A composition is provided, wherein the composition comprises a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer, a blend of a hydrophilic polymer and a complementary oligomer capable of hydrogen bonding to the hydrophilic polymer, and a whitening agent, preferably a peroxide. The composition finds utility as a tooth whitening composition and is applied to the teeth in need of whitening, and then removed when the degree of whitening has been achieved. In certain embodiments, the composition is translucent. Methods for preparing and using the compositions are also disclosed.

Discoloration of the teeth occurs widely in society, and is estimated to occur in two out of three adults. Dental discoloration is considered an aesthetic flaw or defect, and can have negative consequences in an affected person's life by causing self-consciousness, and even inhibiting smiling. Tooth discoloration can be particularly distressing or troublesome in situations and professions where showing clean and white teeth is essential.
A tooth is comprised of an inner dentin layer and an outer hard enamel layer that is slightly porous. The outer layer is the protective layer of the tooth. The natural color of the tooth is opaque to translucent white or slightly off-white. Staining of teeth arises as a result of exposure of compounds such as tannins and other polyphenolic compounds to the teeth. These compounds become entrapped or bound to the proteinaceous layer on the surface of the teeth, and can penetrate the enamel and even the dentin. On occasion, staining can arise from sources within the tooth, such as tetracycline, which may become deposited in the teeth if administered to an individual when young.
Surface staining can usually be removed by mechanical tooth cleaning. However, discolored enamel or dentin is not amenable to mechanical methods of tooth cleaning, and chemical methods, which can penetrate into the tooth structure, are required to remove the stains. The most effective treatments for dental discoloration are compositions containing an oxidizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, that is capable of reacting with the chromogen molecules responsible for the discoloration, and rendering them either colorless or water-soluble, or both.
Consequently, tooth whitening compositions generally fall into two categories: (1) gels, pastes, or liquids, including toothpastes that are mechanically agitated at the stained tooth surface in order to affect tooth stain removal through abrasive erosion of surface stains; and (2) gels, pastes, or liquids that accomplish a tooth-bleaching effect by a chemical process while in contact with the stained tooth surface for a specified period, after which the formulation is removed. In some cases, an auxiliary chemical process, which may be oxidative or enzymatic, supplements the mechanical process.
Some dental compositions such as dentrifices, toothpastes, gels, and powders contain active oxygen or hydrogen peroxide liberating bleaching agents. Such bleaching agents include peroxides, percarbonates and perborates of the alkali and alkaline earth metals or complex compounds containing hydrogen peroxide. Also, peroxide salts of the alkali or alkaline earth metals are known to be useful in whitening teeth.
Of the many peroxides available to the formulator of tooth whitening compositions, hydrogen peroxide (and its adducts or association complexes, such as carbamide peroxide and sodium percarbonate) has been used almost exclusively. The chemistry of hydrogen peroxide is well known, although the specific nature of its interactions with tooth chromogens is poorly understood. It is believed that hydrogen peroxide destroys tooth chromogens by oxidizing unsaturated carbon-carbon, carbon-oxygen, and carbon-nitrogen bonds found in the stain molecules, thus rendering them colorless or soluble.
A related class of compound, the peroxyacids, has been used in laundry detergents to effectively whiten clothes, due primarily to their stability in solution and their specific binding abilities to certain types of stain molecules. A number of stable, solid peroxyacids have been used, including diperoxydodecanoic acid and the magnesium salt of monoperoxyphthalic acid. Other peroxyacids, such as peroxyacetic acid, are available as solutions containing an equilibrium distribution of acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, peroxyacetic acid and water. Alternatively, a peroxide donor such as sodium perborate or sodium percarbonate is formulated together with a peroxyacid precursor. Upon contact with water, the peroxide donor releases hydrogen peroxide which then reacts with the peroxyacid precursor to form the actual peroxyacid. Examples of peroxyacids created in situ include peroxyacetic acid (from hydrogen peroxide and tetraacetylethylenediamine) and peroxynonanoic acid (from hydrogen peroxide and nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate).
Peroxyacids have also been used in oral care compositions to whiten stained teeth. U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,816 describes a method of whitening teeth comprising the application of a peroxyacetic acid-containing composition having an acid pH. EP 545,594 A1 describes the use of peroxyacetic acid in preparing a composition for whitening teeth. The peroxyacetic acid may be present in the composition, or alternatively, may be generated in situ by combining a peroxide source with a peroxyacetic acid precursor during use. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,375 describes a composition that generates peroxyacetic acid within a vehicle in situ by combining water, acetylsalicylic acid and a water-soluble alkali metal percarbonate.
The most commonly used dental whitening agent is carbamide peroxide (CO(NH2)2H2O2), also called urea hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide carbamide, and perhydrol-urea. Carbamide peroxide had been used by dental clinicians for several decades as an oral antiseptic, and tooth bleaching was an observed side effect of extended contact time. Over-the-counter compositions of 10% carbamide peroxide are available as GLY-OXIDE® by Marion Laboratories and PROXIGEL® by Reed and Camrick, which are low-viscosity compositions that must be held in a tray or similar container in order to provide contact with the teeth. A bleaching gel which is able to hold a comfortable-fitting dental tray in position for an extended time period is available under the trademark OPALESCENCE® from Ultradent Products, Inc. in South Jordan, Utah.
In order for such compositions to stay in place, the compositions must be a viscous liquid or a gel. The use of dental trays also requires that the tray be adapted for comfort and fit so that the tray will not exert pressure or cause irritation to the person's teeth or gums. Such whitening compositions necessarily should be formulated so as to be sufficiently sticky and viscous to resist dilution by saliva.
In one method of whitening an individual's teeth, a dental professional will construct a custom made dental bleaching tray for the patient from an impression made of the patient's dentition and prescribe the use of an oxidizing gel to be dispensed into the bleaching tray and worn intermittently for a period of from about 2 weeks to about 6 months, depending upon the severity of tooth staining. These oxidizing compositions, usually packaged in small plastic syringes or tubes, are dispensed directly by the patient into the custom-made tooth-bleaching tray, held in place in the mouth for contact times of greater than about 60 minutes, and sometimes as long as 8 to 12 hours. The slow rate of bleaching is in large part the consequence of the very nature of formulations that are developed to maintain stability of the oxidizing composition.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,576 to Jensen describes tooth whitening compositions that are preferably used with a tray so that the composition is held in position adjacent to the person's tooth surfaces to be treated. These compositions are described as a sticky matrix material formed by combining a sufficient quantity of a tackifying agent, such as carboxypolymethylene, with a solvent, such as glycerin, polyethylene glycol, or water.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,886 to Pellico describes a tooth whitening composition in the form of a gel composition containing carbamide peroxide dispersed in an anhydrous gelatinous carrier, which includes a polyol, a thickener, and xanthan gum.
Yet another example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,905 to Hernandez, which describes the use of compositions containing carbamide peroxide (0.3-60%), xylitol (0.5-50%), a potassium salt (0.001-10%) and a fluorine salt (0.15-3%), formulated into a gel that contains between 0.5 and 6% by weight of an appropriate gelling agent.
A tooth whitening composition that adheres to the teeth is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,989,569 and 6,045,811 to Dirksing. According to these patents, the gel contains 30-85% glycerin or polyethylene glycol, 10-22% urea/hydrogen peroxide complex, 0-12% carboxypolymethylene, 0-1% sodium hydroxide, 0-100% triethanolamine (TEA), 0-40% water, 0-1% flavor, 0-15% sodium citrate, and 0-5% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The preferred gel according to Dirksing has a viscosity between 200 and 1,000,000 cps at low shear rates (less than one 1/seconds), and is sufficiently adhesive so as to obviate the need for a tray.
Currently available tooth-bleaching compositions have a significant disadvantage in that they cause tooth sensitization in over 50% of patients. Tooth sensitivity may result from the movement of fluid through the dentinal tubules, which is sensed by nerve endings in the tooth, due to the presence of glycerin, propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol in these compositions. This can result in varying amounts of tooth sensitivity following exposure of the teeth to heat, cold, overly sweet substances, and other causative agents.
Prolonged exposure of teeth to bleaching compositions, as practiced at present, has a number of adverse effects in addition to that of tooth sensitivity. These adverse effects include leaching of calcium from the enamel layer at a pH less than 5.5; penetration of the intact enamel and dentin by the bleaching agents and risking damage to pulpal tissue; and dilution of the bleaching compositions with saliva resulting in leaching from the dental tray and subsequent ingestion by the user.
Some oxidizing compositions (generally having relatively high concentrations of oxidizers) are applied directly to the tooth surface of a patient in a dental office setting under the supervision of a dentist or dental hygienist. Theoretically, such tooth whitening strategies yield faster results and better overall patient satisfaction. However, due to the high concentration of oxidizing agents contained in these so called "in-office" compositions, they can be hazardous to the patient and practitioner alike if not handled with care. The patient's soft tissues (the gingiva, lips, and other mucosal surfaces) must first be isolated from potential exposure to the active oxidizing agent by the use of a perforated rubber sheet (known as a rubber dam), so that only the teeth protrude. Alternatively, the soft tissue may be isolated from the oxidizers to be used in the whitening process by covering the soft tissue with a polymerizable composition that is shaped to conform to the gingival contours and subsequently cured by exposure to a high intensity light source. Once the soft tissue has been isolated and protected, the practitioner may apply the oxidizing agent directly onto the stained tooth surfaces for a specified period of time or until a sufficient change in tooth color has occurred. Typical results obtained through the use of an in-office tooth whitener, range from about 2 to 3 shades (as measured with the VITA Shade Guide, VITA Zahnfarbik).
The range of tooth shades in the VITA Shade Guide varies from very light (B1) to very dark (C4). A total of 16 tooth shades constitute the entire range of colors between these two endpoints on a scale of brightness. Patient satisfaction with a tooth whitening procedure increases with the number of tooth shade changes achieved, with a generally accepted minimum change desirable of about 4 to 5 VITA shades.
It is desirable, with respect to dental care products for tooth whitening, to provide dental care products utilizing an adhesive hydrogel that includes a whitening agent for removing stains from an individual's teeth. Compositions are desired that do not require the use of dental trays to provide contact between the bleaching agent and the teeth. Such products ideally would cause minimal or no tooth sensitivity, would minimize or eliminate leakage of the whitening agent resulting in ingestion by the user or resulting in damage or irritation to the gums or mucous membranes of the mouth, would provide for longer wear duration, sustained dissolution of the tooth whitening agent, improved efficacy, and be well tolerated by patients. It would also be desirable to provide a tooth whitening dental care product that is a solid composition and self-adhesive but which does not stick to the fingers of the user, or that is a non-solid (e.g., liquid or gel) and which forms a film when dry. The instant invention addresses these needs.

