A method and apparatus charge devices using a multiple port power supply. The apparatus can include a power supply. The apparatus can include a first device charging port coupled to the power supply. The first device charging port can receive power from the power supply and output power to a first device. The apparatus can include a second device charging port coupled to the power supply. The second device charging port can receive power from the power supply and output power to a second device. The apparatus can include a device charging port monitor coupled to the first device charging port and coupled to the second device charging port. The device charging port monitor can detect a number of device charging ports in use. The apparatus can include a cable compensator coupled to the device charging port monitor. The cable compensator can select a first cable compensation if one device charging port is in use and can select a second cable compensation if two device charging ports are in use.

1. Field
The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for charging devices using a multiple port power supply. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to providing cable compensation when charging devices using a multiple port power supply.
2. Introduction
Presently, power supplies are used to charge electronic devices. To charge a device, the device is connected to a power supply device charging port using a connection cable. The power supply then provides power through the connection cable to charge the device.
Unfortunately, the connection cable adversely affects device charging because it causes a voltage drop from the power supply to the device. The voltage drop causes a problem because both a power supply and device power management circuitry have minimum and maximum voltage charging requirements and these voltage requirements are adversely affected by the voltage drop. For example, Universal Serial Bus (USB) specifications require specific minimum and maximum power supply voltages. However, a USB connection cable that uses 60 inch 24 gauge wire causes an 180 mV per amp drop between the power supply and the device. If the voltage drop is not accounted for, the connection cable causes power supply voltage to fall outside of the voltage requirements. Other power supply specifications have other requirements, such as other minimum and maximum voltage charging requirements. Furthermore, other connection cables and other connection cable lengths and sizes cause different voltage drops.
The voltage drop problem gets worse if multiple devices are connected to a single power supply. This is because the voltage drop changes when multiple devices are connected and the power supply is unable to account for different voltage drops.
Thus, there is a need for a method and apparatus for charging devices using a multiple port power supply.

Method and apparatus for charging devices using a multiple port power supply


A seal ring for a mechanical seal, comprising a base body, a first layer applied to a first face side of a base body, and a second layer applied to a second face side of the base body. At least one of the layers is configured as a slide surface of the seal ring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention refers to a seal ring of a mechanical seal assembly. Particularly, the invention refers to a seal ring with a base body of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, metal or tungsten carbide or carbon fiber composite material, wherein a special slide layer is formed on at least one of the faces, said slide layer qualifying the said face as a slide surface. To make the seal ring runnable, the distortion of the base body caused by the coating of the running surface of the seal ring with slide material is set by way of the targeted coating of the rear side of the base body. Owing to the special thickness and configuration of the slide layer and the coating defined relative thereto of the opposite side of the seal ring, a much longer running time of the seal is made possible. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a method for producing such a seal ring.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art discloses mechanical seals in many different configurations, the seal rings being subjected during operation to extremely high loads that always lead to wear of the slide surfaces down to the base body. Therefore, the use of seal rings with slide surfaces based on carbon has gained importance. Owing to this carbon surface coating the mechanical seals can be used at high temperatures, but also under conditions with great temperature changes and simultaneously at great mechanical loads.
The coatings show a high resistance to wear and have excellent dry-running properties, the resistance, however, decreasing upon mechanical damage to the coating and necessitating an exchange of the seal rings. To achieve a resistance of the seal rings to damage that is as high as possible, these must be configured to be as flat as possible and the opposite ring surfaces must be formed very plane-parallel.
Furthermore, a configuration of the slide layer with a great thickness, if possible, independently of the material and under otherwise constant good adhesion and wear characteristics, has a positive effect on the damage behavior because more wear material is available and the running time of the seal is thereby prolonged considerably.
To improve the wear resistance, it is known from DE 199 22 665 that a three-dimensional body is coated with fine-crystalline diamond, which body may be configured as a seal ring and has a base body made of SiC.
Moreover, it has been suggested in the prior art in DE 20 2006 006 425 that the base body of a seal ring is provided with an additional substrate layer between base body and diamond layer.
Furthermore, DE 20 2007 016 868 discloses a seal ring in which diamond particles are introduced as additional material into the base body consisting of a two-component material. As a result, the coating consisting of a diamond-containing material is anchored at the base body in an improved way.
It is true that diamond coatings with an inherently high strength have the advantage that they make the correspondingly coated slide body more resistant to thermally and mechanically caused stresses or stress variations. In general, however, there is the drawback that it is difficult to produce them with the maximum quality required for mechanical seals, that they require an extremely high quality test rate and that they are extremely expensive on account of the coating material and also because of the quality control and that their use requires precise calculations.
Apart from the cost-specific drawbacks, the high coating temperatures of about 700° C. which are typical of diamond coatings present problems. During the coating process and in response to the thermal expansion coefficient of the base body to be respectively coated, these temperatures cause distortions and irregularities on the base body that in cooperation with the slide pairs have a negative effect in the seal.
Therefore, SiC rings have so far preferably been coated because the thermal expansion coefficients of SiC with about 4*10−6/K and of the diamond coating with about 1*10−6/K are relatively similar at room temperature and converge further when the temperature is raised.
A further possibility of providing rings with slide-improving properties is surface coating with the so-called DLC or also "diamond like carbon" layers.
DE 38 20 581 is e.g. known from the prior art; it starts from a thickness of the DLC layer on the seal ring of up to 10 μm.
US 2010/0061676 describes a mechanical seal to be used in ultrapure water, which specifies a DLC layer thickness of at least 1 μm, but not more than 5 μm.
On the whole, the coating of slide bodies with hydrocarbon layers is described in general and specifically with DLC layers and constitutes prior art.
And although this coating is represented as prior art, relatively thick hydrocarbon layers on slide bodies pose great problems. It is known from practice that great layer thicknesses always cause problems because relatively thick DLC layers create increased stresses. Like in the case of layer systems, these may in general occur only in the base body, only in the coating, preferably between base body and coating or in a different form in all of the said regions at the same time.
Moreover, all publications have in common that only one surface of the seal ring is qualified as a slide surface. Since in all coating processes the ring to be coated rests on a surface, only one side of the ring is in general coated. This creates a relatively small layer thickness because in the coating process with hydrocarbon layers the base body is heated, which causes distortions of the ring.

Seal ring of a mechanical seal assembly having properties extending the running time, and method for the production thereof

Fraunhofergesellschaft Zur Forderung Der angewandten Forschung E.V.


A communication network is operated by associating a pseudonym with a user of the communication network at a proxy searcher. A complex search request from the user is received at the proxy searcher, the complex search request being associated with the pseudonym. The complex search request and pseudonym are forwarded from the proxy searcher to a central searcher. The complex search request is divided into a plurality of simple search requests at the central searcher. The plurality of simple search requests are performed on at least one database. The results of the plurality of simple search requests are provided to the proxy searcher, the results being associated with the pseudonym.

Communications networks are widely used for nationwide and worldwide communication of voice, multimedia and/or data. As used herein, communications networks include public communications networks, such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), terrestrial and/or satellite cellular networks and/or the Internet.
The Internet is a decentralized network of computers that can communicate with one another via Internet Protocol (IP). The Internet includes the World Wide Web (WWW) service facility, which is a client/server-based facility that includes a large number of servers (computers connected to the Internet) on which Web pages or files reside, as well as clients (Web browsers), which interface users with the Web pages. The topology of the World Wide Web can be described as a network of networks, with providers of network services called Network Service Providers, or NSPs. Servers that provide application-layer services may be referred to as Application Service Providers (ASPs). Sometimes a single service provider provides both functions.
With digital data including media, such as audio and video, being provided in the form of a variety of new services to customers (e.g., MP3 song downloads, movies on demand, multimedia file access, digital-rights-controlled data), customers may wish to actively search for, browse, and locate the data/audio/video they wish to obtain according to their various specifications and desires. Customers, however, are increasingly concerned with privacy, including the information that may be collected during the browsing and/or searching process. This may especially be the case when the searches are complex and contain much information. Browsing and searching can be enhanced via features that allow detailed inclusion and/or exclusion of material in the browse/search range because this may help customers more easily and quickly find what they want. Unfortunately, this may aggravate privacy concerns due to the increased detail of information that may be collected. Currently, customers may rely on service providers promises or policies regarding limitations on how collected information may be used. These promises and/or policies may be confusing and/or insufficient, however.

Communication networks and methods and computer program products for performing searches thereon while maintaining user privacy


An energy capture system includes a transducer element and an energy storage device. The transducer element moves in response to current in one or more conductors in a set of electrical power lines. The energy storage device accumulates mechanical energy from movement of the transducer element.

