A method and a pharmaceutical composition in the form of a hydroalcoholic solution in which at least one hypoglycemia-inducing/insulinotropic active principle is dissolved in a stable and complete manner at a dosage that is reduced by 30% to 50% compared with the usual oral unit dosage, for its trans-buccal mucosal application in the spot treatment of postprandial hyperglycemia in type II diabetes in man or animals. Also, disclosed is a method of preparing said formulation and to its specific use in the spot treatment of postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG) in the context of type II diabetes.

Type II diabetes is an international health scourge that affects more than 300 million subjects throughout the world; it is increasing by 10% to 15% per year.
It is a chronic disease defined by too high a concentration of sugar in the blood, which appears when the pancreas does not secrete enough insulin or when the organism uses the insulin it produces incorrectly. In the long term, the hyperglycemia caused by the excessive presence of glucose in the blood causes certain complications, in particular in the eyes, the kidneys, the nerves, the heart, and the blood vessels.
There are two main types of diabetes.
Diabetes known as type I diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes is characterized by the insufficient secretion of insulin or by its absence. It is rapidly fatal without the daily administration of insulin by subcutaneous injection(s).
Diabetes known as type II diabetes or adult-onset diabetes is due to poor use of insulin by the organism. It represents 90% of the cases of diabetes in the world and principally results from excess weight and lack of physical exercise.
The physiopathology of type II diabetes associates an anomaly in insulin-sensitivity and in insulin-secretion, in particular a large alteration in the early insulin secretion peak.
An element that has recently been determined as the most actively pathogenic and redolent with vascular, cardiac, and organic consequences in type II diabetes is the existence of a postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG) peak linked to the absence of an early insulin secretion response.
In the healthy adult, the pancreas produces an early insulin peak that is aimed at metabolizing all of the saturating quantity of glucose absorbed in a rapid cumulative manner during a meal. That early insulin peak can smooth out the sudden variations in glycemia during meals as well as the inevitable consecutive postprandial hyperglycemia. As an example, administration to a non-diabetic person of 20 grams (g) of glucose induces, in a reflex manner, an insulin peak of more than 120 micrograms (μg) per liter (L) of blood in the next 10 minutes (min).
In a type II diabetic person, the same test induces a mean insulin peak of only 35 μg/L of blood, i.e. a 71% deficit, and there is a pathological 30 min delay in its appearance.
Because of that absence of an early response in insulin secretion, per- and post-prandial glycemic variations are not regulated and type II diabetics have to tolerate very high levels of postprandial hyperglycemia of more than 2 g/L to 3 g/L that, even if not felt, represent a hidden danger right from the first stages of the disease.
There are currently several approaches for treating type II diabetes, with the aim of obtaining better control and optimization of glycemia in a stabilized manner, so that thresholds of 1.20 g to 1.40 g of glucose per liter of blood are not exceeded, particularly in the postprandial period. At first, type II diabetes is generally treated by diet and weight loss. Next, if necessary, comes treatment with oral antidiabetics possibly associated with insulin therapy in order to maintain near normal glycemia. The aim of the treatment is to reduce mortality, symptoms, and complications associated with diabetes.
Particular examples of known basic antidiabetics that may be mentioned are hypoglycemia-inducing sulfamides including gliclazide, glibenclamide, and hypoglycemia-inducing biguanides including metformin.
Gliclazide is a lipophilic antidiabetic with a molecular weight of 323 daltons (Da), which is insoluble in water and slightly soluble in alcohol. It acts in the pancreas by stimulating secretions from the islets of Langerhans, increasing the secretion of insulin or peptide C, and also has anti-aggregation type hemato-vascular properties. Currently, gliclazide is administered in unit dosages of 30 milligrams (mg) to 80 mg for 80 mg to 160 mg per day orally. It is extensively metabolized by the first hepatic passage and all of its metabolites are free of activity. With 95% binding to plasma carrier proteins, it has a distribution volume of approximately 30 L, with a plasma peak occurring 11 hours (h) to 14 h after ingestion, and a half-life of 10 h to 12 h.
The other sulfamide, glibenclamide, is a lipophilic active principle that is practically insoluble in water and slightly soluble in ethanol. It is capable of inducing hypoglycemia and is a demonstrated cardiovascular protector. Currently, glibenclamide is administered in unit dosages of 2.5 mg to 5 mg, for on average 10 mg/day (to a maximum of 15 mg/day). It is strongly metabolized by the liver, with a late plasma peak, but has an advantageous effect/dose ratio.
Metformin hydrochloride is a standard amphiphilic antidiabetic with a molecular weight of 165 Da; it is soluble in water and slightly soluble in alcohol. It is a cardiovascular protector that does not act on the pancreatic production of insulin but on the hepatic metabolism of sugar and glycogen, as well as on the use of glucose by tissues. Metformin is currently administered in unit dosages of 500 mg and 1000 mg, for 1000 mg to 3000 mg per day, its absorption being 50% to 60%. It is not bound to plasma proteins and has a distribution volume in the range 63 L to 276 L with a long half-life.
However, although said treatments tend to optimize the glycemia of patients with type II diabetes, none of them takes into account or effectively treats the major and constant problem of the postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG) peak.
In contrast to type I diabetes, where is it possible to associate a slow release insulin, releasing over 24 h and a rapid-release insulin injected before all meals, guaranteeing a per- and post-prandial insulin peak, which can be adapted by and for each patient, hypoglycemia-inducing treatments proposed for type II diabetes cannot be used to regulate postprandial hyperglycemia in order to keep it close to physiological requirements and international health authority recommendations, namely less than 140 mg of glucose per liter of blood (7.8 nanomoles (nmol) per liter).
The drugs currently used for the chronic treatment of type II diabetes, such as metformin-based drugs, which are all administered orally, offer late activity after taking and a pharmacological availability that remains linear. Thus, they are incapable of reducing, at a given time, the sudden and strong appearance of the postprandial hyperglycemia peak.
However, health authority recommendations concerning the treatment of type II diabetes recognize that the variation in glycemia between "fasting glycemia" and "postprandial glycemia" must not be more than 0.2 g/L to 0.3 g/L, i.e. a very reduced range of fluctuation, which is difficult to obtain with currently available pharmacological means, which are all administered orally and some by injection, which makes therapeutic management by patients more complicated.
For this reason, novel therapeutic classes such as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, glinides, or gliptins (or incretins) have been developed in order to supplement the constant but insufficient regulatory action of such hypoglycemia-inducing/insulin-secreting agents, administered as a base treatment that remain ill-suited to reducing postprandial hyperglycemia peaks.
Said novel molecules include glinides such as mitiglinide or nateglinide, and in particular repaglinide, which is an oral hypoglycemia-inducing agent that binds to the sulfonylurea receptors of beta pancreatic cells and thus causes rapid short term insulin secretion, capable of responding better to an elevating hyperglycemia. Repaglinide, a derivative of benzoic acid, is a lipophilic molecule with a molecular weight of 452.6 administered in a quantity of 1 mg per meal. The drug has to be taken orally 15 min before each meal three times a day in order to provide better postprandial glycemia control. Repaglinide ingested in that manner causes the onset of an insulinotropic response approximately 30 min after taking it, but with a wide inter-individual variability (60%) in its plasma concentration as well as an intra-individual variability (35%), requiring frequent adjustments in posology. Thus, its digestive absorption and above all its first hepatic passage render its therapeutic efficacy random; these elements alter the immediate pharmacological bioavailability in a variable manner. Thus, that treatment is not satisfactory; moreover, glinides have been shown to cause more hypoglycemia and weight gain than conventional treatments of the metformin type, which is logical since metformin has no insulin-secreting activity.
Incretins or gliptins are intestinal hormones liberated by the endocrinal cells of the intestinal epithelium as nutrients arrive. They play a major role in potentializing the effect of glucose on pancreatic cells. GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) are the best known. GLP-1 in particular has a strong insulinotropic action in type II diabetic patients. Further, its capacity to stimulate the synthesis of insulin means that it can be used to maintain insulin reserves in beta pancreatic cells. Said effects have been demonstrated by numerous studies carried out in diabetic patients. Even in patients with very high fasting glycemia who no longer respond to conventional hypoglycemia-inducing agents, administering GLP-1 completely normalizes glycemia due to stimulation of the secretion of insulin that is transitional and returns to the base level when normal glycemia is reached. Continuous perfusion of GLP-1 to obese, diabetic patients for a period of 6 weeks causes a reduction in fasting and postprandial glycemia by 4.3 nanomolar (nM) and 5.5 millimolar (mM) respectively. The hemoglobin HbAlC is reduced by 1.3%, with an improvement in sensitivity to insulin and the function of pancreatic beta cells. However, GLP-1 cannot currently be administered orally because of its peptide nature, and using it requires injection. Furthermore, its in vivo half-life is very short, approximately 1 min to 2 min, due to its rapid degradation by a ubiquitous enzyme, dipeptidylpepditase, which renders it impossible to use. Degradation-resistant forms of GLP-1 have been developed, in particular sitagliptin or vildagliptin or even saxagliptin. Vildagliptin is an amphiphilic molecule that is soluble in water and organic solvents and has a molecular weight of 303.99 Da with a bioavailability of approximately 85%. Sitagliptin is an amphiphilic molecule with a molecular weight of 407.314 Da, which is soluble in water and certain organic solvents; it has an absolute bioavailability of the order of 87%. It is bound to plasma proteins and the mean distribution volume in the organism of a single dose of 100 mg of intravenous sitagliptin is approximately 198 L. Saxagliptin has a molecular weight of 315.41 Da and has a bioavailability that varies in the range 50% to 75% of the orally administered dose; this lipophilic molecule has a high organic distribution volume, close to 180 L. Thus, it can be seen that such molecules have very similar characteristics. However, these peptides, while they improve the overall glycemic profile, always in association with other antidiabetic molecules, cannot overcome the essential problem of type II diabetes, namely compensating for the postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG) peak during the per/postprandial period; their action on this peak is still marginal.
Thus, none of these novel therapeutic classes is satisfactory. They have insufficient efficacy, are expensive, and some cause tolerance problems or require subcutaneous injections, which presents no advantage over a treatment with insulin that is invasive but would be more effective and more appropriate physiologically.
Thus, the treatment of type II diabetes is currently incomplete and falls short of international recommendations regarding reducing the postprandial hyperglycemia peak. Thus, available therapeutic means are still unsuitable, since there are no drugs that can be used by several hundred million ambulatory patients that can currently combat the PPHG peak to keep it within the recommended limits of a maximum glycemia of less than 1.4 g/L throughout the per/postprandial period.
Thus, there is a substantial need for drugs that can treat the sudden, strong appearance of a PPHG peak, responsible for many medium and long term complications, in particular cardiovascular complications, of type II diabetes.

