The subject invention provides a method of retrieving information (10) associated with an object (12) present in a media stream (14). The method includes the steps of accessing the information (10) during playback of the media stream (14) on any device and defining user-selectable regions (18) in a layer (20) separate from the media stream (14). The layer (20) is preferably a clear applet for receiving and storing the user-selectable regions (18). The defining of the user-selectable region (18) is performed without editing individual frames of the media stream (14). A link (34) is associated between the user-selectable region (18) and the information (10) associated with the object (12) to identify the location where information (10) associated with the object (12) is stored. In operation, the layer (20) is disposed adjacent the media stream (14) without interfering with playback of the media stream (14) in the player. During playback of the media stream (14), the user-selectable regions (18) are capable of being selected. Once the user-selectable region (18) is selected, the information (10) associated with the object (12) is then displayed.

1) Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to a method of retrieving information associated with an object present in a media stream without editing the media stream.
2) Description of Related Art
Society is increasingly becoming tired of traditional advertising and corporations are striving to find new methods of conveying information about their products. One example of the new methods of advertising is disclosed in the article entitled Tuned In, which appeared in the August 2003 issue of AMERICAN Way. The article describes a viewer of a NASCAR race being able to interact with his favorite drivers competing in the race from his own living room or being able to allow the user to order items directly through their television and have it delivered to their home. One problem with the general ideas described in the article is the cost required for providing such services and time and effort required to establish these capabilities. To date, the industry has been unable to provide a method of providing this functionality that is cost effective and that does not require extreme time and effort.
There are various methods of interacting with a media stream to obtain information, such as providing limited services. An example of such a method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,394 and U.S. patent application No. 20030005445, both to Schein et al. These references disclose an invention practiced under WebTV®, hereinafter referred to as interactive TV. The interactive TV provides a television schedule and information guide, which allows interaction between a television viewer and information associated with a television program. Two-way communication is established with an on-line internet provider. The on-line internet provider is used to provide information from broadcast stations and advertisers. The on-line internet provider supplies information concerning the television program, actors, products related to the program, etc. in a product window. The link to the information is established between the information and the program itself. The information is only unique to the program the viewer chooses to select. However, this method only provides superficial information to the viewer and the information is not being directly associated with objects in the media streams. Therefore, they have avoided expending great resources to establish their interactive television. This type of method is also commonly provided by digital cable and satellite providers.
Other methods allow for creating hot spots for an object within a media stream and retrieving information associated with the object upon selecting the hot spot. However, each of the methods known to those skilled in the art require editing of individual frames of the media stream, which requires a significant outlay of the time and effort to establish such methods. Therefore, this technology has been slow to develop within the industry and very few would consider undertaking such a method. One method shown U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,708,845 and 6,496,981, both to Wistendahl et al., discloses creating hot spots for objects present in a media stream and associating information for the objects to the hot spots. This allows a user to select the hot spot to access the associated information. Each of the '845 and the '981 patents requires editing of individual frames of the media stream to create the hot spots for the objects. It is well known to those skilled in the art to define hot spots using positional data having two or three coordinates.
However, one issue presented in creating these hot spots is interleaving it with the media stream. Faced with this issued, these references disclose transmitting the hot spots in video blanking intervals (VBI) associated with the media stream. In other words, if the video is being transmitted at 30 frames per second, only about 22 frames actually contain the media stream. This leaves 8 frames that are considered blank and one or two of these individual frames receives the hot spot data. Since the frames are passing at such a rate, the user or viewer upon seeing the hot spot and wishing to select it, will select it for a long enough period of time such that a blank frame having the hot spot data will pass during this period. The '845 patent and the '981 patent additionally disclose editing only selected frames of the media stream, instead of editing each of the individual frames. However, even if two frames per second were edited, for a half-hour media stream, 3,600 frames would have to be edited. This would take considerable time and effort even for a most skilled editor.
Another method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,771 to Rangan et al. incorporates hyperlinks into a media stream. The hyperlinks are created by a service provider and are edited into the individual frames of the media stream. The media stream is parsed and displayed as an array of static images for the user to see a past history of the media stream. Editing the individual frames, as mentioned above, requires significant time, skill, and effort and is a major burden to be overcome in providing this functionality to users and viewers in a cost effective manner.
These related art methods are characterized by one or more inadequacies. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a method that overcomes these inadequacies by retrieving information for an object without editing the media stream. More specifically, it would be advantageous to provide these user-selectable regions, hot spots, or hyperlinks, without editing individual frames of the media stream such that it is economical and efficient.

Method of retrieving information associated with an object present in a media stream


A permeable nozzle is made from MgO and MgOxe2x80x94Al2O3 spinel and has a nonservice backpressure of about 0.5-50 psi at gas flowrates of about 5-20 liters/minute. In one embodiment, the permeable nozzle comprises about 50%-80% of about a 20-48xc3x97100 mesh MgO, about 5%-20% of about a 325 mesh MgO and about 5%-40% of about a 48xc3x97200 mesh MgOxe2x80x94Al2O3 spinel. In another embodiment, the permeable nozzle comprises about 10%-20% of about a 20-48xc3x97100 mesh MgO, about 0%-10% of about a 325 mesh MgO, about 30%-60% of about a 28xc3x9748 mesh MgOxe2x80x94Al2O3 spinel, about 10%-40% of about a 48xc3x97200 mesh MgOxe2x80x94Al2O3 spinel, and about 10%-20% of about a 325 mesh MgOxe2x80x94Al2O3 spinel.

