A simulation apparatus, using the moment method and at high speed, simulates the intensity of an electromagnetic field, etc. of a time domain. A transforming unit obtains a frequency spectrum by segmenting time series data of a wave source and applying a Fourier transform thereto. A calculating unit calculates the mutual impedance at a sampling frequency, generates an approximate expression of the mutual impedance from the calculated mutual impedance and the sampling frequency and calculates the mutual impedance at respective frequencies obtained by the transforming unit by using the generated approximate expression. A simulating unit finds a current spectrum flowing in each element, according to the moment method, from the mutual impedance calculated by the calculating unit and the frequency spectrum obtained by the transforming unit and finds the spectrum of a voltage, an electric field, and a magnetic field from the found current spectrum. An inverse transforming unit applies an inverse Fourier transform to the spectra found by the simulating unit and outputs the result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a simulation apparatus and a simulation method for simulating the intensity of an electromagnetic field etc. radiated from an electronic apparatus by using the moment method; more particularly, it relates to a simulation apparatus and a simulation method using the moment method with which the intensity of an electromagnetic field etc., of time domain can be simulated at a high speed.
Electronic apparatuses are restricted by society from radiating more than a certain level of undesired radio waves or noise. Countries are establishing tough regulations in this regard.
In order to satisfy such radio wave regulations, use is made of various countermeasures such as shielding technology and filtering technology etc. When adopting these countermeasures, it is necessary to develop simulation technology to enable simulation of the degree of reduction of the radio waves or noise in a quantitative manner.
Electronic apparatuses are also restricted by society from being affected by radio waves or noise radiated from other electronic apparatuses, which level is more than a certain level. Countries are also establishing tough regulations in this regard.
2. Description of the Related Art
So as to satisfy these radio wave regulations, it is necessary to develop simulation technology enabling analysis of the reasons why electronic apparatuses radiate undesired radio waves or noise and why electronic apparatuses malfunction due to radio waves or noise.
In order to develop the latter simulation technology, an electromagnetic field intensity calculation apparatus which can simulate the intensity of the electromagnetic field which changes in time becomes necessary. However, this type of electromagnetic field intensity calculation apparatus for simulating the intensity of the electromagnetic field which changes in time has not yet been put into practical use. The reason for this will be explained below.
The intensity of the electromagnetic field radiated from any shape of object can be easily calculated by using known theoretical equations if the current (electric current) and magnetic current flowing in each part of the object are known. These current and magnetic current can be theoretically obtained by solving Maxwell's electromagnetic equations under given boundary conditions.
As the method of solving this, there is the moment method. The moment method is one of the methods of solving integration equations derived from Maxwell's electromagnetic equations and the method calculates the current and magnetic current by dividing an object into small elements and therefore is able to handle any three-dimensionally shaped object. As a reference on the moment method, there is "H. N. Wang, J. H. Richmond, and M. C. Gilreath: "Sinusoidal reaction formulation for radiation and scattering from conducting surface", IEEE TRANSACTIONS ANTENNAS PROPAGATION. vol. AP-23, 1975".
On the other hand, to solve why an electronic apparatus radiates undesired radio wave or noise and why an electronic apparatus malfunctions due to a radio wave or noise, analysis by the time domain is necessary. This is because what most causes malfunctions of electronic apparatuses is pulse-like noise. Further, malfunctions of electronic apparatuses are frequently caused by abnormal operation of devices contained in the apparatus, such as ICs. It is necessary to observe these devices over time so as to confirm their abnormal operation.
Two useful methods for time domain analysis are the finite element method and finite difference method. Although time domain analysis is possible with the finite element method and finite difference method, it is difficult to deal with electronic apparatuses comprising a variety of structures such as transmission lines, cables, and housings.
This is because, in the finite element method and finite difference method, it is necessary to perform segmentation of the analyzed object and the three-dimensional space surrounding it. When performing fine segmentation for small parts such as the cable terminating portions, since the space surrounding the housing and cables is huge, the number of segmentations becomes enormous and ends up overload in capacity of internal memories of the computer. Conversely, when rough segmentation is performed for the cables, housing, and other structures, it becomes impossible to analyze the effect of the cable terminating portions which play an important role in the mechanism and also become large sources of undesired radio wave or noise.
Further, in the finite element method and finite difference method, the coordinate system used for the segmentation is generally the orthogonal coordinate system. However, the cable and cable terminating portions, which play an important role in mechanism, are comprised of cylindrical elements, while the housing of the apparatus may be of any shape. Due to this, there exists a difficult question of how to segment the analyzed object.
In this regard, the moment method is free from all such problems and is well suited for dealing with electronic apparatuses comprising a variety of structures such as transmission lines, cables, and housings.
This is because the moment method is a type of boundary element method and requires that only the boundary surface be segmented two-dimensionally. Further, the segmentation pitch can be determined considerably freely, so the small parts can be finely segmented and the cables and the housing can be roughly segmented, so a number of segmentations much smaller than with the finite element method and finite difference method is sufficient. Further, since any shape of segmentation can be used, the problem of how to perform the segmentation does not exist.
Therefore, it can be considered that a noise current, noise voltage and radiation intensities of electromagnetic field which change in time are simulated by using the moment method. Namely, when the wave source which changes in time is given, it can be considered to adopt a method in which, the wave source is transformed to the frequency domain, the radiation intensities of the electromagnetic field are simulated in the transformed frequency domain, and the simulated values are inversely transformed to the time domain.
However, this method also cannot be realized with the related art. This is because the moment method works, when the frequency is given, by calculating a mutual impedance, mutual admittance, and mutual reaction among mesh-like elements and using the calculated values, to solve simultaneous equations, but the time for calculation itself of the mutual impedance etc. is long and, at the same time, when transformed from the time domain to the frequency domain, a considerably large number of frequencies is required. Since it is necessary to calculate the mutual impedance etc. at respective frequencies, an enormous amount of processing time becomes necessary.
Namely, when calculating the intensity of radiation of an electromagnetic field by using the moment method, as will be explained later referring to the drawings, a very long time is taken for the calculation of each of the mutual impedance, mutual admittance, and mutual reaction. In addition, since the computation must be carried out at respective frequencies of the frequency domain, this computation cannot be done in a practical time.
More concretely speaking, the time taken to solve the simultaneous equations under the moment method is on the order of a few minutes in the case of a single frequency, but the time taken for computing the mutual impedance, mutual admittance, and mutual reaction becomes on the order of a few hours. Since the mutual impedance and so on must be computed at respective frequencies of the frequency domain, the calculation cannot be finished within a practical time frame.
Note that the mutual impedance shows the relationship between the electric field induced by current flowing in one element and the current flowing in another element. The mutual admittance shows the relationship between a magnetic field induced by a magnetic current passing through one element and the magnetic current passing through another element. The mutual reaction shows the relationship between the magnetic field (electric field) induced by a current (magnetic current) applied to one element and the magnetic current (current) applied to another element. A current flows through metal, while a current and magnetic current flow on the surface of a dielectric body.
As seen from the above explanation, at the present time, no practical electromagnetic field intensity calculation apparatus able to simulate the intensity of an electromagnetic field which changes in time has yet been developed which can analyze apparatuses including printed board, cables, and housings.

Simulation apparatus and simulation method for electromagnetic field intensity using moment method


An analyzer is disclosed for optical analysis of a biological specimen. In at least one embodiment, the analyzer includes optics which includes a camera, intermediate optics and front optics. The intermediate optics is movably arranged and the front optics is fixedly arranged. An analyzer for optical analysis of a biological specimen, in at least one embodiment includes a robot for transporting a slide to be analyzed. The robot is controlled by at least three motors to allow movement of the robot in three dimensions. The robot includes a handling device configured to grip the slide.

Computer aided image analysis of biological material has become increasingly popular during the last years. For instance computer-aided processes for counting and classifying white blood cells in blood smears and body fluids have been developed. These types of analyses constitute an important step in diagnosing infections, allergies, or blood cancers.
In microscopic analyses of various medical preparations, for instance the analysis of a blood sample, a cytology sample, or a pathology sample, it is possible to use automatic scanning microscope systems. One example of such a microscope system is CellaVision DM 96 from CellaVision AB, which is used for localisation and pre-classification of the various types of white blood cells in peripheral blood smears. This system also pre-characterises parts of the red morphology and provides functionality for platelet estimation. The system scans a blood sample which is smeared onto a microscope slide. During scanning, the microscope system is making controlled positioning movements of the microscope slide in two directions, which can be referred to as directions in the x,y-plane. The microscope slide is placed on a table that moves in the two directions by means of two rails and a ball screw per direction.
A crucial part of such a system is to have a controlled handling of the sample. The sample, which is placed on a microscope slide, is to be trans-ported from a cassette to the microscope where a coarse adjustment as well as a fine adjustment of focus is made to achieve a satisfying image of the blood sample. Several devices for loading slides from a cassette onto a stage of a microscope are known.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,847,481 discloses an automated slide loader cassette for a microscope. The automated slide loader comprises a slide cassette indexer for containing a plurality of microscope slides, a slide exchange arm for gripping a microscope slide within the indexer and for transporting the slide to a microscope for observation and then back to the indexer, and an x,y-stage for moving the slide exchange arm between the indexer and the microscope and positioning the slide for analysis.
There are problems associated with assuring that the two rails are perfectly parallel, and if they are not, the table will not be able to move properly.

