Discrete powder particles of copper 14 and INVAR 12 are mixed together in a container 16 and packed into a powder metal article. This article is hot vacuum degassed and vacuum sealed and then heated to temperature well below the sintering temperature of copper or INVAR. Immediately after heating the article, it is subjected to a high pressure, high strain force such as extrusion through a die thereby yielding a fully dense, strong composite material 10 with excellent combined thermal expansion and conductivity properties.

This invention relates to a composite material for thermal management and method of manufacture and more particularly to the material and method for producing a composite metal material for use in mounting semiconducting devices in electronic circuit systems.
Conventional electronic systems employ a variety of circuit board substrates and the like for mounting semiconductor devices such as integrated circuit chips and the like. In such systems, it is know to be desirable to provide substrate materials which have coefficients of thermal expansion corresponding to those of the semiconductor devices to be mounted thereon, whereby the semiconductor devices can remain securely mounted and electrically connected to circuit on the substrates during thermal cycling of the systems. It is also known to be desirable to provide substrate materials with substantial thermal conductivity properties for dissipating heat from the semiconductor devices during operation of the devices, thereby to improve operating and reliability characteristics of the devices and systems. It is also known to employ composite metal materials in such substrates to combine relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion characteristics of one metal material with relatively high thermal conductivity characteristics of another metal material, thereby to provide composite materials having desirable combinations of coefficient of expansion and thermal conductivity properties.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,293 provides for taking a plurality of discrete particles of a ferrous metal alloy having a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion and coating them with a copper material having a relatively high thermal conductivity. These coated particles are then mixed with pure copper particles and pressed together and heated to provide for diffusion bonding of the particles together to form a continuous copper matrix with the discrete ferrous particles contained therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,332 provides a grid of a metal material of relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion having openings in the grid filled with a copper material or the like of relatively higher thermal conductivity to provide a mounting for a semiconductor device having a desired combination of thermal expansion and conductivity properties. In another embodiment, the patent suggests that particles of a ferrous alloy can be impregnated into a copper material for providing an alternate material having selected thermal expansion and conductivity properties. U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,464 provides two grids of a metal material of relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion on either side of an inner layer of copper metal for providing a composite substrate material having another described combination of thermal expansion and conductivity properties. U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,672 shows layer combinations of ferrous metal materials of relatively low thermal expansion properties with layer materials of relatively high thermal conductivity where the layer thicknesses are regulated to be within selected ranges for providing composite metal materials with coefficients of thermal expansion substantially corresponding to those of semiconductor devices to be mounted thereon. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,097,329 and 4,158,719 show composite metal materials formed by powder metallurgy techniques or the like either by compacting mixtures of metal powders of relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion with metal powders of relatively high thermal conductivity materials and then heating the compacted powders for diffusion bonding the particles to each other or by compacting and sintering one of the metal powders to form a porous sintered compact and by then filling the pores of that sintered compact with a melt of the other metal material.
However, each of such previously known composite metal substrate materials has been subject to some objection. Thus, the composite metal materials shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,894,293, 3,097,329 and 4,158,719 are not found to consistently and economically provide desirable combinations of thermal expansion and conductivity properties because of the manner in which they are made; the composite metal materials shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,399,332 and 4,283,464 are difficult to manufacture and to apply to specific circuit system applications; and the composite metal material shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,762 does not provide desirably high thermal conductivity in all directions.
Lastly, composite powdered metal systems such as copper tungsten, copper molybdenum and silver invar can provide good thermal conductivity and thermal expansion characteristics; but such combinations are expensive to produce, and in the case of copper tungsten and copper molybdenum, difficult to machine and electroplate.

Circuit system, a composite material for use therein, and a method of making the material


