An apparatus for grasping spun yarn carriers in spinning machines or twisting machines is enabled to clamp spun yarn carriers of different nominal diameter ranges by the provision of a stationary clamping element formed by a common holder and a set of detachable interchangeable clamping elements selectively mountable to and demountable from the holder. Each of the interchangeable clamping elements is associated with a specific predetermined nominal diameter range of spun yarn carriers.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for externally grasping spun yarn carriers in spinning machines or twisting machines and, more particularly, to grasping apparatus equipped with a movable clamping arrangement and a stationary clamping arrangement whose clamping surfaces are oriented with respect to the axis of a machine spindle or pin for receiving the spun yarn carrier.
A cop removal device is known from German Patent Publication DE-AS 24 42 222 in which a stationary clamping element consists of a ring whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the cop tube to be removed. A piston with a frontally arranged clamping surface is movable radially in the direction of the axis of the ring to form an adjustable clamping element. In the operating position, the ring is guided over the cop until the desired clamping position has been reached. The cop is subsequently clamped by means of moving the piston between its clamping surface and the inner side of the ring located opposite the piston.
German Patent Publication DE-OS 36 40 002 teaches a disk-shaped grasping device with two integrated grasping elements. Each grasping element is provided with a vertical recess configured to be approximately circular for receiving a yarn carrier and on whose circumference two stationary clamping elements staggered by 120.degree. are located. A movable clamping element which constitutes a component of a pneumatically adjustable piston is associated with the stationary clamping elements and has a clamping surface staggered by a further 120.degree. spacing therefrom. When the spun yarn carrier is grasped, the movable clamping element is moved in the direction of the spun yarn carrier located in the recess and this carrier is clamped between the stationary clamping elements and the clamping surface of the movable clamping element.

Apparatus for externally grasping spun yarn carriers in spinning machines or twisting machines


A MVAC spoofed frame or a loop frame generated by a user is prevented from obstructing communication and the source port ID of a fraud is reported to the network administrator. A MAC frame forwarding apparatus adds the input port ID and the source MAC address of a received frame. The MAC frame forwarding apparatus has a frame forwarding management table and a frame discarding management table. The frame discarding management table has a MAC address to be discarded, indicating a received frame to be discarded if the address matches the source MAC address of the received frame, a target port ID, and the number of discarded frames. A management apparatus discards a received frame if the source MAC address matches the MAC address to be discarded and counts the number of discarded frames. If the number of discarded frames exceeds a predetermined level, the port ID, the MAC address, and the number of discarded frames are reported to the management apparatus, and the source port of the fraud is reported to the administrator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to frame forwarding apparatuses, and more specifically, to a frame forwarding apparatus which sets up the discarding of a frame, makes a discarding notification, and forwards a frame, in a system for forwarding frames in accordance with their media access control (MAC) addresses.
2. Description of the Related Art
A layer-2 switch device which forwards a frame in accordance with its MAC address generally contains a forwarding table that includes a combination of a MAC address and a port ID of a port having a device with the MAC address. When a MAC frame is received, the forwarding table is searched for the destination MAC address of the frame. If there is a hit, the frame is forwarded to the corresponding port. If the matching port is the receiving port of the frame (if the destination port matches the receiving port), the frame is discarded. If there is no hit, the frame is forwarded to all ports except the receiving port. The forwarding of a frame to all ports except the receiving port when the destination MAC address is not found is called flooding. Flooding is not always forwarding to all ports. Flooding can also be made to ports specified as a group such as those in a virtual LAN.
An entry can be added to the forwarding table in several ways. When a MAC frame is received, the source MAC address of the frame and the receiving port of the frame can be automatically entered (MAC automatic learning). The administrator can add them by entering a command or the like. If automatic learning is used, since the number of entries in the forwarding table is finite, MAC addresses must be deleted and replaced. Accordingly, MAC automatic learning is used often with automatic deletion of a MAC address that is not accessed for a predetermined period of time. The deletion of the address that has not been accessed for the predetermined period of time is called aging.
Access networks have been gaining high-speed broadband capabilities, and an increasing number of IP networks have been introduced. In that environment, a network failure can be caused by a spoofed frame given by an unauthorized user, a denial-of-service attack (DoS attack), or a computer virus. A loop frame generated by a wrong connection or a wrong setting performed by the user, a fraudulent frame, or a spoofed frame can also cause a network failure.
One known method of preventing those failures uses a flag in the forwarding table of the layer-2 switch device, for instance. The administrator specifies the MAC address to be discarded in a network apparatus in advance, and if the destination or source MAC address of a received MAC frame matches the specified MAC address, the frame is discarded. In another known method, an access permission table is provided in the apparatus, and the administrator specifies a desired forwarding MAC address. If the destination or source MAC address of a received MAC frame matches the specified address, the frame is transferred.
In one known monitoring method (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei-8-186569, for instance), combinations of a MAC address and an IP address are listed. The presence of a fraudulent terminal or a fraudulent frame is monitored by checking whether the combination of the source or destination MAC address and the IP address of a received frame is found in the list. Another known method (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-244603, for instance) analyzes protocol data of layer 3 or above (DHCP message, for instance), holds the combination of the MAC address and the IP address in a table, and discards a received frame if the combination of the source or destination MAC address and the IP address of the received frame does not match any combination in the table.


A method of surgically treating an eye of a patient to correct astigmatism in which values of astigmatism are measured topographically and refractively, and limit values of targeted induced astigmatism for the topographically and refractively measured astigmatism values are obtained by summating the topographically value of astigmatism with the refractive value of astigmatism and vice versa. Respective target values of astigmatism for refraction and topography based on the limit values are obtained and surgical treatment is effected with a target induced astigmatism which is intermediate the limit values and provided respective topographical and refractive non-zero target astigmatism values whose sum is a minimum.

Current methods of analyzing astigmatism are confined to calculation of the vector of change surgically induced in attaining the post-operative result from the pre-operative state.
This ably allows determination of total induced astigmatism and the direction of the vector force acting in the eye. It also enables calculation of the mean total surgical astigmatism induced when a series of operations are compared and analyzed. However, the axes of surgical induced astigmatism (SIA) generally varies considerably within the 180.degree. arc of range. This makes it extremely difficult to make meaningful comparisons of astigmatic change for a series, as one cannot obtain an average directional change of vectors, as vectors in opposing or partly opposing directions cancel each other out in varying amounts.
One practice carried out by some surgeons is to resort to the sole option of tabulating each patient's results individually, leaving it to the reader to estimate any trend. Some surgeons attempt to provide an overview of results, but lack the means to deduce a trend in induced astigmatism vectors as a group, because they have variable orientation.
Taking a mean of the angles has no validity in determining the trend for axes, nor does it address the change in axes from their pre-operative to post-operative astigmatic status. It does not assess the success or desirability of the achieved result; furthermore, it does not indicate the extent to which the surgical aim was achieved. An attempt has been made to address the complexities of correcting the magnitude for the degrees of axis change by introducing the approximation that this component varies as the cosine of the difference between the attempted and the observed (achieved) axes. This corrected value of magnitude was substituted as the amount of surgically induced astigmatism measured on a cylinder 90.degree. to the axis of the incisions, the so-called "proper" axis. It has been proposed to program so called Naylor's equations into a computer program that requires slight modifications to resolve the ambiguity and essentially reproduce the Naylor table.
The formula for calculation of SIA is derived from the resultant of two plano-cylindrical lenses with axes at different angles; this was subsequently employed by some surgeons using graphical methods confirming the magnitude and axis of the astigmatic change. Jaffe and Clayman employ rectangular and polar co-ordinates to determine, by vector analysis, the formula for calculating SIA and its axis with the known values for pre- and post-operative corneal astigmatism. Analogous formulae were derived by Hall based on Martin and Welford's derivation of Euler's theorem of curved surfaces (investigated by Airy in 1827).
Euler's theorem, which states "that the sum of the curvatures of any two perpendicular sections of a cylindrical or toric surface has a constant value", provides the link between Jaffe's and Naeser's methods of vector analysis. Naeser's method calculates the polar values of astigmatism, arising when the axis of astigmatism does not lie on 90.degree. or 180.degree. meridia; its use lies primarily in interpreting results of surgery which induces polar (with-the-rule and against-the-rule) changes, such as cataract and implant surgery (with or without transverse astigmatic keratotomy).
Astigmatism is a unique refractive error that causes reduced visual acuity and produces symptoms such as glare, monocular diplopia, asthenopia and distortion. For some years now, astigmatism control and correction has been of great concern to refractive, cataract and corneal surgeons. Reduction or elimination of astigmatism, as a single or combined procedure, is only possible if one possesses an understanding of astigmatic change, in its component parts of magnitude and axis. Current analytical techniques do not allow us to compare magnitudes and axes separately for a series of paired groups of procedures or for a single procedure, yet it is only in this way that we are able to perfect techniques of astigmatism surgery. We need to be able to determine the preferable technique to employ; we also need to be able to determine whether any failure to achieve surgical goals is attributable to an individual patient factor or to machine or technique error. Modern laser technologies have empowered us with the ability to modify our procedures with degrees of sophistication not previously possible; this in turn requires analysis systems which will allow us to accurately quantify and scientifically assess the results.

