In an optical head device and an optical information recording/reproducing device using the optical head device, by driving a liquid crystal panel 4a, the liquid crystal panel 4a produces wave aberration for light on a going path and light on a returning path likewise. Accordingly, when the substrate-thickness deviation or tilt of the disc 7 is corrected, the wave aberration due to the substrate-thickness deviation or tilt of the disc 7 and the wave aberration produced by the liquid crystal panel 4a are canceled by each other for both of the light on the going path and the light on the returning path, so that no wave aberration remains for the light on the returning path and the phase distribution is not varied.

This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/117,998, filed Apr. 9, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,085,218 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical head device and an optical information recording/reproducing device for recording/reproducing information on an optical recording medium and particularly, to an optical head device and an optical information recording/reproducing device which can correct spherical aberration due to a deviation in the thickness of the substrate of the optical recording medium and coma aberration due to a tilt of the optical recording medium by using a liquid crystal panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
The recording density of an optical information recording/reproducing device is in inverse proportion to the square of the diameter of a focused light spot which is formed on an optical recording medium by an optical head device. That is, as the diameter of the focused light spot is smaller, the recording density is increased. The diameter of the focused light spot is in inverse proportion to the numerical aperture of an objective lens in the optical head device. That is, as the numerical aperture of the objective lens is higher, the diameter of the focused light spot is reduced. On the other hand, when the thickness of the substrate of the optical recording medium is deviated from the design value thereof, the shape of the focused light spot is distorted due to spherical aberration caused by the deviation of the thickness of the substrate, so that the recording/reproducing characteristic is deteriorated. The spherical aberration is proportional to the fourth power of the numerical aperture of the objective lens, and thus the margin of the thickness deviation of the substrate of the optical recording medium to the recording/reproducing characteristic is narrower as the numerical aperture of the objective lens is increased.
Further, when the optical recording medium is tilted relatively to the objective lens, the shape of the focused light spot is distorted due to coma aberration caused by the tilt, so that the recording/reproducing characteristic is deteriorated. The coma aberration is proportional to the third power of the numerical aperture of the objective lens, and thus the margin of the tilt of the optical recording medium to the recording/reproducing characteristic is narrower as the numerical aperture of the objective lens is increased. Accordingly, for an optical head device and an optical information recording/reproducing device in which the numerical aperture of the objective lens is increased to enhance the recording density, it is necessary to correct the substrate-thickness deviation and tilt of the optical recording medium in order to prevent deterioration of the recording/reproducing characteristic.
An optical head device using a liquid crystal panel is known as an optical head device which can correct the substrate-thickness deviation and tilt of the optical recording medium. FIG. 14 shows the construction of a conventional optical head device which can correct the substrate-thickness deviation and tilt of the optical recording medium by using a liquid crystal panel.
The optical head device shown in FIG. 14 is the same type as described in Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Part 1 of Vol. 38, No. 3B, pp. 1744-1749. A beam emitted from a semiconductor laser 1 is collimated by a collimator lens 2, and incident as P-polarized light to a polarization beam splitter 3. Substantially 100% of the P-polarized light is transmitted through the polarization beam splitter 3, then transmitted through a liquid crystal panel 4v and a quarter wavelength plate 5 to be converted from linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light, and then the circularly-polarized light is focused onto a disc 7 by an objective lens 6. Light reflected from the disc 7 is transmitted through the objective lens 6 in the opposite direction, and then transmitted through the quarter wavelength plate 5 to be converted from the circularly polarized light to linearly polarized light whose polarization direction is perpendicular to that of the linearly polarized light on the going path. The linearly polarized light transmitted through the quarter wavelength plate 5 is transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 4v, and then incident as S-polarized light to the polarization beam splitter 3. Substantially 100% of the S-polarized light is reflected from the polarization beam splitter 3, transmitted through a cylindrical lens 8 and a lens 9 and then detected by a photodetector 10. The photodetector 10 is disposed at the intermediate position between the line foci of the cylindrical lens 8 and the lens 9.
FIG. 15 shows a pattern of the photodetection portion of the photodetector 10.
A light spot 19 corresponding to the light reflected from the disc 7 is detected by photodetection portions 18a to 18d achieved by dividing the photodetection portion of the photodetector 10 into four parts by a dividing line passing through the optical axis and extending in parallel to the radial direction of the disc 7 and a dividing line passing through the optical axis and extending in parallel to the tangent line direction of the disc 7.
Representing the outputs of the photodetection portions 18a to 18d by V18a to V18d respectively, a focus error signal can be achieved from the calculation of (V18a+V18d)−(V18b+V18c) on the basis of the astigmatism method. A track error signal can be also achieved from the calculation of (V18a+V18b)−(V18c+V18d) on the basis of the push-pull method. A reproduction signal recorded on the disc 7 is achieved from the calculation of (V18a+V18b+V18c+V18d).
FIG. 16A shows the construction of the liquid crystal panel 4v.
The liquid crystal panel 4v has glass substrates 11x and 11y, and a liquid crystal portion 12n filled with liquid crystal molecules, which is sandwiched between the glass substrates 11x and 11y. A pattern electrode 13m is formed on one surface of the glass substrate 11x which confronts the liquid crystal portion 12n, and also an overall-surface electrode 14g is formed on one surface of the glass substrate 11y which confronts the liquid crystal portion 12n. The positions of the pattern electrode 13m and the overall-surface electrode 14g may be replaced by each other. The X-direction, the Y-direction and the Z-direction in FIGS. 16A to 16C correspond to the radial direction of the disc 7, the tangent line direction of the disc 7 and the optical axis direction, respectively.
FIG. 16B shows an electrode pattern formed for the pattern electrode 13m when the substrate-thickness deviation of the disc 7 is corrected by using the liquid crystal panel 4v. This electrode pattern 20a is divided into five areas 21a to 21e. The dotted line of FIG. 16B corresponds to the effective diameter of the objective lens 6. FIG. 16C shows an electrode pattern formed for the pattern electrode 13m when the tilt in the radial direction of the disc 7 is corrected by using the liquid crystal panel 4v. This electrode pattern 20b is divided into five areas 21f to 21j. The dotted line of FIG. 16C corresponds to the effective diameter of the objective lens 6.
Next, a method of correcting the substrate-thickness deviation of the disc 7 will be described with reference to FIG. 17.
The correction of the substrate-thickness deviation is performed by using the liquid crystal panel 4v having the pattern electrode 13m on which the electrode pattern 20a shown in FIG. 16B is formed. FIG. 17A shows a calculation example of the spherical aberration caused by the substrate-thickness deviation on the cross section in the radial direction of the disc 7. The abscissa represents the radius of the objective lens, and the ordinate represents wave aberration achieved by applying defocus to the spherical aberration. In FIG. 17A, a solid line represents wave aberration when the substrate-thickness deviation is not corrected, and it is represented by a biquadratic function of the radius of the objective lens 6. A dotted line represents wave aberration when the substrate-thickness deviation is corrected by using the liquid crystal panel 4v, and it is represented by the sum of the wave aberration before the correction and the wave aberration produced by the liquid crystal panel 4v. The wave aberration varies discontinuously at the boundaries of the areas 21a to 21e of FIG. 16B. It is apparent from FIG. 17A that the standard deviation of the wave aberration is reduced by using the liquid crystal panel 4v and the substrate-thickness deviation can be corrected.
FIG. 17B shows a calculation example of the wave aberration produced by the liquid crystal panel 4v on the cross section in the radial direction of the disc 7. The abscissa represents the radius of the objective lens 6, and the ordinate represents the correction amount of the wave aberration. The correction amount in each of the areas 21a and 21e of FIG. 16B is equal to zero, the correction amount in the areas 21b and 21d is represented by α, and the correction amount in the area 21c is represented by 2α (α represents a constant).
A method of correcting the tilt in the radial direction of the disc 7 will be described with reference to FIG. 18.
The correction of the tilt in the radial direction is performed by using the liquid crystal panel 4v having the pattern electrode 13m on which the electrode pattern 20b shown in FIG. 16C is formed. FIG. 18A shows a calculation example of the coma aberration on the cross section in the radial direction of the disc 7, which is caused by the tilt in the radial direction of the disc 7. The abscissa represents the radius of the objective lens 6, and the ordinate represents the wave aberration achieved by applying a lateral shift to the coma aberration. In FIG. 18A, a solid line represents the wave aberration when the tilt in the radial direction is not corrected, and it is represented by a tertiary function of the radius of the objective lens 6. A dotted line of FIG. 18A shows the wave aberration when the tilt in the radial direction is corrected by using the liquid crystal panel 4v, and it is represented by the sum of the wave aberration before the correction and the wave aberration produced by the liquid crystal panel 4v. The wave aberration varies discontinuously at the boundaries of the areas 21f to 21j of FIG. 16C. It is apparent from FIG. 18A that the standard deviation of the wave aberration is reduced by using the liquid crystal panel 4v, and thus the tilt in the radial direction can be corrected.
