An irrigation device is provided, the device comprising a container for water consisting of a plurality of surfaces, each surface substantially being either a hydrophilic membrane or impervious to water in all forms, and wherein at least one of the surfaces is substantially a hydrophilic membrane and at least one of the surfaces is substantially impervious to water in all forms.

This invention relates generally to irrigation devices and specifically to irrigation devices comprising a hydrophilic membrane.
In most cases the cultivation of plants requires the provision at intervals of water; however, the frequency of these intervals and the amount of water provided varies widely, from the occasional watering of a pot plant or garden plants, to the almost continuous provision of water during commercial agriculture in particularly dry regions of the world. The various methods of irrigation adopted reflect these different requirements; however, most still suffer from serious disadvantages in that they may be labor intensive (e.g. watering of garden plants by hand or the monitoring of agricultural crops), wasteful of water (e.g. automated non-regulated agricultural or large scale domestic watering systems) or particularly complex and expensive (e.g. computer regulated, automated agricultural systems). Furthermore, many large-scale agricultural systems are buried in the ground requiring major preparation before installation and causing difficulties in maintenance and detecting, isolating and repairing leaks.
There is therefore a need for simple, easy to install and maintain irrigation devices that release water only when required.
Numerous materials that allow the passage of water whilst restricting the passage of suspended or even dissolved materials are known. One recently identified group of materials are hydrophilic polymers. Membranes of these materials are known to be impervious to liquid water but to allow the passage of water vapor (a process known as pervaporation). If there is a vapor pressure gradient across a hydrophilic membrane, water will be absorbed from the side with the higher vapor pressure, and transported across the membrane and released as water vapor on the side with the lower vapor pressure; the released water vapor may be used directly or condensed back to liquid water. However, in either case, it may be pure (both chemically and microbiologically) as any contaminants will be retained either on the other side of the membrane or (in some cases) in the membrane itself.
It has now been found that a container of water having at least one surface constructed from a hydrophilic membrane, when placed with that surface in contact with an area of growing medium, will release water at variable rates to maintain a particular moisture level in that area of growing medium and a surrounding area. Furthermore, this rate of water release may be controlled by the choice of materials used to construct the said one or more hydrophilic membrane surfaces.
There is therefore provided an irrigation device comprising a container for water consisting of a plurality of surfaces, each surface substantially being either a hydrophilic membrane or impervious to water in all forms, and wherein at least one of the surfaces is substantially a hydrophilic membrane and at least one of the surfaces is substantially impervious to water in all forms.
Preferably in the devices of the present invention, each surface is either a hydrophilic membrane or is impervious to water in all forms.
By irrigation is meant the provision of sufficient water to an area of growing medium having plants therein to allow the plants to grow. Preferably a sufficient amount of water is delivered to the growing medium to optimize the growth of the plants therein.
Devices of the present invention may be used for all forms of irrigation; for example, for individual pot plants; in domestic gardens; in commercial plant nurseries or in all scales of agriculture.
Devices of the present invention regulate the amount of water released into an area of growth medium because the hydrophilic membrane will only allow the passage of water vapor across a vapor pressure gradient, i.e. if the growth medium below the device is waterlogged, no transport at all will occur, and the drier the growth medium becomes the faster will the rate of water transport out of the device into the growth medium become. As the water diffuses away from the point of contact with the device, a larger area of growing medium will become irrigated, and more water will be released from the device unless an equilibrium is reached.
In the context of the present invention, growth medium means any solid medium in which plants are planted and includes naturally occurring or artificially amended soils, and other materials for growing plants, such as vermiculite, perlite, peat moss, shredded tree fern trunks, chipped or shredded tree bark and shredded coconut husks.
In the context of the present invention hydrophilic membranes mean membranes that are impervious to liquid water but that allow the passage of water vapor, i.e. by pervaporation. Hydrophilic membranes or coatings, hereinafter collectively referred to as membranes in this disclosure, feature sufficiently high water vapor transmission rates, as defined below, so that water that has passed through the membranes can be used directly in applications including irrigating plants. Such membranes can comprise one or more layers made from materials including but not limited to the same or different hydrophilic polymers. As long as the water vapor permeation rate of the membrane in total is sufficiently high, this water can be provided at a rate consistent with its use in a given practical application as described. The non-porous nature of the membranes disclosed here serves to exclude any particulate impurities from passing through such a membrane, including microbes such as bacteria and viruses. In addition, it has been discovered that membranes made from the hydrophilic polymers described in the present invention significantly reduce or prevent the passage of dissolved salts. Therefore, the ability to use not only fresh water, but also water that may contain suspended or dissolved impurities, to produce desired amounts of purified water by ervaporation allows saline water, including but not limited to sea water or brackish water, after processing through the devices of the present invention, to be used to irrigate land and sustain plant growth.
The rate at which water pervaporates through the hydrophilic membrane depends to a large extent upon the nature of the material from which it is made, and upon the thickness of the one or more separate or combined layers of polymer from which the hydrophilic membrane is constructed. With the appropriate choice of material, thickness and membrane construction, the rate at which water pervaporates through the said hydrophilic membrane may be adjusted to suit the particular water requirements of the plants to be irrigated.
The rate at which water pervaporates through the membrane made from the hydrophilic polymer also depends, among other factors, upon the moisture content on the non-water side. Therefore, irrigation systems based on the membranes of the present invention are self-regulating and may be xe2x80x9cpassivexe2x80x9d in nature, providing more water to plants under dry conditions and less under humid conditions.
The standard test for measuring the rate at which a given membrane transmits water is ASTM E-96-95xe2x80x94Procedure BW, previously known and named as ASTM E-96-66xe2x80x94Procedure BW, which is used to determine the Waver Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) of a membrane.
The hydrophilic membrane for use with devices of the present invention are made from hydrophilic polymers. xe2x80x9cHydrophilic polymersxe2x80x9d means polymers which absorb water when in contact with liquid water at room temperature according to the International Standards Organization ISO 62 (Equivalent to the American Society for Testing and Materials specification ASTM D 570).
The hydrophilic polymer can be one or a blend of several polymers, for example, the hydrophilic polymer can be a copolyetherester elastomer or a mixture of two or more copolyetherester elastomers as described below, such as polymers available from E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company under the trade name Hytrel(copyright); or a polyether-block-polyamide or a mixture of two or more polyether-block polyamides, such as polymers available from the Elf-Atochem Company of Paris, France, under the trade name of PEBAX; or a polyether urethane or a mixture of polyether urethanes; or homopolymers or copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol or a mixture of homopolymers or copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol.
A particularly preferred polymer for preparing membranes for use in the devices of the present invention is a copolyetherester elastomer or mixture of two or more copolyetherester elastomers having a multiplicity of recurring long-chain ester units and short-chain ester units joined head-to-tail through ester linkages, where the long-chain ester units are represented by the formula:
and said short-chain ester units are represented by the formula:
wherein:
a) G is a divalent radical remaining after the removal of terminal hydroxyl groups from a poly(alkylene oxide)glycol having a number average molecular weight of about 400-4000;
b) R is a divalent radical remaining after removal of carboxyl groups from a dicarboxylic acid having a molecular weight less than 300;
c) D is a divalent radical remaining after removal of hydroxyl groups from a diol having a molecular weight less than about 250; optionally
d) the copolyetherester contains 0-68 weight percent, based on the total weight of the copolyetherester, ethylene oxide groups incorporated in the long-chain ester units of the copolyetherester; and
e) the copolyetherester contains about 25-80 weight percent short-chain ester units.
This preferred polymer is suitable for fabricating into thin but strong membranes, films and coatings. The preferred polymer, copolyetherester elastomer and methods of making it are known in the art, such as are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,481 for a copolyetherester elastomer with a WVTR of 3500 g/m2/24 hr, or U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,273 for a copolyetherester elastomer with a WVTR of 400-2500 g/m2/24 hr. Both are hereby incorporated by reference.
