aircraft.
Composite materials may be tough, light-weight materials created by combining two or more functional components. For example, a composite material may include reinforcing fibers bound in a polymer resin matrix. The fibers may be unidirectional or may take the form of a woven cloth or fabric. The fibers and resins may be arranged and cured to form a composite structure.
Using composite materials to create aerospace composite structures may allow for portions of an aircraft to be manufactured in larger pieces or sections. For example, a fuselage in an aircraft may be created in cylindrical sections to form the fuselage of the aircraft. Other examples include, without limitation, wing sections joined to form a wing or stabilizer sections joined to form a stabilizer.
In manufacturing composite structures, layers of composite material may be laid up on a tool. The layers of composite material may be comprised of fibers in sheets. These sheets may take the form of, for example, without limitation, fabrics, tape, tows, or some other suitable configuration for the sheets. In some cases, resin may be infused or pre-impregnated into the sheets. These types of sheets are commonly referred to as prepreg.
The different layers of prepreg may be laid up in different orientations and different numbers of layers may be used depending on the desired thickness of the composite structure being manufactured. These layers may be laid up by hand or using automated lamination equipment such as a tape laminating machine or a fiber placement system.
After the different layers of composite material have been laid up on the tool, the layers of composite material may be consolidated and cured upon exposure to temperature and pressure, thus forming the final composite structure. Thereafter, the composite structure may be inspected to determine whether inconsistencies are present.
This inspection may be performed using ultrasound testing, eddy current testing, x-ray testing, visual inspections, and other suitable types of testing. In particular, this type of testing results in nondestructive inspection of the object.
This testing may be performed to identify various inconsistencies in the composite structure. For example, without limitation, inconsistencies may include delamination, voids, undesired levels of porosity, foreign object debris, and other types of inconsistencies.
If an inconsistency is identified, the composite structure may be reworked. In some cases, the inconsistency may result in the composite structure being discarded, thus requiring a new composite structure to be manufactured.
One type of nondestructive inspection system is a speckle shearing interferometry inspection system. A speckle shearing interferometry inspection system may be called a shearographic inspection system and may be used to perform inspections for inconsistencies in a composite structure.
This type of inspection system employs shearography, which is an optical inspection technique that measures out of plane displacement in the surface of the composite structure. For example, air entrapped in a disbonded portion of a composite structure may cause a change in the surface of the composite structure. This out of plane displacement may be used to determine the mechanical strain of the composite structure under test.
A shearographic inspection system is configured to detect these types of changes and uses a laser unit as a light source to generate coherent light in the form of a laser beam. The laser beam illuminates the surface of the composite structure. The light from the laser beam may result in a pattern of light being reflected from the surface of the composite structure. This pattern of light is caused by different features on the surface of the composite structure.
Movement is generated in the surface of the composite structure. When an inconsistency is present in the layers of composite material under the surface of the composite structure, movement of the surface of the composite structure may not be uniform. As a result, an identifiable change in the pattern of light reflected from the surface of the composite structure may be detected.
Images of the patterns of light may be generated. The images of these patterns of light may be analyzed to determine whether an inconsistency is present in the composite structure.
Although a shearographic inspection system is useful in identifying inconsistencies in a composite structure, currently available shearographic inspection systems may be more limited in application than desired. The size and complexity of shearographic inspection systems may limit the situations in which this type of inspection system may be used.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus that takes into account at least some of the issues discussed above, as well as other possible issues.

Shearographic inspection system using a laser matrix


A process for producing a float bath bottom refractory brick which can suppress a reaction with Na2O from glass at the surface of the refractory brick and thereby prevent flaking phenomena, which process comprises adding a potassium compound to a clayey material comprising from 30 to 45 mass % of Al2O3 and from 50 to 65 mass % of SiO2 and having a Na2O content of at most 1 mass %, so that the K2O content in the float bath bottom refractory brick to be produced would be from 2 to 4 mass %; and a refractory brick useful for a float bath bottom for production of plate glass by a float process.

In production of plate glass by float process, a float bath on which molten glass is discharged from a glass melting furnace and formed into a ribbon, comprises a metal casing lined with a refractory brick, and is filled with molten tin. Glass molten in the melting furnace is discharged on the surface of the tin bath, flows on the tin bath and advances to be formed into smooth plate glass. As usual plate glass (soda lime glass) for buildings, automobiles, etc., glass containing about 15 mass % of Na2O is used. Such glass is in contact with the molten tin at its bottom surface, and at the interface, Na2O in the glass diffuses into the tin bath. As a bottom refractory brick for such a float bath, Chamotte brick containing Al2O3 and SiO2 as the main components and having a mineral phase mainly comprising Mullite and Cristobalite is employed in view of characteristics, usefulness, cost, etc.
Na2O contained in the glass infiltrates from the surface of the float bath bottom refractory brick into its inside via the tin bath to form Nepheline, thereby to form a metamorphic phase different from the matrix of the refractory brick. The metamorphic phase increases in thickness with time in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the tin bath. Since Nepheline has a thermal expansion coefficient about three times as high as that of Mullite, peeling of the metamorphic phase from the matrix due to volume expansion of the metamorphic phase or due to thermal stress accompanying the change in temperature conditions of the float bath, i.e. so called flaking phenomena occur. The flakes, which have a specific gravity smaller than that of the molten tin, float up in the tin bath and scar the glass or generate foreign matters, and they can be a major cause of inhibiting smooth production of plate glass.
Heretofore, as a float bath bottom refractory brick which inhibits such flaking phenomena, one having a total alkali metal content up to 3% to a clay portion (Patent Document 1) and one employing a silicate material containing an alkali oxide having a particle diameter of at most 0.09 mm in an amount of from 1 to 3 mass % (Patent Document 2) have been disclosed. However, specifically, they contain two alkali oxides i.e. from 0.1 to 0.4% of Na2O and from 0.8 to 1.2% of K2O, and they will not contain 2% or more of K2O. Further, one employing a material having a particle diameter of at most 90 μm, which has a total content of Na2O and K2O of at most 1 mass % (Patent Document 3) and the like have been known. However, no document discloses effects of K2O as disclosed in the present invention.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-6-122543
Patent Document 2: JP-A-6-340471
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2003-277134

Float bath bottom refractory brick and process for its production


A flow sensor includes a fluid chamber configured to receive a fluid. A diaphragm assembly is configured to be displaced whenever the fluid within the fluid chamber is displaced. A transducer assembly is configured to monitor the displacement of the diaphragm assembly and generate a signal based, at least in part, upon the quantity of fluid displaced within the fluid chamber.

Processing systems may combine one or more ingredients to form a product. Unfortunately, such systems are often static in configuration and are only capable of generating a comparatively limited number of products. While such systems may be capable of being reconfigured to generate other products, such reconfiguration may require extensive changes to mechanical/electrical/software systems.
For example, in order to make a different product, new components may need to be added, such as e.g., new valves, lines, manifolds, and software subroutines. Such extensive modifications may be required due to existing devices/processes within the processing system being non-reconfigurable and having a single dedicated use, thus requiring that additional components be added to accomplish new tasks.


