A powdered medicine multi-dose administering device has a medicine container unit (5b) for containing a unit-dose of medicine under the lower surface of the medicine storage chamber (5a) storing the medicine in a multi-dose amount. A medicine guiding unit (2) moves between a filling position and an administering position while maintaining a contact with the bottom surface. At the filling position, the medicine container unit is opened to the medicine storage chamber and is filled with the medicine. As the medicine container unit moves from the filling position to the administering position, the powdered medicine in the medicine container unit is swept and metered. At the administering position, the medicine in the medicine container unit is injected by the action of the pump unit (3) through a filter (6) and a pipe (2g, 2d, 2c).

The present invention relates to a device for feeding a powder in a predetermined amount and a method thereof. As a typical example, the present invention relates to a multi-dose powdered medicine administering device.
More specifically, the invention relates to a powdered medicine multi-dose administering device by which a powdered medicine of an amount of plural times of administration operations stored in the-device body is extracted and weighed into a unit dose of powdered medicine of a constant quantity, which is a very small amount, and is sprayed.
The invention further provides a relatively inexpensively constructed multi-dose powdered medicine administering device by which a unit dose of powdered medicine can be consecutively and precisely extracted and administered into the body cavity such as the nasal cavity, oral cavity, trachea, bronchus or lung, or into any other diseased part by spraying or inhalation, the device being sanitary, suited to being carried and easy to use.
Powdered medicine can be administered into a body cavity such as the nasal cavity, oral cavity or airway by means of spraying or inhalation. For example, the powdered medicine is administered by spraying into the nasal cavity of a patient suffering from a nasal allergy, or is administered by inhalation into the air ways of a patient suffering from asthma. For a patient suffering from stomatitis, the powdered medicine is administered by spraying into the oral cavity. Recently, attention has been given to a drug delivery system in which a medicine is absorbed into the bloodstream through the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity or lung, and it has been attempted to administer powdered medicine via a mucous membrane. Peptide/proteinous drugs such as insulin and calcitonin, as well as drugs which must exhibit immediate effect such as migraine-relieving drug and the like drugs have been produced in the form of powdery orally administering agents or inhalable agents that can be conveniently used as substitutes for injected drugs, and it has been frequently reported that such drugs are more favorably absorbed than the orally administered drugs.
To administer the powdered medicine, a powdered medicine administering device is used. Powdered medicine administering devices are roughly classified into one of the two types according to the system for storing the powdered medicine.
In the first type of powdered medicine administering device, a powdered medicine in an amount of a unit-dose administering operation is accommodated in the administering device or in an appropriate container such as a capsule. Therefore, a unit-dose of powdered medicine is administered at each administering operation. This includes those of the disposable type that are discarded after each administering operation.
In the second type of powdered medicine administering devices, a powdered medicine in an amount of many times-of administering operations is accommodated in an appropriate container. Each time an administering operation is carried out, an accurate unit-dose of powdered medicine is extracted from the container and is administered.
In the present invention, the amount of powdered medicine to be administered in a single operation is defined as a xe2x80x9cunit-dosexe2x80x9d, and the amount of powdered medicine to be administered in a plurality of operations. is defined as a xe2x80x9cmulti-dosexe2x80x9d.
As an example of the powdered medicine unit-dose administering device, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 59-34267 discloses one which sprays the powdered medicine into the nasal cavity. In these administering devices, in general, a unit-dose of the powdered medicine is contained in a container such as a capsule, and provision is made of means for piercing the container and air stream introduction means for spraying the powdered medicine from the container into the nasal cavity of a patient. As an example of the disposable unit-dose administering device, International Patent Publication No. 2-500172 discloses an administering device which contains a fine powdery medicine, and includes a holding unit forming an opening in the head portion thereof for spraying the medicine so as to be inhaled, and air introduction means, the bottom of the holding unit being communicated with the air introduction means through an air-permeable diaphragm which does not permit the passage of the medicine. Further, WO 97/04826. discloses an administering device which is an improvement on the above device.
Concerning the unit-dose inhaler by which powdered medicine is inhaled into the air ways, a large number of devices have been proposed. For example, there is provided an inhaler employing capsules that are usually used pharmacologically. In each capsule, a unit-dose of powdered medicine is accommodated. Each administering device is provided with means for piercing the capsule. After the capsule is pierced, the powdered medicine is administered by the air flow created by the inhaling action of the user. The administering devices have their features in the air flow at the time of inhaling and in the state of the capsule. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,906,950 and 4,013,075 disclose devices in which both ends of the capsule are pierced and the capsule remains stationary during the inhalation, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,400 discloses the one in which the capsule moves during the inhalation.
As an example of a multi-dose administering device, the specification of WO 94/26338 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,900xe2x80x94Makino et al.) discloses one which administers the medicine by spraying. This specification discloses a device comprising a storage chamber detachably attached to the device body and storing multi-dose of medicine, a container chamber having a unit dose capacity, medicine distribution means movably attached to the device body and communicated at the filling position with the storage chamber and with the container chamber to administer the medicine in the container chamber, and pumping means communicated at the filling position with the container chamber to inject air into the storage chamber to stir up the medicine in the storage chamber, wherein the container chamber is filled with a predetermined amount of powdered medicine after stirring as it is transferred from the storage chamber by the sucking force created by the pumping means or by gravity.
As a nasal cavity administering device, European Patent Publication No. 0744188 discloses a nasal cavity applicator comprising a manual air-flow supply source for spraying powdered medicine, a storage chamber for storing multi-dose of powdered medicine, a pipe for passing the powdered medicine, and means for distributing the multi-dose of powdered medicine into a unit doses of powdered medicine. Means for distributing the powdered medicine includes a drum-shaped powdered medicine storage chamber and a rotary sleeve having, on the inside thereof, a plurality of container chambers for containing a unit doses of medicine.
As a device for administering powdered medicine into the air ways by inhalation, European Patent Publication No. 0211595 discloses a device in which a disk-shaped pack is loaded into the device, and a series of bubbles are arranged around the pack under the condition that the distances from the bubbles to the center of the pack are the same. A predetermined quantity (unit-dose) of powdered medicine is accommodated in each bubble. This pack is put on the rotary circular tray about the center axis. The tray has holes at positions corresponding to the bubbles, and when each bubble is moved to a position where it is broken by an appropriate opening device, powdered medicine is taken out from the bubble and is inhaled.
Further, European Patent Publication No. 0069715 discloses the following device. This administering device includes a container, accommodating a predetermined quantity of medicine, and a device for taking out powdered medicine accommodated in the container so as to prepare for the administration of the medicine. The administration preparation device is composed of a plate having a predetermined thickness and a predetermined number of through-holes. The plate is capable of moving from a position at which the through-holes are partly filled with powdered medicine taken out from the container by a mechanical means, to a position at which the holes filled with the medicine are located in the passage. When the user inhales through an inhalation port communicated with the passage, the air enters into the passage, so that the powdered medicine can be taken out from the through-hole. There is provided a scraper, which scrapes the powdered medicine on the container side in the through-hole formed in the plate. According to this specification, the through-holes are completely filled by the action of the scraper. Therefore, a constant dose can be ensured. According to this specification, it is described that the scraper is optionally provided. However, in order to appropriately operate the inhaler, it is necessary to provide the scraper because the doses differ greatly without the scraper. This is because the powdered medicine in many cases has poor fluidity and it frequently occurs that the through-holes are not completely filled with the powdered medicine.
Though many administering devices have heretofore been contrived, they have their problems as described above.
When a unit-dose administering device is compared with a multi-dose administering device, the multi-dose administering device is preferred from the viewpoint of convenience and marketability. This is because, in the case of the unit-dose administering device as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 59-34267, a container such as capsule is necessary to contain a unit-dose of medicine and, besides, the device must be equipped with means for piercing the container. Therefore, the user must mount the container containing the powdered medicine and must pierce it according to the instruction of the administering device. This is never convenient for the user. The user must carry with him the administering device as well as the container containing the powdered medicine, which is not convenient, either. The specification of WO 97/04826 discloses a device which requires a simplified administering operation. In this case, however, the user who needs a plurality of times of administration must use an administering device containing a plural number of unit-dose medicines, accompanied by a problem from the viewpoint of portability.
The multi-dose administering device is free from the defect related to convenience inherent in the unit-dose administering device but is accompanied by another important problem. That is, it is very difficult to consecutively and quantitatively extract and administer the powdered medicine in an amount necessary for a unit-dose of administration from a large amount of the powdered medicine in a collected form, due to changes in the density of the collected powdered medicine.
Several contrivances have been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. For example, European Patent Publication No. 0069715 mentioned above discloses a method-of continuously filling through-holes of a predetermined capacity with the powdery medicine while holding the hole with a scraper or the like. Even with this method, however, the bulk density of the powdered medicine changes when the administering device as a whole is vibrated, whereby the through-holes of the predetermined amount are filled with varying amounts of the medicine; i.e., the medicine is not administered in a constant amount to the living body. European Patent Publication No. 0744188 discloses means for quantitatively dividing the medicine, i.e., discloses a rotary sleeve equipped with a drum-shaped powdered medicine storage chamber and a container chamber formed on the inside thereof for containing plural unit-dosage medicines. However, the device is relatively complex, uses a large number of parts which are difficult to mold and, hence, is expensive.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 3-18376 discloses a multi-dose administering device in which a large quantity of powdered medicine is compressed, and the compressed body of powdered medicine is continuously and quantitatively divided and peeled into pieces. According to this method, the powdered medicine is compressed to ensure a predetermined quantity of the divided medicine. Even with this method, however, when the administering device is vibrated, the bulk density of the compressed powdered medicine changes, resulting in a change in the weight of the compressed powdered medicine that is peeled off. Therefore, the medicine is not administered in a constant amount to the living body. Further, means for uniformly dividing the powdered medicine is relatively complex. To put it into clinical use, therefore, problems are involved such as difficulty in the molding and cost of production.
The specification of WO 94/96338 teaches a multi-dose administering device in which the air- flow passes into the powdered medicine collected in the storage chamber just prior to the dividing operation, the. medicine in the collected form is moved in space in the storage chamber to prevent a change in the density of the powdered medicine and the powdered medicine of an amount of a unit-dose is contained in the powdered medicine container chamber, due to the sucking force and/or gravity, so that the unit-dose of medicine is continuously and quantitatively administered after being divided. However, this device includes a storage unit, a medicine container chamber for containing medicine of a unit-dose, a medicine-metering means and a pumping means and, further, requires a sufficient space for moving the powdered medicine without causing a change in the density. Thus, as the device needs complex parts and is bulky, it is not suited for being carried.
It is desired that the powdered medicine is dispersed into primary particles at a moment when the medicine separates away from the administering device and settles on the administered portion. However, it has been known that the particles cohere during the preservation to form secondary particles; i.e., the particle size distribution shifts toward the larger side. It is therefore desired that even if the powdered medicine is cohered in the administering device during the storage, the powdered medicine is dispersed again into the primary particles at the time when it leaves the administering device.
In a system in which the medicine is divided, in a predetermined volume, into a unit dose in the medicine-containing chamber, the weight of the divided medicine undergoes a change when the bulk density of the powdered medicine changes depending upon the lot number of the medicine. It is therefore desired to adjust the volume of the medicine that is administered depending upon a change in the bulk-density of the medicine.
As described above, none of the conventional powdered medicine administering devices satisfy the requirements of metering the medicine to be administered, providing portability by decreasing the size, easy operability, quick operability, easy production steps, simple constituent parts, low cost of production, and a good dispersing property of the powdered medicine particles.
