A bicycle stand includes a base and a pair of spaced-apart braces, each having a first end connected to the base and a second end. There is a pair of mounting members, each having a female threaded aperture which can threadedly receive a threaded outer portion of a bicycle axle. The second ends of the braces are pivotally connected to the mounting members. For example, the mounting members may be cylinders, the female threaded apertures extending axially inward from first ends thereof. Each of the braces has an aperture near the second end. The cylinders extend rotatably through the apertures. The base may have devices for mounting the stand on a roof rack of a vehicle including apertures in the base and tubular members having pins releasably engaging the apertures.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to combined bicycle stands and carriers and in particular to those having a base which can be rotated to a lower position below a bicycle wheel to function as a stand and to a position above the wheel to function as a carrier.
2. Description of Related Art
Many types of bicycle stands have been developed in the past. The most common is known as a "kick stand" and is usually clamped to a bicycle frame just behind the pedals. It includes a single support which can be rotated downwards by the foot to contact the ground and hold the bicycle upright at a slight angle from the vertical. While such stands are suitable for temporarily holding the bicycle on hard surfaces, they do not provide sufficient stability to hold the bicycle for long periods of time. In addition, they are not reliable when used on grass or soft ground.
Other stands have been developed in the past which include a support extending below the rear wheel of the bicycle to each side thereof and therefore provide better support. Often such stands are clamped to the bicycle frame. It is difficult to design such stands for universal application because the configurations of bicycle frames vary widely.
Attempts have also been made in the past to make bicycle stands which can also function as luggage carriers. An example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,572,758 to Lee which shows a device having a platform which can be rotated between a raised position, where it functions as a carrier, and a lower position where it functions as a stand for the bicycle. However, the device disclosed in Lee is relatively difficult to mount on some bicycles, particularly for bicycles with derailleur gears. The mounting system includes strap plates which are bolted to the bicycle frame. Apparently this requires holes to be drilled in the frame. This is not feasible for many bicycles where the holes would seriously weaken the frame.
Lee also discloses the use of the bicycle stand to convert the bicycle into a physical-exerciser device. Them are friction rollers on the platform which contact the bottom of the rear wheel of the bicycle when the device acts as a stand. This permits a person to pedal the bicycle and use it as an exercising bicycle.
Other attempts have been made to convert conventional bicycles into exercising bicycles as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,426 to Carlson.


A combination hot water heater-refrigeration assembly includes a refrigeration assembly coupled to a hot water tank via a heat pipe. The heat pipe has the heat releasing end thereof near the bottom of the hot water tank.

In the typical vapor compression refrigeration system, various components, such as compressor, condenser, evaporator and expansion devices, are arranged to transfer heat energy between a fluid in a heat exchange relationship with an evaporator and fluid in heat exchange relation with the condenser. It is also known in conjunction with such refrigeration systems to utilize a desuperheater for removing superheat energy from gaseous refrigerant prior to circulating said refrigerant to the condenser. One application of such a refrigeration system is a central air conditioning system used in a building. In such application, an enclosure is cooled by circulating, and possibly re-circulating, air from a central air conditioning unit with the enclosure an with ambient air.
In a conventional building installation, a hot water heater is provided to supply heated water to an enclosure. Many such hot water heaters have a cold water inlet connected to an inlet extension pipe and a hot water outlet extending through the top of a hot water tank. Often, an inlet extension pipe is connected to the cold water inlet such that incoming water is directed to the bottom portion of the tank. In hot water tanks, water is heated at the bottom of the tank and rises such that a stratified tank with relatively warm water at the top and cool water at the bottom is provided. When demand is made for hot water, water is discharged from the top of the tank at its warmest temperature and cold water is supplied through the inlet to the bottom portion of the tank.
It is known to combine a refrigeration system and a hot water heating system such that the superheat of the refrigerant may be rejected to Water to be heated such that this heat may be utilized to provide hot water. This heated water may be used for bathing, cleaning, cooking or other uses in a residence. Commercial applications include restaurants, supermarkets, process utilization and any other application wherein waste energy or excess energy from a refrigeration system may be available and hot Water from a tank is also needed.
However, such known systems have several drawbacks that have inhibited their full commercial acceptance. Principal among such drawbacks is the inefficient use made of heat supplied to the hot water heater by the refrigeration system. This inefficient use of heat is coupled with the detriment to the performance of the refrigeration system caused by the hot water heating system. Together, these drawbacks have combined in such a manner such that the increase in hot water heating efficiency has not been sufficient to offset or make up for the reduction in refrigeration efficiency.
Therefore, there is a need for a system which utilizes heat associated with a refrigeration system to heat water in a hot water tank with sufficient efficiency to make such a combination economically feasible an efficient.

Combination hot water heater-refrigeration assembly


The present invention relates to an integrated structure for an optical refractor, and more particularly to an integrated structure between a circuit board and an optical refractor which enables exposing the light source after dismantling to facilitate replacement and maintenance thereof. The integrated structure is composed of a planar baseplate, centrally integrated with an optical refractor lens, and the bottom surface of the baseplate is provided with a male end clasping portion parallel to the incident light surface, the male end clasping portion being further provided with position fixing tenons used for fixing position and clasp pins used for clasping, thereby enabling convenient disassembly and replacement to facilitate exposing the light emitting crystal on the front surface of the circuit board to enable maintenance and replacement.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention provides an integrated structure for an optical refractor, and more particularly provides an integrated structure between a circuit board and an optical refractor which enables dismantling the optical refractor to expose the light emitting crystal for replacement and maintenance thereof, and facilitates replacing the optical refractor and light emitting crystal to accommodate requirements for different index of refraction or wavelength.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
An optical refractor joined to a diode light source enables changing the light shape or illumination angle; moreover, in order to avoid diffraction loss caused by air molecules, the light emitting crystal is necessarily mounted close to the incident light surface of the optical refractor. Hence, it is often seen that a convex lens is attached close to the light-emitting surface of the light emitting crystal to enable divergence of the light beam, or a diffusion interference layer is further fitted to more evenly diffuse the light beam.
Bonding means is commonly used to join the refractor to the light-emitting surface of the light emitting crystal, wherein the bonding means first joins the light emitting crystal to the surface of a circuit board, then the optic axis of a convex lens is aligned with the light emitting crystal light source, and an adhesive agent is used between the convex lens and the circuit board to join the two together, thereby forming a normal fixed type. When the light emitting crystal malfunctions, then the light emitting crystal must be gouged out in order to implement removal and replacement thereof. However, using such gouging means damages the surface of the circuit board, even the electric circuit, and implementation of such means is difficult. Furthermore, such an illumination apparatus is often seen fitted in ceilings or at relatively high positions, and thus maintenance must be carried out high above the ground, making operational implementation even more difficult. In addition, the optical refraction lens is directly joined to the surface of the light emitting crystal using a method to single body molding method. However, such joining means is unable to realize free replacement and modulation of light beam emission angle and wavelength, and the entire apparatus must be dismantled when the crystal malfunctions.

Integrated structure for optical refractor


A dual dispensing device to be attached to the frame of an apparatus for seed and fertilizer placement in the ground comprising an elongate body member to be pivotally connected to the frame of the apparatus, a first dispenser for fertilizer is pivotally connected to the elongate body member, the first dispenser includes a first knife to make a first furrow in the ground and a first tube to carry fertilizer to be deposited in the first furrow. A fluid biasing element is pivotally connected to the first knife and to the frame to control the pivoting of the first knife. A second dispenser for seed is fixed to the elongate body member to the rear of the first dispenser, the second dispenser includes a second knife to make a second furrow in the ground and a second tube to carry seed to be deposited in the second furrow. Prior to the seed entering the seed tube the seed passes through a seed and air deceleration and air removal chamber. An adjustable gauge/packer wheel is fixed to the elongate body member to the rear of the seed dispenser.

As previously pointed out there is an increasing awareness of the need to conserve the dry land soil resource existing in many parts of the country. Cultivators have in many cases been adapted to serve as a seeding machine but there has been a lack of depth control and sufficient packing of soil around the seed. With the advent of minimum or zero tillage for seed bed preparation to minimize the cost of production new implements such as applicants apparatus have been devised. Problems to overcome were the heavy previous crop residue and difficult precise penetration of the unworked soil.
Several attempts have been made to overcome the problems of proper seed and fertilizer deposition under the above adverse conditions. The most closely related attempts known to applicant are described in Canadian Patent 1,239,835 to Halford and U.S. Pat. No. 3,362,361 to Morrison and U.S. Pat. No. 2,981,213 to O'Neil.
In patent "835" there is disclosed a first dispensing means rigidly fixed to an implement frame, a second dispensing means pivotally mounted relative to the frame and an adjustment or biasing means connected between the frame and the second pivotal dispensing means mounting. In contrast applicants device has a first dispensing means pivotally mounted on an elongate body member and a second dispensing means fixed to the elongate body member with an adjustable gauge packer wheel fixed to the second dispensing means.
In patent "361" there is disclosed a first dispensing means fixed to a first tool bar of the frame with a trip release mechanism provided on the shank of the tool. The second dispensing means includes a floating assembly fixed to a second tool bar with a trench forming wheel in front and a press wheel in the rear with the seed tube vertically moveable relative to its mounting tool bar. In contast applicants device has a first dispensing means which is pivotally mounted on an elongate body member which is pivotally mounted on the frame. A second dispensing means is fixed to the elongate body member and has fixed thereto an adjustable gauge press wheel.
In patent "213" there is disclosed a first dispensing means having a furrow opener disc where depth is controlled by a gauge wheel both being mounted on the same pivotal arm. A second dispensing means is taught that has a pivoting furrow opener with attached seed tube. In contrast applicants first dispensing means has a knife furrow opener pivotally attached to an arm or elongate body member that is pivotally attached to the frame. The second dispensing means also has a knife furrow opener and is rigidly fixed to the same arm or elongate body member as the first dispensing means.


