Disclosed is a pin feeder for supplying contact pins in a high density interstitial pattern in a printed circuit carrier. The feeder apparatus eliminates the use of tubes, and features instead vertical vibration in combination with a honeycomb feeder plate configuration, thereby providing a process and apparatus for pin feeding with greatly improved reliability, reduced jamming and greater flexibility in its applications.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for feeding and assembling pins into holes prepared in circuitized carriers for ultimate use in electronic packages.
The pins are electronically conductive, typically comprising gold or copper on at least an electrically continuous surface, and having been affixed in place through holes in a first major surface in a circuitized carrier, such as a semiconductor chip, printed circuit board, and the like, emerge from the opposite, i.e. second major surface where they are available for further processing, such as soldering to conductive regions on a surface or within prepared holes in another circuitized carrier. In this manner, compact and efficient electronic packages can be constructed.
2. Background Art
In the past, small shaped objects have been supplied from a vibratory bowl or an inline horizontal vibratory feeder or a belt/cam feeder often through a series of tubes to a shuttle mechanism and then into a carrier. Examples of the rotary bowl type vibratory feeder are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,907,099, 4,348,806, 3,295,661, 4,383,359 and 4,206,539. An example of an inline horizontal vibratory feeder is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,864. Examples of mechanical belt/cam feeders are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,675,120 and 2,433,010.
The feeders described in the existing art are intended to handle a variety of parts. For example, feed of oriented parts having heads is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,907,099, 2,433,010, 4,348,806, 4,821,864 and 3,295,661. Feed of oriented parts of a variety of shapes is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,383,359 and 4,206,539. Feed of granular food particles is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,675,120. In contrast, the pins fed in the present invention are conductive, headless pins substantially identical to one another and not oriented prior to feeding.
Two methods of delivering parts, such as conductive pins, into a carrier, such as a printed circuit board or semiconductor chip, have been used. The first method employs a full matrix of tubes positioned over the carrier wherever the predetermined pattern requires a pin. The pins pass through the matrix of tubes from a vibratory feeder, and the flow of pins from the tubes is periodically interrupted by a shuttle mechanism.
The second method, a row by row scan drop method, employs only a single row of tubes leading from a vibratory feeder at one end and mounted on a sliding mechanism on the other. The slide scans across a receiving shuttle dropping one row of pins at a time until a total scan of the slide includes a complete pin matrix. The completed pin matrix is then dropped from the slide into the carrier.
Problems with existing feeders include frequent bending of pins and jamming of pins in delivery tubes. Music wire is typically run down into the jammed tube in an attempt to clear the jam. In some cases the mechanism has to be disassembled and cleared. There is risk that use of music wire will cause damage to the tube and tube assembly.
With small pins, static cling can be generated from the friction between the pins and tubes as the pins typically travel about 2.5 feet down the tubes to the shuttle, resulting in jamming.
The row by row scan drop method relies on the pin dropping completely into the receiving hole of the shuttle before the slide reaches the far side of the hole. Pins are sheared off or bent if the pin does not drop completely into the hole, and the mechanism must be cleared or disassembled before continued operation. A proclivity to jam necessitates frequent operator intervention, continual operator vigilance and component waste.
An additional problem is presented by a new high density product, which features interstitial patterns. The proximity of the pins to each other, the number of pins and their interstitial arrangement make previous methods of pin feeding obsolete. Tubes cannot be positioned close enough to each other in order to accomplish interstitial pinning in a high density matrix grid.


A method for predicting onset of liquid phase to solid phase transition of a mixture including a plurality of fatty acid methyl esters components. The method includes identifying chemical and molecular structure of each component of the mixture, calculating activity coefficients for each component in a liquid phase and a solid phase, calculating chemical potential for each component in the liquid phase and in the solid phase at a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure, and calculating the cloud point of the mixture. A system for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Biodiesel is viewed as the alternative fuel to the petroleum diesel due to the renewable and environmental friendly properties. Biodiesel is a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) produced from vegetable oils/animal fats by transesterification with methanol as well as other constituents. The compositions of FAME are constrained by the feedstock of vegetable oils/animal fats. There are six main types of FAME in biodiesel: methyl palmitate (C16:0), methyl palmitoleate (C16:1), methyl stearate (C18:0), methyl oleate (C18:1), methyl linoleate (C18:2) and methyl linolenate (C18:3); however, there may be other components known to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
The compositions of the FAME significantly affect the cold flow properties. Cold flow properties are the performances of biodiesel at low temperature. Cold flow properties of FAME can be characterized by cloud point, pour point, cold filter plugging point, and low temperature filterability test. Moreover, in North America, cloud point is used as the most appropriate standard to characterize the cold flow properties of FAME. Cloud point is referred as the temperature when biodiesel starts to form crystals (when phase separation begins to appear (i.e., when the mixture becomes "cloudy") and the thickening fluid can clog filters or other orifices). According to the definition of cloud point, cloud point show FAME change from pure liquid mixture to liquid/solid mixtures. Therefore, cloud point is a phenomenon of solid-liquid equilibrium. The cloud point of FAME depends on the composition because the main FAME components have different melting points (as shown in Table 1). The mixture of FAME with high level of high melting point components will result in a high cloud point.
TABLE 1Melting point of substantially pure FAME componentsComponentsMelting point (° C.)C16:030C16:10.5C18:038C18:1−20C18:2−35C18:3−52
The quantitative relationship between the composition of FAME and cloud point is known. For example, Liu et al. have established the quantitative relationship between the composition of FAME and the cloud point through multiple linear statistical regression. This quantitative model shows fatty acid methyl esters with high melting points have more significant effect than those with low melting points. However, the prediction model is challenged due to a low value of R2 (proportion of variability in a data set based on how well future outcomes are predicted by a model). Imahara et al. use the thermodynamic phase heterogeneous equilibrium principal to predict the cloud point of fatty acid methyl esters according to the fraction of high melting point component. This prediction model is also challenged because the interaction between the components is not considered. Boros et al. used the thermodynamic model to predict the cloud point of fatty acid methyl esters with the UNIQUAC (UNIversal QUAsiChemical is an activity coefficient model used in description of phase equilibria) to predict the non-ideal behavior and as a result the predictability of the model significantly improved. However, their model is also challenged since it needs to be provided various parameters when a new component is added into a mixture.
While UNIFAC (UNIversal Functional Activity Coefficient) models (see Zhong, Sato, Masuoka, and Chen) have been used for predicting liquid-vapor transitions, the UNIFAC model or the modified UNIFAC model (see Gmehling, Li, and Schiller; Lohmann & Gmehling; Lohmann, Röpke, and Gmehling; Weidlich and Gmehling; and Wittig, Lohmann, and Gmehling) has not been used for predicting liquid-solid transition.
A basic challenge, therefore, remains. Specifically, when various components of fatty acid methyl esters from different sources are added, predicting the cloud point of the new mixture remains a challenge. This challenge is especially problematic since fatty acid methyl esters can originate from many sources. In fact the number of sources from which FAME can originate from may be more diverse than sources of fossil fuel. Furthermore, there can be various additives that can be included in the overall composition. Each of these presents a significant challenge for predicting the cloud point of the mixture.
Therefore, in light of the foregoing challenges with cloud point prediction, a method and a system for accurately predicting cloud point in a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters is needed where the method utilizes molecular interactions between the esters and the relationship therebetween to further provide accuracy to the prediction.

