A method and device for complete treatment of septic tank effluent or other contaminated water by contriving for it to flow in an ultra-thin film over a surface treatment medium such as fabric or sand. It provides diffusive aeration, biological reaction and physical filtration on a molecular scale.. The device transfers contaminated water, or other liquid, from a container to a final collector completely purifying the liquid in the process. The purified effluent can then be reused for household, industrial, irrigation or other uses, or disposed of as normal surface run-off in streams or lakes.. To increase efficiency, said container encloses a progressively more finely pored media precisely situated with effluent seeping gradually through progressively finer pores to provide uniquely effective pretreatment.

This invention relates to a unique method and device for purification of sewage, wastewater or potable water by thin film aeration and a special prefilter, described in Vandervelde and Helm's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 404894, filed Sep. 8, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,568.
Historically, water purification has taken advantage, in some cases, of aerobic or anaerobic biological devices to produce improved effluent using biota fixed on a substrate, or suspended. Anaerobic devices have traditionally been limited to a maximum of about 70%-80% treatment and proposed as polishing stages prior to some further action, as in E. J. Jordan's (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,950,252, Apr. 1976 and 4,211,655 Jul. 1980), A. A. Monson's (U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,976 Jul. 1979), and A. W. Green's (U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,421 Oct. 1981).
Sewage and wastewater disposal is becoming a bottleneck in providing housing and employment for an increasing population. As sewage treatment standards become stricter and availability of clean water more restricted, the cost of providing these services rises. The result is people with substandard or unavailable housing and employment in many communities.
Extending and constructing standard municipal sewage plants to accommodate higher population densities is environmentally unsound and becoming cost prohibitive. These systems use poisonous disinfectants, pollute the surface water into which they discharge and prevent normal beneficial recharge of aquifers.
Standard on-site septic systems, to work well, require special soil and groundwater conditions with large lot sizes. These factors are also becoming less available and more expensive as development proceeds. They discharge incompletely treated effluent into the environment.
More exotic and costly on-site septic systems designed to treat sewage under poor soil and groundwater conditions are being used to fill the gap. These include Wisconsin Mound Systems, sand filters and a proliferation of types of mechanical aerobic reactors, many of which use chemical disinfectants that repollute their effluent. These expensive systems do a passable job if designed, installed, and maintained properly. However, they seldom are because of their inherent complexity. This results in discharge of untreated or poorly treated sewage to pollute ground and surface water. Pumps and other mechanical devices that they require are often beyond the owner's financial capability, or interest, to maintain.
Commonly used sand and gravel filters rely on mechanical devices to increase the air/sewage interface by spraying, sparging, or spreading it over sand, gravel, or soil beds. This allows the growth of aerobic biota which treat the sewage. One of the most advanced and effective examples of this type is covered by U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,359, currently merchandised by SPEC Industries.
While investigating ultra-thin water film formation, we found that sewage caused to flow in a film over a hydrophillic surface, such as cotton cloth or sand, left its impurities behind and could then be released by gravity in liquid form into a collector. This resulted in a pooled, pure product free of odor and contamination while freeing the medium surface to adsorb more film.
We believe that further review of patents and literature will not reveal a method or device which can accomplish this treatment as we have. Advantages of this invention are submitted in the Summary.

System for treating sewage or other fluids


A multi-media printer includes an engine controller, a printhead controller, and a pulse activation table. The engine controller transmits a row of energy values. The printhead controller receives the row of energy values and transmits an activation signal. The activation signal is transmitted based on a comparison of an activating energy level for each pulse position in a pulse stream with the energy values in the row of energy values. Comparison logic performs the comparison and transmits an activation signal if the energy value for the row of energy values is greater than or equal to the activating energy level for the corresponding pulse positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is generally directed to print enhancements in multi-media printers. Specifically, the invention is directed to speed and image quality advancements in thermal imaging technology, i.e., direct thermal and thermal transfer technologies in particular.
2. General Description of Background
In the medical imaging marketplace, the standard for digital image quality is wet laser imaging. In wet laser imaging, a modulated laser beam is scanned across light-sensitive film to draw the desired image on the film. The film is developed utilizing wet chemical baths, which develop and fix the image onto the film media. The image produced utilizing wet laser imaging is of high quality.
Health or medical images can also be produced or rendered utilizing a thermal printing process. In a direct thermal printing process, a thermally-responsive media is translated across a thermal printhead, and the thermal printhead is modulated to produce energy and temperature profiles to cause the media to respond to and produce desired gray levels (image densities).
Health or medical images can also be produced or rendered utilizing a thermal transfer printing process. In a thermal transfer printing process, a color-containing membrane, or "donor," is placed or sandwiched between the thermal printhead and a "receiver" sheet of media. The donor sheet is impregnated with color or black dyes, inks, or waxes. The donor and receiver sheets are translated together across the thermal printhead, and the thermal printhead is modulated to produce energy and temperature profiles to cause the color or black carrier materials to leave the donor sheet and enter or attach to the receiver media to produce desired gray or color levels (image densities).
The thermal printhead is a linear array of thermal heating elements. Thus, an entire line of dots or pixels can be marked on the thermally-responsive media in parallel. The time it takes to mark a print line is referred to as a "line time." Within a line time, a number of pixels, ranging from fewer than 1,000 and to more than 10,000, are marked in a row or line normal to the direction of the thermally-responsive media motion. The number of dots or pixels is typically equal to or less than the number of thermal heating elements on the printhead. The line time determines how fast the media can be moved across the printhead. In other words, the shorter the line time, the faster the media can be moved across the printhead, and the faster a full image sheet can be rendered or printed.
Thermal printing technologies have constraints on line time. In direct thermal printing, the media must be heated long enough for the heat to fully penetrate the emulsion and to allow the chemical reaction to occur. In the case of thermal transfer, the heat must be applied long enough for the dye, ink, or wax migration to occur. If the printing occurs too fast, with either technology, heat penetration and dwell times are not long enough, and grainy printing results because the heat accumulates at the peaks of the media surface and does not penetrate evenly into the low points.
Also, direct thermal printing media requires a certain dwell time in order for the intrinsic chemical reaction to go to completion. If the printing is occurring too fast, the chemical reactions cannot go to completion or they react in a manner that is complete, but result in slightly different chemical products. For example, if the printing is occurring too quickly, a purple or magenta hue will result, and if the printing is occurring too slowly, a neutral or greenish hue will result. In the medical imaging marketplace, neutral or greenish hues are favored because these hues match wet laser film. Thus, printing faster is normally at odds with a desirable color tone.
In addition, thermal transfer printing media requires a certain dwell time to allow the inks or dyes to penetrate deeply into the receiver media sheet. If the inks or dyes do not penetrate deeply enough, archival life and image stability are compromised. For instance, inks that have not penetrated deeply enough into the receiver sheet are more likely to be wiped off during handling or are more likely to diffuse out of the receiver sheet and into other sheets or materials that the receiver sheet comes in contact with.
Achieving medical image quality with a thermal printer requires compensation for the thermal storage elements in the printing system. Achieving this quality on different media types and at different print speeds requires an added measure of flexibility and performance. Thermal printing involves the application of energy to the thermal elements of the printhead. The energy applied to these thermal elements is not completely transferred into the media. Some or most of the energy applied to the thermal elements via the pulse streams are transferred from the thermal elements into the substrate of the printhead and its heatsink and then out of the heatsink through the use of forced or convected air. Because of this unintended transfer, the printhead components rise in temperature and have temperature gradients. This means that the thermal elements have different operating conditions when heating is performed for marking a line of an image. These conditions include, for example, the initial temperature of the thermal elements, the temperature of the substrate and printhead constructions behind the thermal elements, the rate of heat flow out of the thermal elements into their surroundings, and the fraction of heat that flows into the media versus the substrate. All of these factors affect marking density and must be counteracted if acceptable diagnostic medical printing is to result.
Artifacts that result from these thermal storage behaviors include the following: 1) large gradients from the top of the page to the bottom in which the measured density increases down the page as the printhead assembly components heat up; 2) vertical smearing effects in which a dark area of an image heats a local area of the printhead, causing subsequent marking for succeeding rows to be darker. This is especially noticeable when a dark area is followed by a light area or vice-versa; 3) horizontal crosstalk in which heat is transferred along the length of the printhead, causing the marking in one area of the page to affect density in neighboring areas of the page; 4) horizontal crosstalk in which the energy applied to individual thermal elements is shared with neighboring thermal elements based on temperature differences, resulting in loss of fine-resolution contrast; 5) pixel-sized artifacts in which a fast transition from light to dark or dark to light is required, and the thermal mass of the thermal elements does not allow such a fast transient (this is most visible when printing very fine detail, especially textual information in the image); and 6) artifacts resulting from the increase in printhead bow (curvature along its length) as the printhead heats up during the course of marking a page of media.
Traditional approaches to compensating for thermal memory in the thermal elements involves the application of a fixed matrix of coefficients that are multiplied by the image energy values that border and precede the pixel in question. This is commonly known in the art as "dot history compensation." The products of these energy values and coefficients are summed and the result is applied to the pixel energy value in question to provide a compensation that takes neighboring energy values and historical energy values into account. While this approach can provide limited success, it does not provide density uniformity that is in line with medical market expectations. It is also difficult to tune and make effective for all types of images produced. This is because the size of the matrix is limited for performance reasons, limiting the size of the artifacts that can be compensated, because determining effective values for the matrix coefficients is difficult and increases exponentially with the number of historical pixels to be considered, and because it does not effectively account for the physical properties of the thermal printing system.
Medical diagnostic imaging requires print engines to be able to produce large numbers of distinct gray levels ranging from minimum to maximum density. The gray levels are produced by applying a large number of on and off pulses to each printhead thermal element within each line time. The large number of pulses may be referred to as a pulse stream. For example, in order to produce 512 gray levels per image pixel, a multi-media printer must be able to provide at least 512 pulses to the thermal elements over and above the pulse times used to reach the minimum marking energy or blush energy. The time duration of a single pulse is referred to as a pulse time. The minimum marking energy or blush energy may be referred to as Dmin. Normally, this results in 1024 pulse times within a line time. In order to achieve 4096 gray levels, which is the standard that wet imager manufacturers claim is produced by the wet laser film process, an equivalent of 8000 pulses would have to be produced in a line time.
An alternative for achieving the 4096 gray levels with less than 8000 pulses involves utilizing a bias pulse with a length equivalent of 4096 pulses and applying the bias pulse to all thermal elements, regardless of gray level, to get the thermal elements up to blush temperature. Thus, streams of 4096 pulses could be applied to each data line for each thermal element of the printhead in parallel. This would require data transmission of 4096 bits of information per printhead thermal element within a line time. Unfortunately, the current state of printhead technology does not allow 4096 bits of information to be transmitted within a 5 ms line time because this large amount of data would have to be transferred to the printhead in too small of a time. This alternative would require 500 data lines running at 16 Megahertz (16 Mhz), in parallel. The use of this many data lines is expensive. In addition, data integrity and emission issues are also present due to the number of data lines operating at such a high speed.
Therefore, it is desirable to develop technologies that provide faster than normal printing and also still provide clinically acceptable tone on different media types. The technology also should produce minimal graininess on many media types.
These technologies would allow use of higher-resolution printheads. An embodiment of the new technologies allows a 14×17 inch film to be marked within 25 seconds at 500 dots per inch using two 16 Megahertz data lines while still providing 4096 gray levels. This is compared to current technology which would require 1200 data lines running at 16 MHz to be connected to the printhead. At these speeds, and allowing extra time to pick, feed, and eject the media, this embodiment provides the printing of 90 or more films per hour at resolutions higher than 500 dpi. In addition to the very high print speed this constitutes a reduction in data line count of more than two orders of magnitude.

