The subject invention provides novel, inexpensive, and highly effective methods and devices for convenient and effective wound irrigation. In one embodiment the subject invention provides a discharge means for a reservoir housing containing irrigation solution wherein the discharge means has one or more specifically designed nozzles through which a sufficient volume of the irrigation solution can pass at an appropriate pressure.

One of the great challenges in the health care profession is delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents to the site(s) where their activity is needed. Thus, there are many therapeutic agents whose usefulness is compromised because current methods of delivery and administration do not result in optimal presentation of the agent to the site(s) where its activity would be most beneficial.
There is a wide variety of options for administering therapeutic agents to a patient. Each route of administration poses unique challenges. These challenges include formulating the active agent in a physiologically-acceptable carrier, directing the agent to the appropriate site, delivering a concentration and amount of active agent that is effective and not toxic, and avoiding degradation of the agent such as that which occurs when an agent is administered systemically and is exposed to enzymes, the immune system and various metabolic processes.
One particularly challenging environment for delivering active ingredients is to the site of wounds, surgical sites, and other tissue openings. These sites often require the administration of active ingredients of a nature and at a concentration that is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve utilizing systemic routes such as oral and intravenous administration. Thus, direct administration of an active ingredient is often desirable yet such direct administration using previously-known techniques faces formidable challenges in terms of delivering active agents to the specific tissues and cells where the beneficial activities are most needed. In this regard, it should be noted that traditional methods of wound irrigation have not typically been combined with contemporaneous drug delivery.
In the management and treatment of a wound there are three primary objectives: (1) prevention of infection, (2) preservation and/or restoration of function, and (3) preservation and/or restoration of cosmetic appearance. The most important of these objectives is the prevention of infection. Success in the prevention of infection directly affects the healing process and the degree to which function and cosmetic appearance can be preserved and/or restored. However, heretofore, wound irrigation has not been directly combined with the administration of drugs that can reduce infection or otherwise promote healing.
It is known that the number of bacteria is a critical determinant of whether a wound becomes infected. Experimental evidence suggests that a critical level of bacteria is approximately 105 organisms per gram of tissue. Below this level, wounds typically heal; at levels greater than 105 bacteria per gram of tissue, wounds often become infected. All traumatic wounds are contaminated by the time the wound is presented to a medical care facility for treatment (Dire, Daniel I. [1990] "A comparison of Wound Irrigation Solutions Used in the Emergency Department," Annals of Emergency Medicine 19(6):704-708). Dirty wounds, or those that have not been treated within six hours, are likely to be contaminated with bacteria at levels that are higher than the critical level. Reducing the number of bacteria in and around the wound is critical for avoiding infection and expediting wound healing.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria—often called "staph." Decades ago, strains of staph emerged in hospitals that were resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat them. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Dubbed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), it was one of the first germs to be resistant to all but the most powerful drugs.
Staph bacteria are generally harmless unless they enter the body through a cut or other wound. In older adults and people who are ill or have weakened immune systems, ordinary staph infections can cause serious illness. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers, who have weakened immune systems.
In the 1990s, a type of MRSA began appearing in the wider community. Today, that form of staph, known as community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA, is responsible for many serious skin and soft tissue infections and for a serious form of pneumonia. When not treated properly, MRSA infection can be fatal.
MRSA infections are spreading rapidly in the United States and worldwide. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the proportion of infections that are antimicrobial resistant has been growing. In 1974, MRSA infections accounted for two percent of the total number of staph infections; in 1995 it was 22%; and in 2004 it was nearly 63%. Additionally, recent research has suggested that 30-50% of the population carries MRSA colonies on their bodies all the time, helping to facilitate the spread of infection.
Although MRSA has traditionally been seen as a hospital-associated infection, there has also been an epidemic of CA-MRSA in the United States. MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils. These CA-MRSA infections can occur in otherwise healthy people, and commonly occur among athletes who share equipment or personal items including towels and razors. In fact, from 2000 to present, there have been several reported outbreaks of CA-MRSA affecting high school athletic teams. This epidemic among athletes is aided by the fact that MRSA grows very rapidly in warm, moist areas such as gyms and gym locker rooms. Common cuts and abrasions such as those frequently in football and baseball now pose significant threats due to the possibility of an MRSA infection.
Vancomycin is one of the few antibiotics still effective against hospital strains of MRSA infection, although the drug is no longer effective in every case. Several drugs continue to work against CA-MRSA, but CA-MRSA is a rapidly evolving bacterium, and it may be a matter of time before it, too, becomes resistant to most antibiotics.
Different procedures of wound management have been developed to help decrease the level of bacteria present in a wound, i.e., reduce the incidence of infection. The cleansing of a wound and the site surrounding the wound to remove blood clots, debris, dirt, or other foreign materials that can introduce contaminants, including pathogenic microorganisms, is critical in reducing levels of bacteria in and around the wound. There are numerous wound cleansing procedures presently used by healthcare professionals such as debridement, excision and irrigation. See, for example, Sinkinson, Craig Alan, ed. (1989) "Maximizing A Wound's Potential For Healing," Emergency Medicine Reports 10(11): 83-89; Lammers, Richard L. (1991) "Soft Tissue Procedures: Principles of Wound Management," in Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine, Roberts and Hedges, eds., 2nd Ed., W.B. Saunders Company, pp. 515-521; Cracroft, Davis (1987) "Minor Lacerations and Abrasions," Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Review, Kravis and Warner, eds., 2nd cd., Aspen Publishing Co., pp. 107-110; and Mulliken, John B. (1984) "Management of Wounds," in Energency Medicine, May ed., John Wiley & Sons, pp. 283-286.
Irrigation is the most commonly used procedure for cleansing of open contaminated wounds. Irrigation involves the application of sterile fluids to wounds to remove loose devitalized tissue, bacterial inoculum, blood clots, loose debris, and foreign bodies proximate to and within the depths of the wound. Two critical components of any effective wound irrigation method and/or device are: (1) the application of an adequate volume of sterile irrigation solution to the wound, and (2) the use of sufficient pressure applied in an effective dispersal pattern in the delivery of the solution to effectively remove contaminants. Regarding volume, the amount of irrigation solution required will depend upon the type of wound and the level of contamination. Injuries which can introduce a high amount of bacteria into a wound (such as puncture wounds and bites) may require 1 liter or more of irrigation solution.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,104 describes a wound irrigation apparatus and process for cleansing wounds which includes a pressure bladder, e.g., a blood pressure cuff, disposed proximate a reservoir holding a cleaning solution. The device in the '104 patent also includes a flexible tubular conduit for transmitting the solution from the reservoir to a single nozzle. The conduit and reservoir form a two-part system which is time consuming to set up, inconvenient to use, and costly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,701 describes a disposable pressurized wound irrigation device which has a pressurized chamber for providing a force upon the reservoir such that a single liquid stream of cleansing solution is expelled from the device at a constant pressure. A propellant is used in evacuating the cleanser contents of the device. This invention requires a propellant and involves a relatively elaborate manufacturing and filling process which is labor intensive and requires specialized machinery. This device is also inconvenient to use and costly.
More recently, an advantageous wound irrigation system has been developed whereby a dispersed stream of irrigation fluid is easily and effectively applied to wounds. This system is described at, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,830,197 and 6,468,253 and International Patent Applications WO 00/15279 and WO 02/007799. These disclosures are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.
Chlorhexidine is a chemical antiseptic, and it combats both gram positive and gram negative microbes. It is bacteriostatic, hampering the growth of bacteria, and bacteriocidal, killing bacteria. It is often used as an active ingredient in mouthwash designed to kill dental plaque and other oral bacteria. Chlorhexidine also has non-dental applications, though. It is used for general skin cleansing, as a surgical scrub, and as a pre-operative skin preparation.
Chlorhexidine is typically used in the form of acetate, gluconate, or hydrochloride, either alone or in combination with other antiseptics such as cetrimide. It can be deactivated by anionic compounds, including the anionic surfactants commonly used as detergents in toothpastes and mouthwashes.

Devices and methods for delivering active agents to target sites


A tubular handle, a tubular main loop and a tubular connector piece together form a continuous loop threaded through the handle. A tubular slide lock is fitted over a mid-section of the main loop which is fitted together to form a double strand. All of the foregoing parts are of flexible plastic. In one form, the handle, and the continuous loop are all segments cut from a continuous aggregate source, and in a second form, the slide lock is also a segment cut from a continuous aggregate source.

The device of the present invention is adapted particularly for carrying hangers for clothing, commonly known as coat hangers. Such coat hangers most often have a wire hook for carrying them and hanging them, and very often they are uncomfortable to hold in the hand. This is particularly so in the case of a number of hangers, or plurality of them, to be held together in the hand. In the latter case, the hooks of the hangers often do not lie in the same orientation, but assume a somewhat irregular bundle or stack with raw pointed ends exposed which often engage the hand of the holder in an uncomfortable or painful attitude.


