The present invention relates to a liquid suppository composition comprising diclofenac sodium, poloxamer and at least one polymer select from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The composition provides the advantages of. (1) a feel of foreign matter or discomfort does not occur when the composition is rectally administered; and (2) administration is easy and after rectal administration, the composition is neither leaked out from the anus nor shifted into the end of large intestine.

The present invention relates to a liquid suppository composition of diclofenac sodium.
Diclofenac sodium, 2-[(2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino] benzeneacetic acid, monosodium salt, (Voltaren(copyright), CibaGeneva Pharmaceuticals, Summit, N.J., USA) is one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties. The potency of its antipyretic effect is similar to that of indomethacin, phenylbutazone and acetylsalicylic acid, while having the effect of uterine contraction, antihypertension and the treatment for menstrual disorder. Although oral-administered diclofenac sodium is almost completely absorbed, its typical adverse reactions in the gastrointestinal tract include gastric ulcer, GI hemorrhage and perforation. To avoid the various adverse reactions associated with the oral administration of diclofenac sodium, its suppository form was already introduced. However, the said suppository form has another disadvantages, that is not only the general disadvantages of the suppository form, but also adverse effects due to sudden increasing of blood concentration of drug after its administration and due to the inconveniency of twice medication per day.
These disadvantages can be eliminated by a formulation of the sustained-release dosage form in such a manner to combine some appropriate base with the materials that can make a drug to be sustained-released. However, such materials for sustained-releasing of drug are not dissolved in the oily bases by heating, while being in dispersed state. Thus it is necessary that the sustained-release dosage form should be prepared in such a manner that each component is homogeneously dispersed in oily bases. For example, there are several methods of preparing the sustained-release dosage form in the following manner:
a method of changing the blending ratio of fatty acid ester (Japan Patent Pyung 2-73010, Pyung 1-11618, Pyung 7-138149, Sho 64-63512);
a method of adding hydrogen lecithin to the base of conventional suppository with a very high melting point (Japan Patent Sho 63-14716); and,
a method of adding polyglycerin fatty acid ester to the base of conventional suppository.
According to these methods, their drug application are limited due to the fact that the drug-release rate are controlled only by the contents of materials for sustained-release.
There is another method of controlling the drug-release rate by adding water-containing polymers to the conventional solid suppository [Drug Develop. and Ind. Pharm. 16(10), 1675-1686, 1990]. However, the rectal mucosa may be irritated during administration of the preparation formulated by using this method.
Likewise the conventional suppositories, the sustained-release dosage forms prepared by the said methods are applicable easily and widely to patients including elderly people and children, and the absorption of drug from those is not affected by meals, due to their special route of administration. But they have still encountered the following problems, likewise the conventional suppositories: (1) inconvenience in manufacture and handling; (2) a feel of foreign matter and discomfort on the part of patients during administration, and (3) greater deviation of bioavailability due to the drug absorption via the large intestine, not via rectum, due to the movement of the preparation
Meantime, in recent years, there are many cases that poloxamer is selected as a base of suppository, because it is liquid at a low temperature but when temperature goes up, it can form gel. For example, a basic method of using poloxamer as a base for suppository composition is that the scope of gelation temperature of base is simply adjusted by modulating the concentrations of poloxamer and such poloxamer derivatives as Tetronic(trademark)(BASF Corp., Parsippany, N.J., USA), Tergitol(trademark)(Union Carbine, Danbury, Conn., USA), etc. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,373 and Canadian Patent 1,072,413). Another method of using poloxamer as a main base for suppository composition is that various kinds of additives are employed so as to adjust the gel strength and pH of suppository composition for applying it to the body cavity such as rectum, skin, etc. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,822, 4,474,951, 4,474,952, 4,474,752 and 4,474,753). However, since the said suppository compositions are in principle characterized by controlling the general properties of base only through the selection of proper poloxamer, their application to rectum are inappropriate; when these suppository compositions are administered to rectum, they are easily leaked out from the anus or shifted to the end of large intestine, thus a drug undergoes the first-pass effect.
In another method of using poloxamer for suppository composition, it is designed with the addition of polymers including carbomer to adjust the gelation temperature and gel strength that the composition can be applied to the body cavity such as skin, eye and rectum (Europe Patent Number 551626). Nevertheless, this composition has proven to be insufficient for its application to the suppository composition since the bioadhesive force and dissolution rate of the drug were not considered. Thereafter, another method of using sodium alginate, chitosan, etc., which are ionic polysaccharides, to be mixed with poloxamer has been disclosed so as to delivery drugs such as antipyretic to a body cavity (U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,703). However, this method has recognized some disadvantages in that (1) the physical properties of sodium alginate or chitosan is inappropriate to suppository form, (2) the irreversible base containing counter ion such as calcium ion (Ca+2) is inconvenient in use and handling of suppository, (3) the scope of gelation temperature cannot be widely controlled due to its use of one poloxamer, and (4) the damages of rectal mucosa, which must be considered carefully during rectal administration, are severe.
Besides, another method of using chitosan as a main gel-forming material has been disclosed (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,870 and EPPatent 103995). This method has also encountered some drawbacks in that (1) the accurate gel temperature of suppository composition cannot be made available, (2) although poloxamer is used, the composition contains some absorption enhancers, while concentrating on the application of peptide drugs only. There is another method of using polysaccharide as the main ingredient (International Patent WO94/03157 and WO94/03186), but this method has proven to be disadvantageous in that the accurate adjustment of physical properties such as gelation temperature and gel strength may not be easily available.
There is another method of using poloxamer, sodium alginate or chitosan as a base for application to a drug that is inadequate as an oral administration due to the hepatic first-pass effect, the severe gastrointestinal disturbance or the disintegration by gastric juice (International Patent WO97/30693 and WO97/34580). However, the base cannot be employed to diclofenac sodium of the present invention.
The suppository composition of this invention is characterized in that: (1) it has the suitable gelation temperature at 30-36xc2x0 C. to be a liquid form at room temperature and readily becomes a gel at body temperature after rectal administration, (2) it has the gel strength of more then 15 sec with no weight, and is not leaked out the anus, (3) and it has suitable bioadhesive force of more then 50 dyne/cm2 and does not move up to the end of the colon from the rectum, and does not give any damage to the rectal mucosa.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel liquid suppository composition containing diclofenac sodium, being characterized in that: (1) the process for manufacturing the composition is easy and economical, (2) the composition has better gel strength and bioadhesive force, (3) a feel of foreign matter or discomfort does not occur during rectal administration, (4) the administration of the composition is easy and (5) the composition is neither leaked out from the anus nor shifted into the end of large intestine.
The present invention relates to a liquid suppository composition comprising: a) 1-5 wt. % of diclofenac sodium; b) 25-40 wt. % of a solid-phase poloxamer mixture containing at least two poloxamers; and c) 0.1-1.0 wt. % of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide and polyvinylpyrrolidone.
Poloxamer, a copolymer of polyethylene-propylene glycol, is a liquid at low temperature but forms a gel at high temperature. According to the present invention, a variety of poloxamer mixtures can be used. The detailed examples of solid-phase poloxamer include poloxamer 407, poloxamer 338, poloxamer 288, poloxamer 238 and poloxamer 188; among them, it is preferred to select the solid-phase poloxamer 407 since it can form gel, at a very low concentration of 20%, at room temperature and is non-toxic. By using the mixture of poloxamer 407 and other poloxamers, the appropriate scope of gelation temperature can be adjusted easily. In particular, in case of the poloxamer mixture containing poloxamer 407 and poloxamer 188 in a certain weight ratio, the gelation temperature in the range of 30-36xc2x0 C., of which range is proper, can be adjusted easily. Hence, it is preferred that the weight ratio of both poloxamer 407 and poloxamer 188 is 1: 1-1.5, while the amount of the poloxamer mixture is preferably added in the range of 25-40 wt. % to the total composition for rectal administration. If the amount of the poloxamer mixture is less than 25 wt. %, the gel strength and bioadhesive force are weak, but in case of exceeding 40 wt. %, a higher degree of viscosity makes it difficult to prepare the desired product.
To improve the gel strength and bioadhesive force of suppository during manufacture, various types of the following polymers have been commonly applied in the past: acrylic polymers such as carbopol and polycarbophil; cellulose-based polymers such as hydroxypropyl cellulose and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose; or, natural polymers such as sodium alginate and chitosan. However, these polymers showing the coagulation in diclofenac sodium solution are inappropriate to the composition of the present invention.
By contrast, these hydrophilic polymers such as polyethylene oxide and polyvinylpyrrolidone can be used as a polymer contained in the liquid suppository composition of the present invention, since they are well mixed with poloxamer and diclofenac sodium to form a clear, transparent, and viscous solution. This reflects that since these hydrophilic polymers may react with hydroxyl group (xe2x80x94OH) of poloxamer, carboxyl group (xe2x80x94COOH) or amino group (xe2x80x94NH) of diclofenac sodium to form a hydrogen bond, more strong three-dimensional net-working structure of poloxamer may be formed. It seems that because these polymers can form the strong hydrogen bond with oligosaccharide groups of rectal mucosa, very small amount of these polymers can serve to enhance the gel strength and bioadhesive force.
Further, since the viscosity of the composition may vary depending on the molecular weight of polymer added and its content, the liquid suppository composition with proper bioadhesive force and gel strength for therapeutic use can be prepared by the appropriate adjustment of its molecular weight and content. The dissolution rate of drug can be also controlled to be proper for therapeutic use. Preferably, at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide and polyvinylpyrrolidone is added to the total composition in a weight ratio of about 0.1-1.0 wt. %, more preferably in a weight ratio of 0.3-1.0 wt. %. If the content of polymer is less than 0.1 wt. % to the total composition, its gel strength and bioadhesive force cannot be properly controlled, and where it exceeds 1.0 wt. %, a higher viscosity makes it difficult to manufacture the desired product.
Polyethylene oxide with the molecular weight of 1xc3x97105-9xc3x97105 can be used. The molecular weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone may vary, although 630,000, is the most preferred. If these molecular weights are small, the viscosity of final product becomes reduced and vice versa. The dosage form for rectal composition can be designed by using appropriate molecular weight, as needed.
In addition to diclofenac sodium, poloxamer, and polyethylene oxide and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone, the liquid suppository composition of the present invention may also include one or more of the following common additives used for the conventional dosage forms of rectal administration: preservatives (e.g., sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, parabens, etc.), pH modulator (e.g., hydrochloric acid, citric acid, sodium hydroxide, etc.), and stabilizer (e.g., methionine, etc.).

