Described herein is a chemostat-like continuous cell culture system that combines certain advantages of perfusion open systems and chemostat open systems to improve the culturing of mammalian cells, e.g., genetically modified cells, particularly in serum-free or chemically-defined media. The continuous culture system described herein involves culturing mammalian cells in a continuous cell culture system, which comprises a cell retention device, wherein the cell culture system has a dilution rate (D) of less than about 2 d−1, and a cell density of less than about 2×107 cell/mL. Also described herein is a method for producing a polypeptide and/or virus of interest in a continuous cell culture, the method comprising culturing mammalian cells expressing the polypeptide and/or virus of interest in a continuous cell culture system, which comprises a cell retention device, wherein the cell culture system has a dilution rate (D) of less than about 2 d−1, and a cell density of less than about 2×107 cell/mL; and recovering the polypeptide and/or virus of interest from medium of the cell culture system.

The ability to produce a polypeptide or virus of interest is increasingly important to the biotechnology industry. Over the last two decades, advances in biotechnology have led to interest in numerous polypeptides and viruses that have potential therapeutic uses as vaccines and pharmaceuticals. Large scale production generally has involved recombinant production of the polypeptide or virus of interest, e.g., in bacterial, yeast, insect, mammalian, or other cell types. The production of polypeptides or viruses of interest in mammalian cultures, in particular, has advantages over production in bacterial or other lower microbial hosts because of the ability of mammalian cells to post-translationally process complex protein structures, via, e.g, disulfide-dependent folding and glycosylation.
Mammalian cells are generally propagated in vitro in one of two modes: as non-anchorage dependent cells growing freely in suspension throughout the bulk of the culture; or as anchorage-dependent cells requiring attachment to a solid substrate for their propagation (i.e., a monolayer type of cell growth). Microcarrier systems have been developed to accommodate both types of growth. For example, anchorage-dependent cells may be propagated in microcarrier systems comprising small solid particles suspended in growth medium by slow agitation. This system allows anchorage-dependent cells to attach to the surfaces of the suspended particles, and grow to confluency, while the microcarriers remain suspended in the growth medium. Alternatively, macroporous microcarriers may be used to contain non-anchorage dependent cells in bioreactors, e.g., by nonspecific attachment for the cells to the surface of such microcarriers. Microcarrier suspension cultures of either non-anchorage dependent cells or anchorage-dependent cells are the most widely used means of large scale production of cells and cell products.
Large-scale suspension cultures may be operated in a closed system, for example, as batch or fed-batch closed systems, which are more straightforward to operate and scale up than open systems. Typically, in a closed system, no cells, products, and/or waste products are removed (although air (e.g., oxygen) may be added and CO2 removed by aeration). The typical growth profile seen with batch growth systems involves a lag phase, followed by an exponential phase, a stationary phase, and a decline phase. In such batch systems, the environment is continuously changing, as nutrients are depleted and metabolites accumulate. In a fed batch system, key nutrients are continuously fed into the system to prolong the growth cycle although cells, products, by products, and waste products, including toxic metabolites, are not removed. Accordingly, production of a polypeptide or virus of interest by the batch or fed batch systems is limited by the accumulation of cells and harmful substances, such as toxic metabolites.
Large-scale suspension cultures may also be operated in an open system, e.g., a perfusion system or a chemostat system. In a perfusion system, fresh medium is perfused through the culture while the cells are retained with a variety of cell retention devices. Types of cell retention devices include, for example, microcarriers, fine mesh spin filters, hollow fibers, flat plate membrane filters, settling tubes, ultrasonic cell retention devices, and the like. Typically, perfusion cultures are designed to increase cell densities to a maximum, with cell retention devices designed and operated to have a cell retention rate of >90%. Such cultures typically reach cell densities of >2×107, which may have to be supplied with a cell culture medium feed at a dilution rate greater than about 2.0d−1. However, the steady state of the system is hard to maintain because of the uncontrolled increase in biomass, and consistent production conditions are difficult to control and/or achieve.
Chemostat systems are operated with a continuous inflow of medium and an outflow of cells and products. In the chemostat system, there is no cell retention device, such that the concentration of cells in the bioreactor and the concentration of the cells in supernatant harvested from the bioreactor are substantially identical. Typically, culture medium is fed to the reactor at a predetermined and constant rate, maintaining a low dilution rate of the culture (typically 0.3 d−1 to 0.8 d−1). To prevent washout of cells, the dilution rate generally is chosen to be less than, and sometimes equal to, the maximum specific growth rate of the cells. Culture fluids containing cells, cell products, byproducts, waste products, etc., are removed at the same rate, or substantially the same rate. Chemostat systems typically provide for a high degree of control, since the cultures may equilibrate, i.e., reach a steady state at a specific growth rate equivalent to the dilution rate. This equilibration is determinative of the concentration of the cells, metabolites, waste products, expressed products (e.g. secreted proteins), etc. Specific growth rates in chemostat systems are typically lower than the maximum growth rate due to at least one limiting substrate. In some systems, however, steady states may be maintained at the maximum specific growth rates by controlling and adjusting biomass, e.g., in turbidstat systems of chemostat cultures. Preferably, such chemostat cultures contain a homogeneous distribution of cells (e.g., single cell suspensions) throughout the bioreactor. Compared to the perfusion system, however, the chemostat system typically results in lower cell densities. Furthermore, an inherent disadvantage of chemostat systems is that the feed of the cells can not be controlled independent of the cell densities in the bioreactor system.
Suspension cell cultures for producing recombinant proteins in serum-free and/or chemically-defined media are also limited in that the serum-free and/or chemically-defined media typically support slower growth rates compared to cells grown in media containing serum. Lowered growth rates in the culture means a lowered production of the polypeptide or virus of interest.
Accordingly, there remains a need for the development of cell culture systems capable of sustaining production of a polypeptide or virus of interest, especially for cultures that can be sustained for prolonged periods of time, for example, to meet demands for increased production at low costs. The present invention provides methods and compositions directed at meeting this and other needs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of producing a polypeptide or virus of interest in a continuous cell culture


In an applicator for single use without pump suction, a plurality of partial strokes can be executed sequentially and releasably limited at the corresponding end by a limited stop. The stopping device provided for this purpose is arranged between two cap-shaped housing parts which interlock at their open ends. The housing parts fully accommodate a pump and are connected to each other by a snap connection.

The invention is based on the problem of avoiding the disadvantages of known solutions and in particular providing a manually operable discharge apparatus with which, in directly succeeding manner, two or more predetermined medium quantities can be discharged, preferably through the same discharge opening and by operating the same handles.

Media dispenser with dosing stroke limiter


A machine frame has a traverse device and a frame having a contact roller movably mounted thereon. A first slider guide member is substantially vertically disposed below the contact roller, and a second slider guide member is pivoted on a shaft spaced from the lower end of the first slider guide member, sliders are slidable along the slider guide members, carriers are connectable with and detachable from the sliders, and the carriers have bobbin holders rotatably mounted thereon. The bobbin holders move to a winding position, doffing position and stand-by position while the bobbin holders and carriers are transferred between the sliders of the slider guide members.

Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus of a bobbin changing type for winding a yarn, such as a synthetic yarn, at a high speed, which apparatus is provided with two bobbin holders, and in which when a package wound on one of the bobbin holders reaches a predetermined amount, winding of the yarn is changed to another bobbin on the other bobbin holder.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 57-25466, a conventionally known yarn winding apparatus of an automatic bobbin changing type is provided with two bobbin holders projecting from a turret table formed in a circular disc and spaced a predetermined distance from each other. When a package wound on one of the bobbin holders reaches a predetermined amount, the turret table is turned around a central axis upon changing of winding of the yarn.
According to another apparatus, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 63-57477, two bobbin holders are independently and pivotably supported between a winding position and a stand-by position, and a friction roller is selectively in contact with one of the two bobbin holders.
According to the apparatus disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 57-25466, two bobbin holders project from the circular turret table at predetermined spaced positions, and when a package wound on one of the bobbin holders reaches a predetermined amount, the turret table is turned with the two bobbin holders.
Accordingly, a large space is required for installing such a winding apparatus, and thus the distance between adjacent winding apparatus must also be large, and consequently, a large amount of space required for installing a large number of winding apparatus.
The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 63-57477 requires a large space which is twice that required for an apparatus of a manual changing type since two bobbin holders are independently and pivotably supported between a winding position and a stand-by position.
The present inventor previously proposed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 975,965, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,177, a yarn winding apparatus of an automatic bobbin changing type, by which the above-described problems can be obviated and the space required for installation can be minimized. The proposed apparatus is provided with a plurality of bobbin holders, and when a package wound on one of the bobbin holders reaches a predetermined amount, winding of the yarn is changed to another bobbin holder. The apparatus comprises:
a path formed along a closed loop for guiding the plurality of bobbin holders along a winding position, a doffing position, an empty bobbin donning position, a stand-by position, a changing position and the winding position; and PA1 a means for independently moving the plurality of bobbin holders along the bobbin holders guiding path. PA1 a first slider guide means for guiding the bobbin holders; PA1 a second slider guide means for guiding the bobbin holders; PA1 sliders disposed so as to be movable along the first and second slider guide means; and PA1 carriers mounting the bobbin holders thereon which are capable of being transferred between the sliders on the first and second slider guide means.
The proposed automatic bobbin changing apparatus can achieve the intended objects of minimization of the space required for installation. However, the apparatus uses an endless gear means for independently moving the plurality of bobbin holders along the bobbin holders guiding path and chains for moving the bobbin holders along the endless gear means. Further, since the endless gear means have to be disposed for the two bobbin holders, respectively, they have to be stacked in parallel on the winding apparatus. Thus, there is a problem in that the construction of the proposed apparatus is very complicated. In addition, when the bobbin holders are moved, they are moved along the endless gear means at all positions on the bobbin holder guiding path formed in a closed loop, and thus, the precision of the movement is substantially the same regardless of the positions on the guiding path. In other words, the highly precise control of bobbin holder movement which is required around the winding position is also achieved for the rest of the guiding path, and accordingly, the control means is very expensive.

