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Despite the relatively confined spaces associated with closed environments, such as, without limitation, marine vessels and spacecraft, the persons working in such environments still have difficulty tracking the location of a variety of items, including tools, equipment, supplies, and the like. While losing or misplacing an item is frustrating in a traditional, open environment, such items can typically be replaced with relative ease. In a closed environment, however, the misplaced items frequently cannot be replaced, and even in those cases where the item can be replaced, the cost of replacing the items in a relatively short time can be astronomical. Another problem with misplaced, lost, or relocated items is the impact such items have on the center of gravity of the closed environment. Knowledge of the vehicle's center of gravity can significantly aid in predicting the result of various actions on the environment, such as, without limitation, the impact an acceleration will have on the a corresponding vehicle's trajectory. By way of example, if the cargo onboard a ship is weighted to one side, the ship will tend to pull to that side as it is propelled and/or accelerated. Similarly, if the cargo is weighted too far astern, the force generated by the ship's propulsion system will not be parallel with the water's surface, thereby creating inefficiencies which are exacerbated over a lengthy voyage.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sustained-release preparation comprising a bioactive substance having an acidic group and a biodegradable polymer having an optionally protected basic group. 2. Description of the Related Art To develop an excellent sustained-release preparation comprising a bioactive substance, various attempts have been made in the field of the manufacturing pharmacy, in consideration of the physical properties of the substance. A currently available method of preparing a sustained-release preparation of a bioactive substance having an acidic group is described in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 124814/1990, in which an acidic water-soluble drug is encapsuled in a microcapsule having a polymer as the wall material and incorporating a basic substance as a drug-retaining agent. The Journal of the Korean Chemical Society, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 203-210 (1990) describes as a synthesis intermediate a compound wherein 3-amino-1-propanol is bound to the terminal carboxyl group of poly(1-lactide) via ester linkage. The Journal of Macromol Chem., 196, 3891-3903(1995) discloses a poly(L-lactic acid)-OCH2CH2CH2xe2x80x94NH2 and synthesis thereof as a initiator for the polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides in the synthesis of poly(L-lactide)-block-poly(xcex1-amino acid)s. J. POLYM. SCI. PART A: POLYM. CHEM., 31, 275-278(1993) discloses xcfx89-amino poly(xcex5-caprolactone) as a synthesis intermediate. WO 94/21229 describes an aerosol composition containing a dispersion aid comprising a polymer having an amino acid bound to at least one terminal. Although serving well as bases for sustained-release preparations of basic drugs, biodegradable polymers such as lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer are unsatisfactory in terms of bioactivity retention, incorporation rate, suppression of drug leakage early after administration, constant sustained release for an extended period of time, and others, as bases for sustained-release preparations of bioactive substances having an acidic group. Through extensive investigation aiming at creating a sustained-release preparation of acidic drug having excellent sustained-release property, the present inventors found that the use of a biodegradable polymer wherein a basic group is introduced as a base for sustained-release preparation results in an improved microcapsule incorporation rate and suppressed leakage early after administration, without loss of the activity of a bioactive substance having an acidic group, and ensures constant sustained release for an extended period of time. The present inventors made further investigation based on this finding, and developed the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention relates to: (1) a sustained-release preparation which comprises a bioactive substance having an acidic group and a biodegradable polymer having an optionally protected basic group, (2) the sustained-release preparation according to term (1) above, wherein the polymer has at least an optionally protected basic group at a terminal, (3) the sustained-release preparation according to term (1) above, wherein the polymer has an optionally protected basic group which is introduced to the terminal carboxyl group, (4) the sustained-release preparation according to term (1) above, wherein the polymer has at a terminal a thioesterified, esterified or amidated carboxyl group having an optionally protected basic group, (5) the sustained-release preparation according to term (1) above, wherein the biodegradable polymer is an aliphatic polyester, (6) the sustained-release preparation according to term (5) above, wherein the aliphatic polyester is an xcex1-hydroxycarboxylic acid polymer, (7) the sustained-release preparation according to term (5) above, wherein the aliphatic polyester is a homopolymer or copolymer of lactic acid and glycolic acid, (8) the sustained-release preparation according to term (7) above, wherein the weight-average molecular weight of the homopolymer or copolymer of lactic acid and glycolic acid is not less than about 2,000, (9) the sustained-release preparation according to term (7) above, wherein the lactic acid/glycolic acid content ratio is about 100/0 to about 30/70 (mol/mol %), (10) the sustained-release preparation according to term (1), wherein the basic group is (i) a cyclic amino group, (ii) a nucleic acid base or (iii) a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of amino groups, amidino groups, guanidino groups, ammonium groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid bases, each of which may be substituted, (11) A polymer having the formula: POLY-COxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94Rxe2x80x2xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x2 wherein POLY represents the principal chain of a polymer, Rxe2x80x2 represents a divalent hydrocarbon group, Xxe2x80x2 represents a basic group selected from amino groups, amidino groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid bases each of which basic group may be protected, (12) the polymer according to term (11) above, wherein POLY is a principal chain of a homopolymer or copolymer of an xcex1-hydroxycarboxylic acid, (13) The polymer according to term (12) above, wherein the xcex1-hydroxycarboxylic acid is lactic acid and/or glycolic acid, (14) the polymer according to term (11) above, wherein Rxe2x80x2 is a C1-15 hydrocarbon group, (15) the polymer according to term (11), wherein Xxe2x80x2 is an optionally protected amino group, (16) a polymer having the formula: POLY-COOxe2x80x94Rxe2x80x3xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x2 wherein POLY represents the principal chain of a homopolymer or copolymer of xcex1-hydoxycarboxylic acid, Rxe2x80x3 represent ethylene which may be substituted with C1-4 alkyl; Xxe2x80x2 represents a basic group selected from amino groups, amidino groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid base, each of which basic group may be protected, (17) a method of producing the polymer of term (11) above which comprises reacting a compound having the protected basic group of the formula H2Nxe2x80x94Rxe2x80x2xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x2 with a polymer of the formula POLY-COOH or active derivative thereof, (18) the method according to term (17) above, which further comprises deprotection reaction of the protected basic group of the polymer, (19) a method of improving the sustained-release property of a sustained-release preparation for a bioactive substance having an acidic group by using a biodegradable polymer having an optionally protected basic group as a base thereof, (20) a base for a sustained-release preparation of a bioactive substance having an acidic group, which comprises a biodegradable polymer having an optionally protected basic group, and (21) use of a biodegradable polymer having an optionally protected basic group, for the production of a sustained-release preparation of a bioactive substance having an acidic group. In the present invention, the xe2x80x9cbiodegradable polymerxe2x80x9d is not subject to limitation, as long as it becomes compatible with living tissue and exhibits no deleterious action on the living body after administration. The biodegradable polymer is more preferably one that is metabolically degraded in vivo and eventually excreted from the body, commonly used such biodegradable polymers including those that are sparingly soluble or insoluble in water. The biodegradable polymer is exemplified by those described in xe2x80x9cDrug Delivery System, Chapter 3 (CMC, 1986).xe2x80x9d Specifically, useful biodegradable include the following: (1) Fatty acid polyesters: (i) Polymers and copolymers synthesized from one or more xcex1-hydroxycarboxylic acids (e.g., glycolic acid, lactic acid, hydroxybutyric acid), hydroxydicarboxylic acids (e.g., malic acid), hydroxytricarboxylic acids (e.g., citric acid) etc., mixtures thereof, xcex2-poly-xcex1-benzyl malate, poly-3-hydroxybutanoic acid. (ii) Polymers and copolymers synthesized from one or more polylactides (e.g., glycolides, lactides, benzylmalolactonate, malide dibenzyl ester, 3-[(benzyloxycarbonyl)methyl]-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione) etc., mixtures thereof. (iii) Polymers and copolymers synthesized from one or more polylactones (e.g., xcex2-propiolactone, xcex4-valerolactone, xcex5-caprolactone, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-serine-xcex2-lactone) etc., mixtures thereof. These can be copolymerized with glycolides, lactides etc. as cyclic dimers of xcex1-hydroxy acids. (iv) Polyethylene adipate. (2) Polyanhydrides (e.g., poly[1,3-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)methane], poly(terephthalic-sebacic anhydride)). (3) Polycarbonates (e.g., poly(oxycarbonyloxyethylene), spiro-ortho-polycarbonate). (4) Poly-ortho-esters (e.g., poly(3,9-bis(ethylidene-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5,5]undecane-1,6-hexanediol). (5) Polyamino acids (e.g., poly-xcex3-benzyl-L-glutamate, poly-L-alanine, poly-xcex3-methyl-L-glutamate). (6) Polyamides (e.g., poly-xcex1,xcex2[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)]-D,L-aspartamide, poly-xcex3-glutamic acid benzyl ester). (7) Poly-xcex1-cyanoacrylic acid esters (e.g., isobutyl poly-xcex1-cyanoacrylate). (8) Polyphosphazenes (e.g., polydiaminophosphazene). (9) Polydepsipeptides (e.g., 3-[4-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)butyl]-6-methylmorpholine-2,5-dione polymer or its copolymers with lactones (e.g., xcex5-caprolactone) and lactides (e.g., glycolides, lactides). These may be used as a mixture in appropriate ratios. Type of polymerization may be random, block or graft. Commonly used examples of the biodegradable polymer include fatty acid polyesters (e.g., polymers and copolymers synthesized from one or more xcex1-hydroxycarboxylic acids (e.g., glycolic acid, lactic acid, hydroxybutyric acid), hydroxydicarboxylic acids (e.g., malic acid), hydroxytricarboxylic acids (e.g., citric acid) etc., or mixtures thereof). Of the above-mentioned fatty acid polyesters, polymers or copolymers synthesized from one or more xcex1-hydroxycarboxylic acids (e.g., glycolic acid, lactic acid, hydroxybutyric acid) are preferred from the viewpoint of biocompatibility and biodegradability. These copolymers may be used as a mixture in appropriate ratios. While these xcex1-hydroxycarboxylic acids may be of the D-, L- or D,L-configuration, the D-/L-ratio (mole/mole %) preferably falls within the range from about 75/25 to about 25/75. Especially, xcex1-hydroxycarboxylic acids with a D-/L-ratio, (mole/mole %) within the range from about 60/40 to about 30/70 are desirably used. Copolymers of the xcex1-hydroxycarboxylic acid include, for example, copolymers of glycolic acid and other xcex1-hydroxy acids. Preferable examples of the xcex1-hydroxy acid include lactic acid and 2-hydroxybutyric acid. Examples of preferable copolymers of xcex1-hydroxycarboxylic acids include lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer and 2-hydroxybutyric acid-glycolic acid copolymer, lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer being desirably used. Although the content ratio (lactic acid/glycolic acid) (mole/mole %) of the lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer is not subject to limitation, as long as the objective of the present invention is accomplished, it is normally about 100/0 to about 30/70 (hereinafter the term xe2x80x9clactic acid-glycolic acid copolymerxe2x80x9d sometimes refers to both of lactic acid homopolymer (poly lactide) and lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer (poly (lactide-glycolide)). The content ratio is preferably about 90/10 to about 40/60, for example, content ratios of about 80/20 to about 45/55 being desirably used. The lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer has a weight-average molecular weight of about 2,000 to about 70,000, for example, with preference given to lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers whose weight-average molecular weight is about 3,000 to about 20,000. Those having a weight-average molecular weight of about 5,000 to about 15,000 are desirably used. Also, the degree of dispersion (weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight) of the lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer is preferably about 1.2 to about 4.0, those having a degree of dispersion of about 1.5 to about 3.5 being desirably used. In the present specification, weight-average molecular weight and the degree of dispersion are defined as that based on polystyrene measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Measurements were taken using a GPC column KF804Lxc3x972 (produced by Showa Denko, Japan) and an RI monitor L-3300 (produced by Hitachi Ltd., Japan) with chloroform as a mobile phase using 9 polystyrenes with the weight average molecular weights of 120,000, 52,000, 22,000, 9,200, 5,050, 2,950, 1,050, 580 and 162 as references and the dispersion value calculated using the same molecular weight, respectively. The number average molecular weight by end-group determination, is defined as the following manner. A biodegradable polymer, about 1 to 3 g, was dissolved in a mixture of acetone (25 ml) and methanol (5 ml) and using phenolphthalein as the indicator, the carboxyl groups in the solution were quickly titrated with 0.05N alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution under stirring at room temperature (20xc2x0 C.). Then the number average molecular weight by end-group determination was calculated by means of the following equation. Number average molecular weight by end-group determination=20000xc3x97A/B where A is the mass of biodegradable polymer (g) and B is the amount of 0.05N alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution (ml) added to react the titration 10 end-point. Although the 2-hydroxybutyric acid-glycolic acid copolymer is not subject to limitation, as long as the objective of the present invention is accomplished, it is preferable that glycolic acid account for about 10 to about 75 mol % and 2-hydroxybutyric acid for the remaining portion. More preferably, glycolic acid accounts for about 20 to about 75 mol %. Those having a glycolic acid content of about 30 to about 70 mol % are desirably used. The weight-average molecular weight of the 2-hydroxybutyric acid-glycolic acid copolymer is preferably about 2,000 to about 20,000. The degree of dispersion (weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight) of the 2-hydroxybutyric acid-glycolic acid copolymer is preferably about 1.2 to about 4.0, especially, those having a degree of dispersion of about 1.5 to about 3.5 being desirably used. Although the xcex1-hydroxybutyric acid is not subject to limitation, as long as the objective of the present invention is accomplished, lactic acid polymers may be mentioned as preferable examples of its polymer. The weight-average molecular weight of the lactic acid polymer is preferably about 2,000 to about 20,000, those having a weight-average molecular weight of about 5,000 to about 15,000 being desirably used. The 2-hydroxybutyric acid-glycolic acid copolymer may be used as a mixture with polylactic acid. While the polylactic acid may be of the D- or L-configuration or a mixture thereof, the ratio of the D-/L-configuration (mole/mole %) falls within the range from about 75/25 to about 20/80, for example. Preferred are polylactic acids with the D-/L-ratio (mole/mole %) is about 60/40 to about 25/75, those whose ratio of the D-/L-configuration (mole/mole %) is about 55/45 to about 25/75 being desirably used. The polylactic acid has a weight-average molecular weight of about 1,500 to about 20,000, for example, with preference given to those whose weight-average molecular weight is about 1,500 to about 10,000. Also, the degree of dispersion of the polylactic acid is about 1.2 to about 4.0, those having a degree of dispersion of about 1.5 to about 3.5 being desirably used. When a 2-hydroxybutyric acid-glycolic acid copolymer and polylactic acid are used as a mixture, their mixing ratio is about 10/90 to about 90/10 (% by weight), for example. The mixing ratio is preferably about 20/80 to about 80/20, mixing ratios of about 30/70 to about 70/30 being desirably used. The above-described biodegradable polymer has a basic group that may be protected. The basic group that may be protected is not subject to limitation, as long as it is a group exhibiting acid-base interaction with the acidic group of a bioactive substance having an acidic group, and having a pKa value of not less than 8 (e.g., the amines described in Dai Yuki Kagaku, Supplement 2, pp. 584-613, which have a dissociation constant of not less than 8). In the present invention, the polymer having a protected basic group is also comparable to use as a base for sustained-release preparation as long as the polymer having a pKa value in the above scope. To more efficiently accomplish the objective of the present invention, however, it is desirable to introduce a basic group that may be protected to a terminal of a biodegradable polymer. More desirably, the basic group that may be protected is introduced to the terminal carboxyl group alone of the biodegradable polymer, or to both terminal carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. The optionally protected basic group is desirably introduced to the biodegradable polymer via ester linkage, thioester linkage or amide linkage, i.e., it desirably has an esterified, thioesterified or amidated terminal carboxyl group. The amide linkage includes In the above formulas, ring A1 and ring A2 each represents a 5- to 7-membered ring wherein all atoms but N are carbon atoms. From the viewpoint of acid-base interaction, the basic group introduced to the biodegradable preferably has no protecting groups. When the basic group has a hydroxyl group, an amino group, and/or a thiol group, the biodegradable polymer may be bound according to the number of such groups, as long as the spirit of the present invention is not deviated from. Useful basic groups for the optionally protected basic group include (i) cyclic amino groups or nucleic acid bases or (ii) hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of amino groups, amidino groups, guanidino groups, ammonium groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid bases. The cyclic amino group is exemplified by pyrrolidinyl group, piperidyl group, imidazolidinyl group, imidazolinyl group, pyrazolidinyl group, pyrazolinyl group, piperazinyl group, indolinyl-group, isoindolinyl group, quinuclidinyl group and morpholinyl groups. The nucleic acid base is exemplified by 6-aminopurinyl group, 6-amino-2-purinyloxy group, 4-amino-2-pyrimidinyloxy group, 5-methyl-2,4-pyrimidinyloxy group and 2,4-pyrimidinyloxy group. The hydrogen present in the amino group, amidino group, guanidino group or ammonium group may be substituted for by the hydrocarbon groups shown below. The hydrocarbon group is exemplified by alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, aryl groups and aralkyl groups. The alkyl group is exemplified by C1-24 alkyl groups (e.g., methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, 1-methylpropyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, n-hexyl, 4-methylpentyl, n-heptyl, 1-propylbutyl, n-octyl, 1-methylheptyl, 1-propylpentyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, 1-propylhexyl, 1-methyloctadecyl, hexylethyl, 4-ethyl-5-methyloctyl, 4-isopropyl-5-propyldecyl). The alkyl group may have 1 to 3 C2-15 alkenyl groups (e.g., vinyl), C2-6 alkynyl groups (e.g., ethynyl), C3-6 cycloalkyl groups (e.g., cyclohexyl), C6-10 aryl groups (e.g., phenyl), C7-14 aralkyl groups (e.g., benzyl) etc in appropriate positions thereof. Examples of such alkyl groups include vinylethyl and benzylethyl. The alkenyl group is exemplified by C2-15 alkenyl groups (e.g., vinyl, 1-propenyl, allyl, isopropenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 1-hexenyl, 2-hexenyl, 1-heptenyl, 1-octenyl, nonenyl, 2-methylpropen-1-yl, 1-methylpropen-1-yl, 1-methylallyl, 2-methylallyl, dimethylhexenyl, 4-propyl-2-pentenyl, 1-dodecenyl, 1-tridecenyl, 2-nonyl-2-butenyl). The alkynyl group is exemplified by C2-6 alkynyl groups (e.g., ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl). The cycloalkyl group is exemplified by C3-10 cycloalkyl groups (e.g., cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl). The aryl group is exemplified by C6-14 aryl groups (e.g., phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl). The aralkyl group is exemplified by C7-16 aralkyl groups (e.g., benzyl, phenethyl). The above mentioned alkenyl group, alkynyl group, cycloalkyl group, aryl group and aralkyl group may be substituted with 1 to 3 C1-10 alkyl groups, C2-10 alkenyl groups, C3-10 cycloalkyl groups, C6-10 aryl groups or C7-14 aralkyl groups at appropriate position thereof. The above-described basic group is introduced to a biodegradable compound via, for example, ester linkage, thioester linkage or amide linkage. The amino group, amidino group, guanidino group, ammonium group, cyclic amino group or nucleic acid base may have the protecting groups shown below. Protecting groups that may be present in the basic group include, for example, the protecting groups described on page 2,555 and thereafter in Shin Jikken Kagaku Koza, Vol. 14, published by Maruzen, Japan but are not subject to limitation, as long as the desired biodegradable polymer is obtained. Useful protecting groups include, for example, acyl derivatives (e.g., formyl, acetyl, benzoyl), urethane type derivatives [e.g., benzyloxycarbonyl, t-butoxycarbonyl, 2-(p-biphenyl)isopropoxycarbonyl, diisopropylmethyloxycarbonyl, piperidinoxycarbonyl, xcex2-(p-toluenesulfonyl)ethoxycarbonyl, xcex2-iodoethoxycarbonyl, 8-quinolinyloxycarbonyl, xcex2,xcex2,xcex2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl, isobutyloxycarbonyl, cyclopentyloxycarbonyl, cyclohexyloxycarbonyl, L-menthyloxycarbonyl, 1-adamantanyloxycarbonyl, 4-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-decyloxybenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, furfuryloxycarbonyl, diphenylmethoxycarbonyl, 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl], alkyl derivatives (e.g., thiophenoxycarbonyl, thiobenzyloxycarbonyl), alkenyl derivatives (e.g., allyl), aryl derivatives (e.g., 2,4-dinitrophenyl, tetrahydropyranyl), N-nitroso derivatives (e.g., nitroso), N-nitro derivatives (e.g., nitro), phosphoryl derivatives (e.g., benzylphosphoryl, diphenylphosphoryl), sulfenyl derivatives (e.g., arylsulfinyl, triphenylmethylsulfenyl, 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl), sulfonyl derivatives (e.g., benzylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl) and trialkyl derivatives. Preferably, the terminal carboxyl group of the biodegradable polymer has N-benzyloxycarbonyl-aminomethanol, 2-(N-benzyloxycarbonyl)-aminoethanol, 2-(N-benzyloxycarbonyl)amino-4-methyl-pentan-1-ol, 2-(N-benzyloxycarbonyl)amino-3-phenyl-propan-1-ol, 2-(N-t-butoxycarbonyl)amino-3-phenyl-propan-1-ol, 2-(t-butoxycarbonyl)amino-3-methyl-butan-1-ol, 2-(N-t-butoxycarbonyl)amino-4-methyl-pentan-1-ol, 2-(N-t-butoxycarbonyl)amino-3-methyl-pentan-1-ol, 2-(N-t-butoxycarbonyl)amino-3-phenyl-propan-1-ol, 2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino-4-(t-butoxycarbonyl)-butan-1-ol, 1-aminopropan-2-ol, 1-aminopropan-3-ol, 1-aminobutan-2-ol, 1-amino-3-buten-2-ol, 2-aminobutan-1-ol, 2-aminobutan-3-ol, 1-amino-2-methylpropan-2-ol, 2-amino-2-methylpropan-1-ol, 2-aminohexan-1-ol, 3-aminoheptan-4-ol, 1-aminooctan-2-ol, 5-aminooctan-4-ol, 3-aminononan-4-ol, 1-aminopropan-3-ol, 3-aminobutan-1-ol, 1-aminobutan-4-ol, 1-aminopentan-5-ol, 1,2-diaminopropan-3-ol, 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol, 1-amino-2,2-bis(aminomethyl)propan-1-ol, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine, N-(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine, N-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)ethylenediamine, 1-aminopropane-2,3-diol, 2-aminopropane-1,3-diol, 2-amino-2-methylpropane-1,3-diol, 2-amino-2-ethylpropane-1,3-diol, 2-amino-2-oxymethylpentan-1-ol, 2-amino-2-oxymethyl-3-methylbutan-1-ol, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, 1-amino-2,2-bis(oxymethyl)propan-3-ol, 2,2-bis(aminomethyl)propane-1,3-diol, 1-amino-2,2-bis(aminomethyl)propan-1-ol, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine, N-(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine, N-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)ethylenediamine, N-monobenzyloxycarbonylaminal, N-monobenzyloxycarbonyl(n-propyl)aminal, N-monobenzyloxycarbonyl(i-propyl)aminal, N-monobenzyloxycarbonyl(i-butyl)aminal, N-monobenzyloxycarbonyl(benzyl)aminal, N-monobenzyloxycarbonyl-ethylenediamine, 3-(t-butoxycarbonylamino)-3-benzylpropylamine, 3-(t-butoxycarbonylamino)-3-(i-butyl)propylamine, 3-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)propylamine, 2-benzyloxycarbonylaminoethanethiol or the like, for example, introduced thereto. With respect to the biodegradable polymer having an optionally protected basic group for the present invention, it is desirable that the effect of the basic group surpasses that of the acidic group, and that no groups showing acidity are contained. Preferable examples of the biodegradable polymer having an optionally protected basic group for the present invention include those represented by the structural formulas shown below. xe2x80x83POLY-COxe2x80x94Axe2x80x94Xxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(Ia) xe2x80x83Xxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94O-POLY-COxe2x80x94Axe2x80x94Xxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(Id) xe2x80x83Xxe2x80x94CO-POLY-COxe2x80x94R0xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(Ig) In formula (Ia), POLY represents the principal chain of the biodegradable polymer; A represents O, NH or S; X represents (i) a cyclic amino group or a nucleic acid base or (ii) a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of amino groups, amidino groups, guanidino groups, ammonium groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid bases. In formula (Ib), POLY represents the principal chain of the biodegradable polymer; X represents (i) a cyclic amino group, (ii) a nucleic acid base or (iii) a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of amino groups, amidino groups, guanidino groups, ammonium groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid bases; ring A1 is a 5- to 7-membered ring. In formula (Ic), POLY represents the principal chain of the biodegradable polymer; Y represents (i) a hydrogen atom, (ii) a cyclic amino group, (iii)a nucleic acid base or (iv) a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of amino groups, amidino groups, guanidino groups, ammonium groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid bases; ring A2 is a 5- to 7-membered ring. In formula (Id), POLY represents the principal chain of the biodegradable polymer; A represents O, NH or S; X represents (i) a cyclic amino group, (ii) a nucleic acid base or (iii) a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of amino groups, amidino groups, guanidino groups, ammonium groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid bases. In formula (Ie), POLY represents the principal chain of the biodegradable polymer; X represents (i) a cyclic amino group, (ii) a nucleic acid base or (iii) a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of amino groups, amidino groups, guanidino groups, ammonium groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid bases; ring A1 is a 5- to 7-membered ring. In formula (If), POLY represents the principal chain of the biodegradable polymer; X represents (i) a cyclic amino group, (ii) a nucleic acid base or (iii) a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of amino groups, amidino groups, guanidino groups, ammonium groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid bases; Y represents (i) a hydrogen atom, (ii) a cyclic amino group, (iii) a nucleic acid base or (iv) a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of amino groups, amidino groups, guanidino groups, ammonium groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid bases; ring A2 is a 5- to 7-membered ring. In formula (Ig), POLY represents the principal chain of the biodegradable polymer; X represents (i) a cyclic amino group, (ii) a nucleic acid base or (iii) a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of amino groups, amidino groups, guanidino groups, ammonium groups, cyclic amino groups and nucleic acid bases; R0 represents a hydrocarbon group. The