Disclosed is a light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting cells and a package having the same mounted thereon. The light emitting device includes a plurality of light emitting cells which are formed on a substrate and each of which has an N-type semiconductor layer and a P-type semiconductor layer located on a portion of the N-type semiconductor layer. The plurality of light emitting cells are bonded to a submount substrate. Accordingly, heat generated from the light emitting cells can be easily dissipated, so that a thermal load on the light emitting device can be reduced. Meanwhile, since the plurality of light emitting cells are electrically connected using connection electrodes or electrode layers formed on the submount substrate, it is possible to provide light emitting cell arrays connected to each other in series. Further, it is possible to provide a light emitting device capable of being directly driven by an AC power source by connecting the serially connected light emitting cell arrays in reverse parallel to each other.

A light emitting diode is an electroluminescence device having a structure in which an n-type semiconductor of which major carriers are electrons and a p-type semi-conductor of which major carriers are holes are joined together, and emits predetermined light through recombination of these electrons and holes. Such light emitting diodes are used as display devices and backlights, and their application area has expanded to the use thereof for general illumination while substituting the conventional incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps.
A light emitting diode consumes less electric power and has a longer service life as compared with conventional light bulbs or fluorescent lamps. The electric power consumption of a light emitting diode is less than a few tenth to a few hundredth of those of conventional illumination devices, and the life span thereof is several to several ten times, thereby having reduced electric power consumption and excellent durability.
To use such light emitting diodes for illumination, it is necessary to effectively dissipate heat produced from light emitting devices to the outside. Accordingly, interest in flip-chip type light emitting devices capable of effectively dissipating heat produced from the light emitting devices to the outside is increasing.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional flip-chip type light emitting device 20.
Referring to FIG. 1, first and second electrodes 12 and 14 are formed on a predetermined substrate 10, e.g., a submount substrate or a lead frame, and solders 22 and 24 are formed on these electrodes. Then, a light emitting device 20 is bonded on the substrate 10. At this time, a P-type semiconductor layer and an N-type semiconductor layer of the light emitting device 20 are bonded to the respective solders. Thereafter, the substrate 10 with the light emitting device 20 bonded thereon is encapsulated.
Such conventional flip-chip type light emitting devices have higher heat dissipation efficiency as compared with other light emitting devices using bonding wires, and have improved optical efficiency because little light is shielded. Further, the flip-chip type light emitting devices have an advantage in that their packages can be compacted because they do not use bonding wires.
However, since such a light emitting device is repeatedly turned on and off depending on the phase of an AC power source, there is a problem in that the light emitting device may be easily damaged. Accordingly, it is difficult to use a light emitting device for the purpose of general illumination by connecting it directly to a household AC power source.

Light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting cells and package mounting the same


A global and local binary pattern image crack segmentation method based on robot vision comprises the following steps: enhancing a contrast of an acquired original image to obtain an enhanced map; using an improved local binary pattern detection algorithm to process the enhanced map and construct a saliency map; using the enhanced map and the saliency map to segment cracks and obtaining a global and local binary pattern automatic crack segmentation method; and evaluating performance of the obtained global and local binary pattern automatic crack segmentation method. The present application uses logarithmic transformation to enhance the contrast of a crack image, so that information of dark parts of the cracks is richer. Texture features of a rotation invariant local binary pattern are improved. Global information of four directions is integrated, and the law of universal gravitation and gray and roundness features are introduced to correct crack segmentation results, thereby improving segmentation accuracy. Crack regions can be segmented in the background of uneven illumination and complex textures. The method has good robustness and meets requirements of online detection.

In a traditional image crack segmentation method, the uneven degree of cracks, the contrast difference between the surrounding background and cracks, shadows and other interference will all have a great impact on image crack segmentation results. Moreover, a traditional crack detection method is mainly manual detection, wherein cracks are observed with naked eyes and the efficiency is low. With the development of science and technology, robot vision technology is slowly replacing the traditional vision technology. Robot vision is a system integrating computer, machinery, sensing technology, information processing technology, image processing technology and other technologies. At present, most intelligent robots have a visual acquisition function, and can realize operations such as matching and processing of collected images. If the robot vision technology can be applied to crack segmentation field, it will greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy of image crack segmentation. Moreover, for some special occasions, such as underwater work, robot vision can better replace manual detection. However, in the prior art, an image crack segmentation method based on robot vision is still immature and cannot completely overcome defects of traditional crack segmentation methods.

Global and local binary pattern image crack segmentation method based on robot vision

Zhongkai University of Agriculture Engineering

Guangzhou Guangjian Construction Engineering Testing Center Co., Ltd.

GuangZhou Cheng'an Testing LTD. of Highway & Bridge


Painter's tape has an adhesive portion that covers said tape's partial or entire width on only one of its two opposing flat surfaces, an absorbent material layer across all or at least a portion of said width, and a layer of non-porous barrier film covering said absorbent material layer to prevent a passage of paint (fluids).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to painting tools and to an edge paint tape having an improved absorbent barrier edge.
2. Description of the Related Art
To achieve a clean, finished look, painters edge with paint before they use rollers, the process of "blocking out" or "edging" generally includes the steps of shielding window panes and corner edges with masking tape, running a putty knife along the inner edge of the tape, applying paint with an edging brush, and allowing the paint to dry before removing the tape. The tape is sealed to prevent paint from oozing outwards onto the panes, the windows and the door frames.
A variety of specialty apparatus is designed for controlling the application of paint to edges, corners, or like margins. These devices have drawbacks that tend to fall into three major categories: (1) are hand-held fixed edger devices that demarcate between those surfaces not and to be painted; (2) are disposable adhesive coverings that dispense from rolls and adhere to edging areas; and (3) are paint applicators that comprise an edging or a guide means thereon. A fourth, novel type is described in a U.S. Ser. No. 11/334,065, the parent application to this filing, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,622,003, in which a fixed edger device is provided with an absorbent tape attached to the edging surface.
A disadvantage to fixed edgers without absorbent tape attached is that the technology still fails to provide clean, efficient edging. A disadvantage of the disposable coverings is that oozing still occurs. A disadvantage to the paint applicators is that they generally fail to provide a painted edge along a very exact locus.
There is still yet a long-felt need for a product that provides the high quality appearance sought for painted surfaces. The present invention improves on disposable coverings: it is masking tape having an improved barrier edge. A search of the prior art did not reveal any patents that read directly on claims of the instant invention; however, the following references are considered related: U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,255 to Sorenson teaches a "paint edger with improved pad and precision positioning adjustment" wherein a plurality of paint pad accessories disclosed therein include foam, porosity, and/or sponge-like pads to prevent spillage, through which paint flows through at a very slow speed; U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,203 to LaBelle discloses a "paint edger for the application of paint" having a cutout for easy removal of a reticulated plastic foam paint pad; and U.S. Publication 2005/0118345 to Burghoffer teaches a "paint edger," wherein applicator pads are separated so that each may be used simultaneously and independently of the other to apply a different color paint to each of two intersecting surfaces. One or more applicator pads co-act with a separator guide blade to enable applying different surface coatings to intersecting surfaces.
The present invention improves on disposable coverings. A roll or strips of adhesive tape are adhered along edges, borders, panes and panels or actual paint edgers or tools prior to painting; however, the improved tape comprises an integral absorbent material portion along its length to further prevent oozing.

Painter's tape with improved absorbent barrier edge


Penile implant devices and methods are disclosed. A penile implant device in accordance with the present invention includes an implantable penile prosthesis pre-connected to a needle by a suture. The needle and suture may also be at least partially enclosed in a sheath or the like. In accordance with the present invention, a penile prosthesis is connected to a needle by a suture during a pre-operative storage period of the penile implant device. For example, the penile prosthesis may be connected to the needle during manufacture of the penile implant device.

