Unwanted gasses created during bonding within micromachined vacuum cavities are reduced in a manner conducive to mass manufacturing. Two broad approaches may be applied separately or in combination according to the invention. One method is to deposit a barrier layer within the cavity (for example, on an exposed surface of the substrate). Such a layer not only provides a barrier against gases diffusing out of the substrate, but is also chosen so as to not outgas by itself. Another approach is to use a material which, instead of, or in addition to, acting as a barrier layer, acts as a getterer, such that it reacts with and traps unwanted gases. Incorporation of a getterer according to the invention can be as straightforward as depositing a thin metal layer on the substrate, which reacts to remove the impurities, or can be more elaborate through the use of a non-evaporable getter in a separate cavity in gaseous communication with the cavity. The invention is applicable to a wide range of micromachined devices and structures, including micromachined capacitive pressure sensors and other transducers, though the techniques are not limited to such applications. Anodic bonding is used in conjunction with a glass substrate, with the understanding that various types of substrates and bonding/attachment procedures may alternatively be used.

This invention relates generally to microdevices, including micromachined capacitive pressure sensors and, in particular, to the prevention, reduction and elimination of outgassing and trapped gases in such devices.
Micromachined sensors have been under intense development during the last two decades, and many devices have been developed and commercially produced. Silicon-based pressure sensors, in particular, are being sold worldwide in very large volumes, and are being used in a wide variety of application areas, including automotive and industrial processing.
As part of the fabrication process for the development of vacuum referenced micromachined transducers, attachment of silicon to a substrate, (for example, bonding silicon to glass substrates) in vacuum is required. Various attachment procedures include, but are not limited to, anodic bonding, fusion bonding, thermal bonding, eutectic bonding, glass frit bonding (thermal compression bonding), adhesive bonding and chemical bonding.
Creating ultra high vacuum levels inside micromachined cavities is, however, a problem. For example, even though anodic bonding can be done in very high vacuum levels (for example 10xe2x88x926 torr), the pressure inside the vacuum bonded cavities is generally much higher (up to a few orders of magnitude higher). This suggests that there might be at least two residual gas sources which contribute to this lack of ultra high vacuum sealing of transducers. One source is gas generation during the bonding process, and the other source is gas desorption from the inner surface of the sealed cavity. Therefore, in order to create high vacuum in cavities, these gas sources must be eliminated.
This invention is directed to both preventing outgassing and the elimination of gases created during attachment inside vacuum cavities.
In general terms, this invention is directed toward the prevention of outgassing and/or the elimination of gases created during attachment inside micromachined vacuum cavities. In the preferred embodiment, such problems are solved in a manner which is mass manufacturable.
Specifically, the invention resides in two broad approaches to the problem of sealing ultrahigh vacuum cavities, which can be applied separately or in combination. One method is to deposit a barrier layer within the cavity (for example, on an exposed surface of the substrate). Such a layer not only provides a barrier against gases diffusing out of the substrate, but is also chosen so as to not outgas by itself.
Another approach is to use a material which, instead of, or in addition to, acting as a barrier layer, acts as a getterer, such that it reacts with and traps unwanted gases.
Incorporation of a getterer according to the invention can be as straightforward as depositing a thin metal layer on the substrate, which reacts to remove the impurities, or can be more elaborate through the use of a non-evaporable getter in a separate cavity in gaseous communication with the cavity.
As discussed in the detailed description which follows, the invention is applicable to a wide range of micromachined devices and structures, including micromachined pressure sensors and other transducers, though the techniques are not limited to such applications. In the preferred embodiment, anodic bonding is used in conjunction with a glass substrate, with the understanding that various types of substrates and bonding/attachment procedures may alternatively be used.

Methods for prevention, reduction, and elimination of outgassing and trapped gases in micromachined devices

Integrated Sensing Systems (ISSYS), Inc.


The invention is of a method for treating the primary cooling medium of a pressurized water nuclear reactor by controlling its efficiency through the H.sub.3 BO.sub.3 content in the cooling medium. Hydrazine hydrate (N.sub.2 H.sub.4 .multidot.H.sub.2 O) is continuously fed to the coolant of a reactor which is charged for energy generation, to such an extent that its content equals 5.10.sup.-6 to 5.10.sup.-2 g/kg coolant medium as well as KOH and/or LiOH which corresponds to the alkaline properties. KOH in an amount of 80 to 56 mg/kg cooling medium with respect to the amount of H.sub.3 BO.sub.3 in a range of 20 to 0 g/kg cooling medium and the excess hydrogen is removed from the system leaving a maximum amount of hydrogen in the coolant medium of 100 n.multidot.ml/kg.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a pressurized water reactor and to controlling its efficiency by the content of boric acid (H.sub.3 BO.sub.3 ) in the cooling medium.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
As is generally known, the strongest activation during operation of nuclear reactors occurs in the insoluble compounds and metal oxides contained in the cooling medium (O.I. Martynov, A.S. Kopylov, "Vodno-chimiceskie Rezimy AES, Sisteny Ich Poddersanija i Kontrolja", Moscow, Energoisdat, 1983, pgs. 49-50).
The determination of the solubility constant of metal oxides has shown that in reactor water, depending on the temperature and the LiOH and KOHconcentration, considerable lower solubility exists for nickel oxide than for oxides of iron, chromium, manganese, cobalt and other oxides under practically the same conditions.
During the reactor operation the nickel oxide becomes the source for forming of .sup.58 Co, one of the most important contaminating radioactive isotopes in reactors mostly made from steel with a high Ni-content.
An increase in solubility of nickel oxide can occur by either increasing the temperature of the medium or by increasing the alkalinity of the cooling medium, by increasing the content of LiOH or KOH. However, an increase in the temperature of the medium by an increased heat release in the core results in a reduction of safety during the operation of the fuel elements (A.S. Kopylov, E.I. Verchovskij "Specvodoocistka na Atomnych Elektrostanceijach", Moscow, "Vysvaja skola", 1988, pg. 109).
The increase of alkalinity of the cooling medium in pressurized water reactors was tested (see report of IAEA, Coolant Technology of Water Reactors, Doc. 0846j, 03.11.91, pgs. 27-29). A maximum of a permissible pH-value of 8 was found and established (with the aid of a hot sample), that due to the formation of certain amounts of oxide radicals, i.e., of radiolysis products of the water, the increase of alkalinity may result in embrittlement of non-rusting steels of which the individual components of the nuclear reactors are made. The permissible alkalinity ranges, in dependency from the H.sub.3 BO.sub.3 amount, are stated in the Report of IAEA "Coolant Technology of Water Reactors" (Doc. 0846j), 03.11.91, pg. 27.
It is an object of the invention to provide a marked increase of the solubility of Ni-oxides and thereby a lowering of the contamination of reactors with .sup.58 Co.

Method for treating the primary cooling medium of a pressurized water nuclear reactor