A method of carrying out post-treatment to a sprayed coating includes spraying aluminum-containing material onto a surface of a steel for forming a sprayed coating on the steel, and coating electrolytic aqueous solution or water base paint containing electrolytic aqueous solution therein onto the sprayed coating.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of carrying out post-treatment to a sprayed coating formed for the purpose of prevent corrosion of steel materials containing iron as a primary constituent, such as carbon steel, nickel-chromium or stainless steel, used outdoors in a bridge, port facilities, a plant, a pipe, an advertising tower, a display tower, a train, and a ship, for instance. The present invention further relates to an agent used in the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
A method of anti-corrosion spraying carried out for anti-corrosion of steel used outdoors, such as a bridge, port facilities, a plant, a pipe, an advertising tower, a display tower, a train, and a ship is defined in Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) H8300, in which, spraying zinc, aluminum and alloys thereof is standardized. Among those metals, pure zinc, pure aluminum, zinc-aluminum alloy, and aluminum-magnesium alloy are particularly recommended as a material to be sprayed.
Among the recommended metals, pure aluminum has high resistance to acid and heat, and hence, is used not only outdoors, but also for anti-corrosion of a plant, a tank and chemical facilities, and so on. However, spotted rust is often generated on a sprayed coating early after pure aluminum was sprayed, particularly in a week after pure aluminum was sprayed.
Herein, spotted rust is a phenomenon in which water and/or humidity reach an interface between a steel and a sprayed coating, and forms a cell, resulting in that iron ions generated through the steel pass through through-holes formed in the sprayed coating and reach a surface of the sprayed coating, and then, are oxidized by air, and thus, spotted red rust are generated on a surface of the sprayed coating. Spotted rust is generally generated on a sprayed coating having a self potential higher than the same of iron, such as a sprayed coating composed of NiCr steel or stainless steel. However, polarity is reversed due to various environmental conditions even in a sprayed coating composed of aluminum alloy having a self potential lower than the same of iron, with the result that spotted rust is generated on the sprayed coating. Once spotted rust is generated, a sprayed coating is accelerated to be worn out, and thus, has a shortened lifetime. Furthermore, even if a new sprayed coating is formed over an old sprayed coating on which spotted rust is generated, adhesion and anti-corrosion of the old sprayed coating are already deteriorated, and hence, it is necessary to entirely peel off the old sprayed coating and form a new sprayed coating, resulting in a big loss in a construction period and costs.
Spotted rust is often generated particularly in outdoor environment in the case that a sprayed coating is thin, it takes much time from spraying until sealing, or a sprayed coating is insufficiently sealed. Accordingly, when pure aluminum is used for forming a sprayed coating, it is necessary to design a sprayed coating to have a sufficient thickness, tighten time management to be carried out from spraying till sealing, or carry out sealing and coating to a degree more than necessary.
Aluminum-magnesium (95:5) alloy, another recommended metal, is much used for anti-corrosion of an oil excavating plant in oil fields in the North Sea, and exhibits superior anti-corrosion performance. Aluminum-magnesium alloy is recommended also in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 2063. However, if aluminum-magnesium alloy is actually used in outdoor environments, it is soon worn out due to environmental conditions or a certain spraying process, and spotted rust is often generated on a sprayed coating early after aluminum-magnesium alloy was sprayed, particularly in a week after sprayed. Thus, a sprayed coating composed of aluminum-magnesium alloy is short in stability. Accordingly, similarly to a sprayed coating composed of pure aluminum, it is necessary to design a sprayed coating to have a sufficient thickness, tighten time management to be carried out from spraying till sealing, or carry out sealing and coating to a degree more than necessary.
For instance, various Publications have suggested a process of sealing.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H11(1999)-302820 has suggested a sealing process including the step of coating a material having a high viscosity or a high polymer material containing sulfate having a high melting point, as a primary constituent, to thereby fill therewith spaces formed in a sprayed coating, for the purpose of enhancing anti-corrosion in high-temperature corrosive environment.
Japanese Re-Publication No. 2005-35829 has suggested a sealing process including the steps of coating a material having a resistance against high temperature, particularly hot water and humidity, onto aluminum for forming a sprayed coating thereon, and causing aluminum exposed in spaces formed in a sprayed coating to react with moisture in how water or humidity to thereby form aluminum hydrate for sealing.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-15835 has suggested a sealing process including the step of coating alkali silicate aqueous solution onto a sprayed coating composed of zinc, aluminum or zinc/aluminum pseudo-alloy to thereby compose insoluble complex salt.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-291440 has suggested a sealing process including the step of coating a sealer composed of a mixture of water-soluble polymer emulsion, colloidal silica, and active silicon water repellent to thereby form a sealed coating.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-46765 has suggested a sealing process including the steps of coating nitrate or acetate onto a surface of a sprayed coating, and sintering the nitrate or acetate by heating to thereby form metallic oxide for the purpose of enhancing heat-resistance and corrosion-resistance in high temperature environment.
The above-mentioned countermeasures to rusting and being early worn out in a sprayed coating composed of aluminum have problems as follows.
Designing a sprayed coating to have a great thickness not only causes waste of resources, but also lengthens a construction period, resulting in cost-up in a spraying construction and deterioration of competitive power. In addition, carrying out sealing and painting to a degree more than necessary not only causes waste of resources, but also causes cost-up in a construction, and further, causes much use of volatile organic compounds (VOC) having a half of a weight of paints. This is considered a material for causing the earth to warm up, and hence, exerting a harmful influence to the environment.
A sprayed coating formed for the purpose of anti-corrosion is designed to have a thickness determined in accordance with a lifetime predetermined in line with environments. In general, a sprayed coating having a greater thickness has a longer lifetime. In Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) H8300, whereas a sprayed coating composed of zinc, for instance, pure zinc or zinc-aluminum alloy, is recommended to have a thickness of 50 micrometers or greater, a sprayed coating composed of aluminum, for instance, pure aluminum or aluminum-magnesium alloy is recommended to have a thickness of 100 micrometers or greater. This is considered because aluminum tends to be readily rusted. If it were possible to prevent rusting, a sprayed coating could have a thickness determined in accordance with a lifetime thereof. That is, if a sprayed coating had a short lifetime, the sprayed coating could have a small thickness with the result of reduction in costs of a construction.

Method of carrying out post-treatment to sprayed coating and agent used for the same


