A bipolar high output current buffer is disclosed using a negative feedback current mirror to supply the base drive to an output transistor. Small quiescent currents are used wherein the buffer demonstrates low quiescent power dissipation. The current mirror supplies the incremental base drive to the output transistor to support high output currents. When the output drive may source or sink the high output currents, two current mirrors may be used, one for each of the source and the sinking circuitry. This invention provides for minimal loss of dynamic range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bipolar high output current buffers, and more particularly to buffers with stacked input and output transistors.
2. Background Information
Prior art bipolar high current buffers typically comprise four transistors, a PNP and NPN input and a corresponding NPN and PNP output arranged in a push pull or the other stacked configuration. In this configuration, the output is limited by the output transistor beta (current gain) and the base drive available from the input stage. This leads to higher than desired quiescent power dissipation, due to high current in the input stage. FIG. 1 shows such a buffer, where an input signal (IN) is applied to the bases of Q2 and Q3, and the output(OUT) is taken from the emitters of Q1 and Q4. Notice that the current available to the base of Q1 is at most I2, and the current available to the base of Q4 is at most I1. Notice also, that the output voltage swing can come within one base emitter drop of Vcc, when high, and one base emitter drop of Vee, when low.
One prior art approach to reduce the quiescent power dissipation is to use another set of transistors to in effect increase the current gain by ananging an emitter of another transistor to drive the base of the output transistor. However, such a circuit will reduce the dynamic swing of the output by at least one additional base emitter drop near the Vee rail and another near the Vcc rail. FIG. 2 illustrates this approach. Notice that Q5's base drive is sourced from the emitter of Q7. The range, in this circuit, of available output current via Q5 is the current source I3 multiplied by the beta of Q7 times the beta of Q5. So, large output currents are available even with a small I3 current. Since I3 is small, the quiescent power dissipation in the circuit is much smaller than that of FIG. 1. However, notice that if Q7 is fully on, Vee plus a Vbe (base emitter drop) appears at Q7's emitter and so at the base of Q5, and that the OUT is necessarily higher than Vee by the two Vbe base emitter drops (Q5 and Q7). The same is true at the Vcc end of the dynamic range where I4 drives the base of Q8, and, where the OUT is at least the base emitter drops of Q6 and Q8 below Vcc. This limits the dynamic swing of the circuit in FIG. 2 to at least four Vbe's less than Vcc to Vee.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,233 to Taylor (Taylor) describes a high impedance current source using negative feed back to produce a high impedance current source that operates with small voltages (tens/hundreds of millivolts) across the current source. The circuit is shown in FIG. 3. The output current is the collector current of Q11 and any change is sensed across the resistor R2. The sensed voltage across R2 appears across R1 via the common base connections of Q15 and Q17. The current through the collector of Q15 changes and that in turn changes the base current to Q11 in such way to reduce the original change (that is negative feedback). The circuit of FIG. 3 provides a high output impedance current source output that operates close to the Vee rail. Taylor also teaches that the ratio of R2 to R1 can fix the loop gain of the feed back loop and is selected to produce a relatively high incremental output impedance, see column 2, line 50.
Taylor in column 2, lines 31-36, describes how his high output impedance current source circuit of FIG. 3 can be operated as an amplifier. The input is a voltage at the collector of Q15 and the output is taken from the collector of Q11. The present invention makes use of a circuit similar to that shown in FIG. 3, but with some differences. Those differences are not shown, anticipated, taught or suggested by Taylor.


A toy vehicle and launcher system includes a motor-driven toy vehicle having a wind-up spring-driven motor to provide forward motion thereof. The launcher is adapted to mount the vehicle and has a releasable latch for precluding forward motion of the vehicle. A biasing spring provides the vehicle with forward motion immediately upon release of the latch. Preferably, the launcher is configured and dimensioned to be releasably mounted on a human limb so that the longitudinal axis of the vehicle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the limb, thereby making the launcher a foot-operated or arm-operated launcher.

The present invention relates to a toy vehicle and launcher system and, more particularly, to such a system wherein the toy vehicle is a miniature racing car or the like.
Toy vehicles such as miniature racing cars, but also including miniature airplanes and the like, have for generations appealed to both children and adults. In some instances, the vehicles are used without any launcher, with the user's hand restraining the vehicle against forward motion relative thereto until the user's hand releases the vehicle. Such a mechanism is essential where the toy vehicle is propelled only by the momentum imparted thereto by the user's hand. On the other hand, where the forward momentum of the toy vehicle is to be provided by means other than the user's hand, the toy vehicle is commonly (although not necessarily) used in combination with a launcher. The vehicle is mounted on the launcher, which has releasable locking means for precluding forward motion of the vehicle until the locking means is released. The present invention is directed to such a toy vehicle and launcher system.
Essentially, there are two types of toy vehicle and launcher systems. In one type, the toy vehicle is motor-driven by means of a wind-up spring-driven motor which provides forward motion for the vehicle. While the motor may have the spring thereof wound directly by means of a key or the like, typically the motor is wound up by moving the vehicle by hand over a surface with the relative motion of the wheels over the surface causing rotation of the wheels and winding up the spring of the motor linked thereto. In some instances the vehicle is moved exclusively in a rearward direction in order to wind the motor, although in other instances the vehicle may be moved both forwardly and backwardly, with both motions acting to wind up the spring of the motor (such a dual-motion motor being available under the trade name DARDA). Preferably a clutch is provided to preclude overwinding of the motor.
In the other type of toy vehicle and launcher system, the launcher is provided with biasing means such as a compression spring, rubber band, or the like, which is stressed and, upon release, imparts forward momentum to the vehicle as the biasing means returns to its unstressed condition. For example, where the biasing means is a compression spring, the compression spring has its rear end fixedly secured to the launcher, and the spring front end is moved toward the spring back end in order to compress and stress the spring so that, upon release thereof, the spring front end moves sharply in the forward direction, thereby imparting forward momentum to the vehicle. Where the biasing means is a rubber band, the forward end of the rubber band is fixedly secured to the launcher, and the band rear end is extended rearwardly relative to the band front end to stress the rubber band by expansion, so that, upon release of the band rear end, the rubber band contracts and the band rear end moves sharply in the forward direction, thereby imparting forward momentum to the vehicle. The stressing of the biasing means may be either directly by the user (for example, the user may compress the spring or extend the rubber band before the vehicle is placed on the launcher), or indirectly using the vehicle where the act of the user in mounting the vehicle on the launcher stresses the biasing means (for example, by the user moving the vehicle rearwardly on the launcher to thereby stress the biasing means).
As is well known to those skilled in the toy vehicle art, the two drive systems--the wind-up motor in the vehicle and the biasing means in the launcher--have different characteristics. The biasing means in the launcher can provide the vehicle with an initial quick acceleration immediately upon release from the launcher. The forward momentum of the biasing means is transferred to the vehicle so that the vehicle is immediately propelled forward with substantial force. However, the velocity of the car in the forward direction peaks shortly after the launching and then gradually diminishes due to frictional effects, wind resistance and the like. In other words, the biasing means in the launcher provides a quick start, but a short run (that is, a short travel by the vehicle). On the other hand, the wind-up motor must overcome the initial stationary momentum of the vehicle, and, in particular the motor parts, before it can "come up to speed." However, depending upon the capacity of the spring in the motor, the motor can continue to provide a force driving the vehicle in the forward direction for a prolonged period after the vehicle has been released from the launcher. Thus the wind-up motor provides a slow start, but a long run. While the characteristics of the systems differ, one providing a quick start and a short run, and the other providing a slow start and a long run, the ideal system would combine a quick start with a long run.
For the most part, the conventional toy vehicle and launcher systems have utilized a launcher adapted to be placed on a floor, table or like flat surface in a stationary position, with the user manually depressing a release mechanism in order to release the locking means and enable forward motion of the vehicle. In such a system, the user is psychologically spaced from the vehicle, and hence from the driver of the vehicle, so that he is less able to identify with and imagine himself to be the driver of the vehicle. There has been a wrist-mounted launcher with the axis of the vehicle being perpendicular to the axis of the wrist (and thus the arm) so that the vehicle, upon release, had a forward direction motion transverse to the wrist; however, it was difficult to "aim" the vehicle in a given direction due to the transverse mounting configuration, and the user's sense of identification with the driver was therefore only minimal. It would be easier to aim the forward motion of the vehicle and promote the sense of identification with the driver if the vehicle had its initial forward motion along or parallel to the axis of the limb so that the vehicle would actually travel over the phalanges of the user.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toy vehicle and launcher system which combines the advantages of a wind-up motor in the vehicle and a biasing means in the launcher to provide a quick start and a long run for the vehicle.
Another object is to provide a toy vehicle and launcher system wherein the launcher is mounted on a limb of the user so that the initial forward motion of the vehicle is parallel to the axis of the limb.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle having two separate and independent drive means so that it achieves a quick start and a long run.