In view of the above-mentioned problems and assignments of the prior art, the present invention provides a powdered medicine multi-dose administering device that is described below.
That is, the object of the present invention is to provide a powdered medicine multi-dose administering device which satisfies the requirements of spraying the medicine in a predetermined amount, having a small size (portability), an easy and quick operation, an easy production steps, a dispersion of the powdered medicine and a decreased number of parts and low cost.
That is, the present invention is concerned with a powdered medicine multi-dose administering device comprising: means for defining a medicine storage chamber capable of storing a multi-dose amount of powdered medicine; a medicine container unit provided under the bottom surface of said medicine storage chamber and is capable of containing a single-dose amount of powdered medicine; a medicine guiding unit capable of moving between a filling position and an administering position while remaining in contact with the bottom surface of said medicine storage chamber, and, when moved to the filling position, causes said medicine container unit to be opened to said medicine storage chamber through opening means and, when moved to the administering position, causes said medicine container unit to be closed with respect to said medicine storage chamber and causes said medicine container unit to be communicated with the exterior of the device through a pipe; means operated from the outer side of the device to move said medicine guiding unit between the filling position and the administering position; and a pump unit capable of blowing the air into said medicine container unit through a filter provided in the bottom of said medicine container unit; wherein said medicine guiding unit, at the filling position, enables said medicine container unit to be filled with the powdered medicine from said medicine storage chamber through said opening means, sweeps and meters the powdery medicine in said medicine container unit into the amount of one time of administering operation as it moves from the filling position to the administering position, and, at the administering position, permits the powdery medicine in said medicine container unit to be injected out of the device, together with the air, through said pipe when said pump unit is operated.
According to the present invention, the medicine guiding unit can be easily moved upon being operated from the outer side of the device. When the medicine guiding unit is at the filling position, the powdered medicine in the powdered medicine storage chamber falls into the medicine container unit through opening means provided in the medicine guiding unit, and is filled therein. When the medicine guiding unit moves from the filling position to the administering position, the powdered medicine in the medicine container unit is swept and is metered into the amount of one time of administering operation corresponding to the content of the medicine container portion. Thereafter, the medicine container portion is closed. When the medicine guiding portion further moves to arrive at the administering position, the opening of the pipe of the medicine guiding unit comes into match with the medicine container unit. Upon operating the pump unit, therefore, the air is blown into the medicine container unit, and the powdered medicine in the medicine container unit is ejected, together with the air, out of the device through the pipe.
The medicine storage chamber and the medicine container portion are molded integrally together by using a resin to define a body of the device. This makes it possible to simplify the structure of the device body including the medicine storage chamber and the medicine container unit, and to easily produce the device body.
The medicine guiding unit includes a lower disk-like portion and a pole-like portion extending upward from the disk-like portion, which are integrally molded together using a resin, the opening means is so formed as to penetrate vertically through the disk-like portion, and the pipe is opened at its one end on the lower surface of the disk-like portion and is opened at its other end in the upper end of the pole-like portion. The medicine guiding unit is molded as a unitary structure using a resin. Therefore, the opening means and the pipe work to fill and administer the powdered medicine.
The device body is nearly of a cylindrical shape, the disk-like portion of the medicine guiding unit has a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the medicine storage chamber of the device body, and the medicine guiding unit is allowed to rotate between the filling position and the administering position over a predetermined angular range. Therefore, the medicine guiding unit can be changed over between the filling position and the administering position relying simply upon the rotary operation.
The device body has a closure unit on the medicine storage unit, the closure unit has a shaft hole at the center thereof for passing through the pole-like portion of the medicine guiding unit, and the medicine storage chamber is sealed with the closure unit, medicine storage unit and medicine guiding unit. Thus, the sealing of the medicine storage chamber is maintained, preventing undesired leakage of the powdered medicine.
The bottom surface of the disk-like portion of the medicine guiding unit comes in contact with the bottom surface of the medicine storage chamber, the upper and lower positions of the medicine guiding unit are limited by a contact portion formed on the pole-like portion so as to come into contact with the closure unit, and the bottom surface of the disk-like portion of the medicine guiding unit is brought into intimate contact with the bottom surface of the medicine storage chamber. This maintains an intimate contact between the bottom surface of the disk-like portion of the medicine guiding unit and the bottom surface of the medicine storage chamber, to guarantee correct metering of the powdered medicine and reliable operation.
The medicine guiding unit has a shaft of a circular shape in cross section formed in the upper part of the junction portion of the pole-like portion so as to be fitted to the shaft hole of the closure unit, and has a shaft of a non-circular shape in cross section formed in the upper part thereof, the means operated from the outer side of the device to move the medicine guiding unit between the filling position and the administering position, is a rotary spray metering change-over device which has a non-circular hole that fits to the shaft of a non-circular shape in cross section of the pole portion of the medicine guiding unit, and the medicine guiding unit moves between the filling position and the administering position being interlocked to the rotational operation of the change-over device. By simply rotating the rotary spray metering change-over device from the outside of the device, therefore, the medicine guiding unit can be changed over between the filling position and the administering position, facilitating the operation.
The rotary spray metering change-over device includes a cylindrical portion having a large diameter and a cylindrical portion having a small diameter, that are molded integrally together using a resin, the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion having a large diameter forms a rotary operation portion, and the cylindrical portion of a small diameter defines a powdered medicine passage formed therein, has the non-circular hole formed in the base portion, and defines a spray port in an end thereof. The change-over operation is easily effected by using the cylindrical portion having a large diameter of the change-over device, and the cylindrical portion of a small diameter forms a portion of the powdered medicine passage. Accordingly, the powdered medicine is conveyed up to the spraying port at an end of the device, and is sprayed onto the diseased part.
The rotary spray metering change-over device is formed to be detachable from the device body 1 and the medicine guiding unit. Thus, the change-over device can be removed from the device body and from the medicine guiding unit can be removed from the administering device itself, can be washed and can be easily re-attached to the administering device.
A central hole is formed at the center in the bottom surface of the disk-like portion of the medicine guiding unit, and a protuberance is formed at the center on the bottom surface of the medicine storage chamber to work as a shaft that fits to the central hole in order to stabilize the turning of the medicine guiding unit. Accordingly, the turning of the medicine guiding unit is stabilized, and the rotary spray metering change-over device can be easily turned.
The medicine guiding unit has an arcuate groove formed in the bottom surface of the disk-like portion with the central hole as a center, the medicine storage unit has a protuberance formed on the bottom surface thereof so as to be inserted in the arcuate groove thereby to limit the turning range of the medicine guiding unit and of the rotary spray metering change-over device, wherein, when the protuberance is located at an end of the arcuate groove, the position for filling the powdered medicine is limited and, when the protuberance is located at the other end, the position for administering the powdered medicine is limited.
On the bottom surface of the disk-like portion of the medicine guiding unit, an angle (x) subtended by the center of the opening means and the center of the opening of the pipe is equal to, or is slightly smaller than an angle (y) subtended by one end and other end of the arcuate groove (xxe2x89xa6y), and lies over a range of from 60 degrees to 180 degrees.
The disk-like portion of the medicine guiding unit on the side of the medicine storage chamber is inclined upward from the periphery toward the center at an angle (xcex1) in a range of from 15 degrees to 45 degrees with respect to the bottom surface of the disk-like portion.
The pipe provided in the medicine guiding unit is inclined upward at angles (xcex2, xcex3) in a range of from 20 degrees to 70 degrees with respect to the bottom surface of the medicine guiding unit. The powdered medicine smoothly flows through the pipe at the time when the powdered medicine in the medicine container chamber is injected by operating the pump unit.
The opening means in the medicine guiding unit is a hole penetrating vertically through the disk-like portion.
The hole extends upward from the opening in the bottom surface of the disk-like portion, and expands on the side facing the medicine storage chamber toward the side of the opening of the pipe thereby to form a pocket-like dent, the dent assisting a smooth conveyance of the powdered medicine in the medicine storage chamber into the medicine container chamber during the operation for changing over the filling and administering.
Here, regarding the size of the dent, the medicine can be smoothly conveyed into the medicine container chamber during the operation of the rotary spray metering change-over device when the area of the dent facing the side of the medicine storage chamber is in a range of from 0.1 times to 2.5 times of the opening area and, particularly, from 0.5 times to 1 times of the area of the hole facing the bottom surface of the disk-like portion. As for the depth of the dent, there is no limitation on the depth provided the diameter of the hole remains unchanged on the side of the medicine container chamber. In practice, due to the difficulty in the molding, the depth of the dent is from 10 to 80% and, particularly preferably, 50% of the depth of the hole.
The dent also decreases the thickness of the disk-like portion of the medicine guiding unit. Reduction in the thickness contributes to preventing the contraction or expansion caused by the heat in the medicine guiding unit during the molding, and makesit possible torealize a highly precise spraying performance which is a feature of the powdered medicine multi-dose administering device.
One or plural pieces of vanes are formed on the outer side of the pole-like portion of the medicine guiding unit, so that the powdered medicine in the medicine storage chamber is stirred as the medicine guiding unit moves between the filling position and the administering position.
Here, the vanes possessed by the medicine guiding unit are molded as singe part using the same material as the medicine guiding unit, and may have any shape or thickness provided they can be molded as a single part as described above. The angle subtended by the vanes and the center line of the medicine passage in the guiding unit may lie over a range of from parallel relation, i.e., from 0 degree to 90 degrees but desirably liles in a range of from 0 degree to 45 degrees from the viewpoint of accomplishing a high stirring efficiency of the medicine in the medicine storage chamber during the rotary operation of the,change-over device. When the vanes are provided, it is better that the number of the vanes is two than the number of the vanes is one, since the medicine is more efficiently stirred in the medicine storage chamber due to the rotational operation of the change-over device.
The pump unit is at least partly constituted by a flexible resin so as to define an air chamber therein, the opening portion of the pump unit is coupled to the lower part of the device body, the pump unit is depressed and relaxed to blow the air into the medicine container chamber through the filter in the air chamber, and the powdered medicine is blown out of the device through the pipe.
The filter has a recessed portion or a protruded portion on the side facing the medicine container chamber to adjust the volume of the medicine container chamber. In this case, the size of the recessed portion or of the protruded portion of the filter is changed, and the direction .of the filter is changed, to freely change the volume of the medicine container chamber and to adjust the amount of the powdered medicine administered in one time of administering operation.
The medicine guiding unit is obtained by molding one or more kinds of high-molecular materials selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate, ABS, a high-impact polystyrene and a cyclic olefin copolymer.
Further, a drying agent is mounted on a portion of the device, the powdered medicine administering device is obtained in a disposable type, and it is realized for administration into the body cavity, into the nasal cavity or into the lung.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a powdered medicine multi-dose administering device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a medicine storage unit (5) in a device body (1);
FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a closure unit (4) in the device body (1);
FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a whole medicine guiding unit (2);
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the bottom of the medicine guiding unit (2);
FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a rotary spray metering change-over device (13);
FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a pump unit (3);
FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a device cover (9);
FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a medicine container chamber (5b) inclusive of a filter (6) provided with a cylindrical protuberance;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the filter (6) provided with a cylindrical protuberance;
FIG. 11 is a view illustrating near the bottom surface of the medicine guiding unit (2) and shows an angle of a pipe (2g);
FIG. 12 is a view illustrating near the bottom surface of the medicine guiding unit (2) and where the direction of the pipe (2g) is changed; and
FIG. 13 is a view illustrating near the bottom surface of the medicine guiding unit (2) and where the direction of the pipe (2g) is changed

