A thermometer comprising a base sheet adapted to be secured to a window or other surface, the sheet includes distinct thermally actuated latent images thereon and each of which is adapted to reversibly depict a different article of clothing once a pre-determined temperature or temperature range is measured whereby a viewer is informed of the appropriate clothing items for the measured temperature conditions.

Changes in seasonal temperatures necessitate the need to dress in clothing that is appropriate for the outdoor temperature. Parents will teach their children how to dress for the current weather conditions and encourage them to accomplish these tasks on their own.
However, such instruction often requires patience and perseverance on the part of the parent because children are highly individual in their capacity to learn. It is often difficult for a young child to correlate the numerous individual items of clothing such as sweaters, hats, gloves and earmuffs, with a temperature range that is appropriate. Further, very young children lack the cognitive ability to fully understand the temperature readings provided by a conventional outdoor thermometer. As is apparent, understanding outdoor temperatures is essential for dressing properly. In the case of a child having a learning disability, these problems are compounded.
The above is not limited to children since an adult suffering from Alzheimer's disease or dementia will likewise encounter problems when attempting to dress for outdoor activities. As is apparent, failure to correctly dress may result in injury or even death during severely cold conditions.
A need has therefore existed for a thermometer that is adapted to convey easily understood information to children or adults as to the appropriate type of dress for venturing outdoors.


A communication device includes a processor. The processor updates, when a port which is received a packet is connected to a first path or a second path, an identifier assigned to the packet from a value according to the path to a first value or a second value. The processor learns a correspondence relationship between a destination address of the packet and a transmission port by flooding the packet, and determines the transmission port based on the correspondence relationship. The processor updates, when the transmission port is connected to the first path or the second path, the identifier assigned to the packet of which the transmission port is determined to a value according to the first path or the second path. The processor discards the packet of which the identifier is updated to the second value by the first process and the transmission port is connected to the second path.

An E-TREE is a network in which an Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides an Internet connection service to a user (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2014-158113). The E-TREE includes, for example, a plurality of layer 2 switches and relays communication between a terminal device of a client and a gateway device to the Internet. The E-TREE is stipulated in Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) 6.2 and International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) standard G.Sup52.
In each layer 2 switch, a plurality of ports that transmits and receives packets is provided. An attribute of an interface between the ports of the layer 2 switches is referred to as a "Network Interface (NNI)", an attribute of an interface between the gateway device and the port is referred to as "root", and an attribute of an interface between the terminal device and the port is referred to as "leaf". Each layer 2 switch updates a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) assigned to an egress-side packet to a VLAN Identifier (VID) according to the attribute of the interface of the transmission port.
In the E-TREE, communication between users is prohibited while communication from the user to the gateway device is allowed. Therefore, although communication from the gateway device (root) to the other gateway device and the terminal device (leaf) and communication from the terminal device to the gateway device are allowed, communication between the terminal devices is prohibited. Therefore, the layer 2 switch needs to transfer packets through an asymmetric path.
In the layer 2 switch in the E-TREE, functions of flooding and MAC address learning are divided into two domains in order to achieve Media Access Control (MAC) address learning of the asymmetric path. One domain performs flooding and MAC address learning on a packet through a path from the root to the leaf, and another domain performs flooding and MAC address learning on a packet through a path from the leaf to the root.
MAC address learning synchronization processing is executed between the two domains. For example, International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2004/075482 discloses a point that the MAC address learning synchronization processing is executed by transferring a packet for MAC address learning of which VLAN tag information is edited in a direction opposite to a packet transmission direction.
In this way, it is possible for the layer 2 switch to prohibit the communication between the leaves by separating the domains for each communication direction.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2014-158113 and International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2004/075482 are disclosed as related art.

Communication apparatus and communication method


A storage container for disk-shaped objects is described which includes a base tray, a cover, a disk-tray, a means for connecting the cover to the base tray in a hinged manner, and a means for connecting the disk tray to the base tray. The base tray includes an inside bottom surface, a pair of side walls protruding upwardly from the bottom surface, and a rear wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface. The disk tray for receiving the disk-shaped object may have an open window or may have a floor. The container can also be used without the disk tray by including extensions protruding upwardly from the bottom surface of the base tray to substantially surround the disk-shaped object.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a storage case for disks. More specifically, this invention relates to a two or three-component transparent container in which disks containing information, such as mini-compact disks ("mini-CD's"), may be packaged for retail sale and/or used for storage by the consumer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in FIG. 17, conventional storage containers for a standard compact disk 12 or the like are often called "jewel boxes." The "jewel box" is usually made of transparent plastic and is rectangular in shape. Many such jewel boxes include three distinct components: a rectangular base tray 50', a corresponding rectangular cover 30', and a mounting hub (not shown). Usually, the base tray and cover are pivotally connected at their base corners to form a clam shell-like enclosure, and the mounting hub is inserted into the base tray.
The cover of the jewel box may have interior walls which correspond to the total height of the container. These walls may have several inwardly protruding tabs which are used to hold a promotional booklet or other identifying material 26' in a position where it can be viewed through the cover. When secured into place under the tabs, these articles usually cover the disk and act as a top view display.
The base tray of these prior art jewel boxes is determined to be slightly larger than a typical compact disk in all dimensions. In one type of jewel box, several tabs protrude from the interior walls of the base tray. The mounting hub is inserted into place on top of these tabs and a promotional card may be placed face down on the base tray's interior surface under the tabs. Installing the mounting hub on top of the card allows the consumer to readily identify the contents of the "jewel box" from both the bottom and the top of the package. The interior surface of the base tray may also include arced ribs which extend upwardly and surround the disk in a manner such that the cover is prevented from touching the disk. However, the location of the ribs makes them ineffective to protect the disk when a cover breaks as a result of force applied to it.
A conventional mounting hub for the above described jewel box is usually hollow and is formed of a central circular recess and a central circular mount. The mount holds the disk securely when the disk is inserted into the container. The recess allows the disk to rest easily in the container and also allows easy removal of the disk from the container.
Small cut-outs are usually formed on the side walls of the base tray and small matching extensions are correspondingly formed on the side walls of the cover. The fit between the cut-outs and the extensions usually causes enough interference to sustain the container in the normally closed position. The end of the cover usually extends slightly over the end of the base thereby allowing one to pry open the cover with one hand, while holding the container in the other hand.
Another prior art embodiment of the jewel box for standard compact disks incorporates only two components: the cover and the base tray. The base tray has the mounting hub molded into it. In order to compensate for not being able to insert a promotional card in the inside of the base tray, as described in the conventional "jewel box," the bottom surface of this base try is recessed and several tabs protrude under the bottom surface from exterior walls of the base tray. This construction allows a card to be inserted on the outside of the container under the bottom surface of the base tray. This embodiment is less expensive to build than the conventional "jewel box," since it is made up of only two components and uses less raw materials than the standard "jewel box." However, the automated manufacturing process, which includes inserting the back promotional card onto the exterior of the base tray, is more expensive and time consuming. The increased cost of production occurs because the tabs and/or protruding side walls adjacent the recessed bottom of the surface of the base tray often get caught in the automatic machines. For this reason, the insert cards and disk are often inserted by hand or extra maintenance for the machine must be expended to keep the production line up and running.
Until recently, the standard compact disk was the only size optical disk carrying audio information. However, today many recording companies are leaning towards using a smaller version of the standard compact disk, known as a mini-compact disk. Since the mini-compact disk can not be stored in an existing standard compact disk container, a need for a compact disk container, which can store and display a mini-compact disk and can be used in commercially available existing standard compact disk racks, is needed.

Storage container for disk-shaped object


The present invention reduces switching noise generated in a switching control device having a switching element such as a switching power supply in linear linkage with the state of a load of the output and without increasing the control circuit scale which is a factor of cost increase. The present invention adopts a configuration of a control circuit having an ON/OFF circuit that controls the switching element such that one or both of two specified values (upper limit and lower limit) that specify triangular waves of a triangular wave generation circuit that specifies a drive oscillating frequency of the switching element is/are changed in linear linkage with the output load state.

FIG. 18 shows a first conventional example (JP2002-252970A). An input 1 is switched by a switching element 7, and a voltage of square wave resulting from the switching is smoothed by a reactor L(26) and a capacitor Cf(10) and outputted. In the process of output, a voltage obtained by dividing an output 11 is compared with a sawtooth wave outputted from a sawtooth wave generator by a comparator and a switching signal according to this comparison result is applied to the switching element 7. When the comparison result is applied, a counter is operated in synchronization with a vertex of the sawtooth wave, a switch SW1 is opened/closed, a time constant of a time constant circuit made up of R0 and C is adjusted according to the presence/absence of a resistor R1, signals of frequency f1, f2 generated from the sawtooth wave generator are switched sequentially and given to the comparator. The noise level is reduced by distributing peaks of switching noise in the frequency domain, sequentially switching between the switching frequencies and thereby distributing noise energy.
Furthermore, FIG. 19 shows a second conventional example (JP2006-288104A). The rising edge of a drive pulse that drives a power switching element is repeatedly shifted by a basic pattern made up of three different shift amounts φ0 to φ2 for a period T1. In this way, the switching frequencies created by the rising edges of these drive pulses are distributed. Furthermore, a distribution frequency which is the reciprocal of the repetition period T of this basic pattern is set to an audible frequency or higher.