Yarn winding apparatus of an automatic bobbin changing type


A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes a stage on which a target object is placed; an emitting unit configured to emit a charged particle beam to the stage side; a blocking unit arranged between the emitting unit and the stage and configured to block the charged particle beam emitted; a deflector having electrodes through which a current flows by applying a voltage and configured to deflect the charged particle beam passing between the electrodes onto the blocking unit by applying a predetermined voltage across the electrodes; an optical axis adjusting unit configured to correct optical axis deviation of the charged particle beam generated by continuously repeating irradiation (beam-ON) of the charged particle beam on a target object and blocking (beam-OFF) of the beam by applying a two-step voltage to the deflector; and a control unit configured to control the optical axis adjusting unit such that an amount of the optical axis deviation is corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charged particle beam writing apparatus and an optical axis deviation correcting method for a charged particle beam, for example, correction for optical axis deviation of an electron beam in a writing apparatus which forms a pattern on a target object while variably shaping the electron beam.
2. Related Art
A lithography technique which takes a part of the development of miniaturization of semiconductor devices is only a process, in which a pattern is generated, in semiconductor manufacturing processes and is very important. In recent years, with the advancement in integration density of an LSI, circuit line widths required for semiconductor devices are miniaturized year by year. In order to form desired circuit patterns on the semiconductor devices, precise original patterns (to be also referred to as a reticle or a mask) are required. In this case, an electron beam writing technique has an essentially excellent resolution, and is used in production of precise original patterns.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an operation of a variable-shaped electron beam writing apparatus. The variable-shaped electron beam (EB) writing apparatus operates as follows. An oblong, for example, rectangular opening 411 to shape an electron beam 330 is formed in a first aperture plate 410. A variable-shaped opening 421 to shape the electron beam 330 having passed through the opening 411 of the first aperture plate 410 into a desired oblong shape is formed in a second aperture plate 420. The electron beam 330 irradiated from the charged particle source 430 and having passed through the opening 411 of the first aperture plate 410 is deflected by a deflector, passes through a part of the variable-shaped opening 421 of the second aperture plate 420, and is irradiated on a target object 340 placed on a stage continuously moving in one predetermined direction (for example, an X direction). More specifically, an oblong shape which can pass through both the opening 411 of the first aperture plate 410 and the variable-shaped opening 421 of the second aperture plate 420 is written in a write region of the target object 340 placed on the stage continuously moving in the X direction. A scheme which causes an electron beam to pass through both the opening 411 of the first aperture plate 410 and the variable-shaped opening 421 of the second aperture plate 420 to form an arbitrary shape is called a variable-shaping scheme.
In this case, in the electron beam writing apparatus, an operation of irradiating a beam on a target object and an operation of cutting a beam not to irradiate a beam are performed. In the operation of irradiating a beam on a target object, the electron beam is caused to pass through an opening of a blanking aperture plate. In the operation of cutting a beam not to irradiate the beam, an electron beam is deflected by a blanker to a blocking portion of the blanking aperture plate to block the electron beam. These operations are repeatedly performed to form a pattern on a target object. Since the number of figures of a formed pattern increases with the miniaturization of semiconductor devices, a blanking mechanism which can perform the operations at a high speed is required to realize high productivity. In order to realize a high-speed operation, a method which connects terminal resistors to electrodes of the blanker to match impedances and suppresses a reflected wave of a blanking signal in application of a voltage is known (for example, see Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 11-150055).
Before a pattern is formed, an optical axis of an electron beam must be adjusted. However, in a conventional technique, the optical axis of the electron beam is adjusted such that a voltage applied to a blanker is set to a certain stationary state (in this case, 0 V) to make a beam-ON state so as to cause an electron beam to pass through a center of an opening of a blanking aperture plate. When a high-frequency pulse serving as a blanking signal to control ON/OFF state of an electron beam is applied across electrodes of the blanker having the above configuration by using the writing apparatus having the optical axis adjusted as described above, the optical axis of the electron beam which should have been adjusted may be disadvantageously deviated. This phenomenon may be caused by the following factor. That is, for example, when terminal resistors are attached to blanking electrodes to suppress a reflected wave, a current is concentrated on a surface of each of the electrodes by a skin effect at the corresponding electrode when a high-frequency pulse is applied across the electrodes. For this reason, at a moment an applied voltage of the high-frequency pulse is made zero, a residual current having flowed on the surfaces of the electrodes generates an eddy current to generate a magnetic field.
When the optical axis of the electron beam is deviated, even though the beam is turned on to make a state in which the electron beam can pass through the blanking aperture plate, the electron beam is partially cut by the blanking aperture plate to decrease a current transmittance. For this reason, a dose of an electron beam reaching a target object may decrease. The decrease in dose of the electron beam causes a problem such as deterioration of pattern dimensional accuracy.
Furthermore, when the optical axis of the electron beam is deviated, the electron beam does not pass through the center of an electron lens such as an objective lens through which the electron beam were to pass thereafter to also cause an on-axis astigmatism, a deflection astigmatism, and a deflection distortion.
As described above, when a high-frequency pulse is applied across the electrodes of the blanker having the above configuration, the optical axis of the electron beam which should have been adjusted is disadvantageously deviated. According to an experiment by the inventors, with respect to this deviation, an amount of deviation becomes notable according to an irradiation cycle ratio. As described above, when the optical axis of the electron beam is deviated, a problem such as deterioration in pattern dimensional accuracy, an on-axis astigmatism, a deflection astigmatism, or a deflection distortion may be caused. However, conventionally, a method of solving the problem has not been established yet.

Charged particle beam writing apparatus and optical axis deviation correcting method for charged particle beam


A communication apparatus including an access point function permits a designated terminal to wirelessly connect with the communication apparatus and inhibits a non-designated terminal from wirelessly connecting with the communication apparatus.

Field
The present disclosure relates to a communication apparatus having an access point function for operating as a base unit for wireless communication.
Description of the Related Art
Image forming apparatuses that support a wireless function are known. The image forming apparatuses that support the wireless communication function can include a plurality of wireless communication systems. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-153452 discusses an apparatus including an infrastructure mode for performing wireless communication using a wireless access point and an ad hoc mode for directly performing wireless communication between apparatuses without using a wireless access point. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-219430 discusses performing wireless communication where wireless communication is distinguished between a connection using a wireless access point and a connection without using a wireless access point.
If an access point function (AP function) for directly performing wireless communication between apparatuses without using a wireless access point is used, the image forming apparatus wirelessly broadcasts a service set identifier (SSID) serving as a wireless identifier. A portable terminal searching for a connectable image forming apparatus connects to a wireless network provided by the AP function of the image forming apparatus through a procedure for searching for an SSID issued by the image forming apparatus and establishing a wireless connection.
When a plurality of connectable portable terminals exist around an image forming apparatus, the plurality of portable terminals can wirelessly connect to the image forming apparatus before a user's portable terminal connects to the image forming apparatus. If the number of portable terminals wirelessly connecting to the image forming apparatus prior to the user's portable terminal is large, the upper limit of number of connections to the image forming apparatus can be met before the user's portable terminal wirelessly connects to the image forming apparatus. When the upper limit is met, the user's portable terminal cannot wirelessly connect to the image forming apparatus.

