The present invention proposes a power amplification under variable envelope excitation, wherein an original input signal at least is converted into a phase modulated signal part, at least the phase modulated signal part is fed to an input port of an amplifier unit, the input signal is amplified by dynamically selecting a fixed power supply (PSU 1, PSU 2, PSU 3) for the amplifier unit, and wherein the amplitude content of the original input signal is reconstructed by changing dependent on the respective provided power supply a further controllable input of the amplifier unit, in particular the input power level (Pin) and/or the biasing voltage (Ug) and/or biasing current at the control input of the amplifier unit, during said step of amplifying.

Conventionally, power amplifier concepts operate the power amplifiers with fixed input and output loads. These loads are usually chosen such that the gain, the output power or the efficiency is optimized depending on the need of the specific application. In particular regarding mobile communication systems, such an application may be a battery-powered amplifier in a user equipment or mobile station or may be an amplifier for a base station.
In case of battery powered amplifier the load usually is chosen such that the efficiency is optimized, wherein in case of an amplifier for a base station the optimization for a maximum output power is needed.
Normally it is not possible to get an optimum for all the above-mentioned three parameters at the same time as each of these parameters is requiring at least a slightly different input/output matching network.
For signals with a peak power to average power ratio of one, such as a frequency modulated (FM) or phase modulated (PM) signal or a GMSK (Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying) signal used in a GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) system, this conventional design concept usually works well as the power amplifier operates all the time near its maximum output power, where the amplifier yields a high efficiency so that the loads which have to be chosen for an optimum output power and an optimum efficiency normally are not very different.
For the signals however, with high peak to average power ratios, the power amplifier has to be operated most of the time at an output power level that is some dB below the maximum output power, such as for example 8 to 10 dB below the peak power for a W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access) signal in the downlink path. For the average power level the transistor efficiency is only a small part, for example one fifth, of that efficiency at maximum output power. Hence for signals with high peak to average ratios, most of the consumed DC power is dissipated in heat and only a small part of this DC power is converted to the wished RF power. As a consequence, the high DC power increases operating costs and the large amount of dissipated heat increases costs for the amplifier cooling equipment including operating costs for active cooling systems, such as air conditioning, and material costs for bigger heat-sinks and better heat conducting materials.
Consequently, from a standpoint of costs and environmental friendly design, it is advantageous to have a power amplifier that has an efficiency that is as high as possible for signals with high peak to average ratios.
Known concepts for enhancing the efficiency of a power amplifier under variable envelope excitation are in particular the concept according to the Doherty amplifier, to the Chireix's outphasing amplifier, to the Envelope Elimination and Restoration (EER), as invented by Kahn, and to the Bias adaptation.
Regarding the Doherty amplifier in more detail, two amplifiers with a special combining network are used. The amplifiers are called main amplifier and auxiliary amplifier. For output power levels close to the combined maximum output power of both transistors, both amplifiers are active. As the output power is reduced, the auxiliary amplifier shuts down at a certain level and generates no more RF power, whereas the main amplifier is still active. Such a shut down is typically at 6 dB below the maximum combined output power. For this power back-off condition the main amplifier is near its maximum output power and thus the efficiency is almost at its optimum. However, one of the most drawbacks of this concept is, that two amplifiers with a special controlling and combining network are needed.
Regarding the Chireix's outphasing amplifier, the amplitude modulation of an input signal that causes the high peak to average power ratio is converted to a phase modulation. This converting process is done at baseband frequencies usually by employing digital processing, wherein the converting process generates two phase-modulated signals that have to be processed in parallel up to the output of the amplifier unit. As these two signals contain only phase modulation, highly non-linear amplifiers can be used that yield good efficiency. The original signal with its original phase modulation content and original amplitude modulation content is reconstructed at the output of both non-linear amplifiers with help of a special combining network. As a disadvantageous consequence, two complete amplifier chains from the baseband up to the output of the amplifier unit are necessary and the combining network at the output is difficult to realize.
By using the known concept of envelope elimination and restoration (EER), the amplitude modulation of the amplifier input signal is sensed via an envelope detector. Then the amplitude modulation is taken from the input signal by passing it through a limiter. The phase modulation of the input signal is preserved by this process. As the input signal to the amplifier then contains only phase modulation, a high efficient non-linear amplifier can be used. The amplitude modulation of the original signal is restored at the output of the amplifier by changing the amplifiers supply voltage according to the envelope detector output voltage. The efficiency enhancement is based on the fact that an amplifier efficiency is best when the amplifier supply voltage is just as high to accommodate the necessary voltage swing at the amplifier load.
However, the controlling of the supply voltage or current for the amplifier is difficult to achieve because of the speed of the necessary voltage and current changes. Furthermore, the efficiency of the necessary DC/DC converter worsens the efficiency budget of the whole amplifier unit.
Thus the drawbacks of the known EER technique are lying mainly in the fact, that even the most recent DC/DC converters are not able to provide the fast changes in the amplifier supply voltage and/or current needed to reconstruct the amplitude of the original signal at the amplifier unit output, which holds true especially for broadband signals like a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) signal with high power amplifiers.
Finally, the bias adaptation concept is in principle the same as the envelope elimination and restoration, but a conventional linear RF-amplifier is used instead of a saturated amplifier. Accordingly, the amplitude content is not removed from the input signal.

Power amplification by using different fixed power supply signals for the amplifier


In a wireless communication system, a base station application hosted on a base station may be configured to change, or switch, a wireless communication device located in the range of a respective cell between an idle state and a connected state.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
In a wireless communication system, e.g., a cell of a cellular network, a base station may be configured to change, or switch, the communication state of a user equipment between a connected state and an idle state. However, the change process may cost great transmissions and interactions between the user equipment and the cell and, thus, cause waste of communication resources.


The present invention provides a mechanical broadhead in which the blades slide within longitudinal channels that are formed in the ferrule. The blade is formed having a transverse boss extending from the flanks which are received in a channel formed in the ferrule. A camming surface is formed on the inward edge of the blades cooperate with a compliant member to provide controlled radial movement of the blades as they slide rearwardly within the channel on the ferrule.

A mechanical or expanding-blade broadhead is a type of broadhead in which the blades are operably coupled to the ferrule in a manner to move from an in-flight, retracted position to an on-impact, deployed position. This configuration of a broadhead is beneficial in that it has flight characteristics similar to those of a field point tip and penetration characteristics similar to those of a fixed blade broadhead.
The design of these broadheads generally are of two types; those that pivot to the deployed position about a point toward the rear of the ferrule, and those that slide to the deployed position along a path essentially parallel to the axis of the ferrule.
The present invention relates generally to mechanical expanding blade broadheads, specifically those in which the blades slide in relation to the ferrule, to alternative configurations of the broadhead components and to their method of manufacture.
Reference is hereby made to the second of the above referenced types of mechanical broadheads as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,976 of the present inventor, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The sliding blade-type of mechanical broadhead includes one or more blades which slide longitudinally relative to the ferrule from the in-flight, retracted position to the on-impact deployed position. Specifically, the blades in this sliding-type mechanical broadhead are disposed within a longitudinal groove formed in the ferrule such that the cutting edge of the blades extend radially outwardly. A retaining projection extends from the bottom of the blade and slides within the channel. During flight, the blades are closely positioned to the ferrule, and upon impact the blades slide rearwardly through a range of motion defined by the groove to the deployed position.
These current designs of sliding blade-type mechanical broadheads do provide the beneficial features of field point flight characteristics and the penetration capability similar to a fixed blade broadhead. However, the highly detailed features of these type of broadheads require specialized molds and manufacturing techniques, such as Metal Injection Molding (MIM) or powdered metallurgical technology. Further, prior art sliding blade broadheads often have complicated mechanisms to retain the blades in their in-flight and post-impact positions. Further still, broadheads, such as the ones disclosed in the above referenced patent, typically have the point integrally formed with the ferrule and do not allow for interchangeable broadhead points. Additionally, these sliding blade designs may have an undesirable amount of friction at the point where the blade slides along the channel due to the metal on metal arrangement.
The present invention provides for a broadhead and methodology that forms a sliding blade broadhead that overcomes all of the above stated drawbacks.

Method of manufacturing a sliding blade broadhead


A spindle (1) in which the moving part (2) fixed to the tool-holding collet (3) is supported by one or more aerostatic bushes (4) on cushions of air generated by a jet of compressed air that circulates continuously along the air gaps (5) between the aerostatic bushes (4) and the moving part (2) and passes out of the spindle (1) through the co-axial aperture (6) formed in a flange (7) through which the tool-holding collet (3) projects from the spindle (1). Directing elements (8) are attached to the outside of the flange (7) to collect the air passing out of the abovementioned aperture (6) and cause it to adopt an outward direction of motion (E) that is tangential to or incident on the terminal part (3t) of the tool-holding collet (3) and roughly parallel to the axis of the spindle (1).