Device for feeding a powder in a predetermined amount and method thereof


In a method of implanting an electrode of an electronic stimulator device into an external urinary sphincter of a male patient, a first incision is made in the perineum of the patient between the anus and the scrotal-perineal junction. A distal end of a stimulation lead is then fed through the first incision, through the perineal membrane and into the external urinary sphincter. The distal end includes the electrode. In one embodiment of the method, a second incision is made in the abdomen of the patient. In one embodiment, the second incision is made lateral to and cephalad to the pubis bone of the patient. Next, a proximal end of the stimulation lead is fed from the first incision to the second incision. In one embodiment, the proximal end of the stimulation lead is coupled to a control unit of the electronic stimulator device. Electrical signals are generated using the control unit and the electrical signals are delivered to the external urinary sphincter through the stimulation lead and the electrode.

Implantable electronic stimulator devices, such as neuromuscular stimulation devices, have been disclosed for use in the treatment of various pelvic conditions, such as urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Such devices generally include one or more electrodes that are coupled to a control unit by leads. Electrical signals are applied to the desired pelvic muscle of the patient through electrodes in order to treat the condition. Exemplary implantable electronic stimulator devices and uses of the devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,354,991, 6,652,449, 6,712,772 and 6,862,480, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Electrode implantation in male external urinary sphincter


A switch coupled active forward converter comprising an AC power supply circuit for supplying AC power, a filtering circuit connected to the AC power supply circuit, for filtering an output current from the AC power supply circuit, an up converter connected to the filtering circuit, for generating a saw tooth wave signal in response to an output voltage from the filtering circuit, the saw tooth wave signal having a peak value following an input voltage to the AC power supply circuit when a switch ON operation is performed, a clamping circuit connected in common to the up converter, AC power supply circuit and filtering circuit, for clamping an output voltage from the up converter to a desired level, a transformer having a primary coil connected to the up converter, and an output circuit connected to a secondary coil of the transformer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an active forward converter, and more particularly to a switch coupled active forward converter which is implemented by coupling a forward converter with a step up converter, so that it can obtain a high power factor at a single power stage, accurately perform an output direct current (DC) voltage control operation, have a high efficiency and be applied to a low-capacity device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a two-step converter has been implemented to be applied to a large-capacity device. However, such a conventional two-step converter has difficulty in accurately performing harmonic rectification and output voltage control operations. Further, the conventional two-step converter has many components for supplying a large amount of power, even when only a small amount of power is required, resulting in an economical loss.

Switch coupled active forward converter for obtaining a high power factor at a single power stage


A method for operating a vapor compression system is disclosed. The vapor compression system comprises a compressor, a condenser, at least one expansion device, an evaporator, said evaporator comprising at least two evaporator paths arranged fluidly in parallel, and a distribution device arranged to distribute refrigerant among the evaporator paths. The method comprises the steps of obtaining at least two predefined distribution keys, each distribution key defining a distribution of available refrigerant among the evaporator paths, detecting one or more operational settings of the vapor compression system, selecting one of the at least two predefined distribution keys, based on said detected operational setting(s), and distributing refrigerant among the evaporator paths in accordance with the selected predefined distribution key.

