In a circuit configuration and a method for triggering at least one electrically triggerable magnet with a suitably targeted triggering power, the magnet switches a switching element into a desired switching position in which the switching element is retained. After the switchover of the switching element by the magnet into the desired switching position, the magnet is at least briefly repeatedly acted upon at predetermined time intervals with a triggering power corresponding to a desired switching position.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a circuit configuration and a method for triggering at least one electrically triggerable magnet with a suitably targeted triggering power, through which the magnet switches a switching element into a desired switching position in which the switching element is retained.
In order to trigger bistable magnet valves used in multitemperature refrigerators, circuit configurations and methods as defined above are known that serve to control a flow of refrigerant to evaporators located in compartments of different temperature. Such circuit configurations used in refrigerators have a logic section on the input side that is used to evaluate control parameters, such as temperature regulator signals. With the aid of the logic section a triac or two antiparallel thyristors on the circuit output side are triggered in order to act upon the bistable magnet valve with the appropriate triggering power. In those semiconductor components, power surges in the mains supply voltage can cause so-called "overhead ignition", by which an unintended trigger pulse to the magnet valve is generated that then shifts the magnet valve out of a desired position dictated by the temperature regulator signals into its contrary switching position. Such an event can mean that the temperature in one freezer compartment of a two-temperature refrigerator appliance rises above the permitted value, so that the food stored in it is markedly impaired, at least in appearance and taste, while on the other hand a temperature drop in the refrigerator compartment of the appliance can mean that containers cooled with liquid refrigerant are destroyed.

Circuit configuration and method for triggering at least one electrically triggerable magnet


Methods, devices and kits for facilitating medical diagnostic assays and reducing the time required for taking of such assays. The methods comprise initiating a reaction, obtaining at least three measurements, at three different time points, of a value or level of an observable associated with the reaction, and estimating an end point value for the observable from the measurements.

In the field of clinical chemistry, diagnostic analyses often consist of chemical reactions in which an analyte is reacted to form an observable product at a rate proportional to the amount of analyte still present in the reaction. This is referred to as a first order reaction, wherein the rate of product formation is proportional to the first order of the reactant, i.e., the analyte. First order kinetic reactions produce an exponential concentration vs. time profile that is modeled mathematically by an exponential equation wherein an observable response proportional to the concentration of the reaction product is related to reaction time and a reaction rate constant. The observable response may be, for example, a colorimetric determination of the concentration of a reactant or a reaction product. The rate constant of the reaction is typically variable with temperature and usually increases with increasing temperature.
Situations are frequently encountered where reaction profiles are not strictly first order, but are close enough to be approximated by a first order kinetics exponential through much of the reaction's time course. This is often the case with enzymatically catalyzed reactions where the reaction rate (at a given temperature) is a function of both enzyme and analyte (reactant) concentration. Characterization of the reaction end point usually requires that the reaction be carried to completion. The reaction may in some instances be speeded up by increasing either temperature or enzyme or other catalyst concentration. However, in many cases a reaction must be carried out at ambient temperature, and even with increasing the enzyme or catalyst concentration, the time needed to reach a limiting observable response may require long endpoint times.
Many medical diagnostic tests for reactions of first order or pseudo-first order kinetics are based on end point assays that are carried out under ambient temperature conditions. Most such assays require that the amount of time allowed for reaction be sufficient to obtain a reproducible value for an observable response associated with the end point of the reaction. Assays for the detection of chemical and biochemical compounds may thus take minutes or hours to obtain a reasonably accurate observed response or value that is indicative of the reaction end point.
The wait time required to obtain a reaction end-point for many clinical and biochemical assays can reduce the productivity of medical laboratories and may have unacceptably long endpoint times in emergency situations. Further, many commonly used assays, such as blood glucose level tests for diabetics and thromboplastin-based tests for anticoagulation patients, are increasingly performed by lay persons in non-clinical settings. Lack of skill or patience in making measurements over the necessary time period by such lay persons can require inconvenient repetition of test measurements, increase the risk of obtaining erroneous diagnostic data, and can ultimately lead to non-optimal clinical outcomes associated with test measurements that are improperly carried out.
There is accordingly a need for methods that reduce the overall assay time for medical diagnostic tests, and which facilitate and simplify such tests. The present invention satisfies these needs, as well as others, and generally overcomes the deficiencies found in the background art.

Method of reducing analysis time of endpoint-type reaction profiles


A system including a processor, a memory controller, and a flash memory module. The processor is configured to generate a request to retrieve information corresponding to an address. The memory controller module includes a cache memory configured to store information, and a cache control logic module configured to determine whether the cache memory stores the information corresponding to the address, if the cache memory stores the information corresponding to the address, retrieve the information from the cache memory and provide the information to the processor, and if the cache memory does not store the information corresponding to the address, generate a flash memory read request based on the address. The flash memory module is configured to, in response to receiving the flash memory read request, provide the information corresponding to the address to the memory controller module.

In embedded processor systems (e.g., an embedded microcontroller (MCU)-based system), a CPU may access (e.g., execute) code (e.g., executable commands) stored in nonvolatile and volatile memories including, but not limited to, embedded parallel flash memory, read only memory (ROM), and random access memory (RAM) such as static RAM (SRAM). Some memory types (e.g., ROM and/or SRAM) may be included in a system on a chip (SOC) with the microcontroller. Other memory types (e.g., flash memory) may be included on the SOC and/or may be external to the CPU. In some applications, the CPU may access serial flash memory external to the CPU via a serial interface (e.g., via a serial peripheral interface, or SPI).

Serial flash XIP with caching mechanism for fast program execution in embedded systems


