The hair fixative composition contains from about 2 to about 10 weight %, based on the weight of the composition, of a water-dispersible amorphous thermoplastic hair fixative polyester whose polymer chain is represented by the structure: ##STR1## wherein A is an aromatic dicarboxylic acid moiety, G is an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic glycol residue, on the average there being 5 to 8 sodiosulfo substituents per molecule. The fixative polyester is in colloidal suspension in the composition. The composition further contains from about 0.1 to about 3 weight %, based on the weight of the composition, of a copolymer containing dimethylpolysiloxane and organo-modified methylsiloxane moieties. Such amount is sufficient to cause the composition to spread out on a hair shaft when the composition is applied to same. The composition also contains from 0 to about 25 weight %, based on the weight of the composition, of a lower alcohol and sufficient water to bring the composition to 100 weight %. When sprayed on the hair, the composition has a wetness perception comparable to that of compositions containing high concentrations of lower alcohol.

Typical prior art hair spray compositions employ polymeric fixatives to hold the hair set. They also contain large amounts of lower alkanol in order to solubilize the polymer fixative. As used herein, lower alkanol means C.sub.1 to C.sub.5 alkanols such as ethanol and isopropanol. The lower alkanol additionally serves as primary solvent for the formulation. The lower alkanol content of prior art compositions makes compositions known in the art flammable. Their flammability presents obvious dangers in the manufacture of such formulations and in their use by end users. Moreover, there is a wide spread perception, among such end users, that the lower alkanol in products intended for application to hair is harmful to the hair. Moreover, increased environmental awareness, of both government and consumers, has led to increased effort on the part of manufacturers to decrease the amount of volatile organic compounds in their hair care products, particularly hairsprays. Lower alkanols are the primary volatile organic compounds contained in hair spray products. Consequently, the desirability of formulating a hair fixative product which contains small amounts of lower alkanol to, preferably, no lower alkanol, and which can be utilized in a pumpable delivery system, is self-evident. Despite the fact that a pumpable hair fixative product containing little or no lower alkanol, in other words, a product which is substantially water based, would be desirable from a marketing perspective, no such pumpable product has as yet been successfully commercialized. The state of the art does not permit the development of a water-based fixative hair composition which performs similarly to conventional lower alkanol/polymeric systems. Attempts to replace lower alkanol with water, in conventional systems, have resulted either in only partially substituted systems, due to the solubility limits of conventional hair fixative polymers in water, or, in fully substituted formulations which when delivered from conventional pump sprayers, dispense and perform unacceptably. These formulas, which use water as the primary solvent, tend to dispense a large particle spray, have a very long drying time, and give the treated hair an unnatural look.
The present invention provides compositions which resolve the aforementioned deficiencies of prior art compositions. The compositions of the instant invention contain a polymer which serves as a hair fixative. The hair fixative polymer is water dispersible and forms a continuous film on the hair shaft.
The present inventors have found that the key to providing an acceptable dispensing pattern and acceptable hair spray characteristics, is inclusion, in the compositions of the invention, of a copolymer containing dimethyl polysiloxane and organo-modified methylsiloxane moieties. Such copolymer is hereinafter referred to by the CFTA name, dimethicone copolyol. Surprisingly, the addition of this material produces an unexpected improvement in the reduction of wetness perception. It is believed that this material provides the perceived performance benefit partly by reducing the surface tension of the composition. This allows for the dispensing of smaller, more uniform, droplets. Moreover, due to the surfactant properties of the dimethicone copolyol, a more uniform coating of resin on the hair shaft is quickly obtained. This is evidenced by a dramatic reduction of clumping and matting of the hair. It may well be that the surfactant/conditioning properties of this particular dimethicone copolyol causes the compositions of the present invention to spread out and penetrate the hair shaft more rapidly.
In essence, the present invention resides in the novel use of dimethicone copolyol to enhance the performance of water-based hair spray formulations containing polymeric hair fixatives.
The dimethicone copolyol utilizable in the instant invention is available from Union Carbide, under the tradenames SILWET L-7614, SILWET L-7600, and SILWET L-7604. It is also available from DOW CORNING under the tradenames Silicone 190 Surfactant and Silicone 193 Surfactant.
The polyester polymers found to be of utility in the practice of the present invention are water-dissipatable polymers such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,220 to Coney entitled "Sequestering Agents and Compositions Produced Therefrom." According to the Coney patent, certain polymeric polyesters that comprise the reaction products of (a) at least one difunctional dicarboxylic acid; (b) at least one difunctional sulfomonomer containing at least one metal sulfonate group attached to an aromatic nucleus, the functional groups being hydroxy, carboxyl or amino, and (c) a glycol or a glycol and diamine mixture, the diamine having two --NRH groups and the glycol containing two --CH.sub.2 OH groups of which at least 0.1 mole percent, based on the total mole percent of hydroxy or hydroxy and amino equivalents, is a poly(ethylene glycol) having the structural formula H(OCH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2)n OH, n being an integer of 2 and about 500, with the proviso that the mole percent of the poly(ethylene glycol) within the range is inversely proportional to the quantity of n within the range, said polyester as defined above having an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.1 as defined in the Coney patent and including the reaction products based on the ester forming or esteramide derivatives of said reactants (a), (b), and (c), are suitable to sequester finely divided water insoluble, hydrophobic deformable organic substances of low dipole moment, i.e. from 0 to 18. Examples of such substances are recited by Coney at column 6, lines 12-21 and include sucrose esters, aromatic organic compounds, aliphatic or alicyclic organic compounds, paraffins, vegetable oils, etc. The Coney patent is incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,779,993 to Kibler et al; 3,734,874 to Kibler et al and 4,233,196 to Sublett also each relate to compositions comprising an aqueous dissipation of polymers described as linear, water dissipatable, meltable polyesters or polyester-amides prepared from the reaction of glycol, dicarboxylic acid, and difunctional monomer components. Each of these patents discloses that the difunctional sulfomonomer component of the polyesters or polyesteramides therein disclosed may advantageously be a dicarboxylic acid or ester thereof containing a metal sulfonate group, a glycol containing a metal sulfonate group or a hydroxy acid containing a metal sulfonate group, the metal ion of the sulfonate salt being Na+, Li+, Mg+, Ca++, Cu++, Ni++, Fe++, Fe+++ or the like.
Polymeric hair fixatives utilizable in the compositions of the present invention are those that are water dispersible. Particularly preferred are the Eastman AQ polymers. Of these, Eastman polymer AQ-55 is most preferred.
The Eastman AQ polymers are amorphous thermoplastic polyesters inherently dispersible in water. Such materials form hard, clear films without the need for solvents. More specifically, Eastman AQ Polymers are relatively high molecular weight, amorphous polyesters that disperse directly in water without the assistance of organic co-solvents, surfactants or amines. The water dispersibility is attributable to the presence of sodiosulfo (SO.sub.3 --Na.sup.+) substituents in the structure. The polymer chain is represented by the structure: ##STR2## A=an aromatic dicarboxylic acid moiety G=an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic glycol residue
--OH=hydroxy end groups
Some of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid units in Eastman AQ Polymer chains have sodiosulfo (SO.sub.3 --Na.sup.+) substituents. Although only two are shown in the structure set forth above, on the average, there are 5 to 8 ionic sodiosulfo substituents per molecule.
Dimethicone copolyol is an essential component of the present composition. As stated heretofore, it is available from Union Carbide. The Union Carbide SILWET surfactants are copolymers containing dimethylpolysiloxane and organo-modified methylsiloxane moieties. Unlike dimethicone, dimethicone copolyols are soluble in alcohol and soluble in, or readily miscible with, water. The preferred SILWET surfactant is SILWET L-7604. This material is of the type referred to by Union Carbide as alkyl pendant (non hydrolyzable). The pendant polyether is disclosed to be entirely ethyleneoxide. Moreover, it is methoxy terminated. Its weight is disclosed to be 3000 with a copolymer disclosed as 100. SILWET surfactant L-7604 is delineated as having the chemical name organo-modified polymethylsiloxane and as being a member of the organo silicone fluid chemical family.
The compositions of the present invention can contain other ingredients such as, for example, other polymers (e.g. PVP; PVP/VA) preservatives, ingredients to modify pH, fragrance, etc. Suitable preservatives include any and all preservatives commonly employed in cosmetically-acceptable formulations; for example, methylparaben, 2-phenoxyethanol, DMDMH, etc. If it is desired to adjust pH, a material such as aminomethylpropanol may be utilized. Other pH adjusting materials will be self-evident to one skilled in the art.
Although it is not essential, one can include in the formulations of the present invention, co-surfactants which are both oil and water miscible and/or co-solvents, such as glycerin, sorbitol and glycol ethers. The co-surfactants and co-solvents serve to improve the properties of the composition by aiding in solubilization, possibly by a bridge solvent effect . A co-surfactant that is particularly desirable is glycereth-7-triacetate. Co-solvents that are particularly desirable are glycerin, sorbitol, and propylene glycol.
The composition may contain other water soluble polymers as co-fixatives. Such materials are well known to those skilled in the art. They include, for example, polyvinylpyrrolidone, PVP/VA (65/35) and PVP/Dimethylaminoethyl-methylmethacrylate copolymer. Polyvinylpyrrolidone is preferred.
It should be noted that as used herein, all percentages are percent by weight and are based on the total weight of the composition.
The AQ polymer is preferably employed in the compositions of the instant invention, in an amount from about 2% to about 10%. More preferably, it is employed in an amount from about 4% to about 8%. Most preferably, it is employed in an amount of from about 5% to about 7%.
The modified dimethicone copolyol is preferably employed in an amount from about 0.1% to about 3%. More preferably, it is employed in an amount of from about 0.2% to about 2%. Most preferably, it is employed in an amount of from about 0.3% to about 1.0%.
The co-surfactant, when present, is employed in an amount of up to about 5%. More preferably, it is present in a range of from about 0.2% to about 3%. Most preferably, it is present in a range of from about 0.3% to about 1.5%.
The co-solvent, when present, is employed in an amount up to about 5%. More preferably, it is present in an amount of from about 0.2% to about 3%. Most preferably, it is present in an amount of from about 0.3% to about 1.5%.
The co-fixative, when present, is employed in an amount up to about 5%. More preferably, it is present in an amount of from about 0.25% to about 3% and most preferably in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 2%.
Preservative(s), when present, and pH adjusting material(s), when present, are utilized in amounts well known to those skilled in the art and appropriate for the particular material selected.
It is important to note that, although the formulations of the present invention are preferably substantially lower alkanol-free, they may contain from about 0% to about 25% lower alkanol. The presence of lower alkanol s not required, nor does it offer any real advantage. However, it may be desired to employ some lower alkanol in the composition if one wishes to incorporate additional active(s) requiring lower alkanol for solubilization. This may be true for certain sunscreens and other actives. It is the intention of the present inventor to include within the scope of the present invention, other actives, such as vitamins, sunscreens, and the like, which are typically employed in cosmetic formulations intended for application to the hair.