Liquid suppository composition of diclofenac sodium


A temperature detection circuit (18) detects temperature around an oscillation circuit (20) equipped with voltage variable capacitors (23, 24). According to its temperature detection signal, a temperature compensation circuit (30) produces a voltage signal as a temperature compensation signal. That voltage signal is supplied to the voltage variable capacitors (23, 24) in order to sustain oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit (20) at a substantially constant level. When a switch element (1) is, turned on by a non-TCXO signal, both terminals of each voltage variable capacitor (23, 24) are brought to the same potential (ground potential). Consequently, each voltage variable capacitor has a predetermined capacitance and temperature compensation function is made ineffective. In that state, initial frequency regulation is performed under normal temperature.

Temperature compensation oscillators (TCXOs) used in various fields are in heavy use in portable mobile communication devices such as a cellular phone and so on in recent years. Generally, as this kind of temperature compensation oscillator, a crystal oscillator is widely used in which an oscillation circuit is constituted of a 10 MHz band AT cut quartz crystal (resonator) as an oscillation source and provided with a temperature compensation circuit so that the temperature characteristic in a cubic curve of the AT cut quartz crystal is cancelled to stabilize the oscillating frequency.
For these kinds of temperature compensation oscillators, a reduction in size and weight and a reduction in price as well as stability of an oscillation output signal are desired. For these needs, several types of packages are known. For example, the packages include a single type in which a quartz crystal (piezoelectric element) being a resonator and an integrated circuit constituting the temperature compensation circuit are mounted in the same chamber in the package, a double type in which a quartz crystal and an integrated circuit are separately packaged and bonded together, and an H type in which a quartz crystal and an integrated circuit are mounted in front and back separate chambers with a middle partition held therebetween.
A package configuration example of a single-type surface-mounted temperature compensation oscillator is now shown in FIG. 14.
This temperature compensation oscillator has a package (container) 10 which is constituted of a package main body 11, a welded ring 12, and a cover 13, to the inside of which a quartz crystal 15, and a MOS IC (integrated circuit) chip 16 constituting an oscillation circuit and a temperature compensation circuit which will be later described are attached and sealed in the same chamber. Note that, in addition to the IC chip 16, a circuit element such as a chip capacitor or the like may also be mounted in the package main body 11.
The temperature compensation oscillator has a circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 15. An oscillation circuit 20 forms an inverter oscillation circuit in which the quartz crystal 15 being a piezoelectric element, an inverter 21, and a feedback resistor 22 are connected in parallel, and their both connection points are grounded via DC cut capacitors Cc and Cd and voltage variable capacitors (voltage-controlled variable capacitance condensers) 23 and 24 which are oscillation capacitors, respectively. An oscillation output signal is outputted from the connection point on the output side of the inverter 21 to an output terminal 26.
Furthermore, a temperature detection circuit 18 which detects the temperature state near the quartz crystal 15 in the oscillation circuit 20 and a temperature compensation circuit 30 which controls to keep the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit 20 substantially constant based on a temperature detection signal from the temperature detection circuit 18, are provided.
The temperature compensation circuit 30 comprises a compensation data storage circuit (non-volatile memory) 31 which stores compensation data and a D/A conversion circuit 32 which generates a voltage signal as a temperature compensation signal based on the compensation data and the temperature detection signal from the temperature detection circuit 18. Then, the voltage signal is applied to terminals on the non-grounded side of the voltage variable capacitors 23 and 24 via resistors R1 and R2 provided in the oscillation circuit 20 respectively, so as to change the capacitances of the voltage variable capacitors 23 and 24 in accordance with the voltage, thereby controlling the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit 20 to keep the frequency of the oscillation output signal substantially constant.
In such temperature compensation oscillators, all of the quartz crystals 15 and the oscillation circuits 20 formed in the IC chips 16 cannot be formed completely the same due to variation in manufacturing or the like, and therefore they will individually have different temperature-frequency characteristics. Accordingly, all of the oscillation circuits 20 cannot be temperature-compensated based on the same reference. Therefore, it is necessary to create individual compensation data different for each oscillation circuit and store it into the compensation data storage circuit 31. However, the oscillation circuits cannot be sufficiently compensated if the quartz crystals 15 exhibit a wide range of characteristic variation, and it is therefore necessary to adjust as much as possible the characteristics of the quartz crystals 15 in advance.
Therefore, there is an adjustment method in which the IC chip constituting the oscillation circuit is not mounted when the characteristics of the piezoelectric element such as the quartz crystal and the like are adjusted, but the piezoelectric element is caused to resonate and its resonant frequency is monitored from the outside by the network analyzer or the like and the electrode film on the surface of the piezoelectric element is removed or added so that the frequency has a desired value.
However, this adjustment method has suffered from a problem that deviation arises between the oscillation frequency when the IC chip is also mounted in the package and the circuit is caused to perform oscillation operation and the previously adjusted resonant frequency. In addition, the number of adjustment steps has been large which requires extra adjustment cost.
To solve such problems, a temperature compensation oscillator is proposed which is configured such that, in a state in which a piezoelectric element such as a quartz crystal and an IC chip are mounted in a package to constitute a temperature compensation oscillator, its oscillation circuit is operated to allow the temperature characteristic of the piezoelectric element itself to be accurately adjusted and the work to create the temperature compensation data and store it into the temperature compensation data storage circuit can also be subsequently appropriately performed, thereby simplifying and increasing the accuracy of the adjustment process (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
The temperature compensation oscillator is provided with a selection device selecting whether to bring the temperature compensated function of the temperature compensation circuit into an enabled state or a disabled state, and is caused to operate as a simple oscillator by bringing the temperature compensation function into the disabled state when adjusting the electrode film on the piezoelectric element so that the oscillation frequency is a desired frequency at a reference temperature (room temperature).
Concretely, a selection circuit using a constant voltage generation circuit and two pairs of transmission gates is provided in addition to the temperature compensation circuit, and the transmission gates of the selection circuit are switched over to apply a temperature compensation signal (voltage signal) from the temperature compensation circuit to a voltage variable capacitor of the oscillation circuit to thereby control its capacitance according to the temperature when bringing the temperature compensation function into the enabled state, and to apply a constant voltage from the constant voltage generation circuit to the voltage variable capacitor to fix the capacitance to a predetermined value when bringing the temperature compensation function into the disabled state.
Patent Document 1: JP 2003-218636A (page 4-9, FIG. 1)

Temperature compensation oscillator and method for manufacturing the same


A meter interface unit (MIU) is provided for a utility meter that uses RFID technology as both a source of backup power and as a means of transmitting utility usage data. Usage data is stored in non-volatile memory that will persist even if the main power source of the MIU is lost. Because an RFID generates electric current when it receives an electromagnetic signal from an interrogator, the RFID can provide power to the memory, read the usage data from the memory, and wirelessly transmit the usage data back to the interrogator without any other source of power. This can prevent data loss when the MIU runs out of power; for example, when its battery is expended. RFID technology can also provide many other benefits and uses when coupled with an MIU, in addition to serving as backup power and communication.