Method and pharmaceutical compositions for trans-buccal mucosa treatment of postprandial hyperglycaemia in type II diabetes


A process for the removal of organic sulfur compounds, primarily oxygenated organic compounds, such as sulfates and sulfonic esters from a hydrocarbon liquid is disclosed which comprises contacting the hydrocarbon liquid with a coalescer comprising a mesh material which has been wetted by sulfuric acid. The hydrocarbon liquid may be the product from a sulfuric acid catalyzed alkylation process and contain sufficient sulfuric acid to remove the sulfates and sulfonic esters. Sulfuric acid may be added to the coalescer vessel counter current to the hydrocarbon liquid to improve the efficiency of the contacting and removal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the treatment of alkylate product from a process wherein normal olefins are reacted with isoalkanes in the presence of sulfuric acid to produce alkylate product. More particularly the invention relates to a process wherein the effluent from the alkylation reactor is passed through a deentrainment device to remove sulfuric acid by coalescence and concurrently treated to remove oxygenated organic sulfur compounds.
2. Related Information
In the petroleum refining industry, acid catalyzed alkylation of aliphatic hydrocarbons with olefinic hydrocarbons is a well known process. Alkylation is the reaction of a paraffin, usually isoparaffins, with an olefin in the presence of a strong acid which produces paraffins, e.g., of higher octane number than the starting materials and which boil in the range of gasolines. In petroleum refining the reaction is generally the reaction of a C2 to C5 olefin with isobutane.
In refining alkylations, hydrofluoric or sulfuric acid catalysts are most widely used under low temperature conditions. Low temperature or cold acid processes are favored because side reactions are minimized. In the traditional process the reaction is carried out in a reactor where the hydrocarbon reactants are dispersed into a continuous acid phase.
Although this process has not been environmentally friendly and is hazardous to operate, no other process has been as efficient and it continues to be the major method of alkylation for octane enhancement throughout the world. In view of the fact that the cold acid process continues to be the process of choice, various proposals have been made to improve and enhance the reaction and to some extent moderate the undesirable effects.
In the past the alkylate product has been washed with water or treated with caustic to remove or neutralize any carry over sulfuric acid. Both methods of treatment have drawbacks. When a water wash is used, there is some carryover of water to the distillation columns used to separate the alkylate from unreacted materials. This water dilutes any acid left and dissolves any sulfonates or sulfonic esters which cause corrosion problems. The caustic tends to produce salts which can foul downstream heat exchangers, especially the reboiler in the recovery columns.
Various solutions have been proposed to moderate the problems associated with cold acid reactions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,095 disclosed the use of particulate polar contact material and fluorinated sulfuric acid for the alkylation. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,420,093 and 5,444,175 sought to combine the particulate contact material and the catalyst by impregnating a mineral or organic support particulate with sulfuric acid.
It is an advantage of the present invention that it overcomes the water/sulfuric acid carryover by a more effective process of acid/water separation and recovery.

Method of removing organic sulfur compounds from alkylate


A positioning device comprising a moving portion provided with a pair of magnets arranged respectively along with a first axis and a second axis, a fixed portion provided to face to the moving portion, and a voice coil motor (VCM) for relatively driving the moving portion and the fixed portion by an electromagnetic action between a coil and a drive magnet provided to each of the moving portion and the fixed portion: wherein one of the magnets is arranged so as to reduce a rotation moment generated by an electromagnetic connection between the other magnet and the voice coil motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positioning device, a shake correcting device, electronics and a production method of the positioning device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A positioning device using a drive unit and a position detecting device is, for example, known as those installed in a camera, etc. (refer to the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-196382).
A positioning device of the related art as above has had a disadvantage that positioning becomes difficult due to a rotation moment generated between a magnet provided to the drive unit and a magnet provided to the position detecting device.

Positioning device, shake correcting device and electronics


The invention relates to transfer of packet data from a first subsystem via a network node in a second subsystem to a terminal in the second subsystem. The method includes negotiating identifiers identifying a data flow of the first subsystem via a separate signalling element during the set-up of an application-plane logical connection of the terminal. The identifiers are transmitted from the signalling element to the network node. In the method, a filter is generated at least on the basis of the identifiers for directing the mapping of at least one data flow of the first subsystem to at least one data flow of the second subsystem. The filter is bound to at least one data flow of the second subsystem, and at least one data flow of the first subsystem is mapped to at least one data flow of the second subsystem on the basis of the filter.

The invention relates to the transfer of packet-switched data to a wireless terminal.
PDP contexts (Packet Data Protocol) are used in the transfer of user data in GPRS services (General Packet Radio Service) and in packet-switched services of the UMTS system (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System). PDP contexts are generally logical connections, on which IP data are transferred from a mobile station to a boundary node (GGSN) in a UMTS network and vice versa. For the mobile station, a PDP address (at least one) is specified, for which several PDP contexts can be opened in the UMTS system. The first context is called a primary PDP context and the next PDP contexts are secondary PDP contexts.
The mobile station knows which application data flows are to be directed to which links of a PDP context in uplink data transfer. In downlink, the gateway GPRS support node should also know packet-specifically which PDP context is used for each data flow received from an external IP network. For this purpose, the destination IP address of the packet is used; TFT templates (Traffic Flow Templates) are also specified in the UMTS. The idea of TFT templates is that the mobile station sends given TCP/UDP/IP header field values to the gateway GPRS support node GGSN for identification of the data flow. A TFT contains one or more so-called packet filters. These packet filters can be used particularly for QoS (Quality of Service) mapping, i.e. mapping received packets into a data flow offering a quality of service according to the QoS information, e.g. the DiffServ field (Differentiated Services), in the UMTS system.
In addition, an IP multimedia subsystem IMS is designed in the UMTS system for providing various IP multimedia services to UMTS mobile stations (UE; User Equipment). The IMS utilizes packet-switched UMTS services, PDP contexts, for data transfer to or from a mobile station. The IMS includes functions that enable negotiation of an end-to-end session on the application plane using the SIP protocol (Session Initiation Protocol), the features of the session being for instance the codecs used, the termination points and the quality of service (QoS). For arranging the agreed end-to-end quality of service also in a UMTS network, the IMS includes a call session control function (CSCF), which includes a PCF function (Policy Control Function) for authorizing quality of service resources (bandwidth, delay, etc.) for an IMS session based on SIP-layer SDP information (Session Description Protocol). For binding the authorization decision, an authorization token is determined in the PDP context, which the PCF creates for each session and which is transmitted from the CSCF to the mobile station. When the PDP context is being activated, the mobile station sends, to the gateway GPRS support node GGSN, an authorization token and a flow identifier that constitute binding information. The flow identifier identifies the IP media flow associated with the SIP session. The GGSN comprises a PEP function (Policy Enforcement Point) that controls the offering of the quality of service resources to the data flow according to the authorization token received from the PCF. The GGSN requests authorization for allocating resources to the session indicated by the binding information from the PCF, which is located at the P-CSCF (Proxy CSCF). The PCF functionality makes a final decision on resource allocation to the session and responds to the GGSN. The PEP function of the GGSN generates, based on this, a logical 'gate' for implementing admission control according to the decision of the PCF for a unidirectional data flow. A source IP address, destination IP address, source gate, destination gate and protocol may be used as packet classification parameters.
A problem in the above arrangement is that the GGSN performs similar downlink packet filtering by means of the gate functionality provided both by the TFT templates and by the PEP functionality. If the packets pass through the gate, a PDP context is selected for them by means of the TFT functionality, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Problems arise if these filters do not match, in which case the packets do not end up in the right PDP contexts.