In an approach for purging an address range from a cache, a processor quiesces a computing system. Cache logic issues a command to purge a section of a cache to higher level memory, wherein the command comprises a starting storage address and a range of storage addresses to be purged. Responsive to each cache of the computing system activating the command, cache logic ends the quiesce of the computing system. Subsequent to ending the quiesce of the computing system, Cache logic purges storage addresses from the cache, based on the command, to the higher level memory.

The present invention relates generally to the field of clearing a cache, and more particularly to non-disruptive clearing of varying address ranges from a cache.
A cache is a component that transparently retains data elements (or simply data) so that future requests for any retained data can be served faster. A data element that is stored within a cache corresponds to a pre-defined storage location within a computer memory system. Such a data element might be a value that has recently been computed or a duplicate copy of the same data element that is also stored elsewhere.
When multiple images are stored in computer systems, it is highly desirable to dynamically reallocate storage among the multiple images in order to increase storage sizes for images which need improved throughput. Therefore, it is necessary to clear cache entries which correspond to respective storage addresses being reallocated from existing images and into critical images. Typically, the storage addresses being reallocated include a large contiguous range of storage addresses. The clearing of cache entries containing storage addresses being reallocated requires a full quiesce of the system, therefore, it needs to be performed quickly to minimize any impact on the system performance.
Many system state changes, such as data storage reallocation, require a conventional quiesce to pause all processors in the system. One processor requests quiesce of the system, which means that all processors need to pause what they are doing and indicate that they will pause all operations until further notice. Once all processors pause and respond, the system state change can occur. Once completed, the requesting processor will send a "reset quiesce" broadcast to all processors to resume their operations.

Non-disruptive clearing of varying address ranges from cache

International Business Machines Corporation


Hydroxyacetic acid condensation product is used as a fluid loss material in a well completion or workover process in which a fluid comprising a hydrolyzable aqueous gel is used. The hydroxyacetic acid condensation product degrades at formation conditions to provide hydroxyacetic acid which breaks the aqueous gel, thereby restoring full formation permeability without the need for separate addition of gel breaker.

This invention relates to a process for completing or working over a well penetrating a subterranean formation such as an oil and/or gas producing formation.
By definition a completion or workover fluid is a fluid that is placed against the producing formation while conducting such operations as well killing, cleaning out, drilling in, plugging back, controlling sand, or perforating. Basic fluid functions are to facilitate movement of treating fluids to a particular point downhole, to remove solids from the well, and to control formation pressures.
Required fluid properties vary depending on the operation, but the possibility of formation damage is always an important concern. In certain operations, such as gravel packing or perforating, sand-face or perforation plugging is a prime concern. In recent years many new fluid systems have appeared, most due to the recognition of the high risk of reducing the productivity, or completely plugging certain sections of the producing zone, through contact with a foreign fluid.
Fluid density should be no higher than needed to control formation pressure. With reasonable precautions a hydrostatic pressure of 100-200 psi over formation pressure is adequate. Balanced or slightly underbalanced pressure workovers are ideal from the standpoint of formation damage and, with proper equipment to contain the surface pressure, are practical for some operations.
Fluid loss characteristics of the treatment fluid are tailored to prevent loss of excessive quantities of fluid to the formation, or to permit application of "hydraulic stress" to an unconsolidated sand formation. Bridging at the formation face by properly sized acid-soluble particles (calcium carbonate) is a conventional approach to fluid loss control. In some cases, oil soluble resin particles have been used in place of calcium carbonate. In either case colloidal particles are also required for an effective seal.
Viscosity-related characteristics, such as yield point, plastic viscosity, and gel strength, can be tailored to provide fluid lifting capacity required to bring sand to the surface at reasonable circulating rates. In some cases viscosity builders cause permanent reduction in permeability. This can be minimized by careful polymer selection along with adequate fluid loss control to limit invasion.
In a typical treatment fluid, a fluid viscosity builder is provided to control fluid loss. Viscosity builders such as hydroxyethyl cellulose or other hydrolyzable polymer are commonly used, and typically result in formation of a gel filter pad covering all or part of the treated formation. When a solid fluid loss additive such as particles of calcium carbonate is included in the fluid, it is generally necessary to carry out an acid treatment to dissolve the particles and to restore formation permeability.
Unbroken hydroxyethyl cellulose gel, even in the absence of calcium carbonate particles, can cause significant permeability reduction even after backflow. The possibility of permanent permeability loss from invasion of viscosity builders into the formation dictates that proper bridging particles should be used. Unfortunately the most commonly used material, calcium carbonate, must be removed after the treatment by acidizing. Even with acidizing, some permanent damage is possible. The acid treatment also results in breaking of the gel in the gel filter pad, but in some cases additional gel-breaking treatment is required.


A light source system and a projection system include a first laser array generating a red laser light; a second laser array generating a blue laser light; a beam-splitting plate located on a light path of the first and second laser arrays, for directing some of the red laser light and some of the blue laser light to a wavelength conversion device and directing some of the blue laser light to a light scattering device. The wavelength conversion device has wavelength conversion materials for receiving the blue laser light and producing a converted light, and for receiving and scattering the red laser light to form a first red light. The light scattering device has a scattering material for scattering the blue laser light to form a blue light. A light combining device forms a combined light from the converted light, the first red light and the blue light.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to projection and display technologies, and in particular, it relates to light source systems and projection systems.
Description of Related Art
Conventional laser light source systems usually employ a laser light source to emit an excitation light, and use the excitation light to excite a phosphor material to generate a converted light. The color of the converted light is determined by the color characteristics of the phosphor material. For example, a red phosphor material can be excited to generate a red converted light, a yellow phosphor material can be excited to generate a yellow converted light, etc.

Light source system and projection system


An improved foot switch structure of an extension cord receptacle comprises a base. The base has thereon a control switch, wherein the control switch is connected to a power conducting wire. The power conducting wire has one end connected to a power plug and the other end connected to a power receptacle. The control switch is located between the power plug and the power receptacle for controlling whether power is conducted to the power receptacle. The base has an electrically conductive plate fixed on an edge thereof. The electrically conductive plate has a tapering portion, which is inserted into the power conducting wire such that power is conducted to the electrically conductive plate. In addition, two power indicator lamps are provided on the electrically conductive plate. These two power indicator lamps are disposed on opposite sides of the control switch, wherein one power indicator lamp continuously emits light, and the other power indicator lamp is controlled by the control switch and covered with a top cover. The top cover has embedded therein a button. The location of the button corresponds to the control button. When a user presses down the button by stepping on the top cover, the control switch is in the ON state such that the other power indicator lamp emits light and power is conducted to the power receptacle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved foot switch structure of an extension cord receptacle, and in particular, to an improved foot switch structure of an extension cord receptacle having two power indicator lamps in the switch, wherein one power indicator lamp emits light continuously, and the other power indicator lamp emits light when the control switch is in the ON state.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Extension cord receptacles are widely used to properly solve the problem of lacking power receptacles in regular homes or workplaces when the receptacles to be used for electric appliances, bulbs hung on the trees outdoors or the outdoor works are insufficient. Therefore, extension cord receptacles become essential articles for daily use. In order to increase the use safety, one kind of extension cord receptacle provided thereon with a power switch is introduced to the market. When such extension cord receptacle is not in use, the supplied power is interrupted via the power switch so as to prevent the risk of electric shock due to an erroneous contact with the receptacle.
Although the extra power switch can improve the use safety of the extension cord receptacle, it still has some drawbacks. For example, since the power switch is a change over switch, the user should bend down to change the ON/OFF state of the change over switch by hand when the user needs to conduct or interrupt the power. Because no protective measure is taken, the hand of the user may readily incur electric shock when the change over switch is changed by hand.
Accordingly, the above-described prior art product is not a perfect design and has still many disadvantages to be solved.
In views of the above-described disadvantages resulted from the conventional product, the applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly to develop an improved foot switch structure of an extension cord receptacle according to the present invention through wholehearted experience and research.