Method of modeling cloud point of a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters using a modified UNIFAC model and a system therefor


A method of controlling data transfer between a Web client and a Web application by building a response with a target. The target indicates a destination to an impromptu component of the Web application. The target is signed when a response is built. After receiving the response by the Web client; the corresponding a request from the Web client includes the signed target. The request is received by an entry point of the Web application. The entry point has existing validation rules. The validation rules are by-passed when the signed target is verified. The target is restored in the request to the original state; and dispatched to the impromptu component.

The Internet is by far the largest, most extensive publicly available network of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packet switching using a standardized Internet Protocol (IP) and many other protocols. The Internet has become an extremely popular source of virtually all kinds of information. Increasingly sophisticated computers, software, and networking technology have made Internet access relatively straightforward for end users. Applications such as electronic mail, online chat and web client allow the users to access and exchange information almost instantaneously.
The World Wide Web (WWW) is one of the most popular means used for retrieving information over the Internet. The WWW can cope with many types of data which may be stored on computers, and is used with an Internet connection and a Web client. The WWW is made up of millions of interconnected pages or documents which can be displayed on a computer or other interface. Each page may have connections to other pages which may be stored on any computer connected to the Internet. Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI) is an identifying system in WWW, and typically consists of three parts: the transfer format (also known as the protocol type), the host name of the machine which holds the file (may also be referred to as the web server name) and the path name to the file. URIs are also referred as Universal Resource Locators (URLs). The transfer format for standard web pages is Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) is a method of encoding the information so it can be displayed on a variety of devices.
Web applications are engines that create Web pages from application logic, stored data, and user input. Web applications often preserve user state across sessions. Web applications do not require software to be installed in the client environment. Web applications make use of standard Web browser components to view server-side built pages. Web application can also deliver services through programmatic interface like Software Development Kits (SDKs).
HTTP is the underlying transactional protocol for transferring files (text, graphic images, sound, video, and other multimedia files) between web clients and servers. HTTP defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and what actions web servers and web client browsers should take in response to various commands. A web browser as an HTTP client, typically initiates a request by establishing a TCP/IP connection to a particular port on a remote host. An HTTP server monitoring that port waits for the client to send a request string. Upon receiving the request string (and message, if any), the server may complete the protocol by sending back a response string, and a message of its own, in the form of the requested file, an error message, or any other information. The HTTP server can take the form of a Web server with gateway components to process requests. A gateway is a custom web server module or plug-in created to process requests, and generally is the first point of contact for a web application. The term "gateway" is intended to include any gateways known to a person skilled in the art, for example, CGI; ISAPI for a web server; a web server module, or a servlet.
Web pages regularly reference to pages on other servers, whose selection will elicit additional transfer requests. When the browser user enters file requests by either "opening" a Web file by typing in a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), or clicking on a hypertext link, the browser builds an HTTP request. In actual applications, Web clients may need to be distinguished and authenticated, or a session which holds a state across a plurality of HTTP protocols may need to be maintained by using "state" called cookie.
Web applications incur a security risk by accepting user input in their application logic. To reduce this risk, Web application firewall validates input to Web application before it is used in application logic. Web application entry point, for example, application firewall typically examine incoming request, apply generic security rules, and reject requests that fail to comply with these rules. A security rule can for example reject value longer than 256 characters for a title parameter. Web application validation rules are tied to a specific Web application. A Web application firewall will be used by many components of a Web application. Each component having it corresponding set of validation rules.
Dynamic content may be provided by service-oriented (SOA) for distributed computing. In general, SOA integrates distributed applications in the Internet which are loosely coupled, highly interoperable. SOA provides an interface describing a collection of network-accessible operations, and encapsulating the vendor and language-specific implementation. A SOA is independent of development technology, for example, a C# service could be used by an application of a different language-specific implementation than C#. Web services as defined in SOA work with other web services in an interoperable manner to carry out respective part of a complex business transaction. For example, completing a purchase order may require automated interaction between an order placement service and an order fulfillment service.
One of the convenient and therefore widely used methods for accessing information over the Internet is to access information over the WWW using web portals. Web portals offer a structured approach to provide personalized capabilities to the visitors, e.g. by subject (category) then sub-category.
Web portals serve as a common access point to various distributed applications that are related, for example, to programs of a business. Web portals use distributed applications, different numbers and types of middleware, and hardware to provide services from a number of different sources. Web portals may be delivered in a hypertext markup language document (i.e., a HTML web page) over a public network such as Internet. For example, Web portals may be accessible at a single uniform resource locator (URL) address and integrate disparate, but related databases and systems of a business. Web portals therefore can deliver customized content within a standard template and using a common user interface mechanism.
Web portals usually aggregate dynamic Web content, which is processed and generated by portlets. Many portlets may therefore be invoked in a single request of a portal page. Each portlet obtains a fragment of the content that is to be rendered as part of the portal page. Portlets therefore summarize, promote or provide basic access to an information resource for a group of users who find business value in the information. Access may also include secure resources through integrated portal authentication and single-sign on.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,939 describes a portlet model leveraged to allow programmatic portlets to serve as proxies for web services, and extending portlets beyond their visual role. U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,939 further describes a deployment interface and a system interface for the portlet proxies. The deployment interface is used for composing new web services. The system interface allows for run-time management of the web services by the portal platform.
US Application 20060041637 describes a portal server which uses a reverse proxy mechanism for proxying Web applications on a backend server in response to a request for Web content from a user. The reverse proxy mechanism has a portlet, a set of configuration rules, and a rewriting mechanism. The rewriting mechanism is configured to forward a user request for Web content to a Web application on the backend server, receive a response from the Web application, and rewrite the received response in accordance with the configuration rules. The portlet is configured to produce a content fragment for a portal page from the rewritten response. The configuration rules include rules for rewriting any resource addresses, such as URLs, appearing in the received response from the Web application to point to the portal server rather than to the backend server. A separate backend server is behind a firewall and the reverse proxy function of the portlet allows a user to access the Web application on the portal server, without the need to allow the user to have direct access to the backend server and backend application which provide the actual content.
Custom portlets may be created by any application or information resource provider, based on published specifications. A Web application supporting custom portlets need to allow data of these portlets to pass through its entry point, for example, an application firewall without compromising the security for its other components.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus that allows requests targeted at specific components, for example, custom portlets, to bypass validation in a secure manner.

