A filter bowl is disclosed. The filter bowl includes an elongated canister having an open end, a closed end and a wall having an exterior surface, the exterior surface having a plurality of rolled threads. The exterior surface includes an unthreaded portion disposed between the open end and the plurality of rolled threads. The filter bowl is preferably made of steel and is produced in a process including the steps of: 1) deep drawing the elongated canister and 2) rolling threads onto the exterior surface of the canister.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rolled threaded filter bowl for use with medium pressure filters.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Medium pressure filters such as those used in hydraulic oil systems for hydrostatic drives must withstand pressures greater than 400 PSI. Furthermore, they are subject to repeated or cyclic applications of pressure. Conventional medium pressure filters include a metal bowl or canister typically made from steel and a filter element contained within the bowl. The bowl is attached to a filter head which is in fluid communication with a conduit through which the hydraulic fluid passes. Such bowl and filter element arrangements are manufactured as a single unit. The open end of the canister is threaded to engage with the filter head. Such filter are known in the art as "spin-on" filters. The entire bowl with filter element thereon is spun onto the filter head and then is in fluid communication with the conduit.
When the filter element has become fouled from use and reaches its usable life, the entire filter including the filter element and bowl are removed from the filter head and is then disposed of. Because the filter element and bowl constitute a single unit, disposal of the filter element also dictates disposal of the filter bowl. Disposal of both portions of the conventional spin-on filter, namely the fouled filter element and the metal bowl, is wasteful in that the bowl is not fouled and is environmentally unsound.
One solution to this problem is to employ a reusable extruded metal (e.g., aluminum) bowl having threads for engagement with the filter head. Such threads are conventionally machined into the exterior surface of the metal. Because of the machining process, the wall of the bowl in the area of the machined thread must be relatively thick, for example, about 1/2 inch. Attempts to machine threads on thinner walled bowls typically fail because the machining process cuts completely through the thickness of the bowl wall rendering the bowl useless.
It is desirable to minimize the number of threads on the bowl. Fewer threads requires less threading and rotating of the bowl during installation and removal. However, when the thread number is low, the thread height (valley to peak) must be increased. Greater thread height requires that the walls of the bowl be relatively thick to allow sufficient material to be cut to create the threads. Medium pressure filters do not require such relatively thick-walled filter bowls to withstand the internal pressure of filtration. Thus, thick-walled filter bowls use an unnecessary amount of metal with respect to their pressure ratings only so that threads may be machined therein.
Furthermore, machined threads can detrimentally alter the metallurgical properties of the metal of the bowl. Such threads can also induce stress within the bowl. Threads produced by machining typically have rough surfaces and thus are easily filled by dirt, dust and the like.
Accordingly, a need remains for a thin walled threaded filter bowl which is reusable and easy to install yet can withstand medium pressures.


The hub is conically formed, and the vanes attached thereto are given a substantially radial direction; consequently, the turning axes of the vanes are situated in the center of the vanes, substantially bisecting the center of the vane chords. The turning axes are perpendicular to the impeller shaft.

This invention pertains to pumps of the roto-dynamic type which employ impellers rotatable in a housing; they, generally, are either of the centrifugal or the axial-flow embodiments, and in particular to a novel impeller for such roto-dynamic or propeller-type pumps.
The centrifugal pump comprises an impeller which consists of a hub and at least one covering disc which carries a plurality of vanes; such are called open impellers. A closed impeller has two covering discs, with the vanes therebetween. In both cases liquid is drawn axially into the center of the impeller, and leaves the latter essentially in a tangential direction from the circumference of the impeller.
The axial-flow pump is of an open type, having a space between the vanes and the enclosing or surrounding housing. It differs from the centrifugal pump in that the liquid moves, essentially, in an axial direction through the pump. The tangentially-directed velocity vector which is obtained after the impeller is reduced in a number of guide vanes in the housing downstream of the impeller. Said guide vanes also normally serve as support elements in the housing structure.
When pumping waste water, and certain types of industrial-process water containing elongated fibers, the operation can be disturbed by rag shreds, fibers, etc., getting stuck onto the leading edges of the impeller vanes as well as on the guide vanes of the pump housing. The build-up thereof can dramatically decrease the efficiency of the pump. The result will normally be that the flow decreases and the power demand increases. One way to make the collected debris to leave the vanes is to let the impeller rotate in reverse, at certain intervals, but this is not a solution which recommends itself. Another way in which to diminish the likelihood of pump clogging by such debris is to incorporate a cutting means for comminuting the fibers etc., before they are ingested into the impeller. A device of this sort is shown in the Swedish patent No. 8205774-6. It has the disadvantage, however, that the cutting means quickly wears out and the clogging problems may become worse.
It is also known to design the vanes with backward swept leading edges in the flow direction, whereby the pollutions more easily glide off. An example is shown in the European published publication 237 921. This impeller has however a design which deteriorates the cavitation abilities.
Most propeller pumps on the market today are designed with a hub of a spherical shape provided with vanes which are turnable around axes mainly perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis. This possibility to control the vanes means that a wide range of flow capacity is covered with one and the same pump. The spherical form also means that a vane may be turned into different angles while keeping the same slot towards the hub thus minimizing losses in the slot.
When designing an axial-flow pump it is often desired to keep a high specific rotation speed, i.e., a maximum flow should be obtained at a given speed. This means that the inlet area, the area between the hub and the wall of the housing, should be maximized. As the outer diameter of the housing is limited because of the cavitation problem, there is only a decrease of the diameter of the hub left.
Spherical formed hubs always mean problems of a flow technical art when the radius is shortened as the possible geometric length of the connection between the hub and the vanes also shortens. If an acceptable efficiency should be obtained, said connection length must never be less than a certain value and this means that there must be a compromise between the two goals: large flow and high efficiency, respectively.
For pump impellers where the vanes should be adjustable, it is desired that the entire vane is kept collected around the axis around which the vane is turned when adjusted. Then a minimal axial translation movement occurs during rotation and a flow effective change of angles for all profile sections (chords) is obtained. If, for a conventional propeller pump having a relatively high specific rotation speed, the profile sections that form the vane are swept backwards in such a way that the leading edges become self-cleaning, the performance of the pump will be almost unchanged, provided that the angle is kept. However, short root connections between the hub and the vanes means that the trailing edge, also, will be markedly swept backwards; consequently, there is no optimum turning axis. The swept impeller will, therefore, be less effective after turning to another angle than would be the non-swept impeller. The aforesaid means that it is impossible to design a turnable and swept vane having an optimum performance, if a spherically-formed hub is used.
In order to have a vane which is sufficiently collected around its turning axis, and simultaneously is swept backwards, it is a known practice to shorten the chord lengths in the direction of the periphery of the vane. This limits the backward sweep of the trailing edge of the vane. The effect of this, however, is that the cavitation abilities deteriorate.
The spherically-formed hub could be avoided by molding the hub and vanes in one, single piece. Such, however, does not give the same flexibility and is expensive.


Embodiments pertain to a game for entertainment in which players draw cards to select game pieces and then place those pieces on a game board. In one embodiment, players place their game tiles next to tiles on the board, matching pips (spots) to pips, similar to the game of dominos. Players are assessed points for every pip that's on a light-colored square of the board. The game ends when all tiles have been placed on the board. The player with the fewest points wins the game. In other embodiments players place tiles in other ways, or score points in other ways, or do not score points at all. Also, in other embodiments, there are alternative ways in which the game ends, and/or alternative ways to determine the winner.

Dominos is and has long been a very popular game. Dominos consists of a plurality of tiles, each divided into two sections. Each section has from one to nine pips (spots). There are many ways to play dominos, but the basic element of game play is to match a tile section to a another tile section with the same number of pips.
Another very popular game is checkers. Checkers consists of a board and a plurality of pieces. The board is divided into an eight-by-eight grid of squares, of two alternating colors, in what is now commonly called a "checkerboard" pattern. The pieces are round, of the same width and the same diameter. Some of the pieces are of one color, and the rest are of another color. These two colors may or may not be the same colors of the board squares. There are different ways to play checkers, but the basic element of game play is a competition between players to remove competing pieces from the board through a systematic moving of pieces from square to square.
There is always a need for new entertaining and amusing games. There is certainly a need for a game that incorporates some of the more appealing characteristics of the popular games of dominos and checkers.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Also, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in this background section.