Vapour compression systems normally comprise a compressor, a heat rejecting heat exchanger, such as a condenser or a gas cooler, an expansion device and an evaporator arranged in a refrigerant path. A flow of refrigerant circulates the system and is alternatingly compressed and expanded, thereby providing either refrigeration or heating of a volume. Thus, substantially gaseous refrigerant is compressed in the compressor. The compressed refrigerant is supplied to the condenser/gas cooler. In the case of a condenser, the refrigerant condenses, i.e. refrigerant leaving the condenser is in a substantially liquid form. The condensed refrigerant is then expanded in the expansion device before entering the evaporator, where it evaporates. The refrigerant leaving the evaporator is supplied to the compressor, and the cycle is repeated. The supply of refrigerant to the evaporator is often controlled on the basis of a measured superheat value of the refrigerant leaving the evaporator, and in order to obtain a small, but positive, superheat. Thereby it is obtained that the refrigeration capacity of the evaporator is utilised to the greatest possible extent, without risking that liquid refrigerant passes through the evaporator.
In some vapour compression systems the evaporator comprises two or more evaporator paths arranged fluidly in parallel along the refrigerant path. This is, e.g., the case if the vapour compression system comprises two or more evaporators arranged fluidly in parallel, or if the evaporator comprises two or more evaporator tubes arranged fluidly in parallel within the evaporator. In this case the available refrigerant must be distributed among the evaporator paths. It is desirable to perform this distribution in a manner which ensures that the entire refrigeration capacity of the evaporator or evaporators is utilised to the greatest possible extent, while avoiding that liquid refrigerant leaves the evaporator(s).
One way of controlling the operation of a vapour compression system comprising at least two evaporator paths is disclosed in WO 2008/151630 A1. In the method disclosed in WO 2008/151630 A1 the available refrigerant is distributed among two or more evaporators in accordance with an obtained distribution key. The amount of available refrigerant is controlled in response to a superheat value of refrigerant leaving the evaporators, the value being measured at a common outlet of the evaporators, and in order to obtain an optimum superheat value. The distribution key may be generated in such a manner that due consideration is taken to special operating conditions of each of the evaporators in order to obtain optimal filling for all of the evaporators. It may be possible to adjust the distribution key during operation, or the distribution key may be fixed initially.
One drawback of the method disclosed in WO 2008/151630 A1 is that it is not always possible to reach an optimal distribution key within a reasonable time. This is in particular a disadvantage in the case that the operating conditions of the vapour compression system are subject to changes which are substantial and/or rapid. In this case the vapour compression system may be operated in a manner which does not allow for optimal utilisation of the potential refrigeration capacity of the evaporator for a substantial part of the operating time.

Method for operating a vapour compression system


An apparatus for protecting an occupant in a vehicle includes a pair of image sensors for taking images of an area on a seat in the vehicle. Transverse-direction shifts between corresponding portions of the images are calculated. Longitudinal-direction positions of objects whose images are in the portions of the images taken by the image sensors are measured in response to the calculated transverse-direction shifts. A longitudinal-direction position of an occupant on the seat is decided in response to the measured longitudinal-direction positions of the objects. Occupant protecting operation at a time of occurrence of a collision of the vehicle is changed in response to the decided longitudinal-direction position of the occupant. From the measured longitudinal-direction positions of the objects, one corresponding to a highest position with respect to the vehicle and being in front of the seat is selected as a longitudinal-direction position of a head of the occupant.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to an apparatus for protecting an occupant in a vehicle such as an automotive vehicle. This invention particularly relates to a vehicular occupant protecting apparatus including image taking devices such as cameras or area image sensors.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known apparatus for protecting an occupant in a vehicle includes a pair of area image sensors located near a vehicle windshield and facing an area on a vehicle seat. The area image sensors are spaced at a prescribed interval along the widthwise direction (the transverse direction) of the vehicle. The area image sensors take images of the area on the vehicle seat, and output signals representing the taken images. In the known apparatus, the image-representing signals are processed to detect the positions of portions of an occupant on the seat. The detected positions are defined along the lengthwise direction (the longitudinal direction) of the vehicle. The mode of the control of deployment of an air bag is changed in response to the detected positions of the portions of the occupant.
In the known apparatus, shifts between corresponding portions of the images taken by the area image sensors are detected, and the positions of portions of an occupant are measured from the detected shifts on a triangulation basis. In the known apparatus, the triangulation-based detection of the positions of portions of an occupant includes complicated image-signal processing which causes a longer signal processing time. The longer signal processing time is a factor obstructive to the quick control of deployment of the air bag.
European patent application publication number EP 0885782 A1 which corresponds to Japanese patent application publication number 11-15980 discloses an apparatus for detecting the presence of an occupant in a motor vehicle. The apparatus in European application EP 0885782 A1 includes a pair of cameras for producing first and second images of a passenger area. A distance processor determines distances that a plurality of features in the first and second images are from the cameras based on the amount that each feature is shifted between the first and second images. An analyzer processes the distances and determines a size of an object on the seat. Additional analysis of the distances also may determine movement of the object and the rate of that movement. The distance information also can be used to recognize predefined patterns in the images and thus identify the object. A mechanism utilizes the determined object characteristics in controlling deployment of an air bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,329 which corresponds to Japanese patent application publication number 60-152904 discloses an image analyzer for analyzing the position of a vehicle driver in a three-dimensional coordinate system. The analyzer comprises a light emitting element for emitting an infrared light beam to the driver's face portion, and an image detector arranged to receive reflected infrared light and generate an optical image of the driver's face portion. A microcomputer includes a memory for storing an electronic image corresponding to the optical image.
The microcomputer processes the stored image to determine the position of a facial feature, such as an eye, in a three-dimensional coordinate system. The position indicating data are utilized in a driver assistance system.
Japanese patent application publication number 11-43009 discloses that an ultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver measures the distance to an occupant in a vehicle, and the measured distance is utilized in determining the position of the occupant relative to an air bag. Deployment of the air bag is controlled in response to the determined relative position of the occupant. Japanese application 11-43009 also discloses that the position of an occupant in a vehicle can be detected by using two CCD arrays spaced from each other. Japanese application 11-43009 further discloses that a combination of a CCD array and a pattern recognition software takes an image of the head of an occupant in a vehicle and accurately detects the position of the head.
Japanese patent application publication number 10-315906 discloses an air-bag control system including an infrared sensor of a matrix type. The infrared sensor outputs data representing a thermo-based image. The image data are processed in response to a signal representative of a first threshold value to extract a portion of the image which corresponds to the body of an occupant in a vehicle. The image data are further processed in response to a signal representative of a second threshold value to extract a portion of the body image which corresponds to a face of the occupant. The position of the occupant's face is calculated from the positions of ones among the elements of the matrix of the infrared sensor which correspond to the occupant's face. An offset of the calculated position of the occupant's face from a reference position is computed. The offset is utilized in controlling the amount of air introduced into an air bag and also the direction of the gas introduction.
Japanese patent application publication number P2001-116841A discloses that an automotive vehicle is provided with a plurality of sensors for measuring the distances to a head of vehicle's occupant. The position of the head of the vehicle's occupant is determined in response to the measured distances.

Apparatus for protecting occupant in vehicle


The present invention provides a mechanism to selectively restore portions of a monolithically backed up database, while maintaining hierarchical relationships and other metadata relationships of the restored portions of the database. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer-readable storage medium that provides for receiving a request to restore a selected object from among a plurality of backed up objects in a database backup, locating information associated with the selected object in the database backup, and restoring the object-to-restore using the information associated with the selected object in a target area. Database table metadata is gathered from the backed up database at the time the backup was created in order to locate the information associated with the selected object.

An ever-increasing reliance on information and the computing systems that produce, process, distribute, and maintain such information in its various forms, continues to put great demands on techniques for storing, backing up, and restoring such information. As businesses adopt techniques for centralizing information resources across an enterprise to enable collaboration and document management, storage, backup and restoration of such information becomes even more critical to the functioning of the enterprise.
In a typical enterprise-level collaboration and document-management platform, data from one or more user-oriented application objects can be stored in a centralized storage object such as a database. The database maintaining the data from the variety of application objects can be configured to maintain data relationships, or hierarchies, imposed by the application objects. Any backup and restoration scheme for such a database must maintain the relationships and hierarchies of the data created by the application objects.
Traditional methods of backing up and restoring such a database are both personnel and resource intensive. For example, given that there are a multitude of application object-based areas in the database, a backup administrator would be responsible for knowing and selecting those portions of the database that are necessary to protect. Such an up-front, granular approach to data protection requires that the backup administrator, who may not be the database administrator, know the topology of the database in order to build a protection schema for a particular application object. Further, any changes made to the hierarchical object structure for an application would need to be taken into account by the backup administrator upon occurrence of those changes. This traditional backup approach is called a granular backup scheme because the areas in the database associated with each application object are backed up separately. Under a granular backup scheme, restoration of data related to a particular application object can be reasonably targeted because each application object has its own set of backups.
An alternate method of backup is to backup the entire database monolithically. A traditional method of restoring data from such a monolithic backup of the database is to restore the entire database snapshot to a temporary area and then select the desired information from the database to include in an active target database. Drawbacks of such a back-end method of data selection are that it takes time to restore all the data from a database backup from which the desired information would then be selected and disk resources are consumed by the temporary copy of the database.
It is therefore desirable to have a mechanism that realizes the efficiency of monolithically backing up the entire database, thereby not requiring that a backup administrator be familiar with the structure of the database being backed up. It is further desirable that a user be able to selectively restore portions of the backed up database when desired so as to speed recovery time.