Thermal or density management of imaging device


Pharmaceutical compositions incorporate compounds that affect cytokine production and/or secretion. Such compounds include aryl substituted olefinic amine compounds, pyridyloxylalkylamines and phenoxyalkylamines, and aryl substituted amine compounds, such as 3-aminophenyl amine compounds. Such pharmaceutical compositions can be used for treating a wide variety of conditions, diseases and disorders, and particularly those associated with dysfunction of cytokine production and/or secretion. Of particular interest are pharmaceutical compositions useful for preventing and treating conditions, diseases and disorders associated with undesirably high levels of cytokine production and/or secretion. Such pharmaceutical compositions are useful for treating the effects of inflammatory bowel disease, inflammation, arthritis, cachexia in neoplastics diseases or associated with AIDS, and autoimmune diseases.

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions, and particularly pharmaceutical compositions incorporating compounds that affect cytokine production and/or secretion. The present invention also relates to methods for treating a wide variety of conditions, diseases and disorders, and particularly those associated with dysfunction of cytokine production and/or secretion. Of particular interest are pharmaceutical compositions useful for preventing and treating conditions, diseases and disorders associated with undesirably high levels of cytokine production and/or secretion.
Cytokines are polypeptides that affect cell function and modulate interactions between cells associated with immune, inflammatory or hematopoietic responses. Cytokines include monokines (which are generally produced and secreted by mononuclear cells, such as macrophages and monocytes) and lymphokines (which are generally produced and secreted by lymphocytes). Examples of cytokines include interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF, which includes TNF-alpha and TNF-beta). Cytokines have been recognized as having numerous functions, particularly with regards to immune system and inflammatory responses. See, Ebadi et al., Neurochem. Int., 30(4-5): 347-374 (1997).
However, excessive or unregulated cytokine production and secretion has been implicated in mediating or exacerbating various diseases and disorders, particularly those associated with deficiencies in immunoregulation and physiological conditions (e.g., inflammation). See, for example, Tamaka, Jap. J. Clin. Med., 56(1): 97-101 (1998); Dinarello, J. Biol. Regul. Homeostat. Ag., 11(3): 91-103 (1997); Moldawer et al., Sem. Oncol., 25(1): 73-81 (1998); Balkwill, J. Viral Hepat., 4(2): 6-15 (1997); Martin et al., Eur. Resp. J., 10(9): 2139-2146 (1997) and PCT WO 98/25619. For example, pro-inflammatory cytokines are produced by a variety of cell types, play major roles in the regulation of host immune responses, and have been implicated in diverse pathologies. Exemplary pro-inflammatory cytokines include interleukin species, prostaglandin species, colony stimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor.
Cytokines mediate a wide range of symptoms associated with trauma and infection, such as fever, anorexia, tissue wasting (cachexia), acute phase protein production and immunomodulation. In part, such symptoms result form a coordinated response, in which the immune system is activated and biochemical actions occur. Although the cytokine mediated response is an essential part of the response to trauma and infection, excessive production of cytokines, or production of cytokines in an inappropriate biological context, are associated with mortality and pathology in a wide range of diseases. Exemplary diseases and disorders associated with excessive or unregulated cytokine production and/or secretion include malaria, sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer and AIDS. See, for example, Grimble et al., Zeitschrift fur Ernahrungswissenschaft, 37(1): 57-65 (1998). See also, Barnes, Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol., 29(6): 867-870 (1997).
Nicotine has been proposed to have a number of pharmacological effects. For a discussion of reported pharmacological effects of nicotine, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,356 to Ruecroft et al. at col. 1, line 39 through col. 2, line 8. In addition, various nicotinic compounds have been reported as being useful for treating a wide variety of conditions and disorders. See, for example, Williams et al. DNandP 7(4):205-227 (1994), Arneric et al., CNS Drug Rev. 1(1):1-26 (1995), Arneric et al., Exp. Opin. Invest. Drugs 5(1): 79-100 (1996), Bencherif et al., JPET 279:1413-1421 (1996), Lippiello et al., JPET 279:1422-1429 (1996), Damaj et al., Neuroscience (1997), Holladay et al., J. Med. Chem 40(28): 4169-4194 (1997), Bannon et al., Science 279: 77-80 (1998), PCT WO 94/08992, PCT WO 97/19059, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,176 to Lin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,140 to Bencherif et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,919 to Dull et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,716 to Dull et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,442 to Bencherif et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,041 to Cosford et al., and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/054,130.
Nicotine has been proposed as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis. See, for example, Lashner et al., Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 35(7): 827-832 (1990); Pullan et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 330: 811-815 (1994); and Sanborn et al., Aliment Pharmacol. Ther., 11: 663-671 (1997). See, also, Silverstein et al., Mayo Clin. Proc., 69: 425-429 (1994) and Birtwistle, Postgrad. Med. J., 72: 714-718 (1996); as well as the results of studies reported by Zijistra et al., Gut, 35: 247-251 (1994) and Pullan, Ann. R. Coll. Surg. Eng., 78: 85-91 (1996). In addition, administration of nicotinic compounds has been suggested as useful in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,231 to Smith et al.
The existence of interaction between nicotinic processes and the immune system has been proposed. See, for example, Lukas et al., Intl. Rev. Neurobiol., Vol. 34, pp. 25-130 (1992) and Jonakait, TINS, Vol. 16 (10), pp. 419-423 (1993). The administration of nicotine has been shown to elicit inhibition of IL-2 production. See, for example, Denicoff et al., Ann. Intern. Med., Vol.107, pp. 293-300 (1987); Plata-Salaman et al., Neurosc. Biobeh. Res., Vol. 15, pp.185-215 (1991) and Hanish et al., J. Neurosc., Vol. 13, pp. 3368-3374 (1993). Nicotine has been reported to exhibit effects upon cytokine production. Zhang et al., Int. J. Immunopharmacol., 18(8-9): 467-478 (1996). For example, nicotine has been reported to have an effect upon human gingival fibroblast reproduction. Peacock et al., J. Periodtol, 64(7): 658-665 (1 993). It also has been reported that nicotine has an observed inhibitory effect upon prostaglandins in an inverse dose dependent manner (i.e., with greatest inhibition in relation to the lowest dose). Zijlstra et al., Gut, 35: 247-251 (1994). In addition, nicotine has been reported to have an inhibitory effect upon T-helper 2 (TH2) cell function as determined by inhibition of IL-10 production. Madretsma et al., Eur. J. Gastroen Hepat., 8(10): 1017-1020 (1996). Furthermore, it has been reported that nicotine exhibits immunoregulatory effects through modulation of cytokine production, as evidenced by an observed inhibition of IL-2 and TNF-alpha. Madretsma et al., Immunopharmacology, 35: 47-51 (1996). See, also, Van Dijk et al., European Journal of Pharmacology, 278(1): R11-2 (1995).
It has been reported that it would be desirable to control the undesirable effects exhibited by inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines. Sartor, Amer. J. Gastroent., 92(12): S5-S11 (1997); Wallace et al.,Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 214(3): 192-203 (1997) and Matthys et al., Nutrition, 13(9): 763-770 (1997).
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a pharmaceutical composition useful for the prevention and treatment of conditions, diseases or disorders where inhibition of the production and/or secretion of specific cytokines is desired. It would be highly beneficial to provide individuals suffering from certain conditions, diseases or disorders with interruption of the symptoms associated therewith by the administration of a pharmaceutical composition that has a beneficial effect upon the production and secretion of cytokines. It also would be highly beneficial that such pharmaceutical composition not provide any significant associated side effects attendant with interaction of that composition with cardiovascular sites (e.g., increased heart rate and blood pressure) or at skeletal muscle sites.
The present invention relates to a method for providing or treating a wide variety of conditions, diseases and disorders, and particularly those associated with dysfunction of cytokine production and/or secretion. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for providing prevention or treatment of conditions associated with an alteration in normal cytokine production and/or secretion (e.g., undesirably high levels of cytokine production and/or secretion). The method involves administering to a patient an effective amount of a compound of the present invention. Compounds of the present invention include aryl substituted olefinic amine compounds, pyridyloxyalkylamines and phenoxyalkylamines, and aryl substituted amine compounds, such as 3-aminophenyl amine compounds. The method also involves administering pro-drug derivatives of compounds of the present invention.
The present invention, in another aspect, relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound of the present invention. Such a pharmaceutical composition incorporates a compound which, when employed in effective amounts, has the capability of affecting dysfunction associated with cytokine production and/or secretion, and hence has the capability of acting as a therapeutic agent for the prevention or treatment of those conditions associated with abnormal cytokine production and/or secretion. Those compositions also can include pro-drug derivatives of compounds of the present invention.
The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are useful for the prevention or treatment of conditions associated with dysfunction of cytokine production and/or secretion. In particular, the pharmaceutical compositions are useful in inhibiting cytokine production and/or secretion. The pharmaceutical compositions provide therapeutic benefit to individuals suffering from such conditions and exhibiting clinical manifestations of such disorders in that the compounds within those compositions have the potential to (i) prevent and/or suppress the production and/or secretion of cytokines, and (ii) not provide appreciable adverse side effects (e.g., significant increases in blood pressure and heart rate, and significant effects upon skeletal muscle). The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are believed to be safe and effective with regards to prevention and treatment of conditions associated with dysfunction of cytokine production and/or secretion.