Techno-Invest Entwicklung Von Technologien GmbH


A low-loss, high-efficiency, broadband antenna including both electric and magnetic dipole radiators is provided herein. The broadband antenna may be referred to as a “P×M antenna” and may generally include a ground plane; a magnetic radiator formed within the ground plane; a conductive feed arranged within a first plane, which is parallel to the ground plane; and an electric radiator arranged within a second plane, which is perpendicular to the ground plane and coupled at one end to the conductive feed. According to a particular aspect of the invention, the electric and magnetic radiators are substantially complementary to one another and are coupled for producing a P×M radiation pattern over a broad range of operating frequencies. One advantage of the P×M antenna described herein is that the complementary antenna elements are combined without the use of a lossy, resistive matching network, thereby increasing the efficiency with which the P×M radiation pattern is produced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to antennas and, more particularly, to a practical implementation of a low-loss, high-efficiency, broadband antenna incorporating both electric and magnetic radiating components.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following descriptions and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion within this section.
A wide operating frequency range is currently used for purposes of communications, especially ultra-wideband (UWB) communications and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing. For example, many commercial and military-based communication devices operate within the 3 MHz to 30 MHz "high frequency" (HF) band, the 30 MHz to 300 MHz "very high frequency" (VHF) band, and in some cases, lower portions of the 300 MHz to 3 GHz "ultra high frequency" (UHF) band. Advantages of these relatively low frequency bands include improved diffraction around and penetration through obstacles, such as walls and foliage, and reduced path loss and attenuation in air, resulting in longer transmission lengths for a given power level. Due to the inverse relationship between size and operating frequency, antenna elements of relatively large size are often used for communicating in relatively low frequency bands, such as the HF and VHF bands. In many cases, however, it may be desirable for the antenna elements to be as small as possible for reasons of convenience, durability, space constraints and/or aesthetics.
Electrically-small antenna elements are utilized in many low frequency (e.g., mobile communications) and high frequency (e.g., EMC testing) applications. For example, an electrically-small antenna may be used in low frequency applications to accommodate space, durability or other concerns, or in high frequency applications to achieve a particular frequency level, which may be desired for EMC testing purposes. As used herein, the term "electrically-small" refers to an antenna or antennal element with relatively small geometrical dimensions when compared to the wavelengths of the electromagnetic fields they radiate. Quantitatively speaking, electrically-small antennas are generally defined as antennas which fit inside a sphere with a radius, a=λ/2π, where λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic energy radiated from the antenna.
Unfortunately, electrically-small antennas tend to have rather large radiation quality factors (Q) meaning that they tend to store (on time average) much more energy than they radiate. This leads to input impedances that are predominantly reactive, which can make it difficult, if not impossible, to impedance match an electrically-small antenna to an input feed over a broad range of bandwidths. Furthermore, due to the large radiation quality factor, the presence of even small resistive losses may lead to very low radiation efficiencies in electrically-small antennas (e.g., around 1-50% efficiency).
According to known quantitative predictions, the minimum attainable radiation Q for any linearly-polarized, electrically-small antenna, which fits inside a spherical volume of radius, a, can be found by:
                    Q        =                              1            ka                    +                      1                                          k                3                                                          a                3                                                                        (                  EQ          .                                                    1                )            where k=1/λ, the wave number associated with the electromagnetic radiation. Thus, the radiation Q of an electrically-small antenna may be roughly proportional to the inverse of its electrical volume (a), or inversely proportional to the antenna bandwidth. In order to achieve relatively broad bandwidth and high efficiency with a single-element, electrically-small antenna of a given size, it may be desirable to utilize as much of the volume (that the antenna occupies) as possible. This may be achieved, in some cases, by increasing the size of the antenna elements, while retaining an electrically-small status.
In order to achieve the fundamental limit on radiation Q, as set forth in EQ. 1, an antenna would have to excite only the Transverse Magnetic (TM01) or Transverse Electric (TE01) mode outside of the enclosing spherical surface, and store no electric or magnetic energy inside the spherical surface. So while, a short linear (electric) dipole excites the TM01 mode outside of the sphere, it does not satisfy the criterion of storing no energy within the sphere, and thus, exhibits a higher radiation Q (and narrower bandwidth) than that predicted by EQ. 1.
In general, all antennas that radiate dipolar fields, such as electric and magnetic dipoles, are limited by the constraint given in EQ. 1. Though some broadband dipole designs have been successfully implemented and approach the limit given in EQ. 1, it is currently impossible to construct a linearly-polarized, omnidirectional antenna that exhibits a radiation Q less than that predicted by EQ. 1. However, while EQ. 1 represents the fundamental limit on the radiation Q of a linearly-polarized, omnidirectional antenna, it is not the global lower limit on radiation Q. Instead, a compound antenna which radiates substantially equal power into the TM01 and TE01 modes can (in principle) achieve a radiation Q of approximately:
                    Q        =                              1            2                                          [                                          2                ka                            +                              1                                                      k                    3                                                                          a                    3                                                                        ]                                              (                  EQ          .                                                    2                )            or roughly half that of an isolated electric or magnetic dipole, which radiates the TM01 or TE01 mode, alone. In other words, the impedance bandwidth of a compound antenna can be nearly double that of an isolated electric or magnetic dipole.
Ideal compound antennas having a pair of infinitesimally-small electric and magnetic dipoles, which are co-located and oriented to provide orthogonal dipole moments, have been theoretically and numerically examined and found to provide useful features. Such antennas are often referred to as "P×M antennas," due to their orthogonal combination of electric (p) and magnetic (m) dipole vectors. Desirable characteristics of P×M antennas may include, but are not limited to, a useful radiation pattern (e.g., a low-gain, unidirectional radiation pattern) and a relatively broad impedance bandwidth for a given electrical size. As noted above, the radiation Q of an electrically-small P×M antenna is approximately half that of an isolated electric or magnetic dipole. Though the reduced Q should improve broadband impedance matching (at least in principle), practical implementations of P×M antennas have been problematic and have not been thoroughly investigated.

PxM antenna with improved radiation characteristics over a broad frequency range


A catalyst alarm system for resin/catalyst spray applications, the system having a first flow sensor that monitors whether a catalyst from a manifold is flowing for supply to a spay gun or other applicator at a specified minimum rate; a second flow sensor that detects if the catalyst is flowing out of a bypass conduit of the manifold, which indicates the catalyst is not being mixed with the resin; a third flow sensor that detects if the catalyst is flowing out of an over-pressure conduit of the manifold, which indicates that only a partial amount of the required catalyst is being mixed with the resin; and monitoring circuitry for providing alarm and/or control features based on activation combinations of the three flow sensors.

Liquid resins and catalysts used for spray applications associated with short-fiber composite manufacturing processes are typically mixed just before spraying and it is important to maintain the flows in desired amounts. The catalyst is an initiator for a polymerization reaction with the resin and the catalyst is typically highly reactive. Conventional flow sensors are unsuitable for use with highly reactive catalyst fluids and their typical process conditions involving high pressures.
Prior flow sensors have been found to be incompatible for use with catalysts due to the highly reactive nature of catalysts such as methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP), and high-pressure conditions, such as up to about 1500 psi, typically associated with such spray processes. Accordingly, what is desired is a flow sensing apparatus that is suitable for monitoring the flow of a liquid catalyst and for signaling when the flow is outside of a desired range.
The present disclosure advantageously provides catalyst flow sensors and associated delivery systems configured for use with liquid catalysts to detect when the flow rate of the catalyst is outside of a desired range. The sensors are configured for use with reactive catalysts under high pressure conditions, and the systems advantageously include an alarm or other indicators designed to alert a user when catalyst is not flowing as desired.


A monolythic multilayer chip inductor includes a plurality of subassemblies stacked one above another. Each of the subassemblies includes a ferrite layer having a coil conductor printed on its upper surface. All of the ferrite layers except for the bottom layer and a ferrite top cap include via holes therein for permitting interconnection of the electrical interconnection of the conductor coils from one layer to the other. One end of the top coil conductor is exposed adjacent the edge of the chip, and one end of the bottom coil conductor is exposed adjacent another edge of the chip so that the conductors can be connected to terminals for introducing electrical current which will pass through all of the interconnected coils.

The present invention relates to a monolythic multilayer chip inductor and method for making same.
Monolythic multilayer chip inductors exist in the prior art, but there is a need for such an inductor which can be easily manufactured in large quantities, and which provides an improved reliability in operation.
Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved monolythic multilayer chip inductor and method for making same.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved monolythic multilayer chip inductor having a plurality of conductor coils stacked above one another and sandwiched between ferrite layers, and having end cap terminals at opposite edges thereof.
A further object of the present invention is the provision on an improved monolythic multilayer chip inductor which can be manufactured in large quantities on a single sheet of material, later to be cut apart into individual inductors.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved method for making a monolythic multilayer chip inductor which permits the coils to be precisely registered and centered above one another from one layer to the other.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved monolythic multilayer chip inductor and method for making same which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture, and efficient and reliable in operation.

Monolythic multilayer chip inductor and method for making same


Substituted rifamycin derivatives in which a nitroimidazole, nitrothiazole or nitrofuran pharmacophore is covalently bonded to a rifamycin, methods of using the rifamycin derivatives, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the rifamycin derivatives are disclosed. Methods of synthesizing these substituted rifamycin derivatives are also disclosed. The rifamycin derivatives possess antibacterial activity, and are effective against a number of human and veterinary pathogens in the treatment of bacterial diseases.