A recombinant filamentous fungal cell (e.g. Aspergillus) having one or more inactivated chromosomal genes is provided. The chromosomal genes in some embodiments correspond to derA, derB, htmA, mnn9, mnn10, ochA, dpp4, dpp5, pepAa, pepAb, pepAc, pepAd, pepF and combinations thereof. The recombinant fungal cells may include further inactivated chromosomal genes which correspond to pepA, pepB, pepC and pepD. The recombinant filamentous fungal cells may include a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a protein of interest. Also provided are methods of producing a protein of interest in said recombinant filamentous fungal cell.

Genetic engineering has allowed the improvement of microorganisms used as industrial bioreactors, cell factories and in food fermentations. In particular, filamentous fungi (e.g. Aspergillus and Trichoderma species) and certain bacteria (e.g., Bacillus species) produce and secrete a large number of useful proteins and metabolites (Bio/Technol. 5: 369-376, 713-719 and 1301-1304 [1987] and Zukowski, "Production of commercially valuable products," In: Doi and McGlouglin (eds.) Biology of Bacilli: Applications to Industry, Butterworth-Heinemann, Stoneham. Mass pp 311-337 [1992]). Important production enzymes include glucoamylases, α-amylases, cellulases, neutral proteases, and alkaline (or serine) proteases, and important production proteins include hormones and antibodies. However, the occurrence of protein degradation and modification in some of these host cells provides a major hurdle for protein production, and in spite of advances in the understanding of production of proteins in filamentous fungal host cells, there remains a need for methods to increase expression of important proteins.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an Aspergillus strain defective in protein degrading genes and protein modification genes, which can be used for more efficient production of heterologous or homologous proteins of interest.

Gene inactivated mutants with altered protein production


The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described. A data processing system reviews an instruction data structure to isolate comment text items. After these comment text items are translated, translations are copied from a translated text data structure and they are combined into a single combined text data structure with the translations of the comment text items. Inside the combined text data structure, comment text items are then arranged, each with its translation, in a manner that allows for easy review. The combined text data structure is then displayed to the user, who is given the opportunity to modify the translations. Modifications are then propagated to the combined text data structure and the translated text data structure, which contains the translations.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to reviewing translations and in particular to reviewing translations of comments associated with data processing system instructions. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to isolating comment portions of a data processing system instruction data structure and preparing them into a single data structure with translations of the same comments.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data processing system instruction sets have become one of the most portable commodities of the twenty-first century. As data processing systems have proliferated throughout the world, companies and individuals who produce instruction sets for data processing systems have attempted to export their products to service a transnational market. Moreover, as the ability of persons in different countries to collaborate on the development of data processing system instruction sets has grown, the ability to bridge language barriers in the production of data processing system instruction sets has taken on increasing importance. Fortunately, the application programming and machine languages in which data processing system instruction sets are written are not tied to any national language as deeply as they are tied to the universal languages of mathematics and Boolean logic. It is not an infrequent occurrence for a programmer, whose native language is English, to be able to comprehend lines of code written by a programmer whose native language is French.
In spite of the universality of computer programming languages, the same can not be said of the comment lines inserted into the code to aid in understanding. As programs grow in complexity, remark statements, also called REM statements, and other items of comment text are frequently inserted into the code to aid in understand its function. When the code is sent to a colleague or user who speaks and reads a language other than that spoken and read by the original author, the comment text items must be translated to the receivers language, or they lose all value. Translations of these comment text items must then be reviewed for accuracy. The current method of reviewing translations requires that the reviewer deal with two separate files, one containing the comment text items in their original language, and one containing translations of the comment text items in the language of the intended recipient. The reviewer must separately print them, separately display them on separate screens, or otherwise switch from viewing one version of a comment in one file to viewing its translation in a separate file. What is needed is a manner of reviewing translations wherein a comment text item is displayed and stored with its translation, rather than being displayed and stored with other comments that are in the same language.

Software program utility that isolates translatable english text from machine code and merges the text into one file for review purposes

International Business Machines Corporation


Compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods are provided that are useful in the treatment of inflammatory and immune-related conditions or disorders. In particular, the invention provides compounds which modulate the expression and/or function of proteins involved in inflammation, immune response regulation and cell proliferation. The subject compounds are 2-amino-imidazole derivatives.

The recruitment of immune cells to sites of injury involves the concerted interactions of a large number of soluble mediators. Several cytokines appear to play key roles in these processes, particularly IL-1 and TNF. Both cytokines are derived from mononuclear cells and macrophages, along with other cell types. Physiologically, they produce many of the same proinflammatory responses, including fever, sleep and anorexia, mobilization and activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, induction of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes, increase in adhesion molecule expression, activation of B-cells, T-cells and natural killer cells, and stimulation of production of other cytokines. Other actions include a contribution to the tissue degeneration seen in chronic inflammatory conditions, such as stimulation of fibroblast proliferation, induction of collagenase, etc. They have also been implicated in the process of bone resorption and adipose tissue regulation. Thus, these cytokines play key roles in a large number of pathological conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, obesity, cancer, sepsis, etc.
The importance of IL-1 in inflammation has been demonstrated by the ability of the highly specific IL-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1Ra, or IRAP) to relieve inflammatory conditions (for review, see, e.g., Dinarello (1997) Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 8:253–265).
IL-1 treatment of cells induces the formation of a complex consisting of the two IL-1 receptor chains, IL-1R1 and IL-1RAcP, and the resulting heterodimer recruits an adaptor molecule designated as MyD88 (Wesche et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274:19403–19410). MyD88 binds to a protein designated IRAK (IL-1 receptor associated kinase) (see, O'Neill et al. (1998) J. Leukoc. Biol. 63(6):650–657, Auron (1998) Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 9(3–4):221–237 and O'Neill (2000) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 28(5)557–563, for reviews). IRAK is subsequently phosphorylated and released from the receptor complex to interact with a tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor, TRAF6, which transduces the signal to downstream effector molecules (Cao et al. (1996) Nature 383:443–446). TRAF6 can trigger the NIK/IKK kinase cascade to activate the transcription factor NF-κB. NF-κB regulates a number of genes that, in turn, regulate immune and inflammatory responses.
Four IRAKs have been identified: IRAK-1 (Cao, et al. (1996) Science 271:1128–1131), IRAK-2 (Muzio, et al. (1997) Science 278:1612–1615), the monomyeloic cell-specific IRAK-M, also known as IRAK-3 (Wesche, et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274:19403–10) and IRAK-4 (PCT Publication No. WO 01/051641). IRAK proteins have been shown to play a role in transducing signals other than those originating from IL-1 receptors, including signals triggered by activation of IL-18 receptors (Kanakaraj et al. (1999) J. Exp. Med. 189(7):1129–1138) and LPS receptors (Yang et al. (1999) J. Immunol. 163:639–643; Wesche et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274:19403–19410). Overexpression of IRAK-2 and IRAK-M has been shown to be capable of reconstituting the response to IL-1 and LPS in an IRAK deficient cell line.
The identification of compounds that modulate the function of IRAK proteins represents an attractive approach to the development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of inflammatory, cell proliferative and immune-related conditions and diseases associated with IRAK-mediated signal transduction, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, obesity, allergic disease, psoriasis, asthma, graft rejection, cancer and sepsis.


A method of decellularizing a tissue includes disposing the tissue within a device, the device. The device includes a container, first and second electrodes disposed within the container and defining a space between the first and second electrodes to receive the tissue, a perfusion pump, and a conduit connected to the perfusion pump to transport a decellularization composition from the pump into the tissue. The method further includes disposing the decellularization composition within the container to surround the tissue and contact the first and second electrodes, applying an electric potential across the first and second electrodes, and perfusing the decullarization composition into the tissue.