FIG. 18B shows a calculation example of the wave aberration on the cross section in the radial direction of the disc 7, which is produced by the liquid crystal panel 4v. The abscissa represents the radius of the objective lens 6, and the ordinate represents the correction amount of the wave aberration. The correction amount in each of the areas 21f and 21i of FIG. 16C is represented by −β, the correction amount in the area 21h is equal to zero, and the correction amount in each of the areas 21g, 21j is represented by β (β represents a constant).
Next, a method of driving the liquid crystal panel 4v will be described with reference to FIGS. 19A to 19C.
A constant voltage VCOM is applied to the overall-surface electrode 14g of FIG. 16A. The abscissa of FIGS. 19A to 19C represents the time, and the ordinate thereof represents the applied voltage. In FIGS. 19A to 19C, a solid line represents a voltage applied to first to third areas of the electrode pattern formed for the pattern electrode 13m of FIG. 16A, and it is represented by a rectangular wave having a frequency of about 1 kHz, which has VCOM at the center thereof and has the amplitude corresponding to V1 (V2, V3). At this time, the difference of the correction amount of the wave aberration between the first and second areas is proportional to (V1−V2), and the difference of the correction amount of the wave aberration between the second and third areas is proportional to (V2−V3).
In the case where the substrate-thickness deviation of the disc 7 is corrected, if the area 21c of FIG. 16B is set to the first area, the areas 21b and 21d are set to the second area, the areas 21a and 21e are set to third area, and V1−V2=V2−V3=Kα (K represents a proportionality coefficient), the difference of the correction amount of the wave aberration between the area 21c and the areas 21b, 21d and the difference of the correction amount of the wave aberration between the areas 21b, 21d and the areas 21a, 21e can be set to the same value α.
In the case where the tilt in the radial direction of the disc 7 is corrected, if the areas 21g and 21j of FIG. 16C are set to the first area, the area 21h is set to the second area, the areas 21f and 21i are set to the third area and V1−V2=V2−V3=Kβ (K represents a proportionality coefficient), the difference of the correction amount of the wave aberration between the areas 21g, 21j and the area 21h and the difference of the correction amount of the wave aberration between the area 21h and the areas 21f, 21i can be set to the same value β.
FIG. 20 shows the construction of an optical information recording/reproducing device having the optical head device using the liquid crystal panel 4v.
The optical information recording/reproducing device is constructed by adding a reproduction signal detecting circuit 16 and a liquid crystal panel driving circuit 17d to the optical head device shown in FIG. 14. The reproduction signal detecting circuit 16 detects a reproduction signal recorded on the disc 7 on the basis of the output of each photodetecting portion of the photodetector 10. The liquid crystal panel driving circuit 17d drives the liquid crystal panel 4v according to the driving method shown in FIG. 19 so that the amplitude of the reproduction signal is maximum, whereby the substrate-thickness deviation of the disc 7 and the tilt in the radial direction of the disc 7 can be corrected, thereby avoiding the harmful influence on the recording/reproducing characteristic.
The liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal portion 12n in FIG. 16A are nematic liquid crystal molecules. These liquid crystal molecules are oriented in the X direction of FIGS. 16A to 16C when V1 to V3 of FIGS. 19A to 19C are equal to zero, oriented in the Z direction when V1 to V3 of FIGS. 19A to 19C are sufficiently large, and oriented in the intermediate direction between the X and Z directions when V1 to V3 of FIGS. 19A to 19C are equal to the intermediate values. The liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal portion 12n have birefringence characteristic and thus the refractive indexes thereof to ordinary light and extraordinary light are represented by no, ne. Further, the refractive indexes thereof to the emission light from the semiconductor laser 1 and the reflection light from the disc 7 are represented by nf, nr.
The emission light from the semiconductor laser 1 is linearly polarized light parallel to the X direction of FIGS. 16A to 16C. Therefore, when V1 to V3 of FIGS. 19A to 19C are equal to zero, the light emitted from the liquid crystal panel 4v has only an extraordinary light component. On the other hand, when V1 to V3 are sufficiently large, the light emitted from the liquid crystal panel 4v has only an ordinary light component. When V1 to V3 are equal to the intermediate values, the light emitted from the liquid crystal panel 4v has both the ordinary light component and the extraordinary light component. Accordingly, nf is varied between ne and no in correspondence with the value of V1 to V3. At this time, representing the values of nf corresponding to V1 to V3 by nf1 to nf3 respectively, the difference of the correction amount of the wave aberration in the first and second areas of the electrode pattern formed for the pattern electrode 13m of FIG. 16A and the difference of the correction amount of the wave aberration in the second and third areas are represented by (nf1−nf2)h/λ, (nf2−nf3)h/λ respectively when they are standardized by the wavelength of the incident light. Here, h represents the thickness of the liquid crystal portion 12n, and λ represents the wavelength of the incident light.
That is, by driving the liquid crystal panel 4v according to the driving method of FIGS. 19A to 19C, the liquid crystal panel 4v produces wave aberration to light on the going path which corresponds to the emission light from the semiconductor laser 1. The reflection light from the disc 7 is linearly polarized light parallel to the Y direction of FIGS. 16A to 16C, so that the light from the liquid crystal panel 4v is ordinary light irrespective of the values of V1 to V3. Accordingly, nr is equal to no irrespective of the values of V1 to V3. At this time, the difference of the correction amount of the wave aberration in the first and second areas of the electrode pattern formed for the pattern electrode 13m of FIG. 16A and the difference of the correction amount of the wave aberration in the second and third areas are equal to zero. That is, even by driving the liquid crystal panel 4v according to the driving method shown in FIGS. 19A to 19C, the liquid crystal panel 4v does not produce the wave aberration to light on the return path which corresponds to the reflection light from the disc 7.
When the substrate-thickness deviation of the disc 7 is corrected in the conventional optical head device, if (nf1−nf2)h/λ=(nf2−nf3)h/λ=α, the wave aberration due to the substrate-thickness deviation and the wave aberration produced by the liquid crystal panel 4v are canceled by each other for the light traveling on the going path. However, the wave aberration due to the substrate-thickness deviation remains for the light travelling on the returning path. Further, when the tilt in the radial direction of the disc 7 is corrected in the conventional optical head device, if (nf1−nf2)h/λ=(nf2−nf3)h/λ=β, the wave aberration due to the tilt in the radial direction and the wave aberration produced by the liquid crystal panel 4v are canceled by each other for the light traveling on the going path, however, the wave aberration due to the tilt in the radial direction remains for the light traveling on the returning path. The reproduction signal recorded on the disc 7 and the track error signal are dependent on the intensity distribution of the light travelling on the returning path, however, they are not dependent on the phase distribution of the light. Therefore, the reproduction signal and the track error signal are not affected even when the phase distribution is varied due to the remaining wave aberration. On the other hand, a focus error signal is affected when the phase distribution is varied due to the remaining wave aberration because it is dependent on the intensity distribution and phase distribution of the light travelling on the returning path.
FIGS. 21A to 21C are calculation examples of the focus error signal and the peak intensity of a focused spot on the disc 7. The abscissa of FIGS. 21A to 21C represents defocus. In FIGS. 21A to 21C, a solid line represents a focus error signal standardized with a sum signal, and a dotted line represents the peak intensity of the focused spot standardized by the maximum value.
FIG. 21A shows a calculation example when the disc 7 has no substrate-thickness deviation and no tilt in the radial direction. In the case of FIG. 21A, the defocus at which the focus error signal is equal to zero is coincident with the defocus at which the peak intensity is maximum, the focus error signal has no offset and the sensitivity (an inclination at the zero cross point) of the focus error signal is high.
On the other hand, FIG. 21B shows a calculation example when the substrate-thickness deviation of the disc 7 is corrected by using the liquid crystal panel 4v. In the case of FIG. 21B, the sensitivity of the focus error signal is high, however, the defocus at which the focus error signal is equal to zero is not coincident with the defocus at which the peak intensity is maximum, and the focus error signal has an offset. Therefore, if the focus servo is carried out so that the focus error signal is equal to zero, the peak intensity is reduced, and the recording/reproducing characteristic is deteriorated.
FIG. 21C shows a calculation example when the tilt in the radial direction of the disc 7 is corrected by using the liquid crystal panel 4v. In the case of FIG. 21C, the defocus at which the focus error signal is equal to zero is coincident with the defocus at which the peak intensity is maximum, and the focus error signal has no offset. However, the sensitivity of the focus error signal is lower than that of FIG. 21A. Therefore, if the focus servo is carried out so that the residual error of the focus error signal is equal to a predetermined value, the residual error of the defocus is larger than that of FIG. 21A, so that the recording/reproducing characteristic is deteriorated.