The present invention relates to nitroheteroaryl-substituted rifamycin derivatives wherein a nitroimidazole, nitrothiazole or nitrofuran pharmacophore is chemically combined with a rifamycin. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing pharmacologically active rifamycin derivatives and various intermediates used in the method. The inventive rifamycin derivatives are useful as antimicrobial agents effective against a number of human and veterinary aerobic and anaerobic Gram positive, Gram negative pathogens, including the Staphylococci, for example S. aureus; Enterococci, for example E. faecalis; Streptococci, for example S. pneumoniae; Haemophilus, for example H. influenza; Moraxella, for example M. catarrhalis; and Escherichia for example E. coli; Mycobacteria, for example M. tuberculosis; Helicobacter, for example H. pylori; Clostridium, for example C. difficile; Bacteroides for example, B. fragilis, B. vulgates; intercellular microbes, for example Chlamydia and Rickettsiae; and Mycoplasma, for example M. pneumoniae, amongst others.
The rifamycin derivatives may be used as agents effective against GI disorders including travelers' and infectious diarrhea (E. coli, Salmonella and Shigella), hepatic encephalopathy, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, pouchitis, small-bowel bacterial overgrowth, peptic ulcer disease due to H. pylori, and diverticular disease. The present compounds also are cytotoxic anticancer agents, antifungal agents, and antiprotozoal agents (against, for example, entamoeba histolyica, and Neglaria sps). The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the inventive rifamycin derivatives, to methods of treating a bacterial infection using the rifamycin derivatives.
The increase in bacterial resistance to existing antibacterial agents is a major clinical problem. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for compounds, compositions, and methods of treating warm-blooded animals that suffer from a bacterial infection and are resistant to conventional antibacterial treatments. Rifamycin class of natural product derived antibiotics, like rifampin, rifabutin and rifapetine are currently used for the treatment of tuberculosis and other microbial infections (Farr, B. M. Rifamycins, in Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases; Mandell, G. L., Bennett, J. E., Dolin, R., Eds.; Churchhill Livingstone: Philadelphia; p. 348-361). At present, one of the major problems associated with the rifamycin class of antimicrobial agents is the rapid development of bacterial resistance. Mutations in rifamycin's antibacterial target RNA polymerase are mainly responsible for the high frequency of development of resistance. Consequently, rifamycins are currently used only in combination therapies to minimize the development of resistance to this class of drug. Unfortunately, even with co-administration of other antibiotics, resistance development to rifamycins is frequent in the clinic (Chaisson, R. E. "Treatment of chronic infections with rifamycins: is resistance likely to follow?", Antimicrob. Agents & Chemother. 47(10): p. 3037-39 (2003)).
Nitroimidazoles, nitrothiazoles and nitrofurans classes of antibiotics are well-known antibacterials against anaerobic bacteria. A member of nitroimidazole class is metronidazole (U.S. Pat. No. 2,944,061), which is presently prescribed as antiprotozoal (for treatment of Trichomonas infections). Metronidazole is also clinical used for treatment of anaerobic bacterial infections due to Clostridium and Bacteroides species. Nitazoxanide (U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,351) is a nitrothiazole compound is being used for treatment of diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum. Nitrofurantoin (U.S. Pat. No. 2,610,181) is a member of nitrofuran class, which is being used for treatment of acute urinary tract infections. Recently a new member of nitroimidazole class of compounds 2-nitro-6,7-dihydro-5H-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]oxazines (U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,358) described in structure (1) below were disclosed as antibacterials, wherein R1 and R2 are substituted or unsubstituted alkyls, aryls, alkyloxy or aryloxy; X is O, S, NR2 etc.; Y, Z are CH2, CHR2 and heteroatoms etc. In addition, new nitroimidazole derivatives 6-nitro-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]oxazoles (WO 2005/042542 A1) described in structure (2) below were disclosed as agents for the treatment of tuberculosis, wherein R1 represents H, alkyls etc.; R2 is alkoxy, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy etc.

Although rifamycins, nitroimidazoles, nitrothiazoles, and nitrofurans are known, there is no reference that discloses covalently bonding a rifamycin to a nitroimidazole, a nitrothiazole or a nitrofuran and using the resulting rifamycin derivatives as anti-bacterial agents against both aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive and negative bacteria, and defeat resistance to rifamycin.
Syntheses of simple rifamycin derivatives is well known in the art, for example, the synthesis of rifampin (U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,810), rifabutin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,478), and rifalazil (U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,602) are known in the art and disclosed. However, the synthesis of a rifamycin covalently linked to a nitroimidazole, a nitrothiazole or a nitrofuran is not straightforward. Thus, a method of synthesizing compounds of the present invention has not been publicized.


The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the cost of a product while ensuring reliability of the product as a wireless transmission/reception apparatus. Provided is communication apparatus (ODU) (1) installed outside, which includes a case that houses a transmission unit for transmitting a signal and a reception unit for receiving the signal, and a waveguide connected to an external antenna and configured to receive/transmit a signal. In the apparatus, the waveguide is formed integrally with the case, and taper (16) is formed in a part of the tube hole of the waveguide.

In a mobile communication system represented by a portable telephone system, an access network is constructed to interconnect wireless base stations. In the access network between the wireless base stations, wire communication and wireless communication are used. The use of the wireless communication is particularly advantageous in that network construction costs can be reduced and design latitude, with respect to selecting the installation place of the wireless base station, can be increased. For the wireless communication between the wireless base stations, a wireless communication apparatus using microwaves is used. In such a wireless communication apparatus, an antenna must be installed at a high-rise building such as a steel tower or the roof of a building having no obstacle. Such a wireless communication apparatus is divided into a wireless transmission/reception apparatus (hereinafter, ODU (outdoor unit)) installed close to the antenna installed outdoors and an indoor unit (hereinafter, IDU) installed separately from the ODU to modulate or demodulate a transmission signal, and both are connected to each other by a coaxial cable or the like (refer to JP2006-197343A (hereinafter, Patent Literature 1)). The ODU is installed at the high outdoor place with the antenna. The ODU is accordingly provided with only limited functions such as the function of transferring a signal to the antenna to achieve miniaturization and light weight. On the other hand, the IDU has complex functions such as those of modulating/demodulating and processing a signal. the IDU In a case that the IDU is installed indoors, maintenance of the IDU is facilitated and its reliability is improved.
The ODU has a structure where it is connected by using a waveguide to transfer the signal to the external antenna. For example, as described in JP2001-168611A (hereinafter, Patent Literature 2), the waveguide is manufactured by a component different from a case of the ODU in order to be attached to the case of the ODU, and connected to the waveguide of the antenna side via a waveguide connection component.
In the wireless communication apparatus that carries out the wireless communication between the base stations, the ODU is installed in a severe environment outdoors, even in the desert, a cold region, or the coast line in some cases, and a place where frequent maintenance or inspection is difficult (e.g., at the high place of the steel tower). This requires high environment resistance. Thus, precision electronic components such as the transmission circuit and the reception circuit constituting the ODU arc housed in a robust metal case.
For such an ODU, not only miniaturization and light weight but also low cost are required because of severe price competition, and there is a strong demand for reducing the number of components or operation steps for manufacturing. However, for example, in the apparatus described in Patent Literature 2, manufacturing not only the case but also the waveguide is necessary and a structure for attaching the waveguide to the ODU case is necessary. Needless to say, for portions in addition to the waveguide of the ODU, there is a strong demand for lower costs to be achieved by reducing the number of components or operation steps.
However, when the costs are reduced, the reliability (environment resistance, electric characteristics of the waveguide or the like) of the ODU of the wireless communication apparatus must naturally be ensured.


A method and related apparatuses provide a virtual runtime interface for modifying basic input/output system (BIOS) settings. A processing system may provide the virtual runtime interface after the processing system has booted an operating system (OS). User input that specifies a modified BIOS setting may be received through the virtual runtime interface. To provide the virtual runtime interface, the system may transition from an OS context to a system management mode (SMM) context, and may determine whether the amount of time spent in the SMM context approaches an SMM time limit. If the amount of time spent in the SMM context approaches the SMM time limit, the system may automatically transition from the SMM context back to the OS context. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A typical legacy data processing system includes firmware instructions that control the system when the system is being powered up or has been reset, before an operating system (OS) is booted. That is, the firmware controls the pre-OS operations (also known as "pre-boot" operations). Those pre-boot operations may include operations for discovering, testing, and initializing hardware within the data processing system, to prepare the system for subsequent tasks, such as loading the OS, executing applications, etc. The firmware that controls the pre-boot operations may be referred to in general as a basic input/output system (BIOS).
In personal computers (PCs) and other data processing systems, the BIOS typically includes a collection of computer instructions that may be used in a variety of platforms, as well as various modifiable settings that may be configured for an individual computer. The BIOS instructions and settings are typically saved in non-volatile storage. For instance, the BIOS instructions may be stored in read only memory (ROM), and the BIOS settings may be stored in non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory. For purposes of this disclosure, the term "ROM" may be used in general to refer to non-volatile memory devices such as electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash ROM, flash memory, etc.
A portion of the BIOS instructions may constitute a BIOS setup program. The BIOS setup program may provide a user interface that allows the user to modify the BIOS settings. In some data processing systems, however, it is very difficult to launch the BIOS setup program. For instance, some systems provide only a very narrow window of time in which the user is allowed to launch the BIOS setup program. Industry standards, certification requirements of OS vendors, or other constraints may dictate that the launching of an OS must begin in less than seven seconds, for example. Accordingly, a system may provide less then seven seconds during the pre-boot process to allow a user to launch the BIOS setup program, and once the pre-boot process is done, it may be impossible to launch the BIOS setup program without resetting the system to re-enter the pre-boot phase. Furthermore, a typical legacy data processing system does not provide a user-friendly mechanism for launching the BIOS setup program, such as a graphical user interface (GUI) or menu-based interface. Instead, the typical system requires the user to press a particular key or combination of keyboard keys at the proper time to launch the BIOS setup program.