Pharmaceutical compositions for inhibition of cytokine production and secretion


Disclosed herein is a portable panel having numerous favorable characteristics. The panel comprises a core having a length, a width, a first side and a second side. A first fiber layer is attached to the first side while a second fiber layer is attached to the second side. A first polyurethane layer is impregnated in the first fiber layer while a second polyurethane layer is impregnated into the second fiber layer. A first skin is attached to the first polyurethane layer while a second skin is attached to the second polyurethane layer. The panel can be used in the manufacture of tables, flooring, risers, stages, bleachers, and the like.

The present invention relates to an improved panel. More specifically, without limitation, this invention relates to a panel made for use in portable flooring, folding tables, risers/platforms/event staging, and wall partitions.
There are numerous industries that use portable equipment and items in the preparation and production of events associated with those industries. The portable equipment used in and at these events are typically assembled and/or positioned prior to the event and removed after the event to allow alternate uses and/or different arrangements of the event venues. Examples of types of equipment that are assembled, moved and/or positioned during these events include portable flooring (such as dance floors, tent floors, stadium floors, etc.), folding tables, bench seating, event platforms/risers/staging, walls, and wall partitions.
For each of these various pieces of equipment, one of the general desirable characteristics is a generally planar shaped surface on which people and/or items will walk, stand, or are placed. Other desirable characteristics include high surface and structural durability, light weight, ease of assembly and disassembly, waterproof, various aesthetic patterns, images, and/or colors on the planar surfaces, and cost effective equipment pieces. To this end there have been numerous attempts in the art to construct various portable tables, portable floors, and the like. Examples of these attempts include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,490,577, 2,849,758, 2,907,127, 2,911,274, 3,310,919, 3,323,797, 3,450,593, 3,512,324, 3,567,260, 3,582,447, 3,630,813, 3,676,279, 3,826,056, 3,868,297, 4,144,681, 4,353,947, 4,522,284, 4,645,171, 4,680,216, 4,879,152, 4,931,340, 4,973,508, 4,988,131 5,006,391, 5,070,662, 5,061,541, 5,154,963, 5,288,538, 5,348,778, 5,496,610, 5,569,508, 5,626,157, 5,634,309, 5,667,866, 5,776,582, 5,888,612, 5,947,037, 5,972,468, 5,992,112, 6,061,993, 6,117,518, 6,128,881 6,189,283 6,227,515, 6,235,367, 6,253,530, 6,446,413, 6,445,131, 6,505,452, 6,526,710, 6,743,497, 6,753,061, 6,761,953, 6,837,171 and 6,865,856. These patents are directed at various designs for tables, panels, locking mechanisms, portable flooring and the like. These patents use less than ideal methods to construct the substantially planar surfaces and connect these surfaces.
For example, in the portable flooring industry conventional flooring panels and the methods for making the same have several drawbacks. One type of typical conventional construction includes using oriented strand board or plywood cut to a preferred size from a large blank as the core structure. The perimeter of this core is machined to provide a contour to accept an edge and the core is coated on one side with a protective film for moisture protection. An edge structure is cut to a desired length and machined to facilitate assembly to the core. Then vinyl or wood parquet tiles are manually placed with adhesive glue onto one of the planer surfaces and then pressed and cured for somewhere between six to eight hours. The excess glue is cleaned off and the locking hardware is attached around the exterior.
An alternate conventional method of making the panels includes cutting a foam core to the preferred size and machining it to provide space for the locking hardware. Steel skins are cut and sized to fit over the foam and are glued to the foam core. A laminate skin is glued to the steel skin and then the panel is pressed and cured. Then the panel is placed into a mold wherein an elastomer edging is molded around the panel perimeter. The locking hardware is installed once the panel is removed from the mold.
Both of these conventional methods result in either very heavy panels that are difficult to transport or panels susceptible to water damage. Both of these methods are labor intensive, while the show surfaces, or show skins, of these panels are susceptible to glue failure rendering these panels disfigured and/or unusable.
What is needed then is a new panel and method for making the same that combines a light weight and durable construction for easy and convenient transport together with the ability to withstand the adverse affects of water and prolonged product life in use. The preferable panel is manufactured with more cost effective, less labor intensive methods to make the panel affordable to a broad cross-section of the market. This needed panel is lacking in the art.

Portable panel construction and method for making the same


What is provided is a method and apparatus wherein a rotating and reciprocating swivel of adjustable stroke length and shearable by ram blow out preventers can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer thereby separating the lower wellbore from the riser. In one embodiment the mandrel of the swivel extends through a sleeve/housing. The sleeve/housing has a wiping arrangement of improved configuration that wipes debris from the mandrel, preventing entry of the debris into the sleeve/housing. Ports enable discharge of the removed debris from the area of the sleeve/housing.

In deepwater drilling rigs, marine risers extending from a wellhead fixed on the ocean floor have been used to circulate drilling fluid or mud back to a structure or rig. The riser must be large enough in internal diameter to accommodate a drill string or well string that includes the largest bit and drill pipe that will be used in drilling a borehole. During the drilling process drilling fluid or mud fills the riser and wellbore.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Rotating and reciprocating swivel apparatus and method


A command procedure for an active magnetic bearing, the magnetic bearing comprising a series of electromagnetic actuators forming a stator, each actuator being suitable for exerting radial force on the rotor, a ferromagnetic body forming a rotor, kept free of contact between the electromagnetic actuators and suitable for being set in rotation around an axis of rotation, the rotor being suitable to undergo precession movements in particular. Sensors suitable for detecting radial displacements of the rotor and issuing position signals representative of the radial position of the rotor in relation to the actuators. Calculation of at least one actuator command signal the calculation of the command signal consisting of the application of at least one transfer function to the position signals, the transfer function containing a number of correction coefficients.

The prior art refers to a command procedure for a magnetic bearing of the type mentioned above. During such a process, an actuator directs the rotation of the rotor around its axis of rotation, this rotation corresponding to a given degree of freedom for the rotor. Excitation of the five other degrees of freedom of the rotor is an undesirable disruption that must be corrected by the means of command. To do this, the means of command, in standard form, comprise one command unit for each degree of freedom of the rotor, the command of each degree of freedom of the rotor thus being separated from the commands for the other degrees of freedom. However, for high rotor-rotation speeds, such command procedures have proved unsuitable. In fact, because of the precession movements caused by the gyroscopic effect of the rotor, coupling occurs between the degrees of freedom. For these rotation speeds, the correction of the movements of the rotor by means of these standard command procedures is therefore relatively unstable. In addition, the performance of the electric motor associated with the rotor is noticeably reduced.
To overcome this problem, document EP 1,771,667 B1 describes a command procedure for a magnetic bearing, within which the methods of precession of the rotor, combined with the precession movements, are taken into account by the means of command. More specifically, different correctors are modelled, each corrector taking account of the modes of precession of the rotor in the form of outside uncertainties. The command procedure therefore involves, for a given speed of rotation of the rotor, selection of the most suitable corrector. In such a procedure, correction of the precession movements of the rotor may prove selectively stable, especially in close proximity to the speeds of rotation for which the correctors have been designed. However, such a command procedure does not guarantee stability of correction throughout the full range of speeds of rotation of the rotor, especially when passing from one corrector to another. In addition, as the rotor precession modes are based on outside uncertainties, these uncertainties also constitute sources of instability for final the correction.

Device and method for controlling an active magnetic bearing

GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.


An easy-open, spiral wound container for packaging refrigerated dough products includes a spirally wound fibrous core layer, forming an unbonded spiral butt joint. The container also includes an inner liner layer and an outer label layer, each having a seam. The outer label layer is weakened along the butt joint to facilitate opening of the container. An end closure member seals an end of the container.