The present invention relates to novel heterocyclic compounds, their analogs, their tautomers, their regioisomers, their stereoisomers, their enantiomers, their diastereomers, their polymorphs, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, their appropriate N-oxides, their pharmaceutically acceptable solvates and their pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The present invention more particularly relates to novel Phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitors of the Formula (1), their analogs, tautomers, enantiomers, diasteromers, regioisomers, stereoisomers, polymorphs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, appropriate N-oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them.

Airway inflammation characterizes a number of severe lung diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Events leading to airway obstruction include edema of airway walls, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lung, production of various inflammatory mediators and increased mucous production. The airways of asthmatic patients are infiltrated by inflammatory leukocytes, of which the eosinophil is the most prominent component. The magnitude of asthmatic reactions is correlated with the number of eosinophils present in lungs.
The accumulation of eosinophils is found dramatically in the lungs of asthmatic patients although there are very few in the lungs of a normal individual. They are capable of lysing and activating cells and destroying tissues. When activated, they synthesize and release inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-3, TNF-α and inflammatory mediators such as PAF, LTD4 and related oxygen species that can produce edema and broncho-constriction. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) was also known to be involved in the pathogenesis of a number of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Consequently, manipulation of the cytokine signaling or biosynthetic pathways associated with these proteins may provide therapeutic benefit in those disease states. It has been well demonstrated that TNF-α production in pro-inflammatory cells becomes attenuated by an elevation of intracellular cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP). This second messenger is regulated by the phosphodiesterase (PDE) family of enzymes. The phosphodiesterase enzymes play an integral role in cell signaling mechanisms by hydrolyzing cAMP and cGP to their inactive 5′ forms. Inhibition of PDE enzymes thus results in an elevation of cAMP and/or cGP levels and alters intracellular responses to extra cellular signals by affecting the processes mediated by cyclic nucleotides. Since eosinophilis are believed to be a critical proinflammatory target for asthma, identification of the expression of the PDE 4 gene family in eosinophils led to PDE 4 as potential therapeutic target for asthma [Rogers, D. F., Giembycz, M. A., Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 19, 160–164(1998); Barnes, P. J., Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 19, 415–423 (1998) herein incorporated by reference in their entirety].
The mammalian cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are classified into ten families on the basis of their amino acid sequences and/or DNA sequence, substrate specificity and sensitivity to pharmacological agents [Soderling, S. H., Bayuga, S. J., and Beavo, J. A., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 96,7071–7076 (1999); Fujishige, K, Kotera, J., Michibata, H., Yuasa, K., Takebayashi, Si, Okamura, K. and Omori, K., J. Biol. Chem., 274, 18438–18445 (1999) herein incorporated by reference in their entirety]. Many cell types express more than one PDE and distribution of isoenzymes between the cells varies markedly. Therefore development of highly isoenzyme selective PDE inhibitors provides a unique opportunity for selective manipulation of various pathophysiological processes.
Phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) is an enzyme which regulates activities in cells which lead to inflammation in the lungs. PDE4, a cAMP-specific and Ca+2-independent enzyme, is a key isozyme in the hydrolysis of cAMP in mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. The association between cAMP elevation in inflammatory cells with airway smooth muscle relaxation and inhibition of mediator release has led to widespread interest in the design of PDE4 inhibitors [Trophy,T. J., Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 157, 351–370 (1998) herein incorporated by reference in their entirety]. Excessive or unregulated TNF-α production has been implicated in mediating or exacerbating a number of undesirable physiological conditions such as diseases including osteoarthritis, and other arthritic conditions; septic shock, endotoxic shock, respiratory distress syndrome and bone resorption diseases since TNF-α also participates in the onset and progress of autoimmune diseases, PDE4 inhibitors may find utility as therapeutic agents for rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease. [Nature Medicine, 1, 211–214 (1995) and ibid., 244–248 herein incorporated by reference in their entirety].
Strong interest in drugs capable of selective inhibition of PDE 4 is due to several factors. Tissue distribution of PDE-4 suggests that pathologies related to the central nervous and immune systems could be treated with selective PDE-4 inhibitors. In addition, the increase in intracellular cAMP concentration, the obvious biochemical consequence of PDE-4 inhibition, has been well characterized in immuno-competent cells where it acts as a deactivating signal.
Recently the PDE4 family has grown to include four subtypes—PDE4A to PDE4D, each encoded by a distinct gene (British Journal of Pharmacology; 1999; v. 128; p. 1393–1398), herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
It has been demonstrated that increasing cAMP levels within these cells results in suppression of cell activation, which in turn inhibits the production and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α. Since eosinophilis are believed to be a critical pro-inflammatory target for asthma, identification of the expression of the PDE-4 gene family in eosinophils led to the PDE-4 as a potential therapeutic target for asthma.
The usefulness of several PDE-4 inhibitors, unfortunately, is limited due to their undesirable side effect profile which include nausea and emesis (due to action on PDE-4 in the central nervous system) and gastric acid secretion due to action on PDE-4 in parietal cells in the gut. Barnette, M. S., Grous, M., Cieslinsky, L. B., Burman, M., Christensen, S. B., Trophy, T J., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 273,1396–1402 (1995) herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. One of the earliest PDE-4 inhibitors, Rolipram™, was withdrawn from clinical development because of its severe unacceptable side effect profile. Zeller E. et. al., Pharmacopsychiatr, 17, 188–190 (1984) herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The cause of severe side effects of several PDE-4 inhibitor molecules in human clinical trials has recently become apparent.
There exist two binding sites on mammalian PDE-4 at which inhibitor molecules may bind. Also PDE-4 exists in two distinct forms which represent different conformations. They are designated as High affinity Rolipram binding site PDE-4H and Low affinity Rolipram binding site PDE-4L [Jacobitz, S., McLaughlin, M. M., Livi, G. P., Burman, M., Trophy, T. J., Mol. Pharmaco, 50, 891–899 (1996) herein incorporated by reference in their entirety]. It was shown that certain side effects (vomiting and gastric acid secretion) are associated with inhibition of PDE-4H whereas some beneficial actions are associated with PDE-4L inhibition. It was also found that human recombinant PDE-4 exists in 4 isoforms A, B, C and D [Muller, T., Engels, P., Fozard, J. R., Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 17, 294–298 (1996) herein incorporated by reference in its entirety]. Accordingly, compounds displaying more PDE-4D isoenzyme selectivity over the A, B or C are found to have fewer side effects than Rolipram [Hughes. B et.al., Br. J. Pharmacol. 1996, 118) 1183–1191 herein incorporated by reference in their entirety]. Therefore, selective inhibitors of PDE-4 isozymes would have therapeutic effects in inflammatory diseases such as asthma and other respiratory diseases.
Although several research groups all over the world are working to find highly selective PDE-4 isozyme inhibitors, so far success has been limited. Various compounds have shown PDE-4 inhibition.