principal chain of biodegradable polymer represented by POLY means the principal chain moiety of the above-described biodegradable polymer. The cyclic amino group, nucleic acid base and hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of amino groups, amidino groups, guanidino groups, ammonium groups, cyclic amino groups and substituents represented by X and Y mean the same groups as those mentioned above. These groups may be protected by the same protecting groups as those mentioned above. The hydrocarbon group represented by R0 is exemplified by the same hydrocarbon groups as those mentioned above. POLY is preferably the principal chain of a polymer or copolymer of an xcex1-hydroxycarboxylic acid (the same as those mentioned above), principal chains of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers (the same as those mentioned above) being commonly used. A is preferably O or NH. X and Y are preferably hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 3 amino groups that may be protected. The amino group protecting group and hydrocarbon group are exemplified by the same groups as those mentioned above. In the present invention, biodegradable polymers represented by formula (Ia) are preferred. In the formula (Ia), the group represented by xe2x80x94Axe2x80x94X is preferably the group of the formula xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94Rxe2x80x2xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x2 or xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94Rxe2x80x3xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x2, wherein Rxe2x80x2 and Rxe2x80x3 are a divalent hydrocarbon group and Xxe2x80x2 is an amino, amidino, guanidino, ammonium, cyclic amino group or nucleotide base which may be protected, preferably an optionally protected amino group. The divalent hydrocarbone group represented by Rxe2x80x2 and Rxe2x80x3 are derived from the hydrocarbon group as mentioned above. Examples of the divalent hydrocarbon group represented by Rxe2x80x2 include C1-15 alkylene (e.g. methylene, ethylene, propylen, tetramethylen, 3,3-dimethylpentamethylene, etc.), C2-15 alkenylene (e.g. vinylene, propenylene, methylpropenylene, dimethylpropenylene etc.), C3-10 cycloalkylene (e.g. cycloalpropylene, 1,3-cyclopentylene, 3-cyclohexen-1,2-ylene etc.) and C6-10 arylene (e.g. phenylene, mophtylene etc.), wherein these groups may be substituted with 1 to 3 C1-4 alkyl, C2-4 alkenyl, C3-10 cycloalkyl and C6-10 aryl groups in appropriate positions thereof. Rxe2x80x2 is preferably, C1-10 divalent hydrocarbon group, more preferably C1-8 divalent hydrocarbon group. C1-9 alkylene is a preferable embodiment of Rxe2x80x2. Rxe2x80x3 is preferably ethylene which may be substituted with C1-4 alkyl. Preferable examples of the group represented by xe2x80x94Axe2x80x94X include aminomethyloxy group, 2-aminoethyloxy group, 1-aminopropan-2-oxy group, 1-aminopropan-3-oxy group, 1-aminobutan-2-oxy group, 1-amino-3-buten-2-oxy group, 2-aminobutan-1-oxy group, 2-aminobutan-3-oxy group, 3-aminobutan-1-oxy group, 1-aminobutan-4-oxy group, 1-amino-2-methylpropan-2-oxy group, 2-amino-2-methylpropan-1-oxy group, 1-aminopentan-5-oxy group, 2-aminohexan-1-oxy group, 3-aminoheptan-4-oxy group, 1-aminooctan-2-oxy group, 5-aminooctan-4-oxy group, 3-aminononan-4-oxy group, 1,2-diaminopropan-3-oxy group, 1,3-diaminopropan-2-oxy group, 1-amino-2,2-bis(aminomethyl)propan-1-oxy group, 1,2-diaminopropan-2-oxy group, 2-(2-aminoethyl)aminoethyloxy group, 3-(2-aminoethyl)aminopropan-2-oxy group, 3-aminopropane-1,2-dioxy group, 2-aminopropane-1,3-dioxy group, 2-amino-2-methylpropane-1,3-dioxy group, 2-amino-2-propylpropane-1,3-dioxy group, 2-amino-2-(1-methyl)ethylpropane-1,3-dioxy group, aminomethane-tris(methoxy) group, 2-aminoethane-tris(methoxy) group, 2,2-bis(aminomethyl)propane-1,3-dioxy group, aminomethylamino group, 1-aminobutylamino group, 1-amino-2-methylpropylamino group, 1-amino-3-methylbutylamino group, 1-amino-2-phenylethylamino group, 2-aminoethylamino group, 3-amino-4-phenylbutylamino group, 3-amino-5-methylhexylamino group, 3-aminopropylamino group, 2-aminoethylthio group, 2-amino-2-methylethyloxy group, 2-amino-2-(1-methylethyl)ethyloxy group, 2-amino-2-(2-methylpropyl)ethyloxy group, 2-amino-2-(1-methylpropyl)ethyloxy group, 2-amino-2-benzylethyloxy group, 2-aminobutane-1,3-dioxy group, 2-amino-2-(4-aminobutyl)ethyloxy group, 2,6-diaminohexane-1,5-dioxy group, 2-amino-2-(3-guanidinopropyl)ethyloxy group, 2-amino-2-(carbamoylmethyl)ethyloxy group, 2-amino-2-(2-carbamoylethyl)ethyloxy group, 2-amino-2-(2-methylthioethyl)methylethyloxy group, 2-amino-2-(oxyphenylmethyl)methylethyloxy group, 2-amino-2-(5-imidazolylmethyl)ethyloxy group and 2-amino-2-(3-indolylmethyl)ethyloxy group. More preferable examples of the biodegradable polymer having an optionally protected basic group for the present invention include (i) lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers wherein a compound containing a mono- or di-aminoalkyl (e.g., 2-aminoethyl, 2-amino-1-(aminomethyl)ethyl) is bound to the terminal carboxyl group via ester linkage, (ii) lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers wherein an L-amino acid compound having a hydroxyl group derivatized by reduction of the carboxyl group (e.g., L-alaninol, L-lysinol, L-arginol) is bound to the terminal carboxyl group via ester linkage, (iii) lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers wherein an L-xcex1-amino acid (e.g., L-glycine, L-alanine, L-lysine, L-arginine), a xcex2-amino acid (e.g., xcex2-aminopropionic acid, xcex2-guanidinobutanoic acid) or a xcex3-amino acid (e.g., xcex3-aminobutanoic acid, xcex3-guanidinobutanoic acid) is bound to the terminal hydroxyl group, and lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers consisting of combinations thereof and having a basic group at both terminals. Examples of the bioactive substances having an acidic group, comprised in the sustained-release preparation of the present invention, include bioactive substances having a free group such as a sulfone group, a carboxyl group, a phosphoric acid group or a hydroxamic acid group, or salts thereof. The salt of the bioactive substance of the present invention is preferably a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. Such pharmaceutically acceptable salts include salts with inorganic bases, salts with organic bases and salts with basic or acidic amino acids. Inorganic bases capable of forming such salts include alkali metals (e.g., sodium, potassium) and alkaline earth metals (e.g., calcium, magnesium), such organic bases include trimethylamine, triethylamine, pyridine, picoline, N,N-dibenzylethylenediamine and diethanolamine, such inorganic acids include hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid and sulfuric acid, such organic acids include formic acid, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, methanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and citric acid, and such basic or acidic amino acids include arginine, lysine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The salt is preferably be acidic. The bioactive substance is not subject to limitation as to pharmacological effect; useful medicaments to which such bioactive substances are applied include the medicaments for treating or preventing diseases or symptoms such as psychotropic disease (e.g., Alzheimer""s disease, senile dementia, cerebral infarction, transient cerebral ischemic attack), pain, circulatory diseases (e.g., hypertension, thrombosis, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, for angina pectoris, peripheral circulatory disorder), bone/joint diseases (e.g., osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis), infections (e.g., bacterial infections, viral infections, AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or herpes zoster), diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, allergic diseases (e.g., asthma, atopic dermatitis), gastrointestinal disease (e.g., gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, pancreatitis) and cancer (e.g., prostatic cancer, breast cancer). In addition to the bioactive substances, the a sustained-release preparation comprising it may comprise other additives, e.g., dispersing agents (surfactants such as Tween 80 and HCO-60; polysaccharides such as carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate and sodium hyaluronate; protamine sulfate; polyethylene glycol 400 etc.), preservatives (e.g., methyl paraben, propyl paraben), isotonizing agents (e.g., sodium chloride, mannitol, sorbitol, glucose), oils and fats (e.g., sesame oil, corn oil), phospholipids (e.g., lecithin), excipients (e.g., lactose, corn starch, mannitol, cellulose), binders (e.g., sucrose, gum arabic, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, dextrin) and disintegrants (e.g., carboxymethyl cellulose calcium). Examples of production methods for a biodegradable polymer having an optionally protected basic group for the present invention include, but are not limited to, the methods described below. A biodegradable polymer having an optionally protected basic group for the present invention can be produced by subjecting a compound having an optionally protected basic group and a cyclic ester compound to a ring-opening polymerization and/or ester exchange reaction. Specifically, by subjecting cyclic ester compound [I], which has a protected basic group and a functional group with active hydrogen (e.g., hydroxyl group, thiol group, amino group, imino group), and a cyclic ester compound to a ring-opening polymerization and/or ester exchange reaction using an ester exchange catalyst, biodegradable polymer [II], wherein the protected basic group is introduced to the carboxyl terminal via ester, thioester or amide linkage, is obtained. The cyclic ester compound means, for example, a cyclic compound having at least 1 ester linkage within the ring thereof. Specifically, such compounds include lactones (e.g., xcex2-propiolactone, xcex4-valerolactone, xcex5-caprolactone), lactides (e.g., glycolide, L-lactide, D-lactide, DL-lactide, meso-lactide) and morpholine-2,5-dione, two or more kinds of which may be used concurrently. The ester exchange catalyst is exemplified by organic tin catalysts (e.g., tin octoate, di-n-butyltin dilaurate, tetraphenyltin) and aluminum catalysts (e.g., triethylaluminum) and zinc catalysts (e.g., diethyl zinc) Polymerization can be achieved by the bulk polymerization method, in which the reaction is carried out with the reaction mixture in a melted state, and the solution polymerization method, in which the reaction is carried out with the reaction mixture dissolved in an appropriate solvent (e.g., benzene, toluene, decalin, dimethylformamide). Although polymerization temperature is not subject to limitation, it exceeds the temperature at which the reaction mixture is melted at reaction initiation, normally 100 to 300xc2x0 C., for bulk polymerization, and is normally room temperature to 100xc2x0 C. for solution polymerization. If the reaction temperature exceeds the boiling point of the reaction solution, refluxing with a condenser can be used, or the reaction can be carried out in a pressure-resistant container. Polymerization time is determined as appropriate, in consideration of polymerization temperature and other reaction conditions, the physical properties of the desired polymer, etc., from 10 minutes to 72 hours, for example. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture may be dissolved in an appropriate solvent (e.g., acetone, dichloromethane, chloroform) as necessary, and after polymerization is stopped with an acid (e.g., hydrochloride acetic anhydride), the desired product may be precipitated and isolated by, for example, mixing the solution in a solvent that does not dissolve the desired product (e.g., methanol, ethanol, water, ether). Polymer [II] is then subjected to a deprotection reaction suitable for the protecting group to yield polymer [III], wherein a basic group is introduced to the carboxyl terminal of the starting polymer via ester, thioester or amide linkage. By derivatizing a carboxylic acid having a protected basic group to an active acyl derivative (e.g., acid anhydride, acid chloride) [IV], and reacting with the hydroxyl terminal of polymer [II], polymer [V], which has a protected basic group at each end of the polymer, is obtained. Alternatively, the hydroxyl terminal of a polymer synthesized by a known method (e.g., catalyst-free condensation polymerization via dehydration) is reacted with active acyl derivative [IV] to yield polymer [VI], which has a protected basic group at the hydroxyl terminal. The terminal carboxyl group of polymer [VI] is then activated by a known method and reacted with compound [I] to yield polymer [V], which has a protected basic group at each terminal. polymer [V] is then subjected to a deprotection reaction suitable for the protecting group to yield polymer [VII], which has a basic group at each terminal. By homo-polymerizing a cyclic compound having a protected basic group outside the ring thereof or by copolymerizing a cyclic ester compound not containing a basic group (e.g., glycolide, lactide, xcex5-caprolactone), and subsequently deprotecting the compound by a known method, a polymer compound having an amino group on a side chain thereof can be synthesized. An example of the above-described production process is given below but not to be construed as limitative. In the above reaction scheme, Q represents R represents divalent hydrocarbon group. The A, A1, A2, X and Y have the same definitions as those shown above. The divalent hydrocarbon group represented by R is a group resulting from elimination of 1 hydrogen atom from the above-described hydrocarbon group, and may have an amide linkage therein. Examples of hydrocarbons containing an amide linkage therein include xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CONHxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94. The biodegradable polymer of the present invention can be produced by subjecting a compound having an optionally protected basic group [I] and a biodegradable polymer [VIII] produced by the known method (e.g., catalyst-free condensation polymetrization via dehydration). Specifically, by subjecting the compound [I] and the biodegradable polymer [VIII] to a condensation reaction using a dehydrating agent and/or activator of the functional group according to the necessity. The functional group such as amino group or carboxyl group which reacts in the condensation reaction can be activated by a known manner. Examples of the activating manner include such as forming an active ester (e.g., ester with a substituted phenols (e.g., pentachlorophenol;, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol, p-nitrophenol) or N-substituted imides (e.g., N-hydroxy-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboximide, N-hydroxysuccinimide, N-hydroxy-1,2,3-benzotriazol)), carboxylic anhydride or azide with carboxylic acid of the starting material, acyl chloride method, oxidation-reduction method, N,Nxe2x80x2-dicyclohexylcarbodimide N,Nxe2x80x2-dicyclohexylcarbodimide-additives method, a method using Woodward reagent K, a method using benzotriazol-1-yl-oxy-tris(dimethylamino)-phosphonium hexafuluorophosphate (BOP reagent) or the like. The condensation reaction is generally carried out in the solvent which do not prevent the reaction. The example of the solvent includes (amides such as dimethyl formamide, ethers such as tetrahydrofuran or dioxane, halogenate hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane or chloroform, alcohol such as ethanol or methanol N-methylpyrrolidone, N-methylmorpholine, water or the like. The reaction temaperature is preferably in a range of about xe2x88x9230xc2x0 C. to about 50xc2x0 C. The reaction temperature is more preferably about 0xc2x0 C. to about 40xc2x0 C. The reaction period is about 10 minutes to about 24 hours. When the resulting polymer of the above condensation reaction has a protective group, the deprotection reaction is carried out according to per se known method. Such method is not limited as long as it can remove the protecting group without influence on ester linkage or amide linkage of the polymer. Examples of the method include such as oxidation, reduction, acid treatment or the like. Reduction includes catalytic reduction using a catalyst (e.g., palladium-carbon, palladium-black, platinum-oxide), reduction with sodium in liquid ammonium, reduction with dithiothreitol or the like. Acid treatment includes, for example, acid treatment with an inorganic acid inorganic acid (e.g., hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen chloride) or organic acid (e.g., trifluoroacetic acid, methansulfonic acid, trifluoro-methansulfonic acid) or mixture thereof. Suitable cation scavenger (e.g., anisole, phenol, thioanisole, is preferably add to the reaction solution on the acid treatment. The biodegradable polymer thus obtained can be used as a base for production of a sustained-release preparation. The ratio by weight of the bioactive substance to the base of the present invention is normally about 0.001 to about 40% (w/w), preferably about 0.02 to about 30% (w/w), and more preferably about 0.1 to 20% (w/w) for a polypeptide, and normally about 0.01 to 80% (w/w), preferably about 0.1 to 50% (w/w) for a non-peptide substance. A sustained-release preparation of the present invention is produced by, for example, the in-water drying method, the phase separation method, the spray drying method or a method based thereof. Production methods for a sustained-release preparation, e.g., a microcapsule preparation, are hereinafter described. The term xe2x80x9cmicrocapsulexe2x80x9d used herein is intend to include microsphere, microcapsules and microparticles. (1) In-water Drying Method (o/w Method) In this method, an organic solvent solution of a bioactive substance is first prepared. The organic solvent used to produce the sustained-release preparation of the present invention preferably has a boiling point of not higher than 120xc2x0 C. The organic solvent is exemplified by halogenated hydrocarbons (e.g., dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride), alcohols (e.g., ethanol, methanol), acetonitrile and acetone, with preference given to dichloromethane, acetonitrile etc., dichloromethane being most desirably used. These solvents may be used as a mixture in an appropriate ratio. Although the biodegradable polymer concentration in the organic solvent solution varies depending on the molecular weight of the biodegradable polymer, the kind of organic solvent etc., it is normally chosen over the range from about 0.01 to about 80% (w/w), preferably about 0.1 to about 70% (w/w), concentrations of about 1 to about 60% being most desirably used. The bioactive substance is added to, and dissolved in, the thus-prepared organic solvent solution of the biodegradable polymer. The amount of bioactive substance added is set so that the upper limit of the bioactive substance: biodegradable polymer ratio by weight is up to about 1:2, preferably up to about 1:3. The organic solvent solution thus prepared is then added to an aqueous phase, followed by the formation of an o/w emulsion using a turbine type mechanical stirrer or the like, after which the oil phase solvent is evaporated to yield microcapsules. The volume of aqueous phase is normally chosen over the range from about 1 time to about 10,000 times, preferably about 2 times to about 5,000 times, the volume of oil phase. Most preferably, the volume of aqueous phase is chosen over the range from about 5 times to about 2,000 times. An emulsifier may be added to the above-described external aqueous phase. The emulsifier is normally not subject to limitation, as long as it is capable of forming a stable o/w emulsion. Examples of such emulsifiers include anionic surfactants (e.g., fatty acid soaps, N-acylamino acids, alkyl ether carboxylates, acylated peptides, alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkylnaphthalenesulfonates, naphthalenesulfonate-formalin polymerization condensates, melaminesulfonate-formalin polymerization condensates, dialkylsulfosuccinic ester salts, alkylsulfoacetates, xcex1-olefinsulfonates, N-acylmethyltaurine, sulfated oil, higher alcohol sulfuric ester salts, secondary higher alcohol sulfuric ester salts, alkylether sulfates, secondary higher alcohol ethoxysulfates, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether sulfates, monoglysulfates, fatty acid alkylolamide sulfuric ester salts, alkyl ether phosphoric ester salts, alkylphosphoric ester salts), nonionic surfactants (e.g., polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, single chain length polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene secondary alcohol ethers, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers, polyoxyethylene sterol ethers, polyoxyethylene lanoline derivatives, ethylene oxide derivatives of alkylphenol-formalin condensates, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block polymers, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene glycerol fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitol fatty acid esters, polyethyleneglycol fatty acid esters, fatty acid monoglycerides, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, propyleneglycol fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, fatty acid alkanolamides, polyoxyethylene fatty acid amides, polyoxyethylene alkylamines, alkylamine oxides), polyoxyethylene castor oil derivatives (e.g., polyoxyethylene hardened castor oils 5, 10, 20, 40, 50, 60, 100 E.O., polyoxyethylene castor oil), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose, lecithin, gelatin and hyaluronic acid. These may be used in combination as appropriate. The emulsifier concentration in the external aqueous phase is, for example, about 0.001% to about 20% (w/w), preferably about 0.01% to about 10% (w/w), concentrations of about 0.05% to about 5% (w/w) being desirably used. In the above-described o/w method, the method in which a bioactive substance is dispersed in an organic solvent solution of a biodegradable polymer, i.e., the s/o/w method, may be used to produce microcapsules. (2) In-water Drying Method (w/o/w Method) In this method, an organic solvent solution of a bioactive substance is first prepared. The organic solvent used is identical to that described above. Although the biodegradable polymer concentration in the organic solvent solution varies depending on the molecular weight of the biodegradable polymer, the kind of organic solvent etc., it is normally chosen over the range from about 0.01 to about 80% (w/w). Preferably, it is chosen over the range from about 0.1 to about 70% (w/w), concentrations of about 1 to about 60% being most desirably used. As an internal aqueous phase, an aqueous dispersion of a bioactive substance is used. The bioactive substance concentration in the aqueous dispersion is, for example, about 10% (w/v) to about 90% (w/v). The above-described aqueous dispersion of the bioactive substance is emulsified and dispersed in the organic solvent solution of the biodegradable polymer to yield a w/o emulsion. This emulsification is achieved by a known method of dispersion, using, for example, a turbine type mechanical stirrer, a homogenizer, or the like. The upper limit of the ratio by weight of the internal aqueous phase and the biodegradable polymer is set at up to about 1:2, preferably up to about 1:3. The ratio of the internal aqueous phase and the organic solvent solution of the biodegradable polymer is normally 1:1,000 (v/v) to 1:1 (v/v), preferably 1:100 (v/v) to 1:5 (v/v), and most preferably 1:50 (v/v) to 1:5 (v/v). The w/o emulsion thus produced is then added to another aqueous phase to yield a w/o/w emulsion, followed by evaporation of the oil phase solvent, to yield microcapsules. The specific operation is the same as that described in term (1) above. The sustained-release preparation of the present invention can be administered as such in the form of the microcapsules obtained above, or in the form of various dosage forms prepared from the microcapsules as such or a spherical, needle, pellet, film or cream pharmaceutical composition as a starting material. The dosage form is exemplified by non-oral preparations (e.g., intramuscular, subcutaneous, visceral or other injectable or indwellable preparations; nasal, rectal, uterine or other transmucosal preparations) and oral preparations (e.g., hard capsules, soft capsules, granules, powders, suspensions). The bioactive substance content in the sustained-release preparation of the present invention is normally about 0.001 to about 40% (w/w), preferably about 0.02 to about 30% (w/w), and more preferably about 0.1 to about 20% (w/w) for a polypeptide, and about 0.01 to about 80% (w/w), preferably about 0.1 to about 50% (w/w) for a non-peptide substance. An injectable sustained-release preparation of the present invention can be prepared by suspending microcapsules obtained by one of the above-described methods in water, along with a dispersing agent (e.g., surfactants such as Tween 80 and HCO-60; polysaccharides such as carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate and sodium hyaluronate; protamine sulfate, polyethylene glycol 400), a preservative (e.g., methyl paraben, propyl paraben), an isotonizing agent (e.g., sodium chloride, mannitol, sorbitol, glucose), a local anesthetizing agent (e.g., xylocaine hydrochloride, chlorobutanol) etc., to yield an aqueous suspension, or by dispersing it in a vegetable oil (e.g., sesame oil, corn oil) with or without a phospholipid (e.g., lecithin) or a moderate-chain fatty acid triglyceride (e.g., MIGLYOL 812), to yield an oily suspension. When the sustained-release preparation of the present invention is a microcapsule, its average particle diameter is normally about 0.1 to about 300 xcexcm, preferably about 1 to about 150 xcexcm, and more preferably about 2 to about 100 xcexcm. The above-described microcapsule can be prepared as a sterile preparation without limitation by, for example, the method in which the entire production process is sterile, the method in which gamma rays are used as sterilant, and the method in which an antiseptic is added. The sustained-release preparation of the present invention can be safely used in mammals (e.g., humans, bovines, swines, dogs, cats, mice, rats, rabbits). Prophylactic or therapeutic indications for sustained-release preparations of the present invention vary according to the bioactive substance used. For example, sustained-release preparations of the present invention are used as medicaments for preventing or treating diseases or symptoms such as psychotropic disease (e.g., Alzheimer""s disease, senile dementia, cerebral infarction, transient cerebral ischemic attack), pain, circulatory diseases (e.g., hypertension, thrombosis, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, peripheral circulatory disorder), bone/joint diseases (e.g., osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis), infections (e.g., bacterial infections, viral infections, AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or herpes zoster), diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, allergic diseases (e.g., asthma, atopic dermatitis), gastrointestinal disease (e.g., gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, pancreatitis) and cancer (e.g., prostatic cancer, therapeutic drugs for breast cancer). Depending on the type and content of the bioactive substance, duration of release, target disease, subject animal, sex, age and other factors, the dose of the sustained-release preparation of the present invention may be set at any level, as long as an effective concentration of the bioactive substance is retained in the body. The dose of the preparation of the present invention may be such that a commonly known effective amount of a bioactive substance is administered; for example, the dose may be chosen as appropriate over the range from about 0.0001 to about 100 mg/kg body weight, based on the bioactive substance, for each adult. When the bioactive substance used is the endothelin antagonist cyclo[D-xcex1-aspartyl-3-[(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)carbonyl]-L-alanyl-L-xcex1-aspartyl-D-2-(2-thienyl)glycyl-L-leucyl-D-tryptophyl] disodium salt, and when it is administered by injection to an adult patient with hypertension, it is used at about 1 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg body weight as an active ingredient dose per administration. Dosing frequency may be chosen as appropriate, e.g., once every 1 to 3 days or every 1 week to 3 months, depending on various factors. Owing to the use of biodegradable polymer having a basic group as a base the sustained-release preparation of the present invention provides various effects, including improved entrapment ratio for bioactive substances having an acidic group, suppressed drug leakage early after administration, and constant sustained release for an extended period of time. Thus, the biodegradable polymer having a basic group is quite useful as a base for sustained-release preparations of acidic agents.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
