MIMO modulation is supported in a wireless network with at least one degenerate node. A transmitter separates data into multiple streams for modulation. To transmit the modulated data, the transmitter uses a separate antenna for each data stream or coherently combines the modulated data streams prior to transmission via fewer antenna than modulated data streams. In either case, the received signal includes a contribution from each data stream. A receiver is configured for processing multiple signals sent in parallel from multiple transmit antennas; thus, the operation of the receiver is unaffected by whether the multiple data streams of the transmitter were combined in the channel after transmission or in whole or part in the transmitter prior to transmission.

The invention relates in general to wireless communication networks and in particular to multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) modulation in a network with at least one degenerate node.
Wireless communication networks offer the possibility of convenient access to information from virtually anywhere. In one common model, a wireless local area network (LAN) is provided in which one or more potentially mobile units equipped with wireless network interface cards (NICs) exchange data with an access point (AP) via radio-frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) channels. The AP is connected—generally via a wired, high-speed connection—to a wide area network, intranet, LAN, the Internet, or other network. The NICs and APs use a common communication protocol to regulate the exchange of data. Generally speaking, at the physical level, the communication protocol specifies parameters for accessing the communication channel. Such parameters typically include the carrier frequencies and modulation formats to be used for transmitting data. In addition, the protocol typically provides for training data (i.e., known data sequences) to be transmitted; training data is used by the receiver to correct for channel effects that may lead to errors in reconstructing the transmitted data sequence, including fading and noise in the transmission channel, as well as carrier-frequency and timing offsets between the transmitter and the receiver and multipath effects.
The IEEE 802.11a standard defines one such protocol for data transmission in a wireless LAN using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) in the 5.8-GHz band. According to this standard, data to be transmitted is provided to the transmitter in serial form. Sequential data bits are mapped in groups to a symbol in a constellation; the choice of constellation depends on the desired data rate. To attain the maximum supported data rate of 54 Mbps, each group of six data bits is mapped to a symbol in a 64-point quadrature amplitude modulation (64QAM) constellation. Each symbol is then assigned to one of 48 mutually orthogonal data-carrying subcarrier frequencies; four additional orthogonal subcarrier frequencies are also used and carry pilot symbols. An Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) may be used to combine symbol streams from all 52 subcarriers, producing a time-domain signal for transmission. A preamble is transmitted with each data frame. The preamble specifies the data rate (which determines the constellation to be used for decoding) and the length of the data in the frame. The preamble also includes training data needed for synchronization of the receiver with the transmitter and for estimation of channel effects. At the receiver end, the process is reversed. A Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is performed, and channel effects are removed by using channel estimates generated from the training data. Based on the data rate provided in the preamble, the correct constellation is selected for decoding. Decoding generally involves estimating the most likely symbol sequence by mapping the received data (corrected for channel effects) to points in the constellation.
Compared with wired LANs, wireless LANs offer the advantages of low-cost installation and greater flexibility in relocating components, since it is not necessary to provide cables for connecting the components. However, the data rate in existing wireless LANs (e.g., a maximum of 54 Mbps in an IEEE 802.11a network) is considerably lower than the 100-Mbps rate available in a wired LAN using 100baseT Ethernet, for example. Thus, for networks where high data rates are needed, wired LANs are still preferred. To attain greater acceptance, protocols for wireless LANs that support higher data rates would be desirable.
Various options for IEEE 802.11a extensions that would support higher data rates have been considered. One option is to use multiple channels to transmit the data stream; for example, data could be multiplexed between two 54 Mbps streams occupying two contiguous 20 MHz channels to obtain a rate of 108 Mbps. Using multiple channels, however, would reduce the LAN capacity (i.e., the number of nodes) because each transmitter would require more of the available RF spectrum. Moreover, such schemes may not be permitted under existing telecommunication regulations in some areas (e.g., Europe).
Another option is to increase the constellation density and/or reduce the coding overhead, thereby enabling each symbol to carry more data bits. However, increased constellation density would lead to increased error rates at the receiver end, while reducing the coding overhead would reduce the error-correction information available to the receiver. In either case, the effective operating range of the transmitter would be reduced as compared to IEEE 802.11a specifications. Some of the range could be restored by using diversity techniques, in which replicas of the same signal, displaced in time and/or space, are sent or received. However, diversity techniques require additional antennas at one or both ends of the link, which increases the cost of manufacturing some or all of the network components. Some known techniques (e.g. maximal ratio combining, space-time coding, transform techniques, and adaptive beam-forming) are effective with additional antennas at only one end of the link and would reduce the extra cost associated with diversity techniques. Nevertheless, in order to double the data rate, the constellation density would have to be doubled, and diversity techniques would not fully compensate for the loss of range.
A third option is to use multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) systems to increase the data rate and the operating range without increasing bandwidth. In a MIMO system, a transmitter splits the data into multiple streams and sends each via a separate antenna. The transmitter is designed so that each transmitted data stream has a distinctive vector signature. The receiver, which also has multiple antennas, processes received signals as including components from multiple transmitted streams, based on the differences in vector signatures of the transmitted streams. Unfortunately, existing MIMO systems require all network components to have additional RF chains and antennas, which increases the cost.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system that supported increased data rate and operating range while not requiring additional bandwidth or additional RF chains at every network node (i.e., component unit or AP) or requiring capability knowledge to be shared between every node.

MIMO modulation in a wireless network with at least one degenerate node


A preheat tank to which a heat exchanger is operatively coupled receives water from a distribution subsystem. A water distribution subsystem and tempered fluid distribution subsystem provide domestic water and tempered fluid, respectively, to a plurality of spaces. Air handlers transfer heat between the tempered fluid and the spaces for heating and cooling. A controller coupled to the tempered fluid subsystem, the heat exchanger and a refrigerator has: (i) a first mode, wherein the fluid is routed through the heat exchanger, to pass heat to the preheat tank; and (ii) a second mode, wherein the fluid is routed through an evaporator of the refrigerator, to pass heat to the refrigerant. A storage tank is coupled to the preheat tank to receive water therefrom and is coupled to the condenser of the refrigerator such that heat rejected by the condenser is passed to the contents of the storage tank.

Most high rise residential buildings are provided with distribution systems for two fluids:                cold water        tempered fluids
The tempered fluids are used by in-suite handling units for space heating and cooling. The most popular tempered fluid systems are: hybrid heat pump; water source heat pump; two pipe fan coil; and four pipe fan coil.
Domestic hot water is typically provided via one of:                Centralized hot water        in-suite electric tanks        in-suite gas-fired tanks
Each of the domestic hot water solutions has advantages and disadvantages. The centralized hot water system is relatively efficient, but requires additional piping throughout the building and requires individual flow meters, if cost is not to be shared uniformly. In-suite electric hot water tanks avoid the need for additional piping and metering, as the electricity would normally be drawn from the suite service that is typically monitored, but electric heating of water is relatively expensive. In-suite gas-fired water tanks provide relatively inexpensive hot water, but require gas piping and venting throughout the building, as well as flow meters, all of which would normally not otherwise be required.


A method is provided for manufacturing an image on a substrate, wherein the image includes an indicia and a frame. The method includes covering at least a portion the substrate with a carrier comprising magnetically alignable flakes, aligning the magnetically alignable flakes with a magnetic field of a magnetic assembly comprising a metal plate with an opening, and solidifying the carrier. The frame is formed at an edge of the opening and the indicia is visible within the frame. The magnetic assembly includes two magnets disposed so that the North pole of one magnet and the South pole of another magnet are proximate to the metal plate at opposite sides of the opening.