The present invention relates to components for foundry and steel mill applications and, more particularly, to nozzles typically found in ladles and tundishes used for teeming molten metals.
Ladles and tundishes used for teeming molten metal, for example, steel, require an outlet or outlets at the bottom thereof to direct the flow of the molten steel into a subsequent stage, e.g. a tundish, an inner mold, or continuous casting molds. These outlets are typically formed with special nozzles made of refractory material having good corrosion and erosion resistance. Control of the casting rates of the molten steel is generally carried out by means of either a stopper rod assembly or a slide gate system, both of which include similar refractory material. Nozzles for directing the flow of teeming molten steel generally have an inner insert or lining which has a bore for directing the flow of the molten steel therethrough.
Known nozzles made of alumina-silica, chrome-alumina, alumina-graphite or zirconia-graphite refractories have an inherent problem. Such materials have an affinity for impurities in steel, especially in aluminum kilned steels. Thus, when teeming molten steel from a tundish, the refractory material of the nozzle is susceptible to attack from non-ferrous constituents of the steel, particularly aluminum. These elements, which are present in molten steel, readily combine with oxygen at the temperature of molten steel to form oxides which collect and build-up in the bore of the nozzle which can ultimately lead to blockage of the bore. Oxidation of these reactive particles is exacerbated by the substantial aspiration of air into the nozzle which arises as a result of the vacuum generated by the molten steel as it enters into and flows down through the nozzle.
In an attempt to solve the blockage problem created by deposit build-ups, it is known to provide a nozzle which comprises a porous or permeable nozzle that is made of a refractory material, for example magnesium oxide (xe2x80x9cMgOxe2x80x9d). The permeable MgO nozzle is often encased in a metal housing for structural support. The metal housing has a fitting or port for the admission of an insert gas, for example, argon, into the nozzle. The gas flows first into a manifold around the nozzle. The manifold may be a relatively large chamber defined by the space between the nozzle and the inside of the metal housing. In other nozzles, the gas manifold may be one or more axial and/or circumferential distribution channels. Such distribution channels are often located adjacent an area in the nozzle bore where blockage tends to occur.
Gas flow through the permeable nozzle provides an important benefit. As the inert gas flows into the bore, the gas forms a thin boundary layer between the surface of the bore and the molten steel flowing therethough. The gas film in the bore first retards the buildup of deposits in the bore as the molten steel flows therethough. Thus, the gas layer protects the nozzle from attack or build up of non-ferrous particles in the molten steel. Further, the gas film xe2x80x9clubricatesxe2x80x9d the surface of the bore of the nozzle, thereby further facilitating the flow of gas therethough. The gas flow provides a further advantage of creating a positive pressure around the molten steel flow. That positive pressure diminishes the magnitude of the vacuum generated by the flow of steel through the nozzle and prevents the introduction of air into the molten steel, thereby preventing oxidation of the steel.
While known permeable MgO nozzles perform very well, there are still opportunities for even better performance. Problems have arisen both in manufacturing the nozzle and in service. MgO has a very high coefficient of thermal expansion in comparison to other refractory ceramic materials. A permeable nozzle made with a high purity form of MgO has a relatively thick wall. During its manufacture, the nozzle is exposed to a firing cycle; and the nozzle has a tendency to crack due to a temperature differential that occurs across the nozzle wall. Extreme measures must be taken to reduce this tendency. The cracks may be visible or subsurface and thus may not be discovered until the nozzle is machined. Thus, a nozzle may be rejected for cracks at different stages of its manufacturing process. When in service, cracks in the nozzle disrupt the uniform flow of gas through the insert and the formation of a uniform gas film within the bore of the nozzle. With some cracks, molten steel may penetrate the nozzle and the gas manifold. Thus, cracks in the nozzle diminish the effectiveness of the gas flow and shorten the life of the nozzle. In worst case situations, cracks may result in a structural failure of the nozzle.
The same high thermal expansion of MgO can cause other problems in some tundish gate systems. When the nozzle is heated as a result of the molten steel pouring though it, the nozzle expands. Because it is held in place in the radial direction by other refractories, axial expansion occurs forcing it down against the tundish gate system below it. Proper operation of the gate system is sometimes impaired due to the pressure applied by the expanded nozzle. Therefore, there is a need to provide a permeable nozzle made of MgO that can be reliably manufactured without thermal expansion problems.
Known permeable nozzles made with MgO have another weakness. During manufacture, the permeable nozzle is machined so that a uniform space or gap of approximately 0.060 inch to 0.200 inch is defined between the nozzle and the inner surface of the cylindrical metal can or housing surrounding the nozzle. A thin, uniform layer of a cementitious refractory mortar is inserted in a space or gap to secure the metal housing to the nozzle. A conventionally known air-drying mortar or a phosphoric-acid containing mortar is used. Thus, the metal housing encases the nozzle and, together with the mortar, structurally reinforces the nozzle. It is intended that the metal housing and mortar form a relatively airtight barrier over the gas manifolds in the nozzle. The cementitious refractory mortar is a heat setting mortar; and in the process of heat curing, the mortar tends to shrink. Adhesion to the smooth, machined nozzle body and the metal housing are challenged, and separation from either, or both, of these joints can occur resulting in gas leaks to the atmosphere. In addition, mortars are not dense refractories, but in themselves tend to be somewhat porous, especially when thinned to the degree of fluidity required to fill the small space between the nozzle body and the metal housing. The mortar shrinkage sometimes results in a crack which will cause a gas leak to atmosphere, and any gas leakage through the mortar dilutes the gas flow through the nozzle. Attempts to provide a thicker cementitious layer can result in excessive shrinkage and a release of the mortar layer from the nozzle and/or the metal housing. The above-described nozzle structure is expensive to manufacture and may result in nozzles that have weakened or defective gas flow systems. Consequently, there is a need for a nozzle construction that is generally less costly but provides a more reliable and consistent gas flow system.
The present invention provides a permeable nozzle that functions as a reliable conduit for pouring molten metal from a tundish or other receptacle over a long period of time. The permeable nozzle of the present invention is less expensive to manufacture, easier to check for gas leaks and has a greater thermal shock resistance than known permeable nozzles. The more controllable and reliable operation of the permeable nozzle of the present invention makes it especially useful in the continuous casting of steel.
According to the principles of the present invention and in accordance with the described embodiment, the present invention provides a permeable nozzle for directing a flow of molten metal from a tundish or other receptacle. The nozzle comprises about 50%-80% of about a 20-48xc3x97100 mesh MgO, about 5%-20% of about a 325 mesh MgO and about 5%-40% of about a 20-48xc3x97200 mesh MgOxe2x80x94Al2O3 spinel. The permeable nozzle has a nonservice backpressure of about 0.5-50 pounds per square inch (xe2x80x9cpsixe2x80x9d) at gas flowrates of about 5-20 liters/minute. The addition of spinel to the MgO substantially increases thermal shock resistance of the permeable nozzle, and therefore, the permeable nozzle is substantially less susceptible to cracking during its manufacturing and expansion during service.
In another embodiment of the invention, the permeable nozzle is made by blending the above refractory particles and then mixing the blend with a plasticizer/binder and liquid until such blended mixture has a consistency tending to retain a fixed shaped after forming. The blended mixture is worked into a form of the permeable nozzle, the form is dried and then fired in a known manner. The firing is at a temperature sufficiently high to sinter the refractory particles together to form the permeable nozzle having a nonservice backpressure of about 0.5-50 psi at gas flowrates of about 5-20 liters/minute.
In a still further embodiment of the invention, a permeable nozzle comprises about 10%-20% of about a 20-48xc3x97100 mesh MgO, about 0%-10% of about a 325 mesh MgO, about 30%-60% of about a 28xc3x9748 mesh MgOxe2x80x94Al2O3 spine, about 10%-40% of about a 48xc3x97200 mesh MgOxe2x80x94Al2O3 spinel, and about 10%-20% of about a 325 mesh MgOxe2x80x94Al2O3 spinel. Again, the permeable nozzle has a nonservice backpressure of about 0.5-50 psi at gas flowrates of about 5-20 liters/minute. Anther embodiment includes a method of making such a permeable nozzle.
In a yet further embodiment of the invention, a permeable nozzle for directing a flow of molten metal from a tundish or other receptacle comprises a permeable nozzle insert made from MgO and MgOxe2x80x94Al2O3 spinel and has a nonservice backpressure of about 0.5-50 psi at gas flowrates of about 5-20 liters/minute. The permeable nozzle with a nonservice backpressure permits cracks and leaks to be readily detected during manufacture and installation of the permeable nozzle. This feature provides an additional advantage of placing only the highest quality and most reliable nozzles in service.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein.

Permeable refractory nozzle and manufacturing method


A USB plug connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a number of contacts (2) retained in the insulative housing, a metal shield (3) covering the insulative housing, a PCB (4) soldered with the contacts, an insulative cover (5) partly molded over a part of the metal shield, and a cable (6) connecting to the PCB and electrically connected with the contacts. The metal shield includes a top wall (31), a bottom wall (32), a front wall (33) connecting with the top wall and the bottom wall, and a pair of sidewalls (34) extending from two lateral edges of the front wall and retained between the top wall and the bottom wall. Each sidewall has a pair of protrusions (35) respectively on an upper edge and a lower edge thereof. Each of the top wall and the bottom wall has a number of cutouts (312) correspondingly receiving the protrusions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) plug connector, and more particularly to a USB plug connector adapted for normal insertion and reverse insertion into a USB receptacle connector.
2. Description of Related Arts
Taiwan Patent No. M370848 discloses a USB plug connector. The USB plug connector comprises a metal shield peripherally defining a receiving space for receiving a mating USB receptacle connector. The USB plug connector has a PCB (printed circuit board) assembled in the receiving space of the metal shield for dividing the receiving space into an upper receiving space and a lower receiving space. The PCB has each four circuits on both the upper face and the lower face thereof. The upper four circuits and the lower four circuits are electrically connected with each other and therefore, the USB plug connector is adapted for normal insertion and reverse insertion into the USB receptacle connector. When the USB plug connector is normally inserted into the USB receptacle connector, the upper receiving space is used for receiving a mating portion of the USB receptacle connector; when the USB plug connector is reversedly inserted into the USB receptacle connector, the lower receiving space is used for receiving the mating portion of the USB receptacle connector. The mating portion of the USB receptacle connector has electrode traces electrically connected with the four circuits on the upper face of the PCB when the USB plug connector is normally inserted into the USB receptacle connector and electrically connected with the four circuits on the lower face of the PCB when the USB plug connector is reversely inserted into the USB receptacle connector. The metal shield is integrally formed into a rectangular shape which may cause an inconvenient and inaccurate assembling the metal shield around the PCB during the assembling process of the USB plug connector.
A USB plug connector adapted for normal insertion and reverse insertion into a USB receptacle connector is desired.

USB plug connector and method for manufacturing the same


Methods for use of an exendin, an exendin agonist, or a modified exendin or exendin agonist having an exendin or exendin agonist linked to one or more polyethylene glycol polymers, for example, for lowering glucagon levels and/or suppressing glucagon secretion in a subject are provided. These methods are useful in treating hyperglucagonemia and other conditions that would be benefited by lowering plasma glucgon or suppressing glucagon secretion.

