Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved pivot articulation for a kinematic seat. Certain embodiments provide an elastic pivot that is formed as flexion weaves that connect upper and lower portions of a seat back. The flexion weaves may be inner and outer legs that are curved in configuration or that have bent dimensions.

Many seats are designed to allow occupants to move from a fully seated upright position to a partially or fully reclined position. These seats may allow only a slight backward motion, or they may be seats that are reclineable to a great degree. For example, aircraft and other passenger transport vehicles, such as trains or buses, often have seats that recline or otherwise have a backrest with some "give" motion. This lends itself to passenger comfort, as movement of the vehicle may be turbulent or bumpy, and comfortable seats preferably have backrest portions with at least some resilience. Premium seats for vehicles may also have a seat pan that is adjustable, such that forward and backward movement of the seat pan is allowed, while reclining motion of the backrest is also allowed. Seats for theatres, auditoriums, stadiums, home and/or office use may also benefit from having a hinged or "spring back action" backrest portion, as sitting completely upright without any "give" or elastic resilience for extended periods of time can be uncomfortable.
If provided, pivot articulation points for kinematic seatbacks are typically provided by classic pivot points, comprised of a pin and lugs. These classic pivots have several problems that prevent their desirable use in certain kinematic seats. For example, the combination of the pin and lugs may have a weight that is greater than desirable for certain uses. The costs of components can be higher than desired, they can be noisy in use, they are subject to wear and tear due to friction, and they are further subject to loosening. It is thus desirable to provide an improved elastic point for a kinematic seat.


A measurement device for detecting agricultural crops located within a conveyor channel. The measurement device includes a light-transmitting panel positioned adjacent to the conveyor channel and is configured to be movable between an operational position and a cleaning position. The measurement device includes a sensor positioned with respect to the light-transmitting panel so as to detect the agricultural crops in the conveyor channel through the light-transmitting panel. A harvesting machine is particularly adapted to utilize the measurement device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally concerns a measurement device with a sensor for capturing the contents and/or characteristics of components of agricultural crops.
2. Related Technology
Measurement devices suitable for analyzing the contents of organic material comprise, as a rule, sensors that work with light in the near-infrared wavelength rate in a reflection (NIR) or transmission (NIT) mode and are provided with light sources and optical analyzers. Several kinds of measurements devices of these types have been recommended for application to harvesting machines in order to capture and document the characteristics of the crop.
Harvesting machines with these kinds of measurement devices have been described, for example, in WO 99/46974 A, WO 99/40419 A, WO 00/00818 A, EP 1 053 671 A, and in C. von Rosenberg et al: "A Rugged Near-infrared Spectrometer for the Real-time Measurement of Grains during Harvest," Spectroscopy 15/6 (2000). The measurement devices are each arranged near a conveyor channel of the harvesting machine, through which the crop flows or is conveyed. In DE 012 36 515 C, a measurement device of this kind is applied to the wall of a chamber that is filled with a crop sample taken from the main crop flow by screw conveyor.
In the known measurement devices, a window having a transparent pane is arranged between the actual measurement device and the crop flow to permit light to travel through the window and to prevent the crop from doing the same and passing into the interior of the measurement device. The pane is arranged, as a rule, so as to be level with the wall of the conveyor channel. Under certain conditions, this positioning has the disadvantage that the pane becomes dirty from adhering crop or other impurities, such as dust or debris, so that optical measurement of the crop can no longer occur because the pane is obstructed by crop or other debris adhered thereto. For example, the dust or debris may prevent reflection and/or reception of the sensor transmission. As another example, the crop adhered to the pane may cause false or misleading readings, particularly if the crop adhered to the pane is different from the crop moving below.
In WO 00/00818 A, the pane is inclined in one embodiment at an angle of 5 to 10° with respect to the surface of the measurement device and the conveyor channel and protrudes somewhat beyond the surface of the measurement device into the conveyor channel. Through this angle, it is intended to achieve that light from the light source of the measurement device that passes through and is reflected by the pane does not arrive at the detector. The pane is arranged so as to be stationary and impurities can accumulate on the pane. In an embodiment in which the pane protrudes permanently into the crop flow, a strong wear occurs on the pane through the constant contact with the crop flow, if a special wear-resistant material is not used.
The problem of impurities on the sensor surface is also present in sensors that do not work optically. Thus, a measurement chamber is recommended in DE 197 44 485 A in which the crop is studied by a capacitative sensor that captures moisture, through which a movable element is forced to be emptied and cleaned. In DE 197 44 481 A, it is recommended that the sensor be applied to the wall of a screw conveyor to the conveyor windings of which cleaning elements are applied. JP 57 014 848 A describes a sensor for capturing grain moisture that captures the conductivity of grains arranged by means of two electrodes arranged in a conveyor channel. One of the electrodes is moved before and after a measurement, in order to create contact between the grains adhering to the electrode and the grains in the conveyor channel, and the electrodes are thereby cleaned. These solutions are not suitable, however, for sensors whose sensitive surfaces are arranged on the wall of a conveyor channel in which the crop is not transported by a separate conveyor, but only accelerated at the start of the conveyor channel by blowing or something similar.

Agricultural measurement device with movable detector head


Disclosed herein are integrated circuit devices having stacked power supplies and methods of making such integrated circuit devices. In one example, the device includes a first power supply structure, a second power supply structure electrically isolated from the first power supply structure, wherein at least a portion of the second power supply structure is positioned vertically below at least a portion of the first power supply structure, wherein the first power supply structure is one of an interruptible or an uninterruptible power supply structure, while the second power supply structure is the other of the interruptible or the uninterruptible power supply structure, a plurality of constant-power circuits conductively coupled to whichever of the first or second power supply structure that is the uninterruptible power supply and a plurality of interruptible-power circuits conductively coupled to whichever of the first or second power supply structure that is the interruptible power supply.

1. Field of the Invention
Generally, the present disclosure generally relates to the manufacturing of sophisticated semiconductor devices, and, more specifically, to integrated circuit devices have stacked power supplies and various methods of making such integrated circuit devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
The fabrication of advanced integrated circuits, such as CPU's, storage devices, ASIC's (application specific integrated circuits) and the like, requires the formation of a large number of circuit elements in a given chip area according to a specified circuit layout, wherein field effect transistors (NMOS and PMOS transistors) represent one important type of circuit element used in manufacturing such integrated circuit devices. Other semiconductor devices include, for example, resistors, capacitors, diodes, so-called FinFet transistors, etc. These various semiconductor devices may be arranged in a variety of unique circuit configurations such that each circuit performs a desired function for the integrated circuit device.
Over recent years, there has been a constant drive to reduce the physical size of various consumer electronic products that employ integrated circuits. Perhaps the best example of this trend is the evolution of the cell phone. Early versions of the cell phone were physically very large and bulky, and provided relatively limited functionality, while currentday smart phones are very small and provide a great deal of functionality. The demand for smaller consumer products with greater capability has resulted in the scaling or reduction in the physical size of integrated circuit devices that are employed in such consumer products. The reduction in size of the integrated circuit products has been achieved by, among other things, reducing the physical size of the various semiconductor devices, e.g., the transistors, and by greatly increasing the density of such transistors on a given area of a semiconducting substrate or chip.
Power consumption by an integrated circuit device is a very important parameter in terms of product design and performance. Excessive power consumption may lead to increased heating of the integrated circuit, which may reduce device performance. In the case of portable electronic devices, excessive power consumption may lead to reduced operating times for the consumer product.
Device designers have used a variety of techniques to try to manage the power consumption by integrated circuit products. One of these techniques involves providing both a constant or uninterruptible power supply and a varying or interruptible power supply on an integrated circuit device. This technique further involves identifying some circuits which need to be coupled to the constant or uninterruptible power supply and identifying other circuits that can operate by being coupled to the varying or interruptible power supply, so that constant power is not supplied to all of the circuits on an integrated circuit device. Examples of circuits 12 that are typically coupled to a constant power supply include communication monitoring circuitry in cell phones, battery monitoring circuitry in many wireless products and life critical monitoring circuitry in portable medical products. Examples of circuits 14 that are typically couple to an interruptible power supply include image capture or image projection support circuitry in cell phones and display and other human interface support circuitry in portable or non-portable medical products.
This technique will be further discussed with reference to FIG. 1A (cross-sectional view) and FIG. 1B (plan view) which depicts an illustrative prior art integrated circuit device 100. As shown therein, the device 100 is generally comprised of a plurality of schematically depicted circuits 12 that require connection to an uninterruptible power supply 20U and a plurality of schematically depicted circuits 14 that are connected to an interruptible power supply 201, which is laterally spaced apart from the uninterruptible power supply 20U. The circuits 12, 14 are formed in and above a semiconducting substrate 10. In the depicted example, the circuits 12 are conductively coupled to the uninterruptible power supply 20U by a schematically depicted via 15 and conductive line 13. In the depicted example, the circuits 14 are conductively coupled to the interruptible power supply 201 by a schematically depicted via 19 and conductive line 17. The various conductive structures 15, 13, 20U, 19, 17, 201 are formed in one or more layers of insulating material 11, they may be comprised of a variety of conductive materials, e.g., a metal, and they may be formed using a variety of known techniques.
The present disclosure is directed to integrated circuit devices having stacked power supplies and various methods of making such integrated circuit devices.