An amphibious vehicle operable on dry land, wet land, or marsh land covered by water. In some embodiments, the amphibious vehicle includes a land-based vehicle, such as a car, truck, or all terrain vehicle (ATV), at least two pontoons supporting the land-based vehicle, and a track system disposed around each of the pontoons. Each pontoon has an internal volume configured to provide buoyancy for the land-based vehicle, whether on wet land or in water. The track system is adapted to propel the land-based vehicle. The amphibious vehicle may further include a drive system coupled between the land-based vehicle and the track system and a skid steering system. The drive system is configured to selectably rotate the track system about the pontoons, while the skid steering system is configured to control the direction in which the land-based vehicle is propelled. The amphibious vehicle may also include a suspension system.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to amphibious vehicles and, more particularly, to land-based vehicles adapted for amphibious use. Still more particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a tracking system for adapting a land-based vehicle for use in marshy or swampy terrain.
2. Description of Related Art
Amphibious vehicles, known as marsh buggies, were first developed to support oil and gas exploration operations conducted in marshy or swampy terrain. Since their development, there has been growing concern in regards to the environmental impact of operations in marshlands, wetlands, and other low-lying areas due, at least in part, to the deterioration of many marshland and wetland areas. In response, significant efforts are being made to preserve, protect and restore these areas. Marsh buggies are currently being used to assist in these restoration and preservation efforts.
Marsh buggies typically include a pair of pontoons connected to a center platform. The pontoons are usually surrounded by a cleated track system that is capable of engaging ground or swamp land to propel the vehicle. The track system uses one or more endless chains surrounding the periphery of each pontoon. The endless chains, supporting the cleated tracks, are driven about the periphery of the pontoons, by a sprocket or other means, in order to provide propulsion to the vehicle. By varying the track speed around each pontoon, the vehicle can be advanced, turned, or reversed.
Due to their cleated track system, marsh buggies are ideal for operation in wetlands, marshlands, and other low-lying areas. Moreover, many have been adapted to haul personnel and cargo as well as serve as the operating platform for various types of equipment, such as excavators, draglines, and backhoes. Typically, the top several inches of the ground in wetlands, marshlands, and other low-lying areas are mud or soft terrain that cannot support weight. However, beneath the mud or soft terrain, there is solid ground that can support weight. During operation of a marsh buggy, the cleated tracks surrounding each pontoon sink into the soft terrain, or mud, until the tracks contact the solid ground beneath. Contact between the cleated tracks and the solid ground provides traction for the marsh buggy, allowing the marsh buggy to maneuver through the mud or soft terrain.
Additionally, marsh buggies are often capable of floating in order to navigate small bodies of water due to the buoyancy provided by their pontoons. However, these vehicles are not designed to operate while floating. Thus, marsh buggies are limited to performing earth-moving operations on dry land or in water where their pontoons remain in contact with the ground.
Most conventional marsh buggies and amphibious vehicles are manufactured and sold as "turnkey" vehicles. In other words, such marsh buggies are each sold as one complete, integral vehicle including the pontoons, cleated tracks, drive train, chassis, engine, platform or cabin, etc. Consequently, such conventional marsh buggies tend to be relatively expensive and intended for a single purpose—swamp and wetland traversal. In addition, many conventional marsh buggies are designed for construction and/or excavation activities in marsh or wetlands, and thus, are typically relatively large and robust. As a result, these conventional amphibious vehicles typically have a large footprint, which may be of concern in environmentally sensitive areas. Further, the overall size of such conventional amphibious vehicles may restrict and/or limit their use in narrow passages and/or close-quarters projects.
Accordingly, there remains a need for an amphibious vehicle capable of accessing and/or navigating through tight passages, while having a footprint that lessens or minimizes the impact of the vehicle on the environment. Therefore, embodiments of the invention are directed to an amphibious vehicle that satisfies this need and seeks to overcome limitations of the prior art.

Tracked amphibious vehicle and adaptable amphibious pontoon tracking system


A debugger alters the execution flow of a child computer program of the debugger at runtime by inserting jump statements determined by the insertion of breakpoint instructions. Breakpoints are used to force the child computer program to throw exceptions at specified locations. One or more instructions of the computer program are replaced by jump instructions. The jump destination addresses associated with the break instructions can be specified by input from a user. The debugger changes the instruction pointer of the child program to achieve the desired change in execution flow. No instructions are lost in the child program.

Computer programs have an execution flow governed by their compiled statements. Altering the execution flow of programs from its usual course is required in many instances for testing or experimentation purposes, or simply to assist an understanding of how the computer program operates. Currently there are two particular techniques that can be used to alter the flow of execution of a computer program.
A first technique involves changing the code, and recompiling the program, so that the required change in execution flow is achieved. A disadvantage of this first code-changing techniques is that recompilation is necessary. If the programmer wants to alter the execution for one run only, then the change must be made and the program recompiled. After testing, the change needs to be reverted and the program recompiled yet again. Importantly, recompilation may not even be a feasible option if the build takes too long. This is true for products with a significant code base.
A second technique involves changing an instruction pointer while the program is running. A programmer can change the instruction pointer using a debugger to suspend execution of the program at a particular point, and manually set the next statement. Most debuggers have a "Set Next Statement" or similar option providing an equivalent function. This changes the flow by changing the current point of execution. The debugger controls the child program and can alter the child's register contents. The above is achieved by altering the instruction pointer of the child program.
The second technique involving the instruction pointer also has disadvantages. Perhaps most critically, this second technique relies on manual intervention on the part of the programmer each time the program's flow is to be altered. Thus, the technique can often be impractical if the location at which the flow needs to be changed is called very frequently. As an example, consider a code location that is called 1000 times, which is not unlikely for a computer program. To achieve the effect of the altered flow, the programmer needs to perform the manual steps 1000 times. This phenomenon arises regardless of whether the flow needs to be altered in a loop, or in a method that is called very frequently. Needless to say, this approach soon becomes impractical in such situations.
Consequently, a need clearly exists for an improved manner of altering the execution flow of computer programs.

Altering execution flow of a computer program

International Business Machines Corporation


A unit for grouping packages along a transfer path includes an input station receiving the packages arranged in longitudinal lines parallel to the transfer path; an output station for groups defined by a given number of packages from respective longitudinal lines and aligned in at least one line crosswise to the transfer path; a movable conveying surface, which is fed at predetermined time intervals with a number of packages equal to that of each group, and feeds the packages along the transfer path; and at least one movable member, which is fed cyclically along an operating path having at least one portion parallel to the transfer path, and has an aligning surface, against which, at each cycle, the packages in each group upstream from the movable member come to rest and are aligned in at least one line crosswise to the transfer path; the movable member also has a push surface which, at each cycle, acts on each group of packages downstream from the movable member to push the group out of the unit.