A method and apparatus is provided for increasing the packing density and strength of sand for gas-hardening casting molds. The method is characterized by the steps of filling spaces defined by a pattern plate 1 and a mold frame with gas-hardening casting sand 4, depressurizing a closed container 3 after the filled assembly has been conveyed thereinto, introducing air into the container 3, applying a pressure to the upper surface of the casting sand to increase its packing density, and hardening the casting sand by a hardening gas.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a casting mold by gas-hardening casting sand.
2. Prior Art
To date various methods of manufacturing a casting mold by gas-hardening casting sand have been widely used. To reduce the amount of gas used, and to increase the resistance to the breakdown of a casting mold, a method of manufacturing a type of gas-hardened casting mold (the VRH method) is also well-known. This method is comprised of the steps of putting a casting mold, molded with gas-hardening sand, into a closed container; producing a vacuum in the container; and filling spaces between the particles of the casting sand in the casting mold with hardening gas to harden the casting mold to a given level of strength.
However, the conventional method has a problem in that the flowability of gas-hardening casting sand is inferior so that its packing density at the time of molding is relatively low. No attempt to increase the packing density to solve this problem was satisactory, but filling and compacting the mold takes a lot of time. In the carbon-dioxide mold method, among others, a reduction of time in packing the mold has been wanted, because the flowability of the casting sand is inferior due to the high coefficient of viscosity of water glass used as a caking additive, and because the packing is mostly done manually.
Considering above problems this invention has been made to provide a method and apparatus that can easily give a high packing density to sand for forming a gas-hardened casting mold and to increase the strength of the mold.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing gas-hardened molds


A manufacturing method for a semiconductor device includes a hole portion formation step for forming hole portions whose entire width is substantially identical to the width of the opening portion in a part of the active surface side of the substrate on which electronic components are formed, a curved surface formation step for curving the bottom surface of the hole portion while maintaining the width of the bottom surface in the hole portions substantially identical to the width of the opening portion, a connecting terminal formation step for forming connecting terminals that serve as the external electrodes of the electronic circuits by burying metal in the hole portions, and an exposure step for exposing a part of the connecting terminals by carrying out processing on the back surface of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for a semiconductor device, to a semiconductor device made thereby, and to an electronic apparatus provided with the semiconductor device.
Priority is claimed to Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-82965, filed May 25, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, due to the implementation of downsizing and weight reduction in portable electronic apparatuss such as notebook computers, PDAs (Personal Data Assistants) and the like, and devices such as sensors, micromachines, and heads for printers, research and development related to downsizing various types of electronic components such as the semiconductor chips provided therein is flourishing. In addition, in order to increase the added value, increasingly high functionality of these electronic apparatuss is being planed, and increasingly high functionality and high speed are also required for the electronic components provided within these electronic apparatuss.
System LSI (Large Scale Integration) is one example of an electronic component that has a high functionality, but time is required to commercialize system LSI. In the current situation, system LSI has failed to maintain the recent development cycle of electronic apparatuss. Thus, SIP (System in Package) technology has been proposed. In SIP, various functions among the plurality of functions contained in system LSI are provided on one IC (Integrated Circuit), and these chips are combined to realize a system LSI in one package.
In SIP technology, this is implemented by stacking a plurality of ICs three-dimensionally, but in order for the stacked ICs to function as system LSI, each must be electrically connected to the other. Conventionally, the electrodes formed on each IC are electrically connected by using a wire bonding technology, but in connections by wire bonding, the wiring length becomes long, and thus there is a limit to downsizing the packaging.
Thus, a three-dimensional packaging technology has been proposed wherein ICs are thinned by carrying out an etching process or a grinding process on the bottom surface of the IC, and at the same time connecting terminals consisting of metals are formed that pass through the upper surface and the bottom surface of the IC, and the connecting portions formed on the stacked ICs are bonded, thereby providing electrical connection between the ICs. Refer, for example, to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2001-44197 for details of this three-dimensional packaging technology.
The electrical components manufactured by stacking chips using the three-dimensional packaging technology described above are sealed in a sealing resin, and thus it is possible to guarantee a certain degree of reliability. However, in the case that the electrical component is mounted in a portable electrical device, it is necessary to guarantee a higher strength because it can be anticipated that strong vibrations and shocks will be received from the outside.
In order to implement a further increase in the reliability of the electrical components, it is necessary to increase the bonding strength between the connecting terminals formed on each of the ICs. In the conventional electrical component fabricated using three-dimensional packaging technology, the distal ends (the part that bonds with the other chip) of the connecting terminals formed on the IC usually have a flat shape. Thus, the bonding between the connecting terminals of the stacked chips is two-dimensional, and there is the problem that the bonding strength is low, and thereby the reliability is low.
In consideration of the problem described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a manufacturing method for a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device that can increase the bonding strength of the stacked semiconductor chips and thereby guarantee a high reliability, and an electronic apparatus equipped with this semiconductor device.