A method for detecting the presence of a vancomycin-resistant microorganism in a biological sample using a single chimeric probe in a cycling probe reaction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to probe sequences and methods for detecting target nucleic acid molecules, and more specifically, to a probe for detecting antibiotic vancomycin-resistant enterococci ("VRE") and methods thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) represent a serious problem for healthcare worldwide. Both vanA and vanB genes of enterococci have been found to be associated with the increased resistance. Transfer of the vanA and vanB antibiotic resistance genes to non-enterococcal species is also a growing concern. The vanA gene has been found in Corynebacterium, Arcanobacterium and Lactococcus species (Power et al., J. Antimicrobiol. Chemother. 36:595–606, 1995). Recently, Poyart et al. (Antimicrobiol. Agents Chemotherap. 41:24–29, 1997), reported an occurrence of a Streptococcus bovis clinical isolate with a VanB resistance phenotype. The gene was shown to be highly homologous to the prototype vanB gene from Enterococcus. Increased use of antibiotics has resulted in the emergence of vancomycin-resistant microorganisms, such as Enterococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. (Dutka-Malen et al., Antimicrobiol. Agents Chemother. 34:1875–1879, 1990).
Briefly, there are four phenotypes of enterococci that can be separated based on expression of constitutive and inducible resistance of the glycopeptides, vancomycin and teicoplanin (Leclercq and Courvalin, Clin. Infect. Dis. 24:545–556, 1997). Inducible resistance to high levels of vancomycin (MIC≧64 mg/l) and teicoplanin (MIC≧16 mg/l) is characteristic of the VanA phenotype. This type of resistance is plasmid mediated. The vanA gene has recently been found on mobile elements that can direct their own transfer from the chromosome of one Enterococcus strain to another. The VanB phenotype is described as inducible resistant to vancomycin with MIC of 4 mg/l to ≧1,000 mg/l but displaying susceptibility to teicoplanin. The vanB gene is transferable by conjugation in certain strains. The genes in the VanG phenotype produce constitutive resistance and occur in E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavis and E. flavenscens (Leclercq and Courvalin, supra; Navarro & Courvalin, Antimicrobiol. Agents Chemother. 38:1788–1793, 1994). Recently, a VanD phenotype has been reported and is characterized by moderate levels of vancomycin resistance and low level resistance to teicoplanin (cited in Leclercq and Courvalin, supra).
The majority of conventional methods for detection of glycopeptide resistant enterococci have drawbacks related to time, lack of specificity and sensitivity of detection. For example, detection of the glycopeptide resistant enterococci can be carried out by conventional susceptibility testing (broth and agar methods), but these techniques are slow, and automated detection is not recommended due to poor performance (Aarestrup et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 40:1938–1940, 1996).
Although the above methods can be used to detect VRE, there is an urgent need for a rapid and reliable method for simultaneously detecting the vanA gene and vanB genes from VRE, both in the hospital and community settings. The present invention provides compositions and methods for simultaneously and rapidly detecting the vanA and vanB genes. The present invention also provides other related advantages.

Methods for detecting vancomycin-resistant microorganisms and compositions therefor


A thermal energy machining (“TEM”) machine is designed with interchangeable components for processing different sized parts within a single frame. The frame weldment includes a base, an upper mounting plate and intermediate mounting plates. In one embodiment, a TEM machine for processing short parts includes a ram cylinder directly secured to the base, a chamber spacer directly secured to the upper mounting plate and a thermal chamber directly secured to the chamber spacer. In another embodiment, a TEM machine for processing long parts includes a thermal chamber directly secured to the upper mounting plate, a ram spacer directly secured to the base, and a ram cylinder directly secured to the ram spacer.

The invention relates in general to a thermal energy machine ("TEM"), and in particular to a single station or a multiple station thermal energy machine with interchangeable components for processing different sized parts with a single frame weldment.
TEM was introduced in the late 1960's as an effective way to remove internal and external burrs and flashing from machined or molded metal and plastic parts. TEM is also known "gas detonation deburring," "thermal deburring," "combustion chamber treatment," and "rapid high energy removal of superfluous projections." The concept behind TEM is elegantly simple: instead of mechanically abrading off burrs and flashing, the burrs and flashing are simply burned away in a fraction of a second. This simple concept is applied in an exciting way: one or more metal or plastic parts requiring deburring or deflashing are sealed inside a combustion chamber and surrounded with a highly pressurized explosive gas mixture which is then ignited by an electric spark. The resulting explosion produces a thermal shock wave that literally burns away (oxidizes) the burrs and flashings from the parts while the relatively great thermal mass of the parts prevents the parts themselves from being damaged by the thermal shock wave. The explosive flame temperature can reach over 6,000° F. (3,316° C.). The explosion lasts only milliseconds and the entire load-to-load cycle time is on the order of half a minute.
A conventional C-frame TEM machine 100 for thermal deburring of parts is shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. The TEM machine comprises a stationary frame 101 in which is rigidly secured a working chamber 102 having an admission valve 103, a spark plug 104 and a discharge valve 105 incorporated in its wall. The chamber 102 is in the form of a cylinder open at both ends, the lower hole of the chamber 102 (as shown in the drawings) is a loading hole. The frame 101 also supports a pneumatic cylinder 106 having a movable member thereof carrying a bottom member 107, which is designed for closing and opening the chamber 102 and which comprises a hollow cylinder having end plates and openings 108 in the peripheral wall, the height and outside diameter of the cylinder being about equal to the height and inside diameter of the working chamber 102. The inner surface of the lower end plate of the bottom member 107 (as shown in the drawings) functions as a worktable 109 for supporting a part 110 being treated which are installed and removed through the openings 108. The bottom member 107 is mounted for movement along the axis of the chamber 102. An elastic sealing ring 111 is installed between the chamber 102 and bottom member 107 on the side of the loading hole of the chamber 102 and an auxiliary sealing ring 112 is provided on the side opposite to the loading hole. The sealing rings 111 and 112 may be made of any appropriate sealing materials, e.g. of rubber of PTFE.
In the initial position, the bottom member 107 (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) is lowered as shown in FIG. 8. A part 110 that is to be treated (or a plurality of parts to be treated) is placed through the opening 108 onto the worktable 109. Then, the bottom member 107 supporting the part 110 is raised by the pneumatic cylinder 106 along the inner wall of the working chamber 102 to the upper position as shown in FIG. 7. The elastic sealing rings 111 and 112 will thus seal the interior space of the working chamber 102. After the chamber 102 has been sealed, a fuel mixture is admitted to its interior space through the openings 108 and admission valve 103, and the fuel mixture is ignited by the spark plug 104. As a result of a rapid temperature and pressure rise in the interior space of the working chamber 102, burs of the parts 110 being treated are burnt and/or fused owing to their large surface and relatively small mass.
After the discharge valve 105 is opened, combustion products are discharged from the interior space of the working chamber 102, and the bottom member 107 is lowered by the pneumatic cylinder 106 to take the initial position. After the part 110 being treated has been removed from the interior space of the working chamber 102 and a next part 110 has been placed in the worktable 109, the working cycle is repeated.
The conventional TEM machine described above has a number of drawbacks. Most importantly, the single size of the chamber and the single stroke length of the pneumatic cylinder limit the size and number of parts that can be placed in the chamber. In addition, the amount of the gas mixture that may be used in the TEM process for a part may become excessive, especially for a small part, which increases the overall operational costs of TEM machine. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a TEM machine that has a selectively adjustable chamber size and pneumatic cylinder stroke length to accommodate parts of different sizes.

Thermal energy machine with interchangeable components for processing different sized parts


Entanglement-based QKD systems and methods with active phase tracking and stabilization are disclosed wherein pairs of coherent photons at a first wavelength are generated. Second harmonic generation and spontaneous parametric downconversion are used to generate from the pairs of coherent photons entangled pairs of photons having the first wavelength. Relative phase delays of the entangled photons are tracked using reference optical signals. Classical detectors detect the reference signals while single-photon detectors and a control unit generate a phase-correction signal that maintains the relative phases of phase-delay loops via adjustable phase-delay elements.

The general principles of quantum cryptography were first set forth by Bennett and Brassard in their article "Quantum Cryptography: Public key distribution and coin tossing," Proceedings of the International Conference on Computers, Systems and Signal Processing, Bangalore, India, 1984, pp. 175-179 (IEEE, New York, 1984). Specific quantum key distribution (QKD) systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,410 to Bennett, and in the article by C. H. Bennett entitled "Quantum Cryptography Using Any Two Non-Orthogonal States", Phys. Rev. Lett. 68 3121 (1992). The general process for performing QKD is described in the book by Bouwmeester et al., "The Physics of Quantum Information," Springer-Verlag 2001, in Section 2.3, pages 27-33, while photon-entanglement is discussed in the same book on pages 53-92
Quantum key distribution (QKD) involves establishing a key between a sender ("Alice") and a receiver ("Bob") by using weak (i.e., 1 photon or less, on average, and typically 0.1 photon on average) optical signals or "qubits" transmitted over a "quantum channel." The security of the key distribution is based on the quantum mechanical principle that any measurement of a quantum system in an unknown state will modify its state. Thus, an eavesdropper ("Eve") that attempts to intercept or otherwise measure the exchanged qubits will introduce errors that reveal her presence.
In some QKD systems, entangled photon pairs are used instead of single photons. In 1991, Ekert proposed a QKD scheme based on entangled photons shared by Alice and Bob, (see A. K. Ekert. "Quantum cryptography based on Bell's theorem", Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 67 pp. 661-663, (1991) (hereinafter, "Ekert") which article is incorporated by reference herein). In the Ekert 91 protocol, Alice and Bob also can check so-called Bell inequality to reveal the presence of the eavesdropper. Thus, the Ekert protocol provides an additional security level as compared to the BB84 protocol.
The article by J. Brendel, N. Gisin, W. Tittel, and H. Zbinden, entitled "Pulsed Energy-Time Entangled Twin-Photon Source for Quantum Communication", PRL 82, 2594-2597 (22 Mar. 1999) ("Brendel"), which article is incorporated by reference herein, shows a QKD scheme that employs entangled photons. However, the Brendel system is subject to phase drifts and needs to be compensated in order to be of practical use in quantum cryptography. In addition, a commercially viable entanglement-based QKD system must be cost-effective and preferably built from of-the-shelf components. Currently, the 1550 nm wavelength is the most widely used wavelength for fiber-optics communication, so that use of 1550 nm components is preferred when constructing QKD systems, particularly those that meant to be integrated with standard telecommunications networks.