As is known, many pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterilized sheet packaging material.
A typical example of this type of package is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by folding and sealing laminated strip packaging material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a layer of fibrous material, e.g. paper, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk, the packaging material comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. aluminium foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material eventually forming the inner face of the package contacting the food product.
As is known, packages of this sort are produced on fully automatic packaging lines, on which a continuous tube is formed from the web-fed packaging material; the web of packaging material is sterilized, e.g. by applying a chemical sterilizing agent such as a hydrogen peroxide solution, which is subsequently removed from the surfaces of the packaging material, e.g. evaporated by heating; and the web of packaging material so sterilized is maintained in a closed, sterile environment, and is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a vertical tube.
The tube is filled with the sterilized or sterile-processed food product, and is sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced cross sections to form pillow packs, which are folded mechanically to form respective finished, e.g. substantially parallelepiped-shaped, packages.
Alternatively, the packaging material may be cut into blanks, which are formed into packages on forming spindles, and the packages are filled with the food product and sealed. One example of this type of package is the so-called "gable-top" package known by the trade name Tetra Rex (registered trademark).
In both the above cases, the finished packages are fed successively to a grouping unit, where they are formed into separate groups of a given number, which are eventually packed in packing material, e.g. cardboard or plastic film, to form respective packs for transport to retailers.
More specifically, the packages are fed to the grouping unit in lines parallel to the travelling direction, and are temporarily accumulated at a receiving station; a predetermined number of packages at the receiving station are then fed onto a conveyor for transfer to an output station. Along the path defined by the conveyor, the packages in each group are aligned into one or more lines crosswise to the travelling direction, and are then pushed to the output station, where they are packed in packing material to form a relative pack.
One example of a known grouping unit, suitable for grouping plastic bottles, is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,064.
More specifically, the above unit substantially comprises a continuous belt conveyor having a straight flat conveying branch, onto which the bottles are fed, at predetermined time intervals and in groups of a predetermined number, for transfer to a downstream packing station, where each group of bottles so formed in packed for delivery to retailers.
As they are fed to the packing station, the bottles in each group are first aligned into a specific configuration, and are then pushed, in that configuration, into the packing station. This is done by means of two separate mechanisms—an aligning mechanism and a push mechanism—arranged in succession in the travelling direction of the bottles.
The aligning mechanism is located over the conveyor, and comprises a number of aligning bars extending crosswise to the travelling direction of the bottles, and which are fed by a chain drive device along an endless path having a portion facing and parallel to the conveying branch of the conveyor.
Each group of bottles fed onto the conveyor comes to rest against a relative downstream aligning bar travelling slower than the conveyor.
The aligning bars therefore provide for slowing the bottles down slightly with respect to the speed of the conveyor, so as to compact the bottles in the travelling direction and align them into one or more lines crosswise to the travelling direction. The aligning bars also prevent the bottles from toppling over on the conveyor.
The push mechanism is located over the conveyor and downstream from the aligning mechanism in the travelling direction of the bottles, and, like the aligning mechanism, comprises a number of push bars extending crosswise to the travelling direction of the bottles, and which are fed by a further chain drive device along an endless path having a portion facing and parallel to the conveying branch of the conveyor.
Where the aligning bars release the relative groups of bottles, each push bar interacts with the upstream side of the bottles in each group to push the group to the packing station at the same speed as the conveyor.
Known units of the type described above have a relatively large number of moving parts, which means complex setting and timing procedures and relatively high maintenance costs, and are also of considerable bulk.