In a broadcasting satellite, signals transmitted through an up transmission line of a Ka band, which includes a plurality of communication channels, are received by a Ka-band antenna. The signals received by the antenna are passed through band-pass filters to thereby extract a broadcasting signal transmitted through each communication channel. Those of the thus-extracted broadcasting signals, which have been transmitted through predetermined communication channels, are synthesized by each of synthesizers, then amplified by a corresponding one of high power amplifiers, and output to a corresponding one of a plurality of primary radiators employed in an S-band antenna. The S-band antenna transmits each synthesized signal to a predetermined area that corresponds to a corresponding primary radiator. Thus, the system can be made to a simple structure, and the service area can be changed for each broadcasting signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a satellite broadcasting system for providing broadcasting of images, voices, data, etc., using a broadcasting satellite located in a stationary orbit above the equator, and also to the broadcasting satellite used for the satellite broadcasting.
2. Discussion of the Background
In accordance with the demand for various kinds of broadcasting services and with the development of communication techniques, satellite broadcasting has been started in addition to ground broadcasting. Since satellite broadcasting can provide services in a wide area without establishing a large-scale infrastructure, attention is now paid to it as a medium that can satisfy many needs.
At present in Japan, BS (Broadcasting Satellite) broadcasting and CS (Communication Satellite) broadcasting are now put to practical use, and the use of digital broadcasting has been started. Also in foreign countries, a satellite broadcasting system of substantially the same scale as in Japan has been developed and put to practical use.
In the satellite broadcasting systems used in both Japan and foreign countries, certain transmitting stations collect broadcasting signals of a plurality of channels and multiplex them before transmitting them to an up transmission line leading to the broadcasting satellite. The broadcasting satellite, in turn, converts the frequency of each signal input thereto via the up transmission line, to a value corresponding to a down transmission line to the ground, and performs power amplification of each signal, thereby transmitting each resultant signal to a predetermined service area. Thus, all broadcasting signals of a plurality of channels are transmitted to the predetermined service area. In other words, broadcasting is always performed only for a single service area.
Furthermore, a feeder link station is necessary for collecting broadcasting signals of a plurality of channels, and then transmitting them to the up transmission line. In the case of collecting broadcasting signals from a broadcasting station in a real-time manner, it is necessary to secure a ground transmission line between the broadcasting station and the feeder link station, which inevitably makes the system complicated.
As stated above, in the conventional satellite broadcasting system, a particular feeder link station concentrically performs signal transmission to a broadcasting satellite, and the broadcasting satellite itself only relays signals transmitted from the feeder link station. Accordingly, the system structure is complicated, and the service area is disadvantageously inflexible.
The present invention has been developed in light of the above, and is aimed at providing a satellite communication system of a simple structure capable of changing the service area for each of broadcasting signals, and also providing a broadcasting satellite that enables the satellite communication system.
To attain the aim, the invention provides a satellite broadcasting system that uses a broadcasting satellite located in a stationary orbit above the equator to provide a user with broadcasting from a plurality of transmitting stations such as broadcasting stations, characterized in that the broadcasting satellite comprises: a reception antenna such as a Ka-band antenna for receiving a signal transmitted via a predetermined up transmission line on which a plurality of communication channels are set; a transmission antenna such as an S-band antenna having a plurality of radiators for emitting transmission beams to a plurality of areas; channel separating means such as a band-pass filter for extracting, from the signal received by the reception antenna, a signal transmitted through each of the plurality of communication channels; and a plurality of signal processing means such as synthesizers, high power amplifiers, etc. provided corresponding to the plurality of radiators for each multiplexing and amplifying predetermined signals included in signals transmitted through the communication channels and extracted by the channel separating means, thereby outputting each signal to a corresponding one of the radiators, and characterized in that each of the plurality of transmitting stations transmits a broadcasting signal to the up transmission line via the one of the plurality of communication channels assigned to the each transmitting station, which corresponds to a desired broadcasting area.
By employing the above-described means, a signal transmitted to the broadcasting satellite via the up transmission line is received by the reception antenna and separated by the channel separating means into signals corresponding to communication channels that are set on the up transmission line. Those of the thus-separated signals corresponding to the communication channels, which correspond to predetermined communication channels, are multiplexed and amplified by signal processing means that correspond to a plurality of radiators incorporated in the transmitting antenna, and are then output to the radiators corresponding to the signal processing means. The radiators, in turn, emit the signals to areas defined by the transmission beams of the radiators. Accordingly, a broadcasting signal transmitted from each transmitting station is transmitted from a radiator corresponding to a communication channel which was used to transmit the broadcasting signal, to an area defined by the transmission beam of the radiator. In other words, the transmitting station can determine a broadcasting area by selecting a communication channel to be used to transmit a broadcasting signal.
Further, in the invention, the plurality of communication channels include communication channels that correspond to the respective radiators, and a communication channel corresponding to a plurality of ones of the radiators. When there exist a plurality of signals transmitted through a plurality of communication channels and corresponding to radiators, corresponding signal processing means multiplexes the signals.
By employing the above means, a signal transmitted to the broadcasting satellite through a communication channel that corresponds to a plurality of ones of the radiators is transmitted to a plurality of areas from the radiators corresponding to the communication channel. Thus, the broadcasting area is not limited to the area defined by the transmission beam of each radiator, but an area that is obtained by combining areas defined by the transmission beams of a plurality of radiators can be used as one broadcasting area unit, thereby enhancing the flexibility of use of the communication system.
In addition, in the invention, each of the transmitting stations constructed as above transmits a broadcasting signal obtained by spread spectrum modulation. Further, when a plurality of signals are transmitted to each radiator through corresponding communication channels, the signal processing means multiplexes the signals by synthesizing them.
Since signals obtained by spread spectrum modulation do not interfere with each other, synthesization performed by the signal processing means is relatively simple processing. That the signal processing means performs simple processing implies that the system structure can be simplified.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a satellite broadcasting system according to the embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the outward structure of a broadcasting satellite SAT appearing in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a beam arrangement assumed when a service area is divided into four portions;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a signal processing device installed in a satellite main body 1 appearing in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the relationship between a signal transmitted to the broadcasting satellite SAT via an up transmission line, and a signal transmitted from the broadcasting satellite SAT;
FIG. 6 is a view showing another example of the relationship between a signal transmitted to the broadcasting satellite SAT via the up transmission line, and a signal transmitted from the broadcasting satellite SAT;
FIG. 7 is a view showing a further example of the relationship between a signal transmitted to the broadcasting satellite SAT via the up transmission line, and a signal transmitted from the broadcasting satellite SAT; and
FIG. 8 is a view showing a yet another example of the relationship between a signal transmitted to the broadcasting satellite SAT via the up transmission line, and a signal transmitted from the broadcasting satellite SAT.

Satellite broadcasting system and broadcasting satellite


A modular motor and controller assembly for a rear steering system of a motor vehicle includes a motor portion and a controller portion disposed in direct mechanical communication therewith to form a unitary package. The motor portion may include a motor and a motor port, the motor port being configured to provide a communicational interface between the motor and the controller portion. The controller portion may include a controller port configured to be matingly engaged with the motor port. Electronic communication is generally maintained through the controller port and the motor port through a pronged connector.

In steering systems for motor vehicles in which the rear wheels are steerable, a motor is mounted to the rear axle to angle the rear wheels to steer the motor vehicle. The motor is controllably operated as a result of input signals received from a controller that is remotely located from the rear axle. In such a configuration, a wiring harness is used to provide electronic communication between the controller and the motor.
One particular arrangement for a steering system for a motor vehicle having rear steering includes a motor mounted on the rear axle of the motor vehicle and a controller mounted on the motor vehicle frame. A wiring harness extends between the axle-mounted motor and the frame-mounted controller. Such a harness generally comprises large gage wire that is specially manufactured to possess high flexibility characteristics. A harness overmold assembly, a braided shield, various seals, and a flexible conduit are disposed over the wire. Because each different model of motor vehicle has a slightly different configuration (e.g., different mounting locations for the motor and the controller), a different wiring harness is generally required for each different model.
Furthermore, when incorporated into the rear wheel steering system of a motor vehicle, the wiring harness is oftentimes exposed to adverse and extreme environmental conditions. The harness overmold assembly, the braided shield, and the flexible conduit in which the wires of the wiring harness are disposed may provide only limited protection to the integrity of the electronic communication between the motor and the controller when subjected to high concentrations of road salt, large variations in humidity, and large variations in temperature. Exposure to such environments may degrade the integrity of the wiring harness over time, thereby necessitating the repair or replacement of the wiring harness.
A modular motor and controller assembly for a rear steering system of a motor vehicle is disclosed herein. The modular motor and controller assembly integrates the motor and the controller into a single unit, thereby eliminating the need for a wiring harness extending therebetween. Without such a wiring harness, a lower electrical resistance, which translates into a more effective current transmission, can be realized between the motor and the controller. Moreover, the modular aspect of the assembly allows it to be xe2x80x9cdrop-mountedxe2x80x9d directly into the rear axle assembly, which eliminates the need for the separate mounting of individual components.
The modular assembly includes a motor portion and a controller portion disposed in direct mechanical communication therewith to form a unitary package. The motor portion may include a motor and a motor port, the motor port being configured to provide a communicational interface between the motor and the controller portion. The controller portion may include a controller port configured to be matingly engaged with the motor port. Electronic communication is generally maintained through the controller port and the motor port through a pronged connector.