Entanglement-based QKD system with active phase tracking


Methods for aiding in the diagnosis of dysautonomic disorders and dysautonomic conditions and methods for treating individuals diagnosed as having a dysautonomic disorder or a dysautonomic condition. In one aspect, a diagnosis method comprising analyzing a stool sample of an individual for the presence of a biological marker wherein the quantity of the biological marker is an indication of whether the individual has, or can develop, a dysautonomic disorder or dysautonomic condition, as well as a therapeutic method for treating a dysautonomic disorder or dysautonomic condition by administration of, e.g., secretin, neuropeptides, peptides and/or digestive enzymes.

Familial Dysautonomic (FD), which is also known as Riley Day syndrome, is an autosomal recessive sensory neuropathy that affects approximately 1 in 4,000 individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. This disorder is marked by a reduction of unmyelinated and small myelinated fibers as well as a reduction of doparnine-beta-hydroxylase in the blood. FD decreases both the sympathetic neurons and the peripheral small fibers that modulate temperature regulation. It is thought to arise from both the failure of intrauterine development of neurons and their postnatal development. Symptomology of FD includes, renal disease, corneal ulcerations, mental retardation, loss of pain and vibratory senses, incoordination of movements, diarrhea, esophageal reflux, secretory diarrhea, gastrointestinal paresis, hypotension, facial abnormalities, altered dentition, increased salivary secretion, abnormalities of the sweat glands, bowel distension, fecal impaction, prolonged QT intervals (>440), risk of sudden death, and orthostatic syncope. Further features include decreased pain sensation, decreased temperature regulation, difficulty feeding, lack of overflow tears while crying, recurrent pneumonias, scoliosis or hyperkinesis, increased sweating and skin blotching, decreased stature, as well as other conditions associated with autonomic dysfunction.
Currently the underlying biochemical and genetic defects which cause the FD disorder are unknown. The gene which causes this disorder has been mapped to chromosome 9, in the q31-33 region. Presently, there is no prenatal screening test for this condition, and there is no early detection of the condition other than the presence of symptomology.
There are a plethora of is dysautonomic disorders and/or disorders in which symptomologies of autonomic dysfunction are manifest. For instance, Parkinson's disease is marked by mild to severe autonomic dysfunction, including changes in gait, tremor, discoordination, increased salivary flow, and overall loss of autonomic function. Additionall, changes in executive function are typically noted in a Parkinson's patient, often times allowing the patient to appear as having Alzheimer's disease and resulting in misdiagnosis. Executive function disorders are also found in autistic children.
It is known that Parkinson's disease is caused by a deficient state of levo-dopamine in the brain. More specifically, levo-dopa induced dyskinesis in Parkinson's patients is thought to be a result of deprivation of the substantia nigra. To this date, medical science has not found a substrate that would allow an injectable form of 1-dopa to reach the brain and successfully cross the blood brain barrier. The current dopamine replacement therapy is aimed at either direct replacement or mimicking the action at the dopamine receptor sites in the brain. Sinemet™ and Sinemet CR™ are the two major drugs suited to that end. While the levodopa-therapy can create some beneficial changes initially, those changes generally wane over time, and produce other problems such as severe sleep disturbance, dyskinesis, and constant nausea. Medical approaches to Parkinson's disease include surgical destruction of the tissue of the brain and the insertion of microelectrodes (deep brain electrical stimulation) to effected portions of the brain. The insertion of electrodes has the advantage of being reversible. These interventions, however, are generally transient and neither produce a permanent change in the Parkinsonian state nor reverse the effects of the disease.
Parkinson's disease is widespread throughout the Western hemisphere and was first reported by physician James Parkinson in 1817. Parkinson's disease is first detected as a tremor in a limb, and ultimately progresses to include 3 manifestations: (i) rigidity, which is characterized by "cog-wheel" like movement and "lead-pipe" rigidity; (ii) bradykinesia or slowness in movement, and (iii) postural instability associated with a stooped stance and an impaired gait. These altered movements are features of the motor dysfunction, but in addition there can be a mental impairment in as many as 40% of all Parkinson's patients.
Some authors suggest that Parkinson's disease is a multifactor neurodegenerative disorder, which evolves due to excessive oxidation. The substantia nigra is susceptible to oxidative damage, which supports this theory of the formation of Parkinson's disease. Abnormalities of the oxidative phosphorylation impair the mitochondria of the substantia nigra, and intensify free radical generation.
While the dyskinesis and loss of executive functioning of the brain receive the most significant mention with respect to Parkinson's, other manifestations exist that are associated with autonomic dysfunction, which are often poorly understood. Some of these manifestations include, e.g., esophageal reflux, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal dysfunction. In addition, excessive sweating, sleep disturbances and still other symptoms of Parkinson's disease are very similar to those found in Familial Dysautonomia.
Guallaine-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is characterized as an acute autoimmune polyradiculopathy. It generally manifests as a flaccid paresis coupled with areflexia, sensory loss and disturbance, as well as an elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein level. There are multiple variations of GBS, each of which displays a specific subgrouping of symptoms, including those of the Miller Fisher Syndrome group. GBS seen primarily in the United States constitutes a subtype best characterized as a demyelinating type. In the past, GBS was thought to be caused by numerous factors such as the presence of an antecedent viral infection. The most recent hypothesis points to the presence of an antecedent infection of Campylobacter jejuni gastroenteritis. It is further postulated that the presence of this infection produces inflammation of the brain and nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.
Further, a correlation between ketoacidosis and GBS was recently discovered, whereby a patient with diarrhea and fever in a comatose state had a serum blood glucose level of 672 mg/dl, with the presence of urinary ketone bodies. This pancreatic role in the potential formation of GBS (as well as other dysautonomic conditions) is of note and is addressed by the present invention.
Furthermore, tumors of differing types can also produce dysautonomic symptomology. For example, pheochromocytoma is a well-encapsulated, lobular, vascular tumor, which can occur anywhere in the body. It is made up of chromaffin tissue of the adrenal medulla, or sympathetic paraganglia. Hypertension is the most apparent symptom, reflecting the increased secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine, and may be either persistent or intermittent. Attacks may occur anywhere from every few months to several times daily, and typically last less than five minutes. Physical and emotional stresses can initiate an attack. During severe attacks, patients may experience headache, sweating, apprehension, palpation, tremor, pallor or flushing of the face, nausea and vomiting, pain in the chest and abdomen, and paresthesias of the extremities, weight loss, and orthostatic hypotension. Inflammation is a hallmark of this condition. Interestingly, these symptoms are common to many other dysautonomic conditions. Chemodectoma is another type of tumor, characterized as any benign, chromaffin-negative tumor of the chemoreceptor system. The most common types of chemodectoma are the carotid (the principal artery in the neck) body tumor and the glomus jugulare tumor, and it is also known as nonchromaffin paraganglioma.
Neuroblastoma, a type of sarcoma, consists of malignant neuroblasts, which typically arise in the autonomic nervous system, or in the adrenal medulla. It is considered a type of neuroepithelial tumor and affects mostly infants and children up to the age of ten. Eighty five percent of cases occur prior to age six, and arise from immature undifferentiated neuroblasts of neural crest origin. Two-thirds of neuroblastomas occur in an adrenal gland, but may also appear where sympathetic nerves are present, such as in the chest, pelvis, abdomen, and neck. Symptoms may include fever, weight loss, weakness, abdominal discomfort, anorexia, anemia, bone pain, proptosis, pallor, periorbital ecchymoses, easy bruising, neurological manifestations, and metastic subcutaneous nodules, and possible hypertension.
Next, Dopamine-b-Hydroxalase Deficiency is characterized by both sympathetic noradrenergic deprivation and adrenomedullary failure, and intact vagal and sympathetic cholinergic function. It is a rare, congenital, non-hereditary form of severe orthostatic hypotension, caused by complete absence of Dopamine-b-Hydroxylase, the enzyme involved in the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine. The presence of orthostatic hypotension has not been documented in those who are afflicted with Db H deficiency prior to the age of 20. However, during childhood, impaired exercise tolerance, fatigue, and episodes of fainting and syncope, are frequently present. Symptoms from orthostatic intolerance worsen in late adolescence and in early adulthood. Patients experience more intense symptoms due to orthostatic intolerance in the morning hours, heat, and after alcohol consumption, though they do not experience symptoms after eating. Upon physical examination, patients may reveal a low normal (supine) blood pressure and a low (supine) heart rate. In the upright position, systolic blood pressure always falls below 80 mm Hg. However, opposite of other forms of autonomic failure, the compensatory rise in heart rate is completely preserved. Sweating is normal, and the pupils may be somewhat small, but respond to light and accommodations.
Baroreflex failure may present itself by essential hypertension, uncontrolled severe hypertension, pheochromocytoma, or, less commonly, damage to the glossopharyngeal or vagal nerves. Patients with baroreflex failure may have severe hypertension, either sustained or episodic. Blood pressures can reach 170–280/110–135. Accompanying tachycardia may suggest the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, which is supported by sensations of warmth and or flushing, palpitations, headache, and diaphoresis.
Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Deficiency is a disorder caused by a deficiency of an enzyme of the lyase class that catalyzes the decarboxylation of aromatic amino acids, notably converting dopa to dopamine, tryptophan to triptamine, and hydroxytryptophan to serotonin. The enzyme is then bound to a pyridoxal phosphate cofactor and occurs particularly in the liver, kidney, brain and vas deferens. Symptoms of the disease may include temperature instability, ptosis of the eyelids, hypersalivation, distal chorea, swallowing difficulties, drowsiness, irritability, truncal hypotonia, oculogyric crises, and pinpoint pupils.
Tetrahydrobiopterin Deficiency is a disorder whereby a defect in enzymes required for the synthesis of catecholomines results in a deficiency of neurotransmitters. Symptoms begin between two and eight months of age, and include unstable body temperature, swallowing difficulties, hypersalivation, pinpoint pupils, ptosis of the eyelids, decreased mobility, drowsiness, and irritability.
Familial Paraganglioma Syndrome is another tumor related disease. Due to the chemoreceptor function of the carotid body, these tumors were first called chemodectomas or carotid body tumors, though carotid body paraganglioma is the most accurate terminology for these lesions. Paraganglioma tumors that develop from the paraganglia adjacent to the vagus nerve and the jugular bulb are usually described as glomus vagale and glomus jugulare. Paraganglioma tumors are quite rare and account for less than 1000 reported cases since 1980.
As for clinical presentation, cervical paragangliomas include dysphonia, aspiration, hearing loss, dysphagia, tinnitus, pain, chronic cough, and shoulder weakness (due to tumor encroachment on cranial nerves).
In 1960, two researchers, Dr. Milton Shy at the National Institutes of Health, and Dr. Glen Drager at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Tex., described a common set of neurological manifestations associated with autonomic failure. Originally called the "Shy-Drager Syndrome," this complex syndrome is currently referred to as "Multiple System Atrophy" or MSA. The American Autonomic Society has defined MSA in the following manner: "MSA is a sporadic, progressive, adult onset disorder characterized by autonomic dysfunction, Parkinsonism, and ataxia (a failure of muscular coordination) in any combination. The features of the disorder include Parkinsonism Cerebellar or Corticospinal Signs, Orthostatic Hypotension, Impotence, Urinary Incontinence or Retention, usually preceding or within two years after the onset of the motor symptoms. Parkinson and cerebellar features commonly occur in combination. However, certain features may predominate. It is important to note that these manifestations may occur in various combinations and may also evolve over time.
Next, it is estimated that over 500,000 Americans are afflicted with Orthostatic Intolerance. Despite the enormity of the number, these conditions are among the least understood of the autonomic disorders. Orthostatic Intolerance predominately affects younger individuals, particularly females, and often those under the age of thirty-five. The onset can be sudden, and the impact can be significant on both lifestyle and on the capacity to work. Often, these conditions tend to be misdiagnosed as either a psychiatric or anxiety-related disorders, due to the nature of the symptoms.
Standing upright results in a series of reflexive bodily responses, regulated by the Autonomic Nervous System, to compensate for the effect of gravity upon the distribution of blood. Orthostatic Intolerance results from an inappropriate response to this change in body position. The normal response for a change in body position is stabilization to the upright position in approximately sixty seconds. During this process, the normal change in heart rate would include an increase in heart rate of 10 to 15 beats per minute, and an increase in diastolic pressure of 10 mm Hg, with only a slight change in systolic pressure. For those who are afflicted with Orthostatic Intolerance, there is an excessive increase in heart rate upon standing, resulting in the cardiovascular system working harder to maintain blood pressure and blood flow to the brain.
The upright posture also brings about a neurohumoral response, involving a change in the levels of vasopressin, renin, angiotensin and aldosterone levels—all of which are involved in the regulation of blood pressure. Additionally, arterial baroreceptors, particularly those in the carotid sinus area, play an important role in the regulation of blood pressure and the response to positional changes. As the heart pumps blood to the body, the left atrium is passively filled with blood as a result of the force exerted by venous blood pressure. The baroreceptors in the left atrium respond proportionately to the pressure exerted by venous blood pressure. Thus, a drop in venous blood pressure will trigger a compensatory response to increase blood pressure. Any disruption in any of these processes, or their coordination, can result in an inappropriate response to an upright position and a series of symptoms, possibly including syncope.
Neurally Mediated Syncope, also known as Neurocardiogenic Syncope, is another disorder characterized by autonomic dysfunction. More specifically, neurocardiogenic syncope is a complex and common disturbance of the autonomic nervous system that can lead to sudden drops in blood pressure leading to fainting. The medical term for fainting is syncope, coming from the Greek term "syncopa", meaning "to cut short." Syncope has many causes, and therefore discerning the exact cause can be difficult. Over the last several years, much has been learned about one particular cause of fainting—the disorder now known as neurocardiogenic syncope. Neurocardiogenic syncope is also known as vasovagal syncope or neurally mediated syncope. It describes a transient failure of the brain to adequately regulate the body's blood pressure and heart rate. The exact cause(s) are still unclear, but a basic understanding is evolving. The blood pressure control centers are located in the posterior parts of the brain (the brainstem or medulla). Every time a person stands, gravity pulls blood toward the lower extremities. The brain senses this change and compensates by increasing the heart rate and tightening (constricting) the blood vessels of the legs, forcing blood back upward to the brain. These centers in the brainstem (the autonomic centers), then work as a sort of thermostat to regulate blood pressure. In neurocardiogenic syncope, the system periodically breaks down, allowing the blood pressure to fall too low, and causing the brain to lose its blood supply resulting in loss of consciousness (fainting). These episodes frequently begin in adolescence following periods of rapid growth, although they can occur at any age.
Tilt table testing is used to determine a person's susceptibility to these episodes. This test involves the strapping of a patient to a special table, slowly inclining upward to an angle of between 60 and 80 degrees, and kept up for around thirty minutes. This provides a constant low stress (gravity) that should be easily tolerated by a person with normal autonomic function. However, for patients with poor autonomic control, this relatively mild stress will provoke a sudden fall in heart rate and blood pressure. Some centers will also use a synthetic form of adrenaline (isoproterenol) as an additional stress.
Therapy for patients with neurocardiogenic syncope has to be individualized to fit that person's specific needs. Many patients with neurocardiogenic syncope need only avoid predisposing factors (such as extreme heat or dehydration), though some will require medical therapy to prevent further fainting spells. A variety of different medications are used, and no one therapy works for everyone. Some patients may require therapy with low doses of two or three agents in combination, which is often tolerated better than a very high dose of a single agent.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as fetal fatal insomnia, is considered to be of unknown etiology and usually occurs during sleep. The postmortem examination of children who have died as a result typically does not reveal the cause of death, hence the label sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Recent research has pointed in many directions with respect to SIDS.
One theory for the cause of SIDS points again to the role of reflux. Once thought to be a normal postmortem finding, the evidence of gastro esophageal reflux postmortem indicates this as a possible contributory factor. Other theories point to the role of nerve damage or nerve malfunction as playing a contributory role in the formation of SIDS. One study demonstrates a marked prolonged QT interval in those who are at risk for SIDS. Researchers have documented that a child having a SIDS "attack" who was brought to the hospital was suffering from a prolonged QT interval. Even though the child survived the episode, it revealed an interesting piece of information.
The role of hypothalamic failure has also been postulated as a cause of SIDS. This failure precludes the infant from sensing temperature changes in the body, much like that of the child with dysautonomia. It is therefore postulated in accordance with the present invention that autonomic dysfunction plays a role, either primary or secondary, in the incidence of SIDS.
Interestingly, the dysautonomic conditions described above have a gastrointestinal component. Indeed, as with Guillaine-Barre wherein it is postulated that a GI pathogen is a causative factor in the formation of the dysautonomia, it is possible that other dysautonomic conditions have GI components.
It was recently discovered that the administration of secretin, a gastrointestinal peptide hormone, to children diagnosed with autism resulted in ameliorating the symptoms associated with autism. This finding was published in the article by Horvath et al., entitled Improved Social and Language Skills After Secretin Administration In Patients with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Journal of the Association for Academic Minority Physician Vol.9 No.1, pp. 9–15, January, 1998. The secretin administration, as described in Horvath, was performed as a diagnostic procedure, i.e., to stimulate pancreaticaobiliary secretion during an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, rather than as a therapeutic procedure. Although the specific mechanism by which the secretin improved the autistic-related symptoms was not specifically identified, Horvath postulated that secretin may have had a direct or indirect effect on the central nervous system. What is important, however, is that this was the first time that gastrointestinal problems of autistic children were linked to a possible etiology in autism.
It has been found by the present inventor that populations of autistic children suffer from GI disturbances and other conditions which are dysautonomic in nature. Thus, in general, these findings are believed by the present inventor to be a possible link between the etiology of autism and autonomic dysfunction.
Accordingly, in view of such findings, a method for determining whether an individual suffering from a dysautonomic disorder and/or any disorder comprising dysautonomic components will benefit from the administration of secretin, other neuropeptides, peptides and/or digestive enzymes, would be highly advantageous. In addition, a method for aiding in the diagnosis of individuals who may develop dysautonomic disorders conditions and symptoms is highly desirable.