Optical head device and optical information recording/reproducing device


A basketball training device includes an upright housing stand having a right side wall a spaced distance from the left side wall, a front end wall connecting together the right side wall to the left side wall at the front of the stand, and a back end wall connecting together the right side wall to the left side wall at the back for the stand. A swing arm mechanism is attached to either the right side wall for the stand or the left side wall of the stand, at the front of the stand. Also, there is an elbow harness to be attached to the arm of the person using the training device to shoot a basketball. Thus, whenever the training device is worn by a basketball player to aid the player in developing a good basketball shot the basketball player will develop an arm motion during the basketball shooting in which the elbow is moved only in a straight up-and-down direction, which the proper way for shooting.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a basketball shooting practice device designed to facilitate the training and execution of proper basketball shooting techniques. Although the device hereof is particularly useful for free throw shooting practice, all basketball shooting efforts are enhanced through practice using the device.
2. The Prior Art
Coaches are noticing that college basketball games are showing a 4% reduction, versus 10 years ago, in accuracy in shooting one-handed foul shots. Students are incorrectly learning how to handle the basketball. Apparently, in shooting a foul shot, the arm should not twist, but come straight up as the elbow opens and the arm becomes straight and the ball is released.
Attempts in the past have failed to solve these problems, and prior proposals are as follows.
The Bishop U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,685 discloses a training aid for basketball players, consisting of a vest and elastic sleeve worn by the user and an arcuate guide bar disposed between the vest and elastic sleeve member. The arcuate guide bar is mounted on a pivot stub located on either side of the vest near the user's waist (i.e., depending on whether a left- or right-handed person is using the apparatus). The arcuate guide bar is then secured to a bracing element which, in turn, is secured to either side of the front of the vest, again depending on the dexterity of the user. The bracing element holds the guide bar in a secure position such that when the elastic sleeve (now worn by the user) is secured to it, only the limited movement necessary for a basketball shot is allowed. The elastic sleeve and the arcuate guide bar are shown in two embodiments. The first embodiment shows the use of a solid guide assembly and a collar-like carriage with rollers which engages around the arcuate guide bar and provides the limited motion desired by the apparatus. The second embodiment shows the use of an arcuate guide bar provided substantially centrally of its radial dimension with an elongated slot or guide track which is engaged by a cylindrical stud member attached to the elastic sleeve. The apparatus in either embodiment can be adjusted according to the measurements of the user in addition to accommodating the dexterity of the user (i.e., left-handed or right-handed users).
The Caveness U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,783 discloses a basketball training apparatus worn by the user consisting of three straps for securing the apparatus to the user. One strap around the waist, a second around the lower chest region, and a third connected to the latter in the front center of the user and extending around the user's neck will prevent any unwanted displacement of the apparatus during use. The lower and upper straps of the body are connected by a securing plate, whereby a guide arm is disposed. A sector plate with a plurality of holes for adjusting the location of the guide arm with respect to the dimensions of the user is connected to the sector plate. A transverse gauge arm is disposed perpendicular to the guide arm. The location of the transverse arm with respect to the guide arm depends upon the size of the user. The transverse arm serves to tell the user at what height the extension of the forearm should occur. If the user tries to extend the forearm too soon, the transverse arm will interfere with his/her motion. The apparatus is designed to accommodate both left- and right-handed individuals. Both the guide and transverse arms are adjustable in their relative positions.
The Swain U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,217 discloses a basketball training device worn by the user on the shooting hand and arm. A flexible arm band, approximately three inches in width, is worn on the upper arm of the user above the elbow and is secured by a buckle assembly. Attached to the arm band is an elastic band of adjustable length, the end of which has disposed a rigid finger harness which receives the index and middle finger of the user. The wrist of the user is held in the proper cocked position prior to shooting and returned back to that position when shooting is complete.
The Juhl U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,148 and the Juhl U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,149 each disclose a free throw shooting practice device consisting of a basketball rotationally coupled to an elongated support arm. The support arm is pivotally mounted to the frame of the apparatus. A shock absorber-like device, for cushioning the gravity-induced pivoting of the arm after a shot is taken, is connected to the support arm at the upper end and to the apparatus frame at the lower end. A pair of laterally spaced plates with an interconnecting bight serves as a shooting arm guide which is adjacent to and below the rotationally mounted basketball. The shooting arm guide is either mounted to the support arm or to the frame of the apparatus, depending on whether the standing or sitting embodiment, respectively, is used. When standing, the shooting arm guide moves out of the way when the shot is taken relative to the position of the support arm. The shooting arm guide, equipped with an elbow pad, serves to maintain the user's arm in the proper position for shooting. In addition to the shock absorber resistance provided, receiving elements for annular weights are provided on the support arm to increase the resistance. Two weight placements are provided, one to increase resistance, and one for counterbalance weight. The apparatus can accommodate both the left- and right-handed individual by providing a receiving end of the support arm designed to receive and lock the rotationally mounted ball in opposite orientations with respect to the rotational mounting equipment on the ball itself.


A method for computing the optimal power mode for a system-on-chip (SoC) in which both the clock and Vdd settings are controlled. Information from hardware blocks is synthesized into a global power mode for the entire SoC. The clocks can be disabled or enabled, and Vdd voltages can be disabled, set at a nominal operating level, and set at a retention level in which the state of memory and registers is retained.

1. Field
The present invention relates to methods for computing and controlling power modes for a System on Chip (SoC). More particularly, the present invention relates to global power management of an SoC.
2. Description of Related Art
Global power management is becoming an increasingly important issue as energy costs continue to increase. In addition, by reducing power consumption and extending battery life in applications that may include mobile applications and portable media players, power control management provides the ability to increase functionality without having to increase power capacity and size of the devices. Global power management semiconductor is a market that is expected to undergo significant growth in the near-future.
There have been recent attempts at controlling power modes of semiconductors. For example, in the Open Multimedia Application Platform (OMAP), a Texas Instruments microprocessor, and more particularly, OMAP3, one of the mechanisms used that is available in Linux, called "CPUidle" The "CPUidle" is initialized with a table of possible global power modes, and includes properties on which the CPUidle can decide when to switch from one power mode to another power mode. The CPUidle framework includes a governor, which decides the target state C of the system; a CPUidle driver populates the C states supported by the system and implements functions to transition to the C states; and generic CPUidle framework, wherein every time the idle loop is called, this framework calls the current governor to decide the target state C of the system. This framework also calls the current driver to transition to the C state selected by the governor.
In addition, it is known that every driver implements suspend/resume after registration with the Linux Driver Model (LDM). The drivers release clocks and then save the context in a suspend call and restore these when "resume" is called. Also, drivers which have already released their clocks and have saved their context need not do anything in their suspend call.
However, one problem with a global (top-down) power management controller is that the controller has to query a lot of data regarding the current state of the SoC in order to decide which power mode is most appropriate. For example, when querying such information, virtually all details regarding the SoC are needed (e.g. an address map of all peripherals, etc.).
If both clocks and Vdd are managed, simple reference counting cannot be applied. For example, when the reference count of a Vdd reaches zero after a last decrement, the Vdd cannot necessarily be disabled. As Vdd=0, this means that all state (registers) of a hardware block will be lost. Hence, before disabling a Vdd, a state saving is required. Such a saving takes time, and the decision as whether or not to disable a Vdd-when the reference count reaches 0, must take into account how long the expected idle time (is w.r.t. the time that saving takes).
In general, disabling a clock is typically a good idea as it takes only a few cycles. However, disabling a Vdd needs a more elaborate trade-off, and the cost in cycles it takes to make the transition. Moreover, if the SoC has embedded Vdd switches, the trade-off is even more complicated. For example, There is a case where two hardware blocks (A and B) both have the same Vdd supply, but A also has a Vdd switch. As a result, A can be powered down by opening the switch or by Vdd going to zero (or both).

Distributed table-driven power mode computation for controlling optimal clock and voltage switching


A beverage temperature control apparatus for use in holding and maintaining a temperature of a beverage container includes a housing having a bottom wall, upstanding side walls, and a top wall extending across the side walls, the walls together defining an interior area. The top wall defines an aperture in communication with the interior area that is configured to receive the beverage container substantially into the interior area. A thermoelectric assembly is situated in the interior area of the housing proximate the opening, the thermoelectric assembly having a first portion that becomes cold when energized and a second portion that becomes warm when energized. A battery is situated in the interior area of the housing that is selectively actuated to energize the thermoelectric assembly. The thermoelectric assembly includes a primary channel configured to selectively cool the beverage container and a secondary channel configured to selectively heat the beverage container.

This invention relates generally to beverage cooling devices and, more particularly, to a beverage temperature control apparatus that can heat or cool beverage containers inside or remote from a vehicle.
Frequently, drivers and passengers of vehicles have cans of soda, cups of coffee, or fast food beverage containers with them in a vehicle. Modern vehicles have cup holders suitable for holding such beverage containers steady during travel to avoid spillage. However, the beverage containers do not keep the beverages at a consistent temperature which leads the driver or passenger to not finish all of the beverage or to do so despite a lack of enjoyment. In addition, keeping beverages warm or cool outside of a vehicle typically requires use of a cooler having been filled with bagged ice.
Various devices and proposals are known in the art for cooling beverages while in a car. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices and proposals are complicated and bulky, are tied to the air conditioning or heating systems of the car, or are not effective and portable for use inside or outside of an automobile.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a beverage temperature control apparatus that receives one or more beverage containers in an automobile and maintains a temperature thereof. Further, it would be desirable to have a beverage temperature control apparatus that can selectively heat or cool a beverage container with the flip of a switch. In addition, it would be desirable to have a beverage temperature control apparatus that is configured to work both inside a car and remote from the car.