SmithKline Beecham's "Ariflo" which has the Formula A, Byk Gulden's Roflumilast which has the Formula D and Bayer's Bay-19-8004 which has the Formula E have reached advanced stage of human clinical trials. Other compounds which have shown potent PDE-4 inhibitory activity include Celltech's CDP-840 of the Formula B, Schering Plough's D-4418 of the Formula C, Pfizer's 5CP-220,629 which has the Formula F, Parke Davis's PD-168787 which has the Formula G and Wyeth's Filaminast which has the Formula H. However, recently due to efficacy and side effects problems, Ariflo, CDP-840 and Bay-19-8004 were discontinued from clinical trials as a treatment for asthma. Other compounds of the Formulae C and F are presently undergoing phase-1 clinical trials.
During the course of our research aimed at the development of novel anti-asthmatic compounds having potential PDE4 inhibitory activity, we have filed a WTO patent application in India bearing No. 922/MUM/2002 dated Oct. 23, 2002 and PCT application No. PCT/IB03/04442 dated Oct. 8, 2003 herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for a novel series of tricyclic compounds useful for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic disorders

Heterocyclic compounds useful for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic disorders: process for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them


A system for generating a security mark includes a data reception component that receives information. A security mark generation component in communication with the data reception component generates at least one security mark configuration based at least in part upon the received information. The at least one security mark configuration includes a plurality of marks. An application component applies one configuration of the at least one security mark configurations to a recipient. The applied security mark configuration obeys a predetermined set of rules which include at least one rule which defines a spatial relationship between a first group of the plurality of marks and a second group of the plurality of marks.

The exemplary embodiment relates to the digital imaging arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with a method and apparatus for utilizing miniature security marks for watermarking documents and may be used to distinguish authentic documents from counterfeit documents.
Machine readable information in the form of watermarks, barcodes, and the like has been embedded into images on paper for a variety of applications, such as document identification and authenticity verification. The code is generally invisible or visually unobstructive and may be decoded by a device which is capable of reading the information. Current counterfeit prevention systems are frequently based on the use of digital watermarks. Digital watermarking is a technique which allows a user to add information (e.g., copyright notices, security codes, identification data, etc.) to digital image signals and documents. Such data can be in a group of bits describing information pertaining to the signal or to the author of the signal (e.g., name, place, etc.). Most common watermarking methods for images work in spatial or frequency domains.
For spatial digital watermarking, the simplest method involves flipping the lowest-order bit of chosen pixels in a gray scale or color image. This tends to work well only if the image will not be subject to any human or noisy modification. A more robust watermark can be embedded in an image in the same way that a watermark is added to paper. Such techniques may superimpose a watermark symbol over an area of the picture and then add some fixed intensity value for the watermark to the varied pixel values of the image. The resulting watermark may be visible or invisible depending upon the value (large or small, respectively) of the watermark intensity.
Spatial watermarking can also be applied using color separation. In this way, the watermark appears in only one of the color separations. This renders the watermark visibly subtle such that it is difficult to detect under regular viewing. There are several drawbacks to utilizing digital watermarking technology. To retrieve a watermark, extraction hardware and/or software is generally employed. As the digital watermarks usually have fairly large footprints, detectors employed to read the digital watermarks often require significant buffering storage. Consequently, this increases the detection costs, particularly if the watermark extraction is implemented in hardware.
There remains a need for alternative systems and methods to provide watermarking techniques for identification of images and/or documents, for uses such as prevention of counterfeiting.


An adjustable handle assembly for a personal mobility vehicle includes a mounting bracket, an adjusting device including a primary and secondary pivot post pivotally on the mounting bracket and a mechanical lock interconnecting the two pivot posts. The mechanical lock includes a stationary bracket mounted on the primary pivot post, a bushing bracket pivotally mounted in the stationary bracket, a connecting tube, locking wedges and a sliding block. The connecting tube is attached to the bushing bracket, is hollow for slidably receiving the secondary pivot post and has multiple wedge holes that respectively movably hold locking wedges. The sliding block is slidably mounted on the connecting tube and has a bottom annular bevel that presses the locking wedges to clamp the secondary pivot post in place when the sliding block is forced to a locked position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable handle assembly for a personal mobility vehicle, and more particularly to an adjustable handle assembly with a mechanical lock to hold a handle in position so that the handle assembly is convenient to use for elderly and handicapped people who use the mobility vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Personal mobility vehicles, such as electric vehicles, aid people who are handicapped or elderly in moving from one place to another. A personal mobility vehicle typically has a chassis with wheels, a handle mounted on the chassis and a seat mounted on the chassis on which an elderly or handicapped person sits. A person sitting on the mobility vehicle controls the direction in which the vehicle moves by turning the handle. However, people's sizes and shapes vary greatly and may affect their ability to turn the handle on the personal mobility vehicle because of the position and angle of the handle. For example, some people are tall and some people are short.
Therefore, the handle of the mobility vehicle is designed to be adjustable so the angular position of the handle can be changed to accommodate widely different people who are elderly or handicapped. However, a conventional adjustment assembly for the handle of a personal mobility vehicle is inconvenient to operate. The conventional handle has a lock to hold the handle in position after the handle has been adjusted but a mechanic may be required to adjust and lock the handle.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an adjustable handle assembly for a personal mobility vehicle having a mechanical lock to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Adjustable handle assembly for a personal mobility vehicle


A fire stop device having a body having a through bore and the body being sized and shaped to be positioned within an opening in a wall. the body is made from a moldable a thermoplastic resin having a blowing agent suspended therein. The blowing agent has a predetermined gas release temperature and the thermoplastic resin has a melting temperature above the predetermined gas release temperature of the blowing agent; wherein when exposed to a fire the blowing agent first begins to release gas and the resin softens as the resin is heated until the resin is soft enough for the released gas to expand the plastic to form a foam to close said through bore before a char is formed on said expanded body by said fire. A method of forming a fitting having the blowing agent suspended therein is also provided.