One common treatment for impotence includes the use of a penile implant device. The penile implant device normally includes a pair of cylindrical prostheses that are implanted into the corpus cavernosae of the penis. In some instances, the prostheses are inflatable and are connected to a fluid-filled reservoir with a pump and valve assembly. In one configuration, for example, the pump assembly is implanted into the scrotum of the patient, and the reservoir is implanted in the abdomen. During use, the patient actuates the pump and fluid is transferred from the reservoir through the pump and into the prosthesis. This results in the inflation of the prosthesis and produces rigidity for a normal erection. When the patient desires to deflate the prosthesis, a valve assembly within the pump is actuated in a manner such that the fluid in the prosthesis is released back into the reservoir. This deflation returns the penis to a flaccid state.
Such penile implant devices require a delicate implant surgery to install. To reach a corpus cavernosa and implant a prosthesis, the surgeon first makes an incision at the base of the penis, such as where it meets the scrotum. The patient is prepared for the prosthesis after the surgeon has dilated each corpus cavernosa to create space for the prosthesis.
Once the patient has been prepared, the surgeon prepares an assembly that includes a cylindrical prosthesis and an inserter device known as a Furlow insertion tool. The Furlow insertion tool is well known in the art of such penile implants and is often used for this type of procedure. A Furlow insertion tool is a long slender device having a hollow barrel that contains a plunger device known as an obturator. The Furlow insertion tool can be used to insert a needle known as a Keith needle, into the corpus cavernosa, and through the glans of the penis. The Keith needle is also a well-known tool used in many areas of medicine that looks much like a heavy sewing needle and is used to pierce tissue. The Keith needle fits within the barrel of the Furlow insertion tool and is ejected from the forward end by using the obturator.
Prior to installing each prosthesis of a penile implant device, a surgeon must carefully attach a Keith needle to a suture that is also attached to one end of a cylindrical prosthesis. This threading procedure can be cumbersome and time consuming and may increase the time of the surgical procedure.
After the surgeon threads the needle with the suture, the surgeon places the Keith needle in the Furlow insertion tool and uses the Furlow insertion tool to place the Keith needle and the suture into the corpus cavernosa and then through the glans, by use of the Keith needle to puncture the glans. The needle and suture are then used to apply traction to the cylinder and draw the prosthesis into the corpus cavernosa. Threading the suture into the Keith needle must be done carefully because any kinks in the suture can make it difficult to thread the suture and needle into the Furlow insertion tool.
To install each prosthesis, the threaded Keith needle is placed in the Furlow insertion tool, and the Furlow insertion tool is advanced into the corpus cavernosa until the forward end is inside the crown of the penis, or glans. At this point, the prosthesis and part of the suture attached to the prosthesis remain outside of the body of the patient. The Keith needle is then forced out of the barrel of the Furlow insertion tool, by applying pressure to the obturator. The Keith needle pierces the glans of the penis, and the surgeon grasps the Keith needle from outside of the body and pulls the needle and suture from the penis leaving the suture threaded though the corpus cavernosa. The Furlow insertion tool is then withdrawn from the penis. The suture is then pulled to draw the prosthesis into the incision and thus into the corpus cavernosa. Once the prosthesis is in place, the suture is removed. This procedure is usually performed to install one prosthesis in each corpus cavernosa. After implantation of the prosthesis, the incision at the base of the penis is closed and the hole in the glans from the Keith needle is permitted to close by healing.


A method of making a printed circuit board in which conductive thru-holes are formed within two dielectric layers of the board's structure so as to connect designated conductive layers. One hole connects two adjacent layers and the other connects two adjacent layers, including one of the conductive layers connected by the other hole. It is also possible to connect all three conductive layers using one or more holes. The resulting holes may be filled, e.g., with metal plating, or conductive or non-conductive paste. In the case of the latter, it is also possible to provide a top covering conductive layer over the paste, e.g., to serve as a pad or the like on the board's external surface.

In the manufacture of printed circuit boards, sometimes known as printed wiring boards, it has become commonplace to produce printed circuitry on both sides of a planar rigid or flexible insulating substrate. Of increased importance is the manufacture of multilayer printed circuits, the most common of boards sold today in view of increased operational demands for the products in which such boards are implemented. In these boards, the board typically consists of parallel, planar, alternating inner layers of insulating substrate material and conductive metal. The exposed outer sides of the laminated structure are provided with circuit patterns as with double-sided boards, and the metal inner layers typically contain circuit patterns, except in the case of internal power planes which are substantially solid, albeit also containing clearance openings or other openings if desired.
In double-sided and multilayer printed circuit boards, it is necessary to provide conductive interconnections between the various conductive layers or sides of the board. This is commonly achieved by providing metallized, conductive thru holes in the board which communicate with the sides and layers requiring electrical interconnection. For some applications, it is desired that electrical connection be made with almost if not all of the conductive layers. In such a case, thru-holes are also typically provided through the entire thickness of the board. For these, as well as other applications, it is often desired to also provide electrical connection between the circuitry on one face of the board and one or more of the inner circuit layers. In those cases, "blind vias", passing only part way through the board are provided. In still another case, such multilayered boards often require internal "vias" which are located entirely within the board's structure and covered by external layering, including both dielectric and conductive. Such internal "vias" are typically formed within a sub-part structure of the final board and then combined with other layers during final lamination of the board. For purposes of this application, the terms "conductive thru-hole" is meant to include both thru holes that pass entirely through the board (also referred to in the printed circuit field as plated thru holes or PTHs), "blind vias" which extend from an external surface of the board into a specified conductive layer of the board, as well as an "internal via" which is internal "captured" by the board's outer layers.
To provide the desired circuit pattern on the board, the art has developed a variety of manufacturing sequences, many of which fall into the broad categories of "subtractive" or "additive" techniques. Common to subtractive processes is the need to etch away (or subtract) metal to expose substrate surface in areas where no circuitry is desired. Additive processes, on the other hand, begin with exposed substrate surfaces (or thin commoning metallization layers for additive electroplate) and build up thereon of metallization in desired areas, the desired areas being those not masked by a previously-applied pattern of plating resist material (e.g., called photoresist in the printed circuit board field).
Typically, thru-holes are drilled (including mechanically or more recently using lasers) or punched into or through the board at desired locations. Drilling or punching provides newly-exposed surfaces including via barrel surfaces and via peripheral entry surfaces. The dielectric substrate, comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one exposed via hole surface, consisting partly or entirely of insulating material, is then metallized, generally by utilization of electroless metal depositing techniques, albeit other deposition processes are also known in the field.
In the manufacture of circuitized printed circuit boards, a dielectric sheet material is employed as the base component for the substrate. This base component typically is an organic material, such as fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin (also referred to in the field as, simply, "FR4"), polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon, a trademark of E.I. DuPont deNemours Company), Driclad (a trademark of Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc.), etc. Since the dielectric substrate is nonconductive, in order to plate on the substrate, the substrate is typically "seeded" and plating then occurs. Such processing is known in the field and further description is not believed necessary, except to add that known metals used for plating the dielectric barrel to form the thru holes include copper, nickel and gold.
Examples of methods of making boards, including providing same with such thru holes, are shown and described in the following U.S. Letters Patents:
6,015,520Method For Filling Holes in Printed Wiring Boards6,073,344Laser Segmentation of Plated Through-Hole SidewallsTo Form Multiple Conductors6,188,027Protection of a Plated Through Hole From Chemical Attack6,349,871Process For Reworking Circuit Boards6,493,861Interconnected Series of Plated Through Hole Vias andMethod of Fabrication Therefor6,626,196Arrangement and Method For Degassing Small-High AspectRatio Drilled Holes Prior To Wet Chemical Processing6,628,531Multi-Layer and User-Configurable Micro-PrintedCircuit Board6,630,630Multilayer Printed Wiring Board and Its ManufacturingMethod6,630,743Copper Plated PTH Barrels and Methods For Fabricating6,631,558Blind Via Laser Drilling System6,631,838Method For Fabricating Printed Circuit Board6,638,690Method For Producing Multi-Layer Circuits6,638,858Hole Metal-Filling Method
Additional examples of multilayered printed circuit boards are described and shown in the following published patents applications:
US 2002/0100613 A1Conductive Substructures Of A MultilayeredLaminateUS 2002/0108780 A1Multilayered LaminateUS 2002/0148637 A1High Performance Dense Wire For PrintedCircuit Board
The present invention represents a new and unique method of forming conductive thru holes in a printed circuit board in comparison to those above and other processes known in the art. It is believed that such a method, and the board resulting therefrom, will represent a significant advancement in the art.

Method of making multilayered printed circuit board with filled conductive holes


A fiber bundle comprising a plurality of composite fibers spun out of a spinneret is blown against a working net conveyor by a drawing force of a high-speed air stream while the air stream is sucked and removed from below the net conveyor to deposit the fiber bundle on the net conveyor to form a web, and the web is then heat-treated to develop crimps and the fibers thermally adhere together at their points of contact, thereby obtaining a nonwoven fabric, wherein the air stream is blown against the web from below the net conveyor for a time before the heat-treatment, with an intensity sufficient to make the web to float in such a manner that the bottom face of the web rise above the net conveyor by 0.2 to 30 mm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing bulky nonwoven fabrics. More specifically, this invention is concerned with a method for manufacturing bulky nonwoven fabrics suitable for surfacings for disposable diapers, interlinings or waddings for clothing and so on.
2. Statement of the Prior Art
In recent years, there have been developed spun bonding techniques for making nonwoven fabrics by drawing and stretching a fiber bundle comprising a plurality of single fibers spun out of a spinneret with a high-speed stream of air and depositing it on a net conveyor to form a web, followed by heat treatments, some of which have been carried out on an industrial scale. According to one of the spun bonding techniques known for obtaining bulky nonwoven fabrics (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1471/1973), for example, latently crimpable composite fibers are deposited on a net conveyor to form a web, which is then heat-treated into a crimped nonwoven fabric. According to another spun bonding technique (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 282350/1988), apparently crimping composite fibers are formed into a fiber bundle, which is then deposited on a net conveyor to form a web to be processed into an nonwoven fabric.
When a nonwoven fabric having little unevenness of weight per unit area referring as unit-weight hereafter is to be obtained by such spun bonding techniques, it is then required to prevent the once deposited web from being disturbed or blown off by a high-speed stream of air reflected off the upper face of the net conveyor. To this end, an exhaust device is provided back side of a region of the net conveyor against which the web is to be blown, thereby passing and sucking a substantially whole portion of the air stream through the net conveyor.
According to the conventional spun bonding techniques, the web is pressed against the net conveyor by the force of a high-speed air stream blown against it and the suction force of the exhaust device, as mentioned above. In consequence, the web is delivered to the next heat treatment step while it remains firmly engaged with the net conveyor. Accordingly, when a bulky nonwoven fabric is to be made with latenly crimpable fibers, any free development of crimps is inhibited even though the fibers are heat-treated so as to develop crimps, since they are firmly engaged and entangled in the net. This tends to offer such disadvantages as insufficient bulking, occurrence of unevenness of shrinkage and density on the web, and transfer of the network pattern of the net conveyor to the back side of the nonwoven fabric. Such disadvantages are liable to occur particularly in manufacturing bulky nonwoven fabrics of low unit-weight, which are used as the surfacings for disposable diapers, etc., and moreover have an influence upon commercial value. It is thus strongly desired to eliminate such disadvantages.