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art to the presently claimed invention, or relevant, nor that any of the publications specifically or implicitly referenced are prior art.
The exendins are peptides that are found in the salivary secretions of the Gila monster and the Mexican Beaded Lizard, reptiles that are endogenous to Arizona and Northern Mexico. Exendin-3 (SEQ ID NO 1. His Ser Asp Gly Thr Phe Thr Ser Asp Leu Ser Lys Gln Met Glu Glu Glu Ala Val Arg Leu Phe Ile Glu Trp Leu Lys Asn Gly Gly Pro Ser Ser Gly Ala Pro Pro Pro Ser-NH2) is present in the salivary secretions of Heloderma horridum (Mexican Beaded Lizard), and exendin-4 (SEQ ID NO 2. His Gly Glu Gly Thr Phe Thr Ser Asp Leu Ser Lys Gln Met Glu Glu Glu Ala Val Arg Leu Phe Ile Glu Trp Leu Lys Asn Gly Gly Pro Ser Ser Gly Ala Pro Pro Pro Ser-NH2) is present in the salivary secretions of Heloderma suspectum (Gila monster) (Eng, J., et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265:20259-62, 1990; Eng, J., et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267:7402-05, 1992). The amino acid sequence of exendin-3 is shown in FIG. 1. The amino acid sequence of exendin-4 is shown in FIG. 2. Exendin-4 was first thought to be a (potentially toxic) component of the venom. It now appears that exendin-4 is devoid of toxicity, and that it instead is made in salivary glands in the Gila monster.
The exendins have some sequence similarity to several members of the glucagon-like peptide family, with the highest homology, 53%, being to GLP-1(7-36)NH2 (SEQ ID NO. 3) (Goke, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 268:19650-55, 1993). GLP-1(7-36)NH2, also sometimes referred to as proglucagon(78-107) or simply "GLP-1" as used most often herein, has an insulinotropic effect, stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells; GLP-1 has also been reported to inhibit glucagon secretion from pancreatic alpha-cells (Ørsov, et al., Diabetes, 42:658-61, 1993; D'Alessio, et al., J. Clin. Invest., 97:133-38, 1996). GLP-1 has been reported to inhibit gastric emptying (Willms B, et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 81 (1): 327-32, 1996; Wettergren A, et al., Dig Dis Sci 38 (4): 665-73, 1993), and gastric acid secretion (Schjoldager B T, et al., Dig Dis Sci 34 (5): 703-8, 1989; O'Halloran D J, et al., J Endocrinol 126 (1): 169-73, 1990; Wettergren A, et al., Dig Dis Sci 38 (4): 665-73, 1993)). GLP-1(7-37), which has an additional glycine residue at its carboxy terminus, is reported to stimulate insulin secretion in humans (Ørskov, et al., Diabetes, 42:658-61, 1993). A transmembrane G-protein adenylate-cyclase-coupled receptor said to be responsible at least in part for the insulinotropic effect of GLP-1 has reportedly been cloned from a beta-cell line (Thorens, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:8641-45, 1992). GLP-1 has been the focus of significant investigation in recent years due to its reported action on the amplification of stimulated insulin production (Byrne M M, Goke B. Lessons from human studies with glucagon-like peptide-1: Potential of the gut hormone for clinical use. In: Fehmann H C, Goke B. Insulinotropic Gut Hormone Glucagon-Like Peptide 1. Basel, Switzerland: Karger, 1997:219-33).
Other reports relate to the inhibition of gastric emptying (Wettergren A, et al., Truncated GLP-1 (proglucagon 78-107-amide) inhibits gastric and pancreatic functions in man, Dig. Dis. Sci. 1993 April; 38(4):665-73), inhibition of glucagon secretion (Creutzfeldt W O C, et al., Glucagonostatic actions and reduction of fasting hyperglycemia by exogenous glucagon-like peptide I(7-36) amide in type I diabetic patients, Diabetes Care 1996; 19(6):580-6), and a purported role in appetite control (Turton M D, et al., A role for glucagon-like peptide-1 in the central regulation of feeding, Nature 1996 January; 379(6560):69-72).
GLP-1 has also been reported to restore islet glucose sensitivity in aging rats, restoring their glucose tolerance to that of younger rats (Egan J M, et al., Glucagon-like peptide-1 restores acute-phase insulin release to aged rats, Diabetologia 1997 June; 40(Suppl 1):A130). However, the short duration of biological action of GLP-1 in vivo is one feature of the peptide that has hampered its development as a therapeutic agent. Various methods have been tried to prolong the half-life of GLP-1 or GLP-1(7-37), including attempts to alter their amino acid sequence and to deliver them using certain formulations (see, e.g., European Patent Application, entitled "Prolonged Delivery of Peptides," by Darley, et al., publication number 0 619 322 A2, regarding the inclusion of polyethylene glycol in formulations containing GLP-1 (7-37)).
Pharmacological studies have led to reports that exendin-4 can act at GLP-1 receptors on certain insulin-secreting cells, at dispersed acinar cells from guinea pig pancreas, and at parietal cells from stomach; the peptide is also reported to stimulate somatostatin release and inhibit gastrin release in isolated stomachs (Goke, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268:19650-55, 1993; Schepp, et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol., 69:183-91, 1994; Eissele, et al., Life Sci., 55:629-34, 1994). Exendin-3 and exendin-4 were reportedly found to stimulate cAMP production in, and amylase release from, pancreatic acinar cells (Malhotra, R., et al., Regulatory Peptides, 41:149-56, 1992; Raufman, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267:21432-37, 1992; Singh, et al., Regul. Pept. 53:47-59, 1994). Additionally, exendin-4 has a significantly longer duration of action than GLP-1. For example, in one experiment, glucose lowering by exendin-4 in diabetic mice was reported to persist for several hours, and, depending on dose, for up to 24 hours (Eng J. Prolonged effect of exendin-4 on hyperglycemia of db/db mice, Diabetes 1996 May; 45(Suppl 2):152A (abstract 554)). Based on their insulinotropic activities, the use of exendin-3 and exendin-4 for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and the prevention of hyperglycemia has been proposed (Eng, U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,286).
The results of an investigation of whether exendins are the species homolog of mammalian GLP-1 was reported by Chen and Drucker who cloned the exendin gene from the Gila monster (J. Biol. Chem. 272(7):4108-15 (1997)). The observation that the Gila monster also has separate genes for proglucagons (from which GLP-1 is processed), that are more similar to mammalian proglucagon than exendin, indicates that exendins are not merely species homologs of GLP-1.
To date, agents that serve to delay gastric emptying have generally found a place in medicine as diagnostic aids in gastrointestinal radiological examinations. For example, glucagon is a polypeptide hormone that is produced by the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. It is a hyperglycemic agent that mobilizes glucose by activating hepatic glycogenolysis. It can to a lesser extent stimulate the secretion of pancreatic insulin. Glucagon is used in the treatment of insulin-induced hypoglycemia, for example, when administration of glucose intravenously is not possible. However, as glucagon reduces the motility of the gastro-intestinal tract it is also used as a diagnostic aid in gastrointestinal radiological examinations. Glucagon has also been used in several studies to treat various painful gastrointestinal disorders associated with spasm. Daniel, et al. (Br. Med. J., 3:720, 1974) reported quicker symptomatic relief of acute diverticulitis in patients treated with glucagon compared with those who had been treated with analgesics or antispasmodics. A review by Glauser, et al. (J. Am. Coll. Emergency Physns, 8:228, 1979) described relief of acute esophageal food obstruction following glucagon therapy. In another study, glucagon significantly relieved pain and tenderness in 21 patients with biliary tract disease compared with 22 patients treated with placebo (M. J. Stower, et al., Br. J. Surg., 69:591-2, 1982).
Methods for regulating gastrointestinal motility using amylin agonists are described in commonly owned International Application No. PCT/US94/10225, published Mar. 16, 1995.
Methods for regulating gastrointestinal motility using exendin agonists are described in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/908,867, filed Aug. 8, 1997 entitled "Methods for Regulating Gastrointestinal Motility," which application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/694,954, filed Aug. 8, 1996.
Methods for reducing food intake using exendin agonists are described in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/003,869, filed Jan. 7, 1998, entitled "Use of Exendin and Agonists Thereof for the Reduction of Food Intake," which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/034,905 filed Jan. 7, 1997, 60/055,404 filed Aug. 7, 1997, 60/065,442 filed Nov. 14, 1997 and 60/066,029 filed Nov. 14, 1997.
Novel exendin agonist compounds are described in commonly owned PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US98/16387 filed Aug. 6, 1998, entitled "Novel Exendin Agonist Compounds," which claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/055,404, filed Aug. 8, 1997.
Other novel exendin agonists are described in commonly owned PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US98/24210, filed Nov. 13, 1998, entitled "Novel Exendin Agonist Compounds," which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/065,442 filed Nov. 14, 1997.
Still other novel exendin agonists are described in commonly owned PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US98/24273, filed Nov. 13, 1998, entitled "Novel Exendin Agonist Compounds," which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/066,029 filed Nov. 14, 1997.
Other recent advances in exendin related technology are described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/075,122, filed Feb. 13, 1998, entitled "Inotropic and Diuretic Effects of Exendin and GLP-1" and in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/116,380, filed Jan. 14, 1998, entitled "Novel Exendin Agonist Formulations and Methods of Administration Thereof".
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) modification of therapeutic peptides and proteins may yield both advantages and disadvantages. While PEG modification may lead to improved circulation time, reduced antigenicity and immunogenicity, improved solubility, resistance to proteolysis, improved bioavailability, reduced toxicity, improved stability, and easier formulation of peptides (See, Francis et al., International Journal of Hematology, 68:1-18, 1998) problems with PEGylation in most cases is substantial reduction in bioactivity. Id. In addition, most methods involve use of linkers that have several types of adverse effects including immunogenicity, instability, toxicity, and reactivity. Id.
Glucagonoma (tumor of glucagon-secreting cells) produces, in addition to glucose intolerance, a skin condition, necrolytic migratory erythema. This is a raised scaly red rash, sometimes blistering and eventually crusting, localized to the face, abdomen, extremities and perineum. It can also be associated with inflammation of the tongue and mouth, and diseased nails and thinning of the hair. The condition is reported to respond to octreotide, a glucagonostatic hormone analog. The compounds described herein are also useful as glucagonastatic agents and thus in the treatment of this disease, which was first described in 1966 (Kaplan, L. M. Endocrine Tumors of the Gastrointestinal Tract and Pancreas. Ch 262, p 1392: In Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 12th Edition. McGraw-Hill Inc, New York, 1991). The compounds described herein that are useful for lowering glucagon levels and/or suppressing glucagon secretion include exendin, exendin agonists, and modified exendins and exendin agonists and related formulations, and dosage formulations.
The contents of the above-identified articles, patents, and patent applications, and all other documents mentioned or cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Applicants reserve the right to physically incorporate into this application any and all materials and information from any such articles, patents, patent applications, or other documents mentioned or cited herein.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods for glucagon suppression using modified exendins


A terminal and method of automatically executing function establishment thereof are disclosed, by which establishments of supportable services and additional functions can be supported under a user-oriented environment, by which a function establishment of the terminal can be automatically executed according to a user, and by which function establishment contents previously used by a user can be automatically applied to a terminal that is for rent or newly purchased. The present invention includes registering an establishment value used in executing a prescribed terminal function to a communication system, requesting the establishment value to the communication system from a random terminal, receiving the establishment value from the communication system to the terminal, and allowing the terminal to change a previous establishment value of the function previously stored in the terminal using the received establishment value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a terminal, and more particularly, to a terminal and method of automatically executing function establishment thereof.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, a user uses his terminal registered with his personal information. Yet, he may occasionally use another person's terminal or a terminal for rent.
And, one terminal can be used by several users.
In case that one user frequently uses the terminal for rent, he would be unable to be always provided with the germinal of the same model or function. So, in worst case, he would be forced to use a terminal of a different model or function each time.
Meanwhile, a terminal, and more particularly, a mobile communication terminal supports various additional services such as a data communication service, a short message service, a wireless Internet service and the like as well as a voice communication service and provides an environment that enables a user to establish various functions required for using the above-explained additional services and the basic voice communication service. Moreover, the mobile communication terminal provides an establishment environment for the additional functions provided to the mobile communication terminal, i.e., the establishment environment of the storage and management of phone numbers, schedules, alarm, melody (bell sound) and personal information. Thus, the mobile communication terminal is provided with various applications for the respective function establishments of the supportable services and the applications for the establishments of the above-explained additional functions as well.
However, the applications used for mobile communication terminals differ from each other according to terminal manufacturers. Besides, in case of terminals made by the same manufacturer, applications for the function establishments may differ according to product models.
Hence, in case that various users use one terminal, in case that a user uses a terminal for rent each time, or in case that a user purchases a new terminal, the corresponding user(s) has no choice but to adapt himself to the new function establishment environment. In other words, the user needs to be accustomed to different conditions and systems for the function establishment each time in using a terminal of a new modem.