Analyser for optical analysis of a biological specimen


In a level shift circuit, even when a power supply voltage of an input signal is reduced, a level shift operation is reliably performed without causing increase in circuit area and process costs. For a pair of n-type transistors which receive an input signal and a reverse signal of the input signal as a pair of complementary signals at their gates, respectively, a layout which allows reduction in unit gate width size is adopted. The layout configuration includes a plurality of divided rectangular doped regions which function as drains and sources and a plurality of gates arranged to align in a gate length direction with a gate width direction according with a short side direction of the doped regions. The gates are electrically connected with one another, the drains are electrically connected with one another, and the sources are electrically connected with one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a level shift circuit for converting a logic level, and more particularly relates to a circuit configuration for performing a low voltage operation with low power consumption.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a known level shift circuit, for example, a latch type level shift circuit has been known. A level shift circuit of this type is shown in FIG. 1.
The level shift circuit of FIG. 1 includes two n-type transistors N51 and N52, cross-coupled two p-type transistors P51 and P52, and an inverter INV50. A gate of each of the p-type transistors P51 and P52 is connected to a drain of the other one of the p-type transistors P51 and P52. The inverter INV50 inverts an input signal IN and is operated by a low voltage supply VDD of, for example, 1.5 V or the like. Other devices than the inverter INV50 are devices at the high voltage side, which are operated by a high voltage supply VDD3 of, for example, 3.3 V or the like. The n-type transistors N51 and N52 have sources grounded and receive signals complementary to each other, i.e., an input signal IN and a reverse signal XIN of the input signal IN output from the inverter INV50, respectively. Each of the p-type transistors P51 and P52 has a source connected to the high voltage supply VDD3 and a gate connected in cross-coupling connection to a drain of the other one of the p-type transistors P51 and P52. Respective drains of the p-type transistors P51 and P52 are connected to respective drains of the n-type transistors N51 and N52, respectively. Assume that one connection point, i.e., a connection point of the p-type transistor P51 and the n-type transistor N51 is, a node W51 and the other connection point, i.e., a connection point of the p-type transistor P52 and the n-type transistor N52 is a node W52. An output signal OUT is output from the node W52.
The operation of the level shift circuit of FIG. 1 will be described. In a steady state, for example, when the input signal IN is at the H (VDD) level and the reverse signal XIN thereof is at the L (VSS) level, the n-type transistor N51 is ON, the n-type transistor N52 is OFF, the p-type transistor P51 is OFF, and the p-type transistor P52 is ON. One node W51 is at the L (VSS) level and the other node W52 is at the H (VDD3) level. In this steady state, since the n-type transistor N51 and the p-type transistor P51 are complementary to each other and the n-type transistor N52 and the p-type transistor P52 are complementary to each other, a current does not flow.
Thereafter, when the input signal IN is changed to the L (VSS) level and a state transition time starts, the n-type transistor N51 is turned OFF and the n-type transistor N52 is turned ON. Accordingly, a pass-through current flows from the high voltage supply VDD3 to the ground via the p-type transistor P52 and the n-type transistor N52 which are in an ON state, so that a potential of the node W52 starts dropping from the H (VDD3) level. When the potential of the node W52 drops to a level of VDD3-Vtp (Vtp is a threshold voltage of the p-type transistors P51 and P52) or less, the p-type transistor P51 starts to be turned ON and a potential of the node W51 (potential of the gate of the p-type transistor P52) is increased. Accordingly, a drain current in the p-type transistor P52 is reduced and the potential of the node W52 is further reduced.
Finally, the potential of the node W51 becomes the H (VDD3) level and the potential of the node W52 becomes the L (VSS) level. Accordingly, the pass-through current no longer flows therein, the output logic is reversed and a waiting state for a next input signal IN to be changed is started. In the description above, the case where the input signal IN is changed from the H level (VDD) to the L level (VSS) has been explained. The same operation also applies in a reversed case.
Another example of the level shift circuit is described, for example, in Patent Document 1.
(Patent Document 1) Japanese Patent No. 3477448
Assume that in the level shift circuit of FIG. 1, a current through each of the n-type transistors N51 and N52 at an ON operation is smaller than a current through each of the cross-coupled p-type transistors P51 and P52 at an ON operation. In this state, if the input signal IN is changed from "H" to "L", the output signal OUT can not be made to be "L". Therefore, the level shift circuit is not operated. Specifically, when the low voltage supply VDD is reduced to a low voltage, the driving ability of each of the n-type transistors N51 and N52 is reduced. Therefore, it becomes very difficult to ensure the operation of the level shift circuit at a low voltage.
To ensure a low voltage operation in such level shift circuit, for example, the following methods can be used.                I. An input voltage to the n-type transistors N51 and N52 is increased by an additional circuit such as a charge pump circuit.        II. Injection conditions and the like for the n-type transistors N51 and N52 are changed to reduce a threshold voltage.        III. The gate width size of the n-type transistors N51 and N52 is increased.
First, in Method I, an input voltage to the n-type transistors N51 and N52 is increased by an additional circuit, thereby preventing reduction in driving current ability of the n-type transistors N51 and N52. Thus, the lower-limit operation voltage of the level shifter circuit can be lowered. However, providing the additional circuit disadvantageously causes increase in circuit area.
Next, in Method II, the driving current ability of the n-type transistors N51 and N52 can be increased by reducing the threshold voltage of the n-type transistors N51 and N52, so that the lower limit operation voltage of the level shift circuit can be reduced. However, injection conditions and the like have to be changed and process costs are disadvantageously increased.
Finally, in Method III, the driving current ability of the n-type transistors N51 and N52 can be increased by increasing the gate width size, so that the lower limit operation voltage of the level shift circuit can be reduced. However, increasing a transistor size disadvantageously causes increase in circuit area.
The above-described problems are not limited to the level shift circuit having the configuration of FIG. 1. Similar problems occur in a flip-flop type level shift circuit described in Patent Document 1 or some other level shift circuit (of a charge-pump type or a current mirror type) having a configuration in which a pair of complementary signals, i.e., an input signal and a reverse signal thereof are received at gates, respectively.


The present invention is directed to a spring energized cage centering device for a bi-directional overrunning clutch. The clutch includes an inner race, an outer race, and a cage disposed between them. A biasing member is disposed between a cavity formed in the outer periphery of the inner race and a pocket formed in the inner periphery of the cage which permits rotational movement between the inner race and the cage, but rotationally biases the cage with respect to the inner race toward a neutral position. In one preferred embodiment, the cavity extends through the centerpoint of the inner race to form two openings in the inner race, the biasing member extending through the cavity and radially outwardly from the openings to engage the cage at two different circumferential locations.

An annular bi-directional clutch includes an inner race, an outer race and a cage disposed between the inner and outer race. The cage includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings which receive rollers. The rollers selectively engage both the inner and outer race. As the inner race rotates from a neutral or rest position into an engaged or driving position the rollers are forced to ride up corresponding flats formed on the inner race by a resisting cage. Each roller is then trapped between the inner and outer race and torque is transmitted between the inner and outer races. As the clutch disengages the inertia of the rollers and cage tends to provide the force required to move the cage from the engaged to neutral position such that the rollers no longer engage both the inner and outer race. However, the inertial force of the rollers is often insufficient. Therefore, the clutch may not disengage, returning the cage back to its neutral position with respect to the inner race.
The prior art teaches the use of various methods to prevent rotation between a cage and an inner race. For example, a stop in the form of a peg may extend from a cavity formed in an outer periphery of the inner race into the sides of a split resilient cage. The resilient cage effects frictional engagement with the outer race before wedging means such as rollers come into action, to oppose the centrifugal forces associated with the wedging means, and to retain the wedging means in position. Alternatively, a spring loaded wedge may be used which simultaneously engages mutually inclined ends of the split cage. However, in the case of the spring loaded wedge, the rigid structure of the wedge is received in the cavity of the inner race and between the split cage ends. Thus, the spring loaded wedge functions in a manner parallel to the stop, preventing rotation between the cage and inner race, but permitting the cage to radially expand and contract.
There is also a teaching in the prior art of placing a spring between an input shaft and an output shaft to urge cam members disposed between them into a neutral position. However, such a usage is inapplicable to an overrunning clutch, wherein an outer race must be able to rotate relative to an inner race.