A torsion damping device provided with an associated friction device. The torsion damping device includes a washer (60) frictionally engaging a disk (11) under axial action of spring lugs (63) bearing on a guiding washer (12B). The washer has a substantially annular shape and acts radially beyond an elastic damping member (15, 15a).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a torsion damping device of the type having at least two coaxial parts, mounted rotatably in relation to one another, counter to elastic damping means generally interposed circumferentially between them. Such a torsion damping device can be applied to a friction clutch, notably for a motor vehicle. The invention more particularly concerns a friction device acting between the coaxial parts.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a known torsion damping device one of the rotary parts carries a friction disc, designed to be fixed with respect to rotation to a first shaft, in practice a driving shaft, the crankshaft of the engine in the case of an application to a motor vehicle, whilst another of the said rotary parts has a hub by means of which it is designed to be fixed with respect to rotation to a second shaft, in practice a driven shaft, the input shaft of a gearbox in the case of such a motor vehicle.
In such an assembly, the use of at least three rotary coaxial parts, one of these comprising a hub disc, is also known.
The damping device acts between this rotary part and that fixed to the driving shaft. The delimitation of the angular movement between this rotary part and that fixed to the driven shaft is provided by engagement means of meshing with clearance. A sub-assembly for preliminary torsional damping is generally interposed between these latter two rotary parts.
The interposing of an axially acting friction device between two rotary coaxial parts is also known. Such a device generally comprises a friction washer, one active surface of which rubs against one of the rotary parts, and elastic loading means axially forcing the friction washer towards the rotary part whilst bearing on the other rotary part.
In the known device mentioned above with three coaxial parts, two friction devices of this type are generally disposed, one, corresponding to the damper, between the rotary part connected to the driving shaft and the hub disc, and the other, corresponding to the preliminary damper, between the rotary part connected to the driving shaft and the rotary part connected to the driven shaft.
These friction devices are generally in the vicinity of the hub, in a space left free around the latter, delimited circumferentially by elastic damping means.
Also housed in this space is the sub-assembly for preliminary torsional damping.
It is thus complicated to install in this space other active devices such as, for example, devices for damping the end-of-travel impacts of the means of meshing with clearance.


The present invention provides an information services system and method for providing information services, wherein a pointer is provided in response to a request for information from the user. The pointer provides an addressable location at which the requested information may be accessed by the telephony terminal from which the information request was generated. The information may be accessed through a traditional browser or downloaded using a file transfer application. Since a pointer instead of the actual information is provided in response to the information request, limited-capacity messaging techniques can be used to transmit the pointer to the telephony terminal. Based on the capabilities of the applications running on the telephony terminal, the requested information may include any combination of text, graphics, audio, video, pictures, and the like, wherein the relative size of the information requested is only limited by the capabilities of those applications and of the communication medium.

Traditional directory assistance has evolved into enhanced information services, wherein a user can request everything from directory numbers and addresses to movie listings and driving directions. The user will initiate a call to the information services system, make a request, and the requested information is audibly delivered to the user via a telephone terminal. There has always been a challenge associated with remembering or otherwise keeping track of directory assistance information. The additional information available from enhanced information services only exacerbates the problem. Users either try to remember the information or make written notes of the information. In general, the users only remember the information temporarily, and notes are often lost or discarded, especially when the requests for information are made from mobile terminals when the user is on the move.
In an attempt to reduce the relatively temporary nature of the requested information, certain cellular technology allows the information services providers to send basic text messages including the requested information to the user's telephony terminal in addition to the traditional voice delivery. The most prevalent technique for delivering such messages incorporates the requested information in a short messaging service (SMS) message, which is delivered to the mobile terminal using SMS. The ability to receive the requested information in electronic form has proven beneficial. Unfortunately, like the name of the short messaging service implies, the service provides limited capacity for delivering the requested information. For example, most SMS messages are limited to 120 text characters. The limited SMS messages are sufficient to transmit directory numbers and basic addresses for a requested listing, but cannot effectively deliver the amount of information available in response to requests for enhanced information services information, such as movie listings and driving directions. In addition, the information transmitted in the SMS messages is limited to text, and is incapable of carrying information in other formats, such as audio, video, pictures, or graphics. Further, the SMS interface provides limitations on how the received information can be used and stored in applications running on the mobile terminal.
Accordingly, there is a need for a more efficient and effective way to provide information to a telephony terminal in response to an information services request. There is a further need to be able to provide the information in a variety of formats other than text, as well as allow other applications running on the telephony terminal to store or make ready use of the requested information.

Efficient delivery of information services information


A monitoring system includes an imaging device and a control device. The control device includes a device communication section, a device controller, and device storage. The device controller includes an assignment section and a count section. The imaging device captures an image of an imaging area to generate captured image data indicating the captured image. The device controller acquires the captured image data from the imaging device through the device communication section. The assignment section assigns a plurality of candidate detection ranges to the captured image. The count section counts the number of occurrences of a specific event in each of the candidate detection ranges. The device storage stores therein the number of occurrences of the specific event in association with each of the candidate detection ranges.

The present disclosure relates to a monitoring system.
In recent years, more monitoring systems have been introduced for crime deterrent, accident prevention, and the like. Particularly, a number of monitoring systems are installed in a facility accessible by unknown individuals, such as a hotel, a commercial building, a convenience store, a financial institution, a freeway, and a railroad. A monitoring system captures images of a monitoring target person or a monitoring target vehicle with a camera and transmits captured image data generated through the image capture to a monitoring center such as an administrative office or a security office. Monitoring personnel monitors the captured images. The captured images are recorded as desired or needed.
However, the images captured by the monitoring system may include a window of a general house or anything related to personal information, raising concerns about invasion of privacy. To deal with such concerns, a known camera system acquires an image using a camera and displays the acquired image on a display device with a mask region set on the displayed image.


A transfer device has a control circuit. The control circuit initiates supplying transfer power to one or more first transfer rollers and to a second transfer roller when a first transfer operation is initiated by a first transfer roller positioned most upstream with respect to a direction in which an intermediate transfer belt travels. The control circuit stops supplying the transfer power to the one or more first transfer rollers and to the second transfer roller when a second transfer operation is completed by the second transfer roller. The transfer power supplied to the one or more first transfer rollers and to the second transfer roller, respectively, is free from fluctuation during a period from the initiation of the first transfer operation performed first to the completion of the second transfer operation.

The present invention relates to a transfer device for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a toner image as formed on an image carrier is firstly transferred to an endless intermediate transfer belt and the toner image is secondly transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to a record medium such as a sheet of paper (hereinafter referred to merely as a sheet). The present invention relates in particular to a transfer device which controls transfer power to be supplied in first and second transfer operations.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-039651 discloses a tandem-type full-color image forming apparatus having a semiconductive endless belt and a plurality of (e.g. four) image forming sections. The endless belt is installed rotatably, and the image forming sections each provided for forming a developed image of corresponding color are aligned along an outer circumference of the endless belt. This arrangement allows a full-color image to be formed in at least one full rotation of the endless belt.
There is also known a tandem-type full-color image forming apparatus using an intermediate transfer method. In the image forming apparatus, developed images for respective colors formed on photoreceptor drums as image carriers in respective image forming sections are accumulated on an outer circumferential surface of an endless belt (an intermediate transfer belt) and then transferred to a sheet, to form a full-color image.
More specifically, toner images are formed on the image carriers in the respective image forming sections, based on image data for the respective colors obtained by color separation from an original image. The toner images are firstly transferred from the image carriers to the intermediate transfer belt to be accumulated, or first transfer operations are performed. Then, the accumulation of toner images is secondly transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the sheet, or a second transfer operation is performed.
Accordingly, the formation of a full-color image involves the first transfer operations performed in a plurality of, for example four, first transfer regions, and the second transfer operation performed in a second transfer region other than the first transfer regions. While following a loop travel path, the intermediate transfer belt passes through the first transfer regions and the second transfer region, in the order.
In the image forming apparatus using the intermediate transfer method, transfer power in full-color image formation is supplied to the intermediate transfer belt in the first transfer regions and in the second transfer region. The transfer power supplied to one of the transfer regions has undesirable effects on another transfer region positioned downstream thereof through the intermediate transfer belt, thereby preventing a predetermined transfer power from being supplied to the transfer region positioned downstream.
This is particularly true in case of the second transfer region being positioned immediately downstream of the first transfer region provided most downstream with respect to a traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt with an aim to downsize the apparatus and achieve high-speed image formation. As a result, a toner image on the intermediate transfer belt cannot be transferred properly to a sheet.
Since a black toner image is generally transferred to the intermediate transfer belt in the first transfer region positioned most downstream with respect to the traveling direction, the transfer power supplied to the first transfer region interferes with the transfer operation in the second transfer region, in monochromatic image formation as well.
There have been proposed solutions to the foregoing problem, such as arrangement of first and second transfer regions at a longer distance from each other or use of an intermediate transfer belt with a higher resistance.
However, such arrangement of the first and second transfer regions causes an increase in size, and a decrease in image formation speed, of an image forming apparatus. Also, the intermediate transfer belt with a higher resistance requires a discharging device for each of the transfer regions, resulting in an increase in size and in manufacturing costs of the apparatus.
A feature of the present invention is to offer a transfer device that controls transfer power supply so that transfer power is timely supplied to the intermediate transfer belt in first and second transfer regions. Simple timing control allows the transfer device to avoid the undesirable effects of transfer power supplied to the respective transfer regions on the transfer operations performed in the other transfer regions. The transfer device thereby allows uniform transfer operations to be performed in the respective transfer regions and therefore constant high-quality image formation to be achieved, without an increase in size, or a decrease in image formation speed, of the image forming apparatus.