A typical commercial or industrial building includes electrical power distribution systems that distribute power from one place to another within the building. In facilities having a substantial number of electrical systems, such as computing facilities, a large amount of electrical power is required to operate the facility. In addition, the electrical power is distributed to a large number of locations spread throughout the computer room (e.g., many racks spaced from one another, and many servers in each rack). A network of cabling, bus bars, power connectors, and power distribution units, may deliver the power to numerous specific components in the facility.
Commercial and industrial buildings often include components and systems to provide back-up power to electrical systems in the event of a failure of components or systems in a primary electrical power system. Providing full redundancy of electrical power may, however, be costly both in terms of capital costs (in that in may require a large number of expensive switchboard, UPSs, and PDUs, for example) and in terms of costs of operation and maintenance. In addition, some facilities do not provide redundant power for cooling systems.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to.

Energy capture from electrical power distribution lines


A steel material having a good resistance to corrosion, consisting of an alloy containing in % by weight: max 0.12 C 0.5-1.5 N 12-18 Cr max 0.5 Mn max 0.5 Ni 1-5 (Mo+W/2) max 1.5 (V+Nb/2+Ti) 0.1-0.5 Si from traces and up to max 2.0 Co from traces and up to max 0.1 S balance iron and essentially only impurities at normal contents.

Within food industry, high demands are put on corrosion resistance and hardness for tools that are used. Kitchen tools are often exposed to pit corrosion as they get in contact with chloride-containing water. High demands are also put on abrasive wear resistance for such tools. Amongst known materials having these properties, mention can be made of a group of nitrified martensite steels, the composition and properties of which are disclosed in DE 3901 470 C1. In the present patent application, these steels are collectively denoted A.
Another related commercial steel corresponds to the composition of Werkstoff No. 1.41 23 and is denoted B.
From EP 0 810 294 it is furthermore known a number of alloy compositions having good corrosion properties, high strength and good ductility. These steels are collectively denoted C.
Yet another material having good corrosion resistance is disclosed in EP 1 236 809 and is denoted D.
The composition of the above mentioned materials is shown in the table below.
TABLE 1SteelNo.CN %MoVCrMnSiA0.150.410.415B0.40.220.315.5C=0.40.3-0.9=3=112-18  =1=1.5Nb + Ti = 0.5D<0.150.4-0.80.2-40.02-0.2012-18.50.1-2.00.1-1.0Nb0.02-0.2
It is in common for the four steels above that they have good corrosion properties but lack adequate hardness and wear resistance, at least within certain of the above mentioned fields of application. Steels no. 1 and 2 reach a hardness within the range 57-59 HRC.

Martensitic chromium-nitrogen steel and its use


Provided is an earphone having a pressure equilibrium structure capable of preventing a decrease in acoustic characteristics or sound pressure, while having a structure capable of achieving equilibrium within an ear canal. The earphone includes a receiver including a frame, a magnetic circuit, a voice coil, and a diaphragm, a front housing surrounding a front and a side surface of the receiver and including a sound tube, a rear housing attached to a rear of the receiver and coupled to the front housing, and a duct located between the diaphragm and the sound tube. An acoustic path through which sound is emitted is formed from the receiver to an end of the sound tube. The front housing or the rear housing includes a leakage hole. An inner end of the duct is connected to the acoustic path. An outer end of the duct is connected to the leakage hole.

Earphones are classified into closed type earphones in which all other portions, excluding a sound emission hole inserted into an ear canal, are blocked and open type earphones including a tuning hole and a duct in addition to a sound emission hole.
The closed type earphone is to deliver sound of a receiver installed in the earphone directly to the user's ear, enabling listening to sound even with small power. In particular, a kernel-type earphone inserted into the user's ear through an earpiece includes excellent sound insulation properties that block external noise.
However, in the case of a kernel-type earphone, as the ear canal is completely sealed, a pressure difference is made between the inside and outside of the ear canal, and thus, some may feel pressure in the ears or the others may feel uncomfortable.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a kernel-type earphone equipped with a pressure equilibrium means according to the related art. The kernel-type earphone according to the related art a speaker unit 1 and a housing accommodating the speaker unit 1 and including a front housing 10 and a rear housing 20. The speaker unit 1 installed inside the housing includes a cylindrical frame, a magnetic circuit installed inside the frame, and a diaphragm vibrating up and down by magnetic force of the magnetic circuit. The frame, that is, an exterior of the speaker unit 1, includes a cylindrical shape, and an inner circumferential surface of the front housing 10 and an outer circumferential surface of the speaker unit 1 are in contact with the speaker unit 1 so that the speaker unit seals a portion between the front and the rear of the speaker unit within the front housing 10.
Here, the kernel-type earphone forms a sound tube 12 in front of the front housing 10, and a sealed ear tip formed of rubber or sponge material is mounted on the sound tube 12. Therefore, the kernel-type earphone seals the ear canal and the outside, so that when the kernel-type earphone is worn and used, air is sealed around the ear canal and air is compressed in the ear. The compressed air in the ear compresses the eardrum, causing a feeling of stuffiness and discomfort. Therefore, an intentional leakage hole is required to attenuate hearing and leak air pressure.
In the case of the related art, a leakage hole 14 for leaking air from the front of the diaphragm to the front of the front housing 10 is installed as shown in FIG. 1, a leakage hole 14a that leaks air in front of the diaphragm to the side of the front housing 10a is installed as shown in FIG. 2, or air from the front of the diaphragm is leaked to the rear housing 20 by way of the rear of the front housing 10a through a duct 14b. However, in this method, external leakage sound occurs and acoustic characteristics are deteriorated due to sound interference.
In addition, in the case of a front leakage hole 14 or a side leakage hole 14a, a length of the leakage holes 14 and 14a is the same as a thickness of the front housing 10, and thus, the front leakage hole 14 or the side leakage hole 14a does not serve as a duct. In addition, a main sound actually received into the ear through the sound tube 12 is divided into a sub-sound by the leakage holes 14 and 14a, and accordingly, a negative pressure of the main sound is lowered and transmitted to the eardrum.
As shown in FIG. 3, when air pressure of air on the front of the diaphragm moves to the rear of the housing through the duct 14b, sound interference occurs between a front sound and a rear sound, which is also a major cause of deterioration in acoustic properties.
Therefore, in the case of the receiver including the pressure equilibrium means according to the related art, pressure equilibrium may be obtained but acoustic characteristics and a sound pressure decreases.

Earphone having pressure equilibrium structure


A device for delivering stimuli to a user of a vehicle includes a data generating device that generates signals regarding information regarding a vehicle or surroundings about the vehicle. A human interface device is provided for positioning in contact with a user of the vehicle. The human interface device receives the signals from the data generating device. A control is operable to select the signals from the data generating device for operating the human interface device to deliver stimuli to the user of the vehicle.

This invention relates in general to information systems that provide sensory inputs to a driver or other occupant of a vehicle. In particular, this invention relates to an improved vehicle information system that includes a device for delivering tactile stimuli to a vehicle user.
Vehicle operators, particularly automobile operators, receive numerous sensory inputs while operating the vehicle. Most of such sensory inputs are visual in nature, which means that the eyes of the operator of the vehicle are diverted from the road in which the vehicle is traveling in order to receive them. Some of such sensory inputs relate directly to the operation of the vehicle, such as a standard variety of gauges and indicators that are provided on a dash panel. Others of such sensory inputs related to occupant entertainment or comfort, such as media, climate, and communication controls. It is generally believed that the risk of a hazard arising is increased each time the eyes of the operator of the vehicle are diverted from the road in which the vehicle is traveling.
Some vehicle information systems have been designed to minimize the amount by which the eyes of the operator of the vehicle are diverted from the road in which the vehicle is traveling. For example, it is known to locate the most relevant vehicle information near the normal viewing direction of the operator so that the amount by which the eyes of the operator of the vehicle are diverted from the road in which the vehicle is traveling is minimized. It is also known to project some of such vehicle information on the windshield, again to minimize the amount by which the eyes of the operator of the vehicle are diverted from the road. Notwithstanding these efforts, it would be desirable to provide an improved vehicle information system that includes minimizes or eliminates the visual nature of the sensory inputs.

Vehicle with tactile information delivery system


The camera has an appearance quality highly maintained, by crushing a joining portion of a metal cover. A metal cover is crushed at a joining portion to a grip cover, and the grip cover is joined so as to be superposed on the crushed portion. Thus, exposure of an inner structure from the joining portion between the metal cover and grip cover to degrade an appearance quality can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly, to a camera whose outer cover at least partly comprises a metal cover formed by machining a plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an outer cover of a camera is dividably formed in view of convenience in assembly, and a plurality of covers are adapted to be joined to constitute one outer cover. However, when the plurality of covers are joined to constitute one outer cover, clearances are generated at joining portions, so that there is a disadvantage of degrading an appearance quality. For this reason, in a camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-6134, a raised portion is formed on a joining portion of one cover, and the raised portion is superposed on a joining portion of the other cover to prevent generation of the clearance at the joining portion.
However, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-6134, the raised portion must be formed on the joining portion, thus there are disadvantages of troublesome machining and a constrained design of an appearance.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,274 discloses an outer covering may be configured in such a manner that the whole outer covering is made from plastic and that a metal cover formed by machining a metal plate is mounted to part thereof.
The present invention is made in view of the above circumstances and has its object to provide a camera which has an appearance quality highly maintained.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a camera whose outer cover at least partly comprises a metal cover formed by machining a plate, wherein the metal cover is configured in such a manner that a portion which is to be a joining portion to another cover constituting the outer cover is crushed and then surface treated, and that a portion with a thickness reduced by the crushing is cut.
According to the present invention, for the metal cover, the joining portion is crushed and then surface treated, and the portion with the thickness reduced by the crushing is cut. Thus, even when a clearance is generated at the joining portion, exposure of a component inside the cover can be prevented. Further, a treated end surface of the metal cover is exposed from the clearance, thus an appearance quality is not degraded.
Preferably, a cut end surface of the metal cover is matted. Hence, even when the cut end surface is exposed at the appearance after assembly, generation of reflection or the like can be prevented, thus degrading the appearance quality can be prevented.
More preferably, a cut end surface of the metal cover is coated with matting paint by stamping. Matting by stamping allows the matting paint to be surely and easily applied to the cut end surface only.
Preferably, a surface of a member positioned inside the joining portion of each cover constituting the outer cover is matted. Hence, even when the clearance is generated at the joining portion, reflection of an inner structure from the clearance can be prevented, thus degrading the appearance quality can be prevented.