A. Field of the Disclosure
The invention relates generally to automatic utility meter systems. More specifically, the invention relates to an RFID-enabled utility device interface unit configured to receive measurements from a utility meter.
B. Background
Meters that measure utility usage are widely used to keep track of the consumption of an end user. For example, utility companies that supply water to their customers typically charge for their product based on usage. Usage of water is typically measured by a meter that is installed for each individual customer on their respective water supply line. Traditionally, utility company employees periodically (usually monthly) manually collect readings from meters. These readings are usually cumulative, so the amount of usage for the present period is calculated by subtracting the reading from the previous period. Once the usage is calculated, the customer is billed for that amount of water used during that period.
Manually reading usage meters is labor intensive, time consuming, expensive, and subject to human error, especially for residential customers because each meter monitors relatively little usage as compared with larger, commercial customers. As a result, meters combined with electronics have been used to allow for quicker, more efficient, and more accurate collection of usage data along with other pertinent information such as leak information or reverse flow detection. The electronic portion is referred to as a "meter interface unit" (MIU). The meter may still measure usage by monitoring flow through a conventional, mechanical meter. The usage readings are stored electronically by the MIU and then transmitted via radio signals to a local transmitter/receiver (transceiver) operated by the utility.
The most common types of transceivers for this purpose are mobile transceivers and fixed networks. Mobile transceivers are generally handheld or vehicle mounted. A utility employee drives or walks within the transmission range of the meter and the meter data is received and stored. The use of mobile transceivers has the advantage of bringing the transceiver close to the meter, therefore allowing the MIU to broadcast using less energy; however, transporting the transceiver from place to place is laborious. Fixed networks have the advantage of saving the cost and labor of bringing the transceiver close to the MIU, but they require that the MIU transmit its data using more energy so it can reach a distant transceiver.
The MIU often cannot be practically connected to the power grid, so it must rely on an alternative source of power, such as a battery. Batteries of course hold only a limited amount of power, and when depleted the battery must be replaced or recharged. Replacing and recharging batteries has not yet been automated, and requires human labor. If batteries must be replaced, the cost of replacement batteries can be significant for the utility district in the aggregate. The growing popularity of fixed networks to read meters means that MIUs must transmit using more power, reducing battery life. When the battery is expended, the MIU cannot communicate with the transceiver and usage data is lost. Loss of power of course is not unique to batteries, and may occur even in situations in which the MIU receives power from the grid.
Consequently there is a need in the art for technologies to allow data to be safely stored and recovered from an MIU without the use of a separate battery power source.


The an optical communication module associated with the present invention comprises a semiconductor substrate, a light emitting element mounted on said semiconductor substrate to output light for transmission (transmitted light), a light receiving element mounted with an adhesive resin on said semiconductor substrate to convert light received (received light) to an electric signal and a wavelength filter to branch out the received light guided to said light receiving element and the transmitted light output from said light emitting element. A groove for an optical path, through which the received light passes to be guided to said light receiving element and a first protective groove formed around said groove for an optical path to block said adhesive resin from intruding into said groove for an optical path are formed on said semiconductor substrate.

In an optical communication network represented by Fiber To The Home (FTTH), a bi-directional communication system has become widely used. The bi-directional communication system connects a communication office with a user through a single optical fiber and bi-directionally communicates using two kinds of light with different wavelengths as a transmission signal and a reception signal, respectively.
There is such a module as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Publication H10-206678) as an example of a bi-directional communication module used in this system. In the module according to Patent Document 1, a laser module as a transmission part and a photodiode as a reception part are packaged separately. Such modules (transmission module and reception module) are as a whole packaged together with a wavelength branching filter (wavelength filter) to branch out light for transmission and light for reception. This realizes two-way communication.
However, in the system according to Patent Document 1, a transmission module and a reception module packaged have to be adjusted separately (in adjustment of an optical axis and the like), resulting in a higher manufacture cost. There is also a problem, in which a whole module becomes larger in size to make miniaturization difficult.
A bi-directional communication module according to Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Publication 2006-154535) and the like has been proposed as a way to solve such problems. The module according to Patent Document 2 and the like mounts a transmission part, a reception part and a wavelength filter together on a single substrate. This realizes miniaturization and lower-costing of the optical communication module.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a conventional bi-directional communication module disclosed in Patent Document 2. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating an appearance of FIG. 1 observed from Side A (receiving end) and Side B (transmitting end). In FIGS. 1 and 2, an alignment mark 109 used to align with the element when mounted and V-grooves 101, 102 with a V-shape cross-section when laterally observed are formed by anisotropic etching on a silicone substrate 100 as a support substrate. A laser chip (LD) 103 of emitting light for transmission, a lens at the transmitting end 104, a lens at the receiving end 105, a light receiving element (PD) of converting an optical signal to an electric signal 106, a glass element 107 and a wavelength filter 108 are mounted on this substrate 100 to manufacture the optical communication module.
A method of bi-directional communication by an optical communication module disclosed in Patent Document 2 is next described. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an optical path in a conventional optical module shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the optical path divided into the receiving end and the transmitting end in the conventional optical module shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, light for transmission 119 emitted from LD 103 is collimated by a proximal lens 104 when transmitted, followed by passing through a wavelength filter 108 to converge by a ball lens 114 to an optical fiber 112.
Light for reception 120 emitted from the optical fiber 112 is diffracted by a ball lens 114 when received, followed by refracting by 90 degrees at a reflection film of a wavelength filter 108 to reach a lens at the receiving end 105. After light for reception 120 is diffracted at a lens 105, it passes through a V-groove 102 at a side of light for reception to be reflected at a reflection plane (not shown) formed on an end plane of a V-groove 102, reaching a plane of light for reception of PD106 mounted on the top surface therein through a glass element 107.
In the bi-directional communication according to the above system, each of LD 103 and PD 106 mounted on one substrate has to be electrically and optically separated (insulated) in order to prevent an effect of noises. A glass element 107 is thus configured between a substrate 100 and PD 106 and an adhesive 122 is used to adhere the substrate 100 to the glass element 107.
FIGS. 5-7 are top and side views illustrating part of processes of assembling a conventional optical communication module shown in FIG. 1. A state prior to application of an adhesive resin, a state posterior to application of the adhesive resin and a state after mounting the element on the adhesive resin are illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, respectively.
After starting the state shown in FIG. 5, the adhesive resin 122 is applied around V-grooves 101, 102 on the substrate 100 as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the adhesive resin is then thermally cured to adhere while pressing the glass electrode 107.
FIG. 8 is an illustrative view (side view) showing problems with a conventional optical communication module shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is an illustrative view (side view of an optical path at the receiving end) showing problems with the conventional optical communication module shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 8, such a conventional system as above causes problems when the adhesive resin 122 is applied excessively in the adhesive resin 122 applying process or the glass element 107 is pressed on the adhesive 122 to mount the element, shifting the resin 122 along the substrate 100. That is, this causes such a phenomenon as a flow of the adhesive resin 122 into the V-groove 102 and the alignment mark 109.
The alignment mark 109 serves as a reference coordinate to calculate a mounting position of the element on the substrate 100 in an image recognition process when the element is mounted. When the adhesive resin 122 is flown into the alignment mark 109, the adhesive resin 122 thus casts a shadow to prevent the alignment mark 109 from being recognized accurately. Recognition error consequently occurs in image recognition, disabling to mount the element or leading to misalign the element.
As shown in FIG. 9, the adhesive resin 122 flown into the V-groove 102 fills an inside of the V-groove 102 to be fixed, thus covering a reflective layer 121. A route of the light for reception 120 delivered through an optical fiber is thus blocked by the adhesive resin 122 so that the light reception cannot normally reach a light receiving part of PD106, resulting in an error with the light for reception.
Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Publication 2000-183237) discloses a semiconductor apparatus, in which a semiconductor chip is mounted on a printed circuit board and illustrates a structure, in which an adhesive resin is prevented to spread from a surrounding of the semiconductor chip, thus enabling to mount in higher density.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication H10-206678    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Publication 2006-154535    Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Publication 2000-183237


A two-port cartridge type seat valve has a valve sleeve with a stepped guide bore for a poppet. The poppet includes a piston flange that divides the second step of the guide bore axially into an end-face first pilot chamber and an annular second pilot chamber. A first connection channel through the valve sleeve connects the annular second pilot chamber with an annular chamber into which a lateral main flow port opens. The free cross-section of a valve seat and of an axial main flow bore correspond approximately to the cross-section of the first step of the guide bore.