System and method for sterilization, using UV light source(s), of products, e.g., polymer-based products, whether positioned within or external to their packaging, using monochromatic, continuous wave, high-intensity, incoherent light in single and/or multiple light source configurations. The treatment system(s) and method(s) may be used for sterilization of alternative products, including, for example, food products such as meat and poultry, enteral and/or parenteral solutions and systems, and the like.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure is directed to system(s) and method(s) for sterilization of products and/or systems using UV light source(s). More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to system(s) and method(s) for sterilization of polymer-based products, whether positioned within or external to their packaging, using monochromatic, continuous wave, high-intensity, incoherent light in single and/or multiple light source configurations. The disclosed treatment system(s) and method(s) advantageously preserve physical and performance properties of the product/system while achieving a desired level of sterilization. The disclosed treatment system(s) and method(s) may be used for sterilization of alternative products, including, for example, food products such as meat and poultry, enteral and/or parenteral solutions and systems, and the like.
2. Background Art
Sterilization is generally defined as the complete destruction of all organisms, including a large number of highly resistant bacterial endospores. A host of sterilization techniques have been developed to address specific sterilization needs. Typical sterilization techniques include the use of moist heat from a steam autoclave, ethylene oxide gas sterilizing techniques, dry heat techniques, and newer chemical sterilizers.
Steam sterilization is widely used and is generally viewed as relatively cost-effective sterilization technique. The use of steam sterilization techniques employing an autoclave is recognized as an efficient, simple, and relatively cost-effective approach for destroying all relevant organisms. However, certain components (e.g., medical device/instrumentation components and accessories) cannot endure the extremes of heat and pressure. For example, steam and pressure are known to damage rubber, Lexan® plastic components, and other synthetic materials, and the use of a steam autoclave for any anesthesia equipment is generally not recommended, unless the treatment method is specifically recommended by the manufacturer.
Ethylene oxide is acceptable for many materials used in manufacturing medical devices and the like, including the reusable components of anesthesia machines, ventilators, and monitors. However, it is generally inappropriate to place these entire systems in an ethylene oxide chamber. In addition, polystyrene component parts cannot be exposed to ethylene oxide gas. Ethylene oxide sterilization employs a powerful poisonous fumigant gas, and therefore mandates an appropriate means of aeration to remove all traces of residual gas. Workers exposed to ethylene oxide are required to comply with all procedures specified by OSHA and the EPA. Alternative chemical treatment techniques include the use of hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid with buffers and low heat.
More recently, a sterilization technique was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,598 to Clark et al., entitled "Sterilization of Packages and Their Contents Using High-Intensity, Short-Duration Pulses of Incoherent, Polychromatic Light in a Broad Spectrum." As noted in the title, the Clark '598 patent involves the use of high-intensity, short-duration pulses of incoherent, polychromatic light in a broad spectrum to sterilize product containers and deactivate microorganisms therein. The Clark '598 proposes "the deactivation of microorganisms within parenteral and/or enteral solutions and packages or within contact lens solutions and packages and/or ophthalmic solutions and packages." [See col. 1, lines 11–20.] The use of short-duration pulses of incoherent, polychromatic light in a broad spectrum, as disclosed in the Clark '598 patent, is believed to be ineffective and/or unacceptable for at least some aspects of the proposed applications.
Despite efforts to date, a need remains for system(s) and/or method(s) for use in sterilizing polymer-based product(s), whether positioned within or external to their packaging, wherein such treatment regimen achieves a desired sterilization level without negatively affecting the physical properties and/or the efficacy of the underlying polymer-based product(s). A need also exists for system(s) and/or method(s) for use in sterilizing alternative products (e.g., food products such as meat and poultry, enteral and/or parenteral solutions and systems, and the like), whether positioned within or external to their packaging, wherein such treatment regimen achieves a desired sterilization level without negatively affecting the physical properties and/or the efficacy of the underlying product(s).
These and other objectives are satisfied according to the present disclosure wherein sterilization is achieved using monochromatic, continuous wave, high-intensity, incoherent light in single and/or multiple light source configurations. The disclosed treatment system(s) and method(s) advantageously achieve a desired sterilization level without negatively affecting the physical properties and/or the efficacy of the underlying product(s). These and other features/functionalities will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from the detailed description which follows.

System and method for product sterilization using UV light source


Chewing gum bases having flavorants dispersed in a matrix formed with gum base elastomer solvents under conditions of flash flow are disclosed. Chewing gum compositions containing the gum base display prolonged flavor release due to the tendency of the cud to release flavorants during chewing.

The present invention is directed to a method of engineering chewing gum compositions to predictably release flavorants in the oral cavity. In particular, the present invention is directed to chewing gum bases which optimize the organoleptic characteristics of the chewing gum compositions during chewing.
In the art of gum making, it is well known that chewing gum compositions contain two primary components: water-soluble materials, principally the flavor and sweetener ingredients, and water-insoluble gum base materials made up of elastomers, resins, elastomer solvents, plasticizers and the like. The water-soluble materials are released to a certain extent during chewing to provide the organoleptic sensations of flavor and/or sweetness in the oral cavity, while the water-insoluble component remains in the oral cavity during chewing as a cud.
A commonly noted deficiency in all chewing gums has been the relatively rapid exhaustion of the flavor and/or sweetness during chewing. Over the years, there has been considerable investigation and experimentation directed to prolonging flavor/sweetness sensations during the chewing of the gum product. The perceived flavor characteristics of a chewing gum composition are not necessarily proportional to the amount of flavoring materials included in the gum composition since a significant portion of the gum flavorants become bound up and enmeshed within the chewing gum cud.
Many schemes have been attempted to overcome the peculiar characteristic of rapid flavor exhaustion known in the gum art. For example, a myriad of flavor and/or sweetener delivery systems has been proposed to prolong organoleptic sensations. Increasing and/or decreasing the amount of one or more of the ingredients as well as encapsulating flavorants in various substances have all been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,847 discloses encapsulating flavor oils in polyvinyl acetates. Once encapsulated, the flavor oils are incorporated into a chewing gum base and finally, the gum product. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,849 discloses extending flavor release by encapsulating a portion of the flavorants prior to addition to the gum base.
In spite of the contributions discussed above, a need still exists in the art of gum making for extending the flavor release of gum compositions.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide chewing gum compositions having extended flavor release characteristics.
It is a further object of the present invention to enable the chewing gum artisan to more accurately engineer and predict the flavor and/or sweetness patterns of gum compositions.
Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Delivery systems containing elastomer solvents subjected to flash flow


An electronic endoscope system comprises an insertional part at least part of whose armor is a conductor, an imaging unit incorporated in the insertional part and realized with a solid-state imaging device, a signal transmitting device for transmitting an electric signal that results from photoelectric conversion performed by the solid-state imaging device, and a signal processor for transforming an electric signal transmitted by the signal transmitting device into a video signal. The conductor serving as the armor of the insertional part is electrically isolated from the imaging unit, signal transmitting device, signal processor, and around.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system in which a solid-state imaging device is used as an imaging means and incorporated in an insertional part.
2. Description of the Related Art:
In recent years, an endoscope, of which elongated insertional part is inserted in a body cavity in order to observe an organ, or if necessary, of which therapeutic instrument channel is used to insert a therapeutic instrument for undertaking various kinds of therapy and treatment, has been adopted widely.
This kind of endoscope includes an electronic endoscope in which a solid-state imaging device such as a charge coupled device (hereinafter CCD) is used as an imaging means.
In the electronic endoscope, an optical image of an object is formed on an imaging surface of a solid-state imaging device via an objective optical system, the optical image formed on the imaging surface is converted into an electric signal, and then the electric signal resulting from photoelectric conversion is transmitted to a signal processing means by way of an electric signal transmitting means.
The signal processing means transforms the electric signal into a video signal. The video signal is then transmitted to a monitor unit, whereby the optical image of the object is displayed on a screen of the monitor unit for the purpose of observation.
When the electronic endoscope is used in combination with an external unit, for example, an electric equipment such as a high-frequency therapeutic instrument, a high-frequency noise radiating from the high-frequency therapeutic instrument is liable to mix with an electric signal that results from photoelectric conversion performed by the solid-state imaging device and is transmitted to the signal processing means. When the high-frequency noise mixes with an electric signal being transmitted to the signal processing means, the quality of an endoscopic image appearing on a screen of the monitor unit deteriorates markedly.
In an effort to prevent a noise from mixing with an electric signal, which results from photoelectric conversion performed by a solid-state imaging device, due to the use of an electric equipment in combination with an electronic endoscope having the solid-state imaging device, a conducting member is used as an armor of an insertional part of an endoscope. The conducting member is grounded via a ground in a signal processing means and thus shielded. Moreover, an isolation means is used to isolate the signal processing means from an external power supply means for supplying power to the signal processing means.
However, if the isolation between the signal processing means and external power supply means should become defective, there is a possibility that the conducting member serving as the armor of the insertional part of the electronic endoscope may conduct electricity to a ground in the power supply means. In the state in which the conducting member of the insertional part is conducting electricity to the ground, if a high-frequency therapeutic instrument is used, high-frequency current flows from the high-frequency therapeutic instrument to the conducting member serving as the armor of the insertional part of the electronic endoscope and realizing a shield. This causes high-frequency current to flow from the ground in the signal processing means toward the ground in the power supply means. At this time, if the conducting member serving as the armor of the insertional part is situated inside a body cavity, an unexpected burn may occur at a position in the body cavity near the conducting member.
In an electronic endoscope, a printed-circuit board on which an IC and other circuit elements are mounted and which realizes a signal processor is situated in the vicinity of a solid-state imaging device in order to process a signal acquired by the solid-state imaging device. For improving an signal-to-noise ratio, the printed-circuit board should be located near the solid-state imaging device. However, when an attempt is made to install both the solid-state imaging device and printed-circuit board in a distal portion of the endoscope, the distal portion must be made longer. This degrades the smoothness in inserting the endoscope into a body cavity.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-250608 has disclosed an art in which a solid-state imaging device is incorporated in a first rigid unit in a distal portion of an insertional part, and a signal processor is incorporated in a second rigid unit situated in a proximal portion of the insertional part away from the first rigid unit.
In the signal processor disclosed in the unexamined publication, as shown in FIG. 1, center conductors 302 of signal cables 301 that are coaxial cables are attached to terminals 304 formed on a signal processor printed-circuit board 303 by performing soldering or the like. Outer conductors (shielded cables) 306 of the signal cables 301 are immobilized all together using a copper wire 307 and soldered to a conductive holder 305 to which the signal processor printed-circuit board 303 is fixed closely. Thus, the potentials at all the outer conductors 306 and holder 305 are equalized. This helps further stabilize shielding.
The terminals 304 are printed on the front side of the printed-circuit board 303, and extending to the end of the printed-circuit board for reasons of processing. The terminals 304 and outer conductors 306 may approach too closely each other at a junction 308 between the holder 305 and printed-circuit board 303 and then conduct electricity. If the terminals 304 and outer conductors 306 should conduct electricity, not only imaging is disabled but also a solid-state imaging device or signal processor is destroyed.
When an attempt is made to locate all the terminals 304 at substantially the same position, signal lines for inputting or outputting a video signal must be laid out over a longer distance. Electric noises originating from other terminals including a power supply terminal and other signal lines are liable to mix with a video signal. This results in deteriorated image quality.
When a solid-state imaging device and signal processor are separated from each other and linked by signal lines, the signal lines may distribute noises or may be susceptible to external noises. In the aforesaid structure, it is therefore requested to shorten the length of a distal rigid unit and improve shielding capability.
The solid-state imaging device incorporated in the first rigid unit is linked to the signal processor incorporated in the second rigid unit by signal lines that are routed through, for example, a bending section communicating the first rigid unit with the second rigid unit. When the bending section is angled, pulling force or compressing force works on the signal lines. This may cause a disconnection at a junction between the signal lines and solid-state imaging device or between the signal lines and signal processor.
Some of signals transferred between the solid-state imaging device and signal processing means are transmitted via the signal processor, while the others thereof are transmitted directly. In the structure in which the solid-state imaging device and signal processor are separated from each other, no consideration is taken into the signal lines directly linking the imaging device and signal processing means.
In an electronic endoscope, generally, not only an imaging unit but also a therapeutic instrument channel through which a light guide for transmitting illumination light or a therapeutic instrument is routed, and an aeration/affusion channel are formed in a distal portion. Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 60-9041 has disclosed an art in which a light guide is installed so that the light guide can lie along the circumference of an imaging unit situated in a distal portion of an electronic endoscope. This structure contributes to an increase in amount of illumination light.
When the art disclosed in the utility model publication is adapted to an electronic endoscope, any of wires constituting the light guide may be broken. This results in a decreased amount of emitted light. In an effort to prevent the decrease in amount of emitted light, the light guide wires to be routed along the circumference of the imaging unit and extended toward the optimal portion of the endoscope are sheathed with a silicon tube or the like and thus bundled at the back end of the imaging unit in the distal portion of the endoscope distal to the bending section.
However, as shown in FIG. 2, when a light guide 313 lying along the circumference of an imaging unit 312 incorporated in a distal structure 311 of an endoscope 310 is extended toward the proximal portion of the endoscope, the portion of the endoscope sheathed with a silicon tube 317 is sandwiched between a junction 315, at which the distal structure 311 is joined with the distal end of a bending section 314, and a signal cable 316 extending from the imaging unit 312 because of a narrow space A between the junction 315 and the signal cable 316. In this situation, if angling is repeated, any of the wires constituting the light guide located near the silicon tube in the space A may be broken.
For preventing the light guide 313 from being broken in the distal structure, it is essential to widen the space A between the junction 315 and signal cable 316. If the outer diameter of the distal structure 311 is made larger in order to ensure a wide space, it contradicts the concept that the diameter of an insertional part of an endoscope is decreased in an effort to alleviate patient discomfort occurring at the time of inserting the insertional part into a body cavity.