In order to effectively generate printed images using the various ink transfer techniques and systems (with primary but not necessarily exclusive reference to thermal inkjet technology), ink-receiving print media materials must be employed which are capable of efficiently accomplishing this goal. Ideally, to achieve maximum efficiency, print media materials should be able to provide numerous advantages and benefits including but not limited to (1) a high level of light-fastness, with the term “light-fastness” being generally defined herein to involve the capacity of a print media product to retain images thereon in a stable fashion without substantial fading, blurring, distortion, and the like over time in the presence of natural or made-made light; (2) rapid drying times in order to avoid smudging and image deterioration immediately after printing is completed due to contact with physical objects and the like; (3) the fast and complete absorption of ink materials in a manner which avoids image distortion caused by color bleed (namely, the undesired migration of multi-colored ink components into each other) and related difficulties; (4) a highly humid-fast character (with the term “humid-fast” being generally defined to involve the ability of a print media product to produce a stable image with little or no fading, run-off, distortion, and the like when the image is placed in contact with moisture, humidity, and the like (also known in a substantially equivalent fashion as “water-fastness”)); (5) the generation of “crisp” images with a distinct and defined character; (6) the ability to produce printed products which are substantially “smear-fast”, with this term being generally defined to comprise the production of images that will not exhibit smearing, blurring, and the like when rubbed or otherwise physically engaged with a variety of objects ranging from the components of the printing apparatus being employed to the print operator's hands, fingers, and the like; (7) the control of an undesired condition known as “ink-coalescence” which is defined herein to involve a phenomenon wherein wet ink droplets applied to a printing medium fail to spread sufficiently to eliminate the unprinted (e.g. open) space between the droplets, thereby causing significant image deterioration problems which are primarily manifested by the increased “graininess” of the image; (8) the capacity to generate printed images with desired levels of gloss wherein the final product is characterized by uniform gloss levels throughout the entire image in order to achieve a professional and aesthetically-pleasing printed media sheet; (9) the ability to attain a high level of consistency during large-scale production regarding the overall surface characteristics of the completed media products; (10) low material costs which enable the print media products of interest to be employed for mass market home and business use; (11) chemical compatibility with a wide variety of ink formulations which leads to greater overall versatility; (12) excellent levels of image stability and retention over long time periods; (13) minimal complexity from a production, material-content, and layer-number standpoint (with as few required layers as possible being desirable) which leads to reduced fabrication costs and greater product reliability; and (14) a high level of gloss-control which is achievable in a rapid and effective manner during production through only minor adjustments in the manufacturing process. The term “gloss-control” is generally defined herein to involve the ability, during fabrication, to generate a print media product having high gloss levels for the production of photographic quality images if desired, a semi-gloss character if needed, or other gloss parameters. In particular, the manufacturing process should be highly controllable in order to achieve a variety of different gloss characteristics without requiring major adjustments in processing steps and materials. A need remains for print media materials (namely, ink-receiving sheets or structures) which are able to capture and retain clear, distinct, and accurate images thereon that are likewise characterized by a number of specific benefits in combination. These benefits include but are not limited to items (1)–(14) recited above both on an individual and simultaneous basis in a substantially automatic manner (with the simultaneous achievement of such goals being of particular importance and novelty). The attainment of these objectives is especially important regarding the following specific items: a high level of humid-fastness, excellent light-fastness, an effective level of ink-coalescence control in order to prevent excessive “graininess” (namely, the undesired appearance of large “grain-like” elements in the printed product), and the generation of clear, durable, smear-fast, and distinct printed images.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus, a facsimile apparatus or a printer, capable of two-sided image formation. 2. Related Background Art In such conventional image forming apparatus, a sheet is fed from a feeding tray by a pickup roller and through paired separating rollers and through a conveying path, further conveyed by paired registration rollers in synchronism with the rotation of a photosensitive drum, and receives, on an upper surface of the sheet, a toner image from the photosensitive drum in transfer means. Then the sheet is passed by a conveying unit and the toner image on the sheet is thermally fixed in fixing means. After a photosensitive drum is primarily charged by charging means, the photosensitive drum is exposed by exposure means so that An electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface of the photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent image is visualized with toner supplied by developing means so that a toner image to formed. A configuration for executing the foregoing steps up to the thermal fixation of the toner image on the sheet constitutes image forming means. The image forming means may also have other configurations such as based on the ink jet system. The sheet afterimage formation is then subjected to either straight discharge, or surface reversed discharge, or conveyed again to the transfer means for the purpose of two-sided image formation. A two-side reversing unit is provided with paths for two-sided image formation, and is separable from the main body of the apparatus in a pullout type. In the following, the conveying operation of the sheet after the fixing means will be explained in detail, following the flow of the sheet. In case of two-sided image formation, the sheet is guided through a conveying path by the switching of a first discharge flapper, and guided to a surface reverse conveying path by the switching of a first duplex flapper. The arrival of the conveyed sheet is detected by sheet detection means. Based on a sheet arrival signal and information on the sheet length in the conveying direction, a CPU in the main body of the apparatus judges the timing of stopping and reversing (in the counterclockwise direction) of a roller and controls the driving of the roller. The CPU stops and reverses the roller when the trailing end of the sheet passes a second duplex flapper but is positioned in front of a driven roller. The conveyed sheet is conveyed by paired conveying rollers arranged in succession to the transfer means for the image formation on the second surface. The image forming apparatus capable of executing the above-described operations has recently been digitized for example in the copying apparatus and is formed as a composite apparatus having also functions of printer and facsimile. For such composite apparatus, a higher speed is required in recent years in order to improve the productivity. As a method for realizing such high speed, high speed conveying control is adopted for the sheet in the conveying path to the transfer means when the sheet is conveyed to the transfer means. The sheet is conveyed from a sheet containing portion by a pickup roller to paired separating rollers, which conveys the uppermost one, among the sheets picked up by the pickup roller, to paired conveying rollers. A sensor for detecting a leading end of the sheet is provided just before or just after the paired conveying roller. When the sensor detects the leading end of the sheet, the sheet is once stopped and waiting in a state that the sheet is nipped by the paired conveying rollers. Thereafter, the conveying operation is started again at a timing capable of forming a predetermined distance to the immediately preceding sheet. This is to enable an increase in the conveying speed of the sheet, at the high speed conveying control, by maintaining an appropriate distance to the immediately preceding conveyed sheet. If without such control, the immediately preceding sheet S conveyed at the predetermined speed by the paired registration rollers toward the transfer means may be caught up by the succeeding sheet S conveyed at the increased speed thereby resulting a damage in the sheet or a double conveying of the sheets. After such correction of the conveying distance, the sheet is conveyed to the paired registration rollers at a speed higher than the conveying speed on the transfer means. Subsequently, this control is repeatedly executed. Also, in case of two-sided image formation, for the purpose of high-speed conveying control, the leading end of the sheet is detected by a sensor provided in the middle of the re-conveying path, whereby the sheet is once stopped and waits in a predetermined position while it is pinched between the paired conveying rollers, and the sheet conveying is started again at a time when a predetermined distance is formed to the immediately preceding sheet. The above-described conventional technology has however been associated with the following drawback. In the conventional technology, it is necessary to secure, within the conveying path, a waiting space corresponding to the length of the sheet in the conveying direction, so that the conveying path has to be made sufficiently long. Because of such long conveying path, the compactization or the space saving in the main body of the image forming apparatus has not been possible. In consideration of the foregoing, the object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of compactization of the apparatus while maintaining a high productivity in the two-sided image formation. The above-mentioned object can be attained, according to the present invention, by an image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a surface of a conveyed sheet; a re-conveying path for re-conveying a sheet, on which an image has been formed on one side of the sheet, to the image forming means to form images on both sides of the sheet by the image forming means; and a sheet containing portion for feeding the sheet to a conveying path interflowing to the middle of the re-conveying path; wherein, in case the sheet, on which the image has been formed on one side of the sheet, is once stopped and waits in the re-conveying path, the leading end of the stopped and waiting sheet, on which the image has been formed on one side of the sheet is positioned downstream of the interflowing position. In addition there are preferably provided: a surface reverse conveying path provided upstream of the re-conveying path, for reversing the surfaces of the sheet on which the image has been formed on one side of the sheet; an arc-shaped conveying path connecting the surface reverse conveying path and the re-conveying path; and a conveying roller, having an external periphery at the surface on the inner diameter side of the arc-shaped conveying path. In the present invention, as explained in the foregoing, in case a sheet on which an image has been formed on one side of the sheet is once stopped and waits in the re-conveying path, the leading end of the sheet on which the image has been formed on one side of the sheet, thus made to stop and wait, is positioned downstream of the interflowing position in the middle of the re-conveying path Where a conveying path from the sheet containing portion interflow, whereby the re-conveying path downstream of the interflowing position is utilized in common by the sheet newly fed from the sheet containing portion and the sheet made to stop and wait in the high speed conveying control. Consequently the waiting space for such stopped and waiting sheet, corresponding to the sheet length in the conveying direction, may be secured in the re-conveying path, whereby achieved are compactization and space saving of the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is thus rendered possible to achieve compactization of the apparatus, while attaining a high productivity by executing the high speed conveying control in the two-sided image formation. Also because of the presence of a surface reverse conveying path provided upstream of the re-conveying path, for reversing the surfaces of the sheet on which the image has been formed on one side of the sheet, an arc-shaped conveying path connecting the surface reverse conveying path and the re-conveying path; and a conveying roller having an external periphery at the surface on the inner diameter side of the arc-shaped conveying path, the surfaces of the sheet on which the image has been formed on one side of the sheet is reversed before being conveyed to the re-conveying path, and there can be prevented a loss in time, caused by reversing the surfaces of the sheet during the subsequent high-speed conveying control. Also as the leading end of the sheet made to once stop and wait is positioned downstream of the interflowing position, the sheet once stopped and waited in the re-conveying path can be prevented from being interfered by the conveying rollers provided upstream of the re-conveying path.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of receiving system information for a wireless communications system and related communications device, and more particularly to a method of receiving modification indication of system information for a user equipment in a CELL_PCH state in a wireless communications system and related communications device. 2. Description of the Prior Art The third generation (3G) mobile telecommunications system has adopted a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) wireless air interface access method for a cellular network. WCDMA provides high frequency spectrum utilization, universal coverage, and high quality, high-speed multimedia data transmission. The WCDMA method also meets all kinds of QoS requirements simultaneously, providing diverse, flexible, two-way transmission services and better communication quality to reduce transmission interruption rates. Through the 3G mobile telecommunications system, a user can utilize a wireless communications device, such as a mobile phone, to realize real-time video communications, conference calls, real-time games, online music broadcasts, and email sending/receiving. However, these functions rely on fast, instantaneous transmission. Thus, targeting at the third generation mobile telecommunication technology, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) provides High Speed Package Access (HSPA) technology, which includes High Speed Downlink Package Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Package Access (HSUPA), to increase bandwidth utility rate and package data processing efficiency to improve uplink/downlink transmission rate. On the basis of HSDPA, the 3GPP further introduces HS-DSCH (High Speed Downlink Shared Channel) reception in a CELL_PCH and a URA-PCH state, allowing the UE in the CELL_PCH or the URA-PCH state to monitor an HS-DSCH accompanied with a Shared Control Channel for HS-DSCH (HS-SCCH) for downlink data reception, so as to improve a peak data rate, a signaling delay, a state transition delay, download times and flexible cell capacity. In the HS-DSCH reception in the CELL_PCH and URA_PCH state, the HS-DSCH is a transport channel allowed to map on dedicated-type logic channels including a Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH) and a Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH) or common-type logic channels including a Paging Control Channel (PCCH) and a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH). A UMTS radio access network (UTRAN) enables the HS-DSCH reception in the CELL_PCH and the URA_PCH state by including parameters, related to radio resource control (RRC) configuration of PICH (Paging Indicator Channel), HS-SCCH, HS-DSCH and an H-RNTI (HS-DSCH radio network transaction identifier) for PCCH transmission, in the system information broadcast. The parameters are configured in a “HS-DSCH paging system information” information element (IE) included in a system information block (SIB) type 5/5bis sent from the UTRAN to the UE. During performance of the HS-DSCH reception in the CELL_PCH and the URA_PCH state, the UE may use a common or a dedicated H-RNTI as a UE identity for reception of HS-DSCH packets. The common H-RNTI can be shared by multiple UEs, whereas each dedicated H-RNTI is only allocated to one UE. During reception of downlink media access control (MAC) packets, the UE using the common H-RNTI needs to determine whether the received packets are of its own with UE identification information (i.e. UE ID and UE ID Type) in the packet header. On the other hand, the MAC packets for the UE using the dedicated H-RNTI include no UE identification information to provide better data transmission efficiency. As a result, PCCH reception requires the common H-RNTI, and DCCH and DTCH receptions require the dedicated H-RNTI. Furthermore, with the available HS-DSCH reception, the UE using the dedicated H-RNTI in the CELL_PCH state can perform downlink and uplink data transmissions without a cell update procedure. When the UTRAN allocates a dedicated H-RNTI to the UE, the UE stores the dedicated H-RNTI in an H-RNTI variable. In addition, when the UE is in the CELL_PCH state and the SIB type 5/5bis includes the “HS-DSCH paging system information” IE, the UE has to use the dedicated H-RNTI for the HS-DSCH reception if the H-RNTI variable is set, otherwise the UE selects the common H-RNTI to use from the “HS-DSCH paging system information” IE. A PAGING TYPE 1 and a PAGING TYPE 2 message are RRC messages provided in the related RRC specification for paging operation. The former is applied to the UE in an idle mode, a CELL_PCH state, or a URA_PCH sate and sent on the PCCH for notifying the UE of general paging information corresponding to modification indication of SIBs or a terminating call. The latter is applied to the UE in a CELL_FACH or a CELL_DCH state and sent on DCCH for notifying the UE of dedicated paging information. When the SIB configuration needs to be modified, the UTRAN includes a “BCCH modification info” IE in the PAGING TYPE 1 message and sends the PAGING TYPE 1 message on the PCCH. However, the UE selects either the common or dedicated H-RNTI to use according to the state of the H-RNTI variable. That is to say, the UE cannot use the common and dedicated H-RNTIs simultaneously. Consequently, the UE using the dedicated H-RNTI cannot receive the PAGING TYPE 1 message sent on the PCCH. According to the prior art, a UE in the CELL_PCH state counts on the paging information on the PCCH for the modification indication of the SIBs. But the UE using the dedicated H-RNTI in the CELL_PCH state cannot receive any paging information on the PCCH, possibly resulting in a connection loss between the UE and the UTRAN.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The automation industry has had major developments in the implementation of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) monitoring and control systems. A need exists for a cloud computing supervisory control and data acquisition system that has cryptographic modules and encrypts securely using a public key and a private key. A vital part of any system utilized for process control, data acquisition, or alarm detection and notification, is the initial communication and periodic point-to-point communication of the system, including the process input values, the database, the displays and the like. Such a communication procedure is associated with an SCADA system, which in its most generic definition is essentially a process control system. The components of a typical SCADA system can include an SCADA device and one or more remotely connected intelligent electronic devices. As used herein, the term SCADA device can be a collection of electronic equipment, including a computer based controller, which can be a server, also termed the “enterprise server,” that is used to remotely monitor communication and/or control the operation of one or more remote terminal units and remote sensing devices. In general, the enterprise server can be located miles away from the sensors collecting data or metering data, thereby presenting many SCADA system communication difficulties. Communication for an SCADA system traditionally has been very time and labor intensive and has not involved cryptographic modules with control software that allows a control system to continue to operate while a device is added or a device is removed from the overall control system. A need has existed for an SCADA system with cryptographic module and an ability to add and delete devices while the rest of the system continues to operate while maintaining highly accurate and detailed communication procedures and additionally allows online configuration and reconfiguration of the devices from the SCADA controller. The present embodiments meet these needs. The embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an electrical connector having pressure contacts and more particularly to an improvement for such an electrical connector. 2. Discussion of Background and Relevant Information The electrical connectors of this type comprise a socket provided with pressure contacts provided, for example, with a braid surrounded by a spring, as mentioned in French Patent 2,365,872 in the name of Applicant, or constituted by rocker elements as in French patent 2,422,270, or French patent 2,531,577 and its certificate of addition, likewise in the name of the same applicant, and a plug adapted to be inserted at least partially in the socket. By virtue of the pressure exerted by the contacts and also that exerted by an ejection spring generally provided between the plug and the socket, so as to allow for a quick break (to avoid in particular the electric arc of breaking the circuit, etc.), it is necessary that the plug be retained in the socket by a latching means. The latching means mentioned above is generally constituted by a hook provided on the socket and which is adapted to be in contact with a spur provided on the plug. The hook is generally rockable by means of a pressure button. These connectors may or may not comprise one or two safety discs, as disclosed, for example in French patents 2,212,655 and 2,270,696, in the name of the same applicant. The insertion of connectors provided with at least one safety disc generally occurs in three steps: a pre-insertion axial movement, a rotation to align the respective contacts (the one or more discs thus undergoing this rotation), and a second axial pressure, until latching. The proper angular position of the plug and of the socket at the beginning of the maneuvers, as well as the translational and rotational guidance, are assured, for example, by a bayonet type system. The connectors can, if desired, also comprise a sealing joint positioned between a portion of the plug and a portion of the socket. It is desirable to provide only a single hook, so as to be able to allow for a sudden break of the current by relying upon it to free it, the contact springs and the ejection spring assuring the said break by sudden spacing of the plug and of the socket, the said plug being however, prevented from separating completely by the guidance means provided, as explained above (previously cited bayonet system, for example). In effect, a plurality of hooks would require a delicate manipulation if one desires that they be all freed in a synchronous manner so as to obtain the previously mentioned sudden break. Under the effect of the pressure exerted, as explained above, by the contacts and by the ejection spring, the plug rests on the latching hook. It results necessarily that the plug is biased to turn around its retention point in a plane passing through its longitudinal axis and through the hook. In addition to a poor aesthetic appearance, the misalignment of the plug and of the socket plays a negative role, particularly on the efficacity of the contacts achieved (misalignment of the contacts of the plug with respect to those of socket), on the wear of the conductive braids, and on the sealing which can only be weakened by nonuniform crushing of the joint. The solutions to this problem have been sought and studied for a long time. To completely eliminate the above disadvantages, it has in particular been envisioned to multiply the number of latching means. Thus, certain electrical connectors comprise four hooks, or two hooks (with an insertion ring and/or bayonet system). However, although these solutions may be appropriate for certain applications, they eliminate the advantage of having a single hook, as explained above. This is why it has appeared until today, that the presence of a single hook necessarily had to be associated with the disadvantage of axial misalignment of the plug and of the socket. Given this situation, the research has been directed to two improvements: the limitation of inclination and the adaptation of this inclination. To limit the inclination, it has been attempted to adjust, as best as possible, the diameters of the plug and of the socket, as well as the dimensions of the guidance means. However, it is clear that the tolerances of manufacturers resist the total elimination of a certain play between the plug and the socket. With a view to adapting to the inclination, one positions the socket on a vertical wall, taking care preferably, that the hook be positioned upwardly, in a manner such that the weight of the cable connecting the plug makes it possible to compensate at least in part the said inclination. With respect to the sealing, it has also been imagined to provide a joint which is thicker and/or has a lip and/or further has a nonconstant cross section. Finally, one has also worked on the aesthetic aspects, by providing a rounding or an inclination of the surface of the socket, on the side of the plug. It is clear that all of the means of limitation or adaptation mentioned above are gimmicks that do not resolve the question.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