Method for surgically achieving minimum astigmatism measured refractively and topographically


A street lamp for providing the safe driving information comprises: a main lighting portion for lighting a road; a vehicle reception portion for receiving an accident or malfunction occurrence signal from a vehicle in an accident or which is malfunctioning; a control portion for generating accident or malfunction recognition signals that can be distinguished, in accordance with the reception of the accident or malfunction occurrence signal; and a vehicle transmitting portion for selectively transmitting the accident or malfunction occurrence signal to vehicles in front and behind the location of the accident or the malfunction.

In general, a vehicle running on a freeway usually runs at a high speed exceeding 100 km/h. Therefore, it is highly probable that a driver of the vehicle may cause a secondary collision with a stopped accident vehicle due to failing to recognize the accident ahead while driving.
In particular, when it is thickly foggy or at night time, visibility is limited. Therefore, even when a driver reduces the speed of a vehicle after noticing an accident vehicle ahead of the vehicle, the secondary collision may unavoidably occur because the braking distance is long compared to the distance to the accident vehicle and thus, the running speed is still high when reaching the accident vehicle.
In addition, even if the visibility is good at day time, the secondary collision may also be caused, for example, on a curved road, by failing to see an accident situation.
Thus, big accidents of chain collisions involving, for example, ten or more vehicles often occur on freeways. However, in the past, no means for preventing such chain collisions have been provided.
In addition, while vehicles are being driven on a freeway, a specific section suddenly becomes a delay or congestion section. Under a situation where the visibility is low, when it is not recognized that the delay or congestion section exists ahead, a rear-end collision may occur even if there is not an accident situation.
While a vehicle is being driven at a high speed on a freeway, a driver of the vehicle may feel sleepy due to monotonous driving. Statics show that about 75% of drivers of vehicles driven on a freeway feel sleepy within 90 minutes after starting the driving. This is because, as a harbinger of sleepiness, the drivers suffer a decline in a cognitive ability for a surrounding situation and hence, for a speed of a vehicle running ahead, compared to the usual care even if the drive is not dozing.
When a vehicle suddenly meets a delay or congestion section while being driven in a smoothly flowing section, the vehicle may not be properly decelerated and thus, rear-end a vehicle driven ahead. An example of a system that can prevent such an accident in advance is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-0999812.
However, in the prior art, occurrence of an accident is recognized by a traffic operation center or the like provided in a distance from the accident spot and then, the occurrence of the accident is notified to subsequent vehicles through a display device in the vicinity of the spot of the accident, a radio broadcast or the like. Despite this, an immediate measure may not be taken and thus, a second rear-end collision may not be completely prevented.
In addition, since accidents are sensed merely based on a witness report by a phone, a CCTV image or the like, a notification action of the accident occurrence is unavoidably further delayed when the witness report or the reading or recognition of the CCTV image is delayed. In addition, the accident report by the phone has a problem in that since it is difficult for the witness to accurately describe the accident spot, it is not easy to determine the correct accident spot.

Street lamp for providing safe driving information and system for providing safe driving information using street lamp


A method and system provide a stable reference clock for use in a communication system. A phase-locked loop (PLL) receives an input clock signal with potentially unacceptable levels of jitter and wander. The PLL provides a synchronized output clock with significantly reduced jitter and wander. The PLL nominally uses a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to control a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). Applying a loop filter function to the phase difference between the input clock and the output clock generates control values for the DAC. Loop filter adaptation is based on control value averages, which enhances stability and frequency locking performance. Frequency lock detection is based on the consistency of the DAC control values, rather than on a predetermined target value, making the PLL a self-calibrating system. The long-term average of the control value in the locked state may be stored for later use as an initial DAC setting.

The present invention relates generally to communication systems, and, more particularly, to generating a stable reference clock for carrier frequency generation in such systems.
Communication systems, such as wireless communication networks, typically comprise disparate pieces of interconnected communications equipment to provide overall system functionality. Coordination and synchronization of the different communication system elements is an important and challenging aspect with regard to the design of the overall communication system.
Oftentimes, communication systems are arranged in a hierarchical fashion, with a master component providing overall synchronization and control for subordinate elements within the system. For example, in a wireless communication network, a mobile switching center (MSC) is often used to interface one or more base stations with various other networks, such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). T1/E1 communication links, based on pulse code modulation (PCM), allow signaling and control between the various elements in a wireless communication network. Additionally, the T1/E1 data clock serves as a common time base for various elements in the system, and thus can be used to maintain overall system synchronization.
At least one timing-based function within the typical wireless communication network is subject to particularly stringent accuracy requirements. This function involves generation of the transmit carrier frequencies that are used in the transmit signals broadcast within the wireless communication network service area. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates strict limits for carrier frequency generation error to minimize interference. While the T1/E1 specification defines a relatively accurate and stable data clock, the specification permits maximum allowable errors for certain types of clock deviations that are in excess of the maximum errors permissible if the T1/E1 clock is used as a reference for carrier frequency generation.

Clock synchronization in a communications environment


A turbine includes a plurality of inner shell sections mounting first and second stage nozzle and shroud portions. The inner shell sections are pinned to an outer containment shell formed of sections to preclude circumferential movement of the inner shell relative to the outer shell and enable thermal expansion and contraction of the inner shell relative to the outer shell. Positive bucket tip clearance control is afforded by passing a thermal medium about the inner shell in heat transfer relation with the shrouds about the first and second stage bucket tips, the thermal medium being provided from a source of heating/cooling fluid independent of the turbine. Access is provided to the rotor and turbine buckets by removing the outer and inner shell sections.

Hot gas path components in gas turbines typically employ air convection and air film techniques for cooling surfaces exposed to high temperatures. High pressure air is conventionally bled from the compressor and the energy of compressing the air is lost after the air is used for cooling. In current heavy duty gas turbines for electric power generation applications, the stationary hot gas path turbine components, i.e., the nozzles and turbine bucket shrouds, are attached directly to massive turbine shell structures and the shrouds are susceptible to bucket tip clearance rubs as the turbine shell thermally distorts. That is, the thermal growth of the turbine shell during steady-state and transient operations is not actively controlled and bucket tip clearance is therefore subject to the thermal characteristics of the turbine. Bucket tip clearance in these heavy duty industrial gas turbines is typically determined by the maximum closure between the shrouds and the bucket tips (which usually occurs during a transient) and all tolerances and unknowns associated with steady-state operation of the rotor and stator.
Steam cooling of hot gas path components has been proposed, utilizing available steam from, for example, the heat recovery steam generator and/or steam turbine components of a combined cycle power plant. Where steam is utilized as the coolant for gas turbine components, there is typically a net efficiency gain inasmuch as the gains realized by not extracting compressor bleed air for cooling purposes (typically in an open-cycle configuration) more than offset the losses associated with the use of steam as a coolant instead of providing energy to drive the steam turbine. The steam cooling concept is even more advantageous when the steam coolant is provided in a closed loop whereby the heat energy imparted to the steam as it cools the gas turbine components is recovered as useful work in driving the steam turbine.
Because of the differences in heat transfer characteristics between air and steam, it would be expected that turbine components designed to utilize these two cooling mediums would be constructed differently. For example, a turbine nozzle designed to be cooled by closed-loop steam cooling would be expected to be substantially different from a nozzle cooled by open-cycle air cooling. The internal passages which provide convection cooling would be shaped differently and, whereas in the case of steam cooling the coolant would be recovered from the nozzle to provide useful work elsewhere, in the case of air cooling, the air would typically be discharged through holes in the walls of the nozzle partitions to form a coolant film over the cooled component.
For a gas turbine to have the flexibility to be cooled with either air or steam (a feature of the present invention described below), it is necessary to provide the ability to interchange certain components (those to be cooled) to accommodate the different cooling mediums. A customer purchasing a simple cycle gas turbine power plant, for example, would almost certainly need to have the turbine components cooled by air, there being no available source of alternative coolant. If, however, the customer later expands his plant to an uprated combined cycle plant, steam becomes readily available as a coolant and it would be advantageous, from an efficiency point of view, to utilize this steam to cool the turbine, necessitating a change in at least some of the hot gas path components. Removal of the stationary hot gas path components for maintenance and replacement in respective air and steam-cooled turbines typically involves major downtime and costs. Additionally, in the case of steam cooling, direct connection of steam cooling pipes between the actively cooled hot gas path components and a single turbine shell make component removal impossible without rotor removal or an overly large shell diameter. Further, cost-effective maintenance and repair of gas turbines requires change-out of all hot gas path components without rotor removal.
Thermodynamic performance of a gas turbine is a primary characteristic in determining the economic value of the turbine. Turbine bucket tip clearance is a primary contributor to improved thermodynamic performance. In current practice, the stator components are mounted on a single turbine shell. Turbine shell distortion caused by thermal and mechanical loads manifests itself as circumferential variation in radial location of the bucket shrouds and nozzle diaphragms. This circumferential asymmetry is currently accounted for by increased bucket tip to shroud operating clearances as noted previously. This has a very substantial negative impact on thermodynamic performance. Consequently, there is a need to minimize the variation in radial clearance between the shroud and bucket tips to improve turbine performance. Tip clearance control becomes even more critical with steam cooling due to the possibility of steam leakage into the hot gas path due to rubs.
It will be appreciated that a bucket utilizing a closed circuit cooling system returns all of the thermal cooling medium to be used elsewhere in the system without dispersing it into the hot gas path as in an air-cooled system. This increases the difficulty of cooling the bucket tip. Therefore, the bucket tip cap must be significantly thinner than in an open circuit cooling design to enhance conductive cooling of the tip. The reduced tip thickness increases the likelihood that a rub against, or contact with, the shroud would penetrate the cooling passages, causing evacuation of the cooling medium and potential bucket failure. Consequently, tip clearance control, particularly in a closed circuit cooling design where the components are readily removable, is of critical importance.