Foot switch structure of extension cord receptacle


An upright vacuum cleaner having an off-the-floor suction hose attachment port located in the passageway connected to the agitator chamber or front nozzle with a suction generating means, and having a sliding door for closing off the passageway intermediate the chamber and hose attachment port during off-the-floor operation, which door is automatically returned to its initial position opening the passageway when the operating handle position is altered to allow on-the-floor operation. The agitator or roller brush is lifted completely from contact with the floor or carpet when the vacuum cleaning apparatus is used for off-the-floor operation and is done so independently of the floor height adjustment setting for various on-the-floor cleaning operations by rotating the retainer axle member about the axis of the front casters and relative to the chassis. The retainer axle member further includes a chassis height adjusting support surface, and the cleaner hood includes a chassis height adjustment member carried and supported thereby for manual operator-assisted sliding engagement with the hood and with the retainer axle member. The height adjustment member includes a pair of laterally spaced cam surfaces and each cam surface includes identical step cams of varying height, thereby defining a plurality of pairs of matched height adjusting cam lobes laterally offset from one another. Each of the cam lobes engages the support surface of the axle retainer member whereby the chassis is supported laterally at two positions on the axle retainer member and provides side-to-side stability to the cleaner head assembly.

Upright vacuum cleaners are a particularly popular type of vacuum cleaner for household and light industrial vacuum cleaning of floors and floor carpeting. Typically, the unit includes a cleaner head assembly mounted on wheels and having a suction generator/motor assembly and a motor driven roller agitator or roller brush mounted on the chassis. The operating handle is pivoted to the chassis and can be placed in a lower inclined position to assist the operator in moving the vacuum cleaner over the carpet, and an upright position whereby the vacuum cleaner can be conveniently stored in a closet or the like and occupying minimal space. A filter bag is generally mounted on the handle within a hard case or a flexible fabric bag with the filter bag communicating with a suction passage within the chassis to collect the dirt-ladened air brought up from the floor or carpet. The handle may also carry a storage rack, e.g. for the electric cord providing power to the cleaner, and for other accessories.
Commonly, the cleaner head assembly includes an adjustment knob, or foot-actuated lever, for adjusting the height of the chassis, and thus the roller brush or agitator, relative to the floor.
Some upright vacuum cleaners also include a structural arrangement whereby the on-the-floor vacuum cleaning operation can be interrupted to provide for suction cleaning off-the-floor, such as cleaning venetian blinds or kick moldings about the floor, or chairs and other items of furniture and the like. An attachment hose is provided having an inlet which may be connected to the suction source or passageway communicating with the suction generating device. It is known, for example, to provide a separate attachment device over the front of the vacuum cleaner in the area of the agitator with the suction hose leading off of the device, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,237. Storage of the device can be troublesome to the user, and the system necessitates passing the dirt-laden air over the agitator or roller brush, thus disturbing the efficiency of the system.
It is also known to provide means for blocking the air passageway between the agitator and the suction generating device and placing downstream of the blockage an auxiliary inlet port for attaching a suction-type attachment hose. Such systems require manually adjusting the blockage, e.g. a sliding door, from the open position to the closed position, and then manually opening the door when the vacuum cleaner is to be converted to on-the-floor use.
Further, with such known systems, it is necessary to disturb the floor height setting by manually adjusting the chassis height relative to the floor or asix of the rollers upon which it is moved across the floor to a position of maximum height and then beyond to fully lift the agitator free of any carpeting or floor. Thus, when the vacuum cleaner is returned to on-the-floor use, the floor height adjustment must again be manually adjusted to the preferred setting.
With known height adjusting structures, it is also common that the mechanism include a single cam on the chassis and cam follower located on an axial retainer member carrying the forwardmost rollers of the cleaner head assembly. Thus, with the chassis supported by two laterally spaced rollers or casters at the rear, i.e. one at each end of a rear axle member, and with the forward end of the chassis supported only at a single point upon which the height adjusting cam member rests on the cam follower, the cleaner head assembly is likely to feel to the operator slightly unsteady as it is permitted to rock about a swing axis extending longitudinally of the vacuum cleaner from front to rear and passing through the single support point defined by the height adjusting member.

Vacuum cleaner for on floor and off floor suction cleaning


Spatial profile creation section 102 creates an intensity distribution, that is, a spatial profile or spatial information of reception signals with respect to the directions of arrival of signals using reception signals prior to despreading received via antenna elements 101-1 to 101-4. Direction of arrival estimation section 103 estimates the directions of arrival of signals sent from other parties of communication from the spatial information created by spatial profile creation section 102 and divides and outputs the information of the directions of arrival to reception units 104-1 to 104-4 according to the direction of arrival. Beam formers 111 in reception units 104-1 to 104-4 each rotate the phase of the output reception signals from antenna elements 101-1 to 101-4 at predetermined angles based on the information of directions of arrival and combines these rotated reception signals so as to increase the reception levels of the signals sent from the directions of arrival.

The present invention relates to a direction of arrival estimation method using an array antenna and a radio reception apparatus.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional radio reception apparatus using an array antenna. In FIG. 1, the conventional radio reception apparatus has units 10-1 to 10-N corresponding in number to the channels received.
Reception units 10-1 to 10-N each mainly comprise the same number of despreading sections 12-1 to 12-M as the antenna elements of array antenna 11, direction of arrival estimation section 13 for estimating the directions of arrival of signals based on the outputs of despreading sections 12-1 to 12-M, beam former 14 for forming directivities in the directions of arrival estimated by direction of arrival estimation section 13 and letting the outputs of despreading sections 12-1 to 12-M pass according to the formed directivities and channel reception section 15 for extracting a channel signal from the output of beam former 14. The array antenna has a configuration of a plurality of antenna elements linearly spaced at intervals of half-wavelength of a carrier frequency.
Here, a beam search technique will be explained as an example of the direction of arrival estimation method. An input signal vector X(t) of the antenna is given by following expression (1).
X(t)=[x0(t),x1(t), . . . ,xn(t)]Txe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
Furthermore, vector a(xc3xa8) having a peak in a xc3xa8 direction (called a xe2x80x9csteering vectorxe2x80x9d) is given by expression (2).
a(xc3xa8)=[1,exp(xe2x88x92jΠ sinxc3xa8), . . . ,exp(xe2x88x92jnΠ sinxc3xa8)]Txe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
By carrying out reception using the above expression, it is possible to observe power in the xc3xa8 direction included in X(t). That is, spatial profile H(xc3xa8) can be determined by following expression (3).
H(xc3xa8)=a(xc3xa8)Txc2x7X(t)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
From this, a spatial profile of X(t) over a 180xc2x0 sector extending ahead can be determined. Here, xc3xa8 takes a value between xe2x88x9290xc2x0 and 90xc2x0.
Beam forming in an array antenna is obtained by multiplying a reception signal from each antenna element by a complex amplitude and giving an arbitrary directivity using the result thereof.
An example of beam forming of the array antenna will be explained below. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of beam forming of an array antenna. In FIG. 2, base station apparatus 21 has four antenna elements, forms directivities and performs communications with mobile stations 22 and 23.
When base station apparatus 21 communicates with mobile station 22 located in the xc3xa8 direction, the input signal vector of the four antenna elements is given by expression (4) using expression (1).
X(t)=[x0(t),x1(t),x2(t),x3(t)]Txe2x80x83xe2x80x83(4)
Then, when the directivity of the array antenna is directed to mobile station 22 at angle xc3xa8 from base station apparatus 21, steering vector a(xc3xa8) is given by expression (5).
a(xc3xa8)=[1,exp(xe2x88x92jΠ sin xc3xa8),exp(xe2x88x92j2Π sin xc3xa8)]Txe2x80x83xe2x80x83(5)
By carrying out a vector multiplication of expression (4) and expression (5) on the reception signal, the array antenna of base station apparatus 21 forms a directivity with a large gain in the xc3xa8 direction. For example, an array antenna with four linearly spaced antenna elements has a maximum gain in the xc3xa8 direction and the gain at an angle greater than 22.5xc2x0 from the xc3xa8 direction is less than half the maximum gain.
Thus, beam forming forms directivities by phase-rotating signals received from the respective antennas of the array antenna by an arbitrary angle and then combining those signals. That is, by branching the signals received from the respective antenna elements to a plurality of groups and applying different ways of combination thereto, beam forming can form directivities with a high gain in a plurality of different directions. As a result, beam forming can form directivities appropriate for carrying out communications with a plurality of other parties of communication.
For example, it is possible to carry out processing of using beam 24 in the xcex8 direction for communication with mobile station 22 in the xcex8 direction and processing of using beam 25 in the xcfx86 direction for communication with mobile station 23 in the xcfx86 direction simultaneously.
Thus, base station apparatus 21 can receive signals of a plurality of other parties of communication individually by carrying out processing on signals output from the beam former through different reception units provided for the other parties of communication.
However, since the conventional radio reception apparatus estimates the directions of arrival of signals for their respective channels individually, it is not possible to achieve accuracy enough to estimate the directions of arrival due to interference received from other stations under circumstances in which many mobile stations exist adjacent to one another, hence it is not possible to form optimal antenna directivities for reception.
Moreover, to estimate the directions of arrival of radio signals for their respective channels, it is necessary to provide reception units 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-N for the respective channels, which requires the same number of direction of arrival estimation sections as channels received by reception units 10-1, 10-2, . . . , 10-N and despreading sections corresponding to (the number of channelsxc3x97the number of antennas), increasing the scale of the circuit and costs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a direction of arrival estimation method and a radio reception apparatus capable of reducing the scale of the circuit and preventing deterioration of reception quality even if many mobile stations exist adjacent to one another deteriorating the accuracy of direction of arrival estimations of signals.
This object is attained by calculating an intensity distribution of reception signals with respect to the directions of arrival of signals from the reception signals before they are separated according to their respective channels, estimating the directions of arrival of signals in band units (i. e., signals for each band) based on this intensity distribution, determining antenna directivities and receiving signals accordingly, grouping signals coming from quasi-identical directions and estimating the directions of arrival thereof, receiving radio signals with antenna directivities formed in the directions of arrival estimated in group units, and receiving the signals in group units and separating or extracting desired signals.