Modular motor and controller assembly for rear-wheel steering system


When a predetermined seat air conditioning command is provided to air-condition a predetermined seat, a control part allows conditioned-air to be blown off only from an air outlet air-conditioning the predetermined seat as a control for a predetermined seat state. In the predetermined seat state, when a stop command is provided to stop an air conditioning blower, the control part controls the air conditioning blower to stop sending air, and controls at least one air outlet of a plurality of air outlets into an open state, the at least one air outlet air-conditioning the other seat except the predetermined seat.

A distribution apparatus controlling the distribution amount of conditioned-air blown off to a driver seat and the other seat is described, in a conventional air-conditioner for a vehicle (for example, refer to patent document 1).
Moreover, in another conventional air-conditioner for a vehicle, conditioned-air is blown off only to a driver seat by an air-conditioning control. For example, when no occupant is seated on seats other than a driver seat, a passage in the duct communicated with other air outlet provided for the other seats is closed to stop air sending from the other air outlet. Thereby, energy is saved for the air-conditioner in a case where only a driver is in the vehicle.
In the conventional air-conditioner, when a blower is suspended in the state where air is sent to only the driver seat, if an outside air introduction mode is set, the amount of air sent to the driver seat increases too much due to the wind pressure (ram pressure) generated when the vehicle is driving. Moreover, if an inside air introduction mode is set when the blower is suspended in the similar state, air becomes difficult to circulate and the humidity easily becomes high, because many air outlets are closed. Therefore, it is easy to generate window fogging.


An engine is mounted in an engine compartment of a vehicle, and a cooling fan driven directly by the engine is disposed on the front of the engine. A fuel piping structure is located between an exhaust manifold and the cooling fan so that air from the fan passes over and cools the fuel piping structure, and carries the heat of the exhaust manifold rearwardly away from the fuel piping structure.

Motor vehicles have fuel piping systems for the supply of fuel from a fuel tank to an engine mounted in an engine compartment. For example, a conventional fuel piping system is shown in FIG. 7, in which numeral 102 denotes a vehicle, 104 denotes a frame, 106 a side member of the frame, and 108 a cross member of the frame. One side member 106 is disposed on each side of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction thereof. The sidewardly spaced side members 106 are connected together by the transversely-extending cross member 108 which is disposed below an engine compartment 110 and is located at the front of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction thereof. In FIG. 7 there is illustrated a single side member 106 located on one side of the vehicle.
In the engine compartment 110 there is mounted a conventional engine 112 aligned in the vehicular longitudinal direction. In the engine 112, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, cylinder banks 114A and 114B are disposed in a V shape, exhaust manifolds 116A and 116B as components of an exhaust system are disposed on both sides in the transverse direction, and in a transversely-extending middle region are disposed, as components of a fuel system, delivery pipes 118A and 118B in a right and left relation to each other, fuel injection valves 120A and 120B also in a right and left relation, and a fuel pressure regulating valve 122.
As shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle 102 has a fuel tank 124 mounted on the rear side in the vehicular longitudinal direction. The fuel tank 124 is provided with a fuel pump 126. The engine 112 is connected to the fuel tank 124 through a conventional fuel piping system 128. The fuel piping system 128 for the engine 112 connects the fuel pump 126 to the delivery pipes 118A and 118B through a tank-side fuel supply hose 130, a fuel supply pipe 132 and an engine-side fuel supply hose 134. A fuel filter 136 in the middle of the tank-side fuel supply hose 126 is disposed.
The fuel piping system 128 connects the fuel pressure regulating valve 122 to the fuel tank 124 through an engine-side fuel return hose 138, a fuel return pipe 140 and a tank-side fuel return hose 142.
The fuel piping system 128, including the engine-side fuel supply hose 134 and fuel-return hose 138, which are located in close proximity to the engine 112, are disposed to extend from the front toward the back of engine 112 while detouring above exhaust manifold 116A (FIG. 5), or alternatively are disposed on the rear side of the manifold 116A (FIG. 6).
Such a fuel piping system in an engine is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 8-334032. According to the fuel piping system disclosed therein, a fuel damper is disposed near the front end of a cylinder bank of a V-type internal combustion engine mounted longitudinally on a vehicle and between the cylinder bank and the inner wall of an engine compartment, and a fuel piping connected from the fuel tank to the fuel damper is disposed to the front side while detouring above the exhaust manifold.
In a conventional arrangement wherein an in-line type engine extends longitudinally of the vehicle, intake components such as an intake manifold are disposed on one side of the engine in the transverse direction, while exhaust components such as an exhaust manifold are disposed on the other side of the engine in the transverse direction. In a fuel piping structure of such a longitudinally-oriented engine, fuel piping is laid on the side of the engine opposite to the side where exhaust components are disposed to protect the fuel piping from the exhaust heat.
In a conventional V-type longitudinally-oriented engine 112, however, intake components are disposed in the middle of the engine (i.e., between the cylinder banks) and exhaust components are disposed on both outer sides of the engine in the transverse direction. In such a V-type engine, therefore, the fuel piping structure 128 is conventionally disposed on the front side of the engine while detouring above the exhaust manifold 116A as shown in FIG. 5, or is disposed on the rear side of the manifold 116A as shown in FIG. 6.
In this case, to protect the fuel piping structure 128 from the heat of the exhaust manifold 116A, it is necessary to provide a sufficient clearance from the exhaust manifold 116A and to cover the fuel piping with a shield member such as a heat protector (not shown). In such a fuel piping structure, however, due to limited space in the engine compartment 110, it is sometimes difficult to provide a sufficient clearance as mentioned above, and using a heat protector increases the number of parts and the number of mounting steps, which causes an increase in the cost of the vehicle.

Fuel piping structure in a longitudinal engine


A sample vitrification system includes a capsule structure configured for carrying a biological sample within a compartment while the sample is subjected to ultra-rapid freezing by way of a cryogenic coolant jet, and while the sample is exposed to pulsed microwave radiation in a manner that disrupts water molecule pentamer formation and which disrupts initial ice crystal nucleation events within the compartment within tens of microseconds to provide a vitrification depth within the compartment of tens of microns or more. The sample can reside between a very high thermal conductivity substrate and a cover. The cryogenic coolant jet is applied to the substrate from beneath the sample. The cover can carry a set of microwave excitation elements configured for providing microwave radiation to internal portions of the compartment. Portions of the capsule structure's interior can be imaged during microwave assisted jet freezing, such as by way of an optical microscope.