Removable inner turbine shell with bucket tip clearance control


A method and device for continuous measuring of dynamic fluid consumption, particularly gaseous or liquid motor fuel, employs a continuously operating flow sensor with variable decrease in pressure, preferably a mass flow sensor. The pressure downstream from the flow sensor is adjusted to a constant value by changing the admission pressure of the sensor to make possible accurate and rapid consumption measurements with controlled output pressure for the fluid by means of an open system, and also to allow simultaneous measuring of at least a short-time return flow. The device includes a preferably controllable pump (6) possibly a conditioning device and a tank (2), and continuously operating flow sensor (7) for the fluid, preferably a Coriolis sensor, whereby a line branches off behind the sensor (7) leading to a pressure sensor whose output is connected to a control device that triggers the devices to influence the volume flow upstream from the sensor (7).

1. Field of the Invention
Method for continuous measuring of dynamic fluid consumption, particularly gaseous or liquid motor fuel, by means of a continuous operating flow sensor with variable decrease in pressure, preferably a mass flow sensor, as well as a device to carry out the method comprising a preferably controllable pump, possibly a conditioning device and a fuel tank, and a continuously operating flow sensor for the fluid, preferably a Coriolis sensor.
2. The Prior Art
Intermittently-working systems based on weighing devices are known in the art in measuring consumption of fluids, especially in the use of measuring the liquid fuel consumption of engines on test benches. These devices have the advantage of being open systems, namely they have the characteristic feature that the fuel can be supplied to a user by the measuring system or can occasionally be returned into the system in limited amounts. The supplied and the returned quantity of fuel are recorded by the measuring method and are considered in the reading of total consumption. Open systems are especially advantageous in modern fuel injection system since the latter push back fuel, within limits, into the fuel supply system—particularly the tank in motor vehicles—at the start of the engine and during the pressure buildup in the fuel injection system. However, such weighing devices are of disadvantage in that they have to be filled up repeatedly and continuous measuring is not possible thereby.
Measuring devices are often used for continuous measuring of fuel consumption by performing volumetric measurements of the flow. The used fuel mass as the actual required measurement value is determined by means of an additional density measurement. Direct measurement of mass consumption, which avoids the disadvantage of additional density measuring, can be realized at the present only intermittently with the weighing method for liquid fuels and continuously only with Coriolis sensors for gaseous fuels.
Modern internal combustion engines require mostly defined pressure conditions within the fuel supply line as well as in the possibly existing fuel return line for proper operation, said pressure conditions independent from the fuel flow.
In the Austrian utility model No. 3.350 there is provided a pressure stabilization device, for example, to stabilize the input pressure of the mass flow sensor and to be able to create the required low and constant output pressure (generally of a few millibar) at the connection point to the user. The flow-dependent pressure drop (up to sometimes 2 bar) must therefore be variably compensated at the mass flow sensor. In particular, high frequency, erratic or pulsating-type drawing of fuel from the system must be rapidly taken into consideration.
A pressure regulator is attached upstream from the actual flow sensor for pressure stabilization in the above-mentioned continuous method for fuel measurement. Said pressure regulator adjusts the flow-dependent pressure to a constant outgoing pressure at the discharge point of the measuring system. It is of disadvantage in the arrangement of this type that conventional mechanical pressure regulators act like a "hydraulic diode", which means that the flowing medium can flow through the regulator only in one direction, namely downstream. A measuring system having such a pressure regulator is not an open system. Should fuel have to be returned from the injection system back into the measuring system or should there occur thermal expansion of the fuel caused by a temperature increase in the fuel circuit when the user has stopped operation, then there is created a mostly inadmissibly high pressure increase in the fuel system—depending on the elasticity of the tubing—and it places stress on the lines and components which must be relieved possibly by costly pressure compensation devices.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device which make possible accurate and rapid consumption measurements with controlled outgoing pressure for the liquid or gaseous fluid by means of an open system and which also allows a short time return flow during simultaneous measuring of the flow.

Method and apparatus for continuous measuring of dynamic fluid consumption


The radio transmission system includes at least one base station (BS1,BS2) and several participant stations (T111, . . . ,T222), in which the radio transmission range (Z1,Z2) belonging to each base station (BS1, BS2) is divided into several sectors (S11, . . . ,S22). The radio transmission system performs an automatic interference analysis in which a test channel is established between each participant station (T111, . . . ,T222) and all those sectors (S11, . . . ,S22) which cause interferences with the concerned participant station. A signal path-attenuation value is determined from the transmission power and received power of the test channel for each signal path between the participant stations (T111, . . . ,T222) and sectors (S11, . . . ,S22) and a carrier signal-to-noise ratio is determined for each participant station (T111, . . . ,T222) from all the signal path attenuation values contributing to it. When this carrier signal-to-noise ratio is below a predetermined threshold, a more robust type of modulation is used for the data signal transmission between the concerned participant station (T111, . . . ,T222) and the sector (S11, . . . ,S22) associated with it and/or the transmitted signal carrier is changed to another different frequency channel, for at least the sector (S11, . . . ,S22) which causes the greatest interference.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for improvement of transmission quality in a point-to-multipoint radio transmission system, comprising at least one base station and a plurality of participant stations, in which the radio transmission region belonging to each base station comprises one or more sectors and the base station has a transmitting and receiving unit for each individual sector so that data transmission can occur between the transmitting and receiving unit for each sector and the participating stations present in that sector. This type of point-to-multipoint radio transmission system is, e.g., described in German Patent Application DE 44 26 183 C1.
Radio transmission systems, which may be terrestrial radio relay systems or satellite transmission systems, allow new radio links to be installed very quickly or existing ones to be completed. The available frequency spectrum should be used in as optimum a manner as possible with such radio transmission systems. In a point-to-multipoint radio system according to German Patent Application DE 44 26 183 C1 the transmission capacity is adjusted or fit in a flexible manner to the requirements of the participant so that the bandwidth of the individual transmission channels is adjusted to the data transmission rate required by the individual participant stations. Here a variable adjustment of the modulation method (e.g. N-PSK, with N=4 . . . 16 or M-QAM with M=4 . . . 256) is also provided in the individual transmission channels.
In order to guarantee high transmission quality in a radio transmission system, disturbing interferences should be avoided as much as possible. Moreover geographic conditions which can cause interference are already considered in radio field planning. Interference can arise in a base station or a participant station by reflection of the transmitted signals themselves until the loss level can extinguish the signal. Also signals from neighboring radio transmission regions can cause interference at a participant station or a base station. Generally interference cannot be sufficiently accurately determined in advance by radio field calculations during the planning phase of a radio transmission system. This is particularly true because of changes of terrain structures, vegetation or house building, or completion or change of the radio network during operation of the radio transmission system.

Apparatus and method for improvement of transmission quality in a point-to-multipoint radio transmission system


The present invention provides an interconnect structure, a method of manufacture therefore, and a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit including the same. The method for forming the interconnect structure, among other steps, includes subjecting a first portion (510) of a substrate (220) to a first etch process, the first etch process designed to etch at a first entry angle (θ1), and subjecting a second portion (610) of the substrate (220) to a second different etch process, the second different etch process designed to etch at a second lesser entry angle (θ2).