Direction of arrival estimation method and radio reception apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A metal connector for a building includes a pipe-shaped frame having a plurality of axial slits at its both ends, a wedge member fitted at each end of the frame, and a connecting member directly passed through the frame or passed through a box-shaped anchor loosely fitted over the outer periphery of the frame. The wedge member is fitted to each end of the frame to secure the frame to a wooden member, while neighboring wooden members are joined together by the connecting member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a metal connector for wooden members in a wooden building and more particularly to a metal connector for a wooden building advantageously employed in a wood frame construction system.
2. Related Art
Recently, a wood frame construction system, in which a plywood for structural use is lined over a frame composed of timbers and a so-formed panel is used as a durable wall. With this construction system, connection of a ridge to a roof truss or of a roof truss to a double plate is performed on the construction site by connecting associated wooden members by metal connectors by a manual operation of an operator. When assembling a roof, for example, the forward ends of a set of roof truss is placed in opposition to those of another set of roof truss with a ridge in-between and the roof truss sets are connected to each other and to the ridge under this condition by metal connectors. This operation is repeated for each of a number of roof truss sets facing each other.
Since the connection of the ridge to the roof truss and that of the roof truss to the double plate in the conventional wood frame construction system is performed in this manner from one roof truss set to another at a poorly supported elevated position on the construction site, problems are presented in safety and operational efficiency.

30, Aza-yabiku, Sashiki-cho, Shimajiri-gun


A tool mechanism for machining a hole side surface, and for chamfering the ends of the hole, includes a boring cutter and two chamfer cutters oriented so that during an axial infeed of the cutter assembly the hole side surface is machined and a chamfer is formed at one end of the hole. The cutter assembly can be shifted transversely to position a chamfer cutter for machining a second chamfer on the other end of the hole. The cutter assembly is carried on a cutter support member that is swingably mounted on a tool body secured to the spindle of the cutting machine. An actuator device is movable along the tool body axis to adjust the position of the cutter support member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tool for finishing and chamfering a hole in a workpiece. The tool is designed for repetitive production usage on similar multiple work pieces.
2. Prior Art Developments
Equipments that involve pivotable connections between two components often employ a bushing press fit in one component and a shaft carried by the other component for extension through the bushing. In order to press fit the bushing into the mounting hole in the associated component it is often necessary or desirable to chamfer the ends of the hole. There are other situations where a hole is required to be finished and chamfered at its opposite ends.
Commonly the hole is finished and chamfered in separate operations or steps. The present invention is concerned with a tool that forms a finished surface on a circular hole, and also forms chamfers on opposite ends of the finished hole.

Tool for finishing and chamfering a hole


A medical tool system for providing a trapezoidal recess in a joint surface of a bone, including a milling tool rotatable about a tool axis and having milling edges active on the circumferential side and milling edges that are active at an axial end with respect to the tool axis, and a template part fixable to the joint surface for guiding the milling too. A stop limits a penetration depth of the milling tool. The template part has a base element with a slide guide and a slide which can be moved in the slide guide between two end stops along a guide path lying on a guide plane. A guide channel which runs diagonally to the guide plane and leads to a milling tool receiving area directed transversely to the tool axis is formed in the slide such that the milling tool can rotate freely about the tool axis.

It has been conventional for a great while in the field of surgical orthopedics to entirely or partially replace joints that are worn, sclerotic or damaged by other diseases with prosthetic implants. In particular, the replacement of knee joints with corresponding implants, as well as the setting of artificial hip joints or hip joint parts, is presently part of the standard surgical repertoire in surgical orthopedics. Depending on the severity of the joint defect, highly different techniques and surgical methods have been developed in the past. In addition to total replacement prostheses where the joint surfaces and neighboring bone section are completely replaced with artificially formed implant parts, e.g. for a worn knee joint both in the region of the femur as well as in the region of the tibia, techniques and systems are now common in which worn joint surfaces are only partially replaced while largely retaining the natural bone substance. For example, there are implant systems in which only one of the two condyles of the tibia-side joint surface is replaced in knee joints with a partial prosthesis, the other condyle of course being left, and an artificial contact surface of the joint is only applied on the side of the part of the femur part opposite the replaced condyle surface provided with the artificial implant.
Such partial prostheses are frequently anchored in the bone with bar-shaped or otherwise-shaped extensions, such as with so-called fins. These fins, which are slightly oversized, are pressed into a corresponding recess or hollowed-out groove created in the bone material, and the fins are frequently formed with a trapezoidal cross-section. Such fastening mechanisms can however be used for other implants that are to be fixed in the bone as well as for total replacement prostheses, and not just for partial implants.
However when sparing partial replacement prostheses are implanted, care is taken to retain as much of the soft tissues, in particular the ligaments, surrounding the joint region possible and leave said tissues free of damage. Correspondingly, separation of the natural joint is minimized to reduce the stress and promote regeneration and the healing process at this location in order to retain as much of the joint stability provided by the natural soft tissue as possible. Consequently, related tools systems with which the structures must be created in damaged bones in which prosthetic parts are fixed must be designed such that said tool systems can also be inserted into small gaps and nonetheless function with sufficient precision.
Whereas earlier it was frequently left to the dexterity and manual skill of the surgeon to prepare the joint surfaces of the bones involved for the replacement of worn joint regions in a freehand manner, increasingly, technical tools have gained acceptance in the interim to render the surgeon's handwork easier, and to ensure that the required structures are securely and precisely arranged and formed.
Accordingly, various tool systems are known for removing bone material in which templates interact with reaming in order to create recesses of a given shape and depth.
Such a tool system that is used to ream out recesses of a predetermined contour is disclosed in DE 603 20 485 T2. A reamer having a reaming head provided with a radius is inserted into a guide slot in a plate-shaped template and clears out a cassette-like free space due to the provided guidance. Similarly, a system with a template guide and reamer is disclosed in DE 195 01 550 A1.
DE 60 2004 013 383 T2 discloses a system with a template and a reamer guided therein for preparing the condyle surfaces of a knee prosthesis. In the device depicted therein, the rotating shaft of the reamer runs substantially vertically upward and requires a great deal of free space so that, during surgery and the preparation phase, the femur part of the knee must be moved back a great deal, which cannot be reconciled with the aim of retaining the soft tissues of the joint, in particular the ligaments, and in this case, the cruciate ligaments in particular.
Furthermore, an implant system marketed by the U.S. company Stryker Corporation under the brand name of EIUS™ is known in the market for partial replacement of the knee, having a condyle surface to be replaced on one side and a joint surface implant which is also affixed to one side of the femur. A preparation tool is provided for this implant system in which a trapezoidal recess is formed in the condyle surface of the tibia to be treated. To accomplish this, there is a template part with a plate element that has a tubular section which is securely connected to the plate element and has a rectangular cross section which forms a tool tunnel running at an angle of approximately 45° relative to the plane of the plate. To form a trapezoidal recess, a drilling template is first inserted into this tunnel, and weakening holes are introduced into the bone material. The drilling insert is then removed, and the bone, perforated in this manner, is fully cleared with a clearing chisel, which is also introduced through the tunnel to form the recess into which the fin of the condyle implant is introduced. On one hand, the tool system has many parts, and the associated method for forming the recess is complicated. Using different tools, first the drill holes must first be introduced with different tools, and then final clearing of the recess must then be performed. This procedure takes up valuable time during the surgery and also leads to numerous parts and instruments having to be cleaned and disinfected following the operation.


A USB port transmitter includes a plurality of arbiters, each employing a distinct priority rule to select one USB transmission from among multiple scheduled USB transmissions based on their types. A selector selects one of the arbiters to select the one USB transmission from among the multiple scheduled USB transmissions. A programmable storage element controls the selector to select the one arbiter. In one embodiment, at least a first arbiter prioritizes header/data packets higher than link commands, and at least a second arbiter prioritizes link commands higher than header/data packets. In one embodiment, at least one arbiter prioritizes flow control and power management link commands higher than header/data packets. In one embodiment, at least a first of the arbiters prioritizes USB LGO_Ux link commands higher than USB LAU/LXU link commands, and at least a second arbiter prioritizes USB LAU/LXU link commands higher than USB LGO_Ux link commands.