Hydrogel compositions for tooth whitening

A. V. Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences


A portable toolbox has a compartment closed by a lid, the lid being configured to mount a powered saw module to an inner face thereof such that the saw blade extends from an outer side of the lid which provides a flat sawbench. The toolbox is used with powered hand tools of the type having a power handle module incorporating rechargeable batteries and control switch for engaging a variety of multi-purpose tools having respective electric motors. A battery station receives the power handle module and an associated circuit controls and supplies power to the saw. An adaptor fixture may be employed in one configuration to provide a drill press and in another to provide a saw fence. The adaptor fixture includes a sliding carriage for mounting a powered hand drill and jaws for clamping engagement with the toolbox when used as a fence.

Combining a toolbox for organising and protecting hand tools for transport or storage, with a workstation on which work or tools may be mounted, provides a versatile system able to meet the varying needs of the home handyman and tradesman. It would be particularly advantageous however, to provide a toolbox apparatus to which a power hand drill may be mounted to provide a drill press having the functions of a conventional free-standing drill press, and to which a power cutting tool, such as a circular saw, may be mounted to provide the functions of a conventional table saw.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,003 describes a table to which a circular saw may be mounted, and having a drill press fixture mounted to the table to receive a power hand drill. A drawback with this apparatus however, is the lack of provision for organising and storing the tools, the drill press fixture or other accessories when they are not in use. Moreover, the fixture may only be used to provide a drill press as it possesses no features allowing it to provide any other function.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages or more generally to provide an improved combination toolbox and workstation.

Toolbox apparatus to which power tools may be mounted to provide a workstation


Cantilever gates (10) in the form of parallelograms include first and second bars (40) and a toe board (140) extending between and pivotally mounted to first and second posts (20, 30) and moveable between closed and open positions. Gas struts (46) assist in moving the gate (10). A lock (60) in the form of a pivotal latch (62) holds the gate (10) in its open position. A slide receptor (80) slideably receives the second post (30) as the gate (10) moves from the open to the closed position and can be removably secured to the support surface mounting plate (82). A pair of cantilever gates (10) can have their respective second posts (30) slideably related.

The present invention generally relates to removable safety systems for doorways and the like and, in preferred aspects, to cantilever gates.
A safety concern exists for loading docks as persons can accidentally or unintentionally go over an edge of the loading dock when a truck is not abutting therewith. Thus, gates are often positioned across doorways which can be closed while a truck is moving relative to or is not abutting with the loading dock. Conventional gates are often slideably mounted. However, if several loading docks are present, such sliding gates often interfere with adjacent docks. Cantilever gates have also been proposed but have not achieved significant market success due to various deficiencies.
Thus, a need exists for a cantilever gate which overcomes the deficiencies of prior gates.


The disclosed methods for preparing cytological samples may include placing a cytological sample in a concave filter in a filtration system, applying a negative pressure to an outer side of the concave filter with a vacuum device to withdraw a liquid from the cytological sample, applying a sectionable matrix material over the filtered cellular material within the concave filter, and removing an assembly including the filtered cellular material and the sectionable matrix material from the filtration system. Various other related methods, systems, and materials are also disclosed.

Cytopathology is screening and/or diagnosing diseases by looking at single cells and small clusters of cells. The cells for cytopathology can be obtained in a variety of ways. For example, fine needle aspiration (FNA) may be performed to obtain cells from virtually any organ. Body fluids may also be collected, such as urine, sputum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, or ascitic (peritoneal) fluid. Conventional cell collection techniques also include scraping or brushing cells from an organ or tissue, such as from a uterine cervix (e.g., for a Pap test), an esophagus, a stomach, bronchi, a mouth, etc.
Compared with typical tissue biopsies, cytology specimens are sometimes cheaper, easier to harvest with less discomfort to the patient, and are less likely to result in serious complications. However, in some cases, a tissue biopsy result may be more accurate.
Cytomorphologic diagnoses can be rendered by staining smears, cytospins following specimen concentration, thin layer preparations with selective cellular enhancement, and cell blocks prepared for sample consolidation.
Because of a low concentration of cells in samples taken, smears, cytospins, and thin layer preparations used for screening/diagnoses are often low yield, "single-use," and, when multiple slides are prepared for eventual future ancillary tests, have a limited shelf life.
In some situations, cell blocks have potential advantages of semblance to histology and the capacity to yield multiple tissue sections for ancillary tests (e.g., special stains, immunohistochemical (IHC) stains with coordination of immunoreactivity pattern, molecular diagnostics, etc.). Additionally, most conventional ancillary tests are standardized only for samples prepared using histological techniques (not cytological) and, as such, cell block preparations can yield results that can be automatically validated for clinical use (as opposed to cytological preparations where many ancillary tests can either not be performed at all, or results will have only a conjectural value). For example, immunohistochemical staining is validated on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples, but is generally not validated for alcohol-fixed or air-dried smears or cytospins.
Conventional methods for preparing cell blocks may involve a preliminary step of concentrating the cells by centrifugation and/or filtration. Some methods use a liquid matrix for holding the loose cells together (e.g., albumin, gelatin, plasma thrombin, low melting point agarose, proprietary mixtures such as so-called "HistoGel" available from Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. of Waltham, Mass., USA, etc.). It is difficult or impossible to obtain a homogenous mixture of cells in a liquid matrix while maintaining the integrity of the cells for later analysis. As a result, while some of the sections obtained from a cell block might contain large concentration of cells, other sections could be devoid of cells or have a low concentration of cells.
Some have attempted to simply wrap a group of concentrated cells (e.g., a cell pellet) in lens paper, in a tea bag, or in a collodion membrane prior to histological processing. Alternatively, all processing (e.g., including embedding in paraffin wax) can be performed in centrifuge tubes that are cut at the bottom for extracting the paraffin block. Such methods typically suffer from a lack of standardization, are cumbersome and inefficient, and do not completely eliminate the risk of cross-contaminating the samples. Moreover, the preparative steps involved in processing in the centrifuge tubes may run the risk of losing a significant number of cells and are not suitable for samples with low cellularity (i.e., low concentration of cells).
One conventional method used by HOLOGiC® (e.g., the method associated with the trade name CELLIENT AUTOMATED CELL BLOCK SYSTEM®) is relatively simple, but results in obtaining extremely thin blocks which are often difficult to cut. In addition, the method may be inefficient because it typically allows only individual processing of the preparations, spanning approximately 45 minutes per specimen. The method also requires dedicated and expensive equipment, which translates into a relatively low efficiency at a high price.
Other drawbacks of the traditional methods for obtaining cell blocks may include high loss of sometimes very scarce (e.g., low concentration) cellular material during complex and time-consuming preparative steps. Additionally, certain incompatibilities may exist with regard to the fixatives employed. For example, the so-called "thrombin clot" method generally may not employ the use of formalin-fixed samples, and the HistoGel method is not designed to work without post-fixation in formalin, etc. Such requirements may limit the applicability of such methods to molecular testing, which is typically the main driver for employing cell block techniques.