A group generating section generates, from a plurality of pieces of time-series data, a plurality of groups each made up of a plurality of pieces of time-series data that change in a similar manner. A normalization section linearly transforms, for each group, data included in the time-series data in the group so that a maximum value and a minimum value of median values included in median-value time-series data are transformed to 1 and 0, respectively. An abnormality degree calculating section obtains, for each group, an average value of differences between pieces of data of the same time for every combination of two pieces of time-series data in the group, to take a maximum value of the obtained average values as an abnormality degree of the group. A ranking generating section generates a group ranking based on the abnormality degrees of the groups. The group rankings are displayed.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital data processing and, more particularly, to a time-series data processing method, a recording medium having recorded thereon a time-series data processing program, and a time-series data processing device.
Description of Related Art
As a method for detecting abnormality of an apparatus or a device, there is known a method of analyzing time-series data obtained by measuring, by using a sensor or the like, a physical quantity (e.g., length, angle, time, velocity, force, pressure, voltage, current, temperature, flow rate, etc.) which indicates an operating state of the apparatus or the device, and sequentially arranging the measured results in time-series order. When the apparatus or the device performs the same operation in the same condition, the time-series data change in a similar manner if there is no abnormality. Hence, it is possible to specify a place where abnormality has occurred and a cause of the abnormality, by mutually comparing a plurality of pieces of time-series data that change in a similar manner, detecting abnormal time-series data, and then analyzing the detected data.
For example, a semiconductor manufacturing device includes a plurality of processing units, and each processing unit measures operation data indicating an operating state, at predetermined time intervals. In many cases, the plurality of processing units perform the same operation on semiconductor substrates in the same condition. Thus, it is possible to specify a unit where abnormality has occurred and a cause of the abnormality, by mutually comparing a plurality of pieces of time-series data obtained by the plurality of processing units.
In association with the present invention, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-18589 describes an apparatus data display device for sorting and displaying a plurality of pieces of time-series data in ascending or descending order of a specified time or time period.
For example, when time-series data obtained in the semiconductor manufacturing device is to be analyzed, such problems as follows occur. First, since each of the processing units measures operation data with high frequency over a long time, an amount of time-series data is enormous. Hence it takes a long time to perform the processing of detecting abnormal time-series data out of the enormous amount of time-series data. Further, a method for determining whether or not data is abnormal and a method for selecting a processing unit to be an analysis target differ depending on an operator who analyzes time-series data. Moreover, a method for quantitatively proving whether or not the analyzed result is correct and a method for preferably comparing different kinds of time-series data (e.g., temperature and flow rate) are not known. Similar problems also occur when another time-series data is to be analyzed.

Time-series data processing method, recording medium having recorded thereon time-series data processing program, and time-series data processing device


A semiconductor device includes a terminal to which a touch electrode may be coupled; a source voltage drop circuit generating a constant voltage; a phase shift circuit generating a phase shifted clock in response to a first clock and a phase control signal; and a switching circuit to which the constant voltage is supplied. The switching circuit generates drive pulses for applying the constant voltage to the terminal in response to the phase shifted clock. The phase shift circuit varies the phase of the drive pulses based on the phase control signal.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device. More particularly, the invention relates to a semiconductor equipped with an electrostatic capacitance type touch sensor circuit.
In the technical field of touch keys and touch screens, electrostatic capacitance type touch sensor circuits have been widely adopted. U.S. Pat. No. 8,089,289 discloses a structure in which a sigma delta modulation circuit modulates the signal output from a switching capacity circuit into a digital signal. U.S. Pat. No. 7,312,616 discloses a structure in which a comparator compares a reference voltage with the terminal voltage of a device-under-test capacitor charged and discharged repeatedly at a predetermined frequency so that the value of the device-under-test capacitor may be measured. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-199408 discloses a structure including an oscillation unit of which the frequency varies depending on an operation unit getting touched or not touched so that a frequency change in the frequency signal output from the oscillation unit may be detected.

Semiconductor device with touch sensor circuit


A multiway valve, in particular a 4/2-way valve, has a housing provided with an axial hole having a plurality of steps to form four seat elements located one behind the other. The housing includes two end chambers and at least two intermediate spaces between these end chambers, with one of the valve connections opening into each. A spool-type drive pin carrying at least two closing elements is located in the axial hole. The drive pin is guided so as to seal at its one end and is radially supported in the axial hole by radial protrusions at its other end. This drive pin has a longitudinal passage which is connected to the first chamber via radial holes at its one end and to the second chamber via its opening provided on the related end of the drive pin at its other end. The closing elements are partially elastically flexible and interact with the seat elements. The closing elements are configured as sleeve-shaped or annular and each has two opposed sealing surfaces which can be laid on one or other seat element of the associated seat element pair depending on the valve position.

The invention concerns a multiway valve with two valve positions, and, in particular a 4/2-way valve whose connections are always interconnected in pairs. The present invention makes it possible to change the pairwise association of the connections by switching over from one valve position to the respective other valve position. The valve housing is provided with an axial hole which has a plurality of steps to form seat elements located in series and includes two end chambers and an intermediate space therebetween, into which one of the connections opens. A spool-type drive pin carrying at least two closing elements is located in the axial hole, the drive pin being guided so as to seal in the region of a first of the two chambers. One of the connections also opens at least into the second chamber, and the drive pin has an inner longitudinal passage which is connected by at least one radial hole to the first chamber at one end and opens at the other end into the second chamber on the associated end of the drive pin. The closing elements which interact at least partially elastically and flexibly with the seat elements each are of a sleeve-shaped or annular configuration.
Multiway valves are often constructed as straight-forward spool valves. Although such spool valves are of relatively simple design, they are relatively sensitive to dirt, thereby causing the valve spool to be jammed by dirt in extreme cases. Seat-controlled valves, on the other hand, are relatively insensitive to dirt. A relatively high level of design complexity is, however, generally necessary if, in one valve position, a plurality of closing elements are simultaneously to rest on associated seat elements.
DE-OS 37 00 899 discloses a multiway valve of the initially indicated type which is of hybrid construction providing seat-controlled valve elements, on one hand, and spool valve elements, on the other hand. Although this arrangement ensures that only one closing element of a seat-controlled valve element must interact with an associated seat element in each valve position, because spool valve elements also become effective in each valve position, nevertheless the danger of jamming of the spool valve elements exists in principle in this known multiway valve.
A 5/2-way valve is already known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,280 in which, however, one of the connections is completely shut off in each valve position. This 5/2-way valve includes a control rod extending through the housing, and closing elements displaceably located on this control rod in the form of a plurality of discs having a diameter which is relatively large compared with the control rod. These discs interact with valve seats on the housing. The discs are located in pairs on the rod, and a spring is provided between the two discs of each disc pair. These two discs, located between two stops on the rod, are forced apart in the direction of the stops by the spring. The control rod is guided to the outside through one closing cap at each end and is supported outside the valve space.
With this known arrangement, it is impossible to exclude the possibility that the discs, which have a relatively large diameter, may tilt and tip while being displaced on the rod. The design length is also relatively large, because the rod is guided through closing caps at both ends to the outside for support. Another unfavorable feature is that only directly adjacent valve spaces or chambers can be connected to one another in this valve. Because, moreover, one of the connections is completely shut off in each valve position, this valve is unsuitable from the outset for an application such as one in which the connections always have to be interconnected in pairs and in which only the pairwise association of the connections is to be changed when switching from one valve position to the respective other valve position.
A 3/3-way valve with a control rod having a through hole is disclosed in DE-OS 26 50 701. This control rod is subjected to two control forces acting in opposite directions and carries a displaceable valve body supported by a spring on the valve housing and by a further spring on the valve rod. In this arrangement, the valve body forms a first inlet valve by way of a contracted edge of the housing and a second inlet valve by way of an edge provided on the valve rod. The valve rod, guided and supported at one end, is located between two valve spaces which can be connected together by the hole provided in the rod and, in each of which, is located a piston acting on the relevant end of the rod.
In addition to having a relatively complicated construction, this valve also has the disadvantage that it is possible, because the valve rod is only guided and supported at one end, that the valve rod may be deflected laterally at its free end due, for example, to an external shock load or the like. This can lead to impairment of the valve function particularly since the valve bodies are provided on this free and unguided end of the valve rod.
Finally, DE-PS 37 39 198 relates to a fuel injection pump for internal combustion engines. This pump has a pump inner chamber and a regulator space, separate therefrom, having a regulator which serves to adjust the respective volume of fuel injected. In this arrangement, apparatuses are provided to be capable of compensating the temperature for the measured volume of fuel.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved multiway valve of the initially indicated type which, on one hand, is relatively insensitive to dirt and, on the other hand, has a simple and compact construction, so that a high level of functional reliability is ensured at all times.
This object has been achieved according to the present invention in that at least four seat elements located in series and at least two intermediate spaces located between the two end chambers are provided in the multiway valve, and the drive pin is radially supported in the region of its end close to the second chamber by radial protrusions provided on its outer periphery. The closing elements include two oppositely directed sealing surfaces which can be laid on one or other seat element of the associated seat element pair, depending on the valve position. A first of the closing elements directly adjoins the radial protrusions in the direction of the second chamber.
The present invention not only combines the advantages of spool valves with those of seat valves, but also achieves the result that, in addition to insensitivity to dirt, optimum functional reliability is provided. Surprisingly, the multiway valve can also still be constructed in an extremely simple and compact manner and can be manufactured without difficulty. Because support and guidance of one end of the drive pin within the axial hole of the valve housing takes place via the radial protrusions, this end of the drive pin with the end passage opening can be located within the axial hole, and in particular within the second chamber, so that it is also possible to produce a connection between both end chambers without difficulty, by way of the longitudinal passage provided in the drive pin, with optimum support and guidance of the drive pin at both ends.
The longitudinal passage opening into the second chamber at one end of the drive pin can be manufactured without difficulty because the relevant hole can be made from the aforementioned drive pin end. The sleeve-shaped or annular closing elements, preferably having only a slightly larger external diameter than the drive pin, can be pushed onto the drive pin without difficulty. Together with the respectively adjacent closing element, the radial protrusions and the relevant seat elements on the housing act to ensure the relevant valve function. Thus the relevant mutually adjacent valve spaces are connected together by the intermediate spaces located between the radial protrusions when the closing element is lifted from the valve seat whereas, when the closing element is in contact with the seat element, these spaces are shut off from one another.
Because at least one part of the closing elements interacts elastically flexibly with the seat elements, there is reliable compensation for tolerance which further increases the functional reliability of the multiway valve. The closing elements or the seat elements or both can be arranged or configured to be elastically flexible. In addition, it is possible, in contrast to spool valves, for the valve housing to be made of plastic.
If the drive pin end opposite to the passage opening in the end is guided and supported so that it seals, a setting unit acting on the drive pin can be associated with the free end of this drive pin emerging outwards through the wall at the bottom of the hole in accordance with the present invention.
The second closing element can be used to shut off the intermediate space adjacent to the first chamber from a further intermediate space adjoining it in the direction of the second chamber, in one valve position, and to shut off the first chamber from the intermediate space adjacent to it, in the other valve position.
The annular end surface of the drive pin incorporated in the present invention provided in the region of the relevant longitudinal passage opening simultaneously acts as the sealing surface of the first closing element which interacts with the bottom of the second chamber acting as a seat element. The interconnection between the connection opening into the first chamber and the connection opening into the second chamber is therefore interrupted in that, in the relevant position of the drive pin, the end surface of the drive pin with the passage opening is held against the bottom of the second chamber. The preferred connection paths are such that the first and second end chambers and the intermediate spaces, and, on the other hand, the closing elements are located and configured such that, in one valve position, only the first end chamber is connected to the adjacent intermediate space and the second end chamber is connected to the intermediate space adjacent thereto it and, in the other valve position, only the first end chamber is connected, via the inner longitudinal passage, to the second end chamber and one intermediate space is connected to the other intermediate space.
Whereas the first closing element or the annular flange can be permanently connected to the drive pin in one embodiment, it is useful for the second closing element to be displaceable relative to the drive pin and spring-loaded in order to achieve the desired compensation for tolerance.
A passage opening into the intermediate space adjacent to the first chamber can be connected via the first chamber, and the longitudinal passage formed in the drive pin and the second chamber to the connection opens into this second chamber. The interconnection between these two connections can be interrupted in that the first chamber can be shut off from the intermediate space adjacent to it by the first closing element. The first chamber is exclusively and continuously connected via the longitudinal passage in the drive pin and the second chamber to one of the connections. This connection is formed by the connection opening into the second chamber. The drive pin end surface with the passage opening is at a distance from the bottom of the second chamber in each of the two valve positions. Because the first closing element is located in the intermediate space adjacent to the second chamber, this intermediate space is connected to the intermediate space adjoining it in the direction of the first chamber in one valve position, and is connected to the second chamber in the other valve position.
In a configuration of the present invention in which the ring is arranged to be spring-loaded by a compression spring pushed onto the drive pin and supported at one end on the ring and at the other end on a stop on the drive pin, it is thereby achieved that, depending on the position of the drive pin, one of the two rings is in sprung contact with an associated seat element whereas the other ring is held by the radial protrusions against a seat element associated with it. In this case also, therefore, optimum compensation for tolerance is always ensured.
It is useful for the drive pin to be spring-loaded into a first valve position and to be movable against the spring force into a second valve position by way of the setting unit. One presently preferred configuration of the seat elements is that the seat elements are at least partially formed by annular end surfaces of annular grooves opening into the axial hole.
A temperature sensor for the temperature of the fluid in the valve can also be provided and is particularly useful if the multiway valve is inserted in a fuel injection system of an internal-combustion engine.
A particularly advantageous way of arranging the multiway valve of the present invention in a fuel injection system of an internal-combustion engine such that preferably in the form of an electrical NTC thermistor, temperature sensor is located in one of the second end chamber and in a connection.