Communication apparatus having access point function for operating as base unit for wireless communication and method for controlling communication apparatus


A composite anode active material includes: a core comprising silicon; and a carbonaceous shell, wherein the carbonaceous shell includes a carbonaceous material and lithium titanium oxide.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a composite anode active material, an anode including the same, and a lithium secondary battery including the anode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Graphite has a specific capacity of about 360 mAh/g, while silicon has a specific capacity of about 3600 mAh/g, which is about ten times greater than that of graphite. Thus silicon is potentially a desirable next generation negative active material. However, when silicon is charged and discharged in a battery, the binding force between active materials may be reduced, and the silicon particles themselves may crack, and a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer is continuously formed due to repeated volumetric expansion and shrinkage of the silicon particles, causing drastic lifespan deterioration. Therefore, in order to commercialize silicon in a lithium secondary battery, suppression of irreversible reactions which occur from charging and discharging is desired. Thus there remains a need for an improved anode material.

Composite anode active material, anode including the same, and lithium secondary battery including the anode


A thin flexible film bag, oriented horizontally or integral therewith and preferably bearing an absorbent material chuck on its upper wall, forms a plenum chamber. A lower wall underlying the chuck and including small diameter perforations to create an air bearing for supporting the patient mover. The patient borne thereby lies on the chuck, some distance from an underlying fixed planar support surface. This permits the patient to be readily moved in a frictionless manner when air under pressure fills the plenum chamber and escapes through the perforations. Air enters the plenum chamber through an outer tube of thin, flexible material. Paired, opposed, flat and less flexible tongues define a short inner tube, being positioned within the outer tube, to permit airflow entry to the plenum chamber with the tongues being deflected away from each other. The tongues are pressed against each other and one side of the outer tube wall, due to elastic memory, to prevent air escape from the chamber at that point. The patient mover includes features of controlled pillowing, use of a generally rigid backing member underlying the load, and air dispersion throughout the chamber to insure jacking of the patient during pressurization of the plenum chamber.

In recent years, material handling devices have been devised in the form of low-cost planar air pallets employing flexible film plastic material in either sheet or bag form for the transport of material in lieu of conventional wooden pallets. U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,344, entitled "Low Cost Planar Air Pallet Material Handling System," issuing Apr. 6, 1976, is exemplary of such planar air pallets formed of flexible sheet material. Planar air pallets of this type employ at least one flexible material sheet for partially defining a plenum chamber, with that sheet being perforated as by way of small pinholes over a central surface area which faces an underlying fixed, generally planar support surface, such as a building floor. The escape of air under pressure through the perforations which open up directly to the interior of the plenum chamber acts initially to jack the load above that flexible sheet and to create an air bearing of relatively small height between the floor and the perforated flexible sheet. In devices such as those provided within the reference patent, due to cracks within the surface over which the air bearing or air cushion moves as well as projections and irregular contouring of that floor or support surface, it is necessary to provide controlled pillowing of the flexible film defining a portion of the plenum chamber, and to establish by jacking the load to a predetermined height, the ability of the air pallet to ride over such surface projections, while preventing ballooning of the flexible sheet or film portion of the plenum chamber which would result in tilting and thus rolling of the load off the top of the air pallet. Further, where the load is resting upon the air pallet prior to pressurization of the plenum chamber, the load tends to press the perforated flexible sheet into contact with the floor and prevent the entry of air under pressure and escape of the air through the perforations to form an air film of predetermined height to thus create the air bearing for the air pallet.
There is a requirement to provide air dispersion means either interiorly of the plenum chamber or by way of positive members attached to the exterior surface of the flexible sheet or other members defining the plenum chamber such that air entering through an inlet within a wall of the plenum chamber may disperse throughout the plenum chamber and effect jacking of the load and creation of the air bearing. Further, where there are multiple air inlets to the plenum chamber permitting versatility in the point of application of air under pressure, as from compressor, through a supply tube, such as a vacuum cleaner wand (using positive air pressure rather than vacuum to the wand), it is conventional to employ some type of valve member to close off the unused inlet. This is achieved automatically by the utilization of air pressure within the plenum chamber. In the reference patent, this has been achieved by the provision of a flap formed at the air inlet as an extension to one of the thin, flexible sheets defining a wall of the plenum chamber, such as the flexible sheet bearing the perforations and creating the air bearing, with that flap being a bent over a portion of the sheet internally of the inlet, projecting inwardly of the plenum chamber and contacting an overlying or underlying opposed sheet or wall member to seal off and prevent the escape of air through the slit between the sheets defining the air inlet at that point.
Further, the air pallet of the reference patent takes various forms, including in one form a single, flexible sheet which is bonded to the load about the periphery of the sheet and with the load itself forming one wall of the plenum chamber and constituting a relatively rigid backing member. Alternatively, a flexible, plastic film bag, such as a "garbage bag," is employed to form both the upper and lower walls of the plenum chamber and with the lower wall being perforated to define the air bearing and wherein the bag is fixed to the bottom of the load. The air inlet in this case normally comprises the open end of the bag which sealably receives the wand or air supply tube.
In these air pallets, the air dispersion means may comprise a corrugated sheet interposed between the load itself and the single, flexible sheet bearing the perforations in the load bearing area of the air pallet, or the air dispersion means may constitute a corrugated or other irregular surface planar sheet carried internally of the air bag and providing additionally, the generally rigid backing surface for the load.
In the medical field, there is a continuing need to easily, safely and comfortably transport an injured person, hospital patient or the like, such as removing the injured person from the scene of the accident, placement of that person within an ambulance, transportation of the patient within the ambulance to the hospital, transfer of the patient to the operating table and placement of the patient on an hospital bed. Further, there is a very great need for simplified means for moving the patient on the bed to change the bed clothes and to support the patient with maximum comfort and to minimize the possibility of the development of bed sores during long stays in the hospital. Such mechanism must be one in which the material contacting the patient can be readily disposed of and has the capacity to absorb liquid since patients often experience loss of bodily fluids with resultant messing of the bed linen and the like. Further, because of the necessity to prevent transmission of disease, there is the further necessity to provide a low-cost, "throw-away" disposable pad or stretcher cover which can be readily replaced from patient to patient.
The medical supply field has developed rectangular laminated sheet structures known in the art as "chucks" which are comprised of an underlying liquid impervious or non-porous plastic film bearing a soft porous sheet material layer and covered by a gauze sheet, which laminated structure is placed directly beneath a patient, either on a hospital bed or under similar circumstances. This allows the chuck to be readily disposed of subsequent to its use as when soiled or when the equipment bearing the chuck receives a new patient.
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved patient mover which facilitates the movement of a patient or accident victim and permits the patient to be physically moved in a relatively frictionless manner.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved patient mover which is preferably formed of flexible film material which provides for an air bearing facilitating that frictionless movement of the patient and which preferably incorporates an absorbent material chuck as a material element thereof to provide for the comfort and needs of the patient during such handling.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved low-cost disposable air-bearing patient mover which has application to emergency use at the scene of an accident and which will permit the accident victim to be transported directly from the scene of the accident to the hospital and facilitate patient transport throughout the hospital with minimum disturbance to the patient during such movement.

Disposable air-bearing patient mover and a valve employed therein


Embodiments relate to a system, computer product, and method for identifying a potential travel companion. A travel companion application is provided for installation on a remote subscriber computer. Upon entering travel data for a specified trip, a remote server accesses a memory databank of travel companion recommendations and compares the recommendations with the travel data in order to determine whether there exists matching travel data with a potential travel companion. In response to the matching identification, a formatted travel alert is communicated over a wireless communication channel to a destination address. The alert activates an application that both causes display of the alert on a remote device, and provides a URL with connection to the associated data source.

The present embodiments relates to generation of context based data output. More specifically, the embodiments relates to generating a model associated with source data, and through introduction of an attribute to the model producing context based output in the form of a travel community.
People travel for many reasons. In general travel is categorized into business and leisure. Business travel general refers to travel and travel related activities that are directly or indirectly related to performing the duties of a job. One type of business travel may be when a business entity may require associated business travel to a central location to receive instruction. Another type of work related travel may include periodic visits to one or more location to provide a service or work with a team. Both of these examples of business related travel are temporary in nature, since they do not involve relocation.
When people travel for leisure, they may are frequently going on vacation with friends or family. In both scenarios, the traveler will have at least one companion, such as a spouse, sibling, parent, etc. As such, leisure travel frequently includes a travel companion. However, when people travel for business, they are generally travelling as individuals instead of a small group. A business traveler attending a meeting may be traveling alone but when they reach their destination they may be a part of a large group of meeting attendees. Accordingly, the travel components of business related travel frequently takes place without a travel companion.
Traveling with a companion is economically more efficient than traveling as an individual. For example, sharing a taxicab or similar ground transportation enables the costs to be distributed among the companions. At the same time, traveling with a companion provides company, and perhaps a further business development opportunity.