Restoring selected objects from a monolithic database backup


A content-based adaptive refresh technique is implemented in an active matrix display system for reducing power consumption. The active matrix display system includes a display panel having multiple rows of display elements arranged as a display matrix. The display panel is coupled to a scan driver and a data driver. The scan driver selects one row at a time to receive data signals, and the data driver provides the data signals. The active matrix display system also includes a timing controller operable to signal the scan driver to cause a first row of the display panel to be not refreshed in a current data frame and a second row of the display panel to be refreshed in the current data frame.

Field
The present invention relates to a display system. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to reducing the power consumption of a display panel.
Background Information
Flat panel displays are gaining popularity in a wide range of electronic devices. Common types of flat panel displays include active matrix displays and passive matrix displays. Each pixel in an active matrix display is driven by active driving circuitry, while each pixel in a passive matrix display does not use such driving circuitry.
High-resolution color displays, such as modern computer displays, smart phones and televisions, typically use an active matrix display structure for better image quality and response time. An active matrix display of m×n pixel elements can be addressed with m row lines and n column lines. A set of thin-film transistors (TFTs) and capacitors are connected to each pixel element, allowing each column line to access one pixel. When a row line is selected, all of the column lines are connected to a row of pixels and voltages corresponding to the picture information are driven onto all of the column lines. The row line is then deactivated and the next row line is selected. All of the row lines are selected in sequence during a refresh operation. This refresh operation is repeated tens to hundreds of times per second. If the refresh rate is too low, the capacitors may leak current and unable to retain its state. This would appear as flickers and degrade the quality of the displayed image.
For portable devices, the power consumed by a display panel can be a major portion of the total power consumption of a portable device. To extend the battery life, it is necessary to reduce the power consumption of the display panel.

Content-based adaptive refresh schemes for low-power displays


The invention provides image display panels. The image display panel comprises a histogram generator, a tone slope generator, and an image transformer. The histogram generator receives an original image, counts the pixels of different gray levels to generate a histogram distribution of the original image, and compares the pixel counts at every gray level with a first threshold count to identify the peaks of the histogram distribution. The tone slope generator generates a tone slope based on the histogram distribution and peaks of the histogram distribution. The image transformer transforms the original image into a modified image based on the tone slope.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image display panels and driving methods thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
For conventional image display techniques, an original image is transformed into a modified image before image display to improve image contrast. During the transformation process, brightness is increased following detection of overly dark images and brightness is decreased following detection of overly bright images.
However, during the transformation process, original image noise signals may be amplified, thus negatively effecting image quality. Novel techniques to improve image contrast without amplifying noise signals are called for.

Image display panel and driving method thereof


A needle retraction mechanism for a needle bearing medical device is provided. The needle retainer selectively retains the needle in a projecting configuration in which the sharpened tip of the needle projects outwardly from the device. The needle retaining mechanism has an axial projection configured to provide at least one finger, and preferably a plurality of separable fingers that are joined together to form a bore.

Various types of medical devices employ a needle for piercing the skin of a patient for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. One such device is a blood collection device which includes a needle for piercing a blood vessel of the patient to allow blood to be sampled from the patient. When the needle is inserted into the blood vessel of the patient, blood is withdrawn through the needle into a vacuum collection tube. Handling of such needle-bearing medical devices after the needle is withdrawn from the patient can result in transmission of various pathogens, most notably human immune virus (HIV), to uninfected medical personnel, due to an inadvertent prick.
Since the mid-1980s, concern over the risk of accidental needle stick injuries has spawned a number of design approaches for safety needle devices. Such devices can be broadly categorized as sliding sheath needle devices, wherein a physical barrier is positioned about the needle tip after use, and needle-retraction devices, wherein the tip of the needle is withdrawn into the device after use. The category of needle retraction devices can be further subdivided into manual and automatic retraction devices. Manual retraction devices, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,287 to Haller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,744 to Jagger, U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,169 to Haber et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,490 to Haber, require the user to pull or slide a needle-engaging mechanism rearwardly for a sufficient distance to withdraw the needle into the device. In automatic needle retraction devices, a biasing member, such as a spring, is employed to withdraw the needle into the device in response to activation of some release mechanism on the part of the user. Such devices are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,426 to Haber et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,414 to Dysarz.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,831 assigned to Becton Dickinson and U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,307 to Kulli show respective automatic retractable-needle catheter stylets and syringes. The devices shown in the last-mentioned two patents are disclosed to be actuatable on the part of the user by applying a simple unitary motion that entails a simple single-stage movement in just one direction. Specifically, these latter patents show devices in which retraction is effected by depressing a single surface or member for a short distance in a single direction. Hence, during preparation for use of such devices, the user must be mindful not to prematurely trigger the needle retraction mechanism by accidentally contacting the surface for actuating the retraction mechanism. Because medical needle bearing devices are often employed under distracting circumstances, it would be desirable to provide an automatic needle retraction-mechanism in which a compound action or dual motion is required by the user in order to effect automatic retraction of the needle. Such a mechanism would desirably require the user to act upon more than one surface of the retraction mechanism to effect withdrawal of the needle into the device. It further would be desirable to require that such actions occur along different directional axes to further decrease the likelihood of undesired or accidental premature retraction of the needle.
Of the aforementioned prior art devices which have automatic retraction, all require a needle structure having an enlarged head, lip or rim extending radially outwardly from the axis of the needle to provide a block or enlarged surface on the needle which is biased toward retraction by the spring and which can be restrained against retraction by a latching mechanism. In such devices, failure of the latch mechanism can occur to cause premature retraction of the needle. Hence, it would be desirable to provide an automatic needle retraction mechanism in which the latch mechanism operates more directly upon the needle, rather than through a block or rim surface on the needle.
After use of a needle bearing medical device, a small volume of contaminated fluid or blood may remain inside the needle after it is withdrawn from the patient. Depending upon the gauge of the needle used with the device, such residual fluid or blood may be ejected from the forward end of the needle during the rearward acceleration experienced in retraction of the needle. Such forward fluid ejection can result from insufficient capillary adhesion to retain the residual fluid against inertial forces, or against the hydraulic force exerted upon the residual fluid by inrushing fluid or air during rearward acceleration in retracting the needle. It would further be desirable to provide a structure in an automatic needle retraction device that would prevent such ejection of residual blood or fluid from the forward end of the needle during retraction.

Fluid collection device with retractable needle


Embodiments of the invention describe an electrical audio connector assembly used in a variety of applications, such as for connecting audio components for transferring audio signals. For example, microphones may be connected to other electrical components by XLR connectors or a phone line. An electrical audio connector assembly includes an XLR connector or three pins and an RJ connector mounted on opposite ends of a body structure. Three metal binding posts project from the body structure, and are conductively coupled to both the XLR connector and the RJ connector.

Various types of electrical connectors are used for a wide variety of applications. Particularly common in the professional audio industry is the use of binding posts with XLR plugs for connecting audio components to transfer audio signals.
Conventional binding posts generally provide reasonably good surface area contact for reliable conductivity. Binding posts are versatile terminals, and may accept banana plugs, alligator clips, bare wires, spade lugs or other electrical connections. The XLR plug in a conventional binding post assembly is an added feature that enables a number of cables to be coupled together to achieve any desired length. XLR connectors are widely used for audio connections because they provide balanced lines capable of traveling long distances without significant interference.
A conventional XLR binding post assembly 100 is shown in FIG. 1A. The conventional assembly 100 consists of three binding posts 114 corresponding to the three conductive wires found in standard XLR three pin connectors. A male-type XLR plug 130 is found at the base of the assembly 100. Although not shown, the assembly 100 may instead have a female-type XLR plug. Industry standard XLR binding posts come in either male or female types, to enable the connection of the three conductive wires between one XLR connector to a complementary connector. Each binding post 114 includes an internal metal post 120 capped by a plastic cover. The binding posts 114 are typically color-coded to indicate high, low and ground terminals. The internal metal post 120 includes a through-hole for receiving bare wire connections. Each internal metal post 120 is mounted on a metal platform 122 with a plastic external cover. The metal posts 120 are internally coupled to the corresponding conductive pins of the XLR plug 130 within the body structure. The entire assembly 100 is housed by a protective ABS plastic case.
In the professional audio industry, situations arise where it is necessary to access a phone line for various purposes. For example, microphones are commonly connected to other electrical components by either using XLR connectors or phone lines. Professional microphones in particular may need to be connected to various electrical devices and tested over long distances. A user may want the option of connecting the microphone through a phone jack or may need access to a phone in a remote location to communicate to others during testing. Typically, the user must then extend a separate phone line to that location, which is often cumbersome and time consuming. Having access to phones, however, is common practice in the audio industry, and with a phone users are able to conveniently "ring down" to another phone at the remote location.
Another drawback to the conventional XLR binding post is when bare wires 132 are received by the assembly 100, they must be threaded through the through-hole of each metal posts 120, as demonstrated in FIG. 1B, and clamped down by tightly twisting down the cap on the binding post 114. The assembly 100 of FIG. 1B is the same as the assembly 100 of FIG. 1A, and in the interest of brevity it will not be described again. XLR binding posts are typically manufactured with the through-hole centered on the internal metal posts 120. A common problem with this assembly 100 occurs when the bare wires 132 are guillotined as the binding post 114 caps are tightly screwed down. The through-hole is elevated above the metal platform 122 due its orientation in the metal post 120, which typically cause the bare wires 132 to stretch and break as the caps on the binding posts 114 are tightened. This is particularly a problem if the threaded wires 132 are phone wires, since phone wires are typically thinner.
There is therefore a need for an XLR binding post assembly having a phone jack for connecting to phone lines on a single device. Additionally, the XLR binding post assembly must be able to receive particularly thin wires without inflicting severe damage or causing breakage.