Method and apparatus for enabling platform configuration


Systems and methods are described for performing peer-to-peer software distribution in a Unified Endpoint Management environment. In an example, an unenrolled user device can request enrollment from an enrollment server. The enrollment server can send a list of resources to the unenrolled user device that the unenrolled user device needs based on a group that the unenrolled user device is assigned to. The unenrolled user device can send an identifier of the group to a notification server, and the notification server can respond with an ordered list of enrolled user devices that the unenrolled user device can retrieve the resources from. The unenrolled user device can request the resources from the enrolled user devices on the list until the unenrolled user device receives all the resources from the resource list. The unenrolled user device can then install the resources to complete enrollment.

Enterprises often use device managements systems, such as a Unified Endpoint Management ("UEM") system, to secure and control certain aspects of user devices of employees. Enrolling a user device with a UEM system typically requires numerous files to be downloaded and installed at the user device. To accomplish this, UEM systems often utilize a content delivery server or other similar server.
This method of delivering files for enrollment has various flaws and drawbacks. For example, a content delivery server must always be running, thereby increasing computing resource costs. Also, clients sometimes enroll large numbers of user devices at the same time, amounting to the thousands and tens of thousands at times. This can cause a major backlog that delays the enrollment process because the content delivery server is limited in the number of user devices it can send files to at once. The client must then wait for hours while the enrolling user devices sit in a queue waiting for the needed files. This can cause users to decide to opt out from enrolling their devices or at the very least can delay the users from using the UEM system.
As a result, a need exists for an efficient way of distributing resources in a UEM system.


A method performed in a control unit for opening a contactor device. The contactor device includes a carrier being movable between a closed position in which a current is allowed to flow in a current path and an open position in which the current path is broken. The control unit is configured to enable the movement of the carrier between the closed position and the open position by energizing a coil of an electromagnetic circuit. The method includes: initiating the opening of the contactor device by de-energizing the coil, wherein the de-energizing includes using a demagnetization circuit including a discharge element, the discharge element being arranged to consume energy in the coil; bypassing, at a first point of time, the discharge element; and re-energizing the coil.

Within electrical networks contactors are often used for switching large electric currents. These contactors are designed for switching load currents that occur during normal conditions in various applications. The contactor is designed so as to be able to make, conduct and break the electric current.
Electromagnetically operated contactors typically comprise a spring-biased armature moving between two end positions. The armature is a part of an electromagnetic circuit. At a first end position the armature is open and the current path is then open, and at a second end position, the armature is closed and the contactor is then closed, thereby providing an electrical path. Normally contactors are monostable devices and the position of rest is the open position but the opposite positions are sometimes used. The armature is arranged to move a moving contact element relative fixed contact elements, thus breaking the electrical path when moving the moving contact element away from the fixed contact elements and making contact by the reverse movement. The movement of the armature is accomplished by energizing a coil of the electromagnetic circuit, the coil typically being wound around parts of either the armature or around a fixed part of the electromagnetic circuit.
Operation of such contactor entails applying a voltage over the coil, giving a current through it, whereby a magnetic flux is produced in the electromagnet. The magnetic flux attracts the armature, which forces contacts of the contactor to close. In the closed state, separation springs and contact springs of the contactor device are all biased and contain high potential energy. When an opening of the contactor is required, the electromagnetic circuit is de-energized whereby the opening is initiated. When the electromagnet is released, the potential energy in the springs is converted to kinetic energy and the armature holding a moving contact element moves rapidly towards its open position. In order to avoid bouncing effects and/or high mechanical impact in the contactor caused by this movement, this kinetic energy needs to be taken care of.
The use of rubber dampers is a known way of reducing the kinetic energy by absorbing the energy. However, although the rubber dampers may absorb up to 50% of the energy, these are not sufficient since the remaining energy causes so-called back travel, wherein the contactor elements of the contactor are moving towards a closed state again. This increases the risk of re-closing the contactor.
Another feasible solution would be to use hydraulic dampers or other advanced dampers, but such solutions are costly and are typically only viable in particular high-end applications.
Still another solution is to use the electromagnet of the contactor as a brake during the opening process. EP 2 551 881 is one example of using the electromagnet for reducing the velocity of the moving armature. The polarity of a power supply for the coil of the contactor is reversed whereby a deceleration is accomplished.

Method for controlling a contactor device, and control unit


The invention is directed to a system for detecting the presence of a child in a car, when the driver exits the vehicle. A sensor is connected to the seat belt of the baby's car seat or to the rear seat belts. Once the seat belt is inserted into the belt buckle, an alarm circuit is activated. When the driver enters the vehicle and sits down, the system detects the presence of the driver and de-activates the alarm circuit. When the driver exits, the alarm circuit is then re-activated. The system includes a delay timer that gives the driver time to enter and exit the vehicle without setting off the alarm circuit. When the alarm circuit is activated, a timer for the time delay begins. At the end of the time delay (e.g., relay is transferred), if the driver has not disabled the alarm circuit by re-entering the vehicle or taking the child out of the vehicle, the alarm circuit will be set off warning signals and will remain energized until disabled.

1. Field of Invention
This invention is related to the field of child safety and security systems for motor vehicles and motor homes. Children die every year when parents or other persons leave a child in a hot car. Many mistakenly leave a child in a car because their minds are on other things. Emergency workers try to save many of these children. However, in most cases the rescuers are unable to revive the child. There are many consequences to these tragic deaths. Obviously, the death alone is tragic. However, there have been many cases where the driver is criminally charged for the child's death.
2. Related Background Art
The use of child alarm/alert systems for automobiles is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,793,291, U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,283, U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,070, U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,234, U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,509, U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,844, U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,340, U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,844, U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,293 and U.S. Pat. No. 306,099 are all generally related to child alarm/alert systems. However, these references do not address the problem of a child being left inside a vehicle, wherein a parent is given a warning or alarm that takes into consideration the length of time that a child is left in the vehicle in conjunction with the circumstances of the parent or driver leaving the vehicle. Rather, some prior art systems require that the ignition be turned off in order that the alarm system be activated. Other prior art systems require that there's motion within the vehicle in order to set off the alarm, thereby ignoring the possibility of the child being asleep and thus motionless. Therefore, such prior art teachings, though fulfilling some of the needs for child safety, have certain deficiencies. Consequently, there's a need to improve child safety seats with an alarm, in order to overcome the deficiencies noted above.


An image editing device has the following (A) through (C): (A) an image display section on which an image to be edited is displayed; (B) an information obtaining section that obtains information regarding a pixel that has been arbitrarily designated by a user from the image that has been displayed on the image display section, and information regarding a desired color that has been designated by the user for the pixel; and (C) a color adjustment section that adjusts a color of the overall image, in order to change a color of the pixel that has been designated by the user to the desired color, based on the information regarding the pixel and the information regarding the desired color, which have been obtained by the information obtaining section.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to image editing devices.
2. Related Art
Various image reading devices such as image scanners generally are connected to a so-called computer device such as a personal computer through a wired or a wireless connection and the like, and transmit an image that was read from an original document to the computer device as image data. The computer device receives the image data that have been transmitted from the image reading device and stores those data on a data memory device such as various memories or a hard disk drive. At this time, on the computer device the image data that have been sent from the image reading device are subjected to processing such as various adjustments.
Examples of adjustment processing that may be performed at this time include histogram adjustment for adjusting the contrast of the image and density correction for partially altering the expression of darkness and lightness in the image. These adjustments may by executed automatically, or executed by a user or the like, by various programs, such as a driver program of the image reading device or application program and the like that are installed on the computer device. In addition to this, various methods have been proposed for the adjustment methods, editing methods, and various adjustments and the like that are executed on the image that have been read by the image reading device.
However, when a user would like to adjust the image to a desired color tone, even if the adjustment methods, the editing methods, or the various adjustments such as the histogram adjustment or the density correction are available, the user is forced to select an appropriate adjustment method from among these and then, through trial and error, use that adjustment method to perform suitable adjustment in order to change to the desired color tone. Thus, the case where it is extremely difficult for the user to change to a desired color tone was common. In particular, this required an immense amount of work for the users who were not experienced in adjusting the color tone and the like.
In particular, each of the adjustments such as the histogram adjustment and the density correction that are performed here are generally executed in a predetermined order on the image from the image reading device. Specifically, for example, in one case the histogram adjustment is executed on the image from the image reading device and then density correction is executed, whereas conversely, in another case the density correction is executed initially and then the histogram adjustment is executed, and thus there are various orders in which the adjustments may be executed. For this reason, depending on the adjustment processing for adjustment that the user adopts, there were cases in which problems such as overflow occurred which prevented the information of the original image from being utilized fully, or caused the smooth gradation to be lost and the like.
Also, in the cases where the user wants to select a desired color when adjusting the color tone, it was not easy for the user to search for a desired color based on an existing color, and it was extremely difficult to adjust the color tone smoothly.