Electrostatic image transfer device using intermediate transfer belt having simplified image transfer voltage requirements


An object is to provide a semiconductor device including an RFID which can transmit/receive individual information without a change of a battery accompanied by deterioration over time of the battery as a drive power source, and to which driving power can be supplied to keep a favorable transmission/reception state of the individual information even when an external electromagnetic wave is not sufficient. The semiconductor device includes a signal processing circuit, a first antenna circuit and a second antenna circuit operationally connected to the signal processing circuit, and a battery operationally connected to the signal processing circuit, in which the first antenna circuit transmits/receives a signal for transmitting data stored in the signal processing circuit; the second antenna circuit receives a signal for charging the battery; and a signal received by the first antenna circuit and a signal received by the second antenna circuit have different wavelengths.

In recent years, an individual identification technology using wireless communication has attracted attention. In particular, as a semiconductor device which communicates data by wireless communication, an individual identification technology using an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag has attracted attention. The RFID tag is also called an IC (Integrated Circuit) tag, an IC chip, an RF tag, a wireless tag, or an electronic tag. The individual identification technology using an RFID has started to help production, management, or the like of an individual object, and is anticipated to be applied to personal authentication.
RFIDs can be categorized into two types: an active RFID capable of transmitting an electromagnetic wave containing information of the RFID, and a passive RFID which drives utilizing power of an electromagnetic wave externally received, depending on whether it incorporates a power source or it is externally supplied with power (as for an active RFID, see Patent Document 1, and as for a passive RFID, see Patent Document 2). Among them, an active RFID is provided with a battery as a power source which supplies power for driving the RFID. Meanwhile, a passive RFID generates power for driving the RFID with the use of an external electromagnetic wave (carrier wave), and thus it is not provided with a battery.
Description is made of a specific structure of an active RFID with reference to a block diagram in FIG. 31. In an active RFID 3100 shown in FIG. 31, a communication signal received by an antenna circuit 3101 is inputted to a demodulation circuit 3105 and an amplifier 3106 in a signal processing circuit 3102. A communication signal is usually transmitted through a process such as ASK modulation or PSK modulation of a carrier of 13.56 MHz, 915 MHz, or the like. FIG. 31 shows an example of a case where 13.56 MHz is used for a communication signal. In FIG. 31, a clock signal as a reference is required for processing a signal. Here, a carrier of 13.56 MHz is used as a clock signal. The amplifier 3106 amplifies the carrier of 13.56 MHz and supplies it as a clock signal to a logic circuit 3107. Then, the communication signal subjected to ASK modulation or PSK modulation is demodulated in the demodulation circuit 3105. The modulated signal is transmitted to the logic circuit 3107 to be analyzed. The signal analyzed in the logic circuit 3107 is transmitted to a memory control circuit 3108 by which a memory circuit 3109 is controlled. Data stored in the memory circuit 3109 is transmitted to a logic circuit 3110. After being encoded in the logic circuit 3110, the signal is amplified in an amplifier 3111. By the signal, the modulation circuit 3112 modulates the carrier. Power for driving the RFID shown in FIG. 31 is supplied through a power source circuit 3104 by a battery 3103 provided outside the signal processing circuit. Then, the power source circuit 3104 supplies power to the amplifier 3106, the demodulation circuit 3105, the logic circuit 3107, the memory control circuit 3108, the memory circuit 3109, the logic circuit 3110, the amplifier 3111, the modulation circuit 3112, and the like. Thus, an active RFID operates.
Description is made of a specific structure of a passive RFID with reference to a block diagram in FIG. 32. In a passive RFID 3200 shown in FIG. 32, a communication signal received by an antenna circuit 3201 is inputted to a demodulation circuit 3205 and an amplifier 3206 in a signal processing circuit 3202. A communication signal is usually transmitted through a process such as ASK modulation or PSK modulation by a carrier of 13.56 MHz, 915 MHz, or the like. FIG. 32 shows an example of a case where 13.56 MHz is used for a communication signal. In FIG. 32, a clock signal as a reference is required for processing a signal. Here, a carrier of 13.56 MHz is used as a clock signal. The amplifier 3206 amplifies the carrier of 13.56 MHz and supplies it as a clock signal to a logic circuit 3207. Then, the communication signal subjected to ASK modulation or PSK modulation is demodulated in the demodulation circuit 3205. The modulated signal is transmitted to the logic circuit 3207 to be analyzed. The signal analyzed in the logic circuit 3207 is transmitted to a memory control circuit 3208 by which a memory circuit 3209 is controlled. Data stored in the memory circuit 3209 is transmitted to a logic circuit 3210. After being encoded in the logic circuit 3210, the signal is amplified in an amplifier 3211. By the signal, the modulation circuit 3212 modulates the carrier. Meanwhile, a communication signal inputted into a rectifier circuit 3203 is rectified, which is inputted to a power source circuit 3204. The power source circuit 3204 supplies power to the amplifier 3206, the demodulation circuit 3205, the logic circuit 3207, the memory control circuit 3208, the memory circuit 3209, the logic circuit 3210, the amplifier 3211, the modulation circuit 3212, and the like. Thus, a passive RFID operates.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2005-316724    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Translation of PCT International Application No. 2006-503376

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd


The invention provides a technique to effectively cool an electro-optical device in the electro-optical device encased in a mounting case. The mounting case can include a plate member arranged so as to face one surface of a liquid crystal panel and a cover member arranged so as to cover the plate and the liquid crystal panel. Cooling-air guiding portions that include at least some of the side surfaces of the liquid crystal panel as at least some of the surfaces that constitute the passage can be provided in the cover member.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting case for accommodating an electro-optical device, such as a liquid crystal panel, which is used as a light valve for a projection display apparatus, such as a liquid crystal projector, an electro-optical device encased in a mounting case, in which the electro-optical device is accommodated, and a projection display apparatus having the electro-optical device encased in the mounting case.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, when a liquid crystal panel is used as a light valve of a liquid crystal projector, the liquid crystal panel is not provided in an exposed state on a console, etc., constituting the liquid crystal projector, but it is accommodated or encased in a suitable mounting case, and then the mounting case including the liquid crystal panel is provided on the console. This is because the liquid crystal panel can easily be fixed to the case by suitably providing screws in the corresponding mounting case.
In the liquid crystal projector, the light emitted from a light source is projected onto the liquid crystal panel encased in the mounting case as focused light. Light passing through the liquid crystal panel is enlarged and projected on the screen to display images. In such a liquid crystal projector, since the enlarged projection is generally predetermined, relatively intense light emitted from a light source such as a metal halide lamp is used.
However, in this construction, first, there is a problem in that the temperature of the liquid-crystal-panel encased in the mounting case, and particularly of the liquid crystal panel rises. The rise in temperature causes a rise in temperature of the liquid crystal interposed between a pair of transparent substrates in the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, the characteristics of the liquid crystal are deteriorated. In addition, when the light emitted from the source light is uneven, the liquid crystal panel is partially heated to generate so called hot spots, and then variations in the transmittance are generated at the hot spots. Thus, the quality of projected images deteriorates.
The technique for preventing the rise in temperature of the liquid crystal panel includes, for example, one disclosed in, for example, International Publication Number WO98/36313, etc. The patent discloses a technique by providing the heat radiating sheet between the liquid crystal panel and a heat radiating plate in the liquid crystal display module comprising the liquid crystal panel and a case (referred as a 'mounting case' in this specification) holding and accommodating the liquid crystal panel and having the heat radiating plate. In addition, in order to solve the above problems, other approaches, such as an approach of providing a light shielding film on a substrate positioned at the side of the liquid crystal panel on which light is incident and an approach of forming the mounting case, in which the liquid crystal panel is held or accommodated, using a light reflective material, have been known.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electro-optical device encased in mounting case, projection display apparatus, and mounting case