An improved capacitor, and method for making the capacitor, is described. The capacitor has an anode and a dielectric on the anode. A cathode layer is on the dielectric wherein the cathode layer comprises at least one conductive layer and an insulative adhesion enhancing layer.

The present invention is related to an improved method of forming a solid electrolyte capacitor and an improved capacitor formed thereby. More specifically, the present invention is related to an improved method of electrically connecting a cathode to a cathode lead in a capacitor and an improved capacitor formed thereby.
The construction and manufacture of solid electrolyte capacitors is well documented. In the construction of a solid electrolytic capacitor a valve metal serves as the anode. The anode body can be either a porous pellet, formed by pressing and sintering a high purity powder, or a foil which is etched to provide an increased anode surface area. An oxide of the valve metal is electrolytically formed to cover all surfaces of the anode and serves as the dielectric of the capacitor. The solid cathode electrolyte is typically chosen from a very limited class of materials, to include manganese dioxide or electrically conductive organic materials such as 7,7′,8,8′-tetracyanoquinonedimethane (TCNQ) complex salt, or intrinsically conductive polymers, such as polyaniline, polypyrol, polythiophene and their derivatives. The solid cathode electrolyte is applied so that it covers all dielectric surfaces. An important feature of the solid cathode electrolyte is that it can be made more resistive by exposure to high temperatures. This feature allows the capacitor to heal leakage sites by Joule heating. In addition to the solid electrolyte, the cathodic layer of a solid electrolyte capacitor typically consists of several layers which are external to the anode body. In the case of surface mount constructions these layers typically include: a carbon layer; a cathode conductive layer which may be a layer containing a highly conductive metal, typically silver, bound in a polymer or resin matrix; and a conductive adhesive layer such as silver filled adhesive. The layers including the solid cathode electrolyte, conductive adhesive and layers there between are referred to collectively herein as the cathode layer which typically includes multiple layers designed to allow adhesion on one face to the dielectric and on the other face to the cathode lead. A highly conductive metal lead frame is used as a cathode lead for negative termination. The various layers connect the solid electrolyte to the outside circuit and also serve to protect the dielectric from thermo-mechanical damage that may occur during subsequent processing, board mounting, or customer use.
In the case of conductive polymer cathodes the conductive polymer is typically applied by either chemical oxidation polymerization, electrochemical oxidation polymerization or spray techniques with other less desirable techniques being reported.
The carbon layer serves as a chemical barrier between the solid electrolyte and the silver layer. Critical properties of the layer include adhesion to the underlying layer, wetting of the underlying layer, uniform coverage, penetration into the underlying layer, bulk conductivity, interfacial resistance, compatibility with the silver layer, buildup, and mechanical properties.
The cathodic conductive layer, which is preferably a silver layer, serves to conduct current from the lead frame to the cathode and around the cathode to the sides not directly connected to the lead frame. The critical characteristics of this layer are high conductivity, adhesive strength to the carbon layer, wetting of the carbon layer, and acceptable mechanical properties. Compatibility with the subsequent layers employed in the assembly and encapsulation of the capacitor are also critical. In the case where a silver filled adhesive is used to attach to a lead frame compatibility between the lead frame and the silver filled adhesive is necessary. The silver layer is secured to a cathode lead frame by a conductive adhesive. The conductive adhesive is typically a silver filled resin which is cured after the capacitor is assembled.
Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) stability of the capacitors requires that the interface between the cathode layer, cathodic conductive layers, conductive adhesive, and leadframe have good mechanical integrity during thermo mechanical stresses. Solid electrolytic capacitors are subject to various thermomechanical stresses during assembly, molding, board mount reflow etc. During board mount the capacitors are subjected to temperatures above 250° C. These elevated temperatures create stresses in the interfaces due to coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatches between the interfaces. The resultant stress causes mechanical weakening of the interfaces. In some cases this mechanical weakening causes delamination. Any physical separation between the interfaces cause increases in electrical resistance between the interfaces and thus an increased ESR in the finished capacitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,427 teaches a method for improving ESR stability of capacitors. The combination of materials described therein offers some ESR stability, however, the method still allows an ESR rise of a few milliohms during board mount conditions. An ESR shift of a few milliohms is undesirable for new ultra low ESR capacitors with typical ESR specifications of 5 milliohms. An ESR shift of 1 milliohm in these ultra low ESR capacitors causes a 20% increase in ESR after board mount and this increase can cause unacceptable signal noise increases in capacitors.
JP 2007/124892 describes a non-adhesive resin which reduces stress. The non-adhesive resin is not in the conductive portion of the capacitor.
There is an ongoing desire in the art for a capacitor with an even larger decrease in ESR.

Solid electrolytic capacitors with improved ESR stability


An apparatus is disclosed for facilitating removal of debris from the roof of a construction location or other raised work site. The apparatus comprises a chute comprising multiple sections that may telescope to extend in length, where the chute is configured for implementation with a mobile platform.

During repair or replacement of a roof for a commercial or residential structure, debris, such as old shingles, tiles, nails, staples or the like, may be generated. For tall commercial structures, disposal of such debris may be achieved by placing it in a basket located on the roof, using a crane to transport the basket from the roof to the ground, transferring the debris from the basket to a dumpster located on the ground and repeating the process as required. For residential structures, disposal of such debris may be achieved by placing tarps on the ground (e.g., to protect landscaping), throwing the debris from the roof onto the tarps, and transferring the debris from the tarps to a dumpster located in the driveway.
Using a crane and basket for debris removal for tall commercial structures is time consuming due to the slower speed with which cranes must be operated. Further, use of a crane creates injury risks resulting from operation of the crane cabling system that lifts and lowers debris. Using tarps on the ground for receiving debris thrown from the roof of residential structures creates additional debris removal obligations by requiring workers to lift and transfer the debris on the tarps to a dumpster. Such movement may result in debris falling off of the tarp and places additional strain on workers to lift debris items that have already been thrown from roofs. In both examples for tall commercial structures and for residential structures, there is also the injury risk of free falling debris landing on and damaging property and/or causing personal injury.

Apparatus for facilitating roofing debris removal


Method and apparatus for establishing the legitimacy of use of a block of digitally represented information residing in a computer of a user. The block of digitally represented information may be a text file, a sound recording, a graphical file or a software file. The computer includes a program that processes the selected file to generate a substantially unique identification code. The code is transmitted to a server that contains a listing of files correlated to status data, indicative of whether the file is proprietary material and the conditions associated with its use. If the server locates an entry in its database it retrieves the status data and transmits it to the user's computer. In the event the identification code issued by the user's computer is not sufficiently discriminative, i.e., it does not allow the server to uniquely identify the file, the server transmits an algorithm identifier to the user's computer allowing the file to be re-processed with a new algorithm to generate a more distinctive identification code.