Method and apparatus for an electrical connector with binding posts and an RJ connector


A foldable includes side members formed as a transverse central portion of the board, and folded respectively to form side surfaces of the box; an upper member formed to extend in an upper direction of the side members, and divided by a cutting line along a folding direction to form an upper surface of the box; and a lower member formed to extend in a lower direction of the side members, and divided by a cutting line along a folding direction to form a lower surface of the box.

Generally, in order to prevent a product from being damaged in the process of selling and distributing the product, it is packaged using a paper or plastic box
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a packing box is manufactured by forming folding lines in a predetermined shape on a board and then folding the board along the folding lines. After a user folds the cut board to make the box, a product is put into the box and the box is shielded using adhesive tape.
Such a conventional method is problematic in that the box should be made by folding the board along the folding lines in a state where a side of the box is attached through an adhesive method, and then adhesive tape should be used to shield an upper end of the box.
Meanwhile, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, Korean Patent No. 10-1185499 is proposed, which illustrates a product packing box configured such that a product is packed by assembling while using a minimum of attachment and an upper portion is shielded using a fitting method.
According to the related art, an open surface of the box may be shielded using the fitting method, so that the open surface may be repeatedly opened or closed. However, the related art is problematic in that a sufficient shielding force cannot be ensured against load acting in a direction where the open surface of the box may be opened by the load of contents in a box piling direction.
Therefore, this is not suitable for use when the piling direction is variable such as a packing box for moving.

Foldable box having adhesive wing portions


A miniature broadband monopole antenna design configured with integrated band-selecting filtering is disclosed. The antenna is electrically folded, and includes top and bottom monopole sections, with a meanderline to provide an inductive load between the two sections. The overall antenna structure can be embedded in a relatively small, RF transparent, composite structure (e.g., such as the fin of a guided munition), and has minimal impact on aerodynamics (low drag). The top, bottom, and meanderline elements of the antenna operate together to collectively provide multi-band operation (e.g., 30 MHz to 3 GHz).

A monopole antenna is a resonant antenna, with its optimal length being one quarter of the wavelength of the signal being received or transmitted by the antenna. The antenna impedance for a monopole is a function of the length of the monopole in terms of wavelengths. A quarter wavelength monopole antenna is about 36 ohms, and is purely resistive.
When the antenna is much shorter than a quarter wavelength of the signal being received or transmitted by the antenna, the antenna's impedance is mostly capacitive, with very little resistance. This situation generally occurs at the lower frequencies of the antenna's operating range (where the wavelength of the signal being received or transmitted is at the high end of its range), particularly in applications where the antenna structure must operate over a wide frequency band. In narrow band applications, an inductor or coil is used to negate the capacitive reactance. For wide band applications, however, this is problematic, as it becomes difficult to match impedance in order to couple sufficient power into the RF circuitry for good signal to noise ratio (SNR).
One conventional technique here is to use two antennas of scaled dimensions connected through a diplexer, where one antenna is configured to cover the lower portion of the frequency band, and the other antenna is configured to cover the upper portion of the frequency band. However, the lower frequency portion of the antenna must be of sufficient length to operate. In applications where physical space is limited, the antenna length required to provide sufficient gain may be too large.
What is needed, therefore, is a miniature broadband monopole antenna configuration.

Miniature multi-band, electrically folded, monopole antenna

Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration INC


A new wheel rim protector for protecting the outer lip of a wheel rim, especially an alloy wheel rim, from damage. The inventive device includes an annular main portion having a pair of spaced apart side walls and a base wall connecting the side walls together. The side walls of the main portion define an annular channel between them which is adapted for receiving an outer lip of a wheel rim therein. An annular flange portion is extended from one of the side walls of the main portion. The flange portion is adapted for positioning between a wheel rim and the bead of a tire mounted on the wheel rim.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to protective devices for wheel rims and more particularly pertains to a new wheel rim protector for protecting the outer lip of a wheel rim, especially an alloy wheel rim, from damage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of protective devices for wheel rims is known in the prior art. More specifically, protective devices for wheel rims heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art protective devices for wheel rims include U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,169; U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,040; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 256,350; U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,630; U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,685; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,551.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new wheel rim protector. The inventive device includes an annular main portion having a pair of spaced apart side walls and a base wall connecting the side walls together. The side walls of the main portion define an annular channel between them which is adapted for receiving an outer lip of a wheel rim therein. An annular flange portion is extended from one of the side walls of the main portion. The flange is adapted for positioning between a wheel rim and the bead of a tire mounted on the wheel rim.
In these respects, the wheel rim protector according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of protecting the outer lip of a wheel rim, especially an alloy wheel rim, from damage.


A method includes incorporating an optical fiber into a buffer tube, wherein the buffer tube has a first length. The buffer tube contains the optical fiber and a filler compound to create a buffer tube assembly. The buffer tube assembly is heated to an elevated temperature for a period of time, wherein the first length of the buffer tube decreases to a second length, such that extra optical fiber length is created relative to the second length. The buffer tube assembly is cooled to stabilize the second length and to retain the excess fiber length in the buffer tube.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to improving cables containing optical fibers, and more specifically to apparatuses and methods which are used to increase the mechanical load capacity of the cable and to decrease the optical system noise introduced through the cable.
2. Art Background
Cables are used in various industries to transmit optical signals from point to point over long distances. Optical fibers are a preferred transmission line in many cases due to the low signal attenuation presented by the optical path within the optical fiber. Such a cable can contain one or more optical fibers which provide transmission lines for the optical signals. Existing cable technology utilizes optical fibers, which are typically made from glass; a protective layer that houses the optical fiber, referred to as a "buffer tube;" and one or more layers that provide mechanical strength. The layers that provide mechanical strength are sometimes called "strength members" or the layers can contain "strength members." The strength members and buffer tube make the resulting cable robust (able to withstand axial or radial loading) and capable of surviving in environments that would otherwise damage the optical fiber and render the cable inoperable.
Current technology has focused on placing an optical fiber in a buffer tube such that the optical fiber is parallel to the buffer tube and therefore unbent. Such a parallel unbent configuration for the optical fiber provides the low attenuation characteristics mentioned above. Buffer tubes have been made from steel and are referred to in the art as "K" tubes. Additionally, buffer tubes made from plastics are known in the art. Current technology, whether employing steel or plastic buffer tubes, is focused on eliminating excess fiber length from the resulting buffer tube so that low attenuation results when optical signals travel in the optical fiber.
As mentioned above, optical fibers are made from glass. To ensure long life of the optical fiber, the stress experienced by the optical fiber during its working life should not exceed 25 percent of the proof test stress. Commercial grade optical fiber has a proof test stress of 100,000 pounds per square inch (psi) (equivalent to an elongation of approximately one percent) and high strength optical fiber has a proof test stress of 300,000 psi (equivalent to an elongation of approximately three percent). Thus, the maximum working elongation that an optical fiber can sustain spans the range of 0.25 to 0.75 percent. An optical fiber is subjected to additional elongation due to the elongation properties of a strength member incorporated into a cable.
Typical cables used to contain optical fibers and buffer tubes experience a non-recoverable increase in length referred to as "constructional slack" or "constructional elongation," which is typically removed during the first load cycle applied to the cable. The constructional elongation ranges from 0.2 to 0.6 percent for typical cable designs. Existing optical fiber/buffer tubes, incorporated into a cable that elongates during the first load cycle, experience a non-recoverable elongation that further reduces the elongation that the optical fiber can safely experience during its working life. As an example, an optical fiber that has a safe working elongation of 0.25 percent experiences a reduction of 0.2 percent due to the nonrecoverable release of constructional slack, resulting in only a 0.05 percent safe working elongation being available for working loads applied to the cable.
A variation on this example can occur if the cable experiences a nonrecoverable release of constructional slack of 0.6 percent. The elongation experienced by the optical fiber during the application of a load that produces a 0.25 percent strain in the cable will produce a 0.85 percent strain in the optical fiber. Such a state of strain will drastically shorten the life of the cable; this presents a problem.
Constrained by this problem, cables are over designed by necessity (from the perspective of the strength member) in order to keep the elongation experienced by the optical fiber to within a safe working limit (elongation resulting from application of 25 percent of proof test stress). Over designs of 10 to one or 20 to one are not uncommon in the telecommunications industry; this can present a problem.
FIG. 1 illustrates a stress strain curve for an existing cable generally at 100. For example, in the cable design illustrated in FIG. 1, the optical fiber can undergo a maximum working elongation of 0.1 percent (due to constructional elongation placing the optical fiber in a state of permanent prestress) and the cable can safely undergo a maximum working elongation of two percent (from a consideration of strength member limits). Referring to FIG. 1, stress is plotted on the vertical axis at 104 and strain is plotted on the horizontal axis at 106, the resulting stress-strain curve is indicted at 102. The maximum safe working stress (as governed by the strength members) is indicated at 110 and is equivalent to a load of 20,000 pounds. The strain corresponding to the maximum working stress is indicated at 112 and is equal to two percent, in this example, where ΔL is a change in length of a gauge length L. Cable yield is indicated at 108. Stresses and strains indicated on the figures, including FIG. 1 are not to scale, these values are plotted for illustrative purposes only; therefore, absolute values should not be inferred from any of the figures.
The constrained maximum operating stress that the optical fiber can safely withstand is indicated at 116 (equivalent to an applied load of 1,000 pounds) and the corresponding constrained maximum strain is indicated at 114, 0.1 percent, in this example. Inspection of the stress/strain curve 102, between 114 and 112, indicates that a majority of the mechanical strength available in this cable design cannot be realized in practice due to the constraint imposed by the existing configuration of the optical fiber contained within.
Existing metal K tubes provide a further limitation to the applied load and plastically deform when the applied load produces a strain of 0.6 percent in the K tube. Regardless of the material used for the buffer tube, metal or plastic, current constructions of buffer tubes and optical fibers necessitate the use of a substantial amount of strength member in a cable design such that the resulting cable must be operated at only a fraction of its maximum working load (as governed by the strength member) in order to prevent damage to the optical fiber. In conjunction with the existing optical fiber/buffer tube, strength members have been made out of metallic elements such as steel.
In other applications of cables incorporating optical fibers, such as neutrally buoyant cables or small diameter cables, such mechanical over design and use of metallic strength members are not feasible. Synthetic strength members can be utilized to reduce the total cable weight. Synthetic strength members loaded to 50 percent of their breaking strength can elongate approximately from 1.2 to 1.7 percent during the application of a working load. Added to the working load elongation is the constructional elongation of 0.2 to 0.6 percent resulting in a total elongation range that an optical fiber must endure of 1.4 to 2.3 percent in order to fully utilize the full load carrying capacity of a cable. Such an elongation range places the working elongation of the optical fiber above the safe limit described above; this presents a problem.
The cables described above, incorporating optical fibers, can be used in interferrometric optical systems, wherein small differences in path length (synonymous with small changes in optical phase) are important. Such interferrometric systems are sensitive to changes in path length that equate to strain on the order of 1×10−13 In such systems, it has been found that existing cable designs are sensitive to mechanical excitations, such as stress, vibration, etc.; this presents a problem.
Cables that incorporate optical fibers are also used as optical fiber hookup cables, where an optical connection is made between a first point and second point. Such hookup cables must be flexible, sustain loads applied in both the axial and radial directions, and in some cases be insensitive to environmentally born mechanical excitations such as vibration, stress, etc. Existing cable constructions present problems to this type of use for the reasons discussed above.