Methods and systems for preparing cytological samples


The present invention provides: a gas separation method which is capable of desirably separating a slight amount of a component from a mixed gas under mild conditions such that the pressure difference between both sides of a gas separation membrane is 1 atmosphere or less; and a gas separation membrane which is suitable for use in this gas separation method. According to the present invention, in a gas separation method wherein a specific gas (A) in a mixed gas, which contains the specific gas (A) at a concentration of 1,000 ppm by mass or less, is selectively permeated with use of a gas separation membrane, an extremely thin gas separation membrane that has a film thickness of 1 μm or less is used, so that the gas (A) is desirably separated under mild conditions such that the pressure difference between both sides of the gas separation membrane is 1 atmosphere or less.

Conventionally, a gas separation method using a gas separation membrane has been employed for the purpose of increasing or reducing the concentration of a specific gas in various mixed gases. For example, a membrane made of polyimide resin having a specific structure has been proposed as a gas separation membrane applicable to the gas separation process by means of gas separation membrane, which uses the pressure generated by the flow of natural gas (in piping) as the driving force for separating a gas (see Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2016-137484

Gas separation method and gas separation membrane


Controllers and associated methods for controlling a thermal reactor or other thermal semiconductor processors which include a heating element powered by a power source, and having profile thermocouples and spike thermocouples. One preferred method comprises the following steps: modeling thermal dynamic characteristics of the thermal reactor, the modeling step including providing thermocouple instrumented wafers in the thermal reactor, perturbing the thermal reactor by controlling the heating element using a stimulation sequence, and developing models based on changes in temperature created by the perturbations. The models are developed off-line and can include one or more models, such as a model of power versus spike thermocouple readings, a model of spike thermocouple readings versus profile thermocouple readings, and a model of profile thermocouple readings versus thermocouple instrumented wafer readings. On-line models are further derived and used during operation to control power input to the zones of the thermal processor using measured profile and spike temperatures. The models can be cascaded or selectively activated to achieve different control regimes.

The processing of semiconductor wafers has become of great economic significance due to the large volume of integrated circuits being produced and the significant value associated with such circuits. Competitive pressures have driven dramatic changes in production. Foremost among these is the reduction in size of the various features of an integrated circuit which make up the transistors and other devices being formed on the integrated circuits. This reduction in feature size has been driven to achieve greater levels of integration, more sophisticated and complex circuits, and to reduce production costs by obtaining more integrated circuits on each wafer being produced.
Even though feature sizes used in integrated circuits have decreased dramatically, additional reductions are continuously being pursued. The temperature at which wafers are processed has a first order effect on the diffusion of dopants, deposition of materials or other thermal processes being performed. Thus it is important to have processing equipment which can achieve accurate temperature control to meet desired thermal processing specifications. As feature size decreases, the importance of accurate temperature control during processing increases to even a greater degree.
Traditionally, semiconductor thermal reactors have used Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers to control temperature. Although such controller have the advantage of easier operation and maintenance, they are of limited accuracy in controlling temperatures. This limited accuracy imposes limitations on the achievable size and yield of integrated circuits.
The more typical PID controller parameters are experimentally tuned by adjusting the gain values or selected using a variety of tuning rules (e.g., Ziegler-Nichols). Such control methods give relatively less accurate control of the temperature of the thermal reactor with associated limitations on production yield and consistency of the resulting integrated circuits or other semiconductor items being produced.
More complex control schemes have been devised, but these more complex schemes frequently are so complex computationally that on-line operation is either not possible or not feasible. More complex control schemes have also in some cases not been used because of difficulties in achieving required control system tuning and maintenance at the production facility. This has been of somewhat greater concern with regard to controllers operated by engineers who do not have strong control system backgrounds. As a result is it often difficult for them to resolve all of the complexities imposed in adjusting the control system to the variations in their specific processor performance. This is exacerbated by variations in the same processor with time and changing conditions.
The temperature control problems encountered in thermal processing of semiconductor devices can be thought of in several different ways. One control problem involves matching the wafer temperature to the desired overall or average target or recipe temperature of the processor. The problem involves both achieving the desired recipe temperature and in achieving relatively consistent temperatures from one production run to another.
The desired overall or average recipe temperature of the processor can conveniently be thought of in terms of three different phases. The first phase is typically a ramp-up phase wherein the average operating temperature increases or ramps from a low level when processing is begun. The temperature ramp-up phase is thereafter typically followed by a period during which a desired maximum or other constant processing temperature is maintained. Such a constant temperature phase includes a stabilization period during which the changing temperature ramp ends and a constant or near constant temperature is achieved. Constant temperature phases may occur one or more times in a processing cycle. A further phase is the ramp-down phase wherein the average temperature of the processor in decreasing. Appreciate that various processes may include more than one of each of these three different phases.
Whether simple or more complex temperature plans or recipes are used, each phase may further be complicated by the introduction of one or more supplementary processing gases or vapor phase processing constituents which affect temperature and thermal response. Such supplementary processing gases are typically gases containing dopants, deposition materials or steam.
Another temperature control problem is to achieve relatively similar temperature exposures or histories during a processing cycle for each of the wafers or other semiconductor workpieces being processed within a batch. Temperature variations routinely occur with regard to wafers positioned near the ends of the array of wafers held within a processing furnace. There may also be other less predictable variations from wafer to wafer, such as along the array of wafers contained within the processing array.
A still further temperature control problem is associated with temperature variations across an individual wafer or other semiconductor workpiece being processed. This area of variability is exemplified by the geometry of most processing furnaces which have a grouping of multiple electrical heating elements formed in rings which surround the array of wafers being processed. Heat from the heating elements is being radiated through the processing vessel and variations can occur with regard to the heat gain experienced by the peripheral areas of the wafer as compared to the interior areas. Variations in the degree of radiant heat transfer and radiant shadowing which occur from wafer to wafer further exacerbates this problem.
Another noteworthy consideration is the manufacturing concern to minimize the processing time used to effect a particular process or group of processes being carried out with the thermal processor. Minimizing the processing time will typically increase the ramp-up phase temperature change rate. Conversely, time concerns will also increase the ramp-down phase temperature change rate. Increased rates of temperature change cause greater difficulties in maintaining recipe temperatures during the processes of transitioning between ramp-up and stabilization phases, and between stable temperatures and relatively rapid temperature ramp-down phases.
Given these complexities and somewhat countervailing considerations, there is great difficulty in achieving improved control systems which are both practical and workable for improved thermal processing of semiconductor wafers.

Model based temperature controller for semiconductor thermal processors


A two-piece abutment system is disclosed. The first part includes a tapering inner surface which is part of a bore extending entirely through the first part. The first part includes a socket for mating with a boss or post on a dental implant. The elongated second part includes a threaded stem for engaging a threaded bore with a dental implant and a post which extends above the first part. The second part extends through the bore of the first part and is screwed into the implant. As the second part is screwed into the implant, a tapering external surface on the post of the second part frictionally locks with the tapering inner surface of the first part. The first part has a metallic core which is surrounded by a ceramic outer portion.

Surgical techniques for support of dental prostheses by means of metallic bone-embedded artificial root fixtures are well known. According to one prior art technique, a titanium bone-embedded implant fixture is interfaced with a metallic abutment post, on which the superstructure is supported. The post has an internally shouldered access bore through which a screw fastener is inserted to actually hold the implant and the post assembled. A number of problems and restrictions are presented however in the attachment of and retention of the superstructures to such abutment posts.
Specifically, the typical superstructures for use with such posts are made of porcelain. The use of a titanium post generally results in a dark, central rod-like shadow, particularly when exposed to high-brightness light, which makes the prosthesis somewhat unattractive and able to be distinguished from a natural tooth. Further, since the materials are different, there are sometimes presented problems with securing of the prosthesis to the support post.
One attempt to solve the attractiveness and securing problems has involved making a support post made entirely of ceramic material, specifically, aluminum oxide. This approach allows direct surface bonding by interaction of a porcelain coping and/or prosthesis to the support post resulting in a secure and almost seamless bond between the prosthetic structure and the support post. While presenting an alternative attraction to the use of a titanium support post, the proposed solution presents a number of previously unanticipated problems.
Ceramic materials generally have a much greater hardness than titanium. When such a support post is used, inevitable rocking of the support post due to, for example, chewing action, causes a high-stress interaction between the metal implant and the ceramic material of the post. Since ceramic is of greater hardness than the titanium implant, it can and does cause damage to the implant. If sufficient damage is caused, eventual surgical intervention is required to remove and replace the titanium implant. In addition, ceramic material is typically not radiopaque. Thus, when examining the juncture between the support post and the titanium implant through conventional dental x-ray imaging, the interface between the two elements is not readily viewable and thus adequate x-ray examination cannot be conducted.


Methods and systems for graphically displaying sources for aircraft flight control instructions are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes displaying at a display medium a map of a region at least proximate to an aircraft and displaying an aircraft indicator at least proximate to the map. The aircraft indicator can identify current location of the aircraft, and its location relative to the map can be updated as the aircraft executes a flight. The method can further include displaying at least proximate to the map an indication of a current mode by which a path of the aircraft is currently being automatically controlled.