In a method for producing an item list of components for the assembly of a module including the components at a first location, wherein the components can be taken from a number of offered components, the offered components are provided with a reference number and are accessible from the first location, and at least one individual property of each component is stored together with its reference number in a databank that is arranged at a second location different from the first location.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method for producing an item list of components for the assembly into a module.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A module of the above type is, for example, a radiation detector of a computed tomography apparatus that has a number of identical detector modules as components. Each detector module in turn comprises a plurality of detector elements. The image-relevant physical properties of such detector elements, however, vary from detector module to detector module dependent on manufacture. In order to obtain a good image quality for CT images produced with the radiation detector, only detector modules whose image-relevant physical properties are matched optimally well to one another can be employed for the assembly of the radiation detector. For example, the image-relevant physical properties of the detector modules can be measured by the manufacturer before the detector modules are warehoused, the detector modules can be provided with a reference number and this information can be stored in a data bank.
When the manufacturer of the detector modules intends to assemble a radiation detector from the detector modules, for example, the manufacturer can determine suitable detector modules and their installation position with a method disclosed in German PS 198 11 044 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,137,859. This method is based on the image-relevant physical properties of the detector modules that have been measured and stored being used in an automated manner with a computer program stored in a computer to select modules for assembling the detector.
When the manufacturer of the detector modules supplies detector modules to further manufacturers of radiation detectors who assemble radiation detectors from the delivered detector modules and would like to employ the physical properties of the detector modules measured by the manufacturer of the detector modules and the aforementioned computer program for determining suitable detector modules and their installation positions, the manufacturer of the detector modules must supply the further manufacturer of radiation detectors with the measured, image-relevant physical properties of the detector modules and with the computer program. The further manufacturers of radiation detectors then can install this computer program on their own computers and employ it. A disadvantage of this procedure, however, is that the computer program would have to be adapted to the conditions at the further manufacturers. Such an adaptation of the computer program is relatively complicated.


A blood pump apparatus can include a pump housing having a drive chamber containing a drive mechanism. A cupped member can be connected to the housing and the drive mechanism can include a motor for rotating an eccentric shaft. A pumping arm can be provided having one end riding on the eccentric shaft, an intermediate portion pivotably attached to the housing and another end connected to a movable plate. A roller bearing can be mounted on the eccentric shaft on which the arm can ride. A compressible blood chamber having an inlet and an outlet connected can be provided sandwiched between the cupped portion and the movable plate. The motor thus rotates the cam causing the pumping arm to pivot which cycles the movable plate against the blood chamber to pump blood. The movable plate can be implanted adjacent a lung such that the lung moves with the plate as blood is pumped and thereby functions as a compliance chamber. A speed reducer can be provided between the motor and the eccentric shaft. A hermetically sealing bellows can be provided to seal the drive chamber and the end of the pumping arm from body fluids. An enclosure bag can be provided surrounding all or a portion of the blood pump to provide a tissue friendly surface and to prevent tissue from becoming caught in the moving parts of the blood pump. A position sensor can be included for determining a volume of blood in the chamber for use by an electronic controller to control the speed of the motor to optimize pumping action.

