A printing control server includes a device management section which manages a printer device and a device designating character string unique to the printer so as to be associated, a settings management section which manages a printing condition and a printing conditions designating character string set for each printing condition so as to be associated, a receiving section which receives an email including a domain in a destination address, a settings section which, when a first address where a local section includes the device designating character string and a second address where a local section includes the printing conditions designating character string are included as the destination of the email, sets the printing condition corresponding to the second address with the printer device corresponding to the first address as a printing destination, and a printer communication section which executes printing based on the email using the printing condition.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a printing control server, a printing control method, and a printing system.
2. Related Art
In the prior art, a technique is known where printing target data is transmitted and received using email by assigning an address to a printer. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-115559 discloses a technique where a plurality of addresses are assigned with regard to one printer and printing conditions which are different are associated with the respective addresses which are different to each other. It is possible to execute printing with specific printing conditions in a specific printer if an email where a specific address is set as the destination is transmitted using the technique which is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-115559.
However, when using the technique which is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-115559, there is a problem in that storage capacity which is necessary for managing the addresses increases since an email server manages the addresses which are the number of printers multiplied by the number of printing settings and the email server and the printer communicate for each of the addresses.

Printing control server, printing control method, and printing system for controlling printing using email address


A wireless network includes a plurality of sensors; and a wireless station adapted to communicate with the plurality of sensors, each wireless station having a positioning system to provide 3D coordinates, each wireless station being part of a mesh network and each wireless station automatically determining the 3D coordinates of each sensor based on the mesh network.

This invention relates generally to wireless sensor networks.
Sensor networks are a means of gathering information about the physical world and then, after computations based upon these measurements, potentially influencing the physical world. An example includes sensors embedded in a control system for providing information to a processor. As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,251, the Wireless Integrated Network Sensor (WINS) development was initiated in 1993 under Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program support. The Low-power Wireless Integrated Microsensors (LWIM) program pioneered the development of WINS and provided support for the development of fundamental low power microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and low power electronics technology.
On a parallel note, oil and gas exploration includes the acquisition of formation characteristics by conducting seismic surveys. When seismic surveys are conducted on land, sensors are positioned in a survey area. Well-known techniques such as using vibrator trucks or explosives are employed to generate an acoustic wave. The acoustic wave travels through earth formations and is partially reflected at formation discontinuities. Various sensor types are used to sense the reflected wave as it returns to the surface. The sensor outputs a signal indicative of the wave, and a surface controller is then typically used to record the signal.
Conventional land-based seismic studies implant individual (analog) seismic sensors called geophones into the earth generally along a targeted seismic survey line. Each geophone generally has a case that may be buried or coupled to an earth spike for being driven into the earth by applying an inserting force to the top of the geophone case. Each geophone is generally deployed in a vertical orientation. Geophones having an earth spike are deployed into the earth with the earth spike downwardly disposed. Soil compaction (for buried geophones) or an inserting force (for geophones having an earth spike) are applied by a seismic technician in order to ensure favorable acoustic and seismic coupling of the geophone with the earth.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,944,096, before deploying the geophone into the earth, the seismic technician estimates the desired position (with respect to geophysical requirements) for each geophone. Each geophone is positioned by stepping off a rough distance from an adjacent geophone(s) or by roughly positioning geophone(s) in a pattern about a survey peg or other benchmark placed in or near the center of the geophone group. Each geophone is generally electronically coupled to other geophones or to a seismic data recording units.
In conventional land-based seismic studies, geophones are strung in a predetermined pattern in a geophone array across the terrain of interest. A seismic source, such as an explosive charge, an air gun or vibroseis, is positioned within or adjacent to the geophysical spread defined by the array of geophones. Sound waves emanating from the energized seismic source into the earth are reflected and refracted back to the earth's surface by subsurface geological formations of interest. Sound waves returning to the surface are sensed by the deployed geophones that are electronically coupled to one or more seismic data recording units. Recorded sound waves, or seismic data, is processed and analyzed for use in determining formation content and properties.
As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,991, seismometers or geophones are devices which sense motion by suspending an inertial reference mass structure from a rigid, fixed supporting structure. A geophone is intended to sense motion from a direction which is roughly parallel to the axis of movement of the coil form with respect to the geophone housing. Therefore, it is desirable to eliminate or minimize the effects of any lateral motion of the coil form in response to forces which are not parallel to the axis of movement of the suspended coil form within the geophone. Typically, the mass is a coil form suspended by springs in a magnetic field, one spring being attached at each end of the coil form. The springs position the coil form within the magnetic field so that the coil form is centered laterally and along its axis within the magnetic field. The springs also form a suspension system having a predetermined resonant frequency.
In seismic operations, seismic waves are imparted into the earth's crust at or near the earth's surface, and portions of those seismic waves are reflected or refracted from the boundaries of subsurface layers. Geophones are arranged in arrays or groups on the earth's surface, and when the reflected or refracted waves encounter a geophone, the coil form, which is suspended between the two springs, tends to stand still while the geophone housing and its connected magnetic circuit moves with the earth's surface. The movement of the coil form through a magnetic field causes a voltage to be generated at the output of the geophone. The outputs of the arrays of geophones are recorded in a form which permits analysis. Skilled interpreters can discern from the analysis the shape of subsurface formations, and the likelihood of finding an accumulation of minerals, such as oil and gas. Conventional land-based seismic investigations require a large number of geophones, long lengths of seismic cables, and a crew of trained seismic technicians to position and deploy the geophone array for each stage of the seismic investigation.


Embodiments of the present invention provide an electro-magnetic suppressive structure. The electro-magnetic suppressive structure comprises a cover portion and an integrally formed conductive portion.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electro-magnetic interference (EMI) image plane 110 according to the conventional art is shown. The EMI image plane acts to suppress EMI emission from a source such as a printed circuit assembly (PCA) 120. As depicted in FIG. 1, the EMI image plane 110 comprises a conductive layer orientated in close proximity to the PCA 120. Furthermore, the EMI image plane 110 is electrically isolated from the PCA 120. In one implementation, the EMI image plane 110 is coupled to the PCA 120 by a plurality of insulating spacer hardware 130.
The EMI image plane 110 works by creating an image of local noise currents that are opposite to source noise currents in the PCA. The absence of a ground connection between the EMI image plane 110 and the PCA 120 allows image currents to remain local to their source energy and provide effective cancellation of magnetic flux. Thus, the net noise energy, radiating from a PCA 120 is reduced.
The image plane provides relatively good suppression of EMI energy radiated by the PCA 120 beyond the EMI image plane 110. However, the EMI image plane 110 can acquire a static charge, relative to the PCA 120, because it is electrically isolated from the PCA 120. When the static charge builds up to a sufficient level it typically discharges through the PCA 120 because of its close proximity thereto. Such a discharge regularly causes damage to the electrical components on the PCA 120.
Referring to FIG. 2, an electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shield 210 according to the conventional art is shown. The EMI shield 210 acts to suppress EMI emission from a source, such as a printed circuit assembly (PCA) 220. As depicted in FIG. 2, the EMI shield 210 is orientated in close proximity to the PCA 220 by a plurality of spacer hardware 330, 331. In one implementation, one of the spacers 331 is electrically conductive and is utilized to couple the EMI shield to a ground 225 of the PCA 220. The connection 331 to ground 225 provides a low impedance path.
The EMI shield 210 works by draining the EMI energy radiated by the PCA 220 to ground. Furthermore, the EMI shield 210 does not acquire a static charge because it is grounded to the PCA 220. Thus, damage resulting from electrostatic discharge is reduced. However, the EMI shield 210 provides relatively poor suppression of EMI radiation (with respect to an EMI image plane).
Referring now to FIG. 3 a cover 310 according to the conventional art is shown. As depicted in FIG. 3, the cover 310 is non-conductive and orientated in close proximity to the PCA 320. In one implementation, the cover 310 is coupled to the PCA 320 by a plurality of insulating spacer hardware 330.
The cover 310 may comprise a front-side (component) cover and/or a backside (solder-side) cover. The cover 310 is utilized to prevent mechanical and/or electrical damage to assemblies and/or components due to electrical shorting, electrostatic discharge, improper insertion or extraction, as well as during handling, and regular PCA operation. Furthermore, the use of one or more covers 310 substantially increases the dimensions of the assembly.
Thus, a need exists for an improved method of reducing EMI emission from a source. The method and apparatus should provide protection to adjacent devices from electro-static discharge, shorting, mechanical damage and the like. The method and apparatus should also be relatively inexpensive. The method and apparatus should also be relatively compact. The present invention provides a novel solution to the above needs.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A shoe (1, 30, 6) is disclosed in which there is a provided sensing means (16, 45, 66) for transmitting the force of shoe-support surface impact from the bottom of the lower sole (2, 31, 61) to the upper shell (3, 32, 62) and foot as the foot is moved toward the bottom of the lower sole. Means are provided (17, 50, 65, 67) for varying the amount of force transmitted and length of time that the force is transmitted from the lower sole (2, 31, 61) to the upper shell (3, 32, 62) and foot.