Despite the life saving use of transplants, the demand for donor organs continues to be significant. Such demand has outstripped the availability of reliable sources for these organs. Thus, to satisfy this burgeoning demand, alternative transplant technologies are being developed, which can provide patient specific organs on demand. Likewise, worldwide musculoskeletal injuries and degeneration represent the most common cause of pain and suffering. When portions of muscle or skin are lost, normal function around the joint that the muscle and tendons controls is limited or lost. Such injuries may be permanently debilitating Advances in tissue engineering and stem cell research promise future treatments that may produce portions of or even complete muscles, tissues or organs. Tissue engineering for a number of tissues is now entering clinical practice.
The field of tissue engineering is dedicated to developing a range of new solutions including refined rotational grafts of donor tissue, innovative injection of growth factors and the use of regenerative stem cell therapy. Current development of bio-scaffolds for muscle, tissue or organ regeneration has focused on polymer biochemistry and natural and synthetic collagen type materials. The drawback of such synthetic biochemical polymer scaffolds is the difficult task of fabricating a biomaterial which is biocompatible with low immunogenicity, is capable of inducing endogenous progenitor cells, is structurally sound, and can have the biomechanical integrity of real tissue, while being biodegradable as the new tissue or organ regenerates and replaces the implanted scaffold. Further, a desirable replacement tissue possesses a complicated vascular architecture to support and supply blood flow and innervation.
Current treatment options have limited and less than satisfactory outcomes including permanent functional disfigurement, loss of muscle function and poor quality of life. Currently, no treatment is available to regenerate large volumes of muscle, tissue and organs. Such limited regenerative treatments are driving military and civilian healthcare providers to find alternative methods to reconstructive surgery and organ transplantation.

System and method for electrophoretic decellularization


A jewelry ring which comprises a ring section and a rod support section located above the ring section in which the rod support section includes rod support members at least one of which is hingedly connected to the ring section permitting the rod support members to be moved away from engaging the rod allowing a rotatable element to be inserted, placed on or removed from the rod and to lock the rotatable element in place when the movable support is moved into engagement with the rod.

This invention relates to a novelty jewelry item, and more particularly to a jewelry item which may be made of precious metal.
The ability to provide jewelry with movable parts has become increasingly important in the current marketing environment. Items which are displayed on television which have movable parts sell relatively well. Additionally, such items have always been attractive to the jewelry customer.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,920,875 to H. L. Miskend was issued on Aug. 1, 1933. It shows a jewelry ring having a pin 21 carried between apertures 20 in upper side walls of ring 16. The pin 21 is secured as by threading or the like with an element 18 or, the element 18 may be fixedly connected so as to maintain pin 21 permanently in place allowing a ball 11 to rotate thereon. The Miskend patent fails to show, suggest or disclose an easy method to remove the ball from the pin and also fails to show, suggest or disclose maintaining a physical connection between any of the connecting elements for such attachment of the ball and the ring structure itself.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,757 entitled "Jewelry With Rotatable Ornamentation" issued to Zuri Mesica, et al. also discloses a jewelry ring with a rotatable upper section comprised of a plurality of cylindric al elements 30-38 connected through an elongated sleeve 22 having internal threading and adapted to receive a screw 24. In order for the rotatable elements to be removed from sleeve 22, members 22 an 24 are separated allowing the individual rotating cylinders to be removed. Any of the separated elements may easily be lost, Further, threading the sleeve 22 and screw through apertures 18 and 20 in the appropriate fashion to secure rotatable members 30-38 in place may require some finger dexterity beyond the ordinary person.
An object of this invention is to provide a ring with an upper pin support section upon which a rotatable decorative jewelry component may be carried and easily moved.
Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective mechanism permitting the decorative jewelry component to be easily removed or replaced onto the support pin without losing components of the attachment mechanism.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a jewelry structure which is attractive, easily manufactured and susceptible to widespread use.
Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description.

Jewelry ring including rotatable element


Apparatus and a method are provided for working and finish-treating the surfaces of stones by jetting a flow consisting solely of water, at a pressure of 200 kg/cm.sup.2 or more, toward the stone surface which previously may have been cut by a gang saw or a circular saw cutting machine, bush hammered or dabbed finished, bush hammered and then dabbed finished, bush hammered and then flamed or directly flamed without being bush hammered so that the surface of the stones is roughed and crystal particles in the stones are exposed.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of working and finish treating the surface of stones, preferably granite, for roughing the surface and for removing the gangue formed thereon in prior cutting and treatment steps.
(b) Related Art
A large quantity of various stones have been recently used to provide high grade buildings and to give depth impression. Demands for granite and marble are particularly high.
However, methods of working the stone surface are conventional. They are described in a literature "Think scientifically of stone working" published by Sekibunsha, pages 42 to 55.
Three conventional stone working methods 1 to 3 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 22. Each of the methods 1 to 3 comprises the steps as follows.
1. Rubble, hump removing, chiseling finishing, bush hammering, (flame finishing), dabbed finished, grinding, honing and polishing
2. Rubble, cutting by a gang saw, bush hammering, (flame finishing), dabbed finishing, grinding, honing and polishing
3. Rubble, cutting by a circular saw cutting machine, honing, polishing, or bush hammering, (flame finishing), dabbed finishing, polishing
In this case, the flame finishing may be omitted The bush hammering may be omitted and the dabbed hammering may be directly performed.
The stones which have been subjected to the process proceeded to the step of polishing are mainly used as outer wall material requiring gloss. If gloss is not required, the stones subjected to the process which is terminated, for example, in step of bush or dabbed hammering before the step of polishing are practically used.
Particularly, if the stones are used as stepping-stones, the stones which have not reached the step of polishing are directly used for preventing pedestrian from slipping.
Since the process 1 requires a number of steps and high labor cost, the process 2 or 3 are most adopted.
Observation of such mechanically cut surface shows that the crystal particle groups p, p, . . . are flat on the surface as shown in FIG. 1 since they are sliced. Observation in more detail shows that small concaves and convexes and cracks are often formed as shown in FIG. 2 due to application of an external force. Many scratch stripes are formed by slicing. Accordingly, the cut stone looks very whitish on the surface thereof unlike untreated natural stone. Therefore, a working process proceeded to the polishing step after the above mentioned bush hammering or the dabbed hammering on one side of a stone panel is essential since the just cut stone has little commercial value. However, this polishing step requires much labor, resulting in a high manufacturing cost. The other side is unworked since it is not related with the appearance.
Although the above mentioned flame finishing may be performed to provide the mechanically cut surface with concaves and convexes, the problem of the whitish looking surface can be overcome to same extent. However, slightly whitish looking surface remains and the condition of natural stone can not be reproduced. The stone is heated to a high temperature by the flame finishing so that the thermal stress is very high. Therefore, the panel which is subjected to flame finishing should be 8 mm or more, at least 5 mm in thickness in order to prevent damages due to the thermal stress. Accordingly, the amount of stone per application area will be inevitably increased.

