The circuit provides a type of switching power supply device that can reduce the ripple voltage generated in the output when switching is performed in the step-down/step-up control mode. Control part (CTRL) operates as follows: corresponding to the detection value of input potential detecting part 20, the step-down control mode/step-up control mode is switched; in each control mode, the clock signal generated by comparator 50 corresponding to output potential Vout is fed back to primary circuit (PRI)/secondary circuit (SEC); in this case, corresponding to the control mode, multiplexer 60 switches the input sign of transconductance amplifier 40 corresponding to the control mode.

In the following, explanation will be provided for a switching power supply device in the prior art with reference to annexed figures.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the constitution of switching power supply device 1a of the prior art. As shown in this figure, switching power supply device 1a is a power supply device for obtaining a prescribed stable DC voltage from a DC voltage that varies over a wide range and is obtained from a nickel-mercury battery or other battery (Bat in the figure) set on the input side.
As shown in the figure, switching power supply device 1a contains an H bridge type switching circuit composed of semiconductor switching elements Tr1, Tr2 set on the input side via inductance L, and semiconductor switching elements Tr3, Tr4 set on the output side. By controlling the ON state of said semiconductor switching elements, it is possible to realize step-up or step-down control. For example, the semiconductor switching elements can be controlled so as to obtain a stable 3 V output voltage from an input voltage that varies over a wide range of 1.5–5 V.
A PWM control signal to be explained later is fed from control part 10a via buffer Buf1 and inverter Inv2 to semiconductor switching elements Tr1 and Tr2 set on the input side. Consequently, semiconductor switching elements Tr1 and Tr2 are controlled so that one is ON while the other is OFF corresponding to the pulse width of the PWM control signal fed to the control part.
In the following, as shown in FIG. 9, the controller on the input side and composed of semiconductor switching elements Tr1, Tr2, buffer Buf1 and inverter Inv2 will be known as primary circuit (PR1).
The PWM control signal to be explained later is fed from control part 10a via buffer Buf3 and inverter Inv4 to semiconductor switching elements Tr3 and Tr4 set on the output side. Consequently, semiconductor switching elements Tr3 and Tr4 are controlled so that one is ON while the other is OFF corresponding to the pulse width of the PWM control signal fed to the control part.
In the following, as shown in FIG. 9, the controller on the input side composed of semiconductor switching elements Tr3, Tr4, buffer Buf3 and inverter Inv4 will be known as secondary circuit (SEC).
Input potential detecting part 20 always detects input potential Vin based on a prescribed reference potential, and it feeds the detected input potential Vin to control part 10a. As to be explained later, control part 10a switches the control mode corresponding to input potential Vin detected by input potential detecting part 20.
Transconductance amplifier 40 is a so-called Gm amplifier.
As shown in FIG. 9, the positive terminal of transconductance amplifier 40 has prescribed reference voltage Vref input to it, and a voltage obtained by voltage dividing output potential Vout by resistors RF and RS is input to its negative terminal.
Resistor R1 that generates a potential corresponding to the current output from transconductance amplifier 40 and capacitor C1 that performs phase compensation and is connected in series to said resistor R1 are connected to the output terminal of transconductance amplifier 40. Said capacitor C1 for phase compensation should have a relatively large capacitance, such as a capacitance of about 10 nF.
Also, the output terminal of transconductance amplifier 40 is connected to the negative terminal of comparator 50a. Consequently, the negative terminal of comparator 50a becomes the potential of the output terminal of transconductance amplifier 40 that has its phase compensated. On the other hand, a triangular signal with a prescribed period and a prescribed amplitude and generated in triangular wave generating part 30 is input to the positive terminal of comparator 50a.
As a result, comparator 50a generates a clock signal with a duty ratio corresponding to the potential of the output terminal of transconductance amplifier 40. As shown in FIG. 9, the output terminal of comparator 50a is connected to output terminal c of control part 10a and, as to be explained later, said clock signal is inverted or not inverted corresponding to the control mode and is fed as an FB_PWM signal to either of the primary circuit/secondary circuit.
Control part 10a switches the control mode corresponding to input potential Vin detected by input potential detecting part 20. That is, when it is judged that input potential Vin is higher than target output potential Vout (Vin>Vout), control is performed to switch the control mode to the step-down control mode. On the other hand, when it is judged that input potential Vin is lower than target output potential Vout (Vin<Vout), control is performed to switch the control mode to the step-up control mode.
More specifically, in the step-down control mode, control part 10a takes the clock signal sent from comparator 50a as an FB_PWM signal, and feeds it to the primary circuit, and, simultaneously, it feeds an FF_PWM signal with a pulse width that can obtain a virtual output potential Vout (virtual Vout) to the secondary circuit.
Virtual Vout is the average potential on the side of the secondary circuit, and it satisfies the following relationship:VirtualVout=Vin×FBduty  (1)
On the other hand, in the step-up control mode, control part 10a takes the signal obtained by inverting the clock signal sent from comparator 50a as an FB_PWM signal and feeds it to the secondary circuit, and, simultaneously, it feeds an FF_PWM signal with a pulse width that can obtain a virtual input potential Vin (virtual Vin) to the primary circuit.
Virtual Vin is the average potential on the side of the primary circuit, and the following relationship is satisfied.VirtualVin=Vout×FBduty  (2)
Also, the processing for inverting the clock signal output from comparator 50a and generating the FB_PWM signal is performed by including a logic circuit containing an inverter in control part 10a.
FIG. 10 is an equivalent circuit indicating the connection state and feeding state of a PWM signal when switching power supply device 1a operates in the step-down control mode.
In the step-up control mode with input potential Vin higher than output potential Vout, as shown in the figure, an FB_PWM signal with duty ratio (FBduty) corresponding to output potential Vout is fed to the primary circuit, and, simultaneously, an FF_PWM signal is fed to the secondary circuit. As a result, switching power supply device 1a performs step-down control to obtain target output potential Vout.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the state of connection and the PWM signal feeding state in case switching power supply device 1a performs the step-up control mode of operation.
In practice, the clock signal output from comparator 50a is inverted, and the obtained signal is fed as an FB_PWM signal to the secondary circuit. In order to simplify the description, different from comparator 50a shown in FIG. 10, for comparator 50a shown in FIG. 11, the positive terminal and negative terminal are reversed in the description, and it can be described that the output is equivalently fed to the secondary circuit directly.
When input potential Vin becomes lower then output potential Vout, the control mode becomes the step-up control mode, and, as shown in the figure, while the FB_PWM signal of duty ratio (FBduty) corresponding to the output voltage is fed to the secondary circuit, the FF_PWM signal is fed to the primary circuit. As a result, switching power supply device 1a performs step-up control so that target output potential Vout is obtained.
However, in said conventional switching power supply device 1a of the prior art, when the control mode is switched, a ripple voltage appear at the output of switching power supply device 1a due to the transient characteristics of the potential at the output terminal of transconductance amplifier 40 when the control mode is switched. That is, due to the presence of phase compensating capacitor C1 with a relatively large capacitance, it is impossible to realize stable control of output potential Vout in the transient region from immediately after switching of the control mode to stabilization of the potential at the output terminal of transconductance amplifier 40. This is undesired.
In the following, explanation will be provided in more detail on the aforementioned problem with respect to FIG. 12.
FIG. 12 illustrates the timing charts of various signal waveforms before and after switching time Tc of the control mode. (a) shows potential V40 at the output terminal of transconductance amplifier 40; (b) shows triangular signal Vtri input to comparator 50a; (c) shows the FB_PWM signal; (d) shows the FF_PWM signal; and (e) shows output potential Vout. The maximum potential of triangular signal Vtri is called Vtri2, and the minimum potential is called Vtri1.
As shown in FIG. 12, before time Tc, the relationship of input potential Vin>output potential Vout exists, and control part 10a operates in the step-down control mode. After time Tc, the relationship of input potential Vin<output potential Vout exists, and control part 10a operates in the step-up control mode. In this case, duty ratio FBduty of the FB_PWM signal is always set at the target value of 0.9.
Before time Tc, in order to stabilize potential V40 of the output terminal of transconductance amplifier 40, an FB_PWM signal with duty ratio FBduty shown in following formula (1) is fed to the primary circuit.FBduty=(V40−Vtri1)/(Vtri2−Vtri1)  (3)
For example, if Vtri2=1.45 V and Vtri1=0.85 V, when duty ratio FBduty of the FB_PWM signal is said 0.9, according to said formula (3), one has V40=1.39 V.
Then, at time Tc when input potential Vin falls to obtain the relationship of input potential Vin<output potential Vout, control part 10a starts the step-up control mode of operation. That is, immediately after time Tc, the clock signal output from comparator 50a is inverted and fed to the secondary circuit.
If a phase compensating capacitor C1 is not connected to the output terminal of transconductance amplifier 40, control is performed so that potential V40 of its output terminal quickly changes from 1.39 V (FBduty=0.9) before time Tc to 0.91 V.
Also, in the step-up control mode, because control part 10a inverts the clock signal output from comparator 50a to generate an FB_PWM signal, 0.91 V corresponds to FBduty=0.9 in the step-up control mode.
That is, according to said formula (2), an FF_PWM signal is fed to the primary circuit such that virtual Vin becomes 2.7 V (virtual Vin=output potential Vout×FBduty=3×0.9=2.7 V).
However, in practice, because a phase compensating capacitor C1 is not present, as shown in FIG. 12a, potential V40 of the output terminal immediately after time Tc gradually falls, and it takes certain time to reach the stable point of V40=0.91 V.
For example, if output potential V40 immediately after time Tc is the same as before time Tc, that is, 1.39 V, in the step-up control mode, because control part 10a inverts the clock signal output from comparator 50a to generate an FB_PWM signal, the duty ratio changes from 0.9 to 0.1 immediately after switching. On the other hand, as explained above, since an FF_PWM signal is fed to the primary circuit so that virtual Vin becomes 2.7 V, according to said formula (2), output potential Vout becomes
                                                                        V                out                            =                              VirtualVin                /                FBduty                                                                                =                              2.7                                                                                V                  /                  0.1                                                                                =                              27                                                                                V                                                                        (        4        )            and output potential Vout overshoots.
The overshoot of said output potential Vout is cancelled when capacitor C1 is sufficiently discharged and potential V40 of the output terminal of transconductance amplifier 40 reaches a stable level of 0.91 V (corresponding to an FBduty of 0.9 in the step-up control mode), yet a ripple voltage is observed during this period.
That is, the duty ratio of the FB_PWM signal is set so that it is always 0.9. However, in practice, in the transient region immediately after switching of the control mode, a state with a duty ratio of 0.1 takes place, and a ripple voltage is observed during this period.
As explained above, for a switching power supply device in the prior art having a transconductance amplifier, at the time of switching from the step-down control mode to the step-up control mode, because a capacitor with a relatively large capacitance for phase compensation is connected to the output terminal of the transconductance amplifier, due to the influence of said capacitor, the potential of the output terminal of the amplifier cannot immediately follow the desired value. As a result, a ripple voltage takes place in the output. This is undesired.
The objective of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems of the prior art by providing a switching power supply device that has a reduced ripple voltage at the output when switching is performed between the step-up control mode and step-down control mode.


An image forming device is provided to be able to make efficient use of an internal space while improving the detection accuracy, with which a detected body is detected. The image forming device according to the invention comprises a housing, a duct, through which an air in the housing is caused to flow, a detection portion arranged outside the duct to be displaced according to the presence of, or movement of a detected body, an operating portion that can be displaced in the duct, a detection element arranged in the duct to detect displacement of the operating portion, and a transmission portion that transmits displacement of the detection portion to the operating portion through an opening formed on the duct.

JP-A-2003-226446 discloses a conventional image forming device. The image forming device comprises a housing, a duct, through which an air in the housing is caused to flow, and a detection element arranged in the duct to detect the presence of a detected body.
More specifically, the image forming device comprises conveyance means that conveys a recording sheet along a conveyance path and discharges the recording sheet outside the housing, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet midway on the conveyance path.
The duct is arranged this side of the image forming unit on the conveyance path to comprise an intake duct arranged on one surface side of a recording sheet conveyed along the conveyance path, a guide that abuts against the other surface of the recording sheet conveyed along the conveyance path to guide the recording sheet, and an exhaust duct arranged on the other surface of the recording sheet conveyed along the conveyance path. An air in the housing is sucked through an intake hole into the intake duct to be guided toward the exhaust duct, and an air guided from the intake duct is discharged through an exhaust hole from the exhaust duct.
The detection element is an optical element provided in the intake duct to comprise a light emitting diode that emits light toward the conveyance path and a photoreceptor that receives a reflected light in the case where light emitted from the light emitting diode strikes against a detected body present on the conveyance path. The detection element detects the presence of a recording sheet as an example of a detected body between the intake duct and the exhaust duct, that is, this side of the image forming unit on the conveyance path.
With the conventional image forming device constructed in this manner, when a recording sheet conveyed along the conveyance path passes between the intake duct and the exhaust duct, an air guided to the exhaust duct from the intake duct pushes a recording sheet against the guide. Therefore, an interval between the detection element and a recording sheet is hard to vary. Also, with the image forming device, an air flowing in the intake duct readily removes foreign matters, such as paper powder, etc., adhering to the detection element.
With the image forming device, since the detection element is exposed to an air flowing in the intake duct, it is possible to restrict temperature rise of the detection element, thus enabling surely demonstrating the detecting performance of the detection element. Consequently, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy, with which a detected body is detected.


An arm powered tricycle that has a frame with a passenger seat that is capable of forward, backward, or circular motion. The frame has a front wheel that consists of a sphere horizontally and rotatably mounted on an axle that can also rotate about a vertical axis so that it provides universal motion for the front wheel. The rear wheels are independently mounted on separate axles so that they rotate separately from one another. The rear axles are U-shaped in mid section with two concentric and parallel opposing ends that are rotatably mounted on the frame on one end, and are fixedly mounted to the wheel hub on the other end. Vertically pivotal levers are separately and individually furnished and mounted on each lateral side of the frame and are linked with a drive rod to the rear drive axles. The tricycle steers by slowing or stopping both arm levers to lock the rear wheels. Pushing the vertical levers back and forth provides rotation to the rear axles for propulsion. Pivot arrangements are also provided so that the vertical levers may be rotated back against the rear wheels for ease of mounting and dismounting.

This invention has to do with tricycles and is especially concerned with tricycles for handicapped children. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, two out of every 1000 children are born with restrictive lower body handicaps. Others through accident or misadventure also have such handicaps and there appears to be no functionally sound tricycle to accommodate these children.

Arm powered tricycle and method of movement


A shock absorber spring is provided. The shock absorber spring is constructed as a single unit having an internal shaft which passes back through the coils of the spring. A first end of the internal shaft is secured to a stationary object (such as the top of a washing machine) while the second end of the internal shaft is surrounded by the spring and hangs down in a generally vertical orientation. The second end of the shock absorber spring is then secured or hung to the heavy, moving object and allows the heavy, moving object to move in a restricted, desired manner by dampening and absorbing the vibrations of the object. The shock absorber spring has an internal travel limiter which may make contact with an extended bump located at the bottom of the internal shaft wherein the internal travel limiter contacts the extended bump and prevents the shock absorber spring from over compressing.

A shock absorber spring is provided. The shock absorber spring is especially suitable for hanging and controlling the movement of heavy oscillating articles, such as the tub of a washing machine. The shock absorber spring is constructed as a single unit having an internal shaft, with a built in compression limiter which passes back through the coils of the spring. A first end of the internal shaft is secured or hung to a stationary object (such as the top of a washing machine) while the second end of the internal shaft is surrounded by the spring and hangs down in a generally vertical orientation. The second end of the shock absorber spring is then secured or hung directly to the heavy, moving object and allows the heavy, moving object to move in a restricted, desired manner by dampening and absorbing the vibrations of the object. The shock absorber spring has an internal travel limiter which may make contact with an extended bump located at the bottom of the internal shaft wherein the internal travel limiter contacts the extended bump and prevents the shock absorber spring from over compressing.
Springs used in shock absorbers for washing machines are well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,452 to Bauer discloses an elastic support for a horizontally rotating washing machine or the like in which two spring support strut assemblies are disposed substantially in the middle of the machine and to either side of a vertical plane which includes the axis of rotation. Each of the spring strut assemblies is double-acting, i.e., it has an upper guide rod and a lower guide rod, each of which is surrounded by a compression spring. The top of the upper guide rod is attached to the washing machine housing and the bottom of the lower guide rod is attached to the base of the machine. The free ends of the guide rods move axially within a single guiding and damping casing which has internal passages for guiding the rods. The casing may consist of two or more parts and is so constructed that when the casing parts are clamped together with a variable force, the casing is deformed and a varying amount of radial pressure is applied by the walls of the passages to the surface of the guide rods, thereby causing a selectable amount of damping friction with respect to the axial motion of said guide rods.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,879 to Froelicher discloses an automatic washing machine suspension system having a plurality of suspension units. Each unit includes a rod suspended from a stationary support ring. A hollow cylinder, with a cylindrical side wall and a transverse base, is connected to the moving system and is mounted around the distal end of the rod. A piston mounted on the rod within the cylinder side wall includes a circumferentially continuous skirt extending axially of the side wall. A retainer spring mounted on the rod within the skirt includes a series cantilever beam fingers biasing the piston skirt into engagement with the cylinder side wall. A washer is mounted on the rod within the fingers. A coil spring is mounted around the rod and extends between the base of the cylinder and the piston.
Still Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,029 to Savkar discloses a suspension spring assembly for a washing machine having a coil spring in compression. The suspension spring system uses a snubber mounted inside the coil spring to help dampen and isolate unbalanced load excursions by using the positive displacement pumping action of air being forced through an orifice in the snubber. A second snubber may be employed with the coil spring.
However, these patents fail to describe a shock absorber spring which is easy to use and efficient as in the present device. Further, these patents fail to provide a shock absorber spring which allows a user to utilize a single unit shock absorber spring as described in the present application while increasing tensile strength and reducing weight.

Shock absorber spring with internal shaft


Systems and methods of providing a NPRACH preamble in a multefire system are described. A UE configured for multefire NB-IoT or eMTC operation receives, from an eNB, access information that includes a SIB on a narrowband channel of an unlicensed band. Based on the access information, the UE transmits a NPRACH preamble in two or six contiguous uplink subframes. The NPRACH preamble is transmitted in two or six contiguous subframes. When two subframes are used, four symbol groups each having a 266.7 μs CP and two symbols are transmitted without a gap therebetween. When six subframes are used, four symbol groups each having a 266.7 μs CP and five symbols are transmitted without a gap therebetween.

The use of various types of systems has increased due to both an increase in the types of devices user equipment (UEs) using network resources as well as the amount of data and bandwidth being used by various applications, such as video streaming, operating on these UEs. In particular, the introduction of a massive amount of IoT devices, in which a large number of computing devices are interconnected to each other and to the Internet to provide functionality and data acquisition at relatively low levels, has resulted in a veritable explosion in network use. To increase the ability of the network to contend with this network use, use of the unlicensed band by cellular devices and systems continues to be explored.

NPRACH configuration and format for unlicensed NBIoT system


A coupling for a powered search light includes a body that has a power device that provides electrical power or access to electrical power and a head coupled to the body including an lighting device which provides light when electrically powered. An end is coupled to or included as part of the body. A receiving coupling is coupled to or included as part of the head. A plurality of tabs are defined on the end and extending radially therefrom. A corresponding plurality of flanges are defined in the receiving coupling and extending radially inward therefrom. The end is arranged and configured to engage the receiving coupling by capture of the plurality of tabs by the corresponding plurality of flanges. A lock locks the plurality of tabs with respect to the plurality of flanges.

1. Field of the Technology
The disclosure relates to the field of battery packs and adapters for high intensity search lights and the features by which they are locked and sealed to the light head.
2. Description of the Prior Art
High intensity handheld or mounted lights, such as flashlights, headlamps, weapon lamps, fire rescue lamps, helmet lights, law enforcement lights and similar devices must be rugged, well-built, reliable and usable in demanding environmental conditions and abusive handling without failure or degradation of performance. In the case of lights, which are battery powered or coupled to power adapters, the connection to the battery pack and adapter must similarly be rugged, well-built, easily manipulated and reliable in strenuous environments that may include water, fluids, sand, dust and other particulate debris.
What is needed is a design for a battery pack or power adapter for a lighting head that fulfills the above demands.

Coupling for a sealed, lockable battery pack and power adapter and a high intensity search light


The present invention provides a magnetic head including a magnetic flux guide layer for effectively inducing an external magnetic field in a free magnetic layer. A magnetic domain control layer is formed in a space below the magnetic flux guide layer and in front of a multilayer film near a surface facing a recording medium. Therefore, the shape of the magnetic flux guide layer can be made substantially flat to improve flux transmission efficiency. Also, the magnetization of the magnetic flux guide layer is controlled by laminating the magnetic flux guide layer on the magnetic domain control layer. Therefore, the magnetic domain control layer can be formed in a substantially flat thin film to stabilize a bias magnetic field to be supplied to the magnetic flux guide layer. Furthermore, the gap length of the magnetic head can be kept short.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic detecting element mainly used for a hard disk device and magnetic sensor, and a method of manufacturing the same. Particularly the present invention relates to a magnetic detecting element having excellent detectivity to a magnetic field, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a conventional reproducing magnetic head.
A magnetic detecting element S constituting the magnetic head shown in FIG. 21 comprises a multilayer film comprising a pinned magnetic layer 101, a nonmagnetic material layer 102 and a free magnetic layer 103. Each of the pinned magnetic layer 101 and the free magnetic layer 103 is made of a ferromagnetic material such as NiFe or the like, and the nonmagnetic material layer 102 is made of Cu or the like.
The magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer 101 is pinned in a direction. On the other hand, the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer 103 varies with the external magnetic field applied thereto. As a result, the relative magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer 103 and the pinned magnetic layer 101 varies to change the electric resistance of the magnetic detecting element S. The change in the electric resistance can be converted to a voltage change or current change to detect the external magnetic field. The free magnetic layer 103 is put 5 into a single magnetic domain state in which the magnetization direction is aligned in a direction, for suppressing the occurrence of Barkhausen noise.
In the magnetic head shown in FIG. 21, the magnetic detecting element S is retracted in the height direction (the 10 Y direction shown in the drawing) so as not to be exposed at the surface facing the recording medium.
In FIG. 21, reference numeral 104 denotes a lower shield layer made of a magnetic material such as a NiFe alloy or the like. Also, a lower gap layer made of an insulating material not shown in the drawing is formed on the lower shield layer 104, and a magnetic flux guide layer 105 is formed on the lower gap layer. The magnetic flux guide layer 105 is made of a magnetic material such as a CoFe alloy, a NiFe alloy, a CoFeNi alloy, Co, or the like. The magnetic flux guide layer 105 is magnetically connected to the free magnetic layer 103 of the magnetic detecting element S.
Furthermore, an upper gap layer not shown in the drawing is formed over the magnetic flux guide layer 105 and the magnetic detecting element S, and an upper shield layer 106 made of a magnetic material such as a NiFe alloy or the like is formed on the upper gap layer.
The front end 105a of the magnetic flux guide layer 105 is exposed at the surface facing the recording medium, and thus serves as an induction layer for inducing a change of magnetization in the free magnetic layer 103 of the magnetic detecting element S due to an external magnetic field. The change of magnetization induced in the magnetic flux guide layer 105 due to the external magnetic field is transmitted to the free magnetic layer 103 so that the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer 103 changes with a change in the external magnetic field.
As shown in FIG. 21, in the magnetic head, the magnetic detecting element S is retracted from the surface facing the recording medium in the height direction to improve heat resistance to thermal asperity, as compared with a magnetic detecting element exposed at the surface facing the recording medium or a magnetic detecting element covered with only a thin protective film. It is also possible to improve the resistance to electrostatic damage caused by electrostatic charge of the surface facing the recording medium.
In the magnetic head shown in FIG. 21, if the magnetic domain of the magnetic flux guide layer 105 is not controlled to give a multidomain structure to the magnetic flux guide layer 105, Barkhausen noise occurs in transmission of a change of magnetization through the magnetic flux guide layer 105.
Therefore, the magnetization of the magnetic flux guide layer 105 as well as the magnetization of the free magnetic layer 103 must be controlled.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-273613 discloses a magnetoresistive sensor comprising a tunneling magnetoresistive film and a magnetic flux guide layer, wherein the magnetic domains of both a free magnetic layer and the magnetic flux guide layer are controlled.
However, in the magnetoresistive sensor shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-273613, a magnetic flux guide layer 14 must be bent near the tunneling magnetoresistive film in order to connect a magnetic domain control single layer 15 to both a free layer 25 (free magnetic layer) and the magnetic flux guide layer 14, thereby decreasing the flux transmission efficiency of the magnetic flux guide layer 14.
Also, in the magnetoresistive sensor shown in FIG. 5 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-273613, the magnetic domains of the free magnetic layer 25 formed above the tunneling magnetoresistive film 13 and the magnetic flux guide layer formed below the tunneling magnetoresistive film 13 must be controlled by the magnetic domain control single layer 15. Therefore, the shape of the magnetic domain control layer 15 is complicated to cause a difficulty in appropriate domain control.
Furthermore, in the magnetoresistive sensor shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-273613, the magnetic domain control layer 15 or 45 is formed on the surface of the magnetic flux guide layer 14 or 44 formed below or above the tunneling magnetoresistive film 13 away from the surface facing the tunneling magnetoresistive film 13 to increase the thickness of the magnetoresistive sensor, thereby increasing the gap length.

Magnetic head comprising magnetic domain control layer formed on ABS-side of magnetic flux guide for GMR element and method of manufacturing the magnetic head


This invention provides a mouthwash composition which is in the form of a concentrated aqueous ethanolic formulation of ingredients. An essential aspect of an invention mouthwash is an alkali metal bicarbonate ingredient which is present as a suspension phase of ultrafine particles. The suspension phase also can have a content of colloidal zinc oxide. Oral hygiene is practiced by diluting an invention mouthwash concentrate with water, and rinsing the oral cavity with the diluted liquid medium.

Mouthwash compositions are liquid preparations which are formulated to cleanse and refresh the oral cavity.
Cosmetic mouthwashes usually contain water, alcohol, flavor and color ingredients, and have excellent consumer acceptance because the rinse medium has a refreshing mouthfeel, and the residual mouthwash ingredients have a pleasant aftertaste.
A wide variety of mouthwashes are available which contain various combinations of beneficial ingredients such as astringents, deodorants, antibacterial agents, healing agents, analgesics, buffers, humectants, surfactants, flavorants, preservatives, and the like.
It is desirable to include sodium bicarbonate as an ingredient in a mouthwash formulation because it provides deodorizing and buffering activities, and it contributes a clean mouthfeel and refreshing aftertaste in the oral cavity.
However, the effective inclusion of an alkali metal bicarbonate ingredient in a mouthwash has been limited by practical considerations. An alkali metal bicarbonate compound has a low level of solubility in an aqueous alcoholic solvent medium, so that any content of alkali metal bicarbonate in a typical mouthwash formulation is limited to less than about 2 weight percent. Further, a liquid mouthwash formulation containing a dissolved content of alkali metal bicarbonate does not have long term storage stability. The alkali metal bicarbonate ingredient in an aqueous alcoholic mouthwash formulation tends to discompose to alkali metal carbonate and carbon dioxide under storage conditions. Alkali metal carbonate has an irritating effect on the surfaces of an oral cavity.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a liquid mouthwash formulation which contains up to 20 weight percent and higher of alkali metal bicarbonate ingredient.
It is another object of this invention to provide a liquid mouthwash formulation which contains a particulate suspension of alkali metal ingredient, and which exhibits superior dimensional stability under long term storage conditions.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention shall become apparent from the accompanying description and examples.
Of special background interest with respect to the present invention are publications which describe mouthwash and other dentifrice formulations containing alkali metal bicarbonate, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,370,314; 4,657,758; 4,861,582; and 5,145,664.

Liquid mouthwash containing a particulate bicarbonate suspension


An image-based event notification system includes a detection device, a controller, and a user application. The detection device is configured to generate an image. The controller is configured to receive the image and output an associated event-based image indicative of an event. The user application includes a user interface and a display. The user application is configured to receive the event-based image from the controller, and display the event-based image on the display. From the display, a user may choose between a user event confirmation and a user event rejection.

The present disclosure relates to an image-based event notification system, and more particularly, to an image-based event notification system with user event verification capability.
Known residential and commercial security and/or safety systems may share a common issue of false notifications (e.g., alarms). Such false notifications may result from human or system errors, and the system may lack any ability to verify the notification as authentic or false. Such verification is desirable before the system deploys actions based on what may be a false notification. Moreover notification verification should be robust, streamlined, and relatively inexpensive.
In addition, for image-based systems, event-based images may be sent to multiple parties utilizing multiple devices or stations. Especially for false notifications, users of the image-based event notification system may be deprived of desired privacy.


An exerciser includes a body and an adjustment wheel. The body has two flywheels and two foot support links. The two flywheels each have a sliding portion which radially connected thereto so as to guide the two foot support links to alternatively move along a supporting travel and a crossing travel to complete a closed pedal trajectory when the flywheels rotate. The timing adjustment wheel is pivotally connected to the body. The timing adjustment wheel has a first slider and a second slider, the first and second sliders are configured to move along the sliding portions of the flywheels. The foot support links drives the flywheel to rotate so that the first and second sliders move along the sliding portions to change the speeds and phase differences of the foot support links so as to meet the principles of ergonomics.

Jogging is a popular exercise, but it is known that the jogger's knees are suffered from significant impact especially at the time that the user's foot contacts the ground. The knees will be injured after suffering from the frequent impacts for a period of time. Therefore, the exercisers such as elliptical exercisers, sliding exercisers and the like are developed to guide the users' feet to move along a track which is similar to that of real jogging such that the knees are protected from being impacted and injured.
One conventional elliptical exerciser is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,013 entitled "CROSS TRAINER EXERCISE APPARATUS", which comprises a framework, two handles, a flywheel and two foot support members, wherein the flywheel and the handles are pivotally connected to the framework, and the foot support members are pivotally connected to two sides of the flywheel. When the handles are pivotally moved, the foot support members are guided by the flywheel and moved along a pedal trajectory which comprises a supporting travel and a crossing travel.
However, the pedal trajectory provided by the conventional elliptical exerciser is a very elliptical trajectory, so that the pedal travels on two sides of the flywheel have 180 degrees of timing delay. The timing of pedal trajectory is quite different from the one of real jogging.
Specifically, the pivotal portions on two sides of the wheel have 180 degrees of phase difference, so that when one of the user's legs is at the front end of a pedal trajectory and going to support the user's weight, the other one is at the rear end of the pedal trajectory as shown in FIG. 8. In other words, the supporting travel A1 and the crossing travel A2 of the pedal trajectory A have almost the same path length. However, in real jogging, when one of the user's legs is at the front end of the trajectory and going to support the user's weight, the other one does not yet reach the rear end of the trajectory but keeps moving backward, and does not lift to move forward until reaches the rear end of the trajectory, as shown in FIG. 9. That is to say, in a trajectory B of real jogging, the path length of the supporting travel B1 is less than that of the crossing travel B2. The conventional elliptical exerciser cannot provide the user with the real jogging exercising mode and does not meet the principles of ergonomics.
When using the conventional elliptical exerciser, the user has to make his/her legs to be cooperated with the pedal trajectory provided by the conventional elliptical exerciser, so that the user cannot shift his/her weight from one leg to the other leg until his/her two legs both reach their respective extreme positions. The accumulation of the muscles sore and pain may cause sports injury to the user, and even worse if the user does not pedal at a correct angle.
The present invention intends to provide an elliptical exerciser with a timing adjustment wheel so as to perform as real jogging action.


Communication bus enable devices to communicate and exchange information and control signals. There is a growing concern over the security of such types of buses. Since any device can transmit any message, and device on the bus which can be compromised poses a threat for the bus. Described is a system to authenticate the source of messages from various devices on a communication bus.

There are several architectures for transmitting information from one electronic device to another. A commonly used architecture is shown in FIG. 1A. In this architecture the devices share a common communication structure, often called a data bus or communication bus. In this architecture, each device connected to the data bus can transmit information on the data bus, or receive any information transmitted on the data bus. In addition the information transmitted on the data bus can pass undistorted through each of the devices. Examples of such buses are RS485/422, CAN BUS, Flex Ray and others.
A large number of devices can be connected to data buses described above. In some data buses the devices are identified by a unique identification (ID) number. In such cases the ID number will appear in every communication from the device and can be used to authenticate the source of the communication. On other data buses such as for example the CAN BUS, the messages are identified by a message ID number and the messages are not associated to a specific device. Hence any device can transit any message on the bus without any limitation.
There is a growing concern over the security of such types of buses. Since any device can transmit any message, and device on the bus which can be compromised poses a threat for the bus. As a specific example, we can consider the CAN BUS of a car. A device with a Bluetooth wireless connection such as the car radio can be hacked and a perpetrator can gain control of the car radio. The perpetrator can then use the car radio which is connected to the car's CAN BUS to issue any message and even initiate some actions. Examples of messages include; to unlock the car, or press on the brake pedal; or change the car speedometer or revolution reading. The common thread is that the car's integrity and driver safety can be seriously compromised by a perpetrator which can access any device connected to the car's CAN BUS.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Sital Technology And Hardware Engineering (1997) Ltd.


In a vibration isolation device 10, a connection rod 12 penetrates through a cavity part 104 of a rubber elastic body 44 and the inner circumferential side of a main body plate 14. In addition, a stopper rubber 98 fixed on the outer circumferential side of a rod main body 13 of the connection rod 12 is placed in the cavity part 104 of the rubber elastic body 44. This allows the rod main body 13 aligned in overlying relation with the rubber elastic body 44 along the axial direction of the connection rod 12 to be stored in the device. Thus, a stopper member 96 fixed to the rod main body 13 of the connection rod 12 can form a stopper mechanism. Therefore, while suppressing the increase in dimension along the axial direction of the device, the dimension along the axial direction of the device can be prevented from expanding by the stopper mechanism for preventing the excessive displacement along the direction orthogonal to the axis of the connection rod 12.

Conventionally, in vehicles such as cars, in order to suppress the transmission of vibration from the power unit including an engine and a gear box which are the main vibration generating sources to the car body, and thereby to implement excellent ride comfort, and to protect various members attached to the car body from vibration, the power unit is supported by the car body via an engine mount as a vibration isolation device. As the mounting system of the power unit using such a vibration isolation device, there is a pendant system such as a pendulum system. As the vibration isolation devices for use in such a pendant system, those described in JP-A Nos. 10-30675 and 2004-263785 are known.
The vibration isolation device described in JP-A No. 10-30675 includes a thick-walled cylindrical elastomer body (elastic body) disposed between a lower support plate and an upper support plate, and a connection rod (connection member) penetrating through the central parts of the lower support plate and the elastic body, and connected and fixed at the upper end thereof to the upper support plate.
Whereas, the vibration isolation device described in JP-A No. 2004-263785 includes a shaft part (connection member) connected to a rubber main body (elastic body) inside a cylindrical mount main body at the upper end, and protruding from the mount main body on the lower end side, a connection arm connected and fixed to the lower end of the connection member, and a rubber stopper covering the outside of the connection arm. With the vibration isolation device, upon input of a load along the backward and forward direction or the sideway direction of the vehicle, the connection arm comes in contact with the leg part of the vibration isolation device via the rubber stopper. As a result, excessive displacement in the backward and forward direction or in the sideway direction of the vehicle of the connection member is inhibited.


Systems and methods disclosed herein provide intelligent filtering of system log messages having low utility value. In providing the filtering, the systems and methods determine the utility value of a system log message and delete the message from the system log if the message is determined to be of low utility value. As such, embodiments herein provide an system log filter, which reduces the amount of data stored in the system log based on the utility value of the message.

System logs contain messages emitted from several modules within a computing system and comprise valuable information about the status of various tasks, execution paths, error conditions, system states, device changes, device drivers, system changes, events, system operations, and more. Often, system logs comprise messages, for example, unstructured text messages, logged by several modules of a system. Users of system logs may include administrators, customer support engineers, and developers. In practice, log users analyze information provided by the logged messages and use that information for proactive repair, alerting, problem forecasting, and diagnosis of the system. For example, messages of the system log such as "disk failure" or "network interconnect failure" messages may cause an administrator to perform urgent system intervention. Further, messages such as "SCSI adapter encountered an unexpected bus phase" may help developers determine a bug location and remedy the bug.
Log users may be local or remote to the system. For example, storage enterprises, for example NetApp®, offer live and remote customer support by periodically collecting system logs from live deployments at customer locations. For customers with remote support, the customer system collects system logs from buffers in the client system and transmits the logs to a central enterprise repository, where the logs are monitored for alerts, problem forecasting, and troubleshooting. As systems grow in complexity, system logs grow in size. A study disclosed in Xu, Wei, Ling Huang, Armando Fox, David Patterson, and Micheal Jordon, Experience Mining Google's Production Console Logs. In Proc. Of SLAML (2010), showed that the number of log messages in a product increased by hundreds per month at all stages of product development. The ever increase in system log size are causing an increase in the costs of system log collection, monitoring, transmission, and archival.
Large system logs impact several resources. For example, large system logs overload log users with too much information. Often, log users manually inspect system logs when performing troubleshooting and other log related activities. For an enterprise with thousands of deployments, the cost of human resources to manually inspect system logs may be burdensome. Thus, a reduction in the number of messages a log user reads in order to render their services would be desirable.
In another example, system logs are stored on buffers of finite memory space. As a result, systems have had to place strict upper limits on the size of their system logs in order to prevent buffer overflow, which leads to unintentional message dropping. Buffer memory is costly and ultimately limited in size. As such, it would be desirable to reduce the size of the system logs to accommodate the buffers' finite size and prevent buffer overflow.
Another example of the impact that large system logs have on resources involves bandwidth. As explained above, for customers with remote support, the customer system collects system logs and transmits the logs to a central repository. The transmission of system logs from customer sites to enterprise repositories consume substantial network bandwidth effecting the customers, the remote support enterprise, the network provider, and unaffiliated third parties who happen to share the network bandwidth. Further, receiving large system logs directly increases the storage costs for the remote enterprise providing the support. Therefore, a reduction in the amount of data transmitted from the customer's system to the enterprise's system would be advantageous.
The desire to reduce resource drain caused by large log sizes has been recognized in the industry; however, industry has thus far primarily focused on reducing the expense caused by information overload on log users who manually inspect system logs. Cisco router logs, as described in Tim Kramer, Effective Log Reduction and Analysis Using Linux and Open Source Tools, have developed a solution that reduces the amount of information that a log user views at any one time. With the use of Cisco router logs, several tools and utilities are provided for fast parsing and searching through log files. The tools are effective for sorting through large amounts of log messages and presenting the log user with a subset of the system log's messages, which is easier to view and more manageable to work with. A similar approach to dealing with log sizes involves the aid of visualization, as described in Tetsuji Takada and Hideki Koike. Meilog: A highly interactive visual log browser using information visualization and statistical analysis. In In Proc. USENIS Cof on System Administration, 2002, which helps reduce the recognition load and to pin point unusual log messages in an interactive and visual log browser.
While the proposed solutions may present the system log messages in a manner that is easier for a human user to digest, the proposed solutions do not delete messages or reduce the overall size of the system log. Rather, the proposed solutions merely change the manner in which the messages are viewed by a human user. As such, the proposed solutions fails to address many of the resource costs created by large system logs.
Another proposed solution is described in Yinglung Liang, Yanyong Zhang, Hui Xiong and Ramendra Sahoo, An Adaptive Semantic Filter for Blue Gene/L Failure Log Analysis, In Proceedings of the Third International Workshop on System Management Techniques, Processes, and Services (SMTPS), 2007. This proposed solution filters the centralized system log of a super computer or the centralized system log of a multi-node computing system based on message redundancy by targeting and eliminating redundant log records that identify the same unit of information (e.g., the same event), but differ with reference to location (which node of a plurality of nodes sent the message) or time (the time that the message originated from a particular node).
However, the system proposed by Yinglung Liang et al. has limited log size reduction capability in contexts outside centralized logging systems. In centralized logging systems, there is a high likelihood that redundant messages will be received from the large number of different nodes. Therefore, limiting message removal to only redundant messages in such a system may yield a large log size reduction. However, in other systems, such as a system log which locally logs messages for a single node system, there is a low likelihood that the technique will find many duplicate messages. As such, Yinglung Liang et al. techniques do not yield much log size reduction because the technique is limited to only removing the few duplicative messages that may be found in a local log. For example, if the message of interest is redundant, then it is deleted; if the message of interest is not redundant, then the message is not deleted. The system's algorithm is equitable to a rudimentary if/then solution and is not designed to make nuanced filtering decisions regarding the value of one non-redundant message as compared to another non-redundant message. Thus, when the message of interest is non-redundant, the solution is unable to intelligently determine the informational value of a non-redundant message. Accordingly, the solution is unable to determine whether to delete a non-redundant message based the value of the information in the non-redundant message.

Systems and methods for filtering low utility value messages from system logs


Apparatus for a protecting a roadside mail box from snow thrown by snowplow by which includes first and second generally planar members each having at least one rectilinear edge and a top and a bottom. Bracing members are fixed to the first and second generally planar members with the members forming a wedge shape with a vertical edge to divert the thrown by the snowplow.

Snow and snow plows are a fact of life during winter months in snow country of northern United States and Canada. Traditional roadside mail boxes and mail box posts offer little or no protection from snow and ice discharged by snow plows.
A wide variety of prior art mailbox protection apparatus is known. Some are improvised. Some are fragile and incapable of withstanding the huge mass of snow and ice being hurled at high speed by large fast moving snowplows. Devices erected to protect mail boxes and mail box posts are often home-made configurations of inferior materials and often survive for only short periods. Accordingly, it is therefore seen that there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described herein and above.


An apparatus and method for retaining individual sheets of substrate in a curved configuration during coating or printing is disclosed.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for retaining individual sheet substrates, especially paper or cardboard in a curved configuration during printing or while applying coating material, such as UV-curable coating.
It is often desirable to coat printed substrates, such as paper or cardboard, to thereby protect the printed surface from smudging and water damage. Particularly durable coatings of this type are those cured by exposure to UV rays. Typically, the substrate surface to be coated is dropped onto a conveyor where it moves toward a coating station having a fountain system, for example. The fountain system may include a continuous coating surface, such as a coating/transfer roller for applying a coating. If UV curable coating is to be used, the coated substrate is moved away from the coating station and toward a UV source where it is exposed to UV radiation for a predetermined amount of time to thereby cure the coating. Present methods and devices for coating substrates are typically designed for coating continuous webs of substrate dispensed from a roll, for example. Such processes and devices cannot easily accommodate individual sheets of substrate.
It is sometimes desirable to apply coatings to cut, individual sheets of substrate, rather than to a continuous web of material. A particular problem associated with the application of certain coatings, such as UV curable coatings, to individual sheets is the tendency of sheet substrates of lesser thicknesses to curl at the edges during coating. Further, it has been observed that individual sheets tend to adhere to the transfer roller during coating and do not release properly after coating. Similar problems have also been observed during printing, particularly printing of individual sheets having a relatively small thickness. Various means of correcting these problems have been utilized. For example, mechanical "fingers" may be used to hold the corners of the sheet substrate flat during coating. However, this solution has been found to be unacceptable, particularly in situations requiring the substrate to be completely coated, since the coating cannot reach the points of "finger" contact. Another unacceptable solution has been use of a flat vacuum conveyer. In this case, as an individual sheet substrate moves past the transfer roller, a vacuum through the conveyer holds the sheet flat and against the conveyer thereby preventing the sheet from adhering to the transfer roller. However, depending upon the thickness of the sheet substrate, undesirable "dimpling" may occur, caused by the sheet substrate being drawn into the apertures in the conveyor by the vacuum. Therefore, an improved method and apparatus for transferring coating from a transfer surface to individual sheets of substrate is desired.

Method and apparatus for treating sheets including a vacuum roller for retaining sheets in curved configuration


A holding device for use with body adornments such as necklaces, bracelets, anklets, waist chains and the like so that the body adornment may be held in place on a wearer's body to prevent the body adornment from becoming displaced thereby maintaining proper orientation of the body adornment on the wearer's body. The holding device further allows the wearer to easily and readily adjust the effective length of the body adornment. The holding device utilizes removably replaceable adhesive that affixes the body adornment to a wearer's skin or clothing, the adhesive being of the type suitable for energetic activity as well as humid conditions. Also disclosed is a method for attaching a body adornment to the wearer's body or clothing.

This invention relates generally to holding devices that may be used with body adornments such as necklaces, bracelets, anklets, waist chains and the like and more specifically to a new and improved holding device which allows the body adornment to be held in place on a wearer's body thereby preventing the body adornment from becoming displaced so that proper orientation of the body adornment on the wearer's body is maintained. The new and novel holding device is designed to be used with a variety of body adornments and particularly designed to allow the wearer to position the body adornment in a desired orientation on the wearer's body.
Many necklaces and other body adornments are designed so that the decorative ornament such as a pendant, trinket or bauble is movably attached to the chain, string, leather strand, beads or other material that a person may wear around their neck or other body part such as the wrist, arm, leg, ankle, waist and the like. The decorative ornament is often attached to the necklace by a ring or similar attaching means that allows the chain, string, leather strand, beads or the like to move freely though the ring or similar attaching means. When a person places the necklace or other body adornment around their neck or other body part, the clasp which fastens the two ends of the necklace together has a tendency to creep or walk from it's initial position at the back of the wearer's neck to the front of the wearer's body, often coming to rest adjacent to the decorative ornament such as a pendant, trinket or bauble that may be attached to the necklace.
Even in necklaces where the decorative ornament is attached to the chain, string, leather strand, beads or similar material in a manner that holds the decorative ornament in a fixed position relative to the chain or similar material, the clasp or fastening means at the back of the neck has a tendency to creep or walk around to the front of the wearer's body. The result is a displaced decorative ornament or, in the extreme, reversal of the initial position of the clasp and the decorative ornament, especially if the wearer is engaged in an energetic activity.
In both types of necklaces, those with movably attached decorative ornaments and those with fixed decorative ornaments, creeping or walk-around of the clasp from the back of the neck to the front of the neck leads to unsightly body adornment and frustration of the wearer in having to constantly readjust the necklace to its proper orientation. The creeping or walk-around problem has been observed in other types of body adornments as well such as bracelets, anklets, waist chains and the like.
Another problem encountered with body adornments has been the unavailability of an easy and reliable way of adjusting the length of the chain, string, leather strand, beads or similar material without damaging the chain or similar material and without total replacement of the chain or similar material with one of the desired length. One solution has been to place the chain or similar material in a device that grips the chain in a manner that reduces the size of the loop created when the ends of the chain are fastened together. These types of devices generally require someone other than the wearer to make the adjustment as the device is located behind the wearer's neck and adjustment is difficult. Additionally, these type of devices often damage the chain or similar material the necklace is made of.
There are two other critical problems with the gripping type of adjustment device. First, the gripping device can not be used with necklaces, bracelets, anklets, waist chains or other body adornments that utilize beads or other thick materials to make up the "chain" portion of the adornment. Secondly, and most importantly, the weight of the gripping type device can actually increase the tendency of the clasp to creep or walk around the wearer's neck or other body part.
Another solution to the adjustment problem has been to simply replace the "chain" portion of the body adornment with one of the desired length. Not only is this costly but it is also time consuming for the wearer to constantly change the "chain" portion of the necklace depending on the length the wearer desires to have.


An object is to provide a drying machine capable of maintaining air discharged into a housing chamber while efficiently drying a matter to be dried in a short time. A drying machine provided with a housing chamber which houses the matter to be dried, and executing a drying operation of the matter to be dried in the housing chamber comprises: a gas cooler; an evaporator; a blower fan; an air circulation path for discharging air heated by the gas cooler into the housing chamber by the blower fan, sending the air passed through the housing chamber into the evaporator, and circulating the air in the gas cooler; and a closeable outside air introduction port for mixing outside air with the air circulating in the air circulation path.

The present invention relates to a drying machine which comprises a housing chamber for housing a matter to be dried and which executes a drying operation of the matter to be dried in the housing chamber.
In a drying machine, an electric heater or a gas burning heater has heretofore been used as a heat source, outside air is heated by the electric heater or the burning heater to thereby form the air at high temperature, thereafter the air is blown into a housing chamber in which a matter to be dried such as clothing is housed, and the matter to be dried in the housing chamber is dried.
However, in the drying machine, since the electric heater, the gas burning heater or the like is used as a heat source, energy consumption for drying the matter to be dried increases, and there has been a problem that energy costs such as electricity and gas charges soar.
To solve the problem, a clothing drying machine has been developed which a heat pump constituted of a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a heating coil, an expansion valve, and a cooling coil and capable of circulating a heat exchange medium is utilized. The matter to be dried is dried by high-temperature air heated by the heating coil, and humidity evaporated from the dried matter is condensed by the cooling coil, and discarded (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2001-62194 and 2003-53089).
To dry the matter to be dried in this drying machine, there are: an inner air circulation system (see Patent Documents 1 and 2) for discharging air whose heat has been changed with the radiator into a housing chamber by a blower, allowing the air passed through the housing chamber to exchange heat with the evaporator, thereafter returning the air again into the radiator, and discharging the air into the housing chamber; and an outer air introduction system (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-99299) for introducing air from the outside of a drier, exchanging heat with the radiator, discharging the air into the housing chamber, allowing the air passed through the housing chamber to exchange heat with the evaporator, and discharging the air to the outside. There is also a system in which a part of an air circulation system communicates with the atmosphere (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-33896).
However, in the former inner circulation system, the air discharged into the housing chamber can be at high temperature. However, a large amount of water content is contained in the air which has dried the matter to be dried especially in an initial stage of a drying operation. Therefore, all water contents cannot be recovered by the evaporator. Since humidity-containing air is sent into the housing chamber, there has occurred a problem that drying efficiency drops.
Moreover, a compressor having a large capacity has to be used for recovering the large amount of water content in the initial stage of the drying operation by the evaporator, and there has occurred a problem that power consumption increases.
On the other hand, in the latter outer air introduction system, the temperature of the air discharged into the housing chamber depends on an outside air temperature, the discharged air for use in the drying cannot be easily set at the high temperature especially when outside air is at low temperature, and there is a problem that much time is required for drying the matter to be dried. Therefore, the electric heater or the compressor having a large capacity needs to be used in the same manner as described above in order to shorten a drying time, and there occurs a problem that the power consumption increases.
Moreover, to solve both the problems, even when a part of the air circulation system communicates with the atmosphere as described above, circulating air cannot be sufficiently replaced, because outside air is introduced and discharged through one opening.

Drying machine with inner and outer drums and outside air introduction


An ultrasound imaging system according to the present disclosure may include an ultrasound transducer assembly comprising a plurality of apertures that are configured to transmit signals toward and receive signals from a region of interest (ROI) of a subject, a tracking sensor disposed within the subject and configured to move within the ROI, the sensor being responsive to signals transmitted by the apertures, and at least one processor in communication with the ultrasound transducer assembly and the tracking sensor. The at least one processor may be configured to generate a first image of a first portion of the ROI from signals received from at least one activated aperture, identify a position of the tracking sensor using signal data from the tracking sensor that corresponds to at least one signal transmitted by the apertures, and generate a second image of a second portion of the ROI from signals received from at least one other aperture activated based on the identified position, wherein the second portion of the ROI is different from the first portion of the ROI.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. PAD leads to narrowing and hardening of the arteries. This causes decreased blood flow, which can result in pain, tissue injury and even tissue death. PAD is a common disorder that affects 8 to 12 million people in the US, especially those over 50. Besides medications, procedures such as angioplasty, stent placement, and bypass surgery may be necessary if the condition is severe (e.g., blood flow in the limb is completely or almost completely blocked). These procedures are often performed under X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy, arteriogram), which exposes the subject to radiation dose and contrast.
In patients with Chronic Total Occlusions (CTO), endovascular techniques require the use of guide-wires—long metal wires less than 1 mm in diameter—to cross the CTO (see e.g., FIGS. 6A and 6B, which show x-ray images of a femoral artery 604 before and after intervention). Following successful guide-wire crossing, therapies such as balloon dilatation or atherectomy are often used to expand or clear the vessel lumen. In these patients, the blocked region 603 and the segment of the vessel distal to the blocked region cannot be visualized with arteriogram (injection of contrast dye to visualize the vessel lumen under X-Ray, as shown by FIG. 6A). The use of pre-operative images obtained from MRI/CT is a possibility, but this increases cost and has other technical challenges such as image registration. Generally, FIG. 6A illustrates the problem with navigating CTO crossings under fluoroscopy. Because a portion of the vessel is blocked prior to treatment, the blocked portion of the vessel cannot be imaged using fluoroscopy. Furthermore, repetitive or extensive X-Ray radiation to radiation is undesirable. Thus, different techniques for guidance during intervention procedures, such as CTO crossings, may be desired.
External ultrasound has been explored alternative to fluoroscopy and angiography. While ultrasound beneficially does not require radiation or use of harmful contrast agents, current ultrasound equipment and techniques require a highly-skilled sonographer to continuous maneuver and manipulate an ultrasound transducer probe in order to continually image the interventional procedure (a typical ultrasound probe footprint (and therefore, the lateral width of the imaging FOV) is on the order of a few cm (˜3-5 cm); hence the need to continually maneuver the probe when imaging lesions/occlusions that can often exceed 10 cm in length). In addition to being cumbersome, the requirement for a skilled sonographer renders ultrasound imaging impractical for CTO and other PAD interventions due to lengthy procedural times.