The polymer can be compounded with antioxidant stabilizers, ultraviolet stabilizers, hydrolysis stabilizers, dyes or pigments, fillers, anti-microbial reagents and the like.
The use of commercially available hydrophilic polymers as membranes is possible in the context of the present invention, although it is more preferable to use copolyetherester elastomers having a WVTR of more than 400 g/m2/24 hr measured on a film of thickness 25 microns using air at 23xc2x0 C. and 50% relative humidity at a velocity of 3 m/s. Most preferred is the use of membranes made from commercially available copolyetherester elastomers having a WVTR of more than 3500 g/m2/24 hr, measured on a film of thickness 25 microns using air at 23xc2x0 C. and 50% relative humidity at a velocity of 3 m/s.
The hydrophilic polymers can be manufactured into membranes of any desired thickness by a number of processes. A useful and well-established way to make membranes in the form of films is by melt extrusion of the polymer on a commercial extrusion line. Briefly, this entails heating the polymer to a temperature above the melting point, extruding it through a flat or annular die and then casting a film using a roller system or blowing a film from the melt.
Useful optional support materials include woven, non-woven or bonded papers, fabrics and screens permeable to water vapor, including those constructed from fibers of organic and inorganic polymers stable to moisture such as polyethylene, polypropylene, fiberglass and the like. The support material both increases strength and protects the membrane. The support material may be disposed on one side of the hydrophilic polymer membrane or both sides. When disposed on only one side, the support materials can be in contact with the source of water or away from it. Typically the support material is disposed on the outside of containers formed by the hydrophilic polymer membrane to best protect the membrane from physical damage and/or degradation by light.
In the devices of the present invention, the one or more surfaces comprising a hydrophilic membrane may each optionally be provided with a support material to protect it from physical damage; however it is also preferred that this surface retains a sufficient degree of flexibility such that good contact with the growing medium surface will be maintained once the device is placed upon it.
Preferably in the devices of the present invention the material that is impervious to water in all forms is polyvinyl chloride; polyethylene that has been protected from UV radiation; polyamide that has been protected from UV radiation or a metal like steel, aluminum or the like.
Preferably in the devices of the present invention the only surfaces that are a hydrophilic membrane are ones that will be in contact with a growing medium in use. Preferably also, all of the surfaces that are in contact with growing medium when the devices of the present invention are in use will be hydrophilic membrane.
By including at least one surface that is impervious to water in all forms in the devices of the present invention, release of water other than into a growing medium may be reduced or even eliminated, thus avoiding wastage of water.
Preferably in the devices of the present invention the surfaces that are impervious to water in all forms provide a degree of structural support so that the container does not collapse entirely as water is removed.
Preferably in the devices of the present invention the surfaces that are impervious to water in all forms provide protection from mechanical, biological, biochemical or ultra-violet damage. This protection may be achieved by selecting the impervious materials appropriately or by the addition of exterior supporting or strengthening structures. The exterior supporting or strengthening structures may be made of any material having appropriate physical characteristics, for example wood, metal, porous pipe, terracotta, concrete or PVC foam.
Simple devices of the present invention may comprise a sheet of hydrophilic membrane and a sheet of impervious flexible material, joined together at their edges and filled with water before sealing to make a bag. Such a device will emit water from the surface that is a hydrophilic membrane and in contact with, for example, soil will maintain a consistent water content therein.
Other simple versions of the devices of the present invention include tubes or pipes having a first ground contacting surface comprising a hydrophilic membrane and an upper surface comprising a material that is impervious to the passage of water in any form. Such tubes or pipes may be produced in two or more parts, or may be produced as a single (e.g. extruded) pipe or tube of hydrophilic membrane which is then partially coated with a material that is impervious to water in all forms.
The devices of the present invention may also be in the form of large sheets to irrigate particularly dry areas of ground or for the growth of plants requiring large amounts of water. Such sheets will preferably consist of a lower surface that is a hydrophilic membrane and an upper surface that is impervious to water in all forms, the surfaces being sealed at their edges (and optionally at intervals throughout the structure) to form a container or series of containers for water. These structures will also preferably have gaps within the structure so that plants can grow upwards through them.
The rate of water transmission through the hydrophilic membrane of the devices of the present invention may be affected by the temperature of the water and this effect may be utilized, if required, by selecting the colors of the surfaces that are impervious to water in all forms appropriately so that they are heated by sunlight to increase the rate of water transfer. Alternatively, these surfaces may be made of reflecting materials if it is preferred that this effect is minimized.
Preferably, the devices of the present invention are refillable or permanently contain water. This may be achieved either by the provision of, for example, a simple valve so that water may be poured in, or by permanent connection to a water source that is either activated periodically or is of a low enough pressure that water is only drawn into the devices of the present invention as it is released therefrom, to maintain a constant water content therein.
In use, the devices of the present invention may simply be placed at intervals in an area requiring irrigation and monitored occasionally to maintain sufficient water levels. Alternatively, for at least semi-permanent use, a number of devices of the invention may be connected together to form a network that is connected to a single water supply. The connecting structures may be non-permeable or may themselves function as devices of the present invention.
Devices of the present invention are preferably placed on the surface of the growing medium in use, and they are therefore particularly easy to monitor and maintain/repair. They may also be easily avoided by agricultural machinery or may be removed before such machinery is used. However, devices of the present invention may also be partially or completely buried and, in this case, it is preferred that the at least one surface that is a hydrophilic membrane is directed towards the primary root growing region, i.e. downwards, if the devices of the present invention are buried shallowly or upwards if they are buried at a depth below normal root growth.
The water used in the devices of the present invention may be of any quality, as contaminants (both chemical, physical and microbiological) will not pass through the hydrophilic membrane; however, it is preferred that if the devices are to be regularly refilled (or are connected to a permanent water supply) the devices of the invention are occasionally purged, so that there will not be a build-up of contaminants which could be damaging to the growing medium if the devices are ever accidentally breached.
In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rooting container comprising a lower layer comprising a biodegradable material and an upper layer comprising a hydrophilic membrane, the lower and upper layers being sealed together at their edges to form a hollow cavity, the cavity containing seeds or seedlings.
In use, the container of the further aspect of the present invention is placed upon an area of growing medium and exposed to rain or artificial watering. The water will penetrate the hydrophilic membrane and cause the seeds to germinate and the seedlings to grow. The roots of the germinating seeds and seedlings will penetrate the biodegradable layer and enter the growing medium.
Preferably in the containers of the further aspect of the present invention the hydrophilic membrane will be photo-degradable so that it degrades once the seeds have begun to germinate.
Preferably in the containers of the further aspect of the present invention the cavity also contains growing medium which may be selected from any of the materials discussed above, and within which the seeds and/or seedlings are distributed.
Preferably the containers of the further aspect of the present invention may be of any size; however, it is preferred that they are either relatively small (for example 10 cm by 10 cm or less) or that they are divided up into separate cells so that a sheet of such cells may be used or individual cells may be cut off and placed separately.
Preferably in the containers of the further aspect of the present invention the upper surface will include water collection and retention features such as dimples.
The upper hydrophilic membrane surface of the containers of the further aspect of the present invention may be manufactured from any of the hydrophilic polymers discussed above, optionally selected to be photo-degradable or comprising an additional component to impart photo-degradability. The lower bio-degradable surface may comprise any bio-degradable material having a necessary degree of strength but which is penetrable by plant roots, for example paper, cotton or other woven or non-woven fabric made from plant fibers.
The containers of the further aspect of the present invention allow the planting of seeds or seedlings to be simplified and will prevent seeds from being blown away, washed away in heavy rain or from rolling away on sloping ground.