An electric vehicle in which a motor drive unit as a running drive source and a high-power unit for controlling voltage to be supplied to the motor drive unit are disposed within a motor room, and a battery pack is disposed below a vehicle body floor located on a rear side of the motor room in a forward-rearward direction of the electric vehicle, is conventionally known. In the electric vehicle, the high-power unit and the battery pack are connected with each other through a charging/discharging harness (see, for instance, Patent Literature 1). However, in the conventional charging/discharging harness routing structure in the electric vehicle, one end of the charging/discharging harness is connected to a lower portion of a back surface of the high-power unit, and the other end thereof is connected to a central part of a front end portion of the battery pack. Therefore, if the high-power unit is rearward moved upon collision of a front portion of the vehicle or the like, there may occur interference between the one end of the charging/discharging harness connected to the high-power unit and a dash panel upright extending between the motor room and the vehicle body floor. Thus, such a problem that the conventional charging/discharging harness routing structure is inferior in protection of the harness has been developed.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to the field of support systems. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved bracket for supporting cantilevered components such as a shelf, work surface or cabinet. In recent years, the concept of open office planning which utilizes free standing partition systems for defining various office and workstation areas has become increasingly popular. Many of the manufacturers of these types of systems provide for the direct mounting of office accessories such as cabinets, shelves, work surfaces and the like to the free standing wall panel or partition. These systems can employ what is known as a slotted standard as a part of the wall panel or partition to serve as a mounting vehicle on that wall panel or partition. The slotted standard is generally a vertical steel channel which extends over at least a portion of a vertical dimension of a wall panel or partition and has therein a plurality of spaced or vertically aligned slots. The slots are adapted to receive a plurality of hook shaped connector elements which extend from the back surface of the accessory to the slotted standard. An example of a known hook shaped connector may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,191 entitled xe2x80x9cCONNECTOR ASSEMBLY AND SUPPORT POSTxe2x80x9d issued to Robert J. Munzie. Many users often place a heavy load on such work surfaces, shelves or cabinets. In particular, users can place items such as books and work accessories such as computers, monitors or printers thereon. However, when a heavy load is applied to many work surfaces or cabinets, it is possible for the hook shaped members to either deform the slotted standard or pull completely away therefrom. Therefore, there is a need for an improved support system for a work surface, shelf or cabinet that can more readily accommodate a heavy load. The present invention is directed to a support system for a worksurface, shelf or cabinet that can accommodate a heavy load. According to a first aspect of the invention, a support system having a support member, a bracket and a work surface are disclosed. The support member has a slotted face and a support wall adjacent the slotted face. The bracket has a plurality of teeth adapted to engage the slotted face of the support member. The plurality of teeth include upper teeth and lower teeth. At least one of the lower teeth is sized to pass through the slotted face of the support member and engage the support wall. A work surface is supported by the bracket. According to another aspect of the invention, a support system having a support member and at least one bracket and a work surface are provided. The support member has an integrally formed first slotted face and a first support wall adjacent the slotted face. The bracket has a plurality of teeth adapted to engage the slotted face of the support member. The plurality of teeth include upper teeth and lower teeth. At least one of the lower teeth is sized substantially larger than the remaining lower teeth so as to pass through the slotted face of the support member and engage the support wall. The work surface is supported by the bracket with the substantially larger tooth providing additional support for the shelf by pressing against the support wall. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cwork elementxe2x80x9d is intended to included surfaces such as those found in shelves, cabinets and work surfaces, i.e., desk tops. The present invention is directed to a support system that may more readily accommodate a heavy load. These and other advantages of the invention will be best understood in view of the attached drawings and the following detailed description.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The concept of disposable containers for the collection of bodily fluid specimens such as urine specimens is well known. The most common form of such a container is a plastic or paper cup. Most of such cup-type disposable containers include some sort of closure lid. The disadvantages to cup-type containers for the collection of specimens are at least three-fold. First, the cups are rather small in volume with relatively small openings, and patients, especially women, sometimes find it difficult to deposit a bodily fluid specimen such as urine in the cup without spillage or overflow. Second, once the fluid is deposited in the container, the fluid is sometimes spilled in the process of being delivered to a nurse or technician for testing Third, there is no easy way to deposit a test strip in the fluid so that it can be visually inspected in the fluid. Placing a test strip in the fluid requires that the lid of the container be removed, and this requirement enhances the likelihood of the specimen being spilled and coming into contact with the nurse or technician. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,797,734 and 4,990,145 show a disposable bag of the type with which the present invention is intended to be used. Specifically, the '734 patent shows a bag having a tubular funnel sealingly engaging a plastic bag. The bag is sealably attached to the outer surface of the tubular member. The lower end of the tubular member includes a funnel means comprised of a flattenable plastic tube which allows entry of the fluid through the tubular member into the bag, but which prevents fluid from escaping upward and reentering the tubular member. The '145 patent provides an improvement to the embodiment disclosed in the '734 patent by means of a protective outer sleeve or shroud for protecting the user's skin against fluid contact. As noted in the '145 patent, products made in accordance with both patents have been sold in substantial numbers. It is imperative that nurses and other medical personnel avoid contact with the bodily fluids of their patients. Hepatitis B virus, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and other diseases may be transmitted as a result of contact with bodily fluids. Further, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued regulations covering medical employees that medical practices must comply with (see 29 C.F.R. .sctn. 1910.1030 et seq.). Thus, there is a need for a disposable specimen container that is easy to use and protects both the patient and medical technician against coming in contact with the bodily fluids. Second, there is a need for a disposable specimen container that may be transported or handed from the patient to a technician without the risk of spillage, either on the patient or on the technician. Third, there is a need for a disposable specimen container that facilitates the insertion of a test strip into the fluid and further facilitates the viewing of the test strip while it is in the fluid without requiring the technician to reach down into the container to retrieve the test strip for inspection. As discussed below, the present invention satisfies all three of the aforenoted criteria.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to a method for inputting Chinese information through the hieroglyphic approach, and the keyboard arrangement therefor. In the present invention, a method for inputting Chinese characters is embodied mainly by making use of the forms, sounds, and meanings of the English letters and the numerals to match the basic radicals of Chinese characters. With the method of the present invention, it is possible to have different codes for inputting each of the Chinese characters so that the frequency of repetition of the words is substantially reduced. There are several currently available methods with which Chinese information is input by entering codes directly according to the stroke orders of the Chinese characters. Among them is the "Ta Yi Method for Inputting Chinese Characters and Keyboard Arrangement Therefor", in which the numerous Chinese characters with complicated structures are sorted into 237 radicals and the sorted radicals are allocated on a normal English keyboard with the arrangement according to their frequencies of usage. An operator has to remember the various keys each representing different radicals to input the codes of the Chinese characters. The Ta Yi Method for Inputting Chinese Character referred to above has many disadvantages. As stated above, the operator has to remember the various keys each representing different radicals since the corresponding relationships of the keys and the radicals are not regular. In the Ta Yi Method, the forms of the Chinese characters are sorted into more than two hundred radicals and except that the frequently used radicals are allocated on the keys which the operator will operate frequently, there are no definite rules for the operator to follow. Thus, a novice operator will face a big problem when they have first to remember the relationships between the keys and the radicals. Besides, since each of the keys represents different radicals, any Chinese character must be input by entering a fixed code in a given order for the method to function, which tends to cause difficulties in learning and a sense of frustration to the beginners.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Electrochemical biosensors are known. They have been used to determine the concentration of various analytes from biological samples, particularly from blood. Biosensors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,413,690; 5,762,770; 5,798,031; and 5,997,817, the disclosure of each of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Laser ablation is a known technique that uses a laser to remove a material. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,576,073 and 5,593,739 and International WO98/35225, the disclosure of each of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Such known laser ablation systems use a high power excimer laser, such as a krypton fluoride excimer laser with an illumination wavelength of 248 nanometers, to remove surface material. According to the present invention a biosensor is provided. The biosensor comprises a substrate, a reagent positioned on the substrate, and a cover. The cover includes a first surface coupled to the substrate and a second surface. The first surface has a flow channel carved therein that extends over at least a portion of the reagent. According to another aspect of the present invention, a biosensor is provided. The biosensor comprises a substrate, a reagent positioned on the substrate, and a cover coupled to the substrate. The cover includes opposite ends, a first surface coupled to the substrate, and a second surface. The first surface has a flow channel carved therein. The flow channel extends between the opposite ends. In still another aspect of the present invention, a method of forming a biosensor is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a substrate and a cover that has first and second surfaces, applying a reagent onto the substrate to define a reaction zone, carving a channel in the first surface of the cover, and coupling the cover on the substrate so that the channel extends over at least a portion of the reagent. Additional features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Among methods for identity validity verification between entities, there is a type of method in which a trusted third party TTP is required to be involved and to provide verification services. In such method, a TTP that can be trusted by both identity validity verification parties is used to provide verification services for both parties being involved in identity validity verification and feed verification results back to both entities being involved in identity validity verification, thereby helping complete mutual identity validity verification between the entities. However, those skilled in the art cannot be instructed to complete identity validity verification in some specific environments with the method. For example, the specific identity validity verification environment may include a case where mutual identity validity verification is required to be performed between the entities that respectively trust different trusted third parties TTPs and the trusted third parties are required to be involved and to provide verification services. Therefore, it is desired to provide an entity identity validity verification method to solve the problem.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
In recent times the worldwide web has become a very popular place for carrying out commerce. Merchants of goods currently have web pages which may be accessed by Internet users in order to browse through descriptions and pictures of the different products which are for sale. In order to view this information, a system user must know or have access to the IP address for the merchant's web page(s). The situation may arise when prospective customers while accessing the merchant's web page(s), may seek more information or help than is currently being provided on the page. This additional information may relate to the potential purchase of a product, support for a product which has already been purchased, as well as any other general inquiries about the products themselves. In the past, one way for the potential customer to reach the merchant was to transmit an E-mail over the web page. Icons could be included on the web page(s) for the system user to select and then type in text for a message. The potential customer would then send the message and wait for a response. The drawback of this particular mode of communication is that any answers which were to be returned from the merchant would take at least as long as it takes to transmit an E-mail, type a return message, and then send it back. In the worst-case scenario, the merchant would only answer its E-mail on a periodic basis thus requiring the customer to wait extended periods of time for a reply. Technology does currently exist for providing at least one form of real-time contact and nearly instantaneous feedback through the worldwide web. Software and hardware can be installed on a system user's personal computer which provides a telephonic connection over the worldwide web. The system user's computer must be equipped with speakers and a microphone as well as software which processes voice information. The receiving party must also have the same sort of equipment in order to receive and transmit this type of voice communication. Software also currently exists for including an icon on a web page(s) which would allow a user, through execution of a plug-in within the web browser, to establish a telephonic connection with a service agent for the merchant. As was described above, the potential customer's personal computer must be equipped with a microphone, speakers as well as voice processing software. The server on which the merchant's web page is located must have functionality to process this type of information and establish the connection with the service agent. One example of a plug-in which will perform this type of function is the Surf&Call software. This type of communication can be established from computer to phone or computer to computer if both computers are equipped with the right software and hardware.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Field of the Invention This invention relates to a kind of pin and staple box in which staples, pins, tacks and the like can be placed, and it can also automatically provide these items in such a way as to facilitate their being taken for use. Currently, staples, pins, tacks and the like are important office supplies to be used by clerks or students. This is done especially when they process documents. In the past, commonly used containers for staples, pins, tacks and the like were simple in structure, in particular packaging boxes for such items. This kind of box was very fragile as to material and structure, and it often happened that the pins and staples would fall out and scatter. If the container was large, users would spend much time searching for the pins or staples when the pins or staples were about to be exhausted. For that reason, a pin and staple case was developed in the form of a magnetic suction type as shown in FIG. 5. On the inner wall of the opening 501 of the container 500, a coil of magnetic iron 502 was installed. Hence, when the user wanted to take a pin or staple, he could shake the container upwardly and make some pins or staples to be absorbed by the magnetic iron 502 and gathered at the edge of the opening of the container to be provided for people to take them for use. But, such kind of magnetic suction case for pins and staples results in the pins and staples being arranged around the edge at random. This may have increased haphazard conduit of the office. Besides, when the magnetic suction case for pins and staples is shaken up, the pins and staples inside the case would often fall out of it.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Computer systems have become an indispensable tool used in modern life. Nearly every business and government entity is now dependent upon computer systems for digital communication, project planning, document creation, information storage, transaction processing, project management, inventory management, financial operations, and a large number of other mission critical services. Due to the critical importance of information technology to most organizations, it is critical to be able to repair or replace any part of the information technology infrastructure that fails. Although individual pieces of computer hardware and computer software can easily be replaced by an entity by purchasing new computer equipment or computer software, the entity's accumulated store of digital information cannot easily be replaced. Thus, digital information storage and digital information protection is one of the most critical parts of any modern information technology infrastructure system. Modern organizations need to be able to support a wide variety of different computer environments for their computer users. An information technology department may be required to provide digital information storage services to a large central headquarters campus, other geographically remote campuses, remote divisional offices, regional development offices, small remote sales offices, and even individuals that work alone. Ideally, all of these different sized office environments could be provided with the same level of information technology services and support. Furthermore, the information technology department must deal with the fact that new offices open, existing offices close, and offices may move during an organization's lifetime. Providing digital information storage services to such a wide variety of office environments that may include geographically remote offices is a significant challenge to any information technology department. Therefore, it would be desirable to develop a scalable digital information storage system that can provide easily manageable and high-quality digital information storage services to handle any type of computer environment.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The goal of hybrid development is to combine, in a single hybrid, various desirable traits. For field crops, these traits may include resistance to diseases and insects, resistance to heat and drought, reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, and better agronomic quality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformity of plant characteristics such as germination, stand establishment, growth rate, maturity, and plant and ear height is important. Traditional plant breeding is an important tool in developing new and improved commercial crops.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a test apparatus and a setting method therefor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a test apparatus for testing an electric device, and a setting method for setting a signal input-output unit included in the test apparatus. 2. Description of the Related Art A conventional test apparatus instructs a test controlling unit to read setting conditions in response to test items from a disc device, and to transmit the setting conditions to a channel connected to an electric device in order to perform setting. Although such test apparatus repeatedly tests electric devices of the same type, it reads the setting conditions from the disc device, and transmits the setting conditions to the channel via a system bus each time it tests, and thus it takes the test apparatus much time to read data from the disc device and transmit the data. Accordingly, in order to reduce the test time, it has been known a test apparatus includes an instruction analyzing unit for analyzing an instruction from the test controlling unit and setting the condition of a channel as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1995-218602 (Patent Document 1). The test apparatus disclosed in this conventional art transmits and stores the setting condition of the disc device in a memory included in the instruction analyzing unit via the system bus prior to the test. And the test controlling unit transmits the setting condition to the instruction analyzing unit via the system bus to transmit and set the setting condition to the channel. However, the test apparatus disclosed in the Patent Document 1 can only transmit the same setting condition to a plurality of channels, but not transmit different setting conditions to the channels, when setting the channels connected to one instruction analyzing unit. In addition, the test apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot set or change the number of the condition data in response to the test items.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a manufacturing method for an abrasive tape used when a magnetic recording medium, or the like, is polished, and more particularly to a manufacturing method for an abrasive tape for burnishing items such as floppy disks which can reduce possible resultant scratches to a minimum. 2. Description of the Prior Art In burnishing processing for floppy disks, the floppy disk is polished by means of an abrasive tape which is produced by applying an abrasive layer containing abrasives, binders, additives, and the like, on a flexible substrate, and by drying the abrasive layer. This abrasive tape is formed into a tape or a disk, and also provided with a flexible substrate, so that it is suitable for processing of a curved surface of magnetic heads and the abrasion of flexible items such as floppy disks when compared with existing hones. In addition, this abrasive tape causes the surface to be polished to suffer from less damage, and enables the precise abrasion of the flexible items, so that this tape is indispensable for finishing abrasions. In accordance with the tendency in recent years of magnetic recording orientating toward a high recording density, further improvements in the accuracy of the burnishing processing of floppy disks have been anticipated, and, therefore, scratches made on the surface of the magnetic layers of floppy disks during the burnishing process presented a major problem. Meanwhile, several approaches have already been put forward for preventing scratches of, or the attachment of abrasion wastes to, the surface to be polished without causing abrasive effects from being damaged when a magnetic head is finished using an abrasive tape. One example of such approaches is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63(1988)-16980, wherein protuberances and recesses are evenly produced on the surface of an abrasive layer by embossing processing so that resultant abrasion wastes can be caught in the recesses, whereby it is possible to prevent scratches arising from the compressive sliding of the abrasive layer over the surface of a magnetic head to be polished, or the like. However, in the burnishing processing of items such as a floppy disk, an abrasive particle of abrasive particles on an abrasive layer which tends to cause a larger amount of particles to fly away from the abrasive layer tends to exert stronger forces on localized areas of the surface to be polished, so that the surface is scratched, thereby resulting in a quality problem. Moreover, the precision processing of a helical roller for emboss processing purposes adds to the cost of resulting products. Another example is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 55(1980)-117730, wherein a cleaning tape is produced by heating and pressing abrasive particles consecutively and in a stepwise fashion by means of a calender roller so that the particles can be buried in an abrasive layer. This method requires the use of an abrasive particle having a size of 0.3-5.0 micrometers. In this method, the surface of the coating film is subsequently smoothed by heating the coating film to 20-60 centigrade by the calender roller while the pressure of the calender roller is kept constant (for example, 200 kg/cm), or by gradually pressing the coating film by means of the calender roller under a pressure within a range of 200 kg/cm while the temperature is kept constant (for example, 60 centigrade), or by gradually heating and pressing the coating film under a pressure within a range of 200 kg/cm. The surface of the resultant coating film thus produced is provided with a gradually coarse or gradually smooth surface, which in turn causes a clog of the magnetic head to be easily removed, thereby leads to a scratch-free magnetic head. However, the arbitrary burying of the abrasive particles in the abrasive layer causes the locations of tip ends of the abrasive particles and the depth of the recesses in the surface of the abrasive layer to become uneven. Since a large amount of abrasion wastes is resultantly produced by the burnishing of items such as a floppy disk, in some areas of the abrasive layer abrasion wastes may not be caught between abrasive particles, and hence resulting smears on the surface of a floppy disk due to the removal of abrasion wastes will be the cause of a problem.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to animal restraints and the like, and more specifically to a leash for controlling two pets simultaneously. The present dual pet leash is particularly adaptable for use with dogs, although it may be used with other animal species as well, for walking or otherwise restraining the pets as desired. 2. Description of the Related Art Pets have become increasingly popular as companions for many people. However, just as people enjoy the companionship of pets, most animals also enjoy companionship as well. With the busy work and other activities of most people, many pet owners have opted to have two or more pets, so the pets may keep one another company while the owner is at work or otherwise away from the household. All pets require a certain amount of time and care on the part of the owner, with the time and care depending upon the species and size of the animal. Most larger animals are not suited for continuous confinement, and must receive at least some exercise on a regular basis in order to maintain their physical health and also to stimulate their minds so they remain alert. However, in most suburban areas, pets are not allowed to run freely. Accordingly, pets in such environments must be restricted to a leash or other restraint, for walking or exercising. The owner of multiple pets is faced with the problem of controlling his or her pets simultaneously in such circumstances. While the owner may purchase a leash for each pet, this is somewhat redundant, as certain components (hand straps, etc.) are duplicated needlessly. In addition, two pets will often attempt to act independently of one another, particularly when immersed in the outdoor environment with its sights, scents, and sounds which prove attractive to many domesticated animals. The owner of two pets who attempts to walk his or her pets using two leashes, is often subjected to tugs and pulls in different directions as he or she attempts to control the pets simultaneously. Accordingly, a need will be seen for a dual pet leash, which allows the pet owner or person controlling the pets to restrain both pets simultaneously with a single leash line. The present dual pet leash includes a pet restraint line which passes through a ring at the end of the leash line opposite the handle strap thereof, with each end of the pet restraint line being attached to the collar or other restraint on the pet. The two animals are free to work back and forth against one another, with the pet restraint line running through the ring at the end of the leash. The two pets thus work against one another, rather than applying all of their energy against the controlling person. The present pet restraint also includes means for temporarily securing the leash to a stationary object (tree, pole, etc.) as desired. A discussion of the related art known to the present inventor, and its differences from the present invention, is provided below. U.S. Pat. No. 2,909,154 issued on Oct. 20, 1959 to Lewis E. Thomas, titled xe2x80x9cTethering Strap Arrangement For Animals,xe2x80x9d describes a device for tethering or anchoring a single pet to the seat of an automobile or the like. The Thomas assembly includes al closed strap which fits about the seatback, with a leash attachment affixed to a point along the closed strap. A second strap is removably attachable to the leash attachment point. The second strap or leash cannot move along the length of the closed strap; the pet is essentially limited to the length of the second strap or leash, and the fixed attachment point. In any event, no secondary attachment for a second pet or leash loop, is provided by Thomas. U.S. Pat. No. 2,970,729 issued on Feb. 7, 1961 to Jefferson H. Allen, titled xe2x80x9cCarriers,xe2x80x9d describes a device for carrying a series of articles (e.g., bottles). A series of lines are provided with eyelets at each of the ends thereof. The article attachment ends each have the line looped through the corresponding eyelet, with the neck of the article secured within the loop. The opposite eyelets are secured along a permanently closed loop of material, serving as a handle for the assembly. The Allen device is well suited for carrying an inanimate assembly of like objects, as the separate eyelet lines do not allow the articles to shift along the carrying loop. This teaches away from the present invention, in which it is desired to allow the single pet attachment line to run freely through the distal end of the leash. U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,403 issued on Feb. 4, 1964 to Albert R. Molzan et al., titled xe2x80x9cCargo Sling,xe2x80x9d describes a series of conventional adjustable length cargo tiedown straps, each of which has one end secured to a single central circular loop of multiple plies of webbing material. The configuration is thus more closely related to the article carrier of the Allen ""729 U.S. Patent discussed above, than to the present invention, with its single pet retaining strap which passes loosely through a ring at the end of a single leash line. The present invention allows the pets to move back and forth at will, varying the amount of the retaining strap to each side of the leash ring inversely as each pet works farther out or closer in to the end of the leash. The conventional cargo straps of the Molzan et al. device are each adjustable, but once adjusted, their lengths are fixed and cannot shift due to random tensile forces on their ends, as provided by the present dual pet leash invention. U.S. Pat. No. 3,311,088 issued on Mar. 28, 1967 to Henry Peterlin, titled xe2x80x9cTraining And Walking Leash,xe2x80x9d describes a single line formed of light chain with a snap hook at one end, a central ring, and a distal ring or handle loop. The snap hook is secured to the animal""s collar, with the chain being passed around the animal""s chest. The distal end of the line is passed through the central ring to provide a more positive retention than provided only by the collar. The Peterlin device comprises only a single length of light chain, and cannot be used to secure two animals to a single leash, as provided by the present dual pet leash invention. U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,972 issued on Nov. 14, 1989 to Dennis E. Crowe et al., titled xe2x80x9cDouble Pet Walker,xe2x80x9d describes a leash arrangement having a single leash for holding by the pet caretaker, with a swivel snap fastener at the distal end thereof. Two additional pet restraint lines have loops at each of their ends, with one of the loops securing to the swivel snap fastener and each opposite end securing to the collar of the pet. This arrangement of two separate lines attaching to a single attachment point at the end of the leash line, cannot allow the pet restraint lines to vary their length relative to one another, as provided by the present dual pet leash invention. Also, while Crowe et al. show their leash secured about a stationary object, they must reconfigure their leash for such use so that it can no longer restrain two animals. U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,063 issued on Jan. 9, 1990 to Catherine M. Garrigan, titled xe2x80x9cLeash For Two Or More Animals,xe2x80x9d