Application firewall validation bypass for impromptu components

International Business Machines Corporation


A rotating electric machine rotor is equipped with a rotor core and a pair of permanent magnets disposed in a V-shape that opens toward an outer periphery of the rotor core. The pair of permanent magnets is separated in an inner periphery direction of the rotor core, and the rotor core contains a gap formed by connecting between at least the separated permanent magnets.

According to a magnet embedded type permanent magnet motor that has permanent magnets embedded in a rotor core (an interior permanent magnet motor (hereinafter referred to as an "IPM motor" as necessary)), a current phase is controlled biaxially by a d-axis current and a q-axis current. As a result of this, a magnetic field of the permanent magnets is weakened, reluctance torque is effectively used, and high output operation can be made over a wide range.
Further, it is possible particularly for the IPM motor in which the magnets are disposed in a V-shape to effectively use both of torque of the permanent magnets (magnet torque) and the reluctance torque. As a result of this, the output can be improved further.
When a demagnetization field is applied to the permanent magnets by passing the d-axis current, the magnetic field of the permanent magnets is weakened. However, when the demagnetization field is increased, irreversible demagnetization of the permanent magnets may be caused. Particularly, according to the IPM motor in which the magnets are disposed in the V-shape, it is likely that the demagnetization field is concentrated in the vicinity of the d-axis and the irreversible demagnetization is caused.
Meanwhile, according to JP2003-143788A, gaps are formed at end faces on a d-axis side of the magnets. As a result of this, magnetic resistance at an area in the vicinity of the d-axis is increased, the demagnetization field that is caused locally in the vicinity of the d-axis is prevented from passing through the permanent magnets, and the irreversible demagnetization is avoided.


Circuitry that generates an interface signal between a first and a second integrated circuit (IC). The circuitry includes a reference circuit that provides a reference signal, an interface circuit, and a circuit element. The interface circuit is implemented on the first IC, operatively couples to the reference circuit, receives the reference signal and a data input, and generates the interface signal. The circuit element is implemented on the second IC, operatively couples to the control circuit, receives the interface signal, and provides an output signal. The reference signal can be a voltage or a current signal, and can be generated in the first or second IC. The interface circuit can be implemented with a current mirror coupled to a switch array, and can be oversampled to ease the filtering requirement. The interface signal can be a differential current signal having multiple (e.g., four, eight, or more) bits of resolution. The circuit element can be, for example, a VGA, a modulator, or other circuits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronics circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel and improved method and circuit for providing interface signals between integrated circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many electronics systems are implemented using multiple integrated circuits (ICs) that interface together to provide the required system functionality. In many instances, circuit interfaces are provided by digital signals having two logic levels (e.g., high and low) to express digital values. Digital signals are popular for interface because of their ease of implementation and robust immunity to noise.
Special challenges arise when interfacing a digital IC with an analog IC. Digital ICs are more efficient and cost effective for implementing digital functions such as digital signal processing and the like. Analog ICs are used to provide linear functions such as signal amplification, buffering, filtering, modulation, mixing, and so on. In many designs, the interface between the digital and analog ICs is implemented using digital signals. Within the analog IC, the digital signals are buffered, converted to analog signal(s) if necessary, and provided to the analog circuit(s).
The use of digital signals to interface digital and analog ICs is undesirable in some applications for several reasons. First, digital signals typically have large signal swing and sharp transition edges, thereby generating large switching noise. This noise can degrade the performance of the analog circuits, which typically operate on smaller signal swing. The amount of noise can be reduced, to an extent, by using separate power supplies and circuit grounds for analog and digital circuits within the analog IC. However, the reduction may not be adequate for some applications. Second, because each digital signal typically provides one bit of data, multiple (e.g., eight) digital signals are necessary to concurrently provide multiple (e.g., eight) bits of data. In addition, one or more clock signals are typically provided to latch the data bits at the receiving IC. A large number of signal lines, and a corresponding number of device pins, may thus be required to interface the ICs. Moreover, switching noise typically increases with more digital signal lines.
Accordingly, techniques for providing an improved interface between ICs using fewer signal lines that generate a reduced amount of noise are highly desirable. It is also desirable that the interface does not require complex circuitry to implement.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Interface between digital and analog circuits


A disk storage device includes a lid, a disk holder page, and a base. The lid and page are pivotally attached to the base. The device further includes a closing means so that one may directly open the device to any page or the base without turning the individual pages.

The present invention relates to a storage device for disks. More particularly it relates to a book-like device for storing compact disks ("CDs") or the like with their corresponding identification labels in a compact and efficient manner for easy carrying and storage.
With the advent of the computer age, data disks such as music CDs, audio disks, video disks, etc., have become a necessity in both business and personal applications. Such disks are generally commercially marketed individually. If desired, data disks may be purchased in a multiple disk package; however, each disk is still usually packaged individually to maintain the ability to store independently and transport the single disk. These packages are convenient for carrying a single disk but do not provide for convenient and efficient handling of a large number of disks.
An excellent example of these prior art disk cases is a CD case, often called a "jewel" case. Jewel cases are bulky and cumbersome, especially when transported or carried in groups. The smooth plastic outer surfaces of the jewel cases also create problems when attempting to maintain them in an orderly fashion. Further, because of the separate cases, storage, transportation, selection, and re-storage of a large number of cases can create confusion and disorder.
The disk holders for other types of disks generally have the same drawbacks of CD jewel cases.
Where a device is intended to store multiple disks, the device is generally designed to receive the individual disk holders. This provides an orderly manner of storage but lacks the efficient and convenient characteristic necessary for easy transportation of properly stored and organized disks.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a disk storage device which accommodates disks in a convenient, efficient manner for storage, order, and transportation.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a storage device for multiple disks wherein the disks can be removed from their original individual storage device and stored with their accompanying identification label in a convenient, efficient, and orderly manner.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in a detailed description of the invention.


Improved enzyme based methods of separating protein from protein-rich material are provided. A method can include utilizing a modeling equation to more effectively hydrolyze the various types of carbohydrates present in a protein-rich material. A method can include a fed-batch method of incrementally adding a protein-rich material, an enzyme broth, or both a protein-rich material and an enzyme broth. A method can also include partially or completely recycling the hydrolysate.

Soybeans are very well known for their high value oil and protein; however, they also contain a significant amount of carbohydrates. These carbohydrates can be hydrolyzed with enzymes. However, various types of carbohydrates are present, making complete hydrolysis of the carbohydrates challenging. Moreover, differing amounts of these types of carbohydrates are hydrolyzable by each enzyme group present in an enzyme broth. The development and production of optimal enzyme mixtures that are capable of hydrolyzing all types of carbohydrates is lacking. Also, the prior art lacks the description of process steps and conditions for achieving high carbohydrate conversion. Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved enzyme based methods for processing plant based materials, such as soy based materials.