Almost any kind of information can be represented digitally as a computer file. Once so represented, this information becomes extremely easy to duplicate and transmit. This can be perceived as problematic for the owners of the information, who may wish to charge copying or licensing fees for the use of the material represented.
In the case that the digital document is a piece of software, prior approaches to the problem have often depended on modifications to the operation of the software itself that check for some evidence that the terms of the license have been met. Prior approaches of more general applicability attempt to restrict access to digital documents through encryption or the imposition of access controls in the computer systems on which they are represented. These solutions share the failing that they either rely on specialized hardware or are easy to circumvent by removing the checks or re-saving the unprotected document after access has been granted. Furthermore, once these measures have been so circumvented, or if unprotected versions of documents are available from other sources, all protection for the document is lost: further unprotected versions of documents may now be duplicated and transmitted with ease. All such solutions also pose a significant inconvenience to the legitimate user of the document, since either the process of moving the document onto their system or of using it thereafter involves the extra step of establishing the right to do so, through the presentation of physical evidence of that right, and in some cases the special configuration of access management facilities.
The above difficulties and inconveniences generally arise from the presumption of an adversarial relationship between the producers and the users of digitally represented documents.
These problems are exacerbated by the fact that digital documents may be a priori hard to examine: unless their format is known, the steps that must be taken to use them are not apparent. Even when the format is known, the means to interpret it may not be available. Thus, even when digital documents are nominally self-identifying (containing embedded bibliographic and licensing information, for example), it may not be feasible to read this information. Furthermore, the format of a document may simply lack a provision for the inclusion of such identifying data. Thus, even when the receiver of a digitally represented document wishes to comply with the conditions associated with its possession or use, it may not be feasible, in the current art, to determine what these conditions are.
These several difficulties are especially pronounced when the person responsible for assuring compliance with licenses, the person responsible for acquiring digital documents, and the person using them, are distinct, as is typically the case in networked computing environments. Fortunately, in such environments there is typically no such need to assume an adversarial relationship between document producers and the person charged with assuring compliance with licenses.
Thus there is a clear need for a system that informs users of the conditions associated with the duplication or use of a digital document that does not rely on the user having specialized hardware or on the particular representation of the document or the means by which it is usually processed. It can presume upon the co-operation of its user, if not of that of all users of the computing system on which it is employed.


System and method for dimming control of one or more light emitting diodes. An example system includes one or more signal processing components configured to receive a first signal associated with a TRIAC dimmer, process information associated with the first signal, determine whether the TRIAC dimmer is in a first condition or a second condition, generate a second signal based on at least information associated with the first signal, and send the second signal to a switch. The one or more signal processing components are further configured to, if the TRIAC dimmer is determined to be in the first condition, generate the second signal to cause the switch to be opened and closed corresponding to a modulation frequency.

The present invention is directed to integrated circuits. More particularly, the invention provides systems and methods for dimming control using TRIAC dimmers. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to systems for driving light emitting diodes (LEDs). But it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability.
Lighting systems including light emitting diodes (LEDs) often use a conventional light dimmer (e.g., wall mounted) that includes a Triode for Alternating Current (TRIAC) to adjust the brightness of LEDs. A TRIAC is bidirectional and currents can flow through a TRIAC in either direction (e.g., into the TRIAC or out of the TRIAC). A TRIAC can be triggered by a gate current (e.g., flowing in either direction) which is often generated by applying a voltage (e.g., a positive voltage or a negative voltage) to a gate electrode of a TRIAC. Once triggered, the TRIAC continues to conduct a current until the current drops below a certain threshold (e.g., a holding current).
FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram showing a conventional LED lighting system using a TRIAC dimmer. For example, the lighting system 100 implements a primary side regulation scheme and a flyback structure with single-stage power-factor-correction (PFC) for driving one or more LEDs 172. The system 100 includes a controller 102, an AC supply component 122, a TRIAC dimmer 118, a full wave rectifying bridge 124, capacitors 126, 136, 140, 150 and 170, resistors 128, 130, 134, 138, 146, 148, 154 and 156, power switches 132 and 152, diodes 142, 144 and 168, and a transformer including a primary winding 162, a secondary winding 164, and an auxiliary winding 166. The controller 102 includes terminals 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116 and 120. For example, the power switch 132 and the power switch 152 are transistors. In another example, a TRIAC dimmer 118 is a dimmer that includes a Triode for Alternating Current (TRIAC).
As shown in FIG. 1, the TRIAC dimmer 118 processes an AC input signal 121 from the AC supply component 122, and generates a voltage signal 123 which is processed by the full wave rectifying bridge 124 in order to generate a voltage signal 174 (e.g., Vbulk). The TRIAC dimmer 118 is associated with a dimming period including an on period and an off period. During an on period of the TRIAC dimmer 118, the voltage signal 174 is approximately equal to the AC input signal 121 in magnitude. During an off period of the TRIAC dimmer 118, the voltage signal 174 has a low magnitude (e.g., approximately zero). The capacitor 150 (e.g., C1) is charged in response to the voltage signal 174 (e.g., Vbulk) through the resistor 138 (e.g., R3), and a voltage signal 176 is generated at the terminal 112 (e.g., terminal VCC). If the voltage signal 176 exceeds an under-voltage-lock-out (UVLO) threshold voltage, the controller 102 is activated, and outputs a modulation signal 178 (e.g., a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) signal) through the terminal 116 (e.g., terminal GATE) in order to close (e.g., to turn on) or open (e.g., to turn off) the switch 152 (e.g., M2) for normal operation of the system 100. A voltage divider circuit including the resistor 130 (e.g., R2) and the resistor 134 (e.g., R4) generates a voltage signal 179 based on at least information associated with the voltage signal 174 (e.g., Vbulk). The controller 102 detects the signal 179 at the terminal 106 (e.g., terminal Vs) in order to affect the power factor and determine the status of the TRIAC dimmer.
When the controller 102 changes the modulation signal 178 to close (e.g., to turn on) the switch 152 (e.g., M2), a primary current 180 flows through the primary winding 162, and a current-sensing signal 188 is generated through the resistor 154 (e.g., RS). The controller 102 detects the current-sensing signal 188 at the terminal 120 (e.g., terminal CS). For example, the peak values of the current-sensing signal 188 affect the signal 178 to open (e.g., to turn off) the switch 152 in each cycle. An auxiliary current 182 flows through the auxiliary winding 166 to charge the capacitor 150 (e.g., C1), and a voltage signal 184 is generated at the auxiliary winding 166. A voltage divider circuit including the resistor 146 (e.g., R5) and the resistor 148 (e.g., R6) generates a voltage signal 186 based on at least information associated with the voltage signal 184. The controller 102 receives the signal 186 at the terminal 114 (e.g., terminal ZCD) in order to detect the end of a demagnetization process associated with the transformer including the secondary winding 164. In addition, the capacitor 170 is used to maintain output voltage for stable current output to the LEDs 172. During the on period of the TRIAC dimmer 118, the power switch 132 (e.g., M1) is open (e.g., off). During the off period of the TRIAC dimmer 118, the power switch 132 is closed (e.g., on) to provide a bleeding current in order for the TRIAC dimmer 118 to operate normally.
FIG. 2 is a simplified conventional diagram of the controller 102 as shown in FIG. 1. The controller 102 includes a comparator 202, an error amplifier including a comparator 204 and a switch 205, a logic control component 206, a gate drive component 208, a signal generator 210 (e.g., a PWM signal generator), a multiplier 212, and a current regulation component 214. For example, the PWM signal generator is configured to generate one or more pulse-width-modulation signals. In another example, the PWM signal generator includes a comparator.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the comparator 204 receives the signal 179 and a threshold signal 226 in order to detect the status of the TRIAC dimmer 118, and outputs a dimming signal 228. The switch 205 is closed or open in response to the dimming signal 228 to affect the output current in order to adjust the brightness of the LEDs 172 (e.g., to adjust the brightness of the LEDs 172 linearly as a function of the output current). The current regulation component 214 receives the current sensing signal 188 at the terminal 120 (e.g., terminal CS) to detect the peak values of the primary current 180, and integrates the peak values of the primary current 180 over a demagnetization period associated with the transformer including the primary winding 162 and the secondary winding 164. The multiplier 212 receives a processed signal 216 from the current regulation component 214 and the voltage signal 179 from the terminal 106 (e.g., terminal VS) and generates an output signal 218.
The signal generator 210 receives the current sensing signal 188 and the output signal 218 and generates a signal 220. During an operating cycle, if the modulation signal 178 is at a logic high level and the switch 152 is closed (e.g., turned on), the primary current 180 flowing through the switch 152 increases in magnitude. In response the current sensing signal 188 increases in magnitude. If the signal 188 becomes larger than the output signal 218 in magnitude, the signal generator 210 changes the signal 220 and the controller 102 changes the signal 178 from the logic high level to a logic low level to open (e.g., to turn off) the switch 152. When the switch 152 is opened (e.g., turned off), the transformer including the primary winding 162 and the secondary winding 164 begins the demagnetization process.
The comparator 202 receives the signal 186 and a threshold signal 222 to detect whether the demagnetization process has completed. If the demagnetization process is determined to be completed, the comparator 202 outputs a signal 224 in order to change the signal 178 to the logic high level. During the off period of the TRIAC dimmer 118, the logic control component 206 outputs a signal 230 to close (e.g., to turn on) the switch 132 (e.g., M1) in order to provide a bleeding current for the normal operation of the TRIAC dimmer 118.
The system 100 has some disadvantages. For example, users can perceive the flickering of the LEDs 172 when the conduction angle of the TRIAC dimmer 118 is low (e.g., the portion of the conduction time smaller than 20% of an operating period of the TRIAC dimmer 118) or when the AC input voltage is high.
Hence it is highly desirable to improve the techniques of dimming control.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for dimming control using TRIAC dimmers

On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.