The present invention relates to machine tools, and more especially those designed to drill holes at very high speeds of rotation of the tool (even exceeding 100,000 revolutions per minute).
More specifically, the invention is concerned with machine tools in which, to prevent friction between the spindle casing and the rotating parts fixed to the tool, aerostatic bushes, known to those skilled in the art, are interposed between the two. In aerostatic bushes the rotating parts are supported by cushions of air generated in the air gaps by the continuous feeding in of a jet of air which, after having travelled through the said air gaps performing its bearing function as described, passes out of the spindle through the same aperture formed in a flange mounted on the free end of the spindle, as that through which the tool-holding collet projects.
In the high-speed drilling work mentioned above, and especially where the holes are being made in materials of low specific weight such as the resins for printed circuit boards, a fine dust is thrown up, consisting of the minute chips that are generated, which is deposited in the radial slits formed in the end of the tool-holding collet to enable it to be opened and closed around a tool. This necessitates cyclical cleaning and maintenance operations, which, in view of the large total number of spindles usually used in a plant and the frequency of the drilling operations, represents a significant addition to production costs. The reason for this is that although the aforementioned jet of air passes out through the said aperture parallel to the tool-holding collet, it is then deflected by vortices generated by the very high-speed movement of the edges and sides of the collet and begins to move in a direction which has a large radial component leading away from the said collet. It cannot therefore exert any action that would keep the said fine dust away from the abovementioned radial slits.
In other words, in front of the end of the collet, a zone is generated in which the air is effectively stagnant, allowing the granules of the said fine dust to pass through it and reach and be deposited in the abovementioned slits.

Pneumatic spindle with means to direct the bearing air towards the tool-holding collet


Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids. The transducer has a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing, in which a wall is designed as a membrane that can oscillate, and which forms a heteromorphic connecting element together with a piezoelectric ceramic disk. Mechanical oscillations of the housing membrane are coupled to the middle ear or inner ear of the user by a mechanically rigid element attached in the central area of the membrane. This element is configured as a bow, so that in positioning the transducer housing from the direction of the mastoid adjoining the tympanic cavity, it acts as an artificial anvil to which coupling elements can be attached for mechanically transmitting oscillations of this artificial ossicle to the inner ear. Various coupling elements can be used, which correspond to the respective individual pathological situation. The application of the entire transducer system can be performed the operating surgeon having an unobstructed view, without extensive, space-creating interventions in the anatomical conditions of the middle ear.

This invention relates to an electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids for average to severe hearing damage, whose cause is located basically in the inner ear.
Since a hearing impairment is still regarded as a "handicap," today the trend in the development of conventional hearing aids has for many years been up to the limit of the feasible miniaturization of the devices. With regard to this aspect, the "In-the-Ear Devices" (ITE) (e.g., German Offenlegungsschrift 28 25 233) have made good progress and are today more widely used than "Behind-the-Ear Devices" (BTE) (e.g., European Patent 0 341 902). Miniaturization, however, has the following drawbacks:
distinctly lower acoustic amplification in comparison to BTE devices; PA1 inadequate sound quality, which is attributable basically to nonlinear distortions at high output sound pressure levels and poor frequency response of the "loudspeakers" (hearing aid receivers); this inferior quality is basically caused by the transducer principle (electromagnetic) and the extremely small design. Both factors hardly allow for more improvements, since here the physical limits have already been more or less reached; PA1 acoustic feedback "howling," which occurs when the device does not fit tightly into the outer ear canal and with high acoustic amplification; PA1 despite being placed in the outer ear canal, most devices remain visible; this important aspect is a psychological problem (stigmatization) known for a long time and plays a significant role, e.g., during puberty or at important social or business functions; PA1 the tight fit of the ITE device, necessary for acoustical reasons, in the outer ear canal causes the unpleasant "locking" effect ("foreign body" in the outer ear canal). PA1 In almost all publications and patents, the use of piezoelectrically active transducer elements, which are produced only as a bimorphic structure or in a multilayer technique, is proposed. The principle of the bimorph means that two strips of piezoelectrically active material are joined together mechanically so that in simultaneous electrical stimulation of the two elements mechanically permanently clamped on one side, one is shortened because of the piezoelectric transverse effect and the other is correspondingly lengthened, by which a distinctly greater deflection and thus deviation of the free end of this connecting element is achieved than with only one transducer strip. In joining together more than two of these strips (multilayer technique), the producible force can additionally be increased. Largely, optimal use is then made of this principle if the geometry of the connecting elements is designed as rectangular strips, and the achievable deviation with the given transducer voltage is increased with increasing length and decreasing thickness of the connecting elements. PA1 Although other physical transducer principles are mentioned (in particular electromagnetic), it is explained that technically simple transducer elements are achievable only with the piezoelectric effect. PA1 The sound quality achievable with the stimulation of the ossicle chain and in particular of the stirrup directly with the above-mentioned bimorphic elements is apparently very high. PA1 In some patents and publications, references to the necessary biocompatible sheathing and high-grade electrical insulation of these piezoelectric transducer elements are indeed found; detailed embodiments of such transducer designs are, however, if mentioned at all, are only generally indicated. PA1 The experiences of many years with implantable, active human implants, such as pacemakers and cochlea implants, show that such systems have to be hermetically sealed, to meet the requirement of clinical safety and a long service life. The concept of hermetic sealing is mentioned, however, in none of the above-mentioned patents; in particular, no implantable hearing aid with a transducer design is described as being hermetically sealed. PA1 Nor is it described how such a transducer design has to be made, so that the transducer also is actually implantable, i.e., is configured so that the operating surgeon retains a substantially free view of the operating area (in particular of the ossicle chain and the oval and round window); further, the transducer has to be designed so that its application in the middle ear area is possible under the given anatomical conditions, and no substantial surgical curettage has to be performed, which is expensive and entails the high risk of traumatic reactions and subsequent infections. This aspect contradicts the use of piezoelectrical bimorphic transducer elements, since the latter--as mentioned--have to be technically optimally extended and require a permanent clamping of one end (minimum useful length about 7 mm; this measurement already exceeds anatomically average geometries in the middle ear). Such design features are also not indicated in any patent. PA1 Direct transducer material data for piezoelectric elements relates only to concepts such as "piezoelectrically active ceramic" or PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride).
A fully implantable hearing aid with an optimized electromechanical transducer for direct mechanical stimulation of the middle or inner ear, which does not exhibit the above-mentioned drawbacks and moreover has substantial improvements, is suitable in hearing impairments whose cause is located in the inner ear or in higher auditory processing levels and cannot be corrected by surgical measures. Worldwide, the share of such inner ear impairments (offending noises, impairment caused by disease, ototoxic medications, presbycusis, etc.) clearly exceeds (about 80%) the cases of a middle ear defect (disturbance of sound conduction) which can be corrected by surgery.
For said reasons, tests have been made for quite some time to use principles of (inner) ear stimulation other than the reconversion into amplified airborne sound. Here, e.g., the possibilities of partially implantable, electromagnetic systems can be mentioned, in which one of the auditory ossicles in the middle ear (malleus, incus and stapes) is permanently joined mechanically with a very small permanent magnet; a (conventional) ITE hearing device now does not control a hearing aid receiver, but a magnetic induction coil whose alternating field, which corresponds to the acoustical data, stimulates the implanted magnet and thus the ossicle chain to oscillations, which are greater in their amplitude with a suitable system design than in the natural case and thus cause the amplifying effect. In this case, the actuating coil is brought, from outside, as close as possible to the tympanic membrane, to keep the air gap to the implanted magnet to a minimum. Other embodiments consist in the replacement of one of the ossicles (e.g., anvil) with one made from a biocompatible material which sheathes a permanent magnet. Such partially implantable electromagnetic systems are described in the literature, e.g., in Heide et al. (Adv. Audiol., vol. 4, pp. 32-43, Karger, Basel 1988) and documented in numerous patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,870,832; 4,606,329; 4,756,312; 5,015,224; and 5,015,225, German Patent No. 3 617 118 C2; European Patent No. 0 242 038; UK Patent Nos. 1 440 724; and 2 188 209.
In addition, systems are also known which stimulate the inner ear by a body-borne sound (bone) conduction (U.K. Patent No. 2,176,078, partially implantable electromagnetic; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,262, nonimplantable piezoelectric).
Most of the above-mentioned processes and devices contain partially implantable transducers to stimulate the middle ear ossicles or, directly, the oval window.
A possible principle of a fully implantable electromechanical transducer for direct mechanical stimulation of the stirrup is described in publications of the Japanese group of Yanigahara and Suzuki et al. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck, Surg-Vol 113, 1987, pp. 869-872; Hoke, M. (ed), Advances in Audiology, Vol. 4, Karger Basel, 1988).
In this system, the electromechanically active part consists of a piezoelectric ceramic bending transducer which is designed as a bimorph and directly actuates the head of the stirrup with its free oscillating end by a small coupling element (e.g., made from polyethylene). The mechanically necessary permanent clamping of the other end of this bending transducer is achieved by complicated adjusting rods made from titanium, whose fastening element is bolted to the bone. Tests on humans under local anesthesia show that deviations of the stirrup are achievable with this transducer element in the case of transducer voltages around 1.0 volt, which correspond to equivalent stimulating sound levels of 90-100 dB SPL in the audiologically important frequency range of about 250-4000 Hz and thus really are sufficient for a hearing aid supply. An important additional result of these tests is the confirmed high sound quality and freedom from distortion of this type of stimulation of all test subjects, which is also documented in the result quotas of speech comprehension tests in test subjects with distinct inner ear hearing impairments.
In the above-mentioned publications, it is clearly pointed out that a basic problem in the technical achievement of the described transducer elements is the biocompatible sheathing with long-term stability of the freely oscillating piezoelectric ceramic element, which, moreover, also has to have high electrical insulation values in the range of several MOhm since such ceramic elements have a high electrical impedance because of their low quiescent capacity. A further difficulty consists in the space requirement of such transducer elements and the related positioning mechanisms, which obstruct a safe and reliable application in the middle ear area, taking into consideration the individual fluctuations of the anatomical geometries. Further, an anatomically normal and thus functioning ossicle chain has to be broken to be able to use the above-mentioned transducer element; when the loss or other technical or clinical problems occur, which indicate the removal of the transducer, therefore, a surgical reconstruction of the chain has to be attempted to restore the former state.
A similar process is indicated by Epley (U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,962), who also uses piezoelectric bending transducers with coupling to the stirrup as a transducer, which are designed as a bimorph or use a multilayer technique. Here, the necessity of a suitable sheathing is also pointed out (flexible plastics, silicone); also, an embodiment of coupling elements of the free bending oscillator end to the stirrup is described.
Nunley et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,285) describe a process, in which, parallel to the anatomically normal and intact ossicle chain, the stirrup or the oval window are directly oscillated by a piezoelectric element to "support" and to amplify the natural method of transmission. A detailed embodiment of the transducer is not indicated. In this connection, it is to be noted that interferences can occur in the case of the nonideal phase frequency characteristic of the deviation of the transducer in comparison to natural transmission, which entail considerable breaks in the overall frequency range and thus can very negatively influence the transmission quality and the amplification.
Similar data is documented in Wingrove (U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,514), who also uses a piezoelectric bimorphic element to stimulate the stirrup or oval window, which is to be embedded on one side permanently in the mastoid bone and exhibits a suitable biocompatible encapsulation. Detailed embodiments or descriptions are not indicated there either.
Additional, varied types of stimulations of the stirrup or oval window with piezoelectric bending transducers in a bimorphic type of construction are also found in Branch et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,748); detailed embodiments of the possibilities of how such transducer elements can be biocompatibly sheathed and electrically insulated, are not mentioned either.
The most detailed embodiments of suitable transducer processes for fully implantable hearing aids are found in Schaefer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,366, European Patent No. A1 0 263 254). Here, a method of hearing improvement and a fully implantable device are described, in which two electromechanical transducers, which also preferably are designed as piezoelectric bimorphic elements, are inserted in the broken chain as an "active link" after an interruption of the ossicle chain (typically by removing the anvil as a link between the hammer and stirrup). One of the transducers performs a microphone function by mechanical coupling to the tympanic membrane or the hammer, and the thus obtained electrical signal is fed by an electronic system amplified to the output transducer. This stimulation transducer in turn also stimulates the stirrup or the oval window.
In the above-mentioned patents of Schaefer, conceivable embodiments of these transducers are described to the effect that, preferably, piezoelectric bending transducers are clamped on one side in housings, not described in more detail, and the coupling of the free, oscillatory end of these transducers to the ossicles, preferably, takes place by a thin wire of stainless steel, and in the output transducer this wire is looped, e.g., around the head of the stirrup. The lateral guiding of this wire by the wall of the housing, which contains the active transducer element, takes place by a guide bushing which is embedded in the housing wall. However, a precise explanation of this embodiment is not indicated. The active transducer elements can be piezoelectric (piezoactive polymers such as PVDF or piezoelectric ceramics, preferably with a bimorphic structure) or electromagnetic.
The above-indicated prior art of fully implantable electromechanical transducers for hearing aids can be summarized as follows:
Attempts at solving full encapsulation of implantable hearing aid transducers are indicated only in two of said patents (U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,333 and German Patent No. 3 918 086). Here, active transducer elements in closed housings are used, whose electrically stimulated mechanical oscillations are decoupled by hose lines; the oscillations are further conveyed in these hose lines in liquid or gaseous media and guided either to the head of the stirrup or directly by a liquid coupling through the oval or the round window into the perilymph of the cochlear basal turn. A significant advantage of this special hydromechanical coupling (German Patent No. 3 918 086) consists in that sizable deviations in comparison to the driving transducer membrane, and thus high equivalent output sound pressure levels, are achievable on the basis of the hydraulic principle at the end of the coupling element. Questions of germ-free filling with liquid and of the long-term stable coupling to the middle or inner ear are problematical here with respect to the technical implementation.