Context oriented assessment for travel companionship

International Business Machines Corporation


A process for making a SOI region and a bulk region in a semiconductor device. The process includes providing a SOI structure. The SOI structure has a thin silicon layer, a buried insulating oxide layer underlying the thin silicon layer, and a silicon substrate underlying the buried insulating oxide layer. Next, a nitride layer is deposited on top of the SOI structure. The SOI structure is exposed by selectively etching portions of the nitride layer. The portion of the nitride layer which is not etched forms the SOI region. The silicon substrate is exposed by selectively etching the remaining portion of the exposed SOI structure. An epitaxial layer is grown in top of the exposed silicon substrate to form the bulk region. The nitride portion above the SOI structure is finally removed.

A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure is formed when a buried insulating layer electrically isolates a silicon layer from a silicon substrate. The SOI structure does not usually occupy the entire surface of the silicon substrate. Such a selective SOI structure is disclosed by Tanigawa in U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,099, issued Apr. 14, 1998. There shown is an integrated circuit fabricated partially on the SOI structure and partially on the silicon substrate. The circuit area assigned to the SOI structure is referred to as the SOI region, and the circuit area assigned outside the SOI structure is referred to as the bulk region. Tanigawa teaches building regions of SOI and bulk silicon on a substrate and fabricating different types of circuits in each region. Tanigawa uses a patterned ion implant technique to build the different regions. For example, a very high dose of oxygen ions is implanted deep within the silicon at sufficient energy to form the buried layer of silicon dioxide.
Tanigawa's method has several drawbacks. A high dose of oxygen is required to form a sharp Si/SiO.sub.2 interface and high energy of implantation is required to achieve the buried layer. This method is also known to cause defects at all of the patterned edge regions and usually results in a non-planar structure because oxidation causes expansion of the SOI portion of the wafer.
Another publication, titled "Process for Fabrication of Very Thin Epitaxial Silicon Films Over Insulating Layers," IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Volume 35, No. 2, pages 247-49 (July 1992) (author unknown), teaches the use of selective epitaxial growth of silicon to grow regions of SOI on a wafer. As shown in FIG. 1a of the publication (also FIG. 1a of this specification), two mask levels are used to create structure 40 which includes silicon substrate 42 and insulating oxide layer 44. Oxide opening 48 is formed from a first masking process, and the height of the center portion of the oxide layer, island 50, is controlled by a second masking process.
Next, epitaxial silicon 46 is grown selectively as shown in FIG. 1b. A chemical-mechanical polish is used to remove the excess epitaxial material. Insulating oxide layer 44 acts as a reference point for the chemical-mechanical polish, so that the remaining epitaxial silicon ends up flush with the oxide layer, as shown in FIG. 1c. In this manner, the SOI region is formed to make the silicon island 50 completely isolated from the insulating oxide layer 44.
This process, known as epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO), has its drawbacks. The area of SOI formed may only be up to approximately 10 microns thick. The size and quality of silicon is limited when the SOI formed is wider than 10 microns in regions 52 of FIG. 1c. Consequently, the amount of SOI devices on a wafer is also limited.
It is necessary to combine both logic and dynamic random access memory (DRAM) circuitry, for example, in the same chip in order to make a high-performance microprocessor. A SOI structure is one of the possible candidates for fabricating a high-performance microprocessor. It is difficult to make high-performance DRAM cells on SOI, however, because of lack of substrate connection for the DRAM pass transistors. The lack of substrate connection results from the inability to grow SOI that is sufficiently wide to allow fabrication of many DRAM cells on a single island of SOI. Because many islands of SOI need to be grown, a common substrate is lacking. Lack of a common substrate may also cause floating body effects and severe cell leakages, thereby degrading DRAM performance.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,507 issued to Sun on Mar. 21, 1995, a process is disclosed for fabricating a mixed thin film and bulk semiconductor substrate. A thin film over the SOI structure is masked and etched to expose the underlying bulk substrate. An epitaxial layer is then grown to build the exposed bulk portion to form the mixed substrate. Before growing the epitaxial layer, however, Sun teaches (1) that a dielectric layer be deposited over the entire substrate, and (2) that the dielectric layer be selectively etched to form sidewall spacers in order to separate the SOI region from the bulk region in the substrate.
After completing the aforementioned two steps, Sun grows the epitaxial layer over the bulk region. Finally, Sun forms a shallow trench isolation (STI) region within the SOI region, and another STI region within the bulk region. Thus, Sun teaches how to form a mixed SOI region and a bulk region on a single substrate. The drawback in Sun's process is that many steps are required to separate the two regions. Specifically, Sun requires the formation of the sidewall spacers, in addition to the conventional step of forming the STI regions. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 11 of Sun's disclosure, STI region 54 is formed over the bulk region and STI region 52 is formed over the SOI region. Both STIs are formed adjacent to wall spacer 46. Forming the trenches for the STIs is difficult because the spacer abuts the STIs.
The deficiencies of conventional processes in making SOI and bulk regions on the same wafer, and the difficulties in making high-quality, densely patterned SOI regions suitable for microprocessors, show that a need still exists for a process which can make densely patterned SOI for merged logic and DRAM circuitry, or for other types of circuitry.

Process of making densely patterned silicon-on-insulator (SOI) region on a wafer

International Business Machines Corporation


A collapsible truss structure having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped when expanded is an open truss framework made up of skeletal members pin jointed together by joint connectors to form sixteen rectangular bays, four of which have diagonal braces, and supports panels for covering one face of the structure. The joint connectors permit the structure to be folded by power means in two directions into a compact slab for storage and/or transportation with the panels assembled therewith, while elastically biasing means automatically unfold the structure into its expanded state. Planar, single-curvature, and double-curvature panels can be thus supported. This structure can be optionally assembled with other structures to form larger structural assemblies.

The present invention relates to truss structures that can be collapsed into compact forms for storage and/or transportation and conversely deployed or expanded for use in various applications. The truss structures have numerous uses in outer space as large size structures such as parabolic antennas and solar heat ray collectors placed in orbit and emergency shelters for medical treatment in disaster areas on earth.
In the exploration and study of outer space, it is often necessary to erect structures made up of panels in space. This necessitates auxiliary assistance such as that of a robot arm of a space shuttle or that of one or more astronauts working outside a spacecraft. However, such auxiliary assistance is expensive. Furthermore, the duration of flight of a space shuttle is limited. For this reason, the size and scope of the structures which can be erected in space are limited. Moreover the time required for the erection of such structures tends to become long.
Accordingly, deployable or expansible structural assemblies capable of expanding or unfolding automatically without outside assistance become necessary. Expansible structures of such character have been proposed as disclosed in, for example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 025,362 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,920.
The teachings of these known proposals, however, are insufficient for expansible supporting construction having curved surfaces such as parabolic surfaces. For example, according to the prior art, only planar panels or panel surfaces are expansible, and no consideration has been given to supporting construction such as trusswork for supporting panel surfaces, and therefore there is no practical merit.


A hanger for holding and supporting fascia board during installation along the rafters of a roof. The hanger is formed of a saddle or bracket which attaches to the upper edge of the rafter. A fascia catch is pivotally attached to the saddle through an adjusting bar. The catch can be adjusted along the adjusting bar as needed and then locked in place.

The present invention generally relates to the field of craftsman's tools and fixtures, and more particularly, is directed to a fascia hanger for assisting a workman in installing fascia board.
In many of the construction trades, the economies of modern construction necessitates that the number of craftsmen be limited to as few as possible due to high labor cost. Labor cost are particularly high in the construction industry which, by necessity, is labor intensive because few construction practices can be reduced to automated techniques. The advances in modern construction practices have been, for the most part, in improvements in the operation and efficiency of everyday tools that craftsmen use. For example, the development of automatic nailing guns, super adhesives, and tools to apply them, and better materials and prefabricated substructures have greatly improved the efficiency and speed of building construction.
Much of the improvements in the past, however, have been directed toward improving the efficiency of the individual craftsman. There remains, however, much needed improvements in overall construction practices which will lead to a reduction in the number of needed craftsmen, and thus, a corresponding reduction in construction cost. One such area is the hanging of fascia board to the ends of rafters during the construction of a home, which in he past has been a two or three-man job.
In conventional home construction, the rafters slant downward from the peak of the roof to the upper edge of the wall. Boards are laid on the upper surface of the rafters to form the roof. The rafters and roof extend beyond the wall and eave troughs at the edge of the roof receive the rain runoff from the roof. The eave troughs are mounted on fascia boards fastened to the ends of the rafters and lay parallel to the wall of the house.
In order to provide a flat surface for the fascia board to attach, the ends of the rafters are often cut parallel to the wall of the house. Such a practice requires an angular cut through the rafters which involves a considerable amount of time and resulting expense. An alternative practice has been to nail the fascia board to the upper edge of the squared ends of the rafters or to the roof boards. This approach, however, is a less than desirable alternative because the fascia board will tend to separate from the rafters due to accumulations of ice, snow, wet leaves and the like because of the poor connection of the fascia board. Thus, a number of devices are known in the prior art which attempt to overcome these problems by attaching to the rafter edge and providing a suitable surface for attachment of the fascia board. One such device is the fascia board support disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,164. The support forms and shapes the ends of the rafters in order to accommodate the fascia board.
While such devices represent an improvement in the attachment of fascia board, they leave unresolved the costly and labor intensive efforts required in the hanging of such boards.