An optical receiver with a threshold voltage convergence and audio apparatus and communication apparatus using the optical receiver are provided. The optical receiver of the present invention includes an optical detector for converting a received optical signal to a current signal; a transimpedance amplifier for converting the current signal to a voltage signal; a level shifter for converging the voltage signal to a threshold voltage by removing an offset of the voltage signal, the level shifter comprising a plurality of linear subtractors connected in series; a reference voltage generator for generating a reference voltage in proportion to a variation of the offset of the voltage signal; and a comparator for comparing the threshold voltage and the reference voltage and generating a digital signal of a logic level according to a comparison result. The optical receiver of the present invention can compensate the shortcomings of the automatic voltage gain control and automatic threshold control techniques and reduce system complexity, thereby minimizing pulse-width distortion with a compact and low power consumption design and reducing the manufacturing costs of high performance digital interfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical receiver and, in particular, to an optical receiver with a threshold voltage convergence and audio apparatus and communication apparatus using the optical receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the advance of ubiquitous communications, the home network system, which has been limited to sharing printer and Internet connections, is developed to the multimedia home network system internetworking various electric appliances such as TV, audio system, and video system in real time.
Such a home network system is implemented by connecting the electric appliances through one or more wired and wireless networks. The optical link is the most appropriate link for implementing IEEE 1394 network for home, media oriented system transport (MOST) network for automobiles, and office network since it is lighter than electric wire in weight while guaranteeing high data rate with low data loss.
In order to apply the optical link to mobile devices such as cellular phone and MP3 player, the light weight and thin profiles of their internal elements are the design focus together with low power consumption. Until now, however, most of the optical transmitters and receivers are fabricated through bipolar junction transistor (BJT) process such that the devices are large in size relative to when fabricated using complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technique, resulting in relatively high power consumption. Also, such conventional optical transmitters and receivers do not satisfy the data rate requirement of high performance audio standards such as DVD-Audio (96 KHz, 24 bits multichannel) and SACD (2822.4 kHz, 1 bit, Multichannel).
Typically, digital audio devices and other industrial devices require optical receiver that can recover digital input signals in wide dynamic range as well as both DC (continuous 0 and 1) and AC data.
The CMOS optical receiver can be implemented with an Automatic Gain Control (AGC) or Automatic Threshold Control (ATC) according to the kinds of control signals. Typically, the AGC-based optical receiver requires high speed devices for securing stability and accuracy of feedback system and an offset removal technique that increase the manufacturing costs and system complexity.
Meanwhile, the ATC-based optical receiver can be implemented in low manufacturing cost with a feed-forward system using low speed devices relative to the AGC-based optical receiver. However, recent ATC technique adopts a DC offset removal method for generating an accurate threshold voltage and a reset circuit for adjusting the threshold voltage in accordance with varying received power, as in the AGC technique, resulting in increase of complexity.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional CMOS optical receiver, which includes an optical detector, a transimpedance amplifier (TIA), an ATC circuit, and a comparator. The ATI converts the current signal generated by the optical detector into amplified voltage signal, and the ATC circuit generates a threshold voltage in proportion to the received power. The voltage signals generated by the respective TIA and ATC are provided to the comparator so as to be converted into a digital signal of a logic level.
The optical detector and TIA can generate various levels of current and voltage signals according to the length of the optical fiber and variation of the received power such that the recovering such signals with a fixed threshold voltage causes a pulse-width distortion, resulting in quality deterioration of digital audio signal. In order to overcome this problem, the ATC circuit detects two peak signals output from the TIA and outputs an average voltage of the two peak signals.
However, such ATC circuit generates DC-offset by the false settings of the peak detector and resisters. In order to compensate the DC-offset, an offset removal circuit is required. Also, the ATC circuit requires additional reset circuit for generating, when the received power varies, an accurate threshold voltage by discharging capacitor of the peak detector before the varied signal is input. These offset-removal and reset circuits increase the system complexity.
As described above, the conventional optical receiver is disadvantageous in system complexity and manufacturing cost with the requirement of the offset-removal and reset circuits.

Optical receiver, optical audio apparatus, optical communication apparatus and optical reception method

Korea University Industry and Academy Cooperation Foundation


A sensor for measuring heat generated from cells, including a thermopile manufactured by surface-micromachining technology, and a microfluidic flow-channel structure for mixing cells with medium and dividing the mixture into cells and medium. Medium and cells are uniformly mixed using a micro-mixer. The mixture is separated into a medium microfluid and a cell microfluid using the Zweifach-Fung effect, after which signals measured in the two microfluids are amplified. The difference between the two signal values determines the amount of heat generated from the cells. The influence of noise caused by a change in external environment is eliminated. Convection heat dissipation caused by fluid flow is minimized. The sensor accurately measures the amount of heat generated from cells flowing in the microfluidic flow-channel. Diseases such as cancer are diagnosed using the difference between the measured amount of heat generated from cells and the standard amount of heat generated from normal cells.

In recent years, methods of examining and diagnosing diseases based on the characteristics of cells have been developed. Thus, technology of rapidly and accurately measuring the characteristics of a small amount of cells has been required, and for this purpose, microfluidic devices have been introduced. Particularly, because the amount of heat generated from cancer cells and the like is about 1,000 times higher than that from normal cells, it is possible to early diagnose diseases such as cancer by measuring the amount of heat generated from cells. In addition, the activity of cells can be determined by measuring the amount of heat generated from tissue cells, and furthermore, the reaction rate and step can be determined by measuring the difference in the amount of generated heat between enzymes. Meanwhile, the amount of heat generated in cellular or enzymatic reactions is very low, and in order to accurately measure the amount of heat generation using a microfluidic device, the influence of an external environment should be removed and the influence of heat dissipation by convection during the flow of microfluids should be minimized. In addition, the amount of heat generated from cells should be measured in a state in which the cells are suspended in medium, so that the activity and survival time of the cells can be increased to ensure the accurate measurement of the amount of heat generated from the cells.
A sensor for measuring the amount of heat generated from cells according to the prior art is configured such that cells and medium are passed through a single microfluidic flow channel and a heat generation-measuring unit composed of a thermopile. In the prior art sensor for measuring the amount of heat generated from cells, medium and cells are injected through the single microfluidic flow channel. Thus, cells and medium are likely to be influenced by external noise caused by a change in atmospheric temperature, and convection heat dissipation in the heat generation-measuring unit by the flow of the medium occurs, making it difficult to accurately measure the amount of heat generated from the cells. Moreover, the convection heat transfer coefficient changes depending on the injection rates of medium and cells, and this change exerts an influence upon a signal for measuring the amount of heat generated. To overcome these shortcomings, the prior art sensor for measuring the amount of heat generated from cells requires a chamber, the temperature of which can be precisely controlled, and an ultra-low-flow rate fluid pump for controlling flow rate at a level of nl/min. In addition, to compensate for the temperature of the cold region of the thermopile, an assistant heater is required in addition to a main heater.

Sensor for measuring amount of heat generated from cells using zweifach-fung effect and method for manufacturing the same

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology


A composite above ground liquid storage vault. The vault includes an inner tank defining a containment cavity for the liquid. The inner tank is enclosed within an insulating layer and a monitor tube is positioned adjacent to the insulating layer so as to extend to a location exterior of the vault. A liquid impervious membrane encapsulates the monitor tube, the insulating layer and the inner tank. The encapsulated inner tank is positioned within an outer tank and spaced apart from the interior surfaces of the outer tank by spacers supporting the encapsulated inner tank. A structural and insulating material is located within this space so as to completely surround the inner tank and form a fire wall.