Method for manufacturing bulky nonwoven fabrics


A patch for cardiac tissue engineering includes a gel layer supported by an intermediate layer, which is attached to a reinforcement layer. These patches may be implanted in a heart to treat pediatric congenital malformations of the heart as well as adult ischemic myopathies. The gel layer may include cells such as, for example, stem cells; the intermediate layer may be biodegradable porous mesh and the reinforcement layer may be polytetrafluoroethylene. Included are methods for making patches according to the invention and for tissue engineering using patches of the invention.

Congenital heart defects are the most common form of birth anomalies, affecting 6 to 8 patients per 1000 births, and are the leading non-infectious cause of death in children. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is the most devastating of these conditions and is characterized by marked hypoplasia or atresia of the left ventricle as well as hypoplasia of the ascending aorta and aortic valve. Palliation of this disease can be achieved through either a staged reconstruction, converting the cardiovascular system to a single ventricle based pump, or cardiac transplantation. Both of these procedures carry significant risks with undetermined long-term effects.
Advances in fetal imaging have made possible the early gestational diagnosis of most anatomic congenital anomalies. Advances in prenatal intervention and fetal tissue sampling have resulted in consideration of the strategy of perinatal tissue engineering: i.e. the prenatal harvest, isolation, and in vitro expansion of autologous fetal cells for the purpose of engineering a tissue construct with subsequential surgical reconstruction immediately after birth. To date this concept has been explored as an experimental therapeutic strategy for reconstruction of muscular diaphragmatic defects, bladder exstrophy, as well as superficial skin defects.
With respect to adults, despite tremendous advances in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, post-infarction congestive heart failure remains a difficult clinical problem. Coronary occlusion with consequent regional ischemia leads to loss of cardiomyocytes and progressive replacement of muscle by collagenous tissue resulting in a myocardial scar. Even a small scar progressively expands, directly affecting the contractile function of adjacent border zone myocardium and overall global contractile function. Thus, left ventricular dilatation and heart failure can occur even after a myocardial infarction of moderate size. While novel therapeutic strategies such as biventricular pacing, mitral valve repair and ventricular remodeling surgery may improve the quality of life in a portion of patients with end-stage heart failure, heart transplantation is still the only available treatment that significantly lengthens life expectancy. Transplantation, however, is limited by a chronic shortage of donor hearts.
Treatment by transplantation is also limited by the problem of rejection. Advances in immunosuppression have significantly improved the treatment of acute rejection but chronic rejection in the form of cardiac allograft vasculopathy remains a leading cause of death in transplant recipients. Organ rejection can be initiated by two separate pathways of allorecognition. Unlike physiologic "indirect" T cell mediated allorecognition, where a foreign antigen (in this case an alloantigen) is processed and presented by a recipient antigen presenting cell to a recipient T cell in an MHC self-restricted manner, "direct allorecognition" is driven by the recognition of the intact alloantigen on an allogeneic antigen presenting cell. Due to this molecular mimicry, the precursor frequency of alloreactive T cells activated by this pathway is several logs higher than those that can be activated by indirect allorecognition alone. The vigor of the initial episode of acute rejection after organ transplantation has been classically attributed to donor-derived hematopoietic antigen presenting cells, which migrate from the transplanted organ to the host's peripheral lymphoid tissue and activate T lymphocytes by the direct pathway of allorecognition. As these passenger leucocytes survive only briefly after migration to the host lymphoid system, allorecognition at later points and subsequential chronic rejection has been attributed to the weaker "indirect pathway".
The present inventors have investigated the role of allograft parenchymal cells in direct allorecognition. (Kreisel, D., et al., A simple method for culturing mouse vascular endolthelium, J. of Immunological Methods, 254: 31-45 (2001); Krupnick, et al., Multiparameter flow cytometric approach for simultaneous evaluation of T lymphocyte-endothelial cell interactions, Cytometry (Communications in Clinical Cytometry) 46: 271-280 (2001)). It has been found that even in the absence of professional donor-derived hematopoietic antigen presenting cells, donor parenchymal cells, most likely vascular endothelial cells, can initiate direct alloantigen presentation to alloreactive host T lymphocytes. In fact, the presence of donor derived hematopoietic antigen presenting cells does not affect the tempo of CD8+T cell mediated allograft rejection which can be mediated entirely by parenchymal cells (Kreisel D, Krupnick A S, Gelman A E, Engels F H, Popma S H, Krasinskas A M, Balsara K R, Szeto W Y, Turka L A, Rosengard B R (2002), Non-hematopoietic allograft cells directly activate CD8+ T cells and trigger acute rejection: an alternative mechanism of allorecognition, Nature Medicine 8:233-239). Thus, a cell population that resides permanently in the transplanted organ and plays a critical role in organ function also can initiate a powerful pathway of antigen presentation leading to chronic rejection and organ destruction. This new paradigm of allorecognition presents yet another major barrier to successful, long-term, solid organ transplantation. These results call into question whether whole organ replacement is truly necessary for treatment of end stage heart failure. Since the majority of heart failure patients suffer a decline in function due to deleterious ventricular remodeling resulting from a limited size infarction, heart failure may be prevented by restoring contractility solely in this portion of the myocardium.
These issues have led the present inventors to reexamine the necessity of whole organ transplantation and to investigate the possibility that replacement of only the portion of myocardium lost to ischemic insult or congenital malformation might suffice in treating cardiac dysfunction. Despite long-standing assumptions that adult myocardium can not regenerate and lacks stem cells to support such regeneration, recent experimental data has shown that adult and fetal stem cells can differentiate into cardiac myocytes, repopulate myocardial scar, and improve myocardial function. Based on these findings experimental efforts have become focused on the establishment of small animal models of adult and congenital cardiac disorders in order to develop novel cell delivery strategies such as cellular cardiomyoplasty, and myocardial tissue engineering, as well as to harness the innate regenerative capacity of myocardial tissue.
Tissue engineering is a multidisciplinary field combining principles of engineering and biological science and focuses on creating viable organs and tissues to address the limitations of allogeneic solid organ and cell transplantation. The basic principle involves in vivo implantation of a cell-matrix construct in order to replace diseased or deficient tissues with recapitulation of structure after resorption or remodeling of the matrix. Recent developments in successful tissue engineering of cardiac valves and blood vessels have opened up the possibility of reconstructing the hypoplastic left heart by replacing the atretic aortic arch and valve with autologous living constructs that can properly grow during the child's development (Hoerstrup S P, Sodian R, Sperling J S, Vacanti J P, Mayer J E, Jr. (2000), New pulsatile bioreactor for in vitro formation of tissue engineered heart valves. Tissue Engineering 6:75-79; Niklason L E, Gao J, Abbott W M, Hirschi K K, Houser S, Marini R, Langer R (1999), Functional arteries grown in vitro. Science 284: 489-493; Shinoka T, Breuer C K, Tanel R E, Zund G, Miura T, Ma P X, Langer R, Vacanti J P, Mayer J E, Jr. (1995), Tissue engineering heart valves: valve leaflet replacement study in a lamb model, Annals of Thoracic Surgery 60: S513-516). Complete correction of cardiac anomalies, however, is limited by the inability to engineer functional ventricular tissue and to enlarge the ventricular cavity. Manipulation of the native heart for tissue engineering purposes is possible in a large animal model under complete cardiopulmonary bypass, but no comparable technology has been available for rodent models (Shinoka T, Ma P X, Shum-Tim D, et al., Tissue-engineered heart valves, Autologous valve leaflet replacement study in a lamb model. Circulation 1996; 94: II164-168). Cardiac tissue engineering in a murine model has been limited by the difficulty of achieving cardiopulmonary bypass utilizing standard techniques. This is unfortunate as the murine model offers the ideal opportunity to study in vivo myocardial tissue engineering with a substantial amount of in vitro data describing the construction of myocardial tissue already available (Carrier R L, Papadaki M, Rupnick M, Schoen F J, Bursac N, Langer R, Freed L E, Vunjak-Novakovic G (1999), Cardiac tissue engineering: cell seeding, cultivation parameters, and tissue construct characterization. Biotechnology & Bioengineering 64: 580-589; Zimmermann W H, Fink C, Kralisch D, Remmers U, Weil J, Eschenhagen T (2000), Three-dimensional engineered heart tissue from neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Biotechnology & Bioengineering 68: 106-114). A rodent model also offers numerous other advantages such as the availability of inbred syngeneic strains, a defined system of stem cells for transplantation, as well as decreased animal cost (Prockop D J. Marrow stromal cells as stem cells for nonhematopoietic tissues. Science 1997; 276: 71-74).
The present inventors have developed a novel small animal model of ventricular tissue engineering utilizing heterotopic heart transplantation. Rat heterotopic heart transplantation offers the ability to operate on an explanted donor organ without the necessity of cardiopulmonary bypass or cardiovascular compromise of the recipient host. By manipulating the microsurgical anastomoses at the time of reimplantation, it is possible to vary the hemodynamic loading of the left ventricle. The present inventors have tested several biocompatible matrices for ventricular replacement, validated the ability to augment ventricular volume in a functioning heart, and provided evidence for myocardial replacement utilizing three-dimensional, stem cell-seeded patches or scaffoldings in accordance with the present invention.