In recent years, the USB architecture has become a widely employed high-speed serial cable bus designed that supports data exchange between a host computer and a wide range of simultaneously accessible peripherals. The attached peripherals share USB bandwidth through a host-scheduled, token-based protocol. More specifically, the USB 3.0 architecture, specified in the USB 3.0 Specification, Revision 1.0, Nov. 12, 2008, managed and disseminated by the USB Implementers Forum, Inc., includes highly desirable features over previous USB architectures, including the SuperSpeed protocol.
According to the USB 3.0 Specification, a USB port transmitter can transmit various types of transmissions, including link commands, header packets, data packets, SKP ordered sets, Training Sequence (TS) ordered sets, and Bit Error Rate Test (BERT) ordered sets. USB devices transmit these transmissions to one another on serial links that connect ports of the USB devices. When multiple link command, header packet, data packet, and SKP ordered set transmissions are scheduled to be transmitted by a USB port in the U0 operational state (the normal operational state), an arbiter is needed to be in charge of prioritizing the transmissions to be transmitted on the USB link to which the port is connected. Sections 10.7.5 and 10.7.9 of the USB 3.0 Specification include FIGS. 10-16 and 10-18, respectively, which describe the functional requirements of a USB port transmitter state machine. From these Figures, a priority rule of scheduled transmissions that may be inferred from these sections of the USB 3.0 Specification is as follows:                1. Link Command transmissions (All Link Commands) and Skip Ordered Set (if required)—highest priority        2. Header Packet transmission (Transaction Packet (TP), Link Management Packet (LMP), and Isochronous Timestamp Packet (ITP)) and Skip Ordered Set (if required)—next highest priority        3. Data Packet transmissions and Skip Ordered Set—lowest priority
The various types of transmissions referenced above are defined in the USB 3.0 Specification in the Terms and Abbreviations section on pages 2-1 to 2-7.
A USB port arbiter that determines which scheduled transmission to transmit first based on the single priority rule inferred from the USB 3.0 Specification may not exhibit good performance and transmission behavior in some circumstances.

USB port for employing a plurality of selectable data transmission priority rules


An absorbent article or portion thereof comprises first and second layers joined together intimately in a generally parallel and coextensive manner. Each layer has a pattern of multiple discrete holes or regions of low density which are separated by regions of high density. The layers are aligned to minimize the number of holes or regions of low density of one layer which substantially overlap one or more holes or regions of low density of the other layer. The articles are characterized by better wicking, lower thermal conductivity and improved appearance compared to articles in which a higher degree of overlap of low density areas is noted.. A process for making absorbent articles having improved wicking is also disclosed. This process is carried out by aligning the adjacent layers of the absorbent body as described above.

Various absorbent materials have been used and manufactured in the past for the purpose of absorbing fluids in order that the fluids may be used, stored, transported, or discarded conveniently. Such articles exist in myriad forms; a short list would include wiping cloths, diapers, tampons, towels, surgical drapes, articles of clothing, cleaning implements, bandages and dressings, and so forth.
A frequent shortcoming of many such articles is the rate at which they are able to wick the fluid being absorbed away from the point at which such fluid initially contacts the article. This property is crucial to effective absorbency because wicking determines how rapidly and well the article can distribute a liquid among its absorbent elements. Even a material with adequate absorbent capacity cannot retain the maximum amount of fluid unless the fluid is distributed throughout the absorbent portions of the article before it can escape from the article.
Workers in the art have consistently attempted to reduce the amount of absorbent material in absorbent articles to a minimum effective level, in order to make absorbent articles having minimal bulk, weight, and raw material cost. This trend is especially evident in the case of disposable absorbent materials. Accordingly, those skilled in the art have needed to produce absorbent articles and structures which efficiently wick liquid to distribute it throughout the article and thus to optimize the use of absorbent material in the article.
Various types of layered structures have been devised in the quest to produce better absorbent materials, particularly disposable towels or wipes. A common example of such a structure is the ordinary two-layer paper towel. Perforated nonwoven materials have also been made for a considerable time and sold for use as disposable dishrags, towels, and so forth. An example of such a product is HANDI-WIPES, a product sold commercially by The Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, N.Y.. However, it is desirable to improve such products as absorbent materials, for none of them are ideal.
Another property of a towel or wipe which has been found to be useful is that of limited conductivity of heat. Durable wipes, such as conventional bar swipes, are frequently used in the restaurant trade as makeshift potholders to handle hot pans and utensils safely. While prior art disposable wipes have been marketed for some time, and have been recognized to have the advantages of convenience and low capital cost, one factor which prevents them from capturing the durable wipes market is their unsuitability as potholders. Accordingly, it has been found that a nonwoven material which has low thermal conductivity will be more suitable as a wipe, particularly if it does not require more raw material and bulk in order to serve as an efficient insulator.
Finally, a third property which is desirable in a wipe, and which has been absent in prior art disposable wipes, is an opaque appearance. Durable wipes typically are opaque, (or at least more so than existing disposable wipes) so opacity is associated with quality, appropriate bulk, strength, and other desirable characteristics of a wipe.


In a friction plate obtained by adhering a plurality of friction material segments onto a core plate, and axial thickness of each of the friction material segment in areas including adjacent portions between the adjacent friction material segments is thinner than the other portion of the friction material segment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in a friction plate and a multi-plate clutch using such friction plate, which are used as friction plates or a lock-up clutch in a wet type multi-plate friction engaging apparatus having a plurality of friction plates and used in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle or a transmission of a motor bike.
2. Related Background Art
In the past, a friction plate was manufactured by adhering a plurality of friction material segments onto an annular core plate in a circular pattern. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the friction material members were interconnected through a connection portion like a configuration of a piece of jigsaw puzzle.
In FIG. 5, a friction plate 21 is obtained by assembling three friction material segments 22 in a circular pattern and adhering these segments onto a core plate 23. Each friction material segment 22 has is provided at its both ends with a connecting portion 25 including a projection and a recess, and the adjacent friction material segments are interconnected by engaging with the connecting portions together. Further, the core plate 23 is provided at its inner periphery with splines 24 for connecting to a rotary shaft or the like (not shown).
However, when the friction material segment is manufactured by punching it from a friction material tape, burr can be generated at an edge of the punched friction material segment. Further, since adjacent sections (connection portions) between the friction material segments have weaker strength in comparison with the other part of the segment, when an engaging operation is repeated by numerous times, the adjacent section can be peeled or broken.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent an adjacent section of a friction material segment from being peeled or broken.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a friction plate obtained by adhering a plurality of friction material segments onto a core plate, wherein an axial thickness of the friction material segment in areas including adjacent portions between the adjacent friction material segments is thinner than the other portion of the friction material segment.
Further, to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a multi-plate clutch comprising a clutch case and a hub which are rotated relative to each other on the same axis, separator plates disposed on an inner periphery of the clutch case, friction plates disposed on an outer periphery of the hub and arranged alternately with the separator plates in an axial direction, and a piston for urging the separator plates and the friction plates to frictionally engaged the plates with each other, and in which input and output of a driving force is effected between the clutch case and the hub, and wherein each of the friction plates is formed by adhering a plurality of friction material segments to a core plate, and an axial thickness of the friction material segment in areas including adjacent portions between the adjacent friction material segments is thinner than the other portion of the friction material segment.
The friction plate according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed by providing areas each having a thickness thinner than that of the other portion at the adjacent portions of the friction material segment of the above-mentioned conventional friction plate. Such an area includes all shapes including the adjacent portions between the friction material segments and is not limited to a specific shape. Further, a depth of the area is not particularly limited and may be any depth so long as the area is slightly lower than a friction engaging surface of the friction plate.
The area is desirably formed by pressurization and compression, since strength of a boundary between the area and a portion other than the area can be maintained and the formation of the area can easily be achieved for a short time.

Friction plate and multi-plate clutch using friction plates


A method of treating a cardio-renal disease is described that includes administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-6 (PCSK6), or an effective fragment thereof, which functions as a corin activator.

Hypertension is a common cardiovascular disease. In the United States, more than 30% of adults develop hypertension. The disease is a well-known risk factor for major cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, renal failure, and stroke. In most patients with hypertension, the underlying cause remains unknown, indicating that additional contributing factors remain to be discovered. To date, genetic mutations that impair sodium homeostasis have been reported in some hypertensive patients. These findings are consistent with the notion that hypertension reflects inadequate control of salt and body fluid balance.
Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a key hormone for sodium homeostasis and normal blood pressure. Mutations that alter ANP amino acids have been found in hypertensive patients. In heart cells, ANP is produced as a precursor, pro-ANP, which is activated to ANP by corin, a membrane-bound serine protease. Yan et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A 97, 8525-8529 (2000). This function of corin is important for maintaining normal blood pressure. As a trypsin-like enzyme, corin is made as an inactive zymogen, which is activated by proteolytic cleavage at a conserved site, Arg-801↓Ile-802 (FIG. 2a). Yan et al., J Biol Chem 274, 14926-14935 (1999). CORIN gene variants and mutations preventing corin activation have been identified in patients with hypertension and pre-eclampsia. This zymogen activation step is critical for corin activity. For many years, however, the enzyme responsible for corin activation remained unidentified.

Treatment of cardio-renal disease using PCSK6


Disclosed herein is system and method for generating, storing and transmitting electrical charge from heart's electrical conduction system to power implantable medical devices. An intelligent monitoring module in the system monitors amount of nerve impulses that are generated at the Sinoatrial (SA) node of the heart and continuously compares number of the generated nerve impulses with a threshold nerve impulse value. If excess impulses are detected, the intelligent monitoring module routes the excess nerve impulses to a battery management module which generates charge by converting the excess nerve impulses to electric charge. This charge may be further used to power up the implantable medical device.