describes one or more pet restraint lines which are linked together and pass through a sleeve, which is slidably positioned along the restraint line(s) and serves as a handgrip for the animal handler. While this permits the pets to work back and forth, with the free ends of the leash varying inversely to one another as the pets move, no leash line is provided. The handler must retain a constant grip upon the sleeve at all times, and cannot relax his or her grip. The present dual pet leash, with its separate leash line connecting to the pet restraint line, provides a loop through which the handler may pass a hand in order to free the grip as desired. U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,486 issued on Nov. 10, 1992 to Steve M. Brown, titled xe2x80x9cHands-Free Dog Jogger Apparatus,xe2x80x9d describes a single pet restraint line which connects to an intermediate double line which in turn attaches to a waist belt worn by the animal handler. While the Brown device allows the handler to have his or her hands free, it restricts the handler by requiring that the handler have the device secured about his or her waist at all times. Most importantly, Brown makes no suggestion regarding any means of retaining two or more animals, using his leash apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,379 issued on Sep. 3, 1996 to Marcie J. Hart, titled xe2x80x9cMultiple Use Motion Restraint Device,xe2x80x9d describes a series of interconnected straps. The basic assembly comprises opposite first and second straps joined by metal rings to a cable extending therebetween. A third and a fourth strap extend respectively from each ring, with yet another strap extending from another ring which is free to slide along the central cable portion of the assembly. None of the components are removable from one another, whereas the present pet restraint harness allows the central leash portion to be removed from the pet restraint line, to provide for different leash lengths and other purposes. No hand loop is provided by Hart for her assembly; a separate loop would have to be removably attached to one of the distal clips on one of the straps of her assembly. Moreover, the central sliding ring is limited in its travel by the relatively short cable length, whereas essentially the entire length of the restraint line is free to run through the leash ring of the present device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,234 issued on May 27, 1997 to Gerald C. Parker, titled xe2x80x9cTwo-Pet Leash,xe2x80x9d describes a leash assembly with a relatively small hand loop having a snap hook extending therefrom. The snap hook secures to a pulley, through which a pet restraint line runs. The pet restraint line includes a snap hook at each end thereof, for securing to the collar of a pet. However, Parker also includes an additional snap hook at about the one quarter length of his pet restraint line, with a connector ring at about the same point on the opposite portion of the line. The snap hook and connector ring on the pet restraint line may be secured together to limit travel of the pet restraint line. These two components are immovably affixed to the line, and cannot pass through the small pulley sheave. Thus, the travel of the pet restraint line of the Parker assembly is limited to only about one half the line length, whereas the present dual pet leash permits the entire length of its pet restraint line to run through the retainer ring extending from the hand held leash portion. While it is noted that Parker provides a second embodiment including additional pet restraint lines extending from attachment points on a shorter line which runs through the pulley, the same limitation still applies, in that only about half of the total line length can run through the pulley sheave, due to the connectors installed on the line. Also, Parker must use a rope or cord having a generally circular cross section in order to pass through his pulley sheave; a flat strap or chain configuration will not fit through the relatively narrow width of the pulley sheave and the semicircular cross section groove of the pulley, in the Parker leash assembly. The present leash does not limit the configuration of the pet restraint line, and may make use of relatively wide and flat straps, cord or rope having a round cross section, chain, etc., as desired. Moreover, Parker discloses only a relatively short handle strap, whereas the handling leash of the present dual pet leash may comprise a longer leash line, if so desired. Finally, the present dual pet leash is sufficiently versatile to allow attachment to a tree, post, or other stationary object, if so desired, by means of the longer hand leash line which may be used with the present invention. The Parker leash assembly may only be secured about a stationary object by looping a portion of the line about the object, thus limiting the Parker leash to use with only one animal when such a configuration is used. U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,848 issued on Dec. 30, 1997 to Masahi Tozawa, titled xe2x80x9cAdjustable Animal Leash Provided With Plural Leash Branch Members,xe2x80x9d describes a dual leash assembly wherein the pet restraint line passes through a swivel loop or ring which is attached to a handler leash line. However, the Tozawa assembly is considerably more restrictive than the present dual pet leash invention, as it includes a pair of keepers along the line. A first keeper is installed adjacent the attachment to the handler line, and prevents the pet restraint portion from running freely through the ring. The second keeper is adjustably placed along the pet restraint line, and holds the doubled portion of the line together. The Tozawa system thus cannot provide the freedom of motion for the pets that the present dual leash provides. U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,172 issued on Jan. 20, 1998 to Robert Maglich (who is also the present inventor), titled xe2x80x9cLeash,xe2x80x9d describes a single leash strap having a hand hold loop at one end and a snap hook at the opposite end for securing to a pet collar or the like. A second snap hook is secured adjacent the hand loop, with a ring slidably disposed along the length of the strap between both ends. The sliding ring allows the hand hold end of the leash to be wrapped about a stationary object, with the snap hook adjacent the hand hold secured to the sliding ring. The opposite end of the leash is free for attachment to the pet collar or the like. While the leash of the ""172 U.S. Patent may be used with the dual pet restraint line of the present invention, it does not per se provide any means of handling two pets simultaneously, as provided by the present dual pet leash invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,988 issued on Dec. 29, 1998 to Panje L. Gish, titled xe2x80x9cAnti-Tangle/Twist Multi-Pet Walking-Leash,xe2x80x9d describes a multiple leash arrangement in which each leash has a ring at its end closest to the handler, with the ring being connected to a swivel snap hook extending from another ring of another leash. The cascaded leash arrangement allows a number of pets to walk over, under, and around one another without tangling their multiple leashes. However, the Gish assembly comprises a series of fixed length lines and none of the lines can move through a ring or other retainer to vary their lengths, as provided by the present dual pet leash invention. U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,611 issued on Feb. 29, 2000 to Michael Hershauer, titled xe2x80x9cAnimal Tethering System,xe2x80x9d describes a two component system having a relatively short strap with a loop at one end thereof, with a longer strap which passes through the loop of the shorter strap. One end of the longer strap and the end of the shorter strap opposite the loop are secured to cargo tiedowns within a vehicle, while the second end of the longer strap is secured to the collar or harness of an animal after it is passed through the loop of the shorter strap. This arrangement is essentially opposite that of the present invention, with its single handler line and dual pet restraining line extending freely therefrom. The Hershauer leash assembly cannot be used in the manner of the present dual pet leash, as the loop through which the longer strap runs cannot be used as a hand loop for the handler. The opposite end of this length has only a swivel snap extending therefrom, which is unsuitable for use as a handle. U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,665 issued on Apr. 11, 2000 to Linda J. Deveaux, titled xe2x80x9cMulti-Child Modular Tether-Harness Combination,xe2x80x9d describes an assembly having a lead line with a four way connector at one end thereof. A pair of child restraint tethers may be removably connected to two of the receptacles of the four way connector, with a further lead line connected to the other receptacle, with the arrangement being capable of extension as desired. However, the connectors of the Deveaux assembly cannot provide for free running of any of the attached lines therethrough, as provided by the present dual pet leash invention. U.S. Pat. No. D-244,869 issued on Jun. 28, 1977 to Paul Manley et al , titled xe2x80x9cAnimal Leash,xe2x80x9d illustrates a design in which a pair of leash extensions are braided into a single, relatively short handler length having a handle loop extending therefrom. The arrangement appears to be a unitary assembly, with no means for the two animal attachment lines to move relative to the handler length of the assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 375,587 issued on Nov. 12, 1996 to Robert L. Maglich, titled xe2x80x9cDog Leash,xe2x80x9d illustrates a design having a single line with a loop at one end and a free floating ring disposed along the length of the line. This is the parent patent for U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,172 issued to the same patentee and present inventor, which utility patent was discussed in detail further above. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. D-417,317 issued on Nov. 30, 1999 to Brett Greer, titled xe2x80x9cMultiple Dog Leash,xe2x80x9d illustrates a design which appears to have a first, relatively elongate handle strap with a snap hook at its distal end, and a secondary animal attachment line extending laterally from the first strap. It is not clear from the drawings that the secondary leash line is free to move relative to the first line, and in any case, the arrangement is essentially opposite that of the present invention. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a dual pet leash solving the aforementioned problems is desired. The present invention is a dual pet leash, for simultaneously walking and controlling two dogs or other household pets or the like. The present dual pet leash includes a pet restraint line having opposite first and second ends, with each end being identically configured with a snap hook or the like for removably securing to the collar or harness of an animal. A leash attachment ring is installed along the restraint line, where it is allowed to float or position itself freely along the length of the line between the two collar attachment ends of the line. A separable leash includes a handle loop and a snap hook or the like for removably attaching the leash to the floating ring of the pet restraint line. The pet restraint line is thus free to travel back and forth between its ends defined by the collar attachment snaps, as the two pets work back and forth. The handler controls the range of the pets generally, according to the length of the leash line attached to the pet restraint line. A first embodiment includes an elongate leash line with a handle loop at one end thereof, with a second snap hook or the like extending from a point adjacent the handle loop and a free floating ring installed along the length of the leash. This longer leash embodiment allows the leash to be looped around a stationary object (tree, post, etc.), with the snap hook being secured to the ring to secure the leash line temporarily about the object. A second embodiment provides a relatively short leash line, with the pet restraint line attachment extending directly from the handle loop. Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a dual pet leash for walking or exercising two household pets or the like, simultaneously. It is another object of the invention to provide a dual pet leash having a pet restraint line in which opposed ends are removably and temporarily attachable to the collars or harnesses of two different animals, with the line including a free floating leash attachment ring installed therealong. It is a further object of the invention to provide dual pet leash having a first leash embodiment comprising a relatively long leash line, with the leash line having a handle loop at one end, a pet restraint line attachment at the opposite end, a freely floating ring disposed along its length, and a ring attachment adjacent the handle loop, for securing the leash line about a stationary object as desired. Still another object of the invention is to provide a dual pet leash having a second leash embodiment of a relatively short line essentially comprising only a handle loop with a pet restraint line attachment extending therefrom. It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The invention is directed generally to a mining machine which cuts the full face of the coal from the floor to the roof. The mining machine has a jib at its front end which carries sprockets which support an endless cutting chain. The jib is perpendicular to the center line of the machine during mining which makes it difficult to tram the machine from one entry to another entry in the mine. 2. Description of the Prior Art Mining machines having crawler tracks for moving the machine and a forward jib carrying an endless movable cutting chain with spaced cutting bits thereon for mining the coal from the full face are known in the art. The machines have spaced loading flights located on the endless chain which move cut coal from the floor of the mine adjacent the face to a conveyor extending along one side of the machine which moves the cut coal from the front end of the mining machine to the rear of the machine where it is loaded onto cars or other conveyors for subsequent removal from the mine. The length of the jib is greater than the width of the mining machine, and it is not possible to easily tram the mining machine from one entry to another entry. The length of the jib relative to the width of the mining machine does not pose a problem in longwall mining or in room and pillar mining, but in individual entry mining, this is a problem. The problem has been solved in prior art machines by removing the jib from the machine or removing the ends of the jib, but such is costly and time consuming and causes excessive downtime of the machine.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to an integrated circuit breaker/starter for a motor. In the field of motor control, it is known to control the operation of a motor (e.g., to start or stop the motor) using a contactor, which is a three pole switch which is electrically operated by a (usually) continuously energized solenoid operating coil. It is also known to provide thermal protection, i.e., overload protection, to a motor against overload conditions using a motor overload relay. Overload conditions occur when equipment is operated in an electrically undamaged circuit in excess of normal full-load rating, or when conductors carry current in excess of rated ampacity. Overload conditions persisting for a sufficient length of time will damage or overheat the equipment. Overload conditions do not include faults which require instantaneous protection such as a short circuit or ground fault or a loss of a phase. The terms "overload," "overload protection" and "overload relay" are defined in the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standard ICS2, which is herein incorporated by reference. Typical overload relays have been implemented using bimetal relays, and more recently using electronics and current transformer sensors. A conventional motor starter is typically implemented by a combination of a contactor and a motor overload relay. Overload conditions result in a cumulative heating effect in motor circuits, and subsequently a cooling effect after the motor circuit is deenergized, such as with an overload relay. Therefore, the length of time that a motor can operate before overheating under overload conditions will vary if the motor is energized and deenergized too frequently. This cumulative heating and cooling effect is known as thermal memory, i.e., operating memory as defined in NEMA standard ICS2. Typical overload relays, such as bimetal relays, compensate for thermal memory of the motor mechanically through the thermal memory of the bimetal components within the relays themselves. However, thermal memory, i.e., the cumulative heating and cooling effect, changes between motor applications. Therefore, a bimetal relay must be matched to a particular motor and cannot be used to provide overload protection for more than one motor application. Electronic devices, e.g., electronic overload relays or electronic trip units, can compensate for thermal memory through software algorithms. The algorithms have adjustable parameters that can be changed from one motor application to another. However, unlike the bimetal relays, the ability to compensate for thermal memory is lost in prior art electronic devices when power is interrupted. To protect an electrical motor from electrical overload conditions, it is known to use a circuit breaker in combination with a motor starter. Motor control centers and combination starter panels both use motor combination starters. There are typically two types of circuit breakers used in motor starter applications. The first is an "inverse time" general circuit breaker, and the second (more common) type is the "instantaneous trip" only circuit breaker, which provide instantaneous protection from faults such as short circuits, ground faults or a loss of a phase. The instantaneous trip circuit breaker is more typically used in motor applications due to cost considerations, and because the use of an inverse time circuit breaker provides more protection than is typically needed. Further, inverse time circuit breakers are not typically configured for motor protection, as motor protection requires different trip times than typical circuit breaker applications. A typical motor application circuit is shown in FIG. 1. The circuit is connected between lines L1 and L2 and includes a normally-closed stop switch 10, a normally-open start switch 12, a contactor coil 14, and a conventional overload relay 15. The contactor coil 14 is energized or de-energized appropriately to operate contactors in a three-phase system, where each of three phase lines A, B, and C has a circuit breaker 16a, 16b, and 16c, respectively, contactors 14a, 14b, and 14c, respectively, and motor overload protection 18a, 18b, and 18c, respectively. The circuit breakers 16a, 16b, and 16c are typically implemented by instantaneous trip circuit breakers. It would be desirable to consolidate the circuit breaker instantaneous trip with a motor starter overload protection. It would also be desirable to be able to vary or reconfigure the circuit breaker trip time for different motor applications. It would further be desirable to prevent the circuit breaker from tripping during a motor overload condition and to be able to provide a substantially continuous power supply to the motor electronics so that the occurrence of an overload condition and thermal memory can be remembered.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
There are an abundance of organic chemical reactions between functionally reactive organic compounds to make condensation or addition products in which it would be desired to suppress the rate of reaction, even blocking the occurrance of the reaction, until select conditions are achieved. When that occurs, it would be desirable to unsuppress or unblock the reaction and produce, in the typical manner, the desired or expected reaction product. Included in these organic chemical reactions are the coreaction of amino groups with other functional groups via condensation or addition (e.g., Michaels addition). Oftentimes, the amino containing reactant contains another functional group that has the potential of reacting with either the amino functionality and/or the functional group of a co-reactant. In those cases, one may desire to block the reaction of the amino group in favor of the other group on that organic compound. There are many polymeric reaction systems, typically of the thermosettable resin type, that depend on the blending of organic monomers, oligomers or polymers that possess interreactive (typically complementary) functionality. In most cases, it would be desirable to suppress or block the reaction of such systems in order to avoid premature reactions that result in wastage of the resin components by having a reaction occur before the reaction system has been shaped or applied for production of the ultimate end product. This is often called extending the pot-life of the reaction system. There are applications where some level of reaction is developed followed by suppression of the reaction to prevent full cure. For example, there are situations where a thermosettable resin is applied to a fibrous mass of strands, bundles or staple forms of fiber to make a fiber reinforced plastic ("FRP") and it would be desirable to allow such systems to partially cure to the B-stage only. In those cases, it would be desirable to arrest full cure until the system is ready to be applied to a substrate, mold, etc., and then be subjected to final cure, called the C-stage. Oftentimes, those applications would cure to premature unshapable conditions and the applications have to be discarded as waste. This can occur with SMC (i.e., sheet molding compounds) and prepregs. There are resin systems from multicomponents that are mixed immediately prior to use. One such .system is called reaction injection molding ("RIM"). In RIM systems, complementary reactive components are premixed immediately prior to being injected into the mold. Premature reaction is avoided by completing the mixing and injection into the mold before the resin components interreact to a condition that renders the system incapable of being effectively injected into the mold. Because RIM is a relatively high speed process, the complementary reactive components possess a very short pot-life. The mixing step entails the use of continuous mixers just before entry into the mold and the reactants are separately fed to the mixer to avoid premature reaction. It would be desirable to be able to premix these reactants without premature reaction in other type of mixing means, even store the mixture, and then have the ability to inject the reactants into a mold. It would be desirable to be able to suppress the reaction until the reactants have adequately filled the mold. There are many polymeric systems used to effect coating or adhesive application to a substrate where it is desirable to operate at the minimum viscosity. For example, coatings have better flow control at lower viscosities. Adhesives better penetrate a substrate such as wood when applied at lower viscosities. However, controlling their viscosities is dependent upon the ability to suppress interreactions between the resin forming components. It would thus be desirable to be able to suppress or block such reactions until the application has been effected. This invention provides the ability to selectively suppress such chemical reaction by incorporating a supercritical fluid, especially carbon dioxide maintained under supercritical fluid (SCF) conditions into the chemical reaction system. The advantage of reaction suppression is one of a number of advantages provided by this invention. Because of environmental concern in recent years, there is an interest in finding ways of reducing pollution resulting from painting and finishing operations. For this reason there has been a great deal of emphasis placed on the development of new coating technologies which diminish the emission of organic solvent vapors. A number of technologies have emerged to meet most but not all of the performance and application requirements, and at the same time meet emission requirements and regulations. They are: (a) powder coatings, (b) water-borne dispersions, (c) water-borne solutions, (d) non-aqueous dispersions, and (e) high solids compositions. Each technology has been employed in certain applications and each has found a niche in a particular industry. However, at the present time, none has provided the performance and application properties that was hoped for initially. Powder application, for example, while providing ultra-low emission of organic vapors, is characterized by poor gloss or good gloss with heavy orange peel, poor definition of image gloss with heavy orange peel, and poor film uniformity. Pigmentation incorporation is often a problem that at times requires milling and extrusion of the polymer-pigment composite mixture followed by cryogenic grinding. In addition, changing colors of the coatings line often requires a complete cleaning because of dust contamination of the application equipment and finishing area. Water-borne coatings cannot be applied under conditions of high relative humidity without serious coating defects. These defects result from the fact that under conditions of high humidity, water evaporates more slowly than the organic co-solvents of the coalescing aid. As might be expected, in the case aqueous dispersions, the loss of the organic cosolvent/coalescing aid interferes with film formation resulting in poor gloss, poor uniformity and pin holes. Additionally, water-borne coatings are not as resistant to corrosive environments as are the more conventional solvent-borne coatings. Coatings applied from organic solvents at high solids avoid many of the pitfalls of powder and water-borne coatings. In these systems, the molecular weight of the polymer is low and reactive functionality is relied upon to further polymerization and crosslinking after the coating has been applied. In reality, there is a limit in the ability of this technology to meet the performance requirements of a commercial coating operation. Present high solids systems are difficult to apply to vertical surfaces without running and sagging of the coating. Often they are prone to cratering and pin-holing. If they have good reactivity they have poor shelf and pot-life; if they have shelf stability then often they cure and/or crosslink slowly or require high temperature and energy to convert. It would be desirable to suppress the reactivity of such coating systems possessing reactive functionality, so that they possess the desired amount of functionality so as to react quickly enough when coated onto the substrate yet not prematurely react so as to adversely affect coating quality. The use of supercritical fluids as a transport medium for the manufacture of surface coatings is well known. German patent application 28 53 066 describes the use of a gas in the supercritical state as the fluid medium containing the solid or liquid coating substance in the dissolved form. In particular, the application addresses the coating of porous bodies with a protectant or a reactive or nonreactive decorative finish by immersion of the porous body in the supercritical fluid coupled with a pressure drop to effect the coating. The most significant porous bodies are porous catalysts. The applicant characterizes fabrics as porous bodies. Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,731, patented Apr. 15, 1986, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,451, patented Mar. 29, 1988, describes forming a supercritical solution which includes a supercritical fluid solvent and a dissolved solute of a solid material and spraying the solution to produce a "molecular spray." A "molecular spray" is defined as a spray "of individual molecules (atoms) or very small clusters of the solute." The Smith patents are directed to producing free films and powders. The films are used as surface coatings. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 133,068 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,720, to Lee et al., disclose a process and apparatus for the liquid spray application of coatings to a substrate and minimize the use of environmentally undesirable organic diluents. The process of the application involves: (1) forming a liquid mixture in a closed system, said liquid mixture comprising: PA1 (2) spraying said liquid mixture onto a substrate to form a liquid coating thereon. PA1 (1) means for supplying at least one polymeric compound capable of forming a continuous, adherent coating; PA1 (2) means for supplying at least one active organic solvent; PA1 (3) means for supplying supercritical carbon dioxide fluid; PA1 (4) means for forming a liquid mixture of components supplied from (1)-(3); and PA1 (5) means for spraying said liquid mixture onto a substrate. PA1 (1) forming a liquid mixture in a closed system, said liquid mixture comprising: PA1 (2) spraying said liquid mixture onto a substrate to form a liquid coating thereon by passing the mixture under pressure through an orifice into the environment of the substrate to form a liquid spray. PA1 (1) forming a liquid mixture in a closed system, said liquid mixture comprising: PA1 (2) spraying said liquid mixture onto a substrate to form a liquid coating thereon by passing the mixture under pressure through an orifice into the environment of the substrate to form a liquid spray; and PA1 (3) electrically charging said liquid spray by a high electrical voltage relative to the substrate and electric current. (a) at least one polymeric compound capable of forming a coating on a substrate; and PA2 (b) at least one supercritical fluid, in at least an amount which when added to (a) is sufficient to render the viscosity of said mixture of (a) and (b) to a point suitable for spray applications; and PA2 (a) at least one polymeric component capable of forming a coating on a substrate; and PA2 (b) a solvent component containing at least one supercritical fluid, in at least an amount which when added to (a) is sufficient to render the viscosity of said mixture to a point suitable for spray application; and PA2 (a) at least one polymeric component capable of forming a coating on a substrate; and PA2 (b) a solvent component containing at least one supercritical fluid, in at least an mount which when added to (a) is sufficient to render the viscosity of said mixture to a point suitable for spray application; They are also directed to a liquid spray process in which at least one active organic solvent (c) is admixed with (a) and (b) above prior to the liquid spray application of the resulting mixture to a substrate. The preferred supercritical fluid is supercritical carbon dioxide. The process employs an apparatus in which the mixture of the components of the liquid spray mixture can be blended and sprayed onto an appropriate substrate. The apparatus contains The apparatus may also provide for (6) means for heating any of said components and/or said liquid mixture of components. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 133,068 and the patent demonstrate the use of supercritical fluids, such as supercritical carbon dioxide fluid, as diluents in highly viscous organic solvent borne and/or highly viscous non-aqueous dispersions coatings compositions to dilute the compositions to application viscosity required for liquid spray techniques. They further demonstrate that the method is generally applicable to all organic solvent borne coatings systems. Copending U.S. application Ser. No. 218,910 is directed to a liquid coatings application process and apparatus in which supercritical fluids, such as supercritical carbon dioxide fluid, are used to reduce to application consistency viscous coatings compositions to allow for their application as liquid sprays. The coatings compositions are sprayed by passing the composition under pressure through an orifice into the environment of the substrate. In particular, the process of U.S. application Ser. No. 218,910 for liquid spray application of coatings to a substrate comprises: U.S. application Ser. No. 218,895 is directed to a process and apparatus for coating substrates by a liquid spray in which 1) supercritical fluid, such as supercritical carbon dioxide fluid, is used as a viscosity reduction diluent for coating formulations, 2) the mixture of supercritical fluid and coating formulation is passed under pressure through an orifice into the environment of the substrate to form the liquid spray, and 3) the liquid spray is electrically charged by a high electrical voltage relative to the substrate. In particular, the process of U.S. application Ser. No. 218,895 for electrostatic liquid spray application of coatings to a substrate comprises: The above technologies amply demonstrate the applicability of supercritical fluids as a carrier and viscosity reducer for transporting a variety of coating materials and effectively spraying them onto a coatable surface while reducing the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are required for the application.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