Shoes such as walking, running, tennis, basketball, aerobic and soccer shoes must distribute the force of shoe-support surface impact and fit tightly on the user's foot. The force distribution and tightness of the fit needs to be greatest when the largest forces are being applied between the shoe and the support surface. It has been typical to rely on the sole to distribute the force and to tighten the shoe as much as possible, and physically bearable, to prevent or at least minimize relative movement of the foot in the shoe at times when maximum forces are transmitted between the support surface and the shoe. As a practical matter, the shock absorption is usually inadequate and such a fit is excessively tight during most times and quite frequently is uncomfortable, can lead to numbness and, in extreme cases, can even result in injuries. Thus, a compromise is frequently reached in the design and composition of the sole and by tightening the shoe on the foot more than is necessary for the small forces that are applied and less than is desired to prevent relative movement of the foot in the shoe when large forces are applied. Consequently, the shock absorbtion characteristics and the fit of such shoes is almost always other than what it should be.
Up to now, little or no consideration has been given to the shock absorbtion characteristics and the relative tightness of street and sport shoes, particularly light-weight, highly mobile shoes such as running, tennis, track and field and contact sport shoes. The lightness of such shoes and the lack of an adequate analysis of the interaction between the shoe, the user's foot and the support surface has led to the practice of relying on the elastomer sole to distribute the impact force and simply tightening the shoe to suit the user's taste, feel or preference. In some instances, the shoe might be too loose and not infrequently, slipped significantly relative to the foot in a particularly strenuous maneuver such as a sudden change in direction when turning. In addition, the impact force to the foot has not been adequately distributed.
Upon closer analysis, however, it becomes apparent that there are distinct phases in the use of a shoe, particularly a sport shoe, when forces applied by the foot to the shoe momentarily greatly exceed the normally encountered forces. During heel strike, for example, there are forces generated by both the player's weight which tend to concentrate the impact force in the area of the heel and there is the deceleration of the foot which tends to move the foot in a forward direction relative to the shoe. Such movements may be relatively small, say in the order of no more than a few millimeters but they are present and, typically, they are repeated thousands of times during play. This force distribution and foot slippage can lead to discomfort, skin irritation from rubbing between the foot and the shoe, injury and energy losses, which though small, are highly undesirable, particularly in competitive sports.


Compositions containing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and to the uses thereof as heat transfer fluid, expansion agents, solvents and aerosol. Compositions essentially containing between 10 and 90 wt. % of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, between 5 and 80 wt. % of HFC-134a and between 5 and 10 wt. % of HFC-32. Compositions essentially containing from 10 to 45% by weight of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, from 50 to 80% by weight of HFC-134a and from 5 to 10% by weight of HFC-32.

The problems posed by substances which delete the atmospheric ozone layer (ODP: ozone depletion potential) were addressed in Montreal, where the protocol imposing a reduction in the production and use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) was signed. This protocol has been the subject of amendments which have required that CFCs be withdrawn and have extended regulatory control to other products, including hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
The refrigeration and air-conditioning industry has invested a great deal in the replacement of these refrigerants, and as a result, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have been marketed.
The (hydro)chlorofluorocarbons used as blowing agents or solvents have also been replaced with HFCs.
In the automotive industry, the air-conditioning systems for vehicles sold in many countries have changed from a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC-12) refrigerant to a hydrofluorocarbon (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane: HFC-134a) refrigerant which is less harmful to the ozone layer. However, from the viewpoint of the objectives set by the Kyoto protocol, HFC-134a (GWP=1300) is considered to have a high warming potential. The contribution to the greenhouse effect of a fluid is quantified by a criterion, the GWP (global warming potential) which indexes the warming potential by taking a reference value of 1 for carbon dioxide.
Since carbon dioxide is non-toxic and non-flammable and has a very low GWP, it has been proposed as a refrigerant in air-conditioning systems as a replacement for HFC-134a. However, the use of carbon dioxide has several drawbacks, in particular linked to the very high pressure at which it is used as a refrigerant in the existing apparatuses and technologies.
Document WO 2004/037913 discloses the use of compositions comprising at least one fluoroalkene having three or four carbon atoms, in particular pentafluoropropene and tetrafluoropropene, preferably having a GWP at most of 150, as heat-transfer fluids.
Document WO 2005/105947 teaches the addition to tetrafluoropropene, preferably 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, of a blowing coagent such as difluoromethane, penta-fluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane, difluoroethane, heptafluoropropane, hexafluoropropane, pentafluoropropane, pentafluorobutane, water and carbon dioxide.
Document WO 2006/094303 discloses binary compositions of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) with difluoromethane (HFC-32), and of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene with 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a).
Quaternary mixtures comprising 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene (HFO-1225ye) in combination with difluoromethane, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and HFC-134a were disclosed in this document. However, 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene is toxic.
Quaternary mixtures comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene in combination with iodotrifluoromethane (CF3I), HFC-32 and HFC-134a have also been disclosed in document WO 2006/094303. However, CF3I has a non-zero ODP and poses stability and corrosion problems.
The applicant has now developed 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene compositions which do not have the abovementioned drawbacks and have both a zero ODP and a GWP which is lower than that of the existing heat-transfer fluids such as and HFC-134a.

Ternary compositions for low-capacity refrigeration


Methods and systems thereof for processing Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents are described. In one embodiment, an XML document comprising content in an XML format is parsed. The content is converted into pcodes according to a conversion key; that is, an XML tag is converted into a pcode can be converted back to XML using the conversion key. A pcode file including the parsed XML document, converted into pcode, is thereby generated. The pcode file is smaller than the original XML document and the content is already parsed, so the time needed to process the pcode file is significantly less than the time needed to process an XML document. Memory usage and the time needed to send and receive information are also improved.

The use of Extensible Markup Language (XML) is increasing. As used herein, reference to XML includes variations of XML such as commerce XML (CXML), Rosetta Net XML, electronic publishing XML (EPXML), Ariba XML, and other variations of XML not listed here. Also, reference to XML includes related languages such as Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) and its variations.
XML provides a powerful and flexible tool for data exchange. In addition, XML documents are text-readable and hence user-friendly. This combination of powerful features and relative ease of use is a primary reason for the increase in XML usage.
However, XML documents are relatively verbose in their content, and the trend is toward increased verbosity because that makes XML documents even more readable. Consequently, XML documents are relatively large and can take a relatively long time to process (e.g., parse). Problems with memory usage and processing performance are common and well known among developers that work with XML. Larger documents can also take longer to transmit between nodes (e.g., between computer systems in a network).
Various attempts have been made to address these problems. Prior art solutions include the development of improved hardware including faster processors and server systems, and added memory. Software optimizations, such as parsers that use more efficient languages such as C/C++ instead of Java, have been introduced. In addition, different parsing techniques such as Document Object Model (DOM) and Simple API (Application Program Interface) for XML (SAX) have been developed. Compression techniques are typically used to reduce the size of an XML document.
However, each of these attempted solutions has their shortcomings. Hardware and software improvements can result in better performance relative to preceding generations, but these components still have their limits. For example, for a given processor speed, a larger XML document will still take longer to process. In addition, continual upgrades to hardware and software can be costly. DOM might provide some improvements in processing speed but generally does not provide improvements in memory usage because files in the DOM format are generally about the same size as the original XML document. On the other hand, SAX might provide some improvements in memory usage but generally does not increase processing speed. With SAX, only a portion of the XML document is handled at a time; if information from another portion of the document is needed, the document is re-read until the needed information is found. Compression techniques can reduce the time needed to send and receive XML documents; however, processing time on the sending node is consumed in order to compress the document, and on the receiving node in order to decompress the document.
In summary, prior art attempts to reduce memory usage and speed up processing of XML documents, while exhaustive, have their limitations. Accordingly, what is needed is a method or system that can reduce memory usage and speed up the exchange and processing of XML documents beyond the limitations of current hardware and software. The present invention provides a novel solution to these needs.


Accurate automatic registration and fusion of LADAR (from laser detection and ranging) and EO (electro-optical) data from different sensors provides additional analysis and exploitation value beyond what each data set provides on its own. Such data sets often exhibit significant misregistration due to uncorrelated geometric errors between or among two or more sensors. One or more automatic algorithms achieve superior registration as well as algorithms for fusing the data in three dimensions (3D). The fused data can provide multi-image colorization for change detection, automatic generation of surface relief colorization, interactive and/or automatic filtering of 3D vegetation points for LADAR foliage penetration analysis, automatic surface orientation determination for improved spectroradiometric exploitation, and other benefits that cannot be achieved by the LADAR or EO data alone.

Commercial earth observation satellites, such as Ikonos and Geoeye-1, offer imagery of ground-based targets. These satellites typically offer multispectral (MSI) imaging, which provides images at red, green, blue, and near-infrared wavelengths, and panchromatic (PAN) imaging, which provides black-and-white images formed from wavelengths that span the visible spectrum. This imagery is commonly referred to as electro-optical (EO) imagery.
In many cases, the multispectral images show registration errors with respect to one another and with respect to 3D sources such as LADAR. For instance, shadows that appear on the ground and green leaves from a tree may erroneously spill onto a roof of an adjacent building, or white vent covers on a non-white roof may not be aligned with their proper three-dimensional locations. These are but two specific examples; other registration errors are possible. These registration errors may complicate use of the multispectral images, and can introduce uncertainty in downstream applications that rely on the multispectral images to locate particular objects.
Laser Detection and Ranging (LADAR), typically obtained from aircraft that fly over the ground-based targets, can produce a three-dimensional profile of the targets. LADAR can produce a collection of points that represent the surface or surfaces of the targets, which is often referred to as a point cloud. However, because typical LADAR uses only one eye-safe wavelength, typical LADAR does not return color data from the target. In addition, LADAR 3D data is often misregistered with respect to the MSI images, due largely to uncorrelated geometric support data errors between the two sources. Manual registration of LADAR and 3D data is time consuming, and thus seldom performed accurately.

System and method for automatic registration of 3D data with electro-optical imagery via photogrammetric bundle adjustment


A method for manufacturing an ion implantation mask is disclosed which includes the steps of: forming an oxide film as a protective film over the entire surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming a thin metal film over the oxide film; and forming an ion-inhibiting layer composed of an ion-inhibiting metal over the thin metal film. The obtained ion implantation mask is used to form a deeper selectively electroconductive region.

The silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor has a higher withstand voltage and better heat resistance than does silicon because of its larger band gaps, and is expected to have great potential when applied to power devices.
FIGS. 11 and 12 hereof respectively show in cross-section and top plan part of a junction field-effect transistor 100 as a typical example of a SiC power device. FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a junction field-effect transistor 100 having five sources. FIG. 11 illustrates on an enlarged scale the structure in cross section taken along line B-B of FIG. 12. This junction field-effect transistor 100 is composed of a drain region 101, which is an n-type low-resistance layer; a drift region 102, which is an n-type high-resistance layer; source regions 103, which are n-type low-resistance regions; gate regions 104, which are p-type low-resistance regions formed so as to enclose the source regions; and three types of electrodes, which include a drain electrode 105, source electrodes 106, and a gate electrode 107. In this structure, a high-resistance n− layer 102 is formed by epitaxial growth on a low-resistance n+ SiC substrate (101). The substrate constitutes the drain region 101, which is one of primary electrodes. The source regions 103, which are other primary electrodes, are provided on the surface of the high-resistance n− layer 102. Each of the source electrodes 106 has a long, thin shape, and multiple source electrodes 106 are in alignment separated from each other, as shown in FIG. 12. The gate electrode 107, which is a control electrode, is provided encompassing the source electrodes 106. The electric current flowing between the source electrodes 106 and the drain electrode 105 is turned on and off by a signal applied to the gate electrode 107.
The silicon process often cannot be used without modification in the production of such SiC devices because of differences in the properties of the materials used, and development of new processing techniques is a major issue. An example is a technique for forming a p+ gate region 104 or another selectively electroconductive region in the case shown in FIG. 11. Thermal diffusion, which is commonly used with silicon, cannot be used when a gate region 104 is formed as a selectively electroconductive region. This is because the impurities in SiC used to control the conductivity of the semiconductor have a low diffusion coefficient. In view of this, ion implantation is used exclusively with SiC to form gate regions 104 as selectively electroconductive regions.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of part of a junction field-effect transistor 100 at a manufacturing stage in which the gate region is formed by ion implantation. Elements similar to those shown in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same symbols. In ion implantation, as shown in FIG. 13, a mask 109 having openings 108 is provided in advance in order to prevent impurity ions from being implanted in the SiC in regions other than the gate region 104 to be formed, and the impurity ions are then directed onto the entire surface as shown by the arrows 110, allowing the ions to be implanted only in the required areas. High implantation energy is needed to form deep gate regions, and a special mask must be prepared when it is impossible to use the mask materials and thicknesses commonly employed with conventional silicon. Available literature (Research & Development Association for Future Electron Devices, "2002 Report on the Results Commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Development of Ultralow-loss Power Devices Technology, Element Processing Technology") discloses an example in which a silicon oxide film (SiO2) that has a thickness of 3.2 μm and has been formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used as a mask, and aluminum ions are used to form a gate by ion implantation at a maximum energy of 1.4 MeV. A gate region with a depth of about 2 μm is thereby formed. It has also been confirmed that applying a reverse voltage to the gate electrode in a junction field-effect transistor formed in this manner causes the channels to be blocked and the transistor to be turned off. Specifically, it has been confirmed that normally-on type characteristics are exhibited so that the junction field-effect transistor is turned off when a negative voltage is applied to the gate electrode.
There is high demand for power devices that turn off when an abnormality causes a control signal to the gate to be cut off. An important condition of such power devices is that they have normally-off type characteristics. In the aforementioned publication (Research & Development Association for Future Electron Devices, "2002 Report on the Results Commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Development of Ultralow-loss Power Devices Technology, Element Processing Technology"), a gate depth of about 2 μm was obtained, but the junction field-effect transistor had normally-on type characteristics. In view of this, a need exists for deeper gates to be formed in order to make the transition from normally-on characteristics, in which a negative voltage is applied to the gate to turn the device off, to normally-off characteristics, in which the device can be kept off at a gate voltage of 0 V. In order to form a deeper gate region as a selectively electroconductive region, ions of higher energy must be implanted. However, in cases in which a conventional mask made of SiO2 or the like is used, the implantation of high-energy ions causes problems in that the ions pass through the mask and are implanted in regions other than the openings in the mask. Another problem is that the gate region may be contaminated because the SiC is exposed through the openings in the mask, and the quality of the selectively electroconductive region may be reduced.
Therefore, a need exists for an ion implantation mask that can be used to form deeper selectively electroconductive regions and to yield higher-quality selectively electroconductive regions than in conventional practice; for a manufacturing method thereof; for a silicon carbide semiconductor device that uses this ion implantation mask; and a manufacturing method thereof.

Ion implantation mask and method for manufacturing same, silicon carbide semiconductor device using ion implantation mask, and method for manufacturing same

Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


Provided is a regulator unit that when a pressure is set with respect to a workpiece having a certain weight, can be used for raising/lowering, suspension, or the like of a workpiece having a weight exceeding the weight with the set pressure maintained. The regulator unit is disposed between a drive cylinder and a fluid pressure source and includes a regulator body and a pressure control mechanism connected to the regulator body. The pressure control mechanism includes a cylindrical housing, an end surface cover, and an operation handle fixed to an end of a screw rod protruding from the end surface cover. The end surface cover is fixed to a resin ring fitted to an end of the cylindrical housing and is slidingly rotatable with respect to the end surface of the cylindrical housing integrally with the resin ring in accordance with the amount of turn of the operation handle.

For example, when raising or lowering an air-cylinder lift table having a workpiece placed thereon, as described above, a constant air pressure is supplied to the air cylinder. However, keeping the raise/lower speed of the lift table approximately constant requires supplying air to the air cylinder while always changing the air pressure, and there is a difference between the required air pressure and the supplied constant air pressure. This makes the raise/lower speed of the lift table inconstant, resulting in various inconveniences.
To avoid such inconveniences, a cylinder pressure control unit has been proposed that is able to keep the raise/lower speed of a lift table or the like approximately constant by controlling the pressure of fluid supplied to a cylinder through a regulator (see Japanese Patent No. 4729359).
This cylinder pressure control unit controls the pressure of fluid supplied to the cylinder using the regulator and includes pressure change means disposed between a cylinder rod and the regulator and configured to freely change the pressure set by the regulator in accordance with advance/retreat movement of the cylinder rod. The pressure change means includes a control spring disposed on the regulator and configured to change the pressure set on the cylinder by expanding and contracting and a coupling member including a rack for expanding and contracting the control spring and a spur gear engaged with the rack.
Unfortunately, this cylinder pressure unit includes a large number of parts, has a complicated structure, and is large in size. In particular, an air cylinder on which the initial pressure is to be set protrudes long and therefore a corresponding space is required. Also, an operator has difficulty in raising and lowering a workpiece at a desired raise/lower speed or quickly positioning a workpiece and stopping it in a desired position by continuously operating the cylinder pressure.
To solve these problems, the present applicant previously proposed and put into practical use a regulator unit that has a simple and compact configuration and allows an operator to raise and lower a workpiece at a desired raise/lower speed or quickly position a workpiece and stop it in a desired position by continuously operating the cylinder pressure (Japanese Patent No. 6209535). The proposed regulator unit allows an operator to make the raise/lower speed of a lift table constant, change the speed, or stop a workpiece in any position by changing the pressure set by a regulator body when necessary by turning an operation handle.
However, in the case of this regulator unit, the operator sets a pressure corresponding to the weight (e.g., 10 kg) of a workpiece before use, and the operation handle is regulated by a stopper so as to turn in the set range. In other words, this apparatus allows the operator to control the pressure using the operation handle only in the range regulated by the stopper. For this reason, the operator cannot use this apparatus with respect to a workpiece having a different weight (e.g., 15 kg) with the set pressure maintained.


The use of sensory G protein-coupled receptors that recognize chemical sensants, parti-cularly those involving olfactory and taste receptors; polypeptide fragments and mutants thereof; classes of such receptors; polynucleotides encoding such receptors, fragments and mutants thereof, and representatives of receptor classes; genetic vectors including such polynucleotides; and cells and non-human organisms engineered to express such receptor complexes, fragments and mutants of an olfactory or taste receptor, and representatives of receptor classes to simulate sensory perception of odorants and tastants is described. The use of such products as a biosensor or a component thereof to detect, identify, measure, or otherwise process the event of binding between the receptor and its cognate ligand (i.e., chemical sensant) is also described. The invention has application, for example, in the design and formulation of odorant and tastant compositions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the use of sensory G protein-coupled receptor complexes that recognize chemical sensants, particularly those involving olfactory and taste receptors; polypep-tide fragments and mutants thereof; classes of such receptors; polynucleotides encoding such receptors, fragments and mutants thereof, and representatives of receptor classes; genetic vectors including such polynucleotides; and cells and non-human organisms engineered to express such receptor complexes, fragments and mutants of an olfactory or taste receptor, and representatives of receptor classes to simulate sensory perception of odorants and tastants. The invention also relates to the use of such products as a biosensor or component thereof to detect, to identify, to measure, or otherwise process the event of binding between the receptor and its cognate ligand (i.e., chemical sensant). The invention has application, for example, in the design and formu-lation of odorant and tastant compositions.
2. Description of the Related Art
The olfactory and taste systems provide sensory information about the chemical environment. Olfactory receptors and taste receptors recognize, respectively, "odorants" and "tastants," collectively referred to as "sensants" or "sensory receptor ligands" herein. A "primary" sensant is an odorant or tastant ligand that substantially binds to sensory receptors with a ligand-binding site of a single amino acid sequence. Olfactory and taste receptors belong to the superfamily of seven-transmembrane guanyl nucleotide-binding proteins: such receptors are, however, also recognized as distinct families, or sub-genuses, of olfactory or taste receptors (see Raming Nature 361:353, 1993). These receptors control diverse physiological functions such as media-ting signaling from an external chemical stimulus across the membrane containing the receptor into a cell, endocrine function, exocrine function, heart rate, lipolysis, and carbohydrate metabolism. Thus, the dissection of these diverse functions into component signals is needed.
But the complexities of sensory perception of chemical sensants prevent easy translation of the olfaction and taste systems to a machine sensor. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,675,070; 5,918,257; 5,928,609; and 6,085,576 disclose machine sensors that use various chemistries, but they do not take advantage of the specificity of olfactory and taste receptors for their cognate ligands to produce a biosensor.
WO 00/15269 discloses methods and apparatus for odor reproduction. The total affinities of a specific odorant with a group of receptors was called the affinity fingerprint of the odorant. This odorant fingerprint was represented by a vector of affinity values. It was proposed to repro-duce an arbitrary odor by inputting its sensed odorant fingerprint into a device, which has a palate of predetermined odorants and produces a composite odor using predetermined odorant finger-prints by minimizing the difference between vectors representing the sensed odorant fingerprint and the predetermined odorant fingerprints. This reference, however, does not teach or suggest the human olfactory receptors disclosed herein.
WO 00/70343 discloses biosensors and sense replication systems using G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR). It was proposed to mimic the response of the G-protein signal transduction system by detecting the affinity of a stimulus to a plurality of GPCR, codifying such information into electronic signals, and reproducing the stimulus by converting the codified information into a combination of stimulant entities. But this reference also does not teach or suggest the human olfactory receptors disclosed herein.
WO 01/27158 discloses olfactory receptors and their use to determine the correspondence between individual odorant receptors and particular odors. It was proposed that the interactions between an odor and olfactory receptors can be used to represent the odor and to re-create it. This reference, however, does not teach or suggest the human olfactory receptors disclosed herein.
Dissecting the function of sensory receptors by binding sensory receptors of a clone of cells expressing a single sensory receptor gene, fragmentation of sensory receptors to provide ligand-binding or signal-transducing domains thereof, and construction of fusion sensory recep-tor proteins will separate the diverse physiological functions associated with sensory perception at the level of ligand-receptor binding. Furthermore, novel "primary sensants" that are identified and isolated by the methods described herein may be used to further define the function of the cognate sensory receptor by uniquely enhancing or, in the alternative, blocking stimulation of sensory receptors with a single ligand-binding domain.
The present invention addresses the need for better understanding of these ligand-receptor interactions by using a large set of identified sensory receptors. Even if the receptor set used is incomplete (i.e., a partial set of all sensory receptors encoded in the genome), a large number of sensants will be detected. Moreover, redundancy in the chemical structures recognized by the sensory receptors or combinatorial processing of signals from different sensory receptors would allow broad coverage of chemically diverse sensants (e.g., by selection of a representative class of sensory receptors). Also provided are, inter alia, methods for utilizing such sensory receptors and biosensors to simulate sensory perception. To analyze ligand-receptor interactions and their effects on cell signaling and the processing of those signals in sensory perception, specific sensants and their cognate receptor complexes are detected, identified, and measured under binding conditions. Fragrances and flavorings can be detected, identified, measured, and/or custom designed by the methods herein described. In addition, drugs that incorporate artificial odors and/or tastes can be formulated.

Receptor fingerprinting, sensory perception, and biosensors of chemical sensants


Disclosed are a battery box, a battery cell, a battery, and a method and apparatus for preparing the battery box. The battery box includes a pressure relief region including a first recess arranged at an inner surface of the battery box and a second recess arranged at an outer surface of the battery box, the first recess being arranged opposite to the second recess, wherein a third recess is provided at a bottom wall of the first recess and/or a bottom wall of the second recess, and the pressure relief region is configured to fracture at the third recess, when an internal pressure of the battery box reaches a threshold, to relieve the internal pressure. According to the battery box, the battery cell, the battery, and the method and apparatus for preparing the battery box disclosed in the present application, the pressure relief region is easy to machine.

Lithium-ion battery have the advantages of small size, high energy density, long cycle life, long storage time, etc., and are widely applied in some fields of electronic devices, electric vehicles, electric toys, etc., for example, applied to mobile phones, laptops, electric bicycles, electric vehicles, electric airplanes, electric ships, electric toy cars, electric toy ships, electric toy airplanes, electric tools, etc.
With the continuous development of the lithium-ion battery technology, higher requirements are put forward for the safety performance of lithium-ion batteries. A pressure relief mechanism on a lithium-ion battery has an important influence on the safety performance of the lithium-ion battery. For example, when the lithium-ion battery is short-circuited, overcharged, etc., the thermal runaway may occur inside the lithium-ion battery to cause sudden rise of the internal gas pressure, and at this time, a pressure relief mechanism needs to be actuated to release the internal gas pressure to the outside so as to prevent explosion of the lithium-ion battery. Therefore, the design of the pressure relief mechanism is extremely important.

Battery box, battery cell, battery, and method and apparatus for preparing battery box

CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED


A method and mechanism for generating a snapshot in a computing system. On initiating a snapshot of a first storage, the content of a portion of the first storage that includes at least one block is copying to snapshot storage and a copied indication for each copied block is recording in a copy map. Responsive to any write request to a block for which no copied indication has been recorded in the copy map, the content of the block is copied to the snapshot storage, prior to writing to that block. The content of other blocks for which no copied indication has been recorded in the copy map is successively copied to the snapshot storage. A copied indication for each copied block is recorded in the copy map. The successive copying can be performed as a background task.

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing a live memory snapshot.
There are times when it would be desirable to take a snapshot of the memory image of a running system. A simple dump of memory requires the suspension of all user and normal kernel activity for the entire time it takes to copy the system memory image to backing storage. If the memory is large, which is typically the case in a modern computer system, this can take some time. However, in many computer systems, it is not acceptable to suspend all user and normal kernel activity for any length of time. This is typically the situation in server computers, where the computer should ideally be active at all times, with minimal down-time.
The present invention seeks to provide a mechanism, system and method that can provide a live snapshot of a memory image of a live running computing system.

Method and mechanism for generating a live snapshot in a computing system


An integrated regulator and flow meter assembly having a piston reciprocatingly disposed in an opening of a body member, a support member disposed in the body member opening over the piston, and a flow tube coupled to the support member, wherein an aperture of the support member interconnects a flow conduit of the piston and the flow tube. A spring, preferably a wave spring or disc spring, biases the piston away from an orifice with a valve seat formed thereabout on an end portion of the body member opening. In one embodiment, the piston and a seating surface thereof are formed unitarily of a plastic material.

The invention relates generally to regulators and flowmeters, and more particularly to integrated compressed gas regulators and flowmeters.
Regulators and flowmeters are known generally, for example to regulate the pressure and monitor the flow of gaseous substances supplied from pressurized cylinders and other containers in the welding and medical industries, among other applications.
An object of the present invention is to provide in some embodiments thereof novel regulators and flowmeters that overcome problems in and improve upon the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to provide in some embodiments thereof novel regulators and flowmeters that are economical.
Another object of the invention is to provide in some embodiments thereof novel regulators and flowmeters that are reliable.
Another object of the invention is to provide in some embodiments thereof novel regulators and flowmeters integrated in a common body member.
Another object of the invention is to provide in some embodiments thereof novel integrated pressure regulators and flowmeters having a spring biased piston and flow tube assembly that may be installed into a body member from one end thereof.
A further object of the invention is to provide in some embodiments thereof novel pressure regulators having a piston and a high pressure seat formed as a single or unitary member, for example from a molded plastic material.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide in some embodiments thereof novel integrated regulators and flowmeters that are more compact.
Another object of the invention is to provide in some embodiments thereof novel pressure regulators having a piston biased by a wave spring or by a disc spring.
Another object of the invention is to provide in some embodiments thereof novel integrated pressure regulators and flowmeters having an inner flow tube that is fixed in relation to a moving piston.
It is also an object of the invention to provide in some embodiments thereof novel integrated pressure regulators and flowmeters having a piston with an outlet coupled to a flow tube by an intermediate support member.
A more particular object of the invention is to provide novel integrated regulator and flow meter assemblies comprising a piston reciprocatingly disposed in an opening of a body member, a flow tube support member disposed in the body member opening over the piston, and a flow tube coupled to the flow tube support member, wherein an aperture of the flow tube support member interconnects a flow conduit of the piston and the flow tube.
Another more particular object of the invention is to provide novel gas pressure regulators comprising a body member having an opening with a side wall and an end portion, a valve seat disposed about a high pressure flow orifice in the opening end portion, a piston reciprocatingly disposed in the body member opening, the piston having a seating surface on an end portion thereof adjacent the valve seat of the opening, the piston and seating surface thereof constitute a unitary plastic member.
Yet another more particular object of the invention is to provide novel integrated compressed gas regulator and flow meter assemblies comprising a body member having an opening, an orifice with a valve seat disposed thereabout on an end portion of the body member opening, a piston having a flow conduit reciprocatingly disposed in the body member opening, the piston having a seating surface on an end portion thereof adjacent the valve seat, a wave spring or a disc spring disposed between a portion of the piston and the end portion of the body member opening, and a flow meter coupled to the body member over the opening thereof, an input of the flow meter coupled to the piston flow conduit.
These and other objects, aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent upon careful consideration of the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the accompanying Drawings, which may be disproportionate for ease of understanding, wherein like structure and steps are referenced generally by corresponding numerals and indicators.


An aircraft cabin door system has a cabin door having an outer side and an inner side, a drive device coupled to the cabin door for moving the cabin door into an open position, a first actuation device, a second actuation device, and an emergency chute unit coupled to the cabin door and having an emergency chute and an actuation mechanism. The emergency chute unit can be moved into an active state, in which opening the cabin door leads to activation of the emergency chute, and an inactive state, in which opening the cabin door does not lead to activation of the emergency chute. The emergency chute unit is in the inactive state when the cabin door is opened after actuation of the first actuation device. The emergency chute unit is in the active state when the cabin door is opened after actuation of the second actuation device.

As a result of safety provisions, passenger aircraft have inflatable emergency chutes which are inflated in the event of an emergency when a cabin door is opened and which then extend from the corresponding door as far as the ground. At a lower side of a cabin door or under a door region, there may be provided therefor a compartment, in which the compacted emergency chute is stored. It is usually secured by a belt bar which can be coupled to the door by means of a mechanism.
An emergency chute system can be brought into an activated state and a deactivated state. In the activated state, the emergency chute is automatically blown up when the associated door is opened, whereas in a deactivated state it remains in the storage compartment. The change-over from a deactivated state into an activated state can be carried out by moving a corresponding operating lever at the inner side of the door. When the door is opened from the outer side, the emergency chute system is automatically brought into the deactivated state.
There are known cases in which the emergency chute has been triggered because it has been forgotten to move the operating lever. Damage may thereby be caused to the periphery of the aircraft. There are known different devices with which the attention of the user can be drawn to the corresponding lever in order to prevent inadvertent triggering of the emergency chute.
WO 2009124859 A1 discloses a system for preventing inadvertent activation of an emergency chute and comprises a sensor for detecting the proximity of a person in front of an aircraft door and an optical warning means which provides an optical display near an operating lever if the sensor detects the proximity of a person in front of the aircraft door.
EP 1 719 084 B1 discloses an alarm system for an aircraft door comprising a sensor for detecting whether a door handle is in the process of being gripped, by detecting a pressure on the handle or by detecting light, heat, moisture or chemical parameters which react to contact with a property of an operator's hand. An acoustic alarm is coupled to the sensor.

Cabin door system for an aircraft and an aircraft having at least one such cabin door system


A method of fabricating a semiconductor optical device is disclosed. This semiconductor optical device includes first and second optical semiconductor elements. This method comprises the steps of: growing, in a metal-organic vapor phase deposition reactor, plural semiconductor layers for the first semiconductor optical element on a primary surface of a substrate which has first and second areas for the first semiconductor optical element and the second optical semiconductor element, respectively; forming an insulating mask on the plural semiconductor layers and the first area; etching the plural semiconductor layers by use of the insulating mask to form a semiconductor portion having an end face; growing a layer of a first semiconductor on the second area and deposit of the first semiconductor on the end face in the reactor by use of the insulating mask; supplying etchant for etching the first semiconductor to remove at least a part of the deposit of the first semiconductor on the end face by use of the insulating mask; and after removing the deposit of the first semiconductor, growing a layer of a second semiconductor for the second optical element on the second area in the reactor by use of the insulating mask.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the method of fabricating a semiconductor optical device.
2. Related Background Art
Non-Patent Publication (K. Hinzer et al., Technical Digest of Optical Fiber Communication, 2003, FG7, p. 684-685) discloses a buried semiconductor laser. In the fabrication of this semiconductor laser, after forming a mesa-stripe SiO2 mask on a semiconductor stack of a substrate, this substrate is loaded into a metal-organic vapor phase deposition (MOVPE) reactor. In order to perform mesa-etching, methyl-iodide as an etchant is supplied to this reactor and PH3 gas is also supplied to the reactor. After this etching, the mesa stripe is buried by selective regrowth in the same reactor to form a pn block layer.

Method of fabricating a semiconductor optical device


An object of the present invention is to provide a photocurable sheet-type adhesive composition for optical use, which is used for bonding cover glass and a touch panel, a touch panel and a display module, or the like, and has high appearance reliability and storage stability even under high temperature and high humidity.

In an image display device such as a liquid crystal display and an organic EL display of the related art has a space provided between a display module and a cover panel, and an air layer between the cover panel and the display module scatters light due to a difference in refractive index, and thus decreases illuminance and contrast. Therefore, measures have been taken against these problems by filling the space between the cover panel and the display module with an ultraviolet curable resin in the form of liquid. Further, for the same reasons, the ultraviolet curable resin is also used between cover glass and a touch panel and between the touch panel and the display module.
Patent Literature 1 below discloses a liquid ultraviolet curable composition, which contains a polyurethane acrylate, an isobornyl acrylate, and a photopolymerization initiator. However, a method of bonding with such a liquid ultraviolet curable resin has failed to avoid problems of bubbles entrained at the time of attachment and of the resin protruded from an end.
In a method of bonding a cover panel and a display module, a photocurable sheet-shape adhesive has been examined as one in which bubble entrainment or protrusion does not occur. Patent Literature 2 discloses, as a photocurable sheet-shape adhesive, a photocurable adhesive composition which contains a urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer having a specific molecular weight, a phenoxy resin, and a photopolymerization initiator. However, since a display module has used for a wide variety of devices, and the usage environments thereof have also gradually been harsh, when a device having a cover panel and a display module sealed with the composition disclosed in Patent Literature 2 is used under various conditions, it has been found that white turbidity occurs in an adhesive layer and transparency is impaired in the condition under high temperature and high humidity.

Photocurable sheet-type adhesive composition for optical use

Abstract: The present invention is a photocurable sheet-shape adhesive for optical use, which contains the following components (A) to (D): (A) 100 parts by mass of a urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer having a weight average molecular weight of 20,000 to 100,000; (B) 3 to 70 parts by mass of a phenoxy resin having a glass transition temperature of 50 to 120° C.; (C) 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of a photopolymerization initiator; and (D) 1 to 50 parts by mass of a (meth)acrylate monomer which has 8 to 30 repeated blocks having an ether linkage in the molecule and containing at least one (meth)acryloyl group in the molecule.


The present disclosure is broadly concerned with petrolatum-based compositions as a suspension matrix for the active ingredients. The disclosure is also concerned with processes for forming stable emulsions of active ingredients in petrolatum.

Petrolatum is a semi-solid mixture of long chain (greater than C=20) hydrocarbons. Petrolatum is a known skin protectant and has been widely used in cosmetic and dermatological applications. Although petrolatum is known to have advantageous protective properties when applied to the skin, its hydrophobic nature had previously made it a poor candidate for formulating active ingredients. It was previously thought that an emulsifier would be necessary to disperse active ingredients throughout petrolatum. It was also thought that the petrolatum was incapable of delivering active ingredients because the active ingredients would be trapped within the petrolatum and therefore would be unable to reach the desired delivery site.
The Applicant has discovered that active ingredients can be formulated in petrolatum. The petrolatum-based compositions described herein contain nanodroplets of active ingredients dispersed in petrolatum. The nanodroplets release the active ingredients to the application site continuously. Additionally, the petrolatum-based compositions described herein are gentle. They do not irritate the skin and are not cytotoxic to mammalian cells. The Applicant has further discovered processes leading to a stable delivery system for a variety of ingredients.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Petrolatum-based delivery systems and for active ingredients


Disclosed are targeted sub-50 nanometer nanoparticles suitable for delivering bioactive agents of interest, and related compositions, methods, and systems, which improve the manufacturing, stability, efficacy and other aspects of therapeutic nanoparticles.

Effective delivery of agents of interest to cells, tissues, organs, and organisms has been a challenge in biomedicine, imaging, and other fields where delivery of molecules of various sizes and dimensions to a predetermined target is desirable. Whether for pathological examination, therapeutic treatment, or fundamental biology studies, several methods are known and used for delivering various classes of biomaterials and biomolecules, which are typically associated with a biological and/or chemical activity of interest. As the number of molecules suitable to be used as chemical or biological agents (e.g., drugs, biologics, therapeutic or imaging agents) increases, development of a delivery system suitable for use with compounds of varied complexity, dimensions, and chemical nature has proven to be particularly challenging.
Nanoparticles are structures useful as carriers for delivering agents with various methods of delivery. Several nanoparticle delivery systems exist, which utilize an array of different strategies to package, transport, and deliver an agent to specific targets. However, a need exists for nanoparticle therapeutics (and methods of making such nanoparticles) that are capable of delivering therapeutic levels of drug to cellular and molecular targets to improve treatment of diseases.
Polynucleotides have important therapeutic applications in medicine. Polynucleotides can be used to modulate (increase or decrease) the expression of genes that are responsible for a particular disease. Gene silencing technology employs polynucleotides that hybridize to a target nucleic acid and modulate gene expression activities or function, such as transcription or translation. Importantly, gene-silencing agents are a promising alternative to traditional small organic compounds that inhibit the function of a protein linked to a disease. RNAseH, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) are examples of gene silencing compounds and mechanisms that prevent the formation of proteins by gene silencing.
A need persists for delivery systems and therapeutic agents that are capable of specifically modulating gene expression to improve treatment of diseases.

Therapeutic nanoparticles and related compositions, methods and systems


An electrical connector (1) is to be attached to a circuit board (34) to establish a connection between the board (34) and a coaxial cable. The connector (1) has an outer connector portion (38) formed in a housing (36), and a central conductor element (8) having two limbs (18, 22) joined by an elbow. An insulator assembly comprising a pair of insulating members (2, 4) encloses the central conductor element (8) in the region of the elbow. One limb (18) of the central conductor (8) is located by the assembly in coaxial relationship with the outer connector portion (38) of the housing (36) for engagement with an inner conductor of the cable. The other limb (22) is presented for attachment to the circuit board (34).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, for connecting a cable to a circuit board.
2. Description of Related Art
A cable such as a RF coaxial cable forming an antenna lead, for example, may be connected to a circuit board either through direct soldered connections to the inner and outer conductors or, where a non-permanent connection is desired, via a terminating connector on the cable which is insertable into a suitable receptacle connector soldered to the board. The former type of connection suffers from the disadvantage that the connection is permanent and is difficult to repair particularly where the connection is made to a larger assembly, whereas the latter type presents difficulties in achieving reliable connections, particularly where good grounding is required. In either case the assembly of a component incorporating either type of connection is time consuming, difficult and consequently expensive to perform.


A method for promoting keratinization of the hair, nails, and skin on the body of an animal or human in which a therapeutic amount of a benzimidazole sufficient to cause keratinization is administered either systemically or directly to the site on the body at which keratinization is desired. The method is useful for the treatment of a wide variety of hair loss disorders in humans such as alopecia, is useful for the treatment of hair loss disorders in animals, is useful for enhancing the strength and length of fingernails and toenails in humans, and is useful for enhancing the strength and length of claws, horns, hooves and antlers in animals. The method is also useful for the topical treatment of fungal infections, for skin replacement or grafting, and for wound healing.

For centuries, humans have been preoccupied with the length, thickness, color, and quantity of hair. Hair thinning, receding hairlines, and hair loss can detrimentally affect appearance and self-image and can even result in significant emotional consequences.
Hair is a cylinder of keratinized cells protruding from a hair follicle that anchors the hair in the skin. All hair follicles in mammals have the same basic structure. Hair follicles in an adult human are generally arranged in groups of three. No new follicles are created or destroyed after birth, however, the type of hair produced by a given follicle can change. Most of the hairs on the scalp are terminal hairs, which are the coarse, pigmented, long hairs in which the bulb of the hair follicle is seated deep in the dermis. The short, fine hairs found on the scalp and elsewhere on the body are vellus hairs. Vellus hairs are non-pigmented and unmedullated, having the hair bulb located superficially in the dermis.
In humans, each hair follicle goes through repeated cyclical periods of growth including an active growth stage (anagen), which can persist for approximately 2 to 6 years; a transition phase (catagen), which lasts for only a week or two; and a resting period (telogen), which lasts 3 to 4 months. The hair is shed at the end of the telogen phase, and a new hair is grown as the cycle repeats. In the human scalp, which contains approximately 100,000 hair follicles, normally about 86% are in anagen, 1% are in catagen and 13% are in telogen. Therefore, in a normal human adult, approximately 100 hairs are shed from the scalp per day.
Excessive hair loss, or alopecia, may be classified as being one of two types, non-scarring alopecia and scarring alopecia, and can be caused by a wide variety of factors. For example, non-scarring alopecia has been attributed to genetics and advanced age; administration of drugs such as anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and contraceptives; topical use of chemical treatments, such as hair dyes, permanent wave solutions, and straighteners; diseases, such as leprosy or syphilis; illness; allergy; and hair follicle infection. Scarring alopecia may be a consequence of burns (accidental or post surgical from cryosurgery or laser surgery) or trauma, which often causes follicle destruction. Therefore, humans and other animals exhibiting scarring alopecia may lack hair follicles in the region devoid of hair, whereas those with non-scarring alopecia possess hair follicles with short, fine, translucent hairs.
The most common type of human hair loss is androgenic alopecia (also known as androgenetic alopecia), which is a non-scarring hair loss of telogen hairs caused by an excessive androgen effect in genetically susceptible men and women. Androgens trigger the miniaturization or atrophy of terminal follicles that normally produce thick scalp hair and transforms them into vellus-like follicles, eventually yielding fine, downy hair that is barely perceptible. Androgenic alopecia is expressed in males as baldness of the vertex of the scalp and is commonly referred to as male pattern baldness. In females, androgenic alopecia appears as diffuse hair loss or thinning of the frontoparietal areas. As alopecia progresses with age, hairs in these predisposed areas miniaturize and appear to change from terminal hairs to resemble vellus hairs. In addition, as androgenic alopecia continues, the number of hairs in the active growth anagen phase decreases while there is an increase the number of hairs in the telogen phase.
Telogen effluvium is a type of non-scarring alopecia in which the anagen hairs prematurely move into the telogen phase. One most easily recognizable cause of telogen effluvium is the postpartum state in humans and other mammals. In the postpartum period, an increased number of hairs go into telogen due to the physical stress or hormonal changes associated with delivery. Three to four months later, there is considerable, but usually temporary hairloss. The hair usually returns to its normal state in six to twelve months. Other causes of telogen effluvium in humans and other mammals include physical stress and systemic illness, psychological stress caused by major life events such as a family death or divorce, medical nutritional deficiencies (kwashiorkor), or absolute calorie deprivation (marasmus, crash diets), vitamin and trace element deficiencies (zinc, biotin, essential fatty acids, and iron), and endocrine abnormalities (hypothyroidism, hyperadrenalcorticalism, hyperprolactinemia and adrenogenital syndrome).
Numerous remedies for hair loss have been attempted ranging from wigs, toupees, and other hairpieces to the oral or topical administration of hair growth solutions. No known cure has been discovered, even though many attempts have been made. Hair transplantation is one method of treatment that has shown some success. Single hairs or plugs of thick, growing hair are transplanted from one region of the scalp to the site of hair loss. This method is very expensive, time consuming and painful. Other hair growth stimulation methods, including ultra-violet radiation, scalp massage, revascularization surgery and acupuncture, have been tried with minimal or a total lack of success. The pharmaceutical drug minoxidil (2%, known commercially as Rogaine.RTM., Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, Mich.), originally discovered as a vasodilator for the treatment of severe hypertension, has been found to be somewhat useful as a hair growth stimulant in humans with androgenic alopecia. However, the drug has exhibited adverse effects. When taken orally, minoxidil has serious cardiovascular side effects such as fluid retention, tachycardia, and increased frequency of angina or new onset of angina, especially in persons with poor coronary circulation. Fluid retention can lead to weight gain, edema, heart failure and pleural or pericardial effusion. Although topical administration of minoxidil has fewer side effects, at least four months of continuous topical applications twice daily are required before partial reversal of follicular miniaturization may be observed, resulting in larger, more pigmented hairs and less hair shedding, giving the appearance of hair growth.
Hair or fur loss is also prevalent in wild and domesticated animals, especially mammals. Although animals are not psychologically impacted by their loss of fur or coat, their owners often are. In addition, fur loss in animals whose fur is sheared or otherwise used commercially may cause fur producers to suffer economically. Animal fur or hair loss has been attributed to many factors including disease, diet, metabolic disorders, insect bites, follicle infection, allergies, and hot spots or other hair or fur erosions caused by excessive biting, chewing and scratching. Currently, the only way to combat hair loss in animals is to attempt to remove the underlying disorder or restrain the animal to prevent access to the hair loss site. Oftentimes the disorder is successfully treated, but the fur is not completely restored.
Fingernails and toenails in humans and primates and their corresponding claws, hooves, horns and antlers in animals are composed of differently keratinizing cells. Human nails have lost most of their functional significance but remain important for cosmetic reasons. Animals use their claws, hooves, horns and antlers as weapons, tools and outward signs of dominance. Nail disorders range from premature breakage or roughness of the portion of the nail extending from the tip of the digit to total loss or destruction of the nail plate. For example, nail breakage caused by the splitting and resultant flaking of nails into layers horizontal to the longitudinal nail plate surface, referred to as onychoschizia, is caused by abnormal keratinization.
Nail disorders can also be caused by advanced age; infection from bacteria, fungi, yeast or mites (scabies); trauma; congenital or hereditary defects; hyperplasias such as warts, lesions, cysts and tumors; constant wetting of the hand or foot; psoriasis; disease states such as Darier's disease, Lichen planus, Alopecia areata, and twenty-nail dystrophy; contact irritation or allergy to chemicals such as those contained in nail polish, hardeners or adhesives; metabolic disorders, such as thyroid dysfunction; circulatory disorders; arthritis; Periungual telangiectasia, commonly observed in dermatomyositis patients and lupus erythematosus patients; and pharmaceutical or illicit drug use.
Skin is the ultimate barrier against infection. Patients suffering from burns or other trauma to the skin are at extreme risk for disease caused by microorganisms. Skin grafting procedures have been used in some circumstances, however, limited success has been achieved due to graft rejection or insufficient skin growth to cover the injured area. A method for promoting in vitro autologous, epidermal cell propagation or enhancing in vivo skin growth or wound healing would be extremely useful for replacing the skin barrier prior to the onset of life-threatening infection.
The disadvantages of the hair loss, nail claw, hoof, horn and antler disorders, and skin replacement treatments currently available are that they can be expensive, may cause adverse side-effects, and are not always effective for all patients. Therefore, there is an on-going need for development of new methods for treating hair or fur loss, nail, claw, hoof, horn or antler disorders, and skin replacement or wound healing in humans and animals.

Method for promoting hair, nail, and skin keratinization


Image processing system for generating control signals for printing means, from source image data from an image source, comprising a raster image processing and layout module configured to convert said source image data into a first lane bitmap element and a second lane bitmap element; a streaming processor arranged to receive said first lane bitmap element and said second lane bitmap element, and position signals comprising position data for said first and/or said second lane image in the printed image; said streaming processor being configured to generate control signals for the printing means based on said first lane bitmap element, said second lane bitmap element, and said position signals in order to be able to adjust the position of said first lane image and/or the position of the second lane image in the printed image.

In prior art image processing systems, when generating a ready-to-print file or bitmap from source image data from an image source, typically the ready-to-print file is generated for the full width of the printing apparatus. Such a ready-to-print file is sent to a streaming processor in order to generate control signals for the printing means based on the ready-to-print file. When printing small images such as labels or prints for small packages, it is known to group those small images into a single image file, e.g. a PDF file, whereupon this single image file is raster-image processed in order to obtain a ready-to-print file for a streaming processor. Typically such small images have to be cut out from the printed substrate. A problem with the known printing processors is that the substrate material may shrink or stretch during fusing. This results in small images no longer being aligned properly for the finishing operation following the printing operation. The finishing operation may involve e.g. a cut-out, a slitting, a folding, a scoring, a marking, or any combination thereof.
An object of embodiments of the invention is to provide an image processing system and method allowing avoiding alignment problems between finishing means and images present on a printed substrate.

Image processing system and method generating lane bitmap elements and receiving position data to adjust position of lane images in the printed image


Automating the forewarning of risks incurred when working on an aircraft, and a forewarning system. The system comprises an identification module configured to identify a set of risky zones in the aircraft and its environment during current work on the aircraft by a set of operatives, a location module configured to locate a position of each operative during the current work, and an alert module configured to generate an alert when an operative is situated in a risky zone.

The present invention pertains to the field of aircraft maintenance operations. In particular, the invention relates to a method and a system for forewarning of risks incurred when working on an aircraft.
The execution of maintenance tasks comprises risks which are customarily identified in maintenance manuals by "warnings" and/or "cautions."
Indeed, during maintenance actions, certain zones on board or around the aircraft may present risks for the workers or in certain cases, risks of damage to the aircraft and/or the surrounding maintenance means. Moreover, in order to reduce the cost and duration of work on the aircraft, several maintenance and service tasks (cargo loading, refueling, pilots' check list, etc.) may be carried out in parallel thereby increasing the number of workers and the number of concurrent actions, thus introducing a risk aggravating factor.
Currently, in order to guard against risks of this kind, maintenance and service operations rely on information and protection devices implemented by technical teams applying guidelines defined by maintenance and service organizations. These devices are mainly passive forewarning tools comprising for example signaling devices (cordon tapes or panels) and/or flashing or rotary electric lights.
However, the installation of these information and protection devices requires a non-negligible time and optionally more operatives. Furthermore, these devices are addressed in a global manner at all the workers without taking account of the specifics of each.

Forewarning of risks when working on an aircraft


A composition comprising particulate carbonaceous material and a sulfonated conducting polymer containing hetero atoms. The composition can further comprise a metal. Devices comprising the composition can be constructed including supported electrocatalysts, membrane electrode assemblies, and fuel cells. A method for preparing the composition comprises oxidatively polymerizing a monomer of a conducting polymer containing hetero atoms in the presence of a carbonaceous material and sulfonating the polymer or the monomer. The method grafts the sulfonated conducting polymer to the carbonaceous material. The method can further comprise metallizing the polymer-grafted carbonaceous material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to particulate conductive carbons. The invention also relates to supported catalysts for fuel cells and proton exchange membranes.
2. Background
A fuel cell (FC) is a device that converts energy of a chemical reaction into electrical energy (electrochemical device) without combustion. A fuel cell (see e.g., FIG. 1) generally comprises an anode 20, cathode 50, electrolyte 10, backing layers 30, 60, and flow fields/current collectors 40, 70. There are five types of fuel cells, as defined by their electrolytes:
TypeElectrolyteTemperatureCommentsPhosphoricLiquid phosphoric acid175-200° C.Stationary power,acid (PAFC)soaked in a matrixcommerciallyavailableMoltenLiquid solution of lithium,600-1200° C.Molten carbonatecarbonatesodium and/or potassiumsalts, high efficiency(MCFC)carbonates, soaked in amatrixSolid oxideSolid zirconium oxide to600-1800° C.Ceramic, high power,(SOFC)which a small amount ofindustrial applicationsytrria is addedAlkaline (AFC)Aqueous solution of 90-100° C.Potassium hydroxidepotassium hydroxide soakedelectrolyte, NASA,in a matrixvery expensive**ProtonSolid organic polymer 60-100° C.Ionomer membrane,exchangepolyperfluorosulfonic acidhigh power density,membranecan vary output(PEM)quickly, portable/autoapplicationsDirect 60-100° C.PEM that usesMethanolmethanol for fuel(DMFC)**Currently of most interest
The current description deals with proton exchange membrane (a.k.a. polymer electrolyte membrane) (PEM) fuel cells (a.k.a. solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) fuel cell, polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and solid polymer membrane (SPM) fuel cell). A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) comprises a proton conductive polymer membrane electrolyte 10 sandwiched between electrocatalysts (a cathode 50 and an anode 20) (see, e.g., FIG. 1).
The oxidation and reduction reactions occurring within the fuel cell are:
This electrochemical process is a non-combustion process which does not generate airborne pollutants. Therefore, fuel cells are a clean, low emission, highly efficient source of energy. Fuel cells can have 2-3 times greater efficiency than internal combustion engines and can use abundant and/or renewable fuels. Fuel cells produce electricity, water, and heat using fuel 90 and oxygen 80. Water (liquid and vapor) is the only emission when hydrogen is the fuel.
Since the voltage of a typical fuel cell is small, they are usually stacked in series.
The two half-reactions normally occur very slowly at the low operating temperature of the fuel cell, thus catalysts 56 are used on one or both the anode 20 and cathode 50 to increase the rates of each half reaction. Platinum (Pt) has been the most effective noble metal catalyst 56 to date because it is able to generate high enough rates of O2 reduction at the relatively low temperatures of the PEM fuel cells. Kinetic performance of PEM fuel cells is limited primarily by the slow rate of the O2 reduction half reaction (cathode reaction) which is more than 100 times slower than the H2 oxidation half reaction (anode reaction). The O2 reduction half reaction is also limited by mass transfer issues.
As fuel 90, such as hydrogen, flows into a fuel cell on the anode side, a catalyst 56 facilitates the separation of the hydrogen gas fuel into electrons and protons (hydrogen ions). The hydrogen ions pass through the membrane 10 (center of fuel cell) and, again with the help of the catalyst 56, combine with an oxidant 80, such as oxygen, and electrons on the cathode side, producing water. The electrons, which cannot pass through the membrane 10, flow from the anode 20 to the cathode 50 through an external circuit containing a motor or other electrical load, which consumes the power generated by the cell.
A catalyst 56 is used to induce the desired electrochemical reactions at the electrodes 20, 50. The catalyst 56 is often incorporated at the electrode/electrolyte interface by coating a slurry of the electrocatalyst particles 56 to the electrolyte 10 surface. When hydrogen or methanol fuel feed 90 through the anode catalyst/electrolyte interface, electrochemical reaction occurs, generating protons and electrons. The electrically conductive anode 20 is connected to an external circuit, which carries electrons by producing electric current. The polymer electrolyte 10 is typically a proton conductor, and protons generated at the anode catalyst migrate through the electrolyte 10 to the cathode 50. At the cathode catalyst interface, the protons combine with electrons and oxygen to give water.
The catalyst 56 is typically a particulate metal such as platinum and is dispersed on a high surface area electronically conductive support 52.
The electronically conductive support material 52 in the PEMFC typically consists of carbon particles. Carbon has an electrical conductivity (10−1-10−2 S/cm) which helps facilitate the passage of electrons from the catalyst 56 to the external circuit. Proton conductive materials 54, such as Nafion®, are often added to facilitate transfer of the protons from the catalyst 56 to the membrane interface.
To promote the formation and transfer of the protons and the electrons and to prevent drying out of the membrane 10, the fuel cells are operated under humidified conditions. To generate these conditions, hydrogen fuel 90 and oxygen 80 gases are humidified prior to entry into the fuel cell. In a supported electrocatalyst (52+56), carbon is relatively hydrophobic, and as such, the boundary contact between the reactive gases, water and the surface of the solid electrodes made of carbon contributes to high electrical contact resistance and ohmic power loss in the fuel cell resulting in lower efficiency of the fuel cell.
In the present invention, the sulfonated hetero atom-containing conductive polymer-grafted carbon material shows hydrophilic character and thereby enhances the humidification process. Also, the higher electronic and protonic conductivity of these sulfonated polymers facilitates the electron and proton transfer process.
An ordinary electrolyte is a substance that dissociates into positively charged and negatively charged ions in the presence of water, thereby making the water solution electrically conducting. The electrolyte in a PEM fuel cell is a polymer membrane 10. Typically, the membrane material (e.g., Nafion®) varies in thickness from 50-175 μm. Polymer electrolyte membranes 10 are somewhat unusual electrolytes in that, in the presence of water, which the membrane 10 readily absorbs, the negative ions are readily held within their structure. Only the protons contained within the membrane 10 are mobile and free to carry positive charge through the membrane 10. Without this movement within the cell, the circuit remains open and no current would flow.
Polymer electrolyte membranes 10 can be relatively strong, stable substances. These membranes 10 can also be effective gas separators. Although ionic conductors, PEM do not conduct electrons. The organic nature of the structure makes it an electronic insulator. Since the electrons cannot move through the membrane 10, the electrons produced at one side of the cell must travel through an external circuit to the other side of the cell to complete the circuit. It is during this external route that the electrons provide electrical power.
A polymer electrolyte membrane 10 can be a solid, organic polymer, usually poly(perfluorosulfonic) acid. A typical membrane material, Nafion ® consists of three regions:                (1) the Teflon®-like, fluorocarbon backbone, hundreds of repeating —CF2—CF—CF2— units in length,        (2) the side chains, —O—CF2—CF—O—CF2—CF2—, which connect the molecular backbone to the third region, and        (3) the ion clusters consisting of sulfonic acid ions, SO3−, H+.The negative ions, SO3−, are permanently attached to the side chain and cannot move. However, when the membrane 10 becomes hydrated by absorbing water, the hydrogen ions become mobile. Ion movement occurs by protons, bonded to water molecules, migrating from SO3− site to SO3− site within the membrane. Because of this mechanism, the solid hydrated electrolyte is a good conductor of hydrogen ions.
The catalyst support 52 serves to conduct electrons and protons and to anchor the catalyst 56 (e.g., noble metal). Many efforts have been aimed at lowering the costs of fuel cells by lowering noble metal (e.g., platinum) catalyst 56 levels due to noble metal's cost. One way to lower this cost is to construct the catalyst support layer 52 with the highest possible surface area.
The electrodes 20, 50 of a fuel cell typically consist of carbon 52 onto which very small metal particles 56 are dispersed. The electrode is somewhat porous so that gases can diffuse through each electrode to reach the catalyst 56. Both metal 56 and carbon 52 conduct electrons well, so electrons are able to move freely through the electrode. The small size of the metal particles 56, about 2 nm in diameter for noble metal, results in a large total surface area of metal 56 that is accessible to gas molecules. The total surface area is very large even when the total mass of metal 56 is small. This high dispersion of the catalyst 56 is one factor to generating adequate electron flow (current) in a fuel cell.
Conducting polymers are a class of conjugated double bond polymers whose electrical conductivities are comparable to the conductivities of semiconductors to metals, in the range of 0.1 to 100 S/cm. Typical examples of conducting polymers include polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyfuran, polyacetylene, and polyphenylene. Both polyaniline and polypyrrole (without carbon) as catalyst support 52 materials have shown improved fuel cell efficiency (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,292 and WO 01/15253). However, the long-term stability of these materials has not been demonstrated in electrode environments in cyclic operations.
Conducting polymers alone used as catalyst support 52 material have higher costs, lower surface area, and lower stability compared to those supports 52 based on carbon.
An example of a current commercial carbon-supported catalyst for fuel cells is the HiSPEC™ series of products (Johnson Matthey, Reading, U.K.) which utilize Vulcan® XC72 (Cabot Corporation) carbon black loaded with various levels of platinum (or other metal). These commercial carbon-supported catalysts are very expensive.
Factors such as surface area and electronic conductivity have historically been viewed as important for the carbon support material. However, relatively little research has been undertaken to understand the role of or to optimize the carbon support.
In the present invention, a sulfonated conducting polymer is grafted onto the surface of a carbonaceous material thereby increasing the electrical conductivity as well as the protonic conductivity of the carbonaceous material, and the stability of the hybrid material is expected to be enhanced. The polymer grafting process also reduces the porosity of the carbon support, resulting in increased metal availability for electrode reaction.
Further, it has been found that the sulfonated conducting polymer-grafted carbonaceous material has higher electronic and protonic conductivity compared to non-sulfonated conducting polymer-grafted carbonaceous material.
The majority of the cost associated with electrodes is attributed to the high cost of the metal, which makes up the catalyst 56. Only those catalytic sites exposed on the surface of the catalytic particles contribute to the catalytic activity of the electrode and, thus, electrodes with the highest fraction of the metals accessible to the reaction should be the most effective. Carbon supports 52 with high porosity result in "trapped" metal sites that are not accessible for electrode reaction. The extent of dispersion of the metal catalyst 56 on the support material 52 and the stability of such high dispersion in use, i.e., resistance of the catalyst against sintering and/or agglomeration, is directly related to the surface area and the availability of surface sites on which the dispersed metal 56 can be anchored.
In the present invention, the sulfonated hetero atom-containing conducting polymer-grafted carbon material aids the uniform dispersion and stabilization of metal particles by anchoring to hetero atoms, namely, N, O, S, etc., present in the conducting polymer. Also, the hetero atom-containing anchoring groups resist the agglomeration and sintering of metal (e.g., platinum (Pt)) crystallite particles.
It is desirable to provide a catalyst support 52 that has a higher surface area and also a higher surface density of anchoring surface sites than catalytic supports consisting exclusively of carbon. This would increase and stabilize the dispersion of the metal catalyst 56 and, thus, limit the amount of catalyst 56 needed. The present invention provides a PEMFC electrode which can be made more cost-effective than electrodes having exclusively carbon support or exclusively conducting polymer support.
For the above reasons, improvement of the supported catalyst is desired and has been achieved with the present invention.

Sulfonated conducting polymer-grafted carbon material for fuel cell applications


A hand-operated, dough-making machine has a box-like container (10) with parallel upper side wall portions, inclined lower side wall portions (13, 14) and a flat bottom (15); a removable beater (26) is turned by a removable handle (22) which has a cylindrical bearing portion (20) passable through circular holes in each end wall of the container and has a square plug (21) which is fitted into either of square sockets (33 & 34) in each end wall of the beater which are the ends of an optional sleeve extending through the beater, the beater blade is formed with flat end faces (27, 28), flat side faces (29, 30) and has a rounded top face (31) and an angled, flat-faced bottom edge (32) with an obtuse-angled leading edge A and an acute-angled trailing edge B; the beater is off-center so that the trailing edge sweeps more into the corners formed at the junction of vertical and sloping side-wall portions (11, 12, 13, 14) and sloping side wall portions (13, 14) and the flat bottom (15). A rod (25) has a knob (25a) at one end with a cylindrical bearing portion (23) passable through a hole in the container end wall and a square plug (24) fits into the square socket (33, 34) of the sleeve.

This invention relates generally to doughmaking equipment and relates in particular to a hand-operated device having a special beater for kneading dough in a special container for home breadmaking and other dough-related products, but which may have other applications and could be adapted for use on a commercial scale using power equipment.

Dough mixing device having a rotating kneading blade and a mixing trough


An archery broadhead having a ferrule body with longitudinal grooves that accept a plurality of fixed and/or pivotal blades. At least a port ion of the ferrule body has a multiplicity of irregularities that form an irregular skin surface having a surface roughness. The irregularities enhance aerodynamic flight characteristics of the broadhead and also reduce frictional drag as the broadhead penetrates a target. The irregularities can be formed by a directional, non-directional or multi-directional set of repeating dimples, grooves, lands, stippling and/or any other suitable structure that forms a pattern, uniform or non-uniform.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a ferrule of an archery broadhead which has a plurality, preferably but not necessarily a multiplicity, of irregularities which form an irregular skin surface that produces enhanced aerodynamic flight characteristics and that reduces frictional drag as the ferrule penetrates a target.
2. Description of Prior Art
Conventional archery broadheads have ferrules with various cross sections, taken in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the ferrule. Ferrules of relatively older broadheads have a generally circular cross section, ignoring blade slots in the ferrule, whereas ferrules of relatively newer broadheads have a generally non-circular cross section, ignoring blade slots in the ferrule. For example, Simo, U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,208 and Simo, U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,512 teach broadheads having ferrules with such non-circular cross sections.
Some conventional broadheads have blood grooves which are relatively deep grooves that extend along a longitudinal direction of the ferrule.
There exists an apparent need for a broadhead that has a ferrule with a repeating pattern of surface irregularities that both enhance aerodynamic flight characteristics and reduced frictional drag upon target penetration.

Ferrule with irregular skin surface for an archery broadhead