A method includes moving a wafer stage to a first station on a table body of a lithography chamber; placing a wafer on a top surface of the wafer stage; emitting a first laser beam from a first laser emitter toward a first beam splitter on a first sidewall of the wafer stage, wherein a first portion of the first laser beam is reflected by the first beam splitter to form a first reflected laser beam, and a second portion of the first laser beam transmits through the first beam splitter to form a first transmitted laser beam; calculating a position of the wafer stage on a first axis based on the first reflected laser beam; after calculating the position of the wafer, moving the wafer stage to a second station on the table body; and performing a lithography process to the wafer.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced exponential growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs. Such scaling down has also increased the complexity of IC processing and manufacturing. For these advances to be realized, similar developments in IC processing and manufacturing are needed. For example, the need to perform higher resolution lithography processes grows. One lithography technique is extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL). Other techniques include X-Ray lithography, ion beam projection lithography, electron beam projection lithography, and multiple electron beam maskless lithography.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


An electrophoretic display device capable of having retention property of electrophoretic particles and exhibiting excellent display characteristics, and an electronic apparatus. The electrophoretic display device includes an element substrate, a counter substrate disposed to face counter substrate, a molecule X provided between the element substrate and the counter substrate, an electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing electrophoretic particles and a dispersion medium, wherein the electrophoretic dispersion liquid is disposed between counter substrate and molecule X, wherein molecule X includes an aromatic ring having a cyclic structure, for example, benzene, toluene, xylene, and the like.

An electrophoretic display device utilizing electrophoresis of particles has been known. The electrophoretic display device is advantageous in having a portability and low power consumption. In the electrophoretic display device, an image is formed on a display region by applying a voltage between a pixel electrode and a common electrode which are opposite to each other with an electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing electrophoretic particles in between to spatially move electrophoretic particles such as charged black particles or white particles. Known electrophoretic display devices include, for example, a structure where a plurality of cells (spaces) are defined by a partition between a pair of substrates and each cell seals an electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing electrophoretic particles and a dispersion medium.
More specifically, as such an electrophoretic display device, there is proposed a device in which a partition is placed between a common electrode and pixel electrodes respectively disposed on a pair of substrates, and electrophoretic dispersion liquid is sealed inside cells defined by the pixel electrodes, the common electrode and the partition.
However, when the cell is defined by the pixel electrodes, the cell common electrode and the partition, the electrodes of the pixel electrodes and the common electrode directly contact the electrophoretic dispersion liquid. Therefore, every time images are formed due to the movement of the electrophoretic particles, the electrophoretic particles come in contact with at least one of the two electrodes. As a result, since the electrophoretic particles are adsorbed (affixed) to the electrode, electrical display characteristics of the electrophoretic display device are significantly lowered.
It is to be noted that the adsorption of electrophoretic particles may occur not only on the electrode but also on the constituent material of the partition. As countermeasures against these problems, as described in Patent Literature 1, a countermeasure to suppress the adsorption of the electrophoretic particles by using a low polarity material as the constituent material and reducing an attractive force (electrostatic attractive force, van der Waals force) between the electrophoretic particles has been performed.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2017-49552

Electrophoretic display device and electronic apparatus


Ionomer resin sheet is stretched in one direction in the plane of sheet to give uniaxial anisotropy, and then heated above the melting point under pressure to cause relaxation of the anisotropy. After cooling, a sheet of biaxial anisotropy is obtained. The degree of anisotropy depends on the initial stretching, heating temperature, heating time and pressure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optically anisotropic device and production method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a biaxial optical anisotropy device which will be suitable for compensating for optical anisotropy of a liquid crystal cell of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and production method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A homeotropic orientation type liquid crystal display device has been utilized as a kind of liquid crystal display device. The structure and characteristics of this device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view for explaining the principle of display in one pixel of a conventional homeotropic orientation type liquid crystal display device. In the drawing, -z direction is a light transmission direction, and x and y axes cross orthogonally each other and also cross orthogonally the z axis. Polarizers 10 and 40 are disposed in parallel with each other in such a manner that their polarization axes (represented by arrows A and B) cross orthogonally each other and form an angle of 45.degree. with the x and y axes. A homeotropic orientation type liquid crystal cell 20 is sandwiched between these polarizers 10 and 40. The liquid crystal cell 20 comprises transparent glass substrates 21, 23 equipped with transparent electrodes and disposed in parallel with each other, and a liquid crystal layer 22 sandwiched between the substrates 21 and 23.
The liquid crystal has a tilt angle which is slightly inclined in the x direction from the z axis. Molecules 25 of the liquid crystal 22 are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the substrates under the state where no voltage is applied. The light which is polarized in the direction A in the polarizer 10 does not receive any action in the liquid crystal layer 22 and is incident on the other polarizer 40. The transmitted light is blocked because the polarizing direction B of the polarizer 40 crosses orthogonally the polarizing direction A of the polarizer 10. For this reason, when the pixel is viewed from the z axis direction of the liquid crystal display device, it appears dark.
Under the voltage application state, the liquid crystal molecules 25 exhibit a greater tilt angle particularly at the center portion of the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer exhibits birefringence under this state. The light transmitting through the polarizer 10 receives the action of birefringence when it passes through the liquid crystal layer 22 and is incident into the polarizer 40. The action of birefringence becomes maximal when the polarization axis A makes 45.degree. with the x axis along which the tilt angle exists. Therefore, among the rays of light incident into the polarizer 40, a part of them passes through the polarizer 40, and the pixel becomes bright when viewed from the z axis direction of the liquid crystal display device.
The explanation given above deals with the case where the light travels along the z axis. When an operator of the liquid crystal display device moves away from the z axis, the liquid crystal cannot be handled as an isotropic medium even under the OFF state. In other words, the birefringence cannot be neglected even under the OFF state and the leakage of light occurs. For this reason, a viewing angle is limited.
A uniaxial optical compensation cell 30 is employed for compensating for the optical anisotropy of a liquid crystal layer so that satisfactory display can be made over a wide range of viewing angle deviated from the z axis by improving the viewing angle. The optical properties of the liquid crystal layer 22 and the optical compensation cell 30 with the refractive indices nx, ny, nz and n'x, n'y, n'z in the axial directions x, y and z, respectively, have the following relations: ##EQU1## In other words, the refractive index distribution of the liquid crystal layer 22 is like a Rugby football which is elongated in the z axis direction as shown on the lefthand side of FIG. 6, while the refractive index distribution of the optical compensation cell 30 is like a tablet which is short in the z axis direction, contrary to the liquid crystal layer 22. A liquid crystal display device having a satisfactory viewing angle can be obtained by adjusting appropriately retardations of the liquid crystal layer 22 and the optical compensation cell 30.
In a dot matrix liquid crystal display device using the conventional optical compensation cell as described above, a very small voltage (OFF voltage) is applied even when the device does not achieve display. Therefore, the direction of orientation of the molecules 25 in the liquid crystal layer 22 are inclined with a small tilt angle relative to the z axis, so that the leak of light occurs even under the OFF state and hence black level is deteriorated. In other words, a display contrast drops and display quality is deteriorated
FIG. 7 shows transmission vs. voltage characteristics of a conventional liquid crystal display device. In the conventional device, the transmission does not become zero even under the OFF voltage (V.sub.OFF) state.
FIG. 8 shows the change of the input voltage of the conventional liquid crystal display device and that of the transmission with time. Due to the leak of light T.sub.OFF at the time of OFF voltage (V.sub.OFF), rise speed (T.sub.OFF -90% T.sub.ON =150 msec) is slower than fall speed (T.sub.ON -10% T.sub.OFF =100 msec)
Furthermore, in such a conventional liquid crystal display device, reflection of light occurs on the glass interface when the viewing angle is high, and the propagation mode of light varies, thereby causing asymmetry that the viewing angle is different on the right and left.

