The internal voltage generator of a semiconductor integrated circuit includes at least one variable reference voltage generating unit that generates a base reference voltage increased or decreased according to the variation in temperature, at least one level shifting unit that transforms the base reference voltage outputted by the at least one variable reference voltage generating unit into at least one prescribed reference voltage for generating internal voltage and outputs the transformed reference voltage, and at least one internal voltage generating unit that generates an internal voltage by using the at least one reference voltage for generating internal voltage outputted by the at least one level shifting unit.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and more particularly, to an internal voltage generator of a semiconductor integrated circuit.
2. Related Art
In recent years, an external voltage VDD, which is supplied to a semiconductor integrated circuit, in particular, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), has been lowered. Accordingly, maximum suppression of a variation in internal power due to the variation in temperature is required. Furthermore, controlling the direction in which each internal power varies (positive or negative direction) to a desired direction is required.
Generally, in a basic memory cell structure of a DRAM, one transistor and one capacitor are connected to a word line and a bit line, as shown in FIG. 1. For the transistor used in the DRAM, an NMOS transistor is typically used, which is superior to a PMOS transistor in performance over size.
FIG. 2 illustrates a comparison between levels of voltages used in the DRAM. According to the comparison, the respective voltage levels are, in the order of largest to smallest, VPP, VDD, VCORE, VBLP & VCP, and VBB.
The voltage VDD is a voltage that is supplied from the exterior of the DRAM, and the voltages VPP, VCORE, VBLP & VCP, and VBB are generated by increasing or decreasing the voltage VDD. The voltage VPP is used in a word line driver, a data out driver, or the like to compensate for a loss of a threshold voltage VT of a transistor that is an element of a memory cell. The voltage VPP is generated by increasing the voltage VDD, and it is a larger voltage (largest value among internal voltages) than the voltage VCORE+the threshold value VT. The voltage VCORE is a voltage that corresponds to a cell voltage, that is, a data level of a cell. The voltage VBLP corresponds to a bit line precharge voltage, and the voltage VCP is a cell plate voltage and has the same level as the voltage VBLP. In addition, the voltage VBB corresponds to a substrate bias voltage, and it is applied to a bulk of the transistor with a negative value.
Hereinafter, an internal voltage generating circuit of a semiconductor integrated circuit will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating an internal voltage generating circuit of a semiconductor integrated circuit according to the related art. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating an internal structure of a substrate bias voltage detector shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating an internal structure of an elevated voltage detector shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a variation in reference voltage in accordance with the related art. FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating an internal voltage requiring condition at a low temperature.
As shown in FIG. 3, the internal voltage generating circuit of the semiconductor integrated circuit according to the related art includes a reference voltage generating unit 10 that generates a base reference voltage VREF_BASE when an external voltage VDD increases to reach a predetermined level; a level shifter 11 that transforms the base reference voltage VREF_BASE into a first reference voltage VREF_C for generating a cell voltage and a substrate bias voltage, and a second reference voltage VREF_P for generating an elevated voltage, and outputs them; a cell voltage generating unit 12 that generates a cell voltage VCORE by using the first reference voltage VREF_C; a substrate bias voltage generating unit 13 that generates a substrate bias voltage VBB by using the first reference voltage VREF_C; and an elevated voltage generating unit 14 that generates an elevated voltage VPP by using the second reference voltage VREF_P.
The level shifter 11 has the structure of a differential comparator. In the level shifter 11, the base reference voltage VREF_BASE and a voltage VR divided by the resistors R1 and R2, are two input signals that are maintained at the same value through a feedback operation. The first reference voltage VREF_C is determined by the resistance ratio between the resistors R1 and R2. In addition, the second reference voltage VREF_P is generated by adjusting the resistance ratio, as in the first reference voltage VREF_C. For example, a plurality of resistors that have smaller resistance values than the resistors R1 and R2 are connected to one another, and the second reference voltage VREF_P is outputted from a node, which is selected among a plurality of nodes and outputs a desired voltage.
The cell voltage generating unit 12 includes a comparator 12-1 that has an inversion terminal "−" receiving the first reference voltage VREF_C, and a transistor 12-2 that has a gate receiving the output of the comparator 12-1, and outputs a cell voltage VCORE by transforming an external voltage VDD according to the gate voltage level while feeding the cell voltage back to a non-inversion terminal "+" of the comparator 12-1. This is the way in which the cell voltage generating unit 12 operates in order to maintain the level of the cell voltage VCORE at a predetermined value. The cell voltage generating unit 12 compares the first reference voltage VREF_C with the cell voltage VCORE, and turns on the transistor 12-2 when the cell voltage VCORE decreases to a voltage not more than the first reference voltage VREF_C, such that the cell voltage generating unit 12 is supplied with an external voltage VDD to increase the cell voltage VCORE. Further, when the cell voltage VCORE becomes a voltage not less than the first reference voltage VREF_C, the cell voltage generating unit 12 turns off the transistor 12-2, such that the cell voltage VCORE is no longer increased.
Furthermore, the substrate bias voltage generating unit 13 includes a comparator 13-1, a transistor 13-2, a substrate bias voltage detector 13-3 that detects the level of a voltage VCORE_BB outputted by the transistor 13-2 and outputs a substrate bias voltage pump enable signal, and a substrate bias voltage pump 13-4 that is driven by the substrate bias voltage pump enable signal and pumps the substrate bias voltage VBB. The connection between the comparator 13-1 and the transistor 13-2 is the same as the cell voltage generating unit 12. However, although the level of the voltage VCORE_BB is the same as the level of the cell voltage VCORE, since the amount of consumed current is smaller in the substrate bias voltage generating unit 13, the voltage VCORE_BB is different from the cell voltage VCORE in that the sizes of the comparator 13-1 and the transistor 13-2 in the substrate bias voltage generating unit 13 are smaller than those in the cell voltage generating unit 12.
In addition, the substrate bias voltage detector 13-3 has the structure shown in FIG. 4. If an absolute value of the substrate bias voltage VBB decreases, a resistance component of lower transistor 13-5 increases. As a result, the substrate bias voltage detector 13-3 causes a potential at a node 'DET' to become a high level and thus causes a potential of a signal 'BB_ENb1' to become a low level. The signal 'BB_ENb1' is a signal that swings between the voltage VCORE_BB outputted by the transistor 13-2 and the ground voltage VSS. The level shifter 13-6 transforms the signal 'BB_Enb1' into a substrate bias voltage pump enable signal 'BB_ENb2' that swings between the external voltage VDD and the ground voltage VSS. When the signal 'BB_ENb2' becomes a low level, the substrate bias voltage pump 13-4 operates.
When the first reference voltage VREF_C is increases for any reason, the potential of the 'DET' node also increases. Due to this, in order to allow the potential at the 'DET' node to become a low level, the absolute value of the substrate bias voltage VBB should be further increased. As a result, the absolute value of the substrate bias voltage VBB is increased.
The elevated voltage generating unit 14 includes an elevated voltage detector 14-1 that outputs an elevated voltage pump enable signal by detecting the level of the second reference voltage VREF_P, and an elevated voltage pump 14-2 that is driven by the elevated voltage pump enable signal and pumps the elevated voltage VPP. The elevated voltage detector 14-1 has a structure as shown in FIG. 5. That is, a voltage at an 'X node' and a second reference voltage VREF_P are inputted to two input terminals of the differential comparator (transistors 14-3, 14-4). The 'X node' corresponds to a node at which a resistance is distributed such that it has the same potential as the second reference voltage VREF_P when the elevated voltage VPP is a target value. Therefore, when the elevated voltage VPP becomes lower than the target value, since the voltage at the 'X node' also becomes lower than the second reference voltage VREF_P, an elevated voltage pump enable signal 'PP_EN' becomes a high level through the operation of the comparator, such that the elevated voltage pump 14-2 pumps the elevated voltage VPP.
In the case in which the second reference voltage VREF_P for generating an elevated voltage increases for any reason, in the elevated voltage detector 14-1, the elevated voltage VPP becomes larger than an original target value, which causes the level of the elevated voltage pump enable signal 'PP_EN' to become a low level. As a result, the elevated voltage VPP is increased.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, when the base reference voltage VREF_BASE varies, the second reference voltage VREF_P outputted by the level shifter 11 also varies. That is, when the base reference voltage VREF_BASE decreases, the second reference voltage VREF_P for generating the elevated voltage also decreases.
In the meantime, in low temperature conditions (at a cold temperature, for example, −10° C.), the threshold value VTN of the NMOS transistor increases even when the elevated voltage VPP, the cell voltage VCORE, and the substrate bias voltage VBB are constant, which results in lowering the current drivability of the NMOS transistor. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, in low temperature conditions, increasing the elevated voltage VPP and the cell voltage VCORE and decreasing the substrate bias voltage VBB (hereinafter, the decrease of the substrate bias voltage VBB refers to the reduction of the absolute value) are effective in normal operation of the semiconductor integrated circuit.
However, according to the related art, the corresponding internal voltages are generated by using the reference voltage generated from the source without considering variations according to the temperature condition. Therefore, if the corresponding internal voltages, that is, the elevated voltage VPP and the cell voltage VCORE are increased by increasing the reference voltages VREF_P and VREF_C in low temperature conditions, the substrate bias voltage VBB that should be lower than the corresponding level or maintained at the corresponding level also increases (hereinafter, the increase of the substrate bias voltage VBB refers to the increase of the absolute value). As a result, the semiconductor integrated circuit element experiences a decrease in performance.