Apparatus and method of working and finish treating a stone surface


An induction logging tool having concentric transmitter and receiver antennas can be used to make measurements of earth formations at frequencies up to 500 MHz. The antennas may be mounted on the mandrel of a bottomhole assembly for MWD applications, or may be pad mounted for wireline applications. Litz winding is used in the coils to minimize eddy current losses. The antennas may be formed on a flexible circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to well logging. In particular, the present invention is an apparatus and method for imaging of subsurface formations using electrical methods.
2. Background of the Art
Birdwell (U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,658) teaches the use of a focused electrode for determination of the resistivity of subsurface formations. A survey current is emitted from a central survey electrode into adjacent earth formations. This survey current is focused into a relatively narrow beam of current outwardly from the borehole by use of a focusing current emitted from nearby focusing electrodes located adjacent the survey electrode and on either side thereof. Ajam et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,387) discloses an apparatus wherein simultaneous logs may be made at different lateral distances through a formation from a borehole by guard electrode systems located on a sonde which is lowered into the borehole by a logging cable. A single oscillator controls the frequency of two formation currents flowing through the formation at the desired different lateral depths from the borehole. The armor of the logging cable acts as the current return for one of the guard electrode systems, and a cable electrode in a cable electrode assembly immediately above the logging sonde acts as the current return for the second guard electrode system. Two embodiments are also disclosed for measuring reference voltages between electrodes in the cable electrode assembly and the guard electrode systems.
Techniques for investigating the earth formation with arrays of measuring electrodes have been proposed. See, for example, the U.S. Pat. No. 2,930,969 to Baker, Canadian Pat. No. 685,727 to Mann et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,623 to Gianzero, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,686 to Dory et al. The Baker patent proposed a plurality of electrodes, each of which was formed of buttons which are electrically joined by flexible wires with buttons and wires embedded in the surface of a collapsible tube. The Mann patent proposes an array of small electrode buttons either mounted on a tool or a pad and each of which introduces in sequence a separately measurable survey current for an electrical investigation of the earth formation. The electrode buttons are placed in a horizontal plane with circumferential spacings between electrodes and a device for sequentially exciting and measuring a survey current from the electrodes is described.
The Gianzero patent discloses tool mounted pads, each with a plurality of small measure electrodes from which individually measurable survey currents are injected toward the wall of the borehole. The measure electrodes are arranged in an array in which the measure electrodes are so placed at intervals along at least a circumferential direction (about the borehole axis) as to inject survey currents into the borehole wall segments which overlap with each other to a predetermined extent as the tool is moved along the borehole. The measure electrodes are made small to enable a detailed electrical investigation over a circumferentially contiguous segment of the borehole so as to obtain indications of the stratigraphy of the formation near the borehole wall as well as fractures and their orientations. In one technique, a spatially closed loop array of measure electrodes is provided around a central electrode with the array used to detect the spatial pattern of electrical energy injected by the central electrode. In another embodiment, a linear array of measure electrodes is provided to inject a flow of current into the formation over a circumferentially effectively contiguous segment of the borehole. Discrete portions of the flow of current are separably measurable so as to obtain a plurality of survey signals representative of the current density from the array and from which a detailed electrical picture of a circumferentially continuous segment of the borehole wall can be derived as the tool is moved along the borehole. In another form of an array of measure electrodes, they are arranged in a closed loop, such as a circle, to enable direct measurements of orientations of resistivity of anomalies
The Dory patent discloses the use of an acoustic sensor in combination with pad mounted electrodes, the use of the acoustic sensors making it possible to fill in the gaps in the image obtained by using pad mounted electrodes due to the fact that in large diameter boreholes, the pads will necessarily not provide a complete coverage of the borehole.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,714,014 to Evans et al., the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference, discloses a device suitable for resistivity imaging with water based mud (WBM) and oil based mud (OBM). The device disclosed in the Evans '014 patent is basically a wireline logging device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,321 to Evans discloses a modification of the Evans '321 patent that is adapted for use in measurement while drilling (MWD) applications. Both of the Evans' patents have pad mounted electrodes that are in contact with the earth formation.
The devices described above are galvanic devices in which current is injected into the formation. With the exception of the Evans patents, they only work when the borehole is filled with a conducting fluid. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/657,870 of Ritter et al., filed on Sep. 9, 2003 and the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference, teaches the use of galvanic, induction and propagation resistivity devices for borehole imaging in MWD applications. The resistivity sensor may be mounted on a pad, rib, or a stabilizer. Specifically disclosed therein are a shielded dipole antenna and a quadrupole antenna. In addition, the use of ground penetrating radar with an operating frequency of 500 MHz to 1 GHz is disclosed. Ritter may involve an arrangement for maintaining the antenna at a specified offset from the borehole wall using, for example, hard facing.
An important aspect of any downhole electromagnetic tool is the ability to reduce power requirements. The devices discussed above do not address this issue. One parameter for estimating antenna performance is its electrical quality Q. This is important for antennas operating in a tuned mode (resonant tank) or transmitting device. Optimizing antenna quality would result in minimization of unproductive losses and improving tool measurement accuracy. The quality factor is given by
                    Q        =                              2                                                                          π                                                                          fL                    r                                    (        1        )            where f is the frequency, L is the inductance of antenna and r presents its active losses (or resistance). The Q is also an indication of the signal to noise ratio that can be achieved using an antenna. Maximizing Q can be done by maximizing the inductance and minimizing the resistance. An excessively large inductance can be a serious limitation in practical design as the antenna becomes sensitive to unavoidable stray capacitances and imperfections in the electronics.
Intrinsic losses in RF antennas are generally caused by a non-uniform current density in a conductor cross section and by eddy currents induced in a conductor by the magnetic field produced by a neighboring conductor. An alternating current in a conductor tends to flow in the proximity of its surface. The depth of current penetration inside the conductor is inversely proportional to the tool operating frequency and the electrical conductivity of the conductor. When transmitter and multiple receiver antennas are in close proximity to each other this effect can become even more significant.
Another issue that has not been addressed, particularly with respect to MWD resistivity tools, is that of conforming the antennas to a curved surface. Antennas currently produced have a rigid assembly that has to be deformed to fit the curved surface of a downhole MWD tool. A need exists for a downhole resistivity tool that has a flexible antenna, not affected by the type of borehole fluid, insensitive to stray capacitances, and has a high resolution. The present invention satisfies this need.

High-frequency induction imager with concentric coils for MWD and wireline applications


A short-wavelength radiation is generated which is stable over time from a plasma generated by energy input into a target jet, in which intensity variations due to altered coupling of excitation radiation into the target jet are minimized. Measuring devices are provided for successive detection over time of deviations of at least one of the directions of the target jet or the energy beam from an intersection point of the two directions that is provided as an interaction point. The measuring devices have output signals which are suitable as regulating variables for the orientation of the directions on the interaction point, and actuating elements are provided for adjusting and tracking at least one of the directions of either the target jet or the energy beam depending on the output signal of the measuring devices in the manner of a control loop.

a) Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an arrangement for stabilizing the radiation emission of a plasma, particularly for generating extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV radiation), in which a bundled energy beam is directed to a target, wherein the target is formed as a target jet and has a flow direction oriented substantially orthogonal to the radiating direction of the energy beam.
b) Description of the Related Art
A laser-produced plasma (LPP) is usually used to generate EUV radiation. For this purpose, a target, as it is called, is irradiated by a laser and in this way is heated to the extent that characteristic and temperature radiation with a significant proportion in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectral region is emitted. In practice, the target is struck by the laser beam differently over the course of time resulting in fluctuations in the intensity of the EUV radiation over time. However for many applications, especially as a radiation source for semiconductor lithography, the emitted radiation output in the EUV spectral region may only be subject to very slight fluctuations.
Some prior art solutions use a target in the form of a target beam which ensures a continuous material flow with the highest possible density and low divergence. A target beam of this type typically has a diameter between 0.01 mm and 0.1 mm. A laser beam directed to the target beam must be focused in order to generate the plasma. Vibrations or other variations in the two (relatively) independent generation systems typically lead to directional instabilities of the target beam and laser beam and, accordingly, to an absorption efficiency of the laser energy into the target material that varies over time and, therefore, to an irregular emission of the EUV radiation.
Devices and methods for EUV generation by means of laser irradiation of different targets are described in numerous patents and laid-open applications. Many of these targets, particularly the mass-limited targets, have in common that they have small dimensions in the sub-millimeter range in two dimensions, e.g., H. Hertz WO 97/40650/EP 0895706 (jet target), M. Schmidt WO 01/30122 A1 (droplet mist), or even in three dimensions, e.g., E. Noda EP 0186491 B1 (droplet). The constancy of the absorption efficiency of the laser radiation into the target over time is not monitored or ensured in any of the references cited above.

Arrangement for the stabilization of the radiation emission of a plasma


A pattern analyzing portion analyzes a pattern of a detected repeat field and determines whether or not the pattern of the repeat field is continuous. An inverse pull-down controlling portion controls a memory to read video data in such a manner that the repeat field detected by a comparator is removed from input video data in a period that the pattern of the repeat field is continuous. The inverse pull-down controlling portion controls the memory to read video data in such a manner that a repeat field detected by the comparator is not removed from the input video data in a period that the pattern of the repeat field is discontinuous. In other words, an inverse 2:3 pull-down process is controlled corresponding to the continuity of a pattern of a repeat field. In addition, it is determined whether an input original material is a progressive-scanned video material or an interlace-scanned video material corresponding to the continuity of the pattern of the repetitive material.