Optically variable devices are used in a wide variety of applications, both decorative and utilitarian; for example, such devices are used as security devices on commercial products. Optically variable devices can be made in numerous ways to achieve a variety of effects. Examples of optically variable devices include holograms imprinted on credit cards and authentic software documentation, color-shifting images printed on banknotes and enhancing the surface appearance of items such as motorcycle helmets and wheel covers.
Optically variable devices can be made as a film or foil that is pressed, stamped, glued, or otherwise attached to an object, and can also be made using optically variable pigments. One type of optically variable pigment is commonly called color-shifting pigment because the apparent color of images appropriately printed with such pigments changes with the change of the angle of view and/or illumination. A common example is the numeral "20" printed with color-shifting pigments in the lower right-hand corner of a U.S. twenty-dollar bill, which serves as an anti-counterfeiting device.
Optically variable devices can also be made with magnetic pigments that are aligned with a magnetic field. After coating a product with a liquid composition, a magnet with a magnetic field having a desirable configuration is placed on the underside of the substrate. Magnetically alignable flakes dispersed in a liquid organic medium orient themselves parallel to the magnetic field lines, tilting from the original orientation. This tilt varies from normal to the surface of a substrate to the original orientation, which included flakes essentially parallel to the surface of the product. The planar oriented flakes reflect incident light back to the viewer, while the reoriented flakes do not.
A variety of methods have been suggested for forming images and security device which include magnetically aligned pigment flakes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,877 in the name of Kashiwagi et al. discloses placing shaped magnets underneath a substrate and spraying the substrate with a paint containing magnetic particles. The resulting images are formed by narrow contour lines outlining the shapes of the magnets where the field lines bend.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,883 in the name Raksha et al. discloses alignment of magnetic particles, dispersed in organic binder and coated onto a substrate, between two poles of a horseshoe magnet or between north and south poles of two separated magnets 194, 196 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The magnets 194, 196 create magnetic field 192 with force lines 198 that are essentially parallel to the substrate 29, the magnetic field causes magnetic pigment flakes 26 in a fluid carrier 28 to flatten out.
WO2011092502 in the name of Bargir et al. discloses an apparatus (FIG. 2A) which includes a housing 13 placed inside of a block 15. The housing 13 has a curved upper surface 13a and a cavity 13b wherein a permanent magnet 12 is installed and covered with a magnetizable sheet 11. The magnet 12 is shaped such that its lateral periphery has the form of indicia; in FIG. 2A the magnet is a sphere. The sheet 11 acts as a focusing element for the magnetic field and concentrates the perturbations into the immediate lateral vicinity of the permanent magnet within the layer 20′ as illustrated in FIG. 2B. This leads to a very sharp and well defined visual appearance of the indicia.
EP1990208 in the name of Gygi et al. discloses magnetic transfer of indicia to a coating composition P (FIG. 3A), such as an ink or varnish comprising magnetic pigments, applied to a sheet S. The device includes a body 20 exposed to a magnetic field generated by two permanent magnets 31 and 32. The body 20 consists of a support 22 and a shaped metal peace 21 engraved with a desirable pattern 21a-21c. The magnetic pigments align along the field lines and produce the appearance of engraved characters, such as a dark numeral in middle of a shiny oval of a security device shown in FIG. 3B. FIG. 3C illustrates the security device printed on a banknote.
The aforedescribed methods provide security patches unrelated to the graphical design of underlying documents in the sense that the patches may be placed anywhere on the document or transferred from one document to another. There is a security risk associated with possible transfer of a patch to a forged document. Accordingly, there is a need to mitigate the disadvantages of existing security patches and provide a new method of forming images including magnetically aligned pigment particles.

Optical device having an illusive optical effect and method of fabrication


A method for providing an automotive safety system, comprising the steps of: collecting and analyzing data from the proximity of a potential driver, determining whether the potential driver is under the influence of intoxicating substances, and disabling an automotive ignition system if the potential driver is determined to be under the influence of intoxicating substances.

Many resources are committed each year to reducing and preventing the losses associated with DUI/DWI including stiff criminal penalties, zero-tolerance enforcement practices, significant financial liabilities, social stigmatism, and education. Although these measures have proven somewhat effective in varying degrees, society still experiences significant losses associated with DUI/DWI. One device designed to prevent an impaired person from operating a vehicle requires the input of numerical data in a keypad in a short amount of time before starting the vehicle. The effectiveness of this device is limited in that some people can perform tasks of this nature even while intoxicated. Additionally, the task could be performed by a sober party on behalf of an intoxicated driver, hence effectively bypassing the system.
Thus, a heretofore-unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Drug and alcohol sensor safety system and methods


A system for processing sewage into vermicompost includes a holding tank for receiving and initially processing the sewage. A treatment tank, connected to the holding tank by a first pipe, is used for treating the initially processed sewage from the holding tank to ensure optimal pH, percent of solids, and electrical conductivity of the sewage. A distribution tank, connected to the treatment tank by a second pipe, is used for heating or cooling the sewage from the treatment tank as necessary. A distribution apparatus, connected to the distribution tank by a third pipe, distributes the sewage to a vermicular environment, wherein the vermicular environment contains a plurality of worms which digest the distributed treated sewage into vermicompost.

The ability of worms to compost organic matter has long been known. Various attempts have been made to apply this knowledge to treating human waste. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,633 (Taboga) discloses using worms for reclaiming and processing biodegradeable waste into poultry products and humus-like substances. U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,428 (Lindstrom) discloses using worms in a natural composting bed which includes human waste. U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,687 (Windle) discloses using worms for composting a thin layer of biomass, and especially cow manure. U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,243 (Colombot) discloses using worms to compost a composting medium formed in part by human waste.
Common limitations are the quantity of waste able to be processed and the smell involved when processing human waste. The known prior art which uses vermiculture to process wastes requires extensive processing of the waste before it is composted, and quite frequently requires extensive processing during the composting phase. A need therefore exists for a system and method of processing sewage in an economical, low maintenance, and odor free manner.

Method and apparatus for biosustaining waste activated vermicular environment


An autoclavable container comprising a poly(aryl ether) resin capable of withstanding at least 1000 cycles of steam sterilization at a stress level of 500 psi without stress-crack failure, said steam sterilization cycle conducted for 30 min. at 270.degree. F. and 27 psi using aqueous morpholine at a concentration of 50 ppm.

This invention is directed to the use of certain well-defined poly(aryl ether surfones) in medical devices where transparency and excellent environmental stress-crack resistance are required. These poly(aryl ether sulfones) are based on 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone and 4,4'-biphenol, optionally including one or more additional dihydroxy compounds selected from 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone, hydroquinone and 2,2'bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol-A).
Articles made from these poly(aryl ether sulfones) can be stem-sterilized while under stresses of 500 psi or greater, moreover, they are not affected by corrosion-reducing additives such as morpholine, for example. Also, the above materials demonstrate good chemical resistance in contact with commonly used hospital cleaners and detergents.
Poly(aryl ether sulfones) have been known for about two decades. They are tough linear polymers that possess a number of attractive features such as excellent high temperature resistance, good electrical properties, and very good hydrolytic stability. Commercially available poly(aryl ether surfones) include the polycondensation product of 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone with 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone, described in, for example, Canadian Patent No. 847,963. The polymer, available from Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd. contains no aliphatic moieties and has a heat deflection temperature of approximately 210.degree. C. Another commercial poly(aryl ether sulfone), available from Amoco Performance Products, Inc. under the trademark of UDEL .RTM., has a heat deflection temperature of about 180.degree. C. and may be made via the nucleophilic polycondensation of bisphenol-A di-sodium salt with 4,4'-dichiorodiphenyl sulfone, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,837.
Over the years, there has developed a substantial body of patent and other literature directed to the formation and properties of poly(aryl ether sulfones) and other poly(aryl ethers) (all hereinafter called "PAE"). A broad range of PAE's was achieved by Johnson et al., J. of Polymer Science, A-1, Vol. 5, 1967, pp. 2415-2427; Johnson et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,108,837 and 4,175,175. Johnson et al. show that a very broad range of PAE's can be formed by the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (condensation) reaction of an activated aromatic dihalide and an aromatic diol. By this method, Johnson et al. created a host of new PAE's.
Because of their excellent mechanical and thermal properties, coupled with outstanding hydrolytic stability, the poly(aryl ether sulfones) have been utilized in the medical market for a variety of purposes for at least ten years. These medical devices constitute a wide variety of articles. Obviously, one of the major attributes of these resins that contributes to their wide acceptance for these uses is their ability to be steam autoclaved repeatedly without loss of properties. Steam autoclaving exposes these articles to very severe stresses, and involves repetitive exposures to wet/dry and hot/cold cycles.
Copolymers of 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone and 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone together with 4,4'-biphenol are described in British Patent Application No. 2,088,396. The copolymers comprise about 80 to 10 mole percent of repeat units derived from 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone, and correspondingly about 20 to 90 mole percent of repeat units derived from 4,4'-biphenol The application states that the incorporation of the units derived from 4,4'-biphenol into the poly(aryl ether sulfone) yields materials with improved resistance to hot water crazing. The application does not mention steam-sterilizability under load, nor does it teach that the copolymers show resistance to stress-cracking in the presence of boiler additives such as morpholine, or when in contact with typical hospital cleaners and detergents.
Poly(aryl ether sulfones) such as the commercially-available resins described previously show some important deficiencies, particularly in steam sterilization. Parts molded from these materials may stress-crack when stem sterilized under stresses of, say, 500 psi or greater. Where boiler additives such as morpholine are employed to reduce corrosion in the stem generating system or when in contact with commonly used hospital cleaners and detergents, these materials are particularly subject to stress-crack failure. The deficiencies are particularly important when the molded article will be subjected to frequent sterilizations during use, such as in medical storage trays and containers for use in sterilizing and storing medical instruments or the like. Medical appliances, including prostheses, dental appliances, implantable devices and the like wherein prolonged contact with tissue is envisioned, are generally sterilized by alternative means, in part to avoid introducing possible contaminants. In addition, such medical appliances are not subjected to routine cleaning with detergents or the like. Inasmuch as these articles thus ordinarily will not encounter the extreme stresses imposed by cleaning and steam sterilization, the prior art resins generally suffice for these applications.
An improved resin capable of withstanding repeated stem sterilization without stress-cracking or similar failure would thus be an important improvement, particularly for use in the production of steam-sterilizable medical storage trays and containers.