The Implantable Medical Devices (IMD's) are instruments or apparatus or implants that are implanted inside body to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder present in the body. For proper functioning of these devices inside the body, sufficient power must be provided continuously by using suitable means such as batteries, power capacitors and so on. In some cases, these power sources can be placed outside the body and transmit energy pulses to the implanted devices through a receiver or a lead.
Over an extended period of time, these power sources may deplete which results in the implanted medical device not getting power. Due to this issue, the implanted medical device stops functioning permanently which in turn puts the patient's life at danger. Hence, the power sources must be powered or recharged periodically to ensure proper functioning of IMDs inside the body.
Normally, every IMD possesses a rechargeable battery which powers up the device. There are so many techniques through which this power sources i.e. rechargeable battery can be recharged. In some of the existing recharging mechanisms, piezoelectric effect based charging process is used. In some other existing systems, induction coils are placed with the implanted medical devices to supply power and theses coils are heated whenever the coils get discharged.
However, in the existing systems, input supply to charge the battery is provided continuously even if the battery is fully charged. This may have an adverse impact on the battery life, as it increases load on the battery. This in turn affects functioning of the IMD and this scenario may demand replacement of the battery or the IMD itself, which requires the patient to undergo a surgery. This is inconvenient in terms of factors such as cost incurred, health effects for patient and so on.

System and method for generating electric charges from heart to power implantable medical devices


This invention provides a plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability, wherein the average composition of the plating alloy in the plated steel wire comprises, in terms of weight percentage, Al: 4-20%, Mg: 0.8-5%, and if necessary one or more from among Si: xe2x89xa62%, Na: 0.001-0.1% and Ti: 0.01-0.1%, with the remainder Zn, and an Fexe2x80x94Zn alloy layer of no greater than 20 xcexcm thickness is present at the plating-base metal interface; it is produced by coating a steel wire with a molten zinc plating composed mainly of zinc as the first stage and then.coating it with a molten zinc alloy plating with the aforementioned average composition as the second stage. The maximum plating bath immersion time is 20 seconds, and the part of the plated steel wire drawn out from the plating bath is purged with nitrogen gas.

The present invention relates to a plated steel wire that exhibits high corrosion resistance suitable for steel wires for gabion, fishnets and the like that are used in areas exposed to the outdoors.
Commonly used plated steel wires include zinc-plated steel wires and the more highly corrosion-resistant zinc-aluminum alloy-plated steel wires. Zinc-aluminum alloy-plated steel wires are generally produced by first subjecting steel wires to a cleaning treatment such as washing and degreasing and then to a flux treatment, followed by either hot-dip plating of mainly zinc as the first stage and then hot-dip plating in a Znxe2x80x94Al alloy bath containing 10% Al as the second stage, or else direct hot-dip plating in a Znxe2x80x94Al alloy bath containing 10% Al, and finally vertically drawing the wire out from the plating bath, cooling and winding.
Such zinc-aluminum alloy-plated steel wires have satisfactory corrosion resistance, but even higher corrosion resistance can be achieved by methods that increase the plating thickness. One method of guaranteeing the prescribed plating thickness is a method of raising the conveying speed (flux) of the steel wire to rapidly draw out the steel wire from the plating bath, and increasing the amount of plating alloy adhering to the steel wire by increasing the viscosity of the hot-dip plating alloy.
In this method, however, the high conveying speed tends to produce an irregular plating thickness in the cross-section perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the plated steel wire, and limits therefore exist for such plating equipment. As a result, existing plating equipment has not provided sufficient corrosion resistance by zinc plating or by hot-dip plating with Znxe2x80x94Al alloys, and this constitutes a problem in that expectations cannot be completely satisfied given current expectations regarding a longer usable life for plated steel wires.
In order to combat this problem, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication HEI No. 10-226865 proposes a Znxe2x80x94Alxe2x80x94Mg alloy plating composition with high corrosion resistance imparted by Mg added to the plating bath, but the plating method based on this plating composition assumes thin layering for steel sheets, and when the method is applied to thick plated steel wires typically used for gabion and the like, the problem of plating layer cracking occurs when working the plated steel wires.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication HEI No. 7-207421 describes a method in which a Znxe2x80x94Alxe2x80x94Mg alloy plating is formed to a greater thickness, but when the method is directly applied to plating of steel wires, the Fexe2x80x94Zn alloy layer becomes thick, leading to problems such as cracking or peeling of the alloy layer when working the plated steel wires.
In light of the problems described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plated steel wire coated with a molten zinc alloy plating such that the plated steel wire exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and excellent workability that can avoid cracking or peeling of the plating layer and/or the plating alloy layer during working of the plated steel wire, as well as to provide a process for its manufacture.
The present invention has been completed as a result of much diligent research, by the present inventors, on a means of solving the aforementioned problems, and its gist is as follows.
(1) A plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability, the plated steel wire being characterized in that the average composition of the plating alloy contains, in terms of weight percentage, Al: 4-20%, Mg: 0.8-5% and the remainder Zn, and in that an Fexe2x80x94Zn alloy layer of no greater than 20 xcexcm thickness is present at the plating-base metal interface.
(2) A plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to (1) above, characterized in that the average composition of the plating alloy also contains, in terms of weight percentage, Si: xe2x89xa62%.
(3) A plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to (1) or (2) above, characterized in that the average composition of the plating alloy also contains, in terms of weight percentage, Na: 0.001-0.1%.
(4) A plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to any one of (1) to (3) above, characterized in that the average composition of the plating alloy also contains, in terms of weight percentage, Ti: 0.01-0.1%.
(5) A plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to any one of (1) to (4) above, characterized in that the Fexe2x80x94Zn alloy layer contains Al: xe2x89xa74%, Mg: xe2x89xa71%.
(6) A plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to any one of (1) to (5) above, characterized in that the structure of the plating alloy layer on the outer side of the Fexe2x80x94Zn alloy layer includes an xcex1 phase composed mainly of Alxe2x80x94Zn, a xcex2 phase comprising a Zn monophase or an Mgxe2x80x94Zn alloy phase, and a Zn/Al/Znxe2x80x94Mg three component eutectic phase.
(7) A plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to any one of (1) to (6) above, characterized in that the structure of the plating alloy layer on the outer side of the Fexe2x80x94Zn alloy layer includes an xcex1 phase composed mainly of Alxe2x80x94Zn, a xcex2 phase comprising a Zn monophase or an Mgxe2x80x94Zn alloy phase, and a Zn/Al/Znxe2x80x94Mg three component eutectic phase, and the volume fraction of the xcex2 phase is no greater than 20%.
(8) A plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to any one of (1) to (5) above, characterized in that the structure Dirt of the plating alloy layer on the outer side of the Fexe2x80x94Zn alloy layer is a dendritic structure.
(9) A plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to any one of (1) to (5) above, characterized in that the structure of the plating alloy layer on the outer side of the Fexe2x80x94Zn alloy layer is a granular crystal structure.
(10) A plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to any one of (1) to (9) above, characterized in that the component composition of the plated steel wire comprises, in terms of weight percentage, C: 0.02-0.25%, Si: xe2x89xa61%, Mn: xe2x89xa60.6%, P: xe2x89xa60.04% and S: xe2x89xa60.04%.
(11) A process for the manufacture of a plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability, characterized in that the process for manufacture of a plated steel wire comprises coating a steel wire with a molten zinc plating composed mainly of zinc as the first stage, and then coating it with a molten zinc alloy plating having the average composition specified in any one of (1) to (4) above as the second stage.
(12) A process for manufacture of a plated steel. wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to (11) above, characterized in that the molten zinc plating as the first stage is a molten zinc plating comprising, in terms of weight percentage, Al: xe2x89xa63% and Mg: xe2x89xa60.5%.
(13) A process for the manufacture of a plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to (11) or (12) above, characterized in that in the steps of coating with a molten zinc plating as the first stage and coating with a molten zinc alloy plating as the second stage, the part of the plated steel wire drawn out from the plating bath is purged with nitrogen gas to prevent oxidation of the bath surface and the plated steel wire.
(14) A process for the manufacture of a plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to any one of (11) to (13) above, characterized in that the molten zinc plating as the first stage is coated for a maximum plating bath immersion time of 20 seconds, and the molten zinc alloy plating as the second stage is coated for a maximum plating bath immersion time of 20 seconds.
(15) A process for the manufacture of a plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to any one of (11) to (14) above, characterized in that in the steps of coating with a molten zinc plating as the first stage and coating with a molten zinc alloy plating as the second stage, the wire is directly cooled by a water spray, steam or a water flow immediately after the plated steel wire is drawn out from the plating alloy, to harden the plating alloy.
(16) A process for the manufacture of a plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to any one of (11) to (15) above, characterized in that in the steps of coating with a molten zinc plating as the first stage and coating with a molten zinc alloy plating as the second stage, the initial cooling temperature for cooling of the plated steel wire is in a range from the melting point of the plating alloy to 20xc2x0 C. above the melting point.
(17) A process for the manufacture of a plated steel wire with high corrosion resistance and excellent workability according to any one of (11) to (16) above, characterized in that the component composition of the plated steel wire comprises, in terms of weight percentage, C: 0.02-0.25%, Si: xe2x89xa61%, Mn: xe2x89xa60.6%, P: xe2x89xa60.04% and S: xe2x89xa60.04%.