Terminal and method of automatically executing function establishment thereof


A new technique for adjusting the parameters of a feedback controller. A linear feedback controller includes proportional, integral and derivative (PID) controllers but is not limited to them. The feedback controller may utilize non-linearity in its control and still have its parameters adjusted by this algorithm. The technique involves calculating an error derivative signal, which is the derivative of the processes loops' error with a parameter, for each parameter being adjusted and utilizing these error derivative signals along with error using a modified LMS algorithm. A key aspect of the modified LMS algorithm is the development of the error derivative signals.

Feedback control systems have many applications, including temperature control, pressure control and so on. Feedback control systems maintain a controlled variable (e.g. temperature, speed, etc.) about a setpoint based on an error signal, namely the difference between the setpoint value and the actual value of the controlled variable. Control parameters of the feedback controller determine how the error signal is used to develop the feedback signal used to control the system. When a control system is first setup, the control parameters must be adjusted to provide acceptable responsiveness and accuracy of the feedback control system.
An example of a feedback controller is a proportional, integral, and derivative (PID) controller. The technique often used in the past to automatically adjust the parameters of a PID controller is to pass noise around the control loop and adjust the parameters so that the phase and amplitude of the noise coming through the loop is equal and opposite to the noise source. This technique works fine as long as the noise source is representative of the noise that disturbs the control loop when it is controlling the process. The degree to which the two noise sources are not equal is in some measure the degree to which the adjustment of the parameters is not optimal.
What is needed is an automatic tuning controller which provides an accurate estimation of controller parameters based upon the noise that actually disturbs the controlled process variable. It is further desirable that such estimation can be made in real time, while the controller is controlling the process. The method and apparatus should be applicable to both linear and non-linear controllers.

Method and apparatus for automatically tuning the parameters of a feedback control system


A marking device is disclosed which efficiently reduces damage affecting the gimbal mechanism even when such is used under sever conditions and is dropped from a high position. A marking device has a support mounted inside a housing, a light source unit holder swingably suspended by the support through a gimbal mechanism, and a light source unit mounted on the light source unit holder so as to diffuse a light flux only in a single direction to radiate a line of light. The support is coupled with said housing 1 through dampers with upper portion and lower portion formed of an impact absorber, and when outside impact is applied, the damper absorbs impact energy to prevent the impact force from being transmitting to the support.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a marking device configured for irradiating a vertical or horizontal line laser to a surface of the subject to be irradiated by diffusing light flux only in a single direction from a light source such as semiconductor laser, particularly related to the impact absorption structure thereof.
2. Related Background of the Invention
In a construction site, used is an optical marking device irradiating a vertical line light or a horizontal line light which is a criterion of a vertical degree and a horizontal degree of pillars and walls. Most of the light sources of the optical marking device are semiconductor lasers and are generally referred to as a laser marking device. The laser marking device suspends a mechanism referred to as a gimbal mechanism or a gyro mechanism (hereinafter referred to as "gimbal mechanism") in a perpendicular orientation so as to always maintain a vertical position and supports a light source unit including the semiconductor laser with the above mentioned light source unit holder. The light source unit includes a semiconductor laser as a light source, a collimating lens converting dispersing light radiated from the semiconductor laser into a parallel light flux, and a rod lens dispersing the parallel flux in a single direction. The parallel light flux enters into the rod lens from a direction perpendicular to a center axis thereof and is diffused in a fan shape only in a direction perpendicular to the above mentioned center axis by refraction by the rod lens. This diffusion light is irradiated to walls, ceilings, and floors of the building so as to draw straight lines by radiated light. Then a vertical line light can be irradiated by mounting the above mentioned light source unit on the above mentioned unit holder in such way that the center axis of the rod lens is horizontal. In addition a horizontal line light can be irradiated by mounting the above mentioned light source unit on the above mentioned unit holder in such way that the center axis of the rode lens is horizontal. Such is a fundamental principle of the laser marking device.
In the laser marking device, the light source unit holder supporting the light source unit is swingably supported by the gimbal mechanism. The laser marking device is required to accurately irradiate light of a vertical or horizontal direction line. For that reason, the gimbal mechanism desirably has a low friction resistance and the light source holder is desired to be maintained in a predetermined vertical direction position. Therefore, generally a bearing portion of the gimbal mechanism mainly comprises a ball bearing and an axis rotatably supported thereby. However, since potentially the lowest friction resistance is selected for the ball bearing employed in the gimbal mechanism of the laser marking device, a problem of impact resistance exists. Therefore, even in the case that the laser marking device is erroneously dropped down during use, the bearing portion is damaged adversely affected due to impact resistance to increase the friction resistance such that the light source unit holder cannot hold the predetermined position, which thus causes a problem of deteriorated accuracy of the irradiated line light.
In view of the foregoing, there has been proposed a laser marking device comprising a first support for swingably journaling a laser beam irradiating device with a first support shaft, a second support for swingably journaling the first support with a second support shaft perpendicular to the first support shaft, and a supporting member provided with a holding portion for holding the second support, wherein the second support is held on the above mentioned holding portion in such way that interference bodies are interposed respectively on both sides along longitudinal, lateral and vertical directions of the second support (ref. to, for example, Patent Reference 1, discussed below). The above mentioned "laser beam irradiation device" is the member corresponding to "light source unit holder" mentioned above. The first support shaft, the second support shaft and the second support comprise a gimbal mechanism. The above impact absorber reduces the impact otherwise applied to the above mentioned holding portion to transmit to the light source unit holder which is swingably journaled by the above mentioned gimbal mechanism, thereby reducing the damage to the gimbal mechanism.
The invention of the Patent Reference 1 is effective in protecting the gimbal mechanism when the laser marking device is dropped. However, the configuration of the above mentioned impact absorber of the Patent Reference 1 invention is required to entirely cover the exterior surface, top and bottom surfaces, and both side surfaces of the second support, which therefore increases the area and a volume of the impact absorber and thus increases the cost of the impact absorber. In addition, the volume of the laser marking device also increases due to the presence of the impact absorber. Moreover, there are many which are interfered with, such as the gimbal mechanism, the light source unit holder as well as the second support, for which impact absorbing effect should be improved. These factors also increase the volume of impact absorber.
Patent Reference 1 referred to above is Japanese Patent 2004-301756 A.
The present inventor proposes a marking device in which an impact absorber held by a support covers periphery of both ends of a shaft having a gimbal mechanism and above mentioned shaft is supported by the support through this impact absorber. That is an invention related to Japanese Patent Application 2005-64234.
According to the invention related to the above mentioned application, impact absorption effect is provided as expected. However, assuming that it is used under the severe conditions in dropping from a high location e.g. more than 1 m, it is found that even the invention related to the above mentioned application can not obtain a sufficient impact absorption effect.


A rechargeable battery includes a plurality of electrode assemblies including positive and negative electrodes separated by a separator and a pair of electrode tabs protruding to both sides. A case receives the plurality of electrode assemblies. First and second current collecting plates cover openings formed on both sides of the case. First and second insulation plates are respectively disposed between the plurality of electrode assemblies and the first and second current collecting plates. The pair of electrode tabs at one side of the electrode assemblies pass through a first through hole formed in the first insulation plate and the pair of electrode tables at the other side of the electrode assemblies pass through a second through hole formed in the second insulation plate.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to rechargeable batteries and, more particularly, to rechargeable batteries with high voltage and a large capacity.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rechargeable battery can be charged and discharged, unlike a primary battery. The rechargeable battery can repeatedly perform charge and discharge processes. In a charge process, electrical energy may be transformed into chemical energy and stored. In a discharge process, the stored chemical energy may be transformed into electrical energy.
Examples of rechargeable batteries may include nickel hydrogen batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries and so on. Rechargeable batteries having relatively low capacity may be used in small portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, laptop computers, and camcorders. High capacity rechargeable batteries may be used to provide power for driving motors (e.g., motors of hybrid vehicles), storing electric power, and the like.
Particularly, hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles have been actively developed, so demands on the high-voltage rechargeable batteries and large-capacity rechargeable batteries have been recently increased.
Large electrode assemblies may be are manufactured so as to manufacture high-voltage rechargeable batteries and/or large-capacity rechargeable batteries. However, high-voltage rechargeable batteries and large-capacity rechargeable batteries commonly exhibit productivity deterioration compared to low-capacity rechargeable batteries because they are manufactured using a relatively complicated manufacturing process. Accordingly, development of high-voltage rechargeable batteries and large-capacity rechargeable batteries that can be configured with simple structures is desirable.
The above information disclosed in this Background section may be for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and, therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art that may be already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Rechargeable battery with collector plates having insulators and conductors


Provided herein are novel phosphors useful in the manufacture of white light emitting diodes. The phosphors provided by the invention are described by the formulae:MSxSey: Bin which x, and y are each independently any value between about 0 and about 1, subject to the proviso that the sum of x and y is equal to any number in the range of between about 0.75 and about 1.25; M is at least one of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, excepting Zn alone; and wherein the activator(s) B comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: Eu, Ce, Cu, Ag, Al, Tb, Sb, Bi, K, Na, Cl, F, Br, I, Mg, Pr, and Mn, including mixtures comprising any two, any three, any four, any five, any six, any seven, or more of these elements in any proportion, and wherein the elements in these mixtures may each independently be present in any amount between 0.0001% and about 10% in mole percent based on the total molar weight of said composition.