Modern building codes require use of certain designs and fittings to limit the damage which may be caused by a fire in a room in a building. One type of fire prevention product is a sprinkler system which has sprinkler heads attached to a water supply to apply water inside a building in the event of a fire. The water can help dampen the fire.
Other fire prevention devices are designed to prevent fire from propagating through walls. In some cases, depending upon the structure and room type, the wall material may have to be made with a certain level of fire resistant material. Even then, of concern are the openings formed in walls to accommodate plumbing and the like. If the walls themselves are made fire resistant using appropriate materials, openings to accommodate plastic plumbing pipes may still provide a pathway for the fire to jump past the fire resistant walls into an adjacent room, once the pipe is consumed by the fire. Essentially the plastic plumbing pipes once consumed leave the opening clear and may provide a gateway for the fire to pass across the wall. This can allow the fire to propagate through a building from room to room and is highly undesirable, as it makes putting out the fire and controlling the extent of the damage much more difficult.
Consequently, modern building codes require the use of fittings called fire stop fittings. These fittings are positioned in the openings in the walls. In general, when exposed to the heat of the fire these fittings expand to close off the plumbing pipe and ideally remain unconsumed to try to block the fire from propagating through the wall opening.
Many prior patents exist directed to various methods and products for fire stops. Although simple in concept, a number of different functions must be brought together in a single device. These functions include that the fire stop can easily be connected to standard plumbing piping on either side of the wall by means of appropriate bell or spigot fittings. For cost and compatibility reasons it is preferred to mold the fire stop from moldable plastic. The plastic needs to be able to expand to block the opening in the wall when exposed to the heat of the fire. The plastic material in addition to expanding when exposed to heat must provide some fire resistance to prevent the expanded fire stop from being consumed in the fire and thereby leaving a path open for a fire to propagate through the wall.
A fire stop device typically surrounds PVC piping passing through walls or floors, and includes an intumescent material which expands when the temperature increases to a certain level due to the heat of the fire. When exposed to high heat, the PVC pipe softens and begins to melt. The expansion of the intumescent material is directed inwardly towards the pipe, and is supposed to crush the pipe to close off the opening in the wall or floor with a hardened char, thus preventing the spread of the fire.
A problem to overcome is to provide a fire stop containing an intumescent material the expands strongly enough to collapse the PVC pipe, after it has begun to char. Expansion of the intumescent material does not typically occur before the charring process begins. Char is a rigid material which is not easy to expand.
Prior art attempts to meet these competing design requirements has resulted in attempts to provide sophisticated compositions and complex molding techniques to provide a fire stop with appropriate functionality. This has the effect of increasing the cost of the fitting considerably. Examples of the prior art attempts to provide a type of fire stop can be found below:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,052,845
U.S. Pat. No. 2,111,545
U.S. Pat. No. 2,117,589
U.S. Pat. No. 2,319,876
U.S. Pat. No. 2,331,099
U.S. Pat. No. 2,351,262
U.S. Pat. No. 2,354,220
U.S. Pat. No. 2,357,993
U.S. Pat. No. 2,422,796
U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,244
U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,249
U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,800
U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,592
U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,641
U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,767
U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,466
U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,668
U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,674
U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,834
U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,284
United States Patent Publication No. US2015/0376062
Intl Patent Application No. WO 03/000823 A1
A different solution is desired.