Optical birefringence compensator adapted for LCD


A head-mounted display system includes a head-mounted display unit and a positioning and stabilising structure structured and arranged to hold the head-mounted display unit in an operational position over a user's face in use. The positioning and stabilising structure includes a rear support structure adapted to contact posterior regions of a user's head and a forehead support connector, which includes a forehead support strap, which extends generally along and in the direction of the sagittal plane and connects the rear support structure to a superior edge region of the head-mounted display unit. The forehead support connector further includes a forehead support rigidiser that provides rigidification to a portion of the forehead support connector.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.
Virtual reality head-mounted displays enable a user to have a fully immersive experience of a virtual environment and have broad application in fields such as communications, training, medical and surgical practice, engineering and video gaming.
Virtual reality head-mounted displays typically are provided as a system or assembly that includes a display unit which is arranged to be held in an operational position in front of a user's face. The display unit typically includes a housing containing a display and a user interface structure constructed and arranged to be in opposing relation with the user's face. The user interface structure may extend about the display and define a viewing opening to the display. The user interface structure may engage with the user's face and include a cushion for user comfort and/or be light sealing to cut ambient light from the display.
To hold the display unit in its correct operational position, the head-mounted display system further comprises a positioning and stabilising structure that is disposed on the user's head. In the past, these positioning and stabilising structures have been formed from straps or expandible rigid structures that are typically applied to the user's head under tension to maintain the display unit in its operational position. Such systems have been prone to exert a clamping pressure on the user's face which can result in user discomfort at localised stress points. Also, previous systems may be difficult to adjust to allow wide application head sizes. Further, the display unit and associated positioning and stabilising structure are often heavy and difficult to clean, which further limit the comfort and usability of the system.
Thus, there is a need for an improved system that does not suffer from the above-mentioned drawbacks.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Positioning and stabilising structure and system incorporating same


Disclosed are ruthenium and osmium carbene compounds which are stable in the presence of a variety of functional groups and which can be used to catalyze olefin metathesis reactions on strained and unstrained cyclic and acyclic olefins. Specifically, the present invention relates to carbene compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein: M is Os or Ru; R and R.sup.1 are independently selected from hydrogen and substituent groups C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, aryl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 carboxylate, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkenyloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylsulfonyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylsulfinyl; each substituent group optionally substituted with C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, a halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkoxy or with a phenyl group optionally substituted with a halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkoxy; X and X.sup.1 are independently selected from any anionic ligand; and L and L.sup.1 are each trialkyl phosphine ligands where at least one of the alkyl groups on the phosphine is a secondary alkyl or a cycloalkyl. A broad array of metathesis reactions are enabled including ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclic olefins, ring closing metathesis of acyclic dienes, cross metathesis involving at least one acyclic or unstrained cyclic olefin, depolymerization of unsaturated polymers and synthesis of telechelic polymers.

This invention relates to highly active and stable ruthenium and osmium metal carbene complex compounds and their use as catalysts in olefin metathesis reactions.
During the past two decades, research efforts have enabled an in-depth understanding of the olefin metathesis reaction as catalyzed by early transition metal complexes. In contrast, the nature of the intermediates and the reaction mechanism for Group VIII transition metal catalysts has remained elusive. In particular, the oxidation states and ligation of the ruthenium and osmium metathesis intermediates are not known.
Many ruthenium and osmium metal carbenes have been reported in the literature (for example, see Burrell, A. K., Clark, G. R., Rickard, C. E. F., Roper, W. R., Wright, A. H., J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 1991, Issue 1, pp. 609-614). However, the discrete ruthenium and osmium carbene complexes isolated to date do not exhibit metathesis activity to unstrained olefins. (Ivin, Olefin Metathesis pp. 34-36, Academic Press: London, 1983).

High activity ruthenium and osmium metal carbene complexes for olefin metathesis reactions


Navigation system and method for tracking movement of a patient during surgery. Image data is acquired by imaging the patient with a base layer of a skin-based patient tracking apparatus secured to the patient's skin. The skin-based patient tracking apparatus includes a plurality of optical surgical tracking elements. A computer processor arrangement is adapted to implement a navigation routine. The patient position is registered to the image data. The movement of the patient is tracked based on movement of the plurality of optical surgical tracking elements. The movement of the patient's skin is tracked by determining positions of the optical surgical tracking elements both before and after a deformation of the skin-based patient tracking apparatus. Movement of the patient's skin results in corresponding movement of the surgical tracking elements to provide a dynamic reference frame for use in continuously tracking movement of a patient's skin during surgery.

Navigation systems for tracking the position of one or more work targets located inside a body, either alone or in relation to one or more various working tools, are used in many types of applications. One application in which navigation systems are commonly used is in the field of navigated surgical procedures. In this field, surgical navigation systems are now commonly used to assist in planning a surgical procedure or executing a planned surgical procedure, so as to improve the accuracy of the surgical procedure and minimize the invasiveness thereof.
In some surgical navigation systems, a rigid trackable device is secured to the patient so as to be fixed in relation to some portion of the patient's body. A computer implemented tracking system is used to track the position of the trackable device and, based on a previously determined spatial relationship between the trackable device and some area of interest within the patient, thereby track the position of a work target within the patient. The computer-implemented tracking system is also used to track the position of a surgical working tool, for example by means of a second trackable device secured to the working tool. From these two tracked positions, the navigation system thereby is able to track the position of the working tool relative to the working target within the patient. The tracking information is then correlated with previously defined surgical plan information relative to one or more intra- or preoperative scan information data sets, such as CT (computer tomography) images, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) images, X-ray images, ultrasound image data, or other similar information about the body of the patient, by one or more methods of registering the pre-operative scan information data to the intra-operative tracking information.
A limiting design parameter of such a navigation system is that the trackable device usually must be invasively attached to the patient, such as with pins or other fasteners securely fastened to a bone. Such securement can lead to additional possibilities for potential problems with post-surgical recovery of the patient. Additionally, the various navigational routines implemented by the computer-implemented tracking system are based on the assumption that the trackable device does not move relative to the patient and the target area during a navigation procedure. Therefore, movement of the trackable device relative to the patient during a navigation process, such as by accidental bumping, loss of fixation, or other means, can lead to excessive errors and require a complete re-setting or reconfiguration of the navigation system, which can use up valuable time during a surgical procedure.
Other surgical navigation systems use a trackable device formed of a flexible substrate with several LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) carried by the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate is secured to the skin of the patient in a manner and location to prevent or minimize deformation or movement relative to the features of the patient. Thus, the trackable device is generally attached to very bony areas of the patient, such as the skull and/or nose portions so as to remain in a fixed position relative to a work target inside the patient once a navigation procedure has begun. A limitation with such a navigation system, however, is that any deformation of the trackable device once a navigation procedure has been started can lead to excessive navigation errors and or require reconfiguration of the navigation system.

Navigation system for and method of tracking the position of a work target

Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC


A bearing unit capable of withstanding a large axial force based on a simple structure including: a bearing 10 having an internal ring 13 fitted to an inside member 2, an outer ring 14 fitted to an outside member 6, lots of rolling elements 15 disposed between the outer ring 14 and the inner ring 13; and a transmitting direction shifting means A transmitting an axial force F from the inner ring 13 to the outside member 6 when the axial force F transmitted from the inside member 2 to the internal ring 13 exceeds a predetermined value or above, and a main spindle device of a machine tool, which is provided with the bearing unit, are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bearing unit including a bearing formed by disposing lots of rolling elements between an inner ring and an outer ring and an axial force transmitting direction shifting means shifting a transmission path of an axial force, and a main spindle device of a machine tool, which is provided with the bearing unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a bearing of a type having lots of rolling elements disposed between an inner ring fitted to a rotary shaft and an outer ring fitted to a housing side, for example an angular ball bearing, an axial force acting on the rotary shaft is transmitted from the rotary shaft to the housing side via the inner ring, the rolling elements (balls) and the outer ring. In that case, when the axial force exceeds a predetermined allowable axial load, there arises a problem that an indentation is generated in an orbital plane, and the like.
With respect to a bearing for a main spindle of a machine tool, a large axial force (unclamping force) acts due to a tool exchange and so forth. When this unclamping force exceeds the above-described allowable axial load, the above-described problem is possibly caused. Therefore, in order to avoid the above-described problem, among conventional main spindle devices of machine tools, there is one provided with an unclamping force support mechanism so as to prevent the unclamping force acting on between the main spindle when exchanging the tool from acting on between the inner ring, the outer ring and the rolling elements (see Patent document 1).
[Patent document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-019413
The above-described mechanism of supporting the unclamping force needs a structure not interrupting rotation of the main spindle at a normal operation but supporting the unclamping force to the main spindle surely at the time of the tool exchange, causing problems of increasing costs due to the complicated structure as well as requiring a relatively large space to be disposed.