Low noise high strength optical fiber cables


A flat portion 12a and a slope portion 12b are provided on a thread 12 of a multi-pitch screw 10 alternately. The flat portion and the slope portion are provided on the thread of a multi-pitch nut which fastens with this. Consequently, a screw and a nut capable of preventing loosening securely by step are achieved. This enables comfortable and quick feeding and when a torque from a driving source is interrupted, step-like self-lock is activated.

The screw and nut are basic elements and various kinds of proposals have been presented for them conventionally. The first aspect is regarding screw looseness stoppage. For example, Japanese Utility Model No. SHO58-99513 has proposed a screw in which any one of its female and male threads is formed into a wave-shape. Because when the screw is driven, its wave-shaped protruded portion is deformed elastically so that it presses hard axially, it prevents the screw from being loosened due to a vibration or the like. Further, JP 6-330928 A has proposed a screw in which its threads are constructed with a large pitch and a small pitch alternately for every pitch. When this is fastened with a standard pitch nut, a portion which is pressed strongly by the flank of a thread and deformed is generated thereby preventing the screw from being loosened.
Mr. Hiroshi Fujii, who is one of the inventors of this invention, publicized a step lock bolt as shown in FIG. 19. The flank of a thread of a bolt is provided with fine step portion and slope portion in order to prevent the bolt looseness with plastic deformation of the thread and mating member which occurs with driving of the bolt. These proposals are described in non-patent documents 1 to 3.    Non-patent document 1: Journal of Materials Processing Technology Vol. 56, p 321-332, "Evaluation of Anti-loosening Nuts for Screw Fasteners" H, Fujii et al. 1996    Non-patent document 2: Bulletin of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, series C, volume 62 (597), p 1963-1968, "Development of Screw Fastener Extremely Difficult to Loosen" H, Fujii et al, 1996    Non-patent document 3: Bulletin of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, series C, volume 62 (596), p 1527-1532, "Analysis of Loosening Mechanism of Screw Fastener and Development of Loosening Test Method", H, Fujii et al, 1996
The second aspect concerns the feed screw mechanism. For example, Japanese Utility Model registered No. 2577786 has disclosed an automobile power seat in which the screw is rotated with a worm decelerator provided motor so as to feed a nut member. The lock when the motor is not driven is achieved by self-lock of the feed screw itself or self-lock of the worm decelerator. Further, JP 5-288253 A has described conventional feed screw mechanisms under three categories easily understandably. A first group converts a rotary motion to a liner motion by sliding rotation between a triangular thread, trapezoidal screw thread or the like and their nut. A second group transmits a drive power through plural steel balls provided in a thread groove like a ball screw. In a third group, with a roller pressed against both flanks of a thread of a screw shaft having a large lead, a member which supports that roller is used like a nut.
However, the above-described conventional screw and nut are premised on that a relative rotation between the both is continuous. A first premise is that as for blocking of looseness between the screw and nut for fastening a certain member, that screw is capable of fastening the member even when its relative rotational position is at any position of 360°, corresponding to a single full turn and further blocking it from being loosened. Although this is preferable from viewpoints of the function, an excessive load is applied to a structure for blocking the looseness. For the reason, the deforming portion of the thread when the screw is tightened does not end with elastic deformation but reaches a plastic deformation depending on the case. This means that if the screw is tightened completely, it cannot be retightened for blocking the looseness. Here, if the way of thinking is turned over, there can be an application field of the screw and nut in which even if the screw cannot be tightened additionally for blocking the looseness when its relative rotational position is located at any position of continuous rotation, its sufficient function is achieved if it can be retightened at a step-like rotation position of every 20° for blocking the looseness, depending on a tightening member or a lead of the screw.
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a screw and nut which can be locked only discontinuously but is capable of blocking the looseness securely without applying an excessive stress on a member.
As for the second aspect, the feed screw mechanism, when converting rotary motion to linear motion, the conventional device requests for its continuity and linearity implicitly. The conventional invention intends to search for a higher accuracy or a higher speed on this premise. If converting the way of thinking, the continuity or linearity is not requested depending on application of the feed screw mechanism. For example, in the vehicle power seat, adjustment in a pitch of less than 1 mm is not requested for adjustment of the seat position and seat height. Further, linearity of linear motion to a rotary angle of the drive motor is not requested so much. However, because the employed feed screw mechanism is provided with continuity and linearity, excessive functions are requested for the feed screw mechanism.
For example, the vehicle power seat device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model registered No. 2577786 uses a feed screw device included in a first group mentioned in JP 5-288253 A. In the vehicle power seat device, it is requested to turn off the motor after adjustment of the seat position and maintain that position. Thus, in the vehicle power seat device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model registered No. 2577786, a small lead screw is used as a screw (9) shown in FIG. 1 and it is designed to lock itself with a nut (5). For the reason, the nut (5) is never moved due to a load even when a motor (7) is not powered on. However, because the lead of the screw (9) is small, the screw (9) needs to be rotated at a high speed in order to move the seat comfortably at a high speed, so that a burden applied to the motor (7) and a gear box (8) increases, thereby the price thereof being higher. Even if such an expensive price is permitted, the structure in which the screw (9) and the nut (5) keep a sliding contact with each other produces another inconvenience due to the friction when the screw (9) is rotated at high speeds.
Using the ball screw and roller screw included in a second or third group mentioned in JP 5-288253 A enables solving a problem about the friction between the screw and nut and securing a larger screw lead, thereby achieving a comfortable and quick feed. However, as an opposite effect to the advantage that these screws produce a very small friction, conversion between the rotary motion and the linear motion acts in both ways. That is, the self-lock is disabled. Different from the feed screw device in machine tools using a servo motor as its feed motor, the vehicle power seat device needs some kind of a lock mechanism because the motor power is kept off when it is not used. Thus, not only the device is likely to be expensive, but also if there exists any mechanical mechanism such as a gear between the lock mechanism and the ball screw, there is a fear that comfort of sitting on the seat worsens due to a backlash therebetween or lost motion such as distortion.
Accordingly, a still further object of the present invention is to provide a feed screw device which is capable of achieving a comfortable and quick feed without applying any burden on the motor or gear box and in which the self-lock function is activated when a torque from a driving source is interrupted although not continuously.