The invention relates to above ground liquid storage containers and, more specifically, to a composite above ground liquid storage container, also known as a vault, which incorporates features that enable the detection of fluid leaking from the primary containment cavity of the vault.
The interest in the safe containment of hazardous liquids, particularly volatile fuels such as gasoline, is a continuous one. Previously, these liquids were stored in large capacity underground tanks. The various reasons for using underground or buried tanks have included eliminating the possibility that the tank would be ruptured by a vehicle during an accident; reducing the inherent fire risks associated with volatile liquid storage by insulating the storage vessel from an external heat source or fire; and neutralizing leaked liquid by having it absorbed into the surrounding soil thereby reducing the risk of a contaminated ground surface, a potential fire and various other health and safety risks.
It has become increasingly apparent that the risks associated with leaking underground storage tanks can, and often do, outweigh the benefits of underground storage and can outweigh the risks associated with above ground storage. Underground storage tank leaks have been found to have serious short term and long term environmental consequences. The widespread use of underground storage and the known and potential liabilities have lead to the inspection, removal and replacement of numerous leaking storage tanks. With the cost of inspecting, removing and replacing the underground tank being quite high in and of itself, the expense escalates if it is found that the surrounding soil has been contaminated and requires environmental reclamation.
Once a leaking tank has be identified and the associated cleanup has been completed, businesses are now considering the various alternatives to burying another tank. One alternative is the above ground storage vault.
Above ground storage tanks must meet stringent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. These regulations vary widely and depend on the particular liquid being stored. Additionally, again depending on the specific liquid to be contained within the vault, the regulations promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association and the Uniform Fire Code must also be met. While the regulations vary from liquid to liquid, some common safety requirements include, but are not limited to, insulation from extreme external heat sources and resistance to natural and man-made physical disasters such as earthquakes and vehicle accidents.
A variety of storage tank which has been used both above and below ground is the double walled or dual containment tank. Typically, dual containment tanks include an inner tank for primary liquid containment and an outer tank providing secondary containment. A space is generally provided between the inner and outer tanks and is used to monitor the inner tank for leaks.
In some dual containment tanks, the space between the inner and outer tanks is filled with one or more materials offering additional insulating and/or structural support to the tank. These tanks are commonly known as storage vaults and concrete is often on of the interdisposed materials. The present invention is a variant of this type of storage vaults.
One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide an above ground storage vault with a dual containment construction in which a space between the two tanks can be monitored for leaks. The present invention also provides a storage vault in which the space between the inner and outer tanks is at least partially filled with a material that serves both an insulating and structural function.
To achieving these and other objects, the present invention provides an above ground liquid storage vault having a composite construction. The vault is generally constructed of an inner tank and an outer tank. The inner tank defines a primary containment cavity which is adapted to receive and store a liquid, such as gasoline. The inner tank includes an inlet fitting, a discharge fitting and a vent, all of which extend to positions exterior of the vault. Additional fittings, if desired, can be provided on the vault as determined by the particular application to which the vault will be applied.
Before being positioned within the outer tank, the inner tank is first encapsulated in a layer of an insulating material. In addition to insulating the liquid in the inner tank, the first layer is made of a material which will at least partially dissolve, melt or otherwise liquify upon contact with any leaked liquid from the inner tank.
A monitor tube is positioned immediately exterior of this first layer and extends from a leak collection region, located near the bottom of the inner tank, to a position exterior of the outer tank. If a leak does occurs in the inner tank, a portion of the first layer near the leak will dissolve and the leaked liquid will be allowed to naturally progress to the leak collection area where it will be detected by manual or automated monitoring through the monitor tube.
After the inner tank has been encapsulated within the insulating material, both the inner tank and the insulating material, as well as the monitor tube, are further encapsulated by a membrane. Unlike the insulating layer, the membrane is impervious to the specific liquid being stored and does not react or dissolve when it comes into contact with leaked liquid. The membrane therefore provides a barrier to further leakage from the vault.
The encapsulated inner tank, as so far described, is then positioned within the cavity of the outer tank. In positioning the encapsulated inner tank within the outer tank, the encapsulated inner tank is supported on spacers in the outer tank which provide a space or gap between the interior surfaces of the outer tank and the exterior surfaces of the encapsulated inner tank. This space is filled with a structural and insulating material which further covers the bottom, sides and top of the inner tank. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the structural and insulating material is concrete.
Hold-down members extend between the side walls of the outer tank across the top of the encapsulated inner tank so as to prevent the inner tank from floating on the poured concrete. The top wall of the outer tank is secured to the side walls of the outer tank by welding or some other securement method and is provided with an opening through which the concrete may be poured once the vault has been delivered to its site o usage.
Since the composite vault is to be used above ground and, most likely outdoors, the exterior surface of the outer tank is coated with an anti-corrosion material which protects the outer tank and enhances the aesthetic appearance of the vault. Reinforced fiberglass is one material which meets the criteria for the anti-corrosion material.
The vault is also provided with bottom supports or risers which raise the vault several inches above the surface on which it is supported. These risers allow the surface beneath the vault to be visually inspected for further evidence of leakage and also enable the vault to be anchored to the support surface.
Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Composite above ground liquid storage vault


The present invention may comprise an apparatus and method for calculating power consumption, including a unit for generating a clock-level analysis without synthesis of an algorithm description and calculating operating ratios of storage elements and arithmetic units. The invention may also comprise a method for estimating the power to be consumed by a SystemC model. By estimating this value, a user may gauge the amount of power a specific semiconductor design might consume, once manufactured into a chip.

The present invention relates generally to virtual prototyping. Specifically, the invention relates to a method for predictive simulation and power estimation of microdevices and microsystems.
Portable and high-density micro-electronic devices make power dissipation of very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits a critical concern. Because of limited battery life, reliability issues, and packaging and cooling costs, power consumption for devices is a critical design concern. To avoid issues associated with excessive power consumption, computer design helps to estimate power consumption of VLSI designs.
The rapid progress in microsystems technology is increasingly supported by specific modeling methods and dedicated simulation tools. These methods not only enable the visualization of fabrication processes and operational principles, but also assist a designer to make decisions for finding optimized microstructures under relevant technological and economical constraints. Currently efforts are being made towards using simulation platforms for the predictive simulation of microsystems, i.e., the "virtual fabrication" and "virtual experimentation and characterization" on a computer.
A digital semiconductor chip is often designed using a Hardware Description Language (HDL) such as Verilog or VHDL (Very High-Speed Integrated Circuit, VHSIC, Hardware Description Language). To verify that the design operates according to the design specification, it must be simulated in a verification environment. These simulations are typically done using commonly available simulation tools such as NC Sim (from Cadence) and VCS (from Synopsys). Other simulators from various different vendors may also be used. As these simulations run in a "cycle-accurate" mode, they tend to be very accurate in representing the behavior of the design. In "cycle accurate mode," the real clock signal that is expected to be provided to the semiconductor chip is supplied to the design during simulations. Since the real clock signal cycles many times during simulations, the simulations tend to be very slow, as each clock cycle (or "tick") necessitates evaluation of the simulator events. Typically, modern digital design involves clock signal frequencies of several million cycles per second to several billion cycles per second. Thus, simulating real world conditions which happen over several minutes becomes extremely slow.
One of the methods to speed up these simulations and increase the simulation performance is to represent the semiconductor design in a higher abstraction level. The higher abstraction representation of the semiconductor design will use the concept of Transaction Level Modeling (or TLM) to model the behavior of the semiconductor design. Such a higher abstraction model might be written with a language like SystemC, SystemVerilog, C, C++ or any other suitable language. This higher abstraction model is known as a "Virtual Prototype" of the semiconductor design. The virtual prototype can then be simulated in a SystemC simulator (many simulation tools are available from various vendors). The simulations in a SystemC/TLM simulator tend to be much faster, up to 200 or 300 times faster as compared to the semiconductor design simulations.
The acceleration is due to the simulations run in one of the following modes prescribed by the standards committee for SystemC/TLM modeling, Accelera.                A) "untimed"—where no clock signal used.        B) "approximately timed"—different transaction "phases" are used to time the model (clock signal is used rarely in this mode).        C) "loosely timed"—more transaction phases are used than in B (clock signal is used occasionally in this mode).
In A, the clock signal is not used at all. In B, the clock signal is rarely used; instead the model relies on the "start" phase of a transaction or event occurring within the block and the "end phase" of that transaction or event. In C, more phases of the transaction are used to time the model (start phase, active phase, acknowledgement phase, end phase, etc. More phases may be defined by the user as required).
There is no "cycle accurate" mode prescribed by Accelera when building and simulating a virtual prototype. Cycle accurate mode is the most accurate mode used to simulate the real semiconductor design using the real clock signal, as described previously. Accelera usually recommends that the number of modes be no greater than three. The present invention may comprise a number of modes greater than three.
The challenge: In a semiconductor design built using an HDL (like Verilog or VHDL) it is easier to estimate the power consumption based on the frequency of the clock signal that the design runs on, and several other parameters inside the design. This results in a fairly accurate estimation of the power that the design might consume, once it is applied into a real world semiconductor chip. However, in a virtual prototype of the semiconductor design, any power estimation will not be accurate. The reason is that semiconductor design simulations always run in a "cycle-accurate" mode, using every clock tick of the real clock signal. In the virtual prototype, in the any of the timing modes: untimed, approximately timed or the loosely timed, the clock used is an approximation of the real clock signal.
Power estimation can be hampered in complexity, time, and cost, by engaging in model synthesis. Power estimation without performing the model synthesis step, has been avoided due to the industry's failure to develop a method of estimating power that excludes model synthesis. If the power estimation process could be performed without model synthesis, then time and costs could be decreased.
There is a need to give an accurate estimation of the power consumed in a virtual prototype, because today's low-power semiconductor designs demand an estimation of power from the virtual prototyping systems. The virtual prototype is typically built very early on in the design process. Thus, if the prototype could provide an accurate estimation of power, it helps the user to make better design choices, before the design gets finalized. Also, the method should look towards streamlining where feasible, such as concerning synthesis steps.

Method for power estimation for virtual prototyping models for semiconductors


An edge detector is disclosed, which detector is improved by providing a probe moving relatively with a tested pattern, a device for detecting a working force or a tunnel current generated between the probe and the tested pattern, and a device for detecting an edge of the tested pattern according to the detected working force or tunnel current. An edge of the tested pattern is detected at high resolution by detecting the tunnel current flowing between a conductive tested pattern and a probe kept closely opposite thereto, or by detecting an atomic force or a magnetic force working between an insulated or a magnetic tested pattern and a lever.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an edge detector, preferably for use on line width measuring apparatus for LSI patterns, encoder and others.
2. Related Background Art
Prior art detectors typically intended for this kind of measurement include a device for detecting an edge by applying a laser beam spot to a tested pattern and detecting scattered light from the pattern edge. Then, that of using an electron beam includes an electron beam device for detecting a tested pattern edge by applying a heat emission electron from a cathode or a field emission electron to a tested matter in concentration and detecting a secondary electron emitted from the tested matter.
However, in the case of prior art devices using laser beams, resolution cannot be minimized inasmuch as a beam spot size cannot be reduced any further than a limit, and satisfactory precision is not obtainable for detection of VLSI pattern edges of the semiconductor wafer further reduced down in structure, recently. Then, while attaining 10 nanometers of resolution anyhow, the device using electron beams is also not yet satisfactory for detection of VLSI pattern edges. Furthermore a vacuum system is required. Therefore, the device gets unavoidably large in size and working efficiency deteriorates, in addition.


A toner for an electrophotography comprising a resin and a colorant is disclosed. The toner is formed by a process including a step of aggregating resin particles, and the toner comprises a volatile ketone compound in an amount of 4-60 ppm and carnauba wax in toner particles.

Image formation employing electrophotographic systems is mainly performed by digital systems. In digital image formation systems, it is essential to use a toner of a minute particle diameter capable of achieving excellent fine line reproduction and high definition, as represented by visualization of images comprised of small dots, for example, at a level of 12,000 dpi (the number of dots per inch).
Further, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, disclosed as an example of production of such a small particle diameter toner is a production method in which toner raw materials such as polyester resins and the like are emulsify-dispersed in a water-based medium and resin particles in the resulting emulsified dispersion are aggregated to the desired toner size.
Further, known as an embodiment of the aforesaid digital image formation, is an image forming method of a print-on-demand system in which the required number of prints are carried out at the required occasions. Image formation utilizing the above system does not necessitate plate making which is performed in conventional printing, and makes it possible to readily achieve production of several hundred copies of publication, as well as production of direct mail and invitation cards while varying mailing addresses. Consequently, the above system is receiving attention as a promising image forming means replacing shortrun printing.
However, it has been noted that problems occur when image formation by the electrophotographic system is employed to produce mail and invitation cards while varying mailing addresses. The problems were that when images were formed on thick paper employed for invitation cards for wedding ceremonies, thick postcards, and gratitude cards for attending a funeral, it was not possible to achieve sufficient fixing. Specifically, in thick postcards and gratitude cards for attending a funeral, provided with a printed gray frame, fixing tends to not be sufficient within the gray frame, resulting in staining of the users' hands and other paper surfaces.
Further, when a toner image is formed on the surface of thick paper, an excessively large load, beyond comparison to that applied onto copy paper sheets, is applied to toner particles. As a result, toner particles tend to be crushed during image formation, whereby problems occur in which the paper surface is stained with powdered toner due to the crushing.
Thick paper such as the aforesaid thick postcards is one of the transfer media with high difficulty. However, in order to increase the use of electrophotography as an image forming means of the print-on-demand system, it is required that toner images are stably formed not only on plain paper developed for electrophotography as recording media, but also on printing paper. If this condition is not satisfied, electrophotography will not be accepted by printing industry.
For example, it is often viewed that a commuter is reading a paperback edition while holding the edition in one hand and hanging on to an overhead strap with the other hand. In such a situation, it is desired that the paper of the edition exhibits lubrication so that pages can be turned only by one hand, and at the same time, toner exhibits the fixing strength so that toner rubbed by friction does not result in staining of the paper surface and the text.
However, the slip property and fixing strength of toner images formed by the electrophotographic system are currently inferior to those of traditional printed matter. As a result, the aforesaid toner images have not been accepted by publishing institutions, resulting in its delayed use. The aforesaid inferiority has not been overcome even by employing toners disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2.
Further, toner which is prepared by aggregating resin particles tends to contain a relatively large amount of moisture, since the aggregation is performed in a water-based medium. When such a toner is employed, problems of toner blister are pronounced which is caused by release of toner from a toner image which is formed by generating air bubble formed in such a manner that moisture is evaporated by heat during fixing.
(1) Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection (hereinafter referred to as JP-A) No. 2002-296839 (refer to paragraph 0011)
(2) Patent Document 2: JP-A No. 2002-351140 (refer to paragraph 0011)


A computer implemented method for storing data sets in and retrieving data sets from a data storage system in a given number and sorted by a data attribute of the data set comprises                storing data sets each including one or more attributes in a plurality of binary tree structures (1), each of said binary tree structures (1) with their nodes (2) representing the entity of one of the data attributes of the data sets in a sorted manner,        receiving a query for searching and returning data sets according to query conditions in said given number and sorted by a sort attribute,        accessing the binary tree structure (1) of said sort attribute,        serially traversing the nodes (2) of said binary tree structure (1) according to the sort attribute,        at each node (2) checking whether the data set associated to said node meets the query conditions and, if true, returning said data set,        terminating said traversing when said given number of data sets is reached.

The present invention is relevant for the field of data bases, especially data base systems handling huge numbers of data. In this connection the patent applications WO 02/061612 A2 and WO 02/061613 A2 disclose—amongst others—such data base systems, data structures used therein and query optimizers for such data base systems. The disclosure of both these applications is incorporated herein by reference. These applications especially reflect storage and query strategies based on balanced binary trees.
Furtheron reference is made to European patent application No. 03 015 365.4 (prior art according to article 54(3) EPC), which basically discloses the method of storing certain query results as bitmaps, which is a very simple and machine-oriented strategy of storing data. Again the contents of this older patent application is incorporated herein by reference.
Now concerning the background of the present invention reference is made to the practical use of data storage systems. Users of such systems enter queries comprising query conditions into the data storage system to get back according result data sets, e.g. including a certain name or date. Especially in case of huge numbers of hits and thus data sets to be returned users commonly want to have a certain sorting so that only a restricted number of hits are presented to them, e.g. the ten youngest persons with the query condition "NAME=Smith".
Known sorting methods go through the whole result data sets to filter out the required hits according to the given sort attribute, i.e. such sorting can be very time-consuming for such data sets. Generally spoken, if one wants to return only the first ten data sets of a result set of M hits sorted by a particular sort attribute the data storage system must in any case sort the entire result set.

Computer implemented method and according computer program product for storing data sets in and retrieving data sets from a data storage system


An assistive navigational system for deployment in a facility having a global frame of reference includes: a server including a memory storing: a plurality of anchor definitions each containing (i) an anchor position in the global frame of reference, and (ii) a feature set corresponding to physical characteristics of the facility at the anchor position; and a task definition containing (i) a task position defined relative to the anchor position, and (ii) task overlay data; the server further including a communications interface, and a processor configured to: select one of the anchor definitions for association with the task definition; and transmit the selected anchor definition and the task definition to a mobile computing device, the mobile computing device configured to receive the selected anchor definition and the task definition; the mobile computing device further configured to present the task overlay data on a display.

Environments in which objects are managed, such as retail facilities, may be complex and fluid. For example, a retail facility may include objects such as products for purchase, a distribution environment may include objects such as parcels or pallets, a manufacturing environment may include objects such as components or assemblies, a healthcare environment may include objects such as medications or medical devices.
Tasks may be identified for execution within such environments, for example to correct price labels on products, restock a supply of products, and the like. Such tasks may be assigned to human operators for execution. The presence of a variable number of tasks, as well as a variable number of mobile operators, within the environment at any given time can lead to inefficient allocation of tasks to operators, resulting in underutilization or overutilization of certain operators or the need for expensive training of multiple operators on multiple tasks.
Further, the operator assigned to perform a given task may be required to accurately locate a position within the facility at which the task is to be performed. A mobile computing device carried by the operator may have insufficiently accurate localization to guide the operator to the correct position within the facility, resulting in incorrectly executed tasks, delays in task execution, or both.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Method, system and apparatus for navigational assistance


An electronic apparatus with a DC power source and power-consuming electronic circuits and a method of transferring power between these components include converting the DC voltage of the power source into an AC voltage which is then transferred via a connector to the electronic circuits.

A medical implant like a pacemaker or a Deep Brain Stimulation system is a typical example of an electronic apparatus in which electrical power has to be transferred from a DC power storage (battery) to power-consuming circuits. Due to its operation in a wet environment, care must be taken to avoid harmful effects like electrolysis when electronic components of an implant come into contact with moisture. In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,260, this is achieved by providing an implant with a double hermetic sealing. However, when the battery of an implant shall be replaced at the end of its lifetime, it is difficult to do this without permanently damaging such a sealing.


When a communication network is newly set up, the NET-ID assignment method investigates NET-IDs of adjacent base stations and then decides an appropriate NET-ID based on the investigation result. At this time, the decided NET-ID is updated in a NET-ID table stored in the base station.

Identification of a communication network is made in a digital radio communication system including a plurality of base station apparatuses that perform radio communications with at least one communication terminal apparatus. This communication network identification is made, for example, in the following cases:
(1) To check whether a network is connectable or not prior to authentication, etc. after power of a communication terminal is turned on and before starting a communication with a base station (AP) (at the time of so-called association)
(2) To verify operator and services supported, etc. at handover destination
Identification of a communication network is made using a network identifier (e.g., network ID, hereinafter abbreviated as "NET-ID"). For this NET-ID, several bits of CCH (Broadcast Control CHannel) are used. A communication network is made identifiable by assigning this NET-ID to each communication network.
In general, 4 bits of BCCH are used as a NET-ID, making 16 types of communication network identifiable. This NET-ID is determined using random numbers when a communication network is set up.
However, in Japan, 4 frequencies are assigned as a 5-GHz band of radio communication. When there are many adjacent private networks in office buildings in a downtown area or when there is a plurality of public networks of different service types, etc., there can be many communication networks in narrow bands of a specific region.
Considering these situations, it is quite difficult to identify a communication network using a 4-bit NET-ID. Therefore, when many communication networks coexist, it may be quite difficult to identify communication networks according to the conventional method.

Base station apparatus and network identifier assignment method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A phaco-emulsification needle is provided for use with a plastic or elastomeric sleeve, the needle having a mid-region portion defining a plurality of outwardly extending projections forming longitudinally-oriented grooves that provide adequate irrigant flow rates to the anterior chamber of the eye, even when the entry wound compresses the sleeve against the outer surface of the needle, thereby reducing the risk of collapse of the anterior chamber due to inadequate irrigant flow and reducing the risk of excessive heat transmission to the entry wound.

Occurrence of the disease known as cataracts, in which the lens of the eye becomes clouded, is common, and can lead to blindness. It has become accepted practice to alleviate this condition by surgically removing the cataract-effected lens and replacing it by an artificial intraocular lens.
The cataract-effected lens is usually removed by manual extraction or phaco-emulsification. Manual extraction requires expression of the nucleus of the lens through a wound of about 12 mm in length.
The technique known as phaco-emulsification, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,363, enables removal of a cataract-effected lens through a much smaller incision of about 2.5-4 mm, for example, 3.2 mm. This is accomplished using high frequency ultrasound energy, typically of 40 kHz frequency, that is transmitted by a phaco-emulsification needle to fragment or emulsify the nucleus of the cataract-effected lens. Once fragmented or emulsified, the nuclear material is aspirated through a lumen of the phaco-emulsification needle.
During aspiration of the fragmented nucleus, a simultaneous flow of liquid into the eye is provided around the needle via a soft plastic or elastomeric sleeve concentrically disposed over the needle to form an annulus. This flow of liquid into the eye is essential to prevent collapse of the anterior chamber of the eye while the fragmented or emulsified nucleus is aspirated via the phaco-emulsification needle. Also, the inflowing liquid serves to cool the needle, thus reducing heat generated by the ultrasonic vibration of the needle. If this heat were instead permitted to be transmitted to the entry wound of the eye, thermal damage of the cornea or scleral tissue could result.
One difficulty encountered in practicing the phaco-emulsification technique is the necessity of maintaining a low-leakage seal between the entry wound in the eye and the sleeve surrounding the phaco-emulsification needle. If the wound entrance is too small, the sleeve may be compressed against the needle, thereby restricting the flow of irrigant into the anterior chamber and allowing frictional heat to be transmitted to the wound.
Alternatively, if the wound is made large to avoid compression of the sleeve, unacceptably high leakage may occur around the sleeve, for example, at rates of 25 cc/minute. The liquid lost by leakage must be replaced by liquid inflow through the annulus between the plastic sleeve and the needle, thus reducing the safety margin in maintaining a constant anterior chamber volume. Accordingly, to avoid collapse of the anterior chamber, liquid inflow through the annulus should never be less than total liquid outflow via the phaco-emulsification lumen and leakage around the sleeve.
In response to these concerns, a number of techniques have been developed which attempt to reduce leakage from the wound by improving the seal between the wound and the sleeve, while avoiding heat transmission to the wound.
A first technique uses a rigid plastic sleeve made from a material such as polysulphone rather than a softer silicone material, because polysulphone resists compression by the wound. Another technique, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,786, incorporates a rigid plastic or metal sleeve disposed on the outer circumference of a softer silicon sleeve, so that the rigid plastic contacts the entry wound. These techniques, however, have the drawback that they increase wound distortion and tend to enlarge the wound during the procedure, thus enhancing leakage.
A second technique, described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,286,256 and 5,354,265, employs a rigid plastic or metal intermediate sleeve inserted in the annulus between the conventional outer soft silicone sleeve and the phaco-emulsification needle. The rigid intermediate sleeve is permitted to "float" on the exterior of the phaco-emulsification needle, and the needle may have a reduced outer diameter in a middle region to limit longitudinal travel of the intermediate sleeve. The reduced middle region of the needle permits a small incision while maintaining fluid flow around the phaco-emulsification needle. However, such benefits are believed to be more than offset by the increase in the overall diameter of the apparatus to accommodate the intermediate sleeve and the overall reduction in the irrigation cross-sectional flow area caused by the presence of the intermediate sleeve.
A yet third technique attempting to solve the problems of fluid leakage from the entry wound and heat transmission is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,634,420, 4,643,717, 4,808,154 and 5,242,385. The sleeves described in these patents each include a plurality of inwardly extending ribs that serve to reinforce the sleeve against compression, to limit contact between the sleeve and the phaco-emulsification needle, and to provide flow channels in the event that the sleeve is compressed against the needle. All of these designs share the common drawback that the ribs enhance the rigidity of the sleeve, and thus pose a risk of transmitting more frictional heat to the entry wound. In addition, all of these designs require a larger entry wound to accommodate the added dimension of the ribs. Moreover, if the ribs are formed of silicone or other soft plastic or elastomeric material, it is expected that the compressive loads transmitted to such sleeves from the entry wound may compress the ribs to an extent that unacceptably low flow rates might still occur.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a phaco-emulsification needle that overcomes the drawbacks of previously known needle and sleeve arrangements by permitting the use of a small wound size, and that reduces the risk of restriction of fluid flow around the needle.
It further would be desirable to provide a phaco-emulsification needle that provides reduced contact area between the needle and the sleeve, thus reducing the transmission of heat to adjacent tissue, with concomitant reduction in the risk of tissue damage.
It would be still further desirable to provide a phaco-emulsification needle that ensures adequate irrigant flow even in those cases where the sleeve is compressed against the exterior of the needle.
It would be yet further desirable to provide a device for use with a phaco-emulsification needle that would improve fluid flow and reduce heat transmission in those cases where the sleeve is subjected to high compressive loading by the entry wound.


The method and arrangement is for the feed of a chips suspension from one vessel to a subsequent digester in a continuous cooking process for the production of chemical cellulose pulp. The vessel has an inlet defined therein for the input of chips and an outlet defined therein for the output of a chips suspension. The chips suspension in the vessel has a first fluid/wood ratio established above a second fluid/wood ratio that is established at the bottom of the vessel. The second fluid/wood ratio is at least as great as, preferably greater than, the first fluid/wood ratio. After the output of the chips suspension from the vessel and before the chips suspension is placed under pressure for onwards transport to a subsequent digester, a fraction of fluid is withdrawn from the chips suspension, whereby a third fluid/wood ratio is established in the chips suspension.