There have been few major improvements in conventional lighting (i.e. incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent lamps) over the past 20 years. However, in the case of light emitting diodes ("LEDs"), operating efficiencies have been improved to the point where they are replacing incandescent and halogen lamps in traditional monochrome lighting applications, such as traffic lights and automotive taillights. This is due in part to the fact that LEDs have many advantages over conventional light sources that include long life, ruggedness, low power consumption, and small size. LEDs are monochromatic light sources, and are currently available in various colors from UV-blue to green, yellow, and red. Furthermore, due to LEDs' narrow-band emission characteristics, a white color LED can only be produced by: 1) arranging individual red, green, and blue (R, G, B) LEDs closely together and then diffusing and mixing the light emitted by them; or 2) combining a short-wave UV or blue LED with broadband fluorescent compounds that convert part or all of the LED light into longer wavelengths.
When creating a white LED using the first approach described above, several problems arise due to the fact that the R, G, B light emitting devices are made of different semiconductor materials, which require different operating voltages and, therefore, complex driving circuitry. Another disadvantage arises from the low color-rendering characteristic of the resulting white light due to the monochromatic nature of the R, G, B LED emissions.
The second approach for producing white light from LEDs is in general more preferred, since it only requires a single type of LED (either UV or blue) coated with one or more fluorescent materials, thereby making the overall construct of a white light producing LED more compact, simpler in construction, and lower in cost versus the former alternative. Furthermore, the broadband light emission provided by most fluorescent materials or phosphors allows the possibility of high color-rendering white light.
A recent breakthrough in the efficiency of UV/blue LEDs has resulted in phosphor-coated blue LEDs becoming a serious contender for conventional incandescent bulbs used in the current illumination and display backlighting applications. Most of the current commercially available devices work by converting a portion of the blue LED emission to yellow. In such a situation, some of the blue light from the LED is transmitted through the phosphor and mixed with the yellow phosphor emission, thereby resulting in a perceived white light. Many workers have delved in the field of phosphors as evidenced by the following US patents, which are expressly incorporated by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,911 discloses a rare earth element activated complex halide phosphor represented by the formula:BaF2.a BaX2.bMgF2.cBeF2.dMeIIF2:eLnwherein X is at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine and iodine; MeII is at least one divalent metal selected from the group consisting of: calcium and strontium; Ln is at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of: divalent europium (Eu2+), cerium (Ce3+) and terbium (Tb3+), and a is in the range between 0.90 and 1.05, b is in the range of 0 to 1.2; c is in the range of between 0 and 1.2, and d is defined by the sum of c+d being in the range of between 0 and 1.2, and BeF2is present in an amount sufficient to effect a phosphor exhibiting a higher luminance than said phosphor absent BeF2 when stimulated by light of a wavelength ranging from 450 to 800 nm after exposure to X-rays.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,419 teaches a cerium activated rare earth halophosphate phosphor having the formula:LnPO4.aLnX3:xCe3+in which Ln is at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Gd and Lu; X is at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I; and a and x are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0.1<a<10.0 and 0<x<0.2, respectively and exhibiting a higher stimulated emission upon excitation with a He—Ne laser of a wavelength 632.8 nm after exposure to X-rays at 80 KVp, than the phosphor wherein a is less than 0.1.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,604 provides mixed single-phase strontium and lanthanide oxide with a magnetolead type crystalline structure having the formula (I):SrxLn1y1Ln2y2Ln3y3MzAaBbO19−k(I)in which Ln1 represents at least one trivalent element selected from lanthanum, gadolinium and yttrium; Ln2 represents at least one trivalent element selected from neodymium, praseodymium, erbium, holmium and thulium; Ln3 represents an element selected from bivalent europium or trivalent cerium with retention of electric neutrality by virtue of oxygen holes; M represents at least one bivalent metal selected from magnesium, manganese, and zinc; A represents at least one trivalent metal selected from aluminium and gallium; B represents at least one trivalent transition metal selected from chromium and titanium; x, y1, y2, y3, z, a, b and k represent numbers so that 0<x<1, 0<y1<1, 0<y2<1, 0<y3<1, 0<z<1, 10.5<a<12, 0<b<0.5 and 0<k<1 provided that 0<x+y1+y2+y3<1 and that 11<z+a+b<12.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,679 teaches a divalent europium activated alkaline earth metal halide phosphor having the formula:MIIX2.aMIIX′2.bSiO:xEu2+in which MII is at least one alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr and Ca; each of X and X′ is at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I, and Xis not the same as X′; a and x are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0.1<a<10.0 and 0<x<0.2, respectively; and b is a number satisfying the condition of 0<b<3X10−2. Two halogens are present in this composition, whereas your proposed composition only contains one halogen, fluorine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,445 teaches a bright, short wavelength blue-violet phosphor for electro luminescent displays comprises an alkaline-based halide as a host material and a rare earth as a dopant. The host alkaline chloride can be chosen from the group II alkaline elements, particularly SrCl2 or CaCl2, which, with a europium or cerium rare earth dopant, electroluminesces at a peak wavelength of 404 and 367 nanometers respectively. The resulting emissions have CIE chromaticity coordinates which lie at the boundary of the visible range for the human eye thereby allowing a greater range of colors for full color flat panel electroluminescent displays.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,181 describes an inorganic thin film electroluminescent device, comprising an inorganic light emission layer, a pair of electrodes and a pair of insulating layers, at least one of the electrodes being optically transparent, the light emission layer being positioned between the pair of insulating layers, each insulating layer being formed on an opposite side of the light emission layer, the pair of insulating layers being positioned between a light emission layer and the pair of electrodes, the light emission layer consisting essentially of inorganic material comprising a matrix of lanthanum fluoride doped with at least one member selected from the group consisting of: rare earth element metals and compounds thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,857 teaches a radiographic phosphor screen comprising a support and, coated on the support, at least one layer forming a luminescent portion and an overcoat layer, the luminescent portion and overcoat layer including a binder that is transparent to X-radiation and emitted light and said luminescent portion including phosphor particles in a weight ratio of phosphor particles to binder of 7:1 to 25:1. The phosphor comprises oxygen and a combination of species characterized by the relationship:(Ba1−qMq)(Hf1−z−eZrzMge):yTwherein M is selected from the group consisting of Ca and Sr and combinations thereof; T is Cu; q is from 0 to 0.15; z is from 0 to 1; e is from 0 to 0.10; z+e is from 0 to 1; and y is from 1×10−6 to 0.02.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,925 provides a light-emitting device, comprising a light emitting component and a phosphor capable of absorbing a part of light emitted by the light emitting component and emitting light of wavelength different from that of the absorbed light; wherein the light-emitting component comprises a nitride compound semiconductor represented by the formula: Ini Gaj Alk N where 0<i, 0<j, 0<k and i+j+k=1 and the phosphor contains a garnet fluorescent material comprising: 1) at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Lu, Se, La, Gd and Sm; and 2) at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga and In, and being activated with cerium. One inorganic phosphor used in commercial white LEDs is the cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Y3Al5O12:Ce (YAG:Ce) and its derivative phosphors described in this patent, which is regarded by many in the field as being the standard inorganic phosphor used in commercial white LEDs as of this writing.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,582 sets forth a hydrogen sensor for the detection of hydrogen gas in a gaseous environment susceptible to the incursion or generation of hydrogen, said sensor comprising: (i) a rare earth metal thin film, consisting essentially of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of scandium, yttrium, lanthanum cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, actinium, thorium, protactinium, uranium, neptunium, plutonium, americium, curium, berkelium, californium, einsteinium, fermium, mendelevium, nobelium, lawrencium, and alloys thereof with one or more of magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, cobalt and iridium, with the rare earth metal thin film exhibiting a detectable change of physical property when the rare earth metal thin film is exposed to hydrogen gas in a gaseous environment, wherein the rare earth metal thin film is arranged for exposure to the gaseous environment susceptible to the incursion or generation of hydrogen; and (ii) means for exhibiting the detectable change of physical property when the rare earth metal thin film is exposed to hydrogen in said gaseous environment, said means including circuitry for signal processing the change of physical property and generating an output indicative of hydrogen gas, and wherein the sensor does not comprise a source of hydrogen arranged for selectively switching the rare earth metal thin film between respective switched states.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,861 teaches a wavelength-converting casting composition, for converting a wavelength of ultraviolet, blue or green light emitted by an electroluminescent component, comprising: a) a transparent epoxy casting resin; b) an inorganic luminous substance pigment powder dispersed in the transparent epoxy resin, the pigment powder comprising luminous substance pigments from a phosphorus group having the general formula:A3B5X12: M,where A is an element selected from the group consisting of Y, Ca, Sr; B is an element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Si; X is an element selected from the group consisting of O and S; and M is an element selected from the group consisting of Ce and Tb. The luminous substance pigments have grain sizes <20 μm and a mean grain diameter d50<5 μm.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,971 describes a method for illuminating an object that allows categorical color perception of at least red, green, blue, yellow and white on the surface of the illuminated object, the method comprising: illuminating the object with light consisting essentially of the combination of light of two major wavelength bands, in which: the first wavelength band is from 530 to 580 nm; and the second wavelength band is from 600 to 650 nm.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,670 teaches a composition of matter comprising Ba2(Mg,Zn)Si2O7:Eu2+, as well as a composition of matter comprising: (Ba1−X−Y−Z,CaX,SrY,EuZ)2 (Mg1−W,ZnW) Si2O7, wherein X+Y+Z=1; Z>0; and 0.05<W<0.50.