Overrunning clutch with spring energized cage centering device


A system for reprocessing and sterilizing a previously used catheter having at least one lumen is disclosed. The catheter is provided with a housing and enclosed within the housing. Heated sterilant is provided to the housing and the catheter. The lumen is tested during the reprocessing and sterilizing cycle for blockages and integrity. If the catheter is of a type having a balloon tip, the balloon is also tested for integrity by inflating and deflating it a plurality of times. The housing is pressurized to a level above the ambient pressure and maintained at such pressure whereby the sterility of the catheter is maintained for up to one week. Further disclosed is an apparatus for selectively coupling used catheters to a source of sterilant. The apparatus includes a housing having a tray for holding the catheter in place during reprocessing, a door for enclosing and locking the catheter within the housing, and a plurality of valves for coupling the housing to a source of sterilant. In addition, the apparatus includes a cap for maintaining the sterility of the catheter during storage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of reprocessing medical equipment. In particular, it relates to an improved device and method for sterilizing and reprocessing balloon-tipped catheters that are used in the surgical reconstruction of blood vessels.
2. Description of the Related Art
Balloon-tipped catheters were first introduced in the mid-1970's to aid surgeons in performing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is one of the recognized methods used to treat arteries that are totally obstructed or partially occluded by plaque. Angioplasty is typically performed by making a puncture wound in the patient's thigh to gain access to the femoral artery. A guidewire is passed through the artery and advanced through the vascular system until the distal end of the wire reaches the arterial stenosis, whether iliac, femoral, femoropopliteal, aortic, renal, splanchnic, coronary or brachiocephalic. A guiding catheter is next advanced over the guidewire until its distal end passes over the distal end of the guidewire. The guidewire is then removed and a special PTA wire is advanced through the guiding catheter up to the locus of the stenotic lesion. The surgeon then manipulates the proximal end of the PTA wire to pass it through the stenotic lesion that is obstructing the artery. Next, a PTA balloon catheter is passed over the PTA wire and positioned adjacent to the stenotic lesion. Thus positioned, the balloon is inflated by injecting thereinto a bio-compatible fluid, such as saline. As the balloon inflates, it contacts and compresses the plaque forming stenotic lesion by urging it radially outward. The plaque is displaced thus restoring patency to the target artery. Once used, the catheter is discarded.
Since balloon-tipped catheters were first introduced during the mid-70's, other types of catheters have been designed for various other types of surgical procedures. For instance, catheters having a balloon tip with a large profile were developed for valvuloplasty procedures. Angiographic catheters with one lumen were developed to diagnose the existence of stenotic lesions in the arteries while guide catheters are used to position other types of catheters within the body.
The number of procedures using different types of catheters increases each year. During 1991 alone the number of procedures worldwide approximated one billion. The cost of the various types of catheters used in these procedures represents a significant portion of the overall cost of the operation. For instance, balloon-tipped catheters used in angioplasty and valvuloplasty procedures cost approximately $600.00/each with the cost increasing each year as variations and improvements are developed. The ability to reprocess and reuse catheters would provide a decided advantage by helping to control the spiraling cost of the surgical procedures utilizing them.
Attempts to develop a system to reprocess catheters have met with limited success. Manual reprocessing of catheters has provided a limited means for reprocessing and reusing the catheters. However, manual reprocessing is prone to human error and the sterility critical to a successful operation cannot be guaranteed. In addition, manual systems cannot guarantee the integrity of the catheter once it is reprocessed. Further, manual systems also fail to provide the necessary identification, monitoring, control and versatility required to produce a safe and efficient catheter reprocessing system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,123 assigned to the same assignee of the present invention describes a method and apparatus for reprocessing catheters that overcomes many of the problems associated with manual reprocessing. However, the catheter sterilizing cassette described therein is costly to manufacture and awkward to use. Further, the reprocessed catheters must be used immediately because it is difficult to maintain pressure within the cassette. Consequently, the sterility of the cassette and the catheter contained therein cannot be maintained for long periods of time during storage. Moreover, the reprocessing cycle takes hours to accomplish because the system is unable to use advanced chemical sterilants that require heating. A new and improved catheter reprocessing and sterilizing system is needed to overcome these problems.

Catheter reprocessing and sterilizing system


A compressor includes a valve base plate, which is arranged between a suction chamber and a compression chamber and has a suction port. The valve base plate includes a sealing surface, a recessed groove, a receiving surface, and a support surface. The sealing surface is flush with a fixing surface and contacts the valve portion in an annular manner. The recessed groove is located at an outer side of the sealing surface and recessed with respect to the fixing surface. The recessed groove includes a bottom portion and separates an edge portion of the valve portion from the bottom portion. The receiving surface is flush with the fixing surface and capable of contacting a distal zone of the valve portion. The support surface is flush with the fixing surface and capable of contacting a middle zone located at an inner side of the sealing surface of the valve portion.

The present invention relates to a compressor.
A compressor disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-235913 is publicly known. The compressor has a valve base plate arranged between a suction chamber and a compression chamber. The valve base plate has a suction port, which extends through the valve base plate and allows communication between the suction chamber and the compression chamber. The suction port is selectively opened and closed by a suction reed valve, which is arranged in the suction chamber.
The suction reed valve is elastically deformable and formed using a plate material having front and back surfaces, which extend parallel to each other when in a normal state. The suction reed valve has a fixing portion fixed to the valve base plate, a base portion that extends longitudinally from the fixing portion and can be lifted from the valve base plate, and a valve portion that extends from the base portion toward the distal longitudinal end to selectively open and close the suction port.
The valve base plate is arranged in the suction chamber and has a fixing surface. The fixing portion is fixed to the fixing surface through contact between a back surface of the fixing portion and the fixing surface. The valve base plate includes a sealing surface, which is flush with the fixing surface and capable of contacting a back surface of the valve portion in an annular manner at a position around the suction port. The valve base plate also has an annular groove, which is located on the outer side of the sealing surface in a manner recessed with respect to the fixing surface and arranged around the full circumference of the suction port.
In this type of compressor, as the deformation amount, which is the lift amount, of the suction reed valve at the time of suction becomes smaller, the resistance between the reed valve and the valve base plate becomes greater. This hampers smooth gas flow, thus causing power loss.
To conserve energy, the conventional compressor is demanded to promote suppression of such power loss.
Also, to prevent damage to the suction reed valve, the durability of the compressor is demanded to improve.


Systems and methods which provide a polyacrylamide (PAM) based flexible and rechargeable zinc-ion battery (ZIB) configuration are described. Embodiments of a ZIB configuration comprise a PAM based polymer electrolyte. For example, a ZIB configuration of embodiments may comprise a manganese-dioxide (MnO2) cathode, a zinc (Zn) anode, and a PAM based polymer electrolyte. The PAM based polymer electrolyte may comprise a PAM based polymer hosting one or more solutions to form a hydrogel electrolyte (e.g., crosslinked polyacrylamide hydrogel electrolyte). For example, the PAM based polymer electrolyte may be configured as a polyelectrolyte matrix host for the one or more solutions, such as may comprise a neutral solution of zinc sulfate and manganese sulfate, to achieve a stable electro chemical performance under the repetitive deformation conditions.

The emerging research toward the next-generation flexible and wearable electronics has stimulated the efforts to build highly flexible, durable and deformable energy-storage devices with excellent electrochemical performances. For example, flexible or wearable electronics are leading the trend of next-generation consumer electronic products and they are finding more applications in sportswear, pressure sensors, military uniforms, and implantable medical devices. A key challenge identified in this field is how to fabricate highly deformable, durable, and wearable energy-storage devices with excellent electrochemical performance and shape versatility for powering such next-generation electronic products.
One-dimensional (1D) fiber yarn based energy-storage devices may offer a solution for the flexible or wearable demands of next-generation electronic products, owing to their unique and promising properties such as light weight, tiny volume, excellent wearability and integratability with traditional cloths. Accordingly, some efforts have been directed toward developing different 1D linear energy-storage devices such as lithium ion batteries, lithium sulfur batteries, primary batteries, and supercapacitors. However, lithium ion batteries suffer from intrinsic safety and cost issues, and the applications of supercapacitors are vastly restricted by their insufficient energy density. Accordingly, these energy-storage devices may not provide satisfactory solutions for powering the aforementioned next-generation electronic products. Moreover, energy-storage devices utilized with respect to flexible or wearable next-generation electronic products should be able to deliver high energy capacity while maintaining their electrochemical functions under different conditions, such as being bent, stretched, cut or even washed in water. The foregoing battery configurations resulting from current research in yarn batteries or power-type supercapacitors cannot satisfy these requirements.
Zinc-manganese dioxide (Zn—MnO2) battery configurations have been considered as one of the most popular primary cells over the past one hundred years, due to its unique features such as low cost, eco-friendliness, good specific capacity, and ease of fabrication. These attractive characteristics, combined with the increasing need for high-performance flexible power sources, have prompted considerable efforts in developing flexible batteries based on Zn—MnO2 configurations. Yu, X. et al., "Flexible Fiber-type zinc-carbon battery based on carbon fiber electrodes," Nano Energy, 2013, 6, 1242-1248, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, introduced a flexible fiber-type Zn—MnO2 configuration using carbon fibers as the current collector. Gaikwad, A. M. et al., "Highly flexible, printed alkaline batteries based on mesh-embedded electrodes," Adv. Mater., 2011, 23, 3251-3255, and Wang, Z. Q. et al, "Fabrication of high-performance alkaline batteries by implementing multiwalled carbon nanottibes and copolymer separator," Adv. Mater., 2014, 26, 970-976, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, demonstrated flexible alkaline batteries based on polymer gel electrolyte, exhibiting superior discharge performance and good flexibility. However, these flexible Zn—MnO2 battery configurations are not rechargeable and suffer from sharp capacity attenuation.
Recently, a novel rechargeable zinc-ion battery (ZIB) configuration has been proposed, which evolves the primary Zn—MnO2 batteries into highly reversible energy storage systems, see C. J. Xu et al., "Energetic zinc ion chemistry: the rechargeable zinc ion battery," Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2012, 51, 933-935, H. Pan et al., "Reversible aqueous zinc/manganese oxide energy storage from conversion reactions," Nat. Energy, 2016, 1, 16039, Lee, B., et al., Electrochemically-induced reversible transition from the tunneled to layered polymorphs of manganese dioxide, Sci. Rep., 2014, 4, 6066-6074, M. H. Alfaruqi, J. Gim, S. Kim, et al., "A layered δ-MnO2 nanoflake cathode with high zinc-storage capacities for eco-friendly battery applications," Electrochem. Commun., 2015, 60: 121-125, and M. H. Alfaruqi, V. Mathew, J. Gim, et al., "Electrochemically induced structural transformation in a δ-MnO2 cathode of a high capacity zinc-ion battery system," Chem. Mater., 2015, 27, 3609-3620, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Nevertheless, 1D flexible and rechargeable ZIBs with good wearability, high energy density, and excellent cycling performance remain a challenge. For example, a key component of the ZIB for a stretchable and wearable design is a solid-state electrolyte. The widely used polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based electrolytes suffer from low elasticity, low ionic conductivity and poor mechanical strength. Hydrogels, as hydrophilic polymer networks swollen with a large amount of water, can dissolve different kinds of ions, making themselves serve as good ionic conductors.

Rechargeable polyacrylamide based polymer electrolyte zinc-ion batteries


A machine tool is provided with a tool mounting part mounting and holding a tool for working a workpiece, a motor rotating the tool mounting part such that an edge of the tool is inclined with respect to the workpiece, a control device holding the tool standby such that the edge of the tool is positioned at a working standby position proximal to a surface of the workpiece and starting a working movement from the working standby position. In the machine tool, the control device includes a working standby position correcting device to correct the working standby position to a corrected working standby position according to a diameter d of the tool and a rotational angle θ of the tool mounting part such that the tool does not interfere with the workpiece when the tool is held standby at the working standby position in a rotated state by the motor.

Conventionally, a machine tool such as a lathe is configured to perform various sorts of working on an object to be worked (workpiece) such as a round bar or the like, which is grasped on a main shaft, by striking a tool such as a tool bit for cutting or a drill edge for creating a hole on the workpiece.
A machine tool, among the above mentioned machine tools, has a configuration in which a tool mounting part is rotatably provided about a so-called B axis (based on JIS) such that a hole or the like which extends along an inclined angle other than 90 degrees with respect to an axis of the workpiece (which is in a direction corresponding to an extending direction of the main shaft) can be drilled by using a rotating tool such as a drill edge (for example, Patent Document 1).


A multi-chambered container for storing and dispensing flowable substances and method for using the same. The container includes a plurality of individual chambers (30,40,50) each containing a flowable substance. Each chamber (30,40,50) is in fluid communication with a discharge valve assembly. Each chamber includes a pair of structural elements that define an isolated panel. The valve assembly selectively dispenses a single one of the flowable substances in response to one of the isolated panels being pressed or squeezed by a user without simultaneously dispensing the remaining substances.

There are many flowable packaged substances or products on the market today offering many choices to consumers for personal care, oral care, and home care products. Such products may include without limitation body washes, liquid soap, body lotions, shampoos, conditioners, household cleaners, etc. Products within the same category are often available in a variety of formulations, colors, and/or fragrances adding to the type and number of products available. These products may sometimes be packaged together in a single container having multiple compartments. A user may wish to dispense one or more of the products contained in the multiple compartments.
An improved container is desired that provides multiple dispensable products or substances in a single convenient container that includes structural elements to facilitate the dispensing of the desired product(s) and to improve the grippability of the container.


Description and specification of a new and distinct nectarine tree cultivar named ‘Bowden’ which originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Ark. 699N×Ark. 663CN made in 2001. This new nectarine cultivar can be distinguished by its very firm, non-melting white flesh, early-mid season ripening, medium-sized fruits, excellent fruit quality with distinct white nectarine flavor, and resistance to bacterial spot disease.

A new cultivar of nectarine tree called 'Bowden' is described herein. The new cultivar originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Ark. 699N (non-patented, unreleased genotype) (female parent)×Ark. 663CN (non-patented, unreleased genotype) (male parent) made in 200. The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in the late winter 2001/early spring of 2002 and planted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited during the summer of 2004 and one seedling, designated Ark. 764, was selected for its very firm, non-melting white flesh, early-mid season ripening, medium-sized fruits, excellent fruit quality with distinct white nectarine flavor, and resistance to bacterial spot disease.

The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas


There is disclosed a process for producing 3-methyltetrahydrofuran substantially free from any of an alcohol and water which comprises adding an organic solvent capable of forming an azeotropic mixture with an alcohol with an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms to a mixed liquid containing 3-methyltetrahydrofuran, the alcohol and/or water as the principal components and, as the case may be, another substance, and distilling the resultant mixture of the mixed liquid and said organic solvent. According to the above process, it is made possible to efficiently separate a mixture of 3-methyltetrahydrofuran and an alcohol and/or water which mixture is difficult to separate with conventional distillation process alone, thereby efficiently producing the objective 3-methyltetrahydrofuran substantially free from any of an alcohol and water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing 3-methyltetrahydrofuran. More particularly, it pertains to a process for producing 3-methyltetrahydrofuran which comprises distilling a mixed liquid containing 3-methyltetrahydrofuran and water and/or a specific alcohol as the principal components by adding an organic solvent to said mixed liquid to produce the objective 3-methyltetrahydrofuran substantially free from any of said alcohol and water.
2. Description of the Related Arts
3-Methyltetrahydrofuran is an extremely useful substance which is utilized as a comonomer for modifying poly(tetramethylene ether glycol) that is obtained by polymerizing tetrahydrofuran. (Refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 235320/1988 (Sho 63) and European Patent Application Laid-Open No. 343985.)
Various proposals have been made on the process for producing 3-methyltetrahydrofuran. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 219981/1994 (Hei 6) describes the process for producing 2-methl-1,4-butanediol and 3-methyltetrahydrofuran by the hydrogenation of itaconic acid ester or 3-formyl-2-methylpropionic acid ester and also Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 217768/1996 (Hei 8) describes the process for producing 3-methyltetrahydrofuran by the hydrogenation of methylsuccinic acid ester. However, when an attempt is made to produce 3-methyltetrahydrofuran by the use of the above-mentioned ester as a starting raw material, it is inevitable that the reaction product contains an alcohol as well as the objective 3-methyltetrahydrofuran. It is impossible to separate the 3-methyltetrahydrofuran from the alcohol by means of conventional distillation only, since it forms an azeotropic mixture with most of lower alcohols, for example, with methanol, forming an azeotrope having an azeotropic point of 64.5.degree. C. and an azeotropic composition consisting of 25% by weight of 3-methyltetrahydrofuran and 75% by weight of methanol.
In addition, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 9464/1974, 38264/1974 and 1038/1975 each describe the process for producing 3-methyltetrahydrofuran by the hydrogenation of 2-methyl-butyrolactone. There is described, in J.Prakt.Chem 1972, 314(5-6), 840.,Ger.Offen.2236734, the process for producing 3-methyltetrahydrofuran by the cyclization dehydration reaction of 2-methyl-1,4-butanediol. However, when an attempt is made to produce 3-methyltetrahydrofuran by using the aforesaid starting raw material, it is inevitable that the reaction product contains water as well as the objevtive 3-methyltetrahydrofuran. It is impossible, as is the foregoing case, to separate the 3-methyltetrahydrofuran from the water by means of conventional distillation only, since it forms an azeotropic mixture with water, that is, an azeotrope having an azeotropic point of 75.8.degree. C. and an azeotropic composition consisting of 75% by weight of 3-methyltetrahydrofuran and 25% by weight of water.
On the other hand, consideration may be given to a process not in reliance on distillation, for example, a process in which the alcohol is washed away with water or a concentrated aqueous solution of caustic soda. However, the above-mentioned process can not be said to be efficient in separating the alcohol, since 3-methyltetrahydrofuran is inevitably lost to a certain extent by its being dissolved in the washing water and by the polymerization of itself.

Process for producing 3-methyltetrahydrofuran


Apparatus and methods for treating a wall of an aneurysm formed in a vessel includes introducing a tubular member into the body lumen until a distal end of the tubular member is located within the aneurysm. A fluid is delivered via a lumen of the tubular member into the aneurysm to at least partially de-endothelialize the wall of the aneurysm, thereby causing an endothelium of the wall to generate fibrous tissue to strengthen the wall of the aneurysm.

In many clinical situations, blood vessels are occluded for a variety of purposes, such as to control bleeding, to prevent blood supply to tumors, to stop blood flow to arterio-venous malformations or fistulas, and to block blood flow within an aneurysm.
Embolization of blood vessels is particularly useful in treating aneurysms. Aneurysms are abnormal blood-filled dilations of a blood vessel wall that may rupture causing significant bleeding. For the cases of intracranial aneurysms, the significant bleeding may lead to damage to surrounding brain tissue or death. Intracranial aneurysms may be difficult to treat when they are formed in remote cerebral blood vessels, which are very difficult to access. If left untreated, hemodynamic forces of normal pulsatile blood flow can rupture fragile tissue in the area of the aneurysm causing a stroke.
Vaso-occlusive devices have been used to treat aneurysms. Vaso-occlusive devices are surgical implants placed within blood vessels or vascular cavities, typically using a catheter, to form a thrombus and occlude the site. For instance, a stroke or other such vascular accident may be treated by placing a vaso-occlusive device proximal of the site to block the flow of blood to the site and alleviate the leakage. An aneurysm may similarly be treated by introducing a vaso-occlusive device through the neck of the aneurysm. The thrombogenic properties of the vaso-occlusive device cause a mass to form in the aneurysm and alleviate the potential for growth of the aneurysm and its subsequent rupture. Other diseases, such as tumors, may often be treated by occluding the blood flow to the tumor.
There are a variety of vaso-occlusive devices suitable for forming thrombi. One such device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,069, to Ritchart et al., the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. That patent describes a vaso-occlusive coil that assumes a linear helical configuration when stretched and a folded convoluted configuration when relaxed. The stretched configuration is used to deliver the coil to the desired site and the convoluted configuration occurs when the coil is ejected from the catheter and the coil relaxes. Ritchart et al. describes a variety of shapes, including "flower" shapes and double vortices. A random shape is described as well.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,457B1 to Wallace et al., describes an occlusive device comprising an inner core wire covered with a polymer. The polymeric material includes protein based polymers, absorbable polymers, non-protein based polymers, and combinations thereof. The polymer may contribute to forming emboli for occluding a body cavity.
Vaso-occlusive coils having complex, three-dimensional structures in a relaxed configuration are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,576B1 to Wallace et al. The coils may be deployed in the approximate shape of a sphere, an ovoid, a clover, a box-like structure or other distorted spherical shape. The patent also describes methods of winding the anatomically shaped vaso-occlusive device into appropriately shaped forms and annealing them to form various devices.
Vaso-occlusive coils having little or no inherent secondary shape have also been described. For instance, co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,690,666 and 5,826,587 by Berenstein et al., describe coils having little or no shape after introduction into the vascular space.
Vaso-occlusive devices work initially by slowing blood flow inside the aneurysm. As a result of the slowed blood flow, the blood inside the aneurysm clots. The combination of the vaso-occlusive devices and the clot protects the aneurysm from hemodynamic forces (i.e., forces on the aneurysm wall due to blood flow) that may cause recanalization and recurrence of the aneurysm. However, recanalization and recurrence of the aneurysm may still occur for various reasons. For example, the vaso-occlusive device may rearrange itself due to the hemodynamic forces. Typically, the vaso-occlusive device(s) near the neck of the aneurysm is most affected by the effects of blood flow. Also, the clot formed may break down due to the hemodynamic forces and/or natural chemical processes. This is more likely to occur if the aneurysm is loosely packed with vaso-occlusive devices.
Accordingly, devices and methods for reducing recanalization or recurrence of an aneurysm would be useful.

Systems and methods of de-endothelialization


The invention provides a semiconductor device that includes a memory cell array that is divided into four blocks. During a period in which data is read or written in one of the blocks, refreshing is conducted in all of the other remaining blocks. An ATD signal triggers a series of operations that are performed when a memory cell is read or written. Refreshing is conducted based on the ATD signal.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices that retain data through refreshing, methods of the refreshing, memory systems and electronic apparatuses.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, the use of VSRAMs (Virtually Static RAMS) as semiconductor memories is well known. Memory cells of a VSRAM are similar to those of a DRAM, with the exception that in a VSRAM, column addresses and row addresses do not need multiplexing. Additionally, a user can use a VSRAM without having to consider refreshing (i.e, refreshing transparency).
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device that retains data through refreshing, a method of the refreshing, a memory system and an electronic apparatus.
A method for refreshing a semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention pertains to a method for refreshing a semiconductor device having a memory cell array that is divided in a plurality of blocks. The method can include an operation step of placing the semiconductor device in an operation state, a first detection signal generation step of generating a first detection signal that is a detection signal representative of a change of an address signal of the semiconductor device during the operation state, and a first refreshing step of conducting refreshing, based on the first detection signal, for blocks among the plurality of blocks other than a block that is externally accessed.
In accordance with the present invention, while a block to be external accessed is being externally accessed, refreshing is conducted for blocks to be refreshed, such that the semiconductor device can be effectively operated. Also, in accordance with the present invention, refreshing can be performed without relying on clocks.
The first detection signal may include, for example, an ATD (Address Transition Detector) signal.
With respect to the address signal, for example, an address signal externally input in a semiconductor device can be used as an address signal as it is. Also, the externally input address signal may be converted to a block address signal, a column address, or a row address, which may be then used as an address signal.
The number of blocks to be externally accessed may be one or greater. The number of blocks to be externally accessed may be determined when a semiconductor device is designed.
Conducting refreshing for a block can mean, for example, to conduct refreshing for memory cells in a certain row in the block. The row may be one row or plural rows. They can be optionally determined when a semiconductor device is designed.
External access can mean, for example, to read data from or write data in a memory cell.
The method for refreshing a semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can be made as follows. The first refreshing step can further include a first refreshing request step of generating a refreshing request for each of the plurality of blocks based on the first detection signal and a first mesh execution step of conducting refreshing, based on the first refreshing request, for the block among the plurality of blocks other than the block to be accessed.
The method for refreshing a semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can be made as follows. The method can include an external access execution step of eternally accessing the block to be eternally accessed, wherein the external access execution step is synchronized with the first refresh execution step based on the first detection signal. As a result when a certain block is to be externally accessed, the access to the block if being refreshed can be prevented The method for refreshing a semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can be made as follows. The first refresh execution step can be completed during a period between generation of the first detection signal and generation of a next detection signal. As a result, when a certain block is to be externally accessed, the block is not in a refreshing state, and therefore the external access cannot be delayed.
The method for refreshing a semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can be made as follows. The method can include a standby step of placing the semiconductor device in a standby state, a second detection signal generation step of generating a second detection signal that is a detection signal representative of a change of an address signal of another semiconductor device, and a second refreshing step of conducting refreshing for the plurality of blocks based on the second detection signal.
As a result, refreshing can be conducted for the plurality of blocks based on the second detection signal without using a clock even when the semiconductor device is in the standby state.
It is noted that the second detection signal may include a signal that is generated by flowing an address signal of another semiconductor device in a circuit that generates a first detection signal. Accordingly, when a first detection signal is an ATD signal, a second detection signal is an ATD signal.
The method for refreshing a semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can be made as follows. The second detection signal can be generated during a part of the standby state of the semiconductor device. As a result, the frequency of generating second detection signals can be reduced, such that lower power consumption of the semiconductor device can be achieved.
A semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can include a memory cell array that is divided into a plurality of blocks, a detection signal generation circuit that generates a detection signal that is a signal representative of a change of an address signal, and a refreshing control circuit that conduct refreshing, based on the fist detection signal, for a block among the plurality of blocks other than a block that is externally accessed.
In accordance with the present invention, the same things as described above can be said. It is noted that the detection signal is the same as the above-described first detection signal or the second detection signal. Also, the detection signal generation circuit includes, for example, an ATD signal generation circuit.
The semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can be made as follows. The refreshing control circuit can include a plurality of refresh request signal generation circuits, each being provided for each of the plurality of blocks for generating a refresh request signal for each of the plurality of blocks, and a plurality of block controls, each being provided for each of the plurality of blocks for generating, based on the refresh request signal, a refresh execution signal for a block among the plurality of blocks other than a block to be externally accessed.
The semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can be made as follows. A block control among the plurality of block controls corresponding to the block to be externally accessed generates an external access execution signal for the block to be externally accessed, and the plurality of block controls synchronize, based on the detection signal, generation of the external access execution signal with generation of the refresh execution signal.
The semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can be made as follows. The semiconductor device can be equipped with an address buffer that receives an input of the address signal, and an address buffer control circuit that controls the address buffer such that an address signal of another semiconductor device can be input in the semiconductor device during the standby state of the semiconductor device.
The semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can be made as follows. The semiconductor device can include a refresh timing signal generation circuit that generates a refresh timing signal, wherein each of the plurality of refresh request signal generation circuits generates the refresh request signal based on the refresh timing signal for each of the corresponding plurality of blocks.
The semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can be made as follows. During the standby state of the semiconductor device, the address buffer control circuit controls the address buffer based on the refresh timing signal that is non-active such that an address signal of the other semiconductor device can be input in the semiconductor device. As a result, the frequency of generating detection signals can be reduced during the standby state of the semiconductor device, such that lower power consumption of the semiconductor device can be achieved.
The semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention can be made as follows. The semiconductor device can include a block selection signal generation circuit that generates a block selection signal that selects the block to be externally selected for each of the plurality of blocks, wherein tie block selection signal generation circuit renders all the block selection signals to be non-active during the standby state of the semiconductor device. As a result, during the standby state of the semiconductor device, refresh execution signals can be generated for all of the blocks, and therefore refreshing can be conducted for all of the blocks.
A memory system in accordance with the present invention can include the semiconductor device described above and the other semiconductor device that commonly use a bus line for the address signal. In accordance with the present invention, even during a standby state of the semiconductor device, an address signal of another semiconductor device can be input in the semiconductor device. Therefore, even during the standby state of the semiconductor device, refreshing of the semiconductor device can be conducted.
Additionally, the above described semiconductor devices can be included in an electronic apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Semiconductor device, method for refreshing the same, system memory, and electronics apparatus


A strobe dimmer of which the luminous intensity and color temperature are respectively controllable comprises: a fourfold-voltage rectifier circuit(1) having two twofold-voltage rectifier circuits(11,12) for rectifying an input voltage to twofold or fourfold DC voltage depending on the magnitude of input voltage and applying the rectified input voltage to respective strobe discharge tubes(ST1,ST2,ST3); a high voltage generating circuit(5) for supplying high voltage to respective trigger terminals(Tr) of the strobe discharge tubes(ST1,ST2,ST3) through corresponding trigger coils(LT); a first luminous intensity control circuit(13) connected between a ground terminal(GND) and an output terminal(X) of the fourfold rectifier circuit(1), and connected to respective anode terminals(Ad) of the strobe discharge tubes(ST1,ST3); a second luminous intensity control circuit(13a) connected between the ground terminal(GND) and the output terminal(X) of the fourfold rectifier circuit(1), and connected to respective anode terminals(Ad) of the strobe discharge tubes(ST2,ST3); and a color temperature control unit(14) connected to a terminal of a power supply.

Generally it requires a strobe dimmer having variable luminous intensity and color temperature to take a good photo.
Presently, several strobe dimmers are known for obtaining variable luminous intensity and color temperature.
For example, the patent KR-29301 filed Jul. 30,1986, by the same applicant discloses a strobe dimmer as shown in FIG. 1. According to this document, strobe discharge tube(ST1,ST2) are connected through respective connector. A fourfold-voltage rectifier circuit (1) in a charger and discharger connected to the other side of the connector, consists of two double-voltage rectifier(11,12) so to output double or fourfold rectified voltage depending on applied power(AC). The fourfold-voltage rectifier circuit(1) rectifies input voltage to fourfold DC voltage and then offers respective outputs to output terminals(X,Y), wherein the outputs are 620 V DC and 310 V DC respectively when the power supply is 110 V. On the other hand, in the case of 220 V, said rectifier circuit(11) just rectifies the input voltage to double DC voltage and then offers same output(i.e., 620 V DC and 310 V DC) to the terminals(X,Y) thereof respectively.
The power supply(AC) is applied to the fourfold-voltage rectifier(1) through a resistor(R2) and a terminal(B), and also applied to a third relay(RY3) through a resistor(R3) and a diode(D1) of a 110 V/220 V automatic switching circuit(3), when 110 V power supply is applied by turn on a power supply switch(SW1). Since the third relay(RY3) is operated by 220 V-power supply, when 110 V power supply is applied to a third relay(RY3), a relay switch turns off to block the current to a gate of a triac(TC2). Therefore, the triac(TC2) is cut off and a fourth relay(RY4) may not operate, so that a terminal(b) in the relay switch of the fourth relay is connected to a terminal(c) and a terminal(e) is connected to a terminal(f) respectively. Furthermore, 110 V AC power is supplied to the primary intermediate tap of transformer(T1) through the respective relay switches(e,f) of the fourth relay(RY4) to apply increased AC voltage on the secondary of the transformer.
Since the increased AC voltage is applied to the well-known high voltage generating circuit(5) for trigger voltage, a terminal(S) of the high voltage generating circuit(5) outputs high voltage. AC power applied between the terminal(B) and a ground terminal of the fourfold rectifier circuit(1) is rectified to fourfold voltage in the usual manner. Since the fourth relay(RY4) of 110 V/220 V automatic switching circuit(3) is connected to the relay switch terminals(b,c) of said fourth relay switch(RY4) in non-operating state, the double-voltage rectifier circuit(11) is connected to the other double-voltage rectifier circuit(12) through the relay switch terminal(b,c) to rectify to fourfold voltage.
Accordingly, 110 V power supply is rectified to fourfold 620 V DC voltage and then output from a terminal(X) when an internal capacitor(not shown) in the fourfold-voltage rectifier circuit(1) is fully charged with fourfold DC voltage rectified from said AC input voltage. Said fourfold DC voltage is then applied to an anode terminal(Ad) while a terminal(Y) of the fourfold-voltage rectifier circuit(1) outputs 310 V DC voltage, equal to a half of the fourfold voltage output, which will be applied to a resistor(R1) of a relay driving circuit(2). The resistor(R1) is selected to make a zener diode(ZD1) become conductive when the terminal(Y) of a common fourfold-rectifier circuit(1) outputs 310 V (i.e., after passing through the resistor(R1), 286 V is applied to the ZD1 to make it conductive when the breakdown voltage of the ZD1 is 24 V).
Therefore, the first relay(RY1) is actuated since it experiences a difference of voltage, which is different from the 110 V AC input, between contact(U) and contact(P) on that power supply(AC) is applied. As the relay(RY1) operates to turn on a relay switch thereof, power supply (AC) is applied to a gate of triac (TC1) through a resistor(R5) for trigger voltage so tnat the arxidc(TC1) becomes conductive.
110 V AC applied on the anode of triac(TC1) subsequently flows to a cathode and is then applied on the coil of the second relay(RY2). The second relay(RY2) is operated to connect a relay switch terminal(b) and a terminal(c), and to connect a terminal(e) and terminal(f) respectively, so that an output of the trigger coil(LT) is connected to a terminal(Tr) of the strobe discharge tube(ST1,ST2). The first relay(RY1) can not operate since the zener diode(ZD1) of the relay driving circuit(2) turns off when the voltage offered from the terminal(X,Y) of the well-known fourfold-voltage rectifier circuit(1) is lower than the predetermined voltage because of insufficient charge of the internal capacitor. Accordingly, the triac(TC1) also turns off and results in stoppage of the second relay(RY2), so that the relay switch terminal(a) and the terminal(b), and the terminal(d) and the terminal(e) are respectively connected. Furthermore, the output of the trigger coil(LT) is not connected to the discharge tube(ST1,ST2) while an alarm(AM) makes a sound or illuminates to indicate an insufficient charge in accordance with the formation of a ground path of the power supply applied to the alarm through the capacitor(C4). On the contrary, once the shutter is pressed down to turn on a shutter switch(SW2) of a camera, high voltage offered from the terminal(S) of the high voltage generating circuit (5) for producing typical trigger voltage, is applied to the trigger coil(LT) through the shutter switch(SW2) when the fourfold-voltage rectifier circuit(1) is fully charged and then outputs normal DC(i.e., the terminal(e)and the terminal(f) of the second relay(RY2), and the terminal(b) and the terminal(f) are respectively connected). Trigger voltage generated from the trigger coil(LT) is applied on the trigger terminal(Tr) of the strobe discharge tube(ST1,ST2) through the relay switch terminal(e.f) of the second relay(RY2) while the cathode terminal(Cd) of the strobe discharge tube(ST1,ST2) is provided with a ground point through the relay switch terminals(b,C), so that the strobe discharge tube discharges to radiate the light having suitable luminous intensity to take a photo.
In the case of 220 V power supply input, a 220 V relay(RY3) of the 110/220 V automatic switching circuit(3) is operated to turn on the relay switch. As the triac(TC2) becomes conductive depending on the current that flows to the gate of the triac by the power supply(AC) through the resistor(R4), the fourth relay(RY4) starts to operate. Consequently, as the relay switch terminal(a) and the terminal(b), and the terminal(d) and the terminal(e) are respectively connected, the 220 V power supply(AC) is applied to the primary end terminal of transformer(T1) through the terminals(d,e), so that voltage on the secondary of transformer(T1) is similar to the above case that the power supply is 110 V. Furthermore, in the well-known fourfold-voltage rectifier circuit(1), since the relay switch terminals(a,b) are connected, the double-voltage rectifier circuit(11) and the other double-voltage rectifier circuit(12) are spaced apart from each other. The 220 V power supply applied to the terminals(A,B) is rectified to double voltage through only one double-voltage rectifier circuit(11) and then 620 V output is offered to the terminal(X). Accordingly, it is operated in similar with the case of 110 V power supply because the voltage offered from the respective terminals(X,Y) are 620 V DC and 310 V DC respectively.
The capacitor(C2) arranged in the input of the power supply(AC) prevents spark that can be produced by on/off operation of power switch(SW1).
The optical sensor(4) aims to increase luminous intensity by radiation of the discharge tubes(ST1,ST2) when the another strobe discharge tube, separated from the present invention, is emitted, in other word, the photo-transistor(PT) is turn on by light radiated from the strobe discharge tube, and high voltage offered from the terminal of the high voltage generating circuit(S) is then reduced through a resistor(Rx) having several mega-.omega. when another strobe discharge tube starts to discharge by turning on the switch.
Thereafter, the reduced voltage is applied to the gate of the triac(TC3) through the switch(SW3), a collector of the photo-transistor, and an emitter(wherein, a high resistor is used as the resistor(Rx) to protect the photo-transistor(PT)). In accordance with this, the triac(TC3) becomes conductive and then high voltage generated from the terminal(S) of a well-known high voltage generating circuit(5) is applied to the trigger coil(LT) through the triac(TC3) so that the applied trigger voltage make the strobe discharge tubes(ST1,ST2) discharge in the same manner with the shutter switch(SW2) pressed down. Since this instantaneous operation is activated by light, as soon as another strobe discharge tube starts to discharge, the luminous intensity of light is increased as much as the amount of the additional discharge.
It is necessary to separate the strobe discharge tube(ST1,ST2) from the connector. It is achieved by turning off the switch(SW1) at first, and then stopping the second relay(RY2) from emitting the spark when the discharge tubes(ST1,ST2) become connected or disconnected.
In addition, when the strobe discharge tubes (ST1,ST2) are not radiated in practice through they should be activated by photoflash of another separated strobe discharge tube in outside, i.e., when the strobe discharge tubes(ST1,ST2) are not discharged in sequence, the alarm(AM) does not operate to make a sound and/or light since the contacts of the second relay(RY2) are maintained in the state of (b,c) and (e,f). Consequently, user may know whether the strobes are operated in sequence or not, so that it is possible to re-take a photo when it fails to photograph an object.
The conventional strobe dimmer using a constant-voltage may not ensure good photographing since the color temperature is too high or too low according to the voltage, i.e., when the conventional strobe is adapted to a main light and/or an auxiliary light, the color temperature of the strobe is changed in accordance with the voltage. Wherein, the color temperature is set on the basis of the sun of which the color temperature is 5500.degree. K. This means that fire of 5500.degree. K radiates the same color as the sun. Accordingly, as most film manufacturers make film to present the best color under daylight, 5500.degree. K color temperature is the most preferable to take a photo.
A tungsten lamp can be used as a main light or an auxiliary light according to voltage, i.e., in the case of high voltage, the lamp becomes more bright(colored blue) and is therefore suitable for the main light. while in the case of low voltage, the lamp becomes relatively dark(colored red) so as to be suitable for the auxiliary light. However, an object presents contrasts of light and shade according to the brightness of the lamp, so that it is not preferable to take a good photo, because of dark part colored red.
For example, when two 600 W/s strobe discharge tubes are respectively used as a main light and an auxiliary light for portrait, the main light is set in 600 W/s and the auxiliary light in 200 W/s. The main light is 5800.degree. K and the auxiliary light is 5400.degree. K, while pure white light is 5500.degree. K, so that a part toward the main light is tinted with blue and the other part toward the auxiliary light is tinted with red. This results from the relative high color temperature of the main light so to radiate blue light and the relatively low color temperature of the auxiliary light so as to radiate red light. Consequently, the portrait presents blue color in one check and simultaneously red color in the other check so that it is hard to control the color balance during developing.
If the red color toward the main light is corrected, the other part toward the auxiliary light is tinted with red still more, and the reverse case has a similar drawback, so that it should be developed in in-between tone.
Thereafter, in the conventional lights using simple constant voltage unit, color temperature becomes too high or too low depending on voltage. A right strobe, a left strobe and another strobe(main light, auxiliary light, front light, top light, and spot light, etc.) have different color temperatures respectively so this not ensure good photographing.
Although it is preferable for a general commercial photo to use 5500.degree. K color temperature, 5000.degree. K.about.5300.degree. K color temperature is preferable for a mild image of portrait. A gold coated strobe, which is emitting red color, has been used for a preferable portrait to eliminate blue color radiated from a xenon lamp up to the present. It is necessary to execute a complicated operation to adjust a color temperature by control of the luminous intensity.
Alternatively, since the color temperature is increased or decreased depending on the apparatus that is used for indirect lighting, it is hard to obtain the desired color temperature for photography when a reflector or a light filtering soft-box is used to avoid direct lighting of the strobe. Hence, It is necessary to use a filter determined by MIRED(Micro Reciprocal Degree) calculation measuring the different color temperature of the strobe.
Furthermore, in order to photograph a dark part and a bright part of an object with the same the color temperature, it is necessary to illuminate the dark part from far away, which is quite complicated.