A new and distinct Petunia cultivar named ‘DLITT299’ is disclosed, characterized by small, very dark purple flowers with greenish-yellow stripes, triangles or dots around the margin. The new variety is of medium vigor and moderately well branched as well as abundant in flowering and of mounded shape. The new variety is a Petunia, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

The new Petunia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Petunia varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during March of 2011.
The seed parent is the unpatented non-commercial seedling variety referred to as Petunia '8-2651'. The pollen parent is the unpatented seedling variety referred to as Petunia '10-4179', containing the black gene described in utility patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,642,436. The new variety was discovered in September of 2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2011 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar has been performed by vegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in October of 2011 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 25 generations.


A metadata-based application model for software systems provides for the integration and storing of application metadata with the application itself effectively replacing the system registry. In calling or updating the application components or modules, queries to the metadata within the application folders returns references to the files with metadata that matches the query. The component or modules are called or updated within the file using the returned reference. The present invention also provides a data structure comprising a data field for the application code and another field for the metadata.

Object-oriented software systems provide software architectures that organize and interconnect software objects within a computer system. Generally, software within an object-oriented system is organized into classes containing one or more software object. A software object is a self-contained software construct that includes data and methods. The software objects may use data or methods in other software objects by calling those objects to execute a method or return data. An application, such a Microsoft® Excel spreadsheet application, may have executable code organized into several classes of software objects. Generally, an application operates with several features, each having one or more components. The components and hence, the features may be formed from one or more classes or one or more objects.
When an application is installed in a computer, the computer system stores the software components of the application, onto a storage medium accessible by the computer. In addition, the installation stores metadata associated with the application to the computer. Metadata is information about the application. Generally, the metadata describes the installation of the application, objects the application calls, settings for the application, and other information. Typically, the metadata is written to a system registry in a known location. The system registry holds the metadata for at least some applications and modules that operate on the computer. In general, as the complexity and interconnectedness of the software applications increases, more and more items of metadata are stored to the registry. For example, when installing Microsoft® Office Pro 2003 suite of programs, the installation writes more than 14,000 keys of metadata to the registry.
Unfortunately, many problems occur when using the registry. For instance, when a new application is installed and the application installs a new version of a software module or component that is already stored on the computer, the metadata stored for the existing module is overwritten by the metadata for the new version of the module. Any connection between a previously existing program that requires the older version is broken and the existing program may fail to operate. Also, if the newer version of the module is removed, the metadata for the older version of the module is not restored in the registry, causing further problems.
Large programs with numerous modules, each module typically having its own metadata to write to the registry generally complicate the installation process. The conflicts between sets of like metadata must be checked, new metadata must be stored in the registry, and some metadata needs to be overwritten. Typically, a separate installer program must be developed and employed to complete the installation process. The installer program is designed to resolve the problems with the metadata storage. Unfortunately, the installer programs consist of their own sets of code that developers must write to install applications, and furthermore, using an installer slows the installation process because the installer program typically interfaces with the user rather than simply copying the code to the computer. It is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made.

Metadata-based application model for large applications


An advanced gateway for multiple broadband access can include a plurality of broadband network interfaces. The advanced gateway can route data from a local network interface to a broadband network interface when a performance attribute of the broadband network meets or exceeds a data characteristic of data conveyed through the local network interface. In another embodiment, a first advanced gateway can send a portion of data received through the local network interface to a second advanced gateway when performance attributes associated with the first advanced gateway cannot meet or exceed a data characteristic of data received through a local network interface of the first advanced gateway. In yet another embodiment, an advanced gateway can receive commands from service providers, determine a recipient device for the command and forward the command to the recipient device through a device interface coupled to the recipient device.

Embodiments of the inventive subject matter generally relate to the field of communication systems and, more particularly, to advanced gateway architecture for use in a communication network.
A network gateway can provide an interface between local networks and broadband networks. Local networks can provide connectivity in a local area or region such as a residence or small office. Broadband networks generally provide connectivity to relatively high bandwidth network resources such as websites, servers, gaming resources, Internet resources, email and the like. Some broadband networks or interfaces however, may not be capable of meeting one or more traffic characteristics associated with a local network. If the local network is routed to a broadband network that cannot meet a data characteristic, data can be lost, or performance can be reduced and a user can be frustrated with poor performance.

Advanced gateway for multiple broadband access


Provided is a semiconductor device characterized by that first to fourth semiconductor chips are mounted on first to fourth electrodes formed by plating, respectively; the surface of the first semiconductor chip and the upper surface of a fifth electrode, the surface of the second semiconductor chip and the upper surface of the first electrode, the surface of the third semiconductor chip and the upper surface of the fourth electrode, the surface of the fourth semiconductor chip and the upper surface of the fifth electrode, and the upper surface of the second electrode and the upper surface of the third electrode are coupled to each other by first to fifth conductive members, respectively; and the back surfaces of the first to fifth electrodes are exposed from a resin molding. The invention makes it possible to reduce the size and the thickness of a semiconductor device configuring a diode bridge circuit.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, in particular, to a technology effective when applied to a semiconductor device configuring a diode bridge circuit.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 1(1989)-129450 (Patent Document 1) discloses a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device configuring a diode bridge circuit. This method can prevent occurrence of wrong polarity by supplying/mounting and fixing diode chips onto the lead portion of a leadframe so that all the chips have the same polarity.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11(1999)-312781 (Patent Document 2) discloses a method of manufacturing a bridge-type semiconductor device by using a first leadframe and a second leadframe in which a plurality of metal plate units equipped with a die pad portion and a terminal portion integrated therewith has been connected in the X and Y directions, sandwiching a semiconductor chip between the die pads of these lead frames and then soldering them.
International Patent Publication No. 2009-515323 (Patent Document 3) discloses an over voltage protection circuit integrated in a semiconductor chip and includes a diode bridge, a transient voltage suppressor device, and a resistor.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device


Among other things, one or more semiconductor arrangements, and techniques for forming such semiconductor arrangements are provided. A layer, such as a poly layer or an inter layer dielectric (ILD) layer, is formed over a substrate. A photoresist mask is formed over the layer. The photoresist mask comprises an open region overlaying a target region of the layer and comprises a protection region overlaying a second region of the layer. An etching process is performed through the open region to reduce a height of the layer in the target region in relation to a height of the layer in the second region because the protection region inhibits the etching process from affecting the layer in the second region. A first structure, having a first height, is formed within the target region. A second structure, having a second height greater than the first height, is formed within the second region.

A semiconductor arrangement comprises one or more devices, such as FinFET transistors, formed over a substrate. In an example, the semiconductor arrangement comprises an overlay region. The overlay region comprises one or more overlay alignment marks used during semiconductor fabrication for alignment purposes. In an example, the one or more overlay alignment marks are used to align one or more masks with one or more layers during patterning, such as during lithography. An etching process is performed to expose such overlay alignment marks or to remove material from a layer of the semiconductor arrangement to form structures, such as polysilicon gate structures or inter layer dielectric (ILD) structures. Because overlay alignment marks are exposed and structures are formed by the etching process, the overlay alignment marks and the structures have similar heights, which leads to overlay alignment mark visibility issues where heights of such overlay alignment marks are constrained to heights of the structures.

Methods for manufacturing semiconductor arrangements using photoresist masks

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited


In an apparatus for the height-adjustable support of a vehicle body wherein each wheel suspension includes a control device with a piston and cylinder unit to which fluid under pressure is supplied, each piston and cylinder unit includes a hollow piston rod with a cylindrical wall having a flange rigidly connected to the vehicle body, a cylinder extending over the piston rod and having a spring carrier formed at its end on which a vehicle support spring is seated and which is movable along the piston rod when pressurized fluid is admitted to the interior of the piston rod for height-adjustment of the vehicle body.

The invention resides in an apparatus for the height-adjustable support of a wheel or an axle spring suspension on a vehicle body wherein a body-mounted spring support structure includes a cylinder piston unit by which a spring seat is slidably supported so that it can be extended under the control of a control member to which control fluid is supplied by a fluid supply pump.
EP 0 281 173 B1 discloses such a vehicle suspension with height adjustment capabilities. The arrangement disclosed therein is utilized in connection with a suspension system which includes two parallel spring elements. The spring elements are two coil springs arranged concentrically within one another. The cylinder-piston unit supports, by way of the hydraulically extendable spring support, only the inner coil spring. By the tensioning of this coil spring however, the characteristic spring curve of the suspension is changed among other characteristics.
The cylinder of the cylinder-piston-unit is mounted on the vehicle body. The spring is engaged by a piston-operated spring carrier cup. The spring carrier includes a sleeve which is disposed around, and sliding along, the cylinder. As a result, several seal and guide structures need to be arranged between the piston and cylinder as well as between the cylinder and the sleeve of which however only one is exposed to the pressurized fluid and is lubricated thereby.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which actively prevents excessive spring strokes of particular wheels or axle portions in a simple manner. The apparatus must require only little space and few building components which are subjected to only little wear. Further, the apparatus is to be easily installed in motor vehicles and it should be possible to install it as after-market device without a need for changing the standard vehicles suspension and/or shock absorber system.