The present invention relates in general to containers for packaging refrigerated dough products, and a method of forming the same.
The art of constructing dough containers is well known. Dough containers fall into two general categories. They include peelable and no-peel containers. Peelable containers generally require removal of the outer layer before the container can be opened, whereas the no-peel containers do not.
Dough containers must be sufficiently strong to prevent premature rupturing and must also be easily opened. Several designs have been proposed to prevent premature rupture. One such design employs a technique of placing an inner liner seam, a butt joint and an outer label seam out of register with one another. By placing the seams out of register, the container has sufficient strength to prevent premature rupturing during shipment and storage.
An example of a dough container in which the seams are placed out of register is disclosed in Zoeller et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,102,818. The Zoeller et al. patent discloses a container having an outer label layer, a tear element for weakening the label layer, a fiberboard core layer, and an inner liner. Seams of the outer label layer, the fiberboard core layer and the inner liner are out of register. The outer layer is modified along the butt joint to facilitate opening. One example of modification includes gluing a tear element to the label layer. When the tear element is pulled, the label layer tears and the container is weakened along the butt joint. The container may then be opened by application of a moderate indenting force to the butt joint.
Another dough container design employs a technique of partially reinforcing the butt joint to prevent premature rupturing of the container. An example of this technique is disclosed in Culley et al. U.S Pat. No. 3,510,050. Culley et al. discloses a container having a fiberboard core layer including a helical butt joint. Tensile members are positioned over at least a portion of the butt joint. The tensile members straddle the butt joint and are positioned on either the inner surface of the fiberboard layer, the outer surface of the fiberboard layer or both. The seams of the fiberboard layer, the inner liner and label layer are all in register. The tensile members which reinforce the butt joint are attached by means of a hot melt adhesive. When a sufficient force is applied to a point along the butt joint, the tensile member ruptures and the container opens.

Dough container with preweakened non-peel label


A flat embossing machine for flat material (5) to be embossed has a flat press (2), an embossing table (3) and a tool plate (4). At least one foil web (6) passes through foil loop stores (10, 20) each with a differential pressure device (30) for shaping a foil loop (12) with an air pressure difference exerted on the foil web. A foil feed device (24) and a tensioning device (25) are on each side of the flat press and a foil feed control (52) operates in synchronism with the press cycle so that the foil web is stopped during the embossing phase (TP) on the embossing table (3) and is advanced to the next embossing position during the embossing-free phase. Speed differences between the feed speed (VV) at the embossing location and web speed (V7) at the unwinding roll or at the removal device (V8) are compensated for by corresponding increases and decreases in the size of the loops (L1, L2) in the foil stores. This allows high embossing speeds with optimum quality.

In such a machine, with which it is possible to perform embossing functions requiring particularly high quality, during the embossing phase, the embossing foil web must be stopped in an accurately determined position on the embossing table and subsequently, during the non-embossing phase, fed rapidly into the next foil web embossing position. The sensitive embossing foil web must be carefully handled and conveyed. This is difficult to achieve because, as a result of this embossing cycle, there is a very non-uniform feed at the embossing location, while the sluggish unwinding rolls are driven in a substantially uniform manner. The resulting length changes have hitherto been compensated for by floating or dancing rollers. This was possible up to average embossing speeds. However, the foil web speeds, the number of simultaneously processable foil webs and, in particular, the machine speed were limited. Nevertheless, flat-flat embossing geometry permits the highest embossing qualities, particularly for relief printing and for large image formats. An improvement in partial areas could be achieved, e.g., with a register control according to EP-A-708 046 or with an automatic print control according to EP-A-749 001. However, the fundamental limitations still remain.

Flat embossing machine with a foil loop store


Mobile terminals 201 to 203 measure strength of the received signal from plurality of base station antennas 101 to 105 and transmits it to network system 300. Network system 300 determines proximity state between plurality of base station antennas 101 to 105 based on the strength of the received signal from plurality of base station antennas 101 to 105 transmitted from mobile terminals 201 to 203. From that determination, the base station antennas proximity state matching a position or features of an antenna of the mobile terminal can be recognized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile communication system and a method for determining a base station antenna proximity state.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the mobile communication system using a wireless medium as a communication medium between a mobile terminal and a base station, improving the receiving efficiency of a signal is effective to increase the communication capacity. Higher receiving efficiency can lower transmission power for meeting the same signal quality, which can reduce interference power caused by transmission power generated from the terminal or the base station. Generally, the received signal quality such as a bit error rate is determined by the ratio of desired signal power to interference power. For improving the quality of the received signal, the desired signal power needs to be increased or the interference power needs to be decreased.
In order to enable as many mobile terminals as possible to perform communication in the case where mobile terminals are present in an area covered by a plurality of wireless base stations, the base station having the highest receiving efficiency and the mobile terminal need to communicate with each other. That means that a mobile terminal communicates with the closest base station in terms of propagation space. The shortest distance in terms of propagation space is the closest geographical distance on flat land. In urban areas having clusters of buildings, however, the buildings or the like reflect or scatter a wireless signal, thus, a distance in terms of propagation space is not necessarily short for even if the geographical distance is close. Therefore, a mobile terminal device estimates and determines a base station to place a communication link by estimating the distance between the mobile terminal and a base station in terms propagation space. In the estimation, power transmitted from a base station received at the mobile terminal is measured and its propagation loss is estimated by an attenuation of the power.
As another method for improving the receiving efficiency, a space diversity technique can be used. The technique includes a receiving diversity for receiving a radio wave transmitted from a single transmission point at a plurality of different positions in terms of propagation space and a transmitting diversity for transmitting a radio wave from a plurality of different positions in terms of propagation space to a single receiving point. In an actual mobile communication system, a receiving gain can be improved as a radio wave transmitted from a single mobile terminal is received at a plurality of base station antennas and the signals received at respective antennas are combined. The improved receiving gain can reduce transmission power for maintaining a predetermined signal quality. Accordingly, the mobile terminal's interference power that affects another mobile terminal decreases so that communication capability from the mobile terminal to the base station antenna can be increased.
The Code Division Multiple Access system includes methods for increasing the receiving efficiency by receiving a signal transmitted from a single transmitting point at a plurality of different receiving points. The first method one is a selection combining for decoding a signal transmitted from a single transmitting point into base band signals at a plurality of receiving points respectively, performing quality evaluation on the signal received at each point, determining whether the signal is valid (without an error) or invalid (with an error), and determining the signal to capture. The second method is a maximum ratio combining for aligning signals received at a plurality of receiving points such that they arrive at the same time and adding the signals, then decoding the signal into the base band signal.
In the selection combining method, any one of the signals received at the plurality of receiving points needs to be valid (without an error). If two or more signals are valid, only one of them is to be referenced. Many invalid signals each having a few errors do not work at all.
The maximum ratio combining method has a feature of adding energies of respective signals received at a plurality of receiving points. Thus, if the signals received at the received points are collected, receiving power that is sufficient for decoding a signal can be obtained, even if the receiving power received at only a single receiving point is insufficient. As a result that makes the receiving efficiency higher than in the case where a signal is received at a single point. Thus, this can reduce the transmission power at a transmission point required for providing a predetermined signal quality.
The selection combining reception and the maximum ratio combining reception methods differ in their required transmission channels. In the selection combining reception method, because the transmitted signal is decoded into the base band signal at the receiving points, the signals only need to be collected at a combining point through transmission channels having a similar information rate as that for the base band signal. Thus, a low speed transmission channel is sufficient for the transmission channel between the receiving point and the combining point. In contrast, in the maximum ratio combining method, the transmitted signal is not decoded into the base band signal at the receiving points and the signals in a wireless section base need to be collected because they are at a combining point through transmission channels. Thus, a high speed transmission channel is required for the transmission channel between the receiving point and the combining point. Therefore, the actual maximum ratio combining is only applied in the case where the receiving point and the combining point are geographically close so that a high speed transmission channel can be ensured between the receiving point and the combining point. In the other cases, the selection combining is adopted. That is to say, the maximum ratio combining is a combining method that is performed between sectors of sector base stations in which a single base station has a plurality of receiving antennas. The selection combining is a combining method that is performed between base stations that are geographically apart from each other.
As mentioned above, whether the selection combining or the maximum ratio combining methods are applied is logically determined by whether the positions of the plurality of receiving points are geographically close or not. In order to improve the receiving efficiency, however, it is desirable to use the maximum ratio combining reception method whether the receiving points are close or not.
In order to use the maximum ratio combining method, a high speed transmission channel for transferring signals from a plurality of receiving points by signals in the wireless section base is necessary. In order to effectively perform maximum ratio combining reception in a mobile communication system in which a plurality of antennas form a service area, the receiving points whose covering areas are close need to be connected by high speed transmission channels in general terms. Strictly speaking, the maximum ratio combining reception can be effectively performed because signals from a plurality of receiving points that can be received with a certain degree of receiving power are collected to a combining point by a high speed transmission channel.
As mentioned above, in order to use the maximum ratio combining reception, signals in wireless section base received at a plurality of receiving points need to be combined. In such a case, maximum ratio combining is generally performed by having a plurality of antennas, that have different directivity, set in the same base station that is used as a receiving point. This is why it is easy to ensure a high speed transmission channel if the antennas are in the same base station. The maximum ratio combining, however, needs to ensure a high speed transmission channel for a long section in which points are geographically apart from each other. Under the circumstance of a low information transmission rate of the wired transmission channel, it has been considered that the maximum ratio combining is not very realistic. The maximum ratio combining has a feature of improving the receiving efficiency because a signal transmitted from a single point can be received at a plurality of antennas and the signals can be added in terms of energy in the case where a radio wave transmitted from a single mobile terminal is received at a plurality of antennas. Therefore, performing the maximum ratio combining not only between receiving points such as antennas that are contained in a single base station but also between geographically different receiving points as mentioned above may provide an effect of further improving the receiving efficiency.
Connecting any receiving points geographically close to each other by a high speed transmission channel, however, causes large amount of consumption of transmission band in a backbone circuit, and thus increases the cost for establishing a high speed transmission channel. In that case, it is not ensured that all the connected high speed transmission channels are used, resulting in wasted high speed transmission channel. Therefore, in terms of an efficient and pragmatic solution, there is a need to find a pair of receiving points, from among receiving points that are geographically close to one another, that will be effective for performing maximum ratio combining. Thus, a method for finding a base station that a mobile terminal placed in a service area can communicate with as a mobile terminal that is not in communication estimates strength of a downlink electric field from each of the base stations around the mobile terminal and selects a base station with a high strength of the received signal is adopted. A method to cause a mobile terminal that is in operation to select a base station with which it can communicate when the mobile terminal moves by notifying the terminal of the ID of a candidate base station, and that causes the terminal to measure the strength of a downlink electric field from base stations and to inform the strength to the base stations and to select an appropriate base station based on the result, is performed in a handover procedure. For information on surrounding base stations used here, it is common to use a method for placing a particular receiving device in a certain base station, causing the receiving device to measure the strength of the downlink electric field from the plurality of base stations and to generate the information on the surrounding base station based on the measured result. The method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-84567, for example.
Such a receiving device that measures the strength of a downlink electric field from surrounding base stations, however, is often created by an object transported on a vehicle that is equipped with a storage device featuring large capacity and higher receiving performance, and the range for such a receiving device is limited to a channel on which the vehicle can move. The height of antennas of devices for measuring the strength of an electric field significantly differ from the height of an antenna of a terminal that is actually used by a user. Such a receiving device has a problem in which it is difficult to make measurements that reflect the changing locations of a mobile terminal actually used by a user in a service area, and thus it is difficult to correctly determine the base station antenna with which the mobile terminal communicates.