Manufacturing method for semiconductor device, semiconductor device, and electronic apparatus


A frame for use in making a membrane lined with a gel layer includes two spaced apart bars to which opposite edges of a membrane can be connected and which are connected by two pairs of elastic strips. Cam elements are positioned between the strips of each pair of elastic strips to move the strips apart or allow them to come together, thereby causing the bars to move together for attachment of the membrane, or apart to stretch and tension the membrane after a gel has been cast thereon.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a membrane lined with a layer of a gel and a frame for supporting such a membrane, which frame is designed for the implementation of this method. More particularly, the invention relates to the making up of a gel/membrane assembly which can be used in a technique for separating macromolecules by electrophoresis.
In such a technique a layer of a gel such as agarose or a polyacrylamide and an electric field established between two opposite edges of the layer are used. Samples of macromolecules, for example macromolecules of nucleic acid, to be separated are deposited in wells formed in the gel along one of these two edges of the layer. The assembly is next immersed in a suitable electrophoresis liquid. Under the effect of the electric field, the macromolecules of the samples housed in the wells move towards the opposite edge of the layer, through the gel, at rates which depend notably on their molecular mass, so that at the end of a given time, macromolecules of different molecular masses have traveled different distances into the gel.
The macromolecules thus separated are next transferred, either by fluid entrainment or by means of an electric field applied perpendicular to the gel layer, onto a membrane placed against one face of this layer, with a view to their subsequent hybridization and to their subsequent detection. A method and an electrophoresis device, which are designed for achieving such a controlled migration of macromolecules in a stack of rectangular plates of gel, is described in European Patent Application Publication No. 358,556.
When a membrane is used f or supporting the gel layer, the making-up of the gel/membrane assembly is particularly tricky on account of the fineness and of the lack of stiffness of the membrane used, commonly a thin sheet of nitrocellulose, optionally filled with nylon in order to increase its mechanical strength.
Known frames for supporting such a membrane have the drawback of not enabling this membrane to be held in a plane under uniform tension. Pleats resulting f rom tension defects then form in the membrane. The gel layer which is cast onto a membrane thus pleated has deformations which oppose a steady progression of the macromolecules in the layer and render the result of the migration useless. The elimination of these pleats requires lengthy and fastidious manipulations which are incompatible with the requirements of an automated, or indeed industrial, manufacture.

Frame with flexible tensioning strips for stretching a membrane and gel

204
FSC 38
FSC 101
FSC 69
FSC 34
FSC 160
FSC 223


A processor-implemented method includes receiving, from a mobile device, signal strength information indicative of a signal strength of a signal between the mobile device and a network transceiver in a mobile device telecommunications network. The processor determines, based at least in part on the signal strength information, a coverage area associated with the network transceiver, determines, based at least in part on the signal strength information, an aggregated signal strength associated with a location within the coverage area, and determines a predicted signal strength associated with the location. The predicted signal strength is based at least in part on a signal strength estimation model. The processor determines a difference between the aggregated signal strength and the predicted signal strength, determines whether the difference meets or exceeds a signal strength threshold, and generates a message to update hardware component associated with the location.

Modern telecommunication systems include heterogeneous mixtures of second, third, and fourth generation (2G, 3G, and 4G) cellular-wireless access technologies, which may be cross-compatible and may operate collectively to provide data communication services. Global Systems for Mobile (GSM) is an example of 2G telecommunications technologies; Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is an example of 3G telecommunications technologies; and Long Term Evolution (LTE), including LTE Advanced, and Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) are examples of 4G telecommunications technologies.
Network coverage for modern telecommunications systems is often allocated, in part, using prediction analysis of infrastructure that considers a variety of factors, such as known cell tower location, power associated with the cell tower, and other factors. In addition, some coverage analysis may include considering signal levels received by user devices. However, these received signal levels only include data when the user device is connected to the telecommunications network.

Mobile network signal strength identification and visualization system


Methods, apparatus, and products as disclosed for estimating power consumption of computing components configured in a computing system that include: selecting, by a power estimation module, a plurality of calibration datasets from a calibration dataset repository, each calibration dataset specifying calibration power consumption by one or more computing components in the computing system for a calibration workload at a plurality of calibration operating points; measuring, by the power estimation module, a current power consumption by one or more measured computing components in the computing system for a current workload at a current operating point; determining, by the power estimation module, an estimated power consumption for the measured computing components at a proposed operating point in dependence upon the selected calibration datasets and the current power consumption for the current workload at the current operating point; and administering the computing system in dependence upon the estimated power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for estimating power consumption of computing components configured in a computing system.
2. Description of Related Art
The development of the EDVAC computer system of 1948 is often cited as the beginning of the computer era. Since that time, computer systems have evolved into extremely complicated devices. Today's computers are much more sophisticated than early systems such as the EDVAC. Computer systems typically include a combination of hardware and software components, application programs, operating systems, processors, buses, memory, input/output devices, and so on. As advances in semiconductor processing and computer architecture push the performance of the computer higher and higher, more sophisticated computer software has evolved to take advantage of the higher performance of the hardware, resulting in computer systems and networks today that are much more powerful than just a few years ago.
In order to deliver powerful computing resources, computer architects must design powerful computer processors and high-speed memory modules. Current computer processors, for example, are capable of executing billions of computer program instructions per second. Operating these computer processors and memory modules requires a significant amount of power, and often processors can consume over 100 watts during operation. The power consumption for adaptive components, such as processors and memory modules, however, may vary greatly over time depending on the current workload for which the components are utilized. For example, a relatively idle processor typically consumes less power than a processor that is executing the maximum number of computer program instructions possible. Similarly, a memory module that performs less read/write transactions typically consumes less power than a memory module performing more read/write transactions. Because the power consumption of various computing components in a computing system constantly changes, optimizing the power provided to the computing components becomes increasingly difficult. As such, readers will appreciate any improvements in estimating power consumption of computing components configured in a computing system.

Estimating power consumption of computing components configured in a computing system