A self-adjusting heel joint connector for securing roof structural members, without the need for a conventional birdsmouth cut or toe-nailing. The connector is slideably insertable between the bottom of a preset rafter and the top of a supporting wall plate at a heel joint and is capable of self-adjusting to a precise preset rafter pitch. The connector includes a support member securable to the top of the supporting wall plate, and a framing member freely rotatable with respect to the support member about a swivel joint. The framing member is securable to the angled rafter and an adjacent joist/tie member, and includes a pair of legs positioned at approximately a right angle in which the rafter sits. The framing member includes through-holes for securing the connector to an angled rafter and an adjacent joist/tie member, and may be utilized as a guide for proper fastener placement by a craftsman in the field. The connector provides restraint from lateral movement and uplift, and provides for full vertical rafter load transfer through the connector directly to the top of the supporting wall plate, while transferring thrust force in the rafter to the adjacent joist/tie member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector for making a structural connection between a plurality of structural members joined at an angle. Specifically, the present invention relates to a self-adjusting heel joint connector for securing a roof rafter, ceiling joists/ties, and supporting walls, without the need for a conventional birdsmouth cut. The connector includes a swivel joint to allow for adjustment to a precise preset roof pitch for transferring vertical load through the connector directly to the top of the supporting wall plate and has the capability of transferring rafter thrust force to the joist/tie member. The framing member of the connector may further act as a guide for proper fastener placement to transfer rafter thrust force to the joist/tie member. The design of the present invention forms a stable unit which provides greater lateral structural stability, while saving construction time and costs.
2. Description of Related Art
Light frame building construction is the predominant method of construction in the residential and light commercial construction market. In light frame construction, a birdsmouth joint or cut is a woodworking joint that is generally used to connect a roof rafter to the top plate of a supporting wall. It is an indentation cut into the rafter which consists of a "seat cut" (the face of which rests on the top plate) and a "heel cut" or "plumb cut" (the face of which lies parallel to the supporting wall), forming a shape resembling a bird's mouth. The indentation should not extend unsupported on the interior in order to maintain the structural integrity of the rafter because the unsupported section can split along the grain of the wood. Saw blade overrun at the birdsmouth cut can also cause damage to the rafter. The depth of a rafter cut varies according to the desired roof pitch.
The "heel" joint is generally fastened with nails by toe-nailing the rafter from the side into the top plate below. Toe-nailing of the rafter to the wall plate often also leads to splitting of the rafter.
Many different connectors are used in the art for joining structural members for building construction, and these different connectors are designed to secure rafters to the adjoining wall of a building structure, often at a unique angle of attachment. The connectors are typically provided with through-holes for fasteners to be driven through the connector and into the side faces of the structural members being connected. In addition, other connectors for securing a rafter to a supporting wall must be designed for withstanding upward and lateral loads developed by high winds, which can differ by geographic location, and may include hurricane forces.
The prior art has provided numerous configured connectors to secure structural members to one another, particularly in the area of rafter-joist-wall attachments; however, each has various disadvantages which impede the connector's effectiveness.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,354,801 issued to De Huff on Aug. 1, 1944, entitled "RAFTER SEAT", discloses a rafter seat comprising a sheet of metal bent to form a pair of horizontally disposed spaced base plate portions for seating on the upper face of a plate structure or the like; a rafter seat portion forming a joist supporting flat surface inclined with relation to said base plate portions; and a pair of vertically extending intermediate wall portions connecting said seat portion to the respective plate portions.
De Huff's connector must be in place at the heel joint prior to placing the rafter, and therefore cannot adjust to accommodate a preset roof pitch. Further, the sloping surface is an integral part of the connector and a separate connector would have to be made for each different roof pitch. The connector also does not allow for direct full surface contact between the bottom of the rafter and the top of the supporting wall plate. There appears to be no provision for transferring rafter thrust force directly to the adjacent joist/tie to complete the structural system.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,477,163 issued to Barnett on Jul. 26, 1949, entitled "TRUSS SHOE", a truss shoe for use with a joist and a rafter having an end face and a bottom face resting on said joist comprising a pair of parallel, spaced apart, elongated side plates of L shape and having vertical and horizontal portions and of sufficient extent to overlie parts of the side faces of said joist and said rafter; a horizontal saddle plate connecting upper edges of the horizontal portion of the side plates and extending therebetween to overlie the upper face of the joist; a second horizontal saddle plate connecting the side plates at the other end thereof and extending therebetween to overlie the upper face of the joist and coplanar with the first mentioned saddle plate; and a vertically disposed plate adjacent and above the second saddle plate and extending between and connecting the side plates to function as an abutment for the end face of the rafter, is taught.
The truss shoes may be applied and secured to opposite ends of the joist by bolts or nailing, and thereafter the rafters may be placed in position and secured by nailing to the joists. Alternatively, the truss shoes and rafters may all be assembled on the ground and then hoisted up and placed in position on the wall plates.
Barnett's design includes no lateral bracing to the wall and no connection to the wall plate, and is primarily made for a truss connection. As shown, the rafter is directly over the joist. The rafter pitch must be predetermined prior to truss fabrication, and there is no capability to adjust rafter pitch.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,908 issued to Snow et al. on Jul. 6, 1976, entitled "CROSS TIE SADDLE BRACKET", a weld fabricated steel saddle bracket having an elongated angle member with a portion thereof adapted to abut the side of the top wall plate of a building and another portion thereof adapted to lie on the top of the top wall plate and two identical right angle members having horizontal portions welded to the top portion of the elongated angle member so that the side edges thereof are in planar alignment with the side portion of the elongated member and the ends thereof lie flush with the ends of the elongated member, and the two identical right angle members having vertical portions projecting upwardly in parallel spaced apart relationship from the top surface of the top wall plate to form a saddle to receive the cross tie members and roof rafters of the building, is taught.
Snow's connector is a welded connector having no adjustable seat, and the rafter must be cut for a seat to adjust the roof pitch. There is also no provision for transferring rafter thrust force to an adjacent joist/tie member.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,198 issued to Callies on Jul. 27, 1993, entitled "VARIABLE PITCH CONNECTOR", a connector for connecting a bearing member, having top, bottom, and side faces, with an inclined member having top, bottom and side faces, said connector comprising: a base having a first edge and means for connecting said base to said bearing member; a cradle member having a connection end, a free end, a bottom and a pair of sides extending upwardly at right angles from said bottom and configured to receive said inclined member, said cradle member being integrally connected at said connection end to said base along said first edge and including means for connecting said cradle to said inclined member; and a separate support member, connected to said base for supporting said cradle member, is taught.
Callies' connector must be in place prior to placing the rafter, and requires hammering to force the connector to adjust its riser seat for required pitch. Further, the connection is field bent during hammering. Callies' connector includes a separate support member which is hammered between the cradle member and the top of the supporting wall plate to adjust the pitch of the cradle member. This support member is wider than the cradle member and therefore projects on both sides of the rafter, prohibiting flush contact with an adjacent joist/tie member. Moreover, the cradle member sides also prohibit the rafter from being flush with the joist/ties, which prevents the proper fastening needed to transfer the rafter thrust load to the joist/ties. In addition, one end of the cradle member supporting the inclined member bears on the line edge of the wall plate. Building code requirements are that the load be transferred to the top of the wall plate for a minimum of 1½″ bearing, which is not possible with Callies' connector.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,469, issued to Stuart on Aug. 9, 1994, entitled "RAFTER TO PLATE CONNECTION", a rafter to plate connection in a wood frame building including wood top plate, and a wood rafter joined by a variable pitch connector including a rafter seat for receiving a portion of the wood rafter, a fixed base member affixed to the outside edge of the wood top plate, first and second side members joined to opposite sides of the wood rafter, and an adjustable base member joined to the rafter seat along a bend line and having a lower end in contact with the upper surface of the wood top plate, is taught. Fasteners join the fixed base member to the outside edge of the wood top plate, the adjustable base member to the wood top plate and the wood rafter to the side members.
Similar to Callies' connector, Stuart's connector must be in place prior to placing the rafter, and requires hammering to force the connector to adjust its riser seat for required pitch. Further, the connection is field bent during hammering. As in Callies, the connector first and second side members prohibit the rafter from being flush with the joist/ties, which prevents the proper fastening needed to transfer the rafter thrust load to the joist/ties. One end of the rafter seat bears on the line edge of the wall plate, which does not allow for transfer of the vertical load directly to the top of the wall plate.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a heel joint connector that is self-adjusting to accommodate preset rafter pitches and provides for a code-required minimum of 1½″ bearing between the bottom of the rafter and the top of the supporting wall plate, while transferring vertical load through the connector directly to the top of the supporting wall plate and transferring rafter thrust force to the adjacent joist/tie member, completing the structural system. Further, the framing member of the connector can be used as a guide by a craftsman in the field for proper placement of fasteners to transfer rafter thrust force to an adjacent joist/tie member.
Other advantages of the present invention include a reduction in the time required to fabricate each rafter, including but not limited to, handling, measuring, layout and omitting a birdsmouth cut in the rafter, as well as eliminating the need for conventional toe-nailing of the rafter to the supporting wall plate and field metal bending.