Internal voltage generator of semiconductor integrated circuit


A muzzle brake for use with a firearm such as a muzzle-loading firearm, and including at least one access port in the muzzle brake that is large enough (for example at least about 0.5″ or more minimum dimension) for access by a user's fingertip to remove a cleaning patch from the muzzle brake. One or more vent ports that are relatively smaller than the access port may also be provided in the muzzle brake.

A muzzle brake or recoil compensator is a device or feature connected to or integral with the construction of the muzzle or barrel of a firearm or cannon, which is intended to redirect a portion of propellant gases to counter recoil and unwanted muzzle rise. Muzzle brakes typically include vents in the form of slots or holes to partially divert combustion gasses from a firing charge at an angle offset from the long axis of the barrel or bore of the firearm. The direction of the venting and the resulting momentum of the diverted gasses may be used to counter muzzle rise, reduce recoil felt by the shooter, and/or for other purposes.
Muzzle brakes have generally been found to be incompatible or difficult to use with muzzleloaders or muzzle-loading firearms. Typically, the bore of a muzzle-loading firearm's barrel is cleaned after use or between shots by inserting a cleaning patch into the bore through the barrel's muzzle, running the patch through the bore, and withdrawing the patch out of the bore through the muzzle. The cleaning patch is typically carried through the bore on a cleaning jag attached to the end of the ramrod or a cleaning rod. Because muzzleloaders commonly have a breechplug that blocks the breech end of the barrel, the patch cannot be pushed all the way through the barrel and removed from the breech end unless the breechplug is removed. Removing the breechplug between shots is time consuming and impractical. The bore diameter of a muzzle brake is typically only slightly larger than the bore diameter of the barrel. Thus, if a cleaning patch is withdrawn from the muzzle through a conventional muzzle brake, the patch tends to expand away from the cleaning jag and get tangled in the ports of the conventional muzzle brake where it can be difficult to remove and can interfere with proper venting.
Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for an improved muzzle brake that is compatible for use with muzzle-loading firearms. It is to the provision of an improved muzzle brake meeting these and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed.


A method of “non-isopycnic” cell isolation and purification has the steps of adding a sample of blood to a defined volume to a corresponding ratio volume of EDTA solution to produce a volume of anti-coagulated blood; taking a predetermined volume of the anti-coagulated blood and placing it in a first tube containing a selected defined volume of PSS, wherein the selected defined volume of PSS is taken from a group of defined volumes of PSS, as each defined volume of PSS establishes a specific cell type to be purified; centrifuging the tube for a first predetermined time and speed to form a volume of supernatant of plasma/PSS and a bottom sedimented volume of mostly red blood cells; extracting the supernatant to within a proximity of an interface between the sedimented red blood cells and the supematant; transferring an appropriate, pre-selected volume amount of the supernatant into a second tube holding a defined volume of physiological media; mixing the solutions gently; centrifuging for a second predetermined speed and time; and pouring off the supernatant wherein at the bottom of the tube will be a cell button containing a volume of the selected purified cells in a high percentage and a very small quantity or low percentage of some contaminating non-selected cells. This method is useful in establishing high purity concentrations of selected cells from whole blood such as monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils and basophils.