International Business Machines Corporation


An actuating circuit of a piezoelectric transformer which is small in thickness and size and has a wide input voltage range is developed. In the actuating circuit of the piezoelectric transformer, when a sine wave outputted from a AGC circuit is input to a delta-sigma modulator, the sine wave switches output driver and switches a second output driver through an invertor with a 1-bit quantized bit signal so as to generate a pulse signal having an amplitude of power supply voltage Vdd from the GND potential. Actuating waves output from the output drivers and are applied to 1 piezoelectric transformer extracting resonance frequency of a piezoelectric transformer through a filtering effect provided with an input capacitance of the piezoelectric transformer and coil converting the 1-bit quantized bit signal into a sine wave. Consequently, since the piezoelectric transformer can be operated with the sine wave, the piezoelectric transformer can be actuated efficiently.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an actuation circuit of a piezoelectric transformer which converts a voltage of a dc voltage source into a predetermined voltage using a piezoelectric effect and an actuating method of a piezoelectric transformer.
2. Description of the Related Arts
A piezoelectric transformer is a voltage converting device wherein an ac voltage is applied to primary electrodes to generate mechanical oscillations through a piezoelectric effect so that to obtain a converted stable radio voltage from secondary electrodes, and is used for an invertor or a like device which generates a high voltage for a cold cathode fluorescent lamp.
An actuating circuit of the piezoelectric transformer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 47265/1996 (hereinafter referred to as conventional example 1). As shown in FIG. 1, the piezoelectric transformer converts current flowing to load 5 connected to piezoelectric transformer 1 into a voltage using resistor 38. This signal is supplied to amplifier 37 through phase shifter circuit 36 to actuate flip-flop 33.
Two transistor switching circuits 34 and 35 are actuated by Q and .sub.Q , output signals having opposite phase frequency divided by flip-flop 33 so that two pulse voltages of a resonance frequency of piezoelectric transformer 1 having phases different by 180 degrees from each other are generated from dc power supply voltage Vdd. The two pulse voltages are applied to primary side electrodes 1a and 1b of piezoelectric transformer 1 so that a voltage obtained by conversion by piezoelectric transformer 1 is extracted from secondary side electrode 1c. In other words, an conventional example 1 shown in FIG. 1, piezoelectric transformer 1 is actuated by a rectangular wave.
As another method of actuating piezoelectric transformer 1, the prior art of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 33349/1996 (hereinafter referred to as conventional example 2) is disclosed. According to the method, as shown in FIG. 2, electromagnetic transformer 41 is provided in a stage preceding to the input side of piezoelectric transformer 1, and a primary voltage of electromagnetic transformer 41 is detected by voltage detecting circuit 40 and switching transistor 42 is switched with a frequency corresponding to a value of the voltage. Thus, making use of resonance provided by the inductance on the secondary side of electromagnetic transformer 41 and an equivalent input capacitance of piezoelectric transformer 1, a half-sine wave having a voltage boosted from power supply voltage Vdd of FIG. 2 is generated.
An equivalent circuit of a piezoelectric transformer is generally represented as in FIG. 12 and is set such that it resonates with a resonance frequency of piezoelectric transformer 1 principally provided by equivalent input capacitance Cdl 27 and an inductance on the secondary side of electromagnetic transformer 41 in the preceding stage. The method described above is characterized in that piezoelectric transformer 1 is actuated with a half sine wave and a boosted voltage is outputted to load 5.
As additional prior art, a method wherein piezoelectric transformer 1 is actuated with a full-wave sine wave as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 27553/1996 (hereinafter referred to as conventional example 3) is disclosed. This actuating circuit is constructed, as shown in FIG. 3, the secondary sides of two autotransformers 43 and 44 are connected to two primary electrodes of piezoelectric transformer 1 while the primary sides of auto-transformers 43 and 44 are connected to power supply voltage Vdd. Further, switching transistors 47 and 48 are connected to centertaps of auto-transformers 43 and 44, and current flowing to load 5 is detected and an actuating frequency for frequency piezoelectric transformer 1 is determined based on the detected current by frequency control circuit 45 and inputted to 2-phase actuating circuit 46. Switching transistors 47 and 48 are alternately switched with the resonance frequency of piezoelectric transformer 1 in accordance with outputs of 2-phase actuating circuit 46.
The actuating circuit of FIG. 3 is set such that a resonance circuit is formed from the inductances of the primary sides and the secondary sides of switching transistors 47 and 48 and principally equivalent input capacitance Cdl 27 of the equivalent circuit of piezoelectric transformer 1 shown in FIG. 12. Thus, half sine waves of two phases illustrated in FIG. 3(A) and 3(B) are generated, and the half sine waves of two phases are applied alternately to the two primary side electrodes of piezoelectric transformer 1. This corresponds to the fact that a sine wave is applied to the primary side electrodes of piezoelectric transformer 1. Piezoelectric transformer 1 can apply a boosted output voltage to load 5 in this manner.
As described above, as the methods of actuating piezoelectric transformer 1, three actuating methods such as the method of inputting the rectangular waves, the method of inputting the half sine waves and the method of inputting full sine waves are known in the prior art.
The first problem resides in that, when a piezoelectric transformer is actuated with a waveform other than the sine waves such as the rectangular waves or a half sine wave, the actuating efficiency of piezoelectric transformer 1 is deteriorated. The reason is that, when the piezoelectric transformer is actuated, for example, with the rectangular waves as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 47265/1996 (conventional example 1), since the rectangular wave includes harmonic components of the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric transformer, piezoelectric transformer 1 is oscillated also by the harmonic components. For example, if a rectangular wave of FIG. 4(A) is Fourier expanded to calculate a Fourier series f(t), it can be represented as expression (1): EQU f(t)=(4E)/.pi.{sin .theta.+(1/3)sin 3.theta.+(1/5)sin .theta.+ EQU (1/7)sin 7.theta.+. . . }. (1)
From expression (1), it can be seen that the rectangular wave includes a sine wave of a fundamental frequency and additional sine waves of frequencies equal to odd-numbered times the fundamental frequency. By representing this expression (1) in a graph separately for the different frequency terms, a waveform diagram shown in FIG. 4(B) is obtained. Accordingly, when piezoelectric transformer 1 is actuated with the rectangular wave, also the sine waves having frequencies equal to odd-numbered times the resonance frequency are inputted to piezoelectric transformer 1, and piezoelectric transformer 1 is oscillated also with the harmonic components.
Meanwhile, since energy of piezoelectric transformer 1 other than that of frequencies in the proximity of the resonance frequency cannot be extracted as output power, the oscillations of harmonic components of the resonance frequency become a loss. Accordingly, when the piezoelectric transformer is actuated using a rectangular wave, the efficiency is deteriorated. On the other hand, when the piezoelectric transformer is actuated with a half sine wave as in the conventional example 2, harmonic components of the resonance frequency are inputted to piezoelectric transformer 1 similarly. By calculating a Fourier series of a half sine wave shown in FIG. 4(C), it can be represented as expression (2): EQU f(t)=1/.pi.+(cos .theta.)/2+(2/.pi.{((1/3)cos 2.theta.- EQU (1/15)cos 4.theta.+. . . }. (2)
Also the expression (2) includes harmonic components, and it is apparent that the actuating efficiency is deteriorated compared with that where a full sine wave is used. From the foregoing explanation, in order to efficiently actuate piezoelectric transformer 1, it is desirable to use a full sine wave.
The second problem resides in that, when half sine waves of two phases are generated in order to achieve efficient actuation as in the actuating circuit of the conventional example 3, two electromagnetic transformers are required, resulting in drawbacks that a high cost is required and that also the invertor has an increased physical size.
The reason is that, if piezoelectric transformer 1 is actuated with a sine wave without making use of a fly-back voltage of an electromagnetic transformer or a coil, power loss occurs in the actuating circuit. Where piezoelectric transformer 1 is actuated with a sine wave without using a fly-back voltage, an amplifier of the class A must be used as an actuating stage. However, when an intermediate voltage between a power supply voltage and the GND potential like a sine wave is outputted, a voltage corresponding to a difference between the power supply voltage and the voltage applied to piezoelectric transformer 1 is applied to the output transistor, and power equal to the product of the voltage and current flowing out from the output transistor is consumed by the transistor.
Since this power becomes a loss of the actuating circuit, where a piezoelectric transistor is actuated with a sine wave using an amplifier of the class A, the actuating circuit exhibits a loss, resulting in a problem that the efficiency of the entire invertor is deteriorated. Since half sine waves of two phases must be produced using two electromagnetic transformers, a high cost and a large physical size are required.
The third problem is that the input voltage range of the piezoelectric transformer actuating circuit is narrow. The reason is that the actuating voltage inputted to piezoelectric transformer 1 is, in the conventional example 1, a rectangular wave having an amplitude equal to twice that of power supply voltage Vdd from the GND potential, and also the actuating voltage of piezoelectric transformer 1 increases in proportion to the power supply voltage. Also in the conventional example 2 or 3, since a power supply voltage is applied to the primary side of an electromagnetic transformer so that a fly-back voltage is produced on the primary side and a boosted voltage is extracted from the secondary side of the electromagnetic transformer to actuate piezoelectric transformer 1, the actuating voltage of piezoelectric transformer 1 increases in proportion to power supply voltage Vdd. Therefore, the three conventional examples 1 to 3 actuate to feed a fixed output current and voltage to load 5 by varying a boosting ratio raising the actuating frequency of piezoelectric transformer 1.
Generally, since piezoelectric transformer 1 operates in the highest efficiency with the resonance frequency thereof and the efficiency drops as the frequency thereto is displaced away from the resonance frequency, there is a limitation to absorb the variation of the power supply voltage. For example, if the power supply voltage increases to twice, then piezoelectric transformer 1 must be operated with a half boosting ratio. Therefore, where the equivalent input capacitance of piezoelectric transformer 1 and the inductance of the electromagnetic transformer are set so as to cause resonance, as in conventional example 2 or example 3, since the actuating waveform does not vary, the switching period can be varied but in a very small range. Consequently, it is generally difficult to obtain a twice or more input voltage range.
Further, as the power supply voltage rises, the loss of the actuating circuit increases. Where the power supply voltage is represented by Vdd, the primary side inductance of the electromagnetic transformer is represented by L1 and the time during when the switching transistor is on is represented by t, current Id flowing to the primary side of the electromagnetic transformer and the switching transistor is represented by expression (3): EQU Id=Vdd.times.t/L1 (3)
Accordingly, from expression (3), the current flowing to the electromagnetic transformer and the switching transistor increases in proportion to the power supply voltage, and as the power supply voltage of the piezoelectric transformer actuating circuit increases, the current flowing to the electromagnetic transformer and the switching transistor increases in proportion to the power supply voltage. However, since the output voltage of piezoelectric transformer 1 is controlled to a fixed level, surplus power inputted to the electromagnetic transformer is returned to the power supply side. Consequently, the loss by a series resistance component of the electromagnetic transformer and the switching transistor increases, and also the efficiency of the piezoelectric transformer actuating circuit is deteriorated. As described above, the conventional examples have a drawback that the input voltage range is narrow.