Modern commercial aircraft make extensive use of computer systems to control aircraft behavior, plan and execute flights, and display information to the pilots during flight operations. FIG. 1A illustrates an existing flight deck 40 having a forward instrument panel 46 and a control pedestal 45 configured in accordance with the prior art. Instruments 44 and display screens 43 are distributed over the forward instrument panel 46 and the control pedestal 45 for easy access by the pilots. The display screens 43 can include primary flight displays (PFDs) 41, an engine display 47, and three multi-function displays (MFDs) 49. The MFDs 49 can present additional aircraft flight information, including navigation displays 20, aircraft checklists, communication displays, and system status information.
Additional instrumentation is presented at a mode control panel (MCP) 11 positioned on a glare shield 42 of the flight deck 40, and at control and display units (CDUs) 13 positioned on the control pedestal 45. The MCP 11 can receive tactical pilot inputs for automatically controlling the target to which the aircraft is directed (e.g., inputs that are implemented when the pilot authorizes them, for example, by pressing a knob). The CDUs 13 can provide an input/output link to a flight management computer 12 that provides automatically implemented strategic targets of the flight (e.g., flight targets toward which the aircraft is directed in a manner that is initiated automatically when the aircraft achieves a particular altitude or other threshold condition, and which can form portions of a pre-determined flight plan).
When the aircraft is controlled automatically, either to targets received from the MCP 11 or the FMC 12, the instructions for controlling the aircraft often include a pre-defined mode (e.g., a pre-defined flight behavior during climb, descent, cruise, or maneuvers) and a target (e.g., an altitude target, waypoint, or directional heading). Accordingly, the instructions identify a target in space and a manner for achieving the target. The modes are typically displayed at the PFDs 41, while the planned route of the aircraft, including waypoint targets, is displayed at the navigation display 20. For example, referring now to FIG. 1B, the navigation display 20 can include a vertical situation display (VSD) which depicts altitude as a function of ground distance. An aircraft indicator 24 identifies the current location of the aircraft relative to the upcoming terrain 25. A flight path angle trend indicator 23 identifies the current trajectory of the aircraft. The display 20 can also include a current waypoint target 21a (identifying the waypoint toward which the aircraft is currently directed) and a next waypoint target 21b (identifying the next waypoint target to which the aircraft will be directed upon attaining the current waypoint target 21a). The display 20 can also include an MCP altitude window indicator 26 identifying the altitude dialed in by the pilot at the MCP 11 (FIG. 1A), and a constraint indicator 22 identifying an altitude constraint.
One characteristic of the foregoing arrangement is that the flight mode annunciators or identifiers are typically displayed at the primary flight display 41, while the route of the aircraft is displayed at the navigation display 20. Accordingly, the connection between particular modes by which the aircraft will be flown and the point at which the aircraft will begin flying in accordance with those modes may not be immediately apparent to the pilot and may require that the pilot take extra time to understand this relationship. Furthermore, the flight mode annunciators may have different meanings depending upon whether they correspond to targets received from the MCP 11, or targets received from the FMC 12. Still further meanings are possible depending on what phase of flight the aircraft is currently in (e.g., climb, descent, cruise, etc.). Instructions entered at the MCP 11 (e.g., via an MCP-based altitude knob) may also have different effects depending on the current state of the aircraft. Accordingly, it may take the pilot additional time to understand what the aircraft is currently doing, and/or what the aircraft will do when it changes from one mode to another.
The foregoing arrangement can suffer from additional drawbacks, all of which can increase the amount of time required by the pilot to understand current and upcoming aircraft behavior. For example, it may not be readily apparent to the pilot whether the aircraft will level off to meet an FMC-dictated altitude restriction, or continue along a current climb route in accordance with an MCP-dictated directive. In particular, it may not be readily apparent to the pilot where, when and how the aircraft will transition from an instruction originating from the MCP 11 to an instruction originating from the FMC 12, and vice versa.

Methods and systems for graphically displaying sources for and natures of aircraft flight control instructions


An optical fiber endoscopic probe used to deliver radiation, in particular laser radiation, during a surgical procedure. The configuration of components of the endoscopic probe in use is adjustable so as to direct the radiation which exits the fiber as desired. The present invention also relates to a device used to direct the exiting beam of radiation in such an endoscopic probe, which may in particular be used in a narrow probe channel, for example for prostate laser surgery, and to a method of surgical treatment using the endoscopic probe.

In surgery, in particular endoscopic surgery, flexible optical fibres are often used to deliver laser light from a laser device to a treatment site to ablate, cauterise, dissect, excise and/or resect hard or soft tissue. In use, the fibre is typically passed down an elongate channel in the probe until its distal delivery end projects out of the distal end of the elongate channel of the probe.
In some probes, typically in orthopaedic procedures, the laser beam preferably travels from the delivery end of the fibre substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a probe or channel, each of which is straight throughout its length. In other procedures, it is desirable to direct the exiting beam skewed to the axis of such a probe or channel, so that, for example soft, tissue which is alongside the probe can be treated.
Hitherto, the design of the latter type of probes has been dictated by the direction in which the exiting beam is required to travel respect to the elongate channel of the probe, and the desired direction of the exiting beam is not readily adjustable in such probes. Thus, a wide variety of probes has had to have been developed, each specific to a particular endoscopic surgical procedure and the desired direction of the exiting beam. This is a first technical problem over a large range of probes known in the art.
A similar second technical problem to that described above arises in multichannel endoscopic probes which comprise an elongate working channel for a variety of non-laser surgical equipment for ablating, dissecting, excising and/or resecting hard or soft tissue, where it is desired to illuminate the treatment site from various directions. This may be effected by for example using a flexible optical fibre in an auxiliary channel in the probe to deliver visible non-coherent light in a beam in the various directions, in particular in desired directions not specific to any one procedure.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an endoscopic probe in which the delivery end of the fibre may be readily set at positions and configurations such that light which exits the fibre through its delivery end is in a desired direction. It would further be desirable to provide a versatile endoscopic probe which could provide an orientation of the delivery end required by a wide variety of procedures, so that a single probe may be used in such procedures.
Many endoscopic procedures, for example laser ablation of the prostate (LAP), such as holmium Laser Ablation of the Prostate (HoLAP) require any probe and elongate channel in the probe to be narrow.
The minimum dimension in the transverse direction of the elongate channel of the probe may typically be less than that of the space occupied by the distal delivery end of the fibre when deployed beyond the distal end of the channel and/or the probe, generally skewed to the longitudinal axis of the channel and/or the probe at their distal ends. This is a second technical problem which arises in providing a solution to the first technical problem.
Again, a similar second technical problem to that described above arises in multichannel endoscopic probes which comprise an elongate working channel for a variety of non-laser surgical equipment, where any such probe and any elongate channel in the probe are required to be narrow, but where it is desired to illuminate the treatment site from various directions. This may be effected by for example using a flexible optical fibre in a narrow auxiliary channel in the probe to deliver a visible non-coherent light beam in the various directions.
It will be seen that the second technical problem arises in providing a solution to the first technical problem for narrow probes
We have now found a solution which solves both the first and second technical problems.


A peripheral device has a bus-controlled switching arrangement for operating a power supply. A device comprises a bus interface adapted for communicating with a remote device via a bus. A switch circuit is connected between the bus interface and a power supply. The switch circuit is operative, when the power supply is in an inactive state, for sensing bus activity and for generating a signal for activating the power supply in response to the sensed bus activity, wherein the switch circuit has no power dissipation when no activity is sensed on the bus.

Peripheral devices such as routers, hubs, printers, scanners and the like, are often connected to a computer and/or to one another via one or more bus systems. In relatively small networks like SOHO (Small Office and Home Office) and DHT (Digital Home networks), most of the peripheral devices are turned on via a central power switch, or by turning on each of the devices individually. However, this activation operation becomes more inconvenient when the peripheral device is not in the same room as the computer. The power control problem is exacerbated when multiple peripheral devices are located remote from one another and/or from the computer(s) in the network. Consequently, such devices are often not turned off, but rather left in standby mode, thereby constantly consuming power. A peripheral device that senses bus inactivity, while maintaining the device without dissipating power in the sensing circuitry when there is no activity on the bus, is highly desired.