Bearing unit and main spindle device of machine tool provided with bearing unit


A polymer scale preventive agent for use in polymerization of a monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond, comprising an alkaline solution containing (A) a condensation product having a molecular weight of 400 to 50,000 obtained by condensing a quinone compound. This agent is applied to the inner wall surfaces of a polymerization vessel, and dried to form a coating. Such a vessel is effective in preventing polymer scale deposition, not only on the areas located in the liquid-phase region but also on the areas around the interface between the gas and liquid phases in the vessel, and is useful in producing a polymer that shows few fish eyes and good whiteness when formed into sheets or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polymer scale preventive agent for use in polymerization of a monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond, and a process for producing a polymer using the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, methods for polymerization of a monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond have been known, such as suspension, emulsion, solution, gas phase and bulk polymerization processes and the like. In any of these polymerization processes, polymer scale is liable to be deposited on the areas with which the monomer comes into contact, such as inner walls, stirring equipment and so on of a polymerization vessel.
The deposition of the polymer scale results in disadvantages in that the yield of the polymer and cooling capacity of the polymerization vessel are lowered, and that the polymer scale may peel off and mix into a polymeric product, thereby impairing the quality of formed products obtained by processing the polymeric product. In addition, removal of deposited polymer scale is very laborious and time-consuming. Further, the polymer scale contains unreacted monomers and, therefore, may cause physical disorders in the operators, which has been a very serious problem in recent years.
For preventing polymer scale deposition on the polymerization vessel inner wall and so forth, methods have been known, for example, a method in which a polymer scale preventive agent comprising a polar organic compound such as an amine compound, a quinone compound, an aldehyde compound, etc., is applied to the polymerization vessel inner wall and so on to form a coating and a method in which such compounds are added to an aqueous medium (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 45-30343, is practiced in some instances of suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride.
However, these methods have the disadvantage that, although the polymer scale preventive effect is exhibited while polymerization is repeated for up to about 5 or 6 batches, the effect diminishes if the number of repeated batches of polymerization exceeds 5 or 6 (that is, the scale preventive effect is poor in durability). The disadvantage is emphasized particularly where a water-soluble catalyst is used for polymerization, and, in this point, the polymer scale prevention according to these methods is unsatisfactory industrially.
For overcoming the above disadvantage, Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 53-13689 proposes a method in which the inner wall, etc., of a polymerization vessel is coated with a polymer scale preventive agent comprising a condensation product of an aromatic amine compound as an effective constituent. Where the polymer scale preventive agent is applied to the areas with which monomers come into contact, such as the inner wall surface of a polymerization vessel, and a coating is thereby formed, it is possible to repeat about 100 to 200 batches of polymerization without causing deposition of polymer scale on the areas located in the liquid-phase region inside the polymerization vessel. Besides, even in the above-mentioned case where a water-soluble catalyst is used, deposition of polymer scale in the liquid-phase region is similarly prevented.
However, after the coating of the polymer scale preventive agent comprising a condensation product of an aromatic amine compound as its effective constituent is formed, there still remains a drawback that polymer scale deposition may occur on the areas around the interface between the liquid phase and the gas phase located at an upper portion of the interior of the polymerization vessel.
Once polymer scale deposition occurs on the areas around the interface between the gas and liquid phases, the deposited scale will grow gradually as polymerization runs are repeated, and at last it may peel off to be incorporated into the polymeric product. If the polymeric product with the polymer scale thus mixed therein is processed into formed products such as sheets or the like, the polymer scale causes generation of many fish eyes in the formed products, thereby lowering seriously the quality of the formed products.
Besides, the polymeric product obtained upon polymerization is required to have a high whiteness. That is, when a polymeric product is formed into a sheet or the like without any addition of a coloring agent, the resulting formed product is more or less colored and such coloration, called initial coloration, is desired to be as slight as possible. However, the aforesaid coating of the polymer scale preventive agent which contains a condensation product of an aromatic amine compound may peel off or dissolve in the polymerization mass, to be incorporated into the polymeric product; in such a case, the resulting formed products will have a lowered whiteness, i.e., a higher initial coloration.

Polymer scale preventive agent comprising a condensation product of a quinone compound


A hydraulic tubing anchor used in hydrocarbon producing wells has structure which positively contains a live slip within the mandrel of the anchor, thereby preventing the live slip from separating from the tubing anchor and dropping deeper into the well. Structure at the ends of the live slip engage within corresponding grooves of the slip recess.

This invention relates to devices for anchoring a tubing string to a surrounding well casing. Tubing anchors have a variety of uses in oilfield operations. For example, when an oil well is produced with a downhole rod pump, during the pumping cycle the weight of the fluid in the tubing string shifts between a load on the rod string on the upstroke to a load on the tubing on the downstroke. For installations which do not have an anchor, during the downstroke the weight of the fluid in the tubing causes the tubing to stretch, but on the upstroke the load is transferred to the rod string so the tubing contracts. In an unanchored installation, this cycle causes wear in the rods and tubing because of the rubbing of the rods and rod boxes against the inner wall of the tubing. In unanchored installations the pump efficiency is decreased by the decrease in the effective stroke length.
A tubing anchor maintains the tubing in tension, thereby lengthening the effective stroke length of the pump and preventing the stretching/contracting cycle of the tubing string. Tubing anchors generally operate by the urging of slips against the interior wall of the production casing of the well by the application of mechanical or hydraulic force. Anchors which are activated hydraulically typically have a "live slip" or "floating slip" (hereinafter "live slip") which is urged outwardly against the interior of the casing wall upon the application of hydraulic pressure to a piston which drives the live slip radially outward. The piston may have a relatively large diameter and is capable of providing a substantial applied force to the live slip thereby maintaining the position of the anchor in the casing and keeping the tubing string in tension.
When tubing needs to be pulled from the well, the tubing anchor needs to be released. The releasing procedures usually involve pulling up on the tubing string or rotating the tubing string. However, during this process, it is not uncommon for the live slip or other anchor components to separate from the tubing anchor and fall downhole, either to the well bottom or to be stopped by casing restrictions or by a smaller diameter casing/liner below the set point of the anchor. The loss of the live slip downhole is problematic. Anchor slips are typically manufactured from hardened steel and can form an obstruction requiring an expensive fishing job or, alternatively, can be left downhole with the potential for causing problems in the future.

Hydraulic anchor for oilfield service and method of using the same


Various aspects of the present invention pertain to porous membranes that comprise: (1) a plurality of pores with pore sizes of more than about 0.1 μm in diameter; and (2) a plurality of hydrophilic molecules. Additional aspects of the present invention pertain to methods of separating organic compounds from a liquid sample by: (1) providing the porous membrane; and (2) flowing the liquid sample through the porous membrane in order to retain organic compounds on the porous membrane. Further aspects of the present invention pertain to systems for separating organic compounds from a liquid sample. Such systems comprises: (1) the porous membrane; and (2) a flowing unit that enables the liquid sample to flow through the porous membrane. Additional aspects of the present invention pertain to methods of making the above-described porous membranes by: (1) coating a surface of a porous membrane containing 0.1 μm pores with a ceramic material; and (2) associating the coated surface of the porous membrane with hydrophilic molecules.

The development of new methods and systems for separating organic compounds from various liquid samples is important in many industries, including the oil and gas industry. Current methods and systems for separating organic compounds from liquid samples suffer from various limitations. Such limitations include low liquid flow rates, membrane blockage, and the need to use multiples layers of membranes. Therefore, there is currently a need to develop new methods, systems and membranes for separating organic compounds from liquid samples.

Methods, systems and membranes for separation of organic compounds from liquid samples


Cybrid cell lines which have utility as model systems for the study of disorders that are associated with mitochondrial defects are described. The cybrids are constructed by treating immortal cell lines with an agent that irreversibly disables mitochondrial electron transport, and then transfecting the cells with mitochondria isolated from diseased tissue samples. Preferably, the immortal cell lines used are of an undifferentiated type that can be induced to differentiate, which results in the cybrids also being able to be induced to differentiate. One such cybrid was constructed using neuroblastoma cells and mitochondria from a patient suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Methods for using such cybrids for screening drugs and therapies for utility in treating such disorders are also provided. In addition, cybrid animals, methods of producing them, and methods of using them in drug and therapy screening are also provided.