Medical researchers and scientists have a need to isolate the various cells within whole blood samples in order to conduct tests and experiments.
Human blood for example has red blood cells and white blood cells. Red blood cells deliver oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues. Red blood cells are known as RBCs or erythrocytes (from the Greek erythos "red" and kytos for "hollow"). The white blood cells are produced in bone marrow and help defend the body from infectious disease and foreign materials. White cells derive their name from the fact that after centrifugation of a blood sample, the white cells are found in the Buffy coat, a thin layer of nucleated cells between the sedimented red blood cells and the blood plasma, which is white in color (or sometimes green, if there are large amounts of neutrophils in the sample, which are high in green. This green color is due to neutrophils having MPO, myeloperoxidase).
There are many different types of white blood cells. One primary technique to classify them is to look for the presence of granules, which produces the categories "granulocytes" and "non-granulocytes". Granulocytes are a category of white blood cells, characterized by the fact that all types have differently staining granules in their cytoplasm on light microscopy. These granules are related to lysosomes found in some regular cells and primarily act in the digestion of engulfed invaders. There are three types of granulocytes: neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils (named according to their staining properties). Non-granulocytes are a category of white blood cells which are characterized by the absence of granules in their cytoplasm. There are two types of non-granulocytes: lymphocytes and monocytes.
These categories can be further broken down into the following cellular types:
Neutrophils deal with defense against bacterial infection and other inflammatory processes and are usually the first responders to bacterial infection; their activity and death in large numbers form pus. Eosinophils primarily deal with parasitic infections and allergic disorders and an increase in them may indicate such. Basophils are chiefly responsible for allergic and antigen response by releasing the chemicals like histamine, causing symptoms of allergies. Lymphocytes are much more common in the lymphatic system. The blood has three types of lymphocytes: B cells: B cells make antibodies that bind to pathogens to enable their destruction. (B cells not only make antibodies that bind to pathogens, but after an attack, some B cells will retain the ability to produce an antibody to serve as a 'memory' system.) T cells: CD4+ (helper) T cells co-ordinate the immune response (they are what become defective in an HIV infection) and are important for defense against intracellular bacteria. CD8+ (cytotoxic) T cells are able to kill virus-infected cells. γδ T cells possess an alternative T cell receptor as opposed to CD4+ and CD8+ αβ T cells and share characteristics of helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells. Natural killer cells: Natural killer (NK) cells are able to kill cells of the body which are not displaying a signal not to kill them, as they have been infected by a virus or have become cancerous. Monocytes share the "vacuum cleaner" (phagocytosis) function of neutrophils, but are much longer lived as they have an additional role: they present pieces of pathogens to T cells so that the pathogens may be recognized and killed, or so that an immune response may be mounted. Monocytes are also known as macrophages after they migrate from the bloodstream and enter tissue.
Since these cells are critical in fighting disease much research and testing is being conducted on these cellular components of blood.
In order to test a patient's blood, a sample is generally taken from a vein. Typically the samples are taken in volumes of 50 cc or more from donors. The whole blood can be placed into a centrifuge and the various blood components can be spun and layered over solutions that separate the cells by different densities such that a skilled technician using great skill and care can isolate certain cell types and withdraw them from the mixture using a pipette so a specific cell type within the whole blood sample can be studied.
This ability to isolate the cell types within blood samples is crucial in medical treatment and research.
The primary goal is naturally to collect as pure a sample of a certain cell type as possible. Along with that goal is another desire or goal to collect a sample that is not chemically altered during the collection process. In both of these goals the present techniques available are either extremely labor intensive and difficult to perform or alternatively if made simpler by the use of nonclonal antibodies, the antibodies can potentially alter the collected cells within a sample or contaminate the otherwise pure cell making it useless for serious research.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a purification technique that leaves cells undamaged that can be performed using very simple steps requiring far less technical skill.
The technique further employs commonly used materials currently employed by technicians such that the new procedures will be easily adapted but will greatly simplify the task.

Non-isopycnic cell purification using percoll


An automated computer-implemented method for reorienting ECT myocardial perfusion images of a heart LV. The method includes receiving variously oriented tomographic images; receiving LV long-axis, LV center and LV axial limits based on the images; receiving the endocardial surface of the LV based on the images; determining a reorientation slice range based on the center and axial limits of the LV; receiving slices (N) within the reorientation slice range; for each slice, determining a center coordinate x[i], y[i] based on the endocardial surface and the area of the slice within a reorientation slice range coordinate system; determining translation Δxi, Δyi and rotation θx, θy values based on center coordinates x[i=1 to N], y[i=1 to N] to reorient the LV long axis to the z-axis and its origin of a reference Cartesian coordinate system; and automatically reorienting and realigning the tomographic images based on the translation and rotation values.

1. Field of the Invention
One aspect of the present invention relates to an automated computer-implemented method and system reorienting emission computed tomographic (ECT), for example, single photon emission computer tomography (ECT) or position emission tomography (PET) heart images. More specifically, this invention relates to a method and system for aligning and centering ECT myocardial perfusion images.
2. Background Art
Emission computed tomographic (ECT) cardiac imaging can be used for the diagnosis of patients with coronary heart diseases (CHD), for example, patients with myocardial infarction or angina pectoris. An ECT heart study can be utilized to determine whether a patient's heart muscle or myocardium is healthy, diseased or scarred. In a typical study, two ECT image sets of a patient are acquired; the first after injection of a radiotracer of heart blood flow while the patient is at rest; the second after injection while the patient is performing a treadmill exercise stress test. If a particular region of the heart demonstrates reduced blood flow in both the rest and stress image sets, then it is likely that the heart muscle in that region is secured. If a particular region of the heart displays normal blood flow at rest but reduced blood flow in the stress image, this indicates that the coronary artery providing blood to that is at least partially blocked, narrowed or stenosed. If a particular region of the heart is bright or normally perfused in both the rest and stress images, it is likely that the blood supply is normal and that particular region or the heart is healthy.
Typically, two-dimensional ECT images (tomographic slices) are generated orthogonal to (short axis slices) and parallel to (horizontal and vertical long axis slices) the heart's left ventricular (LV) long axis. FIGS. 1a-1d depict a three-dimensional rendering of the left ventricle and the typical slicing of the left ventricle into short axis and horizontal end vertical long axis sections. FIG. 1a depicts a three-dimensional rendering of the LV within a coordinate system. A short axis slice is shown in FIG. 1b, a horizontal slice is shown in FIG. 1c, and a vertical long axis slice is shown in FIG. 1d. While a short axis slice, as depicted in FIG. 1b, is generally circular, the long axis slices, as depicted in FIGS. 1c and 1d are generally horseshoe shaped. Short axis two-dimensional images can be generated at discrete positions along the LV long axis between the base and apex of the heart, as depicted in FIG. 1a. Horizontal long axis images can be generated at discrete positions along the short axis of the heart between the anterior and posterior walls of the heart. Vertical long axis images can be generated at discrete positions along the short axis of the heart between the septal and lateral heart walls.
The optimal diagnostic accuracy of ECT myocardial perfusion studies requires the proper orientation, i.e. exact alignment, of the ECT images for visual and quantitative comparisons of one study to the other. Misalignment of the walls of the left ventricle between serial studies (e.g. stress and rest), can cause false diagnoses. Misalignment is commonly caused by failure to exactly position the patient in the ECT scanner for each of the two or more studies. In large and/or acutely ill patients this can be virtually impossible to accomplish. Misalignment also commonly occurs during the processing of the studies into tomographic slices. There have been many prior art proposals for minimizing the image artifacts caused by an inaccurate registration and alignment of patient studies.
The approaches proposed thus far usually necessitate manual and interactive efforts to address misalignment. In light of the foregoing, an automated method and system for realigning and centering ECT myocardial perfusion images is needed. What is needed is a computer-implemented method or system for automatic alignment and centering of ECT cardiac images about the heart's left ventricular (LV) long-axis.