Provided is a novel drug capable of inhibiting excessive formation of melanin in skin and a skin whitening agent incorporated therewith.

Melanin is a blackish-brown pigment produced by melanocytes present in epidermis, and is an insoluble high molecular weight compound formed by an oxidative condensation reaction by the action of enzymes such as tyrosinase using the amino acid, tyrosine, as a substrate. More specifically, melanin is classified into eumelanin, which exhibits black color, and pheomelanin, which exhibits red color. After being produced by melanocytes, these melanins are transferred in the form of melanin-containing granules (melanosomes) to epidermal keratinocytes present in the periphery thereof, and are excreted from epidermis accompanying turnover thereof. However, as a result of excessive production of melanin by melanocytes that have been activated by such factors as exposure to ultraviolet rays or stress and the subsequent deposition thereof, pigmentation, age spots, freckles or liver spots and the like appear on the skin following sun tanning, thereby becoming a source of concern in terms of aesthetics.
In the past, in addition to cysteine, glutathione and vitamin C, products derived from microorganisms belonging to the genus Trichoderma (Patent Document 1), lactoferrin hydrolysates (Patent Document 2), and amino acid derivatives and peptide derivatives of kojic acid (Patent Document 3) have been reported to have tyrosinase inhibitory action and be able to inhibit the formation of melanin, while specific aromatic compounds such as furanone have been reported to be able to be used as tyrosinase inhibitors and melanin formation inhibitors (Patent Documents 4, 5 and 6).
Moreover, the known α-irone, 4-(2,5,6,6-tetramethyl-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-buten-2-one (Patent Document 7), γ-irone and precursors of α-irone in the form of iriflorental and iribaridal (Patent Document 8) have been reported to have melanin inhibitory effects.
However, there are cases in which conventionally known melanin formation inhibitors have problems with safety in the manner of hydroquinone, which has recently attracted attention as a skin whitening agent, or the effects thereof may not be adequate in terms of practical use, thereby resulting in a continuing need to search for a novel component having melanin formation inhibitory action.

Abstract: Phenylethyl cinnamate is incorporated as an active ingredient.