The invention relates generally to implantable blood pumps, and particularly to a fully implantable single chamber blood pump apparatus.
Serious heart failure, or the inability of a person's heart to pump sufficient blood for their body's needs, is the cause of very poor quality of life, huge medical treatment costs, and death in hundreds of thousands of patients yearly. Numerous pharmacologic, biologic, and device interventions have been devised to deal with this disease, many of them patented, but despite these efforts, heart failure remains a major public health problem.
The measure of heart failure is an abnormally low cardiac output or cardiac index. Cardiac output (CO) is measured in liters of blood flow per minute (1/min) and cardiac index (CI) is CO divided by the patient's body surface area (BSA). Normally CI at rest or during light activity is between 3.0 and 3.5 and CO is between 5.6 to 6.5 liters per minute for men and proportionally less for women based upon less body surface area. Severe heart failure exists when the CI is between 1.5 and 2.0. For an average man in heart failure with 1.87 meters squared BSA, a cardiac index of 1.75 and a heart rate of 80 beats per minute (BPM), the cardiac output will be 3.27 l/min and an average of 41 ml of blood will be ejected from the heart with each heartbeat. This average stroke volume contrasts with an average normal stroke volume of 76 ml, which would occur in an average normal man with a CI of 3.25 and heart rate of 80 BPM. The main pumping chamber of the heart or left ventricle (LV), has an inlet (mitral) valve and an outlet (aortic) valve. During left ventricluar contraction, the inlet valve closes as blood is pushed through the aortic valve and into the aorta or main artery of the body. Resting (diastolic) LV pressure may be between 2 and 20 mm Hg pressure (preload) and will be in the higher end of this range during failure. During active LV contraction (systole), the LV must eject the blood against aortic pressure, which is typically between 70 and 140 mm Hg of pressure (afterload). It is well known that, if in failure the afterload is reduced, the stroke volume will naturally increase and this increase is one reason that afterload-reducing drugs such as ACE-inhibitors have helped heart failure patients.
A common method of providing mechanical circulatory assist is the use of counterpulsation devices such as intraaortic balloon pumps (IABPs). IABPs provide an afterload-reducing type of assist and are typically employed for acute use (i.e. for hours to days). As described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,733,652 and 3,692,018 to Kantrowitz et al. and Goetz et al., respectively, the main benefit of such devices stems from unloading the left ventricle during systole and providing increased diastolic pressure for reperfusing the coronary and other arteries during diastole. Patients needing this type of treatment suffer from cardiogenic shock, chronic angina, or need perioperative circulatory support (Nanas et al. 1988, Kormos 1987). The nature of IABP design restricts itself to acute use only, since the bulky balloon drive unit remains outside the patient's body necessitating confinement to a hospital bed.
Pouch-type auxiliary ventricles that have mechanical or pneumatic means for the pumping the contained blood are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,553,736 and 4,034,742 to Kantrowitz et al. and Thoma, respectively. Many of these have a single access port that serves as both the inlet and the outlet for bloodflow. These designs have the disadvantage of relative flow stagnation which increases the risk of clot formation and thromboembolism. Others have both an inlet and outlet port and can be connected in parallel with the aorta. These designs may have valves to attempt to maximize their pumping effectiveness (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,195,623 and 4,245,622 to Zeff et al. and Hutchins, respectively.)
A "dynamic aortic patch" is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,630,596 and 4,051,840, both to Kantrowitz et al., which is permanently attached to the aorta and is designed to provide counterpulsation assistance. This device is intended for chronic use and requires opening the patient's thorax for installation. Like the IABP, the drive unit remains outside the patient's body and inflation of the patch is accomplished pneumatically through a percutaneous access port. Unlike the IABP, the dynamic aortic patch can produce volumetric assistance greater than 40 ml. Two risks of this system are the risk of chronic infection due to the permanent percutaneous port and the extensiveness of the implant surgery. Physically, the patch is oblong in shape and consists of a flexible balloon on the blood side of a chamber that has a rigid back through which a pneumatic line (hose) passes to effect balloon inflation and deflation. Along the perimeter of the rigid back is a flange that provides an edge for suturing the patch into the aortic wall. The hose penetrates the skin surface percutaneously through a specially designed skin port. Inflation and deflation of the balloon is accomplished by an external air pump that is connected to the intraaortic patch during operation. When and if the balloon is not being pulse driven, the aorta is open to bloodflow allowing the pump to be fail-safe. In the standby mode, the balloon interior is then at atmospheric pressure which is lower than aortic blood pressure causing the pumping chamber to collapse.
The addition of compliance to the arterial system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,766 to Jarvik. Hardening of the arteries lowers vascular compliance and can increase the afterload presented to the heart. Consequently, the addition of a compliance chamber can help to somewhat reverse the effects of arterial hardening and hence decreases the heart's workload. From the disclosure, such devices are generally used to assist the left ventricle. Several configurations of compliance chambers are disclosed and various methods of implantation are also taught. The devices can be categorized as single-port chambers, two-port flow-though chambers, and spring-loaded mechanical clips that are attached to the aorta. For designs having a flow-through configuration, a valve may be included in the inlet side of the chamber. This can be for preventing backflow and preferentially can direct the outflow of blood from the compliance chamber towards more desired locations.
Direct pumping during heart diastole is typically performed by what are referred to as ventricular assist devices (VADs). VADs that have a flow-through configuration and which convert electric energy directly to mechanical energy are the most pertinent prior art to the invention described herein. U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,471 to Richter describes an apparatus that mechanically compresses a toroidal flow conduit by squeezing the inner radius and pushing it outward while preventing the outer radius from expanding. This is accomplished through pressurization of a sealed central portion, in the center of the toroid. U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,872 to Tamari describes a flow-through pumping chamber which is squeezed by a pressurizing fluid. The Tamari device relies mainly on thickness variations of the pumping chamber wall to control compression of the pumping chamber. U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,016 to Millner et al. has a flow-through toroidal design which employs a hydraulic pumping fluid to compress the pumping toroidal chamber. The Millner device can have valves at both the inlet and the outlet of the pumping chamber. The pumping chamber itself is squeezed from all directions circumferentially to accomplish blood pumping. However, to minimize wall stress in the pumping chamber, the chamber can preferably be squeezed in one direction by stiffening the opposite side of the chamber wall.
Articles published by Frazier et al. (Circulation, 89:2908-2914, 1994) and McCarthy et al. (Ann Thoracic Surg, 59:S46-S51, 1995) describe a blood pump which has a diaphragm-driven circular chamber that is implanted in the upper left abdominal wall and is capable of an 83 ml stroke volume. The pumping chamber receives blood from a conduit that pierces the apex of the LV. The pumping diaphragm may be driven pneumatically or by an electric motor driving a single rotation roller-cam mechanism. In both cases, the pumping chamber is circular and drive lines pierce the skin. Adequate filling of the chamber is possible because the nonblood side of the drive membrane is vented to the atmosphere via the skin port.
The blood pump disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,156 to Mussivand has the nonblood side of the drive membrane contacting hydraulic fluid that, during filling, must be actively pumped to a separate volume displacement chamber (VDC). The blood pump also has inlet and outlet ports that are perpendicular to the blood pumps drive membrane.
The blood pump disclosed in an article by Ramasamy et al. (ASAIO Transactions, 35:402-404, 1989) illustrates a separate gas filled compliance chamber placed in the pleural space that communicates by means of gas tight tubing to the nonblood contacting side of the blood chambers pumping membrane.
For ease of filling, it is necessary for the non-blood-contacting side of the diaphragm to be at or near atmospheric pressure to permit easy blood inflow. Artificial VAD pumping chambers, together with their associated electronics and drive mechanisms, are not yet sufficiently compact to be fully implanted. Instead, various leads have to penetrate the skin and connect the pumping chamber with the external drive mechanism. To permit easy filling of the pumping chamber with blood, a low opposing pressure is needed. The preceding articles describe three means for accomplishing this low pressure; venting through the skin to atmospheric pressure, venting to a separate gas filled compliance chamber in the pleural space, and using an intermediate hydraulic fluid connected to an implanted volume displacement chamber or VDC.
The pumping chamber described in Frazier et al. has a bloodflow path which is parallel to the LV since the chamber receives blood from the LV apex and pumps the blood into the aorta beyond with a flow path in parallel with the LV.
Accordingly, there is a need for a blood pump which is small enough that, together with its associated electronics, can be totally implanted to avoid the infection risk associated with percutaneous leads. The blood pump also should not require a second chamber for compliance, whether in the form of a chamber which is a part of the pump or a separately located chamber connected to the pump with gas tight tubing. Moreover, in contrast to the parallel connection pathway, it can be preferable to have a blood pump which receives blood from the aortic root at a low filling pressure and return the blood to the ascending aorta by driving the pump and blood to a higher pressure than exists in the distal aorta. Such a connection configuration would be referred to as "in-series" with the left ventricle.


Provided are novel tri(alkylcarboxylato) gallium (III) compounds, exemplified by tripalmitato gallium (III), methods for making them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and methods of using the pharmaceutical compositions.