Stacked power supplies for integrated circuit devices and methods of making the same


An apparatus for printing on a continuous web of linerless tape defined by a print side for subsequent application to an article. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support for a continuous web of linerless tape; an undriven platen roller located downstream of the support; a print head associated with the undriven platen roller, wherein the undriven platen roller directs the continuous web of linerless tape past the print head for printing on the print side thereof; and a driven roller positioned adjacent the platen roller and downstream of the print head for pulling the web of linerless tape from the platen roller. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a support for a continuous web of linerless tape; a driven platen roller located downstream of the support; a print head associated with the platen roller, wherein the platen roller directs the continuous web of linerless tape past the print head for printing on the print side thereof; and a driven roller positioned adjacent the platen roller and downstream of the print head for pulling the web of linerless tape from the platen roller. Methods of printing indicia on a continuous web of linerless tape are also included.

Containers, packages, cartons, and cases, (generally referred to as "boxes") generally display information about the contents. This information most commonly located on the box might include lot numbers, date codes, product identification information, and bar codes. The information can be placed onto the box using a number of methods. These include preprinting the box when it is manufactured, printing this information onto the box at the point of use with an inkjet code that sprays a pattern of ink dots to form the image, or by using a flexographic ink rolling coding system. Other approaches include the use of labels, typically white paper with preprinted information either applied manually, or with an online automatic label applicator.
A recent trend in conveying information related to the product is the requirement to have the information specific for each box. For example, each box can carry specific information about its contents and the final destination of the product, including lot numbers, serial numbers, and customer order numbers. The information is typically provided on labels that are customized and printed on demand at the point of application onto the box. This is typically known as the ability to print "variable" information onto a label before it is applied onto the box. Two patents that disclose printed labels are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,292,713 and 5,661,099.
One system for printing variable information involves thermal transfer ink printing onto labels using an ink ribbon and a special heat transfer print head. A computer controls the print head by providing input to the head, which heats discrete locations on the ink ribbon. The ink ribbon directly contacts the label so that when a discrete area is heated, the ink melts and is transferred to the label. Another approach using this system is to use labels that change color when heat is applied (direct thermal labels). In another system, variable information is directly printed onto a box or label by an inkjet printer including a print head. A computer can control the ink pattern sprayed onto the box or label.
Both thermal transfer and inkjet systems produce sharp images. Inkjet systems include piezo, thermal, continuous, and drop-on-demand. With both inkjet and thermal transfer systems, the print quality depends on the surface on which the ink is applied. It appears that the best system for printing variable information is one in which the ink and the print substrate can be properly matched to produce a repeatable quality image, especially bar codes, that must be read by an electronic scanner with a high degree of reliability.
Regardless of the specific printing technique, the printing apparatus includes a handling system for guiding a continuous web of label tape (or "label tape") to the print head, as well as away from the print head following printing for subsequent placement on the article of interest (for example, a box). To this end, the web of label tape is normally provided in a rolled form ("tape supply roll"), such that the printing device includes a support that rotatably maintains the tape supply roll. Further, a series of guide components, such as rollers, transfer plates, festoons, etc., are utilized to establish a desired tape path both upstream and downstream of the print head, with the terms "upstream" and "downstream" in reference to a tape transport path initiating at the tape supply roll and terminating at the point label application to the article of interest (e.g., a box). An exact configuration of the guide components is directly related to the form of the label tape.
In particular, label tape is provided as either a linered tape or as a linerless tape. As suggested by its name, linered tape includes both a tape defined by a print side and an adhesive side, and a release liner encompassing the adhesive side. The liner serves as the carrier for the label tape. With this configuration, the printing device normally includes components that, in addition to delivering the web to and from the print head, also peel the liner away from the label tape. While widely accepted, linered tape material is relatively expensive due to the cost associated with inclusion of the release liner. Further, the liner adds to the overall thickness, thereby decreasing the available length of label tape for a given tape supply roll diameter. A decreased label tape length requires more frequent changeovers of the tape supply roll (where the exhausted tape supply roll is replaced by a new roll), and therefore a loss in productivity. Additionally, because the liner material is typically paper, resultant fibers, debris, and dust can contaminate the printing mechanism, potentially resulting in a reduced print head life. Also, a die cut operation is typically performed on the label stock to generate labels of discrete size. The die cut operation is an additional manufacturing step (and therefore expense), and prevents implementation of a variable label length processing approach.
To overcome the above-described problems associated with linered label tape, a linerless format has been developed. Generally speaking, linerless label tapes are similar to the linered configuration, except that the liner is no longer included. Thus, the linerless label tape is defined by a non-adhesive side formulated to receive printing ("print side") and an opposing side that carries an adhesive ("adhesive side"). By eliminating the liner, linerless label tapes have a greatly increased length for a given roll diameter, and eliminate many of the other above-listed processing concerns associated with linered label tape. However, certain other handling issues are presented.
As the web of linerless tape is pulled or extended from the supply roll, the adhesive side is exposed and will readily adhere to contacted surfaces, in particular the guide components associated with the printing device and tape handling device. A common difficulty encountered in the handling of linerless label tape is "wrap-around", whereby the web adheres to and wraps around a roller otherwise in contact with the adhesive side. For example, with thermal transfer printing, a platen roller is normally associated with the print head for supporting the label tape during printing by the print head. In this regard, the adhesive side of the linerless tape is in contact with, and carried by, the platen roller. Invariably, instead of simply releasing from the platen roller, the adhesive side adheres to and wraps around the platen roller. This highly undesirable situation leads to printer malfunctions, such as misprinting, tape jams, etc. Wrap-around of the platen roller is most commonly found in printing devices conforming with "next label segment out" protocol where, after the label is printed, it is immediately cut and applied to the article in question. In other words, there is no accumulation of printed labels between the print head and the application device. More importantly, unlike a "loose loop" system where printed labels accumulate prior to cutting and thus includes guide components, such as festoons, to tension the linerless label tape off of the platen roller, a "next label segment out" configuration has a very limited tape path length following printing along which a tension-supplying device(s) can be included.
Efforts have been made to address the "wrap-around" concern associated with linerless label tape in next label segment out printing systems, including those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,674,345; 5,524,996; 5,487,337; 5,497,701; and 5,560,293. In summary, each of these references incorporates a device, such as a stripper bar, a stripper plate, or an air source, that interacts with the linerless label tape after it has undesirably adhered to the platen roller. That is to say, the common technique for addressing platen roller wrap-around is to position a device adjacent the platen roller that effectively "scrapes" the linerless label tape off of the platen roller in the event of platen roller wrap-around.
The above-described techniques for overcoming platen roller wrap-around rely upon the linerless label tape in question being relatively thick or rigid. In this regard, most available linerless label tapes have thicknesses in excess of about 100 microns (4 mils) and are paper-based. More recently, thin, plastic-based (e.g., polypropylene) linerless label tapes have become available. These types of linerless label tapes exhibit better dimensional stability with changes in humidity, and are less expensive than paper-based linerless tapes of a comparable quality. In addition, the plastic-based, linerless label tapes are comparatively thinner, thereby providing an increased web length on a roll of given diameter, and are generally less costly. As a point of reference, recently available linerless label tapes have a thickness of less than about 90 microns (3.5 mils), as thin as approximately 50 microns (2 mils). With this reduction in thickness, these new linerless label tapes are less rigid (or "flimsier") as compared to standard paper-based, or higher gauge plastic film-based, linerless label tapes. Due to the reduced rigidity, available techniques for removing the linerless label tape from the platen roller are not reliable. In fact, many current linerless label tape handling systems experience wrap-around when handling adhesive-coated polypropylene linerless label tapes having thicknesses of less than or equal to approximately 90 microns (3.5 mils).
Other efforts have been made to address the "wrap-around" concern associated with linerless label tape in printing systems, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,437,228; 5,487,337; 5,940,107; 5,879,507; PCT Publication WO 02/053390; EP 0637547 B1; and EP 0834404.
Various apparatuses and methods for printing on tape and applying a length of printed tape to articles are known in the art. For example, apparatuses for printing and applying tape are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,347 (Ewert et al.), "Apparatus for Variable Image Printing on Tape," U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,103 (Ewert et al.) "Apparatus and Process for Variable Image Printing on Tape," PCT Publication WO 98/42578 (Lenkl) "Device and Method for Applying Linerless Labels," and PCT Publication WO 00/34131 (Faust et al.) "Variably Printed Tape And System For Printing And Applying Tape Onto Surfaces." 3M Company located in St. Paul, Minn. has sold print and apply case sealing applicators and print and apply corner sealing applicators under the brand name 3M-Matic as CA2000 Corner Label Applicator and PS2000 Print & Seal Applicator.
High volume label printing systems continue to evolve. Recent enhancements to label tapes, and in particular linerless label tapes, present handling concerns not satisfactorily resolved by existing designs. Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus for handling linerless label tapes within a printing device, including elimination of platen roller wrap-around.