Integrated circuits are mass-produced by fabricating hundreds of identical circuit patterns on a single semiconductor wafer. One of the many different processes repeated over and over in manufacturing these integrated circuits is that of using a mask and etchant for forming a particular feature. In such a mask and etching process, a photo mask containing the pattern of the structure to be fabricated is created. Then, after formation of a material layer within which the feature is to be formed, the material layer is coated with a light-sensitive material called photoresist or resist. The resist-coated material layer is then exposed to ultraviolet light through the mask and developed, thereby transferring the pattern from the mask to the resist. The wafer is then etched to remove the material layer unprotected by the resist, and then the remaining resist is stripped. This masking process permits specific areas of the material layer to be formed to meet the desired device design requirements.
The semiconductor industry has steadily reduced the dimensions of transistors in integrated circuits, resulting in increased transistor density and circuit functionality. As these dimensions are decreased from one manufacturing generation to the next, some processes may need to change to accommodate the smaller dimensions.
One important example is the photolithography process. When the dimensions of the transistor or the conductors connecting the transistors fall below the ability of the photolithography light source to resolve them, then the photolithography process must transition to a light source with a shorter wavelength. This transition will in general require a new photoresist, and may require a new anti-reflective coating (ARC) and dielectric layers under the ARC.
One property of a photoresist is the roughness of the edge of the features defined in it after exposure and development. This property is referred to herein as line edge roughness (LER). When a new photoresist is introduced, the LER may be significant. LER is determined in part by the chemistry of the photoresist, and may be reduced by photoresist manufacturers as the photoresist technology matures. However, maturation of a particular photoresist chemistry may be long compared to the design cycle of the industry, forcing manufacturers to go to production with a resist that has not yet been fully optimized with respect to LER.
Because the features to be etched into the semiconductor substrate are transferred from the photoresist, LER in the resist will transfer to LER of the completed feature. This is particularly a problem with conductive features, such as contacts and interconnects. Roughness in contact and interconnect openings is generally undesirable because it results in higher and less uniform resistance, as well as decreased reliability of the completed semiconductor device.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a photolithography process that does not experience the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Method for reducing line edge roughness for conductive features


A method for controlling the operation of an electromechanical transducer is provided. The method includes (a) determining during a first period of time a first strength of the harmonic operational behavior of the transducer, (b) determining during a second period of time a second strength of the harmonic operational behavior of the transducer, wherein the second period of time is different from the first period of time, (c) calculating a harmonic control signal in response to both the determined first strength of the harmonic operational behavior and the determined second strength of the harmonic operational behavior, (d) generating a modified drive signal based on the calculated harmonic control signal, and (f) supplying the generated modified drive signal to electromagnetic coils of a stator of the transducer. Further, a corresponding control system for controlling the operation of an electromechanical transducer is provided.

Electromechanical transducers are machines, which convert electrical energy into mechanical energy or vice versa. An electric motor is a widely used electromechanical transducer that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy using magnetic field linkage. An electric generator is an electromechanical transducer that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy also using a magnetic field linkage.
An electromechanical transducer comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator is an assembly, which represents the stationary part of an electromechanical transducer. The rotor is an assembly, which represents the moving and in particular the rotating part of an electromechanical transducer.
In order to provide magnetic field linkage, permanent magnets may be used in particular for a rotor of an electromechanical transducer. In recent years, especially since the introduction of rare-earth magnetic materials, permanent magnet (PM) electromechanical transducers have become popular since they eliminate the need for commutators/collectors and brushes, which are commonly used with conventional Direct Current (DC) electromechanical transducer. The absence of an external electrical rotor excitation eliminates losses on the rotor and makes permanent magnet electromechanical transducers more efficient. Further, the brushless design of a PM electromechanical transducer allows conductor coils to be located exclusively in the stationary stator. In this respect, it is mentioned that non-PM electromechanical transducers, which are equipped with commutators and brushes, are typically susceptible to significantly higher maintenance costs.
PM-electromechanical transducers are also known for their durability, controllability and absence of electrical sparking. PM-electromechanical transducers are widely used in many applications such as electric vehicles (electromechanical transducer is a motor) or in power generation systems (electromechanical transducer is a generator) such as for instance a wind turbine.
One challenge of PM-electromechanical transducers is cogging torque. Cogging torque is produced between the rotor and the stator due to a spatial meeting of "sharp edges" of rotor mounted permanent magnets and stator coils when the PM-electromechanical transducer is in operation. In a PM-electric generator, cogging torque is an undesired effect that contributes to a so called "torque ripple" on the electric power output signal of the generator.
Another challenge of PM-transducers is the mechanical "radial force/pressure ripple". Both effects lead to unwanted vibrations of the PM-electric generator, which cause troublesome acoustic noise. This holds in particular for PM-electric generators, which in particular in wind turbine applications are operated with variable rotational speed. Avoiding or at least reducing acoustic noise and vibrations is a great challenge in the design and/or the operational control of PM-electric generators being used for wind turbines.
One approach to reduce acoustic noise and vibrations is to choose an appropriate design for a PM-electric generator. For example, torque ripple can be reduced by using an appropriate shaping of magnets. Further, a skewing of the rotor magnets has been proposed (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,867,524 B2). However, it is difficult to minimize both torque ripple and radial force/pressure ripple by using a single design for a PM-electromechanical transducer.
Another approach to reduce noise and vibration within a PM-electromechanical transducer is to design mechanical parts of the transducer in such a manner that all resonance frequencies, which can be excited by torque and radial force/pressure ripple, are out of the frequency range. However, in case of a variable rotational speed of the PM-electromechanical transducer, the frequency range that can be excited by torque ripple and/or radial force/pressure ripple is very wide. Therefore, it is very difficult to avoid vibrations within the whole frequency range of the PM electromechanical transducer.

Reduction of noise and vibrations of an electromechanical transducer by using a modified stator coil drive signal comprising harmonic components


Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is interfaced with low temperature fluorescence line-narrowing (FLN) spectroscopy for on-line structural characterization of separated molecular analytes.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a widely used analytical and bioanalytical separation technique. It is also finding considerable use in biomedical research with new applications continually emerging. Capillary electrophoresis has been used for analysis of amino acids, peptides, proteins, nucleic acid bases, DNA oligonucleotides and numerous organic molecules. Both small ions and large biomolecules can be separated (J. Tehrani et al., High Res. Chrom., 14, 10-14 (1991)). Electrophoresis is a powerful approach for gene mapping (R. Milofsky et al., Anal. Chem., 65, 153-157 (1993)); X. Huang et al., Anal. Chem., 64, 967-972 (1992)) and DNA sequencing (H. Swerdlow et al., Anal. Chem., 63, 2835-2841 (1991)). Recently, the chemical analysis of individual cells by CE has attracted much attention (B. Hogan et al., Anal. Chem., 64, (1992); B. Hogan et al., Trends Anal. Chem., 12, 4-9 (1993)).
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) constitute a potent class of chemical carcinogens. The ability to analyze PAH in small volumes at attomole levels opens many opportunities for studying intracellular uptake, metabolism, and carcinogen-DNA adduct formation, all of which are important factors in mutagenesis and tumorigenesis. Various protocols for separation of PAH by CE have already been established. In micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, introduced by Terabe et al. (S. Terabe et al., Anal. Chem., 56, 111-116 (1984); S. Terabe et al., Anal. Chem., 57, 834-839 (1985); S. Terabe et al, J. Chrom., 516, 23-31 (1990)), micelles were used as a pseudophase. Nie et al. (S. Nie et al., Anal. Chem., 65, 3571-3575 (1993)) developed an approach based on solvophobic association of PAH analytes with tetraalkylammonium ions in a mixed acetonitrile-water solvent. Yan and coworkers (T. Lee, Anal. Chem., 64, 3045-3051 (1992)) demonstrated that capillary electrochromatography can be used for separation of priority PAH. Shi and Fritz (Y. Shi et al., Anal. Chem., 67, 3023-3027 (1995); Y. Shi et al, J High Res. Chrom, 117, 713 (1994)) established that excellent separation of PAH by CE can be achieved by the addition of sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (DOSS) to an acetonitrile-water electrolyte. Very recently, Brown et al. (R. S. Brown et al., Anal. Chem., 68, 287-292 (1996)) described a separation method for PAH using cyclodextrin-modified CE. All these approaches are able to detect PAH at sub-femtomole levels, a detectability required, for example, in the study of PAH-induced carcinogenesis.
In CE, analyte molecules are typically probed, i.e., detected, only briefly as they traverse detection zones located either on-line or in a post-column flow cell. The narrowness of this temporal detection window effectively limits the signal to noise ratio (J. Shear et al., Anal. Chem., 65, 3708-3712 (1993)). The most widely used detection method with CE is absorbance, which is usually shot-noise limited. Fluorescence, particularly laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), has also been used for detection, outperforming absorbance in sensitivity of detection by several orders of magnitude. However, the brief time available for determination of an analyte also poses a problem for LIF detection, especially when low intensity continuous wave (CW) lasers incapable of providing high induced absorption rates are used (J. Shear et al., Anal. Chem., 65, 2977-2982 (1993)). Zare and coworkers (J. Shear et al, Anal. Chem., 65, 3708-3712 (1993)) showed that velocity programming for increased detection zone residence times in CE is necessary to improve both the accuracy of quantitation and detection limits. The use of intense pulsed lasers in CE-LIF for the analysis of molecular analytes at ambient temperature produces a stronger detectable signal, but is accompanied by problem of analyte photodegradation.
Efforts to improve analyte resolution in CE are also important, particularly as detection sensitivity increases. In the case of CE-LIF, however, the emphasis has been on laser-induced fluorescence providing superior detection limits, i.e., analyte resolution is still provided by CE. At best, LIF with detection at ambient temperature can provide only very limited spectral resolution due to large vibronic fluorescence bandwidths (about 500 cm.sup.-1). Resolution between monomethylated isomers of a PAH would, for example, have to be provided by the physical separation process of CE.
It is well-recognized that analysis of chemically complex samples often requires a two-step analytical approach (separation followed by analyte characterization). Research involving analytical separation methods such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and CE has been greatly advanced by recent efforts to couple these separation techniques with sensitive spectroscopic methods that go beyond simple detection of molecular analytes by producing structural information about the separated analytes. For example, HPLC has been coupled with NMR spectroscopy for direct analysis of complex mixtures from both synthetic and biological origins. Interfacing CE with mass spectroscopy (MS) has been demonstrated; and capillary zone electrophoresis coupled with electrospray MS has been used for separation and subsequent detection of DNA adducts. Capillary electrochromatography has been coupled to MS for analysis of pharmaceutical drugs.
The utility of laser-induced fluorescence detection of molecular analytes is well-established. However, its use as a detection method in CE has been limited by the brief time available for interrogation of an analyte, and, when pulsed lasers are used at ambient temperature, photodegradation of the separated analytes. Further, laser-induced fluorescence at ambient temperature does not provide structural information about the analytes of interest. There is, therefore, a need in the art for a system that successfully interfaces fluorescence spectroscopy with a capillary electrophoresis apparatus in a manner and under conditions that allow structural characterization of closely related analytes.