The invention relates to a two-port cartridge type seat valve.
For approximately thirty years, two-port cartridge valves have been widely used in hydraulic control technology as pressure-control, directional or check valves. Such cartridge valves are described in detail, for example, in the article "Cartridge check valves: New option for hydraulic control" by David C. Downs, in "Machine Design", Vol. 52, No. 28, of 11th Dec., 1980, Cleveland USA, pages 143-147. A positive-seating, two-port cartridge valve is likewise described in German Offenlegungsschrift DE-A-36 19 927.
Such two-port cartridge valves are used in a manifold that has a stepped bore and first and second main flow channels. The stepped bore has a first bore step that is connected to the first main flow channel and a second bore step, with a larger diameter than the first bore step, that is connected to the second main flow channel.
The typical two-port cartridge type seat valve includes a valve sleeve that is inserted into the stepped bore, a poppet fitted in the sleeve for sliding axial displacement, a closure spring that biases the poppet into sealing engagement with a valve seat in the valve sleeve, and a valve cover. The valve sleeve has first and second ends, with a first cross-sectional portion at the first end that sealingly fits axially into the first bore step, and a second cross-sectional portion that sealingly fits axially into the second bore step. A central cross-sectional portion between the first and second cross-sectional portion defines an annular chamber within the second bore step, into which the second main flow channel opens when the valve sleeve is inserted into the stepped bore. The sleeve also has an axial main flow bore that forms a first main port in the first end of the valve sleeve and lateral second main ports in the central cross-sectional portion for connecting the main flow bore with the annular chamber. The valve seat is disposed in the main flow bore between the first and said second main ports.
The poppet has first and second ends, with the first end having a closure cone that sealingly engages the valve seat in the valve sleeve. The poppet is biased closed by the closure spring.
To make the two-port cartridge valves interchangeable, the diameters and depths of the stepped bore, the position of the lateral second main flow channel in the manifold, and the dimensions of the valve cover and the position of its fastening screws and pilot connections, are set out in standards for the different nominal valve sizes. In Germany, for example, the relevant standard is DIN 24342. As a result, the external shape of the valve sleeve is substantially predetermined and the person skilled in the art has little scope for adapting the valve to different functions.
Known valves have a cylindrical guide bore that extends from the valve seat axially through the valve sleeve to the second end of the valve sleeve. The poppet is fitted in the guide bore for axial displacement in the valve sleeve. Within the guide bore, a pilot chamber is defined axially by the second end of the poppet. The second end of the poppet accordingly forms a pilot pressure area, S.sub.X, equal to the cross-sectional area of the guide bore.
The maximum possible cross-section of the guide bore is dictated by the minimum necessary wall thickness of the valve sleeve in its central cross-sectional portion and the necessary free cross-section of the annular chamber in the region of the second main port. Accordingly, the maximum possible pilot area S.sub.X, the maximum possible cross-section of the poppet, and therefore the maximum possible free cross-section S.sub.A of the valve seat are also fixed. The free cross-section S.sub.A of the valve seat must, of course, be smaller than the cross-section of the poppet's closure cone which, in turn, cannot be larger than the cross-section of the guide bore.
Such two-port cartridge valves with a maximum free cross-section S.sub.A for the valve seat are used as pressure-control valves. In this application the valves should have a maximum flow capacity. Therefore, the pilot area S.sub.X (which is fixed by the cross-section of the guide bore) is preferably approximately equal to the free cross-section S.sub.A of the valve seat.
However, two-port cartridge valves can also be used as pilot-controlled two/two-port directional valves for switching applications. For such applications, the maximum free cross-section SA of the valve seat is reduced by about 35% to 50%, to reduce the hydrostatic force acting on the poppet in the opening direction, rendering the switching behavior of the valve as much as possible independent of pressure fluctuations in the first main flow port. Consequently, the flow capacity of the valve is reduced by about 35% to 50%, or the valve produces a greater pressure loss. There is thus a need for a two-port cartridge valve that provides a switching function with a high flow capacity.


An acoustic method and apparatus for measuring the horizontal surface location and depth of any type of underground pipe or conduit, including nonmetallic or nonconductive pipe, such as sewer, gas, and water pipes, which cannot be detected with electromagnetic locators. A continuous-wave (CW) acoustic signal is injected into and transmitted through the fluid (liquid or gas) in the pipe. The horizontal surface location and depth of the pipe are determined from an analysis of the phase measurements derived from an array of acoustic measurements, which are made at the surface and approximately perpendicular to the direction of the underground pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an acoustic method and an apparatus for measuring the horizontal location and/or the depth of underground pipe and conduit. It is especially useful for nonmetallic or nonconductive pipe such as sewer, gas and water pipes.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Most underground utility pipe and conduit are located within 10 ft of the surface of the earth. The majority of this piping is found in the upper three feet. The number, location and depth of these utility lines are often unknown. Engineering drawings are sometimes incomplete, out of date, or inaccurate. Because of the existence and increased use of nonmetallic pipe and conduit, and the fact that horizontal drilling is replacing traditional trenching methods, the need for pipe and conduit detectors is even more important today than it has been in the past. Pipe and conduit detectors can play an important role in utility planning, construction and bidding; they are useful tools for obstacle avoidance in both open trenching and horizontal drilling operations.
There are many methods available for detecting metallic pipe. These so-called "electromagnetic" methods, however, do not work on nonmetallic pipe. Yet, most of the utility pipe in use and now being installed (for example, sewer, gas and water) is made of nonmetallic materials. This is also true of many other types of piping (e.g., underground petroleum piping found at retail service stations). Detection of sewer pipe, especially laterals, is particularly a problem, because both the older and newer pipes are nonmetallic. Acoustic methods have recently been introduced as a means of detecting the horizontal location of nonmetallic pipe, but no acoustic method has been used to measure depth. In this specification, the projected position of the buried pipe on the surface of the ground will be referred to as "location," "horizontal location," "horizontal surface location," or "surface position." Location is a two-dimensional ground-surface measurement and does not include a measurement of depth. Location and depth of the pipe are referred to separately in this specification. Together they define the three-dimensional location of the underground pipe.
Most of the acoustic systems described in the prior art work as follows. First, an acoustic signal--in the form of a pulse, chirp or continuous wave (CW)--is injected into the pipe. As the signal travels along the length of the pipe, a portion of its acoustic energy propagates outward and into the surrounding soil. Because of the high attenuation of acoustic signals in soil at higher frequencies, the source frequencies are usually less than 3 kHz and more typically between 100 and 500 Hz. Second, receive sensors are mounted on the ground surface, or inserted a few inches deep, at a number of locations in the putative vicinity of the buried pipe until the acoustic signal propagating from the pipe is detected. The location of the pipe is determined from the magnitude of the signal. The location is associated with the strongest received signal. Accelerometers and geophones have been used successfully as receive sensors in the field.
Most commercially available acoustic systems are based on magnitude measurements. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,491,012, 5,036,497, 5,452,263, and 5,412,989 teach methods for locating underground pipe based on the magnitude (or intensity) of the received acoustic signal. In general, these systems differ mainly in the method of acoustically exciting the pipe.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,012, Ziska presents a method for excavating an underground sewer pipe that includes an acoustic technique for locating that pipe. A source of sound is introduced into the sewer line, and a detection sensor is moved along the surface of the ground; the strongest signal detected indicates the location of the pipe.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,036,497 and 5,452,263, Heitman presents an acoustic method for locating water pipes and other types of pressurized lines. In this invention, the pipe is excited by a pressure transient wave (shock wave), which is produced by quickly opening and closing a valve on the pipe. At the surface, one or two sensors measure the magnitude of the signal in order to locate the pipe. (If one sensor is used, it is the peak signal that indicates the location of the pipe; if two sensors are used, the location is indicated when the magnitude of the received signal is the same at both sensors.)
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,989, Eberle et al. describe an acoustic system for locating buried gas pipe and other nonmetallic pipe in the upper meter of the ground that is also based on the magnitude of the received signal. In this invention, the sound source is a broad band of frequencies (e.g., a swept sine excitation from 100 to 1,000 Hz). Eberle claims that this means of excitation produces a signal at the surface of the ground that has a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than excitation using only a single frequency (e.g., 400 Hz). The location estimates are based on the mean square signal strength.
Location systems that measure the magnitude of the signal can be subject to large errors. The peak magnitude is dependent not only on the strength of the signal but also on sensor-to-ground coupling. If there is inconsistent coupling, it is possible that the signal received by a sensor located directly above a buried pipe may actually be weaker than one received by a sensor farther away. Interpretation of the received signal can be further confused, because man-made and topographical anomalies will also affect the magnitude of the signal. Thus in practice it is possible that no clearly defined peak or signal maximum will be found, and equal signals may not occur at equal offsets from the pipe. This can lead to large errors in the horizontal location of the pipe. In some instances, the magnitude of the received signal is so ambiguous that false and missed detections occur. The applicability of location systems that measure the magnitude of the signal tends to be limited to very shallow depths (that is, to within 3 ft of the ground surface).
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,267, Huebler avoids the problems of sensor-to-ground coupling and other factors affecting the strength of the acoustic signal strength. He uses the time of arrival of an identifiable acoustic signal to locate the pipe. For a signal to be identifiable, his invention requires that the time between successive signals be long enough that one signal can be received before the next is transmitted. For this method to work, the time of the transmitted signal relative to that of the received signal must be known. The location of the pipe is assumed to be directly beneath the sensor that receives the signal in the shortest time (that is, the "minimum time of arrival"). If an array of sensors is used, the same transmitted signal must be received at multiple locations so that arrival times can be compared. The main advantage of Huebler's approach is that it minimizes sensor coupling issues. It is not obvious or necessary, however, that the shortest travel time corresponds to the closest geometrical position of the pipe. The travel time of the acoustic signal propagating through the pipe may take a quicker path through the ground and be detected at a position off the center of the pipe. This will occur, for example, if the propagation velocity of the signal through the pipe is less than through the surrounding soil. Actually, there is no unique place on the surface for the maximum signal to occur. Accurate location of the pipe can only be made analyzing acoustic data from both sides of the pipe.
The method and apparatus of the present invention addresses the problems encountered with both the magnitude-based and time-of-arrival-based systems described above and has a number of important advantages over them. First, it addresses the location accuracy problems of both measurement approaches. Second, it avoids the sensor coupling issues inherent in the magnitude-based systems. Third, the present invention provides a quantity not measured by any other acoustic system--an estimate of the depth of the pipe.