Enzyme based methods of separating protein from protein-rich material


An undercoat layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a binder resin and conductive particles. Each of the conductive particles has a core particle coated with tin oxide doped with aluminum.

An electrophotographic photosensitive member having an undercoat layer and a photosensitive layer formed in this order on a support has been used in electrophotographic apparatus.
In some known technologies, the undercoat layer contains metal oxide particles for improved conductivity. PTL 1 describes a technology in which the undercoat layer contains titanium oxide particles coated with phosphorus- or tungsten-doped tin oxide. PTL 2 describes a technology in which the undercoat layer contains aluminum-doped zinc oxide particles. PTL 3 describes a technology in which the undercoat layer contains titanium oxide particles coated with oxygen-deficient tin oxide. PTL 4 discloses a technology in which the undercoat layer contains barium sulfate particles coated with titanium oxide. These known electrophotographic photosensitive members, in which the undercoat layer contains metal oxide particles, satisfy the current image quality requirements.
In recent years, electrophotographic apparatus have been getting faster and faster (in terms of process speed or cycle speed) and it has been demanded that an electrophotographic photosensitive member perform better in repeated use.
The inventors found through research that the electrophotographic photosensitive members described in the above literature, having an undercoat layer that contains metal oxide particles, become more likely to have the following problems with increasing process speed of the electrophotographic apparatus. More specifically, they have room for improvement because repeated image formation with them under low-temperature and low-humidity conditions can cause many of output images to have streaks caused by charge (hereinafter, charge streaks). Charge streaks are streak-like image defects extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of charge of a surface-charged electrophotographic photosensitive member, and they occur as a result of the electrophotographic photosensitive member experiencing a decrease in the uniformity of its surface potential (charge nonuniformity). Charge streaks are particularly common when a half-tone image is output.

Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus


Internal combustion engine liquid fuels are produced by the mixing of a natural gasoline component and at least one octane-enhancing component. The mix is weathered during the blending operation to remove light-weight hydrocarbons comprising one- to four-carbon components. The light-weight hydrocarbons, which preferably constitute less than 3 percent of the blended fuel, can be recovered to generate power to run the process. The liquid fuel mixture is formulated to produce a desired octane rating, an environmentally acceptable vapor pressure, and a mix which, when burned in an internal combustion engine, produces a minimum amount of pollutants.

Petroleum reserves are decreasing, and the cost of locating and recovering new liquid gasoline reserves is increasing. Large amounts of low-weight hydrocarbon components and natural gasoline are available, but have not been extensively utilized as fuels for motor vehicles and other internal combustion engines. This is despite the relatively low cost of these fuels. These fuels have a high vapor pressure at standard temperatures and pressures, and accordingly, vapor losses to the atmosphere by open-container storage are environmentally unacceptable. These fuels are more difficult to store and to dispense than currently available gasolines, and would require modification of standard liquid gasoline burning vehicles. Also, natural gasoline has a lower octane than is acceptable for present day automotive engines.

Liquid fuels for internal combustion engines and process and apparatus for making same


In a liver function testing apparatus, light sources (11, 12) expose vital tissue (15) to first light of a wavelength absorbed by the specific dye dosed into blood of the vital tissue to be taken in and removed by the liver and second light of a wavelength not absorbed by the dye. Optical pulses passing through the vital tissue are received by a light receiving element (13) and first and second outputs from element (13) are sampled by an A-D converter (30) to produce respective digital signals. Pulsation components of the outputs of the receiving light are detected by high-pass filters (51, 52) and amplifiers (53, 54). A coefficient of a linear regression expression between intensity values of the pulsation components and an average value using the sampled first and second outputs of the received light are determined for performing a biocalibration. A value correlated with a specific dye concentration in the blood is calculated based on sampling outputs during a prescribed period and based on the determined average value after injection of the specific dye. Thus, a coefficient of a simulation function as a time function, is obtained by using the method of least squares and a blood plasma disappearance rate and a retention rate are obtained on the basis of the coefficient of the simulation.

In general, the blood plasma disappearance rate and the retention rate for testing and diagnosing of a liver function have been measured by a method of blood collection using indocyanine green (hereinafter referred to as ICG) as a specific dye.
According to the ICG method, an intravenous injection of ICG is applied to a testee and blood is collected three times after lapses of five, ten and fifteen minutes from the injection, and blood serum is separated upon coagulation of a blood clot so that absorbance at a wavelength of 805 nm is measured through a spectrophotometer to obtain ICG concentration values in the blood serum for each of the lapsed time intervals of five, ten and fifteen minutes relative to a previously obtained calibration curve (corresponding ICG concentration in blood vs absorbance), thereby to calculate the blood plasma disappearance rate and the retention rate. Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-58649 proposes a method of measuring the blood plasma disappearance rate and the retention rate without performing blood collections. According to said method, light is applied through the body surface of an organism, which in turn transmits light of a wavelength having a high ICG absorption sensitivity and light of a wavelength having substantially no ICG absorption sensitivity. The respective quantities of transmitted light are measured to obtain the blood plasma disappearance rate and the retention rate based on changes of the light quantities with time (dye disappearance curve).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 64-17630 discloses an apparatus in which light is applied through the body surface of an organism and the absorbance of ICG is measured to obtain the blood plasma disappearance rate and the retention rate based on changes of the measured absorbance (dye disappearance curve). In said apparatus, a calibration is performed before measurements are made so that changes in the blood quantities in the organism, can be canceled out or disregarded.
In the conventional method of blood collection, it is necessary to correctly measure the times when blood collections are made after injection. However, under actual test conditions it is difficult to accurately measure the time and the operation for such measurement is complicated. Further, the testee is subjected to mental and physical burdens by the blood collection. In addition, the index R.sub.MAX measuring method for ascertaining the blood plasma disappearance rate repeatedly by changing the quantity of ICG injection is often used these days but said method requires several blood collections and the burdens on the testee are further increased.
According to the measuring method without blood collection as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-58649 mentioned above, or Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 61-162934, the output of a sensor actually attached to an organism fluctuates in response to an influence such as blood flow disturbances caused by compression of a blood vessel, vibration of the organism subjected to the measurement, pulsation in the organism, changes in the blood volume in the vital tissue, for example, the blood volume being changed by mere vertical movement of an arm etc. Such influences make it difficult to obtain a correct dye disappearance curve.
Consequently, the blood plasma disappearance rate and the retention rate obtained by the dye disappearance curve cannot be said to be correct.
The above mentioned apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 64-17630 requires a calibration before any measurements can be made. Therefore, the operation is complicated. In addition, changes in the blood volume in the vital tissue can be compensated for to some extent but not in a satisfactory manner because the calibration is preferably performed immediately before an injection of a specific dye but since it takes time in reality before the injection of the specific dye becomes effective, the calibration does not effectively contribute to increasing the measurement precision.