A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘Estrella Red’, characterized by its uniform, strong, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early flowering response; large inflorescences with dark red-colored flower bracts; and excellent post-production longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Estrella Red'.
The new Poinsettia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new low temperature-tolerant Poinsettia cultivars with uniform plant habit and excellent postproduction longevity.
The new Poinsettia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Jan. 15, 2000, of a proprietary selection of Poinsettia identified as code number 99005, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Poinsettia identified as code number 99105-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Estrella Red was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands on Nov. 16, 2001.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttings propagated in a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands since July, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Poinsettia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.


Method and system for latency-independent peripheral device identification. The computer system receives an interrupt from a peripheral device via a communications port. In response, an interrupt notification message is posted to alert a notification handler, and compliant peripheral class is determined. The voltage on a device may sense pin of the communications port for this determination. If the interrupt is indicative of the compliant peripheral class and the communications port is inactive, the port is opened, and an inquiry is sent and a response is received. If a response is received within a predetermined time period, an identification notification message is posted based on the response including information for classifying the peripheral device, so that a software handler registered with the operating system can handle the identification notification message when the software handler receives it. Thus, no time-critical interrupt response requirement is imposed for its successful operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to peripheral device identification and interrupt management. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a method and system that enables device identification to be performed without a rigid time limit within which an initial interrupt from the device needs to be serviced.
2. Related Art
Computer systems and other electronic devices have become integral tools that are used extensively to perform a wide variety of useful operations in modern society. Applications of computer systems can be found in virtually all fields and disciplines, including but not limited to business, industry, scientific research, education and entertainment. For instance, computer systems are used to analyze financial data, to control industrial machinery, to model chemical molecules, to deliver classroom presentations and to generate special effects for movies. Moreover, computer systems along with other electronic devices are finding new applications as a result of advances in hardware technology and rapid development in software technology. The growing affordability of computer systems and electronic devices together with the abundance of useful new applications have fueled strong demand for such systems and devices.
Included within this broad category of computers and electronic devices is the personal digital assistant (commonly referred to as a PDA). Specifically, as the components required to build a computer system have been greatly reduced in size, new categories of computer systems have emerged. One of these new categories of computer systems is the PDA. A PDA is a portable computer system which is small enough to be held conveniently and comfortably in the hand of its user. In particular, a popular size for the typical PDA approximates the size of a palm.
The PDA is usually a battery-powered device that is typically used as an electronic organizer having the capability to store and display a wide range of information which can include numerous addresses and telephone numbers of business and personal acquaintances, financial information, daily appointments, along with various other personal information. As such, the PDA is able to consolidate a wide variety of information and make the information easily accessible by its user. Therefore, PDAs are very useful and have gained wide popularity.
Since PDAs are such small devices, full-sized keyboards are generally not efficient input devices. For instance, PDAs using keyboards usually have keyboard devices that are so small that a user typically cannot touch-type on them. Many PDAs thus employ a stylus and a digitizer pad as an input system. The stylus and digitizer pad work well for PDAs because the arrangement allows a user to hold the PDA in one hand while writing with the stylus onto the digitizer pad with the other hand. A small on-screen keyboard image can also be used for data entry. By eliminating the need for a keyboard, PDAs are very portable and can be carried along by their users wherever they go, even when on extended travel. On the other hand, due to their small size, PDAs usually have a modest set of built-in functions and it is often beneficial to couple peripheral devices therewith to expand functionality. The greater the variety of peripheral devices a PDA is capable of operating with, the broader the functionality it can achieve.
Moreover, the management of communications port contention and power consumption affect the ease of use and the battery life of PDAs and other hand-held computers. A typical PDA includes limited communications port resources. For example, the Palm V personal organizer, manufactured by Palm Computing, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., has a single communications port available to interface with peripherals. When the communications port is exclusively occupied by a peripheral, the communications port is unavailable for other uses. Thus, a PDA with an active keyboard occupying the communications port, for instance, may be unable to perform an infrared (IR) synchronization process with another device.
Another ease of use issue is the degree of user intervention required to manage a communications port and identify peripheral devices coupled thereto. Requiring a user to manually open the communications port and identify a peripheral device, such as through the graphical user interface (GUI) or the buttons of the PDA or hand-held computer, is generally less preferable to automatically opening the communications port and identifying the peripheral device when the PDA receives information from a peripheral device upon coupling. Further, requiring a user to explicitly close the communications port is also generally less desirable than automatically closing the communications port after the peripheral device and the PDA no longer exchange data. In one existing solution, the PDA will automatically close a communications channel, which was opened to work with a keyboard peripheral, when the PDA is prompted with a signal initiating a synchronization process, such as when the PDA is placed in a cradle for a HotSync process. However, if a user forgets to explicitly close the communications port after using a keyboard that occupied the communications port, the user may be unable to perform an infrared synchronization process. In such cases, the synchronization process cannot be initiated until the situation is resolved. A user unfamiliar with the problem may even have the mistaken impression that the PDA has malfunctioned.
Furthermore, requiring a user to manually close the communications port also affects power consumption. Battery powered systems, such as PDAs and other hand-held devices, are sensitive to applications that drain excessive power. Thus, PDAs mostly leave their communications ports in a low power standby mode, because an open communications channel may consume significant power. For example, the Palm V personal organizer has a communications port included in the processor that is shared between an infrared communications port and an RS-232 serial communications port. The Palm V hand-held organizer keeps these ports in standby mode to reduce power consumption. A user who forgets to close the communications port after a peripheral device is no longer being used may suffer a significantly decreased battery life, and be forced to recharge or change batteries often.
Even if a user remembers to close the communications port when the attached peripheral device is no longer being used, the port has to be reopened for further communications with a peripheral device when use is resumed. When the communications port is reopened, the attached peripheral device needs to be identified. Identifying the peripheral device permits the PDA to open appropriate applications and select appropriate communication protocols. Some existing hand-held computers provide limited capability for identifying peripheral devices. For example, in an existing Palm organizer, this is implemented with two pins on a serial port. According to this technique, an interrupt is generated by bringing up one of the pins (e.g., making the pin "high"). An interrupt routine then checks the second pin to determine if it is high or low (e.g., high indicates modem, low indicates cradle). One problem with this technique is that it only allows two different types of devices to wake up the serial port. In other words, this peripheral device identification scheme is limited to identifying one of two devices, for example, a cradle versus a modem. As hand-held computer technology advances and its applications multiply, an increasing number of peripheral devices are becoming available for use with hand-held computers and PDAs, but the existing device identification technique are not capable of distinguishing among the numerous devices.
Some other approaches to peripheral device identification are capable of identifying more than two types of devices. Typically, such approaches involve performing certain detection activities in a given time period immediately following the initial interrupt generated by the device as described above. According to these approaches, additional input is generated by the peripheral device and received by the hand-held computer during this prescribed time period. For example, the additional input may include one or more specific characters or additional interrupt(s). Based on the additional input, such as by monitoring for the specific inbound character(s) or by counting the additional interrupts, the hand-held computer determines the type of the peripheral device being coupled thereto.
Nevertheless, these identification schemes also have their shortcomings. In particular, these schemes impose a hard limit on the latency within which the initial interrupt generated by the peripheral device must be handled in order for the respective schemes to succeed. Such a time-critical interrupt response requirement is undesirable because the hand-held computer may be engaged in other computations when the initial interrupt is generated and thus may be unable to service the interrupt within the requisite time frame. Under these circumstances, peripheral device identification according to these time-critical schemes would fail.
Thus, in view of the foregoing problems that are inherent in existing peripheral device identification schemes, it would be highly advantageous to provide a peripheral device identification system and method that facilitates extendible identification of various peripheral devices, where the successful operation of the system and method does not require that the initial interrupt generated by the peripheral device be handled within a critical time period.
Additionally, a method and system for peripheral device identification should not require complete revamping of existing hand-held computer systems or PDAs. In other words, in implementing a viable method and system for peripheral device identification, components that are well known in the art and are compatible with existing hand-held computer systems need to be used so that the cost of realizing the method and system for peripheral device identification is low. By so doing, the need to incur costly expenditures for retrofitting existing hand-held computer systems or for building custom components is eliminated.

Method and system for automatic peripheral device identification

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A pixel array and a display device are provided. The pixel array includes a two-dimensional array that is formed by arranging a plurality of color sub-pixels and a plurality of white sub-pixels in the row direction and in the column direction, the color sub-pixels include color sub-pixels in three different colors. For color sub-pixels in each color in each row, color sub-pixels with the same color in the same row are arranged so that, the odd-numbered column sub-pixel and the even-numbered column sub-pixel alternate one by one, or they are disposed by way of groups each including two odd-numbered column sub-pixels alternating with even-numbered column sub-pixels or by way of groups each including two even-numbered column sub-pixels alternating with odd-numbered column sub-pixels.