Acoustic system for measuring the location and depth of underground pipe


A distance or position detecting device has a movable member forming a measuring ruler and a detector in the form of a primary coil and a plurality of secondary coils forming together a stationary member. The measuring ruler is movable coaxially inside a hollow core of the primary coil. The measuring ruler is made of a plurality of sections alternating with one another along the length of the ruler, whereby these sections have different discernible characteristics, for example, magnetic characteristics and nonmagnetic characteristics. The individual ruler sections are assembled along the length of the ruler in such a manner that a respective limited number of neighboring ruler sections are arranged in an encoded form so that the encoding provides an absolute position indication. Such a structure is simple and hence cost effective in any of its operational states. An accurate and absolute position indication is thus possible.

German Patent Publication (DE) 3,205,032 discloses a position detector of the type described above, whereby the ruler is constructed of a plurality of sections, including magnetic sections and nonmagnetic sections, whereby all the sections have the same length. These sections are arranged in alternate fashion along the length of the ruler, one behind the other. The ruler moves relative to a sensor coil or winding, thereby inducing in the coil or winding respective signals. The known device is merely suitable for ascertaining the relative position of a magnetic ruler section within the sensor coil. As a result, larger distances can be measured only in incremental fashion or it is possible to arrange two such devices in parallel, one of which has a ruler with sections that provide a coarser subdivision, in other words, the sections are longer than the ruler sections in the other detector. Another disadvantage of these known magnetically absolute measuring detectors is seen in that they are rather bulky relative to the maximally measurable length. Still another drawback of conventional measuring devices of this type is seen in that they must always be calibrated again when they are placed in operation to eliminate the measuring error, or at least reduce the measuring error of these devices. The recalibration is necessary because there is no fixed relationship between the movable member and the stationary member of the conventional device, i.e. there is no embodiment of a measure.
It is also generally known to encode distance information in a detector as, for example, disclosed in European Patent Publication 0,078,892 (Schmitt).


A pattern defect inspection apparatus. Light is irradiated on a sample having a pattern formed thereon and the transmitted or reflected portion of the irradiated light is condensed. The condensed light is received so as to acquire the observed data corresponding to the pattern formed in the sample. A design pattern image is compared with a pattern formed in the sample by the observed data. Alternatively, two sets of observed data corresponding to a plurality of patterns formed in the sample are compared. The presence or absence of a defect of the pattern is judged based on the result of comparison. This also determines whether the size of the defect of the pattern is larger than a predetermined size. The inspection is temporarily stopped if the size of the defect detected by the judging circuit during inspection is larger than a predetermined size.

The present invention relates to a pattern defect inspection apparatus, particularly, to an apparatus for inspecting defects of the photomask used in the manufacture of a semiconductor device and the pattern of the semiconductor wafer or for inspecting the defects of the pattern of a liquid crystal display substrate.
A defect of the photomask used in the manufacture of a semiconductor device by means of photolithography is one of the main reasons for the reduction in the yield of a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). To overcome the difficulty, vigorous studies are being made in an attempt to develop an apparatus for inspecting the defect of the photomask.
The conventional mask defect inspection apparatus is roughly classified into a type in which two chips having the same pattern written therein are independently detected and observed, and the difference therebetween is compared by a suitable defect detecting means so as to detect the defect, and another type in which a pattern and a design data are compared by a defect detecting means so as to detect the defect. The former type is advantageous in that a design data is not required because the two chips having the same pattern written therein are separately observed and compared by different detecting means. However, the former type is unsatisfactory in that the same pattern is required to be formed in a plurality of regions of a single mask, with the result that a defect cannot be detected by comparison of the patterns formed in the mask. On the other hand, the latter type requires a design pattern used for comparison, leading to a complex circuit construction. However, since the defect is detected by comparison with the design pattern, a highly strict inspection can be achieved. In addition, the inspection can be performed even if only one pattern is formed in a single mask.
Where a defect has been found in the conventional inspection apparatus outlined above, the information such as the defective point and the coordinate position of the defective point are stored by some method, e.g., stored in a magnetic disk, and a review treatment is carried out after completion of the inspection over the entire region. The operator visually inspects the defective portion and judges whether a re-repair is required so as to transfer the inspected object to a repairing process, as required. Where repair is performed, the operator determines whether to perform a white defect repair for making up for a defective point or a black defect repair for deleting an extruding defect.
FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically exemplify a mask pattern and a defect thereof. A portion in a stripe of an inspection stripe shown in FIG. 1B is schematically shown in a magnified fashion in FIG. 1A. A shaded portion in FIG. 1A denotes a chromium portion (light shielding portion) of a mask 2, with a white portion representing a glass portion (transparent portion) of the mask 2. Portions A and B shown in the drawing denote defects of a standard size, e.g., about 0.2 to 2 .mu.m, which can be repaired. Many of the defects are occupied by the defects of the standard size. On the other hand, it is difficult to repair portion C in which a large portion, e.g., on the order of 10 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m, of the chromium region is omitted. Such a large defect as cannot be repaired rarely takes place. However, the presence of such a large defect, even if only one defect is present, makes the mask quite unusable so as to be discarded.
In general, the mask is automatically inspected. After inspection on the entire region of a single mask, it is judged whether to repair the defect based on confirmation of the presence or absence of the defect and the type of the defect such as the lack of chromium, residue of chromium and dust (review treatment). A series of these operations take about one hour even where the operations are simple and 5 to 6 hours or more in some cases. Where such a large defect as not to be repaired is found unfortunately at the final stage of the operation, all the time spent up to then is rendered quite insignificant.
As described above, the review treatment is performed after inspection on the entire region of the mask in the conventional pattern defect inspection apparatus, with the result that it is impossible to know the presence of a large defect, which makes the mask unusable, until completion of the inspection over the entire region. In the manufacture of the up-to-date mask of this kind, it is important to shorten the turn-around time as much as possible. It should be noted that, if the presence of a large defect can be detected in an early stage, it is possible to take measures against the defect occurrence promptly or to make a quick decision to manufacture again the mask, with the result that the turn-around time can be shortened as a whole. Also, since an extra operation need not be carried out, the inspection system is enabled to perform its operation efficiently, leading to an improved productivity.


A hybrid drive unit (10) for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine (12) and at least one electric machine (14) optionally operable as a motor or as a generator, has a charge air compressor (22) for compression of combustion air supplied to the internal combustion engine (12) and a charge air cooler (32) for cooling the combustion air. The hybrid drive unit (10) has a low-temperature cooling circuit (38) carrying a liquid coolant and is designed separately from a high-temperature cooling circuit of the internal combustion engine (12) and has a heat exchanger (42) for cooling the coolant, whereby the low-temperature cooling circuit (38) includes the charge air cooler (32) and the electric machine (12) and/or electronic components (34, 36) allocated to the electric machine (14).