Mobile communication system and method for determining base station antenna proximity state


A non-sticky, clear water-in-oil emulsion comprising: (a) 65-90 weight % of an internal phase comprising 5-35 weight % of an antiperspirant salt (anhydrous basis) having a metal:chloride ratio in the range of 0.9-1.4:1; 5-15 weight % of tripropylene glycol; and 35-70 weight % water; and (b) 10-35 weight % of an external phase comprising 1-40 weight % of a volatile silicone which is not an elastomer; 0.1-5 weight % of a silicone copolyol surfactant; and 0-20 weight % of a nonvolatile silicone which is not an elastomer; wherein the composition is free of (1) C1-5 saturated alcohols, (2) added propylene glycol, (3) elastomer gelling agents, (4) soap gelling agents (5) borate gelling agents, and (6) coupling agents, and wherein all amounts are in % by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

This invention relates to an improved efficacy antiperspirant gel with improved aesthetics, especially reduced tack or stickiness. The invention is a compressed water-in-oil emulsion comprising 65-90 weight % of an internal/dispersed active phase which (1) includes an antiperspirant active with a low metal:chloride ratio, (2) is free of added ethanol and propylene glycol, and (3) is free of elastomer, soap and borate gelling agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,799 to Lee et al describes a clear cosmetic gel which is a water-in-oil emulsion and which can include propylene and/or tripropylene glycol. The composition also includes an alkoxylated alkyl substituted siloxane surface active agent.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,587,153 and 5,863,525 to Angelone et al describes a clear gel-type cosmetic products which may be made with ethanol and propylene glycol.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,925,338 to Karassik et al describes clear antiperspirant or deodorant gel compositions with linear silicone to reduce staining which comprises a polyether substituted silicone emulsifying agent and a volatile cyclic silicone and a volatile linear silicone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,963 to Hilliard describes a cosmetic gel having low irritation wherein the glycol component is controlled as to composition. Selected embodiments include those with tripropylene glycol and others having no added propylene glycol.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,518 to Kwass describes an optically clear liquid antiperspirant product with is a stable water-in-oil emulsion having a viscosity of less than 1000 cps. The composition includes the use of propylene glycol and ethanol.
WO 01/85118 to Unilever describes antiperspirant/deodorant compositions which are free of xe2x80x9csimple glycolsxe2x80x9d (as defined) and middle chain alcohols.
WO 01/85121 to Unilever is similar to WO 01/85118 but also includes a coupling agent and an ethylene glycol adduct.
The invention comprises a clear, low tack, water-in-oil emulsion comprising:
(a) 5-25 weight % (preferably 10-25% and more preferably 15-25%) of an antiperspirant salt (anhydrous basis) having a metal:chloride ratio in the range of 0.9-1.4:1;
(b) 5-15 weight % of tripropylene glycol;
(c) 35-70 weight % water;
(d) 5-30 weight % of a volatile silicone which is not an elastomer;
(e) 0.1-5 weight % (particularly 0.1-3% and more particularly 0.1-1.0%) of a silicone copolyol surfactant; and
(f) 0-20 weight % (particularly 1-15%, and more particularly 1-9%) of a nonvolatile silicone which is not an elastomer;
having an external phase comprised of (a)+(b)+(c) and an internal phase of (d)+(e)+(f), wherein the ratio of external phase to internal phase is in the range of 65-90:10-35 (more particularly 75-85:15-25), and wherein the composition is free of (1) added low molecular weight alcohols (that is, C1-5 saturated alcohols, particularly ethanol), (2) added propylene glycol (no more than 1% and preferably less than 0.1%), (3) elastomer gelling agents, (4) soap gelling agents (5) borate gelling agents, and (6) coupling agents, and wherein all amounts are in % by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
It should be noted that the ability to use tripropylene glycol (xe2x80x9cTPGxe2x80x9d) in this invention is unexpected, since normally glycols cause such compositions to be sticky. In this formulation, the use of TPG does not result in a sticky formulation, as evidenced by sensory testing on skin as described below.
For the antiperspirant active used in the internal (also called xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d) phase various antiperspirant active materials that can be utilized according to the present invention provided that they are soluble at a suitable concentration in the active phase and have the required metal:chloride ratio. These include conventional aluminum and aluminum/zirconium salts, as well as aluminum/zirconium salts complexed with a neutral amino acid such as glycine, as known in the art. See each of European Patent Application Number. 512,770 A1 and PCT case WO 92/19221, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, for disclosure of antiperspirant active materials. The antiperspirant active materials disclosed therein, including the acidic antiperspirant materials, can be incorporated in the compositions of the present invention if they are soluble in the active phase. Suitable materials include (but are not limited to) aluminum chlorides (various types including, for example, anhydrous form, hydrated form, etc.), zirconyl hydroxychlorides, zirconyl oxychlorides, basic aluminum chlorides, basic aluminum chlorides combined with zirconyl oxychlorides and hydroxychlorides, and organic complexes of each of basic aluminum chlorides with or without zirconyl oxychlorides and hydroxychlorides and mixtures of any of the foregoing. These include, by way of example (and not of a limiting nature), aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum chloride, aluminum sesquichlorohydrate, zirconyl hydroxychloride, aluminum-zirconium glycine complex (for example, aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex gly, aluminum zirconium pentachlorohydrex gly, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly and aluminum zirconium octochlorohydrex gly), aluminum dichlorohydrate, aluminum chlorohydrex PEG, and mixtures of any of the foregoing. The aluminum-containing materials can be commonly referred to as antiperspirant active aluminum salts. Generally, the foregoing metal antiperspirant active materials are antiperspirant active metal salts. In the embodiments which are antiperspirant compositions according to the present invention, such compositions need not include aluminum-containing metal salts, and can include other antiperspirant active materials, including other antiperspirant active metal salts. Generally, Category I active antiperspirant ingredients listed in the Food and Drug Administration""s Monograph on antiperspirant drugs for over-the-counter human use can be used. In addition, any new drug, not listed in the Monograph, such as tin or titanium salts used alone or in combination with aluminum compounds (for example, aluminum-stannous chlorohydrates), aluminum nitratohydrate and its combination with zirconyl hydroxychlorides and nitrates, can be incorporated as an antiperspirant active ingredient in antiperspirant compositions according to the present invention. Preferred antiperspirant actives that can be incorporated in the compositions of the present invention include the enhanced efficacy aluminum salts and the enhanced efficacy aluminum/zirconium salt-glycine materials, having enhanced efficacy due to improved molecular distribution, known in the art and discussed, for example, in PCT No. WO92/19221, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. Particular actives include Westchlor ZR 35B aluminum zirconium tetrachlorhydrex gly(from Westwood Chemical Corporation, Middletown, N.Y.);, and Rezal 36 GP and AZP 902 aluminum zirconium tetrachlorhydrex gly both from Reheis, Berkeley Heights, N.J. as well as Rezal AZZ 908 from Reheis. In general, the metal:chloride mole ratio is in the range of 2.1-0.9:1 for such salts.
Actives of special interest because they form low RI solutions include: Westchlor Zr 35BX4 (30-35% actives in water) from Westwood Chemical Company, Middletown, N.Y.; Summit AZG-368 (28-32% in water) from Summit Research Labs, Huguenot, N.Y.; Summit Z522, Z529, Z498 and Z576; and aluminum chloride (28% in water) which may be obtained from several sources. In general, the metal:chloride mole ratio is approximately 1.2:1 for such salts.
In one particular type of salt of interest, an aluminum zirconium tetra salt with glycine is used wherein aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine salt having a metal to chloride ratio in the range of 0.9-1.2:1 (especially in the range of 0.9-1.1:1 and, more particularly in the range of 0.9-1.0:1); and a glycine:zirconium mole ratio greater than 1.3:1, particularly greater than 1.4:1.
Mixtures of actives can also be used, provided a suitable amount of low RI material is used to achieve a satisfactory product.
Antiperspirant actives can be incorporated into compositions according to the present invention in amounts in the range of 7-25% (on an anhydrous solids basis), preferably 7-20%, by weight, of the total weight of the composition. The amount used will depend on the formulation of the composition. At amounts at the higher end of the range (especially in a range of 9-20% or 9-25%, a good antiperspirant effect can be expected. As noted above, the active is preferably included in the compositions of the invention by premixing the active with water.
Tripropylene glycol (2-25 weight %, preferably 5-20%, and more preferably 9-10%) is used in the invention and is of special interest because of (1) its low irritancy and (2) the unexpected lack of tackiness associated with its use as compared with other glycols such as propylene glycol. There is one complication, however, since the antiperspirant active is not as soluble in tripropylene glycol as it is in some of the other choices. It may be advantageous to include a small amount of other selected glycols to give the desired balance between irritancy and solubility for the antiperspirant active. These selected glycols which may be included in the compositions of this invention are selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, methyl propanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, PEG-4 through PEG-100, PPG-9 through PPG-34, pentylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, trimethylpropanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol, and mixtures thereof. More particular examples of the glycol component include one or more members of the group consisting of dipropylene glycol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, methyl propylene glycol, low molecular weight (less than 600) polyethylene glycol, low molecular weight (less than 600) polypropylene glycols, and mixtures of any of the foregoing. Mixtures of glycols may be used to balance these desirable properties.
The compositions of the invention are free of added propylene glycol, however, it is understood that small amounts of propylene glycol may be present as impurities in commercial grades of certain glycols such as tripropylene glycol. For the formulations of this invention, the amount of propylene glycol must not exceed 1 weight %, is preferably less than 0.1 weight % and ideally is zero.
The level of water is necessarily dependent other factors including the need to accommodate other ingredients in the internal phase while retaining a refractive index which yields a clear formula. It is anticipated that other than antiperspirant active, tripropylene glycol and optional ingredients, the remainder of the internal phase will be water.
For the external phase, also called the oil phase the following ingredients may be used.
For the volatile silicone component, an amount of 1-40 weight % may be used; this includes the incremental amount needed to complete the selected amount of the external phase (quantum sufficient or xe2x80x9cq.s.xe2x80x9d). Particular ranges include 2-30%, (more particularly 3-20% and, even more particularly, 5-10%) by weight based on the entire weight of the composition which may be used. By volatile silicone material is meant a material that has a measurable vapor pressure at ambient temperature. For the volatile silicone portion, examples of volatile silicones (particularly silicones with a boiling point of 250 degrees C or less at atmospheric pressure) include cyclomethicone (especially cyclopentasiloxane, also called xe2x80x9cD5xe2x80x9d), xe2x80x9chexamethyldisiloxanexe2x80x9d, and low viscosity dimethicone (for example, Dow Corning(copyright) 200 fluid having a viscosity of 1-200 centistokes). Such volatile silicones include conventional cyclic and linear volatile silicones Illustratively, and not by way of limitation, the volatile silicones are one or more members selected from the group consisting of cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes such as those represented by Formula III:
where n is an integer with a value of 3-7, particularly 5-6. For example, DC-245 fluid (or the DC-345 version) from Dow Corning Corporation (Midland, Mich.) is a type of cyclomethicone which can be used. These include a tetramer (or octylmethylcyclotetrasiloxane) and a pentamer (or decamethylcyclopentasiloxane). The volatile linear silicones can also be included in this group of volatile silicones and are one or more members selected from the group consisting of linear polydimethylsiloxanes such as those represented by Formula IV:
and t is selected to obtain a viscosity of 1-200 centistokes.
The alkoxylated, alkyl substituted siloxane surface active agent is preferably, but not limited to, a dimethicone copolyol. An illustrative alkoxylated silicone-containing surfactant utilizable according to the present invention is cetyl dimethicone copolyol, referred to in U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,378 to Guthauser. Illustratively, the alkoxylated, alkyl substituted siloxane surface active agent is included in the composition in an amount of 0.2-2.0 weight %, based on the total weight of the composition.