To provide a highly reliable combination weighing device having an object supply chute disposed above a dispersion section, which can prevent foreign matter from being mixed into objects due to the falling of screw members from a support frame supporting the object supply chute. A combination weighing device is provided with a dispersion section, weighing hoppers, a control unit, an object supply chute (150), and a support frame (100). The dispersion section disperses and supplies objects around the dispersion section. The weighing hoppers are arranged around the dispersion section. The control unit performs combination calculation based on weighing values in the weighing hoppers. The object supply chute is placed above the dispersion section and supplies the objects to the dispersion section. The support frame supports the object supply chute. The support frame includes members (111, 113, and 114) as engaged members, hooks as engaging members that engage with the engaged members, and fixing members (140) as non-screw members. The fixing members press the engaging members against the engaged members and fix the engaging members to the engaged members.

Combination weighing devices that use a dispersion section to disperse and supply objects around the dispersion section, use plural weighing hoppers to weigh the objects dispersed and supplied, and perform combination weighing based on the weighing results are known. In such combination weighing devices, there are cases where an object supply chute is disposed above the dispersion section in order to supply the objects to an appropriate position in the dispersion section. The object supply chute is supported by a support frame that extends from a main body having the dispersion section. In the support frame, as described in patent document 1 (JP-U No. H5-14019) for example, screw members are used in order to make the attachment position of the object supply chute adjustable and/or the object supply chute detachable for cleaning and the like.

Combination weighing device having support frame, engaged member, engaging member and non-screw member or fixing member


An automated actuator is fabricated in kit form and adapted to be assembled and disassembled for use with sliding doors, windows or other similar panels. The actuator includes a support column which is adjustable to be braced at the existing door jamb at either side of the door frame to move the panel. Mounting of the actuator does not require the surrounding frame or wall structure to be structurally altered. Circuitry for the actuator ceases the sliding movement of the door when the door meets resistance, such as by a child or animal in the path of the door, and re-tests for the resistance to determine whether the door should continue along the intended path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices that actuate sliding panels such as doors, windows and the like and, in particular, to those devices that are automated and removably mountable to the frame of the sliding panel without altering the frame, the surrounding wall structure or the floor.
2. Background of the Invention
Use of automated devices to open and close sliding doors, windows, or gates are known. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,334,981 to Ackley, 3,403,474 to Spasoff, 3,533,188 to Jones et al., 3,890,744 to Galis, 3,981,203 to Williams, 4,050,189 to Peterson, 4,067,144 to Ogishi, 4,272,921 to Jorgensen, 4,322,913 to Himmer, 4,336,670 to Brutosky, 4,541,202 to Dockery, 4,577,577 to Eriksson, 4,604,826 to Sorbe, 4,885,872 to Chang et al., 4,891,111 to Yung, 4,893,435 to Shalit and The Horton Automatics publication having a 1988 reprint date.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,890,744 to Galis discloses a floor mounted apparatus for operating a sliding door. The apparatus includes a housing affixed to the floor with screws. An endless belt disposed within the housing includes a plate which extends from the housing to coact with a bracket affixed to the sliding door by screws.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,202 to Dockery discloses an apparatus for operating a sliding door by employing a pair of elongated bars. An end of one bar is secured to a stationery structure adjacent the door by bolts and an adjustable connection at an end of the other bar is secured to the sliding door frame by bolts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,435 to Shalit discloses a device for automatically opening a sliding door and includes a housing attached by screws to the floor across the full width of the door. An endless belt disposed within the housing is attached to the sliding door at the lower portion thereof with a bracket. The bracket includes a plate having pressure-sensitive adhesive on both sides for attaching the plate to a select position on the door.
Sensing devices to control a sliding door are also known and are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,621,452 to Deeg, 4,823,010 to Kornbrekke and 4,866,881 to Morrow et al.
The devices discussed above require, in most instances, intricate wiring and assembly steps for installation at a desired location for operation. In addition, all of the devices require that the door frame, and sometimes the sill or jamb, or surrounding wall area, be structurally altered for the devices to be mounted for operation.
When the known devices are removed from their original mounting, one or more of the surrounding wall area, frame, jamb or sill exhibit holes that were required to mount each device. If it is required that the device be remounted for operation, more than likely the existing holes and altered areas of the surrounding wall structure would have to be rebuilt or filled so that the devices could be retrofitted to the existing door frame assembly or wall structure for operation.
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,890,744, 4,541,202 and 4,893,435 require, in their respective applications, that the door frame or surrounding wall structure be breached when mounting the operator device for operation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,202 to Dockery requires that the door frame and surrounding wall structure be breached to mount the operator, despite disclosing that related devices require substantial reconstruction of the mounting track and surrounding structure. In this regard, Dockery has not really solved the problem identified of having a removably mountable sliding door operator that is retrofitable without altering the wall structure.
The known devices also rely on the structural integrity of the surrounding wall or door frame for mounting purposes, and consequently, these areas must be strong enough to support the known devices and withstand any structural alteration that may be required to mount the known devices.
The known devices also consist of many parts and in some cases, intricate electrical wiring and hydraulic systems which for the most part restrict their mounting to those individuals knowledgeable with the mounting requirements for these type of devices. Because of their complicated structure, the known devices do not lend themselves well to kit form for assembly and disassembly, storage and transport.
The devices disclosed in the Galis, Dockery and Shalit patents have the added disadvantage of being mounted such that they represent an obstacle to be avoided at or near the passageway provided by the sliding door.


With a very simple arrangement, body composition impedance, which excludes contact impedance between the dermal surface of a patient and each electrode and body distal site surrounding composition impedance, is measured thereby measuring the amount of body fat with high accuracy. Two pairs of electrodes (four electrodes in total) are connected to a constant current circuit through analog switches respectively. The electrodes to which a constant current is applied are sequentially switched by control signals output from an arithmetic operation control unit. By use of output voltage signals from an operational amplifier, a CPU in the arithmetic operation control unit calculates the value of the body composition impedance by removing the contact impedance and the body distal site surrounding composition impedance.