In a three-band switching oscillator, a switching circuit is provided to switch the operating conditions of a first and second voltage-controlled oscillator and to switch an oscillation frequency band of the first voltage-controlled oscillator. The switching circuit switches a first switch in accordance with a switching voltage inputted to a first switching terminal and switches an oscillation frequency band in accordance with a switching voltage inputted to a second switching terminal. Only when a high-level switching voltage is inputted to the second switching terminal, the second switch is placed into an open condition by a high-level switching voltage inputted to the first switching terminal and placed into a closed condition by a low-level switching voltage inputted thereto, and when a low-level switching voltage is inputted to the second switching terminal, the second switch is placed into the open condition irrespective of the switching voltage inputted to the first switching terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-band switching oscillator for use in portable telephones or the like, which is designed to output an oscillation signal in any one of three frequency bands.
2. Description of the Related Art
The recent oscillators have been designed to make oscillation in a plurality of frequency bands. FIG. 5 is an illustration of an arrangement of a conventional three-band switching oscillator handling three systems, for example, DCS (cellular telephone using 1800 MHz band), PCS (cellular telephone using 1900 MHz band) and GSM (cellular telephone using 900 MHz band). In addition, this takes four modes: output of an oscillation signal in any one of frequency bands and non-output of an oscillation signal in these frequency bands.
In FIG. 5, a first voltage-controlled oscillator 31 is composed of a first oscillation transistor 32 and a first resonance circuit 33 connected to the base thereof, and serves as a common collector type oscillator. The first resonance circuit 33 includes a first varactor diode 33a and resonant lines 33b and 33c connected in series to each other, while a switching diode 33d is connected in parallel with one resonant line 33c. The anode of the first varactor diode 33a is grounded while the cathode thereof is connected to a control terminal 34. Moreover, the cathode of the switching diode 33d is in a grounded condition.
An oscillation signal is outputted from the emitter of the first oscillation transistor 32 and is inputted to the base of a first amplification transistor 35a constituting a first amplifier 35. In addition, the oscillation signal amplified is outputted from the collector of the first amplification transistor 35a.
The first amplification transistor 35a and the first oscillation transistor 32 are connected in series with respect to a power supply, and a power supply voltage Vb is applied to the collector of the first amplification transistor 35a, while a voltage is applied through the emitter thereof to the collector of the first oscillation transistor 32. In addition, resistors 36, 37 and 38 for setting a bias voltage are connected to the base of the first amplification transistor 35a and the base of the first oscillation transistor 32, and the resistor 36 is connected to the emitter of the first switching transistor 39. The power supply voltage Vb is given to the collector of the first switching transistor 39, while the base thereof is connected to as first switching terminal 40. The anode of the switching diode 33d is connected to a second switching terminal 41.
Meanwhile, a second voltage-controlled oscillator 51 is composed of a second oscillation transistor 52 and a second resonance circuit 53 connected to the base thereof, and acts as a common collector type oscillator. The second resonance circuit 53 includes a second varactor diode 53a, a resonant line 53b, and other elements. The anode of the second varactor diode 53a is grounded, while the cathode thereof is connected to the control terminal 34.
An oscillation signal is outputted from the second oscillation transistor 52 and is inputted to the base of a second amplification transistor 54a constituting a second amplifier 54. In addition, the oscillation signal amplified is outputted from the collector of the second amplification transistor 54a.
The second amplification transistor 54a and the second oscillation transistor 52 are connected in series with respect to the power supply, and the power supply voltage Vb is applied to the collector of the second amplification transistor 54a, while a voltage is supplied through the emitter thereof to the collector of the second oscillation transistor 52. In addition, resistors 55, 56 and 57 for setting a bias voltage are connected to the base of the second amplification transistor 54a and the base of the second oscillation transistor 52, and the resistor 55 is connected to the emitter of a second switching transistor 58. The power supply voltage Vb is given to the collector of the second switching transistor 58, and the base thereof is connected to a third switching terminal 59.
In the above-mentioned arrangement, a high-level or low-level switching voltage coming from the body side of the portable telephone is applied to the first switching terminal 40, the second switching terminal 41 and the third switching terminal 59. Referring to FIG. 6, a description will be given of an operation of each of the voltage-controlled oscillators 31 and 51 based on;this switching voltage. In the description which will be given with reference to FIG. 6, the first to third switching terminals 40, 41 and 59 are taken as SW1, SW2 and SW3, respectively, while the high-level and low-level switching voltages are taken as (H) and (L), respectively. In addition, the first voltage-controlled oscillator 31 is taken as VCO1 and the second voltage-controlled oscillator 51 is taken as VCO2.
First, when the SW1 is at (L), the first switching transistor 39 turns off to stop the bias voltage supply to the base of the first oscillation transistor 32, thereby making the first voltage-controlled oscillator 31 inoperative. Contrary to this, when the SW1 is at (H), it becomes operative. In addition, when the SW2 is at (L) in the operative condition, the switching diode 33d turns off, and the VCO1 oscillates in a first frequency band which is low in frequency. This frequency band is for use in the DCS system. On the other hand, when the SW2 is at (H), the switching diode 33d turns on, so the VCO1 oscillates in a second frequency band which is high in frequency. This frequency band is for use in the PCS system.
In like manner, when the SW3 is at (L), the second switching transistor 58 turns off to stop the bias voltage supply to the base of the second oscillation transistor 52, so the second voltage-controlled oscillator 51 becomes inoperative. Contrary to this, when the SW2 is at (H), it becomes in an actuated condition, and the oscillation takes place in a third frequency band. This frequency band is available for the GSM system.
That is, in the above-described operation, a high-level or low-level switching voltage is inputted to the first to third switching terminals 40, 41 and 59, and eight switching modes are attainable according to combinations thereof. FIG. 6 shows these switching modes, and of these, the modes No. 1 and No. 2 are the same operational contents and the modes No. 3 and No. 4 are the same operational contents, so only one modes are put to use. In addition, since the first voltage-controlled oscillator 31 and the second voltage-controlled oscillator 51 are not put to use at the same time, the modes No. 7 and No. 8 are not employable.
In the above-described conventional three-band switching oscillator, the three switching terminals (40, 41, 59) are used in order to obtain four necessary switching modes. The most important point to an oscillator for use in a portable telephone is size reduction, and hence, various improvements have been made in order to realize the size reduction. An decrease in number of terminals contributes greatly to the size reduction; however, an approach to decrease the number of terminals has not been made until now.
Furthermore, in the conventional three-band switching oscillator, since the binary switching voltages are applied to the three switching terminals, unnecessary switching modes come about. This complicates the circuit on the body side of a portable telephone which generates the switching voltages.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a three-band switching oscillator capable of decreasing the number of switching terminals for achieving the size reduction and of simplifying the arrangement of the body side of a portable telephone which generates switching voltages.
For achieving this purpose, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a three-band switching oscillator comprising a first voltage-controlled oscillator switched to make oscillation in a first or second frequency band, a second voltage-controlled oscillator made to make oscillation in a third frequency band, and a switching circuit for switching the first and second voltage-controlled oscillators to an operative condition or an inoperative condition and further for switching an oscillation frequency band of the first voltage-controlled oscillator, the switching circuit including first switch means for supplying a current to place the first voltage-controlled oscillator into the operative condition, second switch means for supplying a current to place the second voltage-controlled oscillator into the operative condition, and first and second switching terminals for receiving switching voltages, wherein the first switch means is placed into an open or closed condition in accordance with a low-level or high-level switching voltage inputted to the first switching terminal and the oscillation frequency band is switched in accordance with a high-level or low-level switching voltage inputted to the second switching terminal, while only when the high-level switching voltage is inputted to the second switching terminal, the second switch means is placed into an open condition by the high-level switching voltage inputted to the first switching terminal and placed into a closed condition by the low-level switching voltage inputted thereto, and when the low-level switching voltage is inputted to the second switching terminal, the second switch means is placed into the open condition irrespective of the switching voltage inputted to the first switching terminal.
In addition, a first oscillation transistor is provided in the aforesaid first voltage-controlled oscillator and a second oscillation transistor is provided in the second voltage-controlled oscillator, while the first switch means is placed in series to a first resistor circuit for applying a bias voltage to the base of the first oscillation transistor, and the second switch means is placed in series to a second resistor circuit for applying a bias voltage to the base of the second oscillation transistor.
Still additionally, the first switch means is constructed with a first NPN transistor whose collector is connected to a power supply voltage applying terminal and whose emitter is connected to the first resistor circuit, while the second switch means is constructed with a second NPN transistor whose collector is connected to the power supply voltage applying terminal and a first PNP transistor whose emitter is connected to the emitter of the second NPN transistor and whose collector is connected to the second resistor circuit, with the bases of the first NPN transistor and the first PNP transistor being connected to the first switching terminal and the base of the second NPN transistor being connected to the second switching terminal.
Moreover, the first voltage-controlled oscillator includes a resonant line and a switching diode connected in parallel with the resonant line, with the cathode of the switching diode being grounded and the anode thereof being connected to the emitter of the second NPN transistor.
Still moreover, a first oscillation transistor is provided in the first voltage-controlled oscillator and a second oscillation transistor is provided in the second voltage-controlled oscillator, while the first switch means is interposed between the emitter of the first oscillation transistor and the ground and the second switch means is placed in series to a second resistor circuit for applying a bias voltage to the base of the second oscillation transistor.
In addition, the first switch means is constructed with a third NPN transistor whose collector is connected to the emitter side of the first oscillation transistor and whose emitter is connected to the ground side, and the second switch means is constructed with second and third PNP transistors whose emitters are connected to a power supply voltage applying terminal, with the collector of the third PNP transistor being connected to the second resistor circuit and the base of the third NPN transistor being connected to the first switching terminal, while the collector of the second PNP transistor and the base of the third PNP transistor being connected to each other and connected through a resistor to the first switching terminal and the base of the second PNP transistor being connected to the second switching terminal.
Still additionally, the first voltage-controlled oscillator includes a resonant line and a switching diode connected in parallel with the resonant line, with the cathode of the switching diode being grounded and the anode thereof being connected to the second switching terminal.
Moreover, the difference in center frequency between the first frequency band and the second frequency band is set to be smaller than the difference in center frequency between the first frequency band and the third frequency band and the difference in center frequency between the second frequency band and the third frequency band.

Three-band switching oscillator suitable for size reduction


In embodiments of the invention, an apparatus may include a display comprising a plurality of pixels. The apparatus may further include a computer system coupled with the display and operable to instruct the display to display a deconvolved image corresponding to a target image, wherein when the display displays the deconvolved image while located within a near-eye range of an observer, the target image may be perceived in focus by the observer.