A specific cyclomethicone-dimethicone copolyol fluid which can be utilized to provide the alkoxylated silicone-containing surface active agent is a mixture of cyclomethicone and dimethicone copolyol designated as DC3225C from Dow Corning Corp. This is a polyether substituted silicone of cyclomethicone and dimethicone copolyol (refractive index (RI)=1.3994). This DC 3225C, which is an emulsifying agent, is useful for preparing stable water-in-oil emulsions where a silicone makes up a large portion of the oil phase, and is a dispersion of a silicone surfactant (dimethicone copolyol) (10% by weight) in cyclomethicone (Dow Corning 344 Fluid) (90% by weight).
It should also be noted that various concentrations of the dimethicone copolyols in cyclomethicone can be used. While a concentration of 10% in cyclomethicone is frequently seen commercially, other concentrations can be made by stripping off the cyclomethicone or adding additional cyclomethicone. The lower concentration materials such as DOW CORNING(copyright) 5225C material is of particular interest.
In one particular embodiment 0.1-5% (particularly 0.5-5.0%) of a 10-50% silicone copolyol such as dimethicone copolyol in cyclomethicone mixture may be used, wherein the amount of mixture added is selected so that the level of silicone copolyol in the cosmetic composition is in the range of 0.25-5.0% (particularly 1%) (for example, 0.25-10% of a 40%-50% dimethicone copolyol in cyclomethicone mixture).
The formula may optionally contain one or more of the following non-volatile silicones or combinations there of: (0-20%, more preferably 1-15%, more preferably 1-9%) of a non-cross-linked linear or branched polyalkylsiloxanes, polyalkyarylsiloxanes, polyestersiloxanes, polyethersiloxane copolymers, polyfluorosiloxanes, polyaminosiloxanes, with a mean molecular weight of at least 1000. For instance the linear organo-substituted polysiloxanes which are polymers of silicon/oxygen with general structure:
(1) (R20 )3SiO(Si(R21)2O)xSi(R22)3 where R20, R21 and R22 can be the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl and C1-C60 alkyl; or
(2) HOxe2x80x94(R24)2xe2x80x94SiOxe2x80x94(Si(R25)2O)xSi(R26)2xe2x80x94OH, where R24, R25 and R26 can be the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl and C1-C60 alkyl; or
(3) organo substituted silicon compounds of formula R27xe2x80x94Si(R28)Oxe2x80x94Sixe2x80x94R29 which are not polymeric where R27, R28 and R29 can be the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of phenyl and C1-C60 alkyl optionally with one or both of the terminal R groups also containing an hydroxyl group. Specific examples include dimethicone, dimethiconol behenate, C30-45 alkyl methicone, stearoxytrimethylsilane, phenyl trimethicone and stearyl dimethicone.
Specific examples include dimethicone, dimethiconol behenate, C30-45 alkyl methicone, stearoxytrimethylsilane, phenyl trimethicone, stearyl dimethicone and dimethiconol.
Other optional ingredients may also be added as desired. Optional ingredients may be incorporated into the internal or external phase as appropriate. These include (but are not limited to) a salt (especially NaCl), coloring agents and the following:
(1) A deodorant activexe2x80x94Effective amounts of antimicrobial agents, for example, 0.05-5.0 percent (particularly 0.1-1% and, more particularly, 0.25-1.0%) by weight based on the total weight of the composition; examples include bacteriostatic quaternary ammonium compounds (such as cetyl trimethyl-ammonium bromide, and cetyl pyridinium chloride), 2,4,4xe2x80x2-trichloro-2xe2x80x2-hydroxydiphenylether (Triclosan), N-(4-chlorophenyl)-Nxe2x80x2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea (Triclocarban), silver halides, octoxyglycerin (SENSIVA(trademark) SC 50) and various zinc salts (for example, zinc ricinoleate). Triclosan or Triclocarban can, illustratively, be included in an amount of from 0.05% to about 0.5% by weight, of the total weight of the composition.
(2) fragrancexe2x80x940-5%, more preferably 0.05-1.5%, more preferably 0.5-1%, especially a mixture of volatile organic compounds which impart a pleasant odor to the product and mask the base odor of the product formulation, if any. It is assumed that fragrances may impart other benefits to the consumer such as underarm malodor masking bacteriostatic effect. Fragrances consist of complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds and natural essential oils including but not limited to those skilled in the art. Examples of fragrance materials commonly used the formulations disclosed in this invention include but are not limited to those described in xe2x80x9cPerfume and Flavor Chemicalsxe2x80x9d by Steffan Arctander Allured Publishing Co., Carol Stream, Ill, 2000.
(3) emollientxe2x80x94The emollient or emollient mixture or blend thereof incorporated in compositions according to the present invention can, illustratively, be included in amounts of 0.5-50%, preferably 1-25%, more preferably 1-5%, by weight, of the total weight of the composition. Emollients are a known class of materials in this art, imparting a soothing effect to the skin. These are ingredients which help to maintain the soft, smooth, and pliable appearance of the skin. Emollients are also known to reduce whitening on the skin and/or improve aesthetics. Examples of chemical classes from which suitable emollients can be found include:
(a) fats and oils which are the glyceryl esters of fatty acids, or triglycerides, normally found in animal and plant tissues, including those which have been hydrogenated to reduce or eliminate unsaturation. Also included are synthetically prepared esters of glycerin and fatty acids. Isolated and purified fatty acids can be esterified with glycerin to yield mono-, di-, and triglycerides. These are relatively pure fats which differ only slightly from the fats and oils found in nature. The general structure may be represented by Formula VI:
xe2x80x83wherein each of R1, R2, and R3 may be the same or different and have a carbon chain length (saturated or unsaturated) of 7 to 30. Specific examples include peanut oil, sesame oil, avocado oil, coconut, cocoa butter, almond oil, safflower oil, corn oil, cotton seed oil, castor oil, hydrogenated castor oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, cod liver oil, palm oil, soybean oil, wheat germ oil, linseed oil, and sunflower seed oil;
(b) hydrocarbons which are a group of compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen. These are derived from petrochemicals. Their structures can vary widely and include aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic compounds. Specific examples include paraffin, petrolatum, hydrogenated polyisobutene, and mineral oil.
(c) esters which chemically, are the covalent compounds formed between acids and alcohols. Esters can be formed from almost all acids (carboxylic and inorganic) and any alcohol. Esters here are derived from carboxylic acids and an alcohol. The general structure would be R4COxe2x80x94OR5. The chain length for R4 and R5 can vary from 7 to 30 and can be saturated or unsaturated, straight chained or branched. Specific examples include isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl stearate, isopropyl isostearate, butyl stearate, octyl stearate, hexyl laurate, cetyl stearate, diisopropyl adipate, isodecyl oleate, diisopropyl sebacate, isostearyl lactate, C12-15 alkyl benzoates, myreth-3 myristate, dioctyl malate, neopentyl glycol diheptanoate, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, C12-15 alcohols lactate, isohexyl decanoate, isohexyl caprate, diethylene glycol dioctanoate, octyl isononanoate, isodecyl octanoate, diethylene glycol diisononanoate, isononyl isononanoate, isostearyl isostearate, behenyl behenate, C12-15 alkyl fumarate, laureth-2 benzoate, propylene glycol isoceteth-3 acetate, propylene glycol ceteth-3 acetate, octyldodecyl myristate, cetyl ricinoleate, myristyl myristate.
(d) saturated and unsaturated alcohols (including guerbet alcohols) with general structure R7OH where R7 can be C7-C30 saturated or unsaturated, straight chained or branched hydrocarbon. Specific examples for the hydrocarbon portion include, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, isocetyl, stearyl, isostearyl, oleyl, ricinoleyl and erucyl alcohol;
(e) lanolin and its derivatives which are a complex esterified mixture of high molecular weight esters of (hydroxylated) fatty acids with aliphatic and alicyclic alcohols and sterols. General structures would include R8CH2xe2x80x94(OCH2CH2)nOH where R8 represents the fatty groups derived from lanolin and n=5 to 75 or R9COxe2x80x94(OCH2CH2)nOH where R9COxe2x80x94 represents the fatty acids derived from lanolin and n=5 to 100. Specific examples include lanolin, lanolin oil, lanolin wax, lanolin alcohols, lanolin fatty acids, isopropyl lanolate, ethoxylated lanolin and acetylated lanolin alcohols.
(f) alkoxylated alcohols wherein the alcohol portion is selected from aliphatic alcohols having 2-18 carbons and more particularly 4-18 carbons, and the alkylene portion is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, and propylene oxide having a number of alkylene oxide units from 2-53 and, more particularly, from 2-15. Examples include cetyl glyceryl ether; isostearyl glyceryl ether; isostearyl glyceryl pentaerythrityl ether; laureth-5 butyl ether; oleyl glyceryl ether; PEG-4 ditallow ether; polyglyceryl-3 cetyl ether; polyglyceryl-4 lauryl ether; PPG-9 diglyceryl ether; propylene glycol myristyl ether. More specific examples include PPG-14 butyl ether, PPG-53 butyl ether laureth-5 butyl ether and PEG-4 ditallow ether.
(g) ethers selected from the group consisting of dicaprylyl ether; dicetyl ether; dimethyl ether; distearyl ether; ethyl ether; isopropyl hydroxycetyl ether; methyl hexyl ether; polyvinyl methyl ether; and
(j) mixtures and blends of two or more of the foregoing.
Particular examples of suitable emollients include members of the group consisting of Octyloxyglyderin (SENSIVA SC50 from Schixc3xclke Mayr, Norderstedt, Germany) (which can be used as an emollient as well as an antibacterial); Polysorbate 80 (TWEEN 80 from ICI Americas, Wilmington, Del.); Oleth-20; ethoxylated alcohols such as steareth-2, nonoxynol-2, PPG-4-Ceteth-1; ethoxylated carboxylic acids such as PEG-4 dilaurate, PEG-2 oleate; glyceryl esters such as PEG-2 castor oil, polyglyceryl-3 oleate, glyceryl stearate; sorbitan derivatives such as sorbitan oleate; PPG-3 myristyl ether (such as WITCONOL APM from Goldschmidt), a dimethiconol (such as Dow Corning(copyright) DC1501 dimethiconol), neopentyl glycol diheptanoate, PEG-8 laurate, isocetyl stearate, dimethicone copolyol laurate, Dow Corning 2501 cosmetic wax (dimethicone copolyol); isostearyl isostearate, isostearyl palmitate, isostearyl alcohol, PPG-5-ceteth-20, PPG-10-cetyl ether, triethyl hexanoin, ethyl hexyl isostearate, glyceryl oleate, and isopropyl isostearate.
(5) co-surfactantxe2x80x940-5% (preferably 0-3%, and more preferably 0-1%) of a co-surfactant (which can also be a mixture or blend of surfactants) which is at least one member selected from the group consisting of:
(a) sorbitan esters and ethoxylated sorbitan esters (for example PEG-20 sorbitan isostearate, sorbitan monolaurate, polysorbate-20, polysorbate-40, polysorbate-60, polysorbate-80);
(b) ethoxylates (for example, Ceteth-20, PEG-30 castor oil, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, Laureth-7, Isolaureth-6, Steareth-10, Steareth-20, Steareth-21, Steareth-100, Ceteareth-12, Oleth-5, Oleth-10, and Oleath-20);
(c) ethoxylated adducts (for example, PEG-25 stearate, glyceryl stearate and PEG-100 stearate);
(d) PEG esters (for example, PEG-8 oleate, PEG-8 laurate, PEG-8 dilaurate, PEG-12 dilaurate, PEG-80 diisostearate, PEG-40 stearate);
(e) propoxylates (for example, PPG-10 butanediol, PPG-50 oleyl ether, PPG-2-ceteareth-9, PPG-3-deceth-3, PPG-5-ceteth-20);
(f) ethoxylated modified triglycerides (for example, PEG-20 corn glycerides, PEG-12 palm kernel glycerides); and
(g) block copolymers which are alkoxylated glycols having ethoxylated and propoxylated segments (for example, Poloxamers 182 and 234, and Meroxapol 174);
wherein the co-surfactant is selected so that it has an HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) value in the range of 1-15, preferably xe2x89xa68.
The HLB parameter is a well known parameter the calculation of which is disclosed and explained in numerous references. For nonionic surfactants, data obtained by actual analysis is usually a more accurate measure of HLB values (rather than theoretical determinations). For purposes of this invention it is intended that either the actual or theoretical HLB value may be used as the basis for selection.
For the co-surfactant having an HLB value xe2x89xa68, examples include:
(a) ethoxylated alcohols such as steareth-2, Oleth-3, nonoxynol-2, PPG-4-Ceteth-1;
(b) ethoxylated carboxylic acids such as PEG-4 dilaurate, PEG-2 oleate;
(c) glyceryl esters such as PEG-2 castor oil, PEG-7 hydrogenated castor oil, glyceryl monooleate, glyceryl monostearate, triglycerol monooleate, decaglyceryl tetraoleate, and polyglyceryl-3 oleate, glyceryl stearate;
(d) sorbitan derivatives such as sorbitan oleate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan tristearate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitol trioleate, sorbitan monotallate, sorbitan isostearate;
(e) sugar esters such as sucrose distearate; and
(f) lanolin alcohol.
The surfactant or blend of surfactants incorporated into the compositions of the present invention can, illustratively, be included in amounts of 0.1-10%, preferably 0.3-5%, and more preferably 0.5-1.5%, by weight based on the total weight of the composition. This surfactant portion includes both the silicone copolyol and the co-surfactant.
If salt is used, the amount used may be in the range of 0-5%, preferably 0.1-4% and, more preferably, 0.5-2% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Examples of suitable salts include NaCl (most commonly used), CaCl2, KCl, and ZnCl2.
Sensates (ingredients that provide unique skin sensations such as warmth, cooling, tingling, etc.) may also be added. These include but are not limited to methyl salicylate, menthol, menthol derivatives, capsaicin, or benzocaine.