The present disclosure generally relates to a color indicator that signals when the concentration of an antimicrobial solution changes. In some embodiments, the color indicator is specific for changes in the concentration of an antimicrobial quaternary ammonium compound in an antimicrobial solution. The color indicator can be incorporated into a variety of articles including towels, labels, containers, buckets, trays, sinks, spray bottles, liners for containers, buckets, sinks, or spray bottles, indicator wands or strips, and test kits.

Maintaining adequate levels of antimicrobial concentration is necessary to ensure that an antimicrobial solution is effective at reducing microorganisms. This is important in areas that are sensitive to microorganisms like the food service or healthcare industries where microorganisms can cause food spoilage, illness, or infection. Frequently replacing an antimicrobial solution is one way to maintain the antimicrobial concentration. But, this may result in wasting active antimicrobial solution.

Real time indicator for quaternary ammonium compound concentration


An attachable brush for footwear, particularly suited for an umpire to clean dirt from home plate during a baseball game is herein disclosed. The footwear comprises a bristle portion along one (1) side and sized approximately one (1) inch wide and four (4) inches long, with the bristle portions being approximately one (1) inch. The brush body is attached to the footwear by means of a flap made of leather or similar resilient material. The flap is attached to the top of the brush body and is removably attached to the footwear by use of eyelets that would be interlocked with the shoelaces on the footwear. This enables the umpire to slightly lift his foot, allowing the brush to hang down, and sweep it back and forth over the home plate area. Its positioning would not allow it to interfere with walking or other activities when not being used.

In the game of baseball, it is necessary for an umpire to brush away dirt that has accumulated on home plate. This brushing action, typically done with a handheld brush, allows the batter and pitcher to clearly see where home plate is and subsequently where the strike zone is. However, this action requires the umpire to bend over, which not only takes time, but subjects the umpire to possible back stress and strain. Consequently, the umpire may not brush the plate as often as required thus compromising the strategies of the game for both teams. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which the brushing off of home plate can be accomplished in a manner which does not require the umpire to bend over. The development of the invention herein fulfills this need.
The present invention is footwear with an attachable brush that provides a brush along one side of one shoe that would be worn by umpires to clean the dirt from home plate during baseball games. The bristle area is envisioned to be approximately one (1) inch wide and four (4) inches long with the bristles approximately one (1) inch long themselves. The brush body is attached to the shoe by means of a flap made of leather or similar material. The flap is attached to the top of the brush and is removably attached to the shoe by use of eyelets that are interlocked with the shoelaces on the shoe. As such, the features of the invention allow the umpire to slightly lift his foot, allowing the brush to hang down, and sweep it back and forth over the home plate area. Its positioning would not allow it to interfere with walking or other activities when not being used. The use of the present invention provides umpires the ability to quickly, easily, and frequently clean home plate during baseball games without the necessity to bend over.
Several attempts have been made in the past to provide brush devices for cleaning an area. U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,090, issued in the name of Coleman, describes a kit for a baseball field that includes a brush for cleaning off home plate. However, unlike the present invention, the brush is not attached to a shoe and the Coleman brush requires a user to bend over to clean home plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,647, issued in the name of Durst, discloses a sporting event scraper brush for cleaning dirt and debris. However, the Durst device requires a user to bend over to clean an area and is not attached to a shoe.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,292,288, issued in the name of Fisher, discloses a brush for applying a liquid color or polish to a shoe. Unlike the present invention, the Fisher device does not attach to a shoe and would require a user to bend over to clean an area. Furthermore, the brush is not for cleaning an area but rather for applying polish to a shoe.
Additionally, various ornamental designs for brush devices have been provided, particularly, U.S. Pat. No. D 501,725. However, none of these designs are similar to the present invention.
The prior art appears to disclose various brush devices for cleaning an area. However, none of the prior art particularly describes an attachable brush for footwear comprising a bristle portion and a brush body attached to the footwear by means of a flap that is attached to the top of the brush body and is removably attached to the footwear by use of eyelets that would be interlocked with the shoelaces on the footwear that the instant invention possesses. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which the brushing off of home plate can be accomplished in a manner which does not require the umpire to bend over that operates without the disadvantages as described above.


An electric contact structure adopted for an LED comprises a nitride middle layer and an N-type metal electrode layer. The LED includes an N-type semiconductor layer, a light emission layer and a P-type semiconductor layer that are stacked to form a sandwich structure. The nitride middle layer is patterned and formed on the N-type semiconductor layer. The N-type metal electrode layer is formed on the nitride middle layer and prevented from being damaged by diffusion of the metal ions as the nitride middle layer serves as a blocking interface, thus electric property of the N-type semiconductor layer can be maintained stable. The nitride middle layer would not be softened and condensed due to long-term high temperature, thereby is enhanced adhesion. Moreover, the N-type metal electrode layer further can be prevented from peeling off, hence is increased the lifespan of the LED.

Light emitting diode (LED) mainly includes multiple layers of semiconductor materials formed by epitaxy. Take a blue LED as an example, it mainly formed by III-nitride based epitaxial films.
Please refer to FIG. 1 for a conventional vertical LED. It comprise an N-type semiconductor layer 1, a light emission layer 2 and a P-type semiconductor layer 3, and under the P-type semiconductor layer 3 in this order a mirror layer 4, a buffer layer 5, a bonding layer 6, a silicon substrate 7 and a P-type electrode 8. The surface of the N-type semiconductor layer 1 can be treated in a coarse process to enhance light extraction efficiency. The LED also can have an N-type electrode 9 located thereon. When a voltage is applied to the N-type electrode 9 and P-type electrode 8, the N-type semiconductor layer 1 provides electrons, and the P-type semiconductor layer 3 provides electric holes, then the electrons and electric holes are joined in the light emission layer 2 to generate light.
The N-type electrode 9 generally is made of metal, such as silver, aluminum, nickel or the like. The N-type electrode 9 is easily softened and condensed to become spherical shape due to high temperature and results in peeling off. After used for a period of time, metal ions slowly permeate into the N-type semiconductor layer 1 that causes unstable electric property and results in shortening lifespan of the LED. It still leaves a lot to be desired, especially in terms of durability.


The invention relates to toolholders and mechanisms for securing the toolholder to a lathe turret or tool indexer. One embodiment of the invention comprises a base adapted to be secured to a rotary lathe table via a mechanism receivable in slots or grooves which can be wedged and compressively secured about selected positions about an engagement surface. A second embodiment comprises a bore securable to a lathe table via both fastening and positioning mechanisms where the bore defines a dovetail groove receivable to a complementary tongue where the toolholder is securable to the bore in a cam locking mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to toolholders. More specifically, the present invention relates to toolholders and mechanisms for securing the toolholder to a lathe turret or tool indexer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional lathe turrets are designed with a plurality of toolholder positions capable of receiving toolholders needed to perform a variety of metal working operations such as turning, shaping, grooving and threading. The CHNC lathe is characterized by T-shaped slots adapted to receive the toolholder. A COBRA lathe is characterized by a groove or depression formed in the lathe table. When the lathe is set up with proper tools, it can be programmed to perform a variety of metal working operations in a predefined sequence without human intervention between metal working operations to change tools.
Such traditional toolholders have a number of disadvantages. One such disadvantage is the difficulty encountered in realigning the tool to set reference positions when the tool is changed or re-sharpened. In the past, time consuming and sometimes risky procedures have been necessary to establish these reference positions.
Another disadvantage of prior art toolholders include the difficulty of establishing the cutting edge of the tool on center-line with the work piece. To achieve proper alignment oftentimes entailed the use of shims or other modifications. Prior toolholders utilizing wedges also require the time consuming alignment procedures outlined above.

Houston Instrument Tooling Company, Inc.


