The magnitude processing circuit 607 non-linearly processes the received signal 2 and then outputs a non-linear processed signal. The delay processing circuit 300 further delays the non-linear processed signal and then outputs a delayed processed signal. The delayed processed signal is time-multiplexed with the non-linear processed signal. The multiplexed signal is used instead of the received signal 2. The adaptive filters 122 and 124 operate alternately with the non-linear processed signal or with the delayed processed signal obtained by non-linearly processing and then delaying the received signal 2 as the input signal. Adaptive filter coefficients can be obtained by using twice the number of conditions compared with the number is twice that for the case where only the received signal 2 is used as the input signal.

The present invention relates to a method or apparatus for canceling echoes in the system using plural received signals and a single or plural transmission signals.
There are multi-channel echo canceling methods or apparatuses that remove echoes caused by received signals propagating through spatial acoustic paths in the system of transmitting plural received signals or a single or plural transmission signals. Two types of multi-channel echo canceling apparatuses including a cascade connection type and a linear coupled type have been proposed in the Technical Report of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE) of Japan, Vol. 84, No. 330, pp. 7-14, CS-84-178 (hereinafter referred to as reference 1). According to the reference (1), the cascade connection type is inferior to the linear coupled type in echo suppression capability caused by the constitutional constraint. Here, the case where a linear coupled multi-channel echo canceling apparatus (echo canceller) is applied to a two-channel system, together with received signals and transmission signals, will be described below as a prior art.
FIG. 24 shows a linear coupled multi-channel echo canceller. The first loudspeaker 3 reproduces the first received signal 1. The second loudspeaker 4 reproduces the second received signal 2. The first echo 5 which is generated as the signal propagating via spatial acoustic paths from the first loudspeaker 3 to the first microphone 9 and the second echo 6 which is produced as the signal propagating through spatial acoustic paths from the second loudspeaker 4 to the first microphone 9 are added to the first transmission signal 12 or the voice of the talker 11 received with the first microphone 9, so that a first mixed signal 14 is created. Similarly, the third echo 7 which is generated as the signal propagating the spatial acoustic paths from the first loudspeaker 3 to the second microphone 10 and the fourth echo 8 which is produced as the signal propagating through spatial acoustic paths from the second loudspeaker 4 to the second microphone 10 are added to the second transmission signal 13 or the voice of the talker 11 received with the second microphone 10, so that a second mixed signal 15 is created.
In order to remove the echoes introduced into the first mixed signal 14, the first adaptive filter 121 receives the first received signal 1 and then creates an echo replica 125 corresponding to the first echo 5. The second adaptive filter 122 receives the second received signal 2 and then creates an echo replica 126 corresponding to the second echo 6. The first subtracter 129 subtracts the echo replicas 125 and 126 corresponding to the first echo 5 and the second echo 6, respectively, from the first mixed signal 14. The first and second adaptive filters 121 and 122 are controlled to minimize the output of the first subtracter 129. The output of the first subtracter 129 becomes the first output signal 16 of the echo canceller 100.
In order to remove the echoes introduced into the second mixed signal 15, the third adaptive filter 123 receives the first received signal 1 and then creates an echo replica 127 corresponding to the third echo 7. The fourth adaptive filter 124 receives the second received signal 2 and then creates an echo replica 128 corresponding to the fourth echo 8. The second subtracter 130 subtracts the replicas 127 and 128 corresponding to the third echo 7 and the fourth echo 8 from the second mixed signal 15, respectively. The third and fourth adaptive filters 123 and 124 are controlled to minimize the output of the second subtracter 130. The output of the second subtracter 130 becomes the second output signal 17 of the echo canceller 100.
In the multi-channel teleconferencing system being one of important applications for multi-channel echo cancellation, plural microphones receives voices of talkers. Hence, received signals by each microphone can be approximately regarded as signals with an attenuation and a delay each depending on the distance between the talker and the microphone. The mutual correlation between received signals in different channels becomes very high. Let us now assume that the second received signal 2 which was generated as a delayed version of the first received signal 1, an echo path which can be modeled as a finite impulse response filter, and an echo canceller based on linear combination with adaptive finite impulse response filters.
It is now assumed that x1(n) is a first received signal 1 at the time n, x2(n) is a second received signal 2 at the time n, and d(n) is an echo introduced into the mixed signal 14. When the time differences between the first received signals 1 and the second received signals 2 is nd (natural number), X2(n) is expressed by:
x2(n)=x1(nxe2x88x92nd)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
For simplification, let us now assume that all the spatial acoustic paths ranging from the first and second loudspeakers 3 and 4 to the first and second microphones 9 and 10 are equal in the impulse response length (N). The echo d(n) mixed in the mixed signal 14 is the sum of the echo 5 and the echo 6 and is expressed by:                                           d                                      (              n              )                                =                                    ∑                              i                =                0                                            N                -                1                                                                h              1                                                        ,          i                                                            x              1                                                  (                              n                -                i                            )                                +                                    ∑                              i                =                0                                            N                -                1                                                                h              2                                                        ,          i                                              x            2                                          (                          n              -              i                        )                                              (        2        )
where h1,j is an impulse response sample value of a spatial acoustic path ranging from the loudspeaker 3 to the microphone 9, h2,i is an impulse response sample value of a spatial acoustic path ranging from the loudspeaker 4 to the microphone 9, and i is an integer value between 0 and Nxe2x88x921.
When x2(n) is eliminated by substituting the equation (1) into (2), the following equation (3) is obtained:                               d                                (            n            )                          =                                            ∑                              i                =                0                                                              n                  d                                -                1                                                                                h                                  1                  ,                  i                                                                                x                  1                                                                  (                                      n                    -                    i                                    )                                                              +                                    ∑                              i                =                                  n                  d                                                            N                -                1                                                                                (                                                      h                                          1                      ,                      i                                                        +                                      h                                          2                      ,                                              i                        -                                                  n                          d                                                                                )                                                                            x                  1                                                                  (                                      n                    -                    1                                    )                                                              +                                    ∑                              i                =                                  N                  -                                      n                    d                                                                              N                -                1                                                                                h                                  2                  ,                  i                                                                                x                  1                                                                  (                                      n                    -                                          n                      d                                        -                    i                                    )                                                                                (        3        )
The echo replica d(n) hat created by each of the adaptive filters 121 and 122 is expressed by:                                           d            ^                                          (            n            )                          =                                            ∑                              i                =                0                                            N                -                1                                                                                w                                      1                    ,                    i                                                                                (                  n                  )                                                                                x                  1                                                                  (                                      n                    -                    i                                    )                                                              +                                    ∑                              i                =                0                                            N                -                1                                                                                w                                      2                    ,                    i                                                                                (                  n                  )                                                                                x                  2                                                                  (                                      n                    -                    i                                    )                                                                                (        4        )
where w1,i(n) is the i-th filter coefficient of the adaptive filter 121 and w2,i(n) is the i-th filter coefficient of the adaptive filter 122.
When x2(n) is eliminated by substituting the equation (1) into the equation (4), the following equation (5) is obtained:                                           d            ^                                          (            n            )                          =                                            ∑                              i                =                0                                                              n                  d                                -                1                                                                                w                                      1                    ,                    i                                                                                (                  n                  )                                                                                x                  1                                                                  (                                      n                    -                    i                                    )                                                              +                                    ∑                              i                =                                  n                  d                                                            N                -                1                                                                                {                                                                            w                                              1                        ,                        i                                                                                (                      n                      )                                                        +                                                            w                                              2                        ,                                                  i                          -                                                      n                            d                                                                                (                      n                      )                                                                      }                                                                            x                  1                                                                  (                                      n                    -                    i                                    )                                                              +                                    ∑                              i                =                                  N                  -                                      n                    d                                                                              N                -                1                                                                                w                                      2                    ,                    i                                                                                (                  n                  )                                                                                x                  1                                                                  (                                      n                    -                                          n                      d                                        -                    i                                    )                                                                                (        5        )