Apparatus and method for handling linerless label tape


An apparatus and method for interleaving systematic bits and parity bits to generate an output sequence that can be transmitted in multi-slot packets from a base station to a remote station in a wireless communication system. The apparatus comprises a memory element and a control element coupled to the memory element, wherein the control element is configured to demultiplex the systematic bits and parity bits into sequences, wherein the systematic bits and parity bits are sequentially distributed among the sequences. The control element is further configured to reorder the sequences based on an index set, to group the sequences into segments and to interleave each of the segments forming matrices having elements. The control element is also configured to modulate the elements of the matrices, and to truncate the modulated elements of each matrix, so as to produce the output sequence which comprises truncated modulating elements from each matrix of the matrices.

1. Field
This invention generally relates to wireless communications and, more specifically, to channel interleaving for communication systems providing broadcast/multicast services.
2. Background
The field of wireless communications has many applications including, e.g., cordless telephones, paging, wireless local loops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), Internet telephony, and satellite communication systems. A particularly important application is cellular telephone systems for mobile subscribers. As used herein, the term "cellular" system encompasses both cellular and personal communications services (PCS) frequencies. Various over-the-air interfaces have been developed for such cellular telephone systems including, e.g., Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). In connection therewith, various domestic and international standards have been established including, e.g., Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), Global System for Mobile (GSM), and Interim Standard 95 (IS-95). In particular, IS-95 and its derivatives, IS-95A, IS-95B, ANSI J-STD-008 (often referred to collectively herein as IS-95), and proposed high data rate systems for data, etc., are promulgated by the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and other well known standards bodies.
Cellular telephone systems configured in accordance with the use of the IS-95 standard employ CDMA signal processing techniques to provide highly efficient and robust cellular telephone service. Exemplary cellular telephone systems configured substantially in accordance with the use of the IS-95 standard are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,103,459 and 4,901,307. An exemplary system utilizing CDMA techniques is the cdma2000. The standard for cdma2000 is given in Standard IS-2000, which is compatible with IS-95 systems in many ways. Another CDMA standard is the WCDMA standard, as embodied in 3rd Generation Partnership, Project "3GPP", Document Nos. 3G TS 25.211, 3G TS 25.212, 3G TS 25.213, and 3G TS 25.214. Another CDMA standard is Standard IS-856, which is commonly referred to as a High Data Rate (HDR) system.
Transmission of digital data is inherently prone to interference, which may introduce errors into the transmitted data. To improve the performance of a transmission channel, some coding schemes include interleavers, which mix up the order of the bits in the packet during coding. Thus, when interference destroys some adjacent bits during transmission, the effect of the interference is spread out over the entire original packet and can more readily be overcome by the decoding process. Recently, broadcast/multicast services have been proposed to effectively transmit large quantities of data from a single source point to a group of users in wireless communication systems. Contents suitable for such point-to-multipoint services include news, stock quotes, sports events, movies, audio and video clips, and other multimedia data. As the demand for transmission of multimedia data grows, there lies a challenge to enhance such services and a need for enhanced channel interleaving supporting broadcast/multicast services.

Apparatus and method for channel interleaving in communications system


A turboengine that reduces rear noise emissions has a thickness of a rear part of a sound-attenuating coating, which is borne internally by an external fan cowl, that is increased toward a front part of the sound-attenuating coating. An increased-thickness zone is connected to a pan of the coating, located in a critical area of a jet nozzle, by a surface having a curved profile.

It is known that bypass turboengines comprise a nacelle delimiting at the front an air inlet and containing a cold stream fan, a hot stream central generator and a fan channel with annular section provided with a nozzle for the cold stream, said fan channel being formed between an internal cowl surrounding said hot stream central generator and the internal tubular face of an acoustic attenuation coating with annular section carried internally by an external fan cowl forming the rear of said nacelle, said coating comprising a front part, disposed upstream of said nozzle and exhibiting an optimal thickness for the acoustic attenuation of the noise produced by said fan and conveyed by said cold stream, as well as a rear part, contiguous with said front part and disposed on either side of the throat of said nozzle, said rear coating part exhibiting a thickness which decreases towards the rear edge of said external fan cowl delimiting the annular ejection orifice for said cold stream, and said front coating part having, in the vicinity of its junction with said rear coating part, a convergent zone in which its internal tubular face begins to converge towards said nozzle.
Since the rear part of said acoustic attenuation coating exhibits a decreasing thickness which is less than said optimal thickness of the front part—except possibly at the junction with the latter—this rear part may not exhibit optimal attenuation characteristics.
Moreover, the shape of the internal tubular face of the acoustic attenuation coating, in particular opposite said nozzle—that is to say at the level of said rear part—is determined in order that, in combination with the shape of said internal cowl of the hot stream central generator, the performance of said nozzle—and therefore that of said turboengine—is optimal. It is not therefore possible to modify the shape of said internal tubular face of the acoustic attenuation coating without degrading the performance of the turboengine.

Turboshaft engine that reduces rear noise emissions


The present invention provides novel polypeptides and polynucleotides useful as biotechnological tools, specifically identified in a coryneform bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum ssp. lactofermentum and methods of producing substances in organisms having enhanced or attenuated expression of these polypeptides and/or polynucleotides.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel polynucleotides encoding proteins useful as biotechnological tools and for production of substances, specifically identified in a coryneform bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum ssp. lactofermentum and fragments thereof, polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides and fragments thereof, polynucleotide arrays comprising the polynucleotides and fragments thereof.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
In the field of biotechnology, there needs many tools, for example, DNA ligase, DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, modification and restriction enzymes, and so on. In this field, variation of genes or enzymes is important for extension of applicable objects. Furthermore, modification and improvement of organisms are important for industrial production of useful substances, such as amino acids, nucleic acids, organic acids, sugars, and enzymes, (Faurie, R. and Thommel, J., Microbial Production of L-Amino Acids, Springer Verlag, 2002; Harris, T. J. R., Protein Production by Biotechnology (Elsevier Applied Biotechnology Series), Aspen Publishers, 1990). For the aforementioned purpose, genetic engineering is one of the useful methods and many genes have been known to be effective. Modification and restriction endonucleases, chaperone proteins, enzymes that caytalyze important reactions, and transporters of important substances are useful for improving production of substances in organisms.
For example, amino acids such as L-lysine, L-glutamic acid, L-threonine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, and L-phenylalanine are industrially produced by fermentation by using microorganisms that belong to the genus Corynebacterium, Brevibacterium, Bacillus, Escherichia, Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Serratia, Penicillium, Candida, or the like. In order to improve the productivity of amino acids, strains of the aforementioned microorganisms that have been isolated from nature or artificial mutants thereof have been used. Various examples of modification of genes, such as amplification, deletion, and point mutation by using recombinant DNA techniques to increase the L-amino acid-producing ability have been disclosed (Faurie, R. and Thommel, J., Microbial Production of L-Amino Acids, Springer Verlag, 2002).

Polynucleotides encoding useful polypeptides in


A die for forming a honeycomb structure includes a die base having a first plate-like member and a second plate-like member, the first plate-like member is provided with groove portions on the side of a bonding surface between the first plate-like member and the second plate-like member, and a depth y (mm) of the groove portions satisfies:y≦a·(t1×E1+t2×E2)/(t1×t2×E1×E2)where t1 is a thickness (mm) obtained by subtracting the depth (mm) of the groove portions from a thickness (mm) of the first plate-like member, E1 is an apparent volume elasticity (GPa) of the first plate-like member at 25° C. in consideration of a state in which back holes are formed, t2 is a thickness (mm) of the second plate-like member, E2 is a volume elasticity (GPa) of the second plate-like member at 25° C., and a is a coefficient determined based on conditions during manufacturing.

As a method for manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb structure, an extrusion method has heretofore broadly been performed by using a die for forming a honeycomb structure (hereinafter referred to simply as the "die" sometimes) including a die base which is provided with back holes for introducing a forming material (clay) and lattice-like slits or the like for communicating with these back holes. In this die, one surface of the die base is usually provided with the lattice-like slits each having a width corresponding to a partition wall thickness of the honeycomb structure, and the opposite surface (the other surface) thereof is provided with the back holes which communicate with the slits and which have large opening areas. Moreover, the back holes are usually arranged at positions where the lattice-like slits intersect with one another, and the back holes and the slits communicate with each other in the die base. Therefore, a forming material such as a ceramic material introduced from the back holes moves from the back holes having a comparatively large inner diameter to the slits having a small width, and is extruded as a formed body (a formed honeycomb body) of the honeycomb structure from openings of the slits.
As the die base constituting such a die for forming the honeycomb structure, there is used a die base including a plate-like member made of one type of alloy such as a stainless alloy or a hard metal alloy, or there is used a die base which is constituted by laminating and bonding two different types of plate-like members, for example, a plate-like member where the slits are to be formed and a plate-like member where the back holes are to be formed (e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2).
In a conventional method for manufacturing the die for forming the honeycomb structure, the above-mentioned slits and back holes are formed in such a die base by machine processing.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-326318
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-285308

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Transportation infrastructure service discovery arrangement disclosed. In the arrangement a peripheral device is attached to a transportation infrastructure control network. The client is configured to request an address from a DNS server of the host network. As a response the client receives network settings that can be used for contacting applications attached to the transportation infrastructure control network.