Apparatus for the height-adjustable support of a wheel or an axle on a vehicle body


A draw pin hitch has a lower jaw, an upper jaw positioned above the lower jaw, and a draw pin receivable generally vertically in apertures in the upper and lower jaws for coupling elements to the hitch between the jaws. The hitch has a pin holding means which is moveable between a “pin raised” position in which the pin is supported by the pin holding means in the aperture of the upper jaw but does not project between the jaws, and a “pin lowered” position in which the holding means allows the pin to extend through both apertures between the jaws. The pin holding means at least partially encircles at least one of the jaws and is moveable between the “pin raised” and “pin lowered” positions by contact of an implement to be coupled to the hitch with a portion of the holding means. When in the “pin raised” position the holding means at least partially extends across the lower end of the aperture in the upper jaw.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to draw pin hitches of the type, hereinafter referred to as being of the type described, having a lower jaw, an upper jaw positioned above the lower jaw, and a draw pin receivable generally vertically in apertures in the upper and lower jaws for coupling elements to the hitch between the jaws, the hitch having a pin holding means which is moveable between a "pin raised" position in which the pin is supported by the pin holding means in the aperture of the upper jaw but does not project between the jaws, and a "pin lowered" position in which the holding means allows the pin to extend through both apertures between the jaws, the pin holding means being moveable between the "pin raised" and "pin lowered" positions by contact of an implement to be coupled to the hitch with a portion of the holding means.
2. Description of Related Art
An example of a hitch of the type described is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,559 which, although efficient in operation, is relatively expensive to produce. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive hitch of the type described.


A compressor includes a compression mechanism drawing in, compressing and discharging fluid and a housing accommodating therein the compression mechanism. The housing has therein a discharge chamber into which the fluid compressed by the compression mechanism is discharged. A silencing and cooling device is provided in the discharge chamber to cool the fluid discharged in the discharge chamber and reduce pressure fluctuation. A dispersion wall is provided in the discharge chamber on downstream side of the discharge chamber that is opposite from an inflow port with respect to flowing direction of the discharged fluid. The dispersion wall is disposed to cover a part of the silencing and cooling device and cover at least a part of the inflow port.

The present invention relates to a compressor.
In recent years, a compressor is mounted on a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle and a fuel cell vehicle. In such vehicles having a power unit that is silent in operation, a compressor is mounted which develops various noises from inlet port side and outlet port side of the compressor. Such noises are unpleasant to passengers of the vehicle. Therefore, measures that suppress the noise development from a compressor have been proposed. In a fuel cell vehicle using compressed air for power generation by fuel cell, the compressed air needs to be cooled for enhancing power generation efficiency.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-108488, for example, describes a compressor having functions of silencing and cooling the fluid (air) discharged after compression. The compressor includes a cylinder block having therein a rotor chamber accommodating a compression mechanism for drawing in, compressing air and then discharging the compressed air and a silencing and cooling chamber accommodating therein an intercooler core for cooling and reducing the pressure fluctuation of the discharged air. The cylinder block has a structure wherein the cylinder block encloses the silencing and cooling chamber and cooperates with a gear housing to enclose the rotor chamber. The rotor chamber and the silencing and cooling chamber are separated by a partition wall that is integrally formed with the cylinder block and communicating with each other through a discharge port formed at a position in the partition wall adjacent to the gear housing. The air compressed by the compression mechanism is discharged with pulsation through the discharge port into the silencing and cooling chamber. Then, the compressed air is flowed through the intercooler core to be cooled there and simultaneously the noise development is lessened by reducing the pressure fluctuation, and the compressed air is discharged from the silencing and cooling chamber to the outside of the compressor.
In the structure of the compressor according to the above Publication, the compressed air flowed through the discharge port is cooled when passing through the intercooler core of the silencing and cooling chamber. However, the compressed air is flowed through only a part of the intercooler core because the discharge port is formed through the partition wall at a position adjacent to the gear housing, so that the compressor has a problem that the compressed air is not sufficiently cooled. Increasing the spaced distance between the discharge port and the intercooler core, the compressed air can be flowed through the entire area of the intercooler core. In this case, the size of the compressor becomes large.
The present invention which has been made in light of such problems is directed to providing a compressor that improves the function of cooling discharged fluid and reducing noise without upsizing the compressor.


A host website, method and system for digitally labelling websites or subscribers with digital labels which represent characteristics or qualities of the website is disclosed. Digital labels are stored on host websites, each of which is directed to a specific subject or activity. The host website can also provide digital labels for storage in other host websites. The host website is provided with artificial intelligence capabilities. Methods and systems for asymmetric access in a host website database are disclosed.

The original concept behind what has become today's Internet was to serve as a robust multi-path method of communication among persons who already knew each other and what they were talking about.
Due to the Internet's dramatic evolution into an open system for large numbers of participants with different purposes, key aspects of Internet mechanics are poorly suited to the functions they are being called upon to play. The small number of original users did not warrant hierarchical agglomerations of addresses on the Internet analogous to library main sections which agglomerate books of similar subject or nature. Suffixes such as .com and .net are used by so many different entities as to be meaningless as agglomerations. Moreover, there are no publicly-available mechanical means for finding or visiting sites preferentially according to their suffixes. Without manual inspection, a website for a restaurant is indistinguishable from that of a day school, or a mining company.
As a consequence of these deficiencies, the Internet poses serious problems for both "publishers"—those who operate websites in order to present information to the electronic world at large, and "surfers"—those looking for information without a known website address in mind. For publishers, the issue is how to get one's website noticed in an increasingly crowded field; for surfers, the issue is how to find what's out there.
Search engines have provided a partial solution, but not a definitive one, and unfortunately one which has led much of the Internet community down the wrong path. On behalf of surfers, a search engine starts with a surfer-inputted word or phrase, and "reads" vast numbers of sites, looking for word or phrase matches or exclusions (for simplicity, "word matches"). However, word matches only give clues as to a site's nature, not unambiguous information about a site or its publisher. As a result, searches generally yield a large number of matches, most of which do not answer the surfer's needs. Furthermore, most surfers are not willing to spend substantial time culling through the large number of matches. Later "refinements", such as frequency or prominence weighting, or counting linkage to a given site, has not significantly improved the quality of search results.
The word-match technology used by search engines is well-suited for research. News articles and academic papers which refer to specialized terms or specific names can often be searched for with great accuracy. However, as shown above, word-match technology is rather poorly suited to finding commonplace commercial information, which is, however, exactly what most publishers—the Internet's paying constituents—are trying to offer through the Web. As a result of the known difficulties of getting found on the Web, many commercial entities simply choose not to have a website at all.
Realizing their weaknesses, most popular search engines now heavily supplement their computerized searches with human research and judgment, and contractual arrangements with outside parties for the provision of data.
For example, a Yahoo search for "Denver restaurants" will yield, not a genuine search engine result, but a link to CuisineNet, a restaurant-list site. This site was clearly assembled by hand by a group of food writers covering a rather small number of restaurants for a metro area of Denver's size.
An Alta Vista search for "Los Angeles plumbers" initially yielded 100% garbage under the computer-managed websites-only search, but was salvaged with a link to what was evidently a manually constructed "Yellow Pages" section, which had a large number of plumber listings.
Hence, while touting themselves as "high-technology" enterprises with "powerful" search engines, many portals are in fact relying more and more heavily on "low-tech" human intervention. Moreover, although portals are generally supposed by the public to be impartial and non-discriminatory vehicles for finding information on the Web, it is evident that to provide apparently satisfactory search results, they must deviate more and more from this ideal.
The Internet now has tens of millions of sites, with thousands more created daily. The limitations of search engines and increasing reliance on human intervention—inherently slow, unwieldy, and prone to prejudice—therefore virtually guarantee that the overwhelming majority of sites on the Internet will not be reliably found by their intended audiences, that many will choose not to bother having a website, and that much of the Internet's potential for enabling commercial transactions will not be realized.
The focus has been on making search engines more and more intelligent, in the hope that and early automobile companies competed for the best mechanics. The focus instead should have been on making the job fundamentally easier to do. This is what Gutenberg did when he invented moveable type, and Henry Ford, when he invented the assembly line.