The study of biological specimens with charged particles remains integral to the advancement of the biological sciences owing to its superior resolution compared to optical techniques. However, such systems work in a vacuum environment so typically the specimens must be chemically altered and dehydrated prior to imaging. This presents an obstacle to obtaining reliable information because faithful imaging depends critically on the sample preparation technique and all dehydration techniques produce artifacts (protein loss, shrinkage etc).
Imaging specimens in a pristine hydrated state (even in vacuum) is possible if the sample is frozen, but care must be taken to avoid the formation of ice crystals which cause disruption of the cellular structure. Typically, techniques currently employed attempt to decrease the temperature of the specimen below the freezing point faster than ice crystals can propagate in the media (a cooling rate of approximately 10,000 degrees Kelvin/sec is required), and thus a crystal-free amorphous or "vitreous" region free of artifacts can be achieved. However, the range of environmental conditions under which vitrification can occur is extremely limited and current cryo-preparation techniques have major shortcomings. For example, in slam freezing, where the sample is forced on a cold metal block (Liquid Nitrogen, LN, temperature or colder), the vitreous region is limited to about 5 microns in depth. This is because of the limited thermal conductivity of the water in the sample. Often the features of interest exist deeper than this shallow vitreous region, and hence such features of interest are subject to extensive crystal damage. Moreover, even a thin layer of water on the sample surface can take up a significant fraction of this vitreous region, providing limited or no information about the sample whatsoever. A much more effective approach is to freeze the samples under extremely high pressures of approximately 2100 bar (i.e., about 30,000 psi), where the freezing temperature of water is depressed and the propagation speed of the crystal growth is significantly reduced due to viscosity changes within the material. High pressure freezing is currently a type of "gold standard" for sample preparation, providing vitreous regions having a depth of up to approximately 200 microns within the sample. Unfortunately, high pressure freezers are undesirably expensive (approximately $250,000 USD), and they require delicate, time consuming sample preparation prior loading into the freezer.
As described in "An improved cryofixation method: cryoquenching of small tissue blocks during microwave irradiation," J. Microsc. 165, 255-271 (1992), Hanyu et al. found that a vitreous region within a sample undergoing slam freezing could be extended to 15 microns using a microwave assisted slam freezing technique, in which continuous wave (CW) microwave energy was provided in a manner that disrupted the aggregation of water molecules which into pentamer structures (breaking them into monomers) immediately before the onset of a freezing wave, as indicated in FIG. 1A. Hanyu found that microwave assisted disruption of nucleation sites significantly extended the depth of vitrification, and also changed the character of the ice crystals which formed beyond the vitrified zone. More particularly, as indicated in FIG. 1B, at depths beyond 15 microns, the crystals remained substantially smaller (bounded to less than 50 nm) than in the control-case without microwave disruption (where the crystal size increased without bound beyond 5 microns depth).
Hanyu's apparatus, which is shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, exposed the sample to microwave radiation as the sample underwent free-fall through a waveguide cavity. The exposure of Hanyu's sample to microwave radiation thus occurred during the time it took the sample to free-fall through the cavity, just prior to impinging on a LN cooled copper block disposed beyond a lower border of the cavity. Unfortunately, Hanyu's apparatus was undesirably limited with respect to the manner in which applied microwave energy interacted with the propagation of a freezing wave within the sample. Furthermore, Hanyu's apparatus was quite cumbersome in terms of its size, configuration, and difficulty of integration with standard microscopy systems or microscopes, and lack of scalability. Additionally, Hanyu's cooling head needed to be re-heated and polished between each sample, so Hanyu's apparatus is not well suited to correlative microscopy.
A need exists for a system, apparatus, device and method that provides greatly improved performance over slam or plunge freezing by way of the selective application of microwave energy to a sample during slam freezing, which provides vitrification depths of up to tens of microns or more, which can be readily integrated with standard types of microscopy equipment (e.g., optical microscopes), which is well-suited for correlative microscopy, and which has a cost that is much lower than current high pressure devices.

Cryo-preparation systems and methods for near-instantaneous vitrification of biological samples


The present invention relates a wheel assembly of a luggage, which has two wheels side by side and the control assembly. The control assembly has a switch device for manipulation to brake the wheels. The control assembly has a fixed position to be manipulative by user easily. The wheels have small widths that makes the luggage may run on a carpet without having to draw the luggage with great strength.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a luggage and, more particularly, to a wheel assembly of a luggage.
2. Description of the Related Art
For a modern design of a luggage, it concerns a fancy look and strong structure, furthermore, a convenient operation is an important issue. In drawing the luggage, wheels on a bottom of the luggage should be free for rolling, but not every roads that the luggage may run smoothly thereon. For example, the luggage may run freely on a rock flood of, such as, airport or hotel. But it is a hard work when user draws the luggage across a carpet.
In addition, the conventional luggage doesn't have any brake function that the luggage may be moved unexpectedly. We found some luggages, have brakes, but it is not convenient to operate it. As shown in FIG. 1, such luggage is provided with a control device 2 to be manipulated for braking the wheel 1. The control device 2 turns along with the wheel 1 that for some angles, such as the control device 2 is turned to under the case, user is hard to operate it.


A compressor discharge pressure control system employed on a container refrigeration unit utilizes a pressure transducer located in the high pressure side of the system and a data processor to control and limit the compressor discharge pressure to a maximum value when the normal condenser pressure controls are inactive. The pressure control system operates the suction modulation valve in a manner that significantly reduces compressor cycling and increases refrigeration system capacity during pull-down periods. The pressure control system also operates during water-cooled operation of a refrigeration system having a water-cooled condenser thereby eliminating the need to provide a water pressure switch in the refrigeration system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to transport refrigeration systems. More particularly, this invention relates to a transport refrigeration system that automatically adjusts compressor discharge pressure using a suction modulation valve to reduce compressor cycling and increase pull-down capacity of the transport refrigeration unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Container refrigeration systems are known in the art for providing methods of limiting maximum head/condenser pressures. Conventional container refrigeration systems such as that employed in the THINLINE.RTM. series of transport refrigeration units manufactured by the Carrier Transicold Division of Carrier Corporation located in Syracuse, N.Y., typically include a condenser pressure control logic or the like to limit and maintain head/condenser pressures to a maximum value. Generally, these machines activate one or more condenser fans in response to an increasing ambient temperature to maintain discharge pressures below a predetermined maximum value in low temperatures. These conventional container refrigeration systems can employ air-cooled condensers and/or water-cooled condensers having some sort of water pressure switch such as a model 20SP117-7 manufactured by Texas Instruments to and/or a high pressure side transducer to help control the aforesaid high head/condenser pressures. It is well known by those skilled in the refrigeration art, that such systems are commonly susceptible to rapid compressor cycling during temperature pull-down periods in order to achieve the necessary refrigeration capacities. This rapid compressor cycling is disadvantageous in that it reduces compressor reliability and creates unwanted constant noise levels that become a nuisance to end users.
Still needed, but not available with transport refrigeration systems presently known in the art is a transport/container refrigeration system that is capable of establishing and maintaining maximum refrigeration system capacity during periods of temperature pull-down without necessitating rapid compressor cycling.

Discharge pressure control system for transport refrigeration unit using suction modulation


A system is disclosed for charging or billing for access to wireless power. The device requiring power communicates with the power provider and the billing method is determined. A consumer may be required to provide billing information, or if the billing information is already associated with an existing account, the consumer account is automatically charged for the wireless power. The account may include prepaid charging minutes that are debited as wireless power is provided, or the account may be billed for the wireless power that is provided. The charging/billing for the wireless power may be used to receive value for the power that is provided, while remaining consumer friendly.

There is a significant and continually increasing need for widely available power, particularly in the field of consumer and business electronics, due to the proliferation of laptop computers, cell phones, music players, personal digital assistants and other self-powered rechargeable remote devices that require periodic charging. In many public places, power may not be readily available to the general public because of the need for a power outlet for a wired connection. In the past, squatters may have plugged their devices into any available outlet and used power from the owner of the outlet. As devices become more power hungry the availability of outlets and the need for more power have become more common. This is exaggerated by the number of devices and the volume of usage per person. Electric vehicle charging now uses standard outlets, which contribute to the power supply needs of the public. Outlet monitoring and power usage control may be necessary to fairly provide consumers with power while receiving compensation for the product (power) that is provided.


Disclosed herein is a system for determining communication paths, especially for AV/C devices. The system includes gathering pertinent information about drivers in each available communication between nodes in the system and ordering the driver information in a communication path list string. The system may be employed with multiple nodes having one or more communication paths between nodes. The system may also be employed with multiple nodes where at least one of the nodes is a bridge.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to communication path determination techniques. More particularly, this invention relates to methods for determining communication paths between devices where multiple coupling mechanisms are implicated.
2. The Prior Art
The IEEE 1394 multimedia bus standard is to be the "convergence bus" bringing together the worlds of the PC and digital consumer electronics. It is readily becoming the digital interface of choice for consumer digital audio/video applications, providing a simple, low-cost and seamless plug-and-play interconnect for clusters of digital A/V devices, and it is being adopted for PCs and peripherals.
The original specification for 1394, called IEEE 1394-1995, supported data transmission speeds of 100 to 400 Mbits/second. Most consumer electronic devices available on the market have supported either 100 or 100/200 Mbits/second; meaning that plenty of headroom remains in the 1394 specification. However, as more devices are added to a system, and improvements in the quality of the A/V data (i.e., more pixels and more bits per pixel) emerge, a need for greater bandwidth and connectivity flexibility has been indicated.
The 1394a specification (pending approval) offers efficiency improvements, including support for very low power, arbitration acceleration, fast reset and suspend/resume features. However, not all devices meet the 1394 specification and not all devices communicate by way of the same protocols.
In distributed driver architectures, multiple communication paths may sometimes be available for controlling a remote device. For example, a 1394 and RS-232 serial connection may exist between two nodes implementing a distributed driver architecture. In order to determine the best connection to use, an application has to be able to determine the communication path of each connection.
Old methods of distributed driver architectures (e.g., the Home Audio/Video interoperability, or HAVi, architecture) do not provide any means of ascertaining the communication path used to access a remote device. Only an ID is given for the end device. In the case where two communication paths are available, some implementations may provide two distinct IDs but no means for determining the communication path used for each ID.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for determining communication paths


A method of smoke-infusing proteinaceous foods comprises the following sequential steps: a) enclosing the proteinaceous foods in a vacuum-treating zone; b) introducing smoke directly or indirectly from a smoke generation zone into the vacuum-treating zone; c) subjecting the proteinaceous foods to vacuum purging at a negative pressure in the vacuum-treating zone, thereby infusing smoke into the proteinaceous foods; d) repeating the steps of introducing smoke directly or indirectly from the smoke generation zone into the vacuum-treating zone; subjecting the proteinaceous foods to vacuum purging at a negative pressure in the vacuum-treating zone at least fifty times in pulsed sequences of smoke introduction stage/vacuum purging stage/vacuum release stage for the efficient infusion of smoke into the proteinaceous foods; and e) a post-chill resting cycle of the smoke-infused proteinaceous foods at a suitable temperature and for a suitable period of time.

The preservation of the above-identified proteinaceous foods, e.g., cheeses, crustaceans, bivalve mollusks, gastropod mollusks, fish, meats and poultry has been a major concern for humanity, and the following is a summary of the problems which have been encountered in the preservation of the above-identified proteinaceous foods.
Dating back thousands of years, before the invention of refrigeration, freezing and canning processes, various proteinaceous foods, e.g., cheeses, crustaceans, bivalve mollusks, gastropod mollusks, fish, meats and poultry, were cured by natural smoke. Historically, such proteinaceous foods have been smoked at atmospheric pressures and varying temperature ranges over long periods of time.
Smoke curing is typically done in one of two ways: namely cold-smoking; and hot smoking. The cold smoking method particularly where the proteinaceous foods products are cheeses can take up to one month depending on the cheese variety. The cold smoking process smokes proteinaceous food materials, e.g. cheese at between 4° C. to 28° C. The cold smoking method is a less stringent method and will assist in keeping proteinaceous food materials, e.g. cheese moist and acceptable.
Hot smoke can partially or completely cook, dry, and dehydrate foodstuffs and thus is not deemed to be suitable for cheeses and some other foods, by treating them at temperatures ranging from about 60° C. to about 75° C. Obviously, this should not apply to certain food categories, e.g. cheeses. Components of the smoke emitted from various types of fuel will enhance the taste and preserve the color of the food. However, it was found that smoking and cooking crustaceans, meat and poultry under pressure imparted more smoke flavor thereto tended to cause the crustaceans, meat and poultry to retain additional moisture, and caused the crustaceans, meat and poultry to be more tender as compared to meat smoked at atmospheric pressure.
Thus, with respect to cold-smoking and hot smoking, the combinations and variations in temperature from about 4° C. to about 70° C., fuel types, humidity, circulation and exposure times are great.
Historically such proteinaceous foods have been smoked at atmospheric pressures and varying temperature ranges over relatively long periods of time. It was later found that the time required to smoke such proteinaceous foods adequately could be reduced if the smoking method could be performed under pressure. It was also found that smoking such proteinaceous foods under pressure imparted more smoke flavor to the food and tended to cause such proteinaceous foods to retain additional moisture. It was then later found that the time required to smoke such proteinaceous foods adequately could be reduced if the smoking and cooking processes could be performed in combination and under pressure.
Natural smoke can preserve the nutritional components and wholesomeness of dairy products while at the same time retarding spoilage. Smoked cheese, such as smoked cheddar cheese, smoked ham and smoked turkey breast are some examples of popular foods treated by smoke.
Another method of "curing" used in less expensive cheeses is to use liquid smoke flavoring to give the cheese the outside appearance of having been smoked in the more traditional manner.
Smoked cheese is any cheese that has been specifically treated by smoke curing. It typically has a yellowish-brown outer "coating", which is a result of this curing process. Furthermore, a common factor of the known smoking processes is that the total smoking time for cheese, smoked by method of liquid smoke, is comparatively long.
In the examples given above, the result has been a smoke-flavored food. Thus, the known processes are not completely satisfactory as regards the uniformity, the color quality and color stability and occasionally as regards their taste especially for cheeses. In many smoking methods, where separate heating surfaces are arranged in the path of the circulated treating medium (generally predominantly air), these are susceptible to contamination, wear and tear and faults.
In the field of processing of hard and soft shelled crustaceans, e.g., lobsters or crabs or shrimp, the processors have for many years used post-harvest stabilization as fresh chilled or frozen distribution methods. More typically, the processors subjected such lobsters or crabs or shrimp to methods of cooking then freezing whole and typically as frozen-in-brine packaging (e.g. known popularly in lobster processing as "popsicle pack") or by separating the cooked meat of such lobsters or crabs or shrimp from the shell and marketing such meat of such lobsters or crabs or shrimp as frozen vacuum-pack or canned products.
These lobster or crab or shrimp processing industries are traditional in their approach and these typical processing techniques are associated with a necessity to handle unpredictable catches and large seasonal volumes of raw such lobsters or crabs or shrimp for which there is a need to stabilize such lobsters or crabs quickly and with simplicity. These approaches do not necessarily attend the changing demands of modern consumers.
In recent years, these lobster or crab or shrimp or even the oyster processing industries have responded to consumer demand for fresh lobsters or crabs or shrimp by adopting new methods of processing which include the use of the separation of the raw meat from the shells of lobsters or crabs or shrimp and subsequent rapid freezing of such separated raw meat. These new methods include the use of freeze-thaw separation techniques as well as the use of applied high hydrostatic pressure which has been shown to effect release of raw meat from the shell material of lobsters or crabs or shrimp. Extracted raw meat of lobsters or crabs is then frozen and distributed for subsequent thawing and cooking.
Heretofore, packaging of such lobsters or crabs or shrimp in buyer-friendly containers having a good visibility of such has been virtually unknown as the shells of such lobsters or crabs, by virtue of their shape and their sharp appendages, made it inappropriate to vacuum seal the lobster or crabs product in marketable packaging for retail use.
Other operators in these lobster or crab or shrimp processing industries are involved in post-harvest holding and live marketing of lobsters or crabs. These operators occupy a market niche (e.g. restaurant and supermarket trade) which is typically high priced and not available to the traditional cooked frozen product processors.
In the field of the sale of bivalve mollusks, e.g., oysters and clams and mussels and gastropod mollusks, e.g., abalone, it is known that bivalve and gastropod mollusk processors have sold freshly-caught oysters, mussels, clams and abalone, and for many years, have also utilized post-harvest stabilization of such bivalve and gastropod mollusks, by cooking such oysters, clams, mussels and abalone and have marketed the so-cooked products by fresh-chilled and frozen distribution. More typically, the mollusk processors subjected the so-cooked meat of such oysters, clams, mussels and abalone to methods of chilled shucked raw and cooked meat and individually quick frozen (e.g. known as "IQF") techniques, or, by separating the raw or so-cooked meat of such oysters, clams, mussels and abalone from the shell and marketing such raw or so-cooked meat as chilled pack, frozen vacuum-pack or further processed canned products. These bivalve mollusk and gastropod mollusk processing industries are generally not capable of handling unpredictable catches and large seasonal volumes of raw material for which there is a need to stabilize the bivalve or gastropod mollusk product quickly and with simplicity.
In recent years, this particular bivalve mollusk processing industry has responded to consumer demand for fresh oysters by adopting new methods of processing which include the use of raw meat separation from the shell of the oysters and subsequent rapid freezing These new methods include the use of freeze-thaw separation techniques as well as the use of applied high hydrostatic pressure which has been shown to effect both contaminant microbial destruction and permit ease of raw meat release from the retaining shell material. Extracted raw oyster meat is then either sold chilled raw or frozen raw and distributed for subsequent thawing and cooking.
The preservation of fish has been a major concern for fishermen and fish processors for centuries. Originally, fish were salted and/or dried to preserve fish. Historically, fish have been smoked at atmospheric pressures and varying temperature range over long periods of time. Smoking of fish has been one of the major forms of fish preservation for centuries. Such smoking, however, can also serve to cook the fish while imparting the smoke flavor. It was later found that the time required to smoke and cook the fish adequately could be reduced if the smoking and cooking processes could be performed in combination and under pressure. It was also found that smoking and cooking fish under pressure imparted more smoke flavor to the fish and tended to cause the fish to retain additional moisture as compared to meat smoked at atmospheric pressure.
Smoking involves the burning of organic substances, such as wood, to produce a complex mix of over 400 separate chemical compounds. These compounds, when continually exposed to fish flesh, are absorbed into the fish over time and impart a smoke flavor to the fish. The smoke compounds act as a natural "bacteriostat" and greatly increase the refrigerated shelf life of the fish (up to three times the un-smoked shelf life). It is believed that smoking of fish increases the shelf life by killing a majority of the bacteria initially present, and then creating an acidic microenvironment that slows the growth of bacteria over time in refrigerated conditions. Demand for smoked fish has been significant for many years and is continuing to grow.
It is well-known that raw meat of tuna and other fish becomes oxidized in a very short time, with attendant blackening and deterioration. This oxidation proceeds even in the meat frozen at approximately −20° C., the temperature used in ordinary freezing. Therefore, such fish is usually frozen, and kept, at lower temperatures. This is the reason why the transportation and preservation of fish caught in deep-sea areas and territorial waters of foreign countries are very costly. The use of air freight, in preference to transport on ships during which stable temperature control is difficult, adds further to the transportation cost of such fish. It has long been desired to establish some inexpensive method to transport and preserve fish without diminishing or spoiling flavor in a condition similar to that attained by ordinary freezing or cold-storage.
In addition to smoking meats under pressure, it has been found that smoking and cooking meats and poultry at a pressure less than the surrounding atmospheric pressure draws moisture from the meats and poultry and helps to more quickly preserve the foods. For example, meat jerky smoked at less than atmospheric pressure cures more quickly and with a more desirable texture than does meat jerky smoked at atmospheric pressure.
Dating back thousands of years, before the invention of refrigeration, freezing and canning processes, various meats and poultry were cured by natural smoke, and it has been found advantageous to smoke meats and poultry to preserve the foods and to impart a smoke flavor to enhance taste and acceptability. Meats and poultry have been smoked by the various smoking methods as described above.
However, one of the problems inherent in smoking meat products to impart preservation properties is that the smoke odor and/or smoke taste remains present in the meat flesh. Additionally, smoke that is produced from organic fuel materials typically contains particulates, such as creosote, tar, soot, etc., which are undesirable elements to have in contact with the meats. Thus, it is beneficial to provide a smoke that has had some of the particulate removed and further remove the smoke odor/taste while still maintaining the extended shelf life. Demand for smoked meats and poultry has been significant for many years and continues to grow.
Following the invention of refrigeration, the vitality of many such proteinaceous foods have been prolonged by maintaining these proteinaceous foods in chilled storage at temperatures of about 0° C. to about 6° C. Many such proteinaceous foods in their raw state begin rapid decomposition at temperatures above about 6° C. Hence, such proteinaceous foods can be maintained fresh and unfrozen for up to two to three weeks at temperatures of about 1° C. to about 6° C. However, both endogenous and microbial-induced decomposition is inevitable and rapid after this time period and other methods of freezing, canning, and smoking have been necessary to extend the shelf-life of these proteinaceous foods.
Since the advent of mechanical refrigeration, fish have been preserved by freezing and refrigeration, thus permitting fishermen to make longer fishing trips, as well as transport the fish long distances over land or water. It was determined that the vitality of whole or filleted fish have been prolonged by maintaining the fish in chilled storage at temperatures of about 0° C. to about 6° C. Fish, in particular in its raw state, begins decomposition quickly at temperatures above about 10° C. Fish can be maintained fresh and unfrozen for up to two to three weeks at temperatures of about 0° C. to about 4° C. However, decomposition is inevitable and rapid after this time period and other methods of freezing, canning, and smoking have been found necessary to extend the shelf life of the fish.
Most unfrozen fish is considered "fresh" for as many as about 21 days from harvest. However, unfrozen fish held at refrigeration temperatures for extended periods of time usually develop high levels of bacterial contamination which can lead to decomposition. Bacterial decomposition of fish includes the cellular breakdown of the flesh of the fish due to the hydrolytic enzymes of bacteria present on or within the flesh of the fish. Conversely, frozen fish is usually frozen upon harvest which reduces the likelihood that the fish will contain significant or harmful levels of bacterial decomposition.
The length of time over which fish maintains its freshness is commonly referred to as its shelf-life. The shelf-life of fish is determined by a number of factors, including the total number of each type of bacteria initially present, the specific types of bacteria present, the temperature of the flesh of the fish and of the surrounding atmosphere, and the pH of the fish. It is known that to extend the shelf life of fish, one may, for example, reduce the number of bacteria present using chemical means, freezing or other methods, create an acidic pH and/or maintain the product below about 5° C. in its fresh state. The most common process employed to extend the shelf life of fish is freezing.
An inherent problem, however, with freezing fish is its loss of the "fresh" attributes, e.g. a "pink" or "red" meat color to both the fish flesh and the "blood line" in the fish. The loss of these attributes causes the value of the frozen fish to be less than the value of fish that has not been previously frozen. This loss of value is an interpretation of the quality of the fish by the consumer. The color of the flesh and blood line of the fish is a major factor in the selling of seafood at the consumer level. Most consumers purchase fish with their "eyes" rather than with any other factor, such as smell, taste or texture. Therefore, it is desirable to maintain the "fresh" pink/red color of the seafood products as long as possible in order to sell the product at a premium to consumers.
Non-limiting examples of patents directed to the smoking of food products include the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,858, patented Aug. 6, 1985, by Hershfeld, provided apparatus for the surface application of liquid smoke to edible articles such as a link sausage product, cheese and other meat products. The patentee also taught that a shower of liquid smoke be re-circulated and that it may be heated to an elevated level. It was thus alleged that this method resulted in a faster and more efficient smoking process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,872, patented Nov. 29, 1994, by Davis et al, provided a vacuum smoker for the smoking of foods. The smoke was first concentrated by the application of pressurized air. Then, that concentrated smoke was admitted into a vacuum smoking chamber under only a partial vacuum. Once the vacuum smoking chamber became filled with smoke-filled air, the vacuum smoke transfer means was disabled and the vacuum creation means further reduced the pressure within the vacuum smoking compartment still to an undefined partial vacuum. This process was frequently repeated so that new smoke frequently refilled the vacuum smoke compartment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,619, patented Jan. 16, 1996 by Yamaoka et al, provided a procedure for smoking fish and meat by extra-low temperature smoking at extra-low temperatures, e.g., between about 0° C. and about 5° C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,330, patented Jun. 8, 1999, by Fessman, provided a process for smoking foodstuffs located in a treatment chamber, using a mixture of superheated steam and liquid-form smoke vapor. The smoking with the mixture of superheated steam and liquid-form smoke vapor was carried out at a pressure of from about 2 to about 10 bars.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,402, patented Oct. 26, 1999, by Kowalski, provided a procedure for preparing seafood or meat by first treating the seafood or meat with purified smoke in plastic bags at temperatures between its freezing point and about 7° C. The so-treated seafood or meat was then frozen.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,012, patented Aug. 17, 2004, by Olson, provided a procedure for the preservation of meat products by a combination of smoke, ozone and freezing procedures.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,293, patented Aug. 30, 2005, by Yamaoka et al, provided a procedure for processing tuna meat by injection of smoke there into, and then freezing the resulting smoked tuna at −18° C.