Clear antiperspirant with alcohol free active


A hearing instrument system detects the insertion or removal of a hearing instrument into a space and includes first and second acoustic transducers, first and second level detection circuitry, and signal processing circuitry. The first acoustic transducer receives a first electrical signal and in response radiates acoustic energy, and the second acoustic transducer receives radiated acoustic energy and in response generates a second electrical signal. The first level detection circuitry is operable to receive the first electrical signal and generate a first intensity signal, and the second level detection circuitry is operable to receive the second electrical signal and generate a second intensity signal. The signal processing circuitry is operable to receive the first and second intensity signals and compare the first and second intensity signals and determine whether the hearing instrument is inserted into the space or removed from the space based on the comparison.

When a hearing instrument is removed from the ear canal, the increased acoustic coupling between the receiver (loudspeaker) and the microphone can cause howling or feedback. Furthermore, the device is typically not in use when removed. Therefore, knowledge that the device has been removed can be used to lower the acoustical gain to prevent feedback and/or to reduce power consumption by switching the unit off or entering a low-power standby mode.
Conversely, when the unit is re-inserted, knowledge that the device has been inserted can be used to automatically restore gain and power. In a communications headset, this information can be used to automatically answer an incoming call or to terminate a completed call.
Additionally, a hearing instrument is designed to have an acceptable acoustic response when sealed with a user's ear. However, when initially fitted or when in later use, the hearing instrument may not form a proper seal. Accordingly, an audiologist or user may need to determine whether the hearing instrument has formed a proper seal.