Light emitting device having selenium-based fluorescent phosphor

Abstract: Standard techniques used in conventional phosphor deposition for the manufacture of light emitting diodes which comprise phosphors according to the invention may be employed to produce LED's having a white light output.


A control system for controlling conversion of an input power into an output power in a converter module is provided. The control system includes an input power terminal, an output power terminal, and an active switching device. The control system further includes a master controller and a communication link interconnecting the master controller and the converter module. Also, the system has a timing generator generating a timing signal with a cycle time equal to or less than the shortest time constant of the converter module and immediate power circuit elements relating to the converter module. The timing generator is integrated in or interconnected with the master controller. Furthermore, the control system has a signal generator integrated in or interconnected with the master controller generating switching control signals, each switching control signal containing a control message defining a switching state for the active switching device.

Power converters are, for example, used in wind turbines for converting a variable frequency AC power provided by the wind turbine generator into a nominally fixed frequency AC power to be fed to a grid. Such power converters typically comprise a rectifier or active rectifier for converting the variable frequency AC power into a DC power and an inverter for converting the DC power into the fixed frequency AC power. Both the rectifier and the inverter typically comprise two DC voltage terminals and three AC voltage terminals. In case of the rectifier the AC voltage terminals are connected to the generator output terminals providing, e.g., a three phase AC power and the DC terminals are connected to a DC link between the rectifier, and the inverter. The inverter also comprises two DC terminals connected to the DC link. In addition, it comprises three AC terminals connected to a grid via appropriate filtering circuits as may be required. Active rectifier and inverter may be formed from the same circuit components but with different power flow (AC to DC in case of the active rectifier, DC to AC in case of the inverter).
Other applications of power converters comprise, i.e., conversion of a fixed frequency AC power to a variable frequency AC power, for example for controlling the rotational speed and/or torque of an electric motor.
Typical configurations of a rectifier and an inverter, both commonly referred to as power converters in the following, comprise a series of at least two active switching devices connected between the upper voltage level of the DC link and the lower voltage level of the DC link and a node between both active switching devices which is connected to one of the AC terminals. Such a design is known as half bridge, or phase. The same structure is present for all other AC voltage terminals of the power converter so that a power converter for a three phase AC power has three half bridges each comprising at least two active switching devices. The structure with two active switching devices in a given half-bridge is known as a two-level converter in that by appropriate control the output voltage seen at the centre phase terminal can be either the upper voltage level of the DC link or the lower voltage level of the de link.
Power conversion by use of the active switching devices is typically done in the following way:
In case of converting DC power to AC power each AC voltage terminal is connected through the active switching devices to the high DC level and the low DC level in an alternating fashion. By introducing a phase shift between the command signals defining the output of each AC terminal a polyphase AC power, for example a three phase AC power, can be established. The AC power may be designed to be a balanced AC power, e.g. a three phase AC power in which the three phase currents always sum up to zero.
In case of converting AC power into DC power the active switching devices are switched for each AC input terminal such that the terminal is connected to the upper DC voltage terminal or the lower DC voltage terminal.
For both modes of power conversion, switching the active switching devices is typically performed on the basis of a pulse width modulation scheme in which time and duration of an active switching device being ON, i.e. conductive, or OFF, i.e. non-conductive, is defined by high level or low level switching pulses, respectively. Other schemes for determining the switching of the active devices is equally valid including direct power control, direct current control, direct torque control or equivalent.
Sometimes, two or more half bridges are connected in parallel or in series to an AC terminal, in particular in power converters having a high power rating. In case, for example, three half bridges each comprising two switching devices would be connected in parallel in a three phase converter the whole power converter would comprise 12 active switching devices (three times two times two). Typically, a power converter comprising parallel or serial half bridges is organized in the form of converter modules each of which comprises one half bridge for each of the AC terminals. These power modules are connected in parallel or in series to form the power converter. In particular, for high power rated power converters for industrial drives and renewable energy applications, it is a standard technique to construct these converters from multiple converter modules operating in parallel or in series to achieve the necessary voltage, current and power rating.
It is desirable to use a central controller for all converter modules in a power converter. A difficulty thereby is to build a communication system between the central controller, which could also be considered as a main control system or a real time computer, running the control algorithms and the distributed converter modules of the power converter. The main requirements of such of a communication systems are to transmit the switching control signals to the converter modules with a high degree of timing precision, a high degree of edge resolution of the switching states in a given pulse width modulation scheme, a low latency response to error conditions, and tolerance to single bit errors. Furthermore, it should comprise viable and affordable physical media for interconnections between the central controller and the converter modules. In addition, the communication system should preferably be able to transmit current, voltage and other analogue feedback signals and logical status signals, i.e. digital signals, from the converter modules to the central controller.
Document WO 2009/087063 A1 discloses a power converter with distributed cell control in which a central control unit transmits a reference AC voltage and a switching carrier signal to controller subunits where each subunit controls the switching of power electronic switches according to a pulse width modulation pattern so that each time the switching carrier signal crosses the reference AC voltage either a high DC voltage or a low DC voltage is applied to output terminals of the corresponding converter submodule. Hence, the actual switching signals for the active switching devices are determined at a local level rather than by the central controller. It is, however, desirable to calculate all switching states at the central controller. This, however, means that in case of a three phase AC converter using a two-level half bridge structure for each converter module at least twelve switching states need to be transmitted within a given PWM period (a switching state representing the "on-state" and a switching state representing the "off-state" for each of the six active switching devices).
There exist two approaches to transmit the switching states from a central controller to the converter module in the state of the art. The first one is to use a parallel connection from the central controller to each of the distributed converter modules. Such a parallel connection would typically be an electrical ribbon cable. This parallel connection carries individual copper communication channels for each piece of data, e.g. six ways for the switching control signals for the active switching devices, three ways for the three current feedback signals, three ways for three voltage feedback signals, etc. This kind of parallel connection has some drawbacks, for example, the amount of circuitry that is needed at both ends of the communication link. Moreover, the information transferred over the communication link is fixed by the circuitry at both ends so that this type of connection is inflexible. In addition, the distance which can be realised with a parallel connection channel is usually restricted.
The second state of the art approach to a link comprises a high-performance serial link. The connection topology for such a link is a daisy chain system. However, this means that the data payload is comparatively large as the single connection from/to the central controller has to carry information for all the distributed converter modules, and the message interval therefore has to be large to keep the bandwidth requirement of the communication channel within a practical and affordable range. Typically, the message interval is once per pulse width modulation period. This means that emergency conditions have to be catered for by a separate connection between the converter modules. Additionally, certain control modes which have a CPU calculation period less than the cycle time of the communication link are not realisable in this system.

Method and control system for controlling power conversion in a power converter


The invention relates to a clutch arrangement, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing arrangement which is filled or can be filled with fluid, at least one first friction member which is coupled with the housing arrangement for commonly rotating, at least one second friction member which is coupled or can be coupled with a driven shaft for commonly rotating, a fluid supply area for introducing fluid into a delimited area of said housing arrangement, in which the first and second friction members operate, a fluid discharge area for evacuating the fluid from the delimited area, as well as an energy accumulator, by means of which the first and second friction members are prestressed in friction interaction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a clutch arrangement, especially for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing arrangement which is or can be filled with fluid, in which friction elements which are or can be connected to the housing arrangement for rotation in common and friction elements which are or can be connected to a takeoff shaft can be brought into frictional interaction with each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
In clutch arrangements of this type, which are also known as wet-running clutches, several fluid flow areas are usually provided, through which the fluid which flows around and thus cools the areas which become frictionally active and the fluid responsible for the clutch-engaging and clutch-disengaging operations are supplied and removed. This means that various flow routes must be kept available, which often leads to a complicated design and also to the need for complicated sealing measures. In addition, a design in which both the cooling action and the actuating function are accomplished in the form of a so-called 3-line system, for example, also requires the availability of an appropriate pump arrangement in a gearbox, which is able to provide the necessary quantity of oil used as the working fluid.


The present technique is associated with financial analysis of a capital investment in medical resources. The technique allows a client to interact with a remote financial analysis system via a network interface, and to enter and transmit client data associated with a desired capital investment to the financial analysis system for an investment analysis. The financial analysis system then provides a customized investment report for the desired capital investment to assist the client in evaluating the feasibility of the investment.