The term hybrid vehicle refers to motor vehicles in which at least two drive units are combined, accessing different energy sources to provide the power for the vehicle drive. The properties of an internal combustion engine, which generates kinetic energy by combustion of gasoline or diesel fuels, and an electric machine, which converts electric energy to kinetic energy, are supplemented especially advantageously. Hybrid vehicles today are therefore equipped primarily with a combination of an internal combustion engine and one or more electric machines.
Two different hybrid concepts can be differentiated. With the so-called serial hybrid concept, the vehicle drive is accomplished exclusively via the electric machine, whereas the internal combustion engine generates the electric current via a separate generator for charging an energy storage device that supplies power to the electric machine and/or for direct power supply to the electric machine. On the other hand, parallel hybrid concepts are preferred today, at least in passenger vehicle applications, where the vehicle drive may be formed by the internal combustion engine as well as by the electric machine.
The electric machines used in such parallel concepts can be operated optionally in motor operation or generator operation. For example, the electric machine is supportively connected to the internal combustion engine (booster operation), typically at operating points of higher vehicle loads. Furthermore, it may assume the function of a starter motor for the internal combustion engine. On the other hand, the electric machine is operated primarily as a generator during driving operation using the internal combustion engine, with the electric power of the electric machine generated in this way being used to charge the energy storage device and/or to supply power to a vehicle electric system, for example. In the case of a hybrid concept with power branching using more than one electric machine, generator operation of an electric machine can also be used to supply power to another electric machine. Furthermore, at least a portion of the braking power is usually applied by the electric machine being operated in generator mode (recuperation), whereby a portion of the mechanical energy loss is converted to electric power. In hybrid concepts it is generally an advantage that the electric machines operate with a better efficiency in comparison with conventional claw pole generators.
The individual components of an electric drive unit include the electric machine itself, power electronics, a power inverter, at least one energy storage device (especially a battery or capacitor storage device) and the like. Due to their high converted electric power and the associated heat loss, these components have a very high cooling demand. Above an electric power of 5 kW, the system is usually cooled, typically with water cooling. Since the electric components, especially in the power electronics, are extremely sensitive to temperature, the temperature threshold values allowed here must not be exceeded because otherwise irreversible damage could occur or the lifetime could be shortened significantly. Likewise, a high thermal shock stress has a shortening effect on the lifetime of components. Consequently, a cooling supply with a sufficiently low temperature and also low temperature fluctuations is desirable here.
Today's power electronics designed for hybrid drives typically have water forward-flow temperatures of approximately 60° C. to 80° C. Thus a direct link of these components to the cooling circuit of the internal combustion engine is extremely critical because, depending on the thermostat design, the size of the vehicle radiator and the precise location of the link, coolant temperatures of 80° C. to 120° C. may be reached. Even if the coolant is branched off immediately after it leaves the vehicle radiator, peak temperatures above 80° C. are reached although the average water temperatures are much lower at this point. One problem with a water tap downstream from the vehicle radiator is the great fluctuations in water temperature due to the thermostatic regulation, which depends on the driving profile.
An arrangement of a cooling circuit of a hybrid drive is known from the older patent application DE 10 2005 003 881.6, for example. The cooling circuit described there includes electronic components of the hybrid drive as well as the internal combustion engine-in a parallel circuit. Due to the arrangement of controllable valves at the connecting points of the partial coolant circuit, which includes the electronic components, partial decoupling from the engine cooling circuit is achieved and thus the direct effect of the relatively high coolant temperatures of the engine cooling circuit on the electronic components is reduced.
With supercharged internal combustion engines, i.e., engines in which the combustion air is compressed especially with an exhaust operated charge air compressor, charge air cooling is generally used. To this end, predominately an air-air cooler situated in the area of the front end of the vehicle is used because this type is associated with low costs. One disadvantage of this type of cooler is its limited cooling capacity, the great dependence on vehicle speed, the large amount of space required and the fact that due to the arrangement at a distance from the engine, relatively long lines to and from the charge air cooler must be accommodated, which is a disadvantage with regard to the dynamics and response of the cooling. In this regard, water-operated charge air coolers that allow a high cooling capacity, take up much less space and therefore can usually be installed directly on the engine with short connecting lines are advantageous but they are associated with significantly higher costs. A high cooling performance with very good dynamics can be achieved with this design.

Hybrid drive unit having a low-temperature circuit


The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated collagen XXII nucleic acid molecules, which encode a novel collagen. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing collagen XXII nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a collagen XXII gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated collagen XXII proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-collagen XXII antibodies. Diagnostic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals, constituting a quarter of their total weight. Collagen provides the tensile strength in the connective tissues of all animals and is the major fibrous element of skin, bone, tendon, cartilage, blood vessels, and teeth.
Collagens are classified into several types based on sequence identity and function. Types I, II, & III collagen molecules make up the main fibers of most animal extracellular structures. Type I forms about 90% of the body's collagen and is the primary component of bone, skin and tendons. Type II makes up the major fibers of cartilage. Collagen fibers are arranged in rigid plates in bones, in parallel bundles in tendons, and in a dense meshwork in cartilage. Type I and lesser amounts of type III make up tendons and skin. Type IV collagen molecules make up very fine, unstriated fibers present in basal laminae. Over a dozen other collagen types are known but are less well characterized.
Collagen polypeptide chains are characterized by a core helical domain made up of repeating glycine-X-Y triplets and globular N-terminal and C-terminal domains. Three such chains are wound around one another in a superhelix to generate an individual ropelike collagen molecule.

Collagen XXII, a novel human collagen and uses thereof


A system for communicating electrical signals between two spaced apart seat assemblies on a mobile platform, for example an aircraft. The seat assemblies are secured to seat tracks mounted on a floor of the aircraft cabin. The seat tracks have a plurality of spaced apart holes that enable seat assembly mounting. A seat track cover is snap-fit onto one or more seat track mount devices. Each of the seat track mount devices includes one or more cleats or knobs that can be snap fit into the openings in the seat track to quickly and easily secure the seat track cover to the seat track. The seat track cover and mount devices enable a simple, planar seat track having spaced apart holes to be employed, rather than a C-shaped seat mounting track.

Commercial aircraft operators and passengers are increasingly requesting in-flight entertainment (IFE) and electrical power outlets to enable passengers and/or crew members to operate various personal electronic devices, such as laptop computers, at their seats. To provide passengers and/or crew members with such features, electrical power and data communications capability must be delivered to each seat. Power and data are delivered to aircraft passenger seats via one or more cables that extend from a power or data source to the passenger seats. The cables typically extend up through a floor access panel and along one or more seat tracks recessed within the floor of the aircraft passenger cabin. The seat track is covered by a seat track cover.
The cover is typically secured directly to the seat track or to the portions of the aircraft passenger cabin floor that surround the seat track. However, in some applications the seat track is planar and does not provide a surface that will permit direct engagement with the seat track cover. Therefore, there is a need for a system for securing seat track covers to seat tracks with planar upper surfaces.

Method and apparatus for attaching electrically powered seat track cover to through hole seat track design


A turn control apparatus for a motor vehicle comprises an arithmetic operation section for acquiring a correction amount for the target slip ratio of a target wheel to be controlled based on the required yaw moment of the vehicle in a situation where an antiskid braking system (ABS) should be activated, a computing section for computing the target slip ratio upon reception of the correction amount from the arithmetic operation section, and a section for acquiring actuation modes and pulse widths for inlet and outlet valves for wheel brakes of the individual wheels, based on the target slip ratio when the ABS is in operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a turn control apparatus for stabilizing the turning behavior of a motor vehicle when the vehicle makes a turn, and, more particularly, to a turn control apparatus for a motor vehicle, which has excellent cooperation with an antiskid braking system.
2. Description of the Related Art
This type of turn control apparatus for a motor vehicle is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-24528. This known apparatus comprises detection means for detecting the steered angle of wheels; first speed detection means for detecting a vehicle speed; second speed detection means for detecting wheel speeds of the individual wheels; setting means for setting a target kinetic value of the vehicle based on the steered angle of the wheels and the vehicle speed; first computing means for computing a first target braking force for controlling the actual kinetic value of the vehicle to match the target kinetic value; second computing means for computing a second target braking force based on speeds of the right and left wheels and the vehicle speed to establish a predetermined slip to the wheels; and brake control means for selecting a smaller one of the first and second target braking forces as a final target braking force and controlling the actual braking forces of the right and left wheels of the vehicle independently of the final target braking force.
Specifically, when the first target braking force is selected as the final target braking force while a vehicle is turning, the known control apparatus controls the braking forces of the wheels or the yaw moment of the vehicle in such a way as to match the actual yaw rate of the vehicle with the target yaw rate. Consequently, the turning behavior of the vehicle while making a turn is stabilized. When the second target braking force is selected as the final target braking force, on the other hand, the known control apparatus controls the braking forces of the wheels in such a way that the actual slip coincides with the target slip. That is, the braking forces of the wheels are adjusted on the basis of the antiskid brake control.
According to the aforementioned known turn control apparatus, however, either the first target braking force or the second target braking force is simply selected as the final target braking force, so that the antiskid brake control does not work when the yaw moment of the vehicle is controlled, and the yaw moment control of the vehicle does not work when the antiskid brake control is effective.

Turn control apparatus for a motor vehicle equipped with antiskid braking system

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


A device for determining the location of a communication device includes a network interface, a signal enhancement module, a tone decoder, and a translator. The network interface is capable of receiving a location message comprising a plurality of signal tones. The signal enhancement module is capable of modifying selected signal tones, the selected signal tones having a frequency within a predetermined range of frequencies. The tone decoder is capable of decoding the modified signal tones into a plurality of decoded values. The translator is capable of determining a location of a user based on at least the decoded values.

The Federal Communication Commission's ("FCC") enhanced 911 ("E911") initiative strives to improve the emergency call service by providing a mobile telephone user's identification and physical location during a call. To that end, the FCC issued a mandate requiring the communication industry to modify the existing wireless communication architecture and associated wireless phones so that the wireless caller's location may be ascertained by an emergency service provider. However, many proposed solutions for adding this functionality involve costly and protracted modifications to existing mobile communication infrastructure. Additionally, many proposed solutions require users to operate complicated devices that may be impractical during an emergency or while the user is driving. Consequently, a system is desired for providing the location of a mobile telephone user that requires minimal modification of existing mobile communication infrastructure and that is easy for the user to operate.


A trimmable inductor, comprises a supporting substrate (12) having spaced apart lead terminals, a coil (20) defined by an electrically conductive member mounted on the substrate in a continuous path of multiple turns forming a winding about an axis and extending between the lead terminals, and an electric conductive shorting member (30) extending and electrically connected between one or more turns (20) and (22) a terminal of the coil to enable selective inclusion and elimination of at least part of one of the turns of the coil.