The following description relates to elevators and escalators. More particularly the description relates to service discovery for elevators and escalators.
Modern elevators are network connected devices that can be accessing resources from one or more external entities providing services to elevators and escalators for the benefit of passengers. In addition to the improvement of passenger comfort and efficiency, the network connectivity may be used for several other purposes, for example entertainment or data collection.
Nowadays the network connectivity does not only relate to external devices connected to an transportation infrastructure system. Even some components that are relevant or even essential for normal operation of an elevator or escalator group can be connected using data communication networks.
In this description, these components are referred to as applications. The applications may be implemented as hardware or software. Many applications involving hardware also include software, and software applications may be executed in a server or central computing resource. Thus, an application can be described as an entity providing services to requesting clients. An example of an application is a group controller. An example of a client is a destination operating panel installed in an elevator arrangement. Applications and clients can be provided by a third party. Thus, an application could be a music or a video streaming service that is configured to provide content to elevator and escalator passengers.
Current elevators use a network arrangement that is in this description referred to as a transportation infrastructure control network (TICN). A TICN can be a combination of wired and wireless network solutions.
The TICN is used for connecting elevator and escalator components together. Particularly, they are used for connecting Elevator Escalator Peripheral Devices (EEPD) to the elevator arrangement. When new peripheral devices, which are here discussed as an example of client entities, are added to the elevator or escalator arrangement, the peripheral devices must be detected and connected to the network appropriately. The same applies when already existing peripheral devices need to be disconnected and then reconnected to the arrangement. Further needs may arise from other possible reorganizing related tasks.
Even if the TICN is most commonly used for data communications related to elevators and escalators, it can also be used for controlling, for example, access gates, display panels and the like. It is not necessary that the TICN is coupled with elevators and escalators, and the TICN can be used, for example, for access gates only. In this application the TICN is understood to be a separate physical network originally designed for transportation infrastructure purposes only.
In conventional approaches, clients, for example peripheral devices, discover available services using beacon style messaging. Each of the available and active applications connected to the TICN transmit service availability messages. These messages are broadcasted with a constant interval so that when the client is connected to the TICN, it discovers available services by listening to ports that are used for transmitting service availability messages.
The use of beacon style messaging causes unnecessary messaging that requires bandwidth and causes the additional task of generating and broadcasting these messages. Additional messaging may also cause additional data security problems.


In a textile spinning machine, apparatus for automatically joining a thread and cleaning the machine comprising a tube mechanism, a mechanism for routing a flow of air through the tube mechanism and controlling the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism; a mechanism for sequentially moving the tube mechanism to one or more selected thread joining positions relative to the machine including at least a position such that a thread end may be received and held within the tube mechanism via air suction flow through the tube mechanism; a mechanism for sequentially moving the tube mechanism to one or more selected thread waste positions relative to the machine such that the selected thread waste positions on the machine may be cleaned via controlled air flow through the tube mechanism; and wherein the mechanism for routing and controlling the air flow includes a mechanism for selectively adjusting the rate of air flow through the tube mechanism to a rate selected according to the selected position to which the tube mechanism is moved by the mechanism for moving.

The present invention relates to mechanisms for piecing, spinning on, start spinning and cleaning apparatuses for use in conjunction with machines for spinning staple fiber bundles or slivers into a spun yarn and, more particularly, to a single mechanism for sequentially carrying out all such operations.
DE-PS 33 36 294 describes an automatic piecing apparatus which patrols in front of a row of spinning units of a spinning machine and has a manipulator, which, with a program controlled movement of a suction pipe, catches a thread to be joined and subsequently introduces the thread to the piecing operation.
In EP-A 259 622 there is described a programmable robot which travels at periodic intervals from spinning unit to spinning unit and sucks off fiber residues from critical points of the spinning machine with a suction pipe discharge during the operation of the spinning units. This device has the disadvantage that the cleaning effectiveness is insufficient at some points and is very expensive to manufacture.

Apparatus and method for automatic thread joining and cleaning in a spinning machine


A transmitter of a tire condition monitoring apparatus has an acceleration sensor, a transmission circuit, an antenna and a transmission controller. The transmitter is provided in a tire of a vehicle. The acceleration sensor detects a running state of the vehicle. The transmission circuit generates a transmission signal containing data representing a condition of the tire and outputs the transmission signal. The antenna wirelessly transmits the transmission signal. The transmission controller changes a transmission power of the transmission circuit according to a detection result of the running state detection device. This is capable of transmitting signals with an appropriate transmission power.

The present invention relates to a transmitter of a tire condition monitoring apparatus. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a transmitter for a wireless tire condition monitoring apparatus that permits a driver in a vehicle passenger compartment to check conditions of tires, such as the air pressure.
Wireless tire condition monitoring apparatuses that allow a driver in a vehicle passenger compartment to check the conditions of vehicle tires have been proposed. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-174357 discloses such an apparatus. The apparatus of the publication includes transmitters and a receiver. Each transmitter is located in the wheel of one of the tires and the receiver is located in the body frame of the vehicle. Each transmitter detects the conditions, such as air pressure and the temperature of the associated tire, and wirelessly transmits the detected information. The receiver receives data wirelessly transmitted by the transmitters with an antenna and displays the conditions of the tires, for example, on a display located in front of the driver's seat.
Each transmitter is accommodated in a case provided in the corresponding tire valve. The tire valve is fitted in a valve hole of the corresponding wheel. Accordingly, the case, which accommodates the transmitter, is located in the corresponding tire.
The wheels are formed of metal, such as aluminum and iron. Metal bead wire is embedded in sidewalls of each tire for reinforcing the tire. Thus, radio waves transmitted by the transmitters are attenuated by the wheels and the bead wire. As a result, the probability that the receiver receives data wirelessly transmitted by each transmitter, or the reception probability, is reduced.