Multi-pitch screw, multi-pitch nut, feed screw device using the screw and nut, and method of producing the nut

Kabushiki Kaisha Imasen Denki Seisakusho

Nagoya Industrial Science Research Institute


The present invention has an object of providing a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device wherein an underlying silicon substrate or polycrystalline silicon film is less subject to etching during ashing. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to the present invention comprises the steps of: covering a predetermined portion of an insulating film (2) on the silicon substrate (1) or the polycrystalline silicon film with a photoresist (3); removing a portion of said insulating film (2) not covered with the photoresist by dry etching using an etching gas containing carbon and fluorine; and removing a fluorocarbon film (6) deposited on the surface of the substrate and said photoresist 3 by ashing using at least an oxygen gas while controlling the temperature at 100.degree. C. or lower, wherein the underlying silicon substrate or polycrystalline silicon film is less subject to etching during the ashing.

Using FIG. 4, one example of conventional pattern forming process for an insulating film formed on a silicon substrate will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4A, after an insulating film 12 such as silicon oxide and/or silicon nitride film is allowed to grow on the silicon substrate 11, a predetermined portion on the insulating film 12 is covered with a photoresist 13.
Then, using a gas mixture of carbon and fluorine, e.g., comprising CF4 and CHF3, as an etching gas, dry etching is applied, thus removing a portion 14 not covered with the photoresist 13 of the insulating film 12.
During the dry etching, a fluorocarbon film 16, a polymer film containing carbon and fluorine, is deposited on the surface of a to-be-treated substrate 15 as shown in FIG. 4B.
Thereafter, the photoresist 13 and the fluorocarbon film 16 is removed by ashing using oxygen gas. At that time, to accelerate the ashing rate, generally, the temperature of the to-be-treated substrate 15 is controlled to be high between 150.degree. C. to 250.degree. C.
As a representative semiconductor device using a side wall film, MOS transistors having a Lightly-Doped Drain (hereinafter, abbreviated as LDD) structure are well known.
One example of conventional LDD formation process will be described referring to FIG. 5.
As shown in FIG. 5A, a gate electrode 18 is formed on the semiconductor silicon substrate 16 via a gate oxide film 17 by the publicly-known photolithography and dry etching techniques and low-concentration diffused layers 19 and 20 serving as part of source and drain are formed with the gate electrode 18 used as mask by means of ion implantation in a self-alignment manner.
Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, a silicon oxide film 22 is allowed to grow in such a manner as to cover the surface of the to-be-treated substrate 21 by the publicly-known CVD technique. Then, using an etching gas containing carbon and fluorine, e.g., a gas mixture of CF4 AND CHF3, as shown in FIG. 5C, an anisotropic dry etching is practiced all over the silicon oxide film 22 in such a manner as to leave only the side face of the gate electrode 18 and thus a side wall film 23 is formed on the side face of the gate electrode 18.
After the formation of the side wall film 23 on the side face of the gate electrode 18, with the gate electrode 18 and the side wall film 23 employed as mask as shown in FIG. 5E, high-concentration diffused layers 24 and 25 serving as the other part of the source and drain are formed in the self-alignment manner by means of ion implantation.
In the process step of forming a MOS transistor of such an LDD structure, as shown in FIG. 5C, a fluorocarbon film 26, a polymer film containing carbon and fluorine, is deposited on the surface of the to-be-treated substrate 21 during the dry etching of the silicon oxide film 22.
For this reason, before the implementation of FIG. 5E after the completion of the process step shown in FIG. 5C, the post-treatment step of removing the fluorocarbon film 26 is carried out as shown in FIG. 5D.
To be specific, from a conventional thinking that the fluorocarbon film 26 can be stripped off by an oxygen plasma method and the semiconductor silicon substrate 16 is not stripped off by the oxygen plasma method, an ordinary oxygen plasma treatment device used for the ashing of a photoresist is employed.
This ordinary oxygen plasma treatment device used for the ashing of a photoresist is so arranged as to control the temperature of a to-be-treated substrate 21 at high temperatures of 150.degree. C. to 250.degree. C., and to remove the photoresist by stripping in an oxygen plasma.
Heretobefore, a description is made of the process step for forming a conventional LDD forming step, but there is another semiconductor device using a side wall film such as MOS transistor with a side wall film utilized for an element separation insulating film.
FIG. 6 shows a conventional example of the process step for forming an element separation insulating film by utilizing a side wall film.
As shown in FIG. 6A, an insulating film 28, constituent part of the insulating film separating a transistor activated region 27 on the semiconductor silicon substrate 16, is formed using publicly-known photolithography and dry etching techniques.
Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, a silicon oxide film 22 is allowed to grow in such a manner as to cover the surface of the to-be-treated substrate 21 by a publicly-known CVD technique. Then, using an etching gas containing carbon and fluorine, e.g., a gas mixture of CF4 AND CHF3, as shown in FIG. 6C, an anisotropic dry etching is practiced all over the silicon oxide film 22 in such a manner as to leave only the side face of the gate electrode 28, and thus a side wall film 23 is formed on the side face of the gate electrode 28.
Thereafter, on the transistor activated region 27 via the gate oxide film 17, as shown in FIG. 6E, a gate electrode 18 is formed using the publicly-known photolithography and dry etching techniques to thus prepare a MOS transistor.
In such a process step of forming a MOS transistor on the element separation insulating film by utilizing a side wall film, as shown in FIG. 6C, a fluorocarbon film 26, or a polymer film containing carbon and fluorine, is deposited on the surface of the to-be-treated substrate 21 during the dry etching of the silicon oxide film 22.
For this reason, before the implementation of FIG. 6E after the completion of the process step shown in FIG. 6C, the post-treatment step for removing the fluorocarbon film 26 to implement an aspect as shown in FIG. 2D becomes necessary. Thus, like the ashing of a fluorocarbon film 26 in the process step of forming a MOS transistor of an LDD structure, an ordinary oxygen plasma treatment device used for the ashing of a photoresist is employed while controlling the temperature of a to-be-treated substrate 21 at high temperatures of 150.degree. C. to 250.degree. C., thereby to accomplish the ashing treatment in an oxygen plasma.

Dry etching post-treatment method and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device


A system and method execute search and retrieval techniques relative to previously stored documents. The present method conducts a first search based on key words or phrases, receives the selection of a given document relative to a result of the first search, and then conducts a second search based on the selected given document. If in the second search the given document was extracted in a previous retrieval process made by a user, a document having a history of being selected concurrently with the given document is extracted. Any document concurrently selected by the user with respect to the document extracted in the second search is automatically stored and noted as being associated with the search request.

In recent years, many computer apparatuses have been used while being connected to a network such as the Internet, a company network or a LAN (Local Area Network). The network includes a server connected as a computer apparatus for offering services, and various information is stored in the server. By connecting a computer apparatus as a terminal to the server via the network, a user can obtain various information therefrom.
For a user to acquire information, processing is required to extract target information from a large amount of stored information. In one method, for example, a user designates a keyword that may be included in target information. Data including that keyword is extracted from a large amount of stored information. In such extraction processing, a program called a retrieval engine has been widely used. The retrieval engine widely searches through information stored in a server and automatically extracts data that includes a keyword designated by a user.
However, it is not necessarily true that all the data obtained using such a retrieval engine are target information a user wishes to find. For example, a user wishes to obtain information about "OLE for Process Control", often represented by an abbreviation "OPC". If a retrieval is carried out using the full expression "OLE for Process Control" as a keyword, information expressed as "OPC" can not be acquired. In view of this limitation, using a retrieval implemented by including "OPC" as a keyword in an "OR" connection, will enable all the data including "OPC" to be extracted.
However, "OPC" is also an abbreviation of "Organic Photo Conductor". Consequently, the retrieval engine extracts not only those data about "OLE for Process Control" the user wishes to find, but also those data about "Organic Photo Conductor" that are totally irrelevant. Therefore, the user has to select desired data individually from the extracted data. In this event, as the amount of the extracted data increases, searching for target data requires more time and more labor.
To exclude the totally irrelevant data about "Organic Photo Conductor", a new keyword relating to "OLE for Process Control", such as "control", can be added in an "AND" connection with "OPC", thereby focusing the extracted data on the desired topic. However, if this processing is carried out, those data about "OLE for Process Control" including "OPC" but not including the word "control" can not be extracted. Consequently, even those data actually relating to "OLE for Process Control" which should be extracted are excluded. Accordingly, there arises a problem that when retrieval is configured to exclude unnecessary data as described above, necessary data may also be excluded, thus failing to obtain target data.
What is needed is a retrieval system that can more accurately extract the information required by the user. The need for such a system has heretofore remained unsatisfied.

System and method for determining numerical representations for categorical data fields and data processing system

International Business Machines Corporation