The residual echo e(n) is expressed by:                                                                         e                                                  (                  n                  )                                            =                              xe2x80x83                                                                            d                                                        (                    n                    )                                                  -                                                      d                    ^                                                                          (                    n                    )                                                                                =                              xe2x80x83                                                                                ∑                                          i                      =                      0                                                                                n                        d                                            -                      1                                                                                {                                                                        h                                                      1                            ,                            i                                                                          -                                                                              w                                                          1                              ,                              i                                                                                (                            n                            )                                                                                }                                                                                x                        1                                                                                (                                                  n                          -                          i                                                )                                                                                +                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                                ∑                                          i                      =                                              n                        d                                                                                N                      -                      1                                                                                {                                                                        h                                                      1                            ,                            i                                                                          +                                                  h                                                      2                            ,                                                          i                              -                                                              n                                d                                                                                -                                                                              w                                                          1                              ,                              i                                                                                (                            n                            )                                                                          -                                                                              w                                                          2                              ,                                                              i                                -                                                                  n                                  d                                                                                (                            n                            )                                                                                }                                                                                x                        1                                                                                (                                                  n                          -                          i                                                )                                                                                +                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                            ∑                                      i                    =                                          N                      -                                              n                        d                                                                                N                    -                    1                                                                                {                                                                  h                                                  2                          ,                          i                                                                    -                                                                        w                                                      2                            ,                            i                                                                                (                          n                          )                                                                                }                                                                                x                      1                                                                                (                                              n                        -                                                  n                          d                                                -                        i                                            )                                                                                (        6        )
The condition of completely eliminating echoes from the equation (6) is expressed by:
xe2x80x83h1,i=w1,i(n) i=0, . . . ,ndxe2x88x921
h1,i+h2,ixe2x88x92nd=w1,i(n)+w2,ixe2x88x92nd(n) i=nd, . . . ,Nxe2x88x921
h2,i=w2,i(n) i=Nxe2x88x92nd, . . . ,Nxe2x88x921xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(7)
The following expression is uniquely determined by the equation (7).
w1,0(n), . . . ,w1xe2x88x92nxe2x88x921(n)and w2,Nxe2x88x92nd(n), . . . ,w2,Nxe2x88x921(n)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83[1]
However, it is clear that the following expression has an unlimited number of solutions.
i w1,nd(n), . . . ,w1,Nxe2x88x921(n) and w2,0, . . . ,w2,Nxe2x88x92ndxe2x88x921(n)[2]
Particularly the solutions of the following equation depend on values of nd.
w1,nd(n), . . . ,w1,Nxe2x88x921(n) and w2,0, . . . ,w2,Nxe2x88x92ndxe2x88x921(n)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83[3]
That is, a change of nd caused by a shift of the talker""s position leads to a change of the solution. This means that the echo canceling capability is degraded even with no variations in echo path. This creates an obstacle to applications in actual environments. In these discussions, the adaptive filters 121 and 122 used to remove echoes mixed in the mixed signal 14 have been assumed. Similarly, this discussion is applicable to adaptive filters 123 and 124.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, there is a multi-channel echo canceling method where adaptive filters, respectively corresponding one to one to mixed signals, create echo replicas in response to one received signal. Thus, one adaptive filter per channel can estimate echoes caused by signals propagating from a single sound source in plural paths. This method was proposed in the IEEE Proceedings of International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, Vol. 2, 1994, pp. 245-248 (hereinafter referred to as reference 2).
The multi-channel echo canceling method of the reference 2 can avoid indefinite solutions because one adaptive filter removes the echo generated in one channel. As a result, the adaptive filter coefficients are converged to optimum values which are uniquely determined. However, the reference 2 discloses evaluation results proving the fact that the echo suppression is degraded when the parameters determined by the environment in use such as the locations of microphones receiving the taker""s voice are not within a certain range. Hence, a multi-channel echo canceller based on linear combination has to be used, by considering the use in a wide variety of environments.
Based on the above-mentioned premise, there is a method of uniquely determining the adaptive filter coefficients, for a multi-channel echo canceller based on linear combination, where the received signal is delayed and then is alternately selected as a new received signal the delayed signal in place of the received signal. This method was proposed in Technical Report, the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers of Japan, Vol. DSP97-1, 1997, pp. 1-8 (hereinafter referred to as reference 3). In this multi-channel echo canceling method, the number of conditions used to calculate adaptive filter coefficients is increased because of the introduction of the delayed received signals, therefore, indefinite solutions do not occur. As a result, the adaptive filter coefficients converge to optimum values which are uniquely determined. However, shift of the acoustic image may often be perceived when the received signal is switched between the original and its delayed version. In order to overcome such a problem, there is a method of correcting the magnitudes of signals in both channels when the received signal and the delayed received signal are switched. This method was proposed in the Proceedings of the 12-th digital signal processing symposium of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers of Japan, 1997, pp. 531-536 (hereinafter referred the as reference 4). Moreover, there is a method that can uniquely determine adaptive filter coefficients by applying non-linear processing to the received signals in both channels, instead of switching the received signal and the delayed received signal. This method was proposed in the Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Acoustic, Speech and Signal Proceeding, Vol. 1, 1997, pp. 303-306 (hereinafter referred to as reference 5). However, the method disclosed in the reference 4 provides a slow convergence rate, compared with the multi-channel echo canceller based on linear combination. Moreover, the Proceeding of the IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, Vol. 6, 1998, pp. 3677-3680 (hereinafter referred to as reference 6) discloses that the method in the reference 5 provides a slower convergence rate, compared with the method in the reference 4.
As described in detail by referring to FIG. 24, the conventional multi-channel echo canceling method or apparatus has the disadvantage in that the solutions to adaptive filter coefficients are indefinite and are not guaranteed to be equal to the solutions uniquely determined by the impulse responses in the echo paths. Moreover, in the method proposed in the reference 3, a shift of an acoustic (or sound) image may often be perceived when the received signal or the delayed received signal is selected. Moreover, in the methods proposed in the references 4 and 5, the convergence is slow, compared with the conventional multi-channel echo canceling method or apparatus.
The objective of the invention is to provide a multi-channel echo canceling method or apparatus with an excellent sound quality and a short convergence time, wherein the coefficient values of the adaptive filters are converged to correct values which are uniquely determined by the impulse responses of the echo paths.
In the multi-channel echo canceling apparatus according to the present invention, received signals are non-linearly processed while one obtained by delaying a received signal is used as a new received signal.
Specifically, the multi-channel echo canceling apparatus has magnitude processing circuits (605 and 606 in FIG. 1) for non-linearly processing received signals 1 and 2 and a delay processing circuit (200 in FIG. 1) for delaying the received signal 2 and then supplying the delayed signal to adaptive filters 122 and 124 and to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 19.
Furthermore, the multi-channel echo canceling apparatus non-linearly processes the received signals. The multi-channel echo canceling apparatus also uses a delayed received signal as a new received signal and applies magnitude correction to the other input signals.
Specifically, the multi-channel echo canceling apparatus has a magnitude processing circuit (605 in FIG. 17) for non-linearly processing the received signal 2, a delay processing circuit (300 in FIG. 17) for delaying a non-linearly processed signal and then supplying the delayed signal to the adaptive filters 122 and 124 and the digital-to-analog converter 19, a magnitude processing circuit (606 in FIG. 17) for non-linearly processing the received signal 1, and a magnitude compensating circuit (400 in FIG. 17) for correcting the magnitude of the non-linearly processed signal and then supplying the corrected signal to the adaptive filters 121 and 123 and the digital-to-analog converter 18.
In the multi-channel echo canceling apparatus or method according to the present invention, one received signal is filtered to create a supplement signal. The adaptive filter is operated using a new signal obtained by time-multiplexing an original received signal and the created supplement signal. A plurality of adaptive filters estimate echoes caused by propagating from one signal source in plural paths. For that reason, an increase in the number of conditions for solving adaptive filter coefficients makes solutions definite eliminating the existing problem of indefinite coefficients. Hence, the adaptive filter coefficients are converged to optimum values which are uniquely determined. Moreover, the multiplex parameters of the original received signal and the supplement signal are controlled based on the nature of the received signal while movement of the sound image caused by introducing the supplement signal is canceled in the magnitude correction process to the input signal. Hence, degradation of the sound quality of the audible received signal directly supplied to the loudspeaker is suppressed so that a good sound quality can be maintained. Moreover, the synergistic effect of introducing the non-linear processing and the supplement signal can shorten the convergence time.