The present invention relates to miniature inductors and pertains particularly to improved trimmable inductors and methods of manufacture.
Miniature inductors are widely used in UHF and microwave radio frequency electronic circuits. The inductors are made in two basic configurations: wire wound and monolithic. Monolithic inductors typically employ thin conductive film in several configurations, some of which are the flat spiral type formed on a planar substrate and the helical type formed on an elongated substrate.
A spiral-type inductor usually consists of a flat ceramic substrate on which single layer flat spiral metal pattern is defined. Other examples include stacked turns in a multi-layer construction; spirals situated on both sides of a thin substrate and spirals connected in series.
A helical-type monolithic inductor consists of an elongated ceramic or ferrite core on which is formed a conductive metal helical pattern. The substrate is covered with one or more metal layers which are then etched or cut to form a conductor in a helical fashion. Such a cut defines a helical conductive winding similar to a wire coil.
Often after an inductor is placed in a circuit, it does not perform precisely as expected due to influence of extraneous factors such as nearby components, construction of the printed circuit board, geometry of connections to the inductor, mounting technique, and the like. Also, sometimes the intended circuit operation is not achieved with the selected inductor value due to variation in values of other components in the circuit.
A common way to adjust component values in a circuit is to have adjustable components. While trim resistors and capacitors are common and available in reasonably small physical sizes, adjustable inductors tend to be quite large and therefore virtually incompatible with modern miniature electronic systems, such as portable cellular telephones and pagers, for example.
Adjustable components are more expensive than fixed-value components and their use often results in increased size, as well as costs, of the circuits. Adjustable components are also generally considered not as reliable as the fixed components.
The permanently in-circuit laser-trimmed components bridge the gap between adjustable and fixed-value components. However, heretofore the laser trimmable components were limited to resistors and capacitors only.
Some applications require the inductor to be of a certain precise value for the circuit to work. Customarily, for small surface mount inductors, if inductor of a given value does not perform satisfactorily, it is removed from the circuit by de-soldering and new inductors of different values are substituted instead, until satisfactory circuit performance is attained. Since commercial inductors generally come in standard values, there is a chance that the needed inductance will fall between the standard values available, resulting in sub-optimal performance of the circuit.
Additionally, in some applications, such as a Radio Frequency (RF) filter, it is advantageous to be able to change the Q-value of the circuit without major re-design or repeated layout and fabrication of the circuit.
Therefore, it is desirable that a miniature reliable and inexpensive trimmable inductor be available.


A sheath shaped and dimensioned for reducing trauma and easing insertion thereof includes an inner sheath member shaped and dimensioned to fit around a guidewire in a manner permitting relative movement, the inner sheath member including an inner sheath tip having a primary bevel and a circumferential conical surface. The sheath also includes an outer sheath member shaped and dimensioned to fit around the inner sheath member in a manner permitting relative movement. The outer sheath member includes an outer sheath tip having a primary bevel and a circumferential conical surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a guidewire sheath. Mote particularly, the invention relates to a guidewire sheath having inner and outer sheath members with tips shaped and dimensioned to reduce trauma upon insertion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the field of interventional radiology, as well as other medical fields requiring both vascular and non-vascular access to the body, access to the interior of blood vessels must be obtained so that various devices, for example, guidewires, stents, balloons, filters and the like may be introduced into the blood vessel for medical purposes. In general, a device known as a sheath provides for desired access to the interior of the blood vessel.
A sheath generally consists of two concentric plastic tubes that are free to slide easily on each other. In accordance with current sheath designs, the inner and outer plastic tubes are in a "stepped" axial arrangement, that is, the inner plastic tube is longer than the outer plastic tube. The ends of the inner and outer plastic tubes are circular and are in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the respective plastic tubes. This design creates a "step" at the ends of the inner and outer plastic tubes. A "step" is formed at the end of the inner plastic tube and the guidewire by the difference in the guidewire outer diameter (OD) and the OD of the end of the inner plastic tube. The length of the "step" is equal to one-half of the difference between the OD at the end of the inner plastic tube and the guidewire OD. A similar "step" is formed at the end of the outer plastic tube. The two "steps" may be of different lengths. In effect, the "steps" are merely radial discontinuities due to the diameter differences at the two "step" locations.
In use, a needle is generally used to obtain access to the interior of the blood vessel. A guidewire is inserted into the blood vessel through the needle and the needle is removed. The two plastic tubes of the sheath are then threaded over the guidewire and forced axially against the flesh of the patient until the tubes are inside the blood vessel. When the inner sheath reaches the patient, a pronounced stop of the insertion is detected by the physician. The stop is due to the radial discontinuity at the "step" between the guidewire OD and the end of the inner plastic tube. To force the inner plastic tube sheath into the hole created by the needle point, a significant axial force must be applied by the physician. The magnitude of the force depends, in part, on the geometry of the "step" and the elastic modulus of the flesh and the plastic tubes. In effect, forcing the sheath into the flesh is akin to creating an interference fit in a pair of cylinders. In an interference fit, a first cylinder is inserted within a second cylinder, wherein the second cylinder has an inner diameter that is slightly smaller than the OD of the first cylinder. Depending on the magnitude of the "step" and the elastic properties of the materials, a substantial axial force is required to produce an interference fit in this manner.
With the foregoing in mind, those skilled in the art will appreciate that current sheath designs have shortcomings that must be addressed. The present invention provides a sheath overcoming the shortcomings of prior sheaths.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention discloses a method of constructing a modular framing system where orthogonal frames are arranged adjacent to one another with their corresponding edges positioned next to one another. Each frame is formed from two horizontal and two vertical frame elements. A plurality of locks is inter-disposed between the adjacent vertical frame elements, each with a frame slot. At least two locks are double-locking type, one inter-disposed between the top sections of the vertical frame elements and the other between the bottom sections of the vertical frame elements. A plurality of locks is single-locking type, which is equi-distantly installed along the length of one vertical frame element in between the two double locks. The double locks lock both adjacent vertical frame elements. One side of the single locks lock only one vertical frame element and the other side inserts into the frame slot of the adjacent vertical frame element.

Modular frames are frequently used to form structural components in the construction of booths, rooms and display panels at marketing events, conventions and general events, including modular partitions, frames fixed with transparent materials, display panels and raised platform structures.
In an earlier Malaysian Patent Application Number PI 20032116, the invention discloses a modular framing system and a method of construction thereof. Single frames or stacks of adjacent frames are interconnected by elongate locks positioned between said frames. Adjacent frames can either be connected together with one elongate lock or a plurality of elongate locks joined by lock connectors to form a continual length of elongate locks. The number and length of the elongate locks to be used are dependent on the height of the frames to be used and the distance between the top frame and the underside of a room ceiling.
Each frame is made up from two horizontally disposed and two vertically disposed frame elements. Each frame element has a frame slot that interlocks with the elongate locks to connect the adjacent frames to form an assembly of frames. Each elongate lock is designed to slidably fit the frame slots provided on the frame elements.
The main disadvantage of the previous invention is that a single elongate lock or a plurality of elongate locks is used to make up the length of the frame. Where the frame is lengthy, such as more than 2 meters long, this leads to the practical problems of installation on site.
The previous invention also disclosed three specific designs of the elongate lock. In a first embodiment, the elongate lock assumes an I-shaped channel with two lateral flanges and a lengthwise web. The undersides of the lateral flanges are turned inwardly to form two lock slots with the lengthwise web. Each lock slot defines a narrow entrance, an enlarged interior section and a recessed portion. With this first embodiment, two frames or structures are disposed in the same plane. In a second embodiment, the elongate lock assumes an extruded component with two lock slots provided on its lengthwise body. The two frames or structures are disposed in perpendicular planes from each other. In a third embodiment, the elongate lock assumes an extruded component with three lock slots provided on its lengthwise body. The three frames or structures are disposed in perpendicular planes from one another.
Hence, this invention may be considered as a continuation of the above-mentioned patent application and certain improvement features are now disclosed to overcome some practical problems encountered in the implementation of the previous invention.