Autoclavable containers comprising poly(aryl ether sulfones) having environmental stress-crack resistance


To provide a quinolone antibacterial drug and a therapeutic agent for infectious diseases, which exhibit potent antibacterial activity on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and which is highly safe.

Since the discovery of norfloxacin, synthetic quinolone antibacterial agents have been significantly improved in terms of antibacterial activity and pharmacokinetics, and these agents have evolved into chemotherapeutic agents useful for treatment of systemic infectious diseases. Many of such synthetic quinolone compounds are currently used in clinical field.
In recent years, bacteria less susceptible to synthetic quinolone antibacterial agents have come to be increasingly developed in clinical field. For example, among Gram-positive bacteria, MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and PRSP (penicillin-resistant Streptococcus Pneumoniae) in susceptible to β-lactam antibiotics, and VRE (vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus) in susceptible to an aminoglycoside antibacterial agent, a number of new types of bacteria that are resistant to drugs other than synthetic quinolone antibacterial agents and have low susceptibility to synthetic quinolone antibacterial agents is increasing. Therefore, there has been urgent need for development of a drug having higher efficacy in clinical field.
Apart from the above, it has become apparent that such synthetic antibacterial agents have various side effects such as convulsion which could occur when used in combination with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent and phototoxicity. Therefore, development of a safer synthetic quinolone antibacterial agent is keenly demanded.
It has been known that antibacterial activity, pharmacokinetics, and safety of a synthetic quinolone antibacterial agent are influenced in large part with the structure of a substituent at the 7- or 1-position of the quinolone skeleton. Quinolone derivatives in which the 7-position of the quinolone skeleton is substituted by a 3-aminomethylpyrrolidinyl group are known to exhibit strong antibacterial activity on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. One example is a 7-[3-(1-aminomethyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]quinolonecarboxylic acid derivative (see Non-Patent Document 1). Moreover, examples of quinolonecarboxylic acid derivatives derived from this specific quinolonecarboxylic acid derivative through substitution of the aminomethyl group include a 7-[3-(1-aminoethyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]quinolonecarboxylic acid derivative (see Non-Patent Document 2), a 7-[3-(1-amino-1-methylethyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]quinolonecarboxylic acid derivative (see Non-Patent Document 3), and a 7-[3-(1-aminoalkyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]quinolonecarboxylic acid derivative (see Non-Patent Document 4).
However, most of the above-mentioned quinolonecarboxylic acid derivatives affect not only on bacteria but also on eukaryotic cells, because of low selective toxicity (see Non-Patent Document 5). Therefore, it is difficult for these derivatives to be used as pharmaceutical drugs or veterinary drugs. In fact, none of them have actually been used in clinical field so far.
Meanwhile, there are known quinolonecarboxylic derivatives related to the present invention such as compound (A) (see Patent Document 1) and compound (B) (see Patent Document 2) in which the 7-position of the quinolone skeleton is substituted by a 3-(1-aminocycloalkyl)pyrrolidinyl group. Note that the definitions of various substituents in compounds (A) (or (B)) are given in Patent Document 1 (or 2), and are not pertinent to the definitions provided in the present specification, even in cases where symbols are in common.

However, all the quinolonecarboxylic derivatives specifically disclosed in the above-mentioned applications have a common feature that the 8-position on the quinolone skeleton is substituted by a methyl group or a methoxy group, or that a methoxy group forms a ring with the nitrogen atom on the quinolone structure. These compounds exhibit relatively strong antibacterial activities as compared with conventional quinolone derivatives. However, they have strong acute toxicity and test positive in a micronucleus test, which is an indicative test for genetic toxicity.
Another known type of quinolonecarboxylic derivatives are quinolonecarboxylic derivatives (C) in which the 7- and 8-positions is substituted by a 3-(1-aminocycloalkyl)pyrrolidinyl group and a cyano group, respectively, and the 6-position is substituted only by a hydrogen atom (see Patent Document 3). Note that the definitions of various substituents in compound (C) are given in Patent Document 3, and such definitions are not pertinent to the definitions provided in the present specification, even in cases where symbols are in common.

Furthermore, there are other quinolonecarboxylic derivatives disclosed so far, in which the 8- and 6-positions are substituted by a cyano group and a fluorine atom, respectively (see Patent Documents 4 to 8). However, compounds of this type do not have a 3-(1-aminocycloalkyl)pyrrolidinyl group at the 7-position.    Patent Document 1: International Publication WO 96/00208 pamphlet    Patent Document 2: International Publication WO 97/19072 pamphlet    Patent Document 3: International Publication WO 02/40478 pamphlet    Patent Document 4: European Patent No. 235762 specification    Patent Document 5: West Germany Patent No. 3702393 specification    Patent Document 6: International Publication WO 96/11194 pamphlet    Patent Document 7: International Publication WO 97/31001 pamphlet    Patent Document 8: International Publication WO 98/26779 pamphlet    Non-Patent Document 1: Journal of Medical Chemistry, Vol. 29, p. 445 (1986)    Non-Patent Document 2: Journal of Medical Chemistry, Vol. 36, p. 871 (1993)    Non-Patent Document 3: Journal of Medical Chemistry, Vol. 37, p. 733 (1994)    Non-Patent Document 4: Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, Vol. 42, p. 1442 (1994)

Abstract: A compound represented by the following formula (1):

Abstract: (wherein R1 represents a C3-C6 cycloalkyl group which may have a substituent or the like; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or the like; R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl group, or a substituted carboxyl group derived from an amino acid, a dipeptide, or a tripeptide, and, in the case where each of R3 and R4 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group, the alkyl group may be substituted by one or more atoms or groups selected from among a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a C1-C6 alkylthio group, and a C1-C6 alkoxy group; and n denotes an integer of 1 to 3), a salt thereof, and a hydrate of the compound or the salt. Also, antibacterial drugs and therapeutic agents for infectious diseases are prepared.


A method of manufacturing angiographic catheters comprises providing a length of elastomeric tube of a predetermined outer diameter and braiding multiple strands of wire wrapping about its exterior. A plastic bonding agent is extruded onto the entire length of the wire wrapping to bond the strands to each other. Thereafter, the wire wrapping is ground away at predetermined spaced locations along the length of the elastomeric tube to provide a series of wire wrapped sections joined by non-wrapped sections. An elastomer layer is disposed over both the wire wrapped sections and the non-wrapped sections throughout the length thereof. Subsequently, the coated length is severed into pieces with the pieces each constituting unitary construction including a wire wrapped section that forms a catheter body and a non-wrapped section joined to at least one end thereof to constitute a flexible catheter tip.