Method and apparatus of cancelling multi-channel echoes


A fluidic component includes a flow chamber with at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening. The flow chamber can be traversed by a main flow of a fluid from the at least one inlet opening to the at least one outlet opening and includes at least one deflection device for the targeted change in direction of the main flow, in particular a periodic reversal of the main flow. The fluidic component includes at least one filter element between the deflection device for the targeted change in direction of the main flow and the flow chamber, in particular a deflection device for generating a varying approach flow direction for the main flow. The at least one filter element is not arranged upstream of the flow chamber or at the inlet opening of the flow chamber.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a fluidic component and to apparatuses which comprise such fluidic component.
Description of Related Art
This invention relates to a fluidic component according to the preamble of claim 1 and to apparatuses which comprise such fluidic component.
Fluidic components are provided to produce a moving fluid jet. At the component outlet a desired fluid flow pattern is produced, without the fluidic component comprising any movable elements. Examples for such fluid flow patterns include jet oscillations, rectangular, sawtooth-shaped or triangular jet paths, spatial or temporal jet pulsations and switching operations. Oscillating fluid jets are used to for example uniformly distribute a fluid jet (or fluid stream) on a target area. The fluid stream can be a liquid stream, a gas stream or a multi-phase stream (for example wet steam).
Fluidic components are known for example from U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,702,020 B2 or 8,733,401 B2. These components include a flow chamber which can be traversed by a main flow of a fluid. The flow chamber also is referred to as interaction chamber.
The flow chamber includes at least one inlet opening, via which the fluid enters into the fluidic component, and at least one outlet opening, via which the fluid exits from the fluidic component. For an oscillating fluid deflection at the outlet opening of the fluidic component a means for the targeted change in direction of the fluid stream is provided. In the fluidic components from U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,702,020 B2 and 8,733,401 B2 this means is formed as at least one additional flow channel (also referred to as feedback channel). This feedback channel is a means for reversing a main flow, which traverses the flow chamber from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. The means for the targeted change in direction also can be formed as a closed cavity. Note that the means for the targeted change in direction of the main flow may also be referred to as a deflection device for the targeted change in the direction of the main flow.
When the fluidic component is traversed by a particle-containing fluid, the particles (for example foreign objects or impurities) can accumulate in portions of the fluidic component, so that the fluidic component no longer can perform its function or only in a deteriorated way. To avoid such accumulation of particles in a fluidic component, it is known from the prior art to either insert separate filter elements upstream of the inlet opening of the fluidic component for shielding against foreign objects or to use integrated filter elements directly at the inlet opening of the fluidic component. The particle-containing fluid thus flows around (passes) the filter elements, which are located upstream of or at the inlet opening of the fluidic component and filter out the particles before entry of the fluid into the fluidic component.
The use of additional means for fluid filtration upstream of the inlet opening on the one hand causes higher costs than a fluidic component without filter elements and on the other hand increases the complexity of the systems. When the filter elements are arranged at the inlet opening of the fluidic component (as known for example from EP 1 513 711 B1, EP 1 053 059 B1 or EP 1 827 703 B1), the fluidic component can lose its function when the filter element is clogged due to foreign objects. In such components or due to additional means for fluid filtration arranged upstream of the inlet opening, the pressure loss also is increased as compared to a fluidic component without filter elements.

Fluidic oscillator and applications of the fluidic oscillator


A drive circuit for the interior, and one or more of the exterior, mirrors in a vehicle mirror system provides a drive signal to each of the mirrors to establish the reflectance level of that mirror. Circuit protection is provided to sense a fault condition on one of the electrical conductors extending to the exterior mirrors and to take corrective action in response to a fault condition. The circuit protection may also respond to a fault condition in the electrical supply of the drive circuit and take suitable corrective action. In certain embodiments, each mirror in the mirror system is responsive to one of a plurality of output amplifiers, which is responsive to a distinct desired reflectance signal level in order to color that mirror to a reflectance level that is distinct from that of the other mirrors. In other embodiments, separate drive circuits and associated power conditioning means are provided for each mirror so that the disabling of one mirror will not preclude the other mirror(s) in the system from providing glare protection.

This invention relates generally to automatic rearview mirror systems for vehicles and more particularly to mirror systems in which the exterior mirrors are glare protected. The invention is especially adapted to electrochromic mirror systems.
Automatic rearview mirror systems have been developed in which either all solid-state electrochromic elements or electrochemichromic cells are colored by a drive signal to modify the reflectance level of the mirror, under the control of a drive circuit, in order to reduce the glare reflected to the driver. While initially applied to the interior mirror of the vehicle, such glare-protected mirrors soon found application in the exterior mirrors mounted on the driver's door and the passenger's door. It has been found convenient to provide drive signals to the two exterior mirrors and to the interior mirror, if provided, from a common drive circuit, typically located within the interior of the vehicle, in order to avoid duplication of components.
Electrochromic elements typically operate at a maximum voltage level of about 1.2 to 1.8 volts. In one type of electrochromic mirror system disclosed in commonly assigned copending patent application Ser. No. 07/643,186, filed Jan. 18, 1991, by Niall R. Lynam for an ELECTROCHROMIC MIRROR FOR VEHICLES, a heater is provided for the electrochromic element in order to provide a uniform reflectivity level across substantially the entire mirror surface irrespective of the outdoor temperature. Such a heater is operated at battery or ignition voltage levels, which are typically between 12 volts and 16 volts DC. Accordingly, when an exterior mirror is removed for repair or replacement, the mirror system is subject to inadvertent mishap. For example, the drive leads extending to the electrochromic element may be shorted together or shorted to ground. Worse, the 12-16 volt DC supply leads extending the mirror heater may inadvertently contact the exposed terminals of the electrochromic element drive lines extending from the exterior mirror housing back to the interior mirror housing. Any such mishap would likely cause damage to the drive circuit or to any mirror in the system then in use.
The combination of two or three electrochromic elements in a vehicle mirror system provides additional difficulties. The drive circuit for one mirror requires a voltage regulator that provides adequate voltage regulation with minimal excess current drain. The extra current required to drive the additional mirror(s), within the voltage range required for a full range of mirror reflectance levels, would require a conventional voltage regulator that has much greater capacity. This increase in capacity would result in excessive power dissipation in the form of heat to provide adequate voltage regulation. This difficulty is further aggravated by the necessity of proper mirror operation under conditions in which the supply voltage to the mirror system is abnormally low.
The traditional approach to driving the mirrors in an automatic rearview mirror system in which both the interior and exterior mirrors are dimmed in response to glare-producing light, is to operate all three mirrors in electrical parallel connection from the same drive circuit. This provides circuit economy and recognizes the fact that all mirrors will experience glare-producing light simultaneously. However, the glare reflected to the driver's eyes from each mirror is different because of the difference in physical relationship between the driver and each mirror. Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to decouple the operation of the mirrors in an automatic rearview mirror in order to recognize the reality of the different responses of each mirror to the same glareproducing light, when viewed from the driver.