A telecine unit that converts a film material recorded on an optical film for a movie and so forth into a television signal has been proposed. Generally, on a film material that is used for a movie theater, pictures have been recorded at a frame rate of 24 Hz (24 frames per second). Thus, the frame rate of a film material is completely different from that of an NTSC format television signal at a frame rate of 29.97 Hz. Thus, in the telecine unit, a process for converting 24 frames into 30 frames is performed. In such a process, two fields of an original film material are converted into three fields in a predetermined sequence. Thus, such a process is referred to as 2:3 pull-down process. In reality, a particular field of an original film material is repeated in a predetermined sequence. The repeated field is inserted between fields of the original film material (hereinafter, the repeated field is referred to as repeat field). Thus, with the film material at a frame rate of 24 Hz, a television signal at a frame rate of 30 Hz is generated.
Video data converted into a television signal by the telecine unit is compression-encoded by a compression-encoding technique such as MPEG encoding method. The encoded video stream is recorded on a record medium or transmitted to a transmission medium. Before video data that has been processed with the 2:3 pull-down process is compression-encoded, the repeat fields are removed so as to improve the compression-encoding efficiency. This is because the repeat fields are redundant fields that have been added with the 2:3 pull-down process. Thus, even if these repeat fields are removed, the picture quality does not deteriorate. A process for removing redundant fields added with the 2:3 pull-down process is referred to as inverse 2:3 pull-down process.
To remove repeat fields in the inverse 2:3 pull-down process, the repeat fields should be detected. To detect repeat fields, a simple algorithm is used. In the algorithm, the luminance difference between two fields (first and second fields) is calculated. When the luminance difference is almost "0", it is determined that the second field is a repeat field.
However, since video data that has been processed with the 2:3 pull-down process is data of which a material optically recorded on an optical film is converted into a television data, the video data contains noise due to a miss-alignment of the film or dust and stain thereof. Thus, when video data that has been processed with the 2:3 pull-down process is processed with the inverse 2:3 pull-down process by a conventional repeat field detecting algorithm, if noise contained in the video data is small, repeat fields can be accurately detected. However, if noise contained in the video data is very large, normal fields (=not repeat fields) may be incorrectly determined as repeat fields.
In a broadcasting station, a video program production company, and so forth, video data generated from film material is not transmitted without editing process as a television program. Instead, a television program is generated by inserting new video data such as commercial program in the video data generated from film material by video editing process. The new video data is not video data generated from a film material, but video data (with a frame frequency of 29.97 Hz) that has been shot by a video camera or the like. In other words, the edited video program is including both video data generated from a film material by the 2:3 pull-down process (the frame frequency of the original material is 24 Hz) and normal video data (the frame frequency of the original material is 29.97 Hz).
When the inverse 2:3 pull-down process is performed for the edited video program using the above-described repeat field detecting algorithm, as long as the above-described noise is not abnormally large, repeat fields are removed from the video data generated from the film material. However, when the inverse 2:3 pull-down process is performed using the repeat field detecting algorithm, normal fields may be detected as repeat fields. When new inserted video data is similar to a still picture rather than moving picture, the probability of which normal fields are incorrectly detected as repeat fields becomes high.
In other words, in the conventional inverse 2:3 pull-down process, normal fields may be incorrectly detected as repeat fields. Thus, in the conventional inverse 2:3 pull-down process, repeat fields cannot be accurately removed. When normal fields are determined as repeat fields, the normal fields are removed from video data that has been processed with the inverse 2:3 pull-down process. As a result, field drop-outing of the normal field may occur.
Unlike with a storage system that records a supplied source material to a storage medium, in a digital broadcasting system, a source material should be processed and transmitted to individual subscribers on real time basis. Moreover, in the digital broadcasting system, the field drop-outing should be avoided from taking place in video data. In other words, in the digital broadcasting system, video data free of unnatural motion should be transmitted as an essential condition. The requirement of video data free of unnatural motion is superior to the requirement of the transmission efficiency using the inverse 2:3 pull-down process.
Thus, in a conventional digital broadcasting system, to completely prevent the field drop-outing from taking place in transmission video data, the inverse 2:3 pull-down process has not been performed at all. Consequently, the compression efficiency deteriorates by around 25% in comparison with the case that repeat fields are fully removed.

Video data encoding apparatus and method for removing a continuous repeat field from the video data


An apparatus and method for providing a phase noise built-in self test (BIST) circuit are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method and apparatus for forming a multi-stage noise shaping (MASH) type high-order delta sigma (ΔΣ) time-to-digital converter (TDC) are disclosed. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a plurality of first-order ΔΣ TDCs formed in an integrated circuit (IC) chip, wherein each of the first-order ΔΣ TDCs are connected to one another in a MASH type configuration to provide the MASH type high-order ΔΣ TDC, wherein the MASH type high-order ΔΣ TDC is configured to measure the phase noise of a device under text (DUT).

Current methods of measuring phase noise are costly and complex. High speed probes for phase-locked loop (PLL) jitter measurement, for example, are expensive and the probes suffer from contact issues at high temperatures. On the other hand, a phase noise built-in self test (BIST) circuit may be able to detect the on-chip PLL jitter performance information and convert it to a low frequency digital signal.
Current methods to measure phase-locked loop (PLL) in-band phase noise utilize 2nd-order delta sigma (ΔΣ) time-to-digital converters (TDC). One feature of ΔΣ converters or modulators is that they can shape the quantization noise to higher frequencies that reflect the low frequency input noise. Current TDC structures utilize cascade type continuous time 2nd order ΔΣ modulators. However, high order continuous time ΔΣ modulators suffer from stability issues. In order to avoid stability issues, current TDC structures increase the clock rate up to 340 MHz, for example, for the PLL and built-in self test (BIST). However, a high frequency input clock is not suitable for general PLL applications. Therefore, current methods for measuring PLL in-band phase noise are not entirely satisfactory.
The information disclosed in this Background section is intended only to provide context for various embodiments of the invention described below and, therefore, this Background section may include information that is not necessarily prior art information (i.e., information that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art). Thus, work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Built-in self test circuit for measuring phase noise of a phase locked loop

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


A torsional vibration damper includes a primary mass defining a ring-shaped chamber, a secondary mass relatively rotatably connected to the primary mass, and a damping unit for coupling the primary and secondary masses to each other in a rotationally elastic manner. The damping unit comprises a plurality of coil springs, a pair of end guides, and a friction member slidably disposed between neighboring coil springs. The friction member is configured to be rubbed against at least one of an inner wall and an outer wall of the ring-shaped chamber in response to compressions of the coil springs such that a friction force is generated in proportion to a relative rotation between the primary and secondary masses as well as to a rotational speed thereof.

A torsional vibration damper, i.e., a dual mass flywheel, is generally used for damping a torsional vibration that is generated from the transmission of power between an output shaft of an engine and an input shaft of a transmission. Typically, torsional vibration dampers include a first mass, a second mass, and a damping unit disposed between the first and second masses. The first mass is connected to the output shaft of the engine, and the second mass is connected to the input shaft of the transmission through a clutch mechanism. The first and second masses are connected to each other through the damping unit such that the first and second masses can rotate relative to each other.
Generally, the engine of a vehicle provides the driving force distributed to the wheels of the vehicle. However, at times the engine may be driven by an inertia force of the vehicle. Therefore, the first and second masses must be designed to rotate in both directions relative to each other.
When engine torque is substantially high and the vehicle is driven with a specific gear ratio, relative rotation between the first and second masses reaches a limit. Furthermore, when the engine torque changes irregularly, the first and second masses may be dashed against a member for limiting the relative rotation of the first and second masses.
To solve such problems, the flywheel is generally designed to have a high level of damping characteristics. In the prior flywheel, when the relative rotation between the first and second masses occurs, the magnitude of torque cannot be regulated. Furthermore, the damping effect of the flywheel is almost constant even when the relative rotation between the first and second masses occurs.
To solve such problems, a flywheel, having a pair of wedge-shaped friction elements that generate a friction force in proportion to the amount of relative rotation between the masses, and a concentrated mass type friction element, which generates a friction force in proportion to the centrifugal force, i.e., rotation speed, has been developed.
However, in a conventional flywheel, the wedge-shaped friction element and the concentrated mass type friction element independently operate, and this makes it difficult to achieve a precise tuning of the damping effect. Additionally, due to friction between the pair of wedge-shaped friction elements, a desired friction cannot be obtained.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art that is already known to a person skilled in the art.


An apparatus can include a fault condition detector configured to detect a fault condition in an electrical system, a delta d-q power value generator configured to generate a delta d-q power value temporally corresponding to the detected fault condition, and a characterizer circuit configured to characterize the fault condition relative to the apparatus responsive to the delta d-q power value. Methods can include detecting a fault condition in an electrical system and determining changes in d-q component voltage and current temporally corresponding to the detected fault condition. Such methods can further include characterizing the fault condition responsive to the determined first and second changes and controlling an apparatus based on characterizing the fault condition.

The present invention relates to electronic devices, and more particularly, to detecting faults in a power system.
Connecting two or more uninterruptible power supplies (UPS's) in a parallel redundant fashion can provide systems supporting higher and higher power availability. However, in order for a UPS to be able to operate in a redundant fashion with other UPS's, a robust "selective tripping" regime can be beneficial to provide system stability and functionality. As used herein, "selective tripping" refers to the set of hardware and/or associated software algorithms that can cause a failed UPS to trip off-line while the "good" parallel redundant unit(s) stay on-line. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the redundant capability of a system can be limited by the effectiveness of its "selective tripping" regime.
UPS failures in a parallel redundant system include those that do not cause a disturbance on the critical output bus connected to the load, and those that do. The first kind of failure can be trivial since there is no disturbance on the critical bus. The good unit may not see the evidence of failure and may simply stay on-line doing its job. The failed unit may be simply off-line by virtue of its failure. However, the second kind of failure can be more problematic since all units may see the fault but any good units should stay on-line.
When a UPS fails in a way that the critical bus is disturbed, then it may be sourcing or sinking more current than can be absorbed or supplied by the other units that are on-line. Hence, all units may see the critical bus disturbance and all units may see excessive current. Yet, for selective tripping to work in this case, it is desirable that good units stay on-line and only the bad unit trip off-line. If a good unit trips off-line instead, then any benefit of redundancy for this type of failure can be lost.
Some previous parallel redundant power supply systems have used inter-unit signaling to facilitate selective tripping. For example, multiple uninterruptible power systems (UPS's) responsive to a three phase AC input voltage can be connected in a parallel redundant capacity configuration to provide a constant AC output voltage to a load. Each UPS can be connected to a DC voltage source (battery) in a conventional manner to provide constant power in the event of an AC power failure. Load sharing circuits can be associated with each UPS to facilitate inter-unit signaling and selective tripping using either a "difference from average" real time current signal on a "difference from average" bus, or a synchronizing signal provided on a synchronizing signal bus. Generally, if a fault is detected, the appropriate solid state or mechanical switch or relay can be thrown to remove the faulty UPS from the power circuit, thereby maintaining a constant AC output voltage on the load.
Using "difference from average" load sharing or common synchronization signal load sharing can be common practice. In the case of "difference from average" load sharing, for example, a real-time current signal can be used as an inter-unit signal amongst the parallel redundant UPSs. Unfortunately, the use of such inter-unit signaling can be vulnerable to interruption and hence should be redundant itself to provide a robust selective tripping regime. Since prior art systems can use inter-unit signaling for selective tripping, then there should be a redundant selective tripping scheme so that the inter-unit signaling itself does not become a single failure point of the otherwise redundant system.
Another common practice in the prior art can be to vectorially add the "difference from average" real-time current signal to the UPS's own voltage signal to create a biased voltage signal. This vector addition can be done in such a way that the "biased" voltage distortion on the failed unit is accentuated compared to the unbiased voltage while the same signal is less severe on the good unit(s). However, this method can require both signal comparison and logical processing to make the final determination of whether a unit is "good" or "bad". While this method is usually adequate, the response may be slow due to the weakness of the difference. Also, this method can also rely on externally derived information such as the "difference from average" signal. Such additional signaling and the additional internal circuits used by the prior art parallel redundant power systems for identifying a faulty unit have had an adverse impact on reliability.
Selective tripping without inter-unit signaling has been previously addressed by monitoring each system's respective power output and keeping a running average of its own performance, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,355. Although power monitoring without inter-unit signaling is accomplished, the data processing and storage requirements associated with such methods can be memory and processor intensive. A more efficient technique for identifying and "selectively tripping" a faulty unit is desired.