Electronic endoscope having an insertional portion a part of which is a conductive armor


Provided is an electric drive device capable of achieving redundant supply of power from outside and achieving downsizing. An electric drive device, including: a motor; a controller configured to control driving of the motor; and a power supply connector electrically connected to the controller, the power supply connector including: a power supply connector housing; and a first power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal, which are provided in the power supply connector housing and electrically connected to separate external power sources, respectively.

Hitherto, there has been known an electric power steering device including a motor, a controller configured to control driving of the motor, and two power supply connectors electrically connected to the controller and electrically connected to separate external power sources, respectively. The electric power steering device achieves redundant supply of power from outside (for example, see Patent Literature 1).


A speed reducer of the cycloidal type for robots and other industrial manipulators which includes actuation fingers introduced in openings of toothed cams controlled by rotating eccentrics. Each actuation finger is formed by a roller bearing having an inner ring mounted about a pin with clearance to thereby allow self-centering of an outer ring of each roller bearing in its respective opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to speed reducers adapted to ensure angular actuation of the movable members of robots, industrial manipulators, rotary machining plates and other like applications.
2. History of the Related Art
It is known that, in this type of apparatus, there is provided for each movable member a kinematic chain comprising an input shaft driven by an autonomous motor and connected, via a speed reducer, to an output shaft secured to the movable member. As the speed of rotation of the input shaft is much higher than that desired for the output shaft, reducers of the cycloidal type are ordinarily employed.
It will be recalled that a conventional cycloidal reducer comprises in principle at least one eccentric (in fact, two opposite eccentrics are most often employed in order to obtain a better balancing of forces), which is connected to the input shaft with to ensure, by rotation, the control of a circular cam whose periphery is toothed in order to cooperate with fixed teeth. The number of fixed teeth is slightly greater (in practice by one unit) than that of the periphery of the cam. In addition, there is associated with the cam at least one actuation finger which is carried by a plate angularly connected to the output shaft and which is engaged inside a housing made in the cam (or, in the ordinary case of two parallel cams, in a housing defined by two conjugate openings of the two cams).
It will be understood that the primary motion applied by the input shaft to the eccentric causes the corresponding toothed cam to roll on the fixed outer teeth and thus to ensure, via the actuation fingers, drive of the output shaft in a ratio which depends on the number of teeth of the cam and on the difference of this number with respect to that of the fixed toothing, the cam backing by this difference for a revolution of the eccentric.
It will be readily appreciated that, for the correct functioning of such a cycloidal reduction system to be satisfactory, it is indispensable that all the parts of the mechanism be subjected to very precise machining completed by a careful finish or a pairing of the elements at assembly, which obviously increases, very substantially, the cost price of the speed reducer assembly.

Speed reducer of the cycloidal type for robots and other industrial manipulators


A memory cell having first and second access transistors coupled to a storage transistor is disclosed. During a write 0 operation, a degraded logic 0 is written into the memory cell. By storing a degraded logic 0, the leakage current is reduced.

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits. More particularly, the invention relates to reducing leakage current in integrated circuits.
Integrated circuits (ICs) such as digital signal processors (DSPs) include on-chip memory to store information. The on-chip memory typically comprises, for example, an array of static random access memory (SRAM) cells connected by word lines in one direction and bit lines in another direction. The information stored in the SRAM cells are maintained until power is removed from the IC. Sense amplifiers are coupled to the bit lines to facilitate memory accesses, such as reads or writes. A sense amplifier is coupled to a pair of bit lines and senses a differential voltage indicative of the information stored in the selected memory cell on the bit line pair.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional SRAM cell 101. The SRAM cell comprises first and second transistors 110 and 120 coupled to a latch 130, which stores a bit of information. One transistor is coupled to a bit line 140 and the other is coupled to a bit line complement 141 while the gates are coupled to a word line 135. The latch includes first and second inverters 133 and 134, each implemented with two transistors. As such, the SRAM cell is realized using six transistors.
Smaller SRAM cells using less than six transistors have been proposed to reduce chip size. However, the charge stored in such cells dissipates overtime. In order to restore the information stored in the cell, a refresh operation is required. Typically, refreshing of memory cells interrupt the normal operation, adversely impacting performance.
As evidenced from the above discussion, it is desirable to provide a memory cell with reduced leakage current in order to improve retention time.
The present invention relates generally to memory cells. More particularly, the invention relates to improving retention time in memory cells. In one embodiment, the memory cell comprises first and second access transistors coupled to respective first and second terminals of a storage transistor. Bit lines are coupled to first terminals of the access transistors and word lines are coupled to the gates of the access transistors. In one embodiment, a degraded logic 0 is written to the memory cell during a write 0, causing the memory cell to store a degraded logic 0. Storing a degraded logic 0 in the memory cell reduces leakage current.