Transmitter for tire condition monitoring apparatus


Disclosed is a helmet cleaning apparatus. The apparatus includes a rectangular housing having a cleaning compartment with a transparent lid pivotally connected thereto. The compartment includes a helmet mount having a spheroidal shape and on which a helmet can be positioned for cleaning. The helmet mount further includes apertures thereon that are connected to a vacuum cleaning device and a steam cleaning device contained within the housing. In operation, a helmet is positioned on the helmet mount, and some of the apertures thereon disperse steam in order to clean the helmet. Other apertures draw debris and other materials into the vacuum cleaning device in order to remove the same from the helmet. In this way, a user can easily and conveniently sanitize and clean a helmet without having to manually cleaning the helmet.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a helmet cleaning apparatus. More specifically, the present invention describes a helmet cleaning apparatus comprising a housing having a cleaning compartment in which a helmet can be positioned. The housing encloses steam cleaning and vacuum cleaning devices that are used to clean a helmet disposed within the cleaning compartment. In this way, the helmet can be positioned within the cleaning compartment and can be cleaned and sanitized in an efficient manner.
Motorcyclists commonly wear helmets in order to protect themselves in the event of a crash. Additionally, such protective helmets are also commonly worn by various athletes, such as snowboarders and motocross riders, among others. In addition to protecting the rider in the event of a crash, helmets also help to prevent debris from contacting the rider's face and help to improve visibility for the rider.
However, helmets can often become dirty and worn after prolonged use. Further, the interior of the helmet can develop an odor and can be sweaty from frequent use by a rider. Cleaning a helmet by hand can be difficult, and often users are unable to completely clean and sanitize the helmet. As a result, the helmet may become aesthetically unappealing, and the rider may choose to replace an old helmet rather than clean the helmet.
Thus, the present invention discloses a helmet cleaning apparatus. The device includes a substantially rectangular housing with a cleaning compartment disposed on an upper region thereof. The cleaning compartment is adapted to receive a motorcycle helmet therein. The cleaning compartment includes a helmet mount therein on which a helmet can be securely positioned. The cleaning compartment can be enclosed by a transparent lid pivotally connected thereto. The housing further includes a steam cleaning device that can sanitize the helmet using steam. Further, the housing includes a vacuum cleaning device that can remove debris from the motorcycle helmet. The steam cleaning device and the vacuum cleaning device are enclosed within an interior volume of the housing. Steam is produced by the steam cleaning device, flows through one or more steam tubes, and escapes through apertures disposed on the helmet mount. Similarly, the vacuum cleaning device produces suction and draws debris through apertures on the helmet mount and through vacuum tubes. Preferably, the present invention requires a user to make a payment prior to utilizing the cleaning modes provided by the present invention, and users may pay by inserting cash into a currency detector, or may swipe a credit card through a credit card reader. Thus, the present invention provides a simple and convenient means for cleaning a motorcycle helmet without requiring the user to manually scrub or clean the helmet.
Description of the Prior Art
Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to sports equipment cleaning devices. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to cleaning devices that generate and circulate ozone. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.
One such patent, U.S. Pat. No. 8,388,900 to Benedek et al. discloses an assembly and method for treating the air and removing impurities from the air within an enclosed volume, such as a storage container. Ozone is generated using a UV light source, and is exposed to the material stored within the enclosed volume and is subsequently removed therefrom. The assembly can be used to treat contaminated sports equipment or food storage containers. Thus, Benedek fails to disclose a device suited to clean helmets and does not include a steam cleaning device or vacuum cleaning device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,806 to Dhaemers discloses a sports equipment bag connected to an ozone generator adapted to dry sports equipment and objects within the bag, and further to destroy bacteria within the bag. Thus, similar to Bendek, Dhaemers discloses a device that cleans objects by exposing the objects to ozone. However, Dhaemers fails to disclose a device comprising a steam cleaning device or a vacuum cleaning device.
U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2004/0003511 to Silver discloses a device for cleaning sports equipment comprising a cabinet having an interior volume in which ozone can be circulated by fans. The interior volume can be enclosed so that the ozone can fill the same and such that ozone cannot escape the cabinet. A fluid storage device is further provided to spray fluid into the cabinet to aid in depleting ozone within the cabinet. Thus, Silver discloses a device for cleaning sports equipment, but fails to disclose a device adapted for cleaning helmets that includes a steam cleaning device and a vacuum cleaning device.
U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2009/0183301 to Brown et al. discloses a helmet comprising a one-piece shell having a rearwardly projecting brim such that the user appears to be wearing a conventional baseball helmet backwards. The helmet further includes an impact absorbing liner and can include logos on the exterior thereof. Thus, Brown et al. differs from the purpose and intent of the present invention and discloses a helmet having a particular construction. Brown et al. fails to disclose a device for cleaning or sanitizing a helmet.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,569 to Kim discloses a shoe drying apparatus that circulates ozone in an airtight compartment in order to deodorize and sanitize the shoes. The device includes a housing having a compartment in which shoes can be positioned, and includes means for generating and circulating ozone. Thus, Kim discloses a device for sanitizing shoes, but fails to disclose a device adapted to sanitize helmets and that includes a steam cleaning device and a vacuum cleaning device.
These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. Several devices in the prior art are adapted to clean sports equipment. However, such devices are not specially adapted to clean helmets. The unique shape of a helmet requires a cleaning device that can clean the interior of a helmet, and thus the prior art devices are not suited for cleaning a helmet. Further, many devices in the prior art relate to producing ozone in a confined volume for sanitizing sports equipment. However, ozone is harmful to the environment and may be harmful to human health.
In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing helmet cleaning devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.


Systems and methods for increasing the quantum efficiency of a photocathode used in an intensified an intensified array detector with a photocathode, such as a charge-coupled device (ICCD) are presented. A quantum efficiency enhancement device is disposed in front of an ICCD and is configured to enable or facilitate an increase in the angle of incidence of incoming rays incident on the photocathode. The ICCD itself may be tilted to achieve an increased angle of incidence, and such tilting is preferably only in a direction in which pixel columns of the ICCD extend such that a plane of incidence of incoming light to the ICCD is perpendicular to a direction of wavelength dispersion. The quantum efficiency enhancement device may include re-imaging optics, an optical tilt compensator and optical coupler.

The danger of exposure to chemical or biological agents can be severe. Whether a result of unintended release by way of, e.g., an accident, or a result of intentional delivery, it is desirable to quickly and accurately identify (1) the type of agent that has been released and (2) the precise area of contamination. Early and accurate detection of such dangerous substances can be a significant factor in reducing potential casualties and limiting further spreading of the agent by, e.g., wind, human or animal contact, among other transmission mechanisms.
In recent years, there has been an increased interest in developing and deploying sensor technologies to quickly identify unknown substances, contaminants, and agents, even at very low concentrations. Some of these technologies are designed to measure surface-deposited contamination using vehicles and associated test equipment to retrieve a physical sample of the contaminant and then employ extremely cumbersome and time-consuming processes based on a mechanical sampling wheel system to test for agents.
In view of the complexity of such approaches, newer, safer and more reliable technologies have emerged. One such technology is referred to, generally, as "standoff surface detection," and refers to a category of technologies that permit detection of substances without actually having to physically come in contact with the substance or agent of concern. The goal of these detection systems is to enable the capability to detect, identify, locate, quantify, warn, and report chemical or biological threats and thereby give military forces or civilian personnel sufficient early warning to avoid (further) contamination.
An example of a standoff surface detection system is a technology known as Laser Interrogation of Surface Agents (LISA®) that has been developed by ITT Corp. (White Plains, N.Y.). In one implementation, LISA® uses a laser and associated components attached to a reconnaissance vehicle such as a truck or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) that searches for chemical agents on the ground (or any surface) using a technique known as Raman Scattering (or Raman Effect, or Raman spectroscopy), which is an optical property that can be exploited to identify chemical and biological agents. LISA® employs several components including an intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) for capturing Raman spectra. LISA® also provides the ability to create or generate a position detection map with inputs from, e.g., a global positioning satellite (GPS) system, with chemical agent contours that build up as detection is taking place.
Standoff biological agent detection is significantly more difficult than chemical detection. Specifically, it is often difficult to discriminate and measure biological agents from naturally occurring background materials. Moreover, real-time detection and measurement of biological agents in the environment can be daunting because of the number of potential agents to be identified, the complex nature of the agents themselves, the countless number of similar microorganisms that are a constant presence in the environment, and the minute quantities of pathogen that can initiate harmful reactions. Potential biological agents can also disguise themselves in benign entities.
In light of these and other obstacles and in furtherance of more accurate contaminant or, more generally, unknown substance, detection and identification capabilities, there is still a need for improvements in stand-off detection systems, as well as other systems that might rely on sophisticated spectral analysis, such as Raman spectroscopy, or electronic imaging.

Quantum efficiency enhancement device for array detectors


An improvement over existing image display systems which utilize polygonal terrain databases, e.g., such as are used in RADAR simulation and image generation systems for flight simulators, the improvement residing in a method for modifying the polygon faces in the existing terrain database by replacing the constant normal vectors thereof with non-constant normal vectors derived from a higher-detailed terrain database of the same geographical area, to thereby produce a modified polygonal terrain database which enables the generation of images in which the terrain of the scene being displayed is represented by textured polygons, as opposed to polygon faces of constant intensity. The present invention also encompasses an image display system programmed to implement this method.

The present invention relates generally to graphic or image display systems, and, more particularly, to a method for enhancing the visual realism of the terrain or topography of a scene being displayed, and an image display system which implements this method.
Graphic or image display systems are currently used in flight simulators to enable pilots and other aircraft crew or trainees (hereinafter collectively referred to as "mission personnel") to view a visual image of the terrain or topography of a geographical area being flown over. The imagery can be generated on a real-time basis using image data generated by FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) and/or RADAR systems and/or using image data derived from digital map systems (e.g., moving maps) and/or digitized photographs and/or other digital image databases of landmass scenes.
In general, it is desirable to have the capability to display perspective and plan views of terrain which are as highly-detailed and realistic as possible in order to increase the situational awareness of mission personnel, and thereby their effectiveness. However, the visual images of landmass terrain in many presently available image display systems are generated in such a manner that the topographical features of the terrain are constructed of polygon faces having a constant normal vector across their entire extent. The polygon faces constituting the terrain features are stored in a polygonal terrain database which is correlated in scene content and elevation with all other visual, FLIR, moving map, and RADAR databases utilized by the system to generate the displayed images.
The result is that the elevational features of the terrain are "cartoonish-looking" on conventional visual display devices, as can be seen in FIG. 1, which depicts a scene displayed by a conventional RADAR display system. Typically, the polygon faces appear as large triangles of constant intensity and sides having a scale length of 1/2 nautical mile.
Various image display systems have been proposed for generating higher resolution, more realistic visual displays of landmass scenes. Several of these proposed systems are discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,555, issued to Bennett, discloses a computer-generated visual display for a flight simulator which includes a data processing circuit which generates high detail realistic images statistically, under the control of a control database. More particularly, the landscape "character" data is stored in the control database, and based on a statistical analysis of that data, various "cultural features" (e.g., secondary roads, ponds, farms, trees, and so on) stored in another database are combined with the landscape "character" data, to thereby produce a final database which is utilized in the generation of the visual images. Although the Bennett system may enhance the realism of image displays used in flight simulators, it does not address the problem of "cartoonish-looking" images generated by an image display system which utilizes a polygonal terrain database.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,854, issued to Wittenburg, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,030, issued to Koch et al., disclose image display systems which overlay photographic imagery on a terrain database in order to enhance the realism of the image display. In this regard, Wittenburg rapidly generates photo-realistic imagery from a digitized down-looking photograph which has been combined and registered with digital terrain elevation data.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,689, issued to Nack et al., discloses a computer image generation (CIG) system which uses a three-dimensional voxel database formed by combining three-dimensional digital terrain elevation data with two-dimensional plan view and oblique view aerial photography digital data, to thereby generate more realistic images.
Although these image display systems may also enhance the realism of image displays used in flight simulators, they require a database generated from digitized photographs, whereas many RADAR display and other systems rely upon polygonal terrain databases of the type described hereinabove in order to provide the required correlation between the visual, RADAR, sensor imagery, moving map, and other databases used in generating the RADAR display. Thus, the Wittenburg and Koch et al. systems do not provide a solution to the problem of "cartoonish-looking" images generated by an image display system which utilizes a polygonal terrain database.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,615, issued to Economy et al., discloses a computer image generation system in which the number of vertices which define each of a plurality of terrain-defining polygons is augmented in real time for providing finer detail and for effecting substantially continuous smooth level of detail (LOD) transitions. Some vertex components may have predetermined values derived from mapping data or from other deterministic sources and may be stored in compact form. The level of detail of features such as terrain can be increased by increasing the density of polygons which represent the terrain features. However, each of the polygon faces has a constant normal vector across their entire extent, and thus, the problem of "cartoonish-looking" images generated by an image display system which utilizes a polygonal terrain database is not solved. Moreover, the level of resolution or detail which is afforded by this technique is limited to that of the original polygonal terrain database, as no data from a higher detail terrain database is used.
Based on the above, it can be appreciated that there presently exists a need in the art for a method for enhancing the resolution and visual realism of an image generated using a polygonal terrain database, and an image display system which implements this method. The present invention fulfills this need in the art.