Capillary electrophoresis-fluorescence line narrowing system (CE-FLNS) for on-line structural characterization

Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.


A display system includes a processing device for graphic representation of alarm reports from measured values of a technical plant or process. Measurement points of the measured values each respectively have a hierarchically structured identifier held in the processing device. The processing device decomposes the hierarchically structured identifiers into hierarchical levels of different significance, selects the identifiers of the hierarchical levels with the highest significance, and transmits them to a preconfigured mass alarm display unit. The identifiers of the hierarchical levels with the highest significance can be assigned to a correspondingly identified area within an overview image of the plant or process of the preconfigured mass alarm display unit. The alarm reports which are generated from the measured values can be represented graphically, taking into account the generated assignment of the identifier of the measurement points to the correspondingly identified area within the overview image of the plant or process.

In technical plants, e.g. in power generation plants or plants of the chemical industry, multiple alarm reports, also called mass alarms, are generated. The alarm reports, which, for instance, indicate critical process states, are usually represented by multiple display elements, which are mostly assigned directly to the corresponding measured values.
The process measured values are mostly identified systematically by task, type and location, e.g. by the conventional power station identification system "KKS", which is used worldwide in power stations.
Although many technical plants of the chemical industry or power generation have a similar basic structure in relation to their function, they differ in detail considerably, so that the identifiers and components (which are based on a plant identification system) for the measurement points of the process measured values are different for each plant.
Alarm displays which are currently used thus require, for their representation, a project-specific configuration, since each specific process measured value must be linked to a corresponding display element via its identifier.
Changes within the technical plant or technical process are usually isolated with dedicated (assigned) display elements, or represented textually as an alarm line. This procedure is useful only if a small number of information items, i.e. only a few alarm reports, are displayed. However, as soon as a large number of parallel information items are to be displayed, this type of display is not advantageous, since because of the large number of detailed information items, the plant driver cannot gain an overview of the whole situation of the plant.
To represent a mass alarm display graphically, for instance a large number of display elements are arranged so that the plant driver can use their overall image for pattern recognition. However, each individual display element must be separately configured, standardized and arranged in the mass alarm display correspondingly to the plant topology, so that the mass alarm display, when faults occur in the plant, generates specific representations. This representation form of the mass alarm display is associated with considerable planning cost, since every measured value must be wired individually.
US 2005216826 describes a method by which the complex interrelationships in the representation of mass alarms can be made visible without great configuration cost. The described method is used for analysis of process interrelationships. However, process states cannot be represented.
Further disadvantages of the currently used graphic alarm displays, in addition to the high configuration cost described above, are isolated observation and representation of the individual alarm reports. No preconfigured displays which are capable of functioning for multiple plants without prior adaptation exist.

Display system for graphic representation of alarm reports of a technical plant or technical process


A method of having transistors formed in enhanced performance crystal orientations begins with a wafer having a semiconductor substrate (12,52) of a first surface orientation, a thin etch stop layer (14,54) on the semiconductor substrate, a buried oxide layer (16,56) on the thin etch stop layer, and a semiconductor layer (18,58) of a second surface orientation on the buried oxide layer. An etch penetrates to the thin etch stop layer. Another etch, which is chosen to minimize the damage to the underlying semiconductor substrate, exposes a portion of the semiconductor substrate. An epitaxial semiconductor (28,66) is then grown from the exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor region having the first surface orientation and having few, if any, defects. The epitaxially grown semiconductor region is then used for enhancing one type of transistor while the semiconductor layer of the second surface orientation is used for enhancing a different type of transistor.

The present disclosures relate to semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to a method of making a multiple crystal orientation semiconductor device.
Substrates with Dual Orientation (DSO) are desirable because they allow taking advantage of enhanced electron and hole mobility in the (100) and (110) crystal orientations, respectively. In one method of making a dual orientation substrate, the method requires etching through the buried oxide (BOX) to access the bottom substrate. The bottom substrate provides the alternate Si plane to the SOI layer. However, dry etching through the BOX and stopping on bottom Si substrate can induce damage on the Si surface of the bottom substrate. This damage can negatively impact the selective Si epitaxy process, thus resulting in dislocations in the active area of the selective Si epi. Thus, the damage is detrimental to subsequently formed devices since the damage induces defects into the channel epi.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method for overcoming the problems in the art as discussed above.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. Skilled artisans will also appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.

Method of making a multiple crystal orientation semiconductor device


A nozzle valve gate for injecting hot plastics into an injection mold includes a body having a passage for flow of the plastics to an outlet and forming an actuator chamber. A nozzle part is connected to the body and extends longitudinally to a nozzle tip having an injection aperture. The nozzle part has a flow passageway connected to the plastics outlet for conducting the plastics melt to the injection aperture and a machined bore forming a guide passageway. A valve pin is movable in the guide passageway between open and closed positions. A piston is connected to the pin and is slidable in the actuator chamber. An elastomeric wiper seal extends around the valve pin adjacent the machined bore, is wear resistant, and can withstand high temperatures of at least 200° C. A micro gap is formed between the pin and the machined bore.