A depth image capture device uses a circular polarization structure positioned at the output of an illumination radiation source, such as a diode laser. A linear polarization element receives the collimated illumination radiation and provides polarized radiation to a quarter wave plate. Radiation exits the quarter wave plate as circularly polarized radiation and is provided to a diffractive optical element outputting a pattern to illuminate a target. A detector receives a reflection of the output pattern from the target.

Depth sensing camera systems can be used for a variety of purposes, all of which depend on the accuracy of the data received from the object whose depth is to be detected. Many such systems use a projector to illuminate a target with a random or pre-defined pattern, and which detect the distance to the target using data from the reflection. Data from the pattern is used by a depth sensor to determine depth information.
One type of system uses a laser or laser diode as a projector. An issue with at least one current design is the stability of the wavelength of the laser. Detection systems are designed to read reflections based on the output wavelength of the laser. While lasers operating at constant current and temperatures have negligible wavelength fluctuations, optics used with such systems may destabilize the wavelength due to optical feedback from the optics in the system. An additional issue with use of laser light as an illumination source is that when the coherent light from the laser is re-imaged to the detector, there is noise in the form of a speckle pattern. This creates a fundamental limit as to how accurately one can determine the position of the feature in the image.


A filter cartridge for use in gravity-fed water treatment systems wherein filter elements include a dome-shaped hydrophilic porous particulate carbon powder block filter in a polymeric binder. The filter has a closed upper end and an open lower end with sidewalls extending there between, additional filter media and includes ion exchange resins and a fine mesh hydrophilic filter sheet to reduce contaminant content of water for drinking purposes.

This invention relates to a carafe/pitcher water filtration system. More particularly, the instant invention is directed to a batch treatment and filtration device where water is filtered, treated and stored in a container. The treated water is poured from a spigot of the water container which functions as a self-contained water treatment system. These self-contained systems typically have upper and lower chambers separated by a filter cartridge. The water treatment process relies on gravity to force water through the filter cartridge to remove harmful contaminants from the water. The upper chamber receives untreated water to be filtered. The lower chamber receives the filtered water, which is forced through the filter cartridge by gravity.
The presence of unwanted and potentially harmful contaminants in drinking water are a cause for health concern. This concern causes a desire for water treatment devices suitable for use in the home and as portable instruments for water treatment. As a result, many water treatment devices and methods have been developed to remove contaminants or otherwise treat the water to obtain a suitable drinking water.
Some of these water treatment devices and methods utilize treatment materials, which, of their own nature, can be distasteful to consumers of the treated water. For example, municipal water treatment facilities use chlorine as an active agent to remove bacterial contaminants but the odor and taste of the treated water can be offensive to the consumers. It is known to use activated carbon to treat water to remove the offensive odor and taste of chlorine-treated water but flow rate of water through the activated carbon can be hampered.
In addition to chemical and particulate contaminants, several types of harmful contaminants in drinking water are a cause for health concern. Even municipal water treatment fails to adequately remove all of the hazardous contaminates. Most municipal system use chlorine as disinfectant to remove bacteria. It is known that excess chlorine normally used by the municipality is in itself a source to create harmful chemicals commonly known as disinfectant by products, (DBP). These DBP, along with herbicides and pesticides, often present and known as volatile organic chemicals (VOC) are harmful chemicals in the water system. Besides these volatile organic chemical contaminants, biological contaminants including protozoan cysts as Giarida, lamibial and Cryptosporidium, excreted by animals, are present in certain waters.
Cysts are not easily removed by conventional oxidizing agents. Common methods of removing cysts are to trap them in a filter that has porosity less than 2 microns. Such filters with pore sizes less than 2 microns typically are used in water purifier systems that provide high water line pressure.
Gravity filtration is one of the oldest ways of filtering water. Starting from a simple filter cloth to remove suspended impurities to carbon granules along with certain ion exchange media to remove chlorine and certain heavy metals, gravity filtration systems have upper and lower chambers separated by filter cartridge. The system relies on gravity force of the untreated water in the upper chamber to force the water through the cartridge and into the lower chamber thereby producing filtered water. These gravity filtrations systems used in homes vary in sizes, defined by the capacity of the two chambers. One such gravity filtration system commonly used in homes is the carafe type of filter with the top container having a capacity less than 3 liters. The gravity pressure of the untreated water is sufficient to force the water through a limited amount of activated carbon granules and ion exchange resins.
In the prior art, replaceable filter cartridges for household use have been taught and claimed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,743 teaches and claims a filter cartridge of particles of activated charcoal and carbon or other suitable absorbent material wherein the cartridge is contained within a housing. Water is filtered by passing it through the tubular wall of the cartridge from the space between the cartridge and the housing toward the outlet or the inside of the tubular cartridge. The filter cartridge is generally cup-shaped. The filter cartridge structure provides a long flow path of approximately seven inches for water traveling from the inlet to the outlet to provide effective odor and taste filtering of the water with a long contact time.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,694 teaches and claims a filter tube comprising a plurality of randomly disposed glass fibers having intensities between to define the porosity of the filter. The glass fibers are bonded at the junctions of the fiber cross-overs with a hardened silicone resin bonding agent, the fibers interrelated to form a semi-rigid mass of desired porosity to incorporate an outer absorbent activated carbon-filled filter sleeve. The bonding agent typically may be phenal-formaldahyde or epoxy resins or other thermosetting-type resins. However, the bonding agent can impart hydrophobicity to the filter and restrict the scope of the filter applications in that organic bonding agents can have a color, which darkens with sunlight and use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,078 teaches and claims a pass-through pitcher filter comprising a compact filter element including a thin annular disk of molded granular activated carbon and a peripheral annular seal element. The seal element allows the filter to be replaceably mounted on the lower end of an upper plastic reservoir, which reservoir is adapted to be supported in the top of a pitcher for receiving filtered water. The plastic reservoir for water to be treated and filter are placed on a pitcher for receiving and dispensing the treated water. Such assemblies rely on gravity flow of the water from the reservoir to the pitcher via the filter. The seal element utilizes a synthetic rubber material and is preferably molded around the carbon filter disk. The filter element is made from a rigid sintered block of activated granular carbon. The carbon block is made from granular activated carbon and a suitable binder, such as polyethylene, compressed and heated to form a molded porous block. In the preferred embodiment, a carbon block has a nominal 20-micron porosity and is approximately ½ inch (13 mm) thick and 4¼ inches (5.5 cm) in diameter. An annular synthetic rubber seal is attached to the periphery of the carbon block. The seal may comprise a neoprene-like material. The seal is formed by injection molding around the carbon block. When the filter element is used initially or after it has remained unused for a period of time, surface tension between water in the reservoir which is to be filtered and the dry porous carbon block may inhibit normal gravity flow of the water through the filter element. To initiate flow, manual pressure is applied to the bellows element of the reservoir to compress air in the reservoir to force water through the carbon block to initiate water flow.
In the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,848 teaches and claims a filter cartridge for a gravity-fed water treatment device comprising a hydrophilic porous particulate filter having an interior volume filled with an granular filter media comprising granular activated carbon, an ion exchange resin or a combination thereof. The porous particulate filter is microporous, comprises pleated sheet filter media, and is arranged to establish with a pressure of about 0.5 lb./in2 a flow rate of water by gravity through the filter cartridge. The preferred form of carbon of use is granular activated carbon. The preferred granular media for use in the filter cartridge is a mixture of a weak-acid cation exchange resin and granular activated carbon. Such a device has a low flow rate, which is not practical for a gravity fed water treatment device. To overcome this limitation, the porous particulate filter contains hydrophilic material. The porous glass fiber and hydrophilic binder provides water that has 99.95% of 3-5 micron cyst particles removed. However, such a device does not typically remove volatile organic chemicals as not being capable of doing so without specified treating chemicals or materials
Other prior art patents disclose procedures and structures relating to portable water filters. U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,092 teaches use of a manual pump to force liquid from a first container through a filter to treat the liquid at a suitable rate. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,306,971 and 4,969,996 disclose a cup-shaped insert for a granular purifying agent to purify water. U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,093 teaches use of a plunger to force unfiltered water through a filter.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a water filter having improved fluid flow as compared with prior art filters.
It is another object of this invention to provide a fluid filter having a removable filter medium adapted for field removal, cleaning, and replacement.
It is another object of this invention to provide a filter capable of removing harmful chemicals known as disinfectant byproducts (DBP) and volatile organic chemicals (VOC) and protozoan cysts.
It is another object of this invention to provide a fluid filler having improved structural characteristics by use of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene as the structural material.