The use of gallium administered in a variety of gallium-containing compounds to treat mammalian and human disease is well known. Gallium was initially identified as an antineoplastic agent by Hart, et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Vol. 68, 1971, pp. 1623–1626), and has subsequently been reported to be effective against a variety of cancers, including particularly hematological malignancies such as leukemias, lymphomas (e.g., non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), multiple myeloma and Hodgkin's Disease. See, e.g., D. J. Straus, Semin Oncol Vol. 30(2 Suppl 5), April 2003, pp. 25–33; E. A. Van Leeuwen-Stok, et al., Leuk Lymphoma, Vol. 31(5–6), November 1998, pp. 533–544; R. P. Warrell, et al., Cancer Treat Rep, Vol. 71, 1987, pp. 47–51; M. S. Myette, et al., Cancer Lett, Vol. 129(2), Jul. 17, 1998, pp. 199–204; C. R. Chitambar, et al., Am J Clin Oncol, Vol. 20(2), April 1997, pp. 173–178.
It has also been reported that gallium is a potent inhibitor of bone resorption, leading to its use to treat hypercalcemia associated with cancer (R. P. Warrell, et al., J Clin Invest, Vol. 73, May 1984, pp. 1487–1490) as well as other diseases characterized by accelerated bone loss, such as multiple myeloma (R. P. Warrell, et al., J Bone Mineral Res, Vol. 5 (Suppl 2), Aug. 28, 1990, pp. S106; R. P. Warrell, et al., J Clin Oncol, Vol. 11(12), December 1993, pp. 2443–2450), bone metastases (R. P. Warrell, Cancer, Vol. 80, 1997, pp. 1680–1685), hyperparathyroidism (U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,593; C. R. Chitambar, Semin Oncol, Vol. 30(2 Suppl 5), April 2003, pp. 1–4), Paget's disease (R. P. Warrell, et al., Ann Int Med, Vol. 113, 1990, pp. 847–851) and osteoporosis (U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,593; R. Bockman, Semin Oncol Vol. 30(2 Suppl 5), April 2003, pp. 5–12). The actions of gallium on bone are different from bisphosphonates, and appear to be mediated by inhibition of the ATPase-dependent proton pump of osteoclasts, which decreases acid secretion (R. Bockman, Semin Oncol Vol. 30(2 Suppl 5), April 2003, pp. 5–12).
Gallium is reported to accumulate at sites of inflammation and infection and has well-known immunosuppressive properties. Macrophages in particular accumulate gallium, presumably as a result of their ability to engulf protein-iron complexes, resulting in inhibition of the release of inflammatory mediators from the cells. See N. Makkonen, et al. Inflamm Res, Vol. 44(12), December 1995, pp. 523–528. Gallium has reported efficacy in animal models of autoimmune disease and hypersensitivity, including type 1 diabetes, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, experimental pulmonary inflammation, cardiac allograft rejection, experimental autoimmune uveitis, endotoxic shock, and systemic lupus erythematosus (G. Apseloff, Am J Ther, Vol. 6(6), November 1999, pp. 327–339). Gallium, therefore, holds particular promise as a therapy for disorders involving the immune system, in particular autoimmune diseases and conditions or diseases involving a cell-mediated (e.g., macrophage-mediated) immune response.
As evidenced by the foregoing, the therapeutic utility of gallium as a component of a variety of compounds and complexes is established. The compounds of the present invention, therefore, will exhibit a similar range of therapeutic activities and utilities as described above. However, gallium compounds that are better tolerated and have better bioavailability are needed.
The use of gallium 3-hydroxy-4-pyrones (maltols), preferably administered orally, to treat gallium-susceptible conditions has been the subject of several United States. Patents, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,258,376; 5,574,027; 5,747,482; 5,883,088; 5,968,922; 5,981,518; 5,998,397; 6,004,951; 6,048,851; and 6,087,354 (to Bernstein). The gallium maltol complex is prepared by reacting a gallium salt, such as halide or nitrate, with a 3-hydroxy-4-pyrones in solution. The electrostatic neutral state of the 3:1 gallium maltol complex is reported by Bernstein to improve the bioavailability of the gallium when compared to the ionic gallium salts, such as gallium nitrate.
Gallium triacetate has been reported. However, to the best of our knowledge, use of such gallium compounds as pharmaceutical formulations has not been reported. To the best of our knowledge, other gallium alkyl carboxylate products, including gallium tripalmitate, have not been reported in the literature.
With respect to synthetic routes to prepare gallium tricarboxylates, it has been reported that no appreciable dissolution of the metallic gallium was observed upon refluxing gallium metal in either glacial acetic acid or propionic acid for up to ten days, and the desired gallium tricarboxylates were not produced. Reacting gallium oxide and acetic acid resulted in a low yield of an impure gallium triacetate. A preferred preparative route for gallium triacetate was reported to be an exchange reaction between thallium acetate and gallium trichloride. See I. M. Viktorova, Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, Vol. 189, No. 3, November 1969, pp. 541–42 (English translation).
A preparative route for the gallium-containing product, gallium trilactate, is disclosed by Dudley, et al. The synthetic process starts by reacting metallic gallium with hydrochloric and nitric acid, followed by precipitation of gallium hydroxide upon addition of ammonium hydroxide. The gallium hydroxide is, in turn, reacted with lactic acid to produce the trilactate gallium complex. See H. C. Dudley, R. G. Garzoli, J Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 70, (1948), p. 3942.
Thus, while the pharmaceutical use of the nitrate and maltol salts of gallium to treat numerous diseases and conditions has been reported, the literature does not appear to have identified a pharmaceutical compound composed of gallium tricarboxylate products with a carboxylate substituent of more than three carbons. Indeed, direct, high yield preparative routes starting with either metallic gallium or gallium salts, for even the smaller tricarboxylate complexes, have not been heretofore disclosed. What is needed, therefore, is a high yield preparative route for gallium tricarboxylates of four carbons and higher, for example, for subsequent use as pharmaceutical compounds.

Tri(alkylcarboxylato)gallium (III) products and pharmaceutical compositions containing them


Gripping pliers consisting of a jointed clamp and handle. The clamp contains a longitudinal slot with longitudinal apertures defining first and second detent positions. In the first position, the joint is movable whereas in the second position, the joint is locked. The handle is rotatably mounted on a bearing ring which permits fine adjustment of the opening width of the pliers.

The invention relates to a pair of gripping pliers, generally called "water pump pliers". A pair of water pump pliers is generally understood to be a pair of pliers with a first and a second leg ("clamp" and "handle"), each of which have a handle portion and a pliers yaw and which are interconnected between the handle portions and the pliers yaws by means of a joint. The joint is guided in a longitudinal aperture of the first leg, this aperture being provided with detents. By adjusting the joint in the longitudinal aperture, the opening width of the pliers, i.e. the spacing of the pliers yaws, can be varied with substantially parallel gripping surfaces. By such an arrangement, it is possible to adapt the opening width to the dimensions of the part to be gripped and to grasp parts of considerably different diameters in the same way. A flat section with a longitudinal slot is provided at the clamp, the handle extending through this longitudinal slot. Parallel cheeks are formed on both sides of this longitudinal slot.


There are disclosed various systems for installing a heart valve within a patient. In a first system, there are provided a heart valve installation assembly and an expandable heart valve ring installation assembly, each of which comprises a separate tool. The expandable heart valve ring assembly is provided to position and expand a heart valve ring into engagement with tissue. The valve installation assembly is provided to position and engage the heart valve with the expandable heart valve ring. In a second system, the heart valve installation assemblies and expandable ring installation assemblies are provided on a single tool or instrument. There are also disclosed various methods of installing an expandable heart valve ring within a heart and positioning and installing an artificial synthetic heart valve within the expanded heart valve ring.

1. Technical Filed
The subject disclosure relates to minimally invasive surgical procedures and apparatus and, more particularly, to instruments and methods for performing heart valve replacement surgery.
2. Background of Related Art
The diagnosis and treatment of coronary disease and related conditions often requires repair or replacement of the valves located within the heart. Various factors, such as, for example, calcification, may result in the mitral or aortic valves becoming impaired or functionally inoperative requing replacement. Where replacement of a heart valve is indicated, in general, the dysfunctional valve is cut out and replaced with either an artificial, synthetic heart valve or a harvested porcine heart valve. The replacement valve is typically sutured in place of the original valve.
It is common to access the heart in a patient's thoracic cavity by making a longitudinal incision in the chest. This procedure, referred to as a median sternotomy, includes cutting through the sternum and forcing the two opposing halves of the rib cage to be spread apart allowing access to the thoracic cavity and thus the heart.
Instruments particularly suitable for spreading and holding apart the halves of the rib cage are marketed by States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, Connecticut. The MINI-CABG* UNIVERSAL BASE RETRACTOR includes a substantially planar base having an opening which can be positioned on the patient such that the opening overlies the incision at the operative site. Retractor blades, such as the MINI-CABG* retractors, are slidably mounted on the base and are provided to spread apart the rib cage halves and engage and retract obstructing tissue. The base may also be provided with surgical instruments which can be used to stabilize or manipulate die heart during surgery such as the MIN-CABG* HEART STABILIZER AND SITE MANIPULATOR.
Once access to the thoracic cavity has been achieved, surgery on the heart to effect valve replacement may be performed. During some procedures, the heart beat is arrested by infusion of a cardioplegic fluid, such as potassium chloride kcl), to paralyze the myocardium while blood flow circulation is maintained through known heart bypass techniques. Alternatively, the heart is allowed to-beat to maintain circulation, while a localized area of the heart, on which surgery is to be performed, is locally immobilized.
The heart is incised and the defective valve is cut away leaving a surrounding area of locally tougher tissue. Known heart valve replacement techniques typically include individually passing sutures through the tough tissue to form an array of sutures. Free ends of the sutures are extended out of the thoracic cavity and laid, spaced apart, on the patient's body. The free ends of the sutures are then individually threaded through an edge around the circumference of the replacement valve or a supporting cuff. Once all sutures have been run through the valve, all the sutures are pulled up taught and the valve is slid or "parachuted" down into place adjacent the tough tissue. Thereafter, the replacement valve is secured in place using the sutures.
Where replacement is performed utilizing an artificial valve, hand held instruments in the form of a stick may be affixed to the valve and used to manipulate the replacement valve into place. The commercially available replacement valves are typically provided with a detachable holder structure which can be engaged by the hand tools.
While the above described procedures are sufficient to successfully position a heart valve within the heart, they are particularly time consuming. Therefore, a need exists for apparatus and procedures of quickly and efficiently positioning and affixing artificial heart valves within the heart.

Heart valve replacement tools and procedures


A multiple liquid and solids dispenser apparatus and method includes a solids dispenser for holding and dispensing solids. A liquid dispenser is connected to the solids dispenser and the liquid dispenser contains more than one liquid and is positioned so as to dispense the more than one liquid on the solid or not on the solid as desired.