Strobe dimmer of which the luminous intensity and color temperature are controllable

1105 Hyundai Apt., 175-4, Jongro-3 ga, Jongro-ku


A nail having a shank formed with at least one shallow chipped recess, so as to provide nail recesses of a precise predetermined depth, and a strip of such recessed nails, in which wires are welded to the nails in respective chipped recesses. Two or more such recesses may be formed in each nail.. The nails may either be arranged in a diagonally staggered fashion with their heads overlapping, or may be spaced further apart so that they are parallel, with their heads aligned, but in which the heads do not overlap.. Also disclosed is apparatus for forming a strip of nails having recesses, and having at least two spaced apart rotary chipping tools, operable to form spaced apart recesses in the nails, at least two wire welding stations aligned with the recesses in the nails and strip wire supplies, and welders to weld the strip wires in the recesses forming the nails into a strip, and a method of forming a wire welded strip of recessed nails.

Nailing strips, consisting of strips of nails bonded together in various ways are required for a large number of different industrial applications. In some cases they are used in nailing applicators in which a strip of nails is used in a straight magazine, the strip being formed with the nail shanks in a generally diagonal fashion, so that the nail heads of each nail overlap, and the nail shanks are close alongside one another. In other cases, nailing strips are used in drum magazines. In this case, the nailing strip is commonly formed with the nails parallel to one another with their heads spaced apart, so that the strip of nails may be wound into a relatively long coil, which is inserted into the drum.
In either case, various different systems have been used for joining the nails together. In some cases the nails are joined simply by adhesive paper, or adhesive plastic. In other cases the nails are held together by various forms of adhesive or glue, usually a hot melt type of adhesive. Usually nailing strips of this type are relatively speaking, inflexible and are only suitable for use in the type of nailing applicators having a straight magazine, and are not generally speaking, suitable for use in nailing applicators using a drum magazine.
There have been numerous attempts to provide nails which are formed into a strip by welding parallel lengths of wire to the nail shanks at spaced intervals. This has numerous apparent advantages over using paper or adhesive. Paper is torn easily and the nailing strip may become separated, causing machine down-time.
Nailing strips in which the nails are bonded together adhesively are relatively inflexible and are only suitable for nailing applicators having a straight magazine. In addition, such adhesively bonded nail strips must be handled carefully, since the strips are easily broken during shipping and handling. An additional disadvantage of this system is that the dried adhesive separates from the nail shank as it is driven in and accumulates around the work place. Unless the work location is cleaned at regular intervals the debris will collect and eventually cause an inconvenience.
Accordingly, the use of parallel wires to join nails into a strip has great advantages over other systems. In the past in fact, nail strips in which the nails are joined together with welded wires have achieved considerable popularity. There are however, known problems in relation to wire welded strips of nails. The wires must be relatively thin and flexible, so as to avoid difficulties in insertion of the nail and in the separation of the nail from the rest of the strip.
The wires make point to point contact with the individual nails, so that the actual contact area is quite small. The actual time during which current can flow from the welding machines to the wires and thus to the nails is thus restricted by the small area of contact between the wires and the nails themselves.
Such strips are formed automatically and the welding machines which are used to form the welds must be set to precise tolerances. If there is any tendency for the welding current to increase beyond a preset limit, the strip wires may be burned through at the location of the weld. On the other hand, if the welding current is too low, then the weld joint will be inadequate and the nail will become separated from the strip wire.
It is well known that the principle cause of this problem is the fact that as the wire to be used for making the nails is drawn through the typical drawing die, the die drawing compound forms a surface layer on the nail.
It is this surface layer which causes most of the difficulties to achieving a precise weld of the strip wire to the nail. The surface layer tends to obstruct the flow of electricity between the strip wire and the nails so that the welds are improperly formed.
It will of course be appreciated that the automatic welding machines must operate at high speed for economy. They contact the strip wire where it contacts the nail only for a fraction of a second, and any interference with the flow of current will tend to cause problems for the welding equipment and will result in failed welds. Increasing the current burns the strip wire and causes sparks to fly around the work place. The problem is particularly bad with coated nails such as zinc coated nails.
Cleaning away of the surface layer of the nail at the point of the weld seems, at first sight, to be an obvious solution to the problem. However, the various cleaning methods that are available, such as grinding, sanding, chemical treatment and the like produce inconsistent results, so that the welds are unpredictable.
Clearly, it is desirable to provide a system for removing the surface layer at the two locations where the strip wires will be welded, in a manner which leaves a clean, dry contact surface for producing perfect and consistent welds between the wires and the nails.