The subject invention is directed toward the art of angiographic catheters and to catheter manufacturing methods and, more particularly, to a catheter having an improved unitary construction and to an improved method for manufacturing multiples of such catheters from a continuous feedstock.
Angiographic catheters are used for diagnostic purposes as well as for angioplasty. It is generally agreed that a good catheter should have the following features:
a) torsion control with a 1:1 rotation about its central longitudinal axis even when subjected to curvatures of as much as 110.degree. along the catheter's length; PA1 b) the ability to withstand high injection pressures of as much as 1000 PSI which are required where large amounts of contrast media is needed to properly visualize a given area to be studied; PA1 c) push ability in conjunction with good torsional control along its axis mandates a catheter body having a controlled rigidity since if too rigid, it can cause injury and if too flexible, it may buckle; PA1 d) a controlled degree of flexibility at the catheter tip is necessary to prevent injury to vessel openings and to vessel walls and this can be accomplished by using a softer plastic in this region, annular grooving, or decreasing the diameter as compared to the catheter body; and, PA1 e) the catheter tip must be easily formed and must retain the formed shape even when subjected to straightening when passed over a guide wire. PA1 1) The process starts by forming a length of elastomeric tube. The tube is formed by starting with a silver plated copper wire or a monofilament of plastic (such as "Celcon" manufactured by the Hoechst Celanese Corporation, or Ultraform, an acetal copolymer manufactured by BASF), of a diameter equal to the published lumen diameter of the catheter being manufactured. This wire or monofilament is referred to as the "mandrel." As an example, a standard French 7 catheter has a lumen of 0.046 inches and an outside diameter of 0.092 inch. The wire or monofilament is purchased and used in continuous lengths of over 5000 feet. This wire or monofilament is referred to as a "mandrel" because the catheter is built on it. PA1 2) The coated mandrel is then placed in a "braiding machine" which overlays the elastomeric tube extrusion with multiple (e.g., 16) strands of 0.003 inch or smaller diameter stainless steel wire. PA1 3) After the entire length of elastomeric extrusion has been overlaid with the wire braid, it is then cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaning bath and again passed through the plastic extruder adding another layer of plastic creating a wall thickness of approximately 0.012 inch. The combined layers of plastic and wire braid on the 0.046 inch diameter mandrel will now be approximately 0.094 inch in diameter. PA1 4) Catheter tip material requires only a single extrusion on a corresponding mandrel wire because no braiding is required. The single layer of plastic applied to a 0.046 inch mandrel will have a wall thickness of 0.024 inch for a total diameter of 0.094 inch. PA1 5) The body material and the tip material is cut to lengths of approximately 42 inches. This mandrel is now removed from within the cut lengths of body and tip material. This is done by stretching the mandrel, if necessary, to reduce its diameter and facilitate its withdrawal from within the plastic extrusion. PA1 6) This material is then passed through a centerless grinder and ground to the proper diameter size and to a fine, smooth surface. PA1 7) The tip material is then cut to lengths of approximately 31/2 inches and tapers are ground on one end where necessary and a flare is formed at the other end. PA1 8) The body material is ground to a taper at one end to mate with the internal taper of the flared tip portion. PA1 9) A steel rod approximately 0.044 inch diameter is inserted into a catheter body and a tip is slipped onto the rod and the external taper of the body is mated with the internal taper of the tip. PA1 10) Next, a sleeve or tube of Teflon about 6 inches in length is passed over the tip-body mated section. The tip-body with the Teflon sleeve are then pressed through a die that has been heated to approximately 325.degree. F. The heat plus the pressure of the sleeve fuses and mold the joined sections by melting the plastic of both parts into a smooth joint. Where necessary, the catheter assembly is again passed through the centerless grinder, particularly if the fused joint is slightly larger than the rest of the catheter. It is important that the catheter with tip be within + or -0.001 inch of the published diameter. PA1 11) The finished catheter is cut to the published length, a luer hub is added to the proximal end and the tip portion is then shaped with a forming wire in boiling water. The shapes of catheter tips are many, such as a single curve, double curve, Judkins left, Judkins right, pigtail, etc.
A catheter with the above features is described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,234, which issued Dec. 23, 1969. My prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,585,707, which issued Jun. 22, 1971, sets forth how to make or manufacture the catheter.
The catheter construction described in these prior patents uses a wire braid reinforcing to provide torsional control and to strengthen the catheter body to better withstand high pressure injections. In order to have a flexible tip with good shape memory, it is necessary that no wire braid be in the tip area. The earlier patents describe the manner in which a tip portion is added to the catheter body. The tip portion, without braid, is formed as a separate item and is molded or fused to the end of the catheter body. This has been the weakest portion of the catheter, since the tip may become loosened or separated over a period of time or from physical abuse such as using an oversized guide wire, severe twisting or attempts at re-shaping the curvature of the tip.
The original manufacturing process used for making the original older catheters of the type described above is generally set forth in the flow chart of FIG. 1. In particular, the process involves the following steps (the paragraph numbers correspond to the sequence numbers shown in FIG. 1):
The mandrel is passed through a plastic extruder, coating the mandrel with the selected elastomer to approximately 0.006 inch wall thickness. The elastomer or plastic used, for example, could be polyurethane containing bismuth or barium to make it opaque to x-rays, or radiopaque.
One major problem with the original construction of these earlier catheters is that it has been necessary to mold or fuse the tip by hand. This is very labor intensive and, therefore, expensive. In an age of rising medical costs, it is even more important than ever to reduce manufacturing costs.
My earlier related co-pending application teaches a novel catheter construction and a method which eliminates the need to manually mold or fuse the tip to thereby allow the catheter to be made as a single, unitary construction. All of the good features of the original catheter construction have been preserved in the method and apparatus of my earlier application including the wire braid in the body of the catheter and the absence or lack of wire braid in the tip area. The method of my earlier application is fully automated, eliminating the hand crafting of the catheter tip. This makes the catheter taught there safer and less expensive to manufacture than the original early styles.
In accordance with my earlier co-pending application and with reference now to FIGS. 2a-2f, the method of manufacturing angiographic catheters, each having an overall length L, generally comprises forming a length of cylindrical elastomeric tube 10 of a predetermined outer diameter (FIG. 2a) and braiding multiple strands of fine stainless steel wire wrapping about the elastomeric tube, forming a braided tube construction 12 shown in FIG. 2b. Thereafter, a bonding agent or adhesive is applied to the braided construction circumferentially thereof at spaced locations 14, 16 and 18 as showl in FIG. 2c causing the strands of wire wrapping to be bonded to each other and to the elastomer. Subsequent to the bonding, predetermined sections of the wire wrapping are removed from the elastomeric tube to leave a length of elastomeric tube with multiple wire wrapped sections 20, 22, 24 and 26 spaced from one another by unwrapped sections 30, 32 and 34 such that each wire wrapped section 20, 22, 24 and 26 has axially spaced ends enclosed by the bonding agent (e.g., wire wrapped section 22 has axial spaced ends at the unwrapped sections 30, 32) to prevent loosening or unwinding of the wire wrapping as best shown in FIG. 2d. A continuous layer of an elastomer is coated over the length of the elastomeric tube with multiple wire-wrapped sections to produce a uniform diameter length 36 of elastomeric coated wire-wrapped sections spaced apart from one another by unwrapped sections as shown in FIG. 2e. The continuous length thus produced is thereafter cut transversely at locations selected to reduce the length to multiple pieces of coated wire-wrapped sections having length L, each having a coated, unwrapped section joined thereto on at least one end thereof forming a catheter 38 having a preferred unitary construction as shown in FIG. 2f.
The manufacturing method described in my earlier filed co-pending application and briefly here is substantially more efficient than the original prior art methods described above in this specification and produces catheters having superior characteristics over the original prior art devices. However, the steps required to apply the bonding agent or adhesive at the various spaced-apart locations have proven to be somewhat of a time constraint in the manufacturing process. In that regard, the adhesive requires a cure time before the grinding process can begin. Even through the use of heat or UV curing, the drying cycle takes a finite amount of time. Also, the starting and stopping of the longitudinal motion of the mandrel first at each elastomeric layer site and then at each grinding section site spaced apart by a length L is somewhat time consuming and produces undesirable wear and tear on the catheter manufacturing apparatus.
It would therefore be desirable to manufacture multiple catheters from a single feedstock using a continuous process of depositing a uniform layer of a bonding agent directly onto the wire braiding. In order to reduce manufacturing cycle time, it would be desirable to deposit the bonding agent onto the entire length of feedstock covered with the wire braiding in a single manufacturing operation. It would further be desirable to deposit the bonding agent directly onto the wire braiding using an extrusion process.

Angiographic catheter with unitary body and tip sections and method for making same from a continuous feedstock


The present invention is a locker retrofit assembly which may be adapted for replacing the door and frame components of an existing locker system. An exemplary embodiment of the locker retrofit assembly may be comprised of plastic components for replacing the metallic components of the existing locker system. The locker retrofit assembly may be wholly or partially assembled off-site to facilitate expeditious installation on the existing locker system.