Method for incorporating high detail normal vector information into polygonal terrain databases and image display system which implements this method


A composition for producing an elastomeric thin film comprising a carboxylated acrylonitrile polybutadiene latex which is vulcanized without the use of conventional sulphur and accelerators thereby reducing the possibility of contacting immediate Type I hypersensitivity and delay Type IV hypersensitivity caused by the presence of natural rubber latex proteins and accelerators respectively. The dipping process for making gloves by using a latex composition provided by: premixing carboxylated acrylonitrile polybutadiene latex with methacrylic acid, or alternatively using a self-crosslinked latex, adding zinc oxide, adjusted to 9 to 10 of the pH level, and diluted with water to obtain 18% to 30% by weight of total solid content; dipping the glove former into the composition to form a layer of thin film of the latex composition on the former; drying the thin latex film on the former and crosslinking the latex film on the former.

Natural rubber latex has been used in the manufacturing dipped latex products such as rubber medical gloves for many years. The natural rubber latex medical gloves so produced have excellent elastic properties and superior barrier performance against the transmission of blood-bourn pathogens. The manufacturing of the natural rubber gloves involves a vulcanizing process whereby free sulfur, which acts as a vulcanizing agent and chemicals which act as accelerators in the vulcanization process, are added to natural rubber latex. More specifically in rubber glove manufacturing, a mold or former in the shape of a hand is dipped, in one or several times, into the emulsion of natural rubber latex compounded with the addition of sulfur and accelerators, until a rubber film of the desired thickness is deposited. The rubber glove having the desired thickness is then dried and vulcanized at elevated temperature. The vulcanization process is essential to impart highly elastic properties to natural rubber film. The resulted rubber glove product made from the natural rubber latex has favorable barrier performance, mechanical properties and physical properties.
The natural rubber latex contains less than 5% of non-rubber such as proteins, lipids and trace elements. It is also recognized that the increase use of natural rubber latex medical gloves in the hospital settings has resulted in certain users developing Type I hypersensitivity. This immediate type I hypersensitivity in users of natural rubber latex gloves is caused by the residual extractable latex proteins present in natural rubber gloves. The immediate hypersensitivity, which usually occurs in less than two hours after contact, is an allergic response mediated by IgE (an antibody found in the circulation). On the skin, this can present as hives that migrate beyond the point of contact with latex. Systemic allergic symptoms can include itching eyes, swelling of lips or tongue, breathlessness, dizziness, abdominal pain, nausea, hypotension, and very rarely anaphylactic shock. People who have developed sensitization caused by natural rubber latex proteins are advised to avoid further contact with natural rubber latex and products made from natural rubber latex.
Synthetic latices such as nitrile latex, carboxylated nitrile latex, polychloroprene latex, or polybutadiene latex do not contain proteins. It is therefore recommended that those people who have developed protein allergy should use only synthetic latex gloves that are made from either nitrile latex, carboxylated nitrile latex, polychloroprene latex, or polybutadiene latex. Some of the gloves made from these synthetic latices are reported to have equivalent or better physical properties compared to natural rubber latex gloves but the barrier performance of the synthetic latex gloves are not as good as those of natural rubber latex gloves.
The manufacturing of synthetic rubber medical gloves adopts almost the same process used in the manufacture of natural rubber latex medical gloves.
Using the same procedure, a thin film of desired thickness of the synthetic elastomeric latex compound is deposited on a mold or former of the hand shape, dried, and vulcanized, whereby the resultant thin elastomeric rubber glove product has the desired mechanical and physical properties. For the purpose, a variety of synthetic elastomers gloves have been developed and introduced in the market. Carboxylaated nitrile rubber is the most common material used in making synthetic rubber gloves.
Manufacturing of rubber gloves made from natural rubber latex and synthetic latex very often use an accelerated sulfur vulcanization system whereby chemicals such as dithiocarbamate, tetramethyl thiuram disulfide (TMTD) and mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) are used as accelerators in the sulfur-based vulcanization process. These accelerators, as the name implies, are used to enhance the rate of vulcanization. Without the use of accelerators, the vulcanization process using sulfur alone will be very slow requiring several hours at high temperature of 140 C.
Extensive use of these accelerators in the rubber gloves manufacturing industry has created another health-related issue. These accelerators can give rise to the delay Type IV hypersensitivity such as allergic contact dermatitis. The delayed type IV hypersensitivity usually occurs 24-72 hours after contact. The reaction is usually localized rashes, redness of the skin, sometimes with, cracking and blistering of the skin, usually on the wrists or hands.
Switching from natural rubber latex gloves to nitrile latex gloves to avoid Type I hypersensitivity may therefore induce the occurrence of Type IV hypersensitivity if the nitrile gloves are found to have excessive residual accelerators. The industry is therefore looking for a synthetic glove manufacturing process without the use of sulfur vulcanization system and thus eliminating the use of accelerators. In the case of carboxylated nitrile latex, crosslinking without the use of sulfur and accelerators will therefore involve a unique, non-conventional process requiring the zinc ions, present as zinc oxides for example, to participate in the ionic as well as the covalent bond crosslinking mechanism. This technology is urgently needed in spite of its difficulty. This is the gist of the current invention.
Depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,362 (as Patent Document 1 in this specification) is a carboxylated nitrile rubber which is subjected to the vulcanization process with the help of zinc oxide and sulfur.
A carboxylated nitrile rubber typically comprises acrylonitrile, butadiene, and organic acid segments of various composition ratio. It is possible to produce covalent bond crosslinking in the sub segment of butadiene using sulfur and accelerators. Also, the vulcanization of the carboxylated acrylonitrile part (organic acid) can be effected by ionic bonds using metal oxides such as zinc oxide or other metal salts.
The crosslink of covalent bonds with the help of sulfur can significantly improve the durability of rubber in contact with oils and chemicals. In addition, the addition of zinc oxide encourages the production of the ionic bonds of zinc ions. The ionic crosslinking with the help of zinc ions will increase the tensile strength, the force at break and the abrasive resistance as well as the elastic modulus of the rubber film.
In case that the crosslinking mechanism depends simply on the ionic bonds, the resistance to oils and chemicals will be declined resulting in the rubber products having lower quality reliability.
It is now taught in common that the crosslinking of carboxylated nitrile rubber products such as gloves is effectively implemented by a combination of the covalent bond crosslinking with the help of sulfur and accelerators and the ionic crosslinking with the help of metal oxide such as zinc oxide or metal salts.
The use of accelerators in the vulcanization process, however, will create health related issue of delayed Type-IV hypersensitivity.
It is widely known that the strength of rubber is improved by adding zinc dimethacrylate and/or basic zinc methacrylate to the rubber in order to promote the polymerization with organic peroxide.
More specifically, the mixing of poly-butadiene with methacrylic acid and then with zinc oxide produces a composition having improved abrasive resistance (See Patent Document 2 of JP Patent Laid-open Publication No. 53-125139 and Patent Document 3 of JP Patent Laid-open Publication No. 52-121653). The adding of non-polymeric carboxylic acid to a mixture of diene rubber, methacrylic acid, zinc oxide, and organic peroxide produces a blend which is improved in the tensile strength (See Patent Document 4 of JP Patent Laid-open Publication No. 53-85842). The use of methacrylic acid, zinc oxide, and peroxide enables the crosslinking in NBR but without the presence of the ionic bonds.
A soft nitrile rubber product is provided which is as high in the tensile strength and the resistance to chemicals when the crosslinking is carried out with the help of zinc oxide or a sulfur curing accelerator. The resulting rubber product is softer than any conventional like product (See Patent Document 6 of JP Patent No. 3517246 or JP Patent Indication No. 2000-503292). The vulcanizing accelerator is tetramethyl-thiuram-disulfide combined with mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT). The resultant soft nitrile rubber which is a product of the relevant reaction will hence contain sulfur.