Large area ultrasound transducer assembly and sensor tracking for aperture control and image gneration


In some aspects, an analyte sensor is provided for detecting an analyte concentration level in a bio-fluid sample. The analyte sensor has a base with first and second ends, a concave recess in the first end, a second end receiving surface, and a sidewall extending between the ends. An electrode may be provided on the receiving surface with an electrochemically-active region coupled to the electrode. A conductor in electrical contact with the electrode may extend along the sidewall and may be adapted to be in electrical contact with a first contact of an analyte meter. Manufacturing methods and systems utilizing and dispensing the analyte sensors are provided, as are numerous other aspects.

The monitoring of analyte concentration levels in a bio-fluid may be an important part of health diagnostics. For example, an electrochemical analyte sensor may be employed for monitoring of a patient's blood glucose level as part of diabetes treatment and care. Furthermore, analyte sensors may be used to measure other analytes, such as lactate, keytones, total cholesterol, uric acid, lipids, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), hemoglobin A1c, etc.
An electrochemical analyte sensor may be employed, for instance, by detecting an analyte concentration level in a bio-fluid sample such as from a single sample of blood or other interstitial fluid. For example, the bio-fluid may be obtained from the patient via a lancet (e.g., by a pinprick or needle). Typically, after a bio-fluid sample has been obtained from the patient, such as by the use of a lancet, the sample may then be transferred to a medium (e.g., a test strip analyte sensor or a detector) for measurement of the bio-fluid sample's analyte concentration level.
Because conventional electrochemical analyte sensors may be provided in the form of a strip, for example, it may be difficult to package the sensors in a small packaging volume. Accordingly, it may be beneficial to provide an analyte sensor adapted for bio-fluid analyte sampling that may be suitably packaged in a small volume and more easily dispensed.

Stackable electrochemical analyte sensors, systems and methods including same


The present invention relates to novel inhibitors of the Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activating pathway useful in the treatment of NF-κB related diseases and/or in the improvement of anti-tumor treatments. These inhibitors interfere early in the TRAF induced signaling pathway and are therefore more specific than IκB.

NF-κB is an ubiquitously expressed transcription factor that controls the expression of a diverse range of genes involved in inflammation, immune response, lymphoid differentiation, growth control and development. NF-κB resides in the cytoplasm as an inactive dimer consisting of p50 and p65 subunits, bound to an inhibitory protein known as IκB. The latter becomes phosphorylated and degraded in response to various environmental stimuli, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, viruses, lipopolysaccharides, oxidants, UV light and ionizing radiation. This allows NF-κB to translocate to the nucleus where it activates genes that play a key role in the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses, including genes that encode pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF, GM-CSF, IL-2, IL-6, IL-11, IL-17), chemokines (IL-8, RANTES, MIP-1α, MCP-2), enzymes that generate mediators of inflammation (NO synthetase, cyclo-oxygenase), immune receptors (IL-2 receptor) and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin). Some of these induced proteins can in turn activate NF-κB, leading to the further amplification and perpetuation of the inflammatory response. Recently, NF-κB has been shown to have an anti-apoptotic role in certain cell types, most likely by inducing the expression of anti-apoptotic genes. This function may protect tumor cells against anti-cancer treatments and opens the possibility to use NF-κB inhibiting compounds to sensitize the tumor cells and to improve the efficiency of the anti-cancer treatment.
Because of its direct role in regulating responses to inflammatory cytokines and endotoxin, activation of NF-κB plays an important role in the development of different diseases such as (Barnes and Karin, 1997): chronic inflammatory diseases, i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and inflammatory bowel disease (Brand et al., 1996); acute diseases, i.e., septic shock (Remick, 1995); Alzheimer's disease where the β-amyloid protein activates NF-κB (Behl et al., 1997); atherosclerosis, where NF-κB may be activated by oxidized lipids (Brand et al., 1997); autoimmune diseases, i.e., such as systemic lupus erythematosis (Kaltschmidt et al., 1994); or cancer by up-regulating certain oncogenes or by preventing apoptosis (Luque et al., 1997). In addition, NF-κB is also involved in viral infection since it is activated by different viral proteins, such as occurs upon infection with rhinovirus, influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus, HTLV, cytomegalovirus or adenovirus. Furthermore, several viruses such as HIV have NF-κB binding sites in their promoter/enhancer regions (Mosialos, 1997).
Because of the potential role of NF-κB in many of the above mentioned diseases, NF-κB and its regulators have drawn much interest as targets for the treatment of NF-κB related diseases. Glucocorticoids are effective inhibitors of NF-κB, but they have endocrine and metabolic side effects when given systematically (Barnes et al., 1993). Antioxidants may represent another class of NF-κB inhibitors, but currently available antioxidants, such as acetyl-cysteine are relatively weak and unspecific (Schreck et al., 1991). Aspirin and sodium salicylate also inhibit activation of NF-κB, but only at relatively high concentrations (Kopp and Gosh, 1994). There are some natural inhibitors of NF-κB such as glyotoxin, derived from Aspergillus, but these compounds are too toxic to be used as a drug (Pahl et al., 1996). Finally, there maybe endogenous inhibitors of NF-κB, such as IL-10, that blocks NF-κB through an effect on IκB (Wang et al., 1995). However, total inhibition of NF-κB in all cell types for prolonged periods is unwanted, because NF-κB plays a crucial role in the immune response and other defensive responses.
An important role in the induction of NF-κB by TNF and IL1 has recently been demonstrated for TNF-receptor associated factors, TRAF2 and TRAF6, which are recruited to the stimulated TNF-receptor and IL-1 receptor, respectively (Rothe et al., 1995; Cao et al., 1996). Over expression of TRAF2 or TRAF6 activates NF-κB, whereas dominant negative mutants inhibit TNF or IL-1 induced activation of NF-κB in most cell types. TRAF2 knock out studies have recently shown that TRAF2 is not absolutely required for NF-κB activation, presumably because of redundancy within the TRAF family (Yeh et al. 1997). The TRAF induced signaling pathway to NF-κB was further resolved by the identification of the TRAF-interacting protein NIK, which mediates NF-κB activation upon TNF and IL-1 stimulation by association and activation of IκB kinase-α and β (IKK) (Malinin et al, 1997; Regnier et al., 1997; DiDonato et al., 1997; Zandi et al., 1997; Woronicz et al., 1997). The latter are part of a large multi-protein NF-κB activation complex and are responsible for phosphorylation of IκB, leading to its subsequent degradation and to translocation of released, active NF-κB to the nucleus. This allows a more specific inhibition of NF-κB activation by stimuli (including TNF and IL-1) that activate TRAF pathways. Based on this principle, WO 97/37016 discloses the use of NIK and other TRAF interacting proteins for the modulation of NF-κB activity.
Another protein that can associate with TRAF2 is the zinc finger protein A20 (Song et al., 1996). The latter is encoded by an immediate early response gene induced in different cell lines upon stimulation by TNF or IL-1 (Dixit et al, 1990). Interestingly, over expression of A20 blocks both TNF and IL-1 induced NF-κB activation (Jaattela et al., 1996). However, the mechanism by which A20 blocks NF-κB activation is totally unknown. In contrast to NIK, A20 does not seem to act directly on IκB resulting in alternative pathway to modulate NF-κB activation.
De Valck et al. (1997) isolated an A20 binding protein, so-called 14-3-3, using a yeast two-hybrid assay and demonstrated that NF-κB inhibition was independent from the binding of A20 to 14-3-3.