Automated computer-implemented method and system for reorienting emission computer tomographic myocardial perfusion images


A pile grabbing apparatus comprising a steel I-beam of appropriate length supporting two claw assemblies. The claw assemblies are each driven by two hydraulic cylinders to grab and hold a concrete pile. A pair of steel support plates are welded onto the I-beam and with a "quick coupler", the I-beam is attached to the arm of a mobile excavating apparatus, such as a dirt excavator. The hydraulic cylinders are connected to hydraulic hoses and controlled by a control module. The operator at the control module may manipulate the claw assemblies to open and close.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for facilitating installation of a pile into the ground.
In many construction projects, such as bridges, it is necessary to drive structures known as "piles" into the ground. Traditionally, what is known as a fixed lead apparatus is used to align and drive the pile into the ground. Briefly, a fixed lead apparatus consists of a fixed lead mounted to a crane. A hammer is attached to or is part of the fixed lead. The crane is moved to position the fixed lead in the area where the pile is to be driven. If the piles are to be driven through water, usually a template with pockets is welded to a cofferdam and the fixed lead is positioned over the template.
A second crane pulls or lifts a pile to the crane with the fixed lead. The crane with the fixed lead lifts or aligns the pile into position. The pile driver then commences to pound the pile into the ground. Once the pile is driven sufficiently into the ground, the fixed lead is moved to the next pocket in the template where the next pile is to be driven. Eventually, after a complete series of piles is driven, the template must be removed and a new template installed.
This fixed lead process is a time consuming process, with or without templates. In addition, two cranes are needed for this process and it is cumbersome to correct alignment should a pile go out of plumb while being driven.
No device in a single apparatus is heretofore known which is capable of picking up horizontally disposed piles and positioning them vertically for association with a pile driver.


A vehicle air conditioning apparatus having two pair of rotatable flow control doors for separately controlling and varying the temperature and flow of air supplied to two different zones of the vehicle interior. Each pair of flow control doors are linked together and operated by a single actuator device. One of each pair of flow control doors is rotatable about a common axis

The present invention relates to vehicle air-conditioning systems and in particular to flow control devices.
It is known in the art to provide an air-conditioning system for a vehicle which makes use of blend doors to provide a supply of air of variable temperature to an outlet into the interior of the vehicle. There is usually provided an evaporator for cooling and a heater for heating the air. It is common to situate the evaporator and the heater in the same duct, such that air passes through the evaporator first, after which some or all of it can be heated by passing through the heater.
Furthermore it is known to provide a dual-zone system, whereby two different areas of the vehicle interior can each be supplied with their own supply of variable temperature air. For example, the driver side of the vehicle and the passenger side can each be provided with their own air outlets, the temperature of the air on the driver side being varied by the driver and the temperature of the air on the passenger side being varied by the passenger.
In currently known systems, blend doors are provided inside the air-conditioning ducts, the position of which can be varied to allow different proportions of cooled and warmed air to pass into the vehicle. Such systems suffer from several problems. In general, a separate actuator is required for each blend door, which can be costly and can cause problems with space and access for installation and repair. In order for two blend doors controlling cooled and warmed air for one zone of a vehicle to be controllable by a single dial on the vehicle dashboard, due to the locations of the doors for reasons of space and efficiency, it is often necessary to introduce a gearing system to allow each door to be operated independently. The disadvantages of such a system are that the use of gears introduces additional tolerances into the system whilst at the same time reducing design freedom since both actuation pivots need to be close together.
It would be desirable to provide an arrangement of doors which mitigated some of these problems.
According to the present invention there is provided a flow controller for an air-conditioning system of a vehicle, the flow controller comprising:
a first flow control door, a second flow control door and a first driveshaft running through the first door and coupled to the second door, such that the first door can rotate about the first driveshaft independently thereof and the second door is rotatable by the first driveshaft about the longitudinal axis of the driveshaft;
a third flow control door and a fourth flow control door, wherein each of said doors is rotatable;
a first drive device for said second door and a second drive device for said third door, wherein said first and second drive devices are disposed on a same side of said flow controller;
a first member connecting the second door to the fourth door, such that when the second door rotates, the first member causes the fourth door to rotate;
a second member connecting the first door to the third door, such that when the third door rotates, the second member causes the first door to rotate.
Preferably the third and fourth doors share a common axis.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an air flow control device comprising a first and a second duct, each duct having a respective mouth, and a first and a second door, each door disposed across a respective duct mouth and being pivotable to enable or prevent flow through the associated duct, wherein a member extends from the first door to the second door such that when the first door closes the first duct, the second door opens the second duct and when the first door opens the first duct the second door closes the second duct or that when said first door partly opens the first duct, said second door partly opens the second duct.
Suitably the first door opens and closes about a pivot and the second door opens and closes about a pivot.
Preferably the first and second ducts extend from a common air passage and the common air passage contains an evaporator and the first duct contains a heater core.