The present invention relates to a body fat measuring device for measuring the amount of fat in a human body.
The body composition of a human body is made up of muscles, bones, fat and others. The value of impedance of a human body containing a large amount of fat components differs from that of a human body containing a large amount of muscle components. More specifically, bio-impedance has such a nature that as fat components increase, the value of impedance increases and as components containing water increase, the value of impedance drops. When obtaining the amount of fat contained in the body composition by utilizing this nature, the following method is usually taken: Electrodes are attached to dermal surfaces at distal sites of the body such as the tips of fingers of right and left hands, the tiptoes of right and left feet, and the soles of right and left feet. An alternate current or voltage having a frequency of about several tens of KHz to 100 KHz is applied to these electrodes to measure the impedance of the body composition present between the distal sites. Then, the amount of body fat is calculated from the value of impedance thus obtained and personal data such as age, sex and height.
In recent years, the amount of fat contained in the body composition has been considered to be an index for health care and attracted the attention of ordinary people a great deal. Accordingly, demands toward body fat measuring devices for family or personal use have been increasingly growing. With such a background, there have been developed and sold a variety of inexpensive body fat measuring devices capable of measuring the amount of body fat with easy operation.
Known body fat measuring devices generally employ the measuring method called xe2x80x9cthe two terminal methodxe2x80x9d (the two electrode method) or the measuring method called xe2x80x9cthe four terminal methodxe2x80x9d (the four electrode method), and measure the amount of body fat in the body composition by measuring, in an easy way, body inter-distal-site impedance (i.e., the impedance between discrete distal sites of the body to which electrodes are attached) or body composition impedance that excludes the composition of the body at the distal sites.
FIG. 9(a) is a measurement principle diagram illustrating the principal of measurement of body composition impedance by a body fat measuring device which utilizes the conventional two terminal method and FIG. 9(b) is a circuit diagram for explaining the measurement principle. This body fat measuring device 100 comprises two electrodes 101a, 101b on its top surface. The two electrodes 101a, 101b are connected to a constant current circuit 102 and a patient steps on the measuring device 100 with one foot placed on the electrode 101a and the other foot on the electrode 101b, so that a constant current Ic is supplied to the human subject from the constant current circuit 102. The constant current circuit 102 is comprised of (i) an operational amplifier 103 for outputting the constant current Ic and (ii) a reference resistor 104 having a given value Rs for controlling the circuit so as to allow the operational amplifier 103 to output the constant current Ic. The electrodes 101a, 101b are connected to a voltage measurement circuit 105 and a voltage V generated between the electrodes 101a, 101b in a condition in which the constant current Ic is applied thereto is measured by the voltage measurement circuit 105. The voltage measurement circuit 105 comprises (i) an operational amplifier 106 for outputting the voltage V generated between the electrodes 101a, 101b in response to a voltage signal released from the electrodes 101a, 101b; (ii) input resistors 107a, 107b for the operational amplifier 106; and (iii) a resistor 108 for a negative feedback circuit.
In the thus-arranged body fat measuring device 100, where the body inter-distal-site impedance is Zo, the contact impedance between the electrode 101a and the dermal surface of a foot of the human subject is RX1, the contact impedance between the electrode 101b and the dermal surface of another foot is RY1, the relationship represented by the following equation exists between the impedances Zo, RX1, RY1, the constant current Ic, and the voltage V.
(RX1+Zo+RY1)xc2x7Ic=V
That is,
Zo+RX1+RY2=V/Ic
Herein, if the sum of the contact impedances RX1, RY1 (RX1+RY1) is much smaller than the body inter-distal-site impedance Zo, in other words, if Zo+RX1+RY2≈Zo, the body inter-distal-site impedance Zo can be obtained.
By performing calculation based on the body inter-distal-site impedance Zo thus obtained and personal data such as the age, sex and height of the patient which have been input to the body fat measuring device 100 beforehand, the amount of body fat can be obtained. It should be noted that the body inter-distal-site impedance Zo is obtained by combining body distal site surrounding composition impedance to body composition impedance.
Next, a body fat measuring device using the conventional four terminal method will be explained. FIG. 10(a) is a diagram showing the measurement principal of a body composition impedance in a body fat measuring device which utilizes the conventional four terminal method and FIG. 10(a) is a circuit diagram for explaining the measurement principle. The body fat measuring device 110 comprises four electrodes 111a, 111b, 112a and 112b on the top surface thereof. A patient steps on the measuring device 110 with one foot placed on the electrodes 111a, 112a and the other foot on the electrodes 111b, 112b. The electrodes 111a, 111b are connected to a constant current circuit 113, and when the patient puts one foot on the electrode 111a and the other on the electrode 111b, a current Id is supplied to the human subject from the constant current circuit 113.
The electrodes 112a, 112b are connected to a voltage measurement circuit 114 and a voltage generated between the electrodes 112a, 112b when the constant current Id is applied thereto is measured. Herein, the constant current circuit 113 is comprised of (i) an operational amplifier 115 for outputting the constant current Id and (ii) a reference resistor 116 having a given value Rs for controlling the circuit so as to allow the operational amplifier 115 to output the constant current Id. The voltage measurement circuit 114 is comprised of (i) an operational amplifier 117 for outputting the voltage V generated between the electrodes 112a, 112b in response to a voltage signal released from the electrodes 112a, 112b; (ii) input resistors 118a, 118b for the operational amplifier 117; and (iii) a resistor 119 for a negative feedback circuit.
In the thus-arranged body fat measuring device 110, where the body composition impedance to be measured is Zi, the contact impedances between the electrodes 111a, 111b, 112a, 112b and the dermal surfaces of the feet of the human subject are RX1, RY1, RX2 and RY2, respectively, the resistance values of the input resistors 118, 118b of the operational amplifier 117 are set to be sufficiently higher than the contact impedances RX2, RY2, whereby the constant current Id to be supplied between the electrodes 111a, 111b will not flow into the operational amplifier 117 and the amplification factor of the operational amplifier 117 will not be affected even if the contact impedances RX2, RY2 fluctuate. Accordingly, a voltage generated between virtual intersections P and Q in the body, that is, the voltage V generated at both ends of the body composition impedance Zi excluding the contact impedances and body distal site surrounding composition impedances can be measured by the voltage measurement circuit 114. Zi is calculated from the equation Zi=V/Id based on the voltage V thus obtained and the constant current value Id, thereby obtaining the body composition impedance Zi that is not affected by the contact impedances and the body distal site surrounding composition impedances. Regarding the body distal site surrounding composition impedances, since articulates have great impedance values irrespective of the amount of body fat, it is necessary to measure impedance which excludes the impedances of the compositions surrounding body""s distal sites particularly in cases where the composition to be measured includes articulates.
The amount of fat in the body of the patient can be obtained by calculation based on the body composition impedance Zi thus obtained and personal data such as the age, sex, height etc. of the patient which have been input to the body fat measuring device 110 beforehand.
As prior art techniques associated with the present invention, there are proposed body fat measuring devices in Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) Gazette No. 7-79938 (1995) and Published Japanese Translations of PCT International Publication for Patent Applications No. 10-510455 (1998), according to which the impedance of an internal organ in a body is measured by the above-described four terminal method to be utilized in measuring the amount of fat. FIG. 11 diagrammatically shows the principle of the measurement of an internal organ composition impedance Zj in the above prior art body fat measuring devices.
In a body fat measuring device 120 associated with the above prior art, there are provided eight electrodes E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, and E8 which are paired and attached to the right-left pairs of sites on the hands and foot of a human subject, respectively. One group of the electrodes E1, E3, E5, E7 is connected to a constant current circuit, whereas the other group of the electrodes E2, E4, E6, E8 is connected to a voltage measurement circuit. It should be noted that these constant current circuit and voltage measurement circuit have the same configuration as those of the above-described body fat measuring devices 100, 110 which utilize the two terminal method and the four terminal method, respectively. In the thus-arranged body fat measuring device 120, a current is applied between the electrodes E1 and E3 and the voltage between the electrodes E2 and E4 is measured, thereby obtaining the value of {circle around (1)} Z1+Z2. Similarly, a current is applied between the electrodes E5 and E7 and the voltage between the electrodes E6 and E8 is measured, thereby to obtain the value of {circle around (2)} Z4+Z5; a current is applied between the electrodes E1 and E5 and the voltage between the electrodes E2 and E6 is measured, thereby obtaining the value of {circle around (3)} Z1+Zj+Z4; and a current is applied between the electrodes E3 and E7 and the voltage between the electrodes E4 and E8 is measured, thereby obtaining the value of {circle around (4)} Z2+Zj+Z5. Based on the results of these measurements, the internal organ composition impedance Zj is calculated from the equation {{circle around (3)}+{circle around (4)}xe2x88x92({circle around (1)}+{circle around (2)})}/2. Then, the amount of body fat is calculated from the internal organ composition impedance Zj.
Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) Gazette No. 5-49050 (1993) discloses a body fat measuring device in which body inter-distal-site impedance which is composed of body composition impedance and body distal site surrounding composition impedance is measured, and the amount of body fat is calculated based on the measured impedance and the personal data on the patient.
Since the body fat measuring device 110 shown in FIG. 10 and utilizing the four terminal method is designed to measure a voltage generated in the body composition that excludes the composition surrounding body distal sites from the contact impedance between the feet of the human subject and from the all the impedances present between the distal sites of the body, the measuring device 110 requires the operational amplifier 117 which constitutes the voltage measurement circuit 113, the input resistors 118a, 118b for the operational amplifier 117, and the resistor 119 for the feedback circuit. As a result, the configuration of the measuring device becomes large in scale, and the number of wires and circuits increases, inevitably leading to increased cost.
The prior art body fat measuring device 110 utilizing the four terminal method needs a pair of electrodes (two electrodes) for each measuring point (four electrodes in total) in order to measure the body composition impedance Zi from two sites of the body. In addition, wires and various circuits are connected to each electrode so that a large system configuration is involved, resulting in increased cost.
The prior art body fat measuring device 100 shown in FIG. 9 and employing the two terminal method has another problem. This device 100 is designed to obtain the body inter-distal-site impedance Zo including the contact impedances RX1, RY1 upon condition that the sum of the contact impedances RX1, RY1 is sufficiently smaller than the body inter-distal-site impedance Zo. Since a different amount of water and other deposits are present on the dermal surface of a body in each occasion, the values of the contact impedances RX1, RY1 vary more or less so that it becomes difficult to correctly, stably obtain the body inter-distal-site impedance Zo. Additionally, the body inter-distal-site impedance Zo includes the impedance of the composition surrounding body distal sites and, therefore, the impedance Zo sometimes has a great impedance value irrespective of the amount of fat within the body of the patient. As a result, the body fat measuring device 100 fails in correctly measuring the amount of body fat.