Disclosed herein is a method of forming a thin film pattern on a semiconductor substrate, which comprises a step of forming a photosensitive thin film on a semiconductor substrate, a step of exposing the photosensitive thin film with a fine pattern, a step of performing ultrasonic treatment on the exposed thin film, and a step of developing the ultrasonic-treated thin film for forming a fine pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pattern forming method which is applied to an optical lithography step in a semiconductor fabrication process.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIGS. 9 to 12 are sectional views for illustrating a conventional pattern forming method.
Referring to FIG. 9, a photosensitive resist film 2 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 1.
Then, exposure beams 3 are applied to prescribed regions of the resist film 2 to form photosensitized regions 4, as shown in FIG. 10.
Then, the exposed resist film 2 and the semiconductor substrate 1 are heat treated, as shown in FIG. 11.
Then, the heat treated thin film 2 is developed to form a fine pattern, as shown in FIG. 12.
In the conventional method, the resist film 2 is heat treated in advance of development as shown in FIG. 11, for the following reason:
FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing standing waves of exposure beams, which are formed in a photosensitive thin film. In recent years, a semiconductor device has been improved in degree of integration, leading to refinement of a resist pattern therefor. In order to attain such refinement of the resist pattern, exposure beams to be applied to a resist film are prepared in the so-called coherent state, with employment of monochromatic light or light which is composed of a narrow band of wavelengths. Such coherent exposure beams cause a problem of a standing wave effect in the resist film. When coherent exposure beams 3 are applied to a resist film 2 as shown in FIG. 13, multiple reflection is caused between the underlayer for the resist film 2 and the surface thereof. The reflected light components, which progress in opposite directions, overlap with each other to form standing waves 5. Such interference of the exposure beams alternately causes portions having strong exposure intensity, which correspond to loops of the standing waves, and those having weak exposure intensity, which correspond to nodes thereof. Consequently, the portions having strong exposure intensity are alternately stacked with those having weak exposure intensity. When the resist film 2 is of a positive type, the portions having strong exposure intensity are easily developed while those having weak exposure intensity are hardly developed, to cause uneven development. Thus, it is impossible to form a resist pattern in high accuracy.
IEEE Transactions of Electron Devices, Vol. ED-22, No. 7, July 1975, pp. 464-466 discloses a conventional method for solving such a problem of the standing wave effect by heat treating an exposed film in advance of development.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view typically showing a state of heat treating an exposed thin film in accordance with the aforementioned conventional method. Upon such heat treatment, molecules 6 of a photosensitive material which is contained in a resist film 2 thermally move as typically shown in FIG. 14. Therefore, a waving section of a photosensitized region 4 is flattened, so that uneven development is averaged.
However, since the molecules of the photosensitive material thermally move in an isotropic manner upon heat treatment, the film is vibrated in both vertical and transverse directions. While uneven development is reduced by the vertical vibration, the transverse vibration causes deterioration of a fine pattern.
FIG. 15 illustrates concentration distribution of the photosensitive material contained in the thin film, which has been heat treated as shown in FIG. 14. As understood from FIG. 15, the concentration distribution of the photosensitive material is loosely increased and decreased in boundary portions between the photosensitized region and non-photosensitized regions, with no abrupt concentration change. Therefore, a pattern region to be developed is extremely changed depending on concentration of a developing solution or change of the developing time, to reduce accuracy in pattern formation.
Further, the resist film, which is formed of an organic substance, may be thermally denatured by such heat treatment according to the conventional method, to reduce accuracy of the resist pattern.


A transistor, integrated semiconductor device and methods of making are provided. The transistor includes a dielectric layer having a plurality of dielectric protrusions, a channel layer conformally covering the protrusions of the dielectric layer to form a plurality of trenches between two adjacent dielectric protrusion, a gate layer disposed on the channel layer. The gate layer 106 has a plurality of gate protrusions fitted into the trenches. The transistor also includes active regions aside the gate layer. The active regions are electrically connected to the channel layer.

In the semiconductor industry, there is constant desire to increase the areal density of integrated circuits. To do so, individual transistors have become increasingly smaller. However, the rate at which individual transistors may be made smaller is slowing. Moving peripheral transistors from the front-end-of-line (FEOL) to the back-end-of Line (BEOL) of fabrication may be advantageous because functionality may be added at the BEOL while valuable chip area may be made available in the FEOL. Thin film transistors (TFT) made of oxide semiconductors are an attractive option for BEOL integration since TFTs may be processed at low temperatures and thus, will not damage previously fabricated devices. However, thin film transistors are typically planar. As such, they have a relatively large areal footprint which prevents their use for routing and is therefore detrimental for chip area scaling.

Protrusion field-effect transistor and methods of making the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited


The device for removing water drops from an umbrella is constituted such that a number of water absorption members with elastic property are disposed at certain intervals radially in the inserting opening for an umbrella of the device body, the inserting space for the umbrella is in the central part of a number of water absorption members, thereby a closed rainy umbrella is inserted into the inserting space, the umbrella cloth is inserted into the clearance between the each adjacent water absorption member, then water drops on the umbrella cloth can be absorbed and removed by sliding the inserted umbrella in the direction of insertion of the umbrella, the device does not need such energy as electric energy, and water absorption is performed certainly and within only short time. In the device foundation promotion system the server which is connected preferably to a network performs processing of device foundation owner recruitment and advertiser recruitment on the device with advertisement, processing of acceptance of proposal of device foundation owner and advertiser, and processing transmittance of information necessary for the real device manager and promotes foundation of the device for removing water drops effectively and spreads the device.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a device for absorbing water drops from an umbrella and device foundation promotion system for promoting foundation of said device by interaction of information through network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally in such a building as a public institution and a store etc., a rainy umbrella under rainy weather is stood in a umbrella stand disposed in the gateway of the building, or is covered by a vinyl jacket in order to prohibit water drops from falling off the umbrella and on the ground in the building. Since useless expense is required because of trashing the vinyl jacket after only one use, now a device is utilized for drying a rainy umbrella compulsively by means of hot air flow or a device for throwing off water drops under centrifugal force by compulsory rotation of the umbrella. However since these devices are complex, have high cost, require energy such as electric power and so forth, and require much time for removing water drops, these devices are not widespread.

Device for removing water drops from an umbrella and foundation promotion system of the device


A medical punch includes a longitudinally dividable anvil with a reduced cross-sectional dimension facilitating insertion of the anvil into the vessel wall to achieve a clean aperture in the vessel wall by cooperative shearing action of a cutting edge and an anvil edge. In another embodiment, the instrument incorporates a measuring device for determining the thickness of a vessel wall between an anvil and a distal end of a cylindrical structure which together form a caliper, and the measuring device can also constitute a medical punch by cooperative shearing action of a cutting edge and an anvil to achieve a clean aperture in the vessel wall.

Medical punches are used in certain surgical procedures to cut tissue. For example, a blood vessel is cut using a medical punch, and surgical scalpels and/or scissors are first used to form an incision in the vessel. Typically, the medical punch includes an anvil which is first inserted into the incision. Then, a tube of the medical punch extends, and a cutting edge of the tube slides along the anvil, thus shearing the vessel tissue. Finally, the anvil and cutting edge of the tube of the medical punch are withdrawn from the incision following completion of such a cut.
The cutting edge of the distal end of the tube in conventional medical punches commonly includes a flat cutting edge having effectively no shearing angle and requiring the entire cutting edge to cut simultaneously into the vessel tissue during the cutting operation. Because the conventional medical punch accomplishes cutting of tissue by shearing, and effects this shearing by sliding a cutting edge past the anvil, the vessel tissue does not remain centralized and may shift slightly during the cut, and the cut thus produced is not always clean and accurate because some fraying may result. Moreover, because the vessel tissue is commonly very durable and the cutting edge of the tube is flat, the entire peripheral surface of the cut is effected at the same time, requiring a lot of hand pressure to successfully manipulate the medical punch through the tissue-cutting procedure. Additionally, because the vessel tissue does not remain centralized and shifts during the cutting operation, the vessel tissue has a tendency to gather to one side or the other of the anvil of the device. This often causes the device to become jammed with vessel tissue.
There is a need for an improved medical punch which does not have a tendency to jam, which can be used to obtain a very clean and accurate cut without any fraying, and which can be operated without excessive hand pressure. Further, with advances in other anastomosis-related technologies, there is a need for an improved medical punch that can be used on a blood vessel that is pressurized by blood flowing through it without having to place a clamp on the vessel to divert the blood away from the punched site.
In conventional medical punches, the anvil must be forced into the initial incision made by scalpels and/or scissors. This can result in problems if the incision is not large enough. Inserting the anvil into this small incision can result in tearing of the vessel tissue, and in difficulty operating the punch if the anvil must be awkwardly forced into position. The anvil can be more easily inserted if the incision is too large, but the procedure may result in leakage around the edges of the opening that is made by the punch and that is smaller than the insertion incision.
Medical punches disclosed in the prior art sometimes include a sharp tip that is pressed against the vessel wall to both make the incision and to then insert the anvil into the incision in one step. This avoids the need for a separate instrument to make the initial incision. However, this again involves difficulty in forcing the wider anvil base through a small hole in the vessel. This can result in tearing of vessel tissue and awkwardness in manipulation while trying to insert the anvil through the vessel wall. Putting a great deal of pressure on the punch to force the sharp tip into the vessel may involve the risk of forcing the tip too far and puncturing the opposite side of the vessel wall. Additionally, such a sharp-tipped device must be inserted into the body cavity and into the vicinity of the appropriate vessel without accidentally puncturing any other tissue in the path. A smaller anvil base could be incorporated into a one-step punch to allow for easier insertion. However, such a smaller anvil may not cut a sufficiently large hole as may not hold the intima layer of the vessel wall sufficiently firmly against the media layer after insertion into the vessel, resulting in a potentially dangerous separation of tissue layers within the vessel.
It is necessary in some surgical procedures to get an accurate measurement of the vessel wall thickness before using a medical punch to make an aperture in the vessel wall. Currently, epi-aortic scans allow for this form of measurement, but involve introduction of additional medical devices with concomitant risks to the patient.
There is a need for an improved medical punch that minimizes the problems of vessel wall tearing and difficult manipulation during anvil insertion, while still having a sufficient anvil width to clamp tissue layers within a vessel wall against separation during formation of an aperture in the vessel wall. There is a need for a one-step punch with little risk of puncturing or traumatizing unintended tissues. There is also a need for a device for measuring the thickness of a vessel wall easily and accurately during the tissue punching procedure, and without the need for introduction of a separate measuring device into the patient.