An oil separator for use at the scene of an oil spill, featuring a tank divided by imperforate bulkheads into a folded, horizontal flow path, the flow path being further divided by perforate baffles through which the flow passes, the baffles having apertures selected to pass debris but also provide wave damping and evening of flow velocities.

In cleaning up oil spills on water, it is often desirable to separate the oil from the water in order to minimize the needed storage capacity for the oil and to facilitate subsequent oil disposal. Further, providing for on-scene separation of water from the oil permits the use of high rate oil skimmers that are less efficient at rejecting water.
A problem common to many oil spills is debris floating in the oil or water. In icy water, the debris may be chunks of ice. A separator must be able to handle debris without becoming clogged.
A further problem in cleaning up oil spills is that clean-up equipment must in most cases be transported on some kind of vehicle, normally a road vehicle or a waterborne vessel. This means that the separator must be portable, meaning it ought to be lightweight and not overly large. Height, particularly, must be controlled because an overly tall separator would raise the center of gravity of a small boat or road vehicle to an unsafe height.
A number of types of oil-water separators are known, e.g., centrifugal, coalescing, and gravity. Separators of the latter, gravity type are inherently simple, as they involve no moving parts, but the large size and weight of the separating tanks required has conventionally limited their use to fixed sites, such as waste water treatment plants. E.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,672,583; 2,820,550; 3,419,145; 3,517,815; 3,933,654; 4,049,553; and 4,132,652. One of these prior waste-water separators, Bolton et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,815, shows a tank divided by vertical plates into a serpentine, horizontal flow path.


A system includes a database and a representation engine. The database stores point cloud data including an indication of elevation of terrain. The representation engine is configured to determine a plurality of regions associated with the point cloud data. The representation engine is configured to identify, for each of the plurality of regions, a first point cloud data point having an elevation that is a local maximum for the corresponding region. The representation engine is configured to calculate, for a plurality of viewpoints corresponding to the point cloud data, a series of vectors connecting first point cloud data points located within a distance threshold of a search distance from each viewpoint. The representation engine is configured to output a terrain database storing the plurality of viewpoints associated with the corresponding series of vectors.

The inventive concepts disclosed herein relate generally to the field of transparent displays. More particularly, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein relate to compact transparent display terrain representation.
Existing display systems for rendering terrain information for display on an aircraft use complex three-dimensional terrain datasets, which may be rendered from collections of point clouds representing latitude, longitude, and elevation of terrain locations. As the resolution of sampling of terrain increases with more accurate instruments (e.g., centimeter resolution sampling with LIDAR-based devices), digital storage requirements for large terrain databases may increase in kind, which may make it difficult for the terrain information to be effectively stored and rendered on avionics hardware conforming to regulatory requirements for size, weight, or energy demand. Existing vision systems, such as synthetic vision systems, may use complex point cloud data for rendering shaded terrain representations. However, when applied to transparent displays, the shaded terrain representations may occlude underlying features on which the shaded terrain representations are overlaid.

Transparent display terrain representation systems and methods


A counter-rotating turbine for converting energy from waves. A turbine is positioned in a pneumatic-type wave energy converter and converts the energy of alternating air flow above the internal water surface into mechanical energy. The turbine has counter-rotating runners and guide vanes located both upstream and downstream, and the alternating air flow in the energy converter excites the turbine runners after being turned by the guide vanes.

The present invention relates to a device for utilizing the power generated by ocean waves, and more particularly relates to a turbine having counter-rotating runners which drive an output shaft which can be used for driving an electrical generator.
Various heretofore known devices utilize the rise and fall of the tide or utilize wave action to impart motion to mechanical systems. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,938, entitled "Electrical Stations Operated By Waves", which issued Oct. 14, 1975, to Gregory D. Filipenco, there is described a device for transforming kinetic energy of waves into mechanical energy which actuates electrical generators.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,895, entitled, "Wave Powered Motion", which issued May 8, 1979, to Leslie S. Wirt, there is shown a refractive horn for smoothing waves which are then transformed to mechanical rotation. The rotational kinetic energy is extracted by means of a turbine to provide useful work.
Another wave energy converter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,382, entitled, "Method And Apparatus For Deriving Useful Energy From Sea Waves", which issued Mar. 14, 1978, to Romulo M. Ricafranca et al. Converging dams are provided to funnel water into a pressure chamber and a turbine rotor is disposed on a vertical axis above the pressure chamber. Arcuate zig-zag turbine blades are provided which result in a double action mode of continuous rotation as the wave surges pass up through and back down through a rotor.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,986, entitled "Air Engine", which issued Dec. 16, 1975, to William M. Barwick, there is described a device for utilizing the power gneerated by the rise and fall of ocean tides. A tidal chamber is provided wherein the rise of the tide creates pressure which is transported to actuate a usable power device. As the tide falls, a partial vacuum is created within the tidal chamber and a value mechanism is operated so that the partial vacuum can be used to drive a turbine.

Counter-rotating wave energy conversion turbine


A method for the treatment of muscle contractures which relies upon the application of polydimethyl siloxane to the skin over the muscle contracture. This pharmacological treatment does not rely upon mechanical stretch of muscle and connective tissue and therefore, is particularly useful for the treatment of muscle contractures in patients where traditional mechanical methods of treatment are contraindicated due to underlying physical disorders.

This invention relates to a method for treating patients suffering from muscle contractures. More particularly, this invention relates to the use of polydimethyl siloxane (silicone) polymer-treated dressings in the treatment of muscle contractures. The inventive method is particularly useful in the treatment of patients who present contraindications to traditional methods for treating muscle contractures.

Non-mechanical method for treating muscle contractures


A method for fabricating a fuel cell component includes the steps of providing a mask having a plurality of radiation transparent apertures, a radiation-sensitive material having a sensitivity to the plurality of radiation beams, and a flow field layer. The radiation-sensitive material is disposed on the flow field layer. The radiation-sensitive material is then exposed to the plurality of radiation beams through the radiation transparent apertures in the mask to form a diffusion medium layer with a micro-truss structure.

A fuel cell has been proposed as a clean, efficient and environmentally responsible power source for electric vehicles and various other applications. Individual fuel cells can be stacked together in series to form a fuel cell stack for various applications. The fuel cell stack is capable of supplying a quantity of electricity sufficient to power a vehicle. In particular, the fuel cell stack has been identified as a potential alternative for the traditional internal-combustion engine used in modern automobiles.
One type of fuel cell is the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The PEM fuel cell includes three basic components: an electrolyte membrane; and a pair of electrodes, including a cathode and an anode. The electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between the electrodes to form a membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA). The MEA is typically disposed between porous diffusion media (DM), such as carbon fiber paper, which facilitates a delivery of reactants, such as hydrogen to the anode and oxygen to the cathode. In the electrochemical fuel cell reaction, the hydrogen is catalytically oxidized in the anode to generate free protons and electrons. The protons pass through the electrolyte to the cathode. The electrons from the anode cannot pass through the electrolyte membrane, and are instead directed as an electric current to the cathode through an electrical load, such as an electric motor. The protons react with the oxygen and the electrons in the cathode to generate water.
It is also known to use other reactants in the PEM fuel cell such as methanol, for example. Methanol may be catalytically oxidized to form carbon dioxide. Protons from the methanol oxidation are transported across the electrolyte membrane to the cathode where they react with oxygen, typically from air, to generate water. As with the hydrogen PEM fuel cell, electrons are transported as an electric current through the external load, such as the electric motor, from the anode to the cathode.
The electrolyte membrane is typically formed from a layer of ionomer. A typical ionomer is a perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer, such as Nafion@, commercially available from the E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. The electrodes of the fuel cell are generally formed from a finely divided catalyst. The catalyst may be any electro-catalyst which catalytically supports at least one of an oxidation of hydrogen or methanol and a reduction of oxygen for the fuel cell electrochemical reaction. The catalyst is typically a precious metal such as platinum or another platinum-group metal. The catalyst is generally disposed on a carbon support, such as carbon black particles, and is dispersed in an ionomer.
The electrolyte membrane, electrodes, and DM are disposed between a pair of fuel cell plates and sealed, for example, with a gasket providing a substantially fluid-tight seal. The fuel cell plate may have a plurality of channels formed therein for distribution of the reactants and coolant to the fuel cell. The fuel cell plate is typically formed by a conventional process for shaping sheet metal such as stamping, machining, molding, or photo etching through a photolithographic mask, for example. In the case of a bipolar fuel cell plate, the fuel cell plate is typically formed from a pair of unipolar plates which are then joined. It is also known to form the fuel cell plate from a composite material, such as a graphite composite or graphite-filled polymer. Undesirably, the known methods for forming each of the electrolyte membrane, the electrodes, the diffusion media, and the fuel cell plates can be costly and time consuming.
It is also known to manufacture fuel cell components, including the fuel cell plates, according to conventional polymer foaming processes, such as with reticulated foam materials. However, conventional foaming processes yield non-uniform and random (not ordered) three dimensional microstructures. Certain techniques do exist to create polymer materials with ordered three dimensional microstructures, such as stereolithography techniques; however, these techniques typically rely on a bottom-up, layer-by-layer approach which prohibits production volume scalability.
Materials having ordered three dimensional microstructures are described by Jacobsen et al. in "Compression behavior of micro-scale truss structures formed from self-propagating polymer waveguides", Acta Materialia 55, (2007) 6724-6733, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. One method and system of creating polymer materials with ordered micro-truss structures is disclosed by Jacobsen in U.S. Pat. No. 7,382,959, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The system includes at least one collimated light source selected to produce a collimated light beam; a reservoir having a photo-monomer adapted to polymerize by the collimated light beam; and a mask having at least one aperture and positioned between the at least one collimated light source and the reservoir. The at least one aperture is adapted to guide a portion of the collimated light beam into the photo-monomer to form the at least one polymer waveguide through a portion of a volume of the photo-monomer. Micro-truss materials produced by the method and system are further disclosed by Jacobsen in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/801,908, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. A polymer material that is exposed to radiation and results in a self-focusing or self-trapping of light by formation of polymer waveguides is also described by Kewitsch et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,274,288, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
There is a continuing need for a structure and method of manufacturing fuel cell components that optimizes fuel cell durability, minimizes tooling costs, minimizes production costs, and minimizes development time. Desirably, the method militates against the non-uniformity and design constraints associated with the formation of components according to the known methods.