Methods for diagnosing and treating dysautonomia and other dysautonomic conditions


A paste supply apparatus includes a pot holding part that holds a paste pot that includes a tubular container which receives paste and is provided with a through hole in a bottom part of the tubular container and an inner lid movable inside the tubular container, in a posture in which the paste can be extruded downwardly from the through hole, an extrusion member configured to hold the inner lid of the paste pot held in the pot holding part, an inner lid holding part with which the inner lid is held in the extrusion member, an extrusion member elevation part that upwardly and downwardly moves the extrusion member, and a stopper with which the container upwardly moved together with the inner lid collides when the extrusion member holding the inner lid is pulled up by the extrusion member elevation part.

A known paste supply apparatus for supplying paste in screen printing is an apparatus for supplying paste to a mask from a syringe in which the paste is stored (see Patent Reference 1 shown below, for instance). Generally, paste is distributed in a state sealed in a container called a paste pot, and when the paste is supplied by the syringe, the paste is shifted from the paste pot and is used. Also in recent years, a paste supply apparatus configured to directly supply paste from a paste pot in order to save shifting is known (see Patent Reference 2 shown below, for instance). Such a paste supply apparatus is configured so that in a posture in which a through hole bored in a bottom part of a container faces downwardly, the paste pot is held and an inner lid of the inside of the container is depressed by a cylinder etc. and the paste is extruded from the through hole.
Patent Reference 1 is JP-A-2011-140176 and Patent Reference 2 is JP-A-2010-172928.

Paste supply apparatus, screen printing apparatus, paste supply method and screen printing method

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


It is to provide a large-diameter imaging lens that can suppress reduction of peripheral light amount, achieve size and weight reduction, and maintain excellent optical performance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging lens. In particular, the present invention relates to an imaging lens having a four-lens structure that is suitable for forming an image of an object on an image-taking surface of an image sensor element, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), mounted on a portable computer, a television phone, a portable phone, a digital camera, a monitoring camera for a vehicle, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for cameras that utilize an image sensor element (solid image sensor element), such as the CCD and the CMOS, mounted on a portable computer, a television phone, a portable phone, a digital camera, a monitoring camera for a vehicle, and the like. It is demanded that a camera such as this is small and light because the camera is required to be mounted on a limited installation space.
A solid image sensor element having a high resolution of about 300 thousand pixels, called video graphics array (VGA), and a solid image sensor element having a higher resolution of one million pixels or more are being used as the solid image sensor element mounted on cameras such as those described above.
Therefore, like the cameras, the imaging lens used in such cameras is required to be small and light and to have a high resolution. Conventionally, a four-lens structure lens system using four lenses, such as those described in Patent Literature 1 to Patent Literature 3, is used to meet these demands.    [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication    [Patent Literature 2] Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication 2004-341512    [Patent Literature 3] Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication 2002-365531
It is important that the monitoring camera for a vehicle and the like, in particular, can also image a subject in a dark environment, such as outside at night, with adequate exposure. Therefore, the camera is required to have a high dynamic range (dB). A lens mounted on such a camera having a high dynamic range is preferably a bright lens with a large diameter in which reduction in the amount of light is minimal even at its periphery.
However, in the lens system described in Patent Literature 1, a diaphragm is disposed closest to an object side. Therefore, although the lens system is ideal for actualizing a compact lens system in which an incident angle of a light beam incident on an image-taking surface is small, asymmetry of the lens system increases. Therefore, from the perspective of aberration correction, the configuration is not particularly suitable for a large diameter lens system having a large effective diameter. This is because many kinds of aberrations (such as coma aberration and astigmatism) are affected by the effective diameter of a lens.
In the lens system described in Patent Literature 2, a first lens is a lens having a strong convex surface that faces the object side. Therefore, peripheral vignetting (aperture efficiency) may decrease.
Here, when an effect caused by distortion is ignored, the amount of light in the periphery (referred to, hereinafter, as peripheral light amount) is calculated by the fourth power of the cosine of the angle of field (cos4ω) being multiplied with a vignetting value. Therefore, in the lens system described in Patent Literature 2 having a small peripheral vignetting value, decrease in the peripheral light amount is difficult to suppress.
Moreover, in the lens system described in Patent Literature 3, a second lens is a biconcave lens. Therefore, although the lens system is effective in terms of increasing negative power and reducing a Petzval sum, the incident angle of the light beam entering the image surface side away from the diaphragm increases, and various aberrations such as astigmatism frequently occur. Therefore, the lens system is particularly disadvantageous for a large diameter lens system having a large effective diameter.
In this way, conventionally, in a bright, large-diameter lens system, it is difficult to maintain balance among suppressing the decrease in the peripheral light amount, reducing the size and weight of the lens system, and maintaining excellent optical performance by the incident angle of the light beam incident on the image-taking surface being relaxed or the various aberrations being corrected.

Abstract: The imaging lens comprises, in order from an object side to an image surface side, a first lens having a positive power whose convex surface faces the image surface side, a diaphragm, a second lens having a negative power whose convex surface faces the image surface side, a third lens having a positive power, and a fourth lens having a negative power, wherein conditions expressed by 0.3≦f/f1≦1.7 and −2.7≦f/f2≦−0.25 (where, f: focal distance of the entire lens system, f1: focal distance of the first lens, and f2: focal distance of the second lens) are to be satisfied.


A printing apparatus includes a printing head that includes a nozzle array, and a discharging control unit. The nozzle array is divided into a plurality of nozzle groups that is configured by a predetermined number of nozzles. The discharge control unit, when an abnormal nozzle having abnormal function of discharging the ink is included in any of the plurality of nozzle groups in a case of discharging the ink to a band area from the nozzle of each of the plurality of nozzle groups by assigning halftone data to the nozzle of each of the plurality of nozzle groups, assigns the halftone data assigned to the abnormal nozzle to the nozzle that is included in other pluralities of nozzle groups which are not the nozzle group including the abnormal nozzle according to a ratio that is a preset assignment ratio for each of the other pluralities of nozzle groups.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing system, and a printing method.
2. Related Art
An ink jet printer is provided with a printing head that includes a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink. In such a printing head, nozzles may be clogged due to causes such as when the viscosity of ink increases, when air bubbles are mixed therein, and when grime or paper dust is attached thereto. Clogging (abnormal discharging) of a nozzle causes a missing dot (a type of image degradation) because ink that is to be discharged to a print substrate is not discharged.
There is known a printing control device (refer to JP-A-2001-150685) that supplies a control signal for controlling the movement of a nozzle array to a printing unit which prints an image by forming dots with the nozzle array while moving the nozzle array in a main-scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction with respect to a printing medium. The printing control device is provided with a failed block recognizer, a complementing operation storage device, and a control signal supplier. The failed block recognizer regards the nozzle array as a collection of continuous three or more blocks, each of which includes the same number of nozzles, and recognizes a failed block including a failed nozzle when a nozzle that fails to form a dot occurs in the nozzle array. The complementing operation storage device associates the position of the failed block in the nozzle array with a complementing operation and stores the complementing operation in advance, the complementing operation being intended for complementing the failed block with another block by moving the nozzle array in the sub-scanning direction. The control signal supplier supplies the control signal for printing an image to the printing unit while performing the complementing operation that corresponds to the position of the failed block when the failed block is recognized.
It is necessary to resolve a missing dot caused by such a nozzle having abnormal discharge function as described above. In addition, there is room for improving image quality at the time of complementation when a missing dot is complemented by ink discharged from another nozzle.

Printing apparatus, printing system, and printing method


The present embodiments provide methods, compounds, and compositions useful for inhibiting FOXP3 expression, which may be useful for treating, preventing, or ameliorating cancer.

Foxp3 is a lineage-defining transcription factor for regulatory T cells (Tregs) that controls a restricted set of genes associated with immunosuppression. Tregs suppress immunity (including anti-tumor immunity) via multiple effector mechanisms. The presence of Tregs within the tumor has poor prognostic outcome in multiple types of cancer. Tregs do not possess a known unique surface marker or signalling protein which could enable targeting with biologics. FOXP3 cannot be targeted by monoclonal antibodies or with conventional small molecules.


The invention provides for an optical fiber strain relief system and a method for using the same. The optical fiber strain relief system includes a tab, a mass fusion splice protection sleeve and a tray for securing the tab and sleeve. The tab has substantially rectangular members, having long dimensions extending in the direction of fiber optic ribbon cables. The substantially rectangular members have widened portions and are joined at the widened portions by a short member. The substantially rectangular members of the tab fold over fiber optic ribbon cables, bending the short adjoining member, and thereby attaching to the fiber optic ribbon cables. Once attached to the fiber optic ribbon cables, the tab protects the optical fibers from bending and tensile forces and provides strain relief. The tray has retainers for securing the tabs and mass fusion splice protection sleeves to further protect the optical fibers and provide strain relief. The tray is fitted with a cover.