The keyboard portion of a computer has a small toggle switch structure positioned among its keys and reachable by a user while his hands are in the home row typing position. The switch structure is used to selectively switch the computer between typing and cursor control modes. When the computer is switched to its cursor control mode by depressing a stick-like activation portion of the switch structure, a small video camera mounted above the keyboard monitors an observation zone above the keyboard. A cursor control system in which the camera is incorporated detects the presence of the user's hand in a first predetermined configuration within the observation zone, tracks the hand's cursor control movement through the zone, and correspondingly moves the cursor on the computer's display screen. To carry out a cursor "pick" function in conjunction with the repositioned cursor, the user reshapes his hand to a second predetermined configuration. The system detects the second hand configuration and responsively generates an appropriate cursor pick signal. When the user desires to return the computer to its typing mode he either depresses the activation portion of the toggle switch structure or moves his control hand out of the observation zone, moves the hand back into the zone, and presses any of the keys. The video controlled cursor positioning system is representatively illustrated in both a portable and desktop computer embodiment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electronic apparatus and, in a preferred embodiment thereof, more particularly relates to cursor control systems for computers.
2. Description of Related Art
A variety of display screen cursor control systems have previously been utilized on or adjacent the keyboard portion of both desktop and portable computers. These cursor control devices include mice, trackballs, touchpads and pointing sticks.
The computer mouse is basically a small housing which has a ball on its underside that is rolled by the computer user along a horizontal support surface adjacent the keyboard in response to hand movement of the mouse housing parallel to the support surface. The sense and speed of the rotation of the mouse ball is monitored and appropriately converted to a positional output signal used to correspondingly reposition the cursor on the computer. The mouse housing typically has at least one "pick" button thereon which may be depressed to select an icon to which the cursor has been moved, or simply to select a desired screen location.
A track ball is basically an inverted mouse with the ball facing upwardly for direct manipulation by the computer user's fingers. The track ball is typically mounted on the base housing of a portable computer adjacent one or more "pick" buttons associated with the ball.
A touchpad typically has a small, generally planar rectangular surface along which the user runs his finger in the desired direction of cursor movement. A sensing structure beneath the user-engaged surface converts his finger movements to appropriate cursor movement signals. As in the case of the track ball and mouse, the touchpad is typically placed adjacent one or more manually depressible "pick" buttons.
A pointing stick is typically placed among and projects upwardly beyond a group of keyboard key cap members--usually in a generally central location of the keyboard between the user's index fingers in their "home" typing positions. Either index finger may be used to tilt the vertically oriented pointing stick in the desired direction of cursor movement, with a pressure sensing base portion of the pointing stick structure detecting the rocking movement of the stick and transforming the detected stick into corresponding cursor movement signals.
A recent potential addition to these types of cursor control devices, a two dimensional optical digitizer device, is illustrated and described in pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/486,310, filed on Jun. 7, 1995, and pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/651,881, filed on Jun. 4, 1996, each of such pending applications being assigned to the same assignee as this application. These digitizer devices utilize a single source of light to form a generally planar two dimensional light pattern disposed over and generally parallel to a computer keyboard. A finger placed in the light pattern interrupts a corresponding portion thereof, with the interruption location being sensed and used to transmit positional information to the display screen to selectively move a cursor thereon. A remote switch is used to activate this optically scanned cursor control mode, in which the movement of the user's hand in the scanned is used to correspondingly move the display screen cursor, and to return the keyboard to its typing mode.
Various problems, limitations and disadvantages are typically associated with these previously proposed types of cursor control devices and systems. It is to these problems, limitations and disadvantages that the present invention is directed.
For example, the computer mouse requires a substantial amount of unobstructed desktop space adjacent the keyboard to be moved around in. Also, many computer mice are configured for right hand use, making them awkward for the left-handed user. The trackball is typically integrated into the system keyboard area in a fixed location which is usually a compromise based on where there is space in the system. Accordingly, the trackball can often be somewhat awkward to use.
The touchpad, like the trackball, is typically integrated into a fixed area of the system keyboard structure. Additionally, the touchpad usually has a relatively small surface area along which the user's finger can be moved to correspondingly move the display screen cursor. Accordingly, the touchpad tends to be rather inconvenient to use when long cursor movements are required.
The pointing stick is the smallest of the conventionally utilized cursor positioning devices and thus may be very compactly located on the keyboard structure. However, the small size of this device makes it somewhat difficult for some users to properly engage and use cursor control and repositioning. Additionally, since the pointing stick is usually centrally located in the keyboard it often must be separated a substantial distance from its associated selection buttons. This, too, is often considered undesirable by computer users. Moreover, due to the "rocking" motion that must be imparted to the pointing stick to operate it, the use of the stick is considered by many users to be at least to some degree counterintuitive.
The optical digitizers mentioned above require for the generation and maintenance of their two dimensional optical fields above and generally parallel to the keyboard a variety of reflector, interceptor and light generating members mounted in exposed orientations on the keyboard. Additionally, these digitizer systems require, for a switchover between their typing and cursor control modes, that a control member located out of the sensing area of the optical scanning area be pressed and held down during the cursor control mode, and released when it is desired to return to the typing mode of the keyboard.
Like various other forms of cursor control associated with a computer keyboard, this requires the user to remove his hand or hands from the home row key position, thereby reducing the efficiency of using the keyboard and cursor device. Keeping the hands in the home row position is the main reason for having the cursor control device located over the keyboard. Having to manipulate a button or other control member located off the keyboard area, for either cursor positioning or selection operations, can be fatiguing and inconvenient, and can limit single hand operation of the cursor control device.
It would thus be desirable to provide apparatus which would enable a computer user to selectively and reliably switch between a typing and cursor control mode while maintaining his hands generally in their home row typing position above the keyboard, and move the display cursor and perform related pick functions while maintaining his hands above the keyboard.

