A catheter guide wire which, despite its reduced diameter, exhibits improved strength and resistance to corrosion by body fluids and medicines. The catheter guide wire 10 is composed of a stainless steel core wire 11, a winding of a low carbon duplex structure steel wire 13 having a diameter smaller than 30 .mu.m and a tensile strength higher than 300 kgf/mm.sup.2, said winding covering the core wire such that tiers of the low carbon duplex structure steel wire run obliquely to the axis of the core wire 11 and have turns crossing each other, and a polyester resin film 15, thinner than 3 .mu.m, covering the low carbon duplex structure steel wire 13. The catheter is composed of a resin inner tube and a low carbon duplex structure steel wire 13 covered with a polyester resin film 15, which runs around the resin inner tube obliquely to the axis and crosses each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a catheter to be used for diagnosis and medical treatment and also to a guide wire to keep the catheter approximately straight. More particularly, the present invention relates to a catheter and a catheter guide wire which have improved resistance to corrosion by body fluids and drugs. The catheter has such an entirely new structure that the forward end thereof is provided with a heating part which permits the accurate temperature control of the medicine to be injected hot.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Much attention is now focused on the new method of diagnosis and medical treatment which involves the insertion of a tubular catheter into the heart, lung, stomach, or blood vessel for the extraction of body fluids or blood or for the infusion of blood or medicine. The catheter for this purpose has an L-shaped tip and is flexible so that it can be inserted into complicatedly bent blood vessels. To facilitate insertion into the body, the catheter is kept approximately straight by the aid of a guide wire inserted into it. This guide wire should have the following characteristic properties.
Sufficient flexibility to permit the catheter to bend easily along the blood vessels. PA1 Sufficient strength to keep the tip of the catheter approximately straight. PA1 Small outside diameter to permit its insertion into the thin catheter. PA1 Good resistance to corrosion by body fluids and blood. PA1 Small outside diameter and large inside diameter. PA1 Good flexibility. PA1 Good buckling resistance (which prevents the catheter from being collapsed when it is bent). PA1 Ability to transmit torque (for manipulation) to its tip.
The conventional guide wire which meets these requirements is composed of a stainless steel core wire and two layers of windings of extremely thin stainless steel wire (about 30 .mu.m in dia.) on the core wire, with the inner windings being oblique to the axis of the core wire and the outer windings crossing the inner windings.
What is required of the above-mentioned catheter for diagnosis and medical treatment are:
The conventional catheter to meet these requirements is made from a tube of fluoroplastic (such as Teflon).
The above-mentioned catheter has recently found a new use for the remedy of obstructive jaundice induced by liver cancer. In other words, the catheter is used to inject blood or medicine (such as anticancer drug) hot directly into the affected part. The conventional method involves the heating of medicine by a warmer coil and the injection of the heated medicine through the catheter.
For the effective diagnosis and medical treatment, it is necessary that the catheter be brought as close to the affected part as possible. This requires the catheter to have a smaller outside diameter and the guide wire to have a smaller diameter accordingly. A conceivable way to meet this requirement is by further reduction in the diameter of the stainless steel wire. Mere reduction in diameter, however, results in insufficient strength, making it difficult for the guide wire to keep the catheter straight, which leads to the inconvenient manipulation of the catheter. There is a limit to reducing the diameter of the stainless steel wire.
One possible way of reducing the outside diameter of the conventional catheter is by the reduction of the wall thickness of the inserting part, because it is necessary to secure a certain inside diameter necessary for blood extraction or medicine injection. A problem associated with reducing the wall thickness is that the catheter is liable to collapse and to become poor in torque transmission ability. This is another factor that limits the reduction of the diameter.
It is expected that the reduction in diameter of the guide wire and catheter will be achieved with the low carbon duplex structure steel wire which had previously been proposed by the present inventors. It is produced from a wire rod, 3.0-6.0 mm in diameter, composed of C: 0.01-0.50%, Si: 3.0% or less, Mn: 5.0% or less, with the remainder being Fe and inevitable impurities (by weight), by the steps of primary heat treatment, primary cold drawing, secondary heat treatment, and secondary cold drawing. The thus produced steel wire has a diameter smaller than 30 .mu.m and a tensile strength higher than 300 kgf/mm.sup.2. In other words, it is stronger and tougher than stainless steel wire for the same diameter. Therefore, if the low carbon duplex structure steel wire is used as a reinforcement for the guide wire and catheter, it would be possible to reduce the diameter while meeting the above-mentioned requirements.
Unfortunately, the low carbon duplex structure steel wire has a disadvantage that it immediately rusts upon direct contact with body fluids, medicine, or air because it is extremely thin. Therefore, it should be given corrosion resistance.
According to the conventional practice it is necessary to heat medicine or blood using a warmer coil before it is injected hot through a catheter. The heated medicine or blood decreases in temperature when it reaches the affected part and the actual temperature is not known. In other words, the method for injecting blood or medicine hot through the conventional catheter poses a problem associated with inaccurate temperature control.


An inkjet printhead and a method for increasing the shelf life thereof are herein disclosed. The inkjet printhead has one or more nozzles for dispensing a colorant. These nozzles are fluidically connected to a reservoir. A first colorant substantially fills the nozzles while a second colorant is reserved in the reservoir.

Most inkjet printers dispense colorants or inks that are comprised of a dye and/or a pigment that is either dissolved or suspended in a volatile solvent. When the print head of the printer deposits the colorants on a recording media such as paper or film, the solvents in the colorants quickly evaporate, leaving the dyes and/or pigments behind on the recording media.
During the manufacturing process printheads for inkjet printers must be tested. Accordingly, it is customary to provide an inkjet printhead with a dye and/or pigment based colorant that will be dispensed from the printhead as a test to ensure that the printhead functions properly. It may also be necessary to include a colorant with a printhead so that a printer in which the printhead is installed may be tested.
However, where colorants are allowed to remain in a printhead for extended periods of time, it is often the case that the volatile solvents that make up the colorants will at least partially evaporate, leaving within the nozzles of the print head a residue of particles or a precipitate. FIGS. 1a-1c illustrate how the evaporation of a volatile solvent from the colorant can result in the malfunction of the printhead.
FIG. 1a is a schematic view of a typical nozzle 12 in an inkjet printhead 10. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, a printhead 10 typically includes multiple nozzles 12, each of which is connected to a reservoir (not shown) by a conduit 14. Generally, a single conduit 14 will supply colorant 13 to multiple nozzles 12. In a thermal inkjet printhead, a small resistor 16 will be provided adjacent to the opening of the nozzle 12. The resistor 16 ejects colorant 13 from the nozzle 12 by rapidly raising the temperature of the colorant 13 so as to cause the solvent thereof to boil. The rapid expansion of the boiling solvent ejects a droplet (not shown) of colorant 13 from the opening of the nozzle 12 in a known manner. Other types of inkjet printheads may utilize a piezoelectric element in lieu of the resistor 16.
The printhead 10 illustrated in FIG. 1a represents a printhead that has been newly filled with the colorant 13. FIG. 1b, represents a printhead 10 that has been stored for a period of time. Over time the solvents present in the colorant 13 begin to evaporate as represented by arrows 18. The evaporation of the solvents from the colorant 13 concentrates the pigments and/or dyes present in the colorant 13. As more time passes, the pigments and/or dyes begin to form a solid accretion 2. As can be seen in FIG. 1c, the accretion 2 has grown to the point where it blocks the nozzle 12, thereby preventing its proper functioning.
In order to retard the evaporation of the solvents from a colorant, it is common to either cover the nozzles of a printhead with tape or else to ensure that the printhead is otherwise covered with a cap. While such methods do slow the evaporation of solvents from the colorant, simply covering a nozzle is not sufficient to prevent the formation of accretions in a nozzle where the printhead is placed in storage for an extended period of time. Accordingly, there is a recognized need for a method and/or and apparatus that will prevent the formation of accretions in the nozzles of the printhead, particularly where the printhead must be stored for extended periods of time either before it is used or between uses.

Method and apparatus for reducing nozzle failure in stored inkjet printheads

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A case is provided for containing a product which is susceptible of deterioration in the air, and more particularly a cosmetic product. The case comprises a base for containing the cosmetic product, a cover articulated relative to the base, a locking device that maintains the cover in a closed position, and two substantially cylindrical, coaxial skirts, with a lower skirt extending from the base and an upper skirt extending from the cover, with the lower skirt capable of being inserted concentrically into the upper skirt when the cover is in a closed position, wherein when the cover is in a closed position the lower skirt is compressed axially and is therefore deformed radially in order to create a sealing contact between the upper skirt and the lower skirt.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a case, in particular for cosmetic products, such as a make-up case ensuring excellent, sealed closure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A product of that type very often deteriorates when exposed to air and is sometimes volatile. A case has indeed already been proposed, in particular in WO-A-87 07483 or in U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,519, comprising:
a base for containing the cosmetic product, PA1 a cover articulated relative to the base, PA1 locking means in order to maintain the cover and the base in a position in which the case is closed, PA1 sealing means comprising two substantially cylindrical skirts, one connected to the base and one to the cover, and being inserted one inside the other when the case is in the closed position. PA1 one (at least) of the skirts has two substantially cylindrical walls connected to one another to form a U, PA1 the skirt is compressed between the base and the cover when the case is in the closed position, PA1 under the effect of the compression stress, at least one of the walls is compressed along its generating lines and is deformed (in the direction towards the other skirt) perpendicularly to its generating lines in order to come into close contact with the other skirt.
However, the contact between the two skirts producing the seal causes them to become jammed, with the result that, in order to separate the two skirts and open the case, it is then necessary to apply a relatively great force which is hardly compatible with the demands of the market in question.
Therefore, it has not been known hitherto how to produce a sealed closure of a cover folded onto the base of a case maintained in the closed position, which is effective, ergonomic (in particular, easy to open), convenient to produce and substantially inexpensive.

Case for cosmetic products having sealed closure


A hinge for an electronic device, such as a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a portable compact disc player and the like, includes a body member and at least one contact provided on the body member. Structure is provided for electrically connecting each contact to a first portion of the electronic device. Structure is also provided for connecting each contact to a second portion of the electronic device. The hinge can be repeatedly used without wear or rubbing action because the ends of the contacts always remain connected to the electrical components of the upper and lower portions of the electronic device. If damaged, only the hinge needs to be replaced and the connections to the electronic device reinstated.

Electronic devices, such as notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, portable compact disc (CD) players and the like, are often designed with flip-up covers into which electronic components are added. These electronic components must be electrically connected to the electronic components in the other half of the electronic device through a hinged interface. There may be as many as fifty signals or more that are required to be interconnected between these halves.
Prior art electronic devices interconnect the electronic components in the halves by flexible circuits that are routed through the hinge and mated to the printed wiring boards (PWBs) or displays on the opposite half. These flex circuits are expensive, are difficult to install in the hinge and require manual labor, and have reliability issues. The hinge and the interconnect therethrough have one of the highest reliability problems for these types of electronic devices.
Often, if the hinge and/or flex circuit fails, the entire device is disposed of instead of replacing the damaged components. As color displays are being used in more electronic devices, the replacement of the entire electronic device is not cost effective.
The present invention provides a hinge interconnect that provides a solution to these problems. Other features and advantages will become apparent upon reading the attached description of the invention, in combination with a study of the drawings.


Isolation of the salivary basic glycoproteins CON-1 and CON-2 in high purity and without substantial loss of activity was achieved in a method utilizing two denaturing steps which limit proteolysis. Cloning of CON-1 and CON-2 from the PRB2 and PRB1 genes also provides a recombinant source of the proteins, which are useful inhibitors of alpha-glucosidases in the treatment of diabetes and in preventing retroviral infection. Subfragments of CON-1 and CON-2 having alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity are identified which can be prepared synthetically in commercial-scale quantities.

Proline-rich proteins (PRPs) make up about seventy percent of the salivary proteins. See Kim, et al., the structure and evolution of the human salivary proline-rich protein gene family, Mammalian Genome, 4: 3-14 (1993); Bennick A., Salivary proline-rich proteins. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 45: 83-99 (1982). The PRPs are divided into three groups (acidic, basic, and glycosylated) on the basis of their electrophoretic and chemical properties. Biological activities of PRPs include binding hydroxyapatite, calcium, and certain intraoral bacteria; mediation of adherence of microorganisms to the tooth surface; inhibition of hydroxyapatite formation; modification of lubricative properties of saliva; and detoxification of dietary tannins.
Six PRP genes code for many of the salivary PRPs. These PRPs show frequent polymorphisms. Azen, E. A., et al. Am. J. of Human Genetics, 58:143 (1996). Single PRP genes produce multiple PRPs by allelic variation, post-translational cleavage, and differential mRNA processing. Maeda, N., et al. J. of Biol. Chem., 260:11123 (1985).
CON-1, a member of the PRP gene family, is a basic glycoprotein which binds concanavalin A. Approximately, 80 percent of the population has a form of CON-1, referred to as the large form, 10 percent the small form (CON-2), and 10 percent are missing CON-1 altogether. The CON-1 protein has proven extremely difficult to purify and characterize because of its rapid degradation in saliva.
It has been found that CON-1 and its analog, CON-2, are highly potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Such inhibitors of synthetic origin have shown efficacy in treating certain medical conditions.
Alpha-glucosidases are enzymes which hydrolyze both alpha-1,4 and alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages. Cleaving d-1,4- and d-1,6-linkages result in the conversion of non-absorbable carbohydrates into absorbable sugars during the digestion of foods. The proper post-translational processing of glycoproteins also requires cleavage of part of the oligosaccharides. Synthetic inhibitors of alpha-glucosidase have proven useful in the treatment of diabetes and show potential for the treatment of retroviral infections such as those caused by HIV.
Acarbose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor widely used to treat diabetic patients. Acarbose is the only new pharmaceutical therapy for non-insulin dependent diabetes that has become available in the last 40 years. See Santeusanio, et al. Drug Safety, 11(6):432-444, (1994), and Bischoff, H., Eur. J. of Clin. Invest., 24, Suppl. 3. 3-10 (1994).
Acarbose acts by competitively inhibiting alpha-glucosidases in the intestinal brush border. Alpha-glucosidases convert nonabsorbable dietary starch and sucrose into absorbable monosaccharides. Inhibitors of alpha-glucosidase delay this conversion, resulting in the slower formation and absorption of monosaccharides. Therefore, these inhibitors reduce the concentration of post-prandial blood glucose, effectively treating hyperglycemia. It has been difficult to find other metabolically active drugs that lack toxicity, as reviewed by Rachman, J., Diabetic Medicine, 12:467-478 (1995). Several synthetic alpha-glucosidase inhibitors have been developed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,286,877, 5,260,447, 5,157,116, 5,097,023, 5,028,614, 5,004,838, and 4,898,986.
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors also appear to be useful in the treatment of AIDS. See generally, Ratner, L., and N. Heyden, Mechanism of Action of N-Butyl Deoxynojirimycin in Inhibiting HIV-1 Infection and Activity in Combination with Nucleoside Analogs, AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, Volume 9, Number 4, (1993); Ratner, L., Glucosidase Inhibitors for Treatment of HIV-1 Infection, AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, Volume 8, Number 2 (1992); Mohan, P., Anti-Aids Drug Development: Challenges and Strategies, Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 9, No. 6, (1992). The HIV-1 envelope proteins are heavily glycosylated. Much research has centered on the development of selective inhibitors of oligosaccharide synthesis and processing for use as antiviral drugs.
Alpha-glucosidase is required for proper post-translational processing of the env proteins of HIV. Oligosaccharides on the mature env glycoproteins do not play a direct role in infectivity, but infectivity depends on proper oligosaccharide processing. Without proper processing, the env proteins do not fold correctly, impairing infectivity. Fenouillet, E., et at. J. of Gen. Virol., 72:1919-1926 (1991).
This research has resulted in the development of synthetic alpha-glucosidase inhibitors as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,877, 5,264,356, and 5,097,023. In vitro studies demonstrate these compounds inhibit the infectivity of HIV. U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,356 discloses a method of inhibiting the infectivity of HIV and other retroviruses in vitro by application of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. One of these inhibitors, N-Butyl deoxynojirimycin, has entered clinical trials. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,028,614 and 5,089,520 disclose methods of treating human patients infected with retroviruses, including HIV, with alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.

Human salivary proteins and fragments thereof having alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity


A design for a memory array that uses bi-directional write currents and that avoids switched ground connections for memory cells, thereby reducing signal loss and noise problems is described. Positive and negative current sources are provided to supply the bi-directional current that is used to write to a memory cell. These current sources may be selectively connected to bit lines that are electrically connected to the memory cells. Applying a positive current, from the positive current source, through a memory cell writes a “1”, and applying a negative current, from the negative current source, through a memory cell writes a “0”. Use of both a positive and a negative current source enables writing to the memory cells without relying on a switched ground connection to provide bi-directional current. This permits a ground connection of each memory cell to be connected to a fixed ground. An example in which this design is used with a spin injection magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) device is shown.

One emerging technology for non-volatile memory is magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM). A common form of MRAM is based on the tunnelling magneto-resistance (TMR) effect, in which each memory cell comprises a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). Such an MTJ may be formed from two ferromagnetic metal layers, with an insulating layer placed between the metal layers. When a voltage is applied between the metal layers, a tunnel current flows. The tunnel resistance varies based on the relative directions of magnetization of the metal layers. The tunnel resistance is small when the directions of magnetization are parallel (typically representing a "0"), and large (approximately 10%-20% higher, at room temperature) when the directions of magnetization are anti-parallel (typically representing a "1").
The metal layers in a typical MRAM MTJ include a "fixed" layer, in which the direction of the magnetization is fixed, and a "free" layer, in which the direction of the magnetization can be switched by application of currents. These currents are typically applied through conductive write lines referred to as bit lines and word lines, which are disposed so that the bit lines are orthogonal to the word lines. In an MRAM array, an MTJ memory cell is located at each intersection of a bit line with a word line.
In a typical MTJ cell, to switch the direction of magnetization of the free layer, of a particular cell, currents are applied through the bit line and the word line that intersect at that cell. The direction of these currents determines the direction in which the magnetization of the free layer will be set. The combined magnitude of the currents through the word and bit lines must be sufficient to generate a magnetic field at their intersection that is strong enough to switch the direction of magnetization of the free layer.
A more recent type of MRAM cell is a spin-injection MRAM. In a spin-injection MRAM, the free layer is not switched via application of a magnetic field generated by the bit lines and word lines. Instead, a write current is applied directly through the MTJ to switch the free layer. The direction of the write current through the MTJ determines whether the MTJ is switched into a "0" state or a "1" state. A select transistor connected in series with the MTJ may be used to select a particular cell for a write operation.
One problem with MRAM devices is that the signals provided by MTJs on reading are small relative to the signals provided by other non-volatile memory technologies. This small signal makes reliable readout at high speeds difficult, and generally requires that the sense amplifier that is used to read MRAM memory use as much of the cell signal as possible. Thus, reduction of signal losses in the sensing path of the memory is of increased importance in MRAM devices.
High-resistive ground connections of memory cells are one common source for signal loss in memory arrays. While providing a low resistive ground connection is relatively straightforward when the memory cells can be permanently tied to ground, it can be difficult when the ground connection has to be switched, as is typically the case in spin-injection MRAM, and in other types of memory that use bi-directional current for writing. Because it must be able to force a write current through the MTJ in either direction, typical spin-injection MRAM designs do not have fixed ground connections. This causes noise and signal loss in the sensing path of spin-injection MRAM devices. Similar problems may be encountered in other memory devices that use bi-directional current for writing.
What is needed in the art is a design for a memory array that uses bi-directional current for writing, and that reduces signal loss in the sensing path due to switched ground connections.


A tool adapted for inserting and removing pitot tubes or other sensing elements through a hot tap into a fluid conveying pipeline is mounted to the side of the hot tap. A drive tube is slidably inserted into a protective enclosing tube, with the enclosing tube being attached to the hot tap and the drive tube being attached to the sensing element. Rotation of a threaded drive shaft causes a threaded bushing connected to the drive tube to move upward and downward within the enclosing tube depending on the direction of rotation. Downward movement of the drive tube inserts the sensing element into the pipeline through the hot tap and upward movement of the drive tube removes the sensing element from the hot tap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tools for inserting pitot tubes and similar sensing elements into fluid conveying pipelines and removing sensing elements from the fluid conveying pipelines. More particularly, the present invention relates to tools for inserting and removing the sensing elements through stuffing boxes of hot taps in high pressure pipelines without interrupting the flow of fluid in pipelines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a fluid conveying pipeline, such as a gas pipeline, water pipeline, or petrochemical pipeline, it is often desirable to collect information about the flow, pressure or other parameters of the fluid flowing in the pipeline by insertion of a measuring device such as a pitot tube, hereinafter sometimes referred to generally as a sensing element, into the flowing fluid. For example, in order to measure flow, an elongated flow sensing element, such as the pitot tube described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,711, may be inserted into the flow.
It is also desirable to insert and remove sensing elements while the fluid is present and flowing in the pipeline. This facilitates moving sensing elements from location to location, when it is desired to measure the characteristic of the fluid only periodically, and facilitates removal of the sensing element for maintenance and cleaning and subsequent re-insertion.
In order to accomplish insertion and removal without interrupting flow, hot taps are widely used. A hot tap generally comprises an outlet through a wall of the pipeline conveying the fluid for which a parameter is to be measured. An access valve is connected to the outlet. The access valve is a valve of a type which provides an unobstructed access passageway to the interior of the pipeline when the valve is open. The access valve is connected by an access tube to a packing gland designed to seal around the sensing element while permitting the sensing element to be inserted and removed. To insert the sensing element into the hot tap the access valve is initially closed. An end of the sensing element is first inserted through the packing gland, forming a relatively fluid tight seal between the packing gland and the sensing element. The end of the sensing element is then inserted along a passageway the access tube until the end of the sensing element is near the location of the closed access valve. The access valve is opened, allowing the fluid in the pipeline to enter the access tube. The end of the sensing element is then passed through the access passageway of the access valve until it is inserted a preselected distance into the pipeline. The packing gland is adjusted to tighten the seal and the sensing element is secured by a conventional threaded connector or clamping means to prevent its being pushed out of the pipeline and access tube by fluid pressure. In order to remove the sensing element these steps are reversed.
Many problems are inherent in inserting and removing a sensing element through a hot tap. The pressure of the pipeline may be extremely high, creating a substantial force resisting insertion of the sensing element. In addition, the sensing element is typically long and slender, making it difficult to handle, and creating the possibility of binding at the packing gland and damaging the sensing element if it is not inserted or removed substantially along a longitudinal axis of the passageway of the access tube. In order to insert and remove the sensing element it is necessary to substantially align the sensing element with the longitudinal axis of the access tube before inserting the end of the sensing element into the packing gland. This requires an unobstructed insertion space between the packing gland and the nearest obstruction, such as another pipe, a wall or a ceiling, the insertion space being at least as long as the sensing element. Insertion and removal tools which align with the axis of the sensing element increase the required insertion space, making them difficult to use in restricted spaces. Further complicating matters hot taps are often located in dirt or debris laden environments, in which exposed moving parts of an insertion and removal tool may malfunction due to a buildup of dirt and debris on the moving parts.
Several insertion and removal tools, have been used to partially overcome these problems. Piston driven hydraulic tools have been used to apply an insertion force through a drive rod to the top of the measuring element, pushing the measuring element into the pipeline. These tools can provide the necessary force but are mechanically complex, making them prone to failure. Further, they must be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the sensing element and therefore add substantially to the required insertion space and to the difficulty of handling the sensing element.
Direct insertion tools using threaded stem and nut constructions, with a threaded stems aligned with the longitudinal axis of the sensing element and secured to the top of the sensing element, provide a mechanical advantage for manual insertion and are mechanically simpler than the hydraulic insertion devices, but share the disadvantage of requiring additional unobstructed insertion space. In addition, the threaded stem is directly exposed to the dirt and debris laden environment in which the devices are used, and is thus prone to fouling from dirt and debris. This buildup of dirt and debris on the stem may interfere with proper operation. This problem is accentuated by the fact that such stem and nut arrangements are frequently coated with an oil or grease which tends to retain the dirt and debris on the surface of the threaded stem.
Both the hydraulic piston and the threaded stem and nut tools push the probe into the pipeline against the pipeline pressure. The resulting force on the tool places the drive rod or stem of the tool in compression. When the drive rod or stem is in compression it can bend, possibly damaging the tool and potentially causing the sensing element to not be inserted substantially along the longitudinal axis of the access tube.
A side mounted threaded stem and nut tool which clamps to the access tube of the hot tap and to the top of the sensing element is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,787, to Waterman, issued in 1989. The nut of the Waterman tool is located above a bushing that is slidable along the stem and is connected to the top of the sensing element. An actuating wrench is connected to the nut. When the nut is rotated by the wrench in one direction the nut bears down on the bushing and the sensing element is pushed into the hot tap against the pipeline pressure and friction in the packing gland. When the nut is rotated in the other direction pipeline pressure is allowed to force the sensing element out of the hot tap, controlled by the rotation of the nut. The side mounted stem and nut of the Waterman tool extends only a short distance above the top of the sensing element, thereby reducing the additional insertion space required by some other tools. A certain amount of added insertion space is required, however, to accommodate the actuating wrench, or lever, that is located beyond the end of the sensing element. The threaded stem and nut of the Waterman tool is exposed to the environment and is subject to fouling with dirt and debris. In addition, because the Waterman tool device normally relies on pipeline pressure to provide the force for removing the sensing element from the pipeline, partial disassembly is required to bring a lower nut into contact with the bottom of the slidable bushing in order to remove the sensing element in the event pipeline pressure is inadequate to overcome the frictional forces at the packing gland which may resist removal of a sensing element.
It is against this background that the present invention was developed to provide an improved tool for inserting and removing sensing elements.

Tool for inserting and removing a sensing element from a fluid pipeline


A method and a system for reducing a jerk produced by the range shift of a transmission with a power division arrangement. The transmission includes a variable speed drive in the form of a continuously variable transmission, and a pair of planetary gear sets and a pair of shift clutches to enable power to be divided between two branches within the transmission. During a range shift between two operating ranges the variable speed drive is acted upon by a short-term transmission ratio adjustment impulse in such a way that a cancellation jerk caused thereby the adjustment impulse weakens the jerk caused by the range shift.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a method and a system for reducing a jerk produced by the range shift of a CVT transmission with power division.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transmissions with continuously adjustable transmission ratio, especially belt-driven conical pulley transmissions with two conical disk pairs spanned by an endless torque-transmitting means, are increasingly utilized in motor vehicles because of the comfort advantages and fuel economy savings that can be achieved thereby. Because of the limited transmission ratio adjustment, which is made possible by the two conical disk pairs of the transmission ratio adjustment unit, also designated as a variator (variable speed drive), through opposite adjustment of the spacing between the conical disks of the conical disk pairs, the further development of such transmissions is thus intensively investigated so that the adjustment range of the variator can be used twice, in that it is carried out once in the one direction and then in the other direction.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary CVT transmission with power division:
An engine 2 of a motor vehicle is connected with the input shaft 4 of a variator VAR containing two conical disk pairs spanned by an endless torque-transmitting means. The variator is connected with the output shaft 6 of the transmission by a first planetary gear set P1. A power division path of the transmission leads from the input shaft 4 through a clutch K2 and a second planetary gear set P2 to the output shaft 6.
More precisely, the input side of clutch K2 is non-rotatably connected with the input shaft 4 and the output side with the planet carrier of planetary gear set P1 and the ring gear of planetary gear set P2. The output shaft 6 is non-rotatably connected with the ring gear of the planetary gear set P1 and the planet carrier of planetary gear set P2. The output shaft of the variator is connected with the sun gear of the planetary gear set P1. The sun gear of the planetary gear set P2 is selectively fixed or freely rotatable through a shift clutch K1. To match a motor vehicle, the output shaft 6 is connected with the drive wheels 10 of the motor vehicle through a transmission ratio stage 8, wherein 12 symbolizes the elastic elements contained in the power train of the motor vehicle, which make the power train susceptible to vibration.
The variator VAR, and the shift clutches K1 and K2 are controlled by a control unit 14 with a microprocessor 16, a program memory 18, and a data memory 20. The control unit 14 has inputs 22, which are connected with sensors of the power train, for example rotational speed sensors, load sensors, temperature sensors, an accelerator pedal position sensor, a transmission selector lever position sensor, etc. The control unit 14 generates output signals at its outputs 24, in accordance with which the actuators of the variator VAR, and the shift clutches K1 and K2 are operated.
The construction and function of the described system are known and are therefore not described in detail.
FIG. 2 shows the overall transmission ratio iGES of the transmission as a function of the transmission ratio iVAR of the variator VAR, and the positions of the shift clutches K1 and K2.
In the first range of the transmission, while driving at high transmission ratios or at low speed, the shift clutch K2 is disengaged, and the shift clutch K1 engaged, so that the sun gear of the planetary gear set P2 is stationary, and the ring gear of the planetary gear set P2 rotates together with the planet carrier of the planetary gear set P1. The transmission runs in the non-power-division range, while its transmission ratio changes corresponding to the transmission ratio of the variator iVAR. When the variator reaches its longest possible transmission ratio (iVAR approximately=0.5), a shift occurs in the overall transmission ratio U, in which the shift clutch K1 is disengaged and the shift clutch K2 is engaged, so that a power-division operation takes place, which is carried out at higher speeds, and which leads to the longest possible overall transmission ratio iGES of the transmission of approximately 0.8. As shown, in that way by a spread of about 4 for the variator, a spread of about 7 for the overall transmission ratio can be achieved.
A problem that is encountered during a range shift of the transmission consists in the fact that rotating masses within the transmission, especially when shifting during rotational speed gradients take place, for example kick-down downshifts, require high acceleration output. That acceleration output is lost in the traction force, and thereby causes a shift jerk, or a shift jerking, which is detectable in the motor vehicle, and is relatively uncomfortable.
The invention is based on the object to avoid such jerks in a range shift.

Method and system for the reduction of the jerk caused by range shifting of a CVT transmission with power division

LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG


A system and apparatus for permitting a user of a selective call receiver (31) to receive a certain number of personal messages and information service updates without paying a fee for such services in return for reading advertisements wirelessly transmitted to the selective call receiver. The user is allowed to read the advertisements at any time prior to receiving the personal messages and information service updates. The certain number is proportional to the number of advertisements read. The certain number can be increased by the user responding to questions within advertisements using reverse channel messaging capabilities of a selective call transceiver (32), or by using a conventional telephone (22).

It is well known that paging system infrastructure operators derive revenue for selectively transmitting messages to persons carrying selective call receivers or selective call transceivers, hereinafter collectively referred to as pagers. Usually such messages are personal messages transmitted to one pager, although at times such messages are group messages transmitted to more than one pager. A user of the pager pays a fee to the paging infrastructure operator for such service either on a per message basis or on a flat rate for a predetermined time period. It is also well known that the paging infrastructure operator or another entity provides information services such as stock prices, weather reports, traffic reports, sports scores, etc., to users of pagers for a fee. Such services are customized to the needs and desires of each pager user; however, the information received through such services does not comprise personal messages. The fee for such information services usually depends upon the oftenness and quantity of information transmitted. Such fee typically is paid directly or indirectly to the other entity that provides the information. Collectively, the transmission of personal messages and the transmission of information services comprise paging services. In any event, the user of the pager pays for the paging services received on the pager.
Attempts have been made to provide paging services without the user of the pager paying any money for the services. One known method has been to transmit an advertisement with every personal message such that the pager displays the advertisement before the pager displays the personal message. With such known method, an advertiser pays for the paging services. Disadvantageously, with this prior art method, users of pagers must view every advertisement, including those advertisements that the users do not consider applicable to their interests. Further, known methods fail to provide to the user an option to bypass advertisements and instead pay for paging services. Finally, with known methods it is impracticable to transmit an advertisement with every update, such as a stock price update, transmitted as part of an information service.
Therefore, what is needed is an improved method and apparatus for providing free paging services to pager users through the use of advertisements in a way that encourages the user to ponder the content of advertisements transmitted to the user's pager.

Advertiser pays information and messaging system and apparatus


A corner protector for protecting the top corners of stacks of lumber from being indented or frayed by tie-down cables in a railroad freight car, comprises a sidewall connected at its top to a top wall at right angles to the sidewall along a fold line so that the sidewall is adapted to contact the side of a stack of lumber and the top wall is adapted to contact the top of the stack of lumber, cable alignment tabs on top of the top wall for aligning the tie down cable, cable retention fingers mounted on the sidewall for capturing and detaining the tie down cable, whereby when the protector is mounted on the corner of a stack of lumber it is protected against being contacted and indented by the tie down cable, the cable is protected against wearing and fraying caused by contacting the corner of the stack of lumber, and the corner protector may be installed without disconnecting the cable by loosening the cable and inserting the protector under the cable and mounting the protector on the top corner of the stack of lumber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a corner protector for protecting the top corners of stacks of lumber from being indented or frayed by tie down cables, and is more particularly concerned with protecting the corners of stacks of lumber on railroad freight cars where without the corner protector the corners of the stacks of lumber may be indented or frayed by the tie down cables as the railroad freight car is traveling along.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Lumber tie down cables are typically found on center beam bulkhead freight cars which are used to transport stacks of pieces of lumber. When the tie down cables are tied down too tightly they cause indentations of the pieces of lumber especially at the top corners of a stack of lumber. If the tie down cables are not tied down tightly enough, the movement of the freight car causes movement of the tie down cables and the pieces of lumber to cause fraying of the lumber and of the tie down cable. Conventional protectors are made of steel and wear on the cables. This is undesirable.

Corner protector for protecting the top corners of stacks of lumber


Method to make a splice in a laid rope construction containing at least two strands includes splitting one end of the laid rope into a first part having a first number of strands and a second part having a second number of strands, then tucking the first part of the first rope from a first direction into an opening in the laid rope, and thereafter tucking the second part into the opening from an opposite direction. The first and second parts are tucked at least 3 times into additional openings being separated from one another such that the first part and the second part cross over at least once all the strands of the laid rope and leave the second rope at the last opening.

Splices are used amongst others in eye splices and end-for-end splices for e.g. ropes, grommets, hawsers and round slings. Splices are also used in the production of endless ropes.
A method to make a splice in a laid rope is known from "The Splicing Handbook of Barbara Merry", ISBN 0-07-135438-7. Herein a splice is made by splitting a rope in its single strands and tucking these single strands in another part of the rope in case of an eye splice, or in another rope in cases where two ropes are to be connected with each other. In the known method typically all constituting strands are separately tucked in another rope or in another part of the same rope to make an eye.
A connection made with a known splice in a rope has a lower strength than the strength of the original rope. This means that the strength retention, hereinafter referred to as "efficiency", of the known splices, being the relative strength of the splice and the strength of the original rope, is below 100%.
The invention aims to provide a method for making a splice in a laid rope construction with at least two-strand ropes, which method results in a splice with a higher efficiency than the known splice.
This aim is achieved with a method comprising the steps of:    a) Splitting one end of a first rope end in a first and a second part comprising respectively a first and a second number of strands, the first number of strands being at most one more than the second number of strands;    b) Tucking the first part from one side into an opening in a second rope, such that the opening has a first number of strands of the second rope on one side and a second number of strands on the other side, the first and second number differing at most by one;    c) Tucking the second part from the other side into the opening in the second rope;    d) Repeating steps b) and c) at least 3, respectively at least 3+1 times, whereby the respective openings in the second rope are separated such that the first and the second part have crossed over at least all the strands of the second rope once and the first and second part leave the second rope at respective last openings.
With the method according to the invention it was surprisingly found that the efficiency is higher than the efficiency of the known splice.


The invention discloses a five-piece lens set for capturing images. The lens set comprises a five-piece optical lens. In order from an object side toward an image side, the five-piece optical lens comprises a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex image-side surface; a second lens element having a convex object-side surface, and at least one of both surfaces thereof being aspheric; a third lens element with positive refractive power having a concave image-side surface, and having one inflection point that is located away from the optical axis; a fourth lens element with positive refractive power, and at least one of both surfaces thereof being aspheric; a fifth lens element having a convex object-side surface and having two inflection points not closed to an optical axis on the object-side surface. The five-piece lens set further comprises an aperture stop and an image-plane.

1. Field of the Invention
The following description relates to a five-piece lens set for capturing images, and more particularly to a miniaturized optical lens set that can be applied to electronic products.
2. Description of the Related Art
Presently, as the electronic products with images capturing is burgeoning, the needs for the miniaturized photograph lens increase gradually. The designs of two-piece, three-piece, four-piece and five-piece lens are known, but in terms of the image quality, the four-piece and five-piece lens have an advantage over the aberration correction and optical transfer function, wherein the high definition of the five-piece lens enables the functions fitting into the electronic products with high quality and high pixel.
As for as the smaller digital camera, webcam, lens of mobile phone and so on are concerned, the optical lens thereof is requested to be miniaturized, shorter focal length, and better aberration adjustment; as to the five-piece lens set for capturing image with stationary focal length, the four-piece and five-piece lens with different refractive powers as well as inflection point match up the demands for better aberration correction and shorter total length.
As a result, how to reduce the total length of optical lens for capturing image and effectively combine sets of lenses so as to further promote the imaging quality by means of a five-piece lens with refractive power, convex and concave surfaces has become an extremely crucial issue.

Five-piece lens set for capturing images

ABILITY OPTO-ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.


A proximity warning system including cameras positioned on a machine, processors, and one or more memory devices including instructions for execution by the processors. The system includes instructions to receive, from the cameras, image data depicting an object within a field of view of the cameras. The system includes instructions to derive a first distance between the object and the machine based on the image data and an alarm is triggered when the first distance is less than a first threshold distance. The system can include instructions to receive a request to snooze the alarm and discontinue the alarm. Additional image data can be received from the cameras and a second distance between the object and the machine is derived based on the additional image data. The system includes instructions to cancel the snooze and retrigger the alarm when the second distance is less than a second threshold distance.

Proximity alarm systems used on machines, such as hydraulic excavators, typically have a method to acknowledge or snooze (pause) an audible alert for an object nearby and/or approaching the machine. Failure to snooze audible alarms, and to do so for a long enough duration, can lead to the safety system being disregarded or even disabled by an operator.
Given that additional concerns can emerge while an alarm system is snoozed, there have been efforts to establish criteria to retrigger a snoozed alarm. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,275,847 to Lewis (hereinafter "Lewis") describes an Interactive Maintenance Management System ("IMMS") which includes an alarm handling system for handling alarms that indicate present or imminent equipment failure. The IMMS may be used in industrial situations, such as strip-mines, to reduce equipment downtime and reduce or prevent equipment failure. Lewis's IMMS uses a flexible response system to track, analyze, and improve performance of the alarm handling system. As Lewis is directed to alarms related to equipment failure, the criteria Lewis defines for retriggering an alarm is not relevant to proximity alarm systems. For example, Lewis retriggers a snoozed alarm for required maintenance/repair after a maintenance facility becomes available.
Thus, there are still opportunities to improve proximity alarm systems used on machines to alert an operator to nearby and/or approaching objects. The example systems and methods described herein are directed toward overcoming one or more of the deficiencies described above and/or other problems with the prior art.

Systems and methods to retrigger detection based proximity alarm systems


A method for the preparation of a fluorinated ketone of the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently fluorine, alkyl of from about 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, fluoroalkyl of from about 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, or ##STR2## where R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently fluorine, alkyl of from about 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, or fluoroalkyl of from about 1 to about 8 carbon atoms and n is 0 or 1. The method includes heating an anhydride of the formula: ##STR3## with a catalyst including a cationic salt of a fluorocarboxylic acid or an alkali metal fluoride to obtain the fluorinated ketone.

Fluorinated ketones are useful, reactive chemical intermediates, e.g. to make condensation type polymers, e.g. polyamides, polyimides and polyesters suitable for coatings, electronics and high performance polymers. The ketones can also be reduced to alcohols which also have utility as intermediates. Hexafluoroacetone, for example, is widely used commercially in the manufacture of fluorinated aromatic polyesters, polyamides, and polyimides (see W. K. Appel, B. A. Blech, and M. Stobbe in "Organofluorine Chemistry Principles and Commercial Applications", p 413, Plenum Press, New York, 1993).
Several synthetic methods for perfluorinated ketones have been reported. Few, if any, however, appear to be suitable for all members of the family of perfluoroketones, R.sub.f C(O)R.sub.f, where R.sub.f is a perfluoroalkyl group. For example, the more useful methods for preparing hexafluoroacetone, such as the halogen exchange of hexachloroacetone and the isomerization of hexafluoropropene oxide (for a review of hexafluoroacetone, see C. G. Krespan and W. J. Middleton, Fluorine Chem. Rev, 1 (1967) 145) do not work or do not give pure materials when applied to higher homologs in the series. For this reason other methods have been necessary for these higher molecular weight ketones. Perfluoro-3-pentanone has been prepared by the cesium fluoride catalyzed reaction of perfluoropropionyl fluoride with tetrafluoroethylene (A. Nakahara, Y. Izeki, and J. Nakajima, Jpn. Kokai Tokyo Koho JP 01, 226, 846; CA 112:P118260u). Perfluoro-4-heptanone has been prepared by the reaction of sodium ethoxide with ethyl perfluorobutyrate (D. W. Wiley, U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,463 Mar. 28, 1963). According to this patent (Wiley's method), one mole of an alkali metal alkoxide is treated with 2 moles of an ester of a fluorinated acid having not less than three carbon atoms in the acid portion of the ester. Although the yield was good, reaction times were long, e.g. several days and involved complex product isolation and dehydration procedures. Perfluoro-4-heptanone has also been prepared in 20% yield by the action of heptafluoromagnesium iodide on ethyl heptafluorobutyrate (A. L. Henne and W. C. Frances, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 75 (1953) 992).
The decarboxylation of salts of haloacetic acids has been used as a means to generate trihalomethide (CF.sub.3.sup.-) ions. For example, salts of trifluoroacetic acid, e.g., CF.sub.3 COOK, were heated in a solvent and the CF.sub.3.sup.- anion generated was reacted with appropriate electrophiles such as SO.sub.2 to generate trifluoromethylated compounds, such as CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2 K (J. R. Desmers, G. Forat, V. Pevere, S. Ratton, N. Rogues, J. Russell, and L. Saint-Jalmes, Abstract O(3) C-5, 15.sup.th International Symposium on Fluorine Chemistry, Vancouver, Canada, August, 1997).
In the case of non-fluorinated anhydrides, the transformation of anhydrides to ketones has found limited use in the preparation of symmetrical ketones (E. H. Man and C. R. Hauser, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 72, (1950), 3294). The catalyst is boron trifluoride (used in large quantity to form a saturated solution), and appears to be limited to anhydrides which have a hydrogen on the carbon adjacent to the carbonyl carbon. In these reactions decarboxylation does not occur until the initially formed products (anhydrides in which one or more hydrogens have been replaced by RC(O) groups) are hydrolyzed. H. Meerwein and D. Vossen, (J. Prakt. Chem., 141 (1934) 149) indicate for the conversion of acetic anhydride to 2,4-pentanedione, for example, the stoichiometry is: 5 CH.sub.3 C(O)OC(O)CH.sub.3 +H.sub.2 O (during work-up).fwdarw.2CH.sub.3 C(O)CH.sub.2 C(O)CH.sub.3 +4CH.sub.3 COOH+2CO.sub.2.

Fluorinated ketones and method for making same


A seal space is formed between first and second metal separators of a power generation cell. A device body is disposed in the seal space. The device body includes a voltage measurement sensor and a transmission mechanism. The voltage measurement sensor measures the voltage generated during operation of the power generation cell. The transmission mechanism transmits information of the voltage measured by the voltage measurement sensor via wireless communication. The voltage measurement sensor and the transmission mechanism are embedded in an electromagnetic/heat resistant shield member, and attached to a surface of the second metal separator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a monitor device for monitoring operating condition of a fuel cell including an electrolyte electrode assembly and separators sandwiching the electrolyte electrode assembly. The electrolyte electrode assembly includes a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between the electrodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a solid polymer fuel cell employs a polymer ion exchange membrane as a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane is interposed between an anode and a cathode to form a membrane electrode assembly. Each of the anode and the cathode is made of electrode catalyst and porous carbon. The membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched between separators (bipolar plates) to form the fuel cell.
In the fuel cell, a fuel gas such as a gas chiefly containing hydrogen (hereinafter also referred to as the hydrogen-containing gas) is supplied to the anode. The air or the like (hereinafter also referred to as the oxygen-containing gas) is supplied to the cathode. The catalyst of the anode induces a chemical reaction of the fuel gas to split the hydrogen molecule into hydrogen ions and electrons. The hydrogen ions move toward the cathode through the electrolyte membrane, and the electrons flow through an external circuit to the cathode, creating a DC electrical energy.
In this type of the fuel cell, generally, the cell voltage of the fuel cell is detected using a voltage detection device for detecting the operating condition of the fuel cell, e.g., in an attempt to determine whether the desired power generation performance is achieved or not. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-339828 discloses a fuel cell stack having a cell voltage measurement terminal.
According to the disclosure of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-339828, as shown in FIG. 5, electrode units 1 and separators 2 are stacked together to form a fuel cell stack 3. Each of the electrode units 1 includes a hydrogen electrode 4a, an air electrode 4b, and a polymer ion exchange membrane 5 interposed between the hydrogen electrode 4a and the air electrode 4b. A hydrogen flow field 6a is formed between one of the separators 2 and the hydrogen electrode 4a, and an air flow field 6b is formed between the other of the separators 2 and the air electrode 4b. Further, a cooling water flow field 6c is formed between the adjacent separators 2.
A voltage measurement terminal 7 protrudes outwardly from an end of the separator 2. A socket (not shown) is connected to the voltage measurement terminal 7. Thus, the cell voltage in each electrode unit 1 is measured during operation of the fuel cell stack 3.
However, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-339828, since the voltage measurement terminal 7 protrudes outwardly from the end of the separator 2, it is difficult to maintain the desired sealing performance in the exposed metal portion. Therefore, foreign material may enter the fuel cell stack 3 from a position near the voltage measurement terminal 7 undesirably.
Further, since the voltage measurement terminal 7 is connected to the socket, the contact resistance is generated to cause the voltage drop. Thus, it is not possible to accurately measure the cell voltage.
Further, in the fuel cell stack 3, typically, it is necessary to detect various operating conditions such as the internal humidity, the internal pressure, or the internal temperature in addition to the cell voltage. In any cases, the same problem as with the voltage detection device occurs.


A magnetoresistive sensor having a hard bias structure having increased coercivity and squareness. The structure also allows the use of a thinner seed layer, which results in improved biasing by decreasing the spacing between the hard magnetic bias layer and the free layer of the sensor. The hard bias structure can be deposited over either a crystalline structure or over an amorphous material. The hard bias structure includes a hard bias material comprising CoPt deposited over a seed layer including a layer of NiTa and a layer of CrMo.

The heart of a computer's long term memory is an assembly that is referred to as a magnetic disk drive. The magnetic disk drive includes a rotating magnetic disk, write and read heads that are suspended by a suspension arm adjacent to a surface of the rotating magnetic disk and an actuator that swings the suspension arm to place the read and write heads over selected circular tracks on the rotating disk. The read and write heads are directly located on a slider that has an air bearing surface (ABS). The suspension arm biases the slider toward the surface of the disk and when the disk rotates, air adjacent to the surface of the disk moves along with the disk. The slider flies on this moving air at a very low elevation (fly height) over the surface of the disk. This fly height is on the order of Angstroms. When the slider rides on the air bearing, the write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic transitions to and reading magnetic transitions from the rotating disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing circuitry that operates according to a computer program to implement the writing and reading functions.
The write head includes a coil layer embedded in first, second and third insulation layers (insulation stack), the insulation stack being sandwiched between first and second pole piece layers. A gap is formed between the first and second pole piece layers by a gap layer at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the write head and the pole piece layers are connected at a back gap. Current conducted to the coil layer induces a magnetic flux in the pole pieces which causes a magnetic field to fringe out at a write gap at the ABS for the purpose of writing the aforementioned magnetic impressions in tracks on the moving media, such as in circular tracks on the aforementioned rotating disk.
In recent read head designs a spin valve sensor, also referred to as a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor, has been employed for sensing magnetic fields from the rotating magnetic disk. This sensor includes a nonmagnetic conductive layer, hereinafter referred to as a spacer layer, sandwiched between first and second ferromagnetic layers, hereinafter referred to as a pinned layer and a free layer. First and second leads are connected to the spin valve sensor for conducting a sense current therethrough. The magnetization of the pinned layer is pinned perpendicular to the air bearing surface (ABS) and the magnetic moment of the free layer is biased parallel to the ABS, but is free to rotate in response to external magnetic fields. The magnetization of the pinned layer is typically pinned by exchange coupling with an antiferromagnetic layer.
The thickness of the spacer layer is chosen to be less than the mean free path of conduction electrons through the sensor. With this arrangement, a portion of the conduction electrons is scattered by the interfaces of the spacer layer with each of the pinned and free layers. When the magnetizations of the pinned and free layers are parallel with respect to one another, scattering is minimal and when the magnetizations of the pinned and free layer are antiparallel, scattering is maximized. Changes in scattering alter the resistance of the spin valve sensor in proportion to cos Θ, where Θ is the angle between the magnetizations of the pinned and free layers. In a read mode the resistance of the spin valve sensor changes proportionally to the magnitudes of the magnetic fields from the rotating disk. When a sense current is conducted through the spin valve sensor, resistance changes cause potential changes that are detected and processed as playback signals.
When a spin valve sensor employs a single pinned layer it is referred to as a simple spin valve. When a spin valve employs an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer it is referred to as an AP pinned spin valve. An AP spin valve includes first and second magnetic layers separated by a thin non-magnetic coupling layer such as Ru. The thickness of the spacer layer is chosen so as to antiparallel couple the magnetic moments of the ferromagnetic layers of the pinned layer. A spin valve is also known as a top or bottom spin valve depending upon whether the pinning layer is at the top (formed after the free layer) or at the bottom (before the free layer).
Magnetization of the pinned layer is usually fixed by exchange coupling one of the ferromagnetic layers (AP1) with a layer of antiferromagnetic material such as PtMn. While an antiferromagnetic (AFM) material such as PtMn does not in and of itself have a magnetic moment, when exchange coupled with a magnetic material, it can strongly pin the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer.
The free layer is biased by a hard magnets constructed as layers of high magnetic coercivity material formed at each lateral side of the sensor. Magnetostatic coupling between each hard bias layer and the free layer biases the magnetic moment of the free layer in a direction parallel to the ABS as desired, but allows the magnetic moment of the free layer to rotate in the presence of a field that is sufficiently strong to overcome the biasing. As sensor are made ever smaller, the free layers become less stable and more difficult to bias. The hard bias structures that have been used can not provide sufficient magnetic moment to bias and stabilize the free layers of future generation sensors. This problem is made worse when combined with partial mill designs which are needed to reduce gap height. The necessity for such partial mill designs and the challenges that they present to free layer biasing are described as follows.
The spin valve sensor is located between first and second nonmagnetic electrically insulating read gap layers and the first and second read gap layers are located between ferromagnetic first and second shield layers. In a merged magnetic head a single ferromagnetic layer functions as the second shield layer of the read head and as the first pole piece layer of the write head. In a piggyback head the second shield layer and the first pole piece layer are separate layers.
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the distance between the shields (gap thickness) determines the bit length for the read sensor. With the ever increasing pressure to increase data capacity and data rate, engineers are constantly under pressure to decrease the bit length (and therefore gap thickness) of read sensors. One way to decrease this gap thickness is by a partial mill process. Sensors have traditionally been constructed by depositing sensor layers as full film layers onto the first gap layer. A photoresist mask is then formed over the area that is to be the sensor and a material removal process such as ion milling is performed to remove material from the areas not covered by the mask. This material removal process has traditionally been performed down into the first gap layer, removing a portion of the first gap material at either side of the sensor.
Since this material removal process removes a portion of the first gap layer, it has been necessary to deposit a thick first gap layer in order prevent electrical shorts through the gap to the first shield. Such a short would be a catastrophic event that would render the sensor unusable. In these prior art heads, hard bias layers, constructed of a hard magnetic material such as CoPtCr have then been deposited over this etched out portion of the first gap layer at either side of the sensor to provide magnetic biasing to bias the magnetic moment of the free layer in the desired direction parallel with the ABS.
As discussed above, the removal of a portion of the first gap during formation of the sensor requires a larger overall gap thickness to prevent shorting. One way to overcome this is to use a partial mill process in which the material removal process (ie. ion milling) used to construct the sensor is terminated before all of the sensor material has been removed, such as when the material removal process has reached a point around the AFM layer (usually PtMn) near the bottom of the sensor. By stopping the milling process within the sensor layers, such as at the AFM layer no gap material is removed. This allows a much thinner gap to be deposited. The bias layers are then deposited on top of the remaining sensor layer rather than on the gap layer.
A problem that arises from such partial milling is that the bias layer properties are different when deposited over the AFM layer or other sensor layer than they are when deposited over the gap layer. The gap layer, usually Al2O3 is amorphous. It therefore has no crystalline structure to impart to the seed layer or to the hard bias material when the material is deposited onto the gap. Therefore, a hard bias structure deposited over the amorphous gap layer can exhibit a desired epitaxial growth that provides desired high retentive moment and high coercivity needed for free layer biasing.
However, the AFM layer, such as for example PtMn, as well as other sensor layers are not amorphous and exhibit their own grain structures. When the hard bias layers are deposited over the AFM layer, the grain structure of the underlying AFM layer carries through to the seed layer and hard bias layers. This grain structure being undesirable for optimal hard bias properties results in degraded biasing properties. This leads to free layer instability and associated signal noise. For example, depositing a CoPtCr hard magnetic material with a Cr seed layer over a PtMn substrate results in a CoPtCr hard bias layer with a coercivity of only around 600 Oe. This is much lower than the roughly 1400 Oe coercivity obtained when the same hard bias layer and seed are deposited on a glass (amorphous) substrate.
Another challenge to free layer biasing comes from the necessity to apply a relatively thick seed layer under the hard bias layer. In order to achieve the desired magnetic properties in the hard bias layers, a seed layer must first be deposited. This seed layer covers the sides of the sensor, and defines the separation between hard bias layer and the free layer. Since the magnetostatic coupling provided by the hard bias layers drops off nearly exponentially with increased distance between the hard bias layer and the free layer, any increase in seed layer thickness dramatically affects free layer efficiency.
Therefore there is a strong felt need for a hard bias structure that can provide increased biasing for a magnetoresistive sensor. Such a bias structure must provide increased biasing and improved magnetostatic coupling between the bias layers and the free layer. Such a bias structure should also capable of being deposited over a crystalline structure such as an AFM material or other sensor material while still exhibiting the necessary hard magnetic properties needed for effective free layer biasing.

Magnetoresistive sensor having a high coercivity hard bias structure

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


The underground secondary containment and simultaneous vapor return piping system is adapted for use at a fuel service station which includes a fuel dispenser, a fuel nozzle and nozzle vapor return structure at a dispensing island, an underground fuel storage tank and a primary fuel delivery pipeline. The system comprises an outer, underground, sealed, larger diameter, secondary containment/vapor return pipeline extending around and axially with the inner, primary fuel delivery pipeline from the underground storage tank to the fuel dispenser to establish secondary containment for the fuel delivery pipeline and simultaneously to establish within the secondary containment/vapor return pipeline and around or about the fuel delivery pipeline, a continuous, uninterrupted, axially extending, interstitial space defining a vapor return path, upper fluid coupling termination structure for coupling (a) the interstitial space within the outer secondary containment/vapor return pipeline to the nozzle vapor return structure and (b) the fuel delivery pipeline to the fuel dispenser nozzle, and lower fluid coupling termination structure for coupling (a) the interstitial space within the outer secondary containment/vapor return pipeline to the first, vapor return opening in a wall of the underground storage tank and (b) the fuel delivery pipeline to the second, fuel outlet opening in a wall of the underground storage tank whereby a continuous uninterrupted, vapor return space or path, in addition to secondary containment, is established in and by the secondary containment/vapor return pipeline, between the upper and lower fluid coupling termination structures and around or about the fuel delivery pipeline.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a vapor return piping system for a fuel storage and delivery system such as typically found at a gasoline service station. More specifically, the present invention is directed to the provision of an outer, larger diameter secondary containment piping system about an inner, primary fuel delivery piping system and to the utilization of the intersticial space between the inner primary fuel delivery piping system and the outer secondary containment piping system for the return of fuel vapor to an underground storage tank.
2. Description of the related art including information disclosed under 37 CFR Sections 1.97-1.99.
Over the last 40 years, there has been an increasing concern about contamination of the environment, including land, sea and air, with petroleum products, such as gasoline fuel utilized in internal combustion engines in vehicles. Thus, over the last 40 years laws, rules and regulations have been promulgated by state and federal governmental bodies prohibiting contamination of the environment with petroleum products such as gasoline.
In view of these laws, rules and regulations, techniques and systems have been developed for minimizing the escape of gasoline from underground storage tanks into adjacent soil or water and for minimizing the escape of gasoline vapor into the air when delivering gasoline to the storage tank or from the storage tank to a vehicle fuel tank.
With respect to the prevention of soil and water pollution, a number of states require that a gasoline storage tank have secondary containment, namely, a double wall or secondary outer wall around the inner, primary wall of the gasoline storage tank. Also, it is required that piping which normally contains fuel be double layered or have a secondary containment barrier around and about the piping from the storage tank to prevent escape of fuel to and into the ambient environment.
With respect to preventing pollution of the air with gasoline vapor, gasoline vapor return lines have been proposed inside or in conjunction with the piping to and from the underground storage tank.
For example, the Brandt U.S. Pat. No. 3,016,928 discloses a device for extracting fumes from liquid fuel storage containers. The device includes a vapor escape line that extends within an output pipe from an underground storage tank to a pumping island and through a delivery hose and outlet nozzle. Fumes generated by the escape of gasoline from the nozzle outlet to a vehicle fuel tank are returned to the underground storage tank. The tank has a lower pressure in the space above the gasoline in the tank as a result of the drop in liquid level in the tank as gasoline is pumped from the tank, i.e. a drop in head pressure.
This patent also proposes a vapor return line in the tubing or hose extending from the inside of a tank truck to an outlet of the hose placed within the storage tank after a distal end portion of the hose is inserted through a storage tank fill pipe for filling the underground storage tank with gasoline.
In the Mayer U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,758, there is disclosed a vacuum assist fuel system which includes a vapor return conduit which extends from a dispensing nozzle to and through the top wall of an underground fuel storage tank. A valve is provided in this conduit to control vapor flow through the conduit back to the storage tank only when gasoline is being dispensed.
Examples of other prior art patents which disclose separate vapor return lines or conduits to an underground storage tank are listed below:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Patentee ______________________________________ 3,672,180 Davis 3,863,687 Alquist 3,907,010 Burtis, et al. 4,009,985 Hirt 4,010,779 Pollock, et al. 4,018,252 Burtis, et al. 4,566,504 Furrow, et al. ______________________________________
The Davis U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,180, the Alquist U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,687 and the Pollock et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,779 also teach the provision of a condenser in the vapor return path, such as on the gasoline dispensing island at the gasoline service station, whereby the vapor is first condensed and then returned as a liquid to the underground storage tank.
With respect to protection of soil and water by secondary containment of the underground storage tank from leakage of gasoline from the storage tank, it has been proposed by Total Containment, Inc. of Exton, Pa. to provide a jacketed steel tank having a 100 mil thick high density polyethylene jacket around a U.L.58 steel underground storage tank.
Further, in the Webb U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,444, assigned to Total Containment Inc., there is disclosed a secondary containment system comprising telescoping pipe sections of different diameters installed around a primary pipeline between a gasoline dispensing island at a gasoline service station and an underground storage tank.
Also, general information on underground liquid storage systems can be found in:
1. The Petroleum Equipment Institute publication No. PEI/RP100-87 entitled: "Recommended Practices for Installation of Underground Liquid Storage Systems"; and
2. The American Petroleum Institute API Recommended Practice 1615, Fourth Edition, November 1987 entitled: "Installation of Underground Petroleum Storage Systems."
As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the vapor return piping system of the present invention provides an improvement over the prior art, separate vapor return pipeline systems referred to above by providing an outer, larger diameter piping system including piping mounted about a smaller diameter fuel delivery pipeline or piping system with a continuous axially extending space established within the piping about the fuel delivery pipeline, and utilizing the continuous space for a vapor return path.
The piping can be clear plastic secondary containment pipe of the type sold by R & G Sloane Manufacturing Co., Inc. of Sun Valley, Calif., or similar pipe sold by Occidental Petroleum, Total Containment, Containment Technologies, Red Thread Smith-Inland, or Omnicron.
The vapor return piping system also includes a connection or termination at the proximal end of the outer piping system to a vapor return opening in an underground storage tank, and a connection or termination at or adjacent the distal end of the outer piping system to a vapor return hose or tubing connected to a gasoline dispensing nozzle.

Underground secondary containment and vapor recovery piping system


Even when temperature sensors (12, 13) used in a device for warming a battery (1) being not in use by using a battery-driven heater (2) have failed, the battery (1) is prevented from freezing. Based on a battery temperature (Tb) and an outside air temperature (Ta), times (Δt1 to Δt8) during which Tb will decrease down to a warming start temperature (Tb_start) are each set to the next controller startup time (Δt). A controller (9) is started up every Δt, at t2, t3, and t4, and checks whether Tb<Tb_start is satisfied or not. At t4 when Tb<Tb_start is satisfied, a heater (2) is battery-driven to warm the battery (1). After t0 when the outside air temperature sensor (13) fails, the outside air temperature (Ta) is set to a fixed value (Ta_const) and based on this Ta=Ta_const and the battery temperature (Tb), the above control is repeated. Accordingly, it is unlikely that the temperature information (Ta) from the outside air temperature sensor (13) that is at fault causes Δt to become extremely long like ∞, so that it is avoided that the heater (2) cannot be operated because the controller (9) cannot be started up and the battery (1) freezes.

In a battery which may be used in a cold area like a battery mounted on an electric vehicle, a battery electrolyte may be frozen during non-use.
When the temperature of the battery is lowered, an available input and output electric power of the battery is lowered by an increase of an internal resistance although a state of charge SOC is not lowered. The available input and output electric power finally becomes 0 when the battery electrolyte is frozen. The electric vehicle which uses the battery as an energy source for running cannot run.
Accordingly, there is needed a battery temperature control device configured to control the temperature by warming the battery by a heater before the temperature is lowered to be a state in which this inconvenience of the available input and output electric power is caused.
Conventionally, there has been proposed a battery temperature control device which is arranged to control the temperature by warming the battery by the heater in this way, and which is described, for example, in a patent document 1.
The battery temperature control device of this proposed art performs the temperature control of an in-vehicle battery. The battery is warmed by the heater when the outside air temperature is lowered than a lowest temperature in an OFF state of an ignition switch.


A CVD reactor includes separate reaction and pressure chambers, where the reaction chamber is contained within and isolates process gases from the pressure chamber. In this manner, each of the chambers may be designed specifically for its intended purpose. The pressure chamber is of a bell-jar shaped designed to sustain a low-pressure environment. The reaction chamber is of a parallel-plate shaped designed for optimized process gas flow. The reaction chamber is isolated from the pressure chamber such that process gases present in the reaction chamber are separated from and cannot come into contact with the inner surface of the bell jar. In this manner, process gases do not deposit on the walls of the pressure chamber. In one embodiment, the wafer is heated by induction coils external to the process chamber. In this manner, the heat transferred to the wafer is not dependent upon the thickness of deposition layers formed on the walls of the reaction chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) process chamber and, specifically, to a single wafer, multi-chamber CVD system.
2. Description of Related Art
A continuing challenge in the fabrication of integrated circuits is to maintain a wafer at a constant and uniform temperature so that various layers (i.e., epitaxial layers, polysilicon layers, etc.) of a uniform thickness and resistivity may be deposited thereon. In a typical radiantly heated "warm" wall CVD reactor, a wafer is placed in a quartz containment vessel. As the vessel and the wafer therein are heated by lamps positioned external to the vessel, reactant gases are pumped into the vessel so as to deposit on the wafer.
"Warm" wall CVD reactors such as the one described above have a number of limitations which adversely affect efficiency, reliability, and performance. For single wafer CVD systems, including those tailored to deposit epitaxial and polysilicon layers, throughput is an important consideration. Perhaps the biggest obstacle in improving throughput in such CVD systems is the time required to clean the chamber walls after each wafer is processed. Cleaning the chamber walls in radiantly heated quartz CVD chambers is vital since reactant gases deposit not only on the wafer but also on the chamber walls. The resultant film formed on the chamber walls absorbs some of the radiant energy emitted from the heating lamps and thereby locally increases the temperature of the chamber walls. As a result, reactant gases deposit on the chamber walls at an increasing rate, thereby creating a "snowball" effect. It is therefore critical, in a radiantly heated CVD chamber, that the walls be kept meticulously clean. This requires that the walls be etched frequently, sometimes even after every run. Cleaning the walls typically takes between 2 to 3.5 minutes after depositing an epitaxial layer, and up to one hour after depositing polysilicon. Such long cleaning times result from the relatively slow etchant rates associated with the warm walls of the chamber (which are designed to transmit heat). Since the entire cycle time in warm wall CVD systems may be between 5-10 minutes, cleaning the walls accounts for a significant portion of the cycle time.
Another factor affecting the throughput of such CVD chambers is the deposition rate of the reactant gases. Chambers that are optimized for deposition rates can decrease the deposition time required for a single wafer by as much as 25%.
Additionally, lamp failure (and the maintenance related thereto) and a required wet etching of the quartz chamber walls of such CVD systems adversely affects reliability and uptime. Note that wet etching requires disassembling the CVD system so that the quartz walls may be submerged in a wet etch bath.
Temperature control of the wafer is imperative for the deposition of uniform layers. The above described deposition of reactant gases on the chamber walls of lamp heated systems can occur within a single run and may affect the temperature uniformity within a run. Thus, cleaning the chamber walls after each wafer run may be ineffective in preventing non-uniformities resulting from deposition of reactant gases on the chamber walls.
Achieving a constant and uniform temperature across a wafer is further complicated by variations in the emissivity of the wafer. Since a wafer's emissivity depends in part upon the surface material of the wafer and upon temperature, accurately calibrating a reactor so as to bring the wafer to a constant and uniform temperature may be difficult.
An optimum CVD system should be able to operate at both atmospheric and reduced pressures. Reduced pressure operation requires a chamber design able to withstand the physical stresses of a lower pressure processing environment, i.e., a vacuum chamber. On the other hand, optimum designs for wafer processing may require a reactant gas flow channel having a narrow profile. This narrow profile optimizes reactant gas flow to the wafer by facilitating a maximum velocity flow of reactant gas across the wafer while minimizing the mass transfer boundary layer. In addition to having a narrow profile, chambers designed for optimum processing typically have simple non-convoluted surfaces so as to minimize vortices and backflow, to minimize dead spots that may promote deposition on the chamber walls, and to allow etching gases employed to clean the chamber walls to quickly reach the chamber walls. Unfortunately, such flat topped quartz or graphite process chambers cannot easily sustain a pressure gradient across their walls. Chambers capable of withstanding such pressure differences typically are either of a fuller shape, such as a bell or globe structure, and therefore not only compromise optimum gas flow across the surface of the wafer but also do not facilitate an efficient cleaning of the chamber walls. Another approach is to incorporate structural reinforcement elements on the chamber walls. Unfortunately, such elements hamper the uniform transmission of radiant energy to the wafer. As a result, single chamber CVD designs suitable for reduced pressure operation typically compromise processing considerations such as reactant gas flow or thermal uniformity in order to increase structural integrity.

CVD reactor having heated process chamber within isolation chamber


A method of recognizing stairs in a 3D data image includes an image acquirer that acquires a 3D data image of a space in which stairs are located. An image processor calculates a riser height between two consecutive treads of the stairs in the 3D data image, identifies points located between the two consecutive treads according to the calculated riser height, and detects a riser located between the two consecutive treads through the points located between the two consecutive treads. Then, the image processor calculates a tread depth between two consecutive risers of the stairs in the 3D data image, identifies points located between the two consecutive risers according to the calculated tread depth, and detects a tread located between the two consecutive risers through the points located between the two consecutive risers.

1. Field
The following description relates to a method of recognizing stairs in a three-dimensional (3D) data image wherein data points corresponding to stairs are detected in a 3D data image of a space in which stairs are located.
2. Description of the Related Art
To go up stairs, a humanoid or mobile robot may need to recognize the position of the stairs with reference to the location of the robot, riser heights, or tread depths of the stairs, for example. To accomplish this, the robot may be provided with a 3D sensor to acquire a 3D data image of a space in which the stairs are located. The robot may recognize the stairs by processing and analyzing the 3D data image through a microcontroller provided in the robot.
In an Iterative Closest Point (ICP) method, which is a conventional stair recognition method, a 3D model detected from a 3D data image and a stored 3D model are matched and compared. Specifically, in the ICP method, the two 3D models are matched through repetitive calculation such that the distance between the two 3D models is minimized. Accordingly, the ICP method requires stored 3D models and also requires repetitive calculation for matching between the detected 3D model and the stored 3D models. In another conventional stair recognition method, lines are detected through vertices in the 3D data image and stairs are recognized based on the detected lines. This method recognizes treads of stairs assuming that two consecutive lines, which belong to stairs in a 3D data image, are located in the same plane. Such a method of detecting lines in a 3D data image has low stair recognition accuracy because the method is sensitive to errors due to characteristics of 3D data images.

Method of recognizing stairs in three dimensional data image


A driver circuit for the laser diode is disclosed. The driver circuit has the shunt configuration with a switching transistor connected in parallel to the laser diode to shunt the current flowing in the laser diode. In the present invention, the bias for the switching transistor is varied as the operating temperature of the laser diode. In addition, the gate bias for the switching transistor is compensated for the temperature dependence of the switching transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driver circuit for a semiconductor laser diode (hereafter denoted as LD), in particular, the inventions relates to a driver circuit with a shunt-driving configuration.
2. Related Background Art
The shunt driver for the LD has been well known as one type of the driver circuit. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,197, has disclosed the laser driver circuit with the shunt-driving configuration. The shunt-driving configuration provides a switching transistor connected in parallel to the LD and shunts the bias current flowing in the LD by this switching transistor to modulate the LD. In a practical application for the LD such as an optical transmitter installed in the optical communication, two conditions are inevitable, that is, the average output power and the extinction ratio of the light emitted from the LD must be constant independent of both internal and external conditions. The LD installed within the optical transmitter shows large temperature dependence, that is, the threshold current increases and the slope efficiency decreases at a high temperature. Accordingly, an ordinary optical transmitted installs, what is called, the automatic power control (hereafter denoted as APC) to keep the output power and the extinction ration independent of the temperature. The APC circuit provides a larger bias current to the LD as the temperature thereof increases.
The shunt-driver circuit may adjust the bias current supplied to the LD and the amplitude of the driving signal for the switching transistor to keep the average power and the extinction ratio of the optical output from the LD independent of the temperature. Specifically, the shunt-driver circuit increases the bias current and the amplitude of the driving signal at a high temperature, while, the circuit decreases them at a lower temperature. However, a conventional shunt-driver circuit somewhat bounds the bias condition at a high temperature even in a low temperature; accordingly, unnecessary idle current is supplied to the LD or the switching transistor connected in parallel to the LD is left in a lower temperature, which becomes hard to reduce the power consumption.

Shunt driver circuit for semiconductor laser diode


A method for the catalytic production of hydrocodone derivatives and hydromorphone derivatives, respectively, utilizing a transition metal catalyst of the formula [M(PR4R5R6)nXm]p; wherein M is a Group VIII transition metal; R4, R5 and R6 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkoxyl, phenoxy and combinations thereof; X is a halide or an anion; n is 1, 2, 3 or 4; m is 1 or 2; and p is at least 1.

The present invention relates to a method for the catalytic production of hydrocodone derivatives and hydromorphone derivatives.
Hydrocodone and hydromorphone are opioid analgesics having similar qualities to codeine and morphine. Development of new opioid derivatives is desirable to produce new intermediates and potential sources of new analgesics. Conventional methods for producing hydrocodone and hydromorphone typically involve a two step oxidation/reduction route from codeine and morphine. Unfortunately, these methods are expensive and inefficient. Attempts to improve efficiency have included the use of catalytic methods. Known methods include the use of metallics, typically Ru, Rh, Pd and Pt on activated carbon as well as metallic complexes. The preparation of these catalysts is difficult, yields are poor, and isolation of the product is often burdensome.
Other catalytic methods, including the use of finely-divided platinum or palladium in an acidic media, are environmentally undesirable. Enzymatic methods of conversion have also been attempted, but as with the methods of catalysis discussed above, these methods are costly and difficult to scale up.
There is therefore a need for an improved method of production hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and derivatives thereof that is easily scaled up and economical for manufacturing purposes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for the catalytic production of hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and derivatives thereof


A rotary electric machine includes a rotor including a plurality of magnet sections arranged along a rotational direction of the rotor so that polarities of the magnet sections change alternately, and a stator including armature coils, and being disposed to confront the rotor across an air gap. Permanent magnet flux which is not linked with one of the air gap and the armature coils is higher than permanent magnet flux which is linked with the air gap and the armature coils in a no-load state.

The present invention relates to a magnetic circuit structure for a rotary electric machine, and more especially to a magnetic circuit structure for a rotary electric machine such as a permanent magnet motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,512 (corresponding to Japanese patent application publication No. H 07 (1995)-336919) shows a permanent magnet motor including a rotor, and a plurality of permanent magnets arranged circumferentially at regular intervals identical to a circumferential length of the permanent magnets. This permanent magnet motor further includes a salient pole made of soft magnetic material, located between adjacent two of the permanent magnets, and arranged to have a thickness identical to a thickness of the permanent magnets.

Magnetic circuit structure for rotary electric machine