The present invention relates generally to lockers and, more particularly, to locker retrofit assemblies. The present invention is designed as a replacement for existing locker assemblies, which may include one or more components of a locker. For instance, the present invention may be used to replace existing locker doors, frames, panels, combinations of these locker components, or other locker components.
Lockers for storing clothing, articles of merchandise, etc., are commonly constructed. Storage lockers are found in many different settings. For example, athletic facilities have lockers to allow athletes to store their possessions while participating in athletic events. Community swimming pools typically have lockers for storing street clothes while a person swims. Lockers are also found in industry where they are used for several purposes, such as the storage of equipment, work clothes, chemicals, and other items that are preferably kept in a concealed environment when not in use. Lockers are also commonly found in airports, hospitals, school hallways, prisons, and many other sites too numerous to mention.
Steel sheet metal and metal fasteners are common construction materials used to make locker assemblies. However, metallic lockers suffer from several disadvantages. They are easily damaged or marred such as by dents, scratches, and graffiti. Moreover, metal is subject to damage from rust, odors, delamination, chipping, and fading.
Attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems by wholly replacing these metallic lockers with plastic or wood lockers. Some storage lockers were built into either an existing wall of a building or into a building wall while under construction. These in-wall lockers may be expensive to replace with plastic lockers. These problems prevent many from taking advantage of the properties that plastic offers over steel sheet metal. Consequently, a need exists for a locker retrofit assembly that is designed to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.
The present invention is a locker retrofit assembly. An exemplary embodiment of the locker retrofit assembly may be comprised of a material designed to overcome one or more of the above disadvantages, such as a plastic material. However, it must be understood that any material, not limited to non-metal material, that exhibits the desired structural characteristics may be utilized for the present invention. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the locker retrofit assembly of the present invention may be comprised of the same material, e.g., metal, as the existing locker assembly.
In one embodiment of the present invention, existing metallic doors, frames, and panels may be replaced with a plastic locker retrofit assembly. Due to the plastic construction of this embodiment of the retrofit door assembly, the locker face may be more resistant to many forms of abuse that lockers commonly receive. For instance, the locker doors may not dent as will metal lockers. In one embodiment, the locker door of the present invention may also maintain its color throughout its entire cross-section. Due to the homogeneous nature of the plastic door of this embodiment of the assembly, the lockers of the present invention may not delaminate. Furthermore, many materials used in the application of graffiti may be removed from plastic panels to return the locker doors to their original surface appearance. The remaining metallic body of the existing locker system may be substantially hidden behind the face (e.g., the door and frame of the retrofit assembly) and is thus protected. Moreover, the substitution of a plastic retrofit assembly may provide many cosmetic and aesthetically pleasing attributes to the locker system. The retrofit assembly may carry almost any desirable color scheme. Colors may be chosen to match the surrounding decor, to provide a color coding scheme, and/or to provide a medium for an organizational theme.
Additionally, the present invention may provide a retrofit locker assembly which may be assembled off-site. The retrofit assembly may be shipped as one complete part or multiple parts that may be expeditiously attached to the old locker frame on-site. Accordingly, the locker assembly may be manufactured and assembled in a quality controlled factory environment which results in high quality, structurally sound, and consistent assemblies. Accordingly, the locker assemblies of the present invention may be installed on-site in a relatively short time while maintaining structural integrity and consistency.
In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments.


A system and method is provided for managing database information to be presented in HTML format for retrieval and display by a Web browser. Database information is managed by responding to a user selection delivered by browser software by retrieving the contents of portions of a database and constructing an HTML-compatible presentation of the contents in accordance with definitions that hierarchically link the portions separately from any database-provided links between the portions.

A Source Code Appendix containing computer source code is attached and is incorporated herein. The Source Code Appendix comprises 261 frames on 3 sheets of microfiche.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates to systems and methods for managing database information. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods for managing database information to be presented in hypertext format.
Present day database systems are known to be used for storing information for many purposes. For example, retail stores use database systems to store inventory and pricing information, and airlines use these systems to store flight and passenger information. Information in a database system typically is stored in such a way that it may be readily retrieved and displayed on a computer display screen. The format in which it is displayed generally is determined by the application software running on a local computer. This application software interacts with the database system, which actually may be located across a computer network, to retrieve the pieces of information that are to be displayed on the display screen, and then appropriately composes the information so that it may be displayed in a desired way on the display screen.
Viewer software, which is commonly called a Web Browser, is used to request, retrieve, and display information stored on a computer that is in some way connected across a network that, for example, uses World-Wide Web and Internet protocols.
The requested information that is retrieved is delivered to the Web browser in a format known as Hypertext Markup Language (xe2x80x9cHTMLxe2x80x9d). The HTML instructs the Web browser how to arrange the information on a computer display. A Web server that sends the requested information across the computer network is responsible for producing such HTML formatted information.
In some cases, the HTML formatted information is stored in a fixed or static form: the information may be a newspaper article. In other cases, at least a portion of the HTML formatted information is produced dynamically at the time the Web server receives a request from a Web browser: the information may be an up-to-date stock quote.
The HTML formatted information may include information retrieved from a database system, as has been previously mentioned. If the HTML formatted information is to include hierarchically organized information, such as a chart showing food items by category (e.g., milk and cream under dairy, and apples and oranges under fruit), the Web server relies on a fixed hierarchy that is embedded in the database system. For instance, if the database system hierarchically organizes beef, chicken, and fish under meat, the HTML formatted information that is provided by the Web server will also show that beef, chicken, and fish are included in a meat category and in the order shown: starting with beef followed by chicken followed by fish.
To effectively manage the contents of the database system and the hierarchy imposed by the database system, a human manager must use a database management application program that may be running on a local computer or may be running on a computer connected across a network. Similarly, if a human user wishes to effectively interact with the contents of the database system, he or she must use a sophisticated application program that is provided for that purpose. This program, among other things, will permit manipulation of the hierarchy. A human manager or human user that is equipped solely with a Web browser has severely limited capabilities for effecting changes with respect to database systems. As a result, database management cannot be provided on a worldwide, universal basis by means of the World-Wide Web or Internet and Web browsers.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for managing database information to be presented in HTML format for retrieval and display.
The system and method of the present invention permits the management of database information using Web browser. The Web browser will be utilized by the user to make selections that are to be delivered by browser software for retrieving portions of a database and constructing an HTML-compatible presentation of these portions. The present invention will be in accordance with the definitions that hierarchically link these portions separately from any database-provided links between the portions.
The present invention provides the ability to create, share and manage structured database information on the Internet. The present invention simplifies and more efficiently enables the administration and utilization of Internet-based database information repositories. Among other things, the present invention overcomes many of these problems that exist in the management of structured database information within the confines of the HTML environment as they exist today. As such, the present invention allows individuals, groups and organizations worldwide to communally build, manage and navigate large amounts of interrelated web-based structured information. The present invention provides online service and effectively has groups of individuals sharing common interests to build structured database information using only a standard HTML web browser. According to the present invention, the system is capable of harboring content that permits that tracking user interests and activities for marketing or other purposes without the need to violate user privacy.
The present invention provides a DataCrawler system. This system furnishes a pre-built framework for web database applications that browse and edit database information directly using an HTML-based Internet browser. The DataCrawler system has a turn-key application environment that provides powerful navigation and editing functionality. The system is a comprehensive database exploration and data entry/collection system with integrated administration, application and security management. The barrier to creating and maintaining an HTML web site is typically high in terms of cost and technological expertise. This means that the majority of individuals do not have the capability to provide web content. Further, the HTML model provides limited security options for communal contribution of content. The DataCrawler sub-system has a reusable component based technology that provides a universal methodology for exploring and editing database information. The system combines the flexibility to administer customized interrelated database storage with the low maintenance overhead of a structured, pre-built interface.
The system of the present invention can be used to create a leading repository of Internet-based structured database information. As such, the system of the present invention can become the portal for the Internet community to interact with an expanding resource of valuable information. Continuous Internet traffic can be attracted that is interested in browsing or contributing to structured database repositories hosted by the service. Interface and information can then combine together to retain each individual for effectively as long a period as possible.
The present invention will permit a user to use the system while dynamic banner advertising, is displayed at strategic locations on each screen. Users may simultaneously participate in the communal building of on-line content by sharing information through the system.
Audiences can be provided with databases administered by the service directly. These databases can be the more market valuable information sources that it is desirable to carefully control.
The system and method of the present invention also permit controlled access to structured information repositories. This will result in the system being capable of holding powerful tools that allow precisely targeted, real-time advertising. At any predetermined time during a user session, the system of the present invention will have access to: the identity of operator, the path that precisely details the information being assessed at that moment, as well as past and current session history. This information may be gathered in a non-intrusive manner without the need to actually identify the operator. Due to the nature of the system providing access to structured information, it is easy to categorize what each user is interested in at any moment in time in a non-intrusive manner. Detailed logging of session information allows the service to track and classify usage. More or less information can be saved depending on the potential marketing value of the database.
The DataCrawler system includes a web application server that provides a pre-built framework for building dynamic HTML applications for browsing and editing database information. The system provides a simplified and structured graphical user interface to permit individuals to create HTML content using only a standard Internet browser. The DataCrawler system has a 100% HTML based interface that gives the system flexibility with respect to changing technologies.
The DataCrawler system uses a plug and play setup process to set up and configure it. The DataCrawler system does not require programming to manage the user interface or access database information.
The DataCrawler system permits customized data management including the ability to dynamically access and edit information within complex interrelated data sets. The DataCrawler system provides a centralized database application engine that can operate on a very large number of web database applications with a very large number of users.
The DataCrawler system includes a Web application server program operating through a Web server. The system program provides dynamic HTML web pages for each user request. In one specific embodiment, the web application server program is written in high level object-oriented Perl code.
The DataCrawler system may include two interfaces:
1. A secure end-user application that allows the operator to browse, navigate, search and edit information contained within one or more centralized databases.
2. A complete and secure administration facility for creating, deploying and maintaining the secure end-user applications.
The DataCrawler system may include a standardized interface being capable of utilizing relational/linked data, separate administration and end-user access, easily configurable access to database views as anonymous or authenticated users, full editing (Insert, Update and Delete) capabilities, integrated security and session management, self-administration by designated individual(s) from the group and all of the functionality performed using a standard HTML browser.
As previously mentioned, a key to the DataCrawler system is reusable technology that provides a universal methodology for browsing and editing database information using an Internet browser. This technology provides a complete pre-built framework for dynamic database driven web sites. According to the present invention, the DataCrawler system incorporates an HTML-based, reusable Universal Data Access Graphical User Interface (xe2x80x9cUDAGUIxe2x80x9d) component. UDAGUI provides a standardized format for navigating and editing database information. The reusable UDAGUI component effectively eliminates the need for programming because this component provides all the basic functionality necessary to browse and update relational database information. The plug and play configuration process is all that is needed to access and edit information contained in SQL databases using a web browser.
The DataCrawler system that incorporates UDAGUI technology enables web developers of all skill levels to almost instantly create, deploy and maintain comprehensive web database applications all from a standard HTML Internet browser. End-users and administrators benefit from a standardized system that minimizes training and ensures a consistent, familiar interface.
The UDAGUI component provides a universal methodology for dynamically managing simple or complex interrelated views of data within an HTML interface.
This component includes a hierarchical tree-view navigation tool combined with a data driven display form. It is highly optimized for browser based database exploration and data entry.
The UDAGUI is the building block for the DataCrawler system allowing very large number of web database applications to be created, deployed, managed, maintained and utilized all from one centralized engine. When new features or changes are made to the central engine, these updates can be almost instantly deployed worldwide.
The human administrator of the DataCrawler system utilizes a UDAGUI component by configuring one or more data sources and defining the format for the display of information. At runtime, the UDAGUI component will determine the configuration settings, fetch the appropriate database information and render the HTML page according to the format defined by the administrator. No programming is required for this process.
By the incorporation of innovative HTML components, the DataCrawler system, among other things, solves fundamental problems posed by the limitations of static HTML. HTML provides limited tools for browsing and displaying multiple levels of hierarchical information at once. The DataCrawler system, in combination with HTML, provides an easily configured tree-view database browsing tool that allows database information to be displayed in a hierarchical format. This combination allows the operator to dynamically explore multi-level interrelated information from many different data sources at once.
The data entry capabilities of conventional HTML forms are limited compared to the functionality offered by platform specific programming environments. In contrast, the DataCrawler system employs powerful editing functionality. Full featured data entry forms are easily administered and are automatically linked to the back end database.
The combined process of search, navigation and editing of relational database information in a conventional Web environment is typically difficult because of the lack of information processing tools available. The DataCrawler system combines navigation and editing functionality together in a powerful Split-Screen mode that overcomes the problems inherent within HTML, such as lack of sub-forms.
Developing, administrating and maintaining Web database applications is typically an expensive and time consuming process. Since reduced administration is an aim of DataCrawler system, administrators are able to eliminate the development process by using a pre-built applications environment that requires no programming. Changes are easily incorporated into the system and are deployed almost instantly.
The DataCrawler system is a secure system with group level permissions. The system has configurable login authentication as well as anonymous access. Data entry update privileges may be defined at the group level and information contained within data sources can be group or individually owned.
The DataCrawler system has other advantages. The DataCrawler system is 100% HTML based with no Java or ActiveX components. This means that all users can access the system regardless of the version or type of browser they have. Another advantage is the incorporation of the UDAGUI component that provides the reusable building block for the DataCrawler system. It is also advantageous that the DataCrawler system employs a hierarchical data navigation tool. This interface allows dynamic multi-level browsing of interrelated database information. Still another advantage is the overcoming of a problem that sub-forms are not available in HTML. In the DataCrawler system, a split-screen mode and combination of tree navigation with data forms solves this problem in an elegant manner.
These and other features and advantages will be described in detail in, and will be apparent from, the remainder of the specification and claims referring to the drawings.