A variety of situations and circumstances exist wherein it is useful to dispense solids and liquids at the same time. Gravel and water, asphalt and tar or oil, food and scent/chemicals are a few examples. For the purposes of illustration and by way of example only and not by limitation, deer hunters use feeders to lure deer. Applicant's Liquid and Solid Dispenser Apparatus and Method (U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,547), incorporated herein by reference, represents the state of the prior art with regard to devices that dispense solids and a liquid at the same time. While the patented invention is a quantum leap beyond the previous art, it has certain attributes that result in a less than perfect solution to the problems associated with dispensing solid and liquid materials from the same device.
One problem is that only a single liquid may be dispensed by the prior art devices. Many times it is useful to use multiple scents for different purposes. It would be useful, for example only, to dispense one liquid that attracts deer and one scent that masks the smell of a human. The prior art allows for only one scent to be dispersed at a time.
Another problem is that it is currently difficult to clean the liquid holder. A further problem is that the current liquid holders are an integrated part of the dispensing device and are subject to breaking due to exposure to the elements, such as when the liquid freezes. When the liquid holder of the prior art devices break, the entire device must be removed for repair.
Another problem is that the prior art liquid dispensers dispense liquid in a single attitude. The liquid either hits the solids or misses the solids but no correction or selection is enabled.
Wicks are known in the art and used in Applicant's prior patented device. A problem with the prior art wicks, however, is that they represent a continuous drain on the liquid when used.
Thus, there is a need in the art for providing a liquid and solids dispenser that dispenses more than one liquid, that is adjustable so that liquid may or may not be dispensed on the solids as desired, that is easy to use, fill and clean, that is resistant to breakage and that includes a wick that is not a continuous drain on the liquids.

Multiple liquid and solids dispenser apparatus and method


A loading machine is disclosed with at least one drive train, with at least one overload protection device for the drive train and with sensors for determining an overload state in the drive train. Critical operating conditions of the loading machine can be determined based on signals from the sensors, such that the load application on the drive train can be influenced in terms of power. The determination of critical operating conditions is implemented by means of a control unit which evaluates the signals from the sensors. When preset threshold values have been attained, the control unit generates control signals for a fuel injection pump, upon which a preventive limitation of the power is initiated.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a loading machine having a drive train with overload protection.
2. Related Technology
In agricultural, forestry and construction site working machines such as, loading machines, and more specifically, for example, in telescopic loaders, excavators/dredgers or cranes, more and more powerful engines are being used. As a rule, the increase in power is also associated with an increase in the moments of torque acting upon the drive train of the loading machine, wherein the operating state of the loading machine leads to moments of extreme traction in the drive axles. An overload in the drive train can occur when the maximum driving power of the engine is supplied to the drive line. As a result, damage can ensue to the drive train such as, for example, a break in the drive shaft.
In order to resolve the problem cited above, overload protection devices have been provided, wherein the engine power is limited so that in the event of an arising overload condition, the engine power is shifted down in order to protect the drive train from being damaged.
This type of power limitation has been previously practiced. Measuring devices are applied that sense magnitudes that would affect the drive train, such as a moment of torque. The measuring devices send signals to a control unit, which in turn generates a control signal for regulating or reducing the power output of the driving engine based on the signals received. Such measuring devices on the drive train require an expansive installation and are expensive.
The underlying problem of the invention is seen therein that an overload protection is made possible which does not require extensive measuring devices on the drive train.


A media marking transponder system includes a media fastener and a wireless transponder circuit coupled to the media fastener. The antenna for the wireless transponder circuit has a first effective length when no piece of media is fastened to the media fastener and a second, different effective length when at least one piece of media is fastened to the media fastener.

1. Technical Field
This description generally relates to the field of wireless identification, and more particularly to wirelessly marking media.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless communication devices, including wireless memory devices for storing and retrieving data, such as radio frequency identification ("RFID") tags, are used in a variety of environments. Such devices typically employ an antenna structure coupled to a wireless transponder circuit to transmit and/or receive data via electromagnetic signals in some frequency range.
Antenna structures may include a primary antenna element driven by a transmitter to transmit data in an outgoing signal and/or driven by an external signal from an external source to receive incoming data. Antenna structures may further include parasitic antenna elements that electromagnetically cooperate with the driven antenna element to enhance the transmission or reception of a signal. Parasitic antenna elements may be chosen from a variety of directors and reflectors, the directors being generally shorter and the reflectors being generally longer than the driven antenna element. The parasitic antenna elements are normally aligned with and are carefully spaced from the driven antenna element and one another.
The wireless transponder circuit found in many wireless memory devices typically includes a memory portion and a logic portion. The memory portion stores data, while the logic portion controls the reading, writing, and manipulating of data in the memory portion. The logic portion may further couple between the memory portion and the antenna to act as a transmitter, receiver, or transceiver for reading and/or writing data to and/or from the wireless memory device.
Active wireless memory devices include a discrete consumable power source, such as a battery, to provide power to the wireless transponder circuit. In contrast, passive wireless memory devices derive power from a wireless interrogation signal, for example, by backscattering the signal as a response signal encoded with information from the wireless memory device. Wireless memory device may be associated with a variety of sensors to measure environmental conditions, such as current or maximum values of pressure, temperature, acceleration, etc.
Wireless marking may be used in a variety of fields to track a high volume of items. For example, in an office environment, it may be desirable to use wireless communication devices to track the large number of documents generated.

Systems and methods for wirelessly marking media


Surfactant-thickened active chlorine-containing bleach compositions including at least one water soluble anionic styrenic polymer are described. The styrenic polymer serves to improve the rheology properties of the thickened bleach composition. The thickened bleach composition additionally includes a surfactant-based thickening system including an amine oxide, and an alkaline agent to maintain the pH of the composition at about 10 or greater. The amine oxide includes at least 75% of one or more C14-C18 alkyl dimethyl amine oxides. The thickened bleach compositions have reduced viscosity, decreased elastic properties, with improved flow and pour properties resulting from the inclusion of the styrenic polymer.

It is advantagous to formulate highly thickened hypochlorite bleach solutions for cleaning hard surfaces, such as drains, countertops, sinks, bathtub enclosures, lavatories, and other common household surfaces. The efficacy of liquid hypochlorite bleach cleaning compositions is greatly improved by increasing their viscosity significantly above that of a "water-thin" fluid, especially for compositions to be applied to non-horizontal surfaces in use or to be poured through standing water (as with a drain cleaner) in use. The term "highly thickened" is to be understood herein to refer to viscous compositions having viscosities of about 500 centipoise (cps) or greater at ambient temperatures of about 20-25° C.
Consumers also react favorably to highly thickened liquid products in that these fluids often connote a "concentrated" composition in the mind of the user. A common chemical approach to creating thickened hypochlorite bleach solutions is to employ surfactant-based thickening systems, which create a long range surfactant micelle structure within the composition. However, many such surfactant-based thickening systems tend to produce fluids with undesirable flow properties as the fluids become highly viscous (greater than about 500 cps). This is especially problematic at colder temperatures (below about 20° C.), as many surfactant-based thickening systems tend to increase in viscosity as the fluid's temperature decreases. Such fluids can exhibit undesirable physical and visual flow properties in use, e.g., a rubbery/elastic/lumpy or uneven flow, making the fluids difficult to dispense from the dispenser in which they are contained or visually unpleasant when dispensed. This has been observed in particular in thickened hypochlorite bleach solutions formulated with alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactants in combination with various co-surfactants. Examples of viscous hypochlorite bleach compositions thickened using amine oxide surfactants in combination with various co-surfactants are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,684,722; 4,282,109; 5,462,689; 5,624,891; and 5,703,036. Thickened hypochlorite bleach solutions may exhibit undesirable physical and visual flow properties especially when the solutions include amine oxide surfactants containing linear C14 to C18 alkyl groups. C14-C18 alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactants are highly desirable for thickening hypochlorite bleach solutions as they are low cost, efficient for thickening, and exhibit good chlorine bleach stability. However, the formulation of thickened bleach compositions with such amine oxide surfactants which have good pour properties at or below ambient temperature (about 1-25° C.) is difficult to achieve because such thickening systems often give rise to elastic thickened fluids with undesirable visual/physical properties (rubbery, elastic, lumpy flow) when poured from conventional containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,675 discloses the use of sulfonated polystyrene polymers in combination with clays in chlorine bleach-containing thickened automatic dishwashing compositions. The combination of thickening clays and a sulfonated styrenic polymer enhances the low shear viscosity, long-term viscosity retention and fluid uniformity in the thickened hypochlorite bleach compositions as compared to similar compositions thickened only with clays. U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,047 discloses the use of anionic styrenic copolymers as cleaning-enhancing disperants in chlorine bleach-containing detergent compositions. EP 1 001 010 B1 and EP 0 824 147 B1 disclose the use of various anionic styrenic polymers as free radical scavangers for bleach-containing compositions, for improved cleaning and storage stability. None of these patents indicate the use of the disclosed polymers to reduce the elastic character of bleach-containing solutions, nor do the patents indicate that the polymers improve low-temperature flow properties of their compositions. In addition, the noted patents set forth examples wherein the polymer additives are used in substantial quantities, i.e., greater than 0.1% and usually about 1% or more.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,077 employs anionic polymers produced from various combinations of charged and uncharged co-monomers in surfactant-thickened bleach compositions to synergistically increase the viscosity of the formulations in combination with the surfactant thickeners. The '077 patent discloses various copolymers formed from a combination of hydrophobic (uncharged) and hydrophilic (anionic charged) co-monomers, the most preferred being an ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer combination. While styrenic water soluble polymers are claimed in the '077 patent, no experimental evidence is provided to substantiate their efficacy. Also, the '077 patent discloses containing about 0.1% to 1.0% polymer, such that the weight ratio of surfactant thickener to polymer is from about 5:1 to 30:1 to be effective.

Thickened bleach compositions comprising an amine oxide and anionic polymer