A plate link chain for a motor vehicle drive system. A number of link plates are hingedly connected by pairs of rocker members that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the chain. Curved contact surfaces are located on each of the rocker members and link plates, along which contact surfaces the rocker members and link plates contact each other to transmit power. The rocker members also include curved pitch surfaces along which rocker member pairs roll against each other to transmit power. The rocker members are shaped asymmetrically in the height direction and about a cross section plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the chain. Contact surfaces are provided on each of the upper and lower contact surface areas in the height direction of the rocker members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plate link chain, particularly for a motor vehicle drive system, with a large number of link plates hingedly connected to each other by rocker members, where the rocker members extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate link chain. Located on each of the rocker members and link plates there are curved contact surfaces, along which the rocker members and link plates are in contact with each other to transmit power. Also located on the rocker members are curved pitch surfaces along which the rocker members roll against each other to transmit power.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a plate link chain can be a toothed chain, which can be employed, for example, to transfer power in an all-wheel power divider transmission of a motor vehicle, or also, for example, on an auxiliary unit of the internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle. In the named cases the plate link chain is designed as a toothed chain and transmits tractive force between a driven and a driving sprocket wheel. Such a plate link chain can also be used, for example, as a traction medium in a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission of a motor vehicle, where, in this case, the tractive force is not transmitted by a positive connection through a toothed engagement of the plate link chain with the sprocket wheel, but by frictional force between two conical pulley pairs of the belt-driven conical-pulley transmission.
Such a plate link chain installed in a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission is also referred to as a rocker joint chain, where the rocker members or pressure pieces are arranged in pairs in plate openings of the link plates, and have pitch surfaces that roll against each other. In doing so they absorb the tractive force transmitted by the plate link chain in the form of compressive stresses, and introduce corresponding forces into the link plates as the reactive force thereto, where the transfer of force between the rocker members and the link plates takes place at curved contact surfaces that are formed on the rocker members and the link plates.
Thus, such a plate link chain has an articulating function, which is taken over by the rocker members with their respective pitch surfaces, and a contact function between the rocker members and the link plates, and for this purpose they must be designed in accordance with the required strength. If a deflection of the plate link chain from its stretched position occurs, when the chain changes from its stretched position to a deflected position—for example when the plate link chain runs over sprocket wheels or is clamped between two conical pulleys and bends—there must be high security against rotation between the rocker members and the link plates, since otherwise relative motion between the link plates and the rocker members results in friction-induced wear and hence in a possible early failure of the plate link chain.
The transmission of force between the rocker members and the link plates usually takes place in the area of a contact surface between the link plates and the rocker members, which, regarded along the longitudinal direction of the plate link chain, is located opposite the pitch surfaces of the rocker members, i.e., in the area of the back surfaces of the rocker members. At this contact surface between the rocker member and the link plate, the rocker member introduces a compressive force into the link plate which, due to the spacing present between the place where the force is introduced into the link plate and the upper or lower edge area of the rocker member receiving opening of the link plate, viewed in the direction of the rocker member height, results in a moment which promotes the formation of cracks in the link plate, and as time goes on can lead to growth of the cracks and thus to failure of the link plate.
A link plate is known in which there is not only one contact surface present between the rocker member and the link plate—namely the rear contact surface, relative to the pitch surfaces between the rocker members, viewed in the running direction of the plate link chain, which is formed on the rear surface of the rocker member. But two contact surfaces are formed between the rocker member and the link plate, one of which is located above and one below a plane that bisects the rocker member across the height direction, viewed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate link chain. This design has the advantage of division of force over the design with only one contact surface.
Based on U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,106, a plate link chain for the transmission of force is known in which the rocker members have pitch surfaces opposite each other and there are two contact surfaces formed on the rocker members at which the rocker members are in contact with contact surfaces of the link plates, and which serve to transmit power. The rocker members of this plate link chain, regarded in a cross sectional view running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate link chain, have a nearly circular shape in the area of the contact surfaces, and hence have the disadvantage of inadequate protection against rotation, so that relative motion can occur between the rocker members and the link plate when the chain is deflected, which leads to significant wear in the contact surface area between the rocker members and the link plates, and hence to early failure.
An attempt was made to solve this problem of safeguarding the rocker members against rotation of the link plates with the plate link chain known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,656 by having the contact surface area of the rocker members and the matching contact surface area of the link plates are not almost circular in shape—since such a design promotes relative rotation of the rocker members in the link plates—but by having the rocker members nearly triangular in shape in a corresponding cross sectional view, so that largely straight-lined contact surfaces on the rocker members are in contact with largely straight-lined contact surfaces of the link plates, so that safeguarding against rotation was realized. If this known plate link chain transitions from an extended position to a curved position, such a design may work against rotation of the rocker members in the link plates, but the rocker members are supported on their edges on the link plates. Such edge supporting results in significant tension peaks in the area of the contact surfaces between the rocker members and the link plates, so that such a design again also promotes the growth of cracks on the link plates, and the life of the known plate link chain is thereby reduced.
Starting from this point, an object of the present invention is to provide a plate link chain, in particular for a motor vehicle drive system, with which lower loads on the link plates are realizable, while the cross sectional area of the rocker members remains largely the same in comparison to known plate link chains, and provision is also made for the requirements for anti-rotation protection of the rocker members in the link plates.

Plate-link chain, particularly for a motor vehicle drive system

Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG


In addition to the configuration of a conventional optical XC node, a former-stage regenerator for converting optical signals to electrical signals and regenerating optical signals again is provided at an output stage of a demultiplexer and at the input stage of an optical switch unit. Since the regenerator has a 3R function, the regenerator compensates for the influence of the noise and crosstalk generated during propagation in the transmission line, and improves the S/N ratio of the optical signals. Since the optical signals with S/N ratios improved in this way are inputted to the optical switch unit, it is sufficient only if a latter-stage regenerator compensates for the S/N ratio degradation generated in the optical switch unit, and thereby the error rate characteristic of the optical signals can be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a configuration for preventing a waveform of an optical signal from degrading in an optical exchanger (cross-connect node).
2. Description of the Related Art
As information is being exchanged at high speed and in large volumes, a demand for networks and transmission systems with a broad band and large capacity has increased. As one means for meeting this demand the construction of an optical network is desired. An optical transmission system is a key factor in the construction of an optical network, and there is a wavelength-multiplexed optical cross-connect (XC) system as one system for such an optical transmission network. A wavelength-multiplexed optical XC refers to a photonic switching system of wavelength-multiplexed optical signals.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a wavelength-multiplexed optical XC and an optical network using the wavelength-multiplexed optical XC.
In the diagram the optical network comprises optical amplifiers 1500-1 through 1500-4 and optical transmission line 1501-1 through 1501-4 for connecting these optical amplifiers. A wavelength-multiplexed optical XC 1502 accommodates a plurality of optical input/output transmission line, and routes wavelength-multiplexed optical signals inputted from input optical transmission line to the desired output optical transmission line for each wavelength. The routing is controlled by an operating system 1503 provided in another network controller (not shown in the diagram). The operating system 1503 controls switching in the wavelength-multiplexed optical XC 1502, and monitors from which transmission line optical signals are inputted and to which transmission line optical signals are outputted to.
It is desirable from the viewpoint of miniaturized hardware that the configuration of the wavelength-multiplexed optical XC 1502 can be implemented without converting optical signals to electrical signals. However, as transmission distance and the number of passed nodes increase, noise generated by the optical amplifiers (spontaneous emission light) and crosstalk from other channels are accumulated, and thereby the waveforms of optical signals are degraded (that is, the error rate characteristic is degraded).
There are two systems in a wavelength-multiplexed optical XC system; that is, one is a system in which the wavelength is not converted in the node (fixed wavelength type) and the other is a system in which the wavelength is converted, if necessary (converted wavelength type).
FIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively, show the general configurations of fixed and converted wavelength type wavelength-multiplexed optical XCs using an optical switch.
The fixed wavelength type shown in FIG. 2A comprises a demultiplexer 1600, a wavelength-corresponding optical switch (optical SW) unit 1601, a multiplexer 1603 and a regenerator 1602 (consisting of an electrical/optical converter and an optical/electrical converter), and routes an input optical signal to the desired output transmission line with the wavelength unchanged by controlling the optical switch unit 1601. On the other hand, the converted wavelength type shown in FIG. 2B uses an optical switch unit 1604 with such a capacity that the same number of optical signals as the product of the number of wavelengths n multiplied by a port number k can be accommodated, and the optical switch unit 1604 is controlled so that the wavelength of an optical signal can be converted to the desired wavelength of the desired output transmission line.
FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively, show the general configurations of fixed and converted wavelength type wavelength-multiplexed optical XCs using a wavelength filter.
The fixed wavelength type shown in FIG. 3A comprises a wavelength selector unit 1700, a demultiplexer 1701, a multiplexer 1703 and a regenerator 1702, and the wavelength selector 1700 controls using a wavelength selection filter, etc. so that optical signals of the same wavelength may not be outputted to the same output. On the other hand, the converted wavelength type shown in FIG. 3B uses a wavelength selector unit 1704 with such a capacity that the wavelength-multiplexed optical signals and the same number of optical signals as the product of the number of wavelengths n multiplied by a port number k can be accommodated for the input and output, respectively, and the wavelength selector unit 1704 is controlled so that the wavelength of an optical signal can be converted to the desired wavelength of the desired output transmission line.
As described above, the regenerators in the converted wavelength types shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B are used to convert a wavelength in addition to the regeneration function.
In the conventional configurations, although a regenerator is used, the noise and crosstalk generated in an optical XC node are combined with the noise and crosstalk generated in the transmission line. Accordingly, the error rate characteristic is degraded.
Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the noise and crosstalk generated in the optical XC node from mixing with the noise and crosstalk generated in the transmission line or to suppress the noise and crosstalk themselves in order to solve the conventional problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical XC node with a configuration for suppressing the noise and crosstalk generated in the transmission line and the noise and crosstalk generated in an optical XC node, and thereby suppressing the degradation of the error rate characteristic.
The optical exchanger of the present invention is a photonic switching apparatus for accommodating a plurality of wavelength-multiplexed optical input/output optical links, routing wavelength-multiplexed optical signals inputted from each input link, and outputting the optical signals to output links, and is characterized in comprising a demultiplexer for demultiplexing wavelength-multiplexed optical signals inputted from the input link to optical signals of each wavelength, a first regenerator for regenerating the optical signals of each wavelength outputted from the demultiplexer and compensating for the S/N ratio degradation due to propagation in the transmission line, an optical switch unit for receiving the optical signals outputted from the first regenerator, and routing and outputting the optical signals, a second regenerator for regenerating the optical signals outputted from the optical switch unit and compensating for the S/N ratio degradation generated in the optical exchanger, and a multiplexer for multiplexing the optical signals of each wavelength outputted from the second regenerator to wavelength-multiplexed optical signals and outputting the wavelength-multiplexed optical signals to the transmission line.
The optical exchanger in another aspect of the present invention is a photonic switching apparatus for accommodating a plurality of wavelength-multiplexed optical input/output optical links, routing wavelength-multiplexed optical signals inputted from each input link, and outputting the optical signals to output links, and is characterized in comprising a first demultiplexer for demultiplexing wavelength-multiplexed optical signals inputted from the input link to optical signals of each wavelength, a first regenerator for regenerating the optical signals of each wavelength outputted from the demultiplexer and compensating for the S/N ratio degradation due to propagation in the transmission line, a first multiplexer for multiplexing the optical signals of each wavelength outputted from the first regenerator, a wavelength selector unit, consisting of two optical couplers and one multi-wavelength selection filter for routing the wavelength-multiplexed optical signals from the first multiplexer, a second demultiplexer for demultiplexing the optical signals outputted from the wavelength selector unit to optical signals of each wavelength, a second regenerator for regenerating the optical signals of each wavelength from outputted from the second demultiplexer and compensating for the S/N ratio degradation generated in an optical exchanger, and a second multiplexer for multiplexing the optical signals outputted from the second regenerator and outputting the wavelength-multiplexed optical signals to the transmission line.
The optical exchanger in another aspect of the present invention is a photonic switching apparatus for accommodating a plurality of wavelength-multiplexed optical input/output optical links, routing wavelength-multiplexed optical signals inputted from each input link, and outputting the optical signals to output links, and is characterized in comprising a demultiplexer for demultiplexing wavelength-multiplexed optical signals inputted from the input link to optical signals. of each wavelength, a first regenerator for regenerating the optical signals of each wavelength outputted from the demultiplexer and compensating for the S/N ratio degradation due to propagation in the transmission line, a first multiplexer for multiplexing the optical signals of each wavelength outputted from the first regenerator, a wavelength selector unit, consisting of two optical couplers and one wavelength selection filter for routing the wavelength-multiplexed optical signals inputted from the first multiplexer, a second regenerator for regenerating optical signals from the optical signals of each wavelength outputted from the wavelength selector unit and compensating for the S/N ratio degradation generated in an optical XC node, and a second multiplexer for multiplexing the optical signals of each wavelength outputted from the second regenerator and transmitting then to the transmission line.
According to the present invention, by providing a regenerator for optical signals on the input side of an optical exchanger and eliminating noise and crosstalk degrading the S/N ratio of optical signals prior to routing, only the compensation for the S/N ratio degradation due to the noise generated by optical amplifiers provided in the optical exchanger and the crosstalk due to routing, is needed in a regenerating means provided on the output side of the optical exchanger. That is, since the regeneration means on the input side of the optical exchanger compensates for the S/N ratio degradation due to the transmission line beforehand, and the error rate characteristic in the case where optical signals are regenerated on the output side is improved. Accordingly, the error rate characteristic of the entire optical exchanger is also improved.