Power system fault characterization using transformed values


Battery and solar cell powered health glasses monitor the condition of a heart's vital signs. Light emitting diodes (LED's) emit light into human temples. Photodiodes capture light reflected back from the pulsing blood. The amount of reflected light corresponds to the pulse rate. Embedded circuitry cleans and amplifies the signals, which are transmitted to light emitters located in the glasses. The same signals may be transmitted to a remote receiver to be processed and/or stored. Rhythm and shape of the pulse rate, processed on a home computer and available to doctors via the Internet, indicates heart condition. The circuits provide signal triangulation verification and warning lights. The sensors may be located any place on the body, i.e. wrist bands, chest, head, etc. A transmitter sends signals to the circuitry on the glasses to display reading information and lights about heart condition, pulse rate and blood pressure. Circuits on the glasses process and display electrical signals, pressure signals, pulse rate signals and combinations thereof.

Adverse heart conditions may lead to fatalities and long-term ill effects. Generally, the warning signs of an adverse heart condition are not realized in time to take preventive measures to lessen the long-term ill effects. The severity of the resulting problems due to an adverse heart condition may be lessened by an early determination of the onset of such a condition. A need exists for a heart condition monitor that detects adverse heart conditions early so that measures may be taken to lessen the long term ill effects resulting from the adverse heart condition.

Pulse rate, pressure and heart condition monitoring glasses


An instrument for cleaning canals during endodontic procedures is presented. The instrument is formed in one piece from a stiff polymeric material. The instrument features a handle, a measuring shaft, and a tapering shank with raised polymeric projections along its length. The present invention is designed without the use of bristles that conventional brushes contain. The raised polymeric projections include fins that may be oriented parallel to or transverse to the axis of the instrument to provide multidirectional cleaning capability. The instrument is stiff enough to penetrate a canal and mechanically scrub and scrape canal surfaces, but flexible enough to negotiate the curves of the canal.

Endodontic therapy is a sequence of treatment for the pulp of a tooth which results in the elimination of infection and protection of the decontaminated tooth from future microbial invasion. This set of procedures is commonly referred to as a "root canal." Root canals and their associated pulp chamber are the physical hollows within a tooth that are naturally inhabited by nerve tissue, blood vessels and other cellular entities. Endodontic therapy involves the removal of these structures, the subsequent cleaning, shaping, and decontamination of the hollows with tiny files and irrigating solutions, and the obturation (filling) of the decontaminated canals with an inert filling such as gutta percha and typically a eugenol-based cement. After endodontic surgery the tooth will be "dead," and if an infection is spread at apex, root end surgery is required.
In the situation that a tooth is considered so threatened (because of decay, cracking, etc.) that future infection is considered likely or inevitable, a pulpectomy, removal of the pulp tissue, is advisable to prevent such infection. Usually, some inflammation and/or infection is already present within or below the tooth. To cure the infection and save the tooth, the dentist drills into the pulp chamber and removes the infected pulp and then drills the nerve out of the root canal(s) with long needle-shaped drills. The dentist then cleans and shapes (debrides) the canal using a file. The canal is then irrigated thoroughly, using a bleach solution. After this is done, the dentist fills each of the root canals and the chamber with an inert material, typically gutta percha, and seals up the opening. With the removal of nerves and blood supply from the tooth, it is best that the tooth be fitted with a crown which improves the prognosis of the tooth.
A successful procedure (one that does not require retreatment) depends in large part on how thoroughly the canals are debrided and irrigated prior to filling. During canal preparation, the file debrides the canal of larger materials, and the sodium hypochlorite solution helps digest and remove pulp and bacteria, viruses, spores, endotoxins and other irritants generated by the microorganisms in the canal system. However, studies have shown that even the most thorough use of sodium hypochlorite does not remove all the material from the root canals. The walls of a root canal are comprised of dentin which contains millions of dentinal tubules per square millimeter, and the irritants can find their way into the tubules of the root canal systems. Thus, after cleaning and shaping procedures, the root canal is still covered with a film of debris, frequently described in the literature as a "smear layer." This "smear layer" includes dentinal mud and/or organic debris. This smear layer is generally not removed by the action of a file, because the file does not have the requisite flexibility in terms of its shape, to thoroughly clean the walls of the canal, and remove the smear layer from the walls. In addition, endodontic files are usually round along the length, while pulp canals are ovoid. Because of this, many areas of the canal are mechanically untouched by the file. The "smear layer" can include microorganisms that may reinfect the tooth, thereby requiring retreatment.

Polymeric instrument for cleaning canals in endodontic procedures


A surface selection mechanism is disclosed for an optical disk storage system. The mechanism comprises a linearly movable slider having a first and second mirror mounted side by side thereon. The first and second mirrors have reflective mirrors positioned at right angles with respect to each other. The mechanism includes apparatus for positioning the slider so that either the first or second mirror is positioned at the optical axis of a light beam to direct the light beam at either a first or a second recording surface of a double sided disc.

Conventional optical disc storage systems, typically use a single optical sub-assembly, including a light source and a light detector, to read or write the information on an optical disc, such as for example, a compact disc (CD). Therefore, most CDs only have information recorded on a single side. The "flip" side of the CD is generally not used.
In order to access both sides of a double-sided CD, the CD must be flipped over by the user. The problem with such systems is that only one side of recorded information is accessible at any one time, and also the CD is more likely to be damaged due to excessive handling.
FIG. 1 shows the problems associated with delivering a light beam from a single optical subassembly to both sides of an optical disc. In FIG. 1, there is shown an optical storage system of the type that can advantageously use the invention. It should be understood that the optical subassembly 5 generates a single light beam along the path indicated by reference numeral 1. The problem is to selectively direct this light beam along paths 1' and 1" to a first and second recording surface 11 and 12 of the disc 10 snap mounted onto the end of a spindle 21. The spindle 21 and the disc 10 are rotated by a motor 22.
The system further includes a first and a second directing mirror 41, and 42 for directing the light beam parallel to the plane of the disc 10, along either path 1' or path 1".
A first and second reflecting mirror 51 and 52 are attached to the end of actuator arms 61 and 62. The arms 61 and 62 radially position the reflecting mirrors 51 and 52 relative to the recording surfaces 11-12 of the disc 10. The reflecting mirrors 51 and 52 reflect the light beams from path 1' or path 1", perpendicularly to the recording surfaces 11 and 12, respectively.
At the recording surfaces 11 and 12, the light beam is modified and reflected back along its incident path to the optical subassembly 5, where the modified and reflected light beam is decoded and processed.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are envisioned for use with magneto-optical disc technology. In magneto-optical disc technology the well known Hall effect is used to modify the light beam at the recording surface. Read-only discs use variations in the surface topology of the recording surface to modify the light beam. However, the mechanism disclosed is also applicable to other optical disc technologies, fixed or removable, single or multi-disk, and including write once, read only, and audio and video CD.
The problems which exist in the system occur at the point generally indicated by reference numeral X. Means need to be provided which can rapidly, inexpensively, and selectively direct the light beam from path 1 to either path 1' or path 1".
Prior art system have used galvo-galvanic mirrors at point X. "Galvo-mirrors" are well known in the art. However, galvo-mirrors are relatively expensive and require complex servo control systems to accurately rotate the mirror to the desired angles. Also galvo mirrors may require longer settling times after positioning which induced latency into the system.