An engine-generator control method and a series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system using the control method are provided. The series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system includes a drive motor connected to an axle via a speed reducer, a Motor Control Unit (MCU) configured to control the drive motor, an engine-generator configured to generate electric power, a Generator Control Unit (GCU) configured to control the engine-generator, a high voltage battery, a Battery Management System (BMS) configured to manage the high voltage battery, and a Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) configured to control the MCU, the GCU, and the BMS.

Engine-generators applied to combat maneuvering systems, such as main battle tanks or armored vehicles, are devices for converting chemical energy contained in fuel, such as gasoline or diesel, into electrical energy via mechanical energy.
Generally, such an engine-generator functions to supply electric power to a series hybrid electric combat maneuvering systems. The series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system is configured such that a drive source, such as a drive motor, drives a vehicle using the electric power supplied from the engine-generator.
Electrical energy produced by the engine-generator may be directly supplied to an electrically-driven motor or may be used to charge a battery and then be reused later. Generally, an engine-generator control method applied to a series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system is basically operated only at an Optimal Operating Point (OOP) at which the efficiency of the engine-generator is best, and determines whether to operate the engine-generator depending on the State Of Charge (SOC) of a battery.
That is, such an engine-generator control method is a scheme for, if the SOC of the battery is decreased to a predetermined level or less, turning on the engine-generator, and if the SOC is increased to the predetermined level or more, turning off the engine-generator, and consistently operating the engine-generator at OOP.
Even though the engine-generator control method can improve the efficiency of the engine-generator itself using the method, the amount of charge/discharge current of a battery is excessively increased, thus deteriorating the efficiency of the overall system. Such an excessive current of the battery may increase the fluctuation of the battery voltage, thus various electronic parts.
Further, such an engine-generator control method is disadvantageous in that the accelerator pedal of a vehicle and the operating point of the engine are independent, so the feel of driving is greatly different from that of conventional vehicles and is generally unpleasant to the driver, and in that a point corresponding to OOP typically denotes a high-powerpoint, so that the engine is always operated at high power and then can be damaged.
Furthermore, such an engine-generator control method is disadvantageous in that if the engine is turned off after the vehicle has stopped while the engine-generator is charging the battery due to low SOC, the engine suddenly stops.

Engine-generator control method and series hybrid electric combat maneuvering system using the same


An assembly for an electrical fixture housing, the housing of the type enclosing ballasts, the housing including top and rear walls, first and second side walls, and two heat sink pads orthogonally disposed respecting one another, the assembly including a component tray having a longitudinal axis between first and second ends, a middle portion, and a ballast secured to the middle portion, and first and second tray attachments structured for quickly-detachable attachment of the respective first and second ends of the component tray to the respective first and second side walls of the housing, where the attachment effects direct and snug engagement of the ballast with the two heat sink pads.

Many lighting systems use lamps which are powered by electrical and/or electronic circuits that include transformers for changing a line voltage to meet the needs of a particular type of lamp(s) being powered. Such transformers may be identified simply as being "ballasts," although that term may also refer to the entire circuit being used to power the lamp(s). In a lighting fixture, a ballast can also assist in regulating power. For example, when such a ballast is used in conjunction with a capacitor, a power factor of the circuit is controlled. When a ballast transformer is used, for example, in an HID lighting application, the transformer may act as an inductor for limiting power. Conventional ballasts often use an open core and coil construction, in which a core of laminated steel, iron, or similar material has wire windings.
Lighting fixtures create heat as a result of its lamp(s) converting electrical energy into light. The heat inside such a lighting fixture is made greater when a ballast is also included inside the lighting fixture housing because the ballast also consumes energy and generates heat. Heat can be very damaging to lighting components, causing compromised performance or failure. It is therefore important to reduce the amount of such heat inside the lighting fixture in order to extend the life of the various lighting fixture components, for safety, and for other reasons. For example, a failing ballast can get extremely hot and become a fire hazard. While some ballasts include a safety device which shuts the ballast off in case of extreme thermal conditions, such safety devices are not infallible and, in any event, such problems may be reduced by simply reducing the heat within the fixture.
It is known to transfer heat from the ballast to the lighting fixture housing for dissipating such heat. For example, a double-wall ballast engagement and ballast mounting method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,867,959, incorporated herein in its entirety and having the same assignee and inventors as the present invention. The '959 patent discloses a housing where screws are used for directly attaching the ballast to two walls of the fixture. However, such a structure is not adapted for easily servicing the lighting fixture, such as when it becomes necessary to replace any of the various components of the ballast circuit. There is a need for a lighting fixture that provides for transferring heat from the ballast while also providing for ease of ballast circuit servicing.