Transfer of packet data to wireless terminal


A heat pipe is disclosed for use in a vapor-absorption heat pump to provide high efficiency heat transfer between first and second fluids in contact with opposing first and second faces of the heat pipe. Although preferably disk-shaped and adapted for rotation for use in compact heat pumps, the heat pipe may be used in heat pump applications requiring other shapes, and may be either fixed or moving. In a further aspect of the invention, a vapor-absorption heat pump is provided incorporating at least one such heat pipe in at least one component thereof.

The present invention relates to heat pumps and heat transfer components therein, and in particular, to a plate incorporating a heat pipe across which high efficiency heat transfer may take place.
The need for energy conservation has been highlighted by concerns about the environment, leading to improvements in energy efficient heating and cooling systems. Increased attention has been directed to the development of efficient, cost-effective absorption heat pumps which use waste heat for heating and cooling and, thus, reduce energy consumption. The use of waste heat allows absorption heat pumps to deliver more energy to a heated space than they extract from an electric power grid or other high grade energy source. As a result, absorption heat pumps are gaining favor over the more conventional vapor compression heat pumps which are driven almost entirely by electric power.
Other environmental concerns favor the use of absorption heat pumps because they generate less noise and, more importantly, use fluids other than the chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants used in vapor compression heat pumps. Bans on chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants which cause injury to the earth's ozone layer have made absorption heat pumps increasingly more attractive.
Vapor-absorption heat pumps may operate in accordance with any of several vapor-absorption cycles known in the art, such as single or multi-stage cycles. As well, vapor-absorption heat pumps may operate at positive pressures or sub-atmospheric pressures, depending on the fluids used therein. Regardless, vapor-absorption heat pumps typically include an evaporator, an absorber, a vapor generator and a condenser and, preferably, additional heat exchangers. These heat pump components typically include heat transfer surfaces which may be fixed or moving. Fixed heat transfer surfaces are provided, for example, in that group of heat pumps generally referred to as falling film devices, which rely on gravity to distribute fluid across surfaces between which heat transfer takes place. More recent developments in the art have related to heat pumps having moving or rotating heat transfer surfaces.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,408 (the '408 patent), Cross et al disclose a compact absorption heat pump in which at least one of the heat pump components comprises one or more rotatable plates across which heat transfer takes place. Such plates must be thin enough to permit high thermal flux from one face to another, but thick enough to provide necessary rigidity in operation. Thus, while they may be generally between 0.1 millimeters (mm) and 5 mm in thickness, they are typically between 0.25 mm and 1.25 mm thick to provide needed rigidity. Such plates are made of thermally conductive materials, typically mild steel, stainless steel, copper and aluminum.
Because of the significant role heat transfer surfaces play in heat pumps, such as the rotating plates in the compact, cost-effective absorption heat pump of the '408 patent, improvements in heat transfer efficiency across such plates are sought to provide further significant improvement in system performance and produce even greater energy savings.

Centrifugal heat pipe vapor absorption heat pump


A method for checking cytological system illumination including the steps of checking global illumination variation, static field uniformity, dynamic field uniformity, specimen thickness variation, strobe repeatability, calibration plate cleanliness, and strobe dropout. A calibration plate and test target is employed for various illumination checks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for evaluation of temporal and spatial variation of illumination in automated machine vision instruments. More specifically, the evaluation is conducted to characterize variations in global illuminance, static field intensity, dynamic field intensity, strobe repeatability, and intensity due to factors such as, for example, specimen thickness and cleanliness of system calibration hardware. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to automated instruments used for analyzing biological or cytological specimens, such as sputum samples, urine samples or pap smears.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Automated analysis of biological specimens requires a high degree of spatial and temporal uniformity for accurate and repeatable evaluation. Those evaluations often measure photometric properties such as nuclear and cytoplasm optical density. In order to accurately and repeatably measure these properties, the illumination must maintain a high degree of uniformity across the field of view and from collected image to collected image. In addition, morphological operations are conducted to segment various objects in the field of view for further analysis to determine various feature values related to size, shape and frequency content, among other factors. Operations used in such analyses tend to exhibit nonlinear behavior due to various thresholding schemes that may be employed. Therefore, accurate and repeatable behavior of these processing methods also necessitates a high degree of uniformity across each field of view and from collected image to collected image.

Cytological system illumination integrity checking apparatus and method


A catheter enables measuring and approximating its distal end position within the body to facilitate catheter insertion and improve accuracy and control. By wrapping a long infusion catheter with an outer coating, the catheter can be guided into a vein or vessel by pulling on the outer coating and forcing its separation in a Y-shaped separation housing anchored close to the insertion point. Since there is no need for a guidewire or stylet and the outer coating acts as a sterile peel package, the catheter can be placed while infusing and maintain its own closed sterile environment during insertion.

Long catheters are commonly introduced into blood and other vessels during numerous medical procedures. In some procedures, accurate placement within vessels is important and desirable. Generally, guidewires are first inserted into the vessel so that the distal end of the guidewire is at the desired position to be treated. Catheters are provided with a suitable lumen into which the proximal guidewire end is inserted and the catheter is slid over the guidewire or stylet to the desired position.
In addition to difficulties associated with accurate, reproducible catheter placement, handling and manipulation of the catheters in an operating room environment can become unwieldy. Guidewires can create confusion about their use and may be a potential source of contamination during insertion. The need for maintaining sterility and verifying catheter placement is of concern. Of particular emphasis for this product is its application in emergency medicine where catheters need to be inserted quickly to begin therapies. Since there is less time in this environment, simpler more intuitive devices are favored, This environment also puts less emphasis on and has less capability of accommodating a sterile technique during insertion. Lastly this emergency environment often needs to maintain an infusion of fluid medications even before a long catheter is inserted into its final position.

Apparatus and method of inserting an infusing catheter and determining catheter depth without a guidewire or direct contact with the catheter


An apparatus proportions and dispenses at least two different plastic materials such as, two component adhesives or sealants in which the components are stored separately from one another before use and are mixed with one another only for use. The apparatus includes a multichamber cartridge made from injection-molded plastic with at least two cartridge tube wall parts located one inside the other to form at least two chambers that receive one material component each. An end wall part is located at the anterior end of the cartridge tube wall parts on which a mouthpiece for dispensing the plastic material components from the cartridge is formed. Piston elements are inserted in the rear end of the cartridge tube wall parts to express the material components. The end wall part is formed as a separate head piece and the cartridge tube wall parts likewise are formed from two separately manufactured parts. Snap connections are provided to connect the cartridge tube wall parts with the head piece. The invention allows the cartridge tube wall parts and the cartridge end wall part each to be manufactured separately, so that the required injection-molding tools can be very simple in design and inexpensive. The injection-molding tools for the tube wall parts do not require any lateral slide functions, and the necessity for residual lateral slide functions is reduced to the injection-molding tool for the relatively small cartridge end wall part.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to multicomponent cartridges for proportioning and dispensing at least two different plastic materials such as, two-component adhesives or sealants in which the components are stored separately from one another before use and are mixed with one another only for use.
2. Description of the Related Art
The invention relates in particular, to a multichamber cartridge made from injection-molded plastic for proportioning and dispensing two or more component plastic materials, with at least two cartridge tube wall parts located one inside the other to form at least two chambers that receive one material component each, an end wall part located at the anterior end of the cartridge tube wall parts on which a mouthpiece for dispensing the plastic material components from the cartridge is formed, and with piston elements inserted in the rear end of the cartridge tube wall parts to express the material components.
Such two-chamber cartridges for two-component materials with cartridge tube wall parts located coaxially within one another are already known; see for example U.S. Pat. 2,826,339 (Maillard), U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,919 (Anderson), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,373 (penn et al). In the known two-chamber cartridges, the tube wall parts and the end wall part are produced integrally with one another in one injection-molding process from plastic requiring a correspondingly complicated and expensive injectionmolding tool.
The known two-chamber cartridges according to U.S. Pat. No. 2,826,339 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,373 are also provided with shutoff valves at the outlet, which are designed to prevent the material from continuing to flow when the pressure on the piston elements is released. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,826,339, these shutoff valves are designed as check valves and are mounted separately in the outlet channel of each chamber. The shutoff valve described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,373 has a rotatable valve plug located crosswise in a projecting neck on the cartridge end wall, with two parallel cross bores, said bores being brought into and out of alignment with the two outlet channels of the two chambers by rotating the valve plug.

Multicomponent cartridge for plastic materials


An unconnected power save method reduces the battery consumption of a wireless station in a wireless local area network (WLAN). A wireless station enters a sleep mode between scans for a prospective access point. The sleep duration time is determined using the current position of the station relative to the WLAN network topology.

WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks) utilize RF (Radio Frequency) signals or light signals to connect mobile endpoints to each other or to a centralized gateway and transmit data over a wireless medium between the physical endpoints or between a mobile endpoint and an endpoint on a network that is connected to the WLAN. In 1997 the IEEE published standards for WLANs under the title of 802.11 (also known as "Wi-Fi"). For example, The IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g protocols have gained popularity over the past few years and deployment of networks using these protocols are expected to increase significantly in the near future. Currently, most of these networks are used for data access from laptop computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) through wireless network interface cards (NICs).
The basic hardware of an IEEE 802.11 network is the BSS (Basic Service Set), which is merely a number of endpoint stations that can communicate with one another or with an access point (AP). In a BSS, IEEE 802.11 enables mobile to communicate, through a wireless network interface, directly with each other or with other STAs through an AP, which is a centralized gateway providing message and power management and access to an external LAN (Local Area Network) and/or the Internet. An Extended Service Set (ESS) can include a combination of BSSs or other network components and nodes.
There exists a plurality of 802.11 standards that each use different frequency bands and have varying data transmission speeds. The original IEEE 802.11 standard supported wireless interfaces operating at speeds of up to 2 megabit per second (Mbps) in the 2.4 GHz radio band. By using different modulation techniques, IEEE 802.11b raised the data transmission rates to 11 Mbps, while 802.11a supports up to 54 Mbps transmission rates at a 5 GHz frequency. The IEEE 802.11g is developing standards for data transmission rates of 54 Mbps at the 2.4 GHz frequency.
WLANs under 802.11 use media access control (MAC) protocols to transmit between wired and wireless devices. Each wireless NIC is assigned a MAC address used to identify the STA. The access to wireless networks is controlled by coordination functions. The distributed coordination function (DCF) provides access similar to Ethernet CSMA/CD access. The DCF determines if the RF link between devices is clear prior to transmitting. Stations use a random backoff after every frame to avoid collisions.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary WLAN enterprise network 10. Two wireless APs 12 and 14 are connected to an internal corporate Intranet 18. The Internet 20 may be accessed through intranet 28 or alternatively through APs 12, 14 after registering with a Radius authentication server 22. APs 12, 14 have Multiple APs 12 and 14 provide an enterprise-wide footprint of RF broadcast signals that can be accessed up to a combined geographic range that is represented by coverage ring 24. The extent of coverage and signal power depends upon numerous factors including broadcast signal power, natural signal attenuation, and interferences. An enterprise network typically has multiple APs distributed throughout an office or between multiple buildings so that a mobile station (STA) may access the network from nearly anywhere in the RF broadcast area 24. Since an 802.11 WLAN is traditionally a data network, a wireless endpoint such as laptop computer 16 may access the Internet 20. However, a user may also place and receive phone calls using a WIPP (Wireless Internet Protocol Phone or IP Phone) on WLAN 10 using voice data protocols, such as voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
One of the major concerns in 802.11 networks is the limited battery life of 802.11 handheld STAs. The power consumption of a STA depends on the STA's mode of operation. The active mode is defined as the time when the STA is connected to the AP and is in a communication session, i.e. exchanging data with the AP. The standby mode usually refers to the mode where the STA is connected to the AP but there is no ongoing session, i.e. there is no data being exchanged between the STA and the AP.
The 802.11 standard from IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) proposes a "doze" mode wherein a STA may "doze" (go to "sleep") in order to save power, provided the STA informs the AP that the STA is entering the doze mode. This "dozing" algorithm standard significantly decreases the power consumption of the STA both in the active and the standby modes.
Although the 802.11 doze mode is useful for decreasing power consumption in the active and standby modes, there is a mode of a STA that the standard protocol fails to address. This mode is defined herein as the "unconnected" mode. For example, if a STA is out of range of an ESS, there is no AP in the STA's vicinity with which to connect. The default behavior of such an out-of-range STA is to continue scanning for the desired SSID (with the desired security, rates, settings, etc.). Therefore, in the unconnected state, the STA will continue to consume full-power even though there is no active session. This behavior drastically reduces the battery life of the out-of-range STA.

Unconnected power save mode for improving battery life of wireless stations in wireless local area networks


A class of superconductive materials containing copper-oxygen bonding and with mixed cation-occupancy designed with a view to size and valence consideration yield useful values of critical temperature and other properties. Uses entail all applications which involves superconducting materials such as magnets and transmission lines which require continuous superconductivity paths as well as detectors (e.g., which may rely on tunneling).

This invention relates to superconductive material and apparatus and systems utilizing such material. Characteristics of preferred compositions herein give rise to apparatus design advantages. Such characteristics include useful values of critical temperature and critical magnetic field. Certain of the compositions are free of characteristics which have been associated with radiation damage in prior materials.
The field of superconductivity has had a varied history from its beginnings—from the discovery of the phenomenon by Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911. Implications of extreme practical significance were apparent from the start. Workers became enchanted with the thought of lossless transmission as well as implications on magnetic and other apparatus. The concept that has received so much attention in recent years—that of "permanent" magnets of extremely high field values useful e.g. for containment of fusion reactions—was not overlooked.
Advances in obtaining material with improved properties have been discontinuous. Experiments following the first discovery, while certainly substantiating the concept, established need for extremely low temperatures, i.e., low values of transition temperatures, Tc. Mercury (Tc˜4 K) was discovered first, and lead (Tc˜7 K) was discovered to be superconducting shortly thereafter.
There was little achievement either experimentally or in theoretical terms following the initial period until the 1940's when work on NbN yielded a Tc value of about 16 K. Evolution and description of the concept was not broadly and effectively disseminated because of its German origin and circumstances surrounding World War II. A significant period of inquiry began subsequent to World War II. From the mechanistic standpoint, the most significant advance entailed identification of Type II superconductivity (Ginzburg and Landau, 20 Zh. Eksperim. i Teor. Fiz., pg. 1064 (1950)).
From a mechanistic-theoretical standpoint 1957 marks a most significant advance in understanding of superconductivity. The Bardeen Cooper Schrieffer Theory (for which a Nobel prize was subsequently awarded), (108 Phys. Rev., pg. 1175 (1957)) gave rise to the understanding which has been implicit in all studies to the present time. Intensive worldwide effort was established by the activity of B. T. Matthias of Bell Laboratories and J. K. Hulm of Westinghouse resulting in the most significant A15 compounds exemplified by Nb3Sn. This was followed by identification of the members as well as of related alloy compositions generally containing Nb. This work gave renewed hope of practical applications working with a refrigerant more effective than liquid helium. Materials developed during this period continue to be studied extensively, and indeed serve very significant technological functions, e.g., in particle accelerators.
Efforts to develop materials with significantly higher values of Tc than that of Nb3Sn(Tc=18 K) were disappointing. Probably the culmination was the Tc value of ˜23.2 K for Nb3Ge in 1973 by L. Testardi at Bell Laboratories and J. R. Gavaler at Westinghouse.
The subsequent decade resulted in little advance in terms of Tc. Extensive study of a new category of material was, however, very important and plays a vital role in development of this invention. This study entailed compositions of barium bismuth lead oxide (BaPb1-zBizO3). B. Batlogg, Physica 126B, 275 (1984). Most significant, compositions in this category while attaining Tc values of only up to 13 K depended upon metal-oxygen bonding for superconductivity.
Most recent origins of the present invention are traceable to the extremely significant work reported by IBM Zurich—J. G. Bednorz and K. A. Muller (64 Z. Phys. B.—Condensed Matter, pp. 189 (1986)). Report of onset Tc values in the 30 K range in the La—Ba—Cu—O system stimulated intense activity by a number of groups worldwide.
Significant consequences of work stimulated by the above are reflected in recent articles.
Workers at the University of Tokyo in Japan J. Appl. Phys., significantly advanced understanding of the IBM work by identification of the superconducting phase as being of the K2NiF4 structure. The composition on which measurements were made in accordance with this publication was that of the IBM Zurich report.
C. W. Chu and co-workers at the University of Houston reported on the beneficial effect of application of hydrostatic pressure during measurement in Phys. Rev. Lett., 58, 405 (1987). In a revision to this article made subsequent to the original submission date, comment was made on the substitution of strontium for barium.
The same issue of Phys. Rev. Lett., 58 at page 408, reported true bulk conductivity at 39.2 K in the composition La1.85Sr0.15CuO4. This finding constitutes a portion of the disclosure in parent U.S. patent application Ser. No. 001,682, filed Jan. 9, 1987.
The published works were accompanied and followed by a series of tantalizing rumors reporting "onset" temperatures well above the 77 K boiling point of liquid nitrogen. The March 2 issue of Phys. Rev. Lett., (Vol. 58, 1987), contains two extremely significant papers representing advances prompted by the new findings. At page 908 et seq., workers at the Universities of Alabama and Houston report on compositions in the Y—Ba—Cu—O system evidencing Tc values well above 77 K. Their exemplary composition (Y0.6Ba0.4)2CuO≦4 is described as multiple phase ("instead of the pure K2NiF4 phase" [associated with previously reported compositions]). Reporting a deviation in resistivity from the usual temperature relationship which is initiated at 93 K, the paper goes on to report attainment of zero resistivity at 80 K. Rather than associated attainment of this value with the particular crystallographic phase, authors state " . . . high temperature superconductivity may be associated with interfacial manifestations". At page 911 in the same issue of Phys. Rev. Lett., the same authors in a separate article reached the specific conclusion "It is therefore evident that . . . above 77 K [Tc] may not be identified with . . . perovskite or . . . tetragonal layered structures . . . " Developments to date have taken on the drama of an international race with runners representing essentially every organization in any way affiliated with superconductivity. Events to date are reflected in an article on page 12 of the Star-Ledger for Tuesday, Mar. 3, 1987. In this article, world-famous physicist John Rowell, Assistant Vice President of Bell Communications Research, reports as their "international contribution" the " . . . producing results identical to those achieved in general by scientists at the University of Houston . . . ". Dr. Rowell explicitly confirms the multiphase nature of the superconducting material and, in fact, reports that "Only about 2% . . . is superconducting . . . "