Fault tolerant drive circuit for electrochromic mirror system


A system and method for automatically providing content associated with captured information is described. In some examples, the system receives input by a user, and automatically provides content or links to content associated with the input. In some examples, the system receives input via text entry or by capturing text from a rendered document, such as a printed document, an object, an audio stream, and so on.

People constantly receive information that may be of interest to them. Information is presented in many forms, from paper documents (newspapers, books, magazines, and so on) to other objects within the world around them (signs, billboards, displays, and so on). Often, information is at least partially presented via text, either printed on a document, displayed by an object, presented by an audio or video stream, and so on.

Automatically providing content associated with captured information, such as information captured in real-time


An installation arrangement for a solenoid controlled handle operation in a door lock in which force transmission from an operation axis for a handle or the like to a follower acting on a bolt of the lock is arranged by means of a movable coupling member, which receives its guidance from a solenoid arrangement. The follower is provided with two separate torsion units which are installed on the operation axis on different sides of the follower and are turnably supported to it and which can be selectively coupled by means of said coupling member to be in force transmission connection with the follower.

The invention relates to an installation arrangement for a solenoid controlled handle operation in a door lock in which force transmission from either side of the lock from an operation axis for a handle or the like to a follower acting on a bolt of the lock is arranged by means of a movable coupling member, which receives its guidance from a solenoid arrangement .
Control of a handle operation in a door lock by means of a solenoid arrangement can be accomplished in different ways depending on the application. The arrangement may for instance be such that when the solenoid is energized it allows or makes it possible the right to passage by using a handle, whereby, thus, force transmission from the handle to the bolt of the lock is coupled. Alternatively the solution may be reversed so that the arrangement allows the right to passage by using a handle when the solenoid is de-energized. The way of operation of the arrangement depends on whether stress is laid on the security of the right to passage or getting out of the locked space or on the security of the locked space as such.
In practice the arrangement is usually such that from outside the door can always be opened by means of a key operated lock mechanism of the like and from inside by means of a handle, a turning knob or the like, whereby selective coupling of the handle operation presumes at the same time a two-piece or divided shaft of operation. Depending on the location of application the arrangement can also be for instance such that the door is provided with a handle or the like on both sides whereby from one side the door can always be opened by means of a handle and from the other side only selectively depending on the situation.
Another patent application discloses a solution to a problem how the same basic parts to be installed in a lock case can be made use of for both the ways of operation so that the selection of the way of operation of a handle can be accomplished in a simple way from outside the lock case without the need to open the lock case. An installation of a door lock of this kind, however, involves also another essential selection to be made depending thereon, on which side of the door and thus the lock case of the door lock there is a need to provide a handle operation. Also in this connection there is a desire to avoid providing two separate lock cases for doors turnable in different directions.
An aim of the invention is to solve the problem presented above and to provide such an installation arrangement, by means of which a lock case may be modified in connection with installation to a door so that it can be utilized in the door independent on the intended direction of turning for opening the door. A further aim is to provide an installation arrangement by means of which the measures of modification to be made in the lock case, if needed, can be accomplished without opening the lock case in as simple and easy way as possible.

Installation arrangement for controlling handle operation in a door lock and a door lock provided with an installation arrangement of this kind


Structure for and method of therapeutic treatment of a body portion to relieve swelling and pain and facilitate healing of injuries, wounds and incisions. The structure includes a shield adapted to be placed in intimate surface to surface contact with the body portion, a regulator for passing a fluid through the shield at a regulated temperature and/or flow rate, a control for controlling the flow and temperature of the fluid and a temperature sensor for modifying the temperature and flow of the fluid in response to monitored temperature which may be the temperature of the body portion. The shield is constructed of an inner and outer elastomeric member, at least the inner member of which is in the exact form of the body portion to be treated, which inner and outer members are sealed together to form a pocket, a tube in the form of the body portion within the pocket, and a gelatinous substance within the pocket positioned between the tube and inner member. The inner and outer members may be directly molded on castings of the body portion and the tube may be coiled and adhered to the inner surface of the outer member. In use, the shield is positioned over a body portion to be treated in intimate surface to surface contact therewith, and fluid (water} is passed through the tube from the regulator at a flow rate and having a temperature controlled by the controller modified by the monitored temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a structure for and method of therapeutic treatment of a body portion requiring maintaining the body portion at a programmed temperature and a method of making the structure.
More specifically, the invention relates to a therapeutic device including a shield for application to a body portion in intimate surface to surface contact therewith and means for regulating the temperature of the shield by passing a fluid therethrough having a temperature maintained in accordance with a predetermined program and/or the temperature of the body portion. The invention also specifically refers to a method of manufacturing the device and the method of therapeutic treatment of the body portion with the device through the application of the shield of the device to the body portion in intimate surface to surface contact therewith.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, devices have been known for cooling or heating a body portion such as a knee, ankle, neck or the like to reduce swelling, to promote healing and to relieve pain. Such devices include ice packs, common splints, neck braces, cooled or heated wraps and the like. They also include devices for cooling or heating of a body portion in accordance with the type of injury and/or surgery and/or the time during a healing cycle of the body portion.
The more sophisticated of the prior art devices sometimes are provided with passages therein, through which a liquid from a fluid reservoir is passed to either heat or cool a body portion. With such devices, the fluid has usually been pumped at an inconsistent temperature or has been circulated without pumping, using a thermosiphon principle.
The known devices of the past are inadequate since they do not conform intimately to the surface of the body portion to be treated, the temperature of which it is desired to control, whereby they are inefficient. Also, they are uncomfortable in that they are not initially molded to the body portion to conform to the shape of the body portion to be temperature controlled and are bulky. In addition, with prior known devices, temperature control has been non-uniform and inconsistent due to poor surface to surface contact between the shield of the device and the body portion.
One such device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,542. The device as disclosed in this patent is flat and is adapted to be wrapped around ankle and foot body portions. The device has straps for securing it in place, and passages for the passing of fluid therethrough. As indicated above, this device is deficient in that it is not constructed to be in close surface to surface contact with a body portion the temperature of which it is desired to control, and no temperature control means are shown. In fact, no means for circulating the fluid is shown in this disclosure.
The device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,541 teaches pumping of fluid through a fluid therapy device and control of the fluid temperature. It does not, however, suggest control of the temperature of the body portion in accordance with the flow of the fluid and/or the temperature of the body portion.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,608 merely teaches a thermosiphon employed for circulating fluid through the therapeutic device shown, and does not suggest any control of the temperature of the fluid other than to have frozen particles such as ice in the fluid container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,922 shows a substantially conventional neck brace which is not intended to be in intimate surface to surface contact with the body portion it is intended to immobilize. While U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,922 teaches tubing with heating or cooling fluid passing therethrough, and other articles such as a compress and an ice bag placed in the brace next to the body portion to be treated, no adequate temperature control means is disclosed. Again, the device is strapped to the patient.
None of these prior art devices disclose a shield molded in the shape of a body portion to be treated so as to be in intimate surface to surface contact therewith. Further, these prior art devices do not teach a fluid carrying tube coiled in the shape of a body portion having adjacent portions in surface to surface contact with each other or a gelatinous substance hermetically sealed in a pocket with the coiled tube for the purpose of maintaining the shield in intimate surface to surface contact with the body portion.