The carboxylated nitrile rubber which is a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and unsaturated carboxylic acid allows the ionic bonds to be produced in the carboxy group with zinc ions. However, it is difficult to produce covalent bond-crosslinking in a compound using zinc ions. It is hence essential to use a minimum dosage of sulfur to provide covalent crosslinking. More particularly, a method of manufacturing a glove product is depicted in JP Patent Publication No. 2002-527632 (Patent Document 7 in this specification) where the crosslinking is achieved by adding 1 to 3 phr of sulfur and 0.5 phr of multivalent metal oxide to carboxylated nitrile rubber which is a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and unsaturated carboxylic acid.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,871B2 (Patent Document 8 in this specification), an elastomer product such as a glove product is disclosed where the crosslinking agent is a metal oxide such as zinc oxide without the use of conventional sulfur and accelerators. The elastomer used is a polybutadiene latex which is not carboxylated and the product can be vulcanized at temperatures less than 100 C. and more particularly at temperatures less than 85 C. A corresponding Japanese patent, JP Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2004-526063 (Patent Document 8) is disclosed where the crosslinking in the synthetic polymer described previously is carried out without the use of accelerators. More particularly, it claims from a series of examinations to feature a step of forming an elastomer film which contains no sulfur where the vulcanization process is carried out at a temperature of not higher than 85° C. with the use of a metal oxide such as zinc oxide for conducting the sulfur substitution. It is however found that the vulcanization consisting mainly of a metal oxide is feasible only with some practical difficulties.
Non-patent Document 1 ("Cross-linking in carboxylated nitrile rubber dipped films" by Andrew Kells and Bob Grobes, LATEX 24-25, January 2006, Frankfurt, Germany) is appended where it is shown that to obtain carboxylated nitrile latex gloves with acceptable durable properties, a small amount of sulfur with the use of vulcanizing accelerators such as type tetramethyl thiuram (TMTD), 2,2′-dithio-bis(benzothiazole)-(MBTS), N-cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulfinamide (CBS), and zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDEC) are required in addition to zinc oxide. It is apparent that it is difficult to produce durable carboxylated nitrile latex gloves without the use of sulfur and sulfur-based accelerators. While the attempt for manufacturing a glove product from the self-crosslinked material is disclosed, the action of self-crosslinking as well as the process needed to produce the desired gloves was not explained in the technical paper. It is true that the technology for implementing the self-crosslinking latex falls short of its acceptable goal.
Non-patent Document 2 ("Tailored synthetic dipping latices: New approach for thin soft and strong gloves and for accelerator-free dipping" by Dr. Soren Buzs, LATEX 23-24, January 2008, Madrid, Spain) is appended teaching one promising direction of the technology that the alternative crosslinking process in NBR latex includes a direct covalent crosslinking by functional reactive groups (R) and the ionic crosslinks produced with the help of zinc oxide with the carboxyl groups of the NBR latex. More specifically, the method of vulcanization comprises substantially direct covalent bonding of polymer chains for R bonds and ionic bonding with the help of the carboxy group and zinc oxide. Under laboratory condition, the vulcanization temperature can be reduced from 120° C. to 85° C. The direction of the technology states that the R bonds derived from the covalent bonds linked directly from polymer chains are featured in addition to the ionic bonds bridging with the help of the carboxy group and zinc. Unfortunately, the approach fails to clarify what is the nature of the functional group R which acts in the covalent crosslinking and the actual method of constructing the same.
Disclosed in JP Patent Indication No. 2008-512626 (Patent Document 9) is a polymer latex manufactured by the radical emulsion polymerization where the soft phase part has a unit structure based on a group of separately conjugated diene, ethylene-form unsaturated mono-carboxylic acid, ethylene-form unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, and their anhydride, mono-ester and mono-amide, (meta)acrylonitrile, styrene, substituted styrene, □-methylstyrene, alkylester having 1 to 10 carbons in (meta)acrylic acid, amide in (meta)acrylic acid, N-methylol amide group, ethylene-form unsaturated compound containing their ester derivative and ether derivative, and their mixture while the hard phase part has a unit structure of monomer selected separately from a group of ethylene-form unsaturated mono-carboxylic acid, unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, and their anhydride, mono-ester and mono-amide, (meta)acrylonitrile, styrene, substituted styrene, □-methylstyrene, ester of C1 to C4 in (meta)acrylic acid, amide in (meta)acrylic acid, and their mixture.
It is presumed in that invention that the crosslinking is implemented by the covalent bonds in the soft phase part. In particular, metal components such as zinc ions are not used.
Disclosed in JP Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2008-545814 (Patent Document 10) is an elastomer product manufactured by the steps of (a) preparing a carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber composition which comprises 0.25 to 1.5 parts of zinc oxide for 100 parts of dry rubber, alkali for having greater than 8.5 of the pH level, a stabilizing agent, and one or more accelerators selected from a group of guanidine, dithiocarbamate, and thiazol compound, if desired, (b) dipping a former in the carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber composition, and (c) curing the carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber product.
Crosslinking is done with the help of zinc oxide. For permitting the product to have a desired degree of the resistance to chemicals, crosslinking accelerators are used. The vulcanizing accelerator used is a dithiocarbamates. For improving the resistance to chemicals, a mixture of the dithiocarbamate accelerator, diphenyl guanidine, and zinc mercaptobenzothiazole used to ensure higher effects. This disclosure employs crosslinking of rubber using sulfur and accelerators, the gloves produced will have the problems of Type IV hypersensitivity.
Disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,478 (Patent Document 11) is an elastomer product of which the elastomer having carboxy groups is produced by the reaction with (a) a carboxylic acid or its derivatives, (b) a bivalent or trivalent metal contained compound, and (c) an amine or amino compound, and (d) a neutralizing agent for neutralizing at least a part of the carboxyl group in a base polymer. During the reaction, none of the accelerators, thiuram, and carbamate is used. The base polymer may be selected from natural latex rubber, synthetic latex polymer (e.g., acrylonitrile), or butadiene rubber such as synthetic butadiene rubber, and carboxylated butadiene rubber. Also, carboxylated acrylonitrile latex is not used. This reaction requires essentially (c) the amine or amino compounds. The amine group or amino group is used to solubilize the divalent or trivalent metal salts that can then react with the carboxylic derivatives to form ionic bonds. The complex solubilization process will disturb the stable reaction of ionic crosslink.

Elastomeric rubber and rubber products without the use of vulcanizing accelerators and sulfur


A dispensing apparatus clamps onto the neck of a large liquid container such as a pure water bottle, sealing the mouth of the container, while the bottle is upright. The apparatus has an elongate column upstanding from a broad base. A passage at the top of the column receives the bottle neck and clamps the apparatus onto the bottle while sealing the mouth. The bottle is then tilted onto its side and then pivoted on the base until the bottle is inverted. A vent tube with check valve extends up through the seal and to the bottom of the bottle. A dispensing tube with valve extends down through the seal and terminates in a dispensing valve. The problems of spilling and injury from lifting and inverting are avoided.

This invention relates to liquid dispensers, and more particularly to an inverted water bottle support and dispenser and a method for mounting the bottle with reduced effort.
Supports and dispensers for water bottles, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,778 issued Jun. 16, 1992 to Baker et al. consider problems associated with fluid spilling while inverting the bottle and while removing a partially empty inverted bottle. None of the prior art resolve the serious problems of lifting and inverting a large, difficult to hold, container with serious strain and injury. They have considered various solutions to the spilling problem including never inverting the bottle, but pumping or syphoning out the liquid. It would be useful to have a system that would permit gravity dispensing from an inverted bottle that would overcome both the lifting problem and the spilling problem.