Fuel cell fabrication using photopolymer based processes


A method and apparatus utilizing a ring forming head to cold form a ring on a lead battery terminal. The apparatus includes a fixture, a rolling head having a plurality of rollers, and a drive system for engaging and rotating the rolling head and lead battery terminal relative to each other.

This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for automated cold forming of a ring on a lead battery terminal.
In general, battery terminals are utilized as an interface between a sealed battery container and an external device seeking electrical power. Battery terminals are typically formed from lead in a cold or hot forming process. In a hot forming process, a lead alloy is heated until it is in a molten state. The molten lead is then poured into a mold or casting and formed into a semi-finished or finished battery terminal. In the cold forming process a lead slug typically at room temperature is subjected to a number of pressing, punching and machining operations in order to create a finished battery terminal.
The hot forming process requires that the lead be heated until it reaches the molten state and then subsequently poured into a mold until it cools. A disadvantage of this method is that it requires the melting of a lead alloy to form the battery terminal. The use of melting for forming terminals may create undesirable porosity and is expensive to implement in an environmentally safe manner.
Existing methods of cold forming a battery terminal from a lead slug require a number of individual steps. In one method a lead slug is first modified in a preform station and then subsequently formed into a finished battery terminal in a final forming press having a split die. Alternatively, in a second method a lead slug is formed into a semi-finished battery terminal in a first station having a split die and then subsequently machined to create a finished battery terminal.
These methods of cold forming a battery terminal require a split die to form the plurality of parallel rings used to prevent movement of the battery terminal along its longitudinal axis. Additionally the split die is used to form the recesses and tabs of the anti-torque ring used to prevent rotation of the terminal about its longitudinal axis.
The method of using a split die to form these rings results in a flash line located on the battery terminal caused by the dividing lines between the portions of the split die. This flash line can result in seepage when the battery terminal is installed in a battery.
Additionally, the recesses and tabs of the anti-torque ring must be angled to permit the removal of the battery terminal from the split die, this results in less than optimal anti-torque properties.
Consequently, it would be desirable to have a battery terminal cold formed from a lead slug that would improve the properties of the anti-torque ring. It would be further desirable to have a battery terminal cold formed from a lead slug without a flash line. It would also be desirable to cold form a battery terminal utilizing a single press.

Apparatus and method for cold forming a ring on a lead alloy battery terminal


An automatic pinsetter employing magnetically responsive bowling pins, an elevator mechanism for retrieving bowling pins from a pit area adjacent an end portion of a bowling alley and for transporting the same to a pin discharge station above a transfer mechanism. The pins are arranged in bowling array on a transfer mechanism which is thereafter moved horizontally beneath a pinsetting mechanism. The pinsetting mechanism employs magnetic means for elevating the pins, the transfer mechanism is retracted from beneath the pinsetting mechanism, and the latter thereupon deposits the pins on the bowling alley in bowling array. The pinsetting mechanism is also adapted to pick-up and replace remaining upright pins after a first ball has been thrown whether the pins reside in "on spot" or "off spot" positions.

This invention relates generally to automatic pinsetters of the type which retrieve bowling pins from a pit area adjacent a rear end portion of a bowling alley and which deposit the same in bowling array on the rear end portion of the bowling alley.
Automatic pinsetters heretofore available have employed mechanical means for retrieving, manipulating and orienting bowling pins as required to reposition or "set" the same in a desired bowling array on a rear end portion of a bowling alley. The pinsetters also mechanically retrieve and raise remaining upright pins after a first ball has been thrown, the alley thus being cleared of fallen pins or "deadwood", and thereafter replace the upright pins on the bowling alley.
While pinsetters of the type mentioned have been satisfactory in general, they are usually highly complex mechanical devices, necessarily expensive with regard both to manufacture and initial cost as well as repair and maintenance throughout their useful life. For example, it is known that repair and maintenance costs associated with available automatic pinsetters usually constitute the most expensive single item in the operation of a bowling alley.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an automatic pinsetter of greatly simplified design and construction which is capable of manufacture at economic advantage and which exhibits a high degree of durability over a long service life, repair and maintenance costs thus being minimized.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce the number of moving parts in a simplified and yet highly efficient pinsetter to a few hundred, prior art pinsetters having employed moving parts in the thousands.
Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the purely mechanical and rather awkward manipulation and orientation of bowling pins and to substitute at least in part the use of magnetism.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic pinsetter and a plurality of magnetically responsive bowling pins for use therewith, the pinsetter serving to retrieve bowling pins from a pit area adjacent a rear end of a bowling alley and manipulating and orienting the same magnetically for deposit in a desired bowling array on a rear end portion of the alley.
A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an automatic pinsetter for retrieving magnetically responsive bowling pins from a pit area adjacent a rear end of a bowling alley for transporting and arranging the same in an upright attitude and in a desired bowling array above a pre-selected area of the bowling alley, and for precisely depositing the same on the area in bowling array.
A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a pinsetter for both retrieving magnetically responsive bowling pins from a pit area employing magnetic means and for handling and depositing the bowling pins on the bowling alley in bowling array employing magnetic means.
A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an automatic pinsetter having magnetic means for picking up and raising remaining upright bowling pins after a first ball has been thrown, thus accommodating clearing of the bowling alley of fallen bowling pins, and for replacing the bowling pins on the bowling alley.
A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an automatic pinsetter having magnetic means for efficiently picking-up remaining upright "off spot" bowling pins, raising the same and thus accommodating clearing of fallen pins from the bowling alley and for replacing the bowling pins on the alley precisely in their "off spot" positions.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide magnetically responsive bowling pins highly efficient in their co-operation with magnetic means in a automatic pinsetter and which yet act and react precisely in the same manner as conventional bowling pins.
A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of bowling ball retrieval apparatus of a simplified and yet highly efficient and reliable construction.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a simplified design and construction as aforesaid and which is extremely compact in configuration particularly in the longitudinal direction of the bowling alley.


A steel sheet containing C: 0.0005% or more and 0.0035% or less, Si: 0.05% or less, Mn: 0.1% or more and 0.6% or less, P: 0.02% or less, S: less than 0.02%, Al: 0.01% or more and less than 0.10%, N: 0.0030% or less, B: 0.0010% or more, in which the relationship B/N≤3.0 is satisfied and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, and a microstructure in which the average integrated intensity f in the (111)[1-10] to (111)[-1-12] orientations on a plane parallel to a sheet surface at a position located at ¼ of the thickness of the steel sheet is 7.0 or more, in which an average ferrite grain size is 6.0 μm or more and 10.0 μm or less, and the relationships EAVE≥215 GPa, E0≥210 GPa, E45≥210 GPa, E90≥210 GPa, and −0.4≤Δr≤0.4 are satisfied.