Medical institutions require various medical resources, such as real estate, human resources, medical systems, equipment and instruments, to provide healthcare services to patients. The medical resources employed at a particular medical institution greatly impact the efficiency, cost and revenue associated with a desired medical procedure. For example, a current system may allow a procedure to be completed in 20 minutes with 10 minutes of setup time, while another system may complete the procedure in 10 minutes with only 2 minutes of setup time. Less time means more procedures, and thus more revenue and lower patient waiting time for the procedures. As medical technology advances, particularly in the area of electronics and computer aided instruments, medical institutions must evaluate the feasibility of investing in new, additional or upgraded medical resources to better serve patients and become more efficient and profitable.
For example, medical diagnostic and imaging systems are ubiquitous in modem health care facilities. Such systems provide invaluable tools for identifying, diagnosing and treating physical conditions and greatly reduce the need for surgical diagnostic intervention. In many instances, final diagnosis and treatment proceed only after an attending physician or radiologist has complemented conventional examinations with detailed images of relevant areas and tissues via one or more imaging modalities.
Currently, a number of modalities exist for medical diagnostic and imaging systems. These include computed tomography (CT) systems, x-ray systems (including both conventional and digital or digitized imaging systems), magnetic resonance (MR) systems, positron emission tomography (PET) systems, ultrasound systems, nuclear medicine systems, and so forth. In many instances, these modalities complement one another and offer the physician a range of techniques for imaging particular types of tissue, organs, physiological systems, and so forth. Health care institutions often dispose of several such imaging systems at a single or multiple facilities, permitting its physicians to draw upon such resources as required by particular patient needs.
Modem medical diagnostic systems typically include circuitry for acquiring image data and for transforming the data into a useable form which is then processed to create a reconstructed image of features of interest within the patient. The image data acquisition and processing circuitry is often referred to as a "scanner" regardless of the modality, because some sort of physical or electronic scanning often occurs in the imaging process. The particular components of the system and related circuitry, of course, differ greatly between modalities due to their different physics and data processing requirements.
Medical diagnostic systems of the type described above are often called upon to produce reliable and understandable images within demanding schedules and over a considerable useful life. To ensure proper operation, the systems are serviced regularly by highly trained personnel who address imaging problems, configure and calibrate the systems, and perform periodic system checks and software updates. However, medical resources such as the above systems may become outdated, or relatively inefficient and costly compared to current medical systems. Accordingly, a medical institution may desire an investment analysis of various capital investments, such as medical products, systems and services offered by a medical resource supplier.
Unfortunately, the medical institution may not have access to a financial analysis system, or operating statistics for a particular medical resource (e.g., medical diagnostic and imaging systems). Furthermore, the financial systems currently available may not be suitable for analyzing financial data associated with medical institutions, and more particularly to capital investments in medical resources. For example, medical institutions may have specific financial data (e.g., variable and fixed costs, revenues, deductions, etc.), which is significantly different from financial data associated with other fields and industries. Even within the medical field, the specific financial data may vary greatly from institution to institution.
Accordingly, there is a need for a technique for analyzing an investment in medical resources for a medical institution based on operating data from the medical institution. More particularly, there is a need for a financial analysis system allowing interactive exchange of information, such as client data and investment analysis reports, between a remote client interface and the financial analysis system via a network.

Capital analysis tool for medical diagnostic systems and institutions


The use of a combination of photodynamic therapy and an anti-VEGF agent in the treatment of conditions characterized by unwanted choroidal neovasculature is described. These conditions include wet age-related macular degeneration Preferred anti-VEGF agents are antibodies such as bevacizumab or ranibizumab Photosensitizers may be selected from green porphyrins such as BPD-MA (verteporfin) and the photodynamic activation of the photo sensitizer may be accomplished using a reduced fluence rate. The use may further comprises an anti-inflammatory agent such as dexamethasone.