Method of making cuprate superconducting material


A method for launching an automatic vehicle transmission utilizing dual clutches in place of a torque converter avoids clutch overheating, sudden launch or roll-back by placing a clutch in a slip mode only after the vehicle's brakes have been actuated and fully disengaging the clutch upon over-heating detection. When launch is initiated, a first gear engaged and the brakes are released, the associated clutch is fully engaged to avoid overheating.

Electromechanical dual clutch transmissions that include automated electromechanical shifting mechanisms and methods are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,463,821, 6,044,719 and 6,012,561, disclose a dual clutch electromechanical automatic transmission.
The dual-clutch transmission does not include a torque converter. Therefore, launch and acceleration is created by closing one of the clutches. Under normal driving conditions, the clutch is not completely engaged. Rather, it is only closed far enough to transfer engine torque without transferring torque peaks. This so called "slip control" approach enables smooth shifting as well as fast disengagement of the clutch. However, issues arise when the vehicle is held stationary on an incline. While a motor vehicle can be held on an incline with a slipping clutch, after some period of time, typically based on incline slope, vehicle weight, and temperature, the slipping clutch will overheat. To prevent overheating, the clutch may be fully engaged or disengaged. If the clutch is disengaged, the vehicle would roll back unexpectedly. If the clutch is fully engaged, the vehicle would suddenly launch. There is a need for a launch acceleration strategy which avoids these issues.

Acceleration launch strategy for an electromechanical automatic transmission


The process described by this invention involves the hydroconversion of vegetable oils appropriately selected for the production of N-paraffins, through hydrotreatment of a stream of vegetable hydrocarbon oils in and/or natural fats that may be used in a pure state or in a mixture with mineral hydrocarbon oil. This mixture flow is submitted to the process of hydrotreatment, obtaining as a result, a product flow with an elevated content of N-paraffins in the range of C10-C-13. This process provides an alternative to the usual process that uses a mineral hydrocarbon oil load (petroleum kerosene of paraffin base) to produce C10-C13 N-paraffins that are raw materials for the production of detergents (LAB), being, therefore, especially advantageous for use in situations where kerosene is a limiting factor for producing N-paraffins, resulting in a product of good quality with a reasonable gain in the production of N-paraffins.

N-paraffins are raw materials for the production of biodegradable detergents, insecticides, and solvents, among other products, that are usually obtained from hydrocarbons that come from mineral sources such as petroleum.
Commercially, N-paraffins are produced by the process of adsorption in a trickle bed, after hydrotreatment, from the raw material kerosene.
Molecular screens are usually used as the adsorbent elements. These contain synthetic zeolite crystals in their structure, with limited and uniform sized pores, in such a way that only N-paraffins contained in a gaseous hydrocarbon mixture are adsorbed through these pores. Compounds called isomers (isoparaffins, naftenes and aromatics), which do not have a linear chain, pass through the existing empty spaces, and flow out through the top of the adsorber. However, a small fraction of these compounds are retained in the mesopores of the adsorbent material, which contaminates the product.
Consequently, after adsorption, the product containing the normal paraffins is hydrotreated, in order to determine its purity, and is fractioned right afterwards in N—C10/C13 and N—C14/C15 streams.
Due to the inherent costs of obtaining raw material hydrocarbon derived from petroleum, which is aggravated, in this case, by the need for paraffinic petroleum such as, the Brazilian petroleum baiano brand, which is becoming quite rare, and taking account, on a worldwide level, environmental questions which are being greatly affected by economic activities of modern civilization, the search for alternative sources has stimulated many researches. Renewable sources of energy have been of particular interest because in addition to contributing to the improvement of the environment, they are able to become an extra source of energy for some regions of the world.
In this context, agricultural inputs have been the object of rising interest, as far as its exploration being as a new way of utilization or being as insert them to other traditional inputs, make agricultural inputs economically attractive.
Important examples of this are vegetable oils, which are basically made up of fatty acid triglycerides, and are directly extracted from vegetable seeds, through pressing processes and/or extraction using organic solvents. In addition to their recognized applications in food industries, vegetable oils are also used in the cosmetic industry, and in the production of soaps, dyes, lubricants, and plastics among others.
Brazil, due to its great expanse of land, and its privileged geographical situation, agriculture is particularly relevant as a factor of great importance for regional socioeconomic development, through the exploration of extractivist agricultural landholding cultures for use in various productive sectors of the economy, including in the production of products that could be considered renewable sources of energy.
Thus, there is a great effort in Brazil to make the use of vegetable oils viable in the energy sector currently in practice, that in many cases besides it be economically more favorable, it produces a significant advantage for the environment through the creation of products that are less aggressive and less polluting to the environment.
For this, there is a need to develop new technologies that produce inputs and products that comply with environmental regulations which are more rigid.
Related Technique
Hydrotreatment is a catalytic process, in which hydrogen is used for the purpose of stabilizing various products compound of hydrocarbon and for eliminating undesirable compounds such as: sulfur, aromatics, nitrogen, and olefins.
As known in the state of the art, the principal reactions that occur in the reactor during the hydrogenation process are:                a. Saturation of olefins—elimination of unsaturated chains.Ex: H2C═CH—CH3+H2→H3C—CH2—CH3 (propene→propane)        b. Saturation of aromatics—transformation of the aromatics in naphthenes and then transforming these in saturated compounds.Ex: Benzene→Cyclohexane        c. Hydrodesulfurization (HDS)—elimination of sulfur                    MERCAPTANS (R—SH):H3C—CH2—CH2—SH+H2→H3C—CH2—CH3+H2S            SULFIDES (R—S—R)H3C—CH2—CH2—CH2—S—CH2—CH2—CH3+2H2→H3C—CH2—CH2—CH3+H3C—CH2—CH3+H2Swhere the removal of the compounds above mentioned increase the concentration of butanes and propanes in the stream.                        THIOPHENES—their hydrogenation increase the concentration of butanes.        DISULFIDES (R—S—S—R)—the removal of these compounds increase the concentration of methane and hydrogen sulfide.H3C—S—S—CH3+3H2→2CH4+2H2S.        d. Hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) elimination of nitrogen and after this reaction, an increase in the concentration of pentane and ammonia occurs.CH3—CH2—CH2—CH2—CH2—NH2+H2→H3C—CH2—CH2—CH2—CH3+NH3         e. Deoxygenation→elimination of oxygen        f. Hydrocracking→when occurs a large molecules cracking producing light gas.C10H22+H2C9H2O+CH4.
In the case of the production of N-paraffins, the hydrotreatment stage follows the initial stage of adsorption, aiming purifying the N-paraffins stream thus obtained.
At this point of the usual process, this invention adds a percentage of vegetable hydrocarbon oil into the industrial process stream, producing a mixture with the mineral hydrocarbon oil, which will be hydrotreated to obtain the N-paraffin product, which will be explained in more detail further.
According to production and/or operational needs, the vegetable hydrocarbon oil may also be submitted to hydrotreatment (HDT), in its pure state, on the condition that it be properly chosen according to the length of its chain, which preferably must present the highest possible content in the range of C12-C14 in order to be more compatible to be submited to the process.
Thus, the HDT of pure vegetable hydrocarbon oils, or in a mixture of any proportion with mineral hydrocarbon oils, will produce N-paraffins C10-C13 suitable for use as inputs, such as, raw material for the production of detergents, since the load of vegetable hydrocarbon oil to be introduced into the treatment process be properly selected for production of N-paraffins within the range of interest of C10-C13, and following using the already known hydrorefining technology, and by the use of commercial catalysts available.
The literature of patent presents some documents in the hydrogenation of vegetable oil medium, but these documents do not consider in their scope the intended range covered by this invention.
For example, the hydrogenation of vegetable oils combined with mineral oil is known by the U.S. Pat. No. 2,163,563, which processes vegetable oils mixed in a stream of mineral oil in the presence of hydrogen at high pressure [5 MPa to 50.6 MPa (50 to 500 atmospheres)], using a reduced Ni catalyst supported in alumina. The converted vegetable oil is separated by distillation and the mineral oil is recycled. However, this patent does not involve hydrotreatment of a combined load of petroleum and vegetable oils through an HDT process.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,009 describes a catalytic conversion of anabolites (substances formed in the anabolic process) as resins, vegetable oils and fats in liquid hydrocarbons, in the presence of zeolites with an effective pore size bigger than 5 Angstrom. The products generated have the boiling point at the range of gasoline's boiling point.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,109 describe a synthetic crude oil produced by catalytic cracking of a biomass material such as, a vegetable or animal oil in the presence of a catalyst that is alumina with or without silica and/or a zeolite component and/or rare earths and/or sodium oxide. The reaction is carried out in the presence of a carrier gas that may be air, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen and a hydrocarbon obtained in petroleum refining.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,722 describes a process to produce additives for diesel fuel with an elevated number of cetane and it functions as an agent to improve ignition of the fuel. In the process, the biomass, containing a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, wood oils, animal fats and other mixtures, is submitted to hydroprocessing, placing the load in contact with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of a hydroprocessing catalyst under hydroprocessing conditions in order to obtain a mixture of product. This mixture is then separated and fractioned to obtain a hydrocarbon product with boiling point at the range of diesel's boiling point, being this product the additive with a high cetane number. It is not mentioned within this document concerning the addition of a petroleum hydrocarbon to the biomass load which is being hydroprocessed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,605 uses hydrorefining with sulfided catalyst (NiMo and CoMo) in the presence of hydrogen (pressure of 4 to 15 MPa) and temperature in the range of 350° C. to 450° C.
This patent describes the processing of pure vegetable oils such as canola, sunflower, soy, palm and wood oil that is a waste product from the wood pulp industry. The final objective is to obtain a stream with a high cetane number to be added to the diesel in the refinery; however, specifications at low temperatures are damaged. This patent does not consider a mixture of a hydrocarbon with vegetable oil in the hydrorefining.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,057 describes the transesterification of vegetable oils, mainly spent oils used in frying, with methanol and ethanol, in order to produce a fuel similar to mineral diesel fuel, however the process involves the consumption of an expensive reagent (alcohol) but its by-products (glycerin, etc.) must be separated to avoid damages to the motor.
Therefore, in spite of developments in the technology, there is still a need for a technic to process hydroconversion of vegetable oils which seeks to obtain N-paraffins.