Vlaams Interuniversitair Instituut voor Biotechnologie VZW


This invention provides an improved adhesive layer for multi-layer films and bottles, the adhesive layer being a graft copolymer of a polyolefin backbone with a methyl methacrylate graft. The graft copolymer sufficiently improves the compatibility between barrier resins and polyolefins to permit the production of monolithic or single layer bottles comprised of a blend of those three components. The resultant products have improved physical properties while retaining acceptable permeability to gases.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to improved extruded and molded articles, to films, bottles, and the like with improved impact strength and reduced oxygen permeability as a result of the incorporation of a compatibilized barrier resin into such articles, and to methods of preparing such articles.
2. Description of Related Art
The polyolefins combine advantageous properties both technically and commercially. Polypropylene, for example, exhibits greater hardness and stiffness than polyethylene, lower brittleness than standard polystyrene, outstanding resistance to hot water and to chemicals, and very good electrical properties. Thus, the polyolefins and their copolymers have a wide range of applications in the form of containers, moldings, profiles, tubes, films, fibrillated filaments and textile fibers.
Formed polyolefin articles may be prepared by injection or blow-molding. In particular, stretch blow-molding is a mass production process for plastic bottles replacing the glass variety. These are used for oil, wine, spirits, milk, still and CO.sub.2 -containing mineral water, soft drinks and beer. Although the polyolefins possess many desirable properties, as enumerated above, in the particular applications of containers and packaging films, it is desirable to reduce the gas permeability below that normally exhibited by polyolefin films and bottles.
Typically, an extruded film or blown bottle will be comprised of several layers of different polymers, arranged to exploit desirable properties and compensate for detrimental properties. For example, polypropylene offers structural integrity, but is permeable to many gases. A layer of a gas barrier resin, such as a nitrile barrier resin, will reduce the permeability to acceptable levels, even though the barrier resin itself may have undesirable properties, such as sensitivity to liquids. The barrier resin may be sandwiched between layers of the structural polyolefin to isolate the resin, while obtaining the advantages offered by the barrier. In particular, copolymers of ethylene with vinyl alcohol (EVOH) are used in the co-extrusion of packaging materials on account of the outstanding barrier properties against oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and fragrances imparted by the EVOH. Other polymers, such as poly(vinylidene chloride) (PVDC) may be used as the barrier resin. The selection of barrier resin is well within the purview of the skilled artisan and is not limited to EVOH and PVDC.
One means for the preparation of such desirable packaging materials, such as films and bottles, is the co-extrusion of an outer layer of polyolefin, a layer of barrier resin, and an inner layer of polyolefin.
However, the adhesion between the polyolefin and barrier layers is generally considered to be inadequate for most uses. Therefore, it is necessary to use an adhesive or tie layer between the polyolefin and the barrier layers in order to ensure sufficient mechanical strength to prevent delamination. Typical adhesive materials are copolymers of ethylene, such as Plexar (Quantum Chemical, USI Division).
A representative five-layer bottle may then have an outer polypropylene layer, an adhesive layer, an EVOH barrier layer, a second adhesive layer, and an internal polypropylene layer. Typically, the percentage of adhesive will be about 10% by thickness. A representative construction is approximately 14 mil polypropylene, 1.5 mil adhesive, 4 mil EVOH, 1.5 mil adhesive, and 14 mil polypropylene.
In extrusion blow-molding of bottles of this type, excess material must usually be removed from the finished product. This "scrap" will contain polypropylene, EVOH, and adhesive. For practical purposes, it is desirable to co-extrude this scrap layer with virgin polypropylene, adhesive, and barrier resin forming a six-layer container in which the scrap layer is sandwiched between the outer polypropylene layer and the first tie layer. In this way, the losses attributable to scrap are significantly reduced. This co-extrusion, however, often leads to significant problems with delamination and product quality.
Since it is a critical element of these constructions to have the barrier layer, it is also important that the barrier layer be one which is state-of-the-art in terms of its properties. Although EVOH is a widely used and highly regarded material, it suffers from the deficiency of being susceptible to water. The presence of the polypropylene protects it from water. However, in the construction of these bottles and films, it is still necessary to use the adhesive. The adhesive material adds increased cost and raises significant questions of processibility. It, therefore, is desirable to identify additional adhesive materials which will provide a better balance of properties than that currently available at improved processing efficiencies.

Plastic articles with compatibilized barrier resin


A new variety of Limonium is tall with upright stems. The flower color is a bluish-purple. The flowers are long-lasting and the plant is easy to grow. Up to 8 stems flowers can be cut in the first year and 10-12 flower stems in the second year.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of the genus Limonium known by the varietal name `Ocean Blue` (registered name in Japan is `Diacean`). The new variety was discovered in a selected breeding program by Messrs. Kazunori Sato, Kazuharu Koreeda and Nobuaki Takanashi. The new variety is an interspecific hybridization between two limonium species. The seed parent was Limonium latifolia (LA-11) and the pollen parent were numbered plants of Limonium caspia. The new variety is similar in color to both the seed and pollen parent and is ever-flowering in a manner similar to the seed parent. The new variety differs from the parentage in that the stem is longer than the seed parent and harder than the pollen parent.
The new cultivar was discovered in 1988 at the Dai-Ichi Engei Plantech Co., Ltd., 1101-8, Ueno, Oyama, Sunto, Shizuoka, Japan. The new cultivar was first asexually reproduced by cuttings at Dai-Ichi Engei Plantech Co., Ltd. and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings at the same location. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagation. The climate where the new variety was discovered is generally considered to be cool climate.


An energy storage system for powering electric user devices of a vehicle, the energy storage system having a battery;                a capacitive element connected parallel to the terminals of the battery; and an inductive element connected in series to the battery, between the battery and the capacitive element; to effectively regulate power/energy flow between the battery and the capacitive element during transients, the ratio between the capacity of the battery measured in (Ah) and the capacitance of the capacitive element measured in (F) is less than 1, and the ratio between the capacity of the battery measured in (Ah) and the inductance of the inductive element measured in (μH) is less than 1.

The need for more effective technologic solutions to the problems posed by both private and public passenger transport is now generally acknowledged. In particular, attention is increasingly focused on achieving a substantial reduction in consumption and a real reduction in pollutant and acoustic emissions, especially in urban areas. Both these problems are of universal concern, and there is not a car industry that is not currently engaged in researching and developing vehicles capable of providing at least partial solutions and reducing the effect these problems have on human living conditions.
This explains the increasingly widespread use of innovative vehicles equipped with highly efficient, low-pollution propulsion systems. Particularly interesting in this respect is the development of so-called "hybrid" vehicles known as HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicles). These are vehicles of various design integrating an electric generating system, a reversible storage system, and a drive system comprising an electric motor and a combustion engine, and are in turn classified, according to the degree of hybridization, as: "Mild HEV", "Medium HEV" and "Full HEV".
At present, the most commonly used vehicles are those in the minimum-hybrid or "Mild HEV" or "Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle" class. In this case, to a vehicle of conventional design is added the possibility of employing an electric drive over very short distances or in particular short-term situations. It is important to note that even a minimum degree of hybridization has advantages in terms of reducing consumption and pollutant emissions, especially when driving in urban areas.
A conventional vehicle is equipped with one 12 volt lead-acid battery capable of supplying average power of 400-800 watts and peak power of 1500-3500 watts (only required when starting the engine). A "Mild HEV" vehicle, on the other hand, is equipped with a battery (or group of batteries) capable of supplying average power of 2500-3500 watts and peak power of 8000-11000 watts (only required when starting the engine).
In "Stop and Start" mode, the internal combustion engine is turned off when the vehicle is stationary or coming to a stop (typically for reasons of traffic, such as a red light or a give-way junction), and is started again when the driver presses the accelerator. During start-up, the electric starter motor consumes a considerable amount of electrical energy, thus greatly stressing and reducing the electric charge of the vehicle battery. In "Stop and Start" mode, therefore, intensive use is made of the vehicle battery, on account of the high frequency with which the internal combustion engine is started, particularly when driving in city traffic.
Regenerating mode also increases stress of the vehicle battery, on account of the battery having to absorb a large amount of electrical energy over a short period of time. In regenerating mode, deceleration of the vehicle is used to generate electrical energy, which is stored in the vehicle battery, thus recovering at least part of the kinetic energy which would otherwise be dissipated in the form of heat by a conventional brake system.
In a vehicle battery, controlling power and energy flow during sharp-discharge transients when starting up the internal combustion engine is a delicate business, particularly when the battery is called upon to power other electric devices at the same time. In fact, the reduction in the capacity of the battery caused by simultaneously-operating electric devices may seriously impair start-up of the internal combustion engine, on account of the high transient power required at this stage.
To tackle these problems, various solutions have been proposed, all mainly based on energy storage systems comprising a combination of batteries and banks of ultracapacitors. In known energy storage systems of this sort, energy flow is controlled by predetermined control logic requiring the manufacture and use of specific electronic control circuits, thus complicating the system and increasing both production and routine maintenance cost.

Energy storage system for powering vehicle electric user devices

Ente per Le Nuove Tecnologie, L'Energia E L'Anbiente-ENEA