Since seeding stem cells or myoblasts into the compromised ventricle has been shown to improve cardiac function, numerous laboratories have focused on studying cellular cardiomyoplasty as a means of reversing myocardial dysfunction (Sakai T, Li R K, Weisel R D, et al. Autologous heart cell transplantation improves cardiac function after myocardial injury. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 1999; 68: 2074-2080; discussion 2080-2071; Li R K, Jia Z Q, Weisel R D, Merante F, Mickle D A. Smooth muscle cell transplantation into myocardial scar tissue improves heart function, Journal of Molecular & Cellular Cardiology 1999, 31: 513-522; Klug M G, Soonpaa M H, Koh G Y, Field L J, Genetically selected cardiomyocytes from differentiating embryonic stem cells form stable intracardiac grafts, Journal of Clinical Investigation 1996; 98: 216-224). This technology, however, does not address the absence of myocardium resulting from congenital malformation. The paucity of investigation within this field has been mainly due to the lack of a suitable animal model for the study of ventricular tissue engineering.
The present inventors have provided a model for ventricular tissue engineering that can facilitate studies into the replacement or augmentation of myocardial tissue. By avoiding the need for cardiopulmonary bypass, this model can be utilized in small laboratory animals. By avoiding manipulation and infarction of the native heart excessive animal loss is prevented. Since the described model allows the creation of a fully functioning or an unloaded left ventricle, tissue engineering and remodeling can be studied under normal physiologic conditions or under conditions modeling mechanical circulatory support with a left ventricular assist device.
Composite tissue constructed from biocompatible and biodegradable scaffoldings seeded with single cells or tissue equivalent has been investigated for use in tissue engineering (Shinoka T, Ma P X, Shum-Tim D, et al, Tissue-engineered heart valves, Autologous valve leaflet replacement study in a lamb model, Circulation 1996; 94: II164-168; Sakata J, Vacanti C A, Schloo B, Healy G B, Langer R, Vacanti J P, Tracheal composites tissue engineered from chondrocytes, tracheal epithelial cells, and synthetic degradable scaffolding, Transplantation Proceedings 1994; 26: 3309-3310; Kaihara S, Vacanti J P, Tissue engineering: Toward new solutions for transplantation and reconstructive surgery, Archives of Surgery 1999 134: 1184-1188; Juang J H, Bonner-Weir S, Ogawa Y, Vacanti J P, Weir G C, Outcome of subcutaneous islet transplantation improved by polymer device, Transplantation 1996; 61: 1557-1561). Little data, however, is available on the use of such materials for ventricular replacement. The in vitro construction of porous hydrogels with similar characteristics to myocardial extracellular matrix has been previously reported. When cardiac myocytes are cultured within this matrix they organize into a three-dimensional myocardial tissue with physiologic characteristics similar to those of native heart tissue (Zimmermann W H, Fink C, Kralisch D, Remmers U, Weil J, Eschenhagen T, Three-dimensional engineered heart tissue from neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Biotechnology & Bioengineering 2000; 68: 106-114).
However, there remains a need for the in vitro construction and in vivo transplantation of three dimensional tissue. The present inventors demonstrate herein that mesenchymal stem cells, seeded on a three-dimensional matrix, or cell carrier, can engraft and differentiate within the left ventricle of the heart. A delivery vehicle, or patch, for delivering such cells is described herein.
Macroporous scaffoldings fabricated from polymers of lactide (PLLA) and glycolide (PGA) have been studied as an alternative to naturally derived scaffoldings. They break down by simple hydrolysis to natural metabolic products and their highly porous characteristics (95% porosity) allow the delivery and polymerization of the transplanted cells and collagen hydrogel within the interstices of the matrix (Mooney D J, Breuer C K, McNamara K, Vacanti J P, Langer R, Fabricating tubular devices from polymers of lactic and glycolic acid for tissue engineering. Tissue Engineering 1995; 1: 107-118). PGA based scaffoldings have been particularly attractive to the field of tissue engineering due to their rapid rate of degradation and near complete hydrolysis by four weeks in vivo (Peters M C, Mooney D J. Synthetic extracellular matrices for cell transplantation, In: Liu D M, Dixit V, eds., Materials Science Forum Vol. 250. Switzerland: Trans Tech Publications, 1997: 43-52). PGA mesh has been successfully used for the delivery of chondrocytes and tracheal epithelial cells for engineering of cartilage; however, its utility for myocardial tissue engineering has not been successfully demonstrated (Sakata J, Vacanti C A, Schloo B, Healy G B, Langer R, Vacanti J P, Tracheal composites tissue engineered from chondrocytes, tracheal epithelial cells, and synthetic degradable scaffolding, Transplantation Proceedings 1994; 26: 3309-3310). Studies by the present inventors indicate that the use of this matrix within the heart results in an intense inflammatory response. Since this inflammatory response has limited PGA's ability to serve as a vehicle for cellular transplantation in other organ systems, similar limitations will likely be encountered in the heart.
As will be explained below, the present inventors have successfully demonstrated the use of PLLA matrix for cell transplantation in the heart. Although little degradation of PLLA occurs within the first year, with the potential for infectious complications associated with any foreign body, minimal inflammation was detected by the present inventors in scaffoldings constructed around PLLA matrix.
Consideration of the cell delivery approach for broader based applications is limited by the variety of cells necessary for proper reconstruction of extensive congenital malformations involving several organ systems or anatomic defects requiring a variety of tissues for reconstruction, such as congenital cardiac anomalies. The application of this concept to cardiac tissue engineering has been further complicated by the practical concerns of donor site morbidity and the difficulty of expanding differentiated cardiac myocytes in vitro. These concerns may be overcome by the ability to isolate and expand a population of multilineage stem cells.
Mesenchymal stem cells can be isolated from the bone marrow of numerous species and have been shown under specific circumstances to differentiate into various cell types including osteocytes, chondrocytes, adipocytes, as well as skeletal and cardiac myocytes (Pittenger M F, Mackay A M, Beck S C, et al, Multilineage potential of adult human mesenchymal stem cells, Science 1999, 284 (5411): 143; Wakitani S, Saito T, Caplan A I, Myogenic cells derived from rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells exposed to 5-azacytidine, Muscle & Nerve 1995; 18 (12): 1417; Makino S, Fukuda K, Miyoshi S, et al. Cardiomyocytes can be generated from marrow stromal cells in vitro, Journal of Clinical Investigation 1999; 103 (5): 697). The feasibility of isolating such cells and expanding them ex vivo for autologous tissue engineering in the adult has previously been studied (Bruder S P, Kraus K H, Goldberg V M, Kadiyala S., The effect of implants loaded with autologous mesenchymal stem cells on the healing of canine segmental bone defects, Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery—American Volume 1998; 80 (7): 985).
As most anatomic defects, including those of the heart, are routinely diagnosed during the first trimester of gestation by prenatal ultrasonography, a recently described concept of perinatal tissue engineering has emerged. This therapeutic strategy involves in utero harvest of fetal tissue, isolation, in vitro expansion, and organization of such autologous cells on a synthetic matrix creating an engineered tissue construct. As all manipulation occurs parallel to ongoing gestation, at birth the infant can benefit from surgical reconstruction utilizing this autologous tissue. To date, this concept has been explored as an experimental therapeutic strategy for reconstruction of muscular diaphragmatic defects, bladder extrophy, as well as superficial skin defects. Due to donor site morbidity and the difficulty of in vitro expansion of differentiated cardiac myocytes, such an approach has not been applied to myocardial tissue engineering. As numerous investigators have described cardiomyocytic differentiation potential of adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, the present inventors hypothesized that the fetal liver, the hematopoietic organ in utero, might contain a similar population of cells. As described below, the present inventors have demonstrated that the fetal liver provides a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells.
The ovine model has been extensively utilized for studies of fetal surgery and perinatal tissue engineering with several established experimental models of human disease including congenital cardiac defects (Fishman N H, Hof R B, Rudolph A M, Heymann M A, Models of congenital heart disease in fetal lambs, Circulation 1978; 58 (2): 354). Comparable size of the human and ovine fetus, as well as minimal uterine irritability further increases the utility of this model for fetal studies. The present inventors have demonstrated herein that the ovine fetal liver is a potential source of multilineage mesenchymal stem cells that may be utilized for autologous perinatal tissue engineering, particularly of the heart.
Post-infarction congestive heart failure in adults and congenital heart defects in children remain serious health issues. While cardiac transplantation has been shown to prolong life expectancy, this current form of treatment is limited by lack of suitable organs and chronic rejection. The present inventors have demonstrated the use of engineered constructs to repair damage to the heart, without using whole organ transplantation. It is desirable to provide patches for use in such procedures to repair damage to the heart by, e.g., increasing ventricular volume. It is further desirable to use such patches as cell carriers that may be used to deliver to the heart stem cells for replacement of discrete areas of the myocardium. The present invention addresses these needs in the art.