Process to obtain N-paraffins from vegetable oil


One embodiment of an image correction method is an image correction method for correcting image forming condition(s). The image correction method includes forming, on photoreceptor(s), correction test pattern(s) having continuously varying toner gradation; wherein a single correction test pattern in which density is varied in sequence from high to low in paper transport direction(s) is formed as a result of controlling exposing unit laser power(s) while photoreceptor charging potential(s) is/are held constant, or while develop bias(es) is/are held constant, or while photoreceptor charging potential(s) is/are held constant and develop bias(es) is/are held constant. In such case, total length(s) in paper transport direction(s) of such correction test pattern(s) is/are less than or equal to circumference(s) of photoreceptor(s).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image correction method for forming correction test pattern(s) having continuously varying toner gradation on photoreceptor(s) to correct image forming condition(s), and relates to an image forming apparatus carrying out such image correction method.
2. Related Art
Gradation reproduceability which is such that tonal gradation is faithfully reproduced from highlight to shadow in reproduced images is demanded from copiers, printers, facsimile machines, and other such image forming apparatuses carrying out electrophotographic image formation processing. However, gradation in the images which are formed will vary with changes in the optical density of toner serving as developer, changes in process conditions that have been set for image formation, and so forth.
As means for improving gradation reproduceability, methods of carrying out gradation correction (γ correction) processing at times associated with certain events have therefore been adopted.
Gradation correction processing, for faithfully reproducing the tonal gradation of the image serving as original, may be carried out as follows.
A plurality of test pattern latent images, having different exposure intensities corresponding to different prescribed densities, are first formed at prescribed intervals in the paper transport direction on a photoreceptor. These test pattern latent images are then developed, at which time develop roller surface speed is held constant. Optical density of toner in the respective test pattern images produced as a result of develop is then detected, and a gradation correction curve is created based on the toner density data produced as a result of detection.
FIG. 4(b) shows examples of conventional test pattern images.
Existing test patterns (gradation patterns) ordinarily comprise on the order of three to ten (five at FIG. 4(b)) different gradation fields 101a through 101e, the respective fields that are formed being sufficiently large in size to accommodate mechanical fluctuations and so forth.
However, with such conventional test patterns, because it is sometimes the case that there will be density nonuniformities within a field due to mechanical fluctuations and so forth, density measurements are usually carried out over a prescribed region (at FIG. 4(b), circular region 102 enclosed by the dashed line) within the field. And this has resulted in the problem that density measurements are time-consuming and much toner is consumed.
An image forming apparatus has therefore been proposed (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication Kokai No. H8-211722 (1996); hereinafter "Patent Reference No. 1") in which develop bias is continuously varied within the region of a single test pattern so as to reduce the size of the region occupied by the overall test pattern as compared with the conventional situation shown at FIG. 4(b), permitting reduction in the amount of toner consumed and reduction in the amount of time required for measurements.
In this image forming apparatus, to avoid instability in toner density when varying develop bias in stepwise fashion, photoreceptor charging potential and develop bias are continuously varied as a single test pattern, in which gradation varies continuously in the paper transport direction (scan direction), is formed. This permits the foregoing object, i.e., reduction in the amount of toner consumed and reduction in the amount of time required for measurements, to be achieved.
Now, in the aforementioned Patent Reference No. 1, correction of image forming conditions is carried out by forming a single test pattern in which gradation varies continuously and by measuring the density of this test pattern.
However, when actually carrying out image formation processing, the image forming apparatus does not produce density variation in images by varying photoreceptor charging potential or develop bias, but produces density variation in images by controlling light intensity from exposure means while holding photoreceptor charging potential and develop bias constant at appropriate values. For this reason, there has been the problem that even where correction of image forming conditions is carried out after the fashion of the aforementioned Patent Reference No. 1, correction will not necessarily be suitable or appropriate for the situation existing during actual usage.

Image correction method and image forming apparatus


A control apparatus for accessing a memory card includes a bus, a detecting circuit, and an adjusting circuit. The bus is regarded as a signal transmission line between the control apparatus and the memory card. The bus has a power signal transmission line for providing the memory card with a power signal. The detecting circuit detects an operating status of the control apparatus and generates an indication signal when the operating status exceeds a predetermined operating range. The adjusting circuit is coupled to the bus and detecting circuit, and is utilized for adjusting a current passing through the power signal transmission line according to the indication signal without closing the power signal transmission line thereby making the operating status operated within the predetermined operating range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory card control apparatus and protection method thereof, and more particularly, to a memory card control apparatus having over-temperature protection or over-current protection and a protection method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To be able to record various types of data, different kinds of memory cards have been developed, such as secure digital (SD) cards, memory stick (MS) cards, compact flash (CF) cards, etc. For users can access the above memory cards conveniently, a memory card control system (i.e. a card reader) capable of reading data from different kinds of memory cards is needed. In general, a common memory card control system has a single-slot structure or multiple-slot structure, wherein the single-slot structure is utilized to access memory cards with a single structure or similar structures, and the multiple-slot structure is utilized to access memory cards of different characteristics. With constant improvements of the data access mechanism, a memory card control system with a multiple-slot structure has become a mainstream specification nowadays.
However, because there are many kinds of memory cards, putting a memory card into a wrong slot will often occur. This causes inner short circuit/errors of the memory card or the memory card control system, and damages inner data contents of the memory card, even resulting in damage to the memory card or the memory card control system. Additionally, improper usage or operational environments such as a high-humidity or high-temperature environment may cause unexpected damages. Therefore, while designing the memory card control system, related protection schemes configured to protect the memory card control system are included to protect the memory card control system, memory card, or inner data contents of the memory card from being damaged. Generally, a conventional over-current protection scheme directly cuts off a power supply corresponding to a slot of the memory card to avoid errors or damage to the memory card control system. However, the power supply corresponding to the slot of the memory card may simultaneously be provided for other parts of the memory card control system. Thus cutting off the power supply corresponding to the slot of the memory card may cause the memory card control system to lose partial operating functions. The related details of this conventional scheme can be found in the specification of Taiwanese patent publication no. 1255090.

Memory card control apparatus and protection method thereof


A cutting device for the cutting and reduction of matter from a surgical site having a cutting head having an entry tip and three or more cutting blades positioned on opposed leading edges of a window formed through the interior of the cutting head. The window includes angled walls extending from each cutting blade along the circumference of the window. The cutting head is attached to a shaft for mounting the cutting device to a rotary surgical drill. The cutting head can also have a blade on the outer perimeter of the head. The matter is removed and further reduced as the cutting head is rotated at the surgical site. The geometry of the cutting head and entry tip can be varied for particular surgical procedures. The cutting device can also include a cannula or drill guard.

This invention relates generally to devices used in surgical procedures, such as, for example, endoscopic diskectomy and endoscopic spinal fusion. More specifically, the invention relates to a rotatable surgical cutting device which is removably connected to a rotary drive element having a cutting head with three or more blades located on leading edges of a window extending through the cutting head and spaced around a circumference of the cutting head.

Multiple bladed surgical cutting device removably connected to a rotary drive element


A system for traversing and rendering a graphic primitive, comprising a setup engine that outputs representative values of a graphic primitive; and a raster engine that receives the representative values of the graphic primitive and forms therefrom representative pixels, the raster engine having at least a scan module that scans only pixels within the graphic primitive and assigns data values to each of the pixels and a look-ahead module that identifies pixels that are inside of the primitive.

In the field of computer graphics, the graphics rendering pipeline is the core of real time graphics. The main function of the pipeline is to generate, or render, a two dimensional image, given a virtual camera, three dimensional objects, light sources, lighting models, textures, and more. The locations and shapes of the objects in the scene are determined by their geometry, placement of camera in the environment and the characteristics of that environment. The appearance of the objects is affected by material properties, light sources, textures, and lighting models.
In general, texturing is a technique for efficiently modeling the surface properties of an object. Objects or models are normally represented graphically by triangles, as these are the geometric primitives used by most graphics hardware. Color for each vertex of the surface is computed using location of the light sources and the properties, position, and the normal of the vertex and the properties of the material belonging to the vertex. Thus, the color is computed by taking into account lighting and the material, as well as the viewer's position. Texturing works in modifying the values used in the lighting equation. The pipeline uses complex mathematical equations to blend the colors, textures and other inputs to create properly colored pixels in the image.
In prior art graphics systems a texture memory contains a two dimensional representation of a texture to be mapped onto primitives. Cache provides temporary storage of portions of texture memory for improved access speed. Graphic primitives are stored in a primitive storage portion of memory, and define the size and shape of graphic elements, such as triangles. Primitives are processed by triangle set up modules and traversed using edge walker modules and span walker modules. A texture mapping engine performs the operation of mapping textures stored in a texture memory onto primitives. Pixel processing is performed by 3D pipeline and performs operations on the pixels and writes the resulting rendered image via a render backend module to a frame buffer. The image in the frame buffer is sent to a display.
A primitive typically represents some element of a graphic image on a display screen, and a texture map contains some graphical pattern or image that is to be mapped onto the primitive image. The edge walker and span walker are typically used in the prior art to map texture images onto primitives. A number of different techniques are known in the prior art for scanning primitives. For example, spans of horizontal pixel rows are defined, and each span has a unique y value representing the pixel row. Each span has two edges of the primitives to limit the extent of the span. The primitive is traversed span by span and for each span the pixels within the span are processed in left to right order. A texel in a texture map corresponding to the selected pixel is retrieved. Data for the retrieved texel is rendered for the selective pixel in the primitive. Other pixels in the primitive are processed similarly. A check is performed to determine whether the end of the current span has been reached. This check may be performed, for example, by comparing the x coordinate of the currently selected pixel with the edge of the primitive. If the end of the span has not been reached, the span walker continues by selecting the next pixel and repeating texel retrieval. Operations such as burst mode and pixel walk vectors increase the efficiency of the operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,997 discloses a block and band oriented traversal and three dimensional triangle rendering. The disclosed system traverses and renders a graphic primitive by using block and band oriented traversal algorithms and texture mapping.
There is a need in the prior art to provide greater efficiency with a minimal amount of hardware for scanning primitives, and in particular, for texture mapping. All of the prior art methods attempt to find the edges of the primitive, by stepping outside the primitive as the pixels are edge walked or spanned.

Method and apparatus for high speed block mode triangle rendering


The present invention provides methods of making and using immunogenic oligosaccharide compositions comprising native O-linked and S-linked oligosaccharides coupled to a protein carrier, wherein the resultant conjugate elicits a protectively immunogenic response. These compositions may be useful in vaccines against pathogenic Candida species.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention provides immunogenic oligosaccharide compositions and methods of making and using them. In particular, the compositions comprise native O-linked and S-linked oligosaccharides coupled to a protein carrier, wherein the resultant conjugate elicits a protectively immunogenic response, particularly in vaccines against pathogenic Candida species and more particularly against Candida albicans. Preferably the pathogenic Candida species are those that possess cell wall oligosaccharide compositions similar to the β-mannan component of Candida albicans cell walls.


A quadrature signal generator capable of phase-tuning with respect to all of four generated quadrature signals. The quadrature signal generator includes four phase tuning units each having two input terminals, one receiving a differential signal, the other being grounded, and changing a phase of the differential signal to thereby generate quadrature signals. Accordingly, it is possible to tune phases of all the four generated quadrature signals. It is also possible to prevent the amplitude of quadrature signals from being deviated from a reference value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a quadrature signal generator, and more particularly, to a quadrature signal generator which is capable of phase-tuning with respect to all of four generated quadrature signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
A quadrature signal generator generates four quadrature signals using two differential signals generated by a local oscillator. The quadrature signal generator is called "poly phase filter" (PPF).
The quadrature signal generator is provided with phase tuners. The phase tuner generates a quadrature signal by changing a phase of an incoming differential signal. The quadrature signal generator includes four phase tuners. Since the respective phase turners generate quadrature signals of different phases, the quadrature signal generator outputs four quadrature signals.
The phase tuner typically includes two input terminals to receive a homogenous differential or a heterogeneous differential signal, respectively.
However, if the homogeneous differential signals are input to each input terminal, it is impossible to tune phases of the quadrature signals. Also, if the heterogeneous differential signals are input to all of the two input terminals of the phase tuner, the amplitude of the quadrature signal is deviated from a reference value due to a signal unbalance occurring during the phase tuning process.

Quadrature signal generator for tuning phases of all of four generated quadrature signals


An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for real-time diagnosis of a NOx-adsorption catalyst (NAC). The method includes verifying that a NAC temperature exceeds a threshold, determining that the NAC is in a steady-state operating condition, and surveying a first oxygen sensor upstream of the NAC and a second oxygen sensor downstream of the NAC. The method further includes calculating a lambda difference between the first and second oxygen sensors, and interpreting a NAC regeneration indicator. The method further includes determining a lean-to-rich transition and a rich-to-lean transition area based on the lambda difference and the regeneration indicator. The method concludes with setting a NAC function indicator according to the lean-to-rich transition area and the rich-to-lean transition area.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to engine aftertreatment systems and more particularly relates to apparatus, systems and methods for real-time diagnosis of a NOx-adsorption catalyst.
2. Description of the Related Art
Environmental regulations on internal combustion engines have become steadily more stringent in recent years. The use of aftertreatment systems to reduce engine emissions has become an important part of the emissions package for many engines. One important category of aftertreatment systems is the NOx-adsorption catalyst (NAC). In one typical design, these catalysts adsorb NOx compounds and oxygen while an engine runs lean, and desorb and reduce the NOx compounds in a regeneration cycle while the engine runs rich.
The catalytic materials in the NAC age over time and become less effective. Specifically, the NAC will lose capacity to store NOx compounds and oxygen, thereby requiring more frequent regenerations and increased emissions. There is currently no direct measurement of the NAC NOx compounds and oxygen storage capacity. A determination that the storage capacity for these compounds has degraded enables a myriad of mitigating responses to a degraded NAC. For example, engine controls can respond with increased regeneration frequency, a service lamp can be engaged, or an emissions control scheme within the engine can be invoked.
Further, regulations require an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) plan in many applications, and a method to detect degradation of the catalyst element of a NAC meets the requirements of these regulations. The diagnostics to meet OBD regulations should run with an engine as the engine is used (i.e. in real-time) and not require special stops or testing activities to be effective.
From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus, system, and method for real-time diagnosis of a NAC. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method, would enable diagnosing the NAC using commonly available sensors, and not require excessive computer power.