Disclosed is an insulated bobbin for stator which has good insertability of a stator iron core with no reduction of coil winding space.. A first bobbin and a second bobbin each comprise a bobbin inner rim wall, provided along an outer rim face of an iron core main body, and a projections projecting from the bobbin inner rim wall in the diameter direction in correspondence with a plurality of projecting poles, each projection being U-shaped in cross-section with an opening on the division side, and a pair of side walls of the projections being of different height in the central axial direction so that a step is created by their edges.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insulated bobbin for a stator in a multipolar magneto used as an electrical component in the engine of a two-wheeled vehicle, a snowmobile, outboard equipment, a buggy, a water-bike and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 12 is a partially sectional side view of a conventional multipolar magneto as disclosed, for instance, in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 58-124051. Furthermore, FIG. 13 is a front view of a multipolar magneto. Furthermore, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an insulated bobbin for a stator of a conventional multipolar magneto. In FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, a tapered portion is provided to the center of a center piece 41 and is fitted to the crankshaft of an engine. A fly wheel 43 is molded from an iron plate and is fixed to a flange 42 of the center piece 41 by a rivet 44.
Then, magnets 45 and non-magnetic support plates 46 are attached to the inner rim of the fly wheel 43, the magnets 45 being provided in the perimeter direction with alternately different polarities. On the inner side of the magnets 45, a stator 50 is fixed so as to face the inner side with a gap therebetween. The stator 50 has the following constitution.
As shown in FIG. 14, a stator iron core 1 has multiple projecting poles 1b extending radially, the projecting poles 1b being formed by lamination of multiple thin iron layers. As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, generator coil 3 is wound around the projecting poles 1b, and these are electrically connected to form a generator circuit. Insulated bobbins 52 are made from resin and are fitted into the wire-winding portions of the projecting poles 1b. Each insulated bobbin 52 is divided into a first bobbin 53 and a second bobbin 54, which clasp the projecting pole 1b from each side with respect to the lamination direction of the stator iron core 1.
FIG. 15 is a front view of another example of an insulated bobbin for stator in a conventional multipolar magneto, illustrating the bobbin of one side only. FIG. 16 is an underside view of a bobbin. Furthermore, FIG. 17 shows a front view of parts corresponding to one projecting pole 1b and a view of these parts from the inner side of the bobbin, and FIG. 18 shows an underside view of parts corresponding to one projecting pole 1b and a view of these parts from the outside of the bobbin and from the side. On the other hand, FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIX--XIX of FIG. 16 and FIG. 17. Furthermore, FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view and a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line XX--XX of FIG. 16.
In FIG. 15-FIG. 18, the insulated bobbin for stator is divided into two bobbins of identical shape. Below, only a first bobbin 61 of one side will be explained. Firstly, the bobbin 61 has a substantially cylindrical bobbin inner rim wall 61a. Then, a projection 61b, which is U-shaped in cross-section, projects radially from the bobbin inner rim wall 61a in the diameter direction. The projection 61b has a pair of side walls 61c and 61d which extend along both side faces of the projecting pole 1b of the core 1. A brim 61e is provided at the tip of the projection 61b and spreads along the flange of the core 1.
Furthermore, as shown clearly in FIG. 19, the pair of side walls 61c and 61d of the projection 61b are the same height. Therefore, the edges of the opening side of the cross-sectional U-shape of the projection 61b form a single face. Furthermore, the pair of side walls 61c and 61d are provided so as to form parallel faces.
In addition, as shown clearly in FIG. 20, the tip edges of the side walls 61c and 61d of the projection 61b are molded to form a rectangle having right-angled corners.
In the insulated bobbin for stator of the above constitution, the first bobbin 61 and a second bobbin (not shown in the diagram) having the same shape as the first bobbin 61 are provided, and the first bobbin 61 and the second bobbin are arranged so as to clasp the projecting pole 1b of the stator iron core 1 from above and below with respect to the lamination direction. Thereafter, a generator coil is attached by winding. Then, the insulated bobbin provides electrical insulation between the stator iron core 1 and the generator coil 3.
In the insulated bobbin for stator of such a constitution, firstly, since the portion which the projecting pole 1b of the stator iron core 1 is inserted into, that is, the edges of the cross-sectionally U-shaped projection 61b, are the same height and in a single plane, when the stator iron core 1 is inserted into the insulated bobbin, positioning is awkward and insertion is difficult.
Furthermore, since the edges have not been chamfered, the corners of the edges strike the stator iron core 1, making it difficult to insert the stator iron core 1 into the insulated bobbin.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 21, in the conventional insulated bobbin, heat shrinkage after molding causes the insides of the side walls 61c and 61d of the projection 61b to warp into an arc. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 22, in the conventional insulated bobbin, this deformation makes the opening side of the projection 61b narrow. As a result of such deformation, insertability of the stator iron core 1 is extremely poor.
On the other hand, when the thickness of the bobbin is increased in order to prevent deformation due to heat shrinkage after the insulated bobbin has been molded, there is less space for winding coil, consequently reducing output characteristics. In addition, when the thickness of the bobbin is increased, the coil has poor heat radiation, consequently raising the temperature of the generator coil 3.
Furthermore, when the gap between the stator iron core 1 and the bobbin is increased to enable the bobbin to fit around the stator iron core 1 even when the bobbin has suffered deformation due to heat shrinkage after molding, space for coil winding is reduced and output characteristics deteriorate. Furthermore, since the bobbin and the stator iron core 1 do not closely contact each other, when winding coil, there is a possibility that the bobbin may break due to tension of the conductive wire, or that the bobbin may move during winding and consequently disturb the winding of the wire.
In addition, in the conventional insulated bobbin for stator, after coil has been wound, the coil is secured by impregnation of varnish. However, since the open-end wire of the coil is not fixed before applying the varnish, the coil slackens during application of the varnish so that the coil is secured in a floating state, reducing vibration resistance of the coil.
Furthermore, an insulated bobbin for stator generally comprises resin mixed with glass fabric, and conventionally, high-tenacity nylon or the like is mainly used as the resin in order to prevent breakage. However, nylon has a disadvantage of poor insulation characteristics at high temperatures.


A microfluidic system (1) for the isolation of cells (C1) of at least one given type from a sample; the system (1) comprises a separation unit (3), for transferring at least part of the cells (C1) of the given type from a main chamber (4) to a recovery chamber (5) in a substantially selective way with respect to further cells (C2) of the sample; two valves (9, 10) are set upstream and downstream of the main chamber (4); two valves (11, 12) are set upstream and downstream of the recovery chamber (5); a control assembly (23) is designed to govern the aforementioned valves (9, 10, 11, 12); the system (1) proposed enables isolation of the cells with a high degree of reproducibility and precision.

Known to the art is a device for isolation of particles of a given type, which comprises a main chamber, in which an operator, using a pipette, introduces a sample through a hole of the main chamber, and a recovery chamber, from which the operator, once again using a pipette, draws the particles of the given type through a hole of the recovery chamber.
The documents Nos. US2003/0073110 and EP1179585 disclose complex devices for the manipulation of samples, which comprise a plurality of valves completely contained in the devices themselves.
The document No. US2004/0209354 discloses only some aspects of a system for the manipulation of particles, details of the structure of the device and of its operation are not specified.
Known devices have various problems of precision during the steps of separation, introduction, and recovery. Furthermore, the results are not always reproducible, at times contamination of the sample occurs during the various steps, and the intervention of operators with particular manual skills is frequently necessary.

Microfluidic device for isolation of cells


With a method for cutting a groove-shaped recess in a workpiece, a cutting tool for a machine tool is provided on a workpiece. The cutting tool is displaced into a cutting position, in which the cutting tool is in engagement with the workpiece. The cutting tool in engagement with the workpiece is displaced relative to the workpiece for cutting the groove-shaped recess. Upon cutting, a chip is produced with a predetermined maximum chip length that is less than a total length of the recess to be produced.

EP 3 127 628 A1 discloses a method with which a chip produced when cutting a groove-shaped recess is broken by means of a resistance element, which is arranged in a chip channel of a cutting tool. The resulting chip length cannot be determined exactly with this method, because it depends on material parameters, process parameters and random factors. The risk remains that chips with increased chip length will clog the chip channel. Based on resulting downtimes, the economic efficiency of the method is reduced. U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,728 A discloses a method for machining a workpiece.

Method for cutting a groove-shaped recess into a workpiece


A fiber-optic transmission system includes a transmitter having a designed chirp value. The transmitter has first and second inputs for receiving first and second input signals, respectively, used to produce a modulated output signal. An optical fiber is responsive to the transmitter for receiving the output signal. A circuit asymmetrically drives the first and second input signals so as to change the designed chirp value of the transmitter to another value. Methods of controlling the chirp of a commercially available transmitters are also disclosed. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.