An object recognition and data retrieval system interfaces with a target system, such as an automated storage cabinet, to share object data for storage and retrieval.

Many businesses have a need to store a large number of objects. For example, companies in the medical industry, such as hospitals, must store a large number of medical instruments. Generally, to look up the data for an object, the name or an identification number of the object must be entered manually and/or through a search function.
For example, a sterile supply department in a hospital must provide storage and inventory of surgical instruments. These data are often stored within the instrument tracking system in the department. In order to find the storage and inventory data, the instrument must be looked up in the tracking system software.
Some users employ barcodes on objects. For those users it may be possible to scan the object to retrieve the storage location and other data related to that object type. Barcodes are costly to apply and deteriorate. For example, the process for cleaning and sterilizing surgical instruments is known to degrade barcodes. As such they are typically reserved for specialty instruments.

Object recognition and data retrieval system


Throttling of memory access commands. Accesses to rows of a memory device are monitored for a timeframe. The timeframe is divided into at least two sub-frames. If the number of accesses for any of the rows during a first sub-frame exceeds a first threshold throttling accesses to the accessed row at a first rate. Not throttling accesses to the accessed row if the number of accesses to the accessed row does not exceed the first threshold. The first threshold is associated with risk of data corruption on a row physically adjacent to the accessed row. If a number of accesses for the accessed row during a second sub-frame exceeds a second threshold, throttling accesses to the accessed row at a second rate. Not throttling accesses to the accessed row if the number of accesses to the accessed row does not exceed the second threshold. The second threshold is greater than the first threshold. The second throttling rate is greater than the first throttling rate.

With advances in computing technology, computing devices are smaller and have much more processing power. Additionally, they include more and more storage and memory to meet the needs of the programming and computing performed on the devices. The shrinking size of the devices together with the increased storage capacity is achieved by providing higher density devices, where the atomic storage units within a memory device have smaller and smaller geometries.
With the latest generation of increased density, intermittent failure has appeared in some devices. For example, some existing DDR3 based systems experience intermittent failures with heavy workloads. Researchers have traced the failures to repeated access to a single row of memory within the refresh window of the memory cell. For example, for a 32 nm process, if a row is accessed 550K times or more in the 64 millisecond refresh window, the physically adjacent wordline to the accessed row has a very high probability of experiencing data corruption. The row hammering or repeated access to a single row can cause migration across the passgate. The leakage and parasitic currents caused by the repeated access to one row cause data corruption in a non-accessed physically adjacent row. The failure issue has been labeled as a 'row hammer' or '1 row disturb' issue by the DRAM industry where it is most frequently seen.

Throttling support for row-hammer counters


Systems and methods for direct load impedance computation for a two-port network are disclosed. For a two-port network connected between a first port and a second port, a method can include defining an equivalent PI network including a first equivalent network element in communication with the first port, a second equivalent network element in communication with the second port, and a third equivalent network element connected between the first port and the second port. A linear passive load can be connected to the second port of the two-port network, currents through the linear passive load, the second equivalent network element, and the third equivalent network element can be measured, and a load impedance of the linear passive load can be determined based on predetermined values of a voltage at the first port and a voltage at the second port.

Tunable matching networks are expected to play an important role in the realization of adaptive and reconfigurable radio front-end architectures. One particular example is the compensation of handset antenna impedance mismatch loss caused by user proximity effects using tunable antenna impedance matching networks.
Different matching network topologies have been reported in the literature. Basic L-type networks are able to achieve conjugate matching over a limited Smith chart region. On the other hand, pi-networks provide an extra degree of freedom that enables conjugate matching over a substantially wider impedance range. In the ideal case where the component values range is unbounded [0,∞], pi-networks can provide complete Smith Chart coverage and the component values for perfect conjugation matching can be calculated by using approaches known in the art.
The finite nature of the component tunable range is due to practical implementation limitations such as parasitic influences and component properties. For a matching network with finite component tuning ranges the perfect conjugate match can be achieved only if the load impedance lays within the matching domain. In reality, the network component available range may be predetermined and the unknown load impedance may often be located outside of the matching domain. Therefore, in practical impedance tuners with finite component tuning range, where a perfect conjugation match may not exist, optimization techniques have been commonly used to minimize the reflected signal (e.g., minimize VSWR). Different optimization approaches, such as simplex and single step, genetic method, or simulated annealing have been used to minimize the network input reflection coefficient as much as possible or at least down to an acceptable level. These optimization methods search for the right component tuning setting through an iterative process, consuming a considerable amount of time to reach the tuning goal. In addition, depending on the optimizer choice and its initial settings, there is a risk of converging into local minima.
Thus it is desirable to develop a deterministic approach to directly compute the final component tuning setting for the impedance match in order to reduce the tuning time and avoid the intermediate tuning states. A key aspect for such a tuning approach is a method to determine the load impedance, which also determines the equivalent admittance and complex reflection coefficient. It is desirable that determining the load determination is accomplished with minimal added loss, size and complexity.