The body fat measuring device 120 for measuring the internal organ composition impedance Zj shown in FIG. 11 also suffers from problems: Since it needs eight electrodes in total (two electrodes for each hand and each foot), many wires and circuits become necessary which leads to a large system configuration and increased cost. In addition, when measuring the impedance of the cross section of the trunk of a body, many pairs of electrodes are attached with the trunk between each pair, and a voltage is measured between each opposed pair of electrodes. In this case, a pair of electrodes is necessary for each measuring point so that a large number of electrodes are involved, resulting in increases in the number of wires and circuits and in cost.
The body fat measuring device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) Gazette No. 5-49050 measures the body inter-distal-site impedance that includes the body distal site surrounding composition impedance having a large value irrespective of the amount of body fat and obtains the amount of body fat based on the measured body inter-distal-site impedance. Therefore, this measuring device also has difficulty in correctly measuring the amount of body fat.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the above-described problems and a prime object of the invention is therefore to provide a body fat measuring device capable of accurately measuring body composition impedance which excludes contact impedance generated between each electrode and the dermal surface of a human object and body distal site composition impedance so that the amount of fat within the body of the human subject can be measured with high accuracy.
In accomplishing the above prime object, there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a body fat measuring device for measuring the amount of body fat within a body, the device comprising:
(a) a single or a plurality of electrodes in contact with each of a plurality of sites on the dermal surface of the body;
(b) a power supply circuit for applying a constant current or voltage to the electrodes;
(c) impedance measuring means for switching the electrodes to be connected to the power supply circuit such that a contact impedance and a body distal site surrounding composition impedance are present between the electrodes or such that a contact impedance, a body distal site surrounding composition impedance and a body composition impedance are present between the electrodes, whereby the value of the composite of the contact impedance and the body distal site surrounding composition impedance and the value of the composite of the contact impedance, the body distal site surrounding composition impedance and the body composition impedance are respectively measured; and
(d) calculating means for calculating the value of the body composition impedance based on the measured values obtained by the impedance measuring means.
In the invention, one or a plurality of electrodes are disposed so as to contact each of a plurality of sites on the dermal surface of a body. The impedance measuring means measures the value of the composite of a contact impedance and a body distal site surrounding composition impedance and the value of the composite of a contact impedance, a body distal site surrounding composition impedance, and a body composition impedance. The calculating means then calculates only the value of the body composition impedance, based on the measured values. Personal data (age, sex, height, etc.) on a patient have been input beforehand, and the amount of body fat (body fat percentage) is calculated from the calculated value of the body composition impedance and the personal data, using a known method.
According to the invention, since the impedance measurement is made with different combinations of electrodes to which a current or voltage is applied, the influences of the contact impedances and the body distal site surrounding composition impedances are thoroughly eliminated by calculation so that a highly accurate body composition impedance value in which the amount of body fat of the patient is reflected and, consequently, a highly accurate body fat amount can be calculated. Since the need for electrodes for measuring a voltage generated within the body and a voltage measurement circuit can be obviated, the system construction can be simplified, leading to cost reduction.
The invention is preferably arranged as follows. The electrodes are provided such that a pair of electrodes are disposed so as to contact a first one of two dermal surface sites between which a body composition impedance to be measured is present and another pair of electrodes are disposed so as to contact a second one of the dermal surface sites. The electrodes in each pair are close to each other. The power supply circuit is connected to the pair of electrodes at the first site or at the second site by the impedance measuring means to measure the value of the composite of a contact impedance and a body distal site surrounding composition impedance, these impedances being present between the pair of electrodes to which the power supply circuit is connected. The power supply circuit is connected to one of the electrodes in the respective pairs at the first site and at the second site to measure the value of the composite of a contact impedance, a body distal site surrounding composition impedance and a body composition impedance, these impedances being present between the electrodes to which the power supply circuit is connected. The calculating means calculates the value of the body composition impedance based on the measured values.
With this arrangement, the influences of the contact impedances and the body distal site surrounding composition impedances can be thoroughly eliminated, similarly to the above case so that the value of the body composition impedance in which the amount of body fat of the patient is reflected can be calculated with high accuracy and the system configuration can be simplified, resulting in cost reduction.
The invention may be also arranged as follows. The electrodes are provided such that two electrodes are disposed so as to contact a first one of two dermal surface sites between which a body composition impedance to be measured is present and one electrode is disposed so as to contact a second one of the two sites. The two electrodes disposed at the first site are close to each other. The power supply circuit is connected to the two electrodes at the first site by the impedance measuring means to measure the value of the composite of a contact impedance and a body distal site surrounding composition impedance, these impedances being present between the electrodes to which the power supply circuit is connected. The power supply circuit is connected to one of the electrodes at the first site and the electrode at the second site to measure the value of the composite of a contact impedance, a body distal site surrounding composition impedance, and a body composition impedance, these impedances being present between the electrodes to which the power supply circuit is connected. Based on the measured values, the calculating means calculates the value of the body composition impedance.
With the above arrangement, the number of electrodes necessary for the device of the invention can be minimized, compared to the prior art body fat measuring device employing the four terminal method. In addition, the influences of the contact impedances and the body distal site surrounding composition impedances can be thoroughly eliminated to calculate the body composition impedance.
Another alternative of the invention is as follows. The electrodes are provided such that one electrode is disposed so as to contact each of the dermal surface sites which surround hands and feet respectively. The power supply circuit is connected by the impedance measuring means to the electrode in contact with one hand and to the electrode in contact with one foot to measure the value of the composite of a contact impedance, an arm composition impedance, a leg composition impedance and an internal organ impedance, these impedances being present between the electrodes to which the power supply circuit is connected. The power supply circuit is connected to the electrodes in contact with the hands to measure the value of the composite of a contact impedance and an arm composition impedance, these impedances being present between the electrodes to which the power supply circuit is connected. The power supply circuit is connected to the electrodes in contact with the feet to measure the value of the composite of a contact impedance and a leg composition impedance, these impedances being present between the electrodes to which the power supply circuit is connected. The calculating means calculates the value of the internal organ composition impedance, based on the measured values.
With the above arrangement, the measurement of the internal organ composition impedance which previously required eight electrodes can be made with four electrodes. This entails a reduction in the number of wires and circuits, resulting in simplification of the system configuration and cost reduction.
Preferably, the invention further comprises weight measuring means. With this arrangement, the value of weight, which is data necessary for the calculation of the amount of body fat from the body composition impedance, can be measured at the same time with the impedance measurement by the impedance measuring means. This leads to an improvement in the accuracy of the amount of body fat to be finally obtained.
It is also preferable to carry out the measurement of the impedances between the electrodes by the impedance measuring means while weight measurement is made by the weight measuring means, during a transient weight phenomenon state (weight fluctuation state). When the patient steps on the device with his dermal surface sites being brought into contact with the electrodes, the weight measuring means is in its fluctuated state, but a correct impedance measurement is possible. In the above arrangement, the wait time elapsing until the measuring device becomes ready for correct weight measurement is utilized for the impedance measurement so that the value of weight and the amount of body fat can be efficiently measured, while reducing the overall time required for the measurements.
In the invention, when the value of weight measured by the weight measuring means significantly fluctuates, being in an unstable condition, it is preferable to carry out the measurement of the impedances between the electrodes by the impedance measuring means while the weight measurement by the weight measuring means being made. With this arrangement, the impedances between the electrodes can be measured by the impedance measuring means during the wait time elapsing until the transient condition in which the value of weight to be measured by the weight measuring means fluctuates is settled. Therefore, even if a large number of cycles are required for the impedance measurement, in other words, even if it takes a long time to measure the impedances, the prolonged time will not affect the body fat amount measurement carried out simultaneously with the weight value measurement.
In the invention, when the value of weight measured by the weight measuring means does not fluctuate so much, being in a stable condition, it is preferable to interrupt the measurement of the impedances between the electrodes made by the impedance measuring means. Usually, the measurements of the values necessary for the calculation of the body composition impedance is completed by the time the value of weight becomes stable. When the value of weight has become stable, the measurement of the impedances between the electrodes is interrupted and the calculation of the body composition impedance is performed based on the measured values so that the amount of body fat can be output together with the value of weight. Accordingly, the measurement of the impedances between the electrodes can be carried out until the value of weight becomes stable and the calculation of the body composition impedance can be therefore performed with the latest measured values, so that the accuracy of the amount of body fat to be finally obtained can be increased.
In the invention, when the value of weight measured by the weight measuring means does not fluctuate so much, being in a stable condition, it is preferable to interrupt the measurement of the impedances between the electrodes made by the impedance measuring means while only the weight measurement being made. By thus performing the weight measurement continuously, it becomes possible to detect whether the value of weight is in a stable or unstable condition.