The present invention provides fully renewable engine fuels derived completely from biomass sources. In one embodiment the fully renewable engine fuel is comprised of one or more low carbon number esters, one or more pentosan-derivable furans, one or more aromatic hydrocarbon, one or more C4-C10 straight chain alkanes derivable from polysaccharides, and one or more bio-oils. In addition, the fuel may contain triethanolamine. Such a lower octane renewable fuel may be utilized, for example, in automobile fuel, 100 LL aviation fuel applications, and turbine engine applications. These ethanol-based, fully renewable fuels may be formulated to have a wide range of octane values and energy, and may effectively be used to replace 100 LL aviation fuel (known as AvGas), as well as high octane, rocket, diesel, and turbine engine fuels. In another embodiment, there is provided a synthetic high octane aviation fuel comprising isopentane and mesitylene, and process of producing same from a biomass.

With the end of cheap oil and the mounting peak of world oil production, it is recognized that petroleum is a non-renewable resource and will eventually be depleted. This realization has sparked a renewed interest in the development of renewable sources for fuel. This is particularly true in the case of aviation fuels used in internal combustion engines, as well as for jet fuels.
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for setting the technical standards for aviation fuels. Currently, the FAA uses as a standard for aviation fuel the 100 LL aviation gasoline. To qualify as a 100 octane aviation fuel, any new fuel must comply with the current aviation gasoline specification ASTM D910. This is true whether the new fuel is based on petroleum or a chemical or chemical combination.
Ethanol-based fuels for internal combustion engines have been available for roughly five decades. The State of California originated mandatory oxygenation of motor fuels, which includes ethanol-based fuels, partly to decrease the wholesale cost of fuel, and to a lesser extent to reduce air pollution per gallon of gasoline consumed. Effectively, since ethanol-based fuels have lower energy, pollution is generally increased per mile. A key benefit of ethanol-based fuels is that they have a slightly higher octane number than ethanol-free gasoline. This is the reason many oil companies provide high ethanol containing premium fuels and lower ethanol regular grades of gasoline. Renewable fuels made from some chemical species other than ethanol have been found to exhibit significantly higher octane numbers and increased energy per unit volume when compared to commercial fuels and ethanol-based fuels.
Octane (Power)
Octane number is a measure of the effectiveness of power production. It is a kinetic parameter, therefore difficult to predict. Oil companies compiled volumes of experimental octane data (for most hydrocarbons) for the Department of Defense in the 1950's. The method used to obtain this dynamic parameter is discussed in the next paragraph. 2,2,4-trimethyl pentane (isooctane) has a defined octane number of 100, and n-heptane has a defined octane number of 0, based on experimental tests. Octane numbers are linearly interpolated and extrapolated by this method, hence predictions for mixes can be made once pure sample values are determined.
Automobile gasoline is placarded at the pump as the average of Research and Motor octane numbers. These correlate to running a laboratory test engine (CFR) under less severe and more severe conditions, respectively. True octane numbers lie between the Research and Motor octane values. Aviation fuel has a "hard" requirement of 100 MON (motor octane number); ethanol has a MON of 96, which makes its use only viable when mixed with other higher octane components. Conventional 100 LL (i.e., 100 octane low lead) contains about 3 ml of tetraethyl lead per gallon.
Range (Energy)
The inherent energy contained within gasoline is directly related to mileage, not to octane number. Automobile gasoline has no energy specification, hence no mileage specification. In contrast, aviation fuels, a common example being 100 LL (100 octane low lead), have an energy content specification. This translates to aircraft range and to specific fuel consumption. In the octane examples above, i-octane and n-heptane had values of 100 and 0, respectively. From an energy perspective, they contain heat of combustion values of 7.84 and 7.86 kcal/ml, respectively, which is the reverse of what one would expect based on power developed. Aircraft cannot compromise range due to the sensitivity of their missions. For this reason, energy content is equally important as MON values.
The current production volume of 100 LL is approximately 850,000 gallons per day. 100 LL has been designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the last fuel in the United States to contain tetraethyl lead. This exemption will likely come to an end in the near future (2010).
Although a number of chemical compounds have been found to satisfy the motor octane number for 100 LL octane aviation fuel, they fail to meet a number of other technical requirements for aviation fuel. This is true, for example, for isopentane, 90 MON, and trimethyl benzene 136 MON.
Pure isopentane fails to qualify as an aviation fuel because it does not pass the ASTM specification D909 for supercharge ON, ASTM specification D2700 for motor octane number, and ASTM specification D5191 for vapor pressure.
Pure sym-trimethyl benzene (mesitylene) also fails to qualify as an aviation fuel because it does not pass ASTM specification D2386 for freeze point, ASTM specification D5191 for vapor pressure, and ASTM specification D86 for the 10% distillation point. Table 3 herein shows these test results and the ASTM standard for both isopentane and trimethyl benzene.
The fermentation of a biomass using microbes to produce acetone and butanol was first discovered by Chaim Weizmann in 1916 and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,315,585 and other corresponding patents throughout the world. This process known as the Weizmann process was used by both Great Britain and the United States in World Wars I and II to produce acetone for the production of cordite used in making smokeless powder.
A number of methods are known for making mesitylene from acetone and include, for example:
liquid phase condensation in the presence of strong acids, e.g. sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,267,165 (1966);
vapor phase condensation with tantalum containing catalysts as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,917,561 (1959);
vapor phase condensation using as catalyst the phosphates of the metals of group IV of the periodic system of elements, e.g. titanium, zirconium, hafnium and tin as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,94,079 (1976);
vapor phase reaction in the presence of molecular hydrogen and a catalyst selected from alumina containing chromia and boria as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,201,485 (1965);
vapor phase reaction using catalysts containing molybdenum as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,301,912 (1967) or tungsten as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,425,096, a vapor phase reaction over a niobium supported catalyst with high selectivity. The catalyst is preferably made by impregnating a silica support with an ethanolic solution of NCl5 or an aqueous solution of Nb in order to deposit 2% Nb by weight and by calcining the final solid at 550° C. for 18 hours. At 300° C., the condensation of acetone produces mainly mesitylene (70% selectivity) at high conversion (60-80% wt) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,781.
It is also known in the art to dimerize acetone to form isopentane. This process involves first dimerizing acetone to form diacetone alcohol which is then dehydrated to form mesitytl oxide. The mesityl oxide then undergoes gas phase reformation hydrogenation to form isopentane.
It is an object of the present invention to provide renewable fuels that effectively replaces 100 LL aviation gasoline with an unleaded, fully renewable alternative.
It is another object of the present invention to provide fully renewable fuels for other internal combustion/heat engines as well.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide high energy renewable fuels for use in turbines and other heat engines by the same methodology; the energy content and physical properties of the renewable components being tailored to the type of engine to be fueled.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a binary mixture of components which meet the technical specifications for aviation fuel of 100 LL octane.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a non-petroleum based aviation fuel of 100 LL octane which meets the technical specifications of the Federal Aviation Administration for 100 LL octane petroleum-based aviation fuels.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a process for the production from a biomass of the components of a binary chemical mixture which satisfies the technical specifications for 100 LL octane aviation fuel.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a process for the production of a new chemical based 100 LL octane aviation fuel from renewable sources.


Disclosed are (S)-2,3-dihydropolyprenol of formula (I) ##STR1## wherein m is 7 or 8 and (S)-2,3-dihydropolyprenyl monophosphate of formula (II) ##STR2## wherein m is 7 or 8 as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. They are useful as a medicament for inhibiting the growth and/or metastasis of cancers.

In our country, cancers are the first of death causes among various diseases. Further, recent statistics show that the number of deaths from cancers is yearly increasing. There are a variety of views about its cause, but it has been desired to establish at once a new method for the treatment of cancers.
A variety of methods for the treatment of cancers have hitherto been attempted, including surgical operation, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, alone or in combination. In particular, surgical operation is highly effective in the removal of primary cancers, but it is inoperative for inoperable organ cancers and cancers in which a tumor metastasis is initiating. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are often applied to inoperable primary cancers in organs or metastatic cancers. However, they have a tendency to injure a normal cell, which results in appearance of undesirable side effects such as reduction of immunological, metabolic and hematogenous functions, thus the scope of the application being limited. Even if growth of cancers in the specific region of the body is successfully inhibited by such radiotherapy or chemotherapy, growth of metastatic cancers in other regions may often lead to death of the patient.
Many reports state that the racemate, 2,3-dihydropolyprenol compounds have low side effects to an organism with the activities for suppressing the growth and metastasis of cancers (Japanese Patent Kokoku Hei 4-52251, Japanese Patent Kokai Hei 2-11513, Japanese Patent Kokai Hei 2-25415, Cancer Letters, 1991, vol. 57, 159-163). However, those compounds are not satisfactory for therapeutic agents for cancers.
Under such circumstances, there is a continuing desire to develop compounds having lower side effects to an organism and more potent inhibitory activities against the growth or metastasis of cancers than prior compounds.