Computer keyboard with switchable typing/cursor control modes


The present invention provides sanitary laminated rubber articles suitable for use as various articles with safety and sanitary property, for example, containers for foods or pharmaceutical chemicals, transporters, instruments, packaging materials and the like. In this sanitary laminated article, the rubber surface is laminated with a resin film comprising a cyclic olefinic compound or bridged polycyclic hydrocarbon compound as a polymeric component.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sanitary laminated rubber articles suitable for use as various articles with safety and sanitary property, for example, containers for foods or pharmaceutical chemicals, transporters, instruments, packaging materials and the like.
The rubber article of the present invention has very excellent properties which can be adapted to the standard test values of various official documents, required in this field, and can further satisfy the test items having lately become an important problem from the pharmaceutical standpoint and has good economical property.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a law concerning packaging materials or instruments of food containers, there is the Food Sanitation Act, providing nonpoisonous property, tasteless property and oderless property. This sanitary property includes heat resistance and hot water resistance. The details thereof are shown in Official Notification No. 370 (December, 1962) and Official Notification No. 20 (April, 1982) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
High grade sanitary property and safety are required of containers for pharmaceutical chemicals from the standpoint of influences on the human body. To this end, various test methods or quality standards are provided in, for example, "11th Revision, Japanese Pharmacopoeia" (hereinafter referred to as JP 11), International Standards Organization (ISO), European Pharmacopoeia (EP) U.S. Pharmacopoeia XXI (USP), West Germany Industrial Standard DIN 58, 366-58, 368 (DIN), British Standard 3263 (BS), etc. Furthermore, test items and higher standards from medical standpoint have lately been taken into additional consideration.
As to articles for medical treatment, test methods and quality standards are provided in Official Notification Nos. 300 and 301 (standards for blood-collecting equippments and blood-transfusion sets) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Official Notification Nos. 442 and 413 (standards for injection cylinders) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
For the above described official documents are useful rubbers such as isoprene rubber (hereinafter referred to as IR), butadiene rubber (BR), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPM), ethylene-propylene-terpolymer (EPDM), isobutylene-isoprene rubber (IIR) or chlorinated rubber of IIR (CIIR) or brominated rubber of IIR (BIIR), isobutylene-isoprene-divinylbenzene terpolymer (DIIR) and the like.
As to rubber articles for foods, various techniques have been developed so as to satisfy the standards or requirements for such use, for example, a method of increasing heat resistance by mixing styrene-isoprene copolymer and polyethylene (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 76939/1973 and 76940/1973); a method comprising adding tocophenol to EPDM and obtaining a laminated article for packaging a heated and sterilized food (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 134574/1978); a rubber composition for food sanitation comprising EPDM with zinc white, a fatty acid salt of zinc and calcium oxide (Japanese Patent Publication No. 25175/1987); and a method of producing a rubber article for foods.
In the techniques of obtaining rubber articles for pharmaceutical chemicals and medical instruments, there have been proposed a method comprising adding ascorbic acid or its derivative and thus preventing formation of N-nitroso compound (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 34262/1989 and 53696/1989); a nipple composed of BR, BIIR and natural rubber, crosslinked with an organic peroxide (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 20650/1989); a rubber stopper comprising IR and finely powdered PE (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 8789/1970); a rubber article for pharmaceutical chemicals, free from release of a zinc salt (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 40257/1986) and an improved rubber stopper based on this rubber article (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 57870/1985); and a rubber article for pharmaceutical chemicals and medical articles, comprising IIR, BII, CIIR and superhigh molecular weight PE (Japanese Patent Publication No. 55666/1989).
Furthermore, as a rubber article for pharmaceutical chemicals and medical instruments, comprising a rubber composition coated with a resin film, there are proposed a technique of laminating a vulcanized rubber with a film of polypropylene (PP) (Utility Model Publication Nos. 5751/1969 and 27753/1969); a stopper wholly coated with a fluoro resin excellent in chemical resistance (Utility Model Publication No. 17831/1970); a rubber stopper covered with a trifluoroethylene resin on a surface in contact with a medical liquor (Utility Model Publication No. 21346/1974); a process for the production of a rubber stopper, in particular, laminated with a fluoro resin film on a surface in contact with a medical liquor (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 1355/1977, 9119/1979, 53184/1982, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 272134/1986 and 23961/1990); and a rubber stopper consisting of IIR laminated with a fluoro-resin film (Japanese Patent Publication No. 3104/1988 and Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 47850/1980), as well known in the art.
In the known techniques, however many rubber compounding agents are studied, elution products or stripped materials occur from the rubber compounding agents or rubbers and contaminate medical liquors. Thus, it has been taken as a means for preventing an exterior medical liquor from contamination to cover a rubber article with a fluoro resin film or PE or PP resin film. However, such sanitary films of fluoro resins, PE, PP, etc. have low bonding strengths to rubber surfaces and are thus stripped readily. A higher bonding strength can be obtained by subjecting the surface of a film to a surface treatment, e.g. by corona discharge, but this is a high grade technique having an economical problem.


The embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the fabrication of integrated circuits, and more particularly to a structure and method for fabricating differential wiring patterns in multilayer glass-ceramic (MLC) modules. A structure and method of forming a MLC having layers with staggered, or offset, pairs of lines formed directly on one another are disclosed. In addition, a structure and method of forming a MLC having layers with staggered, or offset, pairs of lines that periodically reverse polarity are disclosed.

The present invention relates generally to electronic components such as multilayer glass ceramic chip modules and more particularly, to differential wiring patterns in the multilayer glass ceramic chip modules.
As integrated circuit (IC) technology advances towards large-scale integration and high performance multilayer multi-chip modules (MCMs), it is necessary to provide MCM interconnect packaging that is compatible with the demands of the associated circuitry. In other words, the reduction of signal delay, package impedance, and cross-talk in the wiring of MCM packaging has become extremely important. Present day packaging used in MCMs is typically made of multiple layers of glass-ceramics (hereinafter "ceramics"), commonly referred to as multilayer ceramic (MLC) modules. MLC modules are typically composed of multiple layers of ceramics, or other insulating material of relatively high thermal conductivity with conductors formed on the respective surfaces and through-holes (via) formed through the layers.
In general, a MLC module is formed by stacking and bonding together flexible sheets of ceramic material, commonly referred to as ceramic greensheets. Greensheet segments of a desired size and configuration may be pre-punched to provide via holes and, may be patterned, typically by a screen printing technique, with a conductive paste that creates a conductive circuit pattern on the surface of the greensheet as well as fills the via holes to form interlayer contact lines. Patterned greensheets are assembled in a stack, pressed, and subsequently sintered in an oven at a relatively high temperature. Upon sintering, organics, such as binders, dispersants, plasticizers, thixotropes, solvents, etc., are burned off providing a rigid unitary ceramic body having interior interconnected conductive patterns.
Typically, the wiring in a MLC module is laid out in a meshed plane (i.e., repeating pairs of horizontal lines connected to repeating pairs of vertical interlayer lines that form a structure resembling repeating cubes). This mesh pattern may result in significant vertical coupling between signal lines. A common solution to this problem is to include a blank layer between each layer of horizontal lines to provide additional insulation. However, as the need for higher bandwidth at low cost has increased, the reduction of the overall number of layers in carriers has become a priority. Unfortunately, eliminating the blank layer to minimize vertical density results in poor signal to crosstalk ratio at high frequencies and limits the viability of this packaging technology for high baud rates.

