A method, system and computer readable medium for facilitating interactive electronic commerce transactions over an electronic commerce network between a plurality of sellers and a plurality of buyers via an independent service provider. A request is received from a seller over the electronic commerce network to generate an auction program process associated with the seller. The auction program process associated with the seller is generated by an electronic commerce computer of the independent service provider. A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) hyperlink associated with the auction program process is generated by the electronic commerce computer. The URL hyperlink is communicated to the seller for insertion into a web page hosted on a website other than the independent service provider's website, wherein the web page displays information about an item for sale. The auction program process generated by the electronic commerce computer of the independent service provider is activated when a buyer clicks on the inserted hyperlink on the hosting website.

The Internet has been utilized for many years to provide the backbone necessary to facilitate and host communications and services by electronic commerce (herein referred to as ecommerce) companies who specialize in creating and managing virtual marketplaces for buyers and sellers to conduct business. Many third-party ecommerce companies, such as eBay, Inc., have become market makers in that they not only provide the platform and tools necessary to conduct an online business, but they also provide the market presence to attract many customers. With the proliferation and increasing volume of online businesses on the Internet, it has also become increasingly more difficult to establish a market presence without considerable costs.
Companies, such as eBay, Inc., have successfully reached the critical mass necessary to be pervasive in the ecommerce auction industry. It is estimated that there are over 1000 companies similar to eBay, Inc. that compete by offering a variety of auction-styled ecommerce environments that address a wide range of horizontal and vertical marketplaces. Historically, sellers want to conduct business where there are many buyers and buyers want to conduct business where there are many choices. As the online auction industry has matured, the mass market approach for many sellers has been an effort with diminishing returns as the principal differentiation for buyers has become price.
Prior art solutions for online auctions in the field of the invention are directed to one of the two methods for conducting online auctions. In the first example of prior art, a method is taught by companies that provide third party auction services such as eBay, Inc. These service providers provide use of their comprehensive auction platforms and ecommerce solutions for public use by sellers and buyers to conduct business. The basic elements that are common to this method are the seller creates a seller account with the third-party service provider and then lists the products or services to be sold on the provider's platform. Listing is accomplished by the seller via uploading and/or manually inputting descriptive information and photographs about the product into the provider's auction platform database. As a result of this uploading and listing step, an association is created between the seller and the product to be auctioned. Buyers are directed to the service provider's auction platform, to the product of interest, and thus to the seller, and therefore the elements necessary to conduct an auction are provided.
In the second example of prior art solutions, a method is taught by auction software solution providers that provide software that can be purchased and operated by the seller on its own internal server and platform environments to perform auctions such as that provided by the software provider A4auction (http://www.a4auction.com). Under this method, a seller could provide auction capability for products and services offered by the entire seller company or limit auction service to divisions or individual employees who sell on behalf of the company. This method involves the seller purchasing auction software technology, constructing an auction platform environment, and operating and maintaining an auction service for the benefit of the company and for the purpose of selling the company's products and/or services. The seller's products are listed on the auction platform by uploading or inputting photographs and descriptive information about the products to be auctioned into the seller's auction platform database. In some instances, a seller's auction platform may be integrated with the seller's business management system(s) for automated uploading of product information. Buyers are then directed to the seller's marketing website where they can shop for the company's products and make bids via an auction process.
Therefore, the prior art as it relates to the field of the invention includes solutions provided by third-party service companies such as eBay, Inc. that provide auction services on a third-party platform on the behalf of sellers, and auction software companies such as A4auction.com that provide software programs to sellers that can operate an internal auction platform under the control of the seller. The embodiments disclosed are differentiated from the prior art, at least in part, in that the embodiments provide the seller controlling benefits of a private internal auction system while providing the simplicity and cost effectiveness of a public service provider solution.
There exist a number of problems and challenges for sellers not addressed by third party service companies and their methods. Sellers, who market their products via the internet, make a considerable investment to differentiate themselves from their competition, through service, reputation, selection, presentation and price, including considerable investments in their own marketing websites for showcasing their products and services to prospective buyers. Conducting business on a third party service provider site such as eBay, Inc., site presents the seller's products and services to buyers but often it does so in an inferior presentation environment as compared to the seller's own marketing website. Additionally, directing or redirecting a seller's prospect to a third party site, such as provided by eBay, Inc exposes the seller's prospects and customers to competing products, services and companies. This latter is especially disconcerting if the seller's prospect or customer became interested in a product on the seller's website but because of linkage to the third party auction site, ended up conducting business with a competing company who is also providing similar products or services on the same auction site. Auction service companies have attempted to address this significant problem through the use of virtual storefronts where the buyer is redirected away from the seller's marketing site and to the hosted service provider's platform where presentation of and information about the seller's products are duplicated on the auction platform. Storefront solutions are for sellers who have a sufficient number of products and selling frequency to support the cost, operations, integration requirements of managing an online virtual auction store and are not conducive for one-off, infrequent, or ad hoc sales. Additionally, these auction sites often do not provide the same product presentation levels as the seller's own marketing sales site and promotes sellers as undifferentiated to buyers.
Auction software which can be purchased by the seller and installed on the seller's internal web servers provides the seller more control, customization, and customer retention because the internal auction environment does not redirect the buyer to a third party website that may contain competitive products and/or suppliers. The problems associated with a seller owned and operated auction solution are the high costs, complexity, integration requirements and manpower commitment required to operate and manage an internal auction platform and therefore is not a viable solution for one off, infrequent, or ad hoc auction sales.
In addition to the above problems, sellers have made considerable and ongoing investments in marketing websites that are best suited for demonstrating, informing, showcasing and branding their specific products and services to buyers and they desire to maximize those investments. To redirect a prospect away from the seller's website to a third-party website that features competing products and services is counter to that investment strategy.
As an example of the aforementioned, it is typical for a real estate company, who is in the business of selling real estate, to provide comprehensive descriptive information on their marketing listing websites about homes for sale including comprehensive background information, high quality photographs, virtual tours, neighborhood information, tax information, market information, blogs, and the like, all for the purpose of acquiring and servicing customers. For a real estate company to take advantage of a third-party auction service such as provided by eBay, Inc., they must abandon their own website presentation of a property listing and recreate the entire listing presentation on the eBay, Inc. auction website. This includes, but is not limited to, uploading or entering property descriptions, photographs, movies, documents, etc. as part of the listing process. This effort is duplicative and often does not present the property as well to a buyer as the seller's own marketing site, which could cause the buyer to be less interested in the property. Additionally, the buyer will be exposed to competitive offerings from competitive real estate companies substantially increasing the risk that the seller may lose the buyer to a competitor. This is counterproductive to the seller and reduces the effectiveness of their own marketing websites if in the end; the buyer must shop elsewhere to actually conduct business and ends up doing business elsewhere as a result. Alternatively, the real estate company could buy auction software programs, hardware servers, and operate and manage their own internal private auction platform to avoid these serious problems but this option is costly, complex, time consuming and would require the company in most cases to reconstruct their entire marketing website, even if there was only a single property to auction for a limited time period. This is not a viable solution for a real estate company who has infrequent auction requirements or a limited budget, technical skill, or manpower. There is room for improvement in the art.

Methods and systems for electronic commerce facility client-based presentation offer management


The present invention provided a norbornene compound with cross-linkable groups and their derivative polymers, wherein said cross-linkable groups were olefin or epoxy groups. Norbornene polymers with cross-linkable side chain and their block copolymers as well as modified derivatives were prepared via living ring-open metathesis polymerization method. The resulting polymers with excellent solubility and optic properties had narrow molecular weight distribution, well-controlled molecular weight, small refraction ration and high transparency. They were also suitable for preparing hybrid materials with high thermal stability and chemical resistance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to high performance polynorbornene materials and, more particularly, to norbornene monomers with cross-linkable groups and their derivatives
2. Description of the Related Art
Polynorbornene and its derivative were the first commercial products produced from ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and were important elastomers. Due to the high transparency, improved impact resistance, wide using temperature range and good mechanical and processing properties, polynorbornene and their derivatives were widely applied in shape-memory polymers, lighting devices, machines, electric components, pipe fittings and food packing. In addition, their derivatives, such as polymers containing acid and ester were further used as photo resists.
Metathesis polymerization of olefins was an important process for polymerization, especially the living ring-opening metathesis polymerization with organometallic catalyst. The polymerization process started with ring-opening reaction of cycloalkene in the presence of organometallic catalyst. The reaction continued until cycloalkenyl monomers depleted or the catalysts lost their activities. Advantageously, such polymerization produced less side products during the reaction, and changing the catalyst type or substituted group of the monomers may obtain polymer or co-polymer with different physical properties. Furthermore, their active polymerization characters further facilitated preparation of functional block co-polymers.
Increasing interest in ring-opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene derivatives containing functional groups has developed over recent years with the aim of obtaining polymer structures with attractive properties. Besides of excellent transparency and mechanical properties, cross-linkable polymers have found a wide demand in the domain of interpenetrating polymer networks, non-linear optic materials, and the formation of more thermally and chemically resistant materials.
One of the most widely employed cross-linkable side chains was the methacryloyl group, which polymerizes both thermally and photochemically in the presence of free-radical initiators and photosensitizers, respectively. In prior arts, monomers with poly functional groups easily perform multi-reaction with organic metals to form insoluble gel or cross-linking products. So the use of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) in the formation of theses cross-linkable polymers has been limited. 1
Grubbs et al. Macromolecules, 1996, 29(18), 5765-5769; Polymer Preprint, 1995, 36(1), 471-472) reported that in the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 5-methacryloyl-1-cyclooctene, gel formation was observed when Ru catalyst I was used without methyl inhibitors during polymerization.
Therefore, the present invention provided norbornene monomers with cross-linkable olefin group, norbornene monomers with cross-linkable epoxy group, and polymers derived from these two monomers, which may further prepare cross-linked hybrid materials.