A number of manually operated medical and surgical instruments are available for holding or grasping a suture needle. Generally, two varieties of surgical needles are commercially available: straight needles and curved needles. For many situations, straight needles are preferred since they can be more easily handled. In restricted space, the use of a curved needle is preferred. However, curved needles are very difficult to properly manipulate manually and are invariably utilized in conjunction with needle holders specifically designed for use therewith. The most common needle holders include a configuration somewhat like needle-nose pliers with clamping means for locking the gripping jaws thereof in a fixed position. With even more confined or limited access endoscopic procedures such as operative laparoscopy or pelviscopy where the surgical instruments are typically inserted through a trocar sheath, the size of the suture needle is limited as well as the size of the needle holder which must be inserted through the trocar sheath to the surgical site. Endoscopic needle holders have typically included a pair of opposing jaws positioned at the distal end of an elongated member which is inserted through the trocar sheath. One jaw is commonly held stationary while the opposing jaw is operated between an open and closed position. To better grasp the suture needle, the opposing jaws typically include a plurality of teeth for further grasping the needle. One problem with these opposing jaw needle holders is the difficulty in maintaining a fixed position when the suture needle is grasped. This problem is further complicated with the use of a curved suture needle which is very common with endoscopic procedures. The curved needle has a tendency to change its position when grasped due to the curvature of the needle. As a result, the surgeon spends considerable time in making just a few sutures with the curved needle. Another problem is that unless the curved needle is constantly maintained in perfect alignment along its own curvature during suturing, the perforated tissue offers resistance which increases the force necessary to complete the suture. As a result, there is increased tissue trauma with the formation of excessively large openings and possibly even tears in the tissue which may retard proper healing. A number of curved needle suture devices have been developed for use in invasive type surgery. Such holders commonly have a curved needle affixed to an elongated member for implementing a series of sutures. However, these holders are invariably too bulky to position in restricted surgical site areas and are near impossible to insert through a trocar sheath for endoscopic procedures due to physical size limitations.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Many plant natural products have biological activities that make them valuable as pharmaceutical drugs. Alkaloids are a class of natural products that have proved particularly useful as drugs and medicines. Examples of biologically-active alkaloids include morphine, scopolamine, camptothecin, cocaine and nicotine. These compounds are all isolated from plant sources for use as pharmaceutical drugs. Nicotine, morphine (and related opiates) and cocaine are also addictive drugs that are responsible for significant health and societal problems worldwide. Nicotine is a pyrrolidine alkaloid that exhibits a range of bioactivities, including potent toxicity and nervous system stimulation. In Nicotiana tabacum, N. benthamiana and a number of other species, nicotine is synthesized in the roots and then transported to the leaves, where it appears to play a role in defense. The biosynthesis of nicotine and many other plant metabolites can be induced by the application of a class of volatile plant hormones collectively termed jasmonates (Gundlach et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89: 2389-2393 (1992)). Although increases in nicotine levels can be induced by wounding or jasmonate application, the actual regulatory machinery responsible for this induction has yet to be discovered. Plant natural product biosynthesis is mainly under transcriptional control, which allows plants to regulate metabolism in a developmental and stress-specific fashion. A number of transcription factors that regulate specific branches of secondary metabolism have been identified in plants. Anthocyanin biosynthesis is controlled by interacting MYB proteins (e.g. maize C1, Arabidopsis PAP1/PAP2) and basic-helix-loop-helix proteins (e.g. maize R, petunia AN1) (for a review see Vom Endt et al., Phytochemistry 61: 107-114 (2002)). Examples of other transcription factors regulating plant metabolic processes include a WRKY-type transcription factor that appears to control the transcription of a sesquiterpene synthase in cotton trichomes (Xu et al., Plant Physiol. 135: 507-515 (2004)) and an AP2/ERF-like transcription factor, WIN1, that up-regulates wax biosynthesis in Arabidopsis (Broun et al., Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 7: 202-209 (2004)). Overexpression of ORCA3 in Catharanthus roseus cell suspensions increased levels of transcripts of genes encoding some of the enzymes in the C. roseus terpenoid indole alkaloid pathway, but alkaloid accumulation was observed only when the cell suspension were provided with loganin, a terpenoid precursor. (van der Fits and Memelink. Science 289:295-297 (2000)). Overexpression of two transcription factors, NtORC1 and NtJAP1, increased transient expression of marker genes linked to a putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT) promoter in tobacco cell suspensions. (De Sutter et al., Plant J. 44:1065-76 (2005))	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
A hot water outlet of a cold/warm water purifier or a cold and hot water dispenser is provided with a safety device to prevent scald due to discharge of hot water. Generally, a method in which hot water is discharged only when user presses a lever for hot water discharge while pressing a safety member such as a button or a rotating member is employed. The safety member can adjust the discharge of hot water by changing a position of a support point for serving as a prize when pressing the lever. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a safety faucet according to a related art, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of the safety faucet of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a side view showing an operation when a lever is pressed without pressing the safety member, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing an operation when a lever is pressed while pressing a safety member. A horizontal direction lever type cock includes a cock body 100, an upper cap 110, and a discharge lever 120. A packing 101 for opening and closing a discharge port while being operated in the vertical direction on an internal pipeline, a packing rod 103 for operating the packing 101, and a spring 102 which is fitted in the packing rod 103 and exerts a compression force on the packing 101 to seal the discharge port are inserted and installed in the cock body 100. The upper cap 110 seals the upper portion of the cock body 100, and a central hole 111 is formed at a center thereof to allow the packing rod 103 to project and operate. In the discharge lever 102, a main operation hinge shaft 124 provided inside an upper lever head 121 is connected to an upper main operation hinge latch groove 104 of the packing rod 103, and a discharge lever 120 extending downward toward the lower side of the lever head 121 is applied with pressure in the horizontal direction so that the packing 101 intermits the discharge of water while vertically operating. That is, when the lever head 121 rotates around a separate fulcrum in a state in which the main operation hinge latch groove 104 of the packing rod 103 is fitted in the main operation hinge shaft 124 formed in the inner side of the lever head 121, so that the packing rod 103 is lifted together with the packing 101 to be opened and closed. The characteristic configuration of the related art is that the front and rear lower edges of the lever head 121 form a front cutting part 122 and a rear cutting part 123 which are obliquely cut so that the fulcrum of the lever cannot be formed, such that the fulcrum is not formed. Instead of not forming the fulcrum as described above, a separate safety member 130 is additionally provided. In the safety member 130, an auxiliary operation hinge shaft 131 is fitted and rotatably coupled to an auxiliary operation hinge hole 125 provided in an upper front side of the lever head 121 to form or release the fulcrum of the discharge lever 120, and the fulcrum is released by itself to have a locking function simultaneously with the withdrawal after the withdrawal operation of the discharge lever 120. However, since the auxiliary operation hinge hole 125 is circular even in the safety faucet having such a structure, there is a problem that hot water is discharged while the safety member 130 forms a support point along with the upper surface of the upper cap 110 even when only the discharge lever 120 is pressed due to the frictional force between the safety member 130 and the upper cap 110. In addition, although water is not discharged in a normal state due to the presence of the rear cutting part 123 of the lever head 121, when the discharge lever 120 is excessively pulled forward, the rear surface of the lever head 121 comes into contact with the upper cap 110, and thus there is a problem that hot water is discharged. In addition, since the shape of the rear surface of the lever head 121 on the upper cap 110 forms a vertical surface, a horizontal surface, or an inverted triangular shape with respect to the upper surface of the upper cap 110, even when the safety member 130 is operated and the rear portion of the lever head 121 above the upper cap 110 is rotated forward or even when the lever head 121 is lifted up without operating the safety member 130, there is a problem that hot water is discharged.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Many medical procedures in use today require a relatively small sample of blood, in the range of 5-50 .mu.L. It is more cost effective and less traumatic to the patient to obtain such a sample by lancing or piercing the skin at a selected location, such as the finger, to enable the collection of 1 or 2 drops of blood, than by using a phlebotomist to draw a tube of venous blood. With the advent of home use tests such as self monitoring of blood glucose, there is a requirement for a simple procedure which can be performed in any setting by a person needing to test. Lancets in conventional use generally have a rigid body and a sterile needle which protrudes from one end. The lancet may be used to pierce the skin, thereby enabling the collection of a blood sample from the opening created. The blood is transferred to a test device or collection device. Blood is most commonly taken from the fingertips, where the supply is generally excellent. However, the nerve density in this region causes significant pain in many patients. Sampling of alternate sites, such as earlobes and limbs, is sometimes practiced to access sites which are less sensitive. These sites are also less likely to provide excellent blood samples and make blood transfer directly to test devices difficult. Repeated lancing in limited surface areas (such as fingertips) results in callous formation. This leads to increased difficulty in drawing blood and increased pain. To reduce the anxiety of piercing the skin and the associated pain, many spring loaded devices have been developed. The following two patents are representative of the devices which were developed in the 1980's for use with home diagnostic test products. Cornell et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,856 describes a spring loaded lancet injector. The reusable device interfaces with a disposable lancet. The lancet holder may be latched in a retracted position. When the user contacts a release, a spring causes the lancet to pierce the skin at high speed and then retract. The speed is important to reduce the pain associated with the puncture. Levin et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,978 describes a blood sampling instrument. This device, which is also spring loaded, uses a standard disposable lancet. The design enables easy and accurate positioning against a fingertip so the impact site can be readily determined. After the lancet pierces the skin, a bounce back spring retracts the lancet to a safe position within the device. In institutional settings, it is often desirable to collect the sample from the patient and then introduce the sample to a test device in a controlled fashion. Some blood glucose monitoring systems, for example, require that the blood sample be applied to a test device which is in contact with a test instrument. In such situations, bringing the finger of a patient directly to the test device poses some risk of contamination from blood of a previous patient. With such systems, particularly in hospital settings, it is common to lance a patient, collect a sample in a micropipette via capillary action and then deliver the sample from the pipette to the test device. Haynes U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,977 describes a blood collection assembly with lancet and microcollection tube. This device incorporates a lancet and collection container in a single device. The lancing and collection are two separate activities, but the device is a convenient single disposable unit for situations when sample collection prior to use is desirable. Similar devices are disclosed in Sarrine U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,360,016, and O'Brien 4,924,879. Jordan et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,850,973 and 4,858,607, disclose a combination device which may be alternatively used as a syringe-type injection device and a lancing device with disposable solid needle lancet, depending on configuration. Lange et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,584 describes a blood lancet device for withdrawing blood for diagnostic purposes. This invention uses a rotary/sliding transmission system to reduce the pain of lancing. The puncture depth is easily and precisely adjustable by the user. Suzuki et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,368,047, Dombrowski 4,654,513 and Ishibashi et al. 5,320,607 each describe suction-type blood samplers. These devices develop suction between the lancing site and the end of the device when the lancet holding mechanism withdraws after piercing the skin. A flexible gasket around the end of the device helps seal the end around the puncture site until adequate sample is drawn from the puncture site or the user pulls back on the device. Garcia et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,403 and Haber et al. 5,217,480, disclose combination lancing and blood collection devices which use a diaphragm to create a vacuum over the wound site. Erickson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,184 describes a means of collecting and measuring body fluids. This system uses a coaxial syringe and capillary tube disposed within a spacer member. The spacer member limits the depth of syringe penetration, and compresses body tissue around the syringe while the syringe is in the skin, for improving the flow of interstitial fluid to the incision. However, it will be appreciated that the incision will tend to close against the syringe, thereby limiting any advantage that can be achieved. Single use devices have also been developed for single use tests, i.e. home cholesterol testing, and for institutional use to eliminate cross-patient contamination multi-patient use. Crossman et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,249, and Swierczek U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,798, also disclose disposable, single use lancing devices. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,421,816; 5,445,611; and 5,458,140 disclose, as a replacement for invasive sampling, the use of ultrasound to act as a pump for expressing interstitial fluid directly through intact (non-lanced) skin. The amount of fluid which can be obtained in that way is very limited, however. The disclosures of the above patents are incorporated herein by reference. Even with the many improvements which have been made, the pain associated with lancing remains a significant issue for many patients. The need for blood sampling and the fear of the associated pain is also a major obstacle for the millions of diagnosed diabetics, who do not adequately monitor their blood glucose due to the pain involved. Moreover, lancing to obtain a blood sample for other diagnostic applications is becoming more commonplace, and a less painful, minimally invasive device is needed to enhance those applications and make those technologies more acceptable. An object of the present invention therefore, is to provide a device and a method for obtaining a sample of bodily fluid through the skin which is virtually pain free and minimally invasive. Furthermore, known lancing devices include manually actuable buttons for triggering the lance-driving mechanism once the user has placed the device against his/her skin. Because the user knows the precise instant when the lancet will be triggered, there is a tendency for the user to jerk or raise the device at the instant of triggering, which can lead to inconsistent skin penetration, or possibly no penetration. Therefore, a further object of the invention is to provide a lancing device which eliminates such a tendency on the part of the user. Moreover, known carriers for supporting disposable lancets are configured to permit the disposable to be inserted and removed solely through a lower end thereof. That requires that a user grasp a lower portion of the disposable in order to push it upwardly or pull it downwardly. Since the needle projects from a lower end of the disposable, the user's hand will be in the immediate vicinity of the needle, and thus exposed to potential injury and/or contamination. Also, the disposable is typically held in the carrier by friction fit. Due to normal manufacturing tolerances, it is difficult to ensure a sufficiently tight fit for the disposable; there may be a tendency for the disposable to wobble, thereby increasing the amount of pain inflicted during a lancing step. Therefore, it is another object of the invention to provide a lancet carrier which eliminates the above-mentioned shortcomings. Another object of this invention is to provide a method which can result in a sample of either blood or interstitial fluid, depending on the sample site and the penetration depth utilized. While there are no commercially available devices utilizing interstitial fluid (ISF) at this time, there are active efforts to establish the correlation of analytes, such as glucose, in ISF compared to whole blood. If ISF could be readily obtained and correlation is established, ISF may be preferable as a sample since there is no interference of red blood cells or hematocrit adjustment required. Another object of this invention is to provide a method which can draw a small but adjustable sample, i.e. 3 .mu.L for one test device and 8 .mu.L for another test device, as appropriate.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Data processing devices such as portable personal computers, mobile telephones, personal media devices and so on, provide users with an increasing number of functions. For example, even a relatively inexpensive mobile telephone might nowadays be expected to provide functions including audio/video playback, internet access, email, content streaming, instant messaging, satellite assisted navigation functionality and so on. Providing a graphical user interface that enables a user to easily and conveniently understand and use all the available functionality on such devices can be quite difficult. Conventional personal computer “desktop” type graphical user interfaces in which the various functions available to a user are accessed by selecting an icon or the like are less appropriate for data processing devices with limited display space. Moreover, such conventional graphical user interfaces can become increasingly difficult to use when there are a large number of functions available to chose from and display.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rolling bearing device such as rolling bearing, linear guide and ball thread and particularly to a rolling bearing device having an excellent corrosion resistance and durability which can be used also in usage requiring non-magnetic properties. 2. Description of the Related Art In general, a rolling bearing device such as rolling bearing, linear guide and ball thread makes a rolling movement by the external member, internal member and rolling elements constituting the rolling bearing device. Thus, the external member, internal member and rolling elements are repeatedly subjected to contact stress. Therefore, the material constituting these members is required to be hard, withstand load and exhibit a prolonged rolling fatigue life and a good abrasion resistance against slippage. Therefore, as the material constituting these members there is normally often used SUJ2 of JIS as bearing steel, SUS440C of JIS or 13Cr martensite-based stainless steel as stainless steel or steel corresponding to SCR420 or SCM420 of JIS as case-hardened steel. These materials are repeatedly subject to shearing stress under a high face pressure. In order to obtain required physical properties such as resistance to shearing stress and prolonged rolling fatigue life, bearing steel is subjected to hardening and tempering to have a surface hardness of HRC of from 58 to 64before use. Case-hardened steel is subjected to carburizing or carbonitriding followed by hardening and tempering to have a surface hardness of HRC of from 58 to 64 before use. On the other hand, an apparatus utilizing magnetic field or apparatus, which shows a drop in measuring accuracy under the influence of magnetic field such as semiconductor producing machine, liquid crystal producing machine, apparatus utilizing electron rays, medical inspection apparatus and linear motor car, is subject to disturbance of ambient magnetic field when driven by rotation or the like or inhibition of smooth driving if the driving portion is formed by a magnetic material. Therefore, a rolling bearing device for use in the foregoing purposes needs to be formed by a non-magnetic material. A rolling bearing device is used in various atmospheres. For example, the rolling bearing device to be used in a corrosive atmosphere as in facilities for the production of liquid crystal and semiconductor or food machine is required to have an excellent corrosion resistance. However, when the rolling bearing device to be used in such a corrosive atmosphere is formed by the foregoing bearing steel, the resulting rolling bearing device runs short of corrosion resistance and thus early undergoes rusting or elution to end its life. Accordingly, the rolling bearing device to be used in the foregoing corrosive atmosphere is often formed by stainless steel, which is excellent in corrosion resistance. Stainless steels are roughly divided into five groups, i.e., austenite-based stainless steel, ferrite-based stainless steel, austenite-ferrite binary stainless steel, martensite-based stainless steel, precipitation hardening stainless steel. A rolling bearing device is subject to great shearing stress or abrasion at the contact site of the external member or internal member with the rolling elements. Therefore, the rolling bearing device is mainly made of martensite-based stainless steel, which is hard and excellent in abrasion resistance. SUS440C, which is hardest in these martensite-based stainless steels, is often used. However, martensite-based stainless steel such as SUS440C has a deteriorated corrosion resistance as compared with other stainless steels and thus is not necessarily on a satisfactory level for use in a corrosive atmosphere. On the other hand, austenite-based stainless steel, ferrite-based stainless steel, etc. are excellent in corrosion resistance but do not have sufficient hardness required for rolling bearing device and thus sometimes leave something to be desired in durability such as abrasion resistance and rolling fatigue life. Therefore, in the case where sufficient corrosion resistance is required, martensite-based stainless steel or case-hardened steel to be used is subjected to carburizing or carbonitriding, and then plated with hard Cr or coated with raydent fluoride or other various corrosion-resistant films to have an improved corrosion resistance. However, since the coating film which has been deposited discontinuously to the base metal can easily come off, the resulting rolling bearing device can leave something to be desired in corrosion resistance when used in a corrosive atmosphere. On the other hand, as the non-magnetic material there has heretofore been normally used a beryllium-copper alloy, ceramic or the like. However, the beryllium-copper alloy can be easily oxidized, and its oxidation product is harmful. Thus, the use of the beryllium-copper alloy has become more and more difficult. Further, since the beryllium-copper alloy has a hardness HRC as low as 40, the resulting rolling bearing device leaves something to be desired in durability. Ceramic is disadvantageous in that it is very expensive and can be very hardly produced in a large-sized or thin form. Therefore, in recent years, with the yearly growing demand for higher quality and reliability, Mnxe2x80x94Crxe2x80x94V or Mnxe2x80x94Crxe2x80x94Nixe2x80x94V precipitation hardening austenite non-magnetic steel has been used more and more as a non-magnetic material substitute for beryllium-copper alloy or ceramic. However, these materials can be very difficultly worked and thus require a high degree working technique. In addition to these disadvantages, these materials are disadvantageous in that they attain a hardness HRC of about 45 at maximum and leave something to be desired in corrosion resistance. It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve the foregoing problems with the conventional rolling bearing device and provide a rolling bearing device excellent in both corrosion resistance and durability which can be used also in usage requiring non-magnetic properties. Paying their attention to austenite-based stainless steel, which is particularly excellent in corrosion resistance and undergoes work hardening when subjected to plastication such as cold working, among the foregoing stainless steels, the inventors made extensive studies to find a rolling bearing device which satisfies requirements