As a mainstream display at present, Liquid Crystal Displays have occupied the chief market for flat panel display by virtue of the advantages of small volume, thin thickness, low power consumption, etc., and the liquid crystal display technology is also in course of continuous development.
FIG. 1 illustrates a pixel array of RGB sub-pixels of an existing liquid crystal display and a drive mode thereof. In the course of drive, in order to prevent a crosstalk phenomenon between adjacent sub-pixels, it is required that polarities of image signals applied across the adjacent sub-pixels be opposite. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in each row of sub-pixels, polarities of applied image signals change alternately between positive and negative.
In order to increase brightness of liquid crystal displays, a pixel array of RGBW sub-pixels has been proposed, namely, on the basis of an original RGB pixel array, a white (w) sub-pixel is added. FIG. 2 illustrates a pixel array of RGBW. In each row of sub-pixels, they are arranged repetitively in the 'R-W-B-G' repetitive unit. In such a pixel array, a drive mode similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1 is carried out, namely, signal data for adjacent pixels have opposite polarities.


Railcars for transporting timber in either the "tree-length" form or "long log" form are provided. The present invention includes a railroad car comprising a central support member having at least one set of wheels disposed near its ends. A bulkhead is affixed to each end of the central support member and a plurality of cross members extend from the central support member, to which a plurality of stanchions are affixed. Thus, the cross members and the stanchions preferably form substantially "U"-shaped structures that are in a spaced-apart relationship selected to restrain both tree-length logs and long logs. The railroad car of the present invention may also include one or more apparatus for restraining a stack of timber, such as a winch and a strap. Most preferably, at least six pairs of stanchions are provided. The distance between a first stanchion and the bulkhead is between about 7.5 and 8.5 feet; the distance between the first stanchions and a second stanchion is between about 12.0 and 13.0 feet; and the spacing between further stanchions repeats the same alternating spacing. The cross members preferably raise the logs above the deck or structure of the railcar to facilitate loading and unloading using conventional equipment.

Paper mills and lumber mills are typically located in central locations with respect to the availability of resources, such as water, power, and forest resources, and access to major transportation routes for both receiving raw materials and for shipment of finished products. The demand for wood often requires the geographic area from which a particular mill draws its requirements to be quite large. Hauling distances from mills in excess of 100 to 200 miles are not unusual. Such substantial hauling distances increase transportation costs, to the point that they become a substantial factor in the overall cost of the raw materials.
The transportation method most widely used in the forest products industry for relatively short distances is truck transportation. Truck transportation is suitable for hauling logs from the harvest site to the mills over distances of less than about 100 miles. As the distance increases beyond 100 miles, the cost of truck transportation becomes prohibitive. Truck transportation is also dependent on a good highway transportation system and can be severely restricted in certain areas due to traffic from urban and suburban development.
Beyond the practical and economical range of truck transportation, timber is generally transferred to rail for shipment. Rail transportation is economical for essentially all distances, but is particularly advantageous from a cost standpoint for long-haul areas, i.e., areas in excess of 100 miles from the mill site. Over such distances, rail is three to four times as efficient as truck transportation. Where rail transportation is employed, timber is transported short distances to a railhead and shipped to a mill for use. Rail transportation would be more widely used, except for certain shortcomings that have been encountered with respect to the railcars that have been employed to transport logs to the mill.
For various reasons, it is sometimes desirable to ship logs in a form known as "tree-length" timber which, as the name implies, are logs which are substantially the length of the tree from which they have been cut and de-branched. Typically, tree-length timber is from about 30 feet to about 50 feet in overall length. Because the longest tree-length timber is longer than about one-half the length of typical existing railcars, and since most mills cannot accept tree-length wood that is randomly oriented, it is the usual practice to load and unload this timber in two or more "decks" each deck being substantially wedge-shaped because the logs taper, that is, the diameter of the log at what was the base of the tree is larger than the other end. As a result, the load typically comprises two wedge-shaped decks with the tip ends overlapping one another. Another preferred form in which timber is shipped is in the form of "long logs" about 15-20 feet in length. Because of their shorter length, long logs may be readily placed in two or more spaced-apart stacks on the bed of the railcar. The shorter length of long logs also reduces the degree of taper encountered, and they are generally oriented randomly, resulting in stacks which are substantially "square". Because long logs are 15 to 20 feet in length, they cannot be stacked crossways on a railcar, since the maximum width of the railcar is between 10 feet, 6 inches and 10 feet, 8 inches.
Tree-length logs are the most preferred method of receiving wood at the mills, as they provide for the maximum utilization of the wood at the lowest cost. When tree-length logs are received by a mill, particularly one which is associated with a lumber operation, the economic yield from the wood is greater than with either wood chips, short wood or long logs. The tree-length logs can be sorted at the mill into logs suitable for conversion into lumber or plywood, and the less suitable logs can then be used in papermaking processes. Furthermore, the processing of tree-length logs at paper mills which have appropriate equipment, such as slasher decks to cut the logs into predetermined lengths, is considerably less expensive than cutting tree-length logs into shorter lengths or chips at the harvesting site because of the more efficient equipment and better material handling methods available at the mill site.
Thus, for example, in pulping operations employed in the making of paper and other products, it is preferable to use tree-length logs to minimize the expense related to the cutting and handling of the timber. Although the shorter long logs are frequently used, they are less well suited to pulping operations. In the pulp industry, it is thus currently the practice to utilize tractor trailers to haul both tree-length timber and long logs to pulping mills. However, the impracticality of bringing a fleet of trucks to remote logging areas, as well as the delays encountered due to highway conditions and traffic, result in a nearly unmanageable situation. Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a convenient and efficient way to ship both tree-length timber as well as long logs via rail.
Numerous railcars have been specifically designed to meet the needs of the timber industry such as railcars specifically adapted to carry tree-length timber. However, because of the simpler loading configuration, the bulk of the railcars designed for hauling logs used in North America are adapted to carry long logs. As shown in the Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia, compiled and edited for the Association of American Railroads (Simmons-Boardman Pub. 1974), numerous designs for log hauling are shown in the section designated "Flat Cars" at pp. S3-161 S-168. Particularly at page S3-162, a log car built for Burlington Northern is shown. The Burlington Northern Log Car has a center sill, outer sills and an open floor, together with side supports for the logs. Numerous other flat car designs having flat floors and bulkheads disposed at either longitudinal end are also shown in the same reference.
U.S Pat. No. 934,906 (Frame et al.) discloses a railcar adapted for transporting logs having a longitudinally extending central member or "sill" extending the length of the railcar and a pair of bolsters oriented transversely and attached to the sill near either end of the sill. U.S. Pat. No. 711,271 (Ashcraft et al.) also discloses a railcar adapted to carry logs. The railcars disclosed by Frame et al. and Ashcraft et al., however, are essentially "skeleton" flat cars, wherein the logs are stacked lengthwise and retained by a chain extending over the stack. Others have found that when hauling logs, it will be desirable to provide vertical standards or stanchions, attached to the distal ends of the transverse bolsters, such as the log carrier disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 405,819 (Billings) and the railcar disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,799,628 (Enowles).
U.S. Pat. No. 930,623 (Shillin) discloses the use of stakes attached to logging cars to retain logs in position during transportation. Also disclosed are means for locking the stakes in position during transit and means for releasing the locking means to permit repositioning of the stakes, thereby allowing discharges of the logs from either side of the car.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,188 (Kaleta) discloses bulkheads with fixed side and end container restraining walls with moveable corner engaging mechanisms to selectively restrain either a short or a long container supported upon a lower container in transport position.
The problems which have been encountered using such prior art designs are to a large extent a result of the inherent tapered shape of tree-length logs. The butt end of the logs, that is, the end that was at the root of the tree, is always larger than the tip end of the log. Furthermore, the individual logs may be somewhat twisted, which is not conducive to uniform stacking. The problem of instability of the stacks of logs on the railcars is further complicated by the requirements of the mills that the stacks of tree-length logs be aligned with all the butt ends at one end of a given stack so as to facilitate the unloading and handling of the logs at the mills. It is this practice that leads to loading the railcars with wedge-shaped "decks" of tree-length logs. It has been found, however, that such decks are inherently unstable in transit. The logs in the decks readily break loose or are repositioned so as to cause potential serious problems and personal injury. In transit, railcars are regularly subjected to impact as a result of starting and stopping that can have a force of several miles an hour. Impact at speeds as low as 5 miles per hour can cause a deck of logs to shift in position. Furthermore, when the railcars are struck, the wedge configuration often causes one or more of the individual tree-length logs within the wedge to slide forward out of the deck. As the individual logs start to slide forward, the entire deck becomes unstable. The individual logs are often ultimately forced from the decks, where they can either fall onto the tracks, causing serious safety problems, or project from the side of the railcars to contact and damage trains, cargo, and injure personnel on adjacent trains and tracks.
Other problems similar to those described above have been encountered when hauling tree-length logs. One such problem is that when the logs are transported in decks they tend to become entangled with each other. When the logs arrive at the mill it then becomes very difficult, if not impossible, to unload them in bulk from the railcars, thus substantially increasing the amount of time required for unloading and handling of the logs. A related problem is that the railcars utilized for hauling of tree-length logs must be exceptionally durable and rugged, but also should be as light in weight as possible. In use, railcars used for hauling tree-length logs must be able to endure the day-in, day-out abuse encountered in both the loading and unloading of the logs. While the durability of the cars can be increased by using heavier weight members and increasing the reinforcement, as is conventional with other types of cars, increased weight presents problems, in that there is a maximum weight allowable for railcars and their loads that can be transported on existing rails. Tree-length logs are an exceptionally heavy cargo and, accordingly, increasing the strength by using heavier weight members and additional reinforcement directly reduces the effective payload of the logs which can be handled.
It would therefore be highly advantageous to provide a railcar suitable for safe handling of tree-length logs which can easily be loaded and off-loaded, and which is strong enough to endure the rough handling encountered in normal use. Additionally, it would be desirable to design such a railcar that could also readily transport long logs.