Cell delivery patch for myocardial tissue engineering

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A novel surgical instrument is shown and described. The surgical instrument is useful in pelvic floor repair procedures such as sling procedures for treating incontinence. Also, a novel, ornamental design for a handle for a surgical instrument is shown and described.

Surgical centers and hospitals have stocks of surgical instruments commonly used in surgery for treating pelvic floor disorders. In the urology field, needles, suture passers and ligature carriers are commonly available. Examples of such surgical instruments include Stamey needles, Raz needles, and Pereyra needles. See Stamey, Endoscopic Suspension of the Vesical Neck for Urinary Incontinence in Females, Ann. Surgery, pp. 465–471, October 1980; and Pereyra, A Simplified Surgical Procedure for the Correction of Stress Incontinence in Women, West. J. Surg., Obstetrics & Gynecology, pp. 243–246, July–August 1959.
A pubovaginal sling procedure is a surgical method involving the placement of a sling to stabilize or support the bladder neck or urethra. There are a variety of different sling procedures. Descriptions of different sling procedures and surgical articles used therein are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,112,344; 5,611,515; 5,842,478; 5,860,425; 5,899,909; 6,039,686; 6,042,534 and 6,110,101.
Some prior art needles include a metal needle and an integral metal handle. Some users consider such needles to be top heavy or imbalanced. During some surgical procedures, the needles may be partially inserted in the body and released, as the surgeon concentrates on a different aspect of the surgery. In such instances a top heavy needle may deflect or deviate from its intended placement, potentially damaging tissue or causing other undesirable consequences.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The aim of this invention is to be able to recover specific information of a security module when it has been replaced by a new module in a user unit connected to a broadcasting network.

This invention concerns the domain of data transmission in a network of apparatuses linked to a broadcasting center and without any permanent return connection.
In a Pay-TV network, it frequently occurs that the users' apparatuses receive control signals from a management center, these signals allowing the management of the access security to the broadcasted data.
Complex mechanisms have been developed so that many individual functions can be accessed without needing a connection to a management center.
Among these mechanisms, one can cite on demand access to contents thanks to the presence of a credit to be freely allocated to the event of one's choice.
"Contents" is understood as an information service concerning the stock-exchange, the weather forecast, general-interest television, a sporting event, etc. These contents can be broadcasted on the units of certain users such as a Pay-TV decoder, a computer or even a mobile phone, a palmtop, a PDA, a radio, a television or a multimedia terminal.
The digital flow is enciphered in order to be able to control the use thereof and to define certain conditions for such use. This encryption is made thanks to control words, which are changed at regular intervals (between 5 and 30 seconds) in order to deter any attack aiming to find such a control word.
The user unit includes a security module, generally removable, which manages the security operations such as the verification of the rights and the decryption of the necessary keys (control words) for the decoder to access the transmitted data.
The accounting of use of such contents is today based on the principle of the subscription or event purchasing. Subscription allows the definition of a right associated with one or more broadcasting channels and allows the user to access these channels in clear if the right exists in his security unit.
At the same time, it is possible to define rights pertaining to a particular content, such as a film or a football match. The user can acquire this right (purchase for example) and this content will be specifically managed by this right. This method is known under the term impulse purchasing (pay-per-view PPV).
During the decryption of the control words, it will be verified if a right associated with the access conditions is present in the security module.
Whenever the comparison is positive the control word is returned in clear to the user unit.
Some users' units have a back channel to communicate the user's choice and therefore to acquire the rights pertaining to a particular choice. This channel is generally a modem connected to a telephone line or to a network. Due to the reluctance of certain people to any form of supervision on the actual consumption of the contents, the cable is simply not linked to the phone line socket and the data is not transmitted to the management center. It may be that this connection is not carried out for practical reasons, for example because the phone line socket is too far from the TV set.
At the time of establishing a security module for a new client, a credit is usually attributed to him allowing him to test the practicality of the impulse buy. This credit is not invoiced to the client, because it may never be used.
In normal operation conditions, the user buys one or two films with this credit and connects his user unit for reloading. At this moment, the management center establishes the invoice for the two films purchased and reloads the module with the amount that has previously been agreed upon with the user.
The management center cannot invoice the consumption carried out on this initial credit until the user connects his unit to a network. In this way, the total amount of the non-invoiced credits on all the security units can be considerable.
Actions have been taken such as the proposal of games to encourage, by the distribution of a price, the users to connect their unit.
The problem definitively arises when a change of security module is carried out, in general for technological evolution reasons. The operator is satisfied when the user carries out this exchange on time and it is difficult to oblige the user to return his old card with the aim of invoicing services. In this way, the credit use accounting data contained in the previous module is considered as lost.

Method for storing and transmitting data generated by security module

Abstract: This aim is reached by a method of storage and transmission of information generated by a first security module connected to a user unit, this first security module comprising a unique identifier and information representative of its functioning, this first module being able to be replaced by a second security module, this method comprising the following steps:                determination of the specific information contained in the first security module intended for transmission,        transfer of this information in the user unit,        storage of this information in the user unit,        replacement of the first security module by the second security module,        connection of the user unit on a transmission network,        initialization of a communication between the second security module and a management center,insertion by the user unit, of a data block in the blocks transmitted by the second module, this block comprising the identifier of the first module and the data specific to said first module.


Height-adjustable work table, preferably kitchen table comprising at least one cabinet on top of which a table top is located. The cabinet(s) is located on a number of electrically driven height-adjustable platforms. In that the platforms are mutually retained by at least one connection rail these appear as stable both during the assembly of the work table and of the assembled table. Between a surface, typically a floor on which the platform is located, and an underside of the cabinet a toe kick is placed. This toe kick is telescopic in height such that the toe kick regardless of the adjusted height of the kitchen table shuts off access under the cabinet. The connection rail may constitute an element of the telescopic toe kick.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a height-adjustable work table, preferably a kitchen table comprising at least one cabinet having a table top thereon, and where the cabinet(s) is/are placed on a number of height-adjustable platforms.
The Prior Art
As an example of such a height-adjustable work table reference can be made to WO 2011/069509 A2 Linak A/S. One of the problems concerning the assembly of the height-adjustable platforms is to get them lined up so that they both are horizontal and stand in a straight line as well as are located with the desired mutual distance. This also applies during the further assembly work of the work table where the platforms are easily pushed out of their position, out of level or out of the row. Another issue relating to such height-adjustable work tables is to be able to shut off access under the cabinets regardless of the height to which the work table is adjusted.
The purpose of the invention is to provide a solution to the outlined problems.


An audio shoe includes a shoe top attached to a sole, and a channel extending into the sole from a side edge thereof. A speaker attached to a housing is positioned inside the channel. The speaker is oriented with its axis in a vertical position. A slot is provided between the front of the speaker and the side edge of the sole to enable sound to escape. The diameter of the speaker may be up to the width of the sole, which is large enough to provide improved sound volume and quality. In a first embodiment, the housing includes audio circuitry and user controls. In a second embodiment, a separate audio module is attached to the shoe top, and connected to the speaker with a cable. In a third embodiment, curved vertical supports extend between the top and bottom walls of the channel to provide additional shock absorption. In a fourth embodiment, a mesh is provided across the opening of the channel for shielding the speaker from dirt and water. In a fifth embodiment, a mesh is provided across the opening of the channel, and a sliding door attached to the side edge of the heel may be slid over the mesh to completely seal out dirt and water.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to shoes with built-in audio devices.
2. Prior Art
Miniature audio devices have been incorporated into shoes to provide music and sound effects. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,402,590 to Lee; 5,159,768 to Longo, Jr.; and 4,646,350 to Batra each show a musical module arranged in the tongue of a shoe. The size of the speaker is limited by the narrow width of the tongue, so that the sound volume and quality are limited. The modules also make the tongue bulky, stiff, and uncomfortable. U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,700 to Norment shows an audio module slipped into a pocket on the side of a shoe. The speaker must be very small to fit into the thin, narrow pocket, so that the sound volume and quality are also limited. U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,556 to Kim also shows an audio module mounted to the side of a shoe. The speaker is mounted on the side edge of the heel with its axis positioned horizontally. The speaker diameter is thus limited to the height or thickness of the heel, so that the sound volume and quality are again limited.