Near-eye displays (NEDs) include head-mounted displays (HMDs) that may project images directly into a viewer's eyes. Such displays may overcome the limited screen size afforded by other mobile display form factors by synthesizing virtual large-format display surfaces, or may be used for virtual or augmented reality applications.
Near-eye displays can be divided into two broad categories: immersive displays and see-through displays. The former may be employed in virtual reality (VR) environments to completely encompass a user's field of view with synthetically-rendered imagery. The latter may be employed in augmented reality (AR) applications, where text, other synthetic annotations, or images may be overlaid in a user's view of the physical environment. In terms of display technology, AR applications require semi-transparent displays (e.g., achieved by optical or electro-optical approaches), such that the physical world may be viewed simultaneously with the near-eye display.
Near-eye displays have proven difficult to construct due to the fact that the unaided human eye cannot accommodate (focus) on objects placed within close distances, for example, the distance between the lenses of reading glasses to a user's eye when the user is wearing the glasses. As a result, NED systems have conventionally required complex and bulky optical elements to allow the viewer to comfortably accommodate on the near-eye display, which would otherwise be out of focus, and the physical environment.
A conventional solution is to place a beam-splitter (e.g., a partially-silvered mirror) directly in front of the viewer's eye. This allows a direct view of the physical scene, albeit with reduced brightness. In addition, a display (e.g., an LCD panel) is placed on the secondary optical path. Introducing a lens between the beam-splitter and the display has the effect of synthesizing a semi-transparent display located within the physical environment. In practice, multiple optical elements are required to minimize aberrations and achieve a wide field of view for such a solution, leading to bulky and expensive eyewear that has prohibited widespread consumer adoption.
A conventional solution for VR applications is to place a magnifier in front of a microdisplay. For example, a single lens placed over a small LCD panel so that the viewer can both accommodate or focus on the display, despite the close distance, as well as magnify the display, so that it appears to be much larger and at a greater distance.


An automatic visor control device for a helmet including a movable visor pivotally fixed onto either side of the helmet and covering a window opening in the front side of the helmet, a power device disposed on one side of the helmet, and a wind-pressure switch provided in the lower portion of the front side of the helmet. By means of the wearer's blowing, the power device is activated to cause the visor to move up or down.

Most known helmets are usually provided with a transparent visor to prevent the entry of dust or dirty particles and cold wind, and which covers the window opening in the central region of the front side of the helmet. The two end portions of the visor are pivotally disposed on either sides of the helmet near the wearer's ears. As is commonly known, the wearer often needs to lift up the visor to get some fresh air, especially during hot summer days or traffic jams or when waiting for the change of traffic lights at road junctures. Once the traffic gets moving, the wearer pulls down the visor and starts on the road again. This repetitious lifting up or pulling down of the visor is very troublesome.
Moreover, designs of conventional helmets require the use of the hand to move up or down the visor. Even though there is also a kind of helmet provided with a push button switch on the helmet body to manipulate the visor, it still requires manual operation; improvement thereon is therefore necessary.

Automatic visor control device for helmets


A device for detecting at least one substance may include a resonator which, on its surface facing away from the carrier, is provided with a chemically sensitive layer for selectively binding a substance that is to be detected. An acoustic mirror is arranged between the carrier and the resonator. The acoustic mirror constitutes a band elimination filter having two closely adjacent notch frequencies, as a result of which the device is capable of oscillating in two resonant frequencies. The mass binding of the substance and the temperature can be determined computationally from the measured resonant frequencies.

In the chemical or pharmaceutical industry it is often important to conduct analyses of substances in a fluid with a small sample quantity and a high throughput.
DE 10308975B4 discloses a piezoelectric resonator whose resonant frequency changes when a fluid containing substances is applied to the surface of the resonator, said substances being adsorbed by the resonator surface. The technology employed to build the resonator is also referred to as "film bulk acoustic wave resonator" (FBAR). The substance present in the fluid is absorbed by the chemically sensitive surface of the resonator. The concentration of the substance in the fluid can be determined by measuring the change in resonant frequency. In most cases it is merely desired to ascertain one parameter, such as the mass binding of the substance, as a result of which the concentration of the substance in the fluid can also be deduced.
The other parameters which can influence the resonant frequency are interference effects. For example, the resonator frequency changes for example as a function of the temperature, mechanical stress or vibration. In certain conventional systems these undesirable effects must be kept constant during the measurement. This may be achieved for instance by means of a heating system which keeps the sensor/acoustic resonator at a constant temperature. In addition the measurement setup may be mounted on a stable base in order to avoid forms of interference caused by vibrations.
One possibility of reading out temperature and mass binding simultaneously or of measuring the same with the aid of the acoustic resonator is to measure the temperature separately from the resonator, with a platinum resistor for instance. This method is often inaccurate due to the measuring imprecision and inertia of the sensor.

Device and method for detecting at least one substance


Disclosed herein is a novel method for preparing a DPTA tripeptide-chelator. In particular, a method for preparing GYK-DTPA is described. The method disclosed herein is an improvement over the known methods of preparation based on the cost and labor savings of the present invention. The present invention utilizes t-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) protecting groups to facilitate the polypeptide-chelator production.