System and method for managing database information


The disclosure provides an image processing device, image processing method, scanner and storage medium. The image processing device is used for tracing a boundary of an object image in an image, the boundary being continuous and the rate of change in slope between adjacent points on the boundary being slow. The image processing device includes: a boundary estimation unit, adapted to estimate the location of the boundary of the object image; an interfering gradient processing unit, adapted to process an interfering gradient near the estimated boundary, so as to reduce the interfering gradient or remove the interfering gradient from the image; and a boundary tracing unit, adapted to trace the boundary in the image having the interfering gradient processed. By using the technique of the disclosure, the accuracy of tracing a boundary of an image is improved significantly.

Distortion usually occurs to an image obtained by performing an image obtaining operation, such as photographing or scanning, on a stereoscopic object. Take a document scanning as an example, distortion, such as perspective transformation and tensile deformation, exists in a scanned image regardless of a traditional flat panel scanner or an advanced curved surface scanner. In addition, take a product logo identification application for an example, there is distortion in an image obtained by photographing a logo on a product such as a beverage bottle, and thus accuracy of identification is affected.
Therefore, to remove distortion, enrich document edition, and improve accuracy of content identification, it is important to obtain an accurate boundary of an image of a document or a logo. In this context, various boundary tracing technologies, for example a dynamic planning technology, have been researched and used widely.

Image processing device, image processing method, scanner and storage medium


A gate of a semiconductor device includes a substrate, and a polysilicon layer over the substrate, wherein the polysilicon layer is doped with first conductive type impurities having a concentration that decreases when receding from the substrate and counter-doped with second conductive type impurities having a concentration that increases when receding from the substrate.

The present application relates to a semiconductor fabricating technology, and more particularly, to a gate of a semiconductor device and a fabricating method thereof.
A peripheral circuit of a DRAM employs a dual-poly gate in which a gate of an NMOS transistor is formed as N-type polysilicon and a gate of PMOS transistor is formed as P-type polysilicon. Unlike some circuits that employ N type polysilicon gates for both of NMOS and PMOS transistors, a surface channel can be formed by forming the gate of the PMOS transistor as P type polysilicon. This technology has various advantages that include reduction of short channel effect, improvement of a drain saturation current Idsat for the same threshold voltage Vt, improvement of sub threshold voltage (Sub threshold slop), and improvement of drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL). Also, the P type polysilicon gate improves a retention time and enables to fabricate a DRAM device having low power and high performance.
In case of forming a recess gate in a cell region in order to employ the dual polysilicon gate, in-situ doping is performed to uniformly sustain concentration of impurities in the recess when polysilicon is formed. Accordingly, a counter doping process is performed to convert a gate polysilicon of a PMOS transistor to P-type polysilicon by doping P-type impurity only at the gate polysilicon of the PMOS transistor after forming N type polysilicon when gates of NMOS and PMOS are formed. Therefore, it is necessary to have high dose to perform counter-doping to convert N doped polysilicon to P type polysilicon.
Some methods include fabricating the dual polysilicon gate by forming a metal electrode over the polysilicon after performing high dose counter doping for converting PMOS to P type polysilicon after forming N type polysilicon.
However, if the high dose counter doping is performed, silicon and dopants (including counter-doped dopants and in situ doped-dopants generated when the polysilicon is deposited) may be present at an interface of the polysilicon and the metal electrode at approximately the same ratio. This same ratio is because dopants are concentrated to a surface when the counter doping is performed and uniformly-doped N type impurities are also gathered to the surface due to the influence of the counter doping. Therefore, the dopants are further concentrated at the interface.
Accordingly, because the silicon is not recrystallized and the dopants do not fully function as dopant, this layer becomes a damage layer. Since such a damage layer functions as a dielectric at the interface of the polysilicon and the metal electrode, the damage layer causes signal delay.
FIG. 1 depicts a Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) picture illustrating polysilicon after counter doping is performed according to the related art.
As shown in FIG. 1, polysilicon is converted to amorphous silicon if counter doping is performed, and the amorphous silicon is recrystallized through a following thermal process. However, since the silicon and the dopants are present at the interface of the silicon at about the same ratio, the silicon is not recrystallized. The not-recrystallized silicon forms a damage layer and may cause a signal delay problem.