It is an object of the present invention to reduce uneven glossiness of images formed with pigmented ink compositions on glossy inkjet media by setting the type of surfactant and the content of an alkanediol and a glycol ether. The ink composition of the present invention contains a pigment, an alkanediol, a glycol ether, a polyether-modified polysiloxane compound, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water, and the sum of the contents of alkanediol and glycol ether is 10 wt % or more, but less than 20 wt %.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink composition, particularly to an ink composition that results in a good glossiness on glossy media and solves the problem of uneven glossiness by reducing the differences in glossiness between the colors, and an ink set having such ink composition.
2. Description of Prior Art
An inkjet recording method is a method of printing by jetting drops of an ink composition onto a recording medium such as paper. A feature of this method is that high-resolution and high-quality images can be printed at high speed using a relatively inexpensive apparatus. Ink compositions commonly used in the inkjet recording method typically contain water as their main ingredient, mixed together with coloring components and wetting agents such as glycerin to prevent clogging. Dye inks and pigmented inks can be used as colorants. However for printed matter, since pigmented inks are superior to dye inks in terms of weathering resistance such as light fastness, water fastness and gas fastness, the demand for pigmented inks is increasing. Therefore, the development of pigmented inks in which the characteristics of pigments are utilized, has been in progress.
With recent innovative improvements in inkjet recording technology, the inkjet recording method has been applied in the field of high-definition printing that had already been achieved with the silver halide photo printing method and the offset printing method. Accordingly, developments have also been made in the area of inkjet recording media where high glossiness comparable to photographic paper and art paper which are used in the silver halide photo printing method and the offset printing method, has been achieved. As for high-glossy recording media for inkjet printing, the mainstream is a substrate (e.g., paper, film, etc.) having thereon an ink-absorbing layer that contains porous material such as porous silica.
When forming color images using the inkjet recording method, ink compositions of three colors, yellow, magenta, and cyan, are used, or in some cases, four colors including a black ink composition. There are also cases where a light cyan ink composition and a light magenta ink composition are added to the four ink compositions listed above, so that color images are formed by using six colors. When printing to a recording medium using a plurality of color ink compositions, if the respective ink compositions have widely differing ink penetrations (i.e., ink absorption speeds) into the recording medium, the printed images usually suffer from bleeding, uneven colors, uneven flocculation, and uneven glossiness, thus the quality of the recorded images is reduced.
Compared to dye inks, pigmented inks in which pigments serve as colorants are more prone to uneven flocculation, since the pigments are layered on the surface of a recording medium.
According to the definition in Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-138232, color unevenness refers to the unevenness in the image quality when overlapping colors as secondary and tertiary colors due to the ink components having different absorption speeds, respectively. Uneven flocculation refers to image ruoughness (graininess) when dots of different colors overlap each other due to the respective ink components having different absorption speeds. Uneven glossiness refers to the differences in glossiness due to the differences in absorption speeds between the respective ink components.
As a solution for these problems, the same patent teaches that, in an ink set having multiple pigmented ink compositions, the absorption coefficients of the respective ink compositions are limited within a predetermined range, so that uneven colors, uneven flocculation, and uneven glossiness are reduced. The absorption coefficients are indicated in the testing method approved by the Japan Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, that is, "Bristow's method" (JAPAN TAPPI No.51) (for example, see page 350 of Shin Kami no Kagaku (New Science of Paper) 4th edition, co-written by Takashi Kadoya et al.).
The same patent discloses an ink composition containing, as a penetrating agent, an acetylene glycol compound and a polyhydric alcohol alkyl ether derivative having three or more carbons.
A number of pigmented ink compositions using pigments as colorants have been proposed, one of which is the ink composition disclosed in Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-354889, that exhibits adequate penetration and ink discharge stability by containing glycol ether and 1,2-alkandiol.
Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H11-349871 discloses an ink composition containing a colorant, an aqueous carrier, an alkanediol having hydroxy groups at the each terminal, a polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of about 200 to 5000, a mixture of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, and a polyol/polyalkylene oxide condensate having a specified structure. These patents show that the respective ink compositions provide an excellent optical density for printed matter and good printing properties for inkjet printers.
However, these ink compositions still have room for improvement in relation to the glossiness of images when printed on glossy media having ink-absorbing layers. Therefore, it is desired that an ink composition that exhibits excellent glossiness on glossy inkjet media should be developed.


The invention provides a method for producing colorful inorganic pigments, which comprise complex oxides of various elements, which have good weather resistance and good heat resistance, and which are widely used in colorants for ceramics and in colorants for coatings and plastics. In the method, the composite oxides are sintered at a low temperature for a short period of time to give homogeneous and well colored pigments. Under the sintering conditions, the composite oxides are not sintered excessively. The grinding step in the method is simplified. The method comprises mixing oxides of elements to constitute specific inorganic pigments, or compounds that can be converted into such oxides under heat, in predetermined ratios, followed by calcining the resulting mixtures, and is characterized in that the raw materials are dry-processed in a grinding machine, without being subjected to said mixing step, to thereby give to the raw materials sufficient energy enough to induce the mechanochemical reaction of the materials to compound them into composite particles comprising the raw materials in the compounding ratios.

Heretofore, various means have been employed and proposed for the production of inorganic pigments comprising complex oxides.
One general method for the production comprises mixing oxides containing elements that constitute specific inorganic pigments, or compounds that can be converted into such oxides under heat, in predetermined ratios, then calcining the resulting mixtures into complex oxides, and grinding the complex oxides.
With this method, however, since the solid state reaction during the sintering starts from the contact points of the starting particles, the intended solid state reaction is often uneven and incomplete, resulting in uneven color and tone in the pigments obtained. Therefore, in order to obtain homogeneously and satisfactorily colored pigments according to this method, the heating temperature must be increased and the heating time must be greatly prolonged. However, this not only adds to energy costs but also enlarges the sintered particles because of the lapse of heating time, resulting in further mechanical energy being expended in the step of grinding such large particles. This method is problematic in such points.
Another known method comprises wet-milling the starting materials for a long period of time to produce a satisfactorily homogeneous mixture of ultra-fine particles, followed by calcining this mixture. In this method, heating time can be shortened to some degree. However, the introduction of impurities, caused by the abrasion of the milling tank and the milling media used, into the mixture is inevitable, and the impurities negatively influence the quality of the pigments thus obtained.
In yet another known method, a flux of fluoride, a chloride or the like is used for the purpose of lowering the heating temperature for the calcining of powdery raw materials. However, this is problematic in that the raw materials are sintered very unevenly and the sintered particles grow too much.
In still another known method, a co-precipitation of particles is used. For example, a means of co-precipitation is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-8728, in which more homogeneous pigments may be obtained through co-precipitation of particles. However, the disclosed method comprises complicated steps whereby production costs are increased.
One object of the present invention is to provide a simple method for producing homogeneous, satisfactorily colored, inorganic pigments comprising complex oxides.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple method for producing homogeneous, satisfactorily colored, inorganic pigments comprising complex oxides, in which the calcining step is effected at a low temperature for a shortened period of time without overly enlarging the sintered particles, and where the grinding step is thereby simplified.
Yet another object of the present invention is to establish a method for producing homogeneous, satisfactorily green-colored, inorganic pigments comprising complex oxides of titanium, cobalt, nickel and zinc, through calcining of raw materials at a low temperature for a shortened period of time.
Still another object of the present invention is to establish a method for producing homogeneous, satisfactorily yellow-colored, inorganic pigments having a rutile structure that comprises a solid solution of titanium oxide with one or more oxides of cobalt, chromium and nickel and one or more oxides of antimony, tungsten and niobium, through calcining of raw materials at a low temperature for a shortened period of time.
Still another object of the present invention is to establish a method for producing homogeneous, satisfactorily colored, highly transparent cobalt blue pigments, through calcining of raw materials at a low temperature for a shortened period of time.

Method of manufacturing inorganic pigment


A device (10) for automatically adjusting a device containing a clock (70) that derives its timing function from the frequency of an alternating current signal on a power line is provided. The device (10) includes a controller (15) that receives user-entered controls for adjusting the clock (70) and generates control signals in response to the user-entered controls. The device also includes a frequency changer (11) that responds to the control signals to increase or decrease the frequency of the alternating current signal applied to the clock (70) so that the clock (70) may be adjusted.

In the field of clock adjustment devices, there have been many previously-developed devices for facilitating clock adjustment. Many of these devices are for applications having a large number of clocks, such as a school or office building. For example, one system for resetting a large number of clocks involves the use of an additional stepper motor installed in each clock. When the stepper motor receives appropriate signals over a power line, it operates to cause the clock to read a certain time. The signals sent over the power line are at a frequency different from the rated alternating current (AC) power line frequency. Additional signals are then used to cause the stepper motor to set the clock to the correct time. If a clock does not contain the stepper motor, it cannot be reset by this system.
Another method that has been used to set clocks uses a high-frequency signal that is transmitted over the AC power line to the clock. The high-frequency signal is different from the AC power line frequency. The clock contains a control device that receives the high-frequency signal and controls the clock motor such that the clock may be reset to a new time. In order for the clock to be responsive to the control signal it must contain the control device.
Each of these and other previously developed methods and systems for controlling clocks suffer from the same problem; that is, in order for the method to work with a given clock, a special device or control must be installed in the clock.

Frequency shifing device and method for automatic clock adjustment

Illinois Information Technology Corporation


A charging stand for selectively enclosing and exposing an appliance such as a hair trimmer having a rechargeable battery includes a base and a cover. The base has an access opening for supporting the appliance, and electrical contacts for charging the battery. The cover fits over the base to define an interior space for enclosing the appliance, and can be secured to the base in at least two positions. In a first position, the cover encloses the appliance with the base. In the second position, the cover exposes the appliance when the appliance is in a raised position.

Charging stands have been used for storing rechargeable hair trimmers and other appliances and charging their internal batteries. The charging stand typically has a base and a cradle. The stand supports the hair trimmer in an inclined position. Power is provided through contacts in the charging stand, which in turn receives power through a power cord that is routed under or behind the base of the charging stand.
When traveling, the stand must be taken to charge the clipper, but the stand is bulky and awkward to pack, and the clipper is typically packed separately, usually uncovered. Thus, there is a need for compact charging stands that can be conveniently packed in luggage. There is also a need for storage devices for appliances such as hair trimmers and other rechargeable personal care items.

Charging stand having open and closed positions


The state of a workflow application in a distributed computing environment can be reconstructed by replaying previously executed portions of the workflow application. Embodiments maintain non-serialized event data relating to workflow history and use the data to determine subsequent actions to take in order to advance the workflow. In some embodiments, workflow instances can be serialized in order to create a checkpoint.

Companies and organizations often have business processes that are performed on a routine basis. The processes can involve multiple discrete or composite actions, some of which can be performed in any order, others which must be performed in parallel or in some other specific order. Such processes are often modeled as workflows. A workflow can be the orchestration of multiple actions. Computer systems can be used to process workflows and orchestrate the execution of the component actions. In order to facilitate processing of a workflow by a computer system, the workflow can be defined in a workflow definition language (WDL). Graphical tools have been created to simplify the process of defining workflows in various WDLs.


We describe a touch sensitive holographic image display device for holographically projecting a touch sensitive image at an acute angle onto a surface on which the device is placed. The device includes holographic image projection optics comprising at least one coherent light source illuminating a spatial light modulator (SLM), output optics to project a hologram onto an acute angle surface, and a remote touch sensing system to remotely detect a touch of a location within or adjacent to the holographically displayed image. A control system is configured to provide data defining an image for display, to receive detected touch data, and to control the device responsive to remote detection of a touch of a the displayed image.

This invention relates to touch sensitive holographic image display systems, in particular to systems which are able to project onto a surface at an acute angle. The invention also provides related methods and corresponding processor control code.
We have previously described techniques for displaying an image holographically—see, for example, WO 2005/059660 (Noise Suppression Using One Step Phase Retrieval), WO 2006/134398 (Hardware for OSPR), WO 2007/031797 (Adaptive Noise Cancellation Techniques), WO 2007/110668 (Lens Encoding), and WO 2007/141567 (Colour Image Display). These are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Projecting downwards and outwards onto a flat surface such as a tabletop entails projecting at an acute angle onto the display surface (taking this as the angle between the centre of the output of the projection optics and the middle of the displayed image—this angle, to a line in the surface, is less that 90°). We conveniently refer to this as "table down projection". Table down projection is not readily achievable by conventional image display techniques; scanning image display systems have a narrow throw angle and thus find it difficult to achieve a useful image size whilst projection systems, especially those based on LEDs (light emitting diodes)
which have a wide light output angle, find it difficult to achieve a useful depth of field. Moreover table down projection can often involve very substantial distortion of an image which can result in inefficient use of the area of an image display device, resulting in major reductions in image brightness and overall system efficiency. Background information relating to compensating for keystone distortion in an LCD projector can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,933 (WO00/21282); further background prior art can be found in: WO02/101443; U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,400; U.S. Pat. No. 7,379,619; US2004/0095315; U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,878; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,519.
The inventors have recognized that holographic image display techniques can be used to address these problems to provide a wide throw angle, long depth of field, and very substantial distortion correction without substantial loss of brightness/efficiency. These techniques are described in our UK Patent Application number GB0822336.4 filed on 8 Dec. 2008 hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Background prior art relating to touchsensing can be found, for example, in patent applications filed by Lumio Inc (such as WO2008/038275) and VKB Inc (such as US2007/222760), as well as in patent/applications filed by Canesta Inc (for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,942), and patent applications filed by Sensitive Object (such as WO2006/108443 and WO2008/146098).
Hence, for at least the aforementioned reasons, there exists a need in the art for advanced systems and methods for display.


A system and method of controlling delay in a delay line. In a delay line having a system mode and an oscillator mode, wherein the delay line delays a signal as a function of a delay code, the method comprises setting the delay code, placing the delay line in oscillator mode, determining frequency of oscillation of the delay line, comparing the frequency of oscillation to a target frequency and adjusting the delay code until the frequency of oscillation of the delay line is substantially equal to the target frequency.

The present invention is related to delay lines, and more particularly to a system and method for controlling the amount of delay over a range of delays and operating conditions.
Delay lines serve a variety of functions within digital systems. They can be used, for instance, to deskew a clock or to change the phase of a clock or of a signal.
To date, a variety of approaches have been used to add delay to a signal. Delay has been implemented using delay lines external to the integrated circuit. Such an approach, however, consumes pins and real estate both on the integrated circuit and on the circuit board.
Conventional Delay Locked Loops (DLLs) have also been used. DLLs, however, limit flexibility. That is, only a limited number of delay choices can be provided and at a rather coarse granularity. Furthermore, the choices must be determined at design time.
Discrete delay lines have also been implemented directly on the integrated circuit. Under such an approach, standard cell or other ASIC technology is used to implement the delay line. The integrated circuit approach to discrete delay lines is advantageous in that regular ASIC design and verification tools can be used to design and test the delay line. Delay lines designed using this approach, however, can exhibit variation in delay as the operating environment (e.g., temperature, voltage level, etc.) changes. In addition, since the delay line is implemented directly on an integrated circuit, it can exhibit changes in delay due to variations in the integrated circuit manufacturing process.
Delay within a discrete delay line varies with environmental factors such as temperature, voltage and process. In the past, maintaining a consistent delay across temperature and voltage has been difficult. DLLs avoid this problem but at the cost described above.
What is needed is a discrete delay line control system and method that uses regular ASIC design and verification tools but which can be controlled to limit variations due to process, temperature, voltage level and other operating parameters. In addition, what is needed is a delay control process that is capable of managing discrete delay lines with a wide delay range and which is capable of automatically obtaining any delay value within the delay line range. Finally, what is needed is a method of controlling a delay line which can measure and adjust delay accurately, and continue to monitor performance after the initial setting.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a system and method of controlling delay in a delay line is described. In a delay line having a system mode and an oscillator mode, wherein the delay line delays a signal as a function of a delay code, the method comprises setting the delay code, placing the delay line in oscillator mode, determining frequency of oscillation of the delay line, comparing the frequency of oscillation to a target frequency and adjusting the delay code until the frequency of oscillation of the delay line is substantially equal to the target frequency.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a system and method of controlling delay in a signal delay line having an input and an output is described. The signal delay line delays signals as a function of a delay code. A replicate delay line having an input and an output is provided, wherein the replicate delay line delays signals as a function of a delay code. The output of the signal delay line is fed back to its input to form an oscillator having an oscillation frequency. The oscillation frequency of the signal delay line is determined and compared to a target frequency. The delay code of the signal delay line is then adjusted until the frequency of oscillation of the signal delay line is substantially equal to the target frequency. The replicate delay line is driven with the delay code of the signal delay line and the output of the replicate delay line is fed back to its input to form an oscillator having an oscillation frequency. The oscillation frequency of the replicate delay line is determined and the delay code of the replicate and signal delay lines is adjusted as a function of changes in the oscillation frequency of the replicate delay line.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a delay line includes a master delay line, a slave delay line, and a delay line controller connected to the master delay line and the slave delay line. The master delay line sets delay as a function of a delay code. In addition, the master delay line includes an oscillator mode having an oscillation frequency which is a function of delay in the master delay line. The slave delay line sets delay as a function of a delay code. In addition, the slave delay line includes an oscillator mode having an oscillation frequency which is a function of delay in the slave delay line. The delay line controller includes a frequency counter and a state machine, wherein the frequency counter determines the oscillation frequencies of the master and slave delay lines when the master and slave delay lines are in oscillator mode and wherein the state machine adjusts the delay code to both the master and slave delay lines as a function of the oscillation frequencies of the master and slave delay lines.

System and method for accurate adjustment of discrete integrated circuit delay lines


A novel electrodeionization apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of disk-shaped concentrating and diluting cell pairs which provide an apparatus which minimizes losses of ion exchange membrane efficiency due to membrane sealing to compartment spacers. In addition, a novel method for filling individual cells or cell pairs with ion exchange resins is disclosed.