Norbornene compounds with cross-linkable groups and their derivatives

National Taiwan University of Science & Technology


Stable, topically applicable cosmetic/dermatological compositions well suited for artificially tanning or browning human skin and appropriately packaged, comprise at least one dihydroxyacetone (DHA) derivative convertible into DHA and, advantageously, at least one active species for effecting such conversion.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel cosmetic or dermatological compositions comprising at least one dihydroxyacetone (hereinafter sometimes "DHA") derivative. More especially, this invention relates to novel artificial or self-tanning compositions having improved activity and stability.
The present invention also relates to novel dihydroxyacetone derivatives, per se.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to this art that dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, is a particularly advantageous compound which is commonly employed in the cosmetics field as an agent for the artificial tanning of the skin. When topically applied to human skin, in particular to the face, it elicits a tanning or browning effect, the appearance of which is similar to that which may result from prolonged exposure to the sun (natural tan) or under a UV lamp. Such a use, moreover, presents the advantage of totally avoiding the risks of skin reaction which are generally associated with the aforesaid prolonged exposures (erythema, burning, loss of elasticity, appearance of wrinkles, premature aging of the skin, and the like).
However, the use of DHA also presents many drawbacks. Essentially, these appear during storage of compositions containing DHA and are quite incompatible with the expectation of the consumer. Thus, DHA has an annoying tendency, which is more or less pronounced depending on the nature of the medium in which it is formulated, to degrade over time. This degradation generally is reflected over time by an undesirable yellowing of the compositions containing same. It also occurs that, over time, such compositions develop a nauseating odor. Lastly, the pH of compositions containing DHA decreases over time, in the long run rendering same incompatible for use in topical applications (pH of the skin in the region of 5.5).
The result of the above phenomena, encountered during the period of storage of compositions containing DHA, is that the activity of the DHA, and in particular its ability to color the skin, is greatly decreased when these compositions are applied to the skin. Thus, the intensity of the coloration obtained on the skin and/or the speed with which this coloration develops may appear as still insufficient. It is also known that the content of DHA on the skin is not perfect.
In order to increase the speed of appearance of the coloration due to DHA or the resistance of the latter over time, it has been attempted to combine DHA with other substances. Thus, EP-A-547,864 describes providing DHA in the presence of an amino acid and a silicone, the DHA and the amino acid being stored before application to the skin in separate compartments. Too, WO-A-94/04,130 describes a device for providing DHA at the same time as a primary amine, these two compounds also being stored in separate compartments.
However, these devices do not entirely solve the problems of yellowing, of odor and of instability due to storage of the DHA.

Active/stable artificial tanning compositions comprising DHA derivatives


A method for insuring an entity's exposure to liability created when a member resigns from the entity includes receiving information pertaining to an entity and a member, receiving information pertaining to the initiation fee, and processing the received information to track premium, coverage and claims relating to the initiation fee of the member. A system for implementing an insurance program for an entity's initiation fees includes at least one user device and a server connected to the user device. The server is configured to receive, via the at least one user device, information pertaining to an initiation fee insurance program. The server is also configured to process the received information and transmit information to the user device regarding whether the initiation fee insurance application has been accepted or rejected.

This invention relates generally to insurance programs and, more particularly, to methods and systems for insuring exposure to liability created for an entity by the resignation of a member.
Many people desire to find a comfortable location to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle while having access to multiple amenities. In addition, many families enjoy spending time with people that have similar life styles, hobbies, and preferences. In addition, some people enjoy a certain activity so much, that they prefer to join a club to have access to such activities on a frequent basis.
Generally, in order to join such clubs, a person or family pays an initiation fee and annual or monthly dues. While the initiation fees are important to the club since they are used primarily for capital expenditure (golf course improvements, swimming pool, club house), the dues are used for operations such as salaries, restaurant and bar operations, daily maintenance and retail opportunities. Many clubs have one of two types of refundable initiation fee programs. The first type of program is for equity clubs where, once a requisite number of memberships to the club has been sold, a refund is paid to the resigned member, in the order of resignation, as each new membership is sold. Typically the amount paid is a percentage of the then current initiation fee. The resigning member is typically required to continue paying the monthly dues until the resigning member is replaced by a new member. The second type of program is for initiation deposit program clubs where the initiation fee is a deposit, i.e., a tax-free, no interest loan from the member. For a resigned member to recover the initiation deposit, the club membership must be full. The resigning member will then be repaid when a new member joins based on the resigning member's place on the resigned member list. Alternatively, if the club never achieves full membership, the resigning member is repaid no later than 30 years from the date the membership was first sold. Finally, there are many private clubs that offer no refundability of initiation fees at all.
Prospective club members are typically concerned that if they must leave a club for an unforeseen reason, they will not have the ability to retrieve all or a portion of the initiation fee. This potential lack of prompt payback of the initiation fee is a deterrent to new people joining clubs. It is therefore desirable to enable a club member to obtain at least a portion of their initiation fee upon resigning from the club in a reasonable amount of time.

Methods and systems for insuring an entity's exposure to liability


A system for assisting a driver of a biomechanically-driven vehicle having at least one wheel (R), such as a bicycle, includes a device (DET1) for determining the speed of the vehicle, another device (DET) for determining the heading of the vehicle, a magnetometer (M) with at least two measurement axes for supplying data to determine the heading of the vehicle, and a device for supplying information relating to a movement of the vehicle, based on the speed of the vehicle, the slope of the rolling surface, and the heading of the vehicle.

One of the results of the increase in everyday mobility and urban sprawl is that individuals are having to travel through spaces whose geography they are not necessarily familiar with. Also, driving assistance devices based on geolocation and navigation have proliferated over a number of years.
Like satellite guidance systems, these devices enable the individuals in cars, on a motorbike, on a scooter or on foot to move around with full knowledge of where they are located, and knowing what path to take to get from one point to another. The individuals are thus no longer lost and can even optimize their journey by having themselves guided over routes that are faster, less costly, or include services such as a gas station or a hospital.
The best known and most widely used guidance systems are the satellite guidance systems that use information transmitted by a satellite geolocation system, or GPS (Global Positioning System), which currently offers an accuracy of 15 to 100 meters for the mass market systems and requires the use of a GPS chip which has the drawback of having a high consumption of electrical energy to receive the signals from the satellites. Also, before starting, it is usually necessary to wait for the GPS to find the initial position and compute the route, which may take a few minutes. Furthermore, this type of system is not well suited to vehicles such as bicycles or scooters, which can take small paths not referenced on the maps of such systems.
There are also location systems that use global system for mobile communication, or GSM, has allowed the expansion of cell phone guidance services. The accuracy of positioning by GSM can range from 200 meters to several kilometers, depending on the type of place where the user is located, for example in an urban environment where the density of antennas is high, or in a rural environment where the density of antennas is low. The GSM method most commonly used is the one based on the cell identifiers, or cell ID, representative of the antennas. This method entails recovering the identifiers of the GSM antennas to which the terminal is connected. A database then establishes the link between the identifiers of the cells and the geographic positions of the antennas, and the mobile terminal is capable of estimating its position. The major drawbacks to this solution are the lack of accuracy and the need for a network connection to recover the information from the cells, which consumes electrical energy. Similarly, location by WIFI is possible but presents drawbacks similar to guidance by GSM; they also suffer from as yet incomplete coverage.
It is also known practice to use the radio frequency identification, or RFID, technology, can be used for geolocation inside buildings. A series of RFID tag readers equipped with different types of antennas are positioned in such a way as to cover all the desired area. This area is then subdivided into portions whose area varies according to the number of readers deployed and their power. When a person equipped with an active RFID tag is located in a part of the area, the system is capable of computing his or her position based on the number of readers which detect the RFID tag by referring to the pre-established subdivision scheme. In real time, this technique is relatively approximate and its accuracy primarily makes it possible to determine the room or the corridor in which the geolocated person is located. A major drawback with this solution is the need to deploy the RFID tags over all the places where the users are to be located.
Other systems, as illustrated in the French patent application FR 05 13269 are based on the use of inertial units which comprise sensors of accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer types. By merging data from these sensors, these systems estimate the orientation in three dimensions of the inertial unit. However, the measurements made by an inertial unit exhibit a significant time drift.
All these systems are high consumers of electrical energy, which is not compatible with use for biomechanically-driven vehicles, which have little or nothing in the way of energy reserves. Furthermore, some of these systems, dependent on a communication system, can also afford traceability of the individuals without their knowledge.
The present invention aims to overcome the problems cited above.