Railcar adapted for hauling tree length timber and long logs


The invention concerns antiidiotypic antibodies comprising human constant regions, and murine variable regions bearing the internal image of human high molecular weight-melanoma associated antigen which have the specificity of said antibody. These antiidiotypic monoclonal antibodies have immune-regulatory functions and can therefore be used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, such as the treatment of melanoma.

Melanomas are tumors of the skin, less frequently of mucous membranes, some of which are benign. Malignant melanomas are carcinomas of neuroectodermal origin generally derived from melanocytes (pigment-producing cells), sometimes from mucous membranes, the chorioid coat or the meninges. There are several types of malignant melanoma which differ in localization, way of spreading and production of metastases.
Conventional treatment of melanoma includes surgery, radio- or chemotherapy, and the application of biological response modifiers. However, these methods have proved to be insufficient to combat the illness, e.g. to prevent tumor recurrence, and are complicated by a large number of severe side effects. Therefore, it is desirable to develop therapeutic approaches which overcome these drawbacks and can replace or be used in combination with conventional treatment.
Since the immune system seems to be heavily involved in the pathogenesis of this disease, the most suitable treatment would be a method of active immunotherapy, for example based on the application of specific antiidiotypic antibodies. Of special interest for therapeutic application are antiidiotypic antibodies of the internal image type which mimic the initial antigen and can substitute for it.
For tumor therapy, suitable antiidiotypic antibodies are those which are raised against antibodies specific for tumor associated antigens. In melanoma, one of the associated antigens (MAA) identified so far is the high molecular weight-melanoma associated antigen (HMW-MAA) with a molecular weight of >1,000,000. Murine antiidiotypic monoclonal antibodies raised against an antibody to HMW-MAA have been disclosed in European Patent Application No. 428 485.
However, a major limitation in the use of said murine-derived antiidiotypic monoclonal antibodies as diagnostic and therapeutic agents is their immunogenicity as foreign proteins, their rather long persistence in the circulation, and the formation of damaging immune complexes. On the other hand, the treatment with human monoclonal antibodies is also limited since human hybridoma cell lines are hard to prepare, generally unstable, and do not produce monoclonal antibodies of appropriate specificity in sufficient quantities and at reasonable costs.
Accordingly, there is a need for antiidiotypic antibodies the application of which inheres a reduced risk of eliciting an undesired anti-murine immunoglobulin immune response, while e.g. the idiotypic immune response and thus the production of endogenous anti-antiidiotypic antibodies should not be affected.

Antiidiotypic antibodies for high molecular weight-melanoma associated antigen


A housing includes a sheet of glass on one face thereof. A pivot assembly is mounted within the housing, adjacent one end of the sheet of glass. A mirror is attached at one end thereof to the pivot assembly. The housing is adapted to be mounted to a side of a vehicle such that the pivot assembly is above a free end of the mirror. A control cable has one end thereof attached to the mirror, and another end thereof attached to a control cable actuator. The control cable is configured to translate in a first direction to pull the free end of the mirror away from the sheet of glass, pivoting the mirror about the pivot assembly. The free end of the mirror is permitted to move back toward the sheet of glass under the influence of gravity when the control cable is translated in a second direction which is opposite the first direction, until the mirror is substantially parallel to the sheet of glass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to day-night mirror assemblies, particularly those operated by remote control.
2. Description of the Related Art
Day-night mirror assemblies are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,984 to Brean shows a day-night mirror assembly using a motorized, geared drive to pivot a mirror toward and away from a sheet of glass. The mirror is powered in both directions, toward and away from the sheet of glass.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,597 to Jones shows a day-night mirror assembly using a pair of control cables to pivot a prismatic mirror in two directions. The mirror is positively driven in both directions by the action of the cables.
A drawback with these inventions is that the complicated hardware involved is expensive. Rear view mirrors are often knocked off when pulling into a garage because they stick outward from the sides of the vehicle. This can cause damage to the rear view mirror itself, requiring replacement. Obviously, the replacement costs are even higher when using the day-night mirrors of the prior art.
What is needed is a day-night mirror with simplified construction to cut down on the expense of replacement.


An integrated circuit is provided that has a fuse element incorporated in the circuit. The circuit includes a substrate, a layer of metal disposed on the substrate, a plurality of openings formed through the layer of metal wherein the plurality of openings encircle a region of the layer of metal, and a contact pad coupled to the region of the layer of metal wherein the region of the layer of metal and the contact pad form the fuse element. The fuse element has a low resistance and has the advantage that the fuse element isolates multiple nodes within the integrated circuit from an external contact pad without disrupting the connectivity of the internal nodes to each other.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit and its production having a fuse element that is formed as part of the integrated circuit, and, more particularly, to a fuse element formed as part of the integrated circuit that has a low insertion loss.
Fuse elements have been incorporated in semiconductor integrated circuits to enable permanent alteration of a basic circuit design, i.e., to produce the so-called application specific integrated circuits (ASIC""s). When left undisturbed, the fuse elements provide conductor paths between certain circuit devices. The fuses may also serve as resistive elements. The fuses can be blown to destroy selected paths of conductivity whereby a circuit function can be permanently altered, i.e., customized. Typically, the fuse elements are burned off (blown) by impinging a high energy laser beam on the fuse.
A disadvantage with known fuse elements incorporated in an integrated circuit is the high insertion loss caused by the fuse element since its resistance is in series with a high current path. The resistance of such known fuse elements is on the order of 200 to 300 milliohms.
It is desirable to provide a fuse element in an integrated circuit that has a low insertion loss. It is desirable to provide a fuse element in an integrated circuit that has a resistance of one order of magnitude less than known fuse elements.
It is also desirable to provide a fuse element that isolates multiple nodes within the integrated circuit from an external contact pad without disrupting the connectivity of the internal nodes to each other.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an integrated circuit having a conductive path and a fuse element. The conductive path couples a first point to a second point. The fuse element couples the conductive path to a third point. The fuse element is formed in the conductive path between the first point and the second point. The fuse element is defined by a plurality of openings formed through the conductive path so that when the fuse element blows, the third point is electrically isolated from the conductive path while the first point remains electrically coupled to the second point.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an integrated circuit for controlling the charging of a battery cell located remotely from the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a first switch, a second switch and a fuse element. The first switch is coupled to a first conductive path and receives first control signals. The second switch is coupled between the first conductive path and a first pin. The fuse is coupled between the first conductive path and a second pin. The second pin can be coupled to a current source that is located remotely from the integrated circuit when the circuit is in use. When the integrated circuit is in use and the battery cell is being charged with current from the current source, the first switch is in an off condition and the second switch is in an on condition to direct current from the current source to the battery cell. When the current exceeds a predetermined level, the fuse blows open thereby isolating the current source from the integrated circuit without interrupting the conductive path.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an integrated circuit having a fuse element formed therein. The circuit includes a substrate, a layer of metal disposed over the substrate, a plurality of openings formed through the layer of metal that encircle a region of the layer of metal and a contact pad coupled to the region of the layer of metal where the region and contact pad form the fuse element.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for making an integrated circuit having a fuse element formed therein. The method includes the steps of disposing a layer of metal on a substrate, forming a plurality of openings through the layer of metal wherein the plurality of openings encircle a region of the layer of metal, and coupling a contact pad to the region of the layer of metal wherein the region of the layer of metal and the contact pad form the fuse element.
A more complete appreciation of the present invention and its improvements can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly summarized below, to the following detail description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and to the appended claims.