Similar plastic parts are commonly produced in injection molds with single or multiple cavities. In the case of an injection molding machine wherein the mold has multiple cavities, it is known to use a hotrunner system to deliver the hot plastics material or melt from a melt plastification barrel of the machine to the cavities in the mold. The hotrunner system provides the plastic melt at a defined melt pressure and a controlled melt temperature to each mold cavity. In order to accomplish this objective, the hotrunner system commonly employs a heated manifold through which melt conduits extend and heated injection nozzles.
Nozzle valve gates are used in the aforementioned melt distribution systems to control the opening and closing of gate orifices, that is, the orifices that open into each mold cavity and through which the melt is delivered. The valve gate is a positive shut off device that has an open and closed position. At the beginning of melt injection, a valve pin of the valve gate opens the orifice in order to allow the plastic melt to fill the adjacent cavity. In addition, after the cavity has been filled, the gate orifice remains open during a packing phase which relies on packing pressure to control the quality of the plastic part. While the thermoplastic melt starts to solidify during the packing phase, the valve gate closes the orifice to achieve a clean gate mark on the plastic part surface and to avoid stringing or drooling of melt through the gate from the hotrunner system while the mold opens for part injection.
A melt channel or passage is formed in the nozzle of the valve gate to deliver the hot plastics melt to the gate orifice. Movement of the valve pin inside this melt channel is generally an open and closed stroke in the axial or longitudinal direction of the nozzle. The valve pin is actuated between open and closed positions by means of a valve actuator that is connected to a rear end of the valve pin. With known hotrunner systems, the valve actuator is commonly located externally of the heated components of the hotrunner system (for example, the manifold) because the commonly used valve actuators are not functional at the usual melt processing temperature of thermoplastics materials which is between 200 and 450° C. Generally pneumatic and hydraulic valve actuators are provided with seals between the pistons and their respective cylinders that operate only below 200° C. Also, electromechanic actuators require a low ambient temperature of less than 200° C. It will be understood that a heated melt distribution system or hotrunner system inside a valve gate mold can, depending on the location of the actuators, affect the valve actuators by heat conductivity, radiation and convection. Because of this effect, valve actuators are commonly positioned at a sufficient distance from the heated surface of the melt distribution manifold and the injection nozzle to keep them within their operating temperature range, which is preferably below 100° C. Known valve pin actuators can be physically separated from the heated manifold and the injection nozzle or nozzles by various means which allow the actuators to be located in a remote location where the actuator temperature can be maintained below 100° C. In addition to this thermal separation from the hotrunner manifold and the nozzles, it is known to provide for direct or indirect cooling of the actuators. Thus a cooling circuit within the injection mold can be directly or indirectly connected with the actuator to withdraw heat from the actuator.
It is also known to provide injection molds with a high number of cavities for making small plastic parts and it is advantageous to make such a mold as compact as possible. However, it is difficult and costly to integrate valve actuators with an effective cooling system in a compact mold of this type. Generally, valve pin actuators require considerable space inside an injection mold and they can add to the overall stack height of the mold. Moreover, forming cutout spaces for the actuators and bores or cutouts for cooling lines as well as air, hydraulic, or electric lines weakens the mold plate structure that has to support the substantial forces of the melt injection pressure inside the mold cavities and the clamping force in the molding machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,448 issued Sep. 7, 1999 to Eurotool, Inc., describes a hotrunner system for injecting hot plastics material into an injection mold that includes a thermally insulated manifold with a plastics flow channel extending therethrough to a nozzle part. An elongated valve pin extends through the manifold and through the nozzle and it is adapted to open or close an injection aperture. The head of the pin is connected to an actuator located above the manifold and on the side thereof opposite the nozzle member. The valve pin is slidably mounted in an aperture formed in a valve seal bushing which is screwable fixed within a complementary bore in a top surface of the manifold.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,000 issued Dec. 12, 2000 to Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. describes a hotrunner valve gated injection molding device which directs melt from a melt channel to a melt cavity. A guide sleeve is positioned at the gate end of the nozzle body and surrounds a valve stem in order to guide the valve stem inside the guide sleeve and to provide a sealing device at the gate end of the nozzle body. In this known system, the actuator for the valve pin is mounted in a valve plate through which the nozzle body extends and that is separate from the hotrunner manifold. The guide sleeve at the forward end of the nozzle assembly may be made of any high resistant tool steel and can be a nickel/chrome tool steel with a gas nitriding surface treatment to harden the surface, or a tool steel having hard wearing properties. There can be a close tolerance sliding engagement of the valve stem inside the guide sleeve which is said to inhibit leaking of plastic melt through the bore in the sleeve.
There is disclosed herein a novel valve gate apparatus for delivering and injecting hot plastics material into an injection mold. This valve gate is provided with an elastomeric wiper seal extending around and engaging the valve pin adjacent a machined guide bore. This wiper seal is made of a wear resistant material and is capable of withstanding operating temperatures for the valve gate apparatus of at least 200° C.

Nozzle valve gate apparatus with wiper seal


A fusogenic liposome composition for delivering a liposome-entrapped compound into the cytoplasm of a target cell is described. The liposomes have an outer surface coating of chemically releasable hydrophilic polymer chains which shield hydrophobic polymers on the liposome outer surface. Release of the hydrophilic polymer chains exposes the hydrophobic polymers for interaction with outer cell membranes of the target cells to promote fusion of the liposome with the target cells. Also disclosed is a method for using the composition to deliver a compound to target cells, and a method for selecting suitable hydrophobic polymers for use in the composition.

The therapeutic benefit of many compounds is limited by low uptake of the compound by the target cells or by intracellular breakdown of the compound after uptake. Generally, for maximum therapeutic benefit, delivery of the compound to the cytoplasmic compartment of the cell, where translation of mRNA and protein synthesis take place and where there is a direct link to the nucleus, is desired. For many small, uncharged compounds, permeation across the cell membrane may allow relatively efficient uptake by the cell. However, for a variety of larger and/or charged compounds, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and highly water soluble charged organic compounds, passive uptake by permeation across the cell membrane is more limited. Several methods for improving uptake of such compounds into cells have been proposed. For example, a drug can be administered in modified or prodrug form for transport into cells and then undergo enzymatic conversion to an active form within the cells.
Alternatively, the cellular processes of phagocytosis or endocytosis may be used, where drug-containing particles are engulfed by the cells. However, this approach is limited to certain cell types, for example, phagocytosis is limited to cells of monocyte lineage and to certain other myeloid cells, such as neutrophils, and endocytosis is limited to mesenchymal cells, such as vascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Another limitation of this approach is that in the normal course of intracellular processing, particles are exposed to the acidic endosome/lysosome compartments and a host of degradative enzymes, including proteases, lipases and nucleases, resulting in degradation of the therapeutic compound, unless an escape from such processing is engineered into the system.
Still another approach to enhancing drug uptake by cells involves the use of fusogenic particles designed to fuse with the surface membrane of a target cell, releasing the particle contents into the cytoplasmic compartment of the cell. Inactivated and reconstituted virus particles have been proposed for this purpose, particularly in gene therapy where large nucleic acid strands are introduced into cells. Virus-like particles composed of fusion-promoting viral proteins embedded in artificial lipid bilayer membranes are another example. However, safety concerns and the expense associated with growing, isolating, and deactivating viral components limit these approaches.

Fusogenic liposome compositions and method


Compositions which contain an agonist substance of one or a number of receptors associated with a chlorine channel are useful for slackening and/or relaxing cutaneous tissue, and in particular for the purpose of treating wrinkles and fine lines of the skin. Such compositions can be administered topically or by injection. Preferred agonists include glycine, serine, taurine, .beta.-alanine, N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)glycine (Z-glycine), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), isoguvacine, isonipecotic acid, 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyrid-3(2H)-one, benzodiazepines, steroids, and barbiturates. The composition can additionally contain a retinoid and/or a hydroxy acid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the use of substances which are agonists of a receptor associated with a chlorine channel in a cosmetic and/or dermatological composition, in particular for the purpose of treating wrinkles and fine lines of the skin, and to cosmetic and/or dermatological compositions which contain such a substance.
2. Discussion of the Background
Women, and indeed even men, are currently inclined to wish to appear young for as long as possible and consequently are looking to soften the signs of ageing of the skin, which are reflected in particular by wrinkles and fine lines. In this respect, advertising and fashion present products intended to retain a radiant and wrinkle-free skin, these being the signs of young skin, for as long as possible, all the more so since physical appearance has an effect on mental attitude and/or on morale. It is consequently important to feel physically and spiritually young.
Until now, wrinkles and fine lines have been treated using cosmetic products containing active agents which act on the skin, for example by moisturizing it or by improving its cell renewal or alternatively by promoting the synthesis of collagen of which the cutaneous tissue is composed. However, to date, it is not known to act on wrinkles by involving the muscle components present in the skin.
It is known that the platysma muscles of the face are under the control of the motor nerve afferent activity of the facial nerve and that, moreover, the interlobular septa of the hypoderm contain within them fibers which constitute a striated muscle tissue (panniculus carnosus). Moreover, it is also known that a subpopulation of fibroblasts of the dermis, known as myofibroblasts, has characteristics in common with the muscle tissue.
The Applicants have observed, in certain pathological and therapeutic situations, the role played, as regards the wrinkles of the face, by the nerves controlling all this muscle tissue. Thus, in attacks on the facial nerve, in which transmission of the nerve impulse is interrupted and/or weakened, a paralysis of the muscles of the face is witnessed in the area of innervation. This facial paralysis is reflected, among other clinical indications, by an alleviation in, indeed disappearance of, the wrinkles.
On the other hand, in muscle hypercontraction conditions of the face, the Applicants have observed an accentuation in the wrinkles of the face. Moreover, an accentuation in the wrinkles of the face has also been observed in muscle hypertonia conditions of Parkinson's disease and side-effects induced by neuroleptics.
Moreover, it has been shown that botulinus toxin, originally used for treating spasms, could have an effect on muscle spasticity conditions (see A. Blitzer et al., Arch. Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg., vol 119, pages 1018 to 1022 (1993)) and on the wrinkles of the glabella, which are intersuperciliary wrinkles (see J. D. Carruters et al., J. Dermatol. Surg. Oncol., vol. 18, pages 17 to 21 (1992)). It is consequently possible, by pharmacological action, to have an effect on the nerve component of wrinkles. Botulinus toxin acts directly at the level of the neuro-muscular junction by blocking the action of acetylcholine on muscular tenseness.
The junction between a nerve and a muscle constitutes the myoneural endplate, before which is found the afferent nerve route known as the motor neuron. Moreover, the cell membranes of each nerve fiber contain many ionic channels, and in particular chlorine channels, capable of allowing the corresponding element to pass through in the ionic form, and, in the case of chlorine channels, in the chloride form. Neuronal receptors are associated with these channels. The neuronal receptors associated with the chlorine channels are in particular receptors for glycine (glycine-strychnine sensitive receptors) and receptors for GABA (GABA.sub.A receptors).
Moreover, it is known that, in the central nervous system, it is possible to decrease the excitability of the neuron by various pharmacological agents which have an effect on the glycine-strychnine sensitive receptors or on the GABA.sub.A receptors of the central nervous system (see W. Sieghart, Trends in Pharmacological Science, vol. 131, pages 446 to 450 (December 1992)). Activation of these receptors opens the chlorine channels and leads to the entry of chloride ions, which results in an increase in the chloride ions in the cells of the nerve fiber and thus to hyperpolarization of the neurons, which consequently become less excitable.
On the other hand, in the neuromuscular junction, a decrease in excitability of the motor neuron leads to a lessened stimulation of the muscle fiber, thus causing it to slacken.
However, to date no completely suitable compositions or methods are available for treating wrinkles and/or fine lines of the skin. Thus, there remains a need for methods and compositions effective for treating wrinkles and/or fine lines of the skin.

Compositions and methods for treating wrinkles and/or fine lines of the skin


The on/off statuses of relays corresponding to information played back from an optical disk, for example, position information such as absolute time and track number, are stored in memory. When the absolute time or track number in the sub-code information decoded by the sub-code decode circuit is identical to the absolute time or track number stored in memory, the relays in the external device interface unit are switched to control the external devices connected to them. With this arrangement, external devices such as lights, slide projector, and illumination may easily be controlled in synchronization with optical disk playback information.

This invention relates to a drive switching apparatus using optical disk playback information, and more particularly, to a drive switching apparatus using optical disk playback information which is capable of driving and controlling external devices on the basis of said optical disk playback information.
To permit unstaffed explanation when explaining merchandise or exhibits at an exhibition, museum, etc., magnetic tape players, etc., are conventionally provided for each article of merchandise or exhibit wherein the explanation previously recorded on an endless magnetic tape is output in audio form from speakers.
One method of explaining merchandise or exhibits in a predetermined order is to provide spotlights and magnetic tape players for respective articles of merchandise or exhibits and to control these spotlights and magnetic tape players with timers. Another method is to record explanations for respective articles of merchandise or exhibits sequentially on a single magnetic tape and at the same time to record a predetermined audio signal following the explanation for each article of merchandise or exhibit, said signal being detected to switch the spotlights.
When explanations are played back using a magnetic tape player as described above, it is not possible to instantaneously access the start position of an explanation. When spotlights and magnetic tape players for respective article of merchandise or exhibits are controlled by means of timers, it is extremely difficult to synchronize the lights with the explanations recorded on the magnetic tapes, resulting in presentation problems such as annoyance to visitors because the start position of an explanation does not coincide with the light.

Switching apparatus using play back information from an optical disk


A method for responding to a failure of hardware locus of at a communication installation having a plurality of control apparatuses for controlling a plurality of processes distributed among a plurality of hardware loci, the hardware loci including at least one spare hardware locus, includes the steps of: (a) Shifting control of a failed process from an initial control apparatus to an alternate control apparatus located at an alternate hardware locus than the failed hardware locus. The failed process is a respective process controlled by the initial control apparatus located at the failed hardware locus. (b) Relocating the respective control apparatuses located at the failed hardware locus to a spare hardware locus. (c) Shifting control of the failed process from the alternate control apparatus to the initial control apparatus relocated at the spare hardware locus.

Today's communication systems are operated at a high level of reliability. One way such reliability is achieved is by operating equipment at a communication installation using a one-to-one redundancy arrangement by which a hot standby equipment unit-mate is kept ready to assume the role of a primary equipment unit in the event of failure of the primary equipment unit. Failure of a first hardware locus at which is located a primary equipment unit may therefore be substantially instantaneously remedied by employing the assigned standby equipment unit-mate—preferably located at a different hardware locus than the first hardware locus.
Equipping for such a one-to-one back-up capability requires equipping with redundant hardware. Equipping with redundant hardware can be an expensive endeavor, especially since the processing power of the standby equipment unit-mate can be required to nothing more than data-synchronize with the primary equipment unit, which in many situations assures that the standby equipment unit-mate is under-utilized.
There is a need for a system and method for responding to a failure of a hardware locus at a communication installation that avoids providing redundant hardware for one-to-one equipment redundancy.

System and method for responding to failure of a hardware locus at a communication installation


A hollow pipe connector is described for interconnecting opposed ends of two hollow pipes in abutting end-to-end relationship. Preferably, but not exclusively, the pipes are hollow pile cylinders of circular cross-section. The connector is formed by two flat metal plates each having interconnecting slots whereby the plates are coupled together to form a connector of X-cross-section. Each of the plates have outer side edges having opposed sloped edge portions on a respective side of an arresting raised projection formed in the outer edge in a mid-section thereof. The sloped edge portions slope inwardly towards a respective one of the opposed ends of the connector member. The connector engages opposed end portions of pipes coupled together by a frictional retaining force exerted on the inner walls at opposed ends of the coupled pipes.

There are many types of pipe couplers known in the art of pipe coupling and the present invention is concerned with internal pipe couplers whereby to interconnect two pipes in end-to-end abutting relationship. An example of such a coupler is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,304 wherein an internal expanding sleeve is located in opposed ends of two pipes placed in abutting end-to-end relationship and the coupler is in the form of channels with reversely turned flanges of arcuate form. A set screw is provided in the wall of one of the pipes and engages internally the bottom of the respective channels while the reversely bent flanges engage the inner surface of the pipe walls. With this type of device it is necessary to thread a bore in the side wall of one of the pipes adjacent an end thereof for receiving the set screw. Also, one of the channel members of the connector has a threaded bore which needs to be aligned with the set screw for connection thereto while the channel member is positioned inside the end of one of the pipes. This is a time consuming assembly and requires precision and skill to install. A further disadvantage of such connectors is that if the set screw becomes disconnected, the channel members inside the pipe would fall freely inside the pipe, particularly if they are disposed in a vertical or an angular relationship causing the pipes to be disconnected. Also, vibrations in the pipes can cause the set screw to loosen. Such a connector would not be desirable for interconnecting ends of piles which are driven into the ground by impact force, for example. Another disadvantage of such connector is that they utilise a connector consisting of two components plus a set screw. If one of these components or screw becomes lost then the connector cannot be assembled. This type of connector therefore is subject to human error.
US application 2005/0111920 A1 published on May 26, 2005 describes an apparatus and a method for installing segmented concrete pilings. The concrete pilings are interconnected together in end-to-end relationship by connecting rods. The concrete pilings are therefore provided with apertures and these connecting rods are positioned therein. This patent application is not concerned with interconnecting hollow pipes in end-to-end relationship by a connector capable of permitting the passage of liquid or loose flowable material therethrough from inside the pipes after the pipes are interconnected together or during a pile driving operation.
Another known method of interconnecting hollow pipes in end-to-end relationship is by welding the joint formed by the abutting pipe ends together. Accordingly, there is required the use of a welder person to effect this soldering operation which is a relatively slow and expensive process. Another known method is to connect a sleeve about the abutting pipe ends connecting both pipe ends together. This is not desirable when the pipes are used as pile cylinders which are driven into the ground surface as the sleeve would provide added friction with the soil during the pile driving operation and are subjected to damage. Such joints are not practical as they add too much friction to the outer surface of the pipes.


A measuring fluid dispenser for dispensing fluids in measured quantities has a user input device for generating at least one user input signal. A flow regulator provides a known fluid output flow rate by regulating fluid flow between an input port and an output port of the regulator. A first electronic valve is responsive to electronic signals, wherein a first electronic signal positions the first electronic valve in a flow permissive state, and a second electronic signal positions the first electronic valve in a flow restrictive (i.e. interrupting) state. The first electronic valve has a first valve input in fluid communication with the regulator output and also has a first valve output in fluid communication with a fluid output port. A processing unit is communicable with the user input device and is responsive to the user input signal, and is also in electronic communication with the first electronic valve for transmitting the electronic signals to the first electronic valve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid dispensers and more particularly to an electronically controlled fluid dispenser for delivering preset volumes of a fluid.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The process of food preparation often requires the use of measured quantities of water and other fluids. In many instances, precise measured amounts of water are required to properly prepare food items according to a specific recipe. These quantities are typically measured in cups and fractions of cups. However, when viewing international recipes, the fluid quantities are often measured according to the metric system of measurements, namely liters and fractions of liters. Water and other fluids, by their nature, are typically delivered to a food preparation location in bulk and not in convenient pre-measured volumes.
The method of measuring fluids has not changed over many decades of food preparation. In order to accurately measure these volumes of fluid, and water in particular, a food preparer utilizes a specific container designed for receiving fluids. This container may be a larger container incorporating various graduations marked thereon into which the fluid is poured from a bulk source until the level of fluid in the container reaches the marked graduation corresponding to the desired quantity. This method requires delivery of the bulk supply to be cut off at a precise moment. Otherwise, the measured quantity will be either insufficient, requiring the addition of minimal amounts to reach the desired quantity, or too great, requiring the removal of fluid from the graduated container. This iterative process can be time consuming and frustrating to the food preparer.
Alternatively, an individual container of a specific desired volume can be utilized such that the full volume of the container corresponds to the volume desired for use by the food preparer. In instances where a container of a specific quantity is not available, a combination of specific containers is often utilized to measure the desired fluid quantity. In any event, the need to pour or deliver fluid into a precise measuring vessel often results in accidental overflow of the measuring vessel with a resulting waste of food preparation ingredients and cleanup of any spillage that has occurred.
Thus what is desired is an accurate and convenient method of repetitively dispensing precise measured quantities of fluids to meet the needs of food preparation.


The enclosed embodiments provide a light source unit and a projector with high light utilization efficiency. The unit has a light emitting part for emitting light from a planer emitting region, a reflecting metal electrode provided on one side of the light emitting part, a square pyramid prism on the other side of the light emitting part, and a bottom surface of the prism that has substantially the same size and shape as the planer emitting region. The inclined surfaces of the square pyramid prism output light that has entered the square pyramid prism from the bottom surface in a specific direction. The reflecting metal electrode reflects the light that has been reflected by the inclined surfaces and transmitted through the bottom surface of the square pyramid prism.

1. Field of Invention
Exemplary aspects of the present invention relate to a light source unit and a projector with the light source unit.
2. Description of Related Art
A related art solid-state light emitting source, such as an LED, specifically, a solid-state surface emitting source to emit light from a planer emitting region is used as a light source part. Further, Tsunemasa TAGUCHI, "Technology for Realizing High-brightness, High-efficiency, and Long Lifetime of White LED System", Technical Information Institute Co., Ltd., Mar. 27, 2003, pp. 47–50 discloses enhancing luminous efficiency of the solid-state surface emitting source.


The present disclosure describes improvements in optimization systems. During an optimization loop, an advanced objective function is used to determine an objective value, a specification metric, and a rule coverage metric for a particular solution. The specification metric characterizes compliance of the solution with certain formal specifications. The rule coverage metric characterizes the degree to which all rules (or a particular rule) are tested during testing of the system. The objective value and metrics may influence future operation of the optimization loop.

Neural networks are typically mathematics-intense methods of intelligently solving complex problems. Fuzzy control systems, in contrast, rely on expert knowledge to categorize the values of the inputs and outputs into groups and then apply if-then rules to the combinations of these input and output groups to effectively replace the math in the problem with expert knowledge. This practice discretizes the control solution space into a range of possible linguistic terms and their combinations. There are many optimization techniques which can be utilized to automate the creation of these fuzzy control systems, and if a search heuristic such as a genetic algorithm (GA) is implemented with this fuzzy solution space, reliance on humans to apply expert knowledge to the problem-solving can be reduced or eliminated.
For many optimization techniques, an objective function is required. This function dictates the relative fitness, or quality, of a solution for the algorithm to compare against alternative solutions. Example objective functions include analyzing how accurately predictions fit to data or determining overall performance of a controller through a simulation.
A multitude of GA software implementations exist. Some implementations are the GA implemented in MATHWORKS' Global Optimization Toolbox for the MATLAB programming language (mathworks.com/help/gads/index.html) and Ward Systems Group's GENEHUNTER (wardsystems.com/genehunter.asp). Many non-commercial or proprietary implementations have been written in many different languages, each with its own built-in feature set. GAs can be effective in solving problems that have many local optima, or values that are better than similar solutions, but not quite the optimal, or best over the whole solution space. The types of problems GAs are employed to solve may have relatively simple fitness functions, but even in such cases GAs can have scalability issues when the complexity of each chromosome or organism becomes quite high.
One issue that can contribute to the difficulty of scalability and optimization of GFSs include an inability to influence or verify the effectiveness of GAs during evolution, and so in some cases populations may be produced that are later determined to be undesirable or ineffective in advancing towards an optimized solution. Another issue that can contribute to the production of undesirable populations is reliance upon a poor set of inputs for post-generation verification of the effectiveness of a population. Where input data, referred to as training sets, are incomplete or do not contain sufficiently diverse data the results of verification may be misleading and may result in desirable traits being culled from a population, or undesirable traits being passed on to future generations. As a result, the time needed to arrive at an optimized solution may be increased and the extent of optimization may be limited.

Optimization with behavioral evaluation and rule base coverage


Disclosed herein is a water-based pigment ink comprising a coloring material composed of self-dispersing carbon black obtained by bonding at least one hydrophilic group directly or through another atomic group to the surface of carbon black, a humectant of the general formula EQU H--(CH.sub.2).sub.m --C--((CH.sub.2).sub.n OH).sub.3. wherein m and n are independently an integer of from 1 to 5, and an aqueous medium composed of water and a water-soluble organic solvent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to water-based pigment inks, and particularly to water-based pigment inks containing self-dispersing carbon black as a pigment. The present invention also relates to an ink-jet recording method comprising applying such an ink to conduct recording, and ink-jet instruments using such an ink.
2. Related Background Art
As a black colorant for printing inks, carbon black, which is excellent in fastness properties such as water fastness and light fastness, has heretofore been widely used. In order to use carbon black as a coloring material for a water-based ink, it is however necessary to stably disperse the carbon black in an aqueous medium. Since the carbon black generally has poor dispersibility, a dispersing agent is added to an aqueous medium so as to stably disperse the carbon black therein for the purpose of obtaining a homogeneous dispersion system. However, even the method of using the dispersing agent cannot achieve satisfactory dispersibility. Therefore, any ink in which the carbon black is dispersed has involved a special problem that its long-term storage stability is poor.
When an ink is used in ink-jet recording on the other hand, it is generally necessary to eject the ink in the form of stable droplets through a minute orifice of an ink-jet recording head. Therefore, the ink is required to prevent the occurrence of solidification and the like of the ink due to its drying in the orifice of the ink-jet recording head. When the above-described ink containing the dispersing agent is used in ink-jet recording, however, clogging at an orifice and failure in ejection of ink droplets may occur in some cases because a resin composing the dispersing agent is not redissolved in the ink after adhesion to the orifice and the like. Besides, the water-based pigment ink containing the dispersing agent is viscous and hence has involved a problem that it meets with resistance in the course leading to the orifice when conducting continuous ejection and high-speed printing, so that its ejection becomes unstable, and difficulty is encountered on smooth recording.
In order to solve the above problem on the other hand, there has been developed self-dispersing carbon black capable of stably dispersing without using any dispersing agent by introducing a water-soluble group in the surface of carbon black as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 5-186704 and 8-3498.

Water-based pigment ink, and ink-jet recording method and instruments using the same


A method for pulse width modulated pulse synchronization in a parallel UPS system uses the locally measured critical bus voltage to detect a zero crossing and adjust the PWM pulse to coincide with the zero crossing. No communication between the units is required to perform synchronization, and no “master” and “slave” relationship exists to thereby increase the total system reliability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, and more particularly to two or more UPS systems connected and operated in parallel wherein pulse width modulated (PWM) pulse synchronization between the UPS systems takes place using the locally measured critical bus voltage to detect zero crossing.
2. Background of the Invention
A UPS system is used in applications that require continuity of power, such that when the main power source fails, the UPS system provides power from a reserve energy stored system, typically in the form of a battery. The UPS system monitors the main power source and controls the UPS components to provide continuous power to a critical load.
To provide further continuity of power, multiple UPS units may be paralleled with other UPS units to form a redundant and scalable UPS system with a given multiplicity. This system adds redundancy in that any UPS unit may be disconnected from the critical load for service or automatically by the UPS unit to isolate a faulty unit. The remaining unit(s) still provide power to the critical load. In addition, this system allows flexibility in increasing the total power capacity of the system. Typically, when UPS units are paralleled, some unit-to-unit wiring is added to facilitate the sharing of power and the connection or disconnection of units.
In parallel UPS systems, the PWM pulse switching periods are required to be synchronized to minimize circulating currents. Due to a fundamental limitation of digital control law, a digital load sharing control loop can only affect harmonic components of the output currents from the fundamental frequency up to one-half of the PWM pulse frequency. Even when proper load sharing control at relatively low frequency can be achieved using an appropriate digital load sharing loop, there are instances when high frequency components of the circulating currents exist. These high frequency circulating currents arise as a result of PWM pulses not being synchronized when multiple UPS units are connected in parallel.
In order to minimize these high frequency circulating currents, the PWM pulses must be synchronized in all units of the parallel connected UPS system. Typically, synchronization is accomplished using a "master" controller which sends a synchronization pulse to all other units in the UPS system where the other units act as "slaves." All the "slave" units will then synchronize their PWM pulses to the "master's" PWM pulses. Although this technique is acceptable, this technique requires additional wiring between units to transmit the synchronization pulse, and the existence of "master-slave" relationships results in single point failure which decreases the reliability of the overall system.
A need has thus arisen for a method for PWM pulse synchronization in a parallel UPS system which does not require additional wiring between units and does not rely on a "master-slave" controller relationship.

Method for pulse width modulation synchronization in a parallel UPS system