Surface selection mechanism for optical storage system


A collapsible bolster cushion for a collapsible seat is provided. The collapsible bolster cushion includes a first support member that is attachable to a seat bottom or a seat back and a second support member. A separator element is disposed between the first and second support members. The separator element is movable between a first orientation and a second orientation such that in the first orientation, the separator element resiliently biases a portion of the second support member away from the first support member, and when the separator element is in the second orientation, the portion of the second support member is permitted to collapse toward the first support member to allow the seat to collapse to the folded position. An actuator moves the separator element between the first and second orientations.

As vehicles become smaller and more compact, there is an increasing demand to devise ways of increasing the storage capacity of such vehicles. For example, some vehicles have seats which may fold to provide additional storage room, however the seat still extends above the floor of the vehicle and takes up vertical cargo room. Other vehicles include stowable seats which are the fold-and-tumble type and can sometimes be removed from the vehicle. The seat back of such a seat may fold forward and then the entire seat assembly may be tipped upward and forward and rests against the backs of the front seats. This provides even more cargo space, but the seat still takes up some fore-aft cargo room.
A collapsible seat decreases the amount of space such seat occupies when the seat is folded and stowed. One example of a seat having a collapsible cushion is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,100,989.


A posterior vertebral plating system comprising a plate and a plurality of attachment members. The plate has a plurality of holes extending through the plate from an upper surface to a lower surface, and the plate is configured to extend along the posterior side of at least two vertebrae adjacent at least one boney structure of each of the vertebrae. The holes are spaced in such a way that a first plurality of holes is positionable over a boney structure of a first vertebra to define a plurality of fixation points to the first vertebra and a second plurality of holes is positionable over boney structure of a second vertebra to define a plurality of fixation points to the second vertebra. The attachment members are insertable through the holes of the plate and into the boney structure of a corresponding vertebra to fix the plate to the vertebra.

The spinal column of bones is highly complex in that it includes over twenty bones coupled to one another so as to house and protect critical elements of the nervous system. In addition, the spine is a highly flexible structure, capable of a high degree of curvature and twist in multiple directions. The most flexible of all the regions of the spinal column is the cervical spine.
The bones and connective tissue of an adult human spinal column are coupled sequentially to one another by a tri-joint complex which consists of an anterior disc and the two posterior facet joints. The anterior discs of adjacent bones are separated and cushioned by cartilage spacers referred to as intervertebral discs. The vertebral bones of the spine are classified as cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. The cervical portion of the spine, which comprises the upper portion of the spine up to the base of the skull, includes the first seven vertebrae. The twelve intermediate bones comprise the thoracic vertebrae, and connect to the lower spine which comprises the five lumbar vertebrae. The base of the spine is the sacral bones (including the coccyx). The vertebrae which make up the cervical portion of the spine are generally smaller than those of the thoracic and lumbar spine.
Genetic or developmental irregularities, trauma, chronic stress, tumors, and disease are a few of the causes which can result in spinal pathologies for which permanent immobilization of multiple vertebrae may be necessary. A variety of systems have been disclosed in the art which achieve this immobilization by implanting artificial assemblies in or on the spinal column. These assemblies may be classified as anterior, posterior, or lateral implants. As the classification suggests, posterior implants are attached to the back of the spinal column, generally hooking under the lamina and entering into the central canal, attaching to the transverse process, or coupling through the pedicle bone. Lateral and anterior assemblies are coupled to the vertebral bodies.
The region of the back which needs to be immobilized, as well as the individual variations in anatomy, determines the appropriate surgical protocol and implantation assembly. The use of posterior plates for stabilization and immobilization of the cervical spine is known. A posterior plate is a narrow elongated plate having a series of spaced holes through which screws may be inserted to fix the plate to the vertebrae. A pair of posterior plates is placed across the lateral posterior surfaces of a set of sequential cervical bones and is secured to the bone by using one screw per vertebra, thereby preventing the bones from moving relative to one another in either the vertical or horizontal planes.
Because the spine is routinely subject to high compression and torsional loads which cycle during movement, one of the primary concerns of physicians performing spinal implantation surgeries, as well as of the patients in whom the implants are placed, is the risk of screw pull-out. Screw pull-out occurs when the cylindrical portion of the bone which surrounds the inserted screw fails. A bone screw which is implanted perpendicular to the plate is particularly weak because the region of the bone which must fail for pull-out to occur is only as large as the outer diameter of the screw threads. It has been found that for pull-out to occur for screws which are inserted into the bone at an angle with respect to the plate, the amount of bone which must fail increases substantially as compared with screws which are implanted perpendicularly with respect to the plate.
An additional concern with screws being implanted in the posterior side of the cervical spine is that there are sensitive and important structures adjacent to the boney structures, such as the lateral masses and the laminae, which, because of their proximity to the implant, may be damaged by insertion or dislocation of screws. In the cervical spine, the vertebral arteries are disposed medially beneath the lateral masses or lamina and comprise critical structures which cannot be compromised. In addition, the facet joints which provide natural coupling of sequential bones together must also be avoided it possible. Avoidance of these bodies has been a critical and ongoing concern with respect to posterior screw insertion. Posterior plates of the prior art have provided little in the way of reasonable or practical solutions for ensuring proper screw insertion.
Posterior screw plate assemblies necessarily include a plurality of screws which are inserted through a single plate. However, if a single screw loosens with respect to the surrounding bone into which it has been inserted, loss of fixation occurs and possible neurological repercussions may result.
One way to avoid the drawbacks of current plate systems has been to use fixation systems that employ polyaxial screws, rods, and hooks. However, while polyaxial screws provide a surgeon with the ability to locate the screws in optimum locations, the ability to do so requires a high degree of skill and experience. Further, to ensure proper placement of polyaxial screws, surgeons typically utilize fluoroscopy for an extended period of time which can expose patients to unwanted radiation.