Actuating circuit of piezoelectric transformer and actuating method thereof


The present invention provides for an advanced postoperative compression binder including at least two overlapping stretchable bands. The bands are connected by stitches located within an overlapping portion of the bands. The stitches are spaced from first and seconds ends of the bands to allow individual compression-adjustments of the binder to allow compression to be adapted to the type of surgery or trauma performed and to a level of comfort desired by the patient. The invention provides for wound inspection and care without the need to open the total compression binder, which will maintain a degree of support during wound inspection and care, decrease pain and increase comfort for the patient.

Abdominal muscles are crucial for most activities human beings do: they assist with respiration; they control the expulsive effort of coughing, sneezing, urination and defecation and assist with childbirth; they cooperate with the back muscles to flex and extend the trunk at the hips and to rotate the trunk at the waist; and they protect the internal organs by becoming rigid.
Major surgeries in the abdominal region necessitates incisions through the abdominal wall and muscles. The loss of the abdominal muscular integrity after such surgical interventions causes considerable pain and soreness in the postoperative period during respiration, coughing, movements and during all daily day activities as listed above. Such pain and soreness will continue until the abdominal muscles have healed and fully recovered their strength. Furthermore the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) increases dramatically during coughs, sneezes, vomits, defecation, movements during exercises and when lifting anything heavy which exerts a sudden increase in stress on a wound with increased risk for dehiscence. Therefore, as well known in the art, abdominal muscles must be supported from the outside by a compression binder to prevent wound dehiscence and related wound infections, to lessen pain, to give the muscular tissue peace to heal and to increase comfort for patients and speed up recovery. Various types of interventions may in addition cause some degree of swelling and bruising after surgery. Abdominal compression will help diminish such swelling and promote the healing process and thereby decrease the time of recovery and related health care costs.
Compression binders are common and a large selection of commodity binders are available. Typically the binders consist of a wide band made of a variety of elastic or non-elastic materials, or a combination thereof, and they wrap around the patient's abdominal region and are usually closed by means of one common fabric hook and loop closure or a series of hook and eye closures. The materials used are often heavy and non-ventilated and usually created in white or beige colors. Such binders can be warm, uncomfortable to wear for a patient, and usually have the problem that they crawl up, roll or robe on the body making them further uncomfortable. Therefore, to avoid such problems a compression binder should be made of a ventilated, light, comfortable material, that does not curl up, crawl or robe on the body, and, as an additional feature, the material should be made of colors that has a stimulating psychological effect on the patient in the typical "sterile-colored" hospital environment.
The position and size of a wound depends on the type of intervention, as for example an abdominal wound after major abdominal surgery or other interventions requiring access through the abdominal wall. Accordingly the need for compression and support to the wound and abdomen will be different across the vertical width of a patients abdomen and will vary from patient to patient, and it will not be comfortable for patients to have the full abdominal region compressed, as is the state of art for most existing compression binders. Therefore it will increase comfort for a patient if the degree of compression can be adjusted at various vertical sections across the binder.
Furthermore a wound will hurt and be sensitive to manipulation, pressure, movements, temperature changes and chemicals such as wound cleaning agents. Every time a wound needs inspection and/or care, it will cause extra pain and stress for the patient. In particular such wound inspection and care is a problem for large, obese patients that have undergone surgery in the abdominal area, and for bariatric surgery patients. This is due to the gravity pull on the wound from the excess abdominal fat tissues. Such pull will not only cause pain for the obese patient, but will also increase the risk for wound infection since the wound edges will be drawn apart and the sutures may tear through the skin and cause the wound to break open. Therefore the abdominal muscles and fat tissues must be supported continuously, also during wound inspection and care, particularly for obese patients, to decrease pain and the risk for complications and infections that will lead to increased health care costs.
A compression binder that has been completely opened for inspection and care of an abdominal wound, may present a problem for large and obese patients. Not only does the excess fat tissues create a gravity pull on the wound which increases pain and risk of complications, it also makes reattachment after wound care of such binders difficult to do. Often more than one health care person is required to perform such reattachment which increases demand for availability of health care staff. Therefore, it would be desirable that reattachment of compression binders be possible without adding additional pain, stress or strain to the patient and his/her wound, and without the need to have more than one health care person present.
Postoperative pain after abdominal surgeries makes patients naturally reluctant to breathe deeply, to cough and to do their respiratory exercises since such activities increase pain and hurt due to the integral and significant part the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm take in the respiration process. It is well known in the art that inactivity increases postoperative pulmonary complications which continue to be an important risk after major abdominal surgeries. Pain and worry about straining the abdominal wound makes patients hesitate to move and get out of their hospital bed early after surgery. Such postoperative immobilization contributes to cardiovascular instability and thromboembolic complications, leading to increased health care costs. Therefore the abdominal and back muscles must be firmly supported by a compression binder to improve a patient's posture which helps patients to an improved and deeper respiration and lessened pain during their respiratory exercises and daily activities, and furthermore encourage and stimulate the patients to mobilize as early as possible.
Early mobilization after surgery is crucial for the patient's early recovery and an external compression support to the abdominal region will help the patients to walk and keep a better posture thereby improving respiration. However, a newly operated patient needs to rest often and will want to sit down with regular intervals. It is difficult and uncomfortable to sit down with a wide abdominal binder that covers the upper abdominal area, and it may cause nausea having additional pressure from such binder exerted on the stomach area in the sitting position. Therefore, a compression binder should not only help patients to achieve a better posture for improved respiration, it should also improve comfort by being able to relieve the additional pressure on the stomach when patients need to sit down for rest, which will encourage to more and earlier mobilization and less time in the hospital bed.
Major abdominal surgeries after which the patient must have one or more drainage tubes, ostomy devices or other items that exit through the abdominal wall, including driver lines from LVAD's and other apparatus, need access through wound dressings, bandages and binders that may cover the wound and abdominal area, so they can be attached to their external corresponding device and fixed to the patient or to the bed. Elastic bands and compression binders of various width that presently are used for abdominal support, can only accommodate drainage tubes and lines by separating such items from their corresponding external devices and by leading said items through existing pre-cut holes, or by cutting one or several holes in the band or binder material, before reattaching the drainage tubes, lines or other devices. Such separation and reattachment will increase the risk of infection and associated increase in health care costs. Therefore, due to the cumbersome method of accommodating such devices to existing abdominal binders, they are often not applied to the patients, if at all, until they have had drainage tubes, lines and other devices removed. Yet it has been evidenced that "when patients are provided with abdominal compression support as early as possible after surgery, it enhances early mobilization, improves patient's hospital experience by an optimized pain control and diminishes emotional stress."