The present disclosure is directed generally to digital optical transmission systems, and more specifically to high-speed digital optical transmitters employing enhanced chirp control techniques to improve data transmission performance.
Optical transmission systems include optical transmission media, such as an optical fiber, for propagating information between an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. An optical transmitter for an optical fiber transmission system includes an optical source, such as a semiconductor laser, for generating a Continuous Wave (CW) light beam, and an optical modulator for modulating the CW light beam with the information to be transmitted. The optical receiver detects the transmitted optical signal and processes the optical signal into an electronic waveform that contains the transmitted information.
Chirp refers to the spread of the optical frequency of a signal. In optics, chirp may be caused due to the dispersion of the signal as it propagates through the optical fiber. Digital optical transmission systems are known that employ chirp control techniques to improve data transmission performance. For example, chirp may be introduced in the CW light beam to offset dispersion caused by the properties of the optical fibers.
Because the electrical data signal input to the modulator typically has a Non-Return-to-Zero (NRZ) data format, the optical signal generated by the data modulator typically has an NRZ modulation format. Modulators are also known to employ a Return-to-Zero (RZ) modulation format in digital optical transmission systems. Like the NRZ data transmission system, the conventional optical transmission system employing the RZ modulation format includes a laser for generating a CW light beam, and a data modulator for modulating the CW light beam in response to an electrical NRZ data signal. In addition, the conventional RZ data transmission system includes an RZ pulse modulator for carving RZ pulses from the modulated optical signal carrying the NRZ data.
Conventional NRZ or RZ optical transmission systems operating at bit rates of about 10 Gbits/s typically deploy either negative chirp (i.e., decreased optical frequency at leading edges of the modulated optical signal and increased optical frequency at trailing edges of the modulated signal) or no chirp (i.e., essentially no change in the optical frequency of the modulated optical signal) at the optical transmitter when transmitting data over optical fiber having positive dispersion characteristics. This is to achieve what is commonly known as the "maximum dispersion distance," which is the fiber distance beyond which neighboring data bits start to overlap and interfere. For example, the maximum dispersion distance for the conventional 10 Gbits/s optical transmitter is approximately 60 km of Standard Single-Mode Fiber (SSMF).
Another fiber distance that impacts optical transmission performance is the "effective non-linear fiber distance," which is the fiber distance over which the optical signal power is high enough to introduce impairment from fiber non-linearity. For example, the effective non-linear fiber distance for the conventional 10 Gbits/s optical transmitter is approximately 20 km of SSMF. In general, for optical transmitters operating at bit rates up to about 10 Gbits/s, the maximum dispersion distance is longer than the effective non-linear fiber distance. Because of the interplay between dispersion and fiber non-linearity in the transmission of optical data, conventional NRZ or RZ optical transmission systems operating at bit rates of about 10 Gbits/s typically employ both chirp control (e.g., negative chirp or no chirp) and dispersion mapping (e.g., placing dispersion compensating fiber at certain positions in the transmission link) techniques to optimize the overall data transmission performance.
For the foregoing reasons, it may be desirable to introduce chirp into a modulated CW light beam produced by commercially available components, such as a dual-drive Mach-Zehnder transmitter (Lithium Niobate or Indium Phosphide) that are designed for zero chirp, or to compensate for chirp introduced by the modulator.

Method and apparatus for controlling tunable transmitter chirp


A process for providing an isoflavone rich protein isolate is provided, along with the isoflavone rich protein isolate produced thereby. A vegetable material containing protein and at least one isoflavone compound is extracted with an aqueous extractant having a neutral pH. The protein and isoflavones are extracted into the extractant, and the extractant containing the protein and isoflavones is separated from insoluble vegetable materials to form a protein extract. The pH of the protein extract is adjusted to about the isoelectric point of the protein to precipitate the protein. The extract containing the precipitated protein is cooled to a temperature of from about 40.degree. F. to about 80.degree. F., and then the protein is separated from the extract. The cool separation temperatures unexpectedly significantly increase the concentration of isoflavones recovered in the separated protein, while the neutral extract pH inhibits loss of protein normally observed at cool or cold separation temperatures.

The present invention relates to an isoflavone enriched vegetable protein isolate and a process for producing the same.
Isoflavones occur in a variety of leguminous plants and oilseeds, including vegetable protein materials such as soybeans. These compounds, for purposes of the present invention, include daidzin, 6"-OAc daidzin, 6"-OMal daidzin, daidzein, genistin, 6"-OAc genistin, 6"-OMal genistin, genistein, glycitin, 6"-OMal glycitin, glycitein, biochanin A, and formononetin. As used herein, "Mal" represents "malonyl" and "Ac" represents "acetyl". The structures of these isoflavones are shown in Formulas 1 and 2 below. ##STR1##
______________________________________ Compound R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4 ______________________________________ Genistein OH H OH OH Daidzein OH H H OH Glycitein OH OCH.sub.3 H OH Biochanin A OH H OH OCH.sub.3 Formononetin OH H H OCH.sub.3 ______________________________________ ##STR2##
______________________________________ Compound R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4 ______________________________________ Genistin H H OH OH 6"-OMal genistin COCH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 H H OH OH 6"-OAc genistin COCH.sub.3 H OH OH Daidzin H H H OH 6"-OMal daidzin COCH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 H H H OH 6"-OAc daidzin COCH.sub.3 H H OH Glycitin H OCH.sub.3 H OH 6"-OMal glycitin COCH.sub.3 OCH.sub.3 H OH ______________________________________
It has recently been recognized that the isoflavones contained in vegetable proteins such as soybeans may inhibit the growth of human cancer cells, such as breast cancer cells and prostate cancer cells, as described in the following articles: "Genistein Inhibition of the Growth of Human Breast Cancer Cells: Independence from Estrogen Receptors and the Multi-Drug Resistance Gene" by Peterson and Barnes, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 179, No.1 p. 661-667, Aug. 30, 1991; Genistein and Biochanin A Inhibit the Growth of Human Prostate Cancer Cells but not Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Autophosphorylation" by Peterson and Barnes, The Prostate 22: 335-345 (1993); and "Soybeans Inhibit Mammary Tumors in Models of Breast Cancer" by Barnes et al. Mutagens and Carcinogens in the Diet p. 239-253 (1990). These isoflavones also have been found to reduce cardiovascular risk factors, for example by reducing the levels of atherosclerosis inducing lipoproteins and low density cholesterol and by increasing endothelial dependent vasodilation response.
Typically these isoflavone compounds have been associated with an inherent, bitter flavor in vegetable protein materials such as soybeans. In the commercial production of such protein materials, such as protein isolates and protein concentrates, the focus has been to remove these isoflavone compounds.
In a typical conventional process for the production of a vegetable protein isolate, e.g. a soy protein isolate, a vegetable material containing protein is extracted with an aqueous alkaline extractant, typically having a pH of from about 8 to about 11, to extract protein from insoluble vegetable matter. The extractant preferably is relatively alkaline, usually having a pH of from about 9 to 10, since vegetable proteins are very soluble in extractants of higher alkalinity, leading to extraction of most of the protein from the vegetable material. The extractant containing the protein is separated from insoluble vegetable materials to provide a protein extract.
The protein isolate is then recovered from the protein extract. A protein material is precipitated from the extract by adjusting the pH of the extract to about the isoelectric point of the protein with a suitable acid. The precipitated protein material is then separated from the extract. Typically the protein material is separated from the extract at a temperature of from about 120.degree. F. to 150.degree. F. since the precipitated protein packs densely at these temperatures, enhancing the yield of the recovered protein material. Separation temperatures below 90.degree. F. are avoided since the protein becomes fluffy at such temperatures, reducing the yield and commercial usefulness of the recovered protein material. After the protein material is separated from the extract, the protein material is extensively washed to remove residual carbohydrates, isoflavones, ash, and other non-protein materials.
When the vegetable material contains isoflavones, in addition to protein, the isoflavones are solubilized by the aqueous extractant along with the protein. Much of the isoflavones remain solublized in the extract following separation of the precipitated protein material from the extract. After separation of the precipitated protein material from the extract, the extract and isoflavones solubilized therein are usually discarded. Residual isoflavones left in the separated protein material are usually removed by exhaustive washing of the protein material to ensure that the taste associated with the isoflavones is not present in the protein material.
It is desirable, however, to provide an isoflavone rich protein material, and a process for producing the same, which is suitable for administration in a diet. Such an isoflavone rich protein material can be used to provide the nutritional benefits of the protein and the health benefits of the isoflavones when administered in a diet.

Isoflavone rich protein isolate and process for producing

Protein Technologies International, Inc.


A tracing control system machines a workpiece to a desired contour corresponding to the surface of a model which is being traced. The tracing control system comprises a tracing control circuit, a digitizing circuit, and numerical circuits. The tracing control circuit controls a plurality of tracing axes to trace the surface of the model. The digitizing circuit is connected to the tracing control circuit through a bus, for reading the positions of the tracing axes as positional data from time to time and processing the positional data to prevent a cutter head from biting into the workpiece, thereby to generate NC data linearly approximate the surface of the model. The numerical control circuits are connected to the digitizing circuit through the bus, for positionally controlling as many machining axes as the number of the tracing axes on the NC data to machine the workpiece.

FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings shows the concept of a conventional tracing control system. A stylus 142 is held in contact with a model 143 to be copied. Amounts .epsilon.x, .epsilon.y, .epsilon.z of displacement of the stylus 142 along respective axes are detected by a tracer head 141. A combined amount ##EQU1## of displacement of the stylus 142 is calculated by a combining circuit 131. An adder 132 then calculates the difference .DELTA..epsilon. between the combined amount .epsilon. of displacement a reference amount .epsilon.0 of displacement and a normal-direction speed signal generator 133 produces a normal-direction speed signal Vn by multiplying the difference .DELTA..epsilon. by a predetermined gain. A tangential-direction speed signal generator 134 generates a tangential-direction speed Vt from the difference .DELTA..epsilon. and a commanded tracing speed.
A switching circuit 135 selects amounts of displacement along the respective axes in a commanded tracing plane. A tracing-direction calculating circuit 136 employs the selected amounts to calculate a cosine cos .theta. and a sine sin .theta. of a profiling direction .theta.. An axis speed signal generator 137 employs Vn, Vt, cos .theta., and sin .theta. to generate axis speed signals Vx, Vy, Vz for the respective tracing axes. Based on the axis speed signals, the stylus 142 is moved on the surface of the model 143. A cutter head 162 is also moved at the same speed as the stylus 142 to machining a workpiece 163.
In the conventional tracing control system, however, there is a certain limitation on tracing speeds. If the tracing speed is excessively high, the cutter head 162 tends to bite into the workpiece 163 in regions where the shape to be copied abruptly changes.
There has been developed a digitizer as a means for solving the above problem. The digitizer reads digital positional data of the positions of the controlled axes from time to time. The digitizer linearly approximates the model surface based on the positional data, and also processes data to prevent the cutter head from biting into the workpiece, such as by temporarily interrupting the reading of positional data in the regions where the shape to be copied abruptly changes, thereby generating NC data. The NC data are then supplied to a computerized numerical control system for machining the workpiece.
The process which employs the digitizer, however, requires an increased number of steps and is not efficient since the model is traced and then the workpiece is machined.


Time of flight between two or more ultrasonic transceivers is measured using known delays. First and second transceivers are duty cycled, each having a respective receive period that is less than a measurement period during which the transceivers are configured to receive transmissions. An ultrasonic trigger pulse is transmitted by the first transceiver. The second transceiver, upon receiving the trigger pulse, transmits an ultrasonic response pulse after a first predefined delay time that is known to the first transceiver and greater than the receive period of the second transceiver. Subsequently, the first transceiver receives the ultrasonic response pulse and determines a receive time. The first transceiver determines the distance between the first transceiver and the second transceiver from a speed of sound, an elapsed time between the time of transmission of the trigger pulse and the receive time, and the first predetermine delay time.

Localization techniques are used to determine the location of an object relative to a known reference frame such as the Earth or relative to a second object which is stationary in the desired reference frame. Various techniques can be used, including radio frequency ranging, camera tracking, and inertial dead reckoning. Radio frequency techniques are not suitable to short range, indoor tracking applications. Camera techniques are expensive and costly. Inertial dead reckoning techniques are susceptible to offset drift and other errors and generally have low performance.
It is within this context that aspects of the present disclosure arise.


Disclosed is a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a positive electrode including a lithium nickel-based positive active material; a negative electrode including a negative active material; an electrolyte including a lithium salt and a non-aqueous organic solvent; and a separator including a polymer substrate and a hydroxide compound-containing coating layer disposed on the polymer substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to a rechargeable lithium battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lithium rechargeable batteries have recently drawn attention as a power source for small portable electronic devices. They use an organic electrolyte solution, and thereby have twice the discharge voltage of a conventional battery using an alkaline aqueous solution and, accordingly, high energy density. Such a rechargeable lithium battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte.
For positive active materials of a rechargeable lithium battery, composite metal oxides such as LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, LiNi1-xCoxO2 (0<x<1), and the like have been suggested. As for negative active materials of a rechargeable lithium battery, various carbon-based materials such as artificial graphite, natural graphite, and hard carbon, or non-carbon-based materials such as silicon, tin oxide, lithium vanadium-based oxide, and the like have been suggested. A separator is disposed between positive and negative electrodes for separating the electrodes and generally, includes polymer films including insulating polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like.


A hybrid wood-burning fireplace assembly configured for burning wood-based fuel, wherein the burning generates combustion exhaust. The assembly comprising a fire box having an interior area, a baffle in the interior area defining lower and upper combustion chambers relative to the baffle. The upper combustion chamber has an upper exhaust passageway between baffle and the top portion of the firebox. A secondary combustion airway has air outlets in the firebox that direct the secondary combustion air adjacent to the baffle to mix with the exhaust for non-catalytic secondary combustion of the exhaust before the exhaust flows through the upper exhaust passageway. A catalytic combustion unit is positioned above the baffle and across the upper exhaust passageway, whereby the exhaust will pass through the catalytic combustion unit after the non-catalytic secondary combustion of the exhaust and before the exhaust exits the upper combustion chamber through the upper exhaust passageway.

Conventional fireplace assemblies are configured to burn a selected fuel, such as wood, pellets, gas, etc., and this burning of the fuel results in exhaust that contains combustion bi-products. As an example, a wood burning fireplace assembly, such as a stove or insert, is used to burn wood in the firebox, which creates combustion bi-products (solid and gaseous) that exit the firebox as exhaust. Technology has been developed to reduce or otherwise control the emissions from the fireplace assemblies, including catalytic fireplace assemblies and non-catalytic fireplace assemblies that provide for secondary combustion of the exhaust to reduce the emissions.
Conventional catalytic fireplace assemblies having catalytic converters are generally effective in achieving low particulate emissions at low temperatures, but become less effective as temperatures rise. On the other hand, conventional non-catalytic fireplace assemblies having secondary combustion tubes are generally effective in causing secondary combustion of the combustion bi-products to achieve low particulate emissions at high temperatures, but become less effective as temperatures fall. In both cases, a bypass damper may need to be frequently controlled and/or other manual adjustments may need to be made in order to regulate the rate of combustion within the fireplace assembly.


A voltage regulator comprising two feedback loops for regulating a load voltage, where the first feedback loop comprises a pass transistor to source current to the load, and the second feedback loop comprises a shunt transistor to shunt current from the pass transistor to ground. The use of two feedback loops allows the design of a voltage regulator in which it small-signal impedance, as seen by a power rail, has a phase not less than −90 degrees. This mitigates interactions between the power rail and the voltage regulator that may lead to oscillations, without the need for a relatively large de-coupling capacitor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A large class of linear voltage regulators provides a regulated voltage by way of a feedback loop comprising an operational amplifier and a pass transistor. An example of a linear voltage regulator is illustrated in FIG. 2. As is well known, a negative feedback loop regulates the voltage at node 202 to match a reference voltage VREF, where the feedback loop is formed by the output port of amplifier A connected to the gate of pass transistor Q, and the drain of transistor Q connected to the positive input port of amplifier A. The reference voltage VREF is applied at the negative input port to amplifier A. Load 204 is the circuit for which a regulated voltage is desired, and capacitor 204 is a de-coupling capacitor. Load 204 may be, for example, a circuit within a microprocessor. Particular examples include, but are not limited to, a phase locked loop, a delay locked loop, or a thermal sensor.
Let ZREG denote the small-signal impedance presented by the linear voltage regulator to voltage rail 204. It has been observed that there may be an undesirable interaction between the supply voltage Vcc at voltage rail 204 and the linear voltage regulator of FIG. 2. In particular, it has been observed that if the phase of the impedance ZREG falls below −90 degrees, there may be spontaneous oscillations at voltage rail 204. This problem is more likely to worsen as the number of linear voltage regulators connected to voltage rail 204 increases, as for example in applications in which there are more than one microprocessor core or more than one I/O (Input/Output) channel.
A linear voltage regulator of the type illustrated in FIG. 2 is generally designed so that the poles of its closed-loop transfer function are the zeros of its impedance ZREG. This results in the phase of the impedance ZREG being less than −90 degrees, unless the linear voltage regulator is designed to be over-damped. However, such an over-damped design is not necessarily trivial or desirable for some applications, as it generally requires a relatively large capacitor for compensation. Furthermore, such a relatively large capacitor results in a linear voltage regulator with a low operating bandwidth. A low operating bandwidth linear voltage regulator may need a large output de-coupling capacitor to provide adequate power supply rejection (PSR). But large output de-coupling capacitors are not necessarily desirable because of their size, and because of possible current leakage.