A method of synthesis of a particular polypeptide-chelator described herein, GYK-DTPA (glycyl-tyrosyl-(N-.epsilon.-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid)lysine), has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,900 to Alvarez et al. This synthesis however, depends upon the utilization of the base-cleavable 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) protecting group. This strategy has several disadvantages. First, the process is costly due to the use of the expensive Fmoc protecting group and to the labor-intensive preparative HPLC chromatographic purification of end products required to obtain a purified homogeneous product. Secondly, premature loss of the Fmoc group and byproduct formation during scheduled Fmoc removal and DTPA coupling are problematic. The lack of easily purified intermediates necessitates the accumulation of side products, and a preparative high-pressure liquid chromatographic separation is required. In an attempt to address these shortcomings, a new synthesis of GYK-DTPA utilizing the acid-cleavable t-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) amino protection was devised.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,900 to Alvarez et al., GYK-DTPA was synthesized as follows: the initial peptide reactant N-Fmoc-glycyl-(O-benzyl-tyrosyl-(.epsilon.-N-carbobenzyloxy) lysine was prepared according to standard solid phase synthetic methods described by Baranz and Merrifield. In The Peptides, Vol. 2, Gross and Meienhoffer (ed.), Acad. press, New York, pp. 3-385, 1980. The derivatized peptide was cleaved from the resin and partially deblocked by bubbling hydrogen bromide (HBr) gas through a suspension of the reaction mixture in trifluoracetic acid containing methoxybenzene (a fifty-fold molar excess over tyrosine) for 60 minutes at room temperature. The resin was removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in a minimum amount of methanol, and the product precipitated with ether and used without further purification.
One mole N-Fmoc-glycyl-tyrosyl-lysine in DMF was reacted with 1 mole DTPA mixed anhydride prepared as described in Krejcarek et al., [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 77:581-585 (1977)] in which diisopropylethylamine was used for 30 minutes at -15.degree. C., and then maintained at room temperature for 1 hour. The solvent was removed by rotary evaporation and the oily residue dissolved in a small aliquot of DMF. Distilled water was added to precipitate the Fmoc-GYK-DTPA produced. The Fmoc group was removed by addition of an equal volume of 40% dimethylamine in DMF to a solution of Fmoc-GYK-DTPA in DMF, followed by incubation for 30 minutes at room temperature. The solvent was evaporated to dryness and the residue taken up in distilled water. The crude product was purified by extraction with ethyl acetate and the resulting aqueous solution of GYK-DTPA was lyophilized to dryness.
More recently, Alvarez et al., [in Antibody-Mediated Delivery Systems, John D. Rodwell, Ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, (1988), ch. 10, pp. 306-309] described the synthesis of GYK-DTPA as summarized below. GYK-DTPA was prepared starting with a commercially-available dipeptide, glycyl-tyrosine. The amino terminus of the glycyl-tyrosine starting material was protected by reaction with 9-fluorenylmethyl succinimidyl carbonate (Fmoc-OSu), to provide the corresponding urethane. Subsequently, a peptide-coupling reaction was performed with N-.epsilon.-benzyloxycarbonyl-lysine methyl ester (H-Lys(.epsilon.-CBZ)-OMe) utilizing the coupling reagents dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (DCC/HOBt). The resulting tripeptide derivative was fully-protected GYK. The urethane protection at the .epsilon.-amino group of the lysine side-chain was cleaved through the agency of hydrobromic acid in acetic acid, providing the Fmoc-GYK-OMe hydrobromide salt, whose amino and carboxy termini remain protected.
The N-Fmoc-GYK(OMe)-HBr and diisopropylethylamine in dry DMF were then reacted with a DTPA mixed anhydride which was prepared by modification of the method of Krejcarek et al. [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 77: 581-585 (1977)] at about 0.degree. C. for about two hours. The reaction mixture was evaporated and the crude Fmoc-GYK-(OMe)-DTPA solid was dissolved in DMF and 40% dimethylamine in water to remove the Fmoc protecting group. The methyl protecting group was then removed by saponification in 1N NaOH. The final product, GYK-DTPA was isolated using preparative C-18 reverse phase HPLC using a gradient of 0.1% TFA and acetonitrile.
As a result of the Fmoc procedure's multiple problems: high cost, labor-intensive preparative HPLC chromatographic purification of the end product, the potential premature loss of the Fmoc group and byproduct formation during Fmoc removal and DTPA coupling, the lack of easily purified intermediates necessitating the accumulation of side products and the requirement of preparative high-pressure liquid chromatographic separation there remains a need for, a new method for synthesis to remedy and/or avoid these problems.
Other references which describe or relate to o coupling of chelators, including DTPA, to proteins and/or antibodies include the following: U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,930 to Hnatowich et al. describes reaction of an amine of a polypeptide or protein with a dicyclic dianhydride chelator of the formula ##STR1## where R is a linker from 1-25 carbon atoms and which can include nitrogen and/or carboxyl or other groups which do not denature proteins or peptides. The chelators attached to amines include the dicyclic dianhydride of DTPA (see also, Hnatowich, 1982, Int. J. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 33:327-332), U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,503 also to Hnatowich describes labeling of the amine, polypeptide or protein chelator conjugates with Technetium-99 m.
British Patent Application Publication Nos. GB 222579 published Jun. 6, 1990 and GB 224167 published Aug. 28, 1991 describe conjugates of somatastatin peptide analogues and chelating groups including such as DTPA, EDTA, substituted EDTA, DTPA, e.g., p-isothiocyanato-benzyl EDTA or -DTPA, and groups derived from macrocyclic ligands such as 1,4,7,10-tetra-azacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetra-acetic-D-Phe acid, etc. A particular example includes DTPA-D Phe-Cys-Phe-D-Thr-Lys-Thr-Cys-Thr-OH in which it appears the DTPA is attached to the somatastatin analogue according to a method similar to or the same as the method described by Hnatowich.
Other attempts to develop chelating agents useful for attaching a metal or metal ion to a protein or glycoprotein have included the following. Sundberg et al., 1974, J. Med. Chem. 17:1304 described a complex, multi-step synthesis of 1-(p-benzyldiazonium)-EDTA. EDTA derivatives may not be as useful as DTPA derivatives. Yeh et al., 1979, J. Radioanalytical Chem. 53:327 described a method using 1-(p-carboxymethoxybenzyl)-EDTA which had the same disadvantages as that of Sundberg. Krejcarek et al., 1977, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 77:581 and more recently Scheinberg et al., 1983, Sci. 215:1511-1513 described attachment of a glycoprotein or protein to a metal ion using a carboxycarbonic anhydride of DTPA. The reaction schemes used by Krejcarek and Scheinberg are not selective for derivatizing a single or particular carboxyl group of the DTPA and can result in undesirable cross-linking when the DTPA derivative is attached to a protein or polypeptide or alternatively can result in undefined DTPA linked products.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel synthesis which provides the benefit of using inexpensive starting materials, thereby avoiding the costly use of dipeptides and Fmoc protection reagents.
It is a further object of the present invention to utilize inexpensive reagents and solvents throughout the process. In addition, most of the solvents used in this novel method are volatile and are amenable to solvent recovery, thereby further reducing cost. Another object of the present invention is to minimize the use of DMF which is undesirable.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide stable intermediates which can be easily isolated in excellent purity. The ability to purify these intermediates obviates the need for extensive end-product purification.
In addition it is a further object of the present invention to eliminate the need for a preparative HPLC to purify intermediates or final products.


The invention is directed to techniques for suppressing the voice of a user of an audio electronic device, such as a mobile phone, from being heard by an unintended listener. In one arrangement, the invention includes an input microphone, an electronics module, and a suppression speaker. The user speaks into the input microphone, and the electronics module generates an antivoice signal from a voice signal received from the input microphone. The suppression speaker outputs an antivoice output that combines with the voice of the user to form a voice suppression zone next to the speaker. The user thus can carry on his or her conversation in private as long as the unintended listener is within the voice suppression zone. Alternately, the user can avoid distracting other users of similar devices nearby, such as in a crowded office environment with many individuals using telephones at the same time. In another arrangement, the invention includes multiple suppression speakers that can be oriented in different directions to provide one or more voice suppression zones.