Plated steel wire with corrosion resistance and excellent workability, and process for its manufacture


A method and apparatus for, decontaminating in-situ soil by use of solar energy is provided. A targeted area of contaminated in-situ soil is covered with a substantially sunlight-transmitting, nonporous covering that allows solar energy to penetrate said covering. A greenhouse effect subsequently occurs in which trapped solar energy heats the interior air within the covering and in-situ soil below the covering. As the in-situ soil is heated, contaminants found within the in-situ soil are vaporized. The structure comprises first and second side panels with attached first and second end panels. An exhaust vent is provided such that vaporized contaminants and air can escape the interior of the covering. An exhaust means can be utilized to further assist in removal of vaporized contaminants and air within the covering. A fresh air intake slot allows replenishment of air that is exhausted or vented with vaporized contaminants. The targeted area of in-situ soil may be plowed or churned such that the surface area of soil exposed to solar energy is increased. Chemical agents may be added to the in-situ soil to assist in decontamination.

Many methods and apparatus exist for decontaminating soil from chemicals, such as hydrocarbons. Common to these inventions are complex and elaborate means for achieving such decontamination by introducing heat to a targeted soil area. The most common method for introducing heat is through heating pipes or the like.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,804 to Balch, teaches a method and apparatus for ex-situ remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soil wherein a pile of contaminated soil is covered with a tarp. A plurality of pipe conduits are inserted into the pile. Decontamination is achieved by volatilizing contaminants through introduction of heated air by the pipe conduits and utilizing solar energy trapped by the tarp.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,840 to Capella, discloses an apparatus for managing ex-situ toxic and hazardous waste material containing distillable solvents or chemicals in which the waste materials are collected and introduced into solar dryers, wherein the more volatile solvent or chemical components are distilled and recaptured as byproducts. The apparatus includes a drying tray having a transparent cover such that heat is generated through absorbed solar energy.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,934 to Johnson et al., teaches an in-situ thermal desorption system utilizing perforated pipe buried in soil. This invention is directed to removal of organic contaminants whereby the surface of the soil is covered with an impermeable membrane to prevent migration of released vapors. A combustion source provides heat to the soil via the buried piping.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,445 to Ikenberry et al., discloses a system and method for remediation of contaminated soil which includes an ex-situ soil stack interspersed with hot air dispensing pipes and vapor extraction pipes. Removal of contaminants is achieved by introduction of the hot air to allow vaporization, and removal of vaporized contaminants through the extraction pipes.
Although each of the foregoing patents disclose devices and processes which are satisfactory for their intended purposes, none discloses a method or apparatus for decontaminating soil by means of solar energy in the manner that is claimed herein.

Solar energy in-situ soil desorption apparatus


A sheet of writing material bears a plurality of position indicating markings. The markings on the sheet constitute parts of a plurality of characters which are printed on the sheet, directly abutting each other. The characters make up a font in which each character is defined within a substantially rectangular area having a predetermined width and height. The predetermined area is divided into four virtual grids with each grid containing a marking, and each marking being located in one of four positions within its associated virtual grid. The four positions are displaced from the center of the virtual grid in four directions.

In many situations it is desirable to be able to determine a position on a surface. For example, it may be desirable to determine the position on the surface of a sheet of writing material of a pen point when the pen is used to write on the sheet, thereby facilitating recording and digitizing the document. It may also be desirable to determine a position of a surface when creating an electronic version of handwritten information.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,434 describes a device for determining the position of a pen with respect to a sheet of paper when the pen is used to mark or write on the sheet. The system relies on a writing surface bearing a position-coding pattern for determining X-Y coordinates. A detector on the pen detects the position-coding pattern and determines the position on the sheet of the point of the pen. A processor determines this position in relation to the writing surface based on the detected position-coding pattern. The device allows a user to input handwritten or hand-drawn information to a computer at the same time the information is written or drawn on the writing surface.
The difficulties associated with generating a positional pattern of thousands of dots are significant. The dot pattern must be generated and then printing instructions must be generated to control the printer in printing a large number of circles which are filled in as the dots. Drawing circles is process intensive and very time consuming. While such time consuming pre-printing operations may be acceptable when only a few sheets of writing material are to be printed by means of high speed presses, when the dot patterns are determined to vary from sheet to sheet and when the sheets are to be printed on laser printers of the type utilized in a business office or a home office, then the times associated with generating these patterns may become undesirably long. It is seen, therefore, that a need exists for a sheet of writing material that can be printed rapidly.

Pattern generating fonts and sheets of writing material bearing such fonts


In a pneumatic tire, a first stereoscopic sipe has a fixed sipe width over a sipe depth direction, a second stereoscopic sipe has large width portions having a sipe width wider than a sipe width of the second stereoscopic sipe on a surface of the tread rubber in the inside of the tread rubber, in a vehicle inner side region of the tread rubber disposed on an inner side when the pneumatic tire is mounted on the vehicle, a total of surface lengths of the first stereoscopic sipes is larger than a total of surface lengths of the second stereoscopic sipes, and in a vehicle outer side region of the tread rubber disposed on an outer side when the pneumatic tire is mounted on the vehicle, a total of surface lengths of the second stereoscopic sipes is larger than a total of surface lengths of the first stereoscopic sipes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been known a technique where cuts referred to as "sipes" are formed on a tread rubber of the pneumatic tire so that wet performance of the pneumatic tire is enhanced due to an edge effect and a water removing effect of the sipes.
In general, a pneumatic tire is mounted on a vehicle with a camber angle by which the pneumatic tire is inclined toward a vehicle inner side in a direction from a lower side to an upper side and hence, a large load is applied to a vehicle inner side of a tread rubber at the time of performing braking. When sipes are formed on the tread rubber, rigidity of a land portion is lowered and hence, the land portion largely falls in a vehicle inner side region whereby a non-uniform wear where the vehicle inner side region is worn more than a vehicle outer side region is liable to occur.
On the other hand, in JP-A-2013-79015 and JP-A-2013-79017, there has been proposed a pneumatic tire which includes stereoscopic sipes as sipes formed in a tread rubber. The stereoscopic sipe has a sipe wall surface of a shape bent in a sipe width direction as viewed in cross section of the tread rubber perpendicular to a sipe length direction. The stereoscopic sipes can increase rigidity of the tread rubber while ensuring an edge effect and a water removing effect.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention is to provide a brake disk capable of enhancing the turning performance of a motorcycle by reducing the inertia, and preventing deposition on a braking portion by reducing a temperature variation of the braking portion. A brake disk 1 is provided with a sliding disk 10, a hub disk 20, and a connection pin 31 for connecting the disks 10 and 20 to each other at plural positions in the circumferential direction of the brake disk 1. An engaging convex portion 12 projecting inwardly of the sliding disk 10 is formed on the sliding disk 10 at circumferential positions corresponding to the connection pins 31. An engaging concave portion 24 for receiving the engaging convex portion 12 is formed in the outer periphery of the hub disk 20. An insertion hole 12c for the connection pin 31 is formed in the engaging convex portion 12.

Generally, as a brake disk for a motorcycle, there have been widely put into practice a brake disk including a mounting portion for mounting a wheel, and a sliding portion which comes into sliding contact with a brake pad, and formed by press-forming a sheet of metal plate; and a so-called floating brake disk including an annular sliding disk having a sliding portion which comes into pressing contact with a brake pad, a hub disk to be mounted on the inner side of the sliding disk, and a plurality of connection means for connecting the disks to each other in a floating state.
As the floating brake disk, there has been widely put into practice a configuration, in which a semi-circular cutaway portion is formed in a sliding disk and in a hub disk at an abutment portion therebetween, and a connection pin is mounted in a circular-shaped connection hole to be defined by abutting the cutaway portions of the sliding disk and the hub disk, whereby the two disks are connected to each other (see e.g. Patent Document 1).
On the other hand, as a connection structure of two disks in a floating brake disk, there is proposed a configuration, in which an inwardly projecting engaging convex portion is formed on the inner periphery of the sliding disk, the hub disk is formed with an engaging concave portion for receiving the engaging convex portion in such a manner that the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are unmovable relative to each other circumferentially and radially, an engageable connection plate of a substantially U-shape in section is mounted on the outer periphery of the hub disk, and the connection plate is connected to the hub disk by a pin member in a state that the engaging convex portion is inserted in the connection plate and is engaged in the engaging concave portion, whereby the two disks are connected to each other (see e.g. Patent Document 2). Further, there is proposed a connection structure, in which fixing plates are alternately disposed on one surface and the other surface of a plurality of engaging convex portions disposed circumferentially at a certain interval, in place of the connection plate, and two disks are supported by the fixing plates to be axially unmovable relative to each other (see e.g. Patent Document 3).
Further, there is proposed and put into practice a brake disk, in which one or more groove portions are formed in a sliding surface of a sliding disk which comes into sliding contact with a brake pad in order to prevent noise at the time of braking, and to clean the sliding surface of the sliding disk which comes into sliding contact with the brake pad (see e.g. Patent Document 4).