A positioning control system has a disturbance observer for estimating a disturbance from a displaced distance of a cylinder of a controlled object, and feeding back an estimated disturbance. The positioning control system also includes a saturation element and a low-pass element disposed in a feedback loop including the disturbance observer, and a saturated value changer for changing a saturated value of the saturation element based on a deviation. The saturation element is disposed in a forward path of a positive-feedback minor loop, whereas the low-pass element is disposed in a feedback path of the positive-feedback minor loop.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positioning control system having a disturbance observer for estimating a disturbance from at least one observed value of a controlled object and feeding back an estimated disturbance. The present invention also relates to a filter that is used in such a positioning control system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Positioning control systems are widely used in production facility equipment. In clean room environments, particularly, pneumatic cylinders employed by positioning control systems are highly advantageous, since they are free of liquid leakage and can easily be serviced for maintenance.
However, pneumatic cylinders do not lend themselves to highly accurate and highly rigid positioning owing to their behavior, on account of air compressibility and limitations on the pneumatic pressure that can be used. In particular, a pneumatic cylinder having a seal mounted on a piston, for preventing leakage of air and entry of external foreign matter, is unable to perform highly accurate positioning due to a so-called stick slip phenomenon caused by frictional forces of the seal.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-144196 discloses a positioning system comprising a pneumatic cylinder, which includes a piston incorporating a static pressure bearing in order to reduce frictional forces and provide increased positioning accuracy.
For increased control accuracy, some applications employ a disturbance observer for estimating a disturbance from at least one observed value of a controlled object and feeding back the estimated disturbance. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-347738 reveals a positioning system employing a variable-gain disturbance observer for stably controlling an object irrespective of whether static friction or dynamic friction is involved in moving the object.
It is known in the art that it is effective to increase a control gain in order to increase positioning control accuracy. However, in order to protect the actuator, it is necessary to provide a suitable saturating element for preventing the command values from becoming too large.
The viscoelastic characteristics due to frictional forces of a seal in a pneumatic cylinder and the effect of such characteristics on control performance are described in "Viscoelasticity in Displacement of a Pneumatic Cylinder and its Effect on Control Performance," by Osamu Oyama et al., a collection of articles of the Japan Fluid Power System Society, November 1998, Vol. 29, No. 7, pp. 19(155)-25(161). The article shows that the viscoelasticity of a seal is effective for stabilizing piston displacement more than when the piston slides, and it is possible, using this effect, to increase control sensitivity and thereby increase settling speed, so that displacement of the piston can be stabilized as a result of such viscoelasticity.
The positioning system disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-144196 is complex in structure and highly expensive, since it employs a static pressure bearing. Since the static pressure bearing causes too small an amount of friction, it has poor damping characteristics, tending to increase the convergence time for positioning.
The disturbance observer employed by the positioning system disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-347738 generally includes a low-pass filter, and exhibits integrator characteristics in a low frequency range. It is also known in the art that if a control system includes an integrator, then it suffers from a phenomenon known as integrator windup.
Integrator windup is a situation where, when a given positive deviation is steadily applied, the positive deviation is integrated excessively beyond a saturated value L of the manipulated variable applied to a controlled object, as shown in FIG. 35 of the accompanying drawings. If a negative deviation is steadily applied after time T1, then it is desirable under normal circumstances for the manipulated variable to be reduced immediately from time T1, as indicated by the broken-line curve 1. However, because of windup, the manipulated variable starts being reduced from an integral S, at time T1, as indicated by the solid-line curve 2, and the controlled object actually changes its operation from time T2. Therefore, the manipulated variable remains saturated at the saturated value L from time T1 to time T2. The controlled object thus suffers a delay in its operation, tending to result in a reduction in its control performance, e.g., increased overshooting. In order to protect the control system against integrator windup, the integrator may have a function to stop its integrating action beyond the saturated value L.
A simple integrator may relatively easily be designed to incorporate a means for stopping its integrating action beyond the saturated value L. However, no attempts have heretofore been made to add such a means to a disturbance observer, and to determine a location where such a means is provided with respect to a disturbance observer. Hence, it has not been possible to prevent integrator windup in disturbance observers.


First lens frame has first front and rear shaft bearings that engage with the first guiding shaft along the optical axis, and a second shaft bearing that engages with a second guiding shaft along the optical axis. The first front and rear shaft bearings are spaced apart from each other along the first guiding shaft. Second lens frame has third front and rear shaft bearings that engage with the second guiding shaft, spaced apart form each other, and fourth shaft bearing that engages with the first guiding shaft. The third front and rear shaft bearings are arranged with the second shaft bearing between them, and fourth shaft bearing is disposed between the first front and second shaft bearings.

A mechanism for moving optical elements of an optical system
The present invention relates to a mechanism for moving optical elements of an optical system along the optical axis.
There are optical systems provided with zooming functions, such as some kind of binoculars. Such optical systems vary the magnifying-power by moving two optical lenses, for example, and change the distance between them in the optical axis direction. A lens moving mechanism, used in such optical system to move the lenses along the optical axis, is provided with two lens frames, each for supporting one of the two lenses, and two guiding shafts along which the lens frames move. The guiding shafts are disposed at both side of the lens frames and extending parallel to the optical axes. The guiding shafts are inserted in holes formed on each sides of each lens frame. Thus, each lens frame engages with the guiding shafts slidably so that it can slide, and therefore move the lenses, along the guiding shafts, i.e. parallel to the optical axis.
It is necessary for the lens frames to have the holes for receiving the guiding shafts as long as possible so that each lens frame can be guided precisely without play along the guiding shaft. However, such long holes require longer size of the lens frame along the guiding shafts, which make it difficult to produce a compact lens moving mechanism.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a compact mechanism for moving optical elements of an optical system.
A mechanism according the invention is for moving a first optical element and a second optical element along an optical axis of an optical system. The mechanism comprises first and second guiding shafts, a first frame, and a second frame.
The first and second guiding shafts are disposed parallel to the optical axis and spaced apart to each other in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
The first frame is movable along the optical axis and supports the first optical element. The first frame includes first front and rear shaft bearings and a second shaft bearing. The first front and rear shaft bearings are disposed spaced apart from each other along the first guiding shaft and are engaged with the first guiding shaft slidably along the longitudinal direction of the first guiding shaft. The second shaft bearing is engaged with the second guiding shaft slidably along the longitudinal direction of the second guiding shaft. It should be noted that a shaft xe2x80x9cbearingxe2x80x9d as described herein includes any kind of shaft receiving structure that supports and/or guides the supported/guided element having the bearing along a shaft (including slide, plain, journal, roller/ball bearings and bushings). The shafts discussed herein need not have a circular cross section.
The second frame is movable along the optical axis and supports the second optical element. The second frame includes third front and rear shaft bearings and a fourth shaft bearing. The third front and rear shaft bearings are disposed spaced apart from each other along the second guiding shaft with the second shaft bearing therebetween and are engaged with the second guiding shaft slidably along the longitudinal direction of the second guiding shaft. The fourth shaft bearing is engaged with the first guiding shaft slidably along the longitudinal direction of the first guiding shaft between the first front and rear shaft bearings.
The first front and rear shaft bearings may be provided with a first front hole and a first rear hole, respectively, into which the first guiding shaft is to be inserted. Preferably, the first front and rear holes are formed to receive the first guiding shaft without play within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The second shaft bearing may be provided with a second hole, into which the second guiding shaft is inserted, formed to receive the second guiding shaft with play in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis (e.g., horizontal). For example, the second hole may have a rectangular cross-section of which longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the first guiding shaft.
The third front and rear shaft bearings maybe provided with a third front hole and a third rear hole, respectively, into which the second guiding shaft is inserted. The third front and rear holes are formed to receive the second guiding shaft without play within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The fourth shaft bearing is provided with a fourth hole, into which the first guiding shaft is inserted, formed to receive the first guiding shaft with play in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis (e.g., horizontal). For example, the fourth hole may have a rectangular cross-section of which longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the second guiding shaft.
The first frame may have a first extension extending parallel to the first guiding shaft between the first front and rear shaft bearings to support the second rear shaft bearing spaced apart from the first front shaft bearing. Preferably, the first extension has an abutting portion against which the fourth shaft bearing abuts to align the fourth hole with the first front hole and the first rear hole.
The second frame may have a second extension extending parallel to the second guiding shaft between the third front and rear shaft bearings to support the third rear shaft bearing spaced apart from the third front shaft bearing.
Preferably, the second extension has an abutting portion against which the second shaft bearing abuts to align the second hole with the third front hole and the third rear hole.
The first and second guiding shafts are preferably arranged on a plane including the optical axis. Further, each of the first and second optical elements is preferably an optical lens. Further preferably, the first and second optical elements are lenses of a telescope optical system of which magnifying power varies when distance between the first and second optical elements along the optical axis is changed.