Retention time of memory cells by reducing leakage current


A new image board with detachable and interchangeable accessories kit for allowing a user to create an imaginative, novel, three-dimensional work of art. The inventive device includes a card member with an image displayed on an image surface and a plurality of circular perforation sets extending through the card member such that the tearing out of a circular perforation set forms an accessory aperture through the card member. A plurality of accessory members for mounting to the card member image surface are provided. Each accessory member has a mounting portion for extending through an accessory aperture for mounting the accessory member to the card member image surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to entertainment kits with interchangeable parts and more particularly pertains to a new image board with detachable and interchangeable accessories kit for allowing a user to create an imaginative, novel, three-dimensional work of art.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of entertainment kits with interchangeable parts is known in the prior art. More specifically, entertainment kits with interchangeable parts heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art entertainment kits with interchangeable parts include U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,573; U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,689; U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,604; U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,400; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 361,733; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,352.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new image board with detachable and interchangeable accessories kit. The inventive device includes a card member with an image displayed on an image surface and a plurality of concentric perforation sets extending through the card member such that the tearing out of a concentric perforation set forms an accessory aperture through the card member. A plurality of accessory members for mounting to the card member image surface are provided. Each accessory member has a mounting portion for extending through an accessory aperture for mounting the accessory member to the card member image surface.
In these respects, the image board with detachable and interchangeable accessories kit according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a user to create an imaginative, novel, three-dimensional work of art.

Image board with detachable and interchangeable accessories kit


A method and apparatus for depositing precisely metered quantities of an emulsion on a surface are disclosed. The method and apparatus are particularly useful for assembly of reversible clinical thermometers. The apparatus involves (a) at least one cartridge having a volume containing the emulsion composition; (b) at least one piston associated with each cartridge for collapsing the volume under a controlled pressure; (c) at least one tubular needle for receiving a flow of emulsion composition from each cartridge; (d) a fluid connection between each tubular needle and each cartridge for delivering the emulsion composition from each cartridge to each needle; and (e) a valve for each fluid connection. The method for depositing precisely metered quantities of an emulsion on a surface, comprising the steps of (a) pressuring a cartridge having a volume containing the emulsion composition to cause flow of the composition from the cartridge; (b) controlling the pace of flow of the composition at a valve; (c) delivering the composition from the valve through a fluid connection to tubular needle; and (d) contacting a dollop of the composition protruding from an open end of the needle on to the surface.

Modern productivity requires automation of assembly whenever possible. In some devices, automation is essential for reproducible results. Modem thermometry or other quantifiable properties requires reproducibility for consistent standards.
Over the last 20 years, clinical thermometry has developed single-use, handheld thermometers that use precise quantities of different compositions of solid solutions of two thermally responsive materials in a plurality of cavities on a single strip of laminated material, each composition in each cavity alterable at a different temperature. The precision of the different compositions responsive to the different temperatures has permitted these chemical thermometers to be truly qualified as clinical devices.
A number of patents describe the advances made to this field of clinical thermometry. Among these patents are those issued to Hof et al. such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,232,552; 4,299,727; 4,345,470; and 4,397,570, which describe improvements to the temperature indicating compositions of matter, the all-plastic construction of the thermometer, and the like.
Automated assembly of the clinical thermometer reduces costs, improves productivity, improves quality assurance, and provides other benefits. In the assembly of a clinical thermometer where as many as 45 different compositions are being deposited in 45 separate cavities on the thermometer surface, precise metering and delivery of the compositions to the cavities, in registration, is essential for productive assembly of the clinical thermometers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,779 (Pickett et al.) discloses a method and apparatus for depositing precisely metered quantities of liquid on a surface, particularly temperature indicating compositions of matter on to the surface of a clinical thermometer. The method and apparatus disclosed in Pickett et al. has formed a basis for the construction of automated machinery to meter and deliver 45 different compositions to the 45 cavities for detecting temperatures ranging from 96.0.degree. F. to 104.8.degree. F. (35.5.degree. C. to 40.4.degree. C.). The Pickett et al. apparatus relies on a gravity feed of a composition that is a liquid at the temperature at which it is metered and delivered, yet a solid at ambient temperature.
Clinical thermometry has enjoyed the advances disclosed by the Hof et al. patents and the Pickett et al. patent because the thermometers can be precisely manufactured inexpensively and because the inexpensive clinical thermometers can be disposed of after a single use. The clinical thermometer can be taken, then the instrument disposed to avoid the transmission of viruses, bacteria, and other germs that unfortunately plague reusable thermometer devices.
Clinical thermometry also is benefitting from advances in the nature of the temperature indicating compositions of matter whereby the amount of energy and time needed to reverse the "firing" of one of the compositions in one of the cavities from freezing temperatures overnight to room temperatures for a few hours. Some of these new reversible thermometer compositions employ an emulsion of a thermally responsive material, means for observing a change in state of the material such as a dye, and a matrix forming material in which the thermally responsive material is dispersed. Reversible thermometer compositions of this type are disclosed in European Patent Publication 0 684 463 (A1) (Hof). The viscosity of the emulsion is considerably greater than the viscosity of the mixtures disclosed in the Hof et al. patents. Thus, the apparatus disclosed in the Pickett et al. patent that relies on liquid delivery of the compositions to the cavities is inadequate for automated assembly of the reversible clinical thermometers.

Apparatus for depositing precisely metered quantities of an emulsion on a surface