Optical fiber communications systems are extensively used in the telecommunications industry due to large information carrying capacity, virtually noise-free performance and long span distances achievable before regeneration and amplification of the signal is required. In any communication system employing optical fibers, termination points for optical fiber cross connections, interconnections and terminations are required.
At the termination points, optical fibers are spliced and secured once spliced, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,686 to Szentesi dated Dec. 9, 1986, U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,867 to Cocito dated Oct. 23, 1979, U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,853 to Hutchins et al. dated May 12, 1981 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,830 to Charlebois et al. dated Dec. 25, 1984. Fusion splicing of optical fibers entails remelting of the optical fiber material at the ends of the optical fibers to be spliced and joining the ends while molten in a precise controlled manner. Fusion splicing provides for minimal attenuation (power loss) and back reflection during use of the fused optical fiber, normally less than that of mechanically spliced optical fibers.
Optical fiber strain relief devices and systems also may be provided to protect spliced fibers, as shown, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,185 to Hermsen et al dated Dec. 20, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,555 to Braga et al dated Nov. 28, 1995, U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,705 to Hermsen et al dated Jun. 27, 1995, U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,635 to Justice et al dated Dec. 24, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,591 to Seike et al. dated Nov. 22, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,234 to Gladenbeck et al. dated Sep. 5, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,545 to Estabrook et al. dated Jul. 11, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,242 to Ota et al. dated Oct. 18, 1988, U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,865 to Pacey et al. dated Mar. 10, 1981, U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,802 to Bowes dated Mar. 16, 1982, U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,429 to Lee et al dated Oct. 11, 1994, Japanese Patent No. 58-93020 dated Jun. 2, 1983 and Japanese Patent No. 62-21107 dated Jan. 29, 1987.
Known optical fiber strain relief systems have shortcomings. For example, some optical fiber strain relief systems have the disadvantage of securing individually spliced optical fiber and not accommodating mass fusion spliced fiber optic ribbon cables. Other optical fiber strain relief systems have the disadvantage of requiring considerable effort and specialized skill to manipulate and use. Finally, still other optical fiber strain relief systems require specialized optical fiber storage and splicing enclosures or specialized manufacturing. Thus, there is a need in the art for a optical fiber strain relief system for securing, protecting and providing strain relief for mass fusion spliced fiber optic cables that is economical, easy to use and efficient.


A core ball wherein a junction melting temperature and a low alpha dose are set for suppressing a soft error generation and solving a mounting problem. A metallic powder as a core is a sphere. A pure degree of a Cu ball of the metallic powder is equal to or higher than 99.9% but equal to or less than 99.995%. A contained amount of one of Pb and Bi or a total contained amount of Pb and Bi is equal to or higher than 1 ppm. A sphericity of the Cu ball is at least 0.95. A solder plating film for coating the Cu ball comprises Sn—Bi based alloy. U contained in the solder plating film is equal to or less than 5 ppb and Th is equal to or less than 5 ppb. An alpha dose of the core ball is equal to or less than 0.0200 cph/cm2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a core ball, a solder paste, a formed-solder, a flux-coated core ball and a solder joint that are designed to reduce a junction temperature with less alpha dose.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, along development of compact information equipment, electronic components to be mounted on them have been downsized rapidly. A ball grid alley (hereinafter referred to as "BGA") having electrodes at its rear surface is applied to such electronic components in order to satisfy a requirement of a narrowed connection terminal and a reduced mounting area because of the downsizing requirement.
In the electronic components wherein the BGA is applied to its semiconductor package, a semiconductor chip having electrodes is sealed with resin and solder bumps are formed on the electrodes of the semiconductor chip. The solder bump is that a solder ball is joined to the electrode of the semiconductor chip. This solder bump is connected to a conductive land of a printed circuit board so as to be mounted on the printed circuit board.
Recently, a three-dimensional high-density package is studied by stacking up the semiconductor packages in a height direction in order to meet the additional high-density mounting.
In a case that the BGA is applied to the semiconductor package for the three-dimensional high-density mounting, the solder ball may be crushed by a semiconductor package's weight. If such an accident happens, the solder may be forced out so that a circulatory shunt may happen between the electrodes.
In order to resolve the above-described problems, it is considered to use a ball whose hardness is higher than that of the solder ball. As the ball having a higher hardness, a solder bump using a Cu ball or Cu core ball is reviewed. The Cu core ball is that a solder coating (solder plating film) is formed on a surface of the Cu ball.
Since the Cu ball and the Cu core ball do not melt at a melting temperature of the solder, the solder bump does not crush at a mounting process even if the solder bump receives the weight of the semiconductor package. Therefore, the semiconductor package can be supported very well. Such technology associated to the Cu ball and the like is disclosed, for example, in International Patent Publication No. WO/1995/24113 (hereinafter referred to as "WO/1995/24113 publication").
By the way, the downsizing of the electronic components allows the high-density mounting, but the high-density mounting causes soft error problems. The soft error is a possibility of rewriting a storage content of a memory cell in a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC circuit) with alpha ray entering into the memory cell.
It is conceivable that beta decay occurs on a radioactive element such as U, Th, Po, etc. in the solder alloy or a radioactive isotope included in Pb, Bi, etc. and then alpha decay occurs so that the alpha ray is emitted. Recently, a low alpha ray solder material is developed wherein the contained amount of the radioactive element is reduced. An associated technology is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 4,472,752 (hereinafter referred to as "JP/4,472,752 patent").
International Patent Publication No. WO/2013/14166 (hereinafter referred to as "WO/2013/14166 publication") discloses a technology of a low temperature reflow performed with a low temperature melting point by using a core ball wherein a surface of a solder ball is coated with a plating layer comprising a Sn—Bi alloy. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-185214 (hereinafter referred to as "JP/2013-185214 publication") discloses a technology that reduces the alpha dose of Bi as a solder material to a value equal to or less than 0.0100 cph/cm2. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-46087 (hereinafter referred to as "JP/2007-46087 publication") discloses a technology that strengthens a joint strength and reduces the melting temperature.
By the way, the WO/1995/24113 publication discloses the Cu ball and the Cu core ball having the higher sphericity. However, this publication counts out the lowering alpha dose of the Cu core ball.
The WO/1995/24113 publication describes, in its background explanation column, only Pb—Sn alloy as the solder alloy of making up the solder film. The alpha ray is emitted from an isotope 210Pb of Pb included as an impurity in Sn material along the decay process 210Pb->210Bi->210Po->206Pb.
It is conceivable that the Pb—Sn solder alloy contains its radioactive isotope 210Pb because the Pb—Sn solder alloy contains Pb in large quantities wherein this solder alloy is only one material disclosed in the WO/1995/24113 publication. Therefore, even if this solder alloy is used as the solder film of the Cu core ball, it is impossible to reduce the alpha dose.
The WO/1995/24113 publication does not disclose a Sn plating on the Cu ball and an electrolytic plating under a flowage condition of the Cu ball and electrolytic solution.
In electrolytic refining described in the WO/1995/24113 publication, since an electrolytic deposition surface is limited to one direction, it is impossible to forma plating film having an even film thickness on a micro work piece such as the Cu ball.
The JP/4,472,752 patent discloses a technology of Sn ingot having a low alpha dose wherein it does not only electrolytically refine but also reduces the alpha dose by suspending adsorbent in the electrolytic solution to adsorb Pb and Bi.
According to the JP/4,472,752 patent, since a standard electrode potential of Pb or Bi is close to that of Sn, it is difficult to reduce the alpha dose only by depositing electrolytically Sn on a plate electrode with a general electrolytic refining. Assuming that the electrolytic refining is applied to a process of forming the plating film on the Cu ball and the adsorbent is suspended in the plating solution for the barrel plating similarly to the description of this patent, the adsorbent is stirred when stirring the plating solution and the work piece. According to this stirring, there is a possibility that the Pb ion and Bi ion absorbed on the adsorbent become carriers and are incorporated into the solder film along with the adsorbent.
The solder film, which takes the adsorbent, emits the high alpha ray. Since the adsorbent has a very small grain diameter of the order of sub-micron, it is difficultly conceivable to separate and collect the adsorbent after the suspension while flowing the plating solution. Therefore, it is difficult to prevent the adsorbent, which has absorbed Pb and Bi, from being incorporated into the film.
In addition, the WO/1995/24113 publication discloses a Pb—Sn based solder alloy. However, since this publication describes a plating method, a deposit method, a brazing method and the like as an equivalent method, it does not disclose a reduction of the alpha dose for a Sn based solder.
The subject matter of the WO/1995/24113 publication is to manufacture the Cu core ball having the high sphericity. On the other hand, the JP/4,472,752 patent discloses the reduction of the alpha dose by removing Pb from Sn material wherever possible in the electrolytic refining process.
Therefore, a person skilled in the art, who knows the WO/1995/24113 publication, cannot suppose a problem where it is required to reduce the alpha dose from the Cu core ball disclosed in this publication. In addition, the composition of the Pb—Sn solder is different from that of the Sn based solder. Thus, it is conceivable that huge numbers of trial-and-error processes are required to suppose the problem of reducing the alpha dose and to select the Sn based solder, especially the Sn—Bi based alloy solder from an endless number of solder alloys instead of the Pb—Sn solder alloy for the solder film.
It may be very difficult for those skilled in the art to make the plating solution by using the Sn ingot having the lower alpha dose described in the WO/1995/24113 publication and to form the Cu core ball with the plating method described in this publication.
If a joint is formed by using the Cu core ball manufactured with the prior arts described in the WO/1995/24113 publication or the JP/4,472,752 patent, there is a high possibility that radioactive elements in the solder film of the Cu core ball diffuse into the electrodes of the joint and then the alpha ray is emitted. Therefore, it is impossible to solve the soft error as a new problem of the high-density mounting.
The WO/2013/14166 publication discloses a technology that uses a Sn—Bi alloy as a plating layer (solder layer) and sets a contained amount of Bi in the alloy to 45-65% for allowing a reflow process under a low temperature equal to or lower than 160° C. However, this publication does not discuss what kinds of balls are used as the core ball and how to reduce the alpha dose of the Cu ball and the solder layer in order to countermeasure the soft error.
The JP/2013-185214 publication discusses a technology that prevents the soft error by suppressing the alpha dose of Bi used as the solder material. The subject matter of this publication is to improve only the solder material. However, it does not disclose at all a technology that attempts to reduce the alpha dose of the ball as the core in the core ball for reducing the alpha dose of the solder plating film.
The JP/2013-185214 publication describes the Sn—Bi alloy having the low alpha dose. However, this publication describes that an additive agent is not used for the alloy. It does not review at all the electrolytic plating that requires a usage of the additive agent, such as a chelating agent, a brightening agent and the like. As described above, although the Sn—Bi alloy is used by melting the pure metals of Sn and Bi in this publication, it does not completely the technology for forming the core ball with the electrolytic plating method (wet type plating method). In addition, since Bi decays to its radioactive isotope, it is difficult to reduce the alpha dose. As a result, the alpha dose of the manufactured Bi is equal to or less than 0.0100 cph/cm2 in this publication.
The JP/2007-46087 publication discloses a technology that forms a plating layer of the Sn—Bi alloy on the surface of the core ball made of Cu for increasing the joint strength and lowering the melting temperature.
However, for this purpose, a composition ratio of Bi contained in the plating layer must be changed from its inner portion (core surface) to its outer portion (outer surface) and thereby a technically difficult process is required. Moreover, this publication does not disclose a technique of lowering the alpha dose of the core ball as well as the solder plating film.