Simple and minimally invasive methods and systems for sensing and computing load impedance


A resonant induction wireless power transfer coil assembly designed for low loss includes a wireless power transfer coil, a non-saturated backing core layer adjacent the wireless power transfer coil, an eddy current shield, a gap layer between the backing core layer and the eddy current shield, and an enclosure that encloses the wireless power transfer coil, backing core layer, gap layer and eddy current shield. The gap layer has a thickness in a thickness range for a given thickness of the backing core layer where eddy current loss in the eddy current shield is substantially flat over the thickness range. A thickness of the backing core layer and a thickness of the gap layer are selected where a total power loss comprising power loss in the backing core layer plus eddy current loss over the gap layer is substantially minimized.

Resonant induction wireless charging makes use of an air core transformer consisting of two concentric coils displaced along a common coil axis. Electrical power is sent from the sending apparatus to the receiving apparatus by means of magnetic flux linkage between the two transfer coils. As elucidated in Faraday's law of induction, the first coil, the primary or transmitter, creates the time-varying magnetic field. The corresponding secondary or receiver coil converts the magnetic flux received to an electrical signal for use in powering electrical systems such as an electric vehicle or the charging system for electrical storage (e.g. a battery). Such air-core transformers use individual cores (nominally made of ferrite) situated behind the primary and secondary coils rather than core(s) positioned to make a complete magnetic circuit between the coils as is normal for non-air core transformers.

Efficiency gains through magnetic field management


A controller that is configured to control operation of a building component may be programmed using a programming tool to build a controller logic that utilizes sub-structures organized within a hierarchal tree, which may then be downloaded to the controller. The controller is operated via the controller logic such that the controller controls operation of the building component. The programming tool may subsequently be used to update one or more of the sub-structures. The one or more updated sub-structures may be downloaded to the controller while not downloading one or more of the sub-structures that were not updated. The method includes continuing to control operation of the building component using the controller logic that now includes the one or more updated sub-structures.

A controller may be used to control operations of a variety of different components. Programming tools may be used to program or otherwise configure a controller for controlling a particular function or feature of a piece of equipment. There may be a desire to make a relatively minor edit to the programming of the controller. This edit may be made using a programing tool. To implement the change, the programming tool typically needs to compile the entire control program and download the entire compiled control program to the controller. This can be time-consuming, particularly over a low bandwidth communication channel. There is a need for an improved way of programming or otherwise configuring controllers for operation, particularly with respect to making changes to an existing program or configuration.

Hierarchal controller logic with incremental updates


There is provided a system and methods for mitigation of the potential dangers to which at least a child, and passengers, are exposed to prior to, during travel and after travel, when outside and adjacent a vehicle. Potential dangers to which a child is exposed are risks associated with driving and non-driving behavior of the driver, when the child is inside and outside the vehicle, when the vehicle is driven on public roads and on private property grounds, and as a result of deficient of mistaken operation of child and passenger related devices. The system and methods require input commands into an indicator to operate equipment elements aboard the vehicle, including sensors, operable devices and alert systems, and are operative for communication with remote stations, with adjacent-driven vehicles, and with the vehicle owner.

It is well known that nowadays passenger safety issues are in the limelight of public attention, and especially so when related to children. Various separate and distinct discrete-issue disclosures have been published but no solution provides an integrative protection suite, or protection envelope, in response to the complete cycle of operation of a vehicle has yet been made available. A few examples out of the many existing patents are cited hereinbelow.
Conventionally, the use of occupant classification sensing and detection systems is divulged separately in various applications addressing child protection. Examples of solutions for separately engaging airbag and seatbelt tensioning devices are found in U.S. Patent Applications Nos. 20030209893, 20060226641, 20040232674, and 20050209755. A crash notification system is found in U.S. Patent Application No. 20050040937, and further single-issue disclosures are divulged in U.S. Patent Applications Nos. 20060241836, 20050200465, 20060033634, and 20060139159.
The motor vehicle child-safety paradigm is a reflection of the current approach towards protecting a child with respect to a set of potential hazards paradigmatically treated as unrelated hazards. Hazard mitigation is carried out separately and independently. Hazard mitigation, uncoupled in time and event domains, points to and treats a specific scenario of the hazard. The current approach treats child protection in a piecemeal fashion, which probably reduces effectiveness and raises expenditure of "child safety content" per vehicle. The child-safety paradigm has deep roots in the automotive community, and its effects reverberate throughout the industry.
In the background art, means for the protection of a child from hazards presented by vehicles are provided by a variety of separate vehicle systems wherein each one of those separate systems is configured to deal with one specific hazard.
It would therefore be beneficiary to provide an integrative protection suite covering the various hazards to which children occupants of a vehicle are exposed during the complete cycle of operation of the vehicle. The disclosure of the present claimed invention reflects a shift in the child-safety paradigm as now recognizes and handles the set of potential hazards to which a child is exposed.

Protecting children and passengers with respect to a vehicle


A solid-phase method for the synthesis of N-substituted oligomers, such as poly (N-substituted glycines) (referred to herein as poly NSGs) is used to obtain oligomers, such as poly NSGs of potential therapeutic interest which poly NSGs can have a wide variety of side-chain substituents. Each N-substituted glycine monomer is assembled from two "sub-monomers" directly on the solid support. Each cycle of monomer addition consists of two steps: (1) acylation of a secondary amine bound to the support with an acylating agent comprising a leaving group capable of nucleophilic displacement by --NH.sub.2, such as a haloacetic acid, and (2) introduction of the side-chain by nucleophilic displacement of the leaving group, such as halogen (as a solid support-bound .alpha.-haloacetamide) with a sufficient amount of a second sub-monomer comprising an --NH.sub.2 group, such as a primary amine, alkoxyamine, semicarbazide, acyl hydrazide, carbazate or the like. Repetition of the two step cycle of acylation and displacement gives the desired oligomers. The efficient synthesis of a wide variety of oligomeric NSGs using automated synthesis technology of the present method makes these oligomers attractive candidates for the generation and rapid screening of diverse peptidomimetic libraries. The oligomers of the invention, such as N-substituted glycines (i.e. poly NSGs) disclosed here provide a new class of peptide-like compounds not found in nature, but which are synthetically accessible and have been shown to possess significant biological activity and proteolytic stability.. Combinatorial libraries of cyclic compounds are disclosed wherein the cyclic compounds are comprised of at least one ring structure derived from cyclization of a peptoid backbone. The diversity of product compounds is generated by the sequential addition of substituted submonomers. The combinatorial library includes 10 or more, preferably 100 or more, and more preferably 1,000 or more distinct and different compounds. The library includes each of the product compounds in retrievable and analyzable amounts and preferably includes at least one biologically active compound. Methods of synthesizing the combinatorial libraries and assay devices produced using the libraries are disclosed as is methodology for screening for and obtaining biologically active cyclic organic compounds.

Standard methods analogous to classical solid-phase methods for peptide synthesis could be applied for the synthesis of NSGs. In accordance with such methods, the carboxylate of N,.alpha.-Fmoc-protected (and side-chain protected) NSGs would be activated and then coupled to a solid support-bound amino group. The Fmoc group is then removed followed by addition of the next monomer. Thus, oligomeric NSGs could be prepared as condensation homopolymers of N-substituted glycine. Such an approach is not desirable due to the time and cost of preparing suitable quantities of a diverse set of protected N-substituted glycine monomers. Adding and removing the Fmoc or other protective groups is time consuming and inefficient.
One approach to the discovery of new pharmaceutically active organic drugs (i.e., compounds with the 3-D structure needed for binding) relies primarily on X-ray crystallography of purified receptors: once the binding site is identified, organic molecules are designed to fit the available steric space and charge distribution. However, it is often difficult to obtain purified receptors, and still more difficult to crystallize the receptor so that X-ray crystallography may be applied. It is also nontrivial to devise an appropriate ligand, even after the binding site has been properly identified. Overall, it is extremely difficult to design useful pharmaceutically active compounds due to a number of factors such as the difficulty in identifying receptors, purifying and identifying the structures of compounds which bind to those receptors and thereafter synthesizing those compounds.
Another approach to the discovery of new drugs is to synthesize compounds which mimic known biologically active compounds. However, since the active moiety or active structural component of the active compound is usually unknown, the process of synthesizing new compounds relies primarily on trial and error and the synthesis and screening of each compound individually. This method is time consuming and expensive since the likelihood of success for any single compound is relatively low.
Rather than trying to determine the particular three-dimensional structure of a protein using crystallography or attempting to synthesize specific peptides which mimic a known biologically active peptide an art has developed with respect to the production of combinatorial libraries. More specifically, those attempting to isolate biologically active peptides produce extremely large numbers of different peptides at the same time within the same reaction vessel. The synthesized combinatorial library is then assayed and active molecules are isolated and analyzed. Combinatorial libraries per se are disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,684. U.S. Pat. No. '684 relates almost completely to the synthesis of libraries wherein each of the reaction products in the library is a peptide comprised of the twenty naturally occurring amino acids.
Since pharmaceutically active compounds are often highly substituted heterocycles, there is currently a need for a method to rapidly synthesize a large number of related substituted heterocyclic compounds quickly and relatively inexpensively. This approach would overcome the problem of a separate synthesis for each member of a group of candidate compounds where the structural components conferring biological activity are unknown.