System and method for assisting the driver of a biomechanically driven vehicle including at least one wheel

COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES


Apparatus for producing multi-dimensional reproductions of a three-dimensional object. The novel system includes an illumination device, for housing a three-dimensional object, adapted to overlie the reproduction surface of a scanner or image reading device capable of reading an image from light reflected from a three-dimensional object. The scanner or image-reading device produces electrical signals representative of images read directly from the three-dimensional object and supplies electrical signals representing that image to an external apparatus such as a computer or computer-controlled apparatus from which multi-dimensional reproductions can be produced in the form of a three-dimensional picture on a monitor or screen, a three-dimensional printout from a printer, or a three-dimensional part from suitable computer controlled machinery.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for producing multi-dimensional reproductions of a three-dimensional object, and more particularly, to a novel reproduction system including a scanner or image reading device capable of reading an image from light reflected from a three-dimensional object and of generating and supplying electrical signals representing that image to an external apparatus such as a computer.
Systems which are currently in use for producing images or reproductions from three-dimensional objects are very expensive and time consuming, and therefore, are not practical or cost effective for many potential users. In many applications, a series of two-dimensional drawings or photographs are first made of three-dimensional objects, and then each of those drawings is passed through a conventional flat-bed scanner which then sends signals to a computer. Through suitable software various two or three-dimensional images may be developed on a monitor screen and/or printed out by a conventional printer.
Other prior art imaging processes employ cameras which rotate slowly about a three-dimensional object and signals from those cameras are fed into suitable computers to produce two or three-dimensional images of the three-dimensional object. Still other systems such as a Cyberware 3-D digitizer employ laser and video based technology to scan a three-dimensional object and then feed that information to suitable computer operated equipment to produce two or three-dimensional reproductions of the three-dimensional object. The signal information may also be sent to an automated milling machine which may create a physical reproduction of the three-dimensional object. Although this system is highly sophisticated and accurate, it is very expensive and, as a practical matter, is not affordable to many users.

Apparatus for producing multi-dimensional images or reproductions of three dimensional objects


The invention provides a coaxial cable connector having a step up pin that engages the center conductor of a coax cable to increase the diameter of the center conductor to thereby make it more manageable. The pin is stored with the connector until the pin and connector are affixed to a coax cable.

A coax cable connector is generally used to provide a simple connection to an externally threaded coax receptacle or jack. The connector contacts the outer conductor of the cable in order to conduct the outer conductor signal to the jack. The center conductor of the cable passes through the center of the connector to engage the center hole of the jack. A dielectric portion between the components of the connector that contact the center conductor and the outer conductor isolates the signals. In some cases, such as with miniature coaxial cable, the center conductor is too small to engage the center hole of the jack fully for good conduction of the center conductor signal. A step up pin may be applied to the end of the center conductor to increase the diameter of the center conductor; however, step up pins are conventionally difficult to manage, are easily lost, and may be difficult to apply to the center conductor. Further, step up pins tend to be easily damaged during handling. In some cases, the pin might be a fixed part of the connector. It is difficult to line up the center conductor of the coax cable with the pin in this case because the user cannot see the opening of the axial bore of the pin.
A number of U.S. patents are directed to coax cable connectors including U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,199 issued to McGeary. McGeary teaches a coaxial cable connector having a captive inner pin contact. The connector includes a tubular main body that is crimped over the cable braid of a coaxial cable. A crimp ring is provided inside the rear end of the tubular main body and secures the cable braid of the coaxial cable against a ferrule which is inserted between the cable braid and the cable dielectric prior to crimping. A cylindrical contact insulator is secured inside the front end of the tubular main body, separates the inner pin contact from the front end of the tubular main body, and secures the inner pin contact in combination with the insulator ring and ferrule. Threads are provided on the inside surface of the ferrule to hold the ferrule in position during crimping, to help provide positive contact to the tubular main body, and to captivate the insulator ring and inner pin contact. McGeary does not teach how the pin might be stored prior to assembly of the connector onto a cable. Nor does McGeary teach a step up pin having tabs or spring fingers for engaging the connector or the center conductor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,565 issued to Kogan, et al. teaches a connector for receiving a mating plug, forming a constant impedance connection. The center conductor of the first plug is supported with a cap attached over a portion of the center conductor that extends beyond the outer conductor portion of the same plug. The mating plug has an outer conductor that projects beyond the inner conductor, and is made to receive the connector or first plug portions. Kogan thus teaches a pin having a larger diameter than the center conductor and supporting the center conductor. Kogan does not discuss securing the pin to the connector prior to assembly in a way that prevents the pin from being lost and that aids assembly of the pin onto the center conductor. Kogan further does not teach a step up pin with an enlarged cable guide portion or spring fingers and tabs for engaging the center conductor or the connector.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,445 issued to Bacher, et al. teaches a unitary three-vane support bead with a central conductor having an axial blind bore in each end. The smaller diameter end engages a center conductor of a coax cable. The central conductor is formed in place in the connector. Bacher does not teach a method of securing the pin to the connector prior to assembly in a way that prevents the pin from being lost and that aids assembly of the pin onto the center conductor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,342 issued to Gartzke teaches a coaxial cable connector assembly for connecting coaxial cables of different diameters, the assembly including a center conductor with a large diameter end and a small diameter end. Each end includes spring fingers for engaging the center conductor of a coaxial cable. Gartzke does not discuss securing the pin to the connector prior to assembly in a way that prevents the pin from being lost and that aids assembly of the pin onto the center conductor.
Therefore, a coaxial cable connector that provides storage and protection for a step up pin, and that provides a simple way to apply the step up pin to the center conductor is desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Methods and compositions utilizing a compound represented by Formula III,

This invention relates to compositions of matter containing (+)-hydroxyrisperidone. The invention also relates to methods of treating and preventing psychoses, emesis and symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol and nicotine.
Risperidone I is an orally active, potent antipsychotic agent, commercially available in the form of Risperidal(copyright) tablets and oral solution from Janssen Pharmaceutica.
The Cmax of risperidone in humans is at about 3 to 9 hours after oral administration, and the serum half-life is about 2 to 22 hours; both of these parameters are highly variable, depending on the subject""s age, liver function, and CYP 2D6 phenotype, as will be discussed below. The major metabolite in human serum is 9-hydroxyrisperidone II (hereinafter, xe2x80x9chydroxyrisperidonexe2x80x9d).
The hydroxylation of risperidone to its active metabolite, hydroxyrisperidone, is catalyzed in vivo by the hepatic cytochrome P450 ene, CYP2D6, an enzyme that is involved in the metabolism of numerous other drugs, including tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. CYP2D6 is polymorphically expressed in the human population, and the mutant allele constitutes the recessive trait. Homozygous carriers of the mutation completely lack CYP2D6 and are referred to as poor metabolizers (PM""s); persons homozygous for the xe2x80x9cnormalxe2x80x9d allele are extensive metabolizers (EM""s); heterozygotes appear to be intermediate in metabolic capacity.
It would be desirable to find a compound that has the advantages of risperidone while providing a more predictable dosage regimen in the patient population and decreasing the chances for drug-drug interactions.
Risperidone is known to give rise to several side effects, and in particular, to extrapyramidal effects such as tardive dyskinesia. The most frequently observed adverse reactions include orthostatic hypotension and dizziness, drowsiness, palpitations, weight gain, erectile dysfunction, and a significant increase in rashes and rhinitis.
The following adverse events have been reported in risperidone-treated patients:
Psychiatric disordersxe2x80x94insomnia, agitation, anxiety, somnolence, aggressive reaction, increased dream activity, diminished desire, nervousness, depression, apathy, catatonic reaction, euphoria, increased libido, amnesia, emotional lability, nightmares, delirium, withdrawal syndrome, yawning.
Central and Peripheral Nervous system disordersxe2x80x94extrapyramidal symptoms (including tremor, dystonia, hypokinesia, hypertonia, hyperkinesia, oculogyric crisis, ataxia, abnormal gait, involuntary muscle contractions, hyporeflexia, akathisia, increased sleep duration, dysarthria, vertigo, stupor, paraesthesia, confusion, aphasia, cholinergic syndrome, hypoesthesia, tongue paralysis, leg cramps, torticollis, hypotonia, coma, migraine, hyperreflexia and choreoathetosis.
Gastrointestinal system disordersxe2x80x94constipation, nausea, dyspepsia, vomiting abdominal pain, increased salivation, anorexia, toothache, reduced salivation, flatulence, diarrhea, increased appetite, stomatitis, melena, dysphagia,. hemorrhoids, gastritis, fecal incontinence, eructation, gastroesophageal reflux, gastroenteritis, esophagitis, tongue discoloration, cholelithiasis, tongue edema, diverticulitis, gingivitis, discolored feces, GI hemorrhage, hematemesis
Body as a whole/General disordersxe2x80x94back pain, chest pain, fever, fatigue, edema, rigors, malaise, influenza-like symptoms, pallor, enlarged abdomen, allergic reaction, ascites, sarcoidosis, flushing
Respiratory systemxe2x80x94rhinitis, coughing, sinusitis, pharyngitis, dyspnea, hyperventilation, bronchospasm, pneumonia, stridor, asthma, increased sputum, aspiration
Dermatologicalxe2x80x94rash, dry skin, seborrhea, increased pigmentation, photosensitivity, increased sweating, acne, decreased sweating, alopecia, hyperkeratosis, pruritus, skin exfoliation, bullous eruption, skin ulceration, aggravated psoriasis, furunculosis, verruca, dermatitis lichenoid, hypertrichosis, genital pruritus, and urticaria.
Vision Disordersxe2x80x94abnormal accommodation, xerophthalmia, diplopia, eye pain, blepharitis, photopsia, photophobia, and abnormal lacriniation.
Metabolic and Nutritional Disordersxe2x80x94hyponatremia, weight increase, creatine phosphokinase increase, thirst, weight decrease, diabetes mellitus, decreased serum iron, cachexia, dehydration, hypokalemia, hypoproteinemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia, and hypoglycemia.
Urinary System Disordersxe2x80x94polyuria/polydipsia, urinary incontinence, hematuria, dysuria, urinary retention, cystitis, and renal insufficiency.
Musculo-Skeletal Disordersxe2x80x94arthralgia, myalgia, arthrosis, synostosis, bursitis, arthritis, and skeletal pain.
Reproductive Disordersxe2x80x94(Female) menorrhagia, orgastic dysfiinction, dry vagina, nonpuerperal lactation, amenorrhea, female breast pain, leukorrhea, vaginal hemorrhage, mastitis, dysmenorrhea, femal perineal pain, and intermenstrual bleeding; (Male) erectile dysfinction and ejaculation failure.
Liver and Biliary System Disordersxe2x80x94increased SGOT, increased SGPT, hepatic failure, cholestatic hepatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, hepatitis, and hepatocellular damage.
Endocrine Disordersxe2x80x94gynecomastia, male breast pain, and antidiuretic hormone disorder.
White Cell and Resistance Disordersxe2x80x94leukocytosis, lymphadenopathy, leucopenia, and Pelger-Huet anomaly.
Red Blood Cell Disordersxe2x80x94anemia, hypochromic anemia, and normocytic anemia.
Platelet, Bleeding and Clotting Disordersxe2x80x94epistaxis, purpura, hemorrhage, superficial phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, and thrombocytopenia.
Hearing and Vestibular Disordersxe2x80x94tinnitus, hyperacusis, and decreased hearing.
Cardiovascularxe2x80x94tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension, palpitation, hypertension, AV block, myocardial infarction, ventricular tachycardia, angina pectoris, premature atrial contractions, T wave inversions, ventricular extrasystoles, ST depression, myocarditis, angioedema, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary embolism and cardiopulmonary arrest.
Risperidone and hydroxyrisperidone have also been implicated in a prolongation of QT interval, a condition associated with torsades de pointes, a life-threatening arrhythmia.
Accordingly, an antipsvchotic having the efficacy of risperidone, but causing fewer side effects, would be desirable.
Compounds used in the methods and compositions of the present invention are represented by Formula III,
wherein R is chosen from xe2x80x94OH, xe2x80x94P(O)(OH)2 and xe2x80x94SO3H, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds possess potent activity in the treatment of psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) and other conditions, including those that would benefit from an antidiarrheal, an inhibitor of gastro-esophageal reflux and/or an antiemetic, especially in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation. Compounds of Formula III may also be used in combating autism, hypertension, vascular disorders, obesity, and the withdrawal symptoms associated with cessation of drining and smoking. Compounds of Formula III provide a more predictable dosage regimen in the patient population and decrease the chances for drug-drug interactions by avoiding oxidative metabolism for which the cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme system is required.

(+)-Hydroxyrisperidone compositions and methods

Abstract: wherein R is chosen from xe2x80x94OH, xe2x80x94P(O)(OH)2 and xe2x80x94SO3H, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, for the treatment of psychoses in humans are disclosed. The compounds of the present invention exhibit fewer side effects than risperidone, a lessened liability toward drug-drug interactions than risperidone and a more predictable dosing regimen than risperidone. The compounds of the invention are also useful for the treatment of emesis and withdrawal syndromes.


A holding device and method is provided for efficiently applying a coating on the exterior surface of a tubular hollow body, while preventing coating application on the interior surface and coating defects. The holding device of the present invention comprises at least two structures contacting the inner surface of the tubular hollow body and extending to a portion where the structures are connected and rotary motion is induced to rotate the tubular hollow body. The structures are arranged and shaped so that an inner hollow section is formed in which excess coating material can accumulate.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a holding device and a method of coating hollow cylindrical objects using the device. More specifically, the present invention provides a holding device and a method of selectively and efficiently coating one or more hollow cylindrical objects, such as stents and catheters, while preventing the stent's interior surfaces from receiving coating material.
2. Background of the Invention
Coatings are often applied to medical implants, such as pacemakers, vascular grafts, catheters, stents, heart valves, tissues or sensors to have desired effects and increase their effectiveness. These coatings may deliver a therapeutic agent to the lumen that reduces smooth muscle tissue proliferation or restenosis and may comprise a polymer carrier. Furthermore, implants may be coated to improve surface properties such as lubriciousness, to achieve enhanced biocompatibility and to control the timing and rate of release of the therapeutic agent being delivered. Balloon delivery systems, stent grafts and expandable stents are specific examples of implants that may be coated and inserted within the body. Stents such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,665 are tiny, expandable mesh tubes supporting the inner walls of a lumen used to restore adequate blood flow to the heart and other organs.
Conventionally, coatings are applied to the inner and outer surface of a stent in a number of ways, including, though not limited to, dip coating, dispensing or spray coating.
Applying a drug-containing coating uniformly on the inner and outer surface of the medical device can however lead to adverse drug effects or delivery to non-target tissue due to exposure of the coating material to the bloodstream. Additionally, it is desirable to coat only the outer surface of the stent to avoid excessive use of expensive coating material.
It is known to mask a device by placing a temporary sleeve over a portion of the medical device or by using a special fixture comprising masking means contacting the inner surface of the device to prevent the coating from coming in contact with the inner portion of the device. A drawback of such masking means is the high degree of surface contact between the stent and the masking means that may cause sticking of the masking means to the stent.
It is also known to use special fixtures having a polygonal shape that extend through the inner hollow section of the stent to cover its inner surface as depicted in FIG. 1. When using these fixtures there is a risk of coating defects, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Droplets 41 passing through the openings of the stent 1 may deposit on the fixture or on the inner surface of the stent 1. The excess coating material forms a film 43 on the surface of the holder that leads to coating material accumulation 44 on the contact points between fixture 6 and stent 1 resulting in inhomogeneous coatings and coating defects.
When the coated stent is removed from the fixture the stent may stick to the masking means and excess coating may remain on and/or between the struts or some of the coating may be removed from the stent leaving bare areas. Inhomogeneous coatings and uncoated areas on the stent surface may compromise the implant's effectiveness due to potential complications arising from an inhomogeneous distribution of the therapeutic agent at the target site.
Thus, conventional stent holding devices have several drawbacks that may result in increased manufacturing costs of stents and in coating defects as described above leading to time consuming inspection and product scrap. A repeatable process of selectively coating the outer surface of a stent may therefore not be ensured. Finally, stent holding devices known by the prior art are not designed to support and rotate multiple stents simultaneously to efficiently apply a coating to the stents.
Accordingly, a shortcoming of the conventional coating techniques is the inability to coat selectively and repeatably the outer surface of the stent, while preventing coating defects. Thus, there is a need for a system and method for efficiently applying a high quality coating only on the exterior surface of a stent, while preventing coating application on the interior surface and coating defects.

Holding device and method for coating a substrate


A high-strength rolled sheet of an aluminum alloy having a composition represented by the general formula Al.sub.bal Ni.sub.a X.sub.b, Al.sub.bal Ni.sub.a X.sub.b M.sub.c or Al.sub.bal Ni.sub.a X.sub.b M.sub.c Q.sub.d, wherein X represents at least one element selected from among La, Ce, Mm, Ti and Zr; M represents at least one element selected from among V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Y, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W; Q represents at least one element selected from among Mg, Si, Cu and Zn; and a, b, c and d are, in atomic percentages, 2.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.10, 0.1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.3.ltoreq.0.1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.2 and 0.01.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.2, wherein intermetallic compounds crystallized therefrom have a maximum particle size of 10 .mu.m or less. The rolled sheet can be easily produced by subjecting a melt of an alloy having the above-described composition to rolling simultaneously with cooling and solidification to provide a rolled sheet and has high strength and rigidity and excellent heat resistance and ductility.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rolled sheet of an aluminum alloy having a high strength, a high rigidity and an excellent heat resistance, and to a process for producing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional high-strength, heat-resistant, rolled sheets of an aluminum alloy and process for producing the same are described in the specification of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62836/1988. The rolled aluminum sheet disclosed in the above specification has a composition comprising 0.10 to 5.0% by weight of Mg and 0.3 to 3.0% by weight of Mn or a composition comprising 0.10 to 5.0% by weight of Mg, 0.3 to 3.0% by weight of Mn and 0.01 to 0.30% of Zr, wherein intermetallic compounds crystallized on the surface thereof have a maximum particle size of 10 .mu.m or less. Further, the above specification discloses a process for producing the rolled sheet, wherein a melt of the above-described alloy is subjected to continuous cast rolling.
In the above-described conventional rolled sheet, there is room for improvement in the strength, rigidity and heat resistance, and the development of a rolled sheet having superior properties in respect of strength, rigidity and heat resistance has been desired in the art.

High-strength rolled sheet of aluminum alloy and process for producing the same


In a battery charger, current regulating means and voltage regulating means can be prevented from damages. In the case where a loss of current regulating means (11) or voltage regulating means (12) exceeds an allowable loss, pulse width modulating means (15, 16) for generating a pulse signal having a desired pulse width and control means (18, 19) for intermittently operating the current regulating means or the voltage regulating means, having the loss exceeding the allowable loss, based on the pulse signal are provided to suppress the loss of the current regulating means or the voltage regulating means and suppress heat generated thereby, thus the current regulating means and the voltage regulating means can be protected from damages.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a battery charger and battery charging method, and more particularly, is suitably applied to a battery charger having a voltage regulating circuit and a current regulating circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Secondary batteries have been used as a power source in portable electronic apparatus such as a portable telephone, a camera integrated VTR, and so on. When these portable electronic apparatus are used, the secondary batteries must be charged prior to their use.
When the secondary battery is charged, a secondary battery is likely to be damaged if applied with a charging voltage and a charging current above its rated values. Therefore, a battery charger generally has a voltage regulating circuit and a current regulating circuit for preventing a secondary battery from being applied with a charging voltage and a charging current above its rated values.
Here, such a battery charger is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a battery charger 1 has a current regulating circuit 2 and a voltage regulating circuit 3 which are connected in series, wherein an input voltage and an input current from an alternating-current transformer (AC adapter) 4 connected thereto as a direct current power source are used to supply a secondary battery BT with a charging current at or below a rated value through the current regulating circuit 2 and to supply the secondary battery BT with a charging voltage at or below a rated value through the voltage regulating circuit 3.
The battery charger 1 configured as described above, however, has a problem in that while the current regulating circuit 2 and the voltage regulating circuit 3 can prevent the secondary battery BT from damages, the current regulating circuit 2 and the voltage regulating circuit 3 themselves cannot be protected from being damaged. Generally, as a direct current power source to be supplied to the battery charger 1, a direct current power source having an output voltage and an output current adapted to the battery charger 1 is used. However, if a user uses a direct current power source having an output voltage and an output current not adapted to the battery charger 1, the current regulating circuit 2 and the voltage regulating circuit 3 are likely to receive an input current and an input voltage above their rated values, thereby causing a problem in that heat above a rated value occurs in the current regulating circuit 2 and the voltage regulating circuit 3 to cause damages in the current regulating circuit 2 and the voltage regulating circuit 3.

Battery charger and battery charging method


Provided are a method of reconstructing a biological tissue image, and a method and apparatus for acquiring a biological tissue image, which allow a biological tissue to be identified with higher accuracy than ever before. The reconstruction of the biological tissue image is performed by measuring spectra having a two-dimensional distribution correlated with a biological tissue section, and acquiring a biological tissue image from the two-dimensional measured spectra through utilization of the measured spectra and an classifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of reconstructing a biological tissue image, and a method and apparatus for acquiring a biological tissue image, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for acquiring a biological tissue image reconstructed from measured spectrum data of a biological tissue. The present invention also relates to an image display for clearly displaying a diseased site in pathological diagnosis through use of the thus acquired biological tissue image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, there has been performed pathological diagnosis, that is, observing a biological tissue with a microscope or the like and diagnosing the presence or absence of a lesion and a type of the lesion based on the observation. The pathological diagnosis requires visualization of a constituent substance or contained substance correlated with a biological tissue to be observed. Heretofore, a technique for staining a specific antigen protein through use of an immunostaining method has mainly been employed in the pathological diagnosis. When breast cancer is taken as an example, an estrogen receptor (ER) (expressed in a hormone-dependent tumor, which serves as a judgment criterion for a hormone therapy), and HER2 (membrane protein found in a fast-growing malignant cancer, which serves as a judgment criterion for Herceptin administration), are visualized by the immunostaining method. However, the immunostaining method involves the following problems. Its reproducibility is poor because an antibody is unstable and antigen-antibody reaction efficiency is difficult to control. Further, in the future, for example, when there arises a need for detection of several tens or more kinds of constituent substances or contained substances, there is a problem in that the currently-employed immunostaining method cannot meet the need any more.
Further, in some cases, the visualization of the constituent substance or contained substance is required at a cellular level, not at a tissue level. For example, it was revealed that a tumor was formed in only part of fractions of a tumor tissue after xenotransplantation to immunocompromised mice. Therefore, it is understood that growth of a tumor tissue, in which cancer stem cells are recognized, depends on differentiation and self-renewal abilities of the cancer stem cells. In such research, it is necessary to observe an expression distribution of a constituent substance or contained substance in an individual cell in a tissue, not the entire tissue.
As described above, in the pathological diagnosis, a constituent substance or contained substance correlated with a tumor tissue or the like is required to be exhaustively visualized at a cellular level. There are given, as candidates of a method for the visualization, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) such as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and Raman spectroscopy. In measurement by the SIMS or Raman spectroscopy, information at each point (region) in a space can be obtained with a high spatial resolution. That is, spatial distribution information on each peak value for a measured spectrum correlated with an object to be measured is obtained. Consequently, a spatial distribution of a substance in a biological tissue correlated with the measured spectrum can be determined.
The SIMS is a method involving irradiating a sample with a primary ion beam, and detecting a secondary ion emitted from the sample, thereby obtaining a mass spectrum at each point on the sample. For example, in the TOF-SIMS, through utilization of the fact that a time-of-flight of a secondary ion depends on a mass m and charge z of the ion, the secondary ion is identified, and hence a mass spectrum at each point on a sample can be obtained.
The Raman spectroscopy involves acquiring a Raman spectrum by irradiating a substance with a laser beam, which is monochromatic light, as a light source, and detecting the generated Raman scattered light with a spectrometer or an interferometer. A difference between a frequency of the Raman scattered light and a frequency of incident light (Raman shift) has a value peculiar to a structure of a substance. Hence, a Raman spectrum specific for an object to be measured can be acquired.
As used herein, the "cellular level" means a level at which at least an individual cell can be identified. A diameter of the cell falls within a range of approximately 10 μm to 20 μm (provided that a large cell such as a nerve cell has a diameter of about 50 μm). Thus, in order to acquire a two-dimensional distribution image at a cellular level, the spatial resolution needs to be 10 μm or less, and is preferably 5 μm or less, more preferably 2 μm or less, still more preferably 1 μm or less. The spatial resolution may be determined from, for example, results of linear analysis of a knife-edge sample. That is, the spatial resolution is determined based on the following general definition: "a distance between two points at which signal intensities attributed to a substance of interest near the boundary of a sample are 20% and 80%, respectively."
Hitherto, in order to acquire biological information from the measured spectrum data, an classifier generated by machine learning in advance has been applied to the measured spectrum data of a sample (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-71953). Meanwhile, a biological tissue image is essential for the pathological diagnosis, and hence an attempt has been made to display an image obtained by superimposing a measured spectrum image (spectrum information) and an optical image (morphological information) (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-85219). As used herein, the machine learning refers to a technique involving empirically learning previously acquired data, and interpreting newly acquired data based on the learning results. Further, the classifier refers to judgment criterion information to be generated by empirically learning a relationship between previously acquired data and biological information.
Hitherto, one (for one point on a space or the entire sample) measured spectrum data has been used for diagnosis through application of the classifier generated by the machine learning, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-71953 as well. Thus, acquisition of a biological tissue image from a spatial distribution of a measured spectrum has not been envisaged. Further, although there is an example of superimposing a measured spectrum image (spectrum information) and an optical image (morphological information), there is no example of acquiring a biological tissue image involving applying machine learning (classifier) to both of the spectrum information and the morphological information. That is, there is no disclosure of a method of acquiring a biological tissue image with high accuracy involving displaying diagnosis results of, for example, the presence or absence of cancer from measurement results of spectra having a spatial distribution in a biological tissue of interest.
There is a correlation between cell morphology and pathology (e.g., a cancer cell and a normal tissue). Hence, when morphological information can also be incorporated into analysis of a measured spectrum, derivation of highly accurate results is expected to become possible.

Method of reconstructing a biological tissue image, and method and apparatus for acquiring a biological tissue image


The present invention includes integrated circuit devices, synchronous-link dynamic random access memory devices, methods of forming an integrated circuit device and methods of forming a synchronous-link dynamic random access memory edge-mounted device. According to one aspect of the present invention, an integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor die and a first housing encapsulating the semiconductor die. A heat sink is positioned proximate the first housing and a second housing is formed to encapsulate at least a portion of the heat sink. The heat sink is preferably thermally coupled with the semiconductor die and configured to expel heat therefrom. Another aspect provides a method of forming an integrated circuit device including the steps of providing a semiconductor die; forming a first housing about the semiconductor die; thermally coupling a heat sink with the first housing; and forming a second housing about at least a portion of the heat sink following the thermally coupling.

Personal computers have experienced expansive growth and improvements in technology in recent decades. Improvements in processing technologies have enabled fabrication of computer components having reduced feature sizes. Such reduction in feature sizes has also enabled the fabrication of smaller components with increased capabilities.
For example, both the operational speeds of processing devices and the capacity to store data of memory devices have been significantly increased. However, there exists a desire to increase the storage capacity of conventional memory devices. Data is stored in components comprising random access memory (RAM) in some conventional configurations. Exemplary random access memory devices include static random access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random access memory (DRAM). It has been desired to increase the speed of memory devices to increase the overall performance of the conventional computer systems.
Synchronous-link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM) devices have been introduced to provide faster electronic storage devices. The synchronous-link dynamic random access memory devices provide benefits of very high speed (e.g., 400 megahertz data rate) and very high bandwidth (e.g., 800 Mb/s I/O bandwidth). In addition, such storage devices can provide pipelined or concurrent operation. Exemplary synchronous-link dynamic random access memory devices provide synchronous and packet oriented operation with storage capabilities in excess of 75 MB.
Various packaging configurations have been utilized as housings for conventional synchronous-link dynamic random access memory devices. Exemplary configurations include vertical surface mounted packages (VSMP) and horizontal surface mounted packages (HSMP). In typical configurations, the leads extend from one surface of the mounted packages and are bent and trimmed for the desired orientation.
It has been observed that conventional synchronous-link dynamic random access memory devices produce a considerable amount of heat. Accordingly, various structures have been utilized to reduce or dissipate the generated heat. One prior art technique has considered the utilization of a heat sink bonded to an external wall of a package which houses the synchronous-link dynamic random access memory semiconductor die. In such conventional designs, an epoxy or other adhesive is typically utilized to bond or otherwise adhere the heat sink to the external surface of the housing package. Drawbacks are presented by the conventional designs inasmuch as subsequent processing of an individual synchronous-link dynamic random access memory device often results in heating the memory device to the point of failure of the epoxy heat sink bond.
Therefore, there exists a need to provide improved memory configurations to overcome the shortcomings experienced within the prior art devices.

Method of forming a synchronous-link dynamic random access memory edge-mounted device


A flow-through photochemical reactor includes a reactor body, that circumscribes a longitudinally extending channel having a generally annular cross section. This channel accommodates fluids passing between an inner wall of the reactor body and an outer wall of a photon-transmitting tube that is housed internally thereof. In addition, the reactor includes mechanically static, fluid-dynamic elements for passively inducing substantial turbulent flow within a fluid as it passes through the channel. This arrangement substantially increases the uniformity of the fluid's exposure to photons radiating from a source within the tube into the fluid an it is conducted through the channel.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,477--dated Dec. 21, 1976, discloses a device for non-rigid connection of two rigid cylindrical pipes, which comprise the combined use of flexible double lipped gaskets and toroid flexible gaskets surrounding a bulb-shaped zone formed in one of the pipes. The device is particularly useful for fastening fragile tubes containing light emitters to metal reactors used for photochemical processes
U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,918--dated Jan. 11, 1977, discloses an apparatus for the irradiation of fluids in which the fluid is conducted along the walls of a container having walls which are permeable for the radiation to which the fluid is exposed. Radiation sources are arranged around the container and an active rotor is disposed within the container. The rotor consists of a body having axial bores and pins movably disposed in the bores and adapted to engage with their front ends the container walls thereby to wipe any deposits from the container walls during rotation of the rotor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,041--dated Feb. 23, 1982, discloses various embodiments of photo-reactors in which there are at least two radiation chambers with a window arranged therebetween. UV radiation is introduced into one of the chambers at a side opposite the window so that it passes through that chamber, through the window and into the other chamber. The fluid medium to be purified is passed through the chambers and subjected to the radiation while in the chambers. The flow of the medium is through the chambers in series in some embodiments and in parallel in others. An embodiment is disclosed wherein a recirculation line is established around the reactor with the recirculation being continuous or intermittent. When intermittent the purified fluid medium also is drawn off intermittently, between the periods of recirculation. In some embodiments, the amount of radiation traversing all the chambers is monitored. If the monitored amount drops below a given amount, the apparatus is shut down. Alteratively, the rate of flow of the medium is adjusted, based on that monitored amount, with the rate of flow increasing or decreasing, respectively, in response to increases or decreases in that amount.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,105--dated Oct. 9, 1984, relates to a process for producing gaseous hydrogen and oxygen from water. The process is conducted in a photolytic reactor which contains a water-suspension of a photoactive material containing a hydrogen-liberating catalyst. The reactor also includes a column for receiving gaseous hydrogen and oxygen evolved from the liquid phase. To avoid oxygen-inactivation of the catalyst, the reactor is evacuated continuously by an external pump which circulates the evolved gases through means for selectively recovering hydrogen therefrom. The pump also cools the reactor by evaporating water from the liquid phase. Preferably, product recovery is effected by selectively diffusing the hydrogen through a heated semipermeable membrane, while maintaining across the membrane a magnetic field gradient which biases the oxygen away from the heated membrane. This promotes separation, minimizes the back-reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, and protects the membrane.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,111--dated Jun. 30, 1992, discloses a method of removing, reducing or detoxifying organic pollutants from a fluid, water or air, by contacting the fluid with a photoreactive metal semiconductor material in the presence of ultraviolet light of a wavelength to activate the photoreactive material. This is improved by simultaneously contacting the photoreactive material with a substance that accepts electrons and thus inhibits hole-electron recombination. Such substance will be ouch as to readily accept electrons either from the conduction band or from superoxide ions, and to rapidly dissociate into harmless products.
Still other photoreactors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,567,921; 3,769,517; 3,924,246; 4,296,066; 4,381,978; 4,454,835; 4,488,935; 4,544,470; 4,774,026; 4,863,608; 4,868,127; 4,957,773; 5,045,288; 5,094,815; and 5,149,377.


A pressure sensor includes a sensor chip and a circuit chip. The sensor chip, which is configured to generate an electrical signal representative of a pressure being sensed, has a surface including a sensing area and a plurality of electrical contact pads disposed on the surface. The circuit chip includes a circuit configured to process the electrical signal and has a surface on which a plurality of electrical contact pads of the circuit chip are disposed. The circuit chip is joined to the sensor chip so that the electrical contact pads of the circuit chip are respectively electrically connected to those of the sensor chip, all the electrical contact pads of the circuit chip and the sensor chip are hermetically sealed and isolated from the fluid, and the surfaces of the circuit chip and the sensor chip face each other with the electrical contact pads of the same interposed therebetween.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pressure sensors. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved pressure sensor that has a compact size and high corrosion resistance and ensures high accuracy in sensing a pressure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, wire bonding has been used to make an electrical connection for a pressure sensor.
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a pressure sensor 200 includes a sensor chip 102, an integrated circuit chip 103, and a substrate 100.
The sensor chip 102 is configured to sense a pressure of a fluid and generate an electrical signal representative of the sensed pressure. The sensor chip 102 is joined to the upper surface of a glass seat 101, and disposed on the substrate 100 together with the glass seat 101.
The circuit chip 103 includes a circuit that is configured to process (e.g., amplify) the electrical signal generated by the circuit chip 102, and also disposed on the substrate 100.
In the above pressure sensor 200, wire bonding is used to make an electrical connection between the different members of the pressure sensor. Specifically, the sensor chip 102 has a plurality of electrical contact pads 102a that are made of aluminum and electrically connected to the substrate 100 by wire bonding 104; the circuit chip 103 has a plurality of electrical contact pads 103a that are also made of aluminum and electrically connected to the substrate 100 by wire bonding 105. As a result, the sensor chip 102 and the circuit chip 103 are electrically connected with each other.
However, in the above arrangement, the electrical contact pads 102a and 103a of the sensor chip 102 and the circuit chip 103 are to be exposed to an environment around the pressure sensor 200. When the environment is a corrosive one, for example, an acidic atmosphere, those electrical contact pads will be corroded accordingly, thereby resulting in an electrical connection failure.
As an alternative, Japanese Patent No. 3,198,779, an English equivalent of which is U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,939, discloses a pressure sensor that is configured to sense a pressure of a highly corrosive fluid.
According to the disclosure, the pressure sensor has a structure in which a sensing element is connected to connector pins by wire bonding, and all the sensing element, bonding wires, and connector pins are placed in oil and sealed by means of a corrosive resistant metal diaphragm.
However, with such a structure, the pressure sensor necessarily includes the metal diaphragm, the oil, an O-ring for sealing, etc., thus resulting in great difficulty in making the pressure sensor compact.

Compact pressure sensor with high corrosion resistance and high accuracy


A method and apparatus for reducing acoustic noise waves in the vicinity of an electrically conductive plasma, such as in the exhaust of a gas turbine engine, having a sensor to detect the noise wave and generate a representative electrical noise signal; a signal analyzer to analyze the noise signal, a wave form generator to generate a phase inverted, electrical interference signal based on the noise signal, an amplifier, a time delay, an error corrector; and an applying means to conduct the electrical interference signal to the plasma causing the plasma to generate a pulsating interference wave to cancel the acoustic noise wave.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for reducing noise in a jet engine. More particularly, the present invention relates to canceling the acoustic waves produced by a jet engine by stimulating a plasma within the engine to propagate an acoustic interference wave.
2. Prior Art
Jet aircraft are notorious for their excessive noise level. Individuals who reside near airports are continually subjected to high pitch, high volume noise from passing aircraft. Passengers on board the aircraft must also endure the noise for extended periods of time. This noise pollution is uncomfortable and even dangerous to the health of such persons. Accordingly, governmental regulations are in effect which require aircraft to adhere to certain maximum noise levels.
There are essentially three sources of acoustic noise in a gas turbine engine. The primary noise source is the engine exhaust. High velocity exhaust gases exiting the engine produce noise, as well as propagate mechanical noise from the engine. An additional noise source occurs at the air intake because of high speed rotation of the fan and compressor blades. Finally, mechanical engine noise is transmitted through the nacelle structures of the aircraft.
The most common methods for suppressing engine noise involve passive techniques, such as mechanically blocking the noise source with a muffler. Other passive techniques include mechanically blocking noise waves and/or converting the acoustic energy into different energy forms such as heat energy or acoustic waves of different frequencies. These techniques are only marginally effective because they allow the air and exhaust, which generate the noise, to flow freely from the source and then remedially attempt to cover or dissipate the acoustic energy. Similarly, exhaust systems have been developed that create a low velocity exhaust flowstream to surround, and thus block noise from, a high velocity exhaust flow stream. These techniques have had only limited success.
Other methods have focused on more active techniques, such as mixing inlet air with the exhaust gas to reduce the velocity of the exhaust gases. Such bypass systems involve varying the bypass ratio and depend on complex mixers for mixing the bypass air and exhaust gases. One problem with this technique is that it reduces the efficiency of the engine by bleeding intake air from the inlet.
Another active technique involves introducing a fluid, such as water, into the exhaust gases. The fluid is heated by the exhaust gas and expands rapidly. The rapid expansion produces sound and vibrations which are not in phase with the noise and vibrations produced by the engine. This method, however, requires the aircraft to carry a large volume of fluid, increasing the weight of the aircraft.
In theory, near complete suppression of engine noise should be possible with an active technique which cancels the acoustic waves. Such a technique would operate on the principle of wave interference or destructive interference. Methods that attempt to use destructive interference typically use a microphone, a control unit, and a speaker. The microphone senses the acoustic wave to be eliminated and generates an electrical signal that is sent to the controller. The controller inverts the signal and sends it to the speaker, which produces an acoustic wave that is usually 180.degree. out of phase with the original sound wave. The two waves interfere with and cancel one another.
Such techniques have been developed for integration on the exhaust of reciprocating engines and are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,466,899 and 5,414,230. Unfortunately, implementing theoretical interference is usually frustrated by practical realities which limit formation of any ideal,phase inverted acoustic wave. Furthermore, these methods fail to cancel the first half cycle of the wave or the last half cycle. Even if inverse phase alignment were feasible, the two waves must still have symmetrical pressure variations for total cancellation.
A specific example of such a prior art is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,606, issued on Feb. 3, 1976 to Wanke. This patent illustrates a noise suppression system for a gas turbine engine that produces an anti-wave, or phase inverted wave, which is in-phase and of mirror symmetry with respect to the acoustic wave. A microphone detects the acoustic wave. A controller creates a time delayed and phase reversed mirror symmetry signal to generate a phase inverted wave through a speaker. Wanke uses large ducts to channel the acoustic wave and anti-wave in order to create plane waves that can be easily combined to cancel each other. Practical application of this method is limited, however, because of the requirement that waves be directed through a wave guide to convert all the wave energy into plane waves.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop a method and apparatus for reducing noise capable of implementation on an aircraft and capable of creating an interference wave propagating in three dimensional space.

Sound reduction method and system for jet engines


An electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp includes an electrodeless lamp capsule having an enclosed volume containing a mixture of starting gas and chemical dopant material excitable by high frequency power to a state of luminous emission, an applicator for coupling high frequency power to the lamp capsule, a gas nozzle directed toward the lamp capsule and a gas controller coupled to the gas nozzle. The gas controller receives gas from a gas source and supplies a gas puff of limited duration to the lamp capsule through the gas nozzle in response to termination of the state of luminous emission. The lamp capsule is rapidly cooled by the gas puff to a temperature required for restart.

Electrodeless high intensity discharge (HID) lamps have been described extensively in the prior art. In general, electrodeless HID lamps include an electrodeless lamp capsule containing a volatilizable fill material and a starting gas. The lamp capsule is mounted in a fixture which is designed for coupling high frequency power to the lamp capsule. The high frequency power produces a light-emitting plasma discharge within the lamp capsule. Recent advances in the application of microwave power to lamp capsules operating in the tens of watts range are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,277, issued Dec. 3, 1991, to Lapatovich; U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,121, issued May 12, 1992, to Lapatovich, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,612, issued Jul. 14, 1992, to Lapatovich et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,206, issued Sep. 1, 1992, to Butler et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,246, issued Aug. 31, 1993, to Lapatovich, et al. As a result, compact electrodeless HID lamps and associated applicators have become practical.
The above patents disclose small, cylindrical lamp capsules wherein high frequency energy is coupled to opposite ends of the lamp capsule with a 180.degree. phase shift. The applied electric field is generally colinear with the axis of the lamp capsule and produces a substantially linear discharge within the lamp capsule. The fixture for coupling high frequency energy to the lamp capsule typically includes a planar transmission line, such as a microstrip transmission line, with electric field applicators, such as helices, cups or loops, positioned at opposite ends of the lamp capsule. The microstrip transmission line couples high frequency power to the electric field applicators with a 180.degree. phase shift. The lamp capsule is typically positioned in a gap in the substrate of the microstrip transmission line and is spaced above the plane of the substrate by a few millimeters, so that the axis of the lamp capsule is colinear with the axes of the field applicators.
Electrodeless high intensity discharge lamps have found potential applications, for example, in automotive lighting, surgical lighting, fiber optics illumination and as light sources for matrix projection displays. Their unique properties, derived from the lack of electrodes, make them particularly suitable for applications requiring long life, good lumen maintenance and high color stability. To be commercially viable in many of these applications, electrodeless HID lamps require a method of relighting the lamp upon a momentary loss of power. The loss of power may be due to the operator attempting to quickly relight the lamp or due to a momentary uncontrolled break in the supply of power to the lamp. Consumers expect tungsten light sources to quickly reestablish light output upon reapplication of power, and expect electrodeless HID lamps to do the same.
High intensity discharge lamps suffer from a relighting difficulty after power interruption due to the extremely high vapor pressure of the constituent gases resulting from high lamp temperature. During operation, HID lamp arc tubes operate at temperatures that exceed 750.degree. C. Metal halide lamps, for example, containing mercury exhibit internal pressures that range from 1 to 200 atmospheres. Room temperature pressures inside the arc tube are typically 10.sup.-5 atmospheres of mercury vapor and 1 to 500 Torr of starting gas, typically argon or xenon. The difference is due to the high increase in mercury vapor pressure with arc tube temperature. As pressure inside the arc tube increases, it becomes more and more difficult to start a discharge. This is a particular problem when power is momentarily interrupted. The lamp will not restart until it cools down close to room temperature. Cooling may take up to several minutes, during which no light is emitted from the lamp.
Hot relight has long been an issue with electroded metal halide lamps. In this case, application of extremely high voltage pulses (40 kV) after lamp turnoff produces conditions suitable for a rapid hot relight. Voltage pulses of this magnitude are required to break down the high pressure gas and establish conditions which allow current to flow between electrodes. High voltage is not the only requirement for restarting hot lamps at high pressure. The initial high voltage pulses produce gas breakdown and corona formation from the electrodes. This is followed in time by streamer formation eventually transversing the gap between the electrodes. These are high impedance phases of hot relight. If the power delivered to the electrodes is sufficient and the voltage is high enough, a spark channel is eventually formed, which allows sufficient current flow to eventually reestablish the arc. The spark channel phase is also a relatively high voltage phase but is lower in impedance, therefore requiring higher current from the voltage source. The most common way of producing conditions that ensure hot restart is to generate a long series of high voltage pulses that overvoltage the arc tube and force it to transition through each starting phase until the conventional ballast supply can sustain an arc. A final arc stage is established when sufficient energy is transferred to the electrodes during the spark channel phase.
The generation of sequential high voltage pulses is not trivial. Such an igniter is costly and creates a safety problem. The 40 kV pulses can ionize air, causing electrical failures, destroying CMOS circuitry and presenting a safety hazard for people in contact with the lamp.
Electrodeless HID lamps have no electrodes and therefore provide no way of injecting electrons directly into the arc tube. Hot relight of electrodeless HID lamps can be achieved with high voltage pulses, but these pulses are capacitively coupled to the discharge. The capacitively coupled pulse field and the applied microwave field are required for breakdown and hot relight. Generally, this is an unacceptable approach, since it is difficult to shield the microwave output transistors in the lamp ballast from the high voltage pulse fields, often resulting in the destruction of the output transistors.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,039 issued Feb. 15, 1994 to Gregor, et al discloses a slow cool down method of restarting electrodeless HID lamps. The disclosed method allows instant relight at any time after turnoff. This method requires the power system to remain on during the cooling time and covers the situation where the lamp is intentionally turned off and then quickly turned back on. It does not cover the case where total power to the lighting system is momentarily interrupted or removed. Continuous cooling of relatively high power electrodeless discharge lamps during operation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,913 issued Aug. 2, 1994 to Ury, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,076 issued Apr. 4, 1995 to Dolan et al and by B. P. Turner, et al in "Sulphur Lamps-Progress In Their Development" Ref. No. 87, 1995 IES Annual Conference, pages 660-672.

Hot relight system for electrodeless high intensity discharge lamps


An igniter for a gas turbine engine. An igniter generates a plasma, or spark, somewhat similar to an automotive spark plug. In the invention, an auxiliary electrode is provided, which is embedded in and covered by a solid insulator. During initial phases of operation, no part of the plasma generated contacts the auxiliary electrode. However, eventually, the covering insulation is eroded by the plasma, and the auxiliary electrode becomes exposed and available as a return path for the plasma. The igniter is constructed so that, when this erosion occurs, the lifetime of the igniter is near its end. Detection of this erosion, as by detecting the new current in the auxiliary ground electrode, indicates the approaching end-of-lifetime.

This Background will explain why the lack of absolute certainty in lifetimes of igniters used in gas turbine aircraft engines can impose significant costs on the owners of the aircraft utilizing the engines.
FIG. 1 is a highly schematic illustration of a gas turbine engine 3, containing a combustor 6. Fuel 9 is sprayed into the combustor. An igniter 12, which functions in a roughly analogous manner to a spark plug in an automobile, produces a spark, or plasma discharge (not shown), which initially ignites the jet fuel.
After initial ignition, the igniter 12 can be repeatedly sparked thereafter, primarily as a safety measure. That is, in a modern engine, under normal circumstances, it is extremely unlikely for a flame-out to occur in the combustor 6. However, unexpected situations, such as an abrupt cross-wind, can affect the environment within the combustor, and resulting loss of flame.
In addition, certain flight conditions make the unlikely event of a flame-out slightly more probable. Thus, for example, the igniter 12 may be activated when the aircraft enters a rain squall, or other situation which may disturb steady-state conditions in the combustor 6.
The igniters 12, like all mechanical components, have useful lives which eventually expire, at which time the igniters must be replaced. However, this expiration-and-replacement can create a situation in aircraft which is expensive.
A primary reason is that the approach of an igniter to the end of its lifetime is not marked by readily detectable events. That is, at some point, the igniter completely ceases to generate a plasma, or spark. However, prior to that point, the igniter may sporadically generate sparks.
As explained above, the sparking is not, in general, required to maintain the combustor flame. Consequently, the sporadic sparking would only be noticed if an actual flame-out occurred, and if the sporadic sparking were ineffective to induce a re-light. Since such a combination of events is seen as unlikely, the sporadic sparking is not readily noticed. The impending expiration of the useful life of the igniter is similarly not noticed.
Another reason is that, while all igniters may be constructed as identically as possible, nevertheless, those igniters do not all possess the same lifetimes. Nor do all igniters experience identical events during their lifetimes. Thus, it is not known exactly when a given igniter will expire.
Thus, the point in time when an igniter must be replaced is not known with certainty. One approach to solving this problem is to perform preventative maintenance, by replacing the igniters when they are still functioning. While the cost of a new igniter and the manpower required to install it is not great, the early replacement does impose another cost, which can be significant.
The aircraft in which the igniter is being replaced represents a revenue source measured in thousands of dollars per hour. If the aircraft is rendered non-functional for, say, two hours during replacement of an igniter, the revenue lost during that time is substantial.
Therefore, the uncertain lifetimes of igniters in gas turbine aircraft engines can impose significant losses in revenue.


In an environment in which a plurality of landscape images are held at distributed locations, virtual walkthrough is implemented by making display transition to another landscape image obtained by sensing a landscape that neighbors a displayed landscape upon displaying an image of a given landscape.

Along with the popularization of the Internet and digital cameras, landscape images sensed by cameras are published on the Internet, and the landscape images around the country can be observed via the Internet. As a method of publishing such landscape images, a method of publishing an image as a part of a World Wide Web Page described using HTML is known. Also, a service that publishes image data in the form of an on-line album is known.
Keywords such as place names and the like and comments sprinkled with place names are often appended to such images, and an image search can be conducted using a keyword.
However, with the aforementioned related art, when the user observes a given landscape image, and wants to observe other landscape images near that place, he or she cannot easily acquire other images. This is because even when images near that place are published, they are not always searched using place names. Even if such images can be searched using place names, many inappropriate images are often extracted as search results by a search process conducted using place names, and it is difficult to find appropriate images from them. Also, the user can hardly recognize the positional relationship between the currently observed landscape image and other landscape images.
For example, when the user observes a landscape image of a given street, he or she often need to observe landscape images after he or she goes along that street. In this case, even when the user extracts the first landscape image based on a street name, he or she cannot always find a landscape image which is right down this street by a similar search process. Even if the user can find such image, he or she cannot easily recognize their positional relationship.
According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-140731, an image display apparatus which prepares a plurality of composite images of a virtual space, and selectively displays these images to allow a user to experience walkthrough of the virtual space is disclosed. Also, composite images are not actually taken images.
However, such apparatus which implements walkthrough display cannot display an arbitrary combination of a plurality of images held at distributed locations.

Apparatus and method for displaying image


Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining weld and coil resistances of a commutator type electric motor armature. The method comprises the steps of determining a resistance ratio for a pair of coils and then determining the weld resistance across a commutator bar and coil connection based upon the resistance ratio.

In order to ensure compliance with customer specifications and government regulations, most electrical devices undergo a series of tests to ensure that they are operating within established limits. One class of electrical devices is that of commutator type electrical motors or generators. Motors or generators of this type generally employ a plurality of armature coils or windings which are connected in series. The ends of the coils re each connected to a commutator bar, which in turn, are brought in and out of contact with brush type contacts to thereby intermittently connect the coils to an electric power source for a motor or the electrical load for a generator.
The connections between each of the commutator bars and its associated coil is typically in the form of a weld or a solder joint and when testing the armature for winding anomalies and/or a defective weld connection, there can be significant testing problems. One of the inherent difficulties encountered during such testing is the large difference in values between the coil resistance itself and the resistance of the weld connection. For example, the resistance of a typical armature coil may be 0.5 ohms while the resistance of a weld may range from 40 micro ohms (for a ideal connection) to 500 micro ohms (for a non-open but unreliable weld). As a result of such great differences in resistance, the direct measurement of the resistance between two commutator bars cannot be relied upon to detect a defective connection between the coil and the commutator bar. For example, during manufacture the weld may be formed with a small discontinuity or void which, although not severe enough to cause an open circuit (large resistance) and thus be readily detectable, will be likely nonetheless to shorten the operating life of the motor. However, if each of the weld resistances can be accurately determined, then each such resistance can be compared with standard values to determine whether the weld is acceptable or must be rejected.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,086 to Axis S.p.A. discloses a method and apparatus for determining electrical resistance between the coils and commutator bars as well as the coil resistances themselves. As shown in FIG. 1 of this patent, a first d.c. current, I.sub.1, is passed through a first set of commutator bars 1 and 2, and a second current source, I.sub.2, is passed through a second set of commutator bars 3 and 2. Current I.sub.2 is a dependent current source which is controlled by a feedback loop so as to null or completely cancel the currents flowing through the other armature coils (R.sub.B6, R.sub.B5, R.sub.B4, and R.sub.B3). As a result of no current flow through R.sub.B6, a voltmeter can measure the voltage drop between commutator bars 1 and 6 which is really the voltage drop across R.sub.S1. As such, the resistance of the weld, R.sub.S1 can be calculated using the known value of I.sub.1. As a practical matter, the method of the '096 patent attempts to completely eliminate the affect of the armature coil resistances so that direct measurements of the voltage drop across the welds, per se, can be obtained.
The method and apparatus of the '086 patent, however, have several disadvantages. In particular, the method requires the use of a cancelling current in the form of a dependent current, I.sub.2, which may be difficult and expensive to control, especially in a production environment where noise is a significant problem. As a result, any current flow through R.sub.B6 will affect the accuracy of the measured weld resistance R.sub.S1. Further, the use of an additional current source can add noise which can induce errors into the measurement of the weld resistances.

Method and apparatus for determining the weld and coil resistances of a motor winding

Slaughter Company, Division of R. E. Phelon Company, Inc.


Provided is a system for robotic collaboration. A first robotic device includes a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor of the first robotic device effectuates first operations including: receiving first information from a processor of a second robotic device; actuating the first robotic device to execute a first action based on the first information; and transmitting second information to the processor of the second robotic device. The second robotic device includes a tangible, non-transitory, machine readable medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor of the second robotic device effectuates second operations including: receiving the second information transmitted from the processor of the first robotic device; actuating the second robotic device to execute a second action based on the second information; and transmitting third information to the processor of the first robotic device.

Mobile robotic devices are becoming increasingly prevalent in home and work environments. For example, mobile robotic devices have been integrated within consumer homes to automate cleaning of the consumer homes. In other instances, mobile robotic devices have been integrated within manufacturing warehouses to automate at least a portion of a manufacturing process of a device. In several cases, mobile robotic devices are beneficial for the convenience they provide in automating one or more tasks that otherwise would require human intervention. An example includes sports training, wherein a person often requires at least one opponent to train in a particular sport. In such instances, a mobile robotic device capable of playing sports can eliminate the need for the at least one opponent.