A number of degenerative diseases are thought to be caused by or be associated with alterations in mitochondrial metabolism. These include Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's disease, dystonia, Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, schizophrenia, and myodegenerative disorders such as "mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke" (MELAS), and "myoclonic epilepsy ragged red fiber syndrome" (MERRF).
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by loss and/or atrophy of neurons in discrete regions of the brain, and that is accompanied by extracellular deposits of .beta.-amyloid and the intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles. It is a uniquely human disease, affecting over 13 million people worldwide. It is also a uniquely tragic disease. Many individuals who have lived normal, productive lives are slowly stricken with AD as they grow older, and the disease gradually robs them of their memory and other mental faculties. Eventually, they cease to recognize family and loved ones, and they often require continuous care until their eventual death.
Individuals who are afflicted with AD may have one of two forms of this disease: "familial" AD or "sporadic" AD. Familial AD has an early onset, usually beginning in the forties or fifties. As the name suggests, the occurrence of this form of AD follows conventional patterns of Mendelian inheritance. Sporadic AD, which is believed to account for 90-95% of all cases of AD, is a late-onset disease which is not inherited in Mendelian fashion, and it thus does not appear to be caused by nuclear chromosomal abnormalities.
There is evidence that defects in oxidative phosphorylation are at least a partial cause of sporadic AD. The enzyme cytochrome C oxidase (COX), which makes up part of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), is present in normal amounts in AD patients; however, the catalytic activity of the enzyme in AD patients and in the brains of AD patients at autopsy has been found to be abnormally low. This suggests that the genes for COX in AD patients are defective, leading to decreased catalytic activity that in some fashion causes or contributes to the symptoms that are characteristic of AD.
COX in humans and other mammals, is composed of at least 13 subunits. At least ten of these subunits are encoded by nuclear genes; the remaining three subunits (COX I, II and III) are encoded by mitochondrial genes. The catalytic centers of COX are associated with COX I and COX II. Thus, catalysis by COX is dependent upon the proper function of two of the subunits that are encoded for by the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).
Specific point mutations in the mtDNA genes that encode for COX subunits I and II segregate with AD, and are rarely found in age-matched controls or patients with other neurological disorders. These specific AD-associated mtDNA point mutations result in alterations in the primary structure of the encoded proteins, and these might be expected to perturb COX catalytic activity by distorting the secondary and/or tertiary structures of the COX complex. The reduced COX activity caused by these defects could lead to increased intracellular levels of oxygen free radicals; and the cumulative effects of free radical-mediated lipid oxidation ultimately cause the degenerative neurological changes that are characteristic of AD (1).
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss and/or atrophy of dopamine-containing neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra of the brain. Like AD, PD also afflicts the elderly. It is characterized by bradykinesia (slow movement), rigidity and a resting tremor. Although L-Dopa treatment reduces tremors in most patients for a while, ultimately the tremors become more and more uncontrollable, making it difficult or impossible for patients to even feed themselves or meet their own basic hygiene needs.
Like sporadic AD, most cases of PD appear sporadically in the population; even with identical twins, one may have the disease, and the other not. This suggests that nuclear chromosomal abnormalities are not the cause of this disease. Furthermore, it has been shown that the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induces parkinsonism in animals and man. MPTP is converted to its active metabolite, MPP+, in dopamine neurons; it then becomes concentrated in the mitochondria. The MPP+ then selectively inhibits the enzyme NADH:UBIQUINONE OXIDOREDUCTASE ("Complex I"), leading to the increased production of free radicals, reduced production of adenosine triphosphate, and ultimately, the death of affected dopamine neurons.
Complex I is composed of 40-50 subunits; most are encoded by the nuclear genome and seven by the mitochondrial genome. Since parkinsonism may be induced by exposure to mitochondrial toxins that affect Complex I activity, it appears likely that defects in the mitochondrial genes that encode Complex I proteins may contribute to the pathogenesis of PD by causing a similar biochemical deficiency in Complex I activity. Indeed, defects in mitochondrial Complex I activity have been reported in the blood and brain of PD patients (2).
Similar theories have been advanced for similar relationships between mtDNA mutations and other neurological diseases, including Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, schizophrenia, "mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke" (MELAS), and "myoclonic epilepsy ragged red fiber syndrome" (MERRF).
The identification of therapeutic regimens or drugs that are useful in the treatment of disorders associated with such mitochondrial defects has historically been hampered by the lack of reliable model systems that could be used in rapid and informative screening. Animal models do not exist for many of the human diseases that are associated with mitochondrial gene defects. In addition, appropriate cell culture model systems are either not available, or are difficult to establish and maintain. Furthermore, even when cell culture models are available, it is often not possible to discern whether the mitochondrial or the cellular genome is responsible for given phenotype, as mitochondrial functions are often encoded by both genomic and mitochondrial genes. It is therefore also not possible to tell whether the apparent effect of a given drug or treatment operates at the level of the mitochondrial genome or elsewhere.
One approach that has been used to attempt to discern which genome is responsible is to destroy the mitochondrial DNA in cultured cells known to have proper mitochondrial function, and then transfer to such cells the mitochondria from diseased cells (3). However, the resulting cell lines tend to be unstable and hard to culture. Fully differentiated cell lines are used as the targets for transplantation, but their naturally limited life spans makes them particularly unsuitable for screening purposes. In addition, such transformations have not been done using cells of the type that are most affected by the disease, making it unclear whether the mitochondrial deficiencies observed in the transformants are related to the disease state being studied.

Cellular and animal models for diseases associated with mitochondrial defects


The disclosed technology can be used to develop systems and perform methods in which movements (e.g., manipulations of a door handle) associated with a locking element can be detected based on a sequence of signal interruptions caused by these movements and such sequence of signal interruptions can further serve as a basis for identifying an authorized user and as a basis for actuating the locking element to enable the authorized user to gain access to a restricted-access space defined within an enclosure (e.g., an automobile, a boat, an aircraft, a building, a container, a cabinet, etc.).

Individuals, corporations, and/or other entities maintaining one or more restricted-access spaces (such as spaces defined within the interiors of land, sea, or air vehicles, buildings, hazardous material containers, controlled-pharmaceutical cabinets, dangerous and/or expensive item storage areas, and/or any other type of area or space where locking mechanisms have been provided to ensure that access to a secure space is limited to authorized individuals) balance the need for maintaining the security of the restricted-access spaces against the difficulty in gaining access to such spaces. Access to restricted-access spaces typically requires that an authorized entity insert a key into a locking mechanism that controls access to a particular restricted-access space.
In addition to ubiquitous key-type locks, relatively recent developments in keyless entry systems enable an individual with a radio frequency ("RF") transmitter to remotely manipulate a locking mechanism associated with a restricted-access space by transmitting an RF signal to a corresponding RF receiver that is adapted to operate the locking mechanism in response to the receipt of the signal. Unfortunately, physical keys and transmitters can be lost, misplaced, or stolen, thereby significantly increasing the difficulty in gaining access to a restricted-access space by an authorized individual. Accordingly, users and maintainers of restricted-access spaces have a continuing interest in developing self-contained entry systems that do not require authorized individuals to carry keys, transmitters, and/or other devices to gain entry to such restricted-access spaces.

Self-contained keyless entry system to prevent lockout from restricted-access spaces


An apparatus that includes a near field transducer, the near field transducer including silver (Ag) and at least one other element or compound, wherein the at least one other element or compound is selected from: copper (Cu), palladium (Pd), gold (Au), zirconium (Zr), zirconium oxide (ZrO), platinum (Pt), geranium (Ge), nickel (Ni), tungsten (W), cobalt (Co), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), tantalum (Ta), chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), vanadium (V), iridium (Ir), titanium (Ti), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo), silicon (Si), or combinations thereof oxides of V, Zr, Mg, calcium (Ca), Al, Ti, Si, cesium (Ce), yttrium (Y), Ta, W or thorium (Th), Co, or combinations thereof; or nitrides of Ta, Al, Ti, Si, indium (In), Fe, Zr, Cu, W, boron (B), halfnium (Hf), or combinations thereof.

In heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), information bits are recorded on a data storage medium at elevated temperatures. The data bit dimension can be determined by the dimensions of the heated area in the storage medium or the dimensions of an area of the storage medium that is subjected to a magnetic field. In one approach, a beam of light is condensed to a small optical spot on the storage medium to heat a portion of the medium and reduce the magnetic coercivity of the heated portion. Data is then written to the reduced coercivity region.
One example of a recording head for use in heat assisted magnetic recording includes a near field transducer (NFT) that is capable of focusing light to a spot size smaller than the diffraction limit. The NFT is designed to reach local surface-plasmon resonance at a designed light wavelength. At resonance, a high electric field surrounding the NFT appears, due to the collective oscillation of electrons in the metal. A portion of the field will tunnel into a storage medium and get absorbed, raising the temperature of the medium locally for recording.
The NFT's temperature significantly increases at plasmonic resonance. In addition, a portion of the NFT may be exposed at the air bearing surface of the recording head and is thus subject to mechanical wearing. NFT performance is greatly influenced by the heat and mechanical stress during HAMR operation. It would therefore be advantageous to have NFT devices that are more durable.

HAMR NFT materials with improved thermal stability