The present invention relates to a nasal delivery device for and a method of delivering a substance, in particular one of a liquid, as a suspension or solution, or a powder containing a medicament, especially systemic or topical pharmaceuticals, or a vaccine to the nasal airway of a subject.

Referring to FIG. 1, the nasal airway 1 comprises the two nasal cavities separated by the nasal septum, which airway 1 includes numerous ostia, such as the paranasal sinus ostia 3 and the tubal ostia 5, and olfactory cells, and is lined by the nasal mucosa. The nasal airway 1 can communicate with the nasopharynx 7, the oral cavity 9 and the lower airway 11, with the nasal airway 1 being in selective communication with the anterior region of the nasopharynx 7 and the oral cavity 9 by opening and closing of the oropharyngeal velum 13. The velum 13, which is often referred to as the soft palate, is illustrated in solid line in the closed position, as achieved by providing a certain positive pressure in the oral cavity 9, such as achieved on exhalation through the oral cavity 9, and in dashed line in the open position.
There are many nasal conditions which require treatment. One such condition is nasal inflammation, specifically rhinitis, which can be allergic or non-allergic and is often associated with infection and prevents normal nasal function. By way of example, allergic and non-allergic inflammation of the nasal airway can typically effect between 10 and 20% of the population, with nasal congestion of the erectile tissues of the nasal concha, lacrimation, secretion of watery mucus, sneezing and itching being the most common symptoms. As will be understood, nasal congestion impedes nasal breathing and promotes oral breathing, leading to snoring and sleep disturbance. Other nasal conditions include nasal polyps which arise from the paranasal sinuses, hypertrophic adenoids, secretory otitis media, sinus disease and reduced olfaction.
In the treatment of certain nasal conditions, the topical administration of medicaments is preferable, particularly where the nasal mucosa is the prime pathological pathway, such as in treating or relieving nasal congestion. Medicaments that are commonly topically delivered include decongestants, anti-histamines, cromoglycates, steroids and antibiotics. At present, among the known anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals, topical steroids have been shown to have an effect on nasal congestion. Topical decongestants have also been suggested for use in relieving nasal congestion. The treatment of hypertrophic adenoids and chronic secretory otitis media using topical decongestants, steroids and anti-microbial agents, although somewhat controversial, has also been proposed. Further, the topical administration of pharmaceuticals has been used to treat or at least relieve symptoms of inflammation in the anterior region of the nasopharynx, the paranasal sinuses and the auditory tubes.
Medicaments can also be systemically delivered through the nasal pathway, the nasal pathway offering a good administration route for the systemic delivery of pharmaceuticals, such as hormones, for example, oxytocin and calcitionin, and analgetics, such as anti-migraine compositions, as the high blood flow and large surface area of the nasal mucosa advantageously provides for rapid systemic uptake.
Nasal delivery is also expected to be advantageous for the administration of medicaments requiring a rapid onset of action, for example, analgetics, anti-emetics, insulin, anti-epileptics, sedatives and hypnotica, and also other pharmaceuticals, for example, cardio-vascular drugs. It is envisaged that nasal administration will provide for a fast onset of action, at a rate similar to that of injection and at a rate much faster than that of oral administration. Indeed, for the treatment of many acute conditions, nasal administration is advantageous over oral administration, since gastric stasis can further slow the onset of action following oral administration.
It is also expected that nasal delivery could provide an effective delivery route for the administration of proteins and peptides as produced by modern biotechnological techniques. For such substances, the metabolism in the intestines and the first-pass-effect in the liver represent significant obstacles for reliable and cost-efficient delivery.
Furthermore, it is expected that nasal delivery using the nasal delivery technique of the present invention will prove effective in the treatment of many common neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, psychiatric diseases and intracerebral infections, where not possible using existing techniques. The nasal delivery technique of the present invention allows for delivery to the olfactory region, which region is located in the superior region of the nasal cavities and represents the only region where it is possible to circumvent the blood-to-brain barrier (BBB) and enable communication with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the brain.
Also, it is expected that the nasal delivery technique of the present invention will allow for the effective delivery of vaccines.
Aside from the delivery of medicaments, the irrigation of the nasal mucosa with liquids, in particular saline solutions, is commonly practised to remove particles and secretions, as well as to improve the mucociliary activity of the nasal mucosa. These solutions can be used in combination with active pharmaceuticals.
For any kind of drug delivery, accurate and reliable dosing is essential, but it is of particular importance in relation to the administration of potent drugs which have a narrow therapeutic window, drugs with potentially serious adverse effects and drugs for the treatment of serious and life-threatening conditions. For some conditions, it is essential to individualize the dosage to the particular situation, for example, in the case of diabetes mellitus. For diabetes, and, indeed, for many other conditions, the dosage of the pharmaceutical is preferably based on actual real-time measurements. Currently, blood samples are most frequently used, but the analysis of molecules in the exhalation breath of subjects has been proposed as an alternative to blood analysis for several conditions. Breath analysis is currently used for the diagnosis of conditions such as helicobacter pylori infections which cause gastric ulcers.
WO-A-00/51672 discloses a delivery device for delivering a substance, in particular a medicament, in a bi-directional flow through the nasal cavities, that is, an air flow which passes into one nostril, around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and in the opposite direction out of the other nostril. This bi-directional air flow advantageously acts to stimulate the sensory nerves in the nasal mucosa, thereby conditioning the subject for the delivery and providing a more comfortable delivery situation.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide improved nasal delivery devices and nasal delivery methods for providing for the improved delivery of a substance to a nasal cavity of subject.
In one aspect the present invention provides a nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising: a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of a subject, the nosepiece including a nozzle through which substance is in use delivered to the nasal airway, and at least one inflatable cuff member which is configured to be inflated subsequent to exhalation by the subject; and a delivery unit for delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece.
In another aspect the present invention provides a nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal cavity of a subject, comprising: a nosepiece including a nozzle through which substance is in use delivered to the nasal cavity, and at least one inflatable cuff member which is configured such as, when inflated, to provide a fluid-tight seal between the nosepiece and an inner wall of the nasal cavity of the subject; and a delivery unit for delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece.
In a further aspect the present invention provides a nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising: a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of a subject, the nosepiece including a nozzle through which substance is in use delivered to the nasal airway, and at least one cuff member which is configured such as, when fitted in a nasal cavity of the subject, to engage an inner wall of the nasal cavity of the subject and direct at least a distal end of the nozzle towards a site in the nasal airway of the subject; and a delivery unit for delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece.
In yet another aspect the present invention provides a nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising: a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of a subject, the nosepiece including a nozzle through which substance is in use delivered to the nasal airway, and at least one cuff member, at least one of the at least one cuff member including at least one lobe which, when the at least one of the at least one cuff member is fitted in the nasal cavity of the subject, extends into a region of the nasal cavity of the subject such as to at least partially obstruct the same and prevent flow thereinto; and a delivery unit for delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece.
In a yet further aspect the present invention provides a nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising: a nosepiece for fitting to a nasal cavity of a subject, the nosepiece including a first delivery outlet through which substance is in use delivered to the nasal airway of the subject, and at least one second delivery outlet through which at least one gas flow, separate to an exhalation breath of the subject, is in use delivered to the nasal airway of the subject; a delivery unit for delivering substance through the first delivery outlet of the nosepiece; and a gas supply unit for supplying a flow of gas through the at least one second delivery outlet of the nosepiece.
In yet another further aspect the present invention provides a method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising: fitting a nosepiece to a nasal cavity of a subject, the nosepiece including a nozzle through which substance is delivered to the nasal airway, and at least one inflatable cuff member; inflating the at least one cuff member subsequent to exhalation by the subject; and delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece.
In a still further aspect the present invention provides a method of delivering substance to a nasal cavity of a subject, comprising the steps of: fitting a nosepiece to a nasal cavity of a subject, the nosepiece including a nozzle through which substance is delivered to the nasal cavity, and at least one inflatable cuff member which is configured such as, when inflated, to provide a fluid-tight seal between the nosepiece and an inner wall of the nasal cavity of the subject; and delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece.
In still yet another further aspect the present invention provides a method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising the steps of: fitting a nosepiece to a nasal cavity of a subject, the nosepiece including a nozzle through which substance is delivered to the nasal airway, and at least one cuff member which is configured such as, when fitted in the nasal cavity of the subject, to engage an inner wall of the nasal cavity of the subject and direct at least a distal end of the nozzle towards a site in the nasal airway of the subject; and delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece.
In a still yet further aspect the present invention provides a method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising the steps of: fitting a nosepiece to a nasal cavity of a subject, the nosepiece including a nozzle through which substance is delivered to the nasal airway, and at least one cuff member, at least one of the at least one cuff member including at least one lobe which, when the at least one of the at least one cuff member is fitted in the nasal cavity of the subject, extends into a region of the nasal cavity of the subject such as to at least partially obstruct the same and prevent flow thereinto; and delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece.
In a still yet another further aspect the present invention provides a method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising the step of: delivering substance through a first delivery outlet and at least one gas flow, separate to an exhalation breath of a subject, through at least one second delivery outlet into the nasal airway of the subject.
FIGS. 2 to 5 illustrate an exhalation breath-actuated nasal delivery device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.


A retainer for holding a circuit board between spaced surfaces comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped members slideably mounted end-to-end on a rod. At least one member is designed and constructed to receive and retain the rod. In a preferred embodiment, the one member includes a pair of opposing walls defining a longitudinal entrance through which the rod is inserted. The opposing walls are constructed to permit movement of the rod through the longitudinal entrance only when a force in a proper direction above a predetermined threshold is applied to the rod.

Electronic equipment often employs printed circuit boards or cards. These cards typically are mounted in a chassis or card rack by stacking the cards in row alignment with one another. Row alignment in the chassis is defined by slotted or spaced surfaces within or on the chassis, with each circuit board placed in a slot or between a pair of spaced surfaces. A retainer may be provided in the chassis slot to captivate a card positioned therein. Many applications for such retainers require high performance that will captivate a printed circuit board under the most extreme shock and vibration conditions such as those encountered by spacecraft or military aircraft.
Typical printed circuit board retainers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,823,951 and 5,036,428, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such retainers comprise a partially threaded screw or rod and a plurality of members slideably mounted in an end-to-end relationship on the rod. The members disposed on the rod have wedge-shaped end portions which are engagable with one another. The wedge-shaped end portions serve to move at least one of the members in a transverse direction relative to the rod when the members are moved towards one another along the rod. Such movement may be achieved by providing the rod with screw threads to engage and move the distal-most member when the rod is rotated. Alternatively, the movement may result from the action of a lever assembly used to draw the rod away from the distal-most member, thereby pulling that member toward its companions.
Commonly, the rod in prior art retainers is threaded at one end to engage with mating threads on a nut attached to the end-most sliding member mounted on the rod. The opposite end of the rod includes a portion that may be engaged by a tool to allow the rod to be rotated. In so doing, the members are moved toward one another as the threaded rod is rotated in the tightening direction.
The transverse direction in which the member is moved acts to engage a clamping surface of that member against an edge of the printed circuit board. The opposite edge of the board is thereby forced into contact with, and clamped against, a spaced surface fixedly connected to or integral with the chassis in which the board is to be mounted. Typically, the spaced surface fixedly connected to the chassis is the wall of a housing that is screwed or rivetted to the chassis.
The housings of the prior art are mounted (e.g., rivetted or screwed) to the chassis during the manufacture process, or more commonly, by the end user during the application. If the housing is to be mounted by the end user, the retainers and housings are shipped unassembled, although these components can be shipped assembled with instructions to remove the retainer from the housing before mounting the housing to the chassis. Following attachment of the housing to the chassis, the end user must re-assemble the retainer in the housing by inserting a first end of the retainer rod through an opening in a housing end wall, positioning the slideable members on the rod, screwing the first rod end into a nut attached to the end-most sliding member mounted on the rod, and passing the first rod end through a second housing end wall opening.
After mounting the housing and re-assembling the retainer, the end user must install the circuit board between the retainer and a housing side wall. Because it is desirable to maximize the number of circuit boards held in the chassis, retainer housings are designed with a minimum distance between each pair of side walls. As a result, insertion of the circuit board into the space between the retainer and one of the side walls is hampered or prevented if the retainer members are not maintained in proper alignment on the rod. Further, the use of excessive force to install the circuit board between the retainer and housing side wall causes excessive wear and tear on the retainer and the circuit board and may cause breaking of the circuit board. Such misalignment may occur, for example, by rotation of the members on the rod when the retainer is in a relaxed position. One approach to solving the problem of misalignment has been to provide a spring bias, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,951, between the rod and the slideable member, the bias being provided by a leaf spring mounted on at least one of the slideable members.
A need therefore exists for a retainer assembly which eliminates or substantially reduces the labor-intensive, time-consuming process for mounting the retainer to a chassis. The improved retainer would facilitate initial installation, inspection, repair and/or replacement of the slideable members on the retainer rod and would also facilitate installation of the board between the retainer and a side wall of the housing.

Circuit board retainer having a spring body member


A ventilation system for the interior of a vehicle includes a housing comprising an air inlet; a first air outlet; and a second air outlet, which is arranged directly in front of the first air outlet; and a swivel flap arranged in the area of the air outlets. The second air outlet is arranged in a plane that is oriented at a right angle with respect to the plane of the first air outlet. For achieving an air deflection with a simultaneous air distribution within a narrow space, the housing has a third air outlet which is situated in a plane orthogonal to the planes of the other air outlets.

This application claims the priority of German patent document 198 52 592.3, filed Nov. 14, 1998, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a ventilation system for the interior of a vehicle.
In the case of a known ventilation system disclosed in German Patent Document DE 43 38 099 C2, a first air outlet is connected with a center nozzle installed in the dashboard. The center nozzle is arranged in the vertical area of the dashboard for a direct flow against the front passengers. A second air outlet is connected with an air outlet surface which is perforated over a large surface and is arranged in the horizontal area of the dashboard. A swivel flap, which is assigned to the two air outlets, is perforated and is constructed such that, in one swivelling end position, it completely closes one air outlet and completely opens up the other air outlet. When the first air outlet is closed (i.e., the second air outlet is open), the air flows via the second air outlet and flows out of the top side of the dashboard as diffuse air, which flows along the windshield and causes no draft phenomena for the front passengers. Because of the perforation of the swivel flap, simultaneously a little air flows to the center nozzle and exits there as diffuse air which is used for promoting the ventilation which causes no draft for the front passengers. When the second air outlet is closed (i.e., the first air outlet is open), a close, direct ventilation of the front passengers takes place by way of the center nozzle because, as the result of the high air resistance of the perforation of the swivel flap, hardly any air flows via the second air outlet.
It is an object of the present invention to achieve, by means of a single swivel flap for several air outlets, in addition to the air diversion to the individual air outlets, a simultaneously distribution of air.
This object is achieved by the ventilation system according to the present invention. The ventilation system according to the present invention has the advantage that, as the result of the arrangement of the air outlets and the construction of the swivel flap, the air flowing in via the air inlet is divided into three air currents which flow out simultaneously via the three air outlets and, if desired, can be caused to be of the same volume by the corresponding arrangement of the swivel flap. By means of the swivel flap, the air current is slowed down, distributed and deflected by 90.degree. respectively, and thus an air flow separation is achieved within an extreme small-volume space. As a result, the ventilation system as a whole can be constructed in a compact manner, which meets the constant demand for smaller space requirements.
The invention will be explained in detail by means of embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Disclosed is a propylene impact copolymer comprising a first polypropylene having an MFR1 within the range from 15 to 40 dg/min; a second polypropylene having an MFR2 within the range from 50 to 190 dg/min; an elastomeric polymer; and wherein the propylene impact copolymer has an MFRICP within the range from 6 to 18 dg/min; a 1% Secant Flexural Modulus of greater than 150 kpsi (1030 MPa); and an Izod Impact at 25° C. of greater than 10 ft-lbs/in (530 J/m). The impact copolymer may be produced in a two or three tandem-reactor system wherein the catalyst composition used in the second reactor to produce the second polypropylene is different from the catalyst composition used in the first reactor to produce the first polypropylene.

Propylene impact copolymers ("ICP's") are used in materials handling applications such as pallets and crates, where good creep resistance and impact properties are required. Creep resistance is the property of deformation under load conditions. The creep resistance is proportional to the stiffness (e.g., Flexural Modulus) of the product and inversely related to the product melt flow rate ("MFR", 2.16 kg, 230° C.). Namely, the creep is lower with higher stiffness product, and is lower with lower MFR (or high molecular weight) product.
However, the cycle time—the time requiring to mold a single part by injection molding—is high with low MFR products (e.g., less than 4 dg/min) and thus it is preferred to have higher MFR product to achieve lower cycle time. In addition, impact resistance also needs to be adequate for the parts used under different temperature conditions, and the impact resistance in impact copolymers is a function of the ethylene-propylene rubber content. This is especially true for articles such as pallets and crates having a surface contacting face and a load carrying face with a space there between for accepting a carrier such as a fork lift, etc. Both surfaces must be strong enough to carry loads of 500 to 1200 lbs or more at temperatures as low as −10° C., yet the composition used to make the injection molded pallet must have an adequately high MFR to allow rapid cycle time production.
For improved cycle time with ICP's, high MFR product is desirable as it is much easier to fill out the mold in comparison to a low MFR product. However, the high MFR ICP product requires even higher MFR polypropylene matrix in comparison to a low MFR ICP. For example, a 10 dg/min ICP, with about 18 wt % ethylene-propylene ("EP") rubber requires a matrix polypropylene having an MFR of approximately 20 dg/min versus only about 8 dg/min polypropylene for a 4 dg/min ICP. Due to the much lower polypropylene MFR in the 4 MFR ICP as compared to the 10 MFR ICP, the creep resistance is significantly better with the 4 MFR ICP.
Therefore, there is a desire to achieve the delicate balance between ICP MFR for better cycle time and creep resistance for use under load conditions, and the required impact resistance. The inventors solve this and other problems by providing a composition and method of producing an ICP having at least two polypropylenes having unbalanced MFRs.

Method for making propylene impact copolymers with balanced impact strength and stiffness


In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus to acquire and present calibration images of a periodically moving organ with the use of magnetic resonance technology, calibration images are acquired by acquiring measurement data for multiple calibration images during one continuous period of the organ movement, the multiple calibration images differing in their offset frequency and/or in their spatial position in the organ to be examined, and the calibration images in a presentation manner that, from the visual quality of the respective images, allows the user to select (identify) the image acquired with the offset frequency that should then be used to acquire the diagnostic image are displayed to a user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a method to acquire and display calibration images in a periodically moving organ with the use of magnetic resonance technology. Furthermore, the invention concerns a magnetic resonance apparatus to implement such a method
2. Description of the Prior Art
Calibration images are used (among other things) in magnetic resonance imaging before diagnostically significant images of a subject to be examined are acquired and serve for the adjustment or, respectively, the optimization of the subsequent acquisition of the measurement data from which the diagnostically significant images are generated.
Magnetic resonance technology (in the following the term "magnetic resonance" is also shortened to MR) is thereby a technique that has been known for several decades with which images of the inside of an examination subject can be generated. Described in a significantly simplified way, the examination subject is positioned in a relatively strong, static, homogeneous basic magnetic field (field strengths of 0.2 Tesla to 7 Tesla or more) so that nuclear spins in the subject orient along the basic magnetic field. Radio-frequency excitation pulses are radiated into the examination subject to excite nuclear magnetic resonances, the resonant nuclear spin signal is measured, and MR images are reconstructed based thereon. For spatial coding of the measurement data, rapidly switched gradient fields are superimposed on the basic magnetic field. The acquired measurement data are digitized and stored as complex numerical values in a k-space matrix. By means of a multidimensional Fourier transformation, an associated MR image can be reconstructed from the k-space matrix populated with such values.
MR signal generation and acquisition are sensitive to small errors and inaccuracies in the technique that is used. Depending on the measurement sequence that is used, artifacts in particular increasingly occur at high field strengths of 3 Tesla or more, which are increasingly being used for diagnostic imaging.
Effects known as the off-resonance effects are one cause of image artifacts. These effects occur when the resonance frequency (Larmor frequency) of the nuclear spins to be excited differs slightly from the frequency with which the excitation pulses are radiated. For example, this slight difference can be the consequence of an insufficient shim or an insufficient frequency adjustment. In the reconstructed image, this can often appear as band-shaped artifacts, which can considerably hinder an evaluation of measured data. The TrueFISP sequence (True fast imaging with steady state precession) is one example of a known and established sequence that is sensitive to off-resonance effects.
The use of calibration images to select a suitable offset frequency is presently known in order to combat this problem. The offset frequency specifies how significantly the actual excitation frequency of an excitation pulse deviates from a previously selected excitation frequency. Such calibration images are also known as "frequency scouts". One image per heartbeat is acquired with a TrueFISP sequence over a breath-hold phase. The value for the offset frequency is varied in equal steps in a suitable frequency range across the heartbeats. The image with the best image quality can then be selected from the image series that is acquired in this way. The offset frequency associated with this image can then be used in the following TrueFISP measurement in which the diagnostic image data are then acquired with an advantageous artifact response.
FIG. 2 schematically shows the chronological workflow of this acquisition. Trigger points 47 that respectively identify the beginning of a cardiac cycle are determined between the beginning 41 and end 43 of a breath-hold phase based on the EKG signal 45. A calibration image 51 . . . 54 is respectively acquired at a defined time interval at these trigger points 47, wherein the calibration images differ in their offset frequency.