Apparatus, system, and method for real-time diagnosis of a NO


An optical signal processing method is disclosed that enables improvements of a signal to noise ratio of an optical signal and reduction of size and power of an optical signal processing device. The optical signal processing method includes steps of dividing an input optical signal into a first polarization optical component and a second polarization optical component orthogonal to the first polarization optical component; supplying the first polarization optical component to a first gain device whose gain saturates at a first value; supplying the second polarization optical component to a second gain device whose gain saturates at a second value less than the first value; combining output light from the first gain device and output light from the second gain device; and outputting the combined optical signal through a polarization element.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate examples of optical signal processing devices used in optical communication or optical measurements for improving a signal to noise (S/N) ratio of an optical signal itself, as disclosed respectively by B. K. Nayar, et al., "Concatenated all-optical loop mirror switches", Journal of Modern Optics, Vol. 40, No. 12, pp. 2327–2332, 1993, and by K. E. Stubkjaer, et al., "Wavelength conversion devices and techniques", Proceedings of 22nd European Conference on Optical Communication ECOC'96, ThB. 2. 1, 1996.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a device using a non-linear loop mirror (NOLM).
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a device using a wavelength converter.
In FIG. 1, an input optical signal having a wavelength of λs passes through an optical coupler 1 and is input to a non-linear optical fiber 2. On the other hand, a continuum light beam having a wavelength of λprb is output from a laser 3. This continuum light beam passes through a polarization controller 4, and is input to an optical coupler 5, in which the continuum light beam is divided into two probe light beams. One of the two probe light beams passes through the optical coupler 1 and is input to the non-linear optical fiber 2, and the other probe light beam passes through a polarization controller 6 and is input to the non-linear optical fiber 2 from an opposite direction. In the non-linear optical fiber 2, by cross-phase modulation, a phase-modulated light beam is generated which has the wavelength of λprb but includes a signal component of the wavelength of λs. This light beam passes through the polarization controller 6 and interferes with a light beam in an opposite direction in the optical coupler 5, thereby, generating and outputting an intensity-modulated signal of the wavelength λprb with reduced noise.
In FIG. 2, a continuum light beam having a wavelength of λ2 is output from a laser 10, passes through a waveguide 11, and is input to an optical coupler 12. The input light beam is divided into two continuum light beams, and the two continuum light beams are respectively input to semiconductor optical amplifiers 13, 14. On the other hand, an input optical signal having a wavelength of λ1 is supplied from a waveguide 18. This input signal passes through an optical coupler 15, and is input to the semiconductor optical amplifier 13 in a direction opposite to the direction of the continuum light beam output from the semiconductor optical amplifier 13.
The optical signals respectively output from the semiconductor optical amplifiers 13 and 14 are mixed in the optical coupler 16, and a light beam is generated and output through a waveguide 17, which has a wavelength of λ2 and reduced noise due to interference and signal transcription caused by cross-phase modulation.
In addition, a method for improving an extinction ratio of an optical fiber is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 61-9606.
However, in the device using a non-linear loop mirror (NOLM) as illustrated in FIG. 1, because the non-linear optical fiber 2 is used, it is difficult to make the device compact. In addition, because it is required to set the power of the input light beams to be a sufficiently large value, it is difficult to reduce the power of the input light beams.
Further, in the device using a wavelength converter as illustrated in FIG. 2, when the frequency of the input signal is higher than 10 GHz, input/output performance of the device degrades, and it becomes difficult to output signals having the same wavelength obtained by converting the input signals, hence, such a device is not suitable for use of improving the S/N ratio of an optical signal.

Optical signal-to-noise ratio improving device


A transparent electrode is provided for an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device. The electrode may be made according to a method including: sputter-depositing a first layer of or including indium tin oxide (ITO) on a substrate; sputter-depositing a thin second metallic or substantially metallic layer on the glass substrate over the first layer to form an electrode structure, and heat treating the electrode structure at temperature(s) of at least about 400 degrees C. in order to thermally activate at least the first layer of or including ITO. The electrode structure may then be provided in an OLED device on the light-emitting side of the organic light emitting semiconductor layer.

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) is a light-emitting diode (LED) in which the emissive electroluminescent layer(s) is a film of or based mainly on organic compounds which emit light in response to an electric current. This layer of organic semiconductor material is situated between two electrodes in some cases. Generally, for example, at least one of these electrodes is transparent. OLEDs sometimes are used in television screens; computer monitors; small or portable system screens such as those found on mobile phones and PDAs; and/or the like. OLEDs may also sometimes be used in light sources for space illumination and in large-area light-emitting elements. OLED devices are described, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,663,311; 7,663,312; 7,662,663; 7,659,661; 7,629,741; 7,601,436, 2011/0193477, and 2009/0295283, the entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
A typical OLED comprises at least two organic layers—e.g., electron and hole transport layers—that are embedded between two electrodes. One electrode typically is made of a reflective metal. The other electrode typically is a transparent conductive layer supported by a glass substrate. The one electrode generally is the cathode, and the other electrode generally is the anode. Indium tin oxide (ITO), which is typically transparent, often is used at the front portion of the OLED as the anode.
FIG. 1 is an example cross-sectional view of a typical OLED. The OLED includes glass substrate 102, transparent conductive anode layer 104, organic layer 100, cathode layer 110 and cover glass 112. The organic light emission layer 100 emits light, and light is generated by processes known from conventional OLEDs when electrons and holes injected into the organic layer 100 from different sides recombine. The organic layer 100 may include multiple layers. For example, in certain example instances the organic layer 100 may include a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light-emitting layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer. An example shown in FIG. 1 illustrates the organic semiconductor layer 100 including a hole transport layer (HTL), and electron transport layer (ETL), and an emitting layer (EL), where the ETL and emitting layer may or may not be present in one layer.
When a voltage is applied to the electrodes 104 and 110, the charges start moving in the device under the influence of the electric field. Electrons leave the cathode, and holes move from the anode in opposite direction. For example, the recombination of these charges leads to the creation of photons with frequencies given by an energy gap between LUMO and HOMO levels of the emitting molecules, so that the electrical power applied to the electrodes is transformed into light. Different materials and/or dopants may be used to generate different colors, with the colors being combinable to achieve yet additional colors.
This disclosure relates to a design and method of making a transparent conductive electrode (e.g., anode) on the light-emitting side of the organic layer of an OLED. For example, referring to the OLED in FIG. 1, this disclosure relates to an improved electrode 104 on the light emitting side of the organic layer 100 and a method of making the same. The electrode may be based on ITO. A second thin metallic or substantially metallic layer may be deposited on top of the first layer of or including ITO. The first and second layers are deposited (directly or indirectly) on the substrate, and may be deposited for example via sputtering at approximately room temperature. The thin metallic or substantially metallic layer may be of a single metal (e.g., Ni, Pt, or Au), a mixture of Ni, Pt, and/or Au, or may be a metallic or substantially metallic alloy (e.g., NiCrMo, NiCrAlFe, NiTi, NiMo, or mixtures thereof). After the thin layer is deposited over the TCO, the substrate (e.g., glass or quartz substrate) with the TCO layer and the thin layer thereon is subject to heat treatment (HT) in order to (a) thermally activate at least the TCO layer for desired electrical and/or optical properties, (b) increase the work function (WF) of the electrode, and/or (c) increase visible transmission of the electrode. The thin film over the TCO is advantageous in that it (i) serves as an oxygen blocking layer during subsequent thermal activation of the ITO to reduce undesired excessive oxidation of the ITO during its thermal activation, and/or (ii) controls the Fermi level of the transparent electrode to minimize or reduce the electrical barrier with the Highest-Occupied-Molecular Orbital (HOMO) of the Hole Transport Layer (HTL) of the OLED.
The first TCO layer (e.g., of or including ITO) is substantially more oxided as deposited than is the second layer which is a thin metallic or substantially metallic layer. The thin metallic or substantially metallic layer may be either non-oxided or slightly oxided in different embodiments. In certain example embodiments, as deposited, the first TCO layer contains at least about 15% more oxygen, more preferably at least about 20% more oxygen, even more preferably at least about 30% more oxygen, and most preferable at least about 40% more oxygen, than does the subsequently deposited thin metallic or substantially metallic layer.
In certain example embodiments of this invention, there is provided method of making an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device, the method comprising: sputter-depositing a first layer comprising indium tin oxide (ITO) on a glass substrate; sputter-depositing a second metallic or substantially metallic layer on the glass substrate over and directly contacting the first layer comprising ITO to form an electrode structure, so that the first layer comprising ITO is located between at least the substrate and the second metallic or substantially metallic layer; heat treating the electrode structure including the substrate, the first layer comprising ITO, and the second metallic or substantially metallic layer, at temperature(s) of at least about 300 degrees C. in order to thermally activate the first layer comprising ITO; and providing the electrode structure in an OLED device so that an organic light emitting semiconductor layer is located between said electrode structure and another electrode. The sputter-depositing of the first and second layers may be performed at approximately room temperature.
In certain example embodiments of this invention, there is provided an OLED comprising: a transparent conductive electrode structure comprising a first layer comprising ITO and a second conductive layer on a substrate, the first layer comprising ITO being located between at least the substrate and the conductive layer; wherein the second conductive layer comprises one or more of Ni, Pt, Au, NiCrMo, NiCrAlFe, NiTi, NiCr, and NiMo; an organic light emitting layer located between said transparent conductive electrode structure and another electrode, and wherein said transparent conductive electrode structure is on a light emitting side of the organic light emitting layer.
In certain embodiments of this invention, there is provided an organic light emitting diode (OLED) comprising: a transparent conductive electrode structure comprising a first layer comprising indium tin oxide (ITO) and a second conductive layer on a substrate, the first layer comprising ITO being located between at least the substrate and the conductive layer; the first layer comprising ITO is thicker than the second metallic or substantially metallic layer, and the second metallic or substantially metallic layer has a work function of at least 4.5, more preferably of at least 4.6, and even more preferably of at least 4.7; and an organic light emitting layer located between said transparent conductive electrode structure and another electrode, and wherein said transparent conductive electrode structure is on a light emitting side of the organic light emitting layer.
These and other embodiments, features, aspect, and advantages may be combined in any suitable combination or sub-combination to produce yet further embodiments.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Organic light emitting diode with transparent electrode and method of making same