A proximity instant-on switch for medical and dental instruments that includes a magnetically-responsive switch incorporated into the handle of the instrument and a permanent magnet embedded into the instrument cradle at a position adjacent the location of the switch when the instrument is placed in the cradle. The presence of the magnetic field created by the magnet maintains the switch in its open state while the instrument is in place in the cradle. However, upon removal of the instrument from the cradle, the loss of the magnetic field closes the switch thereby automatically energizing the instrument.

The present invention relates to instant on/off switches for controlling medical and dental instruments and in particular to a switch that is adapted to automatically energize an instrument when the instrument is removed from its holder.
Medical and dental opertory units typically have numerous electrically operated instruments that rest in holders located on the unit. The holders or "cradles" act as instant-on switches and are generally spring-biased against the weight of the instruments so that when an instrument is removed from its holder, the cradle pivots upward actuating a switch which energizes the instrument. This arrangement is similar to that utilized for the receivers on most wall-mounted telephones. The disadvantage with this arrangement, however, is that a relatively expensive spring-activated microswitch is required which must be hand-wired and mounted inside a plastic box situated within the unit. In addition, the need for a separate microswitch in the unit constrains the position of the instrument holder to a location on the unit that is accessible for wiring purposes. Moreover, the existence of numerous spring-actuated microswitches in a unit increases the complexity of the wiring harness for the unit.
The present invention seeks to overcome these disadvantages by providing an instant-on switching arrangement that eliminates the need for a spring-actuated microswitch. In addition, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the need for an internal switch which must be separately wired is eliminated completely. Thus, the complexity of the wiring harness required for the unit is significantly reduced.
The present invention accomplishes these results by providing a magnetically-actuated switch that is incorporated into the handle of the instrument and is electrically connected in series with the instrument load. A permanent magnet is embedded in the instrument holder. When the instrument is in the holder, the proximity of the permanent magnet to the magnetically-actuated switch in the handle of the instrument maintains the switch in its open condition, thereby cutting off electrical power to the instrument. When the instrument is removed from the holder, however, the absence of the magnetic field closes the switch in the handle of the instrument, thus energizing the instrument. Moreover, when the instrument is returned to its holder, the instrument is again automatically de-energized.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment which makes reference to the following set of drawings in which :

Proximity instant-on switch for medical and dental instruments


A vertebral auxiliary fixation device comprises a receiving piece, a sliding piece, and a plurality of fastening elements. The receiving piece is provided with two sliding grooves in which the sliding piece is slidably received. The receiving piece and the sliding piece are provided respectively with through holes engageable with the fastening elements which are fastened onto a vertebra intended to be fixed.

According to the conventional surgical operation for fixing and retrieving a deformed or injured vertebra, it is a common surgical practice that a foreign object such as a bone graft, or a filling material such as a hydroxylapitite, is implanted into the vertebra or between the vertebrae. However, the patient under treatment is rather susceptible to a severe pain caused by the implanted foreign object or filling material which is jutted out to touch the nerve or to injure the tissues contiguous to the vertebra under treatment. It is therefore necessary that a precautionary measure is taken to prevent the implanted foreign object or filling material from bulging out of the vertebra or from bulging out between the vertebrae. A bone plate is generally used as a means for preventing the implanted foreign object from jutting out; nevertheless the bone plate which covers the implanted foreign object can hinder the surgical operation. In addition, the implanted foreign object is even vulnerable to falling in view of the fact that the bone plate can not be fastened intimately with the vertebra intended to be fixed and that the bone screws can become loosened easily.


Embodiments can provide a coding method, a coding apparatus, and a communications apparatus. The method includes: determining N to-be-coded bits, where N is a positive integer; obtaining a first sequence that includes N polar channel sequence numbers; determining a location of an information bit in the N to-be-coded bits based on the first sequence; and performing polar coding on the N to-be-coded bits to obtain coded bits. The location of the information bit in the to-be-coded bits is determined based on the obtained first sequence that includes N polar channel sequence numbers, so that performance of a polar code can be improved.

In a communications system, channel coding is usually used to improve data transmission reliability and ensure communication quality. A polar code (Polar codes) proposed by the Turkish professor Arikan is the first code with high performance that is proved in theory to be capable of achieving a Shannon capacity and has low coding-decoding complexity. The polar code is a linear block code, and a coding matrix of the polar code is GN. For example, a coding process is x1N=u1NGN, where u1N=(u1, u2, . . . , uN) is a binary row vector whose length is N (namely, a mother code length), GN is an N×N matrix, and GN=F2⊗(log2(N)) is defined as a Kronecker (Kronecker) product of log2 N matrices F2.
The matrix
      F    2    =            [                                    1                                0                                                1                                1                              ]        .
In a polar code coding process, some bits in u1N are used to carry information and are referred to as information bits, and an index set of these bits is denoted by A. The other bits are set to fixed values agreed on by a transmit end and a receive end in advance and are referred to as fixed bits or frozen bits (frozen bits), and an index set of these bits is denoted by a complementary set Ac of A. The polar code coding process is equivalent to x1N=uAGN(A)⊕uAcGN(AC). Herein GN(A) is a submatrix of rows corresponding to indexes in the set A in GN, GN(AC) is a submatrix of rows corresponding to indexes in the set AC in GN. uA is an information bit set in u1N, and a quantity of information bits is K. uAc is a fixed-bit set u1N, a quantity of fixed bits is (N−K), and the fixed bits are known bits. The fixed bits are usually set to 0. However, the fixed bits may be randomly set provided that the transmit end and the receive end agree in advance. When the fixed bits are set to 0, polar code coding output may be simplified as: x1N=uAGN(A), where x1N=uAGN(A) is a K×N matrix.
A polar code construction process is a process of selecting the set A, and determines performance of the polar code. The polar code construction process is usually as follows: determining, based on a mother code length N, that there are N polar channels in total, where the N polar channels respectively correspond to N rows of the coding matrix; calculating reliability of the polar channels; and using indexes of first K polar channels with relatively high reliability as elements of the set A, and using indexes corresponding to remaining (N−K) polar channels as elements of the index set Ac of the fixed bits. The set A determines a location of the information bit, and the set Ac determines a location of the fixed bit.
It can be learned from the coding matrix that a code length of an original polar code (mother code) is an integral power of 2, and a polar code of any code length usually needs to be implemented through rate matching in actual application. Usually, the rate matching may be implemented through puncturing (puncture) or shortening (shorten).
Common polar channel reliability measurements include an error probability, a channel capacity, a polarization weight, and the like. In the prior art, there are three polar channel reliability estimation methods. One method is: calculating a Bhattacharyya (Bhattacharyya) parameter of each polar channel, where the parameter indicates an error probability of the polar channel. Then, polar channels corresponding to K minimum Bhattacharyya parameters are selected, and information bits are placed on the polar channels. However, this method is applicable to only a binary erasure channel, and cannot be used to accurately estimate reliability of other channels. Therefore, this method has low performance. The other two methods are separately a density evolution (Density evolution, DE for short) method and a Gaussian approximation (Gaussian approximation, GA for short) method. The DE method and the GA method have relatively high calculation complexity, and are not applicable to online calculation. For offline storage, reliability calculation in the DE method and the GA method is performed based on parameters of an actual channel: a rate matching manner, a code rate, and a modulation scheme. When any one of the foregoing parameters changes, a polar channel reliability estimation result changes, and a corresponding location of the information bit also changes, resulting in excessively large storage overheads.

Coding method, coding apparatus, and communications apparatus


Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material, and for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Niobium oxides and/or suboxides are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made by fabricating a pellet of niobium oxide and heat treating the pellet in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen to a getter material, and for a sufficient time and temperature to form an electrode body, and anodizing the electrode body.

The present invention relates to niobium and oxides thereof and more particularly relates to niobium oxides and methods to at least partially reduce niobium oxide and further relates to oxygen reduced niobium.
In accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and described herein, the present invention relates to a method to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide which includes the steps of heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material for a sufficient time and temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide.
The present invention also relates to oxygen reduced niobium oxides which preferably have beneficial properties, especially when formed into an electrolytic capacitor anode. For instance, a capacitor made from the oxygen reduced niobium oxide of the present invention can have a capacitance of up to about 200,000 CV/g or more. Further, electrolytic capacitor anodes made from the oxygen reduced niobium oxides of the present invention can have a low DC leakage. For instance, such a capacitor can have a DC leakage of from about 0.5 nA/CV to about 5.0 nA/CV.
Accordingly, the present invention also relates to methods to increase capacitance and reduce DC leakage in capacitors made from niobium oxides, which involves partially reducing a niobium oxide by heat treating the niobium oxide in the presence of a getter material and in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the getter material, for a sufficient time and temperature to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide, which when formed into a capacitor anode, has reduced DC leakage and/or increased capacitance.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are intended to provide further explanation of the present invention, as claimed.

Methods to make capacitors containing a partially reduced niobium metal oxide