Telephone technology provides users of the phone with a readily available means of communicating over long distances. A typical telephone or other audio communication device provides a microphone that the user speaks into, a communication link between the user and another party, and a speaker that provides the other party's voice to the user. Over time, audio communication technology has come to include mobile phones, such as cellular phones, satellite phones, and other devices.
Noise cancellation techniques exist to reduce unwanted noise that may interfere with audio communication, such as unwanted noise that interferes with a user listening to another party on a telephone or a headset device. Active noise reduction (ANR) techniques provide a sound wave that is out of phase with the unwanted noise. For example, in an airplane, an ANR technique provides an antinoise sound wave designed to mask or greatly reduce the noise of jet engines so that pilots or passengers in the airplane may use headsets in the airplane without distraction. The ANR technique includes using a microphone to detect a sound, such as the jet engine, electronic circuitry to produce an antinoise sound wave opposite in phase to the noise, and a speaker to broadcast the antinoise sound wave into or near a user's ear, such as through a headset that the user is wearing or from a location near the user's ear. The antinoise sound wave destructively interferes with the noise. The result is the reduction of the noise to a more comfortable level for the user.

Methods and apparatus for providing privacy for a user of an audio electronic device


A radio network controller includes a block error detection unit configured to receive a data block from the base station and to detect a block error, and a target SIR calculation unit configured to calculate a target SIR based on the detected block error rate. The target calculation unit sets a first time section, which indicates a time section from a detection of the block error to the notification of the target SIR is to the base station when the block error is detected, shorter than a second time section, which indicates a time section from the detection of the block error to the notification of the target SIR to the base station when the block error is not detected.

A CDMA mobile communication system makes it possible to maintain a communication quality at a desired level and to minimize an interference causing to the other users, by performing a transmission power control with a high accuracy. Accordingly, the COMA mobile communication system can increase a radio system capacity. The CDMA mobile communication system includes two steps of a configuration in order to maintain a received SIR (Signal to Interference power Ratio) closer to a target SIR: an inner loop transmission power control and an outer loop transmission power control. In the inner loop transmission power control, a radio base station measures the received SIR and compares the received SIR with the target SIR, and instructs, to a mobile station, to increase or decrease the transmission power by using a transmission power control bit. In the outer loop transmission power control, a radio network controller, which exists as an upper apparatus of the radio base station, measures a reception quality (such as a block error or a block error rate or the like) and instructs, to the radio base station, the target SIR of the radio base station so that the radio base station can satisfy a target quality.
It is preferable that the outer loop transmission power control is performed at every 1[TTI]. For instance, it is ideal that the block error is detected by a CRC and updates the target SIR at every 1[TTI] in the following manner:
IF CRC check OK  Step_down=BLER_target*Step_size  Sir_target(n)=SIR_target(n−1)−Step_downELSE  Step_up=Step_size−BLER_target*Step_size  SIR_target(n)=SIR_target(n−1)+Step_up
However, when the target SIR is changed at every TTI (Transport Time Interval), control load on the radio network controller may be increased. Further, a bandwidth of an interface between the radio network controller and the radio base station may be largely consumed.
Accordingly, instead of changing the target SIR at every TTI, there has been known a method that sets a predetermined time section in which the target SIR is calculated by using the above-described algorithm at every time section, and notifies the calculated target SIR to the radio base station.
However, when the target SIR calculated based on this method is adopted, the quality is kept deteriorated for the above-described time section, due to the difference between the target quality and the set target SIR. Especially, when a link environment is changed, such as before or after a SHO (Soft HandOver) is performed, the communication quality required based on BLER (block Error Rate) and the target SIR that should be set may be totally different. There has been a problem that the communication quality for this time section can be largely deteriorated at this time, since the target SIR is kept unchanged.

Radio network controller and transmission power control method


A power handle module encloses rechargeable batteries which can be used to power a number of modular special-purpose tools which may be mounted to the power handle module. The power handle module includes a hand grip, a trigger switch operated by a trigger and a first connector for engagement with a second connector on the special-purpose tool. An interlock operator on the handle module may be moved between a guard position where it resists pressure to move the trigger and at least one armed position, in which position it allows the trigger to be pressed. A secondary switch is mounted within the power handle module. When the special-purpose tool is a fastener driver the secondary switch controls direction of rotation of the motor on the tool. The fastener-driving tool includes a link for mechanically joining the secondary switch and the interlock operator upon connection of the first and second connectors such that by moving the interlock operator between the first and second armed positions the secondary switch is moved between switch positions. When the special-purpose tool is a saw the secondary switch provides a safety interlock switch preventing inadvertent rotation of the motor on the tool. The saw tool includes an engagement face that engages the secondary switch upon connection of the first and second connectors to move the secondary switch to one of the switch positions and resilient means for biasing the interlock operator to the guard position.

Multi-purpose power hand tools provide a variety of capabilities for the user, including sawing, drilling, and driving threaded fasteners among others. One class of prior art multi-purpose power hand tool includes a universal drive or power module for supplying shaft power to special-purpose accessories such as rotary cutters which are mounted to the power module. The reconfiguration achieved by mounting different accessories to the output shaft of the power module in this way provides all the advantages of a special-purpose tool without the associated cost, as the tools are able to share a common power supply, controls and motor.
Cordless power tool systems including releasably attachable common battery units selectively attachable to each of a range of tools are well known in the art. Each tool incorporates its own motor and accessories such as rotary blades or chucks. Incorporating a common battery unit makes the complete system more economical since battery packs are relatively high cost components. Various simple sliding couplings are used for electrically and mechanically coupling a battery pack with the tool housing, allowing the batteries to be readily installed and removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,032 describes a modular, cordless electric tool system with a power handle module to which different special-purpose tools may be fitted. The motors, or the like, of the special-purpose tools are controlled by a trigger on the power handle module. A finger-releasable latch is provided on the power handle module for mechanically fastening it to the special-purpose tool. This latch is interlocked with the trigger to avoid powering the special-purpose tool when connecting it to the power handle module. An actuator connected to the trigger extends through the interface between the two components to engage a switch in the special-purpose tool.
One of the drawbacks associated with all the above-mentioned multi-purpose power hand tools and cordless power tool systems is associated with the controls or switches required for operating them. None of these prior art devices teaches a modular hand tool system able to provide the desired safety and functional features which would allow a universal power handle module to power and control a saw and a reversible power tool. For instance, on power saws, in order to prevent accidental actuation of the motor, a safety switch is typically releasably interlocked with the trigger switch, so that both the safety and trigger switches must be simultaneously actuated to operate the saw blade. In many prior art saws, the safety switch is a button-type switch mounted on a side of the handle. In order to operate the saw, the handle must be gripped, and the user then simultaneously depresses the button-like safety switch with the thumb while squeezing the trigger with one or more of the other fingers of the same hand.
A functional necessity for multi-purpose tools is the ability to provide a control appropriate to the specific operational characteristics required for the tool. Providing a reversible power tool for driving threaded fasteners requires a direction switch to allow the user to select the direction of rotation before squeezing the trigger to rotate the chuck. For special-purpose tools such as fastener drivers, modulating-type control for allowing control of the motor speed is desirable while for circular saws or lamps it would be preferable to have on-off type control.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages or more generally to provide an improved multi-purpose power hand tool.