Component tray for electrical fixture housing


A circuit arrangement for protecting an integrated semiconductor circuit includes a protection circuit connected between an element to be protected and a reference potential. The protection circuit includes a thyristor structure. The circuit arrangement also includes a control circuit configured to drive the protection circuit by generating a plurality of control signals drive an active element of the protection circuit.

Integrated semiconductor circuits (ICs) can be damaged by transient pulses or overvoltages, which are coupled in via terminals (pads) or directly in lines, such that they become nonfunctional or are even destroyed. Such pulses or overvoltages may occur for example in the event of so-called electrostatic discharges (ESD). High voltages and high currents, associated with transient or ESD disturbances, cause high disturbing powers to occur.
Such a pulse (e.g. burst) may also occur in many fields of application, e.g. automotive engineering. In automotive engineering, by way of example, there is the requirement that circuits of this type which have to function in the high-voltage range up to 90 volts or above are also to be designed for significantly higher disturbance pulse levels.
For high-voltage applications produced by means of high-voltage processes, provision is usually made of protection devices that are initiated or triggered by an electrical breakdown. The breakdown voltages must be significantly greater than the maximum permissible operating voltages of the application circuit to be protected. Only then is it possible to guarantee an undisturbed functionality of the integrated circuit. In the case of a fault, e.g. when an impermissibly high voltage is present, this overvoltage is dissipated to reference potential or ground by the protection circuit and downstream assemblies are thus protected from the high voltage.
One alternative for such breakdown-based protection concepts is an active circuit for protecting an integrated circuit, comprising a combination of an active trigger circuit with a known protection device such as a thyristor or a bipolar or MOS protection transistor.
Active circuits for protecting the IC are often triggered by the rise of the transient signal. In this case, the signal rise per unit time is detected and a protection transistor or a protection circuit is turned on by means of a drive circuit.
In the case of a fault, the protection circuit may accordingly be understood as an actively triggered overvoltage or overcurrent surge arrestor. A fast activation of the protection circuit is necessary in the case of a fault.
Short switch-on times and a precise switch-on threshold of the protection circuit for the integrated circuit and the protective effect thereof for different forms of disturbance pulses are important aspects of the product specification and constitute a competitive advantage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,601 discloses a thyristor (SCR—silicon control rectifier) for ESD protection, which is triggered directly by the transient signal. The thyristor is realized in the semiconductor arrangement in a manner known per se by means of an n-type well, a p-type well and highly doped n-type and p-type regions. The transient voltage is detected by means of an RC element. By means of inverters connected downstream, the voltage level detected at the capacitance is converted into a control signal which drives the base of the pap transistor of the thyristor structure. As soon as the output current of the then active pnp transistor generates a sufficiently large voltage drop at a resistor, the npn transistor of the thyristor structure turns on, so that the transient pulse is dissipated from the pad potential of the I/O pin to reference potential through the low-impedance thyristor path. The thyristor then automatically remains turned on until its current falls below the holding current and the turn-off condition is met.

Circuit arrangement and method for protecting an integrated semiconductor circuit


A shelf-stable concentrated antimicrobial composition comprising at least one cyclic carboxylic acid and/or salt thereof in an amount from about 2 wt. % to about 4 wt. %; at least one anionic surfactant and/or salt thereof in an amount from about 22 wt. % to about 32 wt. %; at least one non-surfactant strong acid (i.e. having a pKa less than about 2.3) in an amount from about 8 wt. % to about 18 wt. %; and at least one chelating agent in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 2 wt. %. The composition retains at least 90% of its original antimicrobial efficacy after storage for at least five years at room temperature, and is substantially free of additional antimicrobial compounds including hydrogen peroxide, sources of hydrogen peroxide, essential oils, parabens, aldehydes, aldehyde releasing agents, phenols, antiseptic alcohols, biguanides, peroxycarboxylic acids, quaternary ammonium compounds, chlorine compounds, enzymes, and etchants. Also described are methods for using the composition to reduce the microbial load on a surface comprising, optionally, the step of diluting the composition with water and/or an organic solvent and, optionally, adding an additional antimicrobial compound, e.g. hydrogen peroxide, prior to use.

Antimicrobial compositions, such as those based on peroxygen compounds, peracids (also referred to as percarboxylic acids, such as peracetic acid), quaternary ammonium compounds, chlorine bleaches, aldehydes (such as formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde), and biguanides, typically have a shelf-life of from about 1-3 years. Consequently, products can expire or lose their efficacy prior to use which clearly bears negative consequences in terms of costs and utility. The problem can be compounded by inappropriate storage conditions, such as storage in places subject to increased temperatures, e.g. outdoors during summer months or in warm climates.
There is therefore a need for antimicrobial compositions with improved shelf-life and the present invention is intended to meet this need.


An aqueous fluororesin coating composition and a process for producing the same, the coating composition comprising a core/shell fluorine-containing copolymer dispersed in an aqueous medium, the core/shell fluorine-containing copolymer comprising a core comprising a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising a repeating unit derived from a fluoroolefin monomer and a repeating unit derived from a vinyl carboxylate monomer and having a glass transition point Tg of 40.degree. C. or more, and a shell comprising a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising a repeating unit derived from a fluoroolefin monomer and a repeating unit derived from a vinyl carboxylate monomer and having a glass transition point Tg of from -10 to 30.degree. C., the weight ratio of the core to the shell being from 20/1 to 1/2.

An organic solvent type coating composition has the problems of atmospheric pollution with organic solvents and harm to the human body. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for an aqueous coating composition to substitute for the organic solvent type coating composition.
A representative example of the aqueous coating composition includes an aqueous emulsion coating composition obtained by aqueous emulsion polymerization. As to a coating composition comprising a fluorine-containing copolymer as a main component, i.e., a fluorine-containing resin coating composition, many proposals have been made for an aqueous resin dispersion which can be used as an aqueous emulsion coating composition.
JP-A-2-225550 (The term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") proposes an aqueous resin dispersion obtained by emulsion polymerization of a fluoroolefin, a vinyl monomer having a polyoxyethylene group, and a hydroxyl group-containing monomer. JP-A-3-33148 proposes a process for the preparation of an aqueous dispersion of a fluorine-containing copolymer by emulsion polymerization of fluoroolefin monomers in the presence of a reactive emulsifying agent copolymerizable therewith.
In order to solve a problem common to aqueous coating compositions, i.e., poor water resistance of coating, the above proposals employ a process comprising an emulsion polymerization in the absence of an emulsifying agent by using the specific monomers or a process comprising copolymerizing an emulsifying agent upon polymerization.
As mentioned above, an aqueous fluororesin emulsion coating composition has heretofore been studied taking into consideration that the residual amount of low molecular weight emulsifying agent in the emulsion is minimized. However, the aqueous dispersion of fluorine-containing copolymer according to the prior art still exhibits poor film-forming properties and water resistance as compared with the organic solvent type fluororesin coating composition and thus has limited application.

Aqueous fluororesin coating composition and process for producing same