Filter cartridge for gravity-fed water treatment device


A curable silicone rubber composition comprising (A) organopolysiloxane comprising at least 2 silicon atom-bonded alkenyl groups in each molecule described by formula R.sub.a SiO.sub.(4-a)/2, where R represents a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group and a is a number from 1.95 to 2.05; (B) fine powdery silica; (C) a reaction mixture of (a) a platinum compound and (b) a compound containing an alkynyl group and an alcoholic hydroxy group in each molecule; and (D) a curing agent. The present invention is also a manufacturing method of curable silicone rubber composition. The curable silicone rubber compositions have an excellent flame-retarding property and good tracking resistance and other electrical properties.

This invention pertains to a type of curable silicone rubber composition. More specifically, this invention pertains to a type of curable silicone rubber composition that has excellent flame-retarding property and good electrical characteristics, as well as its manufacturing method.
Silicone rubber has excellent properties, such as heat resistance, weatherability, and electrical characteristics and is therefore used in various fields. However, the conventional silicone rubber has the disadvantage of being flammable. Consequently, various types of compounds have been proposed to develop self-extinguishable (flame-retarding) silicone rubber. For example, Japanese Kokoku Patent No. Sho 44(1969)-2591 proposed a type of composition prepared by adding hexachloroplatinic acid, platinum-olefin complex, or another platinum compound to a silicone rubber composition. However, when this type of platinum compound is used alone the effect in improving the flame-retarding property is small. Consequently, people have proposed many types of compositions prepared by combining platinum compounds with inorganic fillers so as to improve the flame-retarding property, such as the composition prepared by adding a platinum compound and fumed titanium dioxide to a silicone rubber composition (Japanese Kokoku Patent No. Sho 47(1972)-21826), the composition prepared by adding a platinum compound and fine powdery manganese carbonate to a silicone rubber composition (Japanese Kokoku Patent No. Sho 51(1976)-23979), and the composition prepared by adding a platinum compound and iron oxide to a silicone rubber composition (Japanese Kokoku Patent No. Sho 51(1976)-35501).
However, these silicone rubber compositions still fail to provide a satisfactory flame-retarding property. In addition, the aforementioned composition prepared by adding a platinum compound and fumed titanium dioxide has the disadvantage of the electrical characteristics of the silicone rubber deteriorating due to moisture. The aforementioned composition prepared by adding a platinum compound and fine powdery manganese carbonate has the disadvantage that when an acyl-type organic peroxide is used as a curing agent, curing is hampered, and the compound cannot be cured well. The aforementioned composition prepared by adding a platinum compound and iron oxide has the disadvantage that if the amount of iron oxide is not large it is hard to improve the flame-retarding property, yet a large content of iron oxide leads to deterioration in the mechanical strength of the cured silicone rubber.
It has been found that for these silicone rubber compositions, the flame-retarding property is improved when the content of the inorganic filler, a nonflammable ingredient, is increased, and it can be further improved when the content of the polyorganosiloxane, a flammable substance, is reduced. However, for the silicone rubber compositions prepared by adopting these measures, the moldability is poor, and the mechanical strength of the silicone rubber molding after heat curing decreases. Due to these disadvantages, their applications are limited.
It has been found by the present inventors that when prescribed additives are added to a prescribed type of curable silicone rubber composition the flame-retarding property of the silicone rubber is drastically increased after curing. Also, the electrical characteristics as represented by tracking resistance can be improved significantly.
Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a type of curable silicone rubber composition that can form silicone rubber with excellent flame-retarding property and electrical characteristics without sacrificing mechanical strength after curing. This invention also provides a manufacturing method for this type of curable silicone rubber composition.

Curable silicone rubber composition and manufacturing method thereof


A lamp socket which includes a socket cap fastened to a socket shell by hook to carry a hot wire and a neutral wires, ring contact fastened inside the socket shell to hold the ring contact of a lamp bulb and having a tip inserted through a slot on the socket shell and pierced through the neutral wire to make an electric contact, a tip contact having one end inserted through another slot on the socket shell and connected to the tip contact of the lamp bulb and an opposite end pierced into the hot wire to make an electric contact.

The present invention relates to lamp sockets, and more particularly to a simple structure of lamp socket which is easy to assemble.
A normal decoration lamp for a Christmas light set, as shown in FIG. 1, is generally comprised of a lamp socket to hold a bulb. The lamp socket is comprised of a ring contact connected to the negative terminal of the bulb, a tip contact separated from the ring contact by an insulator and connected to the positive terminal of the bulb, two conductors respectively connected to the ring contact and the tip contact, a socket shell and a socket cap (not shown) covered over the ring contact and the tip contact. This structure of lamp socket is complicated to manufacture. When making a Christmas light set by connecting a plurality of lamp sockets of the aforesaid structure in parallel, a complicated electric circuit is needed.
The present invention eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to proivde a lamp socket which is easy to manufacture. It is another object of the present inventin to proivde a lmap socket which can be conveniently connected to other lamp sockets of the same structure in parallel to set up a Christmas light set.


A self-filling blood collection device has a frusto-conical body through which a channel extends. The body is formed to have a lure end to mate with a needle and another end that is fitted with a hydrophilic filter that allows air to pass through but is self-sealing when exposed to fluid. The cavity volume of the channel is configured to accept different minute amounts of blood for testing. An insert may be fitted within the channel of the device to decrease the cavity volume so that a smaller amount of blood is collected. Once punctured with a needle attached to the lure end of the device, blood from the patient will self-fill the channel of the device due to the blood pressure of the patient. A vent cap may be added to the device to make it adaptable to be used with all types of blood analyzer equipment.