Core ball, solder paste, formed-solder, flux-coated core ball and solder joint


One exemplary embodiment can describe a method for communicating. The method for communicating can include a step for identifying characteristics of a communications channel, a step for identifying a set of nonlinear functions used to generate waveforms, a step for assigning a unique numeric code to each waveform, a step for transmitting a numeric sequence as a series of waveforms, a step for receiving the series of waveforms, and a step for decoding the series of waveforms.

Telecommunications signaling practice falls generally into two categories. The first category, digital communication, encodes signals into a series of discrete pulses. The second category, analog communication, is based on modulating a continuous (generally sinusoidal) carrier wave in some way: for example, a signal can be stored in an amplitude modulation to the carrier wave (AM), or in a frequency modulation to the carrier wave (FM).
There is a combination of digital and analog techniques: digital Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), which conveys a data stream through discrete amplitude modulation of two carrier sine waves 90 degrees out of phase with each other. Euler's formula, which generates the sine and cosine waves, is the basis for most current analog communication techniques, including QAM.
Generally power amplifier architectures trade off efficiency for linearity (e.g., Class A vs. Class D). Consequently, mobile and satellite applications, which need efficient transmission, must use nonlinear amplification techniques. However, for signaling techniques such as QAM to work, amplification should be linear. To overcome such issues, engineers have introduced a multitude of linearization techniques such as pre-distortion, post-distortion, power back-off, feed forward, envelope elimination and restoration, and so forth.
Linear systems may be conceptualized by the whole being the (possibly weighted) sum of the parts, with no need to consider interactions between the parts. Furthermore, standard engineering practice in telecommunications attempts to remove nonlinearity wherever possible. Linear systems are generally easier to design, build and maintain than nonlinear systems. However, the simplicity of linearity comes at a fundamental cost: linear systems are less flexible and therefore less efficient than nonlinear systems. This is why, for example, high performance aircraft such as fighter planes and the Space Shuttle are always highly nonlinear.
Nonlinear efficiency essentially arises from more sophisticated use of available resources. Current telecommunication signaling practice makes simplifying engineering choices that limit performance. For instance, digital pulses control for noise by ignoring all but two amplitude levels, and by making no use of signal shape for signaling purposes. Analog communication (including QAM) is based on a restricted set of manipulations to sine waves.
Furthermore, QAM requires linear power amplification generally due to how QAM signals are generated. Every QAM signal is the linear sum of a cosine and a sine wave of the same frequency but generally different amplitudes. Any such sum is mathematically equivalent to a single sine wave with constant amplitude and shifted phase. Consequently, each QAM signal is inherently and unavoidably transmitted as a sine wave of constant amplitude.
Since nonlinear power amplifiers (NPAs) introduce distortion that varies with amplitude, there is no means to detect, much less correct, such distortion by analyzing signals of constant amplitude. The NPA distortion is mathematically orthogonal to the signal space: no information is shared between them, and hence nothing can be learned of one by studying the other.
Consequently, and despite efforts to compensate for this deficiency, QAM is extremely vulnerable to amplitude distortion. QAM essentially compensates for the lack of varying amplitude information within QAM signals by restricting NPA and separating signals as widely as possible in amplitude space.
Aside from its problems with nonlinear power amplification, another short-coming of QAM is that it is a method based on use of a single frequency: QAM does not make optimal use of the available frequency range. While QAM can be paired with techniques such as Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) to extend frequency usage, OFDM applied to QAM actually reduces information throughput, rather than increasing it, due to the stringent constraints imposed by signal orthogonality. OFDM is not introduced to improve QAM's efficiency, but rather to compensate for its inherent weaknesses in noise resistance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Telecommunication signaling using nonlinear functions


A bonded magnet is provided which includes first and second components. The first and second components have first and second non-action surfaces, and first and second action surfaces that intersect the first and second non-action surfaces, respectively. First and second flux groups curve inside the first and second components from the first and second non-action surfaces to the first and second action surfaces, respectively. The areas of the first and second non-action surfaces are greater than the first and second action surfaces, respectively. The flux densities on the first and second action surfaces are higher than the first and second non-action surfaces, respectively. The pole on the first non-action surface is opposite to the second non-action surface. The first and second non-action surfaces are coupled to each other. The first flux groups continuously extend from one to another.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a bonded magnet, a component for the bonded magnet, and a production method of the bonded magnet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Permanent magnets have been used in various applications such as an electric motor and a loudspeaker. For example, a small electric motor includes a field coil that is arranged in the outer part, and a rotor that is arranged in the inner part. Permanent magnets are arranged on the surface of rotor (SPM) or buried inside the rotor (IPM). For example, on the conditions that SPM type small electric motors have the same numbers of magnetic poles and the same size of permanent magnets, in order to provide a higher torque, the magnetic flux density of the permanent magnet on the surface of the rotor is required to be higher. As such a high magnetic flux density permanent magnet, a sintered magnet containing an earth element has been used such as Nd2Fe14B.
Also, a bonded magnet has been used which includes magnet powder distributed in a plastic material. Such a bonded magnet can be formed by using dies in compression molding, injection molding, or the like. Accordingly, its dimensional accuracy can be easily increased as compared with the sintered magnet. In addition, the bonded magnet can be integrally formed with another component. Additionally, the bonded magnet is lightweight. For these reasons, the bonded magnet is used in various applications. However, the bonded magnet is essentially constructed of resin as a binder. The maximum volumetric ratio of magnet powder is approximately 70% which is added to the binder. Accordingly, its magnetic properties will be necessarily reduced by 30%. As a result, its magnetic force is smaller as compared with the sintered magnet. For example, its energy product is only approximately one third of a sintered magnet of NdFeB. Therefore, the bonded magnet has not been used for an electric motor that is primarily required to provide a high torque. From this viewpoint, a bonded magnet is needed which has a high magnetic flux density to be used for an electric motor, and the like.
Japanese Examined Publication No. JP H06-105,644 B; International Publication No. WO 2012/090,841 A; U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,796 B Specification; and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. JP H10-308,308 A disclose permanent magnets that are devised to increase their magnetic flux densities. These permanent magnets produces a single magnetic circuit which is used in the molding or magnetic orientation. That is, a closed magnetic circuit (closed circuit) is formed so that the magnetic flux of the magnet is curved or expanded in the magnetic field of the closed circuit. In the case of the process using the single magnetic circuit, it is difficult to control the magnetic orientation of a bonded magnet (to magnetize a bonded magnet). The reason is that when the magnetic field produced by the single magnetic circuit has a low strength part, even if the low strength part is small, the desired orientation of the low strength part will not be completely achieved. For this reason, in the case where such a bonded magnet including the incomplete orientation part is used as a cylindrical columnar bonded magnet for a rotor of an electric motor, its surface magnetic flux will be much lower as compared with the sintered magnet. Therefore, to use a bonded magnet instead of a sintered magnet in the applications where sintered magnets are normally used, further improvement is required for such a bonded magnet.
The present invention is devised in light of the above. It is one object of the present invention to provide a bonded magnet which has an increased magnetic flux density while having the bonded magnet structure.