The purification of a liquid by reducing the concentration of ions or molecules in the liquid has been an area of substantial technological interest. Many techniques have been used to purify and isolate liquids or to obtain concentrated pools of specific ions or molecules from liquid mixtures. Known processes include electrodialysis, liquid chromotography, membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, ion exchange and electrodeionization. As used herein, the term electrodeionization refers to the process wherein an ion exchange material such as an ion exchange resin is positioned between anionic and cationic diaphragms or membranes. In contrast, the term electrodialysis relates to a process which does not utilize ion exchange materials positioned between the anionic and cationic diaphragms.
Early suggestions for treating liquids using processes that ultimately evolved to electrodeionization in the modern sense of the term were described by Kollsman in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,689,826 and 2,815,320. The first of these patents describes an electrodialysis apparatus and process for the removal of ions from a process stream. The ions are removed from the stream as it flows through a depleting chamber defined, in part, by anion and cation permeable diaphragms. The ions pass through their respective permeable membranes and into a second volume of liquid in a concentrating chamber under the influence of an electrical potential which causes preselected ions to travel in a predetermined direction. The volume of the liquid being treated is depleted of ions while the volume of the second liquid is enriched with the transferred ions and carries them in concentrated form.
The second of these patents describes the use of macroporous beads formed of ion exchange resins as a filler material between the anionic and cationic diaphragms. The ion exchange resin acts as a path for ion transfer and also serves as an increased conductivity bridge between the membranes for movement of ions. These patents represent the primary structural framework and theory of electrodeionization as a technique.
Significantly improved electrodeionization systems have more recently been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,541 to Giuffrida et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,160 to Giuffrida, the teachings of which in their entireties are incorporated herein by reference.
In these references, the depleting and concentrating chambers are present as cell pairs each having a rectangular configuration that is 16.3 inches wide and 33.75 inches long. Each cell pair consists of a diluting compartment, in which contaminants are removed from a first process stream (the diluting stream), and a concentrating compartment in which the contaminant ions are concentrated in a second process stream (the concentrating stream). For reference purposes, the process stream in the diluting compartment is referred to as a dilute or diluting stream, and the process stream in the concentrating compartment is referred to as the concentrate or concentrating stream.
The diluting compartment is defined by a spacer molded from polypropylene and having dimensions the same as that of the rectangular cell configuration and a thickness of 0.090 inches. The compartment is filled with ion exchange resin, preferably in the form of beads. Electrodialysis membranes of the same rectangular dimensions as the spacer are bonded to both sides of the spacer to form the top and bottom walls of the diluting compartment. The membranes differ in that one is an anion exchange membrane, whereas the other is a cation exchange membrane. A series of thin parallel channels, each 1.08 inches wide, 25.75 inches long, and 0.090 inches deep define flow paths for the process stream which is flowed through the diluting compartment, (the diluting stream). The diluting stream is flowed into the diluting compartment and is directed into the channels through a manifold. The manifold includes numerous obstructions which are designed to prevent channeling and to evenly distribute the flow among the channels. The spacer includes a flow inlet and flow outlet located on diagonally opposite corners to equalize pressure drop across all flow paths from the inlet to the outlet.
The concentrating compartment is also defined by a spacer having the same rectangular dimensions as that of the diluting compartment. The spacer of the concentrating compartment may be thinner than that of the diluting compartment, however, as will be described shortly, in some applications the concentrating spacer is of the same thickness as the diluting spacer. In general, the concentrating compartment contains an inert screen which serves to mix the concentrating stream flowing therethrough. Alternatively, if the apparatus is to be operated in a polarity reversal mode, or in an all-filled non-polarity-reversal mode, the screen is replaced with an ion exchange resin or ion exchange resin mixture.
The ion exchange resins and membranes may be those described in the aforementioned Giuffrida patents. Alternatively, the resins and membranes may be those described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/628,338, filed Dec. 17, 1990, and its co-pending continuation-in-part, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/841,021 filed Feb. 25, 1992, the teachings of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.
During assembly of an electrodeionization unit, the cell pairs are stacked and compressed between molded polypropylene end blocks backed by aluminum end plates. The end plates are attached to each other by tie-bars located along the periphery of the end plates. The end blocks, end plates and tie-bars are referred to as the closing mechanism.
Although the electrodeionization apparatus described above has found wide commercial application, some shortcomings of the current cell design exist. For example, the active area of the membranes on both sides of the dilute spacer is the area which acts as the boundary of each of the flow channels. Typically, the total active area for membrane is 278 square inches which is only approximately 50% of the total membrane area. The other 50% of the membrane area is unusable because it is in contact with impermeable areas of the spacer or is sealed by gaskets or adhesives. As the overall efficiency of an electrodeionization apparatus depends, in part, on the total membrane area available for ion exchange, it is clear that ion exchange performance can be enhanced by minimizing the amount of unusable membrane surface area. Flow distribution through the channels is also a concern, particularly as the flow rate through a cell pair is varied from minimal to maximal flow.
The flow capacity of an individual electrodeionization unit can be expanded only by adding cell pairs, which necessitates disassembly of the closing mechanism, insertion of cell pairs and installation of longer tie-bars.
Finally, the perimeter of the cell pairs must be sealed from the environment. This is achieved using adhesives that are typically elastomers. The current rectangular electrodeionization modules have, on occasion, been subject to leakage which is undesirable, particularly in small electrodeionization units housed inside enclosures.
Thus, a need exists for an electrodeionization apparatus which allows a greater utilization of the ion exchange membrane.
A need also exists for an electrodeionization apparatus having a simpler, and more secure means for maintaining a seal between the respective diluting and concentrating compartments.
An additional need exists for an electrodeionization apparatus having a modular design.
A further need exists for an electrodeionization apparatus that can be fabricated using a higher level of automation.

Modules for electrodeionization apparatus


A striking or shaping tool structured to size and/or otherwise shape an object such as, but not limited to a jewelry object, which is mounted on a mandrel. The tool comprises a generally hammer-like construction including a head having a base. A striking member, having a striking surface, and an alignment member are connected to the base and are cooperatively dimensioned and disposed. The striking member also includes a mandrel engaging portion comprising one or more recessed, exposed surfaces dimensioned and configured to substantially conform to an exterior surface of the mandrel. The cooperative dispositions and dimensions of a recessed exposed surface and the alignment member facilitate a concurrent, movable engagement thereof with the mandrel during a striking procedure of the striking surface on the mandrel mounted jewelry object, resulting in a predetermined operative orientation of the striking surface relative to the jewelry object, during the striking procedure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to a tool, which may assume a hammer-like shape, primarily structured to size and/or shape an object, such as a jewelry object, being mounted on a mandrel. The tool includes a head having a base and a striking member and an alignment member connected to the base in cooperative relation to one another so as to concurrently and movably engage the mandrel, during a striking procedure, in a manner which disposes a striking surface of the striking member in a predetermined operative orientation relative to the object being struck, at least during the striking procedure.
2. Description of the Related Art
As commonly designed and structured, finger rings normally include a closed, fixed configuration made available to the consuming public in commonly accepted and/or standard sizes corresponding to the size of the average adult and/or child finger. However, in many circumstances it is desirable to increase the size of the ring.
Finger rings usually have a constant thickness shank portion, wherein the size of the ring may be determined by placing it on a rigid material mandrel. As is well-recognized in the jewelry profession, sizing mandrels have a generally elongated configuration with a tapered, converging exterior surface configuration extending from an inner, proximal end to an outer or distal end. Mounting on the ring over the mandrel allows it to easily pass down the length thereof until it becomes obstructed by the interior portions of the ring engaging the exterior surfaces of the mandrel corresponding to the size of the ring.
For many reasons and under various circumstances, finger rings are frequently expanded or enlarged such that they may be comfortably fitted onto a finger which is at least somewhat larger than that originally intended for the ring when manufactured. Rings are commonly expanded using a similar type mandrel as set forth above. More specifically, using a generally cooperatively configured mandrel, rings may be expanded by placing them on the mandrel and forcing the rings down along the length thereof onto a portion thereof having a greater transverse dimension. In accomplishing such enlargement, a shaping tool is used to apply pressure to the upper or outer peripheral portions of the ring. The pressure applied by the tool should be sufficient to force the ring down to the larger portions of the mandrel. However, the force applied to the ring should not be such as to cause exterior surface markings or other structural damage to the ring during the enlargement process.
Similarly, there are a number of jewelry items or objects, such as, but not limited to, bracelets, earrings, etc. which also are structured to initially have a closed, fixed and/or continuous peripheral configuration. It is also known that such additional jewelry items or objects may be enlarged or expanded in a similar or substantially equivalent manner, using an appropriately configured mandrel, as set forth above.
Therefore, common to the practice of enlarging finger rings, bracelets, and a variety of other jewelry objects is the mounting thereof on a mandrel having an exterior surface which substantially conforms to the interior peripheral configuration of the jewelry object being shaped. By way of example only, the typical finger ring sizing mandrel, of the type set forth above, may have a continuous, circular, exterior surface configuration extending along at least a majority of the length thereof. In contrast, bracelets and other jewelry items may have interior peripheral configurations which are oval, multi-sided or other known and commonly available configurations. As such, the exterior surface of the mandrel used to size and/or shape a given jewelry item must substantially correspond to the interior peripheral configuration of the object being processed.
Absent a matching of the configurations of the mandrel and the jewelry item, a distortion of the jewelry item may easily occur when the force is applied to exposed portions of the jewelry item being processed. Accordingly, the application of a pressure or force to exposed portions of the ring, bracelet or other jewelry item being sized is important. In addition to the amount of force applied to the jewelry object, the orientation of the striking surface of a shaping tool relative to the portion of the jewelry object being struck is also important.
Therefore, there is a need in the jewelry arts for a striking or shaping tool, which includes structural and operative features enabling the effective determination of a predetermined operative orientation of the striking surface of the tool, with the jewelry object being sized. The establishment of a correct or predetermined "operative orientation" facilitates the elimination or of deformation or other type damage being done to the jewelry item being struck. In light of the above, a proposed striking or sizing tool intended to overcome the disadvantages of the type set forth above should include structural features, on at least the head of the tool, which automatically accomplishes the establishment of a preferred operative orientation of the striking tool or striking surface of the tool head relative to the mandrel mounted object being shaped.