High speed differential wiring in glass ceramic MCMS

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods and system for operating a thermal storage device of a vehicle system are provided. In one example, a method comprises determining a state of charge of the thermal battery based on an accurate estimation of a melting temperature of one or more phase change materials (PCMs) at a specific aggregate pressure inside the thermal storage device. Variation in melting temperature of the PCM may be minimized by reducing pressure variation inside the thermal storage device by regulating a position of one or more pressure relief valves of the thermal storage device.

To enhance warming of various vehicle system components, thermal energy storage devices have been developed to store thermal energy produced by the vehicle system for later use. These thermal storage devices typically include a phase change material (PCM) that may store a significant amount of thermal energy as latent heat at the phase change temperature of the PCM. In one example approach disclosed in US 2004/0154784, phase change materials such as paraffin wax may be included in a thermal battery in the interior of a vehicle to conserve energy while providing heat to the passenger compartment.
However, the inventors herein have recognized potential issues with such systems. As one example, the pressure of the thermal battery may not be regulated. For example, the PCM material may be sealed inside the thermal battery without any means of regulating a pressure inside the thermal battery. As such, the melting temperature of the PCM varies with pressure and may be altered due to pressure variation inside the thermal battery. Consequently, latent heat trapping capacity of the PCM may be altered, resulting in inaccurate estimation of a state of charge of the thermal battery. This can lead to inefficient thermal battery charging.
In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by a method comprising: estimating an aggregate pressure of a thermal battery coupled to an engine coolant system as a function of each of an ambient pressure and a pressure of coolant circulating through the thermal battery, and determining a state of charge of the battery based on a melting temperature and one or more chemical properties of at least one phase change material (for example, two or more phase change materials) included within the thermal battery, the melting temperature inferred based on the estimated aggregate pressure. In this way, a melting temperature of the thermal battery may be determined more reliably. In one example, pressure inside a PCM chamber of a thermal battery may be regulated through at least one venting valve along a wall of the PCM chamber. At least one venting valve may fluidically connect the PCM chamber to a coolant system that may be in heat exchange relationship with the PCM. In another example, the venting valve may fluidically connect the PCM chamber to atmosphere. Opening or closing of the venting valve may be regulated to minimize pressure variation inside the PCM chamber, which may maintain a melting temperature of the PCM. Based on the melting temperature of the PCM, an accurate state of charge of the thermal battery may be determined for subsequent charging of the thermal battery.
In another example, a controller may determine a melting temperature of a PCM inside a PCM chamber of a thermal battery based on an aggregate pressure inside the PCM chamber. The aggregate pressure may be a function of each of a pressure of a coolant system that may be in heat exchange relationship with the PCM, an ambient pressure, a wall thickness/flexibility of the PCM chamber, and a void volume of the PCM chamber. Factoring in a variation of the melting temperature of the PCM based on pressure variation inside the thermal battery may provide a temperature of super-cooled or superheated PCM, which more accurately indicates a state of charge of the thermal battery.
In this way, the state of charge of a thermal battery may be accurately determined by estimating melting temperature of the PCM based on an aggregate pressure inside the thermal battery. Coolant flow through the thermal battery may be regulated based on the state of charge of the thermal battery and based on coolant temperature. In addition, pressure variations inside the battery may be minimized via control of a vent valve. The technical effect of estimating the melting temperature of the battery based on the aggregate pressure inside the battery is that pressure variations on the melting temperature may be compensated for, resulting in a more reliable estimate of the state of charge of the battery. By increasing the accuracy of a state of charge determination for the thermal battery, charging/discharging cycles of the thermal battery may be better used to regulate the temperature of a coolant in heat exchange relationship with the PCM of the thermal battery. Increasing the heating efficiency of the coolant by the thermal battery for heating various vehicle components (such as an engine, a passenger cabin, etc.) may enhance the fuel economy of the vehicle, and increase passenger comfort.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Systems and methods for thermal battery control


The present invention I related to a contents provider supplies encoded contents to a transmitting station, and broadcasts the encoded contents via a satellite. At a gas station inside a service area of the satellite, a base station to receive the contents from the satellite is disposed. The contents provider transmits to each base station decoding keys to decode the transmitted contents via the Internet. The base station relates the received contents to the decoding keys to store in a large capacity memory. When a vehicle stops by at the gas station, a vehicle-mounted apparatus communicates with the base station so as to download the contents, accumulate in a memory, and reproduce. This enables digital contents to be distributed to a mobile body with small-scale equipment.