Bonded magnet, bonded magnet component, and bonded magnet production method


A bi-directional switch that includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a plurality of ballast circuits is provided. Each ballast circuit includes a first metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) comprising a first input connector, a first output connector, a first body, and a first body diode, and a second MOSFET comprising a second input connector, a second output connector, a second body, and a second body diode. Each first input connector is coupled to the first terminal, each second input connector is coupled to the second terminal, and each first output connector is coupled only to the second output connector of the second MOSFET that is in a same ballast circuit.

Many conventional power switches are designed for direct current applications and, thus, only block electric current that is flowing in one direction. Such power switches are often simply placed back-to-back to operate in an alternating current environment. Unfortunately, this results in a relatively high inductance in the overall system as the power and return lines are uncoupled. Because current sharing is not guaranteed to be equally distributed among the multiple power switches, the power switches are de-rated to ensure that the power switches stay within design limits, requiring more power switches than may otherwise be required. This in turn increases costs and system footprint.
In order to handle a particular amount of current, power switches often implement multiple parallel current paths through the switch. Components in such paths, such as, by way of non-limiting example, metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) and diodes, conduct greater amounts of current as they rise in temperature. It is common for such components to heat at a quicker rate than other components in the same switch because of their proximity to other heat-producing electronic components. For example, components located in a center portion of a switch may heat at a quicker rate than components located on an edge portion of the switch. As a component rises in temperature, it begins to conduct greater amounts of current, which leads to an increase in temperature. This cycle ultimately can lead to a thermal runaway of the component and to a failure of the switch.
Accordingly, there is a need for bi-directional switches that have low overall inductance and that force current sharing evenly among multiple parallel current paths through the switch.


Disclosed is a method and apparatus for efficiently controlling buffers which support a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) in a wireless communication system. Buffer regions for the HARQ scheme are not fixedly allocated according to channel identification information, but are allocated from the viewpoint of one overall memory through aggregation support. That is, an HARQ buffer is dynamically controlled. Therefore, there are the effects reducing the size of the entire chip, as well as reducing power consumption of the entire system according to the reduction of the chip size.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication network, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for efficiently controlling buffers which support a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ).
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, mobile communication services have been tested for the possibility of creating a new market while providing various services, such as broadcasting, multimedia images, e-mail, multimedia messages, etc. In such an information-oriented age, the demand for various wireless multimedia services of different qualities, for example, from a low speed to a high speed, in either real time or in non-real time, etc., has been increasing.
For this reason, studies are being conducted to develop new technology for efficiently allocating users with frequency channels, i.e., limited frequency bands, which are a main resource in a mobile communication system. In line with this, radio transmission element technologies, such as wireless multiple access and multiplexing, high-speed packet radio transmission, and a radio link control, have been proposed in the wireless communication system.
Especially, in the radio link control technology, a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) scheme is technology for controlling errors, in which an Automatic Repeat request (ARQ) scheme and a Forward Error Correction (FEC) scheme are combined. The HARQ scheme can be applied to packet data services for bursty packet data, such as wireless Internet packet, that is, to services requiring a high reliability of transmission data.
A receiving terminal employing the HARQ scheme transmits either an affirmative signal, i.e. an ACKnowledgement (ACK) or a negative signal, i.e. a Negative AcKnowledgement (NAK) to a transmitting terminal as a response signal according to whether or not received data has been successfully decoded, thereby requesting the transmitting terminal to retransmit the same data if necessary. That is, the HARQ scheme has such a mechanism that the transmitting terminal retransmits corresponding data when receiving a NAK signal as a result of decoding from the receiving terminal. The receiving terminal obtains a gain in the reception performance by combining the retransmitted data and previous data. The receiving terminal stores the received data in order to determine whether a burst (i.e. a set of data) received from the transmitting terminal corresponds to newly-transmitted data or retransmitted data, and to obtain a performance gain through combination of the data.
In order to normally perform the operation of the HARQ scheme, it is necessary to control the received HARQ burst, and to efficiently control and manage a memory which stores the received HARQ burst.
According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 standard and Mobile WiMAX standard, which are developing a wireless standard in relation to the HARQ scheme, the allocation of an HARQ burst by a transmitting terminal and the transmission of an ACK/NAK ReSPonse (ACK_RSP) to the HARQ burst by a receiving terminal are performed based on HARQ channels (i.e. HARQ Channel Identification (ACID), which is identification information for identifying HARQ channels). Also, whether a downlink HARQ burst corresponding to a newly-transmitted burst or a retransmitted burst is determined based on whether an HARQ Indicator Sequence Number (AI_SN) field information of an HARQ DownLink MAP (DL_MAP) message has been toggled to "0" or "1."
That is, when the AI_SN field information upon allocating an HARQ burst to a corresponding ACID and AI_SN field information for current HARQ burst allocation are equal to each other, a retransmission has occurred, and when they are different, a new transmission has occurred.
Therefore, in order to combine allocated HARQ bursts according to ACIDs in the wireless communication system, a correct determination of new transmission and retransmission must first be performed. However, in the actual communication environments, there is a problem in that when retransmission is determined with only information about whether 1-bit AI_SN field information in the DL-MAP is toggled or not, the accuracy of the determination is low.                1) The following parameters, which are values used in the IEEE 802.16e standard, are items representing the performance of a terminal, and are values subjected to Subscriber station Basic Capacity (SBC) negotiation upon cooperation with a base station.        number of DL HARQ channels        DL HARQ buffer capability per channel        aggregation flag for DL        maximum number of DL HARQ bursts per frame
In contrast, the following parameters are items defined by the base station and informed from the base station, and are values having no connection to the performance of the terminal.                ACK delay value for DL HARQ burst        maximum number of retransmission in DL HARQ
In line with this, the Mobile WiMAX classifies and defines categories of parameters connected with the performance of a terminal. Generally, as a higher-level category is employed, a mean throughput supportable in a terminal increases, but a memory region required in the terminal also increases.
Therefore, when it is assumed that 4 bits are employed for a Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR), the sizes of the buffers required for each category may be calculated as follows.
DL Category 1 (Aggregation ON/OFF)16,384 bits×4 (LLR bits)×4 channels=262,144 bits
DL Category 2 (Aggregation ON)8,192 bits×4 (LLR bits)×16 channels=524,288 bits
DL Category 3 (Aggregation ON)16,384 bits×4 (LLR bits)×16 channels=1,048,576 bits
DL Category 4 (Aggregation ON)23,170 bits×4 (LLR bits)×16 channels=1,482,880 bits
As described above, generally, as the level of a category increases, the size of a memory required for supporting the HARQ also increases. Especially, for categories 2 to 4, aggregation for an HARQ buffer is required as an essential item (Aggregation ON).
Particularly, when aggregation for an HARQ buffer is supported as described above, the conventional method allocates an allocatable maximum memory region according to each ACID in order to reduce the complexity caused by managing memory regions allocated according to ACIDs.
According to such a conventional method, since the management of only a start address and an end address according to each ACID is required, the complexity in implementation is reduced. However, according to such a memory management method, since a very large memory region is allocated to each ACID, the total of actually-required memory regions increases in geometric progression according to the number of used channels. That is, since an HARQ buffer is allocated using a start address and an end address according to each ACID, each ACID occupies a memory region of a predetermined size, so that it is possible to allocate and use each ACID within a corresponding memory region. However, an actual memory size calculated according to each category of the Mobile WiMAX requires a memory region twice as large as the number of HARQ channels. That is, a memory region of 1.0 Mbits is required for Category 1, 8.4 Mbits for Category 2, 16.8 Mbits for Category 3, and 23.7 Mbits for Category 4.
Therefore, it is necessary to develop a more efficient memory management method than the conventional method of allocating a fixed memory region according to each ACID. In addition, it is necessary to develop a new memory allocation method by taking into consideration the fact that a fixed memory region according to each used ACID increases in geometric progression when aggregation is supported.

Method and apparatus for dynamically allocating HARQ buffer in wireless communication system


A hinge stop apparatus and method includes a first hinge connection section and a second hinge connection section. An upper flange section is connected transverse to the first hinge connection section and, also, a lower flange section is connected transverse to the first hinge connection section and spaced apart from the upper flange section. A stop bracket is connected with the first hinge connection section and a hinge device movably connects the first hinge connection section and the second hinge connection section.

A problem exists with regard to the use of hinges used to support rails between posts. Applicant is knowledgeable of the prior art including Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,187 in which the hinge includes opposing flanges that are designed to receive a hinge rail and a gate rail. This design works well for wood gates where the fence rails are attached to the face of the posts. Again, however, when the rails are attached between posts, the hinge rail flanges do not fit easily to the inside of the post. Further, in most single gate construction a latch post provides a satisfactory way of stopping the gate from traveling beyond its limit. However, in double gate construction, the latch post is replaced with a removable drop rod. This method will not prevent the gate from traveling beyond its limit which results, over time, in catastrophic failure of the gate or hinge or both.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a device that enables a hinge to be located on both the inside and outside of a post. Further there is a need for a hinge that prevents undue pressure to be brought to bear on a hinge or hinge post system so as to prevent the failure of either or both.
It therefore is an object of this invention to provide a hinge stop apparatus and method that enables a user to position the hinge on the inside or outside of a post as desired without complicated or expensive machinery. It is a further object to provide a hinge stop device that when located on a post and in a post system prevents undue pressure from being forced upon the hinge thereby preventing hinge and post failure.