A small matching connector which may prevent the occurrence of a positional deviation between male and female contacts when male and female connectors are fitted to each other and may remove foreign matter adhered to the female contacts is provided. The female contacts arranged along the inner peripheral surface of the female connector are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the male connector into the female connector and parallel with the longitudinal direction of the inner peripheral surface. The adjacent female contacts whose inclined surfaces are opposed to each other are paired and have the same inclination angle with respect to the inner peripheral surface.

In recent years, a substrate in an electronic device has a large number of integrated circuits with many pins, and consequently, the total number of contacts of a matching connector having a two-piece-type bellows contact to electrically connect the substrates has been increasing. The female connector of the matching connector is comprised of a housing with a parallelepiped recess, which is provided with an array of plural contacts formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. The male connector of the matching connector is comprised of a housing with a projection, which is provided with an array of plural contacts formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof and opposed to the corresponding contacts of the female connector.
In the matching connector, the male connector is fitted into the female connector to establish a connection. Miniaturization of the connector makes it difficult to correct a positional deviation between the contacts of the male and female connectors due to the restriction of the dimensional accuracy of the housings of the connectors. Moreover, in order to increase the number of contacts while miniaturizing the connector, attempts to reduce the contact pressure of the contacts of the male and female connectors have been made.
Reduced contact pressure makes it difficult to remove dust adhered to the female connector of the matching connector due to the mutual sliding contact of the small contacts. As one solutions for removing foreign matter adhered to the contacts, Japanese Unexamined Patent publication No. 5-026904 has proposed making each contact (each contact of a male connector) in contact with each pad (each contact of a female connector) at a plurality of contact points.
However, the solution disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-026904 can be applied to a spring contact, but cannot be applied to removal of foreign matter in a small matching connector to which the subject of the present invention is directed. Moreover, no solutions have been proposed to correct a positional deviation of the contacts of the male and female connectors in a matching connector, caused by the miniaturization of the connector.