With the emergence of new blood gas analyzers that are capable of measuring a large number of different parameters from a small amount of whole blood, such as for example 200 .mu.l., and the demand by the populace to cut or lower the cost of health care, in the field of arterial blood gas testing, the focus is on devices that are easy to use, yet technologically advanced. In other words, in the blood gas, electrolyte, metabolite, co-oximetry test field, the drive is toward blood collection devices that collect only a minute amount of blood and that are compatible with all the blood gas analyzers and/or co-oximeters.
Furthermore, for patients who are difficult to take blood from, for example such as neonates or older patients, there is a definite need for a reliable blood-drawing device that is designed to withdraw only a tiny amount of blood, such as for example 500 .mu.l (0.5 cc) or less.
One such proposed product is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,834. In particular, this device comprises a protective tube into which are mounted two concentric glass capillaries. The protective tube is open at one end whereat a tapered member is mounted. This tapered member has an opening through which one end of a first of the capillaries extends. The other end of the first capillary is held by a connecting member located at the closed end of the protective tube. The second capillary also has one of its ends attached to the connecting member, which holds the respective ends of both capillaries in position and in communication with each other. The other end of the second capillary is held in place by the mounting member and is in open communication with the interior of the protective tube. There are two ventilation bores in the protective tube.
In operation, a cannula is connected to the exposed end of the first capillary. Once the patient is punctured by the cannula, blood is collected by means of capillary action and possibly blood pressure into the first capillary, and then the second. The phlebotomist has to make sure that a sufficient amount of blood is collected in the first capillary, so that there will be a sufficient amount of blood for evaluation. Since the second capillary has an open end, blood always overflows the open end of the second capillary into the protective tube, and in an extreme condition, possibly leaks out of the ventilation holes. A scenario of such happening is, for example, when the phlebotomist fails to notice that the collected blood has reached the end of the second capillary.
In addition to the real chance that possibly contaminated blood may leak out of the protective tubing, the flow of blood into the '834 device takes some time, since the respective diameters of the capillaries are rather small and each length of the capillaries is relatively long. So, too, since the amount of required blood to be collected may differ depending on the type of test being run, the '834 device needs to have different sized capillaries, for example one for 250 .mu.l and one for 500 .mu.l. And since the capillaries, as well as the protective tube are clear, a phlebotomist may mistake the larger-sized device from the smaller one once filled. Further, since the capillaries are made of glass, they are easily breakable. Furthermore, the structure of the '834 device is such that it is adaptable only to certain types of blood gas analyzers.
There is therefore a need for an inexpensive, yet reliable blood-collecting device that is suitable for collecting an adequate yet minute amount of blood from patients who require that there be minimal trauma.


An automatic startup sequence for an ink jet print station using solvent based ink entails introducing a flushing fluid to the drop generator using the flushing fluid pump at a drive level and a flushing pressure that enables flushing fluid to flow through the jet array at a flow rate adequate to permit the catcher assembly to extract the flushing fluid; engaging the ink pump; and increasing the pressure of the flushing fluid from the initial pressure. The increased pressure is high enough for stable drop formation and drop deflection from the jet array and low enough to extract drops from the catcher, and to permit flushing fluid to flow freely through the catcher. The method ends by simultaneously opening the ink supply valve and closing the flushing fluid valve permitting ink to flow into the drop generator; and then stopping the flow of the flushing fluid.

Prior art ink jet printing systems have steady state problems of "spitting" ink from the catcher when used with low surface tension inks. "Spitting" results from a poor two phase flow mixture in the catcher that periodically causes ink to 'spit' out. Over time, the ink 'spit' from the catcher builds up on the eyelid of the catcher assembly. The buildup, in turn, interferes with the printing drops causing print defects that force the operator to manually clean the eyelid. The solution of decreasing the vacuum supply to the printhead inadequately addresses the "spitting" problem.
The present methods have been designed to solve the steady state problems of "spitting" ink from the catcher.

Automatic startup sequence for the solvent ink printing system


An actual detected current value and a target voltage value of an electric motor are subjected to a low-pass filter process, and amounts of change per time in the filtered actual current value and the filtered target voltage value are calculated. If the amount of change in the actual current value on the increase side is greater than a criterion value and the amount of change in the target voltage value on the decrease side is greater than a criterion value, it is judged that the stroke end has been reached. Then, the upper limit value of the target current value is set at the actual current value obtained in the immediately previous cycle of the feedback control, so as to prevent generation of unnecessary torque.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electric power steering device that generates steering assist torque in accordance with the steering state of the steering wheel or handle, and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electric power steering device has an assist controller that has a microcomputer in a main portion. Using the assist controller, the device controls the amount of electricity passed to an electric motor in accordance with the steering state of the steering wheel or handle so as to give a desired steering torque to a steering mechanism. For example, a steering torque sensor that detects the steering torque generated in association with the steering wheel operation of a driver and a vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle speed are connected to the assist controller. On the basis of the detection signals from the two sensors, the assist controller computes a target current value of the motor that provides an optimal assist torque, and controls the amount of electricity passed to the motor by feeding back a deviation between the target current value and the value of current that actually flows through the motor (actual current value).
In such an electric power steering device, if the steering wheel is quickly turned leftward or rightward to a stroke end (i.e., a stopper portion that mechanically restricts a terminal end of the steerable range), the rotation of the motor suddenly comes to a stopped state, so that the counterelectromotive force of the motor rapidly disappears. Due to the influence thereof, the current through the motor rapidly increases, resulting in overshooting. To overcome this problem, in an electric power steering device of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-11-78919, when the overshooting of current is detected, the control gain of the feedback control is enlarged to reduce the overshooting. In an electric power steering device of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-8-34359, when the steering torque is greater than or equal to a predetermined value and the steering rotation speed (steering speed) is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the target current to be passed through the motor is corrected so as to decrease the overload current of the motor.
However, in the device of the Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-11-78919, since the attainment of the stroke end is determined by detecting that the motor current has actually overshot, the determination is delayed, allowing excessively large torque to occur. The device of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-8-34359 judges whether the stroke end has been reached on the basis of the steering rotation speed. However, a situation where the steering rotation speed lessens occurs not only in the case where the stroke end is struck, but also in the case where the steering is held. It is necessary to detect the continuation time of a rotation stopped state in order to determine the presence of a steering-held state. Therefore, the timing of preventing the overcurrent is correspondingly delayed. However, if the determination regarding the stroke end is performed earlier, the likelihood of false detections increases. Such a false detection leads to the reduction of the assist torque during the steering-held state, so that good steering assist cannot be obtained.