Cheifetz et al., The Effect of Abdominal Support on Functional Outcomes in Patients Following Major Abdominal Surgery. Physiotherapy Canada, Volume 62, Number 3. Pg. 242-253
For these reasons drainage tubes, drainage lines, ostomy devices, driver lines and other devices must be able to exit through an abdominal compression support without the need to separate such tubes and lines from their external connection devices. Avoiding any separation and reattachment of drainage tubes and lines and other devices that may exit a patient's abdomen after surgery, will decrease the risk for complications, infections and related health care costs.
Similarly, when patients have one or more drainage tubes, stoma devices or other items that exit through the abdominal wall after major abdominal surgeries, including driver lines from LVAD's and other apparatus, abdominal binders are often not applied to the patients, if at all, since such application represents a further practical challenge to staff that have no easy method to organize and attach such devices and their accessories to the patient in order to liberalize him/her from the bed for mobilization. Staff may be prompted to wait mobilizing the patients until devices that can be removed days later, such as drains, have been taken out. In addition, patients often have more pain and will worry about accidental pulling on such drains or devices, which would hurt and increase the risk of complications. Therefore drainage tubes, lines, collection bottles, driver lines and other devices must be organized and fixated to the patient in an easy, secure and quick manner for staff so patients can get mobilized as early as possible postoperatively with less worry and less pain.
Accordingly, there is a need for an advanced compression support that provides features to decrease pain, to improve patient comfort, spirit and feeling of security, to stimulate a better posture, respiration and early mobilization, to decrease the risk of complications, infections and related health care costs, and to increase functional convenience for health care staff.
There is a great need for an advanced compression binder that can address many more of the problems that todays patient population is facing after surgery and trauma, and which health care personnel needs to handle on a daily basis. None of the abdominal support devices currently in use takes an overall approach to solve such problems. Generally, such devices are directed towards just one or two of the following: 1. Ease of closure, 2. Conformity to the body contour, 3. Universal sizing, 4. Improved wound visibility with a closed binder, 5. Dressing holder and openings for passage of drains, 6. Improve drainage bulb holding.
For example, the QualiBelly abdominal support manufactured by Qualiteam s.r.l., Chiaverano, Italy, consists of two longer and one shorter elastic band with the bands being just slightly overlapped by about 0.5 cm and being held together by large, vertical stitches which extend past the edges of the bands at the locations of connection. The large vertical stitches are about 1.4 cm in length and are spaced apart about 5 cm along the lengths of the bands. The three bands each having a closure with hook and loop fasteners. The large vertical stitches may pinch the skin on the body and make the device uncomfortable to wear. Further, the large stitches can make it uncomfortable for the patient if the upper band is folded down as is advocated in the brochures describing the product. In addition, the small overlapping of the bands, the large vertical stitches that hold the bands together with large intervals between them, fail to prevent the extrusion of fat tissue between the stitches on the bands which can be a problem, particularly in obese patients. The device also represents a fitting problem for many patients due to the difference in length of the elastic bands. If the shorter band-compression fits to a patient, the two longer band-compressions might be too long and therefore too loose, and if the two longer band-compressions fit, the shorter band-compression might be too short and therefore too tight, which in both situations can make the support uncomfortable to wear and makes it difficult to individually adjust the compression per band.
In view of the foregoing, it is the general object of the invention to provide an advanced postoperative compression binder that provides features to help patients to have decreased pain and improved comfort.
It is another object of the invention to provide an advanced postoperative compression binder that encourages a patient's spirit in the postoperative period through an increased sense of security and by color stimulation.
Another object of the invention is to provide an advanced postoperative compression binder which improves a patient's posture to achieve a deeper and more effective respiration, which helps to decrease postoperative complications and related costs of healthcare.
Another object of the invention is to provide an advanced postoperative compression binder that comfortably can be used directly on the patients skin without irritation and without heat and moisture generation.
Another object of the invention is to provide a postoperative compression binder with individual compression adjustments at various vertical sections across the binder to adapt the compression to the patient's comfort level and type of surgery performed.
Another object of the invention is to provide a postoperative compression binder where support is maintained during wound inspection and care thereby diminishing pain and stress on the wound.
Another object of the invention is to provide a postoperative compression binder where one or more sections of the support can be opened for wound inspection and care thereby increasing the functional convenience for health care staff.
Another object of the invention is to provide a postoperative compression binder for all sizes of patients, including the morbidly obese, which can be opened and closed by just one health care person.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a postoperative compression binder that can easily and comfortably transform into a lower abdominal binder to avoid pressure on the upper abdomen and to increase comfort and respiration for patients while supporting their lower back when patients sit down.
A further object of the invention is to provide a postoperative compression binder that eliminates the need to separate drainage tubes, drainage lines, ostomy devices, driver lines for LVAD's and other apparatus that may exit from the patients abdominal wall, thereby decreasing risk of infection and complications, and the related health care costs.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a postoperative compression binder that accommodates drainage tubes, drainage lines, ostomy devices, driver lines for LVAD's and other devices that may exit from the patients abdominal wall, without the need to cut the material comprising the compression binder for allowing passage of said devices.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a postoperative compression binder with one or more accessories that allows easy accommodation, organization and attachment of any type and size of drainage tubes and lines, drainage collection bottles or other devices attached to drainage tubes, lines or other apparatus exiting from the patient's abdominal wall to the external side of the abdominal compression support.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a postoperative compression binder with easy means to allow measurement of eventual internal fluid build-up such as bleeding and/or seroma.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent from reading of the specifications and a study of the accompanying drawings.


A method for the amplified detection of an analyte, wherein amplification is achieved by replication of a target nucleic acid sequence which has been immobilized in response to analyte.