Neovascularization occurs when either there is proliferation of blood vessels in tissues that would otherwise not contain or there is a growth of a different kind of blood vessel in a tissue. Unwanted neovascularization is associated with a number of disease conditions, such as that seen to occur with tumor growth or vision loss. One example of undesirable neovascularization in the eye is choroidal neovasculature (CNV) like that found in the "wet" form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
AMD causes severe, irreversible vision loss and is the leading cause of blindness in individuals older than 50 years in the Western World. Most patients have the non-neovascular ("dry") form, characterized by drusen and abnormalities of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Eighty to ninety percent of the severe vision loss due to AMD, however, is attributable to the form characterized by CNV, also called "wet" AMD. In the United States, between 70,000 to 200,000 individuals over the age of 65 develop the neovascular form of AMD every year (Bressler, N. "Submacular surgery: Are randomized trials necessary?" Arch Ophthalmol. 1995; 113; 1557-1560; Klein, R. et al. "The five-year incidence and progression of age-related maculopathy: the Beaver Dam Eye Study." Ophthalmol. 1997; 104(1):7-21).
In CNV, the newly formed vessels have a tendency to leak blood and fluid, causing symptoms of scotoma and metamorphopsia (Macular Photocoagulation Study Group. "Argon laser photocoagulation for neovascular maculopathy. Three-year results from randomized clinical trials." Arch Ophthalmol. 1986; 104:694-701). The new vessels are accompanied by proliferation of fibrous tissue (Macular Photocoagulation Study Group. "Laser photocoagulation of subfoveal neovascular lesions of age-related macular degeneration. Updated findings from two clinical trials." Arch Ophthalmol. 1993; 111:1200-1209). This complex of new vessels and fibrous tissue can destroy photoreceptors within 3 to 24 months. At the same time that existing CNV is destroying retinal tissue where it has formed, the lesion can continue to grow throughout the macula, resulting in progressive, severe and irreversible vision loss. Without treatment, most affected eyes will have poor central vision (<20/200) within 2 years (Macular Photocoagulation Study Group. "Recurrent choroidal neovascularization after argon laser photocoagulation for neovascular maculopathy." Arch Ophthalmol. 1986; 104:503-512). In addition, when one eye of an individual develops CNV, the fellow eye has about a 50% chance of developing a similar CNV lesion within 5 years (Treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration With Photodynamic Therapy (TAP) Study Group. "Photodynamic therapy of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration with VISUDYNE: One-year results of 2 randomized clinical trials—TAP report 1." Arch Ophthalmol. 1999; 117:1329-1345).
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers an approach to selectively destroy CNV without significant destruction of overlying retina tissue, possibly by occluding the new vessels within the CNV lesion. Photodynamic therapy is a two-step process consisting of an intravenous injection of a photosensitizer (light-activated drug) followed by light application (Marcus, S. "Photodynamic therapy of human cancer: clinical status, potential and needs." In: Gomer C, ed. Future Directions and Application In Photodynamic Therapy. Berlingham: SPIE Press. 1990; IS6:5-56; Manyak, M. J. et al. "Photodynamic therapy." J Clin Oncol. 1988; 6:380-391; Roberts, W. G. et al. "Role of neovasculature and vascular permeability on the tumor retention of photodynamic agents." Cancer Res. 1992; 52(4):924-930). The light sources most commonly used are non-thermal lasers or light emitting diodes (LEDs). Photosensitizers may preferentially accumulate in neovascular tissues, including the endothelial cells of choroidal neovascularization. In combination with localized light administration, this allows for selective treatment of the pathologic tissue (Kreimer-Birmbaum, M. "Modified porphyrins, chlorins, phthalocyanines, and purpurins: second generation photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy." Semin Hematol. 1989; 26:157-173; Moan, J. et al. "Photosensitizing efficiencies, tumor and cellular uptake of different Photosensitizing drugs relevant for photodynamic therapy of cancer." Photochem Photobiol. 1987; 46:713-721). After exposure to light at a wavelength of 689 nm, an energy transfer cascade is initiated, culminating in the formation of singlet oxygen which generates intracellular free radicals (Kreimer-Birmbaum, M., supra; Roberts, W. G. et al. "In vitro photosensitization I. Cellular uptake and subcellular localization of mono-1-aspartyl chlorin e6, chloro-aluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine, and Photofrin II." Lasers Surg. Med. 1989; 9:90-101). These free radicals can disrupt cellular structures such as the cell membrane, mitochondria, and lysosomal membranes.
Visudyne® photodynamic therapy gained US marketing approval in 2000 and was approved for the treatment of patients with predominantly classic subfoveal CNV due to AMD. Visudyne therapy targets the vascular component of CNV. Its approved two-step process is one by which verteporfin, a light-activated drug (photosensitizer) delivered by intravenous (IV) infusion, is administered and then followed by nonthermal laser light application (50 J/cm2 delivered at 600 mW/cm2 over 83 seconds) to the CNV lesion.
Treatment of CNV using other therapies, including the use of PDT in combination with additional therapies is known in the art. Macugen® (pegaptanib) is an anti-VEGF therapy indicated in all patients with CNV due to AMD. Lucentis® (ranibizumab) is another anti-VEGF therapy indicated in all patients with CNV due to AMD (Rosenfeld P J, Brown D M, Heier J S, et al, for the MARINA Study Group. Ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. N Engl J. Med. 2006; 355:1419-1431; Brown D M, Kaiser P K, Michels M, et al, for the ANCHOR Study Group. Ranibizumab versus verteporfin for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. N Engl J Med. 2006; 355:1432-1444; Lucentis® (ranibizumab injection) prescribing information. San Francisco, Calif.: Genentech; 2006. http://www.gene.com/gene/products/information/tgelucentis/index.jsp. Accessed Nov. 15, 2006). The Lucentis regimen as defined in the US package insert (Lucentis® (ranibizumab injection) prescribing information. San Francisco, Calif.: Genentech; 2006. http://www.gene.com/gene/products/information/tgelucentis/index.jsp. Accessed Nov. 15, 2006) states "Lucentis 0.5 mg (0.05 mL) is recommended to be administered by intravitreal injection once a month. Although less effective, treatment may be reduced to one injection every three months after the first four injections if monthly injections are not feasible. Compared to continued monthly dosing, dosing every 3 months will lead to an approximate 5-letter (1-line) loss of visual acuity benefit, on average, over the following 9 months. Patients should be evaluated regularly."
Avastin® (bevacizumab) is an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody that has been reported in the literature as having been used as an intravitreal injection to treat patients with CNV due to AMD, but it is not currently approved for this use. Case series of Avastin treatment for patients with AMD and other retinal diseases have been published and show an increase of mean VA in treated patients (Avery R L, Pieramici D J, Rabena M D, Castellarin A A, Nasir M A, Giust M J. Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, Ophthalmology, 2006; 113(3):363-372; Bashshur Z F, Bazarbachi A, Schakal A, Haddad Z A, El Haibi C P, Noureddin B N. Intravitreal bevacizumab for the management of choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration. Am J. Ophthalmol. 2006; 142:1-9; Costa R A, Jorge R, Calucci D, Cardillo J A, Melo L A S, Scot I U. Intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization caused by AMD (IBeNA Study): Results of a phase I dose-escalation study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006; 47:4569-4578; Spaide R F, Laud K, Fine H F, et al. Intravitreal bevacizumab treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration, Retina, 2006; 26:383-390; Rich R M, Rosenfeld P J, Puliafito C A et al. Short-term safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, Retina, 2006; 26:495-511).
Combination therapies using Visudyne with the intravitreal anti-VEGF therapies include Macugen (Eyetech Study Group. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration: phase II study results. Ophthalmology 2003; 110(5):979-986), Lucentis (Heier J S, Boyer D S, Ciulla T A, et al. Ranibizumab combined with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: Year 1 results of the FOCUS study. Arch Ophthalmol. 2006; 124:1532-1542; Schmidt-Erfurth U, Gabel P, Hohman T, Protect Study Group. Preliminary results from an open-label, multicenter, phase II study assessing the effects of same-day administration of ranibizumab (Lucentis™) and verteporfin PDT (PROTECT Study). Paper presented at: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO); May 2, 2006; Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA; Schmidt-Erfurth U, Gabel P, Hohman T, Protect Study Group. Preliminary results from an open-label, multicenter, phase II study assessing the effects of same-day administration of ranibizumab (Lucentis™) and verteporfin PDT (PROTECT Study). Paper presented at: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO); May 2, 2006; Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA; Funk M, Michels S, Wagner J, Kiss C, Sacu S, Schmidt-Erfurth U. Vascular effects of combined ranibizumab (Lucentis®) and verteporfin (Visudyne®) therapy in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Poster presented at: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO); Apr. 30, 2006; Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA; Wagner J, Simader C, Kiss C, Michels S, Sacu S, Schmidt-Erfurth U. Changes in functional macular mapping in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration receiving combination of verteporfin (Visudyne®) and ranibizumab (Lucentis™) therapy. Poster presented at Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO); Apr. 30, 2006; Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA; Wolf S, Gabel P, Hohman T C, Schmidt-Erfurth U. Fluorescein angiographic and OCT results from an open-label, multicenter, phase II study assessing the effects of same-day ranibizumab (Lucentis™) and verteporfin PDT (Visudyne®). Paper presented at: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO); May 3, 2006; Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA), and Avastin (Dhalla M S, Shah G K, Blinder K J, Ryan E H Jr, Mittra R A, Tewari A. Combined photodynamic therapy with verteporfin and intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration, Retina, 2006; 26(9):988-993; Eter N, Ladewig M, Hamelmann V, Helb H M, Karl S, Holz F G. Combined intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) and photodynamic therapy for AMD. Poster presented at Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), Nov. 12, 2006, Las Vegas, Nev. Abstract available at: http://www.aao.org/annual_meeting/program/onlineprogram06.cfm. Accessed on Nov. 24, 2006), have been evaluated in clinical trials and case series in subjects with AMD.
Combination therapy using Visudyne with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide has previously been reported (Augustin A J, Schmidt-Erfurth U. Verteporfin therapy combined with intravitreal triamcinolone in all types of choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration, Ophthalmology, 2006; 113(1):14-22; Spaide R F, Sorenson J, Maranan L. Combined photodynamic therapy with verteporfin and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for choroidal neovascularization, Ophthalmology, 2003; 110(8):1517-1525; Rechtman E, Danis R P, Pratt L M, Harris A. Intravitreal triamcinolone with photodynamic therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation in age related macular degeneration, Br J. Ophthalmol. 2004; 88(3):344-347; Van De Moere A, Sandhu S S, Kak R, Mitchell K W, Talks S J. Effect of posterior juxtascleral triamcinolone acetonide on choroidal neovascular growth after photodynamic therapy with verteporfin, Ophthalmology, 2005; 112(11):1897-1903; Nicolo M, Ghiglione D, Lai S, Nasciuti F, Cicinelli S, Calabria G. Occult with no classic choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration treated by intravitreal triamcinolone and photodynamic therapy with verteporfin, Retina 2006; 26(1):58-64; Augustin A J, Schmidt-Erfuth U. Verteporfin and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide combination therapy for occult choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration, Am J. Ophthalmol. 2006; 141:638-645; Ruiz-Moreno J M, Montero J A, Barile S, Zarbin M A. Photodynamic therapy and high-dose intravitreal triamcinolone to treat exudative age-related macular degeneration: 1-year outcome, Retina, 2006; 26:602-612). Triple therapy with Visudyne, an anti-VEGF therapy, and a steroid has also been reported (Colina-Luquez J M, Liggett P E, Tom D, Chaudhry N A, Haffner G, Cortes C F. Prospective and preliminary study evaluating triple therapy of intravitreal triamcinolone, photodynamic therapy and pegaptanib sodium for choroidal neovascularization. Poster presented at: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO); Apr. 30, 2006; Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA; Offermann I, Altinay A, Schmidt-Erfurth U, Augustin A J. Intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of remaining choroidal neovascularization (CNV) activity following combination therapy (PDT and triamcinolone). Poster presented at: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO); May 1, 2006; Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA; Augustin A J, Puls S, Offermann I. Triple therapy for choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration: verteporfin PDT, bevacizumab, and dexamethasone. Retina. 2007; 27:133-140).
What is needed are additional methods of photodynamic therapy that can reduce the number of retreatments required following first treatment and that have acceptable visual acuity outcomes and acceptable safety profiles.

Photodynamic therapy for conditions of the eye

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.


A tension measuring apparatus and method for a chain by which tension applied to the chain is correctly and reproducibly measured is disclosed and claimed. A tension measuring method for a chain (10) comprising a pair of right and left inner plates (11), bushes (12) press-fit between the inner plates (11), a pair of right and left outer plates (13) disposed on both outsides of the inner plates (11), connecting pins (14) loosely inserted into the bush (12) and press-fit between the outer plates (13), and connected to each other characterized in that a strain gauge is applied to a position having a relation of a ratio of 1 to 1 between tension applied to the chain and an output of the strain gauge (16).

Measuring tension applied to a chain has been performed by attaching a sensor consisting of a small-sized strain gauge to at least one position of the chain as a portion to be measured. The sensor and an analyzer are connected by a wire. Further, a tension measuring method for use in an operating chain which employs transmitting a sensor output by radio and receiving the power by a receiver has been proposed [for example see Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-71452 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-255168)].

Tension measuring method and apparatus for chain


Processes for suppressing minority carrier lifetime degradation in silicon wafers are disclosed. The processes involve quench cooling the wafers to increase the density of nano-precipitates in the silicon wafers and the rate at which interstitial atoms are consumed by the nano-precipitates.

The field of this disclosure relates to processes for suppressing minority carrier lifetime degradation in silicon wafers for use. In particular, the field of the disclosure relates to efficient and cost effective processes for reducing the concentration of minority carrier lifetime degradation defects itself.
Solar cells and, particularly, cells manufactured on boron containing p-type single crystal silicon wafers grown by the Czochralski method and also, typically to a lesser extent, multicrystalline wafers grown by casting degrade in performance when exposed to light or when minority carriers are injected into the cell in the dark. This performance degradation continues until a stable efficiency well below the initial efficiency is achieved. The efficiency loss in CZ wafer-based cells may be up to about 10% or more. Such loss of efficiency in Czochralski solar cells limits the potential for high efficiency silicon cells and the use of single crystal silicon in the industry since Czochralski cells are typically more expensive to produce than multicrystalline silicon-based cells.
It has been found that this degradation may be at least temporarily reversed by annealing the wafer for a few minutes at a low temperature such as an anneal at about 200° C.; however, the increase in efficiency achieved by the low temperature anneal is lost upon subsequent illumination. It has been reported that the degradation may be permanently reversed by injecting excess electrons into the wafer (e.g., by illuminating the wafer) during a low temperature anneal in the range between 50° C. and about 230° C.); however, for permanent recovery to occur under these conditions the low temperature anneal must occur for relatively long periods of time (e.g., several tens of hours).
A continuing need exists for commercially practical methods for permanently suppressing the degradation defect that is related to light induced degradation in solar cells.

Silicon wafers with suppressed minority carrier lifetime degradation