Nowadays, from the viewpoint of a decrease in environmental load and cost, it is desirable to reduce the amount of use of steel sheets which are used for cans for food and beverages. Accordingly, the thickness of steel sheets is being reduced regardless of whether the steel sheet is used for two-piece cans or three-piece cans. However, problems due to a decrease in the thickness of steel sheets are recognized. For example, can bodies are deformed due to an external force which is applied when the cans are handled in a can manufacturing process, in a transporting process and in the market and can bodies are deformed (buckled) due to a change in the external pressure of the cans which occurs when a heat sterilization treatment for contents is performed.
Heretofore, the strength of steel sheets has been increased in order to increase the resistance to deformation described above. However, increasing the strength of steel sheets causes a problem in the can manufacturing process, because there is an increase in deformation resistance and heat generation due to working when two-piece cans are formed by performing DI (Draw and wall Ironing) forming or deep drawing and ironing forming. In addition, an increase in the strength of a steel sheet causes an increase in the rate of occurrence of neck wrinkles and flange cracks when neck forming is performed after forming of a can body has been performed and when flange forming is performed thereafter. As described above, increasing the strength of steel sheets is not necessarily an appropriate method for compensating for a decrease in resistance to deformation due to a decrease in the thickness of steel sheets.
On the other hand, the buckling phenomenon of can bodies occurs due to a decrease in the rigidity of the can body caused by a decrease in the thickness of the can bodies. Therefore, in order to increase resistance to buckling (also called paneling strength), it is thought to be effective as a method to optimize the size and design of a can body for increasing the rigidity of the can body.
In addition, it is thought to be effective to increase rigidity by increasing the Young's modulus of a steel sheet. There is a strong correlation between the Young's modulus and crystal orientation of steel. A crystal orientation group (α fibers), in which the <110> orientation is parallel to the rolling direction, increases a Young's modulus in the width direction which is at 90° with respect to the rolling direction, and it is theoretically possible to form a steel sheet having a Young's modulus of about 280 GPa by increasing the integrated intensity of, in particular, the {112}<110> orientation. In addition, a crystal orientation group (γ fibers), in which the <111> orientation is parallel to the normal direction of a sheet surface, can increase the Young's moduli in directions at angles of 0°, 45°, and 90° with respect to the rolling direction up to about 230 GPa. On the other hand, in the case where a crystal orientation is not integrated in a particular direction in the steel sheet, that is, a steel sheet has a random texture, the Young's modulus of the steel sheet is about 205 GPa.
Many steel sheets have been provided focusing on a high Young's modulus in order to compensate for a decrease in the rigidity of vehicle bodies due to a decrease in the thickness of steel sheets to be used for automobiles.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for increasing the Young's modulus in a direction at 90° with respect to the rolling direction, the technique including using ultralow-carbon steel containing Nb or Ti, forming a ferritic texture in which the {311}<011> and {332}<113> orientations are accumulated at the hot rolled steel sheet stage by promoting a transformation from a non-recrystallized austenite phase to a ferrite phase in the hot rolling process under the condition that the rolling reduction ratio at a temperature in the range of the Ar3 point to (the Ar3 point+150° C.) is 85% or more, and reforming the original texture into a texture in which the {211}<110> orientation is the primary orientation by performing cold rolling and recrystallization annealing.
In addition, Patent Literature 2 discloses a method for manufacturing a hot-rolled steel sheet having an increased Young's modulus in a direction at 90° with respect to the rolling direction, the method including growing {211}<110> by adding Nb, Mo, and B to a low-carbon steel containing, by mass %, 0.02% to 0.15% of C and by performing hot rolling under the condition that the rolling reduction ratio at a rolling temperature in the range of the Ar3 point to 950° C. is 50% or more.
On the other hand, methods for manufacturing a steel sheet focusing on the high Young's modulus of a steel sheet to be used for a can have been provided for a three-piece can.
Patent Literature 3 discloses a technique for manufacturing a steel sheet to be used for a container having an increased Young's modulus in a direction at 90° with respect to the rolling direction, the method including forming a strong rolled texture, that is, α fibers, by performing second cold rolling under the condition that the rolling reduction ratio is 50% or more, after performing cold rolling and annealing.
Patent Literature 4 discloses a method, without performing annealing, for manufacturing a steel sheet to be used for a container having an increased Young's modulus in a direction at 90° with respect to the rolling direction, the method including forming a strong a fibers by performing cold rolling on a hot-rolled steel sheet under the condition that the rolling reduction ratio is 60% or more.
In addition, Patent Literature 5 discloses a method for manufacturing a steel sheet to be used for a container having an increased Young's modulus in a direction at 90° with respect to the rolling direction, the method including adding Ti, Nb, Zr, and B to an ultralow-carbon steel, performing hot rolling under the condition that the rolling reduction ratio at a temperature equal to or lower than the Ar3 point is at least 50% or more, and performing annealing, after performing cold rolling, at a temperature of 400° C. or higher and equal to or lower than the recrystallization temperature.
On the other hand, in the case of a two-piece can which is manufactured by performing DI forming or deep drawing and ironing forming, there is a marked unevenness in body height at the opening of the formed can, which is called earring, and there is a decrease in yield in the case where the degree of earring is large. There is a problem in that anisotropy (Δr) in the steel sheet plane has to be decreased in order to prevent earring. Moreover, in the case where a laminated steel sheet is formed by a method of manufacturing cans such as DI forming or deep drawing and ironing described above, there is also a problem in that corrosion resistance may decrease due to the delamination of the coating film from the steel sheet which is a base metal after forming a can. That is to say, it is an important factor for a steel sheet, which is to be used as a base metal, to have excellent surface quality so that it does not have a rough surface in order to maintain good adhesiveness with the film even after forming that involves a high degree of working such as deep drawing or ironing has been performed.
In order to solve the problem described above, Patent Literature 6 discloses a steel sheet having good formability and no rough surface and a method for manufacturing the steel sheet, the method including effectively forming the microstructure of a hot-rolled steel sheet and a final product steel sheet to be used for a can so that the microstructure has a small uniform grain size by performing hot rough rolling on ultralow-carbon steel under the conditions that the total rolling reduction ratio is 80% or more and the reduction ratio of the final pass is 20% or more and by ending hot finish rolling under the conditions that reverse transformation due to the generated heat in the rolling occurs when the hot-rolled steel sheet goes through any one of the rolling stands in the finish rolling mill line, so that the finish rolling temperature may be equal to or higher than the Ar3−50° C.
Patent Literature 7 discloses a steel sheet to be used for a two-piece can suppressing the occurrence of earring and having good resistance to surface roughening after press forming has been performed and a method for manufacturing the steel sheet, the method including forming a microstructure after performing hot rolling so that the microstructure has equiaxed crystal grains and small uniform grain size by properly controlling hot rolling conditions such as cooling conditions after performing finish rolling and forming a microstructure having small uniform equiaxed grains after performing annealing so that the steel sheet has a Δr of −0.2 or more and 0.2 or less by maintaining the effects of the hot rolling until after performing cold rolling and annealing.
In addition, Patent Literature 8 discloses a steel sheet having good resistance to surface roughening and a method for manufacturing the steel sheet, the method including adding Nb to ultralow-carbon steel as base material and optimizing a pinning effect by controlling the amount and grain size of precipitates containing Nb to control the grain size of a ferrite phase to be as small as 6 μm to 10 μm.

Steel sheet for can with high barrel-part buckling strength under external pressure and with excellent formability and excellent surface properties after forming, and process for producing same


An electrical terminal or spring terminal for forming an electrical connection between a wire conductor and a current bar includes a spring and a spring retainer, the spring retainer not integral with the spring and not integral with the current bar. Engageable abutment surfaces on the spring retainer and the current bar cooperate to transfer spring force to the current bar.

Connector blocks that include "screwless" electrical terminals or spring terminals for forming electrical connections between rigid conductors or current bars in the connector block and wire conductors are known. The spring terminal utilizes a compressed spring that generates a spring force pressing the wire conductor against the current bar to form the electrical connection therebetween.
A known type of spring terminal utilizes the current bar as a spring retainer. A portion of the current bar is formed as a spring retainer that retains both ends of the compressed spring. The current bar is made of expensive electrically conductive material (typically a copper alloy). Forming the spring retainer in the current bar is expensive both in material cost and manufacturing cost.
Another type of known spring terminal includes a spring in which the spring has a first leg that lies against one side of the current bar and an extension attached to a second leg, with an opening in the extension to receive the current bar. The second leg presses against the second side of the current bar to maintain the spring in the compressed condition. Manufacture and assembly of the spring with the current bar is relatively expensive.
Yet another known type of spring terminal the current bar extends along one wall of a rigid U-shaped member, the spring compressed between the other wall and the contact bar. In this type of spring terminal the U-shaped member effectively compresses the spring between the legs of the member. The U-shaped member is a relatively large component and so material cost is high.
Thus there is a need for a connector block having spring terminals that utilize a spring retainer that is not formed as part of the current bar, has relatively low cost, and is easier to assemble.