Gate in semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same


A 1-transistor type DRAM driving process writes a data bit that corresponds to a level applied to a bit line. A first hold period holds data by deactivating a word line of an NMOS transistor and precharging a source and bit line. After the first hold period, a complex operation period operates the NMOS transistor and a bipolar transistor by activating the word line of the NMOS transistor, shifting the source line voltage to a ground voltage, and shifting the bit line voltage to a corresponding multi level bit voltage level. After the complex operation period, a bipolar transistor operation period operates only the bipolar transistor by deactivating the word line of the NMOS transistor. After the bipolar transistor operation period, a second hold period holds the data by precharging the source and bit lines of the NMOS transistor and the bit level applied to the bit line is written.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor apparatus, and more particularly to a 1-transistor type DRAM driving method performing a multi-bit operation.
Generally, a semiconductor device such as DRAM is integrated on a silicon wafer. However, in a silicon wafer used in a semiconductor device, a limited thickness of several μm from the surface of the silicon wafer is used in for device operation rather than the entire silicon wafer. As a result, the remaining silicon wafer not used for the device operation increases power consumption and decreases driving speed.
Therefore, a silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer configured by forming a silicon single crystal layer having a thickness of several μm by interposing an insulating layer between silicon substrates has been called for. A semiconductor device integrated on the SOI wafer has been shown to increase speed due to a small junction capacity thereof and can satisfy high-speed and low-voltage operation due to a low threshold voltage of the SOI wafer, as compared to a semiconductor device integrated on a general silicon wafer.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a DRAM cell implemented on a conventional SOI wafer. In FIG. 1, a SOI wafer 10 is configured of a stacked structure including a silicon substrate 1, a buried oxide layer 2, and a silicon layer 3. A device isolating layer 11, defining an activation region on the silicon layer 3 of the SOI wafer 10, is formed to adjoin the buried oxide layer 2. A gate 12 is formed on a upper surface of the activation region of the silicon layer 3 and source/drain regions 13a, 13b are formed in the silicon layer 3 on both sides of the gate 12 to adjoin the buried oxide layer 2.
In a DRAM cell implemented on the SOI wafer 10, holes and electrons are captured by a floating body corresponding to a channel region below the gate 12 so that data can be stored.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2a, a store state "1" may be illustrated where lots of holes are in the floating body. As shown in FIG. 2b, a store state "0" may be illustrated where less holes or lots of electrons are in the floating body. In a read state, a higher sensing current flows through a 1-transistor type cell in a store state "1" than in a store state "0".
For such a DRAM cell implemented on the conventional SOI wafer as described above, a need exists for a method capable of efficiently writing and reading data in a low voltage state and a method capable of stably driving a multi-bit operation of the 1-transistor type DRAM cell.

1-transistor type DRAM driving method with an improved write operation margin


An intercooler for a vehicle that cools a mixture of EGR gas and exhaust gas may include a cooler main body with an inlet portion through which the mixture flows in formed at one side thereof and an outlet portion through which the mixture flows out formed at the other end side thereof, connection tubes that connect the inlet portion with the outlet portion and are arranged from an upper side to a lower side of the cooler main body to cool the mixture, and a condensate storage unit that connects a lower end portion of the inlet portion with a lower end portion of the outlet portion and stores the condensate that is formed in the connection tubes.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust gas recirculation (hereinafter, "EGR") system of a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to an intercooler for a vehicle that cools a mixed gas or mixture of EGR gas and intake air to a predetermined temperature in an EGR system.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, an EGR system is provided in a diesel vehicle, and recirculates exhaust gas that is exhausted from an exhaust manifold of an engine to an intake manifold to reduce NOx of the exhaust gas and improve fuel consumption efficiency of the engine.
The EGR system includes a low pressure EGR system that can recirculate exhaust gas that passes a catalyst such as a DPF (diesel particulate filter) to intake air of an intake manifold.
Here, the low pressure EGR system includes an intercooler that cools a mixed gas of EGR gas and intake air to a predetermined temperature to supply it to an intake manifold.
However, while the mixed gas is cooled down in the intercooler, the saturated vapor of the EGR gas is condensed to generate a condensate.
The condensate gathers in a flowing path of the mixed gas and interferes with the flowing of the mixed gas to deteriorate intake efficiency of the intercooler and reduce a cooling area of the cooler such that the cooling efficiency is deteriorated.
Also, the condensate can be frozen in the flowing path of the mixed gas to be able to generate cracks in the flowing path of the mixed gas.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.


A measurement device includes: a light emitting section that continuously emits light into a liquid; a light receiving section that continuously receives the light continuously emitted from the light emitting section and that passed through the liquid, and converts the continuously received light into a continuous electrical signal; a particle detection section that amplifies by a first amplification ratio the continuous electrical signal converted by the light receiving section, and generates a particle detection signal as a continuous signal; an air bubble detection section that amplifies by a second amplification ratio that is smaller than the first amplification ratio the continuous electrical signal converted by the light receiving section, and generates an air bubble detection signal as a continuous signal; and a pollution level measurement section that generates a signal for measuring the pollution level of the liquid based on the particle detection signal and the air bubble detection signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a measurement device.
2. Background Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-221793A discloses a hydraulic oil pollution level diagnosis device in which when hydraulic oil is passed at a substantially constant velocity through a flow path within a microcell formed from a transparent glass material using a mini-pump, laser light emitted from light emitting devices provided at positions that sandwich the flow path from both the left and right sides passes through the hydraulic oil, and is received by light receiving devices provided at positions that sandwich the flow path from both the left and right sides, and a detection signal in accordance with the quantity of light received is output from the light receiving devices towards a controller.
As is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-221793A, if air bubbles or the like are contained in the hydraulic oil, the air bubbles are mistakenly detected as pollution, so there is a possibility that the state of pollution will not be correctly diagnosed.


A bone fixation screw includes a threaded screw shank and a screw head having upper and lower ends. The screw head lower end is secured to a proximal end of said screw shank. The screw head has substantially frustospherical shaped side surfaces and is split into segments at one of the ends. The head is radially expandable at the one end. An expansion screw is centrally received in the screw head. An interface between the expansion screw and the screw head forms a cam mechanism for expanding the screw head upon axial rotation of the expansion screw.

This invention relates generally to a spinal implant assembly for holding adjacent vertebral bones fixed. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a spinal plate assembly which includes a mechanism for fixedly attaching and locking bone fixation screws to the plate at desired angles and for preventing back out of the screws from the plate.


A process provides for the safe operation of a printing machine. The printing machine has a first cylinder driven by a first motor, and a second cylinder driven by a second motor. The first cylinder accepts sheets of paper from the second cylinder or delivers them to the second cylinder by a gripper system. In the case of a deviation in the synchronized running between the cylinders, the gripper system is retracted at least in part far enough into the first cylinder that the possibility of a collision of the gripper system with the second cylinder is eliminated.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for the safe operation of a printing machine. The printing machine has a first cylinder driven by a first motor and a second cylinder driven by a second motor and the first cylinder accepts sheets of paper from the second cylinder or delivers them to the latter by a gripper system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a printing machine for the execution of the process. The printing machine has a first cylinder with a gripper system, a first motor for driving the first cylinder, a second cylinder, and a second motor for driving the second cylinder.
The invention results from the following background: sheet-fed printing machines contain cylinders with gripper systems for holding the sheets of paper. Some sheet-fed printing machines contain cylinders that are adjoining one another and are coupled to one another mechanically by a pair of toothed wheels such that the cylinders can be driven by a common motor. The pair of toothed wheels provides the cylinders with a positive coupling so as to ensure that the cylinders run synchronously with each other in all circumstances and to eliminate the possibility of a collision of a gripper system of one cylinder with the other cylinder.
However, there are also sheet-fed printing machines in which the cylinders do not have any such pair of toothed wheels and that are driven by different motors. As long as the motors work in a trouble-free manner, the synchronous motion of the cylinders is ensured and thus the possibility of a collision of the gripper system is eliminated. In order to avoid such a collision even in case of a malfunction of one of the motors or the malfunction of its control, additional precautionary measures are necessary.
These precautionary measures includes, for instance, in providing the safety device described in published, non-prosecuted German patent application DE 42 02 722 A1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,841). However, the process according to which this safety device works is not suitable for every printing machine.
A further prior art reference, published, non-prosecuted German patent application DE 199 09 686 A1 describes a device for controlling the grippers, wherein the grippers are swiveled below the periphery of an impression cylinder in order to be able to perform maintenance work.