In the field of broadcasting system, a satellite broadcasting system which can provide with local service covering a wide range has been developed and diversification of broadcasting service is being planned. In such a satellite broadcasting system, compared with an existing broadcasting system, without requiring any large-scale broadcasting equipment on the ground, it is realizable that broadcasting signals containing images and sounds are provided to a wide range of service area.
However, conventional satellite broadcasting system has a problem that it cannot implement reception unless it comprises comparatively large-scale reception system. That is, radio wave for satellite broadcasting is very weak, and therefore was considered to require a comparatively large receiving antenna, etc.
Radio wave from a satellite is also being received by a base station, etc. so that this is redistribution via a CATV network, but a reception terminal (set top box) of CATV, etc. is necessary. In addition, under a mobile environment it does not work.
This invention was made in view of the above described actual situation, and a first objective hereof is to make digital contents transmittable to a mobile body with a small scale deployment.
As a conventional contents distribution apparatus for such a mobile body terminal, for example, "Information Supply system for Vehicles" (Japanese Laid Open Gazette No. 10-73440) which is configured to receive music or map data by connecting a plug for information transmission provided in the vicinity of an oil supply nozzle at a gas station with a connector for reception provided in the vicinity of an oil supply orifice of an automobile, "Digital Information Distribution System" (Japanese Laid Open Gazette No. 11-168464) which receives distribution of music information and the like by connecting an information recording-reproducing device in a customer's possession with a vending machine exclusive for digital information, "Digital Information Distribution System" (Japanese Laid Open Gazette No. 11-191266) which is configured so that a plurality of music distribution terminals are brought into connection with a service center which digitalize a large amount of music data to store by way of communication lines, and "Digital Information Distribution System" (Japanese Laid Open Gazette No. 2000-48479) which is configured to perform reproduction by bringing a user's information reproducing terminal into connection with a music information vending terminal via a predetermined interface, sending and receiving encoded music information and the user's ID, and decoding the encoded information, and the like, are known.
Next, vehicle electronic equipment as a receiving terminal installed in a mobile body in the above described contents distribution system is provided with various antitheft device.
For example, panel detachable type vehicle electronic equipment (panel detachable type equipment), in which an operation panel disposed in the front surface is detachable, is given as an example. This panel detachable equipment has a operation panel which is removed by a user at the time when he/she leaves the car for a long time so as to make the equipment unusable as well as to place the equipment under incomplete state for antitheft. An example of technology of such a panel detachable equipment is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Gazette No. 6-252565.
In such conventional panel detachable equipment, antitheft can be planned by physically removing a operation panel, but the operation panel under the removed state could not be used effectively. That is, the operation panel under the removed state could not be used at all, and in spite of its smallness, it turned out to be burdensome.
A similar problem is broadly applicable to electric equipment comprising a detachable operation panel.
The present invention, which was made in view of the above described actual conditions, has a second objective to provide electric equipment which can utilize effectively a operation panel under removed state, and a panel which can be utilized effectively under removed state, and to provide vehicle electronic equipment for planning antitheft as well as effective use.
Moreover, as the above described electric equipment, there is one which uses a semiconductor element, especially a flash memory which is a nonvolatile memory having a large capacity and being rewritable, as storage medium. This kind of electric equipment does not need any rotary driving portion, and can make an apparatus smaller and control consumed energy.
However, a flash memory has a problem that it has a narrow working temperature range. Normally, around 65° C. is the limit. In addition, when the temperature to not less than the temperature, recorded data could even disappear.
In normal electric equipment, the temperature inside the apparatus does not frequently up to 65° C., and even so, can be coped with an appropriate ventilating mechanism being provided.
However, in case of an apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle, due to its peculiarity on installation site such as that the main body portion is stored in a dashboard of the vehicle, it is not exceptional that the temperature increases to not less than 65° C. Moreover, inside a vehicle in summer, even at time of stopping, the temperature happens to reach around 100° C.
Due to this, simple use of a flash memory in electric equipment to be mounded on a vehicle as memory media gives rise to a problem that it lacks stability and reliability.
Similar problem commonly exists in electric equipment to be mounded on vehicles which stores not only music data but also image data such as map data, text data, etc. in a flash memory for use.
The present invention, which was made in view of the above described actual conditions, has a third objective to improve reliability of electric equipment to be mounded on a vehicle in which semiconductor recording element is used as storage medium, and to use the semiconductor recording element within an appropriate temperature range.

Data distribution system and method, and electric equipment to be used therefor


A portable air purifying apparatus including a high frequency voltage booster and an anion generator. The high frequency voltage booster is comprised of a control box accommodating therein a circuit board and two batteries. The circuit board has electronic components assembled thereon to form a high frequency high voltage circuit for generating high frequency high voltage pulse currents when the batteries supply electric currents. The anion generator is comprised of a generator body accommodating therein a discharge electrode, a necklace attached to the generator body, and a terminal connector. The generator body has two air vents. The high frequency voltage booster and the anion generator may be carried around by the user. The terminal connector may be plugged into the terminal socket of the high frequency voltage booster to allow output of high voltage pulse currents so that the discharge electrode inside the generator body may discharge high frequency high voltage currents to generate many anions that may escape through the air vents of the generator body into the air so as to react with and decompose the viruses floating in the air, thereby purifying the air around the user and avoiding viral infections.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a portable air purifying apparatus, and more particularly to an air purifier that utilizes electronic circuit combinations to generate a high frequency, high voltage pulse current that may harmonize with a discharge electrode of a portable anion generator and may be transmitted back to the anion generator for generating many anions that will react with and decompose viruses in the air, thereby purifying the air surrounding the user.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
In densely populated industrial and commercial sites, pollutants and viruses using air as their medium are everywhere. They are the causes of various infectious diseases, allergy, or chronic diseases.
There have been developed air purifiers for installation in air conditioners to help purify air and kill germs in the air so as to provide fresh indoor air. However, in places like hospitals, stations, and department stores where there are crowds of people, the above-mentioned air purifiers that are fixedly installed are of no use. It is therefore desirable to have a portable air purifier that can purify the surrounding air to ward off viruses and pollutants floating in the air.


Dispensing systems for dispensing one or more materials into a fluid flow conduit, during the conveyance of fluid through the conduit are configured to connect to a fluid conduit, such as a standard pipe of a shower arm and dispense a material into the water flow in the shower arm. The system includes a first tube member having a restrictor flow passage to provide a pressure differential, as fluid flows through the tube member. The pressure differential created within the restrictor passage by the fluid flow is communicated to a flask, to provide a pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of a flexible container within the flask. The pressure differential causes material within the flexible container to be drawn out and conveyed to the fluid flowing through the tube member. The flask may be connected to the first tube member, through an extension portion that is rotatable around the first tube member for convenient positioning. A quick-release connection structure may allow the flask to be connected and selectively releasable from the system.

Modern household showers are provided with one or more standard pipe shower arms connected to the household water plumbing system. A showerhead is typically attached to the shower arm by screw threads provided on the showerhead and mating screw threads provided on a free end of the shower arm. The mating screw threads allow the showerhead to be connected to the shower arm by engaging the mating threads and rotating the showerhead relative to the shower arm. Typical showerheads are configured with a balljoint that allows the showerhead to swivel around the axis of the shower arm, such that the showerhead will remain oriented for proper operation, even after the ball joint has been rotated any suitable amount to attain a sufficiently tight connection to the shower arm. Other accessories also designed to be fitted to shower arms have swivels to allow the accessory to be positioned for proper operation regardless of the angular position of the threads required to achieve a liquid tight seal with shower arm.
Various types of hair shampoo, hair conditioner, soap, skin conditioner, moisturizer, perfume and other personal care products are available for use in showers. Typically, such products are distributed in plastic bottles or other containers that are kept within the shower stall. The bottles and other containers tend to collect inside of the shower stall, resulting in possible safety and health problems, as well as causing the shower to appear cluttered.
Dispensing units have been designed for installation in a shower stall, for dispensing quantities of flowable shampoos, conditioners, soaps into a user's hand. Other dispensing units that were configured to be connected in the water flow system have not gained significant popularity. It is believed that one reason for the lack of popularity of such previous dispensing systems is the difficulty of refilling such systems and of connecting such systems without changing the orientation or operation of the showerhead or dispensing system. Another reason is that regulatory restrictions placed on the maximum flow rate of water through a showerhead has introduced flow controllers into the showerheads that raise the water pressure in the shower arm to a level where it is difficult for a conventional venturi system to work effectively. An example of a previous dispensing unit using a venturi system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,231,200, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Dispensing system and method for shower arm