for both corrosion resistance and durability and thus can be used in a corrosive atmosphere and also in usage requiring non-magnetic properties. As a result, it was found that when reduction working (plastication) attaining a percent area reduction of equal or more than 25% is conducted so that the constituent members made of austenite-based stainless steel undergo work hardening to have a surface hardness HRC of equal or more than 35 at an intermediate step during the working of predetermined austenite-based stainless steel into desired shape to prepare constituent members of rolling bearing device such as external member and internal member, the resulting rolling bearing device can be secured with sufficient durability as well as with drastically improved corrosion resistance as compared with those made of the conventional martensite-based stainless steel. The rolling bearing device according to the invention comprises an external member, an internal member, and a plurality of rolling elements rollably provided interposed between the external member and the internal member, wherein at least one of the external member and the internal member is formed by an austenite-based stainless steel and has a surface having a hardness HRC of equal or more than 35 formed by plastication that attains a percent area reduction of equal or more than 25%. A rolling bearing device comprising members having the foregoing arrangement exhibits an extremely high surface hardness and hence an excellent durability. Further, since these members are formed by an austenite-based stainless steel, the resulting rolling bearing device exhibits an excellent corrosion resistance, thus can be used in a corrosive atmosphere, and also in usage requiring non-magnetic properties. The term xe2x80x9cpercent area reductionxe2x80x9d as used herein is meant to indicate an index indicating how much the sectional area of the constituent members of rolling bearing device such as external member and internal member decreases when subjected to plastication such as rolling and drawing. This index is defined by the following equation (1): Percent area reduction=(A0xe2x88x92A)/A0xc3x97100 (%)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1) wherein A0 represents the sectional area of unplasticated constituent member and A represents the sectional area of plasticated constituent member. For the calculation of percent area reduction, the sectional area of various constituent members can be used. For example, in the case where the rolling bearing device is a rolling bearing, the area of the section of outer ring and inner ring contained in the plane including the axial line of the rolling bearing may be used. This substantially applies to the case where the rolling bearing device is a ball thread or linear guide. Examples of the rolling bearing device of the invention include rolling bearing, ball thread, and linear guide (direct-acting guide bearing) and the like. The term xe2x80x9cexternal memberxe2x80x9d as used herein is meant to indicate the outer ring if the rolling bearing device is a rolling bearing. If the rolling bearing device is a linear guide, the term xe2x80x9cexternalxe2x80x9d is meant to indicate the slider. Similarly, if the rolling bearing device is a ball thread, the term xe2x80x9cexternal memberxe2x80x9d is meant to indicate the nut. The term xe2x80x9cinternal memberxe2x80x9d as used herein is meant to indicate the inner ring if the rolling bearing device is a rolling bearing. If the rolling bearing device is a linear guide, the term xe2x80x9cexternalxe2x80x9d is meant to indicate the guide rail. Similarly, if the rolling bearing device is a ball thread, the term xe2x80x9cexternal memberxe2x80x9d is meant to indicate the thread axis. The critical significance of the invention will be described hereinafter. As the material constituting at least one of the foregoing external member and internal member there is used an austenite-based stainless steel as previously mentioned. In the invention, however, the austenite-based stainless steel having the formulation described below is preferred. (Content of S) In general, S (sulfur) occurs in steel in the form of MnS. MnS acts to improve the scrapability of steel and is often used positively. For example, in recent years, stainless steel has been used more and more for the purpose of enhancing the reliability of devices. However, stainless steel normally can hardly be scraped. Accordingly, an easily scarapable stainless steel having S incorporated therein singly or in composite with Se, Te, Pb, etc. has been noted from the standpoint of cost reduction. However, MnS is regarded as an A-based inclusion in JIS and thus forms a linear defect. When the stainless steel is subject to tensile stress or shearing stress developed by plastication, MnS becomes a stress concentration source that lowers the limit of break of member. Further, in the case where the stainless steel is used as a rolling bearing device, MnS is harmful to durability or corrosion resistance. In particular, stainless steel which has been subjected to plastication that attains a high percent area reduction is disadvantageous in that it exhibits a drastically deteriorated corrosion resistance. Therefore, the content of S in austenite-based stainless steel is preferably equal or less than 0.030%. In order to further inhibit the deterioration of durability or corrosion resistance, the content of S in austenite-based stainless steel is more preferably equal or less than 0.020%. When the content of S is suppressed, the resulting austenite-based stainless steel exhibits a deteriorated scrapability. However, scrapability is not a particular requirement for the invention because one of the objects of the invention is to accomplish the precision forming of the constituent members of rolling bearing device (external member and internal member) directly by reduction working. (Content of Other Alloy Components, Surface Hardness, and Percent Area Reduction) An austenite-based stainless steel undergoes work-hardening by intensification of dislocation, induced transformation to martensite, etc. Thus, when subjected to intense plastication attaining a percent area reduction of equal or more than 25% to have a surface hardness HRC of equal or more than 35, the austenite-based stainless steel can be secured with durability required for rolling bearing device. In order to secure higher durability, the surface hardness HRC of the austenite-based stainless steel is preferably equal or more than 38. However, when an austenite-based stainless steel is subjected to intense plastication attaining a percent area reduction of equal or more than 25%, excessive induced transformation causes the production of martensite structure that deteriorates corrosion resistance, occasionally making it impossible to attain both desired durability and corrosion resistance which are objects of the invention. In order to inhibit these defects, it is necessary to use an austenite-based stainless steel having the formulation satisfying the following relationship (2): Eq. 1+0.79xc3x97Eq. 2xe2x89xa727.0xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2) In the foregoing relationship, Eq. 1 and Eq. 2 are defined by the following equations (3) and (4), respectively, and calculated from the content (% by mass) of various alloy components (C, N, Ni, Cr, Mn, Cu, Si, Mo) contained in the austenite-based stainless steel. Eq. 1 and Eq. 2 each indicate the formulation of austenite-based stainless steel. Eq. 1 is called Ni equivalent, and Eq. 2 is called Cr equivalent. xe2x80x83Eq. 1=Ni %+0.5xc3x97Mn %+0.3xc3x97Cu %+25xc3x97N %+30xc3x97C %xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3) Eq. 2=Cr %+2xc3x97Si %+1.5xc3x97Mo %xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(4) In the relationship (2), the value of the left side (Eq. 1+0.79xc3x97Eq. 2) is equal or more than 27. In order to further inhibit the production of martensite structure, the value of the left side of the relationship (2) is preferably equal or more than 28.0, more preferably equal or more than 30.0. The value of Eq. 2 is preferably equal or less than 28.0 taking into account cost. The value of Eq. 1 is preferably equal or less than 25.0 taking into account the fact that N, which is inexpensive, can be an element substitute for Ni, which is expensive. When these values (Eq. 1 and Eq. 2) are substituted in the relationship (2), the value of the left side of the relationship (2) is from equal or more than 27.0 to equal or less than 47.1. Further, even if these conditions are satisfied, when the percent area reduction exceeds 80%, excessive induced transformation occurs to cause martensite structure to appear, occasionally deteriorating corrosion resistance. Thus, the percent area reduction is preferably equal or less than 80%. The austenite-based stainless steel to be used as base metal of constituent members of rolling bearing device is preferably subjected to solution treatment as much as possible from the standpoint of corrosion resistance and work-hardenability. Reduction working (plastication) can be accomplished by CRF working if the rolling bearing device is a rolling bearing or by rolling or drawing if the rolling bearing device is a ball thread or linear guide. The rolling element is seldom subject to corrosion because it is retained by the internal member and the external member and protected by a grease, lubricant or the like. Thus, the rolling element may be formed by martensite-based stainless steel. However, the rolling element is preferably formed by ceramics from the standpoint of inhibition of abrasion.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates generally to flash memory devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a flash memory device controlling a common source line (CSL) voltage and a program-verify method. Semiconductor memory devices may generally be classified as volatile memories (e.g., DRAM and SRAM), and nonvolatile memories (e.g., EEPROM, FRAM, PRAM, and flash memory). Volatile memories lose stored data when applied power is interrupted, but nonvolatile memories retain stored data in the absence of applied power. Within the more general class of non-volatile memories, so-called flash memory enjoys a number of advantages including fast programming speed, low power consumption, large date storage capacity, etc. As a result, flash memory has been adopted for use in a wide range of consumer products requiring data storage. Flash memory includes a memory cell array storing data. The memory cell array is typically divided or arranged into a plurality of memory blocks. Each memory block commonly include a plurality of data pages, and each page is formed from a plurality of memory cells. Binary (or single-level) memory cells (SLC) act as ON-cells or OFF-cells in relation to a present threshold voltage distribution selected between two possible voltage distribution states. (Multi-level memory cells (MLC) select between three or more possible voltage distribution states). On-cells are defined as memory cells having an erased state, while OFF-cells are programmed. Flash memory generally performs an erase operation on a memory block by memory block basis. In contrast, program and read operations are performed page by page. Flash memory is configured in a cell string structure. The cell string includes a string selection transistor connected to a string selection line (SSL), memory cells connected to a corresponding plurality of word lines (e.g., WL0˜WL31), and a ground selection transistor connected to a ground selection line (GSL). The string selection transistor is connected to a bit line (BL), and the ground selection transistor is connected to a common source line (CSL). As noted above, flash memory may incorporate SLC and/or MLC memory cells. The proliferation of threshold voltage distributions required to store multi-level data creates increasingly narrow separation widths between adjacent threshold voltage distributions. In other words, discrimination or read margins are shrinking with an increasing number of possible threshold voltage distributions. It is therefore important to avoid spreading or broadening of one or more threshold voltage distributions. In order to preserve defined separation widths between adjacent threshold voltage distributions, flash memory should avoid changing the voltage level apparent on the CSL during program-verify and read operations. That is, during the program-verify and read operations, the amount of current flowing through respective memory cells should not be different when said operations are executed in relation to memory cells programmed to the same data state. However, within conventional flash memory it is quite common for the voltage apparent on the CSL to change due to certain parasitic capacitances associated with the CSL. This is unfortunate since variations in the CSL voltage during program-verify and read operations may cause broadening of one or more threshold voltage distributions for the memory cells.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Bundled media services, such as combination packages of television, telephone, and broadband Internet services, have been successfully offered to households with wired connections to service provider networks. Households in areas without such wired connections (e.g., customers in regions that cannot be reached via conventional communication media, such as optical cables, copper cables, and/or other fixed wire-based technologies) may rely on fixed wireless networks for some of these services (e.g., broadband access). However, previous generations of fixed wireless networks have generally been unsuccessful. Expensive network equipment and customer premises equipment (CPE), high CPE installation costs, use of proprietary technology, and low data rates are among some of the reasons that these fixed wireless networks remained unpopular. As wireless network data rates improve using fourth generation (4G) technologies, such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE), such network data rates have made it easier to implement fixed wireless networks.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Prior art fuel injector nozzle bodies have a valve guide bore in which a needle valve is reciprocated between open and closed positions with respect to an interior valve seat shaped as a frustrum of a cone. The valve seat is spaced from an injector nozzle body sack in communication with fuel holes for distributing the fuel. Injector nozzle bodies have had a hemispherically configured sack region formed in the nozzle downstream of the seat to supply fuel to the spray holes when the needle valve is opened. In the past the small diameter end of the valve seat was established by the dimensions of the sack region and was such that metal grinding could be used to finish such valve seats. Anticipated emission regulations require reduction of such emissions by requiring that sacks of fuel injector nozzles be reconfigured to a V-shape to have a reduced fuel containing space in the nozzle when the valve needle closes while retaining a valve seat configured as a frustrum of a cone. Such reconfigured sack regions result in a significant reduction in the small end diameter of the valve seat. Consequently, the small end diameter of a conical grinding wheel used to grind the seat also is reduced in diameter significantly. As a result, the surface speed of the abrasive grains in the small end diameter of the conical grinding wheel is too low for efficient grinding.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This field of the invention relates generally to industrial combustion systems, and more particularly to methods and systems for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from pre-combustion syngas before passing to a gas turbine power system. At least some known carbon separation technologies intervene at different points in coal and/or natural gas systems. For example, carbon separation technologies that separate CO2 from combustion flue gases are generally known as post-combustion carbon separation technologies. Known post-combustion carbon separation technologies include processes, for example, physical absorption, cryogenic separation, solid sorbent separation, chemical looping combustion, chemical absorption, and/or membrane separation. In addition, these carbon technologies can be used to remove CO2 from pre-combustion gasses, such as syngas. Some known chemical absorption processes attempt to remove CO2 from the flue gases by an exothermic reaction of CO2 with separation solvents, for example, potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, amine-based, and ammonia based solvents. During a known chemical absorption process, for example, a flue gas and an ammonia-based liquid counter-currently flow within a scrubber. The combustion flue gas stream generally includes a smaller volume of CO2 as compared to the larger volume of the flue gas. Known scrubbers generally require equipment sizes capable of processing the larger volumes of flue gas. During processing within known scrubbers, the flue gas is dispersed into the liquid causing gas bubbles to be formed within the liquid. The CO2 absorption amount of the liquid partially depends on a total gas-liquid contact area, which is the sum of the surface areas of the gas bubbles. The liquid may absorb CO2 and other impurities, for example, carbon oxysulfide and carbon bisulfide. Such known impurities may cause foaming of the liquid and/or liquid degradation due to irreversible reactions with the impurities. Also, a driving force that is required to separate the CO2 from the flue gas is determined based on a concentration (density) of flue gas components. The scrubber footprint and stripper regeneration energy increases capital cost, operating costs, and energy consumption. A plant capacity is also reduced because of electrical power consumption in known chemical absorption processes. It would be desirable to provide a method to remove the CO2 before combustion to reduce energy requirements associated with post-combustion removal of CO2.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to data communication systems and in particular to an improved data system for selective calling, paging and priority signalling particularly well adapted for use in multiple unit radio communication systems capable of voice and data communications. 2. Description of the Prior Art In the prior art, multiple unit radio communications systems utilize complex signalling systems to provide both voice and data communications capability. Some provide one way status indication capability and acknowledge but with very inflexible formats which limit usefulness. Existing systems utilize structures which are very expensive to manufacture and provide for limited sensitivity in most RF environments. Further, previous systems have been organized around a coding structure that viewed the terminal device as one which responded to a set of discrete commands. The terminal was designed to perform some arbitrary set of operations when a defined command code activated it. This resulted in an inflexible system. In addition, prior art communications systems, because of inflexible format, did not have automatic selective calling, dynamic regrouping and transmit control capability.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Electronic mail (email) has become an integral part of business and personal communications. As such, many users have multiple email accounts for work and home use. Moreover, with the increased availability of mobile cellular and wireless local area network (LAN) devices that can send and receive emails, many users wirelessly access emails stored in source mailboxes of different email storage servers (e.g., corporate email storage server, Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, etc.). One approach for delivering emails to a user's mobile wireless communications device is to use an email proxy server to retrieve new emails from an email storage server(s) (e,g., an ISP server) associated with the user's email account, and then forward the emails to the user's wireless handheld device. One challenge of doing so is knowing when to check the email storage server for new messages. Typically, this is done periodically because the email proxy server will not otherwise know when a new message arrives. Yet, if the period of polling is too short, this may place a significant burden on the email proxy server, particularly if it has to check multiple email servers for numerous users. Another approach to forwarding emails to wireless handheld devices is provided by a client application called SMS4Mail. This program checks and filters email accounts and sends Short Message Service (SMS) messages to a user's mobile phone. The program can handle up to twenty POP3 e-mail accounts, and it may also send the SMS messages to multiple mobile phones at the same time. Various criteria may be used for filtering incoming e-mails to be sent to the mobile phone, such as From and Subject fields. Users also have the option to limit the maximum number of SMS messages for one day. Moreover, an SMS message is only to be sent once for each email which meets the specified filtering criteria. While such systems may be advantageous for notifying users on their mobile phone when new messages are available, SMS messages are limited to a relatively small number of characters, so while a user will receive an indication of a new email, if the email is fairly long the user will only be able to see the very first part of the message. Moreover, many wireless network (i.e., cellular) carriers charge for each SMS message, which may make such an approach undesirably expensive for some users.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
To make the most of limited water resources, a system for purifying and re-utilizing wastewater discharged from buildings, residences, and the like has been known. For instance, Patent Document 1 discloses a wastewater re-utilization system configured to use drainage of clean water used in a household or the like and rainwater for flushing toilets, for instance, whereby it is possible to save water. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an interior greening system for utilizing gray water, which produces gray water by processing wastewater from a building and re-utilizes the produced gray water to water plants which are grown inside a building.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to language education, and particularly to a language-based video game promoting grammar, pronunciation, and contextual understanding of various languages in an interactive and entertaining manner. 2. Description of the Related Art Language is one of the fundamental forms of communication. It is a means of conveying thought, ideas, culture, history and emotions. While many different languages have similarities to each other, each language also exhibits its own nuances, meanings and expressions, both in spoken and written forms. Languages have existed for centuries, but, over time, languages can evolve to a certain degree. However, some languages have remained relatively unchanged. While generations can strive to preserve the integrity of their languages, the current globalization of many aspects of life can slowly erode or affect the purity, e.g., the pronunciation or written form of the language, such as due to outside or foreign influences, as typically can occur or can be prevalent with the younger generation. It typically can be a desire for individuals of an older generation to pass on and preserve their culture through a younger generation, especially through their spoken and written language. As a result, older generations having such desire for preserving their language, can expend efforts towards this goal, such as by speaking the language frequently, enrolling the younger generation in a language school, residing in cultural enclaves within a region, and generally maximizing exposure of the younger generation to the language. Even though the younger generation can be immersed in this type of language immersion environment, outside influences, such as the local popular culture, can still pervade or can result in incorrect pronunciations, slang, word or character forms, and introductions of terms not native to the spoken or written language. Therefore, a means of capturing and retaining an individual's attention to the spoken or written language can increase the effectiveness of language material being presented in teaching or reinforcing a pronunciation or expression of the language. Thus, a language-based video game addressing the aforementioned problems is desired.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Shock damping structures used in for instance the building of structures which experience both axial and bending vibrations are known in the art. The shock damping structures can be used as interface rings or adapters between a launch vehicle and a payload such as a satellite. These structures experience both axial and bending vibrations and require some kind of damping arrangement in order to absorb vibrations and shocks. Today's damping arrangements all rely on a combination of introducing a weak stiffness, for instance in the form of spring element combined with an energy absorbing material. Today's damping arrangements lower the axial stiffness by the same amount as the bending stiffness. The guidance systems of a launch vehicle require a structure with a high degree of bending stiffness. This limits the use of today's solutions. There is thus a need for an improved shock damping structure.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for the recovery of vapors of low volatile fluids such as liquid hydrocarbons or liquid chemicals whose vapors may pollute and contaminate the air in a confined space or the atmosphere generally and more particularly to a system an apparatus for the recovery of such vapors by condensation of the vapors at atmospheric pressure through specially designed non-contacting heat exchange apparatus and the supporting cooling systems therefore. Since the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Congress of the United States has required that all persons or organizations handling hydrocarbons or chemicals whose vapors may pollute the air must install means to recover and prevent the contamination of the air by such vapors. For example such vapors are generated and displaced into the atmosphere when all types of tanks are filled with liquid hydrocarbons or liquid chemicals. Such tanks may be large storage tanks, railroad car tanks, truck tanks, underground storage tanks for gasoline stations and fuel tanks on trucks, buses and automobiles. When these various types of tanks are filled with liquid hydrocarbons or liquid chemicals vapors escape into the atmosphere and as is well known such vapors become a source of smog which under certain ambient conditions produce dangerous fog conditions and so pollute the atmosphere that they produce dangerous environmental health hazards for human beings. There are at least four methods with corresponding apparatus for recovering or eliminating these detrimental vapors. These may generally be summarized as burning, adsorption, absorption and condensation. Each of these methods and the associated apparatus have advantages and disadvantages as is well known and understood by those skilled in the art. The present invention treats with the condensation techniques wherein the generated vapors are condensed at atmospheric pressure by non-contacting heat exchange relation i.e. by condensation of the vapors at atmospheric pressures on cold surfaces. This condensation method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention has a low operating cost and does not waste valuable and expensive hydrocarbon fuels such as methane, ethane and propane. Methane, ethane and propane are used in the above described method of burning the vapors and therefor wasted. The condensation method also has a moderate capital cost and low maintanence costs which distinguishes it from the adsorption methods and apparatus where there is a high capital cost for the apparatus and high operating costs because of replacement of the activated charcoal materials used to adsorb the vapors being recovered. It does not have the compression requirements, high capital cost, high operating costs, high maintainence costs and small net recovery of condensed vapor as exist wth respect to the absorption methods and apparatus. The condensation method and apparatus of the present invention has a sufficiently high rate of recovery of hydrocarbons or chemicals that the value thereof may be sufficient to pay for the capital cost of the equipment, the operating and the maintanence cost thereof. Various types of absorption systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,849,150, 3,771,317, 3,815,327 and 3,830,074. Vapor recovery devices which utilize condensing techniques of the non-contacting type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,379,215 and 3,648,436. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,714,790 the vapors to be recovered are compressed and then past in direct contact with a cooling liquid of the same low volatile substance from which the vapors emanated, to condence the vapors and to recover the same. The present invention is directed to the recovery of hydrocarbon vapors and more particularly those hydrocarbon vapors being emitted during the handling of fuels such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet engine fuels etc., which predominately emit vapors such as butane, iso-butane, pentane, iso-pentane and heavier hydrocarbons in access of six carbon linkages. It is known that the percentage of hydrocarbon vapors in the mixture of vapors vented from a given tank or like storage facility as it is filled ranges up to 65% of the vented mixture depending upon the ambient temperature, type of fuel, reed vapor pressure of the fuel, type of tank loading (splash or bottom loading) and the degree of agitation of the tank. The remaining portion of the vented mixture will include, water vapor and non-condensible gases. Water vapor presents a problem in non-contacting condensing apparatus because the condensing surfaces therein disposed for heat exchange relation with the predominant and recoverable vapors above enumerated must be maintained, at atmospheric pressure, in a temperature range of -70.degree. F to -110.degree. F, in order to condense and efficiently cover these fractions of the vented mixture escaping or leaving a given tank. Because the water vapor freezes out of such mixtures at 32.degree. F, it constitutes a difficult component of the vented mixture in that at these temperature ranges for efficient recovery, frost or icing of the non-contacting heat exchange surfaces; in the flow passages of the condensing apparatus and more particularly on the finned surfaces which are generally provided on such heat exchange surface to increase the area of heat exchange; will act either to stop the flow of the vented mixture through the flow passages in the condensing apparatus or will produce a back pressure in the flow passages of the condensing apparatus which will cause the relief valves on the tanks being filled or emptied to open and thus cause recoverable vapors to be expelled to the atmosphere. The present invention overcomes this problem by providing an improved vapor condenser wherein the non-contacting heat exchange surfaces the flow passages therethrough are designed so that frost or icing buildup thereon is prevented from blocking off the flow of the vented mixture through the heat exchange members in the flow passages of the vapor condenser, and the flow passages have a U-shaped design to act as a thermal trap for preventing convection currents of ambient air from entering the vapor condenser at off cycle or low load conditions as the moisture therein would quickly plug the heat exchange surfaces or fins with frost and ice. Further the system includes means to defrost the vapor condenser so as to control and prevent frost or icing of the heat exchange surfaces during the normal course of operation of the system.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Conventionally, there are known an oxide semiconductor type, a fuel cell type, an infrared absorption type, a contact combustion type, and the like as detecting methods of ethanol contained in breath, and there are also proposed a technique for stopping start of an engine by detecting an ethanol concentration of a driver, and the like (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2004-212217, JP-A No. 2004-279228, JP-A No. 2005-296252, JP-A No. H06-197897, JP-A No. 2007-147592). Although a skin structure infrared light absorption method and the like are also proposed as a noninvasive measuring method of ethanol in blood, a time lag occurs until ethanol taken into a body reaches blood, from which a problem of a detection time lag arises. Further, there is proposed a pneumatic infrared detecting apparatus as an accurate non-dispersive infrared analyzer making use of infrared absorption (Readout HORIBA Technical Reports No. 7 July 1993).	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The interferons represent a group of biologically active glycoproteins with proven anti-viral and anti-neoplastic properties. Several subtypes of interferon have been defined based upon differences in antigenic and biological properties. The interferon subtypes are alpha interferon, beta interferon and gamma interferon. Advances in biotechnical research in the past 10 years have resulted in the production of highly purified recombinant DNA interferons. Clinical studies have shown that when used as a single agent, the interferons have antitumor activity in e.g. renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, indolent forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma and hairy cell leukemia. Other tumors including ovarian carcinoma and glioblastoma multiforme appeared to be less responsive to interferon. All subtypes of interferon are not active against all the listed tumors. Radiation therapy is a mainstay in modern cancer treatment with proven efficacy in many human tumors. There is, however, always a need for continued improvement in effectiveness of such treatment. Among the attempts to improve the efficacy of radiation treatment are efforts to develop radiation sensitizers or potentiators which enable the radiation to cause increased tumor destruction. Despite numerous laboratory and clinical studies, no single agent has, to date, emerged as the optimal radiation sensitizer. There have been a small number of studies in the laboratory involving interferon and radiation therapy, however, the results were inconclusive. Dritschilo et al., Am. J. Clinic. Onc. 5 79 (1982) studied the effect on IFN on the radiation response of mouse 3T3 cells in tissue culture. A species specific enhancement of radiation killing of 3T3 cells irradiated in the presence of mouse L-cell interferon was observed as a reduction in the shoulder portion of the cell survival curve. Split-dose experiments designed to test for changes in sub-lethal radiation injury repair failed to demonstrate an inhibitory interferon effect. Dritschilo et al., postulate that interferon potentiates radiation injury possibly by inhibiting the ability of the cultured cells to accumulate sub-lethal radiation injury. Namba et al., Cancer 54, 2262 (1984) confirmed the Dritschilo et al., observations in a study of the combined use of interferon and radiation therapy using HeLa cells. Gould et al., J. Interferon Research 4 123 (1984) observed in vitro radiosensitization of human bronchogenic carcinoma with beta interferon but not with alpha interferon. Gould et al. noted that the degree of radiosensitization of the various interferons paralleled their anti-proliferative effects when used alone on the bronchogenic cell lines. Nevertheless, Gould et al. concluded that the ant-neoplastic effects of the combined use of interferon and radiation were supra-additive indicating radiosensitization. Nederman et al., Acta Radiologica Oncology, 21, 231 (1982) observed enhanced growth retardation in human glioma cell cultures following combined therapy in comparison to interferon and radiotherapy used alone. Nederman et al. attributes their results to the additive antineoplastic effect of the radiation and interferon but could not confirm radiosensitization. Combined radiation and interferon studies have not been reported in animal model systems, primarily because of the species specificity of interferon; Lvovsky et al., Int. J. Rad. Onc. Bio. Phys. 11, 1721 (1985) observed enhanced tumor control using the interferon inducer, poly ICLC and radiation, and radiation in the mouse Lewis lung tumor model. A delay in tumor regrowth and a prolonged duration of survival were observed in the inducer plus radiation animals as compared to either inducer or radiation alone. Mahaley et al., J. Bio. Res. Modifiers 3 19 (1984) reported a phase I study of the combined use of interferon and radiation therapy in nine patients with anaplastic glioma following subtotal resection. Patient survival was comparable to that for a matched group with combined BCNU and radiation therapy. Other reports show unexpected increases in toxicity when combined therapy is used. Real et al., J. Bio. Resp. Modifiers, 4,141 (1985) reported severe oral cavity mucositis in two patients with Daposi's sarcoma requiring cessation of radiotherapy. Mattson et al., J. Biol. Resp. Modifiers 4, 8-17 (1985) reported that the concomitant use of interferon and radiotherapy has been associated with an increased incidence of radiation pneumonitis in patients with small cell carcinoma.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates to a radar system, and, more particularly, to a radar system in which the waveform of the transmitted radar signal is determined according to chaotic coding. In a radar system, a transmitter generates a transmitted radar wave which is propagated through free space. If the transmitted radar wave strikes an object, a portion of its energy is scattered and reflected from the object. A radar receiver has an antenna that receives a portion of the reflected energy. The received signal is analyzed to determine some characteristic of the object that reflected the radar wave, such as its distance or speed. In many types of radar systems, the transmitted radar signal is produced by encoding a carrier signal with a code such as a binary code. The code may be encoded onto the frequency, phase, amplitude, or other characteristic of the carrier signal. The coding is carried by the transmitted and received radar signals, and the correlation of the received code with the transmitted code serves as the basis for obtaining information about the object that reflects the radar wave. For example, if the wave form phase of the transmitted radar signal is encoded with a time series of a known type of code, that same code is correlated to the wave form of the received radar signal to determine the time interval between transmission and receipt of the radar signal. The time interval translates directly to a distance from the transmitter to the object and thence to the receiver, since the propagation velocity of the radar signal is at the constant speed of light. In the common case where the radar transmitter and receiver are at the same location, the radar signal propagation distance is twice the distance between the transmitter/receiver and the target. Great care is taken in selecting the form of the code used to encode the radar signal. In many cases, the code is a repetitive sequence of individual binary pulses that is readily analyzed by the radar receiver. The rate of repetition of the sequence limits the maximum range of the radar, because at greater ranges there can be uncertainty as to which repetition is being matched to the received signal. The repetition rate of the binary pulses within the sequence determines the ranging resolution of the radar, because the receiver cannot resolve distances less than the distance associated with one binary pulse width. The number and character of the binary pulses within each sequence, prior to repetition, determines in part the ability of the radar to unambiguously correlate the transmitted and received signals. Finally, the nature of the coding may be important in minimizing the ability of countermeasures to negate the effectiveness of the radar system, a concern for military radars. Thus, in selecting the coding used in a radar system, there is a constant tension between these various considerations. To obtain good ranging resolution of the radar, the pulse width of one bit of the code should be small. But to obtain good maximum range, there should be a low code sequence repetition rate. There is therefore a need for a radar utilizing a long coding sequence that is readily correlated between the transmitted and received radar signals. Many different types of coding have been developed, studied, and used in an attempt to optimize the performance of radar systems. While these codings are operable in various situations, there is still a need for improvement in radar system performance by selection of improved signal coding. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a honeycomb structure. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a catalyst for converting exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine has been manufactured by carrying a high specific surface area material such as activated alumina and a catalytic metal including a metal such as platinum as a component thereof on the surface of a catalyst carrier having a cordierite-based honeycomb unit. For example, a catalyst for converting exhaust gas that includes a honeycomb-shaped carrier substrate, a catalyst carrying layer formed on the surface of a cell wall of the carrier substrate, and a catalytic noble metal and a NOx occluding material carried on the catalyst carrying layer, characterized in that the catalyst carrying layer is provided such that a portion existing in a range from the surface thereof to a depth of 100 μm occupies 80% or greater of the total volume of the catalyst carrying layer, is disclosed in JP-A-10-263416. Also, a method for manufacturing a honeycomb-shaped fiber reinforced ceramic object characterized by extrusion-molding a composition containing ceramic powder, an inorganic fiber, an inorganic material with a binding property, and, if necessary, an organic binder having plasticity, into a honeycomb shape, then drying the extrusion-molded object, and subsequently firing it at a temperature equal to or less than the melting point or oxidation point of the inorganic fiber, is disclosed in JP-A-5-213681. Further, a honeycomb catalyst for processing exhaust gas containing CO at a low concentration, in which a catalyst component containing a noble metal is carried on a porous honeycomb carrier provided by extrusion-molding and firing its material, wherein the thickness of an inner wall of the honeycomb catalyst is 0.1 through 0.5 mm and the length of it along the direction of gas flow is 50 through 200 mm, is disclosed in JP-A-2003-245547. Additionally, the entire contents of JP-A-10-263416, JP-A-5-213681, and JP-A-2003-245547 are hereby incorporated by reference.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a catheter apparatus with a means for subcutaneous delivery of anesthetic agents or other fluid medicaments, and more particularly to catheter apparatus having subcutaneous infusion ports that provide for the administration of a local anesthesia or other medicaments to an area of subcutaneous tissue through which a cannula has been inserted. 2. The Present State of the Art Catheter devices are widely used for a variety of medical applications. Generally, a catheter is a hollow, tubular cannula that is capable of being inserted into canals, vessels, passageways, or other body cavities so as to permit injection or withdrawal of fluids, or to keep a passage open. Other catheter devices are used for controlling, directing and placing medical devices, such as intubation tubes or dilation catheters, into a body cavity, such as the trachea, a blood vessel, or the heart These types of insertion catheters are commonly referred to as intubators, insertion sheaths, and/or dilators. Given that catheters are used for such a wide variety of applications, catheters are implemented in a variety of designs, shapes and sizes. However, when used, almost all catheters Share the universal characteristic of having to be passed through the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the patient so as to be inserted into the proper body cavity. Depending on the medical procedure, the catheter is very often left in the body cavity over a relatively long period of time. As such, the skin and subcutaneous tissue through which the catheter device is inserted often becomes very swollen and tender, and thus extremely sensitive. Consequently, when the catheter is eventually retracted from the patient, the patient will often experience great discomfort. This discomfort may agitate the patient and thereby hinder the ability of medical personnel to effectively retract the catheter and/or treat the patient. For example, in a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedure, a patient is administered a local anesthesia and an intravascular sheath introducer (a type of catheter device) is inserted through the patient's skin in the groin area and into the femoral artery. In so doing, the sheath introducer necessarily passes through the area of subcutaneous tissue that lies between the skin and the femoral artery. Once inserted, the sheath introducer catheter provides a means for introducing the dilation catheter for performing the PTCA procedure. Following the PTCA procedure, the sheath introducer is usually left within the femoral artery for a period ranging between four to twenty-four hours. Typically, the sheath is left in place because blood thinning drugs, such as Heparin, are administered to the patient. The effects of such drugs must wear off before the sheath can be removed in order to avoid hemorrhaging problems. Similarly, the device may be left in the patient as a precaution, in case quick access to the femoral artery is needed due to subsequent complications, such as an abrupt closure of the artery. In any event, by the time the sheath is retracted, the patient's skin and subcutaneous tissue through which the catheter is inserted is typically very swollen, bruised and tender. Also, by this time, the numbing effects of the earlier administered local anesthesia have completely worn off. Consequently, as the sheath is retracted from the femoral artery, the subcutaneous tissue and the overlying skin, the patient can experience considerable pain. Pain experienced during sheath removal is known to occasionally cause vasovagal syncope type reactions, which can potentially result in a variety of undesirable patient responses--including a drop in blood pressure and heart rate. This can be hazardous when it occurs so soon after the PTCA procedure, and may thus require treatment with intravenous Atropine, or other drugs. Pain may also cause the patient to become agitated, which makes it difficult for medical personnel to properly administer arterial compression. This can lead to a hematoma formation within the subcutaneous tissue adjacent to the catheter. Although medical personnel can administer a local anesthesia to the area, this must be done with a hypodermic needle, which usually causes as much discomfort or pain as the actual retraction of the catheter device. Thus, there is not a medical device available which adequately relieves a patient's discomfort during catheter retraction, and there is a need to be able to administer a local anesthesia to the subcutaneous tissue surrounding a catheter device prior to the retraction of the device, in a relatively painless and easy manner.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates, in general, to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to such structures having a barrier layer of titanium. Diffusion barriers are typically used in semiconductor manufacturing when it is desired to prevent diffusion of certain materials used to form various conductive, semiconductive, or insulating layers of a semiconductor device. An example of one situation where it is desirable to prevent such diffusion is the formation of metal contacts to silicon, such as in a platinum to silicon contact. In the absence of a diffusion barrier between the platinum and silicon, platinum atoms diffuse into the bulk silicon material and silicon atoms diffuse into the bulk platinum material. Further, at the elevated operating temperatures typically used for semiconductor devices such as some chemical sensors, the platinum and silicon will diffuse and react to form platinum silicide at the contact interface. This diffusion and reaction severely degrade the quality of the contact, including an increase in contact resistance. Also, in certain chemical sensor applications the sensor will be exposed to an oxygen-containing ambient. In the absence of a diffusion barrier, oxygen from the ambient being sensed can diffuse into interior portions of the sensor containing silicon and chromium, which can be oxidized by this diffused oxygen. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a diffusion barrier that would prevent diffusion of metals, silicon, and oxygen while maintaining contact integrity, including during operation at elevated temperatures.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering wheel in which a portion of a core metal is covered with a wooden part, and to a method for manufacturing the same. 2. Description of the Related Art A steering wheel used in a steering device of a vehicle, or the like, is provided with a core metal (a core grid) made of a metal having a ring-shaped rim portion, a boss portion formed at a central portion of the rim portion, and spoke portions for connecting the rim portion and the boss portion integrally. Further, outer coverings are usually attached at a portion of the rim portion and a portion of each spoke portion of the core metal for improving the touch when a driver holds the steering wheel. Some steering wheels employ woods for the outer coverings in order to meet various demands from users, such as matching the steering wheel with interior decoration of the vehicle. Usually, when woods (wooden outer covers) are partly employed as the outer coverings, and the remaining portions, in which the wooden outer covers are not attached, are covered with synthetic resins such as urethane, the core metal is put in a metal mold for injection molding in a state in which the wooden outer covers, which have been shaped, painted, and the like, are attached at the rim portion. In this state, urethane resin is injected into the metal mold to cover the remaining portions in which the wooden outer covers are not attached with the urethane resin. However, if the injection molding of the urethane resin is carried out in this manner, surfaces of the wooden outer covers are likely to contact and be scratched by the metal mold when the core metal is put in the metal mold. Therefore, in this case, workers have to pay close attention so as not to contact the wooden outer covers with the metal mold, and this makes the work inefficient. In view of the aforementioned, objects of the present invention are to provide a steering wheel having partially applied wooden outer covers, which can be produced without having the wooden outer covers scratched, and the like, and can be produced with high working efficiency, as well as to provide a method for manufacturing the same. A first aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a steering wheel comprising steps of: attaching a wood member formed from a pure wooden material at a portion of a core metal which is formed in a ring shape; forming an outer covering core material from a synthetic resin material around a predetermined site of the core metal other than a portion at which the wood member is attached; shaping the wood member attached to the core metal after the outer covering core material is formed at the predetermined site. A second aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a steering wheel according to the first aspect further comprising a step of attaching a limiting member to the core metal at a portion between the wood material and the outer covering core material for limiting relative displacement of the wood member with respect to the outer covering core material along a circumferential direction of the core metal. In the above-described method for manufacturing a steering wheel, first, the wood members formed from a pure wooden material of wood are attached at portions of the core metal which is formed in a ring shape in a step for attaching wood members. Then, in a step for forming core materials, the outer covering core materials are formed from synthetic resin material around predetermined sites of the core metal other than the portions thereof, at which the wood members are attached. Further, after the step of forming the core materials, outline of the wood members are shaped in a step of shaping. Note that, since the wood members are shaped after the outer covering core materials are formed in this manufacturing method, even if the outer surfaces of the wood members are scratched when the outer covering core materials are formed, quality of appearance of the wood members in finished state is not degraded. Moreover, in the second aspect, in a step of attaching the limiting members, the limiting members are attached to the core metal at portions thereof between the outer covering core materials and the shaped wood members, and the limiting members limit relative displacement of the wood members with respect to the outer covering core materials along the circumferential direction of the core metal. That is, since the wood members are shaped after the outer covering core materials are formed in this manufacturing method as described above, minimum spaces are required between the wood members and the outer covering core materials upon shaping the wood members. In this manufacturing method, the limiting members are attached to fill the spaces after the wood members are shaped, and therefore, appearance (of the steering wheel) is not degraded and, at the same time, displacement of the wood members can be limited. A third aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a steering wheel according to the second aspect further comprising a step of attaching a covering member for covering the outer covering core material and the limiting member from outside to the outer covering core material and the limiting member attached to the core metal. In the above-described method for manufacturing a steering wheel, the covering portions are attached to both of the outer covering core materials and the limiting members so as to cover the outer covering core materials and the limiting members in the step of attaching covering portions. Thus, the outer covering core materials and the limiting members appear as if they are continuous (integral), and the limiting members are not seen from outside, thereby improving appearance (of the steering wheel). A fourth aspect of the present invention is a steering wheel comprising: a core metal formed in a substantial ring shape; an outer covering core material for covering a portion of the core metal; a wood member formed from a pure wooden material, for covering the core metal at a side of the outer covering core material along a circumferential direction of the core metal; and a limiting member, which is placed between the outer covering core material and the wood member, for limiting relative displacement of the wood member with respect to the outer covering core material along the circumferential direction of the core metal. In the steering wheel having the above-described structure, the limiting members are attached between the wood members and the outer covering core materials attached to the core metal, and the limiting members limit relative displacement of the wood members with respect to the outer covering core materials. A width, in the circumferential direction of the core metal, of the limiting member is determined on the basis of a space between the outer covering core material and the wood member which is needed in the shaping of the wood member. (Preferably, the width is the same as the space) That is, in a state before the limiting members are attached to the core metal, there are enough spaces for allowing displacement of the wood members with respect to the outer covering core materials. Presence of these spaces allows shaping, and the like, of the wood members after attachment (forming) of the outer covering core materials. Therefore, even if the outer surfaces of the wood members are scratched when the outer covering core materials are formed, and the like, since the wood member are shaped thereafter, quality of appearance of the steering wheel in a finished state is not degraded. A fifth aspect of the present invention is the steering wheel according to the fourth aspect further comprising a covering member for covering the outer covering core material and the limiting member from outside. In the steering wheel having the above-described structure, the limiting members and the outer covering core materials are covered with the covering members. Thus, the outer covering core materials and the limiting members appear as if they are continuous (integral), and the limiting members are not seen from outside, thereby improving appearance (of the steering wheel). A sixth aspect of the present invention is the steering wheel according to the fourth aspect, wherein a cross section in an axial direction of the core metal of the limiting member is smaller than a cross section in the axial direction of the core metal of the wooden member. A seventh aspect of the present invention is the steering wheel according to the fourth aspect, wherein the limiting member comprises an occupant side member and a counter occupant side member. An eighth aspect of the present invention is the steering wheel according to the fourth aspect, wherein the limiting member is made of a single piece. In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the cross section, in the axial direction of the core metal, of the limiting member is smaller than the cross section, in the axial direction of the core metal, of the wooden member. In the seventh aspect of the present invention, the limiting member comprises the occupant side member and the counter occupant side member. To be more concrete, an occupant side surface of the occupant side member of the limiting member in the axial direction of the core metal is formed to be positioned at a counter-occupant side, along the axial direction of the core metal, from an occupant side surface of the wood member in the axial direction of the core metal. Further, a counter occupant side surface of the counter occupant side member of the limiting member in the axial direction of the core metal is formed to be positioned at an occupant side, along the axial direction of the core metal, from a counter occupant side surface of the wood member in the axial direction of the core metal. Therefore, forming the covering member on the limiting member and the outer covering core material becomes easy, and by forming the covering member on the limiting member and the outer covering core material, the limiting member and the outer covering core material cannot be seen from outside. Therefore, appearance (of the steering wheel) is improved. In the eighth aspect of the present invention, because the limiting member is made of a single piece, reduction of a number of parts can be archived.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
As known, metal sheet and panel cutting centres are systems intended for cutting planar surfaces, having sometimes a very complex perimeter, starting from a typically rectangular sheet (for example measuring 1500×3000 mm with a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 20 mm). The cut