(S)-2,3-dihydropolyprenyl, monophosphate, and agents for inhibiting the metastasis of cancers


Provided are constructs and methods for expressing multiple genes in plant cells and/or plant tissues using a disclosed bidirectional promoter from Brassica napus or Brassica bidirectional constitutive promoter (BBCP). The constructs provided comprise at least one such bi-directional promoter linked to multiple gene expression cassettes, wherein each of the gene expression cassettes comprises at least one transgene. In some embodiments, the constructs and methods provided allow expression of genes between two and twenty.

Many plant species are capable of being transformed with transgenes from other species to introduce agronomically desirable traits or characteristics, for example, improving nutritional value quality, increasing yield, conferring pest or disease resistance, increasing drought and stress tolerance, improving horticultural qualities (such as pigmentation and growth), imparting herbicide resistance, enabling the production of industrially useful compounds and/or materials from the plant, and/or enabling the production of pharmaceuticals. The introduction of transgenes into plant cells and the subsequent recovery of fertile transgenic plants that contain a stably integrated copy of the transgene can be used to produce transgenic plants that possess the desirable traits.
Control and regulation of gene expression can occur through numerous mechanisms. Transcription initiation of a gene is a predominant controlling mechanism of gene expression. Initiation of transcription is generally controlled by polynucleotide sequences located in the 5′-flanking or upstream region of the transcribed gene. These sequences are collectively referred to as promoters and are categorized as a gene regulatory element. Promoters in plants that have been cloned and widely used for both basic research and biotechnological application are generally unidirectional, directing only one gene that has been fused at its 3′ end (i.e., downstream). See, for example, Xie et al. (2001) Nat. Biotechnol. 19(7):677-9; U.S. Pat. No. 6,388,170.
Additional gene regulatory elements include sequences that interact with specific DNA-binding factors. These sequence motifs are sometimes referred to as cis-elements, and are usually position- and orientation-dependent, though they may be found 5′ or 3′ to a gene's coding sequence, or in an intron. Such cis-elements, to which tissue-specific or development-specific transcription factors bind, individually or in combination, may determine the spatiotemporal expression pattern of a promoter at the transcriptional level. These cis-elements vary widely in the type of control they exert on operably linked genes. Some elements act to increase the transcription of operably-linked genes in response to environmental responses (e.g., temperature, moisture, and wounding). Other cis-elements may respond to developmental cues (e.g., germination, seed maturation, and flowering) or to spatial information (e.g., tissue specificity). See, for example, Langridge et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:3219-23.
It is often necessary to introduce multiple genes into plants for metabolic engineering and trait stacking, which genes are frequently controlled by identical or homologous promoters. However, homology-based gene silencing (HBGS) is likely to arise when multiple introduced transgenes have homologous promoters driving them. See e.g., Mol et al. (1989) Plant Mol. Biol. 13:287-94. HBGS has been reported to occur extensively in transgenic plants. See e.g., Vaucheret and Fagard (2001) Trends Genet. 17:29-35. Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain the phenomena of HBGS, all of which include the feature that sequence homology in the promoter triggers cellular recognition mechanisms that result in silencing of the repeated genes. See e.g., Matzke and Matzke (1995) Plant Physiol. 107:679-85; Meyer and Saedler (1996) Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 47:23-48; Fire (1999) Trends Genet. 15:358-63; Hamilton and Baulcombe (1999) Science 286:950-2; and Steimer et al. (2000) Plant Cell 12:1165-78.
Strategies to avoid HBGS in transgenic plants frequently involve the development of various promoters that are functionally equivalent but have minimal sequence homology. Thus, there remains a need for constructs and methods for stable expression of multiple transgenes effectively with minimum risk for recombination or loss of transgenes through breeding or multiple generations in transgenic plants.

Construct and method for expressing transgenes using a


A method for processing a workpiece with a processing device which has a processing head which can be moved at a defined speed and distance from a surface of the workpiece, the method comprising at least partially detecting a surface topography of the workpiece to be processed, determining a minimum desired operating distance of the processing head from the workpiece with reference to the detected surface topography of the workpiece and a trailing spacing of the processing head associated with the defined speed, and processing the workpiece with the processing head at the established minimum desired operating distance of the processing head from the workpiece.

In current processing devices, to process a workpiece the operating spacing between a processing head and a workpiece is in most cases continually monitored and controlled with respect to a fixedly predetermined desired operating spacing. To this end, the processing head is moved during the processing operation towards the workpiece or away from the workpiece along at least one of the movement axes thereof.
For an optimum processing result on the workpiece, the smallest possible operating spacing of the processing head from the workpiece is often desired. This is particularly the case during thermal separation cutting operations or also in many welding applications. In such processing operations, sometimes costly process fluids (e.g., inert or active gases) are often used, the consumption of which increases as the operating spacing of the processing head from the workpieces to be processed increases.
In practice, the workpieces to be processed often have a surface which is not planar over the entire surface. For instance, in metal sheets there are occurrences of surface undulation which may originate, for example, from a previous production process of the metal sheets or also the arrangement thereof in a tool receiving member of the processing device used. Furthermore, the metal sheets may be thermally deformed by the processing operation. The metal sheets may also be arranged in an oblique manner with the surface thereof in the workpiece receiving member with respect to a movement axis of the processing head.
In industrial mass production, the processing head for processing the workpiece must be moved at high speed over the workpiece for reasons of economy. In this respect, the processing head during such applications cannot readily be moved with respect to the workpiece with a small operating spacing of, for example, 0.3 mm from the workpiece. The processing head, even with highly dynamically configured systems has a deviation of the actual position thereof from the desired position thereof in accordance with the respective movement speed, that is to say, a so-called trailing spacing, along the movement axes thereof. Taking into account the variable surface topography of the workpieces in the case of an excessively small desired operating spacing of the processing head from the workpiece, collisions of the processing head with the workpiece may occur. In addition to the resulting undesirable interruptions to the process, this may lead to damage of the processing head (for example, the focusing lens of a laser processing head) or the workpiece. This is disadvantageous for the processing result and the efficiency of the method.

Method for processing a workpiece and processing device


A blistering machine for producing blister packs has a production line, which includes consecutively: at least one thermoforming station of a first continuous band of thermoformable material; a station for feeding the products and filling the blister band; a feeding station of a second band, feeding the second band over the blister band; a closing station, including two opposite rollers; and a cutting station, in which the blister pack band is cut into respective blister packs. A tension mechanism is situated upstream of the closing station, to cooperate with the rollers of the closing station, to perform a selected tension on at least the first band.

At present, a known blistering machine M for producing blister packs, according to FIG. 1 (prior art) includes: a station 1, in which a first continuous band 2 of thermoformable material (e.g. PVC) is thermoformed to define a blister band with blisters 3 containing products 4, the blister band 2 being fed continuously along a determined feeding path A having a varying course; a station 5 for feeding products 4, having a unit for filling each blister 3 with a relevant product 4; a station 6 for feeding a second continuous band 7 (e.g. aluminium), feeding continuously the second continuous band 7 over the blister band 2 filled with the products 4; a station 8 for closing the first blister band 2 with the second band 7 by heat-sealing, in order to obtain a continuous blister pack band NB.
Downstream of the closing station 8, along the feeding path A with varying route, there is also a station 9, where the continuous blister pack band NB is stamped or punched, and a station 10, where the continuous blister pack band NB is pre-cut, to define pre-cut lines on the continuous blister pack band NB.
Afterwards, the continuous blister pack band NB with the pre-cut lines is divided, e.g. by cutting in a cutting station R, to define a plurality of single blister packs B.
Downstream of the cutting station R, the single blister packs B are withdrawn and fed to a boxing unit C, to be packaged in suitable boxes in known way.
Generally, the closing station 8 has two opposed rollers linked to each other, that is it includes a first, driving lower and recessed roller, that is having circumferential grooves 12a for housing blisters 3 with products 4, and a second roller 13, situated opposite and above the driving roller 12 and provided with heating means, to heat and pressure join the two bands 2 and 7, as they are placed one over the other.
As it can be seen in the machine M of FIG. 1, joining of the two bands, which results in the continuous blister pack band NB, occurs in a tangential line between the opposite rollers 12, 13, while an efficient grip while pulling the blister pack band NB is obtained due to the contact of the blister pack band NB along a wide arc defined on the peripheral surface of the driving roller 12a. The band NB is driven through a bending roller 11 and along an acute angle section of the feeding path A, downstream of the closing station 8 and defining a loop K.
The idler roller 11, defining the loop K and allowing best grip by the driving roller 12 on the band NB, can also oscillate between different working positions, in order to allow to make up for the continuous feeding of the band NB along the path A: this oscillation is necessary, because a continuous feeding of the bands 2 and 7, and consequently of the band NB must match with an operation of the stamping station 9 and the pre-cutting station 10, which in the known blistering machines, occurs in an intermittent way.

Blistering machine for producing blister packs

I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatichie S.p.A.