Printing machine with gripper retraction mechanism for safe operation of the printing machine


An improved mechanism for retaining a pulley on a motor shaft is disclosed wherein the shaft has a circumferential groove formed near its end and the pulley has a hub to engage the shaft with a plurality of flexible fingers formed around and extending outward from the hub. The fingers have a pawl disposed to drop into the circumferential groove on the shaft and thereby secure the pulley in place. The pawls can be of various configurations so as to both align properly with the groove and to accommodate tolerance in the shaft assembly. The shaft also has splines formed thereon proximate to the groove that matingly engage corresponding keyways formed inside the pulley hub so that the shaft positively mates with the pulley.

This invention relates to a pulley and shaft mechanism, more specifically, to a low-cost pulley construction incorporating a suitable mechanism for retaining and positioning the pulley on a motor shaft.
Electric motor shafts with pulleys attached thereto are well known in the art. For example, in home appliances, such as a washing machine, an electric motor is used to drive the agitator mechanism. To that end, the electric motor is designed having a shaft with a pulley secured to the exposed end of the shaft. The pulley engages a drive belt means for translating the rotation of the motor shaft to the agitator assembly.
Generally, pulley assemblies known to the art are complicated in construction and relatively expensive to manufacture because of that construction. For example, prior art pulleys with which I am familiar are stamped metal constructions. The pulley is formed from two metal stampings, which are then joined together mechanically in any desired way. Welding the parts often was the preferred assembly method. After assembling the pulley, it is mounted in its intended application. The motor shaft end that engages the pulley conventionally is threaded and the pulley is mounted on the shaft and retained on the shaft by a suitably threaded nut and washer assembly. The mounting portion of the shaft, including the threads, is generally at least partially of a lesser diameter than the body of the shaft. A washer or other retaining ring is placed over the threaded portion so as to seat against the shoulder formed where the threaded diameter meets the greater shaft diameter. The pulley seats against the washer or retaining ring to prevent retrograde moving of the pulley. Usually, another lock washer or retaining ring is slipped over the threaded diameter of the shaft and the nut is tightened thereon, securing the pulley in place. The threaded portion of the motor shaft is often formed in a special shape, that shape also being formed as an opening in the hub of the pulley, so that the shaft engages the pulley. This type of pulley and shaft assembly requires multiple parts: a washer or retaining ring, the pulley, which as indicated, commonly is assembled from two metal halves, another retaining ring or washer, and the threaded nut.
If there are variations in the shaft assembly tolerance motor to motor, washers or retaining rings of variable thicknesses or additional retaining rings that serve as spacers must be added to position the pulley appropriately on the shaft. The use of additional spacers or washers add to the number of parts required to mount the pulley properly and add to the cost of construction.


The present invention comprises wrinkled polymer particle comprising a polyester-containing particle having a surface covered with at least one wrinkle comprising folds, ridges, crevices and channels. The present invention further comprises a method of forming wrinkled polyester-containing particles comprising preparing a mixture of an organic phase and an aqueous phase, said mixture comprising an unsaturated precursor polyester, a water immiscible organic solvent, at least one organic-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and initiator, subjecting said mixture to high energy emulsification, initiating crosslinking of said polyester after emulsification, and removing said water immiscible organic solvent to recover wrinkled polyester-containing particles.

There is interest in the development of specialized microparticles for use as adsorbents, chromatographic materials, cosmetic additives, matting agents, and permeable layers in multilayer imaging media. Irregularly shaped microparticles, wrinkled particles in particular, provide specific advantages of greater surface area and increased interstitial volume. This makes such particles particularly well suited for use in inkjet receiver media. For this application, there is additional interest in irregularly shaped particles of chemical compositions which lend inherent stability to guest dyes and colorants. It is also desirable that such particles have excellent colloidal stability in water and highly polar solvents.
In a typical inkjet recording or printing system, ink droplets are ejected from a nozzle at high speed towards a recording element or medium to produce an image on the medium. The ink droplets, or recording liquid, generally comprise a recording agent, such as a dye or pigment, and a large amount of solvent. The solvent, or carrier liquid, typically is made up of water, an organic material such as a monohydric alcohol, a polyhydric alcohol or mixtures thereof
An inkjet recording element typically comprises a support having on at least one surface thereof an ink-receiving or image-forming layer and includes those intended for reflection viewing, which have an opaque support, and those intended for viewing by transmitted light, which have a transparent support.
An inkjet recording element that simultaneously provides an almost instantaneous ink dry time and good image quality is desirable. However, given the wide range of ink compositions and ink volumes that a recording element needs to accommodate, these requirements of inkjet recording media are difficult to achieve simultaneously.
Inkjet recording elements are known that employ porous or nonporous single layer or multilayer coatings that act as suitable ink receiving layers on one or both sides of a porous or non-porous support. Recording elements that use non-porous coatings typically have good image quality and stability but exhibit poor ink dry time. Recording elements that use porous coatings typically contain colloidal particulates and have poorer image stability but exhibit superior dry times.
While certain types of wrinkled particles are known which could conceivably be used in image recording elements for use with inkjet printing, there are many unsolved problems in the art and many deficiencies in the known products which limit their commercial usefulness. A major challenge in the design of an image-recording layer comprising wrinkled particles is to be able to obtain coatings which dry rapidly and impart favorable fade characteristics to guest colorants. Inkjet prints, prepared by printing onto inkjet recording elements, are subject to environmental degradation. They are especially vulnerable to light fade and fade resulting from gaseous impurities in the air, such as ozone and nitrogen oxides. Highly swellable hydrophilic layers can take an undesirably long time to dry, slowing printing speed. Porous layers speed the absorption of the ink vehicle, but often suffer from insufficient gloss and severe dye fade.
Irregularly shaped microparticles are known in the art, but they are badly suited for specific imaging applications due to either their size or composition or their inherent difficulty in preparation. WO 92/16565 and 93/19099 report crosslinked, wrinkled particles comprised of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid-containing monomers. These particles, however, are large in size (>75 micrometers) and thus are unsuitable for use in thin coatings. In addition, the monomeric composition is chemically aggressive and will hasten the fade of guest dyes and colorants, thus making these particles unsuitable for certain imaging applications. Finally, the liquid uptake of these materials is extremely large. The particles increase dramatically in size upon absorbing liquids. Thus, coatings comprised of such superabsorbants will lose wet cohesion due to the large dimensional changes of the particles upon absorption of liquids. Bowl-shaped, crosslinked vinyl microparticles are reported in U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,202. The chemical composition of these particles, however, does not afford stability advantages to adsorbed dyes and colorants, thus making these particles unsuitable for use in inkjet receiver media. Wrinkled and irregularly shaped particles comprising methacrylate monomers are disclosed in Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol. 38, p. 4038–4056 (2000). Similarly, the chemical composition of these particles, does not afford stability advantages to adsorbed dyes and colorants, thus making these particles unsuitable for use in inkjet receiver media.
There is a need to provide microparticles which are readily dispersible in water and highly polar solvents, show rapid fluid absorption when incorporated in inkjet receiver media, and which are comprised of materials which lend inherent stability to guest colorants.


An electrically illuminating indicator needle and a light guiding member therefor that allow such a control as length of the needle can be varied while undergoing less unevenness in luminance and can be manufactured at a lower cost are provided.

For an electrically illuminating indicator needle used in a speedometer 700 (FIG. 9) of automobile or the like, there is an electrically illuminating indicator needle constituted from light emitting diodes disposed in a linear arrangement so that the meter is read by directly seeing light emitted by the light emitting diodes (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-332438). The electrically illuminating indicator needle 600 disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-332438 has such a constitution as the light emitting diodes 611a through 611i are disposed in line as shown in FIG. 10 which are turned on to light up starting with the one located at one end toward the other end sequentially, so as to give an impression that the indicator varies its length to the viewer.
Patent Document
    Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-332438

Electrically illuminating indicator needle and light guiding member

Abstract: The electrically illuminating indicator needle comprises a plurality of planes of incidence, a plurality of light reflecting surfaces disposed to correspond to the planes of incidence so as to reflect light coming from the planes of incidence, a light guiding member disposed to correspond to the light reflecting surfaces so as to cause the light reflected on the light reflecting surfaces to emerge, and a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed to oppose the planes of incidence.