A golf club head includes a casing having a front opening and an inside retaining flange within the front opening, a face panel and a hollow loop-like coupling block fitted into the front opening of the casing and retained thereto by the inside retaining flange of the casing to hold the face panel in place, the coupling block having material properties of rigidness, structural strength and wear-resistance stronger than the casing but weaker than the face panel.

The present invention relates to golf club heads, and more particularly to a durable golf club head which effectively eliminates transmission of shock waves to the shaft of the golf club.
FIG. 1 shows a golf club head according to the prior art. This structure of golf club head comprises a casing 100 having a front recess 101, and a face panel 300 fitted into the front recess 101 in a flush manner and fixedly secured thereto by screws 200. Because the heads of the screws 200 are seen from the outside, the installation of the screws 200 obstruct the sense of beauty of the golf club head, causing the commercial value of the golf club head to be reduced. Furthermore this structure of golf club head has no buffer means to lessen shock waves, and shock waves are directly transmitted from the face panel to the shaft of the golf club through the casing. FIG. 2 shows another structure of golf club head according to the prior art. According to this design, the face panel 300 is adhered to the front recess 101 of the casing 100. Because the face panel 300 is fastened to the front recess 101 of the casing 100 by adhesive means, the impact force may overcome the binding force of the adhesive means when the face panel 300 fits the ball, causing the face panel 300 to drop from the casing 100. In either of the aforesaid two structures of prior art golf club head, shock waves are directly transmitted from the periphery of the face panel to the casing upon each hit, causing the casing to break easily at weak area X around the face panel. Furthermore, because the face panel and the casing are made from same metal material, a resonance is produced when the face panel hits the ball, and the resonance forces the casing to break easily.


A biometric authentication device includes: a storage unit configured to store a three-dimensional shape of a posture of a body of a user; a three-dimensional shape calculation unit configured to calculate a three-dimensional shape of a body from biometric information of the user detected by a biometric sensor; a posture calculation unit configured to calculate a posture of the body from the biometric information detected by the biometric sensor; a synthesis unit configured to synthesize a three-dimensional shape from the three-dimensional shape stored in the storage unit in accordance with the posture calculated by the posture calculation unit; and a comparison unit configured to compare the three-dimensional shape calculated by the three-dimensional shape calculation unit with the three-dimensional shape synthesized by the synthesis unit.

A personal authentication technology using personal biometric information such as a finger print, a face, an iris or a vein is used as a method of authenticating a person when entering facilities or leaving from facilities without one's work. The personal authentication using the biometric information has an advantage of free from worry such as loss or plagiarism, being different from a case where a magnetic card or a secret number is used.
A device collecting biometric information is loosely classified into a contact type and a non-contact type in accordance with a difference of measuring methods. A device to which a body is contact is the contact type device. A device to which a body is not contact is the non-contact type device. It is necessary to perform a large indefinite number of personal authentication with respect to an administration of entering facilities or leaving from facilities. It is therefore preferable that the non-contact type device is used, in view of an aspect of hygiene or a psychological resistance of a user. With the non-contact type device, a shape of a held body or a positional relation with the device (a position or a direction) tends to fluctuate. The position, the direction and the shape of the body are generally named a posture of the body. The fluctuation of the posture causes a degradation of authentication accuracy. Therefore, a handling is needed.
International Publication Pamphlet No. WO2004/021884 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses a stabilization of a posture by providing a guide of a hand or feed-backing to a user. Patent Document 1 also discloses a technology in which a vein pattern is three-dimensionally obtained. Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-005509 "hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 2) discloses a technology in which a registered data is generated with respect to various postures and the most similar registered data is used during an authentication.

Biometric authentication device, biometric authentication method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium


A high data rate system capable of inter-frequency handoffs with little or no interruption in data service. The access network sends data from the first sector to the access terminal at the first frequency. The access terminal measures a parameter of a signal received at the access terminal from the second sector at the second frequency, wherein a pre-active set of the access terminal includes the second sector, and wherein an active set of the access terminal consists of one or more sectors operating in the first frequency. The access terminal then sends a data source control message corresponding to the second sector to the access network, after which the access terminal switches the pre-active set and the active set.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to inter-frequency hard handoff of a wireless access terminal.
2. Background
Since the Internet explosion in the late 1990's, the market for wireless Internet applications has grown rapidly. As wireless communication systems have evolved from the first voice-only cellular telephone systems to high-speed digital data networks capable of delivering voice, Internet, and even streaming video content to miniature handheld units, so have the applications that rely on wireless networks. Wireless communication systems now include high-speed digital data networks capable of delivering voice, Internet, and even streaming video content to handheld units that users carry with them and use as they travel. Several systems have been proposed to satisfy the growing need for efficient, high-throughput packet data services.
Wireless packet data systems have been designed to allow users to access packet data networks such as the Internet from stationary or mobile user equipment. The user equipment is sometimes called an Access Terminal (AT), which connects wirelessly with the Internet through a wireless infrastructure system called an Access Network (AN). The AN generally includes multiple Access Points (AP), each having a limited transmit and receive range. The area within the transmit and receive range of a particular AP is a coverage area.
A wireless data system that supports non-stationary ATs must permit an AT to move from the coverage area of one AP to that of another AP without losing the AT's connection with the AN. The process of rerouting data for an AT from a first AP to a second AP is called handoff. This rerouting process generally causes a brief interruption in data communication with the AT. A handoff of an AT from one AP to another AP may require changing channels within the same frequency band (intra-frequency handoff) or may require changing frequency bands (inter-frequency handoff). The TIA-856-A standard, entitled "cdma2000 High Rate Packet Data Air Interface Specification," and published by the Telecommunications Industry Association in 2004, describes methods of minimizing the duration of the interruption of data communication during intra-frequency handoff of an AT. But TIA-856-A does not provide ways to perform seamless inter-frequency handoff of an AT. Handoff of an AT from a source frequency band F1 to a target frequency band F2 will thus cause unacceptably long interruptions to services such as Voice over IP (VoIP), video telephony, network gaming, or other applications requiring high Quality of Service (QoS). Accordingly, it would be desirable to minimize the interruption in data flow that occurs during inter-frequency handoffs of an AT.

Seamless interfrequency handoff in a high data rate wireless system


A current detection structure includes a plurality of busbars arranged in parallel, and a plurality of magnetic detection elements each provided for corresponding one of the plurality of busbars so as to measure a strength of a magnetic field generated by a current flowing through the corresponding busbar. The plurality of magnetic detection elements are mounted on a single circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a current detection structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A magnetic detection element is used for detecting the strength of a magnetic field generated by a current flowing through a busbar. From the magnetic field strength detected by the magnetic detection element, it is possible to derive the current flowing through the busbar by calculation.
MR (Magneto Resistance) sensors and GMR (Giant Magneto Resistive effect) sensors are known as the magnetic detection element.
In detecting each current flowing through plural busbars e.g. when detecting a current in each phase of a three-phase motor, it is necessary to install a magnetic detection element on each busbar to be detected.
Prior art related to the invention of the present application may include e.g. JP-B-5153481 and JP-A-2013-170878.


This invention relates to RV stand offs or breaks and in particular, but not exclusively not to stand offs which are suitable for use in plasma generating apparatus. A stand off 14 includes a resistive or insulating cylinder 15, through which gas feeds are drilled and a close coupled helically wound combination, generally indicated at 16. This combination 16 comprises an RF conductive tube 17 in the form of a braided cable; a thermocouple 18 having twisted pair supply cables 19 and a heater element 20 in the form of a cable loop or pair.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to RF stand offs or breaks and in particular, but not exclusively, to stand offs, which are suitable for use in plasma generating apparatus.
2. Background of the Invention
In RF plasma vacuum processing equipment, it is often necessary to provide a gas feed to a live RF part. For example, helium may be required for backside cooling of an RF driven wafer chuck or a process gas may need to be fed to an RF driven showerhead. In the latter case, the gasses used may only be gaseous at elevated temperature and this means that the gas lines require heating throughout the gas delivery system including, ideally, any insulating or resistive pipe work used as part of an RF stand off.
The problems that can occur in controlling the RF Field strength in the gas feed and trying to ensure the RF voltage is evenly dropped along its length are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,675, which uses a resistive potential divider approach to ensure even dropping of the RF voltage.
However, the solutions discussed do not provide for directed heating of the insulating or resistive gas feed and this is because, until now, it has been thought necessary to use bulky and costly RF blocking inductors to prevent RF being picked up by either or both the heating element or thermocouple and being fed back to heater power supplies and control electronics with potentially damaging consequences. Indirect heating, for example hot air blowing, has been considered, but in many cases is not practical.