Integrated circuit with fuse element and contact pad


Wiring between semiconductor modules and a direct current power supply circuit, which construct a three-level power conversion apparatus, is made to be low inductance, so reduction in size and cost can be attained easily. In cases where a connection is made between direct current power supplies (electrolytic capacitors) and IGBT modules of a three-level inverter, a wiring conductor for a bi-directional switch part is divided into three conductors or two conductors on a same surface, and these conductors are sandwiched by a P conductor and an N conductor, which are arranged at outer sides thereof, respectively, through insulating materials, so a three-layer wiring structure of a sealed structure is formed. As a result, wiring inductance can be made small even with a small number of laminated layers, so that the reduction in size and cost of the apparatus as a whole is achieved.

In the past, as a three-level power conversion apparatus, there has been known a three-level inverter with three phases which serves to convert a direct current into an alternating current (for example, see a first patent document).
In the following, a conventional apparatus described in the first patent document will be explained with reference to FIG. 9 through FIG. 20. FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram which shows a general three-level power conversion apparatus described in the first patent document, wherein a main circuit construction of a three-level inverter with three phases is illustrated.
In FIG. 9, the three-level inverter is provided with direct current power supplies 1, 2 which are connected in series with each other, and which have a positive side electric potential P (hereinafter referred to as a "P electric potential"), a negative side electric potential N (hereinafter referred to as an "N electric potential"), and a midpoint electric potential M (hereinafter referred to as an "M electric potential"). Here, note that in cases where the direct current power supplies 1, 2 are constructed by an AC power system, in general, a diode rectifier, an electrolytic capacitor of large capacitance (not shown), etc. are used.
An IGBT (insulated gate type bipolar transistor) modules 16, 17, 18 (main switches) are connected between the P electric potential and the N electric potential, and alternating current output terminals (intermediate terminals) 11 of the individual IGBT modules 16, 17, 18 are connected to the M electric potential through IGBT modules 19 through 24 (bi-directional switches), respectively.
An IGBT (switch element) 3 and a diode 4 in the IGBT module 16 are connected to the P electric potential, and an IGBT 5 and a diode 6 therein are connected to the N electric potential.
Each pair of the IGBT modules 19 through 24 construct a bi-directional switch, which is connected between the M electric potential and each alternating current output terminal (intermediate terminal) 11 in the IGBT modules 16 through 18.
The IGBT module 19 is composed of a set of an IGBT 7 and a diode 8 which is connected in anti-parallel to the IGBT 7, and the IGBT module 20 is composed of a set of an IGBT 9 and a diode 10 which is connected in anti-parallel to the IGBT 9.
The IGBT modules 19, 20 (bidirectional switch) are of a construction in which one set of the IGBT and the diode are connected in anti-series to another set of the IGBT and the diode, and the IGBT modules 21 through 24, which correspond to the other two set, are constructed in a similar manner. Here, note that those IGBTs which are connected in anti-series with each other have their emitters commonly connected with each other, but they may instead have their collectors commonly connected with each other.
The three-level inverter has its three-phase output terminals connected to a load 15 through reactors 12, 13, 14 for filtering.
This serves to construct an inverter which can generate an output of three levels (P electric potential, N electric potential, and M electric potential).
In cases where the three-level inverter of FIG. 9 is constructed by IGBT modules and direct current power supply devices (electrolytic capacitors of large capacitance), for example, the IGBT modules 16, 17, 18 are composed of "2 in 1 type" IGBT modules, respectively, and the IGBT modules 19 through 24 are composed of "1 in 1 type" IGBT modules, respectively, and the direct current power supplies 1, 2 are composed of serially connected electrolytic capacitors, respectively. In addition, the IGBT modules 19 through 24 may be composed of "2 in 1 type" IGBT modules.
FIG. 10 is an external appearance perspective view which shows a construction example of each of the "2 in 1 type" IGBT modules 16 through 18, and FIG. 11 is an equivalent circuit diagram which shows an internal function in FIG. 10.
In FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the IGBT module is provided with a collector terminal (C1) 27 that is connected to a P electric potential, an emitter terminal (E2) 28 that is connected to an N electric potential, and an intermediate terminal (emitter/collector terminal E1C2) 11 that is connected to a load output and a bi-directional switch. In general, the individual terminals 27, 28, 11 are constructed in the order as shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is an external appearance perspective view which shows a construction example of each of the "1 in 1 type" IGBT modules 19 through 24 (bi-directional switches), and FIG. 13 is an equivalent circuit diagram which shows an internal function in FIG. 12.
In FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the IGBT module (bi-directional switch) is provided with a collector terminal (C) 30 and an emitter terminal (E) 31.
On the other hand, FIG. 14 is an external appearance perspective view which shows a construction example of a "2 in 1 type" bi-directional switch, and
FIG. 15 is an equivalent circuit diagram which shows an internal function in FIG. 14.
In FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, IGBT modules (bi-directional switch) are provided with a collector terminal (C1) 40 and a collector terminal (C2) 41.
In cases where the IGBT modules 19 through 24 (bi-directional switches) are composed of modules of the "2 in 1 type", as shown in FIG. 15, they have a common emitter (or a common collector), and hence, individual terminals can be constructed as shown in FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram which shows one phase of the conventional three-level inverter which is described in the first patent document.
In FIG. 16, the IGBT module 16 and electrolytic capacitors 25, 26 are connected to each other, at the side of the P potential, by means of a first conductor 33 which connects between a collector terminal 27 at the side of an upper arm of the IGBT module 16 and a positive side potential terminal 32 of the electrolytic capacitors 25, 26.
In addition, at the side of the N electric potential, the IGBT module 16 and the electrolytic capacitors 25, 26 are connected to each other by means of a second conductor 37 which connects between an emitter terminal 28 at the side of a lower arm of the IGBT module 16 and a negative side electric potential terminal 36 of the electrolytic capacitors 25, 26. At the side of the M electric potential, the IGBT module 16 is connected to a series connection point 34 of the electrolytic capacitors 25, 26 through the IGBT modules 19, 20 (bi-directional switches).
Further, the IGBT modules 19, 20 (bi-directional switches) and the electrolytic capacitors 25, 26 are connected to each other by means of a third conductor 35 that connects between a collector terminal 30 of the IGBT module 19 and the series connection point 34 of the electrolytic capacitors 25, 26.
FIG. 17 through FIG. 19 show the construction of the three-level inverter (for one phase) of FIG. 16. FIG. 17 is a top plan view which shows a state seen from an upper surface thereof. FIG. 18 is a left side view which shows a state seen from a left side thereof. FIG. 19 is s right side view which shows a state seen from a right side thereof.
In FIG. 17 through FIG. 19, in order to distinguish each one pair of series electrolytic capacitors located at the opposite right and left sides, "a" and "b" are attached in such a manner that those electrolytic capacitors which are located at the right side are denoted by 25a, 26a, and those electrolytic capacitors which are located at the left side are denoted by 25b, 26b.
In FIG. 17 through FIG. 19, the first and the second conductors 33, 37 are arranged in proximity with each other through an insulating material 44.
In addition, an electrically connected two-division conductor 45 (corresponding to the third conductor 35 in FIG. 16) is arranged in the vicinity of an anode (series connection point 34) of the electrolytic capacitor 26, and in the vicinity of the collector terminal 30 of the IGBT module 19, so that a proximity structure is thereby achieved in which the first and the second conductors 33, 37 are sandwiched.
However, insulating materials 46, 48 are interposed between the two-division conductor 45 and the first conductor 33, and between the two-division conductor 45 and the second conductor 37, respectively.
The individual interconductor distances between the first conductor 33 and the two-division conductor 45, between the second conductor 37 and the two-division conductor 45, and between the first conductor 33 and the second conductor 37, respectively, all become δ (see FIG. 18), so that a mutual inductance LM of a large value is generated between the individual conductors.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory view which shows mutual inductances LM by means of an equivalent circuit, wherein in the construction of FIG. 16 through FIG. 19, it is shown that the mutual inductances LM of the same magnitude are generated between individual conductors.
In FIG. 20, the two-division conductor 45 as referred to above (FIG. 18 and FIG. 19) is shown as divided into two, i.e., conductors 45a, 45b.
The intermediate terminal 11 of the IGBT module 16 and a collector terminal 30a of the IGBT module 20 are connected to each other by means of a thin fourth conductor 42 (wiring inductance Lac).
In addition, an emitter terminal 31a of the IGBT module 20 and an emitter terminal 31b of the IGBT module 19 are connected to each other by means of a thin fifth conductor 43 (wiring inductance Ls).
By forming wiring between the IGBT module 16 and the electrolytic capacitors 25, 26 into a four-layer laminate structure as in the case of the above-mentioned conventional three-level power conversion apparatus (FIG. 16 through FIG. 20) as referred to above (the first patent document), it is possible to reduce the wiring inductances LM between the IGBT module 19 (bi-directional switch) and the electrolytic capacitors 25, 26. However, other wiring inductances Ls, Lac can not be reduced.

TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION