A method for controlling an injection system of an internal combustion engine having at least one injector, the fuel metering being divided into a first partial injection and at least one second partial injection, and a control signal which determines the fuel quantity to be injected with the aid of the at least one injector being corrected as a function of a pressure wave influencing the at least two partial injections, the pressure wave correction being performed on the basis of a periodic model which models the quantity wave as a sum of periodic functions.

In fuel injection systems, of self-igniting engines in particular, the fuel quantities injected by injectors into the combustion chambers are divided into a plurality of partial injections. The partial injections usually follow one another in a rapid succession and may include one or more pilot injection(s) applied before a main injection. The time interval between two partial injections is implemented by the pause time between two electric trigger pulses of the injectors. The partial injections make improved mixture preparation and thus lower exhaust gas emissions of the engine, lower noise development during combustion, and higher mechanical power output of the engine possible.
In the case of the above-mentioned partial injections, the accuracy of the injected quantities is of great importance. However, each injection causes a brief drop in the fuel pressure in a fuel line connecting a high-pressure accumulator, known as a rail, to the corresponding injector. Such a pressure drop results in a fuel pressure wave between the rail and the injector after the end of the injector triggering; the effect of this wave on the injected quantity of the subsequent partial injections diminishes with an increasing time interval between the particular successive injections. This pressure wave effect intensifies with increasing lift frequency of the nozzle needle of the injector, so that taking it into account, also in future injector systems in particular, in which high-speed piezoelectric actuators are used as injection actuators for nozzle needle control in the particular injector, becomes increasingly important.
Since the above-described pressure wave phenomenon is of a highly systematic nature, and although it essentially depends on the time interval between the corresponding injection(s), the injected fuel quantity, the hydraulic fuel pressure, and the fuel temperature in the rail, compensation via an appropriate control function in the engine control unit may be implemented. In a method described in German Patent Application No. DE 101 23 035 for minimizing the pressure wave effect, the effect on the injected quantity of the particular injector is measured and the results of this measurement are taken into account in presetting the control data of the injector, specifically based on a previously empirically, i.e., experimentally, determined fuel quantity wave as a function of the time interval between the partial injections involved. The measured effect of the quantity on a subsequent injection is stored in characteristic maps, and the effect of the quantity is then compensated during the operation of the engine by appropriately modifying the duration of the energized state of the actuator which effects the subsequent injection.
The characteristic map is filled with data experimentally by measurements on a hydraulic test bench. The quantities influenced are ascertained in the form of "quantity waves" as a function of the interval between the corresponding injections and used for filling the characteristic map with the aid of a special algorithm. The excess or reduced quantities thus ascertained are stored in the above-mentioned characteristic maps and compensated during the operation of a control program of the engine by making the appropriate deductions in a quantity path of the engine control.
In the above-mentioned pressure wave correction, in principle a number of input and output quantities must be taken into account, the exact relationship between these quantities being extremely complex, since there are mutual dependencies such as interactions between the input quantities in particular. For this reason, considerable simplifications are necessary in the pressure wave correction to map the pressure wave phenomenon using the fewest possible characteristics maps; therefore, when mapping the pressure wave system, a considerable portion of the correction accuracy that would be possible in principle is lost.
It is therefore desirable to improve a method of the type mentioned above in such a way that a more accurate pressure wave correction than in the related art is made possible, which takes into account the largest possible number of input and/or output quantities in the pressure wave correction, omitting the fewest possible factors considered negligible, while using the least possible technical complexity at the same time.

Method for controlling an injection system of an internal combustion engine


A flooded lead-acid battery, including a negative electrode plate holding a negative active material, a positive electrode plate holding a positive active material, and a flowable electrolyte solution in which these plates are immersed, and allowing the electrolyte solution to have a utilization factor greater than or equal to 75%, wherein the concentration of an alkali metal ion or an alkaline earth metal ion in the electrolyte solution is allowed to be 0.07 to 0.3 mol/L, and the pore volume of the negative active material after formation is allowed to be 0.08 to 0.16 mL/g.

In recent times, due to the growing concern toward the environment, the steep rise in crude oil prices, and the like, with regard to vehicles, the development of various techniques for improving fuel consumption has been advanced. One example thereof includes the utilization of regenerative energy in which kinetic energy is converted into electric energy and the energy is accumulated in a battery to be utilized. And then, with regard to the battery used in an idling stop vehicle (an IS vehicle), since power for the electric load at the time of the IS must be supplied from the battery and the number of times of restarting an engine is large, the discharge amount thereof is increased as compared with that in the case of being used in a conventional engine vehicle. As such, accepting a larger amount of regenerative energy in a short period of time is one of important characteristics of the battery. In general, the lower charged state, namely, the more partially charged state (PSOC (Partial State of Charge)) the battery is in, the higher the regenerative charge accepting performance becomes. As such, a battery requiring the performance for accepting regenerative energy is frequently used in a PSOC-controlled state.
Since the discharge amount of the battery for an IS vehicle is larger than that of the battery for a conventional engine vehicle as mentioned above, and moreover, the battery for an IS vehicle is used in a PSOC-controlled state, the battery for an IS vehicle must be more excellent in durability than the conventional battery. As a means of enhancing the durability, it is common to increase the amount of an active material in the positive or negative electrode. However, since the ratio of the amount of the electrolyte solution to the amount of the active material is reduced when the amount of the active material is increased, the concentration of the electrolyte solution is easily lowered at the time of discharging. When the concentration of the electrolyte solution is lowered, the solubilities of lead and lead sulfate are increased, and lead is allowed to ionize and to be easily eluted from the electrode plate. The eluted lead ions grow into needle-like crystals at the time of the subsequent charging, and a permeation short circuit in which the crystals penetrate through a separator and result in a short circuit is easily caused.
Incidentally, in the lead-acid battery, when the charge-discharge is repeated, water is produced at the time of discharging and thick sulfuric acid is produced at the time of charging. And then, since the thick sulfuric acid has a higher density than water, is allowed to move downward and is easily settled, a phenomenon called stratification in which the upper and lower portions of the electrolyte solution are different from each other in (sulfuric acid) concentration occurs. In a conventional engine vehicle, since the battery is overcharged at the time of driving, on this occasion, the stratification is alleviated by the stirring action in the electrolyte solution caused by oxygen and hydrogen gases generated from the positive and negative electrode plates. However, under a PSOC-controlled state, since the battery is charged at the time of deceleration, the charging time is extremely short, and the poor charged state continues, the stirring action in the electrolyte solution caused by oxygen and hydrogen gases is not developed and the stratification easily occurs (Patent Document 1). When the stratification occurs, since the electrolyte solution concentration in the upper portion of the cell is lowered, a permeation short circuit at the upper portion of the cell is easily caused.
As stated above, in the flooded lead-acid battery for an IS vehicle, for architectonic reasons (the amount of the active material is relatively larger than the amount of the electrolyte solution) and operational reasons (easily stratified), a permeation short circuit is easily caused as compared with the battery for a conventional engine vehicle.


A method for synthesizing an engine sound includes outputting a first synthesized engine sound, obtaining a change in a first surrounding noise environment, learning an artificial neural network to obtain first masking level information corresponding to the obtained change in the first surrounding noise environment, generating a second synthesized engine sound by correcting the first synthesized engine sound based on the obtained first masking level information, and outputting the generated second synthesized engine sound.

The embodiment relates to an apparatus and a method for synthesizing an engine sound.
An electric vehicle causes a lower noise due to motor driving, so it is difficult for a pedestrian on a street to recognize that the electric vehicle approaches the pedestrian. Accordingly, as the electric vehicle outputs a synthesized engine sound, the pedestrian may easily recognize the approach of the electric vehicle to the pedestrian.
Meanwhile, a vehicle having an internal combustion engine is driven as an engine is driven, and some drivers prefer a synthesized sound obtained by processing the engine noise.
Accordingly, recently, technologies have been actively developed to effectively produce and output a synthesized engine sound regardless of the type of a vehicle, such as a vehicle having an internal combustion engine or an electric vehicle.
The conventional synthesized engine sound is produced without considering a surrounding noise environment, and does not cope with the change in the surrounding noise environment. For example, when a window is open during the driving, an external noise is introduced into an interior of a vehicle through the open window, and such external noise interrupts the synthesizing of the engine sound. Accordingly, the driver does not sufficiently feel a synthesized engine sound or does not obtain a synthesized engine sound intended at the initial stage.

Apparatus and method for synthesizing engine sound


A switchable powertrain comprises at least four points of freedom. The switchable powertrain comprises a main gear set configured for gear ratio selection, the main gear set comprising main gears coupled to a main shaft and second gears coupled to a second shaft. An adapter comprises a first selective coupling configured to selectively couple to the main shaft, and a second selective coupling configured to selectively couple to the second shaft. A first torque source and a clutch are configured for selectively coupling or decoupling first torque to the main shaft. A second torque source is configured for selectively outputting second torque to the first selective coupling or to the second selective coupling.

Vocational and line-haul classes of vehicles can be preconfigured differently. For example, the vehicle can be configured to transfer torque from an electric motor to a driveline. The same vehicle can be configured to transfer torque from an engine to a driveline. Such a vehicle can be characterized as a hybrid vehicle ("HEV" or "HV"). The preconfigurations can be related to the average operation speed or the average operation output torque. Typically, there is a single set-point for the preconfiguration with the electric motor and engine handing off along one of two torque transfer pathways. With a set-point for the average operation speed or average operation torque, it is difficult to switch to other operation modes and to then operate the vehicle efficiently. The efficiency and utility of the vehicle is preconfigured rigidly and dissimilar from other classes of vehicle.


An arrangement is provided for loading vehicle bodies in which assembled vehicle bodies are continuously made available from a production process for loading and are prepared for the loading. Several different stations of the loading arrangement are mutually coordinated and monitored by a control unit. A drive operated fork lift is utilized to handle empty cargo carriers and to stack a pair of vehicle body loaded cargo carriers to form a loading unit which is subsequently transferred to a transport train freight car.

It has been sufficiently known to load completely assembled vehicles for a further transport on freight cars and to implement the transport by rail vehicles. In this case, the completely assembled vehicles can be rolled onto the freight cars and, because of their own damping, can be transported there without the risk of torsion.
From German Registered Utility Patent DE 202 20 470 U1, a transport device is known on which a preassembled constructional unit of a vehicle (body) without a chassis can be transported between mutually remote production sites. Such a transport device has the advantage that fixing and supporting devices between the base frame of the transport device and a frame floor of the preassembled vehicle body permit a transport on a transport vehicle, such as the freight cars of a rail vehicle.

Arrangement and method for loading vehicle bodies

Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft


The device includes a rolling bearing unit supporting a radial load and a magnetic bearing unit supporting an axial load and/or a bearing preload; an electromagnet fitted to a spindle housing so as to confront, on a non-contact basis, a flange shaped thrust plate mounted on a main shaft; a motor rotor of a motor for driving the shaft, and a motor stator opposed to the rotor, the shaft being driven by magnetic or Lorentz forces developed between the rotor and the stator; and a sensor detecting an axial force acting on the bearing unit, and a controller controlling the electromagnet. In this device, the stiffness of a composite spring formed by the bearing unit and a support system for the bearing unit is chosen to be higher than the negative stiffness of a composite spring of a motor part comprised of the electromagnet and the motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic bearing device for use in, for example, a turbine unit employed in an air cycle refrigerating system and, in particular, to a motor built-in magnetic bearing device, in which a rolling bearing unit and a magnetic bearing unit are used in combination with each other used, with the magnetic bearing unit supporting one or both of an axial load and a bearing preload.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The air cycle refrigerating system makes use of an air as a coolant and does therefore fail to exhibit a sufficient energy efficiency as compared with the refrigerating system using chlorofluorocarbon or ammonium, but is considered agreeable in terms of environmental protection. In a facility such as, for example, a cold storage warehouse into which a refrigerating air can be directly blown, the total cost can be lowered if a cooling fan device and/or defroster are dispensed with, and, accordingly, the use of the air cycle refrigerating system in such application has been suggested. (See, for example, the Japanese Patent No. 2623202.)
Also, it is well known that in a deeply cold range of −30 to −60° C., the theoretical efficiency of air refrigeration is equal to or higher than that of chlorofluorocarbon or ammonium. It is, however, said that optimally designed peripheral equipments are needed in order to secure the theoretical efficiency of the air refrigeration. Those peripheral equipments include, for example, compressors and/or expansion turbines.
For the compressor and expansion turbine, a turbine unit, in which a compressor rotor and an expansion turbine rotor are mounted on a common main shaft, is generally utilized. (See the Japanese Patent No. 2623202.)
It is to be noted that for the turbine unit used to handle a process gas, a magnetic bearing type turbine unit has been suggested, in which the turbine rotor and the compressor rotor are respectively mounted on respective opposite ends of the main shaft, which is supported by a journal bearing and a thrust bearing that can be controlled by an electric current flowing through an electromagnet. (See the Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 07-91760.)
Also, although related to a suggestion concerning a gas turbine engine, the use of a thrust magnetic bearing device has been made to reduce the thrust load, acting on the rolling bearing device for the support of a main shaft, in order to avoid the possibility that the thrust load would lead to reduction in bearing lifetime. (See, for example, the Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 08-261237.)
As discussed above, in order to secure the theoretical efficiency of the air cooling, at which a high efficiency can be obtained in the deeply cold range, the air cycle refrigerating system requires the use of a compressor and an expansion turbine that are optimally designed.
For the compressor and the expansion turbine as mentioned above, the turbine unit including the compressor rotor and the expansion turbine rotor both mounted on a common main shaft is utilized. This turbine unit increases the efficiency of the air cycle refrigerator in view of the fact that the compressor rotor is driven by a power induced by the expansion turbine.
However, in order to secure a practically acceptable efficiency, a clearance delimited between each of the rotors and a housing must necessarily be small. Change in clearance constitutes a cause of an unstable operation during high speed rotation and, therefore, the efficiency tends to be lowered.
Also, by the effect of air acting on the compressor rotor and the turbine rotor, the thrust force acts on the main shaft and the bearing unit supporting the main shaft is loaded with the thrust load. The rotational speed of the main shaft in the turbine unit employed in the air cycle refrigerating system is 80,000 to 100,000 revolutions per minute, which is considerably high as compared with that in the bearing unit for the standard application. For this reason, the thrust load such as described above tends to bring about a reduction in long term durability and lifetime of the bearing unit used to support the main shaft and, in turn, a reduction in reliability of the air cycle refrigerating turbine unit. Unless the problem associated with the reduction in the long-term durability of the bearing unit is resolved, the air cycle refrigerating turbine unit can be hardly placed in practical use. However, the technology disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 2623202 has not yet resolved the problem associated with the reduction in long-term durability of the bearing unit relative to the loading of the thrust load under such a high speed revolution.
In the case of the turbine compressor of a magnetic bearing type such as disclosed in the Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 07-91760, in which the main shaft is supported by the journal bearing unit and the thrust bearing unit, both in the form of a magnetic bearing, the journal bearing unit lacks a function of regulating in the axial direction. For this reason, the presence of a factor or the like that render the control of the thrust bearing unit to be unstable makes it difficult to achieve a stabilized high speed revolution while the minute clearance is maintained between the rotor and the diffuser. The magnetic bearing unit involves a problem associated with a contact between the rotor and the diffuser at the time of failure of the electric power supply.
In view of the above, in order to alleviate the foregoing problems, the inventors of the present invention have developed a motor incorporated magnetic bearing device of such a structure as shown in FIG. 15. Specifically, the motor incorporated magnetic bearing device so developed includes, in a turbine unit for use in an air cycle refrigerating system, a compressor rotor 46a of a compressor 46 and a turbine rotor 47a of an expansion turbine 47, which are mounted on opposite ends of a main shaft 53, respectively; rolling bearing units 55 and 56 for supporting a radial load acting on the main shaft 53; an electromagnet 57 for supporting an axial load acting on the main shaft 53; and a motor 68 arranged coaxially of the main shaft 53 for providing a driving force that is cooperable with a driving force brought about by the turbine rotor 47a to drive the compressor rotor 46a. The electromagnet 57 used to support the axial load is arranged in face-to-face relation without contact to a thrust plate 53a, which is mounted coaxially on the main shaft 53 so as to extend radially outwardly therefrom, and is controlled by a magnetic bearing controller 59 for the magnetic bearing unit in response to an output generated from a sensor 58 for detecting a force acting in the axial direction. The motor 68 is of an axial gap type and includes a motor rotor 68a, formed in a thrust plate 53b which is different from the thrust plate 53a and mounted coaxially on the main shaft 53 so as to extend radially outwardly therefrom, and a motor stator 68b held in an axially face-to-face relation to the motor rotor 68a. The motor 68 referred to above is controlled by a motor controller 69 independently of the electromagnet 57. Also, the stator 68b of the motor 68 is of a core equipped structure having a coil 68bb wound around an axially extending stator yoke 68ba.
In the motor incorporated magnetic bearing device of the structure described above, since a thrust force acting on the main shaft 53 can be supported by the electromagnet 57, the thrust force that acts on the rolling bearing units 55 and 56 can be relieved while suppressing an increase of the torque on a non-contact basis. As a result thereof, minute clearances between the rotors 46a and 47a and housings 46b and 47b, respectively, can be maintained at a constant value, allowing the long term durability of the rolling bearings relative to the load brought about by the thrust load.
It has, however, been found that the motor incorporated magnetic bearing device of the structure described above involves such a possibility that when the motor 68 operates in a high load region and an excessive axial load acts then, the control system for the magnetic bearing units 55 and 56 will become unstable. In other words, in the event that the excessive axial load acts, not only does the negative stiffness (which acts in a direction of displacement and a force thereof tends to increase as the displacement becomes large) in the electromagnet 57 increase, but also the negative stiffness of a magnetic coupling formed between the motor rotor 68a and the stator yoke 68ba, both forming respective parts of the motor 68, increase. For this reason, in the event that the negative stiffness of a composite spring formed by the electromagnet 57 and the motor 68 comes to be higher than the stiffness of the composite spring formed by the rolling bearing units 55 and 56 and respective support systems therefor, the control system for the magnetic bearing device will become unstable. In order to alleviate such a condition, the controller 59 is required to be provided with a phase compensating circuit or the like, resulting in complication in structure of the controller 59.


For manufacturing tape or yarns, plastic polymer material is extruded into a film (20, 21) having a pattern of parallel, longitudinal, alternating ribs (31, 32) and deep, narrow grooves (33, 34) on each of its two opposite sides, at least a plurality of the grooves (33, 34) in one side each being located diametrically opposite one of the grooves (34, 33) in the other, opposite side. Yarns and tapes obtained in the form of or from such a film typically have a substantially improved tensile strength and are more supple and smooth.

The invention relates to a process for manufacturing tapes or yarns, to a die and to a system for use in that process.
A known process for manufacturing tapes and yarns of polymer material is to extrude the material in the form of a film, to draw the film in the direction of extrusion and to divide the film longitudinally into tapes or strands. As for most other type of yarn or tape, a major objective in the development of yarns and tapes of this type is generally to achieve a maximal tensile strength.
One known process step contributing to increasing the tensile strength is to draw the extruded material, usually while submitting it to a heat treatment, so that polymer chains in the material are aligned in longitudinal direction.
AU-B1-30,204/7 discloses a process in which a plastic polymer material is extruded into a film having a pattern of parallel, longitudinal, alternating ribs and grooves on each of its two opposite sides. The grooves in one side each are located diametrically opposite one of the grooves in the other, opposite side. The grooves are formed using a die having opposite die lips both provided with projecting groove-forming protrusions, the groove-forming protrusions of opposite lips being located diametrically opposite each other. The extruded film is longitudinally cleaved in production (the tape may also cleave in use if heavily loaded), by slitting between ridges. Furthermore, this document discloses a die for extruding a drawable film of polymer material, which die has an extrusion gap between generally parallel, mutually spaced, opposite lips. The lips each have a toothed profile formed by alternating groove-forming protrusions and recesses for extruding a film as described. The recesses in one lip are each located diametrically opposite one of the recesses in the other, opposite lip. A film as described is also disclosed in this document.

Process of and apparatus for making tapes or yarns


A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, a fixing roller, a pressure roller, a sheet heating element, and a support. The fixing roller and support are positioned on the inside of the endless belt. The endless belt is entrained about the fixing roller and the support. The support supports the sheet heating element. The pressure roller is positioned on the outside of the endless belt. The pressure roller cooperates with the fixing roller to hold the endless belt between the fixing roller and the pressure roller in sandwiched relation such that a nip is formed between the endless belt and the pressure roller. The sheet heating element is in contact with the inside of the endless belt and heats the endless belt. The sheet heating element is disposed in an area outside of the nip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that incorporates the fixing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional monochrome or color image forming apparatuses include copying machines, printers, and facsimile machines. These apparatuses use a fixing apparatus. One of conventional fixing apparatuses is configured such that a fixing belt is held between a heater and a pressure roller in sandwiched relation.
This type of fixing apparatus is advantageous in that the overall heat capacity of the fixing apparatus is relatively small, and therefore a fixing temperature may be reached in a very short time after power up of the apparatus, and in that power consumption is low. However, the conventional fixing apparatus is disadvantageous in that the temperature drop is significant when toner is fused into a recording medium and therefore temperature control is poor.

Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus


An image sensor (1) comprising: an array (2) of pixels logically organized in rows and columns, the outputs of the pixels being connected to column lines (COLx) connectable to an array of buffers (3) via a routing block (10), the buffers being connected to an array of A/D convertors (4), the routing block (10) having a group of switches (6, 7) for reading sub-picture data, whereby the values of at least two rows of the sub-picture are distributed over the analog-to-digital-convertors before digitizing them in parallel. The entire sub-picture (21) may be digitized in one step. The routing block (10) may comprise an analog bus (9). The image sensor (1) further comprises a control circuit (8) for controlling the routing block (10) for routing pixel values on the column lines (COL) to a subset of the buffer array, the control circuit being adapted for supporting sub-pictures (21) with programmable positions and/or sizes.

Image sensors are known in the art. They typically comprise a rectangular pixel array for converting light intensity into voltages, which are digitized for providing digital image data.
In several applications the image sensor needs to read certain pre-defined windows or sub-pictures, also called "Region-of-Interest" (ROI). Examples of such applications are machine vision applications and digital still applications. Especially in the case of high resolution devices (e.g. 4000×2000 pixels) in combination with a low resolution ROI (e.g. 100×100 pixels), the readout of the sub-picture may not be optimal. High-resolution devices very often have high-speed circuitry to maintain an acceptable frame rate (e.g. 10 frames/sec). This may realized by means of a column-level ADC configuration. FIG. 1 shows a block-diagram of an example of a prior art two-dimensional image sensor with 16 columns and 9 rows. The image sensor has an on-chip column-level ADC configuration. Every (analog) column is connected to a sample-and-hold circuit (buffer S&H) and to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The normal read-out of the sensor is driven by the row select (RS) lines. Although the column-level ADC architecture is very effective for full-resolution high-speed applications, it has some disadvantages in terms of speed and power consumption when only a Region-Of-Interest (or sub-picture) needs to be read out.
US2009/0040349 discloses methods, apparatuses and systems providing a high dynamic range mode of operation for an image sensor when operating in a skip mode where certain pixels of an array are not read out. Multiple integration periods are employed in the skip mode with selected pixels being read out through circuits associated with pixels that are not read out.

Image sensor and method for power efficient readout of sub-picture


For simplifying the structure of a metal ion source, in particular for imnting into semiconductor wafers small doses of metals which are hard to vaporize, the metal ion source includes an electrically heatable thermionic cathode in the form of a heating wire within an ion chamber, the heating wire being arranged adjacent a metallic component, which consists of the metal intended to give off the metal ions, and being essentially at the potential of the metallic component.

The present invention relates to a metal ion source comprising a gas-filled ion chamber for producing gas ions, which are accelerated onto a metallic component consisting of the metal intended to give off the metal ions and which, upon hitting the metallic component, release metal atoms therefrom, the metal atoms being, in turn, ionized.
The present invention also relates to a method of generating metal ions, which is especially useful for implanting ions into semiconductor wafers for producing doped semiconductor structures, in which case gas ions are first produced, whereupon the gas ions are accelerated onto a metallic component consisting of the metal intended to give off the metal ions, whereupon metal atoms are released from the metallic component when the gas ions impinge thereon, the metal ions being then ionized.
In the field of semiconductor technology, so-called sputter sources are used, e.g., for applying metal to the surfaces of semiconductor wafers. This metal, which can, for example, be gold or platinum and which is applied to the surface of a semiconductor wafer by sputtering, is diffused into the semiconductor body after having been applied to the surface thereof so that a specific doping and, consequently, a specific reduction of the lifetime of minority carriers is achieved.
In the case of a known sputter source, argon ions are first produced within an ion chamber and within a first electric field. A target consisting of the donor metal, which is intended to give off the metal ions, is positioned in a separate structure within the ion chamber and has applied thereto a separate potential for generating a separate electric field within which the gas ions are accelerated onto the target for the purpose of releasing metal atoms. Also the subsequent ionization and post-acceleration of the sputtered metal atoms takes place in a separate electric field, which is independent of the electric field used for ionizing the argon gas.
The known metal ion source in the form of the above-described sputter source must be equipped with at least two high-voltage sources, which are independent of each other, which makes the known metal ion source technically complicated and expensive. Furthermore, at least two separate electrode leads with adequate insulating devices must be provided; in the case of the metal ion sources of the type in question, these insulating devices must be complicated ceramic insulating devices. In addition, implantations of very small metal doses in the order 10.sup.14 cm.sup.2 which are required for lifetime doping in the case of semiconductors, prove to be difficult in the case of the known metal ion source.
Furthermore, metal vaporization methods and metal vaporizing sources are known, by means of which metal can be deposited on a body to be coated. Examples of these technologies are described in German patent 2827647, German Auslegeschrift 2521536, German Auslegeschrift 2364379 as well as German Offenlegungsschrift 1765636. In the evaporation technique of German OLS 1765636, a rod of the metallic component to be evaporated is arranged in the vicinity of a heating spiral, and a high d.c. voltage potential is used between the heating spiral and the rod of the material to be evaporated. However, such evaporation technologies are neither suitable for implanting very small metal doses of the above-mentioned magnitude, nor can they be used in the case of all compounds, since e.g. the metal platinum does not contain suitable compounds on the basis of which it would be possible to evaporate platinum at the temperatures of approximately 800.degree. C. prevailing within an evaporation source at a sufficiently high vapor pressure.

Metal ion source and a method of producing metal ions

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.


An apparatus and method to dynamically regulate system bandwidth in a graphics system includes receiving vertex data from an application by way of an application programming interface. The rate that the vertex data is received from the application is then determined. In the event the rate is greater than a selected threshold, the graphics system is configured to operate in immediate mode, wherein vertex data is rendered immediately upon reception. In the event the rate is less than the selected threshold, the graphics system is configured to operate in retained mode, wherein vertex data is stored prior to being rendered. The apparatus and method switches between each of the modes on-the-fly in a manner that is transparent to the application.

This invention relates to three-dimensional graphics systems and more particularly to apparatus and methods for reducing system bandwidth requirements of three-dimensional graphics systems.
Three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics refer to graphics systems that generate two-dimensional (2D) images from 3D geometric models. These 2D images may then be displayed on computer screens or other raster-based devices. Currently, complex 3D graphics are used in applications such as computer games and are typically reserved for PC or entertainment-based platforms. Such 3D graphics may be unable to run on mobile devices (e.g., cell phones, PDAs, navigation systems) due to hardware limitations such as memory, memory bandwidth, and processing limitations. Memory bandwidth in particular is a major contributor to overall system power in mobile devices. Power consumption is one of the most if not the most significant limitation in the design of many mobile devices.
In general, there are two techniques for rendering a scene containing 3D objects: immediate mode and retained mode. Immediate mode is the most commonly used mode and is what most modem APIs and high-performance GPUs implement. In this mode, a state or primitive is rendered when it is passed from an application to a graphics driver. This architecture typically supports very high throughput, but its main disadvantage is that is uses significant memory bandwidth. This is because every pixel is read or written several times to the frame and depth buffers. Because the frame and depth buffers store information associated with every pixel of a display, they are typically implemented in external graphics memory outside the GPU. Access to this external memory increases system power requirements significantly.
Retained node is a rendering mode where all or a significant portion of the data for a scene is stored before it is rendered. This allows software to perform many different operations on the data prior to rendering it. For example, software could sort all of the vertices of a scene from back to front, eliminating the need for a depth buffer. In general, retained mode imaging provides a higher level of abstraction than immediate mode imaging and may be more amenable to hardware acceleration and caching. This feature may also reduce the amount of work a programmer needs to perform loading, managing, culling, and rendering data and allows a programmer to focus on higher application level functions. Nevertheless, retained mode imaging may also slow performance considerably due to the need to gather, save, and sort data from a scene prior to rendering it.
In view of the foregoing, what is needed is an apparatus and method to provide many of the advantages of retained mode and immediate mode architectures while avoiding many of the disadvantages of each. Further needed is an apparatus and method to dynamically and seamlessly switch between retained and immediate modes of operation in a way that is transparent to an application. Further needed are apparatus and methods to reduce graphics system bandwidth and reduce power consumption when performing 3D rendering.

Intelligent configurable graphics bandwidth modulator


A color filter substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes sub-pixel regions of three primary colors of R, G, and B formed by colored layers of the three primary colors, and sub-pixel regions of complementary colors of the three primary colors, namely, C, M, and Y, each formed by arranging two of the colored layers of the three primary colors such that the two colored layers are adjacent to each other. The colored layer thickness in each complementary-color sub-pixel region is larger than the colored layer thickness in each primary-color sub-pixel region. To compensate for the thickness difference, a transparent resin layer having no influence on the transmittance of light is formed such that the surfaces of the colored layers contacting a liquid crystal layer are leveled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color filter substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device capable of achieving high color purity, and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, in flat panel display (FPD) fields, research related to a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), a field emission display (FED), a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), etc. has been actively made.
Currently, the LCD is being highlighted by virtue of mass production techniques, ease in driving, and high picture quality. The LCD is a device for displaying information on a screen using the refractive index anisotropy of liquid crystal.
The following are two examples of related art techniques for color display of a superior color purity.
The first related art technique is a color filter used in a reflection type LCD. This color filter includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer has three regions respectively including color patterns of 3 complementary colors, namely, yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). The second layer has three regions respectively including color patterns of the 3 complementary colors and partionally overlapping with the first layer. Accordingly, color patterns of 3 primary colors, namely, red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are formed by overlapping two of the color patterns of the 3 complementary colors with each other. Thus, this technique can display colors with a superior color purity, using the 6 colors. An example of this technique is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. Heisei 10-307205.
The second related art technique is a display in an LCD in which a full-color display is accomplished using a guest-host mode. This display includes first colored regions respectively displaying 3 primary colors of R, G, and B, and second colored regions respectively displaying 3 complementary colors of C, M, and Y. Each second colored region overlaps with the first colored regions of the primary colors corresponding to the complementary color. Thus, this technique can display colors with a superior color purity. An example of this technique is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-107227.
The two related art techniques achieve color display of 6 or more colors by using 3 colors for basic colors, and combining two of the colored layers of the 3 colors such that the two colored layers are overlapped with each other.
However, where colored layers of two colors are overlapped with each other in a display direction in an LCD, as in the above-mentioned related art techniques, the light emitted in the display direction exhibits a reduced transmittance, as compared to light transmit a single layer of a single color. This is because two spectrums of incident light, which correspond to the transmitted two colors, are absorbed.

Color filter substrate for liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same


A catheter and method of making the same, including an elongated tube structure having a proximal end and at least one preset curved portion proximate a distal end. The preset curved portion includes a first material located generally along an outer surface of the preset curved portion and a second material located generally along an inside surface of the preset curved portion. The first material preferably has a greater stiffness than the second material, so that the catheter is capable of assuming a generally straight configuration without plastic deformation.

Medical catheters generally comprise elongated tube like members which may be inserted into the body either percutaneously, or via a body orifice, for any of a wide variety of diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Such medical applications generally require the use of a catheter having the ability to turn corners, such as in ocular irrigation or aspiration applications, or to negotiate twists and turns, such as in certain cardiovascular applications.
Catheters are typically introduced to the patients body through an introducer sheath. The catheter must generally be straightened to fit through the introducer sheath. Therefore, the catheter must be constructed so that it is elastically resilient enough to go through the introducer sheath without plastic deformation, yet resilient enough to meet the performance needs of the particular medical procedure.
For some applications, an inner catheter having a preformed shape is straightened and placed in an outer guiding sheath. When the inner catheter is extended or the outer sheath withdrawn, the inner catheter assumes its original shape. Again, the inner catheter must be constructed so that it is elastically resilient enough to straighten without plastic deformation, yet resume its original configuration when the outer sheath is removed.
For example, percutaneous translumenal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) requires manipulation of a catheter from a proximal position outside the patient's body through branched or tortuous portions of the patients arterial system for purposes of alleviating an obstruction by inflating a balloon. This particular procedure has been performed with increasing frequency over the past years in preference to open heart bypass surgery.
FIG. 1 illustrates the typical configuration of a conventional left coronary guiding catheter 20 with a dilation balloon 24 in the aorta when engaged with a stenosis 24 in the left main coronary artery during the performance of left coronary artery PTCA. The application of force 22 to advance a dilation balloon across the region of stenosis 26 increases the bending stress 28 on the bend 30 of the guiding catheter 20. The pre-bent configuration of the guiding catheter 20, in this situation a left Judkin's configuration, is unable to overcome the resistance at the stenosis 24, causing distal end 32 to back away from the entrance of the left main coronary artery and the angioplasty balloon catheter 24 to prolapse in the accenting aorta, precluding further progress.
Inability to advance the angioplasty balloon across the coronary stenosis because of instability of the guiding catheter and subsequent prolapse of the angioplasty balloon catheter represents one of the most common reasons for failure during the performance of a coronary angioplasty procedure. The guiding catheter disengages in this circumstance because of its flexibility. The guiding catheter has intrinsic flexibility because it must conform to the configuration of the aorta and aortic arch, which contain both linear and curved segments, during introduction. Insertion of the guiding catheter requires that it be advanced over a guidewire up the aorta, which is relatively straight, and then over the aortic arch, which, as the name implies, is curvilinear.
The stability afforded by guiding catheters typically relates to the limited intrinsic stiffness of these catheters. The stiffness of these prior guiding catheters is subject to a "warm-up" phenomenon (becoming more flexible as they remain in the body and equilibrate to body temperature) and thus varies inversely with the temperature of the device. Hence, these catheters tend to be particularly stiff on introduction into the body, when flexibility is preferable, and yet relatively flexible and hence unstable following exposure to body temperatures during balloon catheter manipulation across a coronary stenosis when rigidity is preferable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,787 (Danforth) discloses a catheter having a closed chamber eccentrically disposed along almost the entire length of the housing such that it virtually encompasses the housing. The catheter preferably contains a relatively elastic segment disposed preferentially along the outer circumference of the curvature of the catheter. The chamber may be filled with a fluid. The catheter is capable of asymmetric elongation when hydrostatic pressure is applied to the chamber, resulting in the development of bending stress and increased rigidity on the distal end as desired by the operator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,674 (Bos et al.) discloses a catheter with variable longitudinal properties. The catheters are manufactured by simultaneously conveying a plurality of streams of different materials to a molding nozzle and merging the streams together to form a catheter. The catheter is manufactured with varying properties along its longitudinal axis corresponding to properties of the constituent streams of materials.

Guiding catheter and method of making same


A system and method for facilitating real time transactions between a user and multiple entities are described. In the system, an exchange of information related to a transaction involving a user and multiple entities is facilitated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electronic commerce transactions.
2. Art Background
Electronic commerce is achieving widespread use. Transactions are performed everyday over the Internet and through point of sale (POS) or bank systems. Such systems are designed to maintain the integrity of the user's credit card, debit card, and account number. However, no measures are taken to ensure the privacy of the user. As the vendor retains information regarding the identity of the user, the user is open to receipt of marketing materials that may result from the data mining of transactions performed on a particular network.
Several applications supporting transactions over networks like the Internet have been developed, especially directed to the user-to-vendor relationship and to the concept of agent-assisted pricing models. Presently, applications provide direct agent negotiations and direct agent pricing between user and merchant or vendor.
However, these applications are not equipped to handle multiple merchants or vendors and real time transactions involving brokering of products or services. The above-mentioned applications lack an intelligent and automatic agent technology, which can function on behalf of a merchant or vendor to execute a referral and/or brokering negotiations resulting in performance of the transaction. Also, these applications lack a secure merchant-to-merchant brokering model that allows for exchange of information without sacrificing the privacy of the user.

System and method for facilitating real time transactions between a user and multiple entities


An air separation module includes a canister extending between a first end and an opposite second end, a separator fixed within the canister to separate a compressed air flow into an oxygen-enriched air flow fraction and an oxygen-depleted air flow fraction, and a one-piece cap. The one-piece cap is connected to the first end of the canister and has a filter module mount portion on a side of the one-piece cap opposite the separator to support a filter module with the air separation module. Nitrogen generation systems and methods of making air separation modules are also described.

The present disclosure generally relates to nitrogen generation systems, and more particularly to air separation modules for nitrogen generation.
Vehicles, such as aircraft, commonly carry fuel in fuel tanks. The fuel generally resides within the fuel tank as a liquid and bounds an ullage space defined within the fuel tank. The atmosphere within the ullage space typically harbors a mixture of fuel vapor and air from the ambient environments. Since mixtures of fuel vapors and ambient air can be potentially hazardous, e.g., due to combustion in the event of a spark or flame, some vehicles employ inerting systems. Inerting systems generally limit oxygen concentration within fuel tank ullage spaces by reducing oxygen concentration in the ullage space to below a level where the atmosphere can support combustion, typically using air separation modules.
Air separation modules separate air received from the ambient environment into an oxygen-enriched air flow and a nitrogen-enriched air flow. The air separation module generally generates the nitrogen-enriched air flow by forcing the ambient air flow through a fiber mat, which separates oxygen molecules from nitrogen molecules according to molecule size. Since ozone molecules entrained in the ambient air flow can infiltrate the nitrogen-enriched air flow, potentially increasing oxygen concentration within the fuel tank and/or causing degradation of certain fuel system components, ozone converters may be arranged upstream of the air separation module to convert entrained ozone into dioxygen. Such ozone converters add size and weight to the nitrogen generation system.
Such systems and methods have generally been acceptable for their intended purpose. However, there remains a need for improved air separation modules, nitrogen generation systems, and methods of making air separation modules for nitrogen generation systems.

Air separation modules, nitrogen generation systems, and methods of making air separation modules


Fluorescence spectral data acquired from tissues in vivo or in vitro is processed in accordance with a multivariate statistical method to achieve the ability to probabilistically classify tissue in a diagnostically useful manner, such as by histopathological classification. The apparatus includes a controllable illumination device for emitting electromagnetic radiation selected to cause tissue to produce a fluorescence intensity spectrum. Also included are an optical system for applying the plurality of radiation wavelengths to a tissue sample, and a fluorescence intensity spectrum detecting device for detecting an intensity of fluorescence spectra emitted by the sample as a result of illumination by the controllable illumination device. The system also include a data processor, connected to the detecting device, for analyzing detected fluorescence spectra to calculate a probability that the sample belongs in a particular classification. The data processor analyzes the detected fluorescence spectra using a multivariate statistical method. The five primary steps involved in the multivariate statistical method are (i) preprocessing of spectral data from each patient to account for inter-patient variation, (ii) partitioning of the preprocessed spectral data from all patients into calibration and prediction sets, (iii) dimension reduction of the preprocessed spectra in the calibration set using principal component analysis, (iv) selection of the diagnostically most useful principal components using a two-sided unpaired student's t-test and (v) development of an optimal classification scheme based on logistic discrimination using the diagnostically useful principal component scores of the calibration set as inputs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus of probabilistically classifying tissue in vivo and in vitro using fluorescence spectroscopy, and more particularly to probabilistically classifying normal, cancerous and precancerous epithelial tissue such as cervical tissue in vivo and in vitro using fluorescence spectroscopy.
2. Description of Related Art
Fluorescence, infrared absorption and Raman spectroscopies have been proposed for cancer and precancer diagnosis. Many groups have successfully demonstrated their use in various organ systems. Auto and dye induced fluorescence have shown promise in recognizing atherosclerosis and various types of cancers and precancers. Many groups have demonstrated that autofluorescence may be used for differentiation of normal and abnormal tissues in the human breast and lung, bronchus and gastrointestinal tract. Fluorescence spectroscopic techniques have also been investigated for improved detection of cervical dysplasia.
Although a complete understanding of the quantitative information contained within a tissue fluorescence spectrum has not been achieved, many groups have applied fluorescence spectroscopy for real-time, non-invasive, automated characterization of tissue pathology. Characterization of tissue pathology using auto-fluorescence, see Appendix A, References 10-23, as well as photosensitizer induced fluorescence, see Appendix A, References 25-27, to discriminate between diseased and non-diseased human tissues in vitro and in vivo has been described in a variety of tissues. However, these various approaches have not been entirely satisfactory.
Auto-fluorescence spectra of normal tissue, intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive carcinoma have been measured from several organ sites in vivo. For example, in vivo studies of the human colon at 370 nm excitation (Appendix A, Reference 13) indicated that a simple algorithm based on fluorescence intensity at two emission wavelengths can be used to differentiate normal colon and adenomatous polyps with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 97%, respectively. Shomacker et al. (Appendix A, Reference 14) conducted similar studies in vivo at 337 nm excitation and demonstrated that a multivariate linear regression algorithm based on laser induced fluorescence spectra can be used to discriminate between normal colon and colonic polyps with a similarly high sensitivity and specificity. Lam et al. developed a bronchoscope which illuminates tissue at 442 nm excitation and produces a false color image in near real-time which represents the ratio of fluorescence intensities at 520 nm (green) and 690 nm (red) (Appendix A, References 16 and 17). In vivo studies demonstrated that the ratio of red to green auto-fluorescence is greater in normal bronchial tissues than in abnormal bronchial tissues (Appendix A, Reference 16). In a trial with 53 patients, the sensitivity of fluorescence bronchoscopy was found to be 72%, as compared to 50% for conventional white light bronchoscopy (Appendix A, Reference B 17).
Nonetheless, a reliable diagnostic method and apparatus with improved diagnostic capability for use in vitro and in vivo is needed to allow faster, more effective patient management and potentially further reduce mortality.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for probabilistically classifying tissue in vitro and in vivo using fluorescence spectroscopy

The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System


A system and method is described for database split generation in a massively parallel or distributed database environment including a plurality of databases and a data warehouse layer providing data summarization and querying functionality. A database table accessor of the system obtains, from an associated client application, a query for data in a table of the data warehouse layer, wherein the query includes a user preference. The system obtains table data representative of properties of the table, and determines a splits generator in accordance with one or more of the user preference or the properties of the table. The system generates, by the selected splits generator, table splits dividing the user query into a plurality of query splits, and outputs the plurality of query splits to an associated plurality of mappers for execution by the associated plurality of mappers of each of the plurality of query splits against the table.

Data processing frameworks are available for distributed storage and processing of large sets of data on commodity hardware. One such data processing framework is Apache Hadoop™ which is an open source framework for distributed storage and processing of large sets of data on commodity hardware. The Hadoop framework can be used to process large amounts of data in a massively parallel or other distributed manner thereby enabling businesses to quickly gain insight from massive amounts of both structured as well as unstructured data.
The Hadoop framework is enterprise ready in part because it provides for the storage and processing of vast quantities of data in a storage layer that scales linearly. In this regard, Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) is a technology providing for efficient scale out of a storage layer. Environments such as HDFS provide a fault-tolerant environment which is designed to be deployed within a distributed computing infrastructure, using relatively low-cost commodity hardware. Such an environment provides high throughput access to application data, and is particularly suitable for applications that have very large data sets (e.g., machine learning).
Many specialized engines are available for enabling interaction with the data in a wide variety of ways including batch access, real-time access, and combinations of batch and real-time access. Apache Hive™ is the most widely adopted technology for accessing massive amounts of data such as might be organized and stored in Hadoop and is, essentially, a data warehouse having tables similar to tables in a relational database. Engines such as Hive enable easy data summarization and ad-hoc/interactive queries via a structured query language (SQL) like interface for large datasets (e.g., petabytes of data) stored in HDFS.
Table and storage management interface layers such as the HCatalog interface enable users with different data processing tools to more easily read and write data relative to the Hadoop environment. HCatalog uses Hive's command line interface for issuing commands to define data and to explore metadata.
Latency for Hive queries, however, is generally very high even for relatively small data sets owing in part to the batch processing of Hadoop jobs which can at times incur substantial overheads in job submission and scheduling. In addition, tools such as HIVE that use a database abstraction layer such as HCatalog can divide a query into multiple pieces and execute them separately against a database. However, these queries are not executed atomically but instead are executed at different points in time. As such, the results of each query when combined could violate the read-consistent rule relative to database retrieval protocol rules.

System and method for generating size-based splits in a massively parallel or distributed database environment


A ratchet wrench having a vertical bore in the handle. The vertical bore has a resilient member disposed therein. The resilient member has an enlarged central section. When the pawl of the ratchet wrench is moved from one alternate position to another, the enlarged central section is distorted.

The present invention relates to a detent for a hand tool and more particularly to a detent having an enlarged central section which is disposed on a vertical axis in a bore in the hand tool.
The conventional detent used in hand tools such as ratchet wrenches, is a ball and spring disposed in a bore. The detent in the ratchet wrench which controls the movement of the pawl requires that the bore be formed angularly or perpendicularly into the handle and communicate with the opening in which the pawl is received. The center line and depth of the bore are critical to the proper function of the ratchet wrench. If not exactly accurate, there is the possibility of applying differing and varying torques when the direction of the pawl is reversed. In production of the ratchet wrenches, forming the bore is costly and time consuming. Further costs are incurred by rejection of inaccurately formed and/or out of tolerance bores. An additional problem is assembly of the ball and spring in a conventional detent means. The ball and/or the spring are frequently lost during assembly and repair. It is possible for employees to be injured by ejection of the small ball. Special tooling is required to install or remove the spring and ball. During maintenance and repair of the conventional wrench, the above-identified problems are present.
U.S. Pat. No. 138,973 disclosed a wrench having a duplex spring which is pressed by an eccentric to hold one member of a duplex pawl. U.S. Pat. No. 402,747 discloses a wrench in which a reversible pawl is operated by a spring which is received in a recess. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,224,223, there is disclosed a ratchet wrench having a pawl pivotably mounted on a handle and provided with two "dogs". On the side opposite the dogs is a tail, extending from each side of which are abutments. A resilient stop or spring is seated in a longitudinally-extending recess. The spring has an eye or loop which is adapted to engage one or the other of the oblique walls. U.S. Pat. No. 1,854,513 discloses a reversible ratchet wrench with a pawl and a wire of spring steel which is pivotably anchored in an aperture. The spring yields to an extent sufficient to permit the displacement of a pawl for temporary tooth disengagement until the succeeding ratchet tooth is engaged in response to a change in the direction of movement of the handle. U.S. Pat. No. 2,138,332 discloses a wrench having a spring member which has a vertical end portion and a V-shaped connecting portion. The spring engages the pawl.
These patents have not resolved the problem noted above and there still exists a need for a detent and a tool using the detent which addresses the problems.


A laser projection device is described for projecting laser beams onto a projection plane, including a controllable multibeam laser diode unit; including a controllable optical deflection unit, which is designed in such a way that laser beams generated by the multibeam laser diode unit are deflected with the aid of the deflection unit; and including a control unit, which is designed in such a way that it controls the deflection unit to move laser beams deflected by the deflection unit onto a projection plane along a scanning line in such a way that different deflected laser beams run in the projection plane on the same scanning line.

Conventional video projectors are generally relatively large, heavy, and sensitive, so that they are less suitable for mobile use. In addition, such devices have a comparatively high power consumption and the colors produced sometimes appear faint, for example, if sunlight is incident on the projection surface.
The technologies which may be used in miniaturized projectors include laser scanners. In laser scanners, laser beams emitted by laser diodes are moved in such a way that they scan a projection surface. Laser beams are generally moved along horizontal scanning lines. When the entire horizontal width of the desired projection surface has been traveled through along a scanning line, the scanning line is vertically shifted.
A color image is generated by superimposing laser beams of different colors and by targeted projection and non-projection of the laser beams. This takes place by using such a high repetition frequency that an overall image arises for the human eye, similarly as in the case of scanning of the luminescent coating of a CRT television using an electron beam. Such laser scanners are small and generate images having strong colors. In addition, they operate very energy efficiently, since a laser beam only has to be turned on in each case when it is actually required for the projection.
However, it may be problematic in the case of such laser scanners that the image projected by laser scanners onto a surface generally has the so-called speckle effect. This speckle effect, which is also referred to as a light granulation effect, arises due to interference of the coherent laser light on unevenness of the surface and causes the image to appear grainy and partially slightly moving. The speckle effect is perceived to be unpleasant, which is presently detrimental to the market acceptance of the laser scanners.
Various methods are known for reducing the contrast of the speckle interference pattern. One of these methods provides the generation of a running, locally modulated interference strip system. Such an interference strip system is generated while using an ultrasonic cell in German Published Patent Appln. No. 197 10 660. The scanning laser beam is divided with the aid of the ultrasonic cell into various diffraction orders having different frequencies, which are subsequently superimposed again.

Laser projection device and laser projection method for projecting laser beams onto a projection plane


A charging apparatus used with a mobile robot has an improved charging structure so that a mobile robot is easily brought into electrical contact with a charging unit, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and preventing a charging failure. The charging unit is provided with a plurality of charging terminals which are brought into electrical contact with corresponding ones of contact terminals of the mobile robot. Each of the charging terminals includes a body and a head. A contact plate is mounted to a predetermined portion of the head to be brought into electrical contact with a corresponding one of the contact terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charging apparatus used with a mobile robot and, more particularly, to a charging apparatus used with a mobile robot to recharge the mobile robot.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, mobile robots have been used in various industrial fields to maneuver elements or working tools, which are required to manufacture products, to desired positions.
Recently, there is a growing tendency to increase use of the mobile robots at home as well as in the industrial fields. At home, the mobile robot is used to clean a room, guard a user against attack, and protect the user's property.
The mobile robot is designed to fulfill given functions and missions within a scope of activity. Thus, the mobile robot is constructed to detect a moving direction and position thereof within the scope of activity. Further, the mobile robot has a rechargeable battery therein to supply electricity to various driving units including a motor to drive wheels of the mobile robot.
When the electricity available in the rechargeable battery falls below a predetermined level, the mobile robot moves to a charging unit to charge the rechargeable battery of the mobile robot. Generally, the mobile robot transceives signals with the charging unit and moves to a position adjacent to the charging unit. Thereafter, the mobile robot moves to be in contact with the charging unit, thereby forming an electrical contact between the rechargeable battery and the charging unit.
When the mobile robot moves to be in contact with the charging unit, a position error may occur due to obstacles disposed on a support surface between the mobile robot and the charging unit, or friction between the wheels and the support surface. At this time, the mobile robot fails to be in electrical contact with the charging unit. In this case, the mobile robot must move forward, backward, leftward, and rightward so as to be in electrical contact with the charging unit. The mobile robot repeats such trial and error until the electrical contact is successfully established. Thus, it takes a long time to charge the mobile robot, and further there may occur a failure to incompletely charge the rechargeable battery.
To solve the above problems, a method of installing a lamp in the charging unit to emit light has been proposed. Thus, the mobile robot moves to an electric contact (connection) position in response to the light emitted from the lamp. The above method has a problem in that the trial and error is only reduced while the failure of an electrical connection (contact) occurs frequently because the mobile robot approximately detects the electrical contact position. Therefore, the above conventional method is not practical.
To reduce the frequency of the failure of the electrical connection, there also has been proposed the charging unit and the mobile robot having an expensive guide unit. Because the mobile robot is controlled by the guide unit, the mobile robot comes into electrical contact with the charging unit at a higher rate. However, this conventional method of using the guide unit also has a problem in that it is uneconomical because the guide unit is expensive.

Charging apparatus used with a mobile robot


A method of analyzing an input signal, the method including the steps of: (a) dividing a first input signal into first and second orthogonal signal polarization components; (b) dividing a second input signal into orthogonal first and second orthogonal local polarization components; (c) mixing the first orthogonal signal component with the second orthogonal local polarization component to provide a first mixed signal; (d) mixing the second orthogonal signal component with the first orthogonal local polarization component to provide a second mixed signal; (e) analyzing the first and second mixed signal to determine the polarization or phase information in the input signal.

Demand for the accurate analysis of optical signals continues to be of significant importance in many fields. For example, in accurate measurement, it is often important to be able to accurately sample an optical signal. The need for accurate measurement is prevalent in a wide range of fields, including optical telecommunications and optical measurement.
For example, demand for high capacity data transmission continues to grow and grow. One dominant form of transmission is optical transmission over optical fibers or the like or optical free space transmission. Current planning demands future 100 gigabytes per second (100G) systems. With such high capacity transmission systems, there is a need to demodulate a received optical signal.
One suitable encoding methodology for high bandwidth optical transmission is Differential Quaternary Phase-Shift Keying (DQPSK). In such a system, information is encoded in the phase of the transmitted signal. In particular, encoding is provided in phase changes in the transmitted signal.
One high capacity DQPSK transmission system for optical communications is Dual Polarization with Quadrature Phase Shift Keying. Example DP-QPSK systems are set out in the following:                U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,463 to Van Deventer discloses an optical receiver known as an optical hybrid device;        U.S. Patent application publication number 2007/0223932 to Hsich also discloses a coherent optical receiver device.        "Recent advances in coherent optical communication" by Guifang Li, Advances in Optics and Photonics 1, 279-307 (2009) discusses the principals of coherent optical receivers.        Other optical hybrid devices are discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 7,209,670 to Fludgerfl, U.S. Pat. No. 7,315,575 to Sunfl, U.S. Pat. No. 6,917,031 to Sunfl.
Normally, in each of the above referenced designs, it is common to implement detection coherently by means of mixing of the electric field vectors of the aligned polarization states of an input signal and a local oscillator. A number of problems are provided with implementation of such designs. The aforementioned arrangements often rely upon interferometric structures with one arm of the interferometer providing a 90 degree phase delay. Unfortunately, the requirement for a 90 degree phase delay can often lead to difficulty in meeting tolerances. A 90 degree phase shift is equivalent to, at standard optical transmission bands, to the utilization of a 400 nanometer optical element. Allowing for say a 2 to 3 degree tolerance accuracy places about a 10 nanometer tolerance accuracy on the phased delayed element. This is difficult to provide, especially where temperature variations occur. Further, the interferometric system often leads to extremely tight tolerances on alignment. This normally leads to a high expense in manufacturing optical hybrid devices or the additional complexity of actively tuning the phase delay based upon a feedback from the signal.
As phase and amplitude detection techniques are highly likely to be utilized in 100 gigabit transmission systems (100G), there is a general need for an effective form of polarization processing of transmitted signals so as to provide for electric field phase and amplitude detection and decoding. The utilization of polarization multiplexed phase encoding in 100G coherent systems allows for higher data rates of transmission. Detection of the electric field vector of the optically transmitted signal is particularly advantageous as it permits the calculation and mitigation of many transmission impairments and distortions such as chromatic dispersion induced pulse spreading and polarization mode dispersion.
The coherent transmission system is likely to rely on a dual polarization with a quadrature phase shift key modulation scheme (DP-QPSK). This is known to be especially efficient and provides improved signal to noise and allows for utilization of CMOS electronic decoder systems. Other forms of optical encoding are known and are also applicable with the present invention.
Turning initially to FIG. 1, there is illustrated one form of reference design 10 for a DP-QPSK transmitter. The reference design illustrates transmission on one wavelength band only. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it can be combined via multiplexing with other transmitters for other wavelength bands. In the DP-QPSK transmission system, an input laser 11 of predefined frequency and polarization state is input 12 and is interconnected to a number of modulators 13-16 which act under electronic control of drivers 17-20. The modulators 13-16 act to phase modulate the signal in a known controlled manner.
The modulators act to phase encode an input data stream. Polarization multiplexing is then provided by polarization rotation element 21 which outputs an orthogonal polarization 23 to second polarization 22. The two orthogonal polarizations are combined 25 by beam combiner for transmission.
The signal is then transmitted in a particular wave length band. During transmission, the orthogonality of the polarization states is substantially maintained although rotation of the overall polarization state may occur.
The receiver is then responsible for decoding the transmitted signal so as to extract the data information that has been encoded by the transmitter.

High bandwidth demodulator system and method


Among other thing, the present invention provides solution to the problem, particularly, the present invention certain surfaces and certain sample holder to improve the sensitivity, speed, and easy-to-use of an optical signal based assays, such as colorimetric assays or fluorescence assays.

In bio/chemical assaying, there is a need to enhance light signal from a thin sample. For example, in colorimetric assay, when the sample thickness is very thin (e.g. 100 um (micron) or less), the color become very faint, become difficult to be observed, limiting the sensitivity of a colorimetric assay.


A mounting bracket for mounting a temperature sensor, a gas valve, a power delivery unit, a controller and/or any other suitable object or device to a water heater tank. An illustrative but non-limiting example may be found in a mounting bracket that includes a polymeric body that has a sensor portion configured to receive a temperature sensor. The sensor portion may have a distal end that extends into and supports the temperature sensor within the water heater tank, and may include a shell disposed over at least a portion of the sensor portion.

Water heaters are used in homes, businesses and just about any establishment having the need for heated water. A conventional water heater typically has at least one heating element or "heater," such as a gas-fired burner and/or electric heating element. Each water heater also typically has at least one thermostat or controller for controlling the heater. The controller typically receives signals related to the temperature of the water within the water heater tank, often from a temperature sensor that is thermally engaged with the water in the water heater tank.
In some instances, a water heater may operate in accordance with a first temperature set point and a second temperature set point. The difference between the first and second temperature set point may be referred to as the temperature differential of the water heater. When temperature signals from the temperature sensor indicate that the water temperature is below the first set point, for example when the water temperature is below about 120° F., the controller may turn on the heater and the water within the water heater tank begins to heat. After some time, the water temperature within the water heater tank will increase to the second set point, which, for example may be about 140° F. At this point, the controller may cause the heater to reduce its heat output or, alternatively, causes the heater to turn off. This heat cycle begins again when the water temperature within the water heater tank cools down below the first set point, such as below about 120° F.
For a gas fired water heater, a temperature sensor, a gas valve and a controller are often mounted relative to the water heater tank. The controller typically receives a temperature signal from the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor often protrudes into and is thermally coupled to the water in the water heater tank. The controller typically is programmed to control the gas valve such that the temperature of the water in the water heater tank remains between the first and second temperature set points, as described above. For an electric water heater, a temperature sensor, a power delivery unit and a controller may be mounted to the water heater tank. In this case, the controller may control the power delivery unit such that the temperature of the water in the water heater tank is kept between the first and second temperature set points.
What would be desirable is an improved mounting bracket for mounting the temperature sensor, the gas valve, the power delivery unit, the controller and/or any other suitable object or device to the water heater.

Mounting bracket for use with a water heater


A network security assessment engine can assess security on a remote computer network. Agent programs on computing devices on the remote network can execute security tests. The network security assessment engine receives security test results produced by the security tests. The network security assessment engine can determine security test scores based, at least in part, on the security test results. The network security assessment engine can determine an overall network security score based, at least in part, on the security test scores and present the overall network security score. As an example, a network services provider can utilize the network security assessment engine to provide an adaptive, expressive scoring mechanism, allowing the network services provided to more efficiently digest, assess, and report network anomalies within a multitenant context.

The security of local networks and the devices on the network is extremely important. Malware of all kinds of types continually threatens the security and even financial well-being of network owners. A single successful ransomware attack can result in the loss of thousands of dollars either to pay the ransom in order to decrypt the victim's data, or in fees to recover the victim's data. Other types of malware can result in the loss of confidential information leading to identity theft. Therefore, it is important for network owners to be able to accurately assess the security of a network and the devices on the network.
Some networks are remotely monitored and managed, at least in part, by automated processes. For example, computing devices can implement automated network services to manage and monitor various aspects of remotely located networks and computing devices. These management and monitoring services can obtain and maintain data records about the performance and activity of the network and computing devices. Exemplary performance and activity records include network bandwidth usage and availability, processor usage and availability, memory usage and availability, application usage, software driver status, software patch status, and the like. However, conventional techniques are unable to identify and communicate security risks that exist within the network.

Computer network security assessment engine


Disclosed are replicatable viral DNA vectors encoding a site-specific DNA-altering enzyme and a DNA target recognized by the enzyme, the enzyme selectively converting, in a cell expressing the enzyme, the DNA vector to a rearranged form. The invention further relates to methods for assembling recombinant adenoviral DNAs. These methods include the steps of: (a) providing a first linearized DNA vector including a restriction site and a cos site and a second linearized DNA vector including the restriction site, an adenoviral nucleic acid molecule, and a cos site; and (b) ligating the first and second linearized DNA vectors, the ligation assembling a recombinant adenoviral DNA.

The invention relates to DNA vectors.
Mammalian cell expression vectors based on DNA viruses have been widely discussed as gene delivery vehicles for genetic therapy. Among the different DNA viruses proposed for this purpose have been adenoviruses, baculovirus, Epstein Barr virus, and herpes simplex virus. In addition other smaller viruses that have an intranuclear phase in which the viral genome is present as a double stranded DNA, such as retroviruses and parvoviruses, have been proposed as gene delivery vehicles.
Adenoviral vectors (AdV), for example, have a recognized potential for gene delivery, founded in their broad host range, robust growth in culture, and capacity to infect mitotically quiescent cells (Graham and Prevec, Manipulation of adenovirus vectors, p. 109–128, In E. J. Murray (ed.), Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 7, Humana, Clifton, N.J., 1991; Trapnell and Gorziglia, Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 5:617–625, 1994). AdV can be propagated in a helper cell line, 293, a human embryonic kidney cell line transformed by adenovirus type 5 (Graham et al., J. Gen. Virol. 36:59–72, 1994). 293 cells express the viral E1 gene products (E1a and E1b) that are the master regulatory proteins for subsequent viral gene expression. E1 deleted viruses can propagate in 293 cells, but not in other cells. Although it would be expected that E1 deleted viruses lack the machinery to express viral genes, several studies have demonstrated that cellular E1-like components can stimulate viral gene expression (Imperiale et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 4:867–74, 1984; Onclercq et al., J. Virol. 62:4533–7,1988; Spergel et al., J. Virol. 66:1021–30, 1992). The expression of these viral genes results in the relatively rapid elimination of transduced cells in vivo as a result of cytotoxic T cell responses (Yang et al., Immunity 1:433–42, 1994; Yang et al., Gene Ther. 3:137–44, 1996; Yang et al., J. Virol. 69:2004–15, 1995).
Thus attention has been focused on eliminating the remaining vestiges of viral expression. Viral genes that have been deleted for this purpose include the gene for E4 proteins (Armentano et al., Hum. Gene Ther. 6:1343–53, 1995; Kochanek et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:5731–6, 1996; and Yeh et al., J. Virol. 70:559–565, 1996), DNA binding protein (Engelhardt et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 21:6196–6200, 1994; and Gorziglia et al., J. Virol. 70:4173–8, 1996), DNA polymerase (Amalfitano et al., J. Virol. 72:926–33, 1998), and the preterminal protein (Schaack et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:14686–91, 1996). The most aggressive approach has been the creation of helper virus-dependent vectors that lack all viral genes (Hardy et al., J. Virol. 71:1842–9, 1997; Kochaneketal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:5731–6, 1996; Lieber et al., J. Virol. 70:8944–60, 1996; Mitani et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92:3854–8, 1995; and Parks et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:13565–13570, 1996). These vectors have high capacity, evoke reduced cellular immune responses and show prolonged expression in vivo (Morsy et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:7866–71, 1998). However to deploy these viruses on the scale required for human clinical application presents major challenges because a cesium chloride (CsCl) gradient is needed to remove the helper virus.


CPU 150 performs a matrix operation on image data GD, and then increases the effective digit place number of the color values of the image data GD to increase the tone number of the image data GD from 8-bit tone to 18-bit tone. CPU 150 performs a gamma correction process, a matrix operation N−1M, and an inverse gamma correction process, and then restores the tone number of the image data GD to the original 8-bit tone, and performs automatic quality adjustment. As a result, the 8-bit tone of the original image data GD is preserved throughout image processing, and reproductive color number of the image data GD is preserved as well.

Currently, image data based on various different color spaces is used in image data processing apparatuses such as computers, printers and digital still cameras. For example, in computers, image data based on the RGB color space, which presumes output to a monitor, is normally used, and in digital still cameras (DSCs), since created image data is compressed and stored in JPEG format, image data based on the YCbCr color space adapted to compression is used. Therefore, when image data created by a DSC is processed by a computer, for example, the color space of the image data needed to be converted from the YCbCr color space to the RGB color space.
However, when the color space of image data is converted from a first color space (YCbCr) to a second color space (RGB), color values arrayed at equal intervals in the first color space are not always equal intervals in the second color space, so there is the problem that tone number (reproductive color number) of converted image data is reduced compared to tone number (reproductive color number) of image data before conversion. When tone number is reduced, the number of colors that can be reproduced is reduced, so the colors of the image data cannot be reproduced correctly, creating the problem that only output images with skipped tones can be obtained.


A method of making an isocyanato terminated precursor for polyurethane is disclosed. The method comprises heating an isocyanate containing about two or more isocyanato groups per molecule at a temperature of up to 80 degrees Celsius and at a pressure of about 1 atmosphere. The method further comprises mixing a modified vegetable oil comprising about two or more hydroxyl groups per molecule with the isocyanate at a molar equivalent ratio of at least 2:1 isocyanate to vegetable oil for a predetermined time period to form the isocyanato terminated precursor.

Due to their widely ranging mechanical properties and their ability to be relatively easily machined and formed, plastic foams and elastomers have found wide use in a multitude of industrial and consumer applications. In particular, polyurethane foams and elastomers have been found to be well suited for many applications. Automobiles, for instance, contain a number of components, such as cabin interior parts, that are comprised of polyurethane foams and elastomers. Such polyurethane foams are typically categorized as flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid foams with flexible foams generally being softer, less dense, more pliable, and more subject to structural rebound subsequent to loading than rigid foams.
Urethanes are formed when isocyanate (NCO) groups (or A-side reactants) react with hydroxyl (OH) and other active hydrogen groups (or B-side reactants). Specifically, a carbamate linkage (or urethane bond) is formed upon the reaction between an isocyanate group and a hydroxyl group. The polyurethane polymer-forming reaction occurs between substances with more than one isocyanate group per molecule (or A-side reactants) and substances with more than one hydroxyl or other active hydrogen group per molecule (B-side reactants). The most common method of polyurethane production is via the reaction of a polyol (a B-side reactant) and an isocyanate (an A-side reactant) which forms the backbone urethane group. A cross-linking agent may also be added. Depending on the desired qualities of the final urethane product, the precise formulation may be varied. Variables in the formulation include the type and amounts of each of the reactants.
Although vegetable-based polyurethane foams have been used in various polyurethane foam markets, the use of vegetable-based polyurethane foam has not gained acceptance in industries, such as the automotive industry. For example, vegetable-based polyurethanes have not been able to meet specification requirements for use in automotive interior components.
Thus, there is a need to provide a high quality polyurethane product made from a relatively high level of bio-based raw materials.

Isocyanato terminated precursor and method of making the same


A set of cannulae for tissue injections is disclosed. The cannulae are ideally suited for tissue injections in the human body. In particular, the cannulae are well-suited for muscle injections in the human face. Each cannula injecting device includes a hub attached to a tubular needle with a blunt tip or spatula-like tip. The tubular needle is curved and includes a side opening located near the tip.

This application claims the benefit of French Application 0005401, filed Apr. 27, 2000.
(Not Applicable)
The present invention is generally directed to surgical devices, and more particularly to a set of cannulae for tissue injections in the human body, in particular, the human face.
In recent years, the fields of aesthetic and plastic surgery have opened new techniques in medicine. One of the latest techniques being used for rejuvenation and correction of scars and tissue defects is fat autografting. Prior art systems use a straight cannula for the fat micro injection in the human face. These straight cannulae are not perfectly adapted to the human face. Thus, the use of these straight cannulae in the human face causes some distortion and harm to the muscle fibers and the delicate superficial subcutaneous vascularization.
Thus, a need exists for a non-traumatic instrumentation for fat grafting and tissue restructuring in the human face.
The present invention is directed to a set of cannulae for tissue injections in the human body, in particular, the human face. The set of cannulae includes a plurality of cannula injecting devices wherein each cannula injecting device comprises a hub (or nozzle) which has a central x-axis and a tubular needle connected to the hub wherein the tubular needle is curved and comprises a tip and a side opening located near the tip. Each cannula is curved to be suited for injections into at least one muscle of the human face.
In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the cannula injecting device is used for injections in the Orbicularis Oculii muscles and/or the nasolabial furrow. The tubular needle may be uniformly curved with the side opening looking inside the curve. The uniformly curved cannula injecting device may have a blunt tip, a working length of about 70 mm and a curve with an arc which subtends an angle of about 220.
In accordance with yet other aspects of the invention, the cannula injecting device is used for injections in the upper lip philtrum. The tubular needle may be uniformly curved with the side opening looking inside the curve. The tubular needle may have a blunt spatula-like tip, a working length of about 35 mm and an arc which subtends an angle of approximately 80xc2x0.
In accordance with still other aspects of the invention, the cannula injecting device may be used for injections in the Zygomatic Major and/or Zygomatic Minor muscles in the malar area. The tubular needle of the cannula injecting device may have a straight portion connected to the hub followed by a uniformly curved portion. The side opening may look inside the curve. The cannula injecting device may have a working length of about 70 mm, with the straight portion having a length of about 15 mm and the curve portion having a length of about 55 mm and an arc which subtends an angle of approximately 20xc2x0.
In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the cannula injecting device may be used for injections in the Procerus muscle, the Corrugator muscle, the Nasalis muscle, the Frontal muscle and glabellar angle and/or the mandibular angles. The cannula injecting device may have a tubular needle with a straight portion connected to the hub, followed by a curved portion. The cannula injecting device may have the side opening looking outside the curve of the curved portion. The cannula injecting device may have a working length of about 70 mm, with the straight portion having a length of about 55 mm and the curved portion having a length of about 15 mm and an arc which subtends an angle of about 6xc2x0.
In accordance with still further aspects of the invention, the cannula injecting device may be used for injections in the Orbicularis Oris muscle and the Buccinator muscle. The tubular needle of the cannula injecting device may have a straight portion connected to the hub, followed by a curved portion. The tubular needle may have a side opening looking inside the curve of the curved portion. The cannula injecting device may have a working length of about 70 mm, with a straight portion having a length of about 5 mm and the curved portion having a length of about 65 mm and an arc which subtends an angle of approximately 34xc2x0.
In accordance with yet further aspects of the invention, the cannula injecting device may be used for injections in the Mentalis muscle, the Depressor Labii Inferioris muscle and the Depressor Anguli Oris muscle and/or the mandibular rim. The tubular needle may have a double curve which includes a first curve connected to the hub, followed by a reverse curve and a straight portion. The straight portion includes the side opening. The side opening may look inside the reverse curve. The first curve of the cannula injecting device may have a length of about 25 mm and an arc which subtends an angle of approximately 9xc2x0, the reverse curve and the straight portion have a total length of about 25 mm and an arc which subtends an angle of approximately 26xc2x0.
In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the cannula injecting device may be used for injections in a cheek portion of the Platysma muscle, and a cheek-pillar, and/or a lower lip-pillar. The tubular needle has a straight portion substantially parallel to the x-axis of the hub, the first curve may have a length of about 18 mm and an arc which subtends an angle of about 107xc2x0, the reverse curve has a length of about 7 mm and an arc which subtends an angle of about 20xc2x0 and the straight portion has a length of about 30 mm.
In accordance with further aspects of the invention, the cannulae may be grouped into sets.

Set of cannulae for tissue injections in the human face