Modular framing system and a method of construction thereof


A data display device including a light-guide element made of an optically transparent material having at least two polished surfaces faced to one another, whereby at least one surface contains at least one gravure forming a diffuse-reflective character, and a light source arranged close to the light-guide element to illuminate said character.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a data display device including a light-guide element made of an optically transparent material having at least two polished surfaces faced to one another, whereby at least one surface contains at least one gravure forming a diffuse-reflective character, and a light source arranged close to the light-guide element to illuminate said character.
2. Description of the Prior Art
This invention is in the class of illumination engineering as well as in the class of advertising-information technologies. The claimed device may find its application in architecture as interior lamps doubling for functions of decorative luminaries.
The principle of action of the claimed device is based on well-known laws of geometric optics. Among these laws are:    1) the law of conductivity of light beams in an optically transparent media having a refractive index n1>1.0, these media being in contact with-another medium having a refractive index n2, with n1>n2, for example, air (n2=1.0);    2) the law of diffuse reflection of light beams from local deformations of polished surfaces.
Due to the condition n1>n2 and owing to the polished reflecting surface, light beams do not escape the light-guide media if the condition of a limit angle of complete internal reflection is met (N. S. Kapany. Fiber Optics. Principles and Applications. Academic Press. N.Y. 1967).
What makes the claimed device the issue of the day is a new field of its application different from advertising-information purposes, by virtue of a fuller use of potentialities inherent in light-guide properties of optically transparent materials.
In advertising-information technologies, an extensive use is made of information screens called "Acryllights" produced by many advertising companies. All known "Acryllights" are made according to a uniform design of a device which comprises a light-guide element made of an optically transparent material having polished flat surfaces in the form of a light-guide plate (of a laminar rectangular shape), one of the surfaces being furnished with a set of engraved characters illuminated laterally through a polished surface by means of a light source. A principal drawback of the known device lies in its structural imperfection as dictated by a traditional approach to an information screen thought of as a plane. Such an approach comes into an apparent conflict with laws of light conductivity. These laws endow a light-guide element with "freedom of choosing any shape other than a rectilinear one" providing that the condition n1>n2 and the condition of full internal reflection are met. Another drawback of the device known from the art is associated with the use of luminescent light sources in "Acryllights", above all in the form of tubes that are matched in length to the size of the light-guide plate. Diameters of the tube luminescent light sources exceed the thickness of the light-guide element, so the effectiveness of the lighting of diffuse-reflecting characters is low. Also, the size of luminescent light sources prevents some light-guide elements from being used in one unit.
The object of the invention is to procure a device for displaying data with enhanced visualization possibilities in respect to a data display device known in the art.


A method for reducing the appearance of thinning hair comprising the successive steps of: a) treating hair with an exfoliating shampoo composition comprising at least one chemical exfoliant; b) treating hair with a conditioner comprising at least one natural conditioning polymer and at least one natural stimulant; c) treating hair with a scalp serum comprising at least one natural extract, and salicylic acid.

Thinning hair is generally linked to underlying scalp conditions. Such scalp conditions are generally treated with standard topical compositions, most often lotions, creams, pastes, gels, ointments, salves and milks, delivery forms developed and optimized for use in treating bare skin. These vehicles are generally unsuitable for application to hair, as a large proportion of the composition sticks to the hair and do not contact the scalp.
Pharmaceutical compositions specifically formulated for delivering active pharmaceutical ingredients to the scalp are generally of one of three delivery forms: shampoos, conditioners and serums.
A shampoo or conditioner pharmaceutical composition for the delivery of an active pharmaceutical ingredient to the scalp is often used. An amount of solution is poured on the head and quickly rubbed into the scalp with the fingers. But it is generally difficult to apply a correct dose of an active pharmaceutical ingredient using a solution. A solution often drips away from the scalp, frequently into the eyes.
A serum, generally in spray form, may be effective for the delivery of an active pharmaceutical ingredient to the scalp and overcomes many of the problems associated with a shampoo or conditioner composition. The amount of composition applied to the hair is more easily regulated, making proper dosing relatively simple. There is reduced run-off and dripping when compared to a shampoos and conditioners.
One drawback of spray-type serums is that if they are applied to hair which suffers from oily build-up or has been previously treated with heavy shampoos or conditioners, the actives may be impeded from providing sufficient efficacy to the scalp. Therefore, there is a need for a personal care regimen which "primes" the scalp for treatment from a serum. Furthermore, there is a need for a regimen which employs largely naturally based ingredients in order to avoid build-up associated with repeated use of synthetic shampoo compositions.

Regimen for reducing the appearance of thinning hair


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for data security protection are provided. One of the methods includes: receiving a job associated with a project, wherein the project is associated with one or more data sources; identifying a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs associated with the job; determining a plurality of required permissions associated with the job, wherein each of the required permissions comprises an operation on a required data source, the operation corresponding to at least one of the inputs or the outputs; verifying that the one or more data sources associated with the project comprise the required data source associated with each of the required permissions; and generating a token associated with the job, the token encoding the required permissions associated with the job, wherein the token is required for execution of the job.

Under conventional approaches, data security systems may grant permissions for accessing data sources to users and authorize the user to access the data sources by virtue of their identities or roles. A user with permissions to access a data source may be authorized to read, write, or otherwise manipulate the data source for any purposes. However, such role-based access control solutions may give rise to various security issues. For example, an attacker may carry out unauthorized data access or operations by committing identity or credential theft. The attacker may obtain results of the execution and gain a level of access to the data that the attacker is otherwise not entitled to. It can be appreciated that there is a need for an improved data security system, which allows permission control based on user activities on top of user identifiers as well as isolation and segregation of permissions based on projects or groups of operations. The present technology fulfills this need and provides further related advantages.


A ducted fan gas turbine engine comprises a fan 12 mounted on a first shaft 16 and a compressor mounted on a second shaft 43. The shafts are coaxial both with each other and with said engine longitudinal axis 15. The shafts are mounted in roller bearings 21, 40. The first bearing 21 carrying the upstream part of the first shaft and the second bearing 40 carrying the upstream part of the second shaft. Both bearings are attached to a structure 26 which comprises an axial sleeve and a front frustoconical portion and a rear radially stiff but axially flexible frustoconical portion and is attached to the engine casing 36. The front frustoconical portion is frangibly attached to the front part of the axial sleeve 28. In the event of damage to the fan the frangible connection breaks and the first shaft is allowed to orbit about the engine longitudinal axis 15. The rear member 32 is swashingly non-linear flexible and accommodates the out of balance radial loads transferred to it as couples during such an incident.

This invention relates to a ducted gas turbine engine. More particularly this invention is concerned with the preservation of a gas turbine engine after damage to its fan.
Ducted fan gas turbine engines conventionally comprise a core engine which drives a comparatively large diameter propulsive fan positioned at the upstream end of the core engine. By the nature of the position of the fan at the front of the engine it is most vulnerable to damage by ingestion of debris. Such ingestion of foreign bodies can cause a fan blade to partly or fully break off thus leaving the fan operating out of balance. This usually necessitates the shutting down of the engine to minimise the damage. However the imbalance in the fan created by the part or full blade loss generates extremely high radial loads which must be at least partially absorbed as the engine is run down to windmilling speed. Windmilling speed is the speed at which the engine rotates in a non-operative condition as a result of its motion through atmosphere.
Prior proposals for dealing with such imbalance are disclosed in prior patents GB 2079402 and GB 2130340. Both these patents disclose arrangements where load limitation is achieved by the use of xe2x80x98fuse pinsxe2x80x99. Typically the main bearing supporting the fan shaft is connected to the remainder of the engine structure in the region of the fan by a plurality of axially extending fuse pins. The pins fracture in shear upon a major fan imbalance allowing the fan and its shaft to orbit about the engine""s longitudinal axis. This continues as the engine is allowed to run down to windmilling speed.
However the vibration resulting from the fan imbalance that still exists at windmilling speed can still be extremely severe. This is due mainly to speed coincidence with the reduced natural frequency of vibration of the fan because of the lack of radial stiffness of the fan assembly after fusing of the bearing support load path.
A prior proposal for dealing with such fan vibration during windmilling is disclosed in prior patent GB 2326679. This prior patent discloses an arrangement where a first bearing carrying the upstream part of the fan shaft is connected to the fixed engine structure via a frangible support member. A second bearing carrying the upstream part of the intermediate pressure compressor shaft is attached to the fixed structure of the engine casing by a hairpin shaped resilient support member which is also attached to the mounting of the first bearing.
In the event of the fan suffering damage the frangible support member breaks which ensures that most of the engine is protected from major damage arising from out-of-balance forces and that the fan is able to orbit about the engine longitudinal axis. However, additionally the natural frequency of the fan is raised by the hairpin member providing a resilient connection between the fan and hub structure. The forcing frequency of the windmilling fan should thus be outside the resonance range. The resilient hairpin member also absorbs out-of-balance radial loads.
One problem, arising from the aforementioned arrangement described in GB 2326679 is that the second bearing supporting the intermediate pressure compressor shaft is itself supported by the flexible hairpin connection between the bearings and the casing structure. During normal running the load path provided by the elastic structure between the IP bearing housing and the hub structure is undesirably long and too flexible to provide good support for the IP compressor shaft.
There is a need therefore for a flexible structure which not only provides the advantages disclosed in GB 2326679 but also provides good support for the IP compressor shaft.
A need has also been identified for an arrangement which accommodates the large deflections during the initial stages of a fan-blade-off incident but would also be able to offer stiff support at the smaller deflections during windmilling.
According to the present invention there is provided a ducted fan gas turbine engine having a longitudinal axis and including a propulsive fan mounted on a first shaft and a compressor mounted on a second shaft, said shafts being normally coaxial both with each other and with said engine longitudinal axis, and respectively supported at their upstream ends by axially spaced apart first and second bearing members, said first bearing member being supported from the fixed structure of said engine by support means and being interconnected with said second bearing member by an axial sleeve wherein said support means comprises an axially flexible and radially stiff frustoconical member interconnecting said engine casing and said second bearing member.
Preferably said frustoconical member is positioned at the downstream end of said axial sleeve.
Preferably said flexible frustoconical member is hollow.

Ducted fan gas turbine engine with frangible connection