The introduction of immunoassays in the 1960s and 1970s greatly increased the number of analytes amenable to precise and accurate measurement. Radio immunoassays (RIAs) and immunoradiometric (IRMA) assays utilize radioisotopic labeling of either an antibody or a competing antigen to measure an analyte. Detection systems based on enzymes or fluorescent labels were then developed as an alternative to isotopic detection systems. D. L. Bates, Trends in Biotechnology, 5(7), 204 (1987), describes one such method based upon enzyme amplification. In this method a secondary enzyme system is coupled to a primary enzyme label, for example, the primary enzyme can be linked catalytically to an additional system such as a substrate cycle or an enzyme cascade. Enzyme amplification results from the coupling of catalytic processes, either by direct modification or by interaction with the product of the controlling enzyme.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,621 describes utilization of an enzyme-linked coagulation assay (ELCA) in an amplified immunoassay using a clotting cascade to enhance sensitivity. The process involves clot formation due to thrombin activated fibrin formation from soluble fibrinogen and labeled solubilized fibrinogen. Amplification of the amount of reportable ligand attached to solid phase is obtained only by combining use of clotting factor conjugates with subsequent coagulation cascade reactions.
Substrate/cofactor cycling is another variation of enzyme-mediated amplification, and is based on the cycling of a cofactor or substrate which is generated by a primary enzyme label. The product of the primary enzyme is a catalytic activator of an amplifier cycle which responds in proportion to the concentration of substrate and hence the concentration of the enzyme label. An example of this type of substrate cycling system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,054.
Vary et al., Clin Chem., 32, 1696 (1986) describes an enzyme amplification method suited to nucleic acid detection. This method is a strand displacement assay which uses the unique ability of a polynucleotide to act as a substrate label which can be released by a phosphorylase.
Bobrow et al., J. of Immunol. Methods, 125, 279 (1989) discloses a method to improve detection or quantitation of an analyte by catalyzed reporter deposition. Amplification of the detector signal is achieved by activating a conjugate consisting of a detectably labeled substrate specific for the enzyme system, wherein said conjugate then reacts with the analyte-dependent enzyme activation system to form an activated conjugate which deposits wherever receptor for the conjugate is immobilized.
Nucleotide hybridization assays have been developed as a means for detection of specific nucleic acid sequences. U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,269 discloses an amplified nucleic acid hybridization assay in which a target nucleic acid is contacted with a complementary primary probe having a polymeric tail. A plurality of second signal-generating probes capable of binding to the polymeric tail are added to achieve amplified detection of the target nucleic acid. Variations of this methodology are disclosed in PCT Application WO 89/03891 and European Patent Application 204510, which describe hybridization assays in which amplifier or multimer oligonucleotides are hybridized to a single-stranded nucleic acid unit which has been bound to the targeted nucleic acid segment. Signal amplification is accomplished by hybridizing signal-emitting nucleic acid bases to these amplifier and multimer strands. In all of these disclosures amplification is achieved by mechanisms which immobilize additional sites for attachment of signal-emitting probes.
In contrast, the present invention utilizes a fundamentally different concept in achieving signal amplification. In response to analyte, a target nucleic acid sequence is immobilized and replicated using nucleic acid replication techniques. Signal enhancement is achieved by generating and detecting replicates of the target sequence.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,368 discloses a nucleic acid hybridization assay which accomplishes detection of polynucleotide analytes by producing replicated copies of a primary polynucleotide sequence. The target sequence of interest is first restricted to provide a free 3' OH end, and then is hybridized to a complementary binding sequence located at the 3' end of two or more template sequences in a single-stranded pattern polynucleotide. Chain extension is performed on the target sequence, and this extension product is then cleaved into fragments which are subsequently hybridized with single-stranded pattern nucleotide. The polymerization, cleavage, rehybridization, polymerization cycle is repeated until a detectable number of copies have been obtained. In a similar vein, PCT application WO 90/0345 describes a nucleic acid detection assay wherein the reporter molecule is an adduct comprising 1) an oligonucleotide probe sequence which is complementary to the targeted site; 2) a primer sequence capable of initiating primer extension; and 3) a sequence segment which is complementary to the primer sequence. As initially added to the test nucleic acid sample, the adduct assumes a hairpin structure which renders the primer inactive. Upon hybridization of the adduct to a target sequence in the sample, however, the adduct becomes activated and its primer sequence becomes available for initiating a primer extension product. The art methods differ from that of Applicants' in that the art uses significantly different and more cumbersome approaches to producing multiple copies of a detectable nucleic acid. Also, these methods are limited to the detection of nucleotide sequences, while Applicants' method is applicable to a wide range of analytes.
The use of RNA as a reporter for immunolocical assays has been described in the literature. WO 87/06270 teaches the use of an RNA capable of being autocatalytically replicated by an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase as a reporter for assaying biopolymers by immunoassay or by nucleic acid probe hybridization.
Similarly WO 91/17442 describes various protein/nucleic acid hybrid probes which can be used to amplify the detectable signal in immunoassays. Signal is amplified by a method comprising first immobilizing an antigenic analyte on a solid substrate, binding to the analyte a protein/nucleic acid hybrid probe comprising a double-stranded RNA T7 polymerase promoter operably connected to either a single-stranded or double-stranded nucleic acid template, removing any unbound probe, transcribing multiple copies of RNA oligomers and detecting and quantifying the transcripts. Template replication is on the order of 10.sup.1 to 10.sup.4 copies per template.
The above methods are useful for enhancing the level of detection of analytes by immunoassay, however, both methods suffer from significant restrictions. For example, both methods rely on the use of RNA-dependent polymerases for nucleic acid replication which gives inherently less amplification than other nucleic acid amplification methods such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Ligase Chain Reaction (LCR), and does not result in a molecularly-defined product. It is well known in the art that PCR, for example, will give amplification on the order of 10.sup.6 to 10.sup.14 copies per target of discreet length. Furthermore, the above methods are not easily adapted to the detection of more than one analyte in a sample.
Sano et al. Science, 258, 120, (1992) describes an antigen detection system, termed Immuno-PCR, in which a specific DNA molecule is used as a reporter. A streptavidin-protein A chimera was used to attach a biotinylated DNA to antigen-monoclonal antibody complex that had been immobilized on microtiter plate wells. A segment of the complexed DNA was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and the PCR products were analyzed by gel electrophoresis. This method is limited by the need for multiple reagent additions and extensive washing requirements.

Amplification of assay reporters by nucleic acid replication


The present invention relates to the process of selectively exposing matter to a specific wavelength of electromagnetic energy in sufficient flux density per wavelength to cause or promote a desired effect. The process includes, but is not limited to, destroying, disinfecting, denaturing, disinfesting, disrupting, or dehydration of one or more of the substances present. More specifically, present invention relates to subjecting matter, which may contain a mixture of substances, to electromagnetic energy, in concurrence with its spectral properties to exploit the spectral differences within the substance or within a mixture of substances. Energies are applied to cause wavelength-dependent reactions resulting from differential absorption; this additional applied energy manifests itself in changes, or quantum transitions, in the vibrational, rotational, magnetic, and electronic states of the molecules. Generally, the process utilizes wavelengths from about one light second to about ten electron volts, or wavelengths with energy levels less than that of ionization.