An axial end portion of a dielectric sheet, which is wound around a central core of an ignition coil, includes an axially projecting portion, which projects from an axial end surface of the central core positioned radially inward of primary and secondary coils in a case. An inner peripheral side axial end corner and an outer peripheral side axial end corner in the axially projecting portion are respectively formed into a blunt smooth round shape. Dielectric resin is filled in spaces in the case. Alternatively, the axially projecting portion may have a folded end portion, which includes a plurality of generally arcuate segments folded one after another on one circumferential side thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ignition coil, which is used to generate a spark from a spark plug of an internal combustion engine, and a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing such an ignition coil.
2. Description of Related Art
An ignition coil, which is used to generate a spark from a spark plug in an internal combustion engine of, for example, a vehicle, includes a primary coil and a secondary coil arranged in a coil case. Furthermore, a central core, which is made of a magnetic steel plate(s), is arranged radially inward of the primary coil and the secondary coil. A dielectric sheet, which serves as a thermal stress relief member, is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the central core. The dielectric sheet protects the dielectric resin, which is filled in spaces in the coil case, from thermal stress that is applied by the heating and cooling cycle of the engine.
The above described type of ignition coil, which includes the dielectric sheet wound around the central core, is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-92670, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-14548 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,980,073) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Number 2004-111714.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-92670, the dielectric sheet is interposed between a central iron core (i.e., the central core) and a secondary winding core (i.e., a spool around which a secondary coil is wound). Here, even if an air bubble is generated in the secondary winding core, which is made of thermoplastic resin, the electric insulation between the central iron core and the secondary coil is maintained by the dielectric sheet.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-14548, the thickness of the dielectric sheet, which is wound around the central core and serves as the thermal stress relief member, is set to an appropriate thickness. In this way, formation of a crack in the dielectric resin, which is filled in the space between the central core and the cylindrical spool, is limited.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent publication No. 2004-111714, a cover member (gel) is applied to an entire length of a winding end of the dielectric sheet, which is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the central core and serves as the thermal stress relief member, so that unintentional removal and radially outward protrusion of the winding end of the dielectric sheet from the central core are limited. When the winding end of the dielectric sheet projects from the central core, stress concentration occurs in the winding end of the dielectric sheet, and a crack is generated due to thermal stress in the dielectric resin filled in the space between the central core and the coil. However, the unintentional projection of the winding end of the dielectric sheet from the central core is advantageously limited by the cover member.
Furthermore, in some previously propose cases, as shown in FIGS. 28-30, a dielectric sheet 94 is wound around a central core 923 in such a manner that an axial end portion 941 of the dielectric sheet 94 projects from an axial end surface 924 of the central core 923 to limit generation of a crack in dielectric resin 911, which contacts the axial end surface 924 of the central core 923.
However, when the dielectric sheet 94 is wound multiple times around the central core 923, axial end portions 941 of layered dielectric sheet constituent sections 940 of the dielectric sheet 94 may possibly be displaced from one another in the axial direction, so that steps 942 are formed at the axial end portions 941 of the layered dielectric sheet constituent sections 940 of the dielectric sheet 94. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 30, edged grooves (sharp grooves) 912 are formed in the dielectric resin 911 that is filled in the coil case in contact with the axial end portions 941 of the layered dielectric sheet constituent sections 940, which form the steps 942. The stress concentration may occur at the edged grooves (the sharp grooves) 912. The edged grooves 912 may possibly become an origin of the crack in the dielectric resin 911.
Furthermore, it is difficult to align the axial end portions 941 of the layered dielectric sheet constituent sections 940 in the axial direction. In view of the above disadvantage, as shown in FIG. 31, it is conceivable to make a projecting length of each axial end portion 941 of the dielectric sheet 94, which projects from the axial end surface 924 of the central core 923, longer than a required length to provide an excess region. After the winding of the dielectric sheet 94 around the central core 923, it is conceivable to mechanically cut the excess region by a cutting blade.
However, when the excess region of the dielectric sheet 94 is mechanically cut by the cutting blade, the axial end portions 941 of the layered dielectric sheet constituent sections 940 at the cutting end may possibly be spread radially outward and thereby separated from one another, as shown in FIG. 31. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 32, corners 943 of the cut end parts of the axial end portions 941 may possibly form sharp edges. As a result, edged grooves 912, which correspond to the corners 943 having the sharp edges, are formed in the dielectric resin 911 filled in the coil case. Each of the edged grooves 912 may possibly serve as an origin of a crack in the dielectric resin 911.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 33, the above described disadvantage of the mechanically cutting the excess region of the dielectric sheet 94 with the cutting blade may also occur in a case of cutting the dielectric sheet 94, which is wound only once around the central core (see the corner 943 having the sharp edge). The above disadvantage of the mechanically cutting the dielectric sheet 94 with the cutting blade may also occur in a case of cutting the dielectric sheet 94 along the axial end surface 924 of the central core 923, as shown in FIG. 34.
Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, in some previously proposed ignition coils, an axial end portion 951 of a sheet 95 is folded against an axial end surface 925 of a central core 923 to limit generation of a crack in dielectric resin filled in spaces in a coil case. At the time of folding the axial end portion 951 of the sheet 95, a punch 97 is used to press and weld the axial end portion 951 of the sheet 95.
However, as shown in FIG. 37, when the axial end portion 951 of the sheet 95 is pressed by the punch 97, buckling or radially outward partial deformation of the axial end portion 951 of the sheet 95 may possibly occur. This occurs due to a rigidity of the sheet 95, which limits smooth folding movement of the axial end portion 951 of the sheet 95 toward a center of the central core 923. When the buckling or deformation of the sheet 95 occurs, a crack may possibly be generated in the dielectric resin filled in the spaces in the coil case.
Particularly, when a thermoplastic resin film, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, is used to form the sheet 95, the above disadvantage may possibly occur due to a relatively high rigidity of such a film.
The present invention addresses one or more of the above disadvantages. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ignition coil, which includes a central core, primary and secondary coils, a case, a dielectric sheet and dielectric resin. The central core is produced from at least one magnetic steel plate. Primary and secondary coils are produced by concentrically winding primary and secondary electric wires, respectively, around the central core. The case receives the primary and secondary coils. The dielectric sheet is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the central core. At least one of axial end portions of the dielectric sheet includes an axially projecting portion, which projects from an axial end surface of the central core. An inner peripheral side axial end corner and an outer peripheral side axial end corner in the axially projecting portion are respectively formed into a blunt smooth round shape. The dielectric resin is filled in spaces in the case.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided, an ignition coil, which includes a central core, primary and secondary coils, a case, a dielectric sheet and dielectric resin. The central core is produced from at least one magnetic steel plate. The primary and secondary coils are produced by concentrically winding primary and secondary electric wires, respectively, around the central core. The case receives the primary and secondary coils. The dielectric sheet is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the central core. An outer peripheral side axial end corner of at least one of axial end portions of the dielectric sheet is formed into a blunt smooth round shape. The dielectric resin is filled in spaces in the case.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ignition coil, which includes primary and secondary coils, a case, a central core, a sheet and thermoset resin. The case receives the primary and secondary coils. The central core is made of a magnetic material and is positioned radially inward of the primary and secondary coils. The sheet relieves a thermal stress and is wound around the central core. At least one of axial end portions of the sheet forms a folded end portion, which is folded against a corresponding axial end surface of the central core or an axially outer end surface of a connecting member connected to the corresponding axial end surface of the central core. The folded end portion includes a plurality of generally arcuate segments, which are folded one after another on one circumferential side thereof. A first circumferential end and a second circumferential end of each generally arcuate segment are folded in such a manner that the first circumferential end of the generally arcuate segment is folded over a second circumferential end of an adjacent one of the plurality of generally arcuate segments located on a first circumferential end side of the generally arcuate segment, and the second circumferential end of the generally arcuate segment is folded beneath a first circumferential end of another adjacent one of the plurality of generally arcuate segments located on a second circumferential end side of the generally arcuate segment. The thermoset resin is filled in spaces in the case.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ignition coil, which includes primary and secondary coils, a case, a central core, a sheet and thermoset resin. The case receives the primary and secondary coils. The central core is made of a magnetic material and is positioned radially inward of the primary and secondary coils. The sheet relieves a thermal stress and is wound around the central core. At least one of axial end portions of the sheet forms a folded end portion, which is folded against a corresponding axial end surface of the central core or an axially outer end surface of a connecting member connected to the corresponding axial end surface of the central core. The folded end portion includes a plurality of generally arcuate bottom side segments and a plurality of generally arcuate top side segments, which are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction. A first circumferential end and a second circumferential end of each generally arcuate top side segment are folded in such a manner that the first circumferential end of the generally arcuate top side segment is folded over an adjacent one of the plurality of generally arcuate bottom side segments located on a first circumferential end side of the generally arcuate top side segment, and the second circumferential end of the generally arcuate top side segment is folded over another adjacent one of the plurality of generally arcuate bottom side segments located on a second circumferential end side of the generally arcuate top side segment. The thermoset resin is filled in spaces in the case.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a manufacturing method of an ignition coil, which includes a central core that is produced from at least one magnetic steel plate; primary and secondary coils that are produced by concentrically winding primary and secondary electric wires, respectively, around the central core; a case that receives the primary and secondary coils; a dielectric sheet that is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the central core; and dielectric resin that is filled in spaces in the case. According to the manufacturing method, the dielectric sheet is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the central core in such a manner that at least one of axial end portions of the dielectric sheet projects from a corresponding axial end surface of the central core to form an axially projecting portion. An excess region of the axially projecting portion is melted and is cut by one of a hot wire and a laser beam in such a manner that an inner peripheral side axial end corner and an outer peripheral side axial end corner in the axially projecting portion are respectively formed into a blunt smooth round shape.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing method of an ignition coil, which includes a central core that is produced from at least one magnetic steel plate; primary and secondary coils that are produced by concentrically winding primary and secondary electric wires, respectively, around the central core; a case that receives the primary and secondary coils; a dielectric sheet that is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the central core; and dielectric resin that is filled in spaces in the case. The dielectric sheet is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the central core in such a manner that at least one of axial end portions of the dielectric sheet projects from a corresponding axial end surface of the central core to form an axially projecting portion. The axially projecting portion is heated in such a manner that an inner peripheral side axial end corner and an outer peripheral side axial end corner in the axially projecting portion are respectively formed into a blunt smooth round shape.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing method of an ignition coil, which includes: primary and secondary coils; a case that receives the primary and secondary coils; a central core that is made of a magnetic material and is positioned radially inward of the primary and secondary coils; and thermoset resin filled in spaces in the case. According to the manufacturing method, a sheet, which relieves a thermal stress, is wound around the central core. At least one of axial end portions of the sheet is folded against a corresponding axial end surface of the central core or an axially outer end surface of a connecting member connected to the corresponding axial end surface of the central core, in such a manner that a plurality of points of the axial end portion, which are arranged one after another in a circumferential direction of the axial end portion, are partially folded first, so that a folded end portion, which includes a plurality of generally arcuate segments folded one after another in the circumferential direction, is formed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an ignition coil, which includes: primary and secondary coils; a case that receives the primary and secondary coils; a central core that is made of a magnetic material and is positioned radially inward of the primary and secondary coils; and thermoset resin filled in spaces in the case. The manufacturing apparatus includes a folding jig that folds an axially projecting portion of a sheet, which relieves a thermal stress and is wound around the central core, against a corresponding axial end surface of the central core or an axially outer end surface of a connecting member connected to the corresponding axial end surface of the central core. An axial end of the folding jig includes a recessed processing portion that engages a plurality of points of the axially projecting portion, which are arranged one after another in a circumferential direction of the axially projecting portion, to form creases in the plurality of points, respectively.

Ignition coil and manufacturing method and apparatus thereof