System and method for detecting the insertion or removal of a hearing instrument from the ear canal


A substrate of a photosensitive web material of which the base end portion is gradually thinned toward the base end a core for a rolled photographic film which comprises a core body and a crosslinked foamed sheet having an expansion ratio of 18 to 45 times and a thickness of 0.2 to 2.0 mm which contains more than 50 wt. % in the sum of one or more members selected from the group consisting of polyethylene resin having a density of less than 0.930 g/cm.sup.3, ethylenevinyl acetate copolymer resin having a comonomer content of less than 25 wt. % and ethylene-ethyl arcylate copolymer resin having a comonomer content of less than 25 wt. % is disposed on the surface of the core body. The substrate and core sharply reduce the occurrence of marking troubles and pressure mark troubles on the photosensitive web material near the core caused by the difference in levels induced by the base end portion of the web.

This invention relates to a substrate of a photosensitive web material and a core for a photosensitive web material which improves marking troubles of the photosensitive web material formed near the core.
The substrate base end of a conventional photosensitive web material is formed in almost a rectangular shape, both in the section and in the plane figure, as shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1. As a result, when conventional photosensitive web material is wound around a core, as shown in FIG. 13, a difference in level is formed between the base end 4 of the web 1 and the core 11 due to the thickness t of the web 1.
The conventional core for the photosensitive web is formed by winding in spiral a dense kraft paper, regenerated paper or the like. The core is rendered as hard as possible in order to prevent deformation of the core by the winding pressure of the photosensitive web, shocks encountered during physical distribution and the like, and therefore, its flattening compressive strength is high.
Since the photosensitive web is wound tight, creases 16 (FIG. 13), patterns and pressure marks are formed in several folds of the web near the core by the difference in levels at the base end portion of the web, the spiral groove on the surface of the core, etc. Moreover, in the case of fixing the base end of the photosensitive web using an adhesive, tape marks were also formed. These marks are formed during winding the photosensitive web and during preservation by the winding tension and its own weight.
The occurrence of these marks can be reduced to a certain degree by winding loosely. However, the loosely wound photosensitive web tends to project in a form of a cone by shaking during distribution, inclined state or the like. Moreover, wound form tends to be defective, and packaging defects also tend to be generated. As a result, workability is shaply decreased. An optimal roll density is determined by the thickness, length and friction coefficient of the photosensitive web, the flexibility and surface hardness of the substrate, temperature, humidity, distribution means, time and so on, and it is difficult to determine a suitable roll density.
A means for resolving the problem to form marks by the difference in level by the base end of the web is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model KOKAI Nos. 57-60141 and 63-41072 which forms a step portion 17 on the core corresponding to the thickness of the web in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. 12, and the web is begun to be wound from the step portion. This means has not been put to practical use, because it is not easy to adjust the base end of the web to the step portion under a dark safety light. The manufacture of the core is a special order, and the height of the step must be changed according to the thickness of the web. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the core is expensive.
Another means for resolving the problem is to form marks by the difference in level by the base end of the web as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model KOKAI No. 53-32021 wherein the base end of the web is cut obliquely in the plane figure. In this means, workability is improved, because the positioning of the base end of the web is easy. The occurrence of marking troubles is reduced to a certain degree, but the occurrence of pressure marks still remains due to the rectangular cutting in the thickness direction.
A means for resolving the problem due to the hardness of the core surface is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model KOKOKU No. 2-24116 which covers the circumferential face of the core in the whole width with a sheet having cushioning characteristics and elasticity, such as low density papers of less than 0.5 g/cm.sup.3, synthetic papers and foamed resin sheet having an expansion ratio of 5 to 15 times. When the above core covered with the foamed resin sheet or the like is used as the core for a roll of photographic printing paper where a photographic emulsion layer is coated on a paper substrate or a water-resistant substrate made of paper of which both side are coated with various polyethylene resins, various physical marking troubles and pressure mark troubles can sharply be reduced. On the other hand, when the above core is used as the core for a roll of a photographic film of which the substrate is a plastic film having a less elasticity than the paper substrate, the marking troubles and pressure mark troubles occur in 5 to 6 revolutions of the film from the base end of the film. The Japanese Utility Model KOKOKU No. 2-24116 discloses a core provided with nonwoven fabric. In this core, since the friction resistance is small between the photographic film and the nonwoven fabric, it is necessary to fix the photographic film to the nonwoven fabric using an adhesive tape.

Substrate of and core for photosensitive material


A wearable jacket includes a 2D-DST substrate shaped to cover a body of a subject person. The 2D-DST substrate includes a first conductive sheet, a second conductive sheet and a plurality of communication modules. The first and second conductive sheets are overlapped, and the first conductive sheet is located on the subject person side when in use. The plurality of communication modules are distributed between the first and second conductive sheets. At least one of the plurality of communication modules has a communicating system capable of communicating with an external device by receiving and/or transmitting a spatially propagating signal. One of the first and second conductive sheets on the external device side is formed with an area that allows the spatially propagating signal to pass through at a position corresponding to a location of a communication module having the communicating system.

The present invention relates to a wearable antenna jacket for use with an endoscope system having a communication function used for obtaining information related to a body of a subject, and an endoscope system employing such a wearable jacket.
Conventionally, when a human body of a subject is observed, an electronic endoscope is typically used. The electronic endoscope is provided with cables and optical fibers inside a flexible tube section of a scope, and at a tip thereof, an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), is fixed. Such an endoscope is configured such that a relatively long flexible tube is inserted in the human cavity. Therefore, observation using such an endoscope is burdensome to the subject (examinee). Further, it is difficult to insert such an endoscope in a thin, long and meandering portion, such as intestine.
Recently, in order to decrease the burden to the subject, a system employing a capsule type endoscope has been suggested. With use of such a capsule type endoscope, it becomes easy to observe the intestine or the like.
An example of an endoscope system employing the capsule endoscope is described in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication P2003-19111 A. According to the endoscope system disclosed in the above publication, a belt having a plurality of antennas is wound around the subject (examinee). The capsule type endoscope outputs a radio wave and the belt is configured to receive the radio wave, which is used to detect a location of the capsule type endoscope. In this publication, the capsule type endoscope is described to measure condition inside the human cavity or to capture images of inner walls of the human cavity.
Each antenna mounted on the belt described in the above publication is connected to a signal recorder that controls the entire operation of the belt via lead wires and/or thin copper patterns. Such a structure has, however, several deficiencies.
For example, if each antenna is connected to the signal recorder with lead wires or cables, the antennas and the lead wires (cables) should be mounted on the belt. Therefore, for mounting each antenna, a relatively large area is required and it is difficult to mount many antennas on the belt. Because of the small number of antennas, the antennas may not cover the entire area inside the human cavity as a signal receiving area. Further, since the belt is to be wound around the body of the subject (examinee), a flexibility is required. However, if the cables (or lead wires) are mounted, the flexibility is lost. Further, if a large number of cables (lead wires) are mounted, the weight of the belt significantly increases, which increases burden to the subject (examinee). Furthermore, if the belt is frequently bent and stretched, the cables (lead wires) may be broken (disconnected).
If the antennas are connected to the signal recorder with the copper pattern, the belt is considered to be formed from a flexible PCB (printed circuit board). In this case, in comparison with the above-described structure using cables, the flexibility may be retained. However, when the PCB is used, a pattern corresponding to the elements to be mounted should be formed on a substrate, the areas for mounting the antennas may be restricted. Therefore, the antennas may not be mounted at optimum positions and/or the number of antennas may be limited. Further, if the belt is frequently bent and stretched, the pattern may be broken and disconnected.
Further to the above, the antennas are mounted on the belt and exposed to outside. Therefore, the antennas may receive signals from devices other than the capsule endoscope, which lowers an S/N (signal to noise) ratio of the image signal.

Wearable jacket having communication function, and endoscope system employing wearable jacket


A method for power-efficient configuration of one or more physical ports at a network device in an EtherChannel is provided. Parameters for allocation of the physical ports to a logical port are negotiated with a link partner. Thereafter, bandwidth load at the logical port is compared with the parameter. The physical ports are configured, based on the comparison.

1. Field of Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate, in general, to networking and more specifically, the embodiments of the invention relate to a method and a system for efficient power management in an EtherChannel.
2. Description of the Background Art
Computer networks include personal computers, workstations, routers, switches and other network infrastructure devices. Network infrastructure devices are interconnected by a medium such as network cables for transmitting data packets through physical ports. Physical ports are the connection points for the network cables and the network infrastructure devices. A physical port can include 9 pins, 25 pins, 36 pins and so forth.
A stream of data packets is transmitted through the physical ports of different network devices. The network infrastructure devices can encounter a large inflow or outflow of these streams of data packets. In this case, the data packets are stranded in a queue at a physical port of the network infrastructure device before being forwarded to a network device in the network.
To avoid the stranding of the data packets, an existing method uses a logical grouping of multiple physical ports into a logical port. This logical grouping increases the bandwidth of a data transmission channel. The logical port has multiple links that connect the network infrastructure device and the network device. Each multiple link is capable of carrying data at the same rate as the link that is connecting data packet source device to the network infrastructure device. This grouping of physical ports is sometimes referred to as port aggregation. One example of such port aggregation implementation is Cisco Technology, Inc.'s Fast EtherChannel™ port group in a Fast Ethernet network.
In an EtherChannel (or port channel), load sharing is statically configured. In statically configured channel, each port is assigned a source address, a destination address or both, in such a manner that all the physical ports in the port group are used. Using all physical ports at a low-load condition results in under utilization of the load capacity of the physical ports. Power is consumed for functioning of the physical ports, even when data packets are not passing through them. Therefore, keeping all the physical ports operational, where only a fraction of the physical ports could have catered the load requirements leads to unnecessary consumption of power.

Method and system for power-efficient adaptive link aggregation