Chipped nail welded wire nailing strip and method


A method and an apparatus are disclosed for identifying a proper tibia bone rotation relative to the femur bone for orientating a prosthesis in a knee replacement surgery. The proper tibia bone rotation is identified from an external rotation of the tibia in extension and an internal rotation of the tibia flexion. A point located midway between the external and internal rotations and a Whiteside line of the femur defines a center axis of tibia rotation plane. The rotational angles of the tibia may be measured by a mechanical goniometer or a computer navigation apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to surgery and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for identifying a proper tibia bone rotation relative to the femur bone in a knee replacement surgery.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of the most difficult measurements to be determined in a knee replacement surgery is the identification of the rotational angle of the tibia bone relative to the femur bone. Various types of measurements have been suggested by the prior art to determine the proper angular rotation between the tibia bone relative to the femur bone. Many computer programs have been developed to assist in the identification of the rotational angle of the tibia bone relative to the femur bone. The following United States Patents are representative of computer programs developed for orthopedic surgery.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,475 to Cinquin, et al discloses a process for the preoperative determination of the positioning data of endoprosthetic parts of a central joint relative to the bones forming the central joint, a respective outer articular point is determined by way of movement of the bones about a respective outer joint which is located at the end of the two bones facing away from the central joint. An articular point is determined for each of the two bones in the area of the central joint, and a direction characteristic for each of these bones is determined by way of a straight-line connection of the two articular points obtained in this manner for the two bones. The orientation of the endoprosthetic parts relative to this characteristic direction is then determined. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,514,259 to Picard, et al, discloses a plate probe and associated system and method for facilitating the orientation of an osteotomy and the implantation of an artificial joint component during arthroplastic surgery requiring an osteotomy. The probe comprises a coupler and a plate. The coupler is configured so that it can be connected to a position tracker, such that the position and orientation of the plate can be determined from the position of the tracker. The plate is configured so that it can be inserted into an opening of a bone-cutting mechanical guide, which is generally designed for receiving and guiding a surgical saw blade during a cutting operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,447 to Picard discloses a system for determining pivot centers for proximal and intermediary articulations of an appendicular skeleton. The system includes a single marker affixed to a bone, the marker having a signal transmitter; a sequence involving at least one movement for moving a portion of the appendicular skeleton; a signal receiver for collecting data points correlating to the position and orientation of the marker; at least one processing device for selecting a number of skeletal positions during, the sequence using the collected data points; and for assigning a value to each posture representing the position and orientation of the marker in a predetermined point of reference, and an algorithm for determining the coordinates of the rotational centers of the proximal and intermediary articulations using the assigned values.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,915,150 to Cinquin, et al. discloses a process for the preoperative determination of the positioning data of endoprosthetic parts of a central joint relative to the bones forming the central joint, a respective outer articular point is determined by way of movement of the bones about a respective outer joint which is located at the end of the two bones facing away from the central joint. An articular point is determined for each of the two bones in the area of the central joint, and a direction characteristic for each of these bones is determined by way of a straight-line connection of the two articular points obtained in this manner for the two bones. The orientation of the endoprosthetic parts relative to this characteristic direction is then determined. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,360 to Cinquin, et al. discloses a process for the preoperative determination of the positioning data of endoprosthetic parts of a central joint relative to the bones forming the central joint, a respective outer articular point is determined by way or movement of the bones about a respective outer joint which is located at the end of the two bones facing away from the central joint. An articular point is determined for each of the two bones in the area of the central joint, and a direction characteristic for each of these bones is determined by way of a straight-line connection of the two articular points obtained in this manner for the two bones. The orientation of the endoprosthetic parts relative to this characteristic direction is then determined. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.
Although many computer programs have been developed to assist in the identification of the rotational angle of the tibia bone relative to the femur bone, the identification of the proper rotational angle of the tibia bone still eludes the medical art.
Identification of tibia rotation in a knee replacement is very difficult. Some surgeons rely on relation to tibia tuberosity that proved to be unreliable. Other surgeons rely on tibia rotation established by previous knee replacement surgeons and that proved to be unreliable. Presently, there is no scientific accurate way of identifying the knee tibia rotation in knee surgery.
The reason is the tibia has a wide range of rotation especially after transecting the proximal 10 mm or so as a routine step in knee replacement. It is difficult to choose the right spot on the tibia and consider that to be the ideal tibia rotation.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for determining the proper rotational angle between a tibia bone relative to a femur bone in a knee replacement surgery.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for determining the proper rotational angle between a tibia, bone relative to a femur bone which is determined by the physical properties of the patient.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for determining the proper rotational angle between a tibia bone relative to a femur bone which is determined by an external rotation of the tibia in extension and an internal rotation of the tibia flexion.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for determining the proper rotational angle between a tibia bone relative to a femur bone comprising computer hardware and computer software incorporating the present method.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed as being merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention with in the scope of the invention. Accordingly other objects in a full understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description describing the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Apparatus and method for identifying tibia bone rotation in knee implant surgery


The present invention provides a yellow toner having high compatibility of a colorant with a binder resin, having good chroma, and being useful for broadening the green color gamut. The yellow toner contains the binder resin and the colorant, wherein the colorant contains a compound represented by the general formula (1).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to yellow toners used in recording methods such as electrophotographies, electrostatic recording methods, magnetic recording methods, and toner jet methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, color images have spread widely and the demand for high-quality images has been raised. In digital full-color copying machines and printers, color-image manuscripts are color-separated by each color filter of blue, green, and red, and thereafter, latent images corresponding to the original images are developed using each color developer of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Thus, the coloring power of a colorant in the each color developer largely affects the image quality.
The reproduction of color spaces including the Japan Color in print industries and AdobeRGB in DeskTop Publishing (DTP) is becoming important. For the reproduction of the color spaces, a method is known in which a dye having a broad color gamut is used in addition to improvement of dispersibility of a pigment.
Typical examples known as yellow colorants for toners are isoindolinone, quinophthalone, isoindoline, anthraquinone, and compounds having an azo skeleton or the like. Among these, some examples of yellow dyes are known which use an azo skeleton like C.I. Solvent Yellow 162 high in transparency and coloring power and excellent in light resistance (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S61-112160, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-140716 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-282208).
Particularly in the case of using a compound having an azo skeleton like C.I. Solvent Yellow 162 as a yellow colorant for toners, a yellow toner excellent in color development in a yellow color gamut can be obtained from the feature of the dye.
However, a further improvement is needed for making the chroma better and broadening the green color gamut.


A terminal block time delay relay includes a terminal block, a plurality of terminals, a first timing control, and a timing circuit. The terminal block defines a socket operable to receive an electrical relay. The plurality of terminals are accessible at edges of the terminal block. The first timing control is supported by the terminal block. The timing circuit is housed by the terminal block and coupled to the terminals, the first timing control, and the socket.

The present invention relates generally to narrow-profile, terminal block relays, and in particular, to a terminal block time delay relay.
This section of this document is intended to introduce various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention described and/or claimed below. This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
"European style" terminal blocks provide a method of electrical interconnection of industrial control components. These terminal blocks have a narrow and flat shape that allows them to be stacked together in close proximity when mounted on a DIN rail. When so stacked, wires may be received at terminals along the upper and lower edge of the terminal blocks.
The terminals allow connection to other wires connected to other terminals or to the leads of electrical components supported by the terminal block. Such electrical components may include fuses, indicator lights, and relays.
For a terminal block holding a relay ("a terminal block relay"), a replaceable relay is typically received by a socket at the front edge of the terminal block. The housings holding the relay or fuse are designed to have a width no greater than that of the terminal block, typically between 5 to 14 mm, to minimize space occupied on the DIN rail.
Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are industrial computers used for the control of machines and processes. A PLC has input and output circuits that may connect to sensors and actuators on controlled machines and by executing a standard control language, such as relay ladder language, the PLC may read the inputs and according to the execution of the control program and provide outputs controlling the machine.
Terminal block relays are often used with a PLC, the latter which may be attached to the same DIN mounting rail on which the terminal block relays are mounted. Outputs from the PLC are connected to the coils of terminal block relays whose outputs in turn connect to the desired machine actuator to provide a form of isolation.
One particular type of relay useful in industrial control applications is a time delay relay. Time delay relays have various modes of operation, but generally, the activation or deactivation of the relay is delayed by predetermined time interval. Typically, time delay relays in narrow profile applications include a single package that holds the timing circuitry, the coil, and the outputs.
A time delay relay typically has a plurality of settings, including delay mode, range, and delay. Adjustment dials are provided on the time delay relay for altering these settings. Due to the need for providing access to the adjustment dials, terminal blocks for time delay relays are typically larger than their standard relay counterparts, thereby consuming more panel space within the control cabinet.
In a time delay relay, the components typically prone to usage-related failure are the coil and switching device. Because the timing circuitry is integrated with the relay circuitry (e.g., coil, switch, and outputs), the entire time delay relay must be replaced due to the failure of the moving parts of the relay circuitry. The settings of the replacement relay must then be reconfigured to provide the proper mode, range, and delay setting.