Many people are aware of the need to reduce the use of and reliance on synthetic chemicals and antibiotics, as well as pesticides and herbicides; it is clear that unless safe alternatives are brought forth, the implications for medicine, agriculture, and global society are immense. Each year, countless doses of antibiotics and other medicines are used in an attempt to control many different afflictions and infestations. Humans and crops are treated with countless chemicals and radiation; children afflicted with head lice are shampooed with insecticides. While these agents are effective against numerous illnesses and pests, their use has become increasingly of public concern because of the threat such chemicals pose to the environment and to human health.
Discovering that microbes—pathogens, bacteria, or pests have developed a resistance to chemicals, antibiotics, medicines, or pesticides isn't news anymore; agriculturists and physicians expect only five to ten years of effectiveness from a new chemical before the target pathogen or pest begins to show resistance and alternatives must be found. Many of the most effective pesticides and herbicides are now slated for elimination under the Food Quality Protection Act and the Clean Air Act. This legislation will begin to address environmental concerns, but the pending loss of these chemicals has renewed the sense of urgency felt by agriculturists worldwide for ways to maintain their economic viability and international trade status. Also many antibiotics are used incorrectly or incompletely diminishing their effectiveness.
Photochemical and photomechanical reactions are the two elements of this patent. Photochemical reaction is a reaction influenced or initiated by light, particularly ultraviolet light. Selective photochemical processing is a sophisticated pollution-free method of processing or treatment. Photomechanical reaction is a term we use to describe the molecular mechanical reactions resulting from exposure to Electromagnetic Energy (EME); the bending, stretching, rocking, rotation and vibrations are physical or mechanical actions. Explained in greater detail below. In the present invention selected wavelength(s) can be specifically designed for each application so that the light (EME) employed affects only the target or infestation, and not the human or agricultural product treated.
Host or product considered for treatment as well as the associated target or infestation are subjected to testing to determine spectral properties. Compiled spectra from host and target or infestation are compared; frequencies, which exhibit the highest, or sufficient differential absorption, are considered for use in processing. Frequencies considered are then evaluated for availability, power conversion efficiency, available flux density, band width of emission, efficiency after filtering or frequency modulation, and transparency of host at the considered wavelength.
When a wavelength has been selected, flux density tests are conducted. In all cases where the host is not expendable for testing, in vitro testing will be performed. In the case of a host for which it is not objectionable to damage the host (such as food items including grain or raw meat or fish, or paint, for example), samples of the host product are subjected to increasing intensities of the selected wavelength to the point when the host is determined to have suffered undesirable effects. The target or infestation is also treated in the same manner and monitored for kill or disruption of one or more metabolic functions. The difference in absorption is realized and perimeters for processing are then established. Process time is limited by several factors, the first being the magnitude of differential absorption. Host and related infestations with a high degree of differential absorption can have very short process times provided high intensity sources are available with narrow band emission at the desired wavelength. Host and related infestations with a low degree of differential absorption are preferably targeted at several differential sites with appropriate wavelengths. Multi-mode processing, or multiple wavelength treatment, can utilize any or all wavelengths that do not cause an undesirable effect in the host. Infestation proximity to host (whether the target is embedded in the host or located on the surface) is factored. If the infestation is embedded in the host, the host must have some degree of transparency at treatment wavelength to allow the energy to reach the infestation or the capacity to conduct or transmit the selected energy to the infestation location. If the infestation is located on the surface of the host, the host need only be a non-absorber or a reflector at the treatment wavelength. Surface infestation allows for many more wavelength possibilities, as most substances have fewer transparent wavelengths. Finally, the physical state of the product, and the method of conveying the product to the exposure site are considered. Examples of methods of conveying the product to the exposure site are a conveyor belt, a screw-conveyor, pneumatic conveyance, and a rotating drum.

Disinfestation of medical implants with radiation


In accordance with the present invention, a method for automatically identifying a scan area by a scanner is disclosed. The method comprises steps of scanning an original comprising an object, identifying the original to establish a location and a profile of the object in the original, displaying a preview window corresponding to the original, wherein a location and a profile of a confined area is exactly the location and the profile of the object, receiving a framed area selected from the preview window by user, wherein a portion of the framed area beyond the confined area is automatically removed to generate a scan area, and scanning the scan area. The present invention can also extend to a method for selecting a scan area by a user and a scanner with a feature of automatically identifying a scan area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for confining a framed area (or scan area) selected by user in the scope of an object to be scanned, and more particularly to a method for identifying the scope of an object to be scanned by utilization of software.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The scanning procedure of a scanner in the prior art comprises basic steps 11, 12, 13, and 14 illustrated in FIG. 1A. The conventional scanning method comprises steps of arranging an original on a scanner to scan the entire original (step 11), displaying a preview window of the original (step 12), selecting a scan area from the preview window by user (step 13), and scanning a portion of the original corresponding to the scan area (step 14). In general, the resolution (unit dpi) used in the scan of the selected scan area is higher than the resolution used in the scan of the entire original. The first scan is for providing user the preview window to select the scan area. The second scan is usually for generating the desired result of the scanning procedure.
Apparently, when the scan area 15 of user's desire is close to the entire original 16 (as shown in FIG. 1B), includes all objects 17 in the original 16 (as shown in FIG. 1C), or is a specific object with regular shape 18 in the original 16 (as framed regular object 18 on the upper right in FIG. 1D), four corners (upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left) of the scope of an image to be processed can be easily and manually determined by the user. Thus, a rectangular scan area 15 is obtained. More particularly, after the scan area 15 is scanned, an image process is applied to the result of the scan, thus the criteria of the scan area is capable of covering all areas that a user wants to scan instead of exactly equal to all areas, as illustrated in FIGS. 1B to 1D.
However, when the scan area of user's desire is a specific irregular object 195 in the original 16, especially when the specific object 195 is adjacent to a plurality of objects (regular object 18 or irregular object 19), only a scan area of rectangular shape 15 as shown in FIG. 1E is generated instead of a scan area of an exact shape of the object 195 due to the limitation of manually selecting four corners (upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left) of the scan area in the prior art. Consequently, the scan area 15 includes irrelevant redundant areas in the periphery around the object, that is the user can't frame an exact scan area of the object 195 without including any unnecessary adjacent objects, as shown in FIG. 1F. Therefore, the user has to take an extra step of selecting the wanted image after an image process is performed. Furthermore, though an image process is performed after scanning the scan area 15, the user usually encounters the problem of manually precisely framing an irregular image of an irregular object in the duration of performing the image process.
In other words, the scope displayed on the preview window is corresponding to the entire original leading to the difficulties in accurately selecting a scan area by users in the conventional operating procedure of a scanner, especially when the user wants to scan an irregular pattern or a specific pattern adjacent to a plurality of patterns. Therefore, It is necessary to develop an operating procedure of a scanner that is to promote the efficiency of use and create user-friendly interface.

Method for automatically identifying scan area


A system for detecting broken springs in overhead doors having automatic door openers includes an automatic door opener having a motor, a sensor configured to monitor performance of the motor in the door opener, and a processor in communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to compare the motor performance with a predetermined threshold level and send an alert when motor performance exceeds the predetermined threshold level.

Overhead doors such as garage doors may weigh several hundred pounds and may be difficult to lift manually. Thus, most overhead doors have springs to assist with lifting the door. The springs are generally of one of two types: torsion springs and extension springs.
Torsion springs generally extend along a torsion rod above an overhead door. One end of a torsion spring is typically fastened to a stationary plate. The other end is then wound axially around the torsion rod a set number of rotations and secured to the torsion rod. A cable extends from a drum on one end of the torsion rod to a bracket secured to the overhead door. As the door opens, the torsion spring unwinds, turning the drum, and winding the cable onto the drum, thereby assisting in lifting the weight of the door. Similarly, as the door closes, the torsion spring re-winds, thereby assisting in controlling the descent of the overhead door.
Extension springs generally extend from a ceiling-mounted bracket to a system of pulleys and cables. A cable extends from a pulley to a bracket secured to the overhead door. As the overhead door opens, the extension spring compresses, assisting in lifting the weight of the door. Similarly, as the door closes, the spring extends, assisting in controlling the descent of the overhead door.
Both extension springs and torsion springs can be expected to last several years or even decades without breaking. When a spring does break, it is unlikely that an overhead door opener will be able to lift the weight of the door. Since the springs break so seldom, when one does break, a user may not know why the automatic door opener no longer opens the overhead door. The user may suspect that the problem lies within the automatic door opener and may attempt to repair or replace it. More importantly, if a spring breaks when an overhead door is in an open position and a user tries to close the door, the door may fall, and may crush whatever lies in its path. This can cause injury, damage, or death.
Therefore, there is a need for a system for alerting users to broken overhead door springs.

Overhead door spring malfunction detection and notification