The use of scraper devices at the bottom of digesters and impregnation vessels in the continuous cooking of chemical cellulose pulp has been long known. The aim of these scraper devices is to ensure a continuous output of the cellulose pulp or chips from the vessel. The scraper device consists of a number of scraper arms that are arranged on the shaft that is arranged to be vertical during production. The motion of the arms in the suspension of pulp or chips counteracts the formation of blockages, the formation of channels, and other undesired effects.
The above-mentioned shaft for the operation of the said scraper arms has been used since early times for the addition of fluid at the lower part of the digester or impregnation vessel. The addition of fluid occurs in this case by making the shaft hollow and leading fluid in through this way. The primary purpose of adding fluid has been to wash the pulp. This addition of fluid through the shaft has more recently been used for the dilution of the pulp with the aim of ensuring output from the vessel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,005 reveals a variant of such a hollow shaft in which fluid is added to a continuous digester with the aim of ensuring output from the digester.
An alternative to the above-described addition of fluid with the aim of diluting and ensuring output of the pulp or chips from the digester or the impregnation vessel is to add the fluid at the lower part of the vessel through a fluid supply device through the vessel. It is preferable that this addition takes place in the vicinity of the scraper device. SE 180 289 reveals an embodiment in which the fluid supply device adds fluid close to the bottom of a container with the aim of preventing the formation of blockages of cellulose fibres.
Addition of fluid by the methods that have been described above, however, involves a number of disadvantages, particularly when the addition is made to an impregnation vessel.
In the cases in which the fluid is added to an impregnation vessel, the extra addition of fluid must be dealt with by the top separator in subsequent digesters, which involves a considerable extra expense at the top separator.
Furthermore, the added fluid involves large volumes of fluid that the system must deal with, and this in turn involves expensive investment and high operating costs of pumps and high-pressure taps, or both.
The same problem arises, naturally, also in those cases in which no fluid has been added at the bottom of the impregnation vessel due to the fluid/wood ratio of the chips suspension being so high that it is not necessary to add fluid in order to ensure output from the impregnation vessel.

Arrangement for feeding a slurry of chips and liquid


The invention concerns a medicine and a prophylactic medicine for COVID-19 disease. The inventive medicine targets the endosomic, non-endosomic and/or intracellular viral pathways and inhibits them. The best mode of the invention is considered to be the medicine that blocks all three viral pathways. In the best mode the individual dose of a constituent component of the medicine is arranged to a dosage size sufficient to inhibit its designated SARS-CoV-2 viral pathway. This allows the dose of a particular pharmacological agent to be smaller than in a drug with just one kind of pharmacological agent. The best mode of the invention shuts the two cell membrane viral pathways and the one intracellular viral pathway with the minimum efficient dose, thereby preventing drug overdose, and enabling prophylactic or preventive use.

Viruses are incapable of free-living existence. They can infect cells and cause various diseases by invading cells and redirecting the synthetic machinery of mammalian cells toward the production of more virus particles. Viruses can enter cells via different mechanisms.
In case of respiratory viral diseases, viruses enter body usually via the epithelial cells of respiratory track. Accompanying FIGS. 1-3 and 7 show anatomical structure of human respiratory track. Often viruses enter the body already through epithelial cells in upper respiratory track, for instance via nasal mucosa. This is true especially if viruses are delivered by accident via hands to nasal mucosa.
When the virus has reached the surface of respiratory epithelium, it must enter the cell in order to propagate the disease.
First, the virus needs a specific cellular receptor on plasma membrane. Several specific receptors for different viruses are known. However, usually each virus has only one specific type of receptor on the target cell membrane. Receptors could be proteins, carbohydrate moieties or even membrane lipids. In case of influenza A the virus specific receptor is alpha-2,6-sialic acid and in case of SARS-Cov and SARS-Cov-2 the specific receptor is the ACE2 protein.
After binding of the virus to the specific membrane protein, for example, this binding induces a cascade of molecular events that eventually lead to the release of viral genome into the host cell cytoplasm. The presence of a specific receptor on the cell surface is usually needed for viral entrance. After binding to the cell membrane, different viruses can induce one or even more molecular mechanisms to enter the cellular cytoplasm as indicated in accompanying figures.
SARS-Cov-2 virus that induces human Covid-19 disease can either perform a so-called early entry (FIGS. 1 and 4) or late entry (FIGS. 2 and 5) into cellular cytoplasm.
In the early entry, specific cellular proteases are needed to cleave the viral protein, which will activate the fusion of viral envelope to the cell membrane and lead to entry of viral nucleocapsid into cellular cytoplasm.
In case of influenza and corona viruses, activating proteases could be at least transmembrane protease serine Si member and human trypsin like protease. In addition to endogenous proteases, also other proteases secreted into the luminal space could induce cleavage and activate the fusion of virus envelope to the plasma membrane.
Enveloped viruses like influenza and corona viruses can enter the epithelial cells also via receptor-mediated endocytosis and release viral content in late endosomes. This type of entry does not need proteases on the cell surface.
In this type of endosome entrance into cytoplasm virus attaches to a specific type membrane receptor and this binding induces so called receptor-mediated endocytosis. Virus particles are taken first into early endosomes and during maturation of these towards late endosomes, and the interiors of these vesicles becomes acidic via action of membrane bound vacuolar ATPase. This acidification activates endosomal proteases, like cathepsin L. Activated proteases are able to cleave viral envelope inducing fusion of virus to the late endosome's membrane and leading to the release of viral genome into cellular cytoplasm.
After releasing of viral genome into the cytoplasm, copying the genome with reverse transcriptase enzyme (depending on the genomic material type), synthesizing virus genome and proteins by cellular machinery, virus genome and virus proteins are assembled to form new viruses, which can then propagate the infection further. Viral protein genes are translated to proteins via cellular protein synthesis machinery in endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex.
It is known in the art that people who work with cattle rarely contract influenza.
Washing hands with soap is also known to be a good strategy to prevent viruses.
Four human coronavirus strains (HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL-63 and HCoV-HKU1) are known in the art, which cause mild upper respiratory tract infections. However, during last 20 years two new zoonotic coronaviruses have appeared, MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) and SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus). By contrast to human coronaviruses, these can cause more severe disease symptoms, mainly in respiratory organs, but also extrapulmonary complications. In 2019 a third zoonotic coronavirus emerged, SARS-CoV-2 causing the COVID-19 disease (also called COVID-19 virus).
J. K Millet and G. R. Whittaker, Physiological and molecular triggers for SARS-CoV membrane fusion and entry into host cells, Virology 517, 3-8 (2018), describes the strategies of coronavirus entry into cells. Coronavirus enters into cell by two alternative routes: non-endosomic and/or endosomic pathways. In non-endosomic entry virus particle attaches to host cell membrane through virus surface S protein (spike) and specific cell membrane ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme) receptor interaction. Then S protein fuses virus envelope to cell membrane by the aid of cell proteinases in a pH independent way, virus enters into cell, dissembles and releases its genome (RNA) into cytoplasm. Thereafter the released uncoated RNA is replicated by reverse transcriptase enzyme and virus protein synthesis and replication of new virus genomic RNA starts and proceeds by host's cellular machinery. Virus proteins are transported through endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi apparatus, where they mature in pH dependent conditions, e.g. by glycosylation. Then virus particles are assembled from virus proteins and virus RNA genome in the cytoplasm to new infectious viruses. Finally, viruses are released from the cell by exocytosis and infect new cells. In endosomic entry, virus particle attaches to host cell membrane also through virus surface S protein (spike) and specific cell membrane ACE2 receptor interaction, like above. After that, the virus is taken into cell early endosome by clathrin-mediated endocytosis. When early endosome acidifies to mature late endosome, virus fuses to endosome's membrane through S protein/ACE2 interaction and by the aid of cellular proteinases. Then RNA genome is released into cytoplasm, and from this point, the production and maturation of virus particles are identical to non-endosomic pathway. These strategies are depicted in more detail in accompanying figures.
There are many stages, where the entry of the virus, the release of its genome and its maturation can be prevented, although currently there is no antiviral treatment effective for coronaviruses. At the time of writing, there is a suspicion that Remdesivir developed by Gilead Sciences might have some efficacy against the coronavirus in very ill patients, reducing the time spent per patient in Intensive Care Units ICU.
A. Zumla, et al., Coronaviruses—drug discovery and therapeutic options, Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 15, 327-34 (2016) reviews numerous therapeutic interventions suggested and studied in clinical trials. These include e.g. virus-based strategies to disturb/prevent replication of the virus RNA genome, to inhibit synthesis and function of different virus proteins and to prevent virus S protein/cell ACE2 receptor interaction, or host-based strategies to induce host's immune response, to prevent host signaling pathways involved in virus replication, to inhibit virus entry by blocking cellular receptors or by inhibiting the function of cellular membrane and endosomal proteins, by disturbing endocytosis or by modifying cell's pH levels at different stages. Also, studies to develop vaccines have been numerous and extensive by different design strategies, but with no clinical success yet.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0311482 lists a broad catalogue of treatments that can be administered with a broad array of drug delivery strategies. It relates to the treatment of upper airway infections with proinflammatory cytokine inhibitors and other bioactive agents, like antiangiogenic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal and antiprotozoal compounds, focusing on their usage in the treatment of sinusitis. In addition, it describes the use of different drug delivery systems for local noninvasive administration of the drugs to nasopharyngeal tract. These include nasal administration e.g. by sprays, aerosols, gels, solutions, emulsions and suspensions, and with the aid of targeting delivery devices, like nasal inhalers, aerolizers and microcatheters.
In the prior art both the intracellular and the extracellular pathways with which coronavirus interacts with the mammalian cells are reasonably well understood. There are several studies and trials going on to develop new drugs and vaccines to prevent or treat COVID-19, but no effective cure or preventive measure for it has yet been found.


An internet target marketing system, method, and computer program for distributing online advertising to viewers based upon the viewers' interests is provided. Specific embodiments according to the present invention can use an n-way matching of user's concepts of interest, advertiser's concepts and a currently viewed document to target advertising to the view of the current document. Some embodiments can generate a contextually sensitive advertisement for each page viewed in a browser, thereby associating an advertisement with every page in a document. Specific embodiments can associate advertising with documents that are substantially free of embedded advertisements, for example. Alternative embodiments can include embedded advertising.

The present invention relates to online advertising management and more particularly to techniques for targeting information in the Internet environment. Specific embodiments can target advertising and other marketing information.
With the rapid development of electronic commerce, the number of Internet companies offering free services with the goal of creating a customer base for web advertising has increased dramatically. Typically, Internet companies host web pages using a portal, a web page with links to many other web pages. Portals contain web advertisements. Companies advertising on the portal pay a royalty to the portal provider. Examples of popular portals include MYYAHOO, MYEXCITE, NETSCAPE NETCENTER, and HOTMAIL.
While there are perceived advantages to using web portals, further efficiencies can be had. For example, web portals are unable to provide advertising to the user once the user exits the realm of web pages controlled by the portal. Internet service providers (ISPs), such as America On Line (AOL), have more control over the advertising reaching their subscribers because the ISPs retain control over pages served to the user. However, to continue to provide advertising on every web page served to a user currently requires reformatting the web page or popping up annoying windows with advertisements in them.
What is needed is a technique for targeting advertising to online users without compromising user privacy.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method, system and computer code for content based web advertising


According to some embodiments, a method for use in a user equipment of performing cell reselection to a cell providing multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) comprises: receiving a system information message comprising an indication of whether one or more carrier frequencies support MBMS carrier type or further enhanced MBMS (FeMBMS) carrier type; selecting, based on a capability of the user equipment and the carrier type of the one or more carrier frequencies, a carrier frequency for cell reselection; and camping on the selected carrier frequency. In particular embodiments, the system information message further comprises, for each of the one or more carrier frequencies, an indication of a percentage (e.g., 100%, 80%, etc.) of available multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes in each radio frame.

Evolved multimedia broadcast multicast service (eMBMS) provides an efficient way to deliver traditional downloads as well as streaming content to multiple users over a point-to-multipoint channel. This is especially useful for mobile streaming traffic, which may generate a major volume of network data traffic in the future.
The commercial deployment of eMBMS or "LTE Broadcast" is generating increasing interest. To meet the industry's and operators' demand for optimized delivery of file and streaming content, eMBMS may be enhanced even further. One area to improve is the system capacity—specifically, providing more MBSFN (Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network) subframes and less control overhead.
The current allocation of MBSFN subframes is limited to subframes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 (FS1) and 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 (FS2). Extended MBSFN subframe allocation, however, is desirable for particular scenarios (e.g., when increased MBMS capacity is needed, for example, to broadcast many television channels or to broadcast high resolution content). The upper limit of 100% allocation may be required when eMBMS is deployed on a supplementary downlink (SDL) carrier. To avoid wasting uplink capacity on a frequency division duplex (FDD) uplink/downlink carrier pair, all eMBMS traffic may be concentrated on as few SDL carriers as possible. A 100% allocation of MBSFN subframes is especially useful when the targeted spectrum is restricted (e.g., by regulatory requirements) to broadcast services only, such as the UHF band.
A reason that subframes 0, 4, 5, 9 (FS1) and 0, 1, 5, 6 (FS2) currently cannot be used for MBSFN is that they carry primary synchronization signal (PSS)/secondary synchronization signal (SSS)/physical broadcast channel (PBCH) and paging messages. Because MBMS allocations are full-bandwidth (i.e., all physical resource blocks (PRBs) are allocated), PSS/SSS/PBCH and paging messages cannot be frequency multiplexed with the physical multicast channel (PMCH).
For carrier types with up to 100% MBSFN subframe allocation, the carrier may have new properties. One property is the possibility of 100% MBSFN subframe allocation, which means that PSS/SSS/cell-specific resource signal (CRS) and PBCH are not sent on legacy position. It further means that system information cannot be sent the legacy way, which may change the master information block (MIB), system information (SI) message, and system information block (SIB) structures. The periodicity for sending PSS/SSS/CRS resembles the already existing discovery reference signal.
To provide service continuity for MBMS reception, mobility procedures for MBMS reception are used. The mobility procedures enable the user equipment (UE) to start or continue receiving MBMS services when changing frequency (see, e.g., TS 36.300, Chapter 15.4).
UEs that are receiving or interested in receiving MBMS service(s) in RRC IDLE state may obtain information about a neighbor frequency's multicast traffic channel (MTCH) from the multicast control channel (MCCH) of the neighbor frequency. To avoid a need to read MBMS related system information and potentially MCCH on neighbor frequencies, a UE may learn which MBMS service is provided via which frequency through MBMS assistance information.
The assistance information is a combination of the available information in the user service description (USD) of the UE and information broadcasted in system information block 15 (SIB15). The USD includes, for example, temporary mobile group identity (TMGI) of service, session start and end time, and the MBMS service area identities (SAIs). The MBMS SAIs for serving and neighboring frequencies are given in system information block 15. The size of SIB15 can be as big as 992 octets, but all information elements are optional.
By using the MBMS assistance information, USD combined with SIB15, a UE can continue to receive MBMS services when changing frequency because the UE may prioritize a frequency based on the possibility to receive MBMS while camping on that frequency/cell (see, e.g., TS 36.304).


An improved hydraulic system for a marine propulsion unit where it is insured that leakage of the shuttle valve will not permit the propulsion unit to move from the desired position by having a series of shuttle piston operated check valves inn series flow between the pump and the hydraulic unit that controls the position.

This invention relates to a hydraulic system for a marine propulsion unit and more particularly to a system that insures against unwanted downward movement due to valve leakage.
As is well known many marine propulsion systems, particularly ones having larger displacements employ hydraulically operated trim and tilt controls. These systems generally permit trim adjustment when the watercraft is in motion and tilting up out of the water for trailering or service. In addition they generally incorporate a pop up damping arrangement that permits the propulsion unit to pop up when an underwater obstacle is encountered to prevent damage and return to the trim adjusted position when it is cleared.
One such arrangement is shown in Published Japanese Application, publication number Hei 07-69289, published Mar. 14, 1995. As shown in that publication, the tilt and trim arrangement comprises a clamp bracket fixed to the watercrafthull and on which a propulsion unit is pivotally supported for the trim and tilt operation. This is accomplished by a tilt cylinder mounted with its axis extending in a generally vertical direction and capable of expanding and retracting in the axial direction. The lower end of the cylinder is pivotally supported by the clamp bracket through a lower pivot and its upper end is pivotally connected to the propulsion unit through an upper pivot. A pressurized oil control system for controlling oil delivery to accomplish the desired motion.
The tilt cylinder includes a cylinder body forming a large cylinder bore into which a large trim piston is fitted. A small cylinder bore is formed around the axis in a part of the cylinder body above the large cylinder bore with its upper end externally opened and its lower end communicating with the large cylinder bore. A cylinder tube with its upper end closed is fitted into and inserted through the small cylinder bore and connected to the large piston. A small piston is fitted into a separate cylinder bore in the cylinder tube. A piston rod is provided, which has an end extending upward from the small piston through the closure, is pivotally connected to the propulsion unit by the upper pivot.
However, when the trim cylinder is operated to expand/retract in order to adjust the trim position of the propulsion unit, the propulsion unit swings up and down as the piston repeatedly slides with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore through the sealing body with friction, as described above. The same occurs during repeated tilt up and down operations as well as popping up and return operations as occur when underwater obstacles are encountered and cleared. Therefore, extended and repeated use of the unit may often produce a minute foreign matter resulting from the wearing of the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore or the sealing body.
The fluid control system includes a shuttle valve assembly that incorporates a pair of oppositely opening check valves that are positioned on opposite sides of a shuttle piston. When one side is pressurized its associated check will open to supply fluid pressure to effect operation of the unit to move the propulsion unit inn the desired direction. The shuttle piston will then shift to forcibly open the other check valve to provide a return fluid path to the pump. When the desired position is reached the pump is stopped and the check valves close to retain the propulsion unit in the desired position. In the extreme case this may be the tilted up out of the water position where it is intended to be maintained for a long time, for example when in storage.
However the aforenoted foreign matter may either cause pitting of the ball check valve, wear of its seat or become lodged between the desired sealing surfaces. This can result in minute leakage that will cause the propulsion unit to gradually move from its desired position, an obviously unsatisfactory condition. Although frequent servicing of the unit and inspection could avoid this problem, this is not always done and can be expensive.
It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a simple and low cost hydraulic solution to this problem that reduces the necessity of frequent and expensive servicing.

Hydraulic system for marine propulsion unit


Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for detecting improper connection near the end of an xDSL loop based on separately analyzing the location and levels of time domain signals associated with different transmission bands in an xDSL band plan. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed to separately convert the received test signal data to different sets of time domain data corresponding to different sets of the separate frequency bands, and then to separately analyze the different sets of time domain data to identify an improper connection near the modem.

In single-ended line tests (i.e. SELT, see, e.g., ITU-T Standard, G.993.2, SERIES G: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS AND MEDIA, DIGITAL SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS, Digital sections and digital line system—Access networks, Very high speed digital subscriber line transceivers 2 (VDSL2) (February 2006); ITU-T G.996.2, SERIES G: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS AND MEDIA, DIGITAL SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS, Digital sections and digital line system—Access networks, Line Testing for Digital Subscriber lines (DSL); and "Feasibility and problems of DSL loop topology identification via single-ended line tests", Carine Neus, 16th IMEKO TC4 Symposium Exploring New Frontiers of Instrumentation and Methods for Electrical and Electronic Measurements Sep. 22-24, 2008, Florence, Italy), a known signal is sent over the loop and the reflected signal is analyzed to determine loop characteristics and any impairments present on the line.
Meanwhile, wiring problems within the home and especially close to the customer premises equipment (CPE) are very common. An example is improperly connecting the wire to the CPE. The connector may not have snapped fully either at the CPE or the wall unit, or it could just be oversight in connecting the wire at all. Other reasons could include wiring being disconnected within the home up to the NID. In any event, such connection problems can lead to unnecessary service calls and/or other inconveniences to both the user and the service provider.
In wired communications (such as DSL, cable modem etc.) loop diagnostics are often based on the analysis of single ended loop testing (SELT). However, current SELT techniques by themselves are not sufficiently adept at detecting improper connections such as those described above.

Method and apparatus for detecting improper connections near a customer premises equipment


A shelter for a vehicle includes a container member adapted for being detachably affixed at a rear side of said vehicle and a cover arrangement including a utility body having a rear lateral side extended from the container member. The utility body is normally stored in the container member when it is not in use. The utility body is large enough to cover an outer surface of the vehicle that the utility body is unfolded to extend a front lateral side from the container member toward a front side of said vehicle for covering the vehicle.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a accessory for vehicle, and more particularly to a shelter for vehicle, wherein the shelter for vehicle comprises a cover arrangement comprising a utility body and a traction member provided at the lateral of the utility body in such a manner that the utility body is capable of covering the surface of the vehicle conveniently and easily.
2. Description of Related Arts
Shelter are very frequently used to protect vehicles from sun, dusk, rain, snow and so on, wherein the shelter comprises a single layer of material that is fitted to cover the vehicle.
As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, illustrating a conventional shelter for vehicle, wherein the conventional shelter for vehicle comprises a plurality of area element, wherein the edges of adjacent the area elements join together for forming the entire shelter. As an example, the conventional shelter comprises a first area element 1 having a first edge 1a, and a second area element 2 having a second edge 2a, wherein the first edge 1a of the first area element 1 positions at the lateral of the second edge 2a of the second area element 2, to form a groove 3a, wherein the opening of the groove 3a towards to the first area element 1 wherein the shelter is in use, that is, the groove 3a cannot prevent the water into the interior surface form the exterior of the shelter. Particularly, the conventional shelter cannot be used in the strong wind.
It is necessary to develop a shelter for vehicle to solve the above problem as mentioned before to keep the shelter conveniently and easily to use.

Abstract: a cover arrangement and a accessory unit, wherein the cover arrangement comprises a utility body for covering the surface of the vehicle, and a traction member provided at the lateral of the utility body, wherein the accessory unit comprises a container member defining a receiving cavity for storing the utility body, and a first elongated supporting element provided edge of the container member, wherein the utility body is capable of extending from the traction member to the container member, wherein the first elongated supporting element can be positioned at the rear portion of the vehicle and the traction member can be positioned at the front portion of the vehicle when the utility body is in use.


A method of automatically creating trust communities in a fleet of devices. The method includes finding candidate devices in a fleet of devices via one or more candidate discovery techniques and generating device-related data based on the candidate devices that are found, analyzing the device-related data via an analytics engine and creating one or more fleet orchestrator device lists based on the analysis of the device-related data, and automatically creating one or more new trust communities or suggesting joining one or more previously existing trust communities based at least on the one or more fleet orchestrator device lists for the candidate devices, wherein the one or more new trust communities or previously existing trust communities include at least a sub-set of the devices in the fleet, and wherein at least one of the managed devices in the sub-set of devices is configured as a root device to publish files via a file sharing function.

The exemplary embodiment relates to a system and method for managing data-receiving devices and finds particular application in connection with a method and system for automatic creation of trust communities to facilitate management of a fleet of devices.
Computer-operated image forming devices, such as multi-function printers and the like, often require software updates and other files, like configuration files, to manage security or other settings. Managing a fleet of such devices is common today. However, managing such a fleet generally requires a separate server, which is both costly and complex to set up and maintain. While well-suited for larger corporations, this approach is generally not viable for many businesses.
Thus, while larger organizations, with large numbers of devices, may have a substantial and highly trained support staff to handle updates to a fleet of devices and large, expensive dedicated external servers, such resources may be impractical for smaller organizations. It would be helpful for both small and larger organizations to be able to efficiently manage the distribution of files across a fleet of devices with built-in functionality.
Multi-function printers may be grouped in a trust community to share files. A trust community is a group of devices that are securely connected with each other. These trusted devices are connected through administrative credentials and may share a trust token that allows them to remain connected with each other. A tree topology is an example of one structure that can be used within a trust community to arrange the trusted devices to share files. One of the objectives of sharing files is to keep a standard set of settings across a fleet of devices.
However, a major challenge with this approach is that it is time consuming to manually create a trust community and a distribution topology. Thus, there remains a need for a system and method for automatically creating trust communities and setting up file distribution in a way that facilitates efficient data distribution and fleet management.

Method and system for automatic creation of trust communities


An image forming device includes: a photosensitive drum that rotates in a rotational direction; a scanner unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body; a developing unit that has an operating condition for developing the electrostatic latent image using toner; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image from the photosensitive body to the recording body; a cleaning roller disposed downstream from the transfer unit with respect to the rotational direction at a predetermined leveling position adjacent to the photosensitive body and having an adsorption mode, wherein the cleaning roller uses the potential difference between itself and the photosensitive drum to adsorb residual toner from the photosensitive drum, and a release mode, wherein the cleaning roller uses the potential difference between itself and the photosensitive drum to release residual toner back onto the photosensitive drum; and a controller for switching the cleaning roller into its adsorption mode when a lead edge of an image forming portion of the photosensitive body reaches the leveling position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming device used in printers, copy machines, and facsimile machines and more particularly to a cleanerless image forming device wherein a photosensitive drum is cleaned using a cleanerless method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrophotographic type image forming devices are provided with: a photosensitive drum; a charge device for forming a uniform charge on the surface of the photosensitive drum; an exposure unit for exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum with light to form an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image using toner charged with a predetermined positive or negative polarity, thereby forming a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum; and a transfer roller for transferring the toner image to a recording sheet.
After the toner image is transferred onto the recording sheet, some toner, depending on the density of the toner image, will remain untransferred on the surface of the photosensitive drum. During the next cycle of charging, exposure development, and transfer of a subsequent image on the photosensitive drum, this residual toner clinging to the surface of the photosensitive drum might be transferred to the next recording sheet where it is not required, thereby reducing the quality of the recorded image on the recording sheet.
Conventionally, a cleaner mechanism is provided to clean the residual toner off the photosensitive drum. One example of a cleaner mechanism is a blade for scraping residual toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum after completion of transfer processes. An alternative to a cleaner mechanism is a cleanerless method of forming images, wherein residual toner is recovered and reused by the development device.
In the cleanerless method, some type of leveling unit, such as a cleaning roller or a cleaning brush, is disposed in confrontation with the photosensitive drum at a position downstream from the transfer roller, that is, with respect to the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum. The leveling unit is capable of an adsorption mode, wherein it electrically adsorbs the residual toner from the photosensitive drum onto its surface, and also a release mode, wherein it releases the adsorbed toner from its surface back to the surface of the photosensitive drum.
The leveling unit enters its adsorption mode while image forming processes are being performed using the surface of the photosensitive drum. In order to periodically retrieve toner using the cleanerless system, the leveling unit enters its release mode while image forming processes are not being performed on the surface of the photosensitive drum, usually between supply. of sheets to the photosensitive drum. The toner returned to the surface of the photosensitive drum is transported to the developing unit of the image forming device by rotation of the photosensitive drum.
A cleanerless method which uses such a leveling unit is very effective. Even if positively or negatively charged toner remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum, the surface of the photosensitive drum can be sufficiently cleaned so that quality of images formed on the photosensitive drum can be maintained. Also, the residual toner is collected by the development roller and can be again used during subsequent development processes.
Because the leveling unit adsorbs residual toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum while images are being formed and releases the adsorbed toner back to the photosensitive drum while images are not being formed, the leveling means can maintain a high level of cleaning for long periods of time. As a result, the photosensitive drum can be maintained in a clean condition so that reductions in image quality caused by residual toner can be prevented.

Image forming device with leveling unit having a width equal to or less than a predetermined distance