Magnetic resonance apparatus and method to acquire and display calibration images


The disclosure discloses a mobile terminal, a DC-charging power source adaptor, and a charging method, the mobile terminal comprising: a battery configured to store electrical energy; a USB interface configured to be engaged with an external device; and a microprocessor configured to determine whether two differential data pins of the USB interface are shorted, upon detecting an external device being inserted into the USB interface; and if so, to communicate with the inserted external device, wherein if the external device is a DC-charging power source adaptor, then the DC-charging power source adaptor switches two communication pins of a charging interface thereof from being shorted by default to being disconnected, and communicates with the microprocessor; and the microprocessor detects voltage of the battery after communicating successfully with the DC-charging power source adaptor, and if the voltage of a battery core lies in a range delimited by preset DC-charging thresholds, then the microprocessor controls the battery to be DC-charged using charging voltage output by the DC-charging power source adaptor, and determines a value of the charging voltage of the DC-charging power source adaptor from the current voltage of the battery core.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
At present, portable mobile terminals have been widely applied in numerous aspects of people's life, and have become a leading factor in the development of the semiconductor industry. The majority of the existing portable mobile terminals are provided with chargeable batteries to power system circuits in the mobile terminals. As an increasing number of functions supported by the portal mobile terminals are emerging, their system circuits also consume more and more power, and given a limited capacity of the batteries, the mobile terminals operate for a shorter and shorter period of time after the batteries are charged, so that the batteries have to be charged more and more frequently.
At present the batteries have been widely charged in two general schemes: in one of the schemes, the batteries are charged by a general power source adaptor (charger), i.e., in the normal DCP charging scheme, where the general power source adaptor generally supports an output of only fixed voltage, e.g., 5V, 9V, 12V, etc., so that the output voltage may not be selectable flexibly; and in the other scheme, the batteries are charged by a host (e.g., a computer, etc.), i.e., in the SDP charging scheme.

Mobile terminal, DC-charging power source adaptor, and charging method

HISENSE MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD


Improved polyester fiberfill batts for apparel and other uses are prepared of polyester fiber and binder fiber, sprayed with a soft resin by oven bonding and hot roll treatment. This provides bonded batting which is characterized by softness and drapability, good insulating performance, low levels of fiber leakage or percolation through shell fabrics, enhanced durability when laundered by washing/drying or by dry cleaning, and enhanced structural integrity whereby it hangs freely without the need for quilting into small size panels.

Polyester fiberfill (sometimes referred to as polyester fiberfilling material) is well accepted as a reasonably inexpensive filling and/or insulating material for pillows, cushions and other furnishing materials, including bedding materials, and in apparel, and is manufactured and used in large quantities commercially. For many of these used, as disclosed e.g., in U.S. Patents: Tolliver U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,137; Stanistreet U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,036; Scott U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,675; Pamm U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,042; Frankosky U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,817; Siniscalchi U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,383; and LeVan U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,771, it has been desirable to make bonded batts, e.g., by spraying a resin-bonding agent, usually of an acrylic polymer, or by blending the polyester fiberfill with binder fibers, such as are well known in the art, or by use of both a resin-bonding agent and binder fibers.
To improve the aesthetics of polyester fiberfill, it has often proved desirable to "slicken" the fiberfill with a coating of durable (i.e., wash-resistant) coating that has usually been a silicone, i.e., a cured polysiloxane as disclosed, e.g., by Hofmann U.S. Pat. No. 3,271,189; Mead et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,422; Ryan U.S. Pat. No. 3,488,217; Salamon et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,674; LeVan, above; Takemoto Oil and Fat Co., Ltd., Japanese Published Application No. 58-214,585(1983); or other types such as the polyalkylene oxide variety disclosed by, e.g., Marcus U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,599.
Despite all the prior suggestions and commercially-available materials, especially for use in premium level apparel products, sleeping bags, and comforters, there still remains a need for an easily prepared, homogeneous batting that is characterized by softness and drapability to conform to the wearer's body, good insulating performance, low levels of fiber leakage through shell fabrics, enhanced durability to laundering by washing/drying or by dry cleaning, and enhanced structural integrity whereby the batting is able to hang freely without the need for having it quilted into small size panels.

Method of making a bonded batt with low fiber leakage


Article (e.g., turbine engine fan or compressor blade) comprising a titanium alloy has a first portion with alpha+beta microstructure and a second portion with martensitic or a bimodal microstructure. The modified microstructure of the second portion is provided by selectively heating, and immediately quenching, the second portion without substantially heating the first portion. An exemplary method includes providing a near net-shaped article having a first portion (e.g., an airfoil region) and a second portion (e.g., an unfinished dovetail region). Initially, the article comprises an alpha+beta microstructure throughout. Thereafter, the second portion is selectively heated, followed by immediate quenching, without substantially heating the first portion, to modify the microstructure of the second portion to a martensitic or bimodal microstructure without substantially modifying the microstructure of the first portion. Thereafter, the second portion may be processed to a final body dimension.

This invention relates generally to articles formed from titanium alloys, and more specifically to articles having varying microstructures in pre-selected regions and methods therefore.
Titanium fan and compressor blade dovetails are susceptible to fretting and edge of contact (EOC) fatigue failures at the dovetail/disk slot contact location due to high contact stresses. Exemplary compressor blade dovetail fatigue failures are due to a) loss of wear coating on the dovetail surface, b) lever arm failures, c) vane bushing failures, and d) stick/slip condition with the mating titanium spool.
One approach used to address the problem of premature fatigue failure is replacement of a Ti6Al4V alloy with Ti4Al4Mo2Sn (Ti442) alloy. This high strength alloy considerably reduces dovetail failures. However, recurrence of dovetail failures pose a high cost to business and further reductions in fatigue failure are sought.
Generally, fan and compressor titanium-based blades comprise equiaxed alpha+beta titanium alloys. This microstructure provides a good balance of mechanical properties for the combined airfoil/dovetail structure. It is known in the titanium industry that titanium articles having bimodal (alpha+beta) or martensitic microstructures have superior high cycle fatigue (HCF) properties compared to mill annealed titanium articles. Articles having martensitic or bimodal microstructures are slightly harder and stronger than coarse or slow cooled microstructures. An increase in the hardness and yield strength of the titanium alloys increases the resistance to crack initiation by fatigue. Thus, any improvement in the strength of the titanium alloy increases fatigue resistance including resistance to environmentally- or contact-driven fatigue.
Martensitic and bimodal structures may be obtained through high temperature heat treat followed by water quench. However, the necessary heat treat/quench cycle cannot be applied to a substantially net-shaped airfoil due to dimensional distortion during heat treat and quench. Thus, the heat treat/quench process is not feasible on a complete blade.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide the dovetail region of a compressor blade that capitalizes on the high strength and fatigue resistance of bimodal and/or martensitic structure while preserving the airfoil dimension and mechanical properties.

Triple phase titanium fan and compressor blade and methods therefor