Electric power steering device, and control method thereof


A linearly polarized light projector system projects linearly polarized light onto a subject. While polarizing filters are used for removing light specular-reflected on the subject, a reflected image after removal of the specular-reflected light is captured by image input systems different in view point. Even in the case where the subject is glossy, the number of points for measuring the shape of the subject is increased and range images improved in measurement accuracy can be acquired collectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional (hereinafter referred to as 3D) image acquired apparatus and method for acquiring range image in addition to intensity image by a triangulation method. The invention is aimed at increasing the number of measurement points and improving measurement accuracy by use of a polarizing optical system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A method for measuring the shape of a subject is roughly classified into a passive method (triangulation method, shape from X) and an active method (time of flight method, triangulation method). The different between the passive method and the active method is based on whether some energy is applied on the subject or not. It is generally said that the active method is a measuring method more robust against noise than the passive method because the active method can eliminate ambiguity from measurement.
The triangulation method used in each of the passive and active methods is a geometrical method in which a distance to a measurement point on a subject is obtained on the basis of the length of a base line and angles between the base line and lines connecting opposite ends of the base line to the measurement point on the subject. As the triangulation method used in the active method, there has been proposed a measuring method called "multi-pattern projecting method" in which encoded stripe pattern light with a plurality of stripes is projected as disclosed in "Chu-Song Chen, "Range data acquisition using color structured lighting and stereo vision", Image and Vision Computing 15, pp. 445-456, 1997".
FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing this measuring method. In FIG. 11, light with a plurality of stripes encoded in accordance with the intensity or color of the light is projected onto a subject 12 by a projector system 11, so that the shape of the subject 12 is measured collectively by two eyes' stereoscopic vision. A reflected image with a plurality of stripes reflected on the subject 12 is captured by a first image input system 13 and a second image input system 14 which are disposed in the left and right of the projector system 11 respectively. Two images acquired by the image input systems 13 and 14 are compared with each other to thereby decide corresponding points on the subject 12. When the corresponding points are decided, the distance to the subject 12 can be obtained by the aforementioned geometrical method.
Natural light (random polarized light) having various polarizing directions as shown in FIG. 12 is used as the projected light. In this case, if a subject high in specular gloss such as a glossy substance is used, a spatial distribution of reflection of light is biased greatly because a measurement surface is deviated largely from perfect diffuse reflection. As a result, the reflected images captured by the left and right image input systems are widely different in intensity value from each other though the reflected striped images are formed from the same striped light. When, for example, the image input systems are located on view points A, B and C respectively, the view point A (in a direction of specular reflection) contains both specular-reflected light high in reflected light intensity and diffuse-reflected light whereas each of the view points B and C contains only diffuse-reflected light. Accordingly, in the method in which striped images acquired by the left and right image input systems are compared with each other so that corresponding points on the subject are decided on the basis of the intensity difference between the striped images, there arises a problem that a great deal of mistaken correspondence occurs or such corresponding points cannot be found.
FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of an apparatus using polarizing filters in order to remove the specular-reflected light. In this configuration, randomness of the projected light provided as random polarized light is, however, retained in the specular-reflected light observed at the view point A located in a direction of specular reflection. Accordingly, the specular-reflected light cannot be removed, no matter how possibly each polarizing filter is rotated to be adjusted. Hence, in the present circumstances, the aforementioned problem cannot be solved.
Reflected images acquired by the image input systems B and C become substantially equal to each other. If two image input systems are set in this layout, there is some case where mistaken correspondence is reduced. It is however impossible to adapt this configuration to the case where the subject has a plurality of inclinations to bring a limit to the layout of image input systems. When the spread in a spatial distribution of specular-reflected light shifts from the case of a relatively narrow spread shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 (a glossy substance high in specular gloss) to the case of a broad spread (a glossy substance low in specular gloss), mistaken correspondence occurs because part of specular-reflected light is observed in the image input system B. The case where this configuration can be adapted to the reduce of mistaken correspondence is in a very narrow range. That is, this configuration is not realistic.
This example has been described on the case where two image input systems are provided. The same problem as described above arises also in the configuration where one image input system is provided for one projector system. That is, because the intensity of a pattern reflected image varies according to the view point of the image input system and the inclination of a surface of the subject, correspondence between the projected light and the reflected image captured cannot be obtained. There arises a problem that a great deal of mistaken correspondence occurs or corresponding points cannot be found.
The same problem as described above arises also in the case where an image input system having a principal point identical to that of the projector system is used. Before description of this problem, a problem arising in the case where an image input system has a principal point not identical to that of the projector system will be described. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration in which the image input system has a principal point not identical to that of the projector system. In FIG. 14, light with a plurality of stripes encoded by the color or intensity of the light is projected onto a subject 12 by the projector system 11. The striped light on the subject 12 is monitored by the image input system 15. The intensity value of the projected striped light is compared with that of the captured striped image to find the same and one stripe pattern to thereby calculate a distance according to the trigonometrical theory.
The case where the subject has a textured surface (such as a colored surface or a patterned surface) and the case where the subject has a glossy surface (exhibiting a biased intensity distribution of reflected light) will be described. First, when the subject has a textured surface, the captured striped image is affected by the textured surface of the subject. As a result, the color/brightness of the captured striped image becomes different from that of the projected striped light, so that it is difficult to judge correspondence between the captured striped image and the projected striped light. Accordingly, mistaken correspondence occurs, so that the distance to the subject cannot be calculated. To solve this problem, an image input system is provided in a position identical to the position of the principal point of the projector system 11. FIG. 15 shows this configuration. In FIG. 15, texture information is acquired by the identical principal point image input system 16. Because each of striped images captured by the identical principal point image input system 16 and the nonidentical principal point image input system 15 contains texture information of the subject, occurrence of error can be suppressed when corresponding points are extracted on the basis of comparison between the two striped images. Accordingly, the influence of texture of the subject on deterioration of measurement can be reduced. In addition, the texture information per se can be acquired accurately, so that a 3D image with texture can be acquired.
In this manner, the influence of texture can be considerably lightened by the provision of the image input system having a principal point identical to that of the projector system. As described above, it is however impossible to adapt this configuration to the case where the subject has a glossy surface.
As the related art related to the invention, there is a method in which a polarizing filter is provided between a subject and a camera to prevent unnecessary light from entering the camera when an light-section line is used for measuring the 3D shape of the subject, as disclosed in JP-A-2002-162208.


A chip rate invariant detector (FIG. 2) is used in a wireless spread spectrum high capacity communications system which can accommodate two or more different chip rates. At a higher chip rate the data blocks are segmented into uniform suitable sizes for the detector which has an increased data block length to prevent loss of information to smearing due to effective overlap of segmented data blocks. The resultant data blocks are cut down to standard size by discarding samples and applied to a matched filter for further standard information processing.

There is disclosed in co-pending U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,169 titled "CELLULAR WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS SYSTEM USING SPREAD SPECTRUM AND INTERNET PROTOCOL", application Ser. No. 09/432,824, filed Nov. 2, 1999, assigned to the present Applicant, and published in equivalent form as European patent publication EP1098539, a cellular wireless Internet access system which is specifically designed to meet the special and particular requirements of a selected frequency band which has a large amount of available spectrum. As part of the U.S. government requirements for operation in such a system, it must be capable of operating in more than one band or frequency range. For high speed transfer of digital data, of course, the received radio transmission must be digitized. In the above co-pending application, the user has a radio receiving antenna attached to user equipment (UE) which includes conversion means for receiving the wireless radio signal and ultimately transmitting the digital data to the user's personal computer (PC). In addition, the overall wireless system includes a base radio receiving station ('Node B') which again digitizes the radio signal to convey it to a radio network controller (RNC).
In a spread spectrum system as described above, information signal bits are transmitted in a sequence of chips at a particular chip rate dependent upon the characteristics of the particular frequency band in which the system is operating. Thus, the design of the system must accommodate varying chip rates. Moreover, as in the system described above, hundreds of thousands or millions of replications of at least the user equipment (UE) is required. Thus, the design of a receiver, which includes a detector, must be carefully chosen. In other words, there should be low cost and at the same time effective operation.


Compositions and methods for inhibiting polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers are provided. The compositions include a water-soluble phenylenediamine composition.

During the refining process, hydrocarbon streams are frequently exposed to elevated temperatures, which can lead to premature polymerization of the desired monomer. The premature polymerization results in reduction of the amount of the desired monomer end-products as well as a loss in efficiency caused by fouling and deposit formation within the processing equipment.
In order to reduce or prevent polymer formation, stabilizing or inhibitor compositions have been introduced into the hydrocarbon stream at or upstream of a location where polymerization is likely to occur, such as where distillation is performed.
Phenylenediamines (PDA's) are widely used as antioxidants and polymerization inhibitors. However, their use is limited to hydrocarbon streams where the PDA is soluble. A number of patents relate to the use of various PDA's, combinations of different PDA's and combinations of PDA's with other inhibitors to stabilize hydrocarbon fluids.
Among these patents is U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,461 to Eldin which describes methods and compositions for inhibiting the polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons under both processing and storage conditions by the addition of combinations of aminophenol compounds and either PDA or hydroxylamine. Other combinations have also been used. These include inhibitor combinations containing a PDA with an oxime compound and a hydroxylamine as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,718 to Arhancet. Other examples include the combination of a PDA and a hydroxylamine as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,004 to Arhancet and a PDA with a hydroxytoluene compound as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,258 to Arhancet et al.
Examples of specific PDA compounds may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,778 to Roling which describes compositions including a PDA compound which has at least one N—H bond and a hindered phenol useful for inhibiting the polymerization of styrene during elevated temperature processing, storage and shipment. U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,374 to Abruscato et al. discloses an oxygenated species formed by the reaction of oxygen and an N-aryl-N′-alkyl-p-phenylenediamine.
While each of these references provides compositions and methods that reduce premature polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, they are generally limited to hydrocarbon processing and storage where they are soluble, which does not include where water is present. Therefore, the currently available PDA inhibitors do not adequately address the concerns of the prevention of premature polymerization of a monomers with water-solubility, where a water phase is present.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a water-soluble composition for the reducing and or preventing the polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers. Desirably, the composition will include a water-soluble phenylenediamine composition which acts as an antioxidant/free-radical polymerization inhibitor.

Water-soluble phenylenediamine compositions and methods for stabilizing ethylenically unsaturated compounds and monomers