Mechanism for moving optical element of an optical system


A thermal developing equipment including a conveying unit for conveying a sheet-like photosensitive material and a heating unit for thermally treating a latent image formed on an image forming layer of the photosensitive material to be conveyed by the conveying unit, thereby visualizing it, wherein the heating unit is divided into plural regions which can be independently temperature controlled in the width direction of the photosensitive material perpendicular to the conveying direction of the photosensitive material; plural position detection sensors aligned along the width direction of the photosensitive material are provided in the upstream side of the heating unit; and a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the heating unit controls the temperature of each of the regions of the heating unit corresponding to an output of the position detection sensor.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermal developing equipment to be used while inserting thermal development photosensitive materials (hereafter often referred to as "photosensitive materials") of various sizes at random.
2. Description of the Related Art
A thermal developing equipment is provided with a conveying unit for conveying a sheet-like photosensitive material and a heating unit for applying heat to the photosensitive material to be conveyed, thereby visualizing a latent image formed on an image forming layer of the photosensitive material. In this case, since the heating unit must apply heat uniformly in the width direction of the photosensitive material, it must be properly temperature managed. For example, in the heating unit, since there is some possibility that a difference in the temperature is generally caused between the center portion and the both end portions in the width direction of the photosensitive material, it is performed to make the temperature distribution of the whole uniform by dividing the heating unit into plural temperature control regions in the width direction of the photosensitive material and carrying out the temperature management in every region (for example, see JP-A-8-29954).
However, in the thermal developing equipment to be used while inserting photosensitive materials of various sizes at random in plural positions in the width direction of the photosensitive material, for example, the region through which the photosensitive material passes does not become constant. Accordingly, only by performing the foregoing simple temperature control in every region, there is encountered such a problem that it is impossible to stabilize the temperature control. The invention was carried out taking into consideration the foregoing circumstances.


The shampoo basin cushioning piece cushions the neck along notch in the shampoo basin, and also securely fastens along the top perimeter of the shampoo basin. The ability of the cushioning device to securely attach along the perimeter of the shampoo basin enables the cushioning device to avoid movement and remain steady when the neck of an end user is placed upon it. The cushioning piece seeks to eliminate the movement and associated neck soreness associated with moving cushions that are designed for the neck notch of a shampoo basin. A sink or porcelain base converter that when placed over the sink or porcelain base will convert it into a shampoo basin.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of shampoo basins, more specifically, a cushioning device that securely attaches along the top perimeter of the shampoo basin so as to provide stability from movement associated with the neck being placed on traditional cushioning devices.
A further embodiment of the present invention is to provide a converter piece that when placed over a traditional sink or porcelain base will convert into a shampoo basin.
B. Discussion of the Prior Art
The Cartwright patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,660) discloses a gel-filled cushioning device for use with a shampoo bowl including a front wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a U-shaped, neck receiving notch in the front wall. However, the cushioning device disclosed under the Cartwright Patent is directed to the notch of the shampoo basin, as opposed to a cushioning device that is mounted along the upper perimeter of the basin such that it will not easily move when a neck of the end user rests upon it. Furthermore, an alternative embodiment enables the end user to convert a traditional sink or porcelain basin into a shampoo bowl, which is not a feature disclosed under the Cartwright Patent.
The Flora patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,980) discloses a neck cushioning device adapted for use with a shampoo basin having a neck-receiving notch and includes a cushioning pad formed of a gel-based material. Again, the cushioning device disclosed under the Flora Patent is directed to the notch of the shampoo basin, as opposed to a cushioning device that is mounted along the upper perimeter of the basin such that it will not easily move when a neck of the end user rests upon it.
The Kirsch patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,338) discloses an arrangement for the washing or other treatment of hair of a person which comprises a sink having a rim with an indentation, as is conventional. The rim indentation receives and supports the neck of the person. A gel-type flexibly, resilient pad is carried on the rim within the indentation. Again, the cushioning device disclosed under the Kirsch Patent is directed to the notch of the shampoo basin, and not the upper perimeter of the shampoo bowl.
The Morgan patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,364) discloses a neck cushioning device for engagement with hair shampoo bowls. Again, the cushioning device disclosed under the Kirsch Patent is directed to the notch of the shampoo basin, and not the upper perimeter of the shampoo bowl, which provides additional security of the cushioning device so as to eliminate unwanted movement and resulting soreness associated with the placement of the neck against the cushioning device.
The Hakim patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,365) discloses a neck support for a beauty salon hair washing sinks comprising a pillow formed of an elastomeric foam with a waterproof envelope thereof. Again, the cushioning device disclosed under the Kirsch Patent is directed to the notch of the shampoo basin, and not the upper perimeter of the shampoo bowl, thereby providing enhanced security of the cushioning device.
The Carlquist patent (U.S. Pat. No. Des. 456,944) illustrates a shampoo sink cushion, which does not securely fasten about the perimeter of a traditional shampoo basin.
The Bower et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,539) discloses a portable washing cart with a sink where the material of the sink to be deformable into a specific configuration, whereby such configuration is retained by a material comprising: soft plastics, lead alloys, or other conventionally known ductile materials. However, the washing cart disclosed under the Bower Patent requires the use of an entire cleaning station, as opposed to a single shampoo basin. Furthermore, the washing cart is not directed to the use of placement of a cushioning device over the notch in the shampoo basin in which a cushioning device maybe designed to securely attach about the upper perimeter of the shampoo basin.
The Hajek patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,774) discloses a completely biodegradable disposable plastic basin containing a circular bottom with a ringed wall upstanding around it. However, the device disclosed under the Hajek Patent is adapted to fit over an existing shampoo basin for a sanitary purpose, as opposed to providing enhanced comfort for an existing shampoo basin. Furthermore, the device disclosed does not include discussion of an alternative embodiment that can convert a traditional sink or porcelain base into a shampoo basin.
In light of the above discussed prior art there is a need for a converter that can transform a traditional sink or porcelain base into a shampoo basin.

Cushion insert and silicon bowl assembly for shampoo bowl


A radar signal processing device is provided, which performs a scan correlation in a polar coordinate system to secure accuracy of the scan correlation, and prevents a suppression of a target object moving at high speed due to the scan correlation. A polar coordinate correlator performs, in a polar coordinate system, a correlation between reception data and previous correlated data stored in a previous data storage. A trend curve calculating module calculates a trend curve of a distance-direction signal level of the reception data in the polar coordinate system. A target detecting module detects a target based on the signal level of the reception data and the trend curve. Further, the polar coordinate correlator changes the contents of the correlation of the reception data based on the target detection result from the target detecting module.

Ship radars transmit radio waves from an antenna which rotates at a predetermined cycle on a horizontal plane, and receives reflection signals from targets in the surroundings from the antenna. Each received signal (reception signal) is converted into reception data by an A/D converter. The reception data is suitably processed and then is displayed on a display unit as a radar image. An operator of the radar can find out the situation regarding the targets in the surroundings by checking the displayed radar image.
A distance r to a target can be obtained based on a time length required for the antenna to receive the reflection signal from the target from its transmission. Moreover, the direction of the target can be obtained based on an orientation θ of the antenna when it received the reflection signal from the target. In other words, it can be said that the signal received by the ship radar indicates a position of the target in a polar coordinate system (r, θ).
There are cases where the reception signal contains clutter (a reflection wave from the sea surface or rain) and noise. If clutter and noise are displayed on the radar image, discriminability of the target on the radar image decreases. Thus, conventionally, in ship radars, a scan correlation for discriminating the target from clutter based on stability of the reception signals between scans and reflecting it on the radar image has been known. Patent Documents 1 to 4 disclose such kind of scan correlation, for example.
Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which the coordinates of the reception data indicated in the polar coordinate system are converted into an orthogonal coordinate system and the scan correlation is performed by accessing an image memory by write-and-read addresses corresponding to the coordinates in the orthogonal coordinate system. In other words, in Patent Document 1, the scan correlation is performed by converting the reception data from the polar coordinate system into the orthogonal coordinate system.
In this regard, Patent Documents 2 and 3 point out problems in performing the scan correlation after the conversion of coordinates into the orthogonal coordinate system. For example, Patent Document 2 points out, in the scan correlation in which the conversion from the polar coordinate system into the orthogonal coordinate system is performed, a problem that reception data (echo data) needs to be selected and interpolation data needs to be created in the coordinate conversion, and the original echo data cannot be used in the scan correlation as it is. Moreover, Patent Document 3 points out a problem that the accuracy of the correlation easily degrades since the corresponding relationship between the reception data and the sweep will be lost when the reception data is written in the image memory (memory for correlation) by an address in the orthogonal coordinate system.
Thus, Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose configurations in which the scan correlation is performed with the polar coordinate system remained. Patent Document 2 claims that a resolution can be improved by performing the scan correlation by using the coordinate system when the signal is received. Moreover, Patent Document 3 claims that the accuracy of the scan correlation does not degrade by keeping the corresponding relationship between a true transmitting direction and a relative transmitting direction of the signal when writing/reading it into the image memory.

Radar signal processing device, radar apparatus, and method of processing radar signal