The present invention discloses an electronic device for rectifying input electric signals to generate rectified output signals. The electronic device includes an input inductive circuit includes an input conductive winding-trace for receiving the input electric signals. The electronic device further includes a rectifying integrated circuit (IC) chip directly soldered onto to the winding-trace for processing the input electric signals provided for generating the rectified output signals. In another preferred embodiment, the input inductive circuit is an input one-turn inductive circuit further includes a top core and a bottom core for generating inductive input signals responding to the input electric signals. In another preferred embodiment, the electronic device further includes an output circuit connected to the IC chip wherein the output circuit further includes output inductive circuit for generating inductive output signals in response to the rectified output signals. In another preferred embodiment, the output inductive circuit is an output one-turn inductive circuit further includes an output top core and an output bottom core for generating the inductive output signals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the structure and method of assembling a compact electronic device. More particularly, this invention relates to a new configuration and assembling process for manufacturing compact electronic assemblies with reduced lead-wire connections and solder joints to achieve improved operational power supply efficiency with better thermal performance and meanwhile achieving improved assembly reliability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As many discrete components are interconnected by lead wires, which are soldered at solder joints to form the power supply systems, the power utilization efficiency and packing density are degraded when the number of solder joints are increased. In addition to the problems caused by interconnecting these discrete components by lead wires, the packaging configuration for each of these discrete components also involves the use of lead frame and wire bonding, which also requires solder joints. The difficulties of efficiency degradation and greater volume assemblies occupying larger space are compounded because of these packaging and assembling configurations.
Referring to FIG. 1A for a circuit diagram of a forward converter commonly employed in a switching power supply (SPS). An induced current is generated and inputted to a inductor winding 12 from a secondary winding 101 via a transformer 10. A set of rectifiers 111 and 112 then rectify the induced current to generate the output DC current to an output circuit (not shown) connected between a positive terminal (Vo) and a negative terminal (-Vo). The rectifiers 111 and 112 can either be a diode or a metal-oxide-semi-conductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). FIG. 1B is a circuit diagram of an alternate forward converter arranged slightly differently than that of FIG. 1A.
Referring to FIG. 2 for a perspective view of a packed MOSFET 111 according to conventional packaging process. A MOSFET die 21 is connected by bonding wires 241 and 242 to a source lead 231 and a gate lead 233 respectively provided on a lead frame. The MOSFET power transistor 21 is supported on a copper tap 22. A drain of the power MOSFET is formed on the bottom surface of the substrate of the die 21 and is connected via the copper tab 22 to the lead 232. The MOSFET rectifier 111 is enclosed and protected in an epoxy molding 25. This packaged MOSFET rectifier 111 is then employed as a component and further assembled as part of the forward converter of FIGS. 1A or 1B, according to FIG. 3 as explained below.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an electronic assembly connected between a positive terminal +Vo and a negative terminal -Vo for implementing a circuit as that shown in FIG. 1B. One end of the secondary winding 101 is connected to the Copper trace 311 on the printed circuit board through solder joint 321. The source lead 231 of the MOSFET 111 is connected to the Copper trace 311 through solder joint 322. Wire bonding 241 is exploited to connect source lead 231 and MOSFET die 242. The MOSFET die 21 is attached to the copper tab 22 through joints 323 and the copper tab 22 is supported and attached to a second copper trace 312 on the printed circuit board via joints 324. One end of inductor winding is connected to the copper trace 312 through solder joint 325. The other end of inductor winding 12 is connected to the positive terminal +Vo. According to the configuration of assembly shown above, there are multiple joints, i.e., solder joints 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325 composed of Sn62%/Pb36%Ag2%. For a power supply, these multiple joints electrically function as resistors and power losses at these joints significantly reduce the operational efficiency of the power supply systems. For a forward converter with regular size, an assembly as that shown in FIG. 3 results in a total resistance of approximately 875 micro-ohms. Since the power loss is proportional to the resistance and the square of current, i.e., I2R, for a power supply operated with higher current, the power loss becomes a significant design problem that cannot be overcome because of the configuration of assembly that involves so many interconnecting solder joints.
In addition to the problem of the power loss, the packing density of the power supply system is also adversely affected. The packing density is a function of the size of the components and the distance between the components. In a switching power supply system of high power density, there are multiple rectifiers arranged in parallel to increase the efficiency. The connecting traces connected between these joints thus occupy large percentage of the packaging space. As a conventional forward converter requires so many solder joints, the packing density cannot be easily reduced.
Therefore, an improved packaging and assembling configuration is still required to simplify the structure and interconnections of these discrete components. This simplified structure must be able to reduce the number of joints while providing stable and reliable interconnections. It is further desirable that the improved configuration can be carried out in mass production processes that can be conveniently automated to further reduce the production cost of the assembled systems.

Compact assembly configuration and process for reducing lead wire connections and solder joints


A transfer device having a plurality of pick-up heads loads products into receptacles. The products are provided in a random arrangement in a pick-up area, and the position of each product is detected. To pick up the products, the transfer device is moved over the pick-up area and each pick-up head picks up an individual product at a pick-up time and in a pick-up position. The pick-up position and the pick-up time for the products are determined on the basis of the previously detected positions of the products. The placement of the products in a placement area may also occurs while the transfer device is moving relative to the receptacles.

Various methods and devices are known by means of which products provided in the form of bulk goods, especially medicinal and pharmaceutical products, can be loaded into appropriate packages.
A filling station for filling blister pockets with sugar-coated pills or tablets is known, for example, from EP 3 018 058 A1. This filling station comprises a filling-shaft unit with several filling shafts, which extend vertically and through each of which a product falls into a blister pocket.
EP 2 962 944 A1 discloses a method for filling a blister web with tablets, in which the tablets are moved along in a conveying direction to a transfer point, at which the tablets are aligned with pockets of the blister web. The tablets are then pushed over an ejection edge into the pockets of the blister web. To prevent the tablets from tipping over, the ejection edge is moved in the direction opposite to the conveying direction at the time of transfer.
We have found that the known devices and methods, however, suffer from the disadvantage that the individual products must first be presorted or delivered individually by a feed device. This results in an increased amount of work and leads to a more complicated construction of the corresponding filling stations. We have also discovered that these stations, furthermore, are frequently format-dependent, which means that, when there is change in the product or in the format, a corresponding amount of work is created to re-tool the system. In addition, the feed devices, especially in the case of tablets, can become contaminated with dust and fragments, which results in an increase in the amount of required cleaning work.
Finally, in the case of the known methods and devices, all of the products provided are loaded into the corresponding (blister) packs, so that, for the sake of quality assurance, either additional measures must be taken before the pockets are filled, or packages with products of defective quality must be sorted out or destroyed afterwards.
Alternatively, so-called "pick-and-place" methods and devices are used, in which products are usually picked up individually and placed in an appropriate receptacle. It is obvious that a very great deal of effort is required to do this, especially in the context of mass production.

Method and assembly for transferring products


A telescopic sun screen assembly for removably mounting to the interior of an automobile, such as the sun visor thereof. The assembly includes three telescopically arranged members, where a first member comprises a bracket for slidably receiving a second panel member, which in turn slidably receives the third panel member. The second panel member includes an opaque face, while the third panel member includes two different and distinct areas of translucency such that the user thereof may, by sliding the members relative to one another, determine the degree of sun protection desired.

The present invention relates to a user friendly sun screen assembly that has particular utility for mounting to the interior of an automobile, such as the sun visor thereof. Anyone who has driven in the glaring sun of summer, or faced the sun reflected off a snowy terrain, knows the value of a sun screen and the comfort it can provide the driver. Many automobiles, particularly later models, come with a windshield having a darkened area of perhaps four inches along the top of the windshield. However, this is often insufficient under the driving conditions noted above.
Supplementary sun screen devices, generally attachable to the pivotal sun visor normally provided above the windshield, are commercially available from automotive supply shops. One such commercial device is the Axius Auto-Shade, a trademark of Auto-Shade, L.L.C. of Moorpark, Calif. 93021. The device, commercially promoted as a visor glare reducer, comprises a darkened, translucent, plastic, rectangular shield having a spring biased clip for attaching to the lower or free edge of the sun visor of the automobile. The device is constructed to pivot about the clip such that the driver can flip the device to a position in close proximity to the windshield. Unfortunately, such a device offers only a single degree of protection to the driver, and would have to be flipped often to the changing glare and position of the sun.
In contrast, the assembly of the present invention offers plural degrees of sun protection to the driver, who in turn can easily and readily make the changes, as desired. The manner by which the assembly hereof meets these challenges will become apparent in the following description, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


The present invention provides a float level switch featuring a housing; an actuator shaft arranged in the housing; and a low force shaft seal assembly arranged between the actuator shaft and the housing, having a combination of disks or seals, one being made of a semi-rigid lubricious material, for maintaining a watertight seal with a substantially reduced rotational force or friction on the actuator shaft than a conventional O-ring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switch; and more particularly to a fluid level switch to sense changes in liquid levels.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Paddle-type fluid level switches have historically used Mercury tubes to sense changes in liquid level and to provide the switch in an electrical circuit. Recent concerns about the health and environment impacts of Mercury have required a change in paddle switch technology.
One known float switch utilizes a snap switch having O-rings for the shaft seal. O-ring shaft seals, however, can impart high friction forces to the rotating shaft, which reduces the amount of buoyant force available to actuate the snap switch, and gravitational force available to reset the switch. These friction losses make the product less robust.
Moreover, a search was conducted in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the following patents were developed by the searcher includes the following with a brief description thereof: