An 8-bit CLA adder is constructed for inputting 4 lower bits a3:0,b3:0 and 4 upper bits a7:4,b7:4 of two input signals to the two 4-bit full adders 2,12 and a carry c-1 to the lowest bit the full adder of the first-stage 2 to generate carries c3,c7 correspondint to the third and seventh bit of the input signals from a carry generation signal g7:0 and a carry propagation signal p7:0 generated by the both adders 2,12 and the carry c-1. The full adder of the second-stage 12 is constructed to add the 4 upper bits a7:4,b7:4 with setting a carry-in as 0 so as to generate a temporary summing signal sz7:4. A logical circuit 14 generates a true sum of 4 upper bits from a carry c3 to the third bit to the forth bit, a temporary sum sz7:4 and a carry propagation signal p7:4 generated by the full adder of the second-stage 12.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a carry lookahead adder which is a binary digital arithmetical operation unit. The present invention also relates to a logical operation circuit suitable for use in the carry look-ahead adder.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been heretofore known a ripple-carry adder which is used in a computer etc. The ripple-carry adder executes an addition of a given number of digits. The ripple-carry adder is constructed by sequentially connecting 1-bit full adders each for adding two 1-bit signals and a carry signal from a lower digit (carry-in) to output a sum and a carry signal to an upper digit (carry-out). The number of the 1-bit full adders corresponds to the number of digits (i.e. numbers of bits) of input signals to be added.
In the ripple-carry adder, before an addition in a certain digit place is started, it is necessary to determine a carry signal from the lower digit place. Thus, the operation time spent by the ripple-carry adder increases in proportion to the number of digits of input signals to be added. Therefore, the operation time of the ripple-carry adder lengthens as the number of processed bits increases.
In order to remove such a problem in the ripple-carry adder, it is known to apply a carry look-ahead system to an adder. According to the carry look-ahead system, before additions of bits of input signals to be added are implemented, each bit of the input signals is examined to generate a carry out.
In a typical carry look-ahead adder, the two input signals are divided into, for example, groups each consisting of 4 bits, and a carry-out to the next group is generated before the sum obtained in each group is outputted. The carry look-ahead adder is able to reduce the operation time (e.g. TOKKAIHEI 5-61643 patent publication).
One example of a conventional 32-bit carry look-ahead adder will be described hereafter with reference to FIG. 10.
It should be noted that, in the following description, an n bit indicates an n-th bit where the lowest bit is labeled as a 0 bit. In FIG. 10 and other Figs., among characters beginning with small character alphabets, characters such as a3:0 indicates a 3 bit to a 0 bit of a signal a.
In FIG. 10, there are 4-bit full adders (ADD: 4-bit ripple-carry adder) 30-0,30-1, . . . ,30-7, respectively. These 4-bit full adders 30-0 to 30-7 are provided for respective pairs of 4-bit signals a (a3:0,a7:4, . . . ,a31:28) and b (b3:0,b7:4, . . . ,b31:28) obtained by dividing two 32-bit input signals a31:0,b31:0 into 4-bit segments. The 4-bit full adders 30-0 to 30-7 receive 4-bit signals a,b of the corresponding groups and carry signals c (c-1,c3, . . . ,c27) from one lower digit than the lowest digit of the 4-bit signals a,b, and generate 4-bit carry generating signals g (g3:0,g7:4, . . . ,g31:28), 4-bit carry propagation signals p (p3:0,p7:0, . . . ,p31:28), and 4-bit summing signals s (s3:0,s7:4, . . . ,s31:28) by executing operation expressed in equations (1) to (4) indicated later.
In FIG. 10 and the following description, G3!, . . . ,G31!, P3!, . . . ,P31! indicate 1-bit carry generation signals and carry propagation signals, respectively.
It should be noted that in the equations indicated later, the symbol "* " indicates logical AND operation, the symbol "xor" indicates logical EXCLUSIVE-OR operation, the symbol "+" indicates logical OR operation, and the suffix "n" indicates the position (the place) of each bit in the input signals a,b to the 4-bit full adders 30-0 to 30-7. In addition, the numeral "0" corresponds to the lowest bit (the lowest digit), and the symbol "cn-1" indicates a carry signal from an (n-1)-th bit necessary to obtain a sum sn of n-th bits within the 4-bit full adders 30-0 to 30-7.
The equations (1) to (4) are given as: EQU gn=(an)*(bn) (1) EQU pn=(an)xor(bn) (2) EQU sn=(pn)xor(cn-1) (3) EQU cn=(gn)+(pn)*(cn-1) (4)
Next, 4-bit carry generation/propagation signal generators (4GP) 32-0,32-1, . . . ,32-7 form carry look-ahead circuits of a first part of a hierarchy. The 4-bit carry generation/propagation signal generators 32-0 to 32-1, . . . ,32-7 are provided in correspondence with the 4-bit full adders 30-0 to 30-7, respectively. The 4-bit carry generation/propagation signal generator 32-0, 32-1, . . . ,32-7 generates 1-bit carry generation signals Gn+3! (G3!,G7!, . . . ,G31!) and 1-bit carry propagation signals Pn+3! (P3!,P7!, . . . ,P31!) by executing operation in the following equations (5),(6) in response to 4-bit carry generation signals g (g3:0,g7:4, . . . ,g31:28) and 4-bit carry propagation signals p (p3:0,p7:4, . . . ,p31:28) generated by the corresponding 4-bit full adders 30-0 to 30-7, respectively, when the 4-bit input signals a (a3:0,a7:4, . . . ,a31:28) and b (b3:0,b7:4, . . . ,b31:28) are grouped into blocks. ##EQU1##
Further, in FIG. 10, carry look-ahead circuits 34-0,34-1, . . . ,34-7 (1CLA,2CLA,3CLA,4CLA,1CLA,2CLA,3CLA,4CLA) form a second part of the hierarchy.
The carry look-ahead circuits 34-0,34-1, . . . ,34-7 are provided in correspondence with the 4-bit full adders 30-0 to 30-7 and the carry generation/propagation signal generators 32-0 to 32-7.
Each of the carry look-ahead circuits from the first-stage to the fourth-stage (1CLA,2CLA,3CLA,4CLA) 34-0 to 34-3 receives a carry signal c-1 (i.e. a carry signal c-1 to the lowest digit of the 32-bit input signals a, b) to the lowest digit of the 4-bit full adder 30-0, carry generation signals Gn+3! (G3!,G7!,G11!,G15!), and carry propagation signals Pn+3! (P3!,P7!,P11!, P15!) generated by a circuit corresponding to each one within a carry generation/propagation generation circuit 32-0, 32-1, 32-2,or 32-3 and a circuit lower than that. In response to the received signals, each of the carry look-ahead circuits from the first-stage to the fourth-stage generates and outputs a carry signal c (i.e. each of carry signals (c3,c7,c11 ,c15) to be inputted to the 4-bit full adders 30-1 to 30-4 provided at the next-stages) from the uppermost bit of the 4-bit input signals a,b fed to the corresponding 4-bit full adders 30-0 to 30-3.
Likewise, each of the carry look-ahead circuits from the fifth-stage to the last (eighth)-stage (1CLA,2CLA,3CLA,4CLA) 34-4 to 34-7 receives a carry signal C15 (i.e. a carry signal generated by the carry look-ahead circuit 34-3) inputted to the 4-bit full adder 30-4 of the fifth stage, carry generation signals Gn+3! (G19!,G23!,G27!,G31!) and carry propagation signals Pn+3!, (P19!,P23!,P27!,P31!) generated by a circuit corresponding to each one within the carry generation/propagation signal generator 32-4 to 32-7. In response to the received signals, each of the carry look-ahead circuits from the fifth-stage to the last-stage generates and outputs a carry signal c (c19,c23,c27,c31) from the uppermost bits of the 4-bit input signals a,b to the corresponding 4-bit full adders 30-4 to 30-7. For example, carry signal c19 is generated by a combination of carry generation signal G19!, carry propagation signal P19!, and carry signal c15, and carry signal c31 is generated by a combination of carry generation signal G31!, carry propagation signals P19!, P23!, P27!, P31!, and carry signal c15. Then, carry signals c19,c23,c27 generated by the carry look-ahead circuits 34-4,34-5,34-6 other than that generated by the last-stage are inputted to the 4-bit full adders 30-5,30-6,30-7 of the next stage, respectively.
Here, if the carry generation signals G3!,G7!,G1 1!,G15! are expressed as G<0>,G<1>, . . . from the lower digit G3! in that order and the carry propagation signals P3!,P7!,P11!,P15! as P<0>,P<1>, . . . and the carry signal c-1 as Cin, each of the look-ahead circuits 34-0 to 34-3 generates the carry signal c (c3,c7,c11 ,c15) by executing the operation given in an equation (7) indicated later. Similarly, if the carry generation signals G19!,G23!,G27!,G31! are expressed as G<0>,G<1>, . . . from the lower digit and the carry propagation signals P19!,P23!, P27!,P31! as P<0>,P<1>, . . . from the lower digit P19! in that order and the carry signal c15 as Cin, each of the carry look-ahead circuits 34-4 to 34-7 generates a carry signal c (c19,c23,c27,c31) by executing the operation given in the following equation (7): ##EQU2##
Accordingly, for example, in the carry look-ahead circuit 34-0, a carry signal c3 is generated as shown by an equation (8) indicated later. In the carry look-ahead circuit 34-1, a carry signal c7 is generated as shown by an equation (9) indicated later. In the carry look-ahead circuit 34-2,a carry signal c11 is generated as shown by an equation (10) indicated later. In the carry look-ahead circuit 34-3, a carry signal c15 is generated as shown by an equation (11) below: ##EQU3##
Namely, as can be seen from the foregoing equations (1),(2),(5) to (11), a carry generating signal gn and a carry propagation signal pn depend on only the two input signals a,b, and thus, they can be obtained for each digit in parallel. What is more, by using only the carry generating signal gn, the carry propagating signal pn, and the carry signal c-1 inputted to the 4-bit full adder 30-0 of the lowest digit, it is possible to generate the carry signals c3,c7, . . . ,c27 to be inputted to the 4-bit full adders 30-1 to 30-7 other than that of the lowest digit.
In the 32-bit adder of FIG. 10, carry signals are fed to the 4-bit full adders 30-4 to 30-7 in advance as will be explained below. The carry generation/propagation signal generator 32-0 and the carry look-ahead circuit (1CLA) 34-0 cooperate to look ahead a carry c3 from the third bit (fourth digit) of the input signals a,b, and the carry c3 is inputted to the 4-bit full adder 30-1 of the second-stage.
The operations of carry generation/propagation signal generators 32-4 to 32-7 and carry look-ahead circuits 34-4 to 34-7, which correspond to the 4-bit full adders 30-4 to 30-7 from the fifth stage to the eighth-stage, are similar to the operations of those corresponding to the 4-bit full adders 30-0 to 30-3 from the first-stage to the four-stage.
The adder employing such a carry look-ahead method can shorten the calculation time as compared with a ripple carry adder because a carry signal from a lower digit can be inputted to the 4-bit full adder (ADD) 30 of the upper digit before the 4-bit full adder (ADD) 30 of the lower digit generates a sum.
There are, however, the following disadvantages even in the conventional adder employing the above-mentioned carry look-ahead method.
With reference to FIG. 10, a consideration will now be given of a portion that constitutes the 8 bit carry look-ahead adder enclosed by a dash-dot-line, that is, the portion consisting of the 4-bit full adders (ADD) 30-0,30-1, the carry generation/propagation signal generators (4GP) 32-0,32-1, and carry look-ahead circuits (1CLA,2CLA) 34-0,34-1 from the first-stage to the second-stage.
In such a carry look-ahead adder (hereafter referred to as "CLA adder"), a time T required for calculating a sum s7 of the highest bit (the seventh bit) after the two 8-bit input signals a7:0,b7:0 and a carry signal c-1 from the lower digit are inputted, that is, a time T required for completing 8-bit addition, is expressed by the following equation (12). Here, the symbol "+" indicates addition in the equation (12) only. EQU T=t1+t2+t3+t4 (12)
where
t1=(a time required for the generation of the 4-bit carry generation signal g3:0 and the 4-bit carry propagation signal p3:0 by the 4-bit full adder 30-0 of the first-stage); PA1 t2=(a time required for the generation of the 1-bit carry generation signal G3! and the 1-bit carry propagation signal P3! by the carry generation/propagation signal generator 32-0); PA1 t3=(a time required for the generation of the carry signal c3 by the carry look-ahead circuit 34-0 of the first-stage); and PA1 t4=(a time required for the full addition of 4 upper bits a7:4,b7:4 of the input signals a,b and for the generation of a sum on the basis of the carry signal c3 by the 4-bit full adder 30-1 of the second-stage).
That is to say, in the above conventional 8-bit CLA adder, the carry look-ahead adder circuit 34-0 of the first-stage generates a carry signal c3 for the 4-bit full adder 30-1 of the second-stage before the 4-bit full adder 30-0 of the first-stage completes the full addition of 4 lower bits a3:0,b3:0 (t1+t2+t3). Then, the 4-bit full adder 30-1 of the second-stage executes the full addition of 4 upper bits a7:4,b7:4 after the carry look-ahead circuit 34-0 of the first-stage generates a carry signal c3.
Accordingly, in the conventional CLA adder, as can be seen from the foregoing equation (12), although a carry signal from a lower digit to a upper digit can be quickly generated, the 4-bit full adder of an upper digit (ADD) 30 is required to execute the full addition after a carry signal from a lower digit is determined.
Therefore, there is a limit to reduction of the calculation time required for the generation of the summing signal of full bits.
The present invention is made in consideration of these problems and disadvantages. An object of the present invention is to provide a carry look-ahead adder capable of further shortening the calculation time. Another object of the present invention is to provide a logical operation circuit for use in the carry look-ahead adder.

Logic operation circuit and carry look ahead adder


A digital system for evaluating foot and ankle radiographs having the advantage of providing accurate measurement information based on selected landmarks on the radiograph. The system includes a computing device, a coordinate generating digitizing device operatively connected to the computing device for generating coordinate data for the selected landmarks on the radiograph, and software for converting the coordinate data into descriptive measurement information. The present invention also includes a new method of analyzing foot and ankle radiographs that includes selecting a medical condition for evaluation, selecting a radiograph of the patient for the medical condition, determining landmarks to be located on the radiograph for evaluation of the medical condition, digitizing points in the landmark as coordinate data, and converting coordinate data into clinical measurement information. Another aspect of the invention includes the steps of defining and identifying a plurality of landmarks for a particular medical condition or evaluation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to medical equipment and methods for evaluating radiographs. More particularly, though not exclusively, the present invention relates to a digital radiograph analyzer, software, and methods for evaluating foot and ankle radiographs.
2. Problems in the Art
Physicians and other care providers have long recognized the value of measuring and comparing osseous relationships. Having the benefit of various angles and distances on a patient's radiograph can be helpful in evaluating different medical conditions. Podiatric physicians have utilized this information concerning the foot and ankle in preoperative and postoperative evaluation, following traumatic injury and in biomechanical assessments.
Although prior art equipment and methods for quantifying osseous relationships have enjoyed some success, they suffer from several inherent problems. The first problem concerns the accuracy of the measurements. Manual radiograph measurement is often used in quantifying the osseous relationships in the foot and ankle. In this prior art method, measurements are determined by selecting landmarks on the radiograph. Lines between selected landmarks or points are drawn with a wax pen and the relative angles measured using a tractograph, goniometer or protractor. Unfortunately, this manual method is often unreliable and inaccurate due to landmark variability, line drawing variability and lack of standardization of the measuring device. And yet physicians rely upon these measurements in making decisions about treatment. Not only does the quality of care suffer, but physicians are at a greater risk of being subjected to malpractice claims. Thus, there is a need in the art for a more accurate and reliable means and method of measuring the osseous relationships in foot and ankle radiographs.
Important to the accuracy of the foot and ankle measurements is the selection of proper landmarks on the radiograph. For instance, to accurately measure the angle between lines on a foot radiograph, the clinician must select landmarks on the radiograph that accurately define the two lines. Much has been written regarding the use of landmarks in quantifying the osseous relationships in foot and ankle radiographs. However, there are no standard sets of landmarks for evaluating foot and ankle conditions. Thus, there is also a need in the art for a defined set of landmarks from which clinically useful measurement information could be derived concerning a particular condition.
Prior art methods of radiograph evaluation tend to be tedious and time-consuming. It is common for clinicians to spend ten to fifteen minutes in measuring a radiograph for a particular foot and ankle condition. This becomes a labor-intensive process for clinicians and office staff, diverting resources away from other care giving activities. Thus, there is also a need in the art for a more efficient means and method of evaluating foot and ankle radiographs.
Prior art methods of radiograph measurement and evaluation also do not lend themselves easily to private practice and outcomes research. Patient information regarding age, sex, preoperative measurements, procedure and postoperative measurements is not generally maintained in a digital format in a central location that can be accessed by means of a computer. It would be helpful for physicians and researchers to have the benefit of historical patient data for practice management applications and outcomes research. A need therefore also exists in the art for an improved means and method of evaluating foot and ankle radiographs wherein the clinical measurements are captured and can be easily accessed for practice management and outcomes research studies.


A radio or speaker-microphone unit includes a housing having first and second portions. A speaker is disposed in one of the portions and a microphone in the other of the portions. The portions are movable between first and second relative positions, with one of the positions providing a handset configuration and the other providing a speaker-microphone configuration. A switch senses the relative position of the housing portions and adjusts the gain of an audio amplifier.

Various communication devices utilize both a speaker and a microphone. The conventional telephone type "handset, " which is used both for wire-line telephone communication and two-way radio communication, includes a housing having a speaker at one end and a microphone at the other. The speaker and microphone are positioned so that the handset can be held with the speaker adjacent to the user's ear and the microphone in proximity to the user's mouth. Such handsets are used both for full duplex communication, such as a telephone where audio can be produced at the speaker at the same time the user is articulating sound into the microphone. This is conventional in both land line telephone systems and some two-way radio systems. Such a handset can also be used in what is known as half-duplex radio communication, in which voice signals are alternatively transmitted or received. When used in such a configuration, either a push-to-talk switch (PTT) is provided or else a voice-actuated transmit circuit (VOX) can be utilized. Portable, two-way radio transceivers, such as those used in the land mobile radio service, typically include both a microphone and speaker in the housing. While early two-way radio transceivers had the speaker and the microphone configured to permit their use in a manner similar to a telephone handset, most two-way radio transceivers today have the speaker and microphone in relatively close proximity since these devices are typically half duplex and are not capable of simultaneous transmission and reception of signals. This arrangement will be referred to as the speaker-microphone configuration.
Speaker-microphones are devices typically used with radios such as portable or mobile radios, to enable the user to hold the microphone unit, which is connected by a cable to the radio. When used in conjunction with a portable two-way radio, this permits the radio to remain as, for example, clipped to the user's belt, while providing both the audio output and the microphone audio input to the remote unit which the user can position as desired.
Small, foldable radio telephones units, such as the MICROTACO.RTM. cellular telephone manufactured by Motorola, Inc., and radios for use in the new CT-2 time division duplex radio system are foldable to provide a compact housing. When the user desires to place or receive a telephone call, the unit is unfolded to permit its use as a handset with the speaker and microphone disposed in positions relatively close to the user's ear and mouth respectively. All these known devices are relatively inflexible in that their use is essentially limited to the predetermined configuration either as a telephone-type handset or as a speaker-microphone configuration.

Communication device having a speaker and microphone


Improvement in the quality of photoresist images has been achieved. The data file in which the full description of the photoresist image, including Optical Proximity Corrections, has been stored is split into two subfiles. The split is made on the basis of separating cell descriptions (where the density of lines is high) from peripheral area descriptions (where lines tend to be isolated). A suitable bias in the form of a small increase or decrease (as appropriate) of all dimensions in the subfile is then applied. After the application of bias, the subfiles are merged back into a single data file and processing proceeds as usual.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the general field of photolithography with particular reference to correction of image distortion.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The proximity effect is a form of optical distortion associated with photoresist images. For a given development time, whether or not a given area of a photoresist layer will be left or removed after the development process depends on the total amount of energy deposited in that area during its exposure to radiation. Image features whose size and/or separation approach the resolution limit of said radiation will thus be subject to distortion that depends on how the diffraction maxima and minima, that lie on both sides of a `sharp` edge, interact with one another.
The proximity effect can be compensated for, at least in part, by modifying any given feature in the opposite direction to the expected distortion. Thus, a line that would otherwise come out too narrow can be drawn as wider than its true width, etc. The data that represents the information from which a mask suitable for use in photolithography can be generated, is stored in a data file so corrections to allow for the proximity effect will also be stored there. The overall nature and scope of these corrections, and how they get into the file, will vary with the application and the user.
The optical proximity correction (OPC) is commonly calculated by summing two Gaussian functions whose value depend on a critical dimension (CD) defined by the design rules as well as on the wave-length of the exposing radiation. In general, the distortion of lines that are part of a dense assemblage will be more positive than the distortion of isolated lines in optical mode. There are, broadly speaking, three approaches that can be taken: (1) the CD for dense lines may be increased while the isolated lines are left unchanged (2) the CD for isolated lines may be decreased while the dense lines are left unchanged or (3) the CD for the dense lines may be increased while that of the isolated lines is simultaneously decreased.
Application of these various approaches is further complicated by the fact that results will additionally depend on the particular process that is being used. For example, some depth of focus (DOF) of isolated lines would be lost if the i-line process, involving exposing radiation with a wavelength of 365 nanometers (nm), is used whereas DOF will be enhanced in the Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) process which involves an exposing radiation wavelength of 248 nm.
In FIG. 1, we show an idealized line pattern made up of two main sections--a densely populated area 1 and an area 2 which contains only isolated lines. Line crowding as exemplified by 1 is typical of what is found in cell areas of an Integrated Circuit (IC) design whereas lone isolated lines such as 2 are typically found in the peripheral areas of ICs.
FIG. 2 shows how the pattern of FIG. 1 appears when transferred to photoresist on a plane wafer. The isolated or peripheral lines 2 can be seen to be slightly wider as well as slightly shorter than they were in the original mask (FIG. 1). In this case the photoresist image was produced using the i-line process. The image of FIG. 1 was subjected to OPC prior to its transfer to photoresist but, as seen, some distortion nevertheless remains.
FIG. 3 shows another example of how the pattern of FIG. 1 appears when transferred to photoresist on a topography wafer. In this case, the isolated or peripheral lines 2 can be seen to be slightly narrower or slightly wider as well as slightly shorter than they were in the original mask (FIG. 1). In this case the photoresist image was produced using the DUV process. The image of FIG. 1 was also subjected to OPC prior to its transfer to photoresist.
Various approaches have been taken in the prior art to dealing with the proximity effect. Eisenberg et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,462 October 1991) examine the results of a first pass attempt and then modify the etching and resist parameters accordingly. Borodovsky et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,579 March 1996) use two masks, the second one serving to compensate for proximity effects introduced by the first one. Liebmann (U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,273 September 1996) sorts a design into small areas according to shape and width and those areas that are identified as gate regions are biased based on applicable OPC rules. Maehara (U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,157 December 1994) teaches the manufacture of a distortion free mask for X-ray lithography. Chung et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,714 July 1995) show how accumulated information on exposure can be used during electron beam lithography to compensate for proximity effects. As will become clear, none of these methods offer the simplicity of application provided by the present invention.

Optical proximity correction during wafer processing through subfile bias modification with subsequent subfile merging

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.


Methods, systems, and computer readable media for performing enhanced service routing are disclosed. One method includes receiving, at a Diameter application executing on a message processor associated with a DSR, a Diameter message that requires a service. The method also includes determining, using service routing data, at least one service provider for performing the service associated with the Diameter message, wherein the service routing data is based on service capability information provided by a plurality of service providers and sending the Diameter message or a portion of the Diameter message to the at least one service provider for performing the service.

Diameter is an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) protocol for computer networks, and is a successor to RADIUS. The Diameter base protocol is defined in IETF RFC 6733, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. A Diameter node may be any suitable entity (e.g., a computing platform, a processor, or device) executing a host process that implements a Diameter protocol. A message processor (MP) may be a suitable entity (e.g., a physical processor or a circuit board) that hosts a DSR signaling application. A Diameter agent may be a Diameter node that provides relay, proxy, redirect or translation services. A Diameter signaling router (DSR) may include one or more co-located MPs and may consist of one or more Diameter nodes or agents (e.g., a Diameter relay agent, a Diameter proxy agent, a Diameter translation agent, and/or a Diameter translation agent).
When a Diameter message is received at a DSR, the message may need to be processed by one or more Diameter applications. Conventional Diameter applications are configured to perform one or more services. However, one problem associated with such a configuration is that it is not scalable because each Diameter application may be configured to perform particular services by a network operator and such services may not be used by other Diameter applications. Further problems may arise when performing services remotely from a Diameter application.
Accordingly, in light of these difficulties, a need exists for methods, systems, and computer readable media for performing enhanced service routing.


To protect a base metal layer (1) against high-temperature corrosion and high-temperature erosion, an adhesive layer (3) based on MCrAlY is applied to the base metal layer (1). The adhesive layer (3) is coated with an Al diffusion layer (4) by alitizing. The diffusion layer (4) is subjected to an abrasive treatment, so that the outer built-up layer (4.2) on the diffusion layer (4) prepared by alitizing is removed by the abrasive treatment. A ceramic heat insulation layer (2) consisting of zirconium oxide, which is partially stabilized by yttrium oxide, is applied to the diffusion layer (4) thus treated.

The surfaces in the hot gas area are provided nearly completely with coatings in modern gas turbines. The heat insulation layers used in such applications are used to lower the material temperature of cooled components. As a result, the service life can be prolonged, the cooling air can be reduced, or the machine can be operated at higher inlet temperatures. Heat insulation systems always comprise a metallic adhesive layer connected with the base material (base metal) by diffusion and a superjacent ceramic layer with poor thermal conductivity, which is the actual barrier against the heat flow and protects the base metal against high-temperature corrosion and high-temperature erosion.
Zirconium oxide, which is partially stabilized with about 7 wt. % of yttrium oxide (international acronym "YPSZ" from Yttria Partially Stabilized Zirconia), has proved to be a suitable ceramic material for the heat insulation layer. The heat insulation layers are classified to two essential classes according to the particular method employed to apply them. Depending on the desired layer thickness and the stress distribution, a porosity between about 10 vol. % and 25 vol. % is set in the case of the thermally sprayed layers (mostly layers sprayed with atmospheric plasma, APS). The binding to the rough-sprayed adhesive layer is brought about by mechanical clamping.
Heat insulation layers that are applied by vapor deposition carried out by physical vapor deposition processes by means of an electron beam (EB-PVD processes) have a columnar, stretching-tolerant structure if certain deposition conditions are complied with. The layer is bound chemically in the case of this process due to the formation of an Al/Zr mixed oxide on a pure aluminum oxide layer (Thermally Grown Oxide, TGO), which is formed by the adhesive layer during the application and subsequently during the operation. This process imposes special requirements on the oxide growth on the adhesive layer. In principle, both diffusion layers and support layers may be used as adhesive layers.
The following complex requirements are imposed on the adhesive layers, namely, low static and cyclic rates of oxidation, formation of the purest possible aluminum oxide layer as a TGO (in case of layers prepared according to the EB-PVD process), sufficient resistance to high-temperature corrosion, low brittle/ductile transition temperature, high creep strength, good adhesion, minimal long-term interdiffusion with the base material, and economical application of the adhesive layer with a reproducible quality.
Metallic support layers from a special alloy based on MCrAlY (M=Ni, Co) offer the best possibilities for meeting the chemical and mechanical requirements for the special requirements imposed in stationary gas turbines. The properties of the support layers can be further improved by the addition of special refractory alloying elements such as rhenium and tantalum or by alitizing. MCrAlY layers contain the intermetallic β phase NiCoAl as an aluminum reserve in an NiCoCr ("γ") matrix. However, this phase also has an embrittling effect, so that the Al content that can be reached in practice in the MCrAlY layer is less than 12 wt. %. To further increase the oxidation resistance, it is known (WO 96/34129) that the MCrAlY layers can be coated with an Al diffusion layer in order to increase the Al content of these layers. However, this process has hitherto been extensively limited to low-aluminum starting layers because of the risk of embrittlement.


The present invention provides an antenna engaging mechanism in a wireless communication device, which has a circuit board. The antenna engaging mechanism comprises a housing that has a nut, an antenna, and an elastic metal piece. The antenna comprises an antenna metal tube and an antenna shell covering one end of the antenna metal tube, wherein the other end has an engaging protrusion column with a taper head and a taper bottom. The elastic metal piece comprises a fixing portion for fixing the elastic metal piece and an elastic arm for holding the engaging protrusion column. While the engaging protrusion column is rotated into the nut of the housing, the taper head holds open the elastic arm. After the taper head passes, the elastic arm springs back due to the elasticity and enables the engagement of the elastic metal piece and the engaging protrusion column at the taper bottom.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna engaging mechanism in a wireless communication device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, the most important scheme of a wireless communication device having an external antenna is to fix the antenna to the wireless communication device tightly. For example, a mobile phone and its external antenna are fixed tightly to avoid loss the transmission of signals, meanwhile, the antenna is not easy to be accidently removed by the user and thus prevents the antenna from being damaged, or accidentally ingested by children. Generally, the external antenna comprises two types, namely engaging type and rotatable type.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an engaging antenna 10 of the prior art. The engaging antenna 10 of the prior art comprises an engaging hook 12 and a plastic shell 14. The plastic shell 14 is usually manufactured by injection molding and includes an antenna metal tube therein. The plastic shell 14 comprises an outer portion 16 and an engaging portion 18. The shape of the engaging portion 18 conforms to the shape of the antenna hole of the wireless communication device. When the engaging antenna 10 of the prior art is combined with the wireless communication device, the engaging hook 12 is forced to change shape so that the engaging hook 12 can pass through the antenna hole of the wireless communication device with the engaging portion 18 together. After passing through the antenna hole, the engaging hook 12 springs back due to its elasticity and is then engaged with the wireless communication device. Therefore, the engaging antenna 10 can engage the wireless communication device, and the user cannot separate the engaging antenna 10 from the wireless communication device from the outside of the communication device.
Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a rotatable antenna 20 of the prior art. The principal part of the rotatable antenna 20 of the prior art is a metal tube 22 that has a screw thread 26. An antenna shell 24 covers one end of the metal tube 22. The other end of the metal tube 22 has the screw thread 26 where the rotatable antenna 20 is attached to the wireless communication device. Moreover, the antenna hole of the wireless communication device has a corresponding nut. The engagement of both the rotatable antenna 20 and the wireless communication device utilizes the screw thread 26 of the metal tube 22 and the corresponding nut inside the antenna hole. This method, which utilizes the screw thread and the nut for combination, enables a tight engagement between the antenna and the wireless communication device.
Compared to the engaging antenna 10 in FIG. 1 and the rotatable antenna 20 in FIG. 2, the engaging antenna 10 is fixed to the mobile phone only by the plastic shell 14, the antenna is easily loosened, and the transmission of signals is usually unstable. On the contrary, the engagement of the rotatable antenna 20 and the wireless communication device is more stable by utilizing a screw thread and a nut combination. However, the user can easily unscrew the rotatable antenna 20 to separate it from the wireless communication device, and thus the antenna may be lost or accidentally ingested by children.
Therefore, the present invention provides an antenna engaging mechanism to tightly engage the antenna to the wireless communication device and prevent the antenna from being separated from the wireless communication device, so as to address the problems of the prior art.

Antenna engaging mechanism in wireless communication device


An electrically-powered fluid sprayer employs a piezoelectric fluid pump that includes an inlet port, an outlet port, a pump chamber, and a piezoelectric element that is deformed and displaced by electrical signals supplied thereto to vary the volume of the pump chamber. Such displacement pumps fluid into the inlet port and into the pump chamber and discharges fluid from the pump chamber out the outlet port. The inlet port is in fluid-communication with a fluid reservoir. Spin mechanics may be disposed downstream from the outlet port of the fluid pump and upstream from the discharge nozzle. The piezoelectric fluid sprayer may be extended to include a dual chamber piezoelectric pump that pumps different fluids (e.g., a liquid and air). The output of the dual chamber pump is mixed in a manifold and supplied downstream to the discharge nozzle. Spin mechanics may be employed in the fluid stream upstream from the discharge nozzle after the mixing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to electrically-powered fluid pumps. More particularly, this invention relates to an electrically-powered fluid pump contained in a spray head which is retrofittable onto existing pump spray containers.
2. State of the Art
Many household and industrial products are sold in containers that include a sprayer. These products include cleansers, insecticides, polishes, waxes, etc. There are several kinds of sprayers used with these products. Perhaps the most common is the push button or trigger operated pump which is seen most frequently on liquid cleansers. It has the advantage of being environmentally friendly but the disadvantage of delivering fluid in a series of pulses rather than in a continuous spray.
Another well known sprayer is the aerosol can which is sealed and charged with a gas propellant. This sprayer has the advantage that it dispenses fluid in a continuous spray, but has several disadvantages. One disadvantage is that the can cannot be refilled. Another disadvantage is that, depending on the gas used to charge the container, it can be environmentally unfriendly. Moreover, environmentally friendly propellants do not charge as well as the unfriendly gases.
Still another popular sprayer is the air pump sprayer seen most frequently with insecticides and liquid garden products. The pump sprayer includes a hand operated air pump which is used to charge the container with compressed air. After it is charged, it operates much like an aerosol can. The pump sprayer is environmentally friendly but requires a lot of effort to keep it charged because air is not as efficient a propellant as environmentally unfriendly gases such as FREON or hydrocarbon gasses.
In recent years there has been some experimentation with electrically powered pump sprayers. Most of these devices include a spray mechanism which is similar to the ubiquitous push button (or trigger) pump sprayer but which is coupled to a battery powered electric motor by a linkage which converts the rotary action of the motor to an oscillatory motion to drive the pump piston. Many of these battery operated pump sprayers are designed to work only with a specially constructed bottle, i.e. they are not retrofittable to existing pump spray bottles. They also are heavy, expensive, and have poor power consumption (and reduced battery life) due to the weight and cost of the electric motor. Many of these battery powered pumps also have large priming volumes, thus causing a delay between the time the pump is activated and the time liquid begins to be dispensed. Significantly, these pumps do not really provide a constant spray. They provide a continuous pulsed spray like that obtained by repeatedly squeezing the trigger of pushing the button on a hand operated spray pump.

Fluid sprayer employing piezoelectric pump


The disclosed subject matter relates to providing panoramic stereo vision captured with a single camera scheme employing a catadioptric optical path. In an aspect the presently disclosed subject matter can capture a stereo image over a full 360-degree horizontal field of view or portions thereof. Further, the vertical FOV is enlarged compared to conventional cata-fisheye schemes. A system according to the instant subject matter can be calibrated with a computational model that can accommodate a non-single viewpoint imaging model to conduct 3D reconstruction in Euclidean space.

Panoramic images can, generally, be captured by employing systems that are classified as either dioptric systems, those that do not use reflective optics, or catadioptric systems that use both reflective and refractive optics. Dioptric systems include conventional cameras that employ wide-angle or fisheye lens based systems. Catadioptric systems generally include those employing conventional cameras with reflective optical elements in addition to refractive lens elements.
Conventional technologies can use a plurality of cameras to capture visual segments of a panoramic image and thereafter "stitch" the images together to form a more full panoramic image. These stitching systems thus cannot share a single viewpoint and the images will encounter parallax issues, which can be terms the single viewpoint (SVP) problem. The use of a single camera can be regarded as co-location of the viewpoints of multiple cameras which can overcome the parallax problem associated with multiple cameras.
The use of a wide-angle lens or fisheye lens can capture a panoramic image from a single camera. However, the use of a fisheye lens results in the capture of hemispherical panoramic images as would be expected when using a hemispherical field of view (FOV) lens. Alternatively, the use of a catadioptric system can overcome the SVP by capturing the panorama with a single camera aligned with a convex mirror. However, the use of a catadioptric system can be complicated by non-linear vertical resolution in the image resulting from the image being captured off of a highly curved reflective surface. Employing a conical reflective surface can improve vertical resolution uniformity at the cost of vertical field of view because the conical reflective surface acts as a radially symmetric planar mirror.
Cata-fisheye schemes have been employed to capture panoramic images. In a cata-fisheye scheme, the FOV of the fisheye lens and the FOV of the catadioptric element can overlap. This overlap region can employ shallow mirrors to capture high quality panoramic images. Further, wherein the overlapping region captures two viewpoints that are very close together, parallax is negligible and the SVP is effectively circumvented.
Generally, conventional panoramic imaging systems aim at obtaining visual information from a wide FOV. It is further typically desirable to have stereo views that enable 3D depth perception. These features can be important for a variety of real-world applications such as surveillance and autonomous navigation mission environments. A number of conventional panoramic stereo vision systems have been proposed in the literature. One category of conventional systems uses two or more omni-directional cameras, which are configured to produce either horizontal stereo image pairs or vertical stereo image pairs. Another category of conventional systems uses only one single camera combined with typically complex optics to achieve stereo vision. The various optical components of these types of conventional systems have been reported to include, for example, a hyperbolic double lobed mirror, multiple combined conic mirrors, four parabolic mirrors (with an orthographic camera), a concave lens with a convex mirror, a mirror pyramid, etc. The implementations with multiple omni-directional cameras bring various burdens, such as, data acquisition with multi-camera synchronization, lack of a compact system size, higher system costs due to the complex optical elements, etc.


A method of assisting recovery of an injury site of the central nervous system (CNS) or treating a disease includes providing a therapeutic dose of X-ray radiation to a target volume through an array of parallel microplanar beams. The dose to treat CNS injury temporarily removes regeneration inhibitors from the irradiated site. Substantially unirradiated cells surviving between beams migrate to the in-beam portion and assist recovery. The dose may be staggered in fractions over sessions using angle-variable intersecting microbeam arrays (AVIMA). Additional doses are administered by varying the orientation of the beams. The method is enhanced by injecting stem cells into the injury site. One array or the AVIMA method is applied to ablate selected cells in a target volume associated with disease for palliative or curative effect. Atrial fibrillation is treated by irradiating the atrial wall to destroy myocardial cells while continuously rotating the subject.

An injury to a portion of the central nervous system (CNS), i.e., the spinal cord or brain, can not be healed by the same means used to treat tissue types such as bone, muscle, liver, the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and so on. An injured spinal cord, for example, does not heal and recover to become functional again, as other tissue types do. For example, severed axons at the injury site fail to reestablish synaptic connections, resulting in permanent loss of neural activity.
In addition, beginning over the first two weeks after injury, cellular changes are triggered that lead to the formation of scar tissue that acts as a barrier to prevent regeneration. For example, astrocytes, the neuroglial cells which normally provide structural support and protection to the neurons, transform into reactive astrocytes upon injury. These reactive astrocytes accumulate to form the bulk of a scar tissue that forms, which is referred to as a gliosis (or astrogliosis), and, at a later stage, as a glial scar. This gliotic tissue acts as a barrier to the reconnection of remaining uninjured tissue, including axons and neurons, and prevents regeneration of healthy neural tissue. Without regeneration and reconnection, there is no return to functionality.
Other processes that are related to the production of reactive astrocytes and may hamper the recovery are: a) production and dissipation at the injury site of axon-growth inhibiting molecules such as chondroitin-sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) and keratan-sulfate proteoglycans (KSPGs); and b) reaction of the immune system, commonly in the form of white blood cells (leukocytes) at the entrance to the injury site.
The barrier formed at the injury site consists of functional barriers or inhibitors, as well as physical barriers. For example, the astrogliosis layer that forms at the injury site, also called the junction (referring to the junction between healthy tissues), prevents the recovery of the set of systems required to restore function including formation of the microvasculature system. With the failure of early vascular recovery, catastrophic vascular collapse ensues leading to tissue cavitation and stroke-like events. The overall failure of repair of the microvasculature induces tissue collapse and a failure to bridge the junction between healthy tissues separated by the glial tissue or glial scar.
One of the only methods currently being researched to solve the problem is irradiation of the injury site with X-rays within two to three weeks after the occurrence of injury, as described, for example, in Kalderon, et al., "Structural Recovery in Lesioned Adult Mammalian Spinal Cord by X-Irradiation of the Lesion Site," Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 93, pp. 11179-11184 (October 1996), or in Kalderon, at al., "Fractionated Radiation Facilitates Repair and Functional Motor Recovery after Spinal Cord Transection in Rat." Brain Res. Vol. 904, pp 199-207 (June 2001), both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Although the method has produced some encouraging results in laboratory animals, it has not been shown to produce substantial functional repair of the spinal cord.
Other methods have focused on limiting the functional expression of inhibitors or altering the microenvironment that prevents spontaneous regeneration. Yet others attempt to chemically ablate the inhibitory scar barrier. These methods are limited by the lack of non-invasive methods for delivery of the chemicals/compounds required to produce the effect. These methods also exhibit substantial negative "bystander" effects that are overall deleterious to the repair process, often exacerbating injury.
The central nervous system and other organs may suffer damage from disease as well as from direct injury. For example, diseases affecting the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis, those associated with mental illness, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy remain without a cure and have proven especially difficult to treat.
There is a need, therefore, for more successful, safe irradiation methods for assisting functional recovery of a damaged spinal cord or brain, as well as for therapeutic treatment of diseases affecting the central nervous system and other organs.

Methods for assisting recovery of damaged brain and spinal cord and treating various diseases using arrays of x-ray microplanar beams

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


The present invention is a novel method which results in the production of small seedless watermelon fruit having an average fruit weight of less than 12.0 pounds. The novel method involves using small tetraploid parental lines to produce small triploid hybrid seed.

The present invention relates to a novel seedless watermelon having an average fruit weight of less than 12.0 pounds. The present invention also relates to a seedless watermelon seed, a seedless watermelon plant, seedless watermelon variety, and a seedless watermelon hybrid and to methods of producing seedless watermelon fruit.
Watermelon belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. Watermelon is commercially grown from either seed or transplants. Citrullus is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae. The Cucurbitaceae is a family of about 90 genera and 700 to 760 species, mostly of the tropics. The family includes pumpkins, squashes, gourds, melons, cucumber, watermelon, loofah, and several weeds. A bitter-fruited form of Citrullus vulgaris appears to be the ancestor of the cultivated watermelon.
Successful watermelon production depends on attention to various cultural practices. This involves soil management practices with special attention to proper fertilization, crop establishment with appropriate spacing, weed control, the introduction of bees for pollination, and suitable pollenizers for seedless watermelon, irrigation and pest management. Watermelon fruit size and shape; rind color; thickness and toughness; seed size, color and number; and flesh color, texture, soluble solids and freedom from fruit defects are all important characteristics to be considered in selection of watermelon varieties. In addition, seedless watermelons should be free of hard seeds and have undeveloped seeds that are small and innocuous.
Watermelon crops can be established in the field from seed or from transplants. Transplanting is becoming more common because transplanting usually results in earlier crops than those that are direct seeded. Transplants are used extensively to establish seedless watermelon plantings. Diploid and triploid watermelon crops can be established easily with high quality transplants. Transplanting helps achieve rapid, complete plant stands, especially where seed costs make direct-seeding risky and expensive, as is the case with seedless watermelons. Most watermelon growers purchase plants from plant growing experts who may arrange for transport to the field location.
For triploid seedless watermelon production, fruit set and enlargement is dependent upon growth regulators from the pollen grains and from embryos in developing seeds within the fruit. Inadequate pollination results in triploid watermelon fruit that are triangular in shape and of poor quality. Inadequate pollination may increase the incidence of hollowheart. Triploid watermelon flowers do not produce sufficient viable pollen to induce fruit set and development. Therefore, pollen from a normal diploid seeded watermelon variety must be provided. Planting the diploid pollenizer variety in the outside row of the field and then every third row is recommended. As an alternative, the pollenizer variety has been planted every third plant in each row but this makes harvesting of the triploid fruit difficult because mixed diploid and triploid fruit must be separated. This also makes planting difficult because blanks must be left where the diploid should go. Maintaining the rotation of three triploid to one diploid is not easily accomplished.
Currently, it is important to use a diploid pollenizer variety that is marketable because between one-quarter to one-half of all watermelons produced in the field will be of this variety. The rind pattern and/or shape of the seeded pollenizer fruit should be distinguished easily from that of the triploid fruit to reduce confusion at harvest.
It is important that pollen from the diploid pollenizer variety is available when female blossoms on the triploid plants are open and ready for pollination. If planted too early, the diploid variety can set fruit and stop producing male blossoms while the triploid variety is still producing many female blossoms. If planted too late, the triploid will be ready to set fruit but not enough pollen will be ready to provide fruit set.
Watermelon plants develop several vigorous and far-reaching vines, thus requiring large amounts of space for optimum growth and fruit development. Watermelons have been seeded with about two to about four feet between plants in rows about six to about 15 feet apart. This wide spacing requires larger field sizes. Also, the wide spacing provided less interplant competition for water. Cultural practices such as irrigation and polyethylene mulch have led to the use of higher plant populations. Row spacing of 6–8 feet apart and plant spacing of 2–4 feet are common. Often, with close plant spacing, the individual plant sets fewer fruits, which still reach normal size.
Watermelon plants usually have separate male and female flowers but sometimes produce perfect flowers. To achieve fruit set, pollen from the male flower must be transferred to a female flower on that plant or another plant in the field. This pollen transfer is accomplished by several naturally occurring insects, but most effectively by the honeybee. Poor or ineffective pollination of watermelons results in bottle-neck fruits of long-fruited watermelon varieties. In round-fruited varieties, poorly pollinated fruits can be flat-sided or misshapen.
Watermelon has small flowers. Flowering begins about 8 weeks after seeding. Flowers of watermelon are staminate (male), perfect (hermaphroditic), or pistillate (female), usually borne in that order on the plant as it grows. Monecious types are most common, but there are andromonoecious (staminate and perfect) types, mainly the older varieties or accessions collected from the wild. In many varieties, the pistillate or perfect flowers are borne at every seventh node, with staminate flowers at the intervening nodes. The flower ratio of typical watermelon varieties is 7 staminate to 1 pistillate, but the ratio ranges from 4:1 to 15:1.
Watermelon is the only economically important cucurbit with pinnatifid (lobed) leaves; all of the other species have whole (nonlobed) leaves. The leaves are pinnately divided into three or four pairs of lobes, except for an entire-leaf (nonlobed) gene mutant controlled by the nl (nonlobed) gene. Watermelon growth habit is a trailing vine. The stems are thin, hairy, angular, grooved, and have branched tendrils at each node. The stems are highly branched and up to 30 feet long, although there are dwarf types (dw-1 and dw-2 genes) with shorter, less-branched stems. Roots are extensive but shallow, with a taproot and many lateral roots.
Vine length of watermelon varies from dwarf to long. For example, 'Charleston Gray' and 'Jubilee', large-fruited varieties, have vines up to 30 feet long. Short or medium length vines are well suited to varieties with small or medium sized fruit. For example, 'Sugar Baby', 'New Hampshire Midget', and 'Petite Sweet' are short vined, having vine lengths of between about six to about 12 feet and 'Crimson Sweet' has intermediate vine length.
Dwarf mutants have been discovered in watermelon. Two genes cause dwarfing when they are in homozygous recessive condition: dw-1 and dw-2. 'Kengarden' has the genotype dw-1 dw-2. Another gene mutant (Japanese Dwarf, dw-2 dw-2) has increased branching from the crown.
Fruit size is an important consideration in a breeding program since there are different market requirements for particular groups of shippers and consumers. The general categories are: icebox (<12 lb), small, sometimes called pee-wee (12–18 lb), medium (18–24 lb), large (24–32 lb), and giant (>32 lb). Fruit size is inherited in polygenic fashion, with an estimated 25 genes involved. Shippers in the United States work with particular weight categories, such as 18–24 lb for seeded and 14–18 lb for seedless. Researchers have developed three diploid seeded varieties with small fruit: New Hampshire Midget, Minilee and Mickylee. (Barnes, et al., Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture. 1994. 34(5):673–679.)
The commercially available seedless watermelons have a round to round/oval to blocky shape with an average weight between 15–20 pounds. The length/width ratio (L/W ratio) for these commercial hybrids ranges from 1.2 (10×8.5 inches) to 1.7 (11.5×7 inches). There may be exceptional circumstances where the weight can go up to 32 pounds in the larger extreme; and there may be also cases where fruits weigh as little as 12–15 pounds in the smaller extreme. However the standard weight in the seedless watermelon trade in the U.S. is that of 15–20 pounds. These ranges of measurements and ratios apply for hybrid seedless watermelons grown in commercial fields and under conventional spacing between the rows and within the rows.
Seedless triploid varieties are produced by crossing a tetraploid (2n=4x=44 chromosomes) inbred line as the female parent with a diploid (2n=2x=22) inbred line as the male parent of the hybrid. The reciprocal cross (diploid female parent) does not produce seeds. The resulting hybrid is a triploid (2n=3x=33). Triploid plants have three sets of chromosomes, and three sets cannot be divided evenly during meiosis. This results in nonfunctional female and male gametes although the flowers appear normal. Since the triploid hybrid is female sterile, the fruit induced by pollination tend to be seedless. Unfortunately, the triploid has no viable pollen, so it is necessary to plant a diploid variety in the production field to provide the pollen that stimulates fruit to form. Usually, one third of the plants in the field are diploid and two thirds are triploid, although production has been observed with as little as 20% diploids. Varieties should be chosen that could be distinguished easily so the seeded diploid fruit can be separated from the seedless triploid fruit for harvesting and marketing.
Most of the tetraploid lines being used by the seed industry have gray rind so that, when crossed with a diploid line with striped rind, it will be easy to separate self-pollinated progeny (which will be seeded fruit from the female parent line) from cross-pollinated progeny (which will be seedless fruit from the triploid hybrid). The grower may discard the gray fruit so they are not marketed as seedless watermelons by mistake. For example, if there is 4% of the fruit from the inbred parent then 4% of total fruits will be unmarketable and reduces marketable yield.
A smaller fruited seedless watermelon, if available, would be desirable for certain segments of the consumer market.


The present invention provides male-sterile plants. The plants have a recombinant polynucleotide integrated into their genome, essentially comprising an inhibitory gene, which, upon proper expression in the anthers of the plant, is capable of inhibiting expression of one or more genes encoding an enzyme involved in the synthesis of chalcone, or one of its precursors.

It has since long been acknowledged that seeds derived through cross-pollination between different varieties of one species, give rise to offspring with better characteristics in terms of yield, environmental fitness, and disease resistance, when compared with the offspring of seeds derived through self-pollination. This effect is generally referred to as the heterosis effect. For this reason, it is an object for the seed industry to obtain hybrid seed in as many agricultural and horticultural crops as possible, because of their higher commercial value.
Unfortunately, however, many crop plants bear the male and female reproductive organs on the same individual, which strongly promotes self-pollination over cross-pollination. Therefore, in order to obtain seeds derived from cross-pollination, it would be desirable to have acceptor plants which are unable to self-pollinate, due to the absence of (properly functioning) pollen. These male-sterile plants or female parents, are then used in cross-fertilization with a male-fertile donor plant to produce hybrid seed.
For the production of hybrid seed on a large scale usually the male-sterile plants and the male-fertile plants are grown together in the field and allowed to cross-pollinate, whereafter the hybrid seed is selected. Depending on the type of male-sterile plants that are used, the selection or separation of hybrid seed is performed before harvesting, i.e. by destroying or removing the male-fertile donor plants which produce non-hybrid seeds, or after harvesting, e.g. on the basis of a marker, such as seed color in maize, or another easily perceptible phenotype. The pre-harvesting selection is possible when the male-fertile parent can be distinguished from the male-sterile parent plant and can subsequently be removed or destroyed. Alternatively, when the male-sterility locus is closely linked to a selectable marker (such as a herbicide resistance), the male-sterile plants, which carry the hybrid seeds, can outcompete the male-fertile plants by applying the appropriate selective pressure.
As male-sterile parental line, use is made of e.g. physically emasculated plants, or if available natural cytoplasmic or nuclear encoded male-sterile mutants. Such naturally male-sterile plants have their disadvantages, be it the very laborious preparation, the presence of additional undesired characteristics, the difficulty of maintenance and propagation, the unpredictable inheritance, or the limited availability of natural male-sterile mutants in commercially interesting crops.
Only recently, genetically engineered nuclear encoded male-sterile plants are known that can be used for the production of hybrid seeds and which lack at least some of the disadvantages of most natural male-sterile mutants.

Male-sterile plants, method for obtaining male-sterile plants and recombinant DNA for use therein


This invention describes novel formulations containing a water soluble disulfide, 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate, with or without cis-diammine dichloro platinum present in the same formulation, wherein the parenteral or oral administration of 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate is used to reduce the risk or prevent or retard the development of cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity, myelosuppression, and neurotoxicity, and wherein the parenteral or oral administration of 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate potentiates the antitumor activity of cisplatin when treating human patients with cancer. This invention also teaches novel formulations containing 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate alone or in combination with cisplatin in lyophilized or dissolved in an aqueous formulations which can be administered to patients with cancer who are being treated with cisplatin. The invention also teaches methods of preparing said formulations and their use in preventing cisplatin related toxicities and potentiation of cisplatin antitumor activity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention teaches novel compositions and methods of use thereof, of a water soluble disulfide, 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate (also known as "disodium 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate", "dimesna" or "BNP7787") in human patients who are being treated for cancer with cis-diammine dichloro platinum (also known as "cisplatin" or "CDDP") and wherein cis-diammine dichloro platinum and 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate compositions are administered prior to, simultaneously or following the administration of cisplatin to reduce the risk of cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity when treating human patients with cancer. This invention also teaches the use of said compositions containing 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate as a key ingredient for the purposes of potentiating the antitumor activity of cisplatin in human subjects with cancer, and protecting against cisplatin related neurotoxicity and myelosuppression. In its preferred aspect, this invention involves the preparation and administration of a sterile, aqueous composition of 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate to human patients with cancer who are being treated with cisplatin. In another preferred form, this invention involves the preparation and administration of a lyophilized composition of 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate, which is reconstituted with aqueous media prior to administration to human patients with cancer who are being treated with cisplatin. This invention also teaches methods of administration of the claimed 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate compositions lacking cisplatin that can be carried out within 24 hours preceding and within 24 hours following the administration of cisplatin. Yet another aspect of this invention is the methods of simultaneous administration of cis-diammine dichloro platinum and 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate wherein the 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate is administered simultaneously with the administration of cis-diammine dichloro platinum. This simultaneous administration can be carried out by administering aqueous or lyophilized and reconstituted compositions containing 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate and cisplatin or by the simultaneous administration of each drug via separate routes of administration. Another aspect of this invention is a method of reducing cis-diammine dichloro platinum induced nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and myelosuppression and also potentiating cisplatin antitumor activity in human patients whose cancer is optimally treated with cis-diammine dichloro platinum.
This invention describes novel aqueous and lyophilized compositions and methods of use thereof of a water soluble disulfide, 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate and disodium 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate, which has been discovered by the inventors to protect against cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity. The inventors also teach the use of 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate as a key ingredient of the claimed compositions for the purposes of preventing or retarding the development of cisplatin induced neurotoxicity and myelosuppression. The inventors have made the unexpected discovery that 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate also appears to potentiate (increase) the antitumor activity of cisplatin in vivo and accordingly claim the use of 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate for the purpose of increasing the antitumor activity of cisplatin. The novel lyophilized and aqueous compositions contain 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate or disodium 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate, with or without cis-diammine dichloro platinum and the invention teaches that 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, may be administered simultaneously with or separately from cisplatin to reduce the risk of cisplatin induced toxicities when treating human patients with cancer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A. Introduction
The use of cytotoxic anticancer drugs pose an increased risk of certain drug related toxic side effects in human subjects undergoing cancer treatment. Drug toxicity associated with the use of anticancer drugs greatly limits their clinical utility and safety in human subjects. For example, drug-induced impairment of cellular and/or organ functions may result in organ-specific toxicities in human subjects being treated for cancer. Additionally, the drugs themselves or their metabolites may accumulate or damage certain cellular components or impair certain biochemical reactions in specific organs. The toxicities observed due to the administration of anticancer drugs are usually dose dependent (e.g., busulfan induced myelosuppression), are often related to cumulative dosages administered (e.g., BCNU induced pulmonary toxicity; anthracycline induced cardiac toxicity), and idiosyncratic drug toxicities are noted with some frequency with certain anticancer drugs (e.g., mitomycin-C induced hemolytic uremic syndrome). By impairing or damaging normal cellular function in specific organs the anticancer drug is causally connected with the drug-induced organ damage.
As a result of drug induced toxicity associated with the administration of anticancer drugs to humans, clinicians attempt to prevent or reduce the risk of drug toxicity by certain pharmacologic maneuvers. Such clinical maneuvers can impose risk of additional side effects, or result in a dose reduction of the anticancer drug which in turn may adversely affect the likelihood of achieving control of the patient's tumor. If the major dose-limiting organ toxicity of a particular anticancer drug is eliminated or substantially reduced, the result is that the safety and efficacy of the primary anticancer drug is greatly increased. A significant reduction in drug toxicity in cancer treatment generally results in greater ability to administer higher doses of the drug, prevents or reduces the number of treatment delays, and increases the safety and the quality of life for patients. An example of this approach is the use of G-CSF to reduce the duration and magnitude of drug induced myelosuppression resulting from the administration of several different types of anticancer drugs. Therefore, an important area of drug research and treatment is aimed at developing new methods to prevent or reduce drug induced dose limiting toxicities in human cancer patients.
This invention teaches new art which uses 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof (including disodium 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate) contained in compositions which can be administered to human subjects with cancer being treated with cis-diammine dichloro platinum. For the purposes hereof, the useful composition of matter defined by this invention includes 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate, dimesna and BNP7787. The inventors have made an unexpected discovery that the use of compositions containing 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate are effective and safe in protecting against cis-diammine dichloro platinum induced nephrotoxicity (impairment of normal renal function). The inventors have also discovered that the administration of 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate compositions is safe and non-toxic and appears to provide protection against cisplatin induced myelosuppression, neurotoxicity and further appears to potentiate the antitumor activity of cisplatin. Myelosuppression is defined as the suppression of the production of blood cells from the bone marrow. Cisplatin neurotoxicity can manifest as the impairment of peripheral sensory neural function (paresthesias, numbness, pain), impairment of central neural function (including nausea, vomiting, ototoxicity, cranial nerve and ocular toxicities. For the purposes of this invention, cis-diammine dichloro platinum is also referred to as "cisplatin" and "CDDP" interchangeably and without restriction. The instant invention which encompasses novel compositions and methods of use of 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate has tremendous utility in preventing, retarding the development of and reducing the risk of these cisplatin induced toxicities in human patients with cancer. This invention also teaches methods of manufacture of said compositions in the instant invention containing the water soluble disulfide 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate (or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof) alone or in combination with other medicaments, when desired and add additional utility to this invention.
B. Cis-Diammine Dichloro Platinum

Formulations and methods of use of 2,2'-dithio-bis-ethane sulfonate


A method for communicating data between a vehicle and a ground system comprises receiving, by a vehicle bus multiplexer on the vehicle, the data via a plurality of vehicle data buses from an onboard system. The method further comprises multiplexing, by the vehicle bus multiplexer, the data into at least one data path of a multi-use power interface. Also, the method comprises transmitting, by the multi-use power interface via at least one data path, the data from the vehicle bus multiplexer to a ground bus multiplexer associated with the ground system. In addition, the method comprises demultiplexing, by the ground bus multiplexer, the data from at least one data path of the multi-use power interface into a plurality of ground data buses associated with the ground system. Further, the method comprises transmitting, by the ground bus multiplexer, the data via the plurality of ground data buses to the ground system.

Systems operating onboard a vehicle may generate as well as receive significant amounts of data. For example, in the case of an aircraft, advanced avionics, in-flight entertainment systems, catering systems, passenger systems, and other onboard systems generate and/or utilize substantial amounts of data. As just one particular example for an aircraft, significant data is generated in connection with onboard monitoring systems, such as engine monitoring systems. Engine monitoring data may include, for example, compression ratios, rotations per minute, temperature, vibration, and other engine operational data. In addition, inflight entertainment systems for aircraft also can involve significant data, such as terabytes of data for a suite of movies.
Current and future airplane systems, such as avionics, video surveillance systems, inflight entertainment systems, and in military aircraft, the military electronics mission systems all require large data pipes to move data on and off the aircraft during passenger and equipment loading and unloading on the ground. For these airplane systems, many Gigabytes of data must be moved. The current data pipe bandwidth capacity in existing wireless off board communications solutions is not capable of moving this amount of data on or off an airplane within a reasonable timeframe. Hours or days are required to move these large data cashes onboard or off board the airplane.
Currently, data is transferred to and from an aircraft on the ground by using a combination of sneakernet (i.e. the manual delivery of physically carrying electronic data via, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive or hard drive) and radios (e.g., GateLink or a cellular modem) currently installed on the airplane to wirelessly transfer data. However, both of these conventional data transfer methods are slow. In addition, when utilizing radios for the data transfer, each radio data link incurs a usage charge and, as such, they are discouraged on the ground because they can be costly.
Demand for additional communication channels and data transfer needs is driving rapid change in connection with such communications. Such increased demand is due, for example, to increasing reliance by ground systems upon data from the aircraft, as well as increased communication needs of the flight crew, cabin crew, and passengers. In addition, data diversity along with an increasing number of applications producing and consuming data in support of a wide range of business processes puts additional demand on communications.
There is therefore a need for an improved technology for quickly transferring large amounts of data to and from a vehicle on the ground.

Multi-use optical data, powerline data, and ground power interface for airplane factory automation


An engine-driven vehicle/implement coupling system includes a mechanical coupling and one or more electronic and/or hydraulic connections. A coupling condition monitoring system includes one or two electronic control units, sensors for sensing a coupling condition of the electronic and/or hydraulic connection, and a sensor on the mechanical coupling for generating a signal representing a coupling condition of the mechanical coupling. Sensor signals are transmitted to the electronic control unit which, in response prevents erroneous coupling or uncoupling and prevents drive-away of the vehicle or implement.

The present invention relates to a coupling condition monitoring system for monitoring a coupling condition of an engine-driven towing vehicle coupled to an implement.
Various control systems are known for monitoring the condition of a coupling system which couples an implement to a towing vehicle. Such control systems are intended to avoid erroneous operation of coupling attachments that could damage the towing vehicle and/or the implement or even cause injury. Moreover, such control systems help assure an orderly electrical and/or mechanical operation of a coupled towing vehicle/implement. The implement may be a trailer or an agricultural implement.
A system for monitoring a trailer/towing vehicle mechanical coupling is disclosed in DE 196 47 042 A1, wherein a sensor transmits an error signal which causes a blinking light when the towing vehicle is improperly coupled to the implement.
DE 101 35 272 A1 describes a monitoring circuit which senses an error in the connection of a retraction or extension of a coupling element, and prevents any further retraction or extension. A similar system is disclosed by DE 101 04 180 A1 which detects the use of an electric supply and blocks the automatic actuation of an attachment coupling.
DE 44 12 111 A1 discloses an attached coupling system that assures an automatic connection of mechanical as well as electrical couplers.
These known control systems described above monitor the process of coupling an implement to the towing vehicle, but they do not monitor the uncoupling process. However, modern towing vehicles and implements are equipped with costly coupling systems that include electrical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic connecting lines, and, in particular, connecting lines for CAN-bus systems. These coupling systems can be damaged by inappropriate uncoupling processes or erroneous operation of the coupling system. For example, an operator could fail to separate the electronic and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic connecting lines after the mechanical uncoupling of the coupled implement. Also, during operation on a slope the towing vehicle and the implement could move away from each other before the completion of the uncoupling process. An unintended separation of the towing vehicle from the implement after a mechanical uncoupling, but while the electrical, hydraulic and/or pneumatic connections are still intact, can result in damage to the connections and significant repair costs.
Frequently, plug-in connections are designed so that they separate automatically at a certain maximum force. But this may not occur in all operating conditions. If a towing vehicle is separated from a trailer at a significant angle to the trailer, then the plug-in connections may not separate without damage. Other connections cannot be separated without damage.
It would be desirable to have a vehicle/implement coupling system which prevents unintended separation of the vehicle from the implement, as long as a coupling or uncoupling process is not fully completed.

Vehicle/implement coupling condition monitoring system


A dental implant system includes an implant body, for example, a screw anchor having external threads or a blade, which is implanted into a pre-formed cavity in a human jaw bone. The implant body has a vertically aligned bore having an axis, a conical top face, and at least three sockets radially spaced on the top face. A post having a conical bottom face, a single protruding pin, a bore and a wall at an angle of preferably 10-30 degrees from the axis of the pin, is fastened to the implant body by a screw. The post is eccentric to the implant body and its direction is determined by which of the socket holes the dentist inserts the pin of the post.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to dental devices and more particularly to an endosseous dental implant system.
2. Related Art
Dental implants are generally positioned in a hole formed in the jawbone of a patient. Such implants are "endosseous" because they are retained within the bone tissue. One type of dental implant is a screw ("screw anchor") and another type is a blade. Generally such implants have a head or post which protrudes above the gum of the patient. That post is used to secure dental work such as an artificial tooth ("crown") or a bridge. Generally the implants are of biocompatible metal, such as titanium, or of a suitable ceramic material.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,416 to Gerald Niznik a metal screw anchor dental implant is described which has self-tapping threads. The top of the screw anchor forms a hollow socket which holds a plastic ball and the head is attached to the ball. Although this construction provides for adjustability of the head, it is not a firm setting since the ball may be moved at any time.
There are presently on the market many types and sizes of dental implants. Often these implants are not compatible with each other, either in design or application. Sometimes, but not always, the posts (abutments) of one type of implant may be used with bridgework.
In inserting the implant in the bone, various driving techniques are employed, some of which use a hexagon driver. The mating hex socket in the implant lies either above the threaded area or is broached into the thread. When the hex is formed into the thread area, the implantologist faces the prospect of destroying the thread if too much pressure is required for insertion of the screw anchor into the bone. His second dilemma arises from a thread that is now of questionable strength to withstand the wrenching force required to obtain a solid seat for the screw so that it may withstand the mastication forces.


An hydropneumatic supercharger system for charging air into an internal combustion engine. An hydropneumatic supercharger is driven by an hydraulic turbine and an air turbine. The supercharger compressor provides supercharger air to a turbocharger. The turbocharger is driven by exhaust gasses from the engine and the turbocharger compressor provides compressed air to the engine and also provides compressed air to drive the supercharger air turbine.

Now stringent diesel emission regulations have had the effect of limiting the acceleration rates of turbodiesel powered vehicles. A need for supercharging of turbodiesel engines to improve their performance in the low RPM range has been recognized by most turbodiesel engine manufacturers and users. Positive displacement superchargers, such as well known Roots type and rotary type blowers driven directly by the engine via speed increasing gear trains have been utilized by major turbodiesel manufacturers. Fixed gear ratio mechanical superchargers suffer from four vary undesirable features which are:
1) supercharger speed cannot practically be controlled independently of engine speed, PA1 2) a fixed gear ratio mechanical supercharger proportions the engine intake air flow closely to the engine speed regardless of the engine load, thus the supercharger is not able to achieve the optimum air flow to fuel ratio at all engine loads, PA1 3) a mechanical clutch is required to disconnect the blower from the engine when not needed which result in an abrupt change in boost, and PA1 4) the positive displacement blower blocks the air flow through it when disconnected from the engine.
The applicant has been granted U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,310 issued on Jun. 6, 1995 for a hydraulic supercharging system utilizing a miniature, very high speed hydraulic turbine driving a compact centrifugal compressor to supercharge a turbocharged engine. The advantage of this system is its ability to modulate the supercharger speed independently of the engine speed and thus achieve substantially optimum boost and air/fuel ratio at all engine loads and speeds. It utilizes a "stand alone" relatively simple hydraulic system incorporating prior art bearings lubrication and seals functions. This hydraulic supercharging system does, however, require a substantial amount of engine mechanical power to drive the hydraulic system which may be undesirable is some applications. Applicant has also been granted U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,508 issued Jun. 27, 1995 for an electro-pneumatic blower and U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,364 issued on Sep. 13, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,965 issued on Jun. 27, 1995 disclosing high speed hydraulic turbines. The teachings of all the patents referred to in this paragraph are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
What is needed is an engine supercharging system which provide the advantages of the hydraulic system with a substantial reduction in the power required from the engine to drive the hydraulic system.

Hydropneumatic engine supercharger system


A power steering gear for a heavy vehicle includes a housing and a flow path for a power steering fluid. A heat exchanger is mounted to the housing or is a part thereof. The heat exchanger includes a first flow path for the power steering fluid and a second flow path for a coolant adapted to exchange heat with the power steering fluid. A cooling system for a power steering gear, a heavy vehicle comprising a power steering gear having such a cooling system, and a method of cooling the power steering fluid of a power steering gear on a heavy vehicle are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to power steering gears for motor vehicles and, more specifically, to cooling systems for such power steering gears.
Motor vehicles often employ power steering assist systems to reduce the amount of effort needed for steering the vehicle. Such a system generally employs a power steering pump that pumps a fluid, such as a hydraulic fluid, with a high pressure. The pumping pressure is used to assist the steering effort of the vehicle. The power steering pump generates heat when in use, which heats the fluid. This heat can reduce the lifetime of the steering gear due to higher wear and leakage on power steering gears. The steering gear is also often positioned close to the engine that also generates heat. On modern trucks, the engine is encapsulated in order to reduce noise, which in turn increases the temperature around the engine. In order to cool the steering gear oil, it is known to install a heat exchange system in the high pressure part of the system. Known systems for such cooling include air-cooled heat exchangers in which the pump fluid is cooled by air in a manner similar to the liquid cooling that takes place in a radiator for the engine coolant. However, such a cooling system is very dependent on the airflow that may be very limited at low or at idle speed. Furthermore the cooling effect may also be insufficient when the temperature of the surroundings is high. There is also a disadvantage in installing a heat exchanger in the high pressure part, as the installation is expensive due to the high pressure. A leakage in the high pressure part will also be more severe than in the low pressure part.
To increase the cooling rate, the systems may use the engine coolant from the engine. An example of such a system is known from US 2003116104A, in which a cooling jacket is provided about a periphery of the power steering pump housing for cooling the pump housing. This cooling jacket cools the steering pump, but is relatively large and increases the arrangement complexity.
EP 1219526 A and EP 968902 A shows hydraulic fluid reservoirs with an integrated heat exchanger for cooling the fluid. The heat exchanger is connected to the engine coolant.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,490 A and U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,281 A shows metallic hydraulic fluid reservoirs with integrated cooling fins for cooling the fluid. This solution is dependent on the surrounding air temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,117 A shows a system where the return tube is much longer than necessary, creating a cooling circuit. This solution creates a high loss in the return line, which may require a larger pump to make up for the losses.
All the proposed solutions may work in some cases, bur they all displays different drawbacks, mainly by increasing the system weight, cost and arrangement complexity.
It is desirable to provide a compact cooling system for cooling of the power steering fluid in a motor vehicle. It is also desirable to provide a cooling system that can be used to modify already mounted power steering systems to provide cooling of the power steering fluid.
The present invention relates in a first aspect to a power steering gear for a heavy vehicle, said power steering gear comprising a housing, a flow path for a power steering fluid, and a heat exchanger mounted to said housing or being a part thereof, said heat exchanger comprising a first flow path for the power steering fluid and a second flow path for a coolant adapted to exchange heat with the power steering fluid.
Since the heat exchanger is a separate unit, it can either be integrated in the design of new power steering gears or used to modify operational systems already in use when a problem with insufficient cooling of the power steering fluid arises. The present invention thereby provides a relatively cheap and flexible solution. The option of mounting the cooling system to already mounted power steering systems furthermore renders it possible to adjust new vehicles to the customers' specific needs at the time of delivery.
The power steering gear comprises a high-pressure fluid inlet part receiving the power steering fluid from the pump and a low-pressure fluid outlet part returning the power steering fluid to a reservoir or the pump, and the heat exchanger may be mounted adjacent to or on to said inlet or outlet part. Preferably, the heat exchanger is mounted to the outlet part, thus cooling the fluid on the low-pressure side of the system.
Alternatively, the heat exchanger can be an integrated part of said inlet or outlet part such that when assembling the power steering gear, the outlet or inlet part comprises the heat exchanger which then provides an even more compact design of a power steering gear with cooling.
The heat exchanger preferably comprise a plate cooler with an inlet and outlet for the coolant, and the coolant may be water supplied to the heat exchanger by a specific pump for that purpose, but preferably the coolant is an engine coolant of an engine of the vehicle to which the power steering is mounted. Thus, the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger is coupled directly to the coolant system of the engine of the vehicle, such that the coolant is cooled by the engine radiator.
The cooling system may further comprise air-cooling means for providing an even better cooling of the power steering fluid.
According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a cooling system for a power steering gear, said system comprising a heat exchanger adapted to be mounted to the housing of a power steering gear or being a part thereof and comprising a flow path for a coolant adapted to exchange heat with the power steering fluid.
The heat exchanger may be adapted to be mounted to an already operational power steering gear, or it can be an integrated part of the power steering gear.
The heat exchanger may comprise means for mounting it adjacent to or on to a power steering fluid inlet or outlet of a power steering gear. The heat exchanger may comprise an adapter plate allowing mounting of the heat exchanger to different kinds of power steering gears having different inlet or outlet pipe stub or other parts protruding from its housing. Thus, the same type of heat exchanger can be mounted to different kinds of power steering gear by means of the adapter plate.
The heat exchanger preferably comprises a plate cooler with an inlet and outlet for the coolant, and as mentioned above, it preferably uses an engine coolant from an engine of a vehicle to which the power steering gear is mounted.
The cooling system may further comprise air-cooling means for providing an even better cooling of the power steering fluid.
According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a heavy vehicle comprising a power steering gear according to the first aspect and comprising a cooling system according to the third aspect.
According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a method of cooling the power steering fluid of a power steering gear on a heavy vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:                providing a heat exchanger on to a power fluid inlet or outlet of the power steering gear,        pumping a coolant through the heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the power fluid so as to cool the power fluid.
The step of pumping is preferably provided by a coolant pump of the engine of the vehicle, said coolant being cooled by the engine radiator.
It is an advantage of the use of a cooling system in which the pump fluid is cooled by the engine coolant that it is possible to increase the pump flow without risking to overheat the system. Such an increase in the flow may e.g. be advantageous at idle speed. It is a further advantage of the present invention that it can be employed without any need to change the present system and pump design. It is a further advantage of the present invention that the power steering fluid may be led through the heat exchanger via e.g. pipes having relatively small wall thickness. This makes the cooling more efficient than when the system is based on cooling of other parts of the pumps, such as the whole pump housing.


A system and rearview assembly is disclosed. The system includes a rearview assembly, an imager, and a controller. The rearview assembly comprises a backlight. Further, the rearview assembly is operable to provide a driver with a view of a scene rearward of a vehicle. Additionally, the rearview assembly is operable to emit light to illuminate the driver with at least one of infra-red and near infra-red light from the backlight. The imager is operable to image the driver in the at least one of infra-red and near infra-red light. The controller is communicatively connected to the imager and operable to analyze images of the driver to perform at least one of a biometric and a driver awareness analysis.

Systems for imaging in the infra-red and near infra-red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum have been around for quite some time. Such systems often rely on point source emitters to provide adequate near infra-red illumination for imaging. These systems have become increasingly implemented in motor vehicles. However, these systems often suffer from poor heat dissipation, emitter visibility, uniform illumination, and retina reflected glare. Accordingly, there is a need for improved illumination devices and imaging systems.

Near infra-red emitting rearview assembly