Connector block with spring-loaded electrical terminal assemblies

Phoenix Contact Development and Manufacturing, Inc.


An implantable prosthesis for use in periareolar mastopexy. The prosthesis may constructed of a prosthetic or biological mesh material, or a biodegradable/resorbable material, and may be either annular or frusto-conical in shape. An aperture of the prosthesis is sized to surround an areola upon implantation. The prosthesis may include a plurality of teeth, extending outwardly from a top surface of the prosthesis, and canted generally towards an apex of the prosthesis. The implantable prosthesis permits a resorbable, rather than a nonresorbable suture to be used in the periareolar mastopexy procedure.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an implantable prosthesis for performing a periareolar mastopexy and, in particular, an implantable prosthesis which eliminates the requirement of a nonresorbable suture when performing a periareolar mastopexy.
2. Description of Related Art
A mastopexy is a procedure for lifting ptotic breasts. Several variations of mastopexy are commonly performed, depending upon several factors, including the degree of ptosis. Periareolar, or Binelli mastopexy, is often recommended for patients exhibiting mild to moderate degrees of ptosis. Mastopexy may be performed as an isolated procedure, or may optionally be performed in conjunction with breast enlargement or reduction procedures.
In periareolar mastopexy, an eccentric circular region of skin surrounding the areola is removed. The skin surrounding the excised region is then drawn together using a permanent, nonresorbable pursestring suture. Traditional periareolar mastopexy has several disadvantages. First, postoperatively, the pursestring suture is palpable through the overlying skin of breast. Second, the suture may break postoperatively in one of two simultaneously treated breasts, resulting in areolar spread, wherein one areola is significantly larger than the other. Third, the suture may extrude or become visible through the skin, forming a potential nidus for infection. Fourth, the cinching of the pursestring suture can result in a flattening of the breast proximate the apex of the areola.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an implantable prosthesis for use in periareolar mastopexy, wherein periareolar mastopexy may be performed without the need for a nonresorbable suture. It is another object of the invention to provide an implantable prosthesis for use in periareolar mastopexy, wherein the prosthesis is either not palpable through the skin, or is significantly less palpable that a nonresorbable suture. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an implantable prosthesis for use in periareolar mastopexy, wherein postoperatively there is no nonresorbable suture which may extrude or become visible through the skin, forming a potential nidus for infection. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an implantable prosthesis for use in periareolar mastopexy, wherein there is little or no postoperative flattening of the breast proximate the apex of the areola.

Implantable prosthesis for periareolar mastopexy


A data storage device includes a processor or hardware circuit. The processor or hardware circuit copies data stored in regions of a copy source volume to a copy destination volume. The processor or hardware circuit sets up in a memory a management table for the regions. The management table includes first information and second information. The first information indicates whether a bitmap has been set up. The bitmap represents a state of progress of the copy. The second information specifies a bit value to be used when setting up the bitmap. The processor or hardware circuit sets up in the memory the bitmap corresponding to the regions on the basis of the second information.

For storage devices and the like, known examples of techniques for creating a copy of data include snapshot and mirroring techniques. In snapshot, a storage device logically creates a copy of a disk image instantly, and physically copies updated regions at a time when disk access is performed. This copying method is called "copy-on-write". In snapshot, sometimes the storage device copies the entire data image in the background simultaneously with execution of the copy-on-write.
Mirroring is a technique in which updates made to a copy source volume are continuously transferred to a copy destination volume so that the contents of the copy source volume and the contents of the copy destination volume remain substantially the same. In mirroring, the storage device halts transfer from the copy source with a detach command (detach in duplexing) and then creates a copy of the copy source volume, which existed at the time when that command was issued, in the copy destination volume.
In order to support these techniques, sometimes a data image is divided into regular sections and whether or not copying has been completed is recorded for each of the sections. Data indicating whether or not copying has been completed in such a way is called a bitmap.
A copy creation device that performs copy creation processing using a bitmap is known. This copy creation device sets up a bitmap indicating whether copying to a copy destination volume has been performed or not for every predetermined region of the data of the copy source volume.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-225699 discloses a related technique.
However, in the above-described copy creation device, a bitmap has to be set up for each predetermined region of data of the copy source volume and a lot of resources may be used to set up such bitmaps.

Data storage device and method of controlling data storage device


An example method for causing a perturbation of blood glucose level in a subject is described herein. The method can include selectively inhibiting neural activity of at least one of a hepatic branch of the subject's vagus nerve or the subject's greater splanchnic nerve using electrical stimulation having a frequency greater than about 5 kHz. The selective inhibition of neural activity causes the subject's blood glucose level to increase or decrease as compared to a baseline level.

The liver is implicated in a variety of functions that contribute to homeostasis of systemic blood glucose levels. The hepatic branch of the vagus nerve is a sub-population of axons from the vagus nerve that innervate the liver along with the greater splanchnic nerves. Chemical and anatomical manipulation of the hepatic vagus has shown a change in systemic blood glucose levels over a range of time periods after manipulation. Manipulation is typically in the form of a nerve transection (i.e., cutting the nerve) so the nerves are no longer connected to the liver or via electrical stimulation (e.g., periodic perturbations) of the nerve. Electrical stimulation of the hepatic branch of the vagus nerve using low frequencies (up to 30 Hz) have shown higher systemic blood glucose levels within minutes of turning on the stimulation and vagotomy (i.e., cutting of the cervical vagus) studies have shown a decrease in systemic blood glucose levels hours after cutting the nerve. However, cutting of these nerves is permanent and not typically viable for clinical applications.

Glucose regulation via electrical stimulation of nerves innervating the liver


An electrical connector assembly includes a module stack, a front housing, and a spring member. The module stack includes multiple contact modules disposed side by side. The module stack includes multiple signal contacts that project beyond a front side thereof. The front housing is mechanically coupled to the module stack at the front side and surrounds the signal contacts. The front housing defines cavities that receive mating contacts of a mating connector to engage the signal contacts. The front housing is movable relative to the module stack along a longitudinal axis of the electrical connector assembly between a retracted position and an extended position. The spring member is held between the module stack and the front housing. The spring member engages the module stack and the front housing to bias the front housing towards the extended position.

The subject matter herein relates generally to electrical connector assemblies, and more specifically to electrical connector assemblies that are configured to control impedance at a mating interface between the electrical connector assembly and a mating connector when both fully mated and only partially mated.
Some electrical systems, such as server systems and the like, utilize connector assemblies, such as header assemblies and receptacle assemblies, to interconnect circuit boards, such as a motherboard and daughtercard. The electrical systems may be relatively complex. For example, multiple connector assemblies mounted on a common circuit board may mate to corresponding mating connectors on different circuit boards. In addition, at least some of the circuit boards may be mounted to walls of a chassis, which fixes the circuit boards in place within the electrical system.
When the electrical system is assembled, the connector assemblies are mated to connect the different circuit boards. Two mating electrical connector assemblies are considered to be fully mated when signal and ground contacts of the first connector assembly engage corresponding signal and ground contacts of the second connector assembly and a mating surface of a housing of the first connector assembly abuts against a mating surface of a housing of the second connector assembly. The interface between the mating surfaces represents a mating interface. The signal and ground contacts extend across the mating interface.
Typically, at least some of the mating connector assemblies in electrical systems may not be able to fully mate when the electrical system is assembled and are only partially mated. Mating connector assemblies are considered to be partially mated to one another when the signal and ground contacts of the two connector assemblies are engaged but the mating surfaces of the housings do not abut against one another, resulting in an air gap at the mating interface. The air gap at the mating interface may be the result of various factors, including aggregated tolerances between components within the system, bowed circuit boards, imprecise assembly of the system, and the like. For example, if a circuit board is bowed instead of planar, a first connector mounted on the bowed circuit board may be able to fully mate to a corresponding mating connector on another circuit board, but a second connector adjacent to the first connector may be located farther away from the other circuit board than the first connector due to the curved circuit board. As a result, the second connector is only able to partially mate to a corresponding mating connector on the other circuit board.
Although partial mating of connector assemblies allows signal transmission across the connector assemblies, the air gap at the mating interface causes an impedance discontinuity, which may degrade signal quality and/or signal strength relative to fully-mated connector assemblies that lack an air gap at the mating interface (or at least have smaller air gaps at the mating interface). For example, the impedance discontinuity may cause some of the electrical energy along the signal path to reflect back to the source instead of being transmitted across the connector assemblies. The signal degradation caused by the impedance discontinuity at the mating interface may be exacerbated at high signal transmission speeds, such as speeds over 10 Gb/s.
A need remains for electrical connector assemblies with improved electrical performance (e.g., electrical signal transmission) at high speeds by improving impedance control at the mating interface regardless of whether mating connector assemblies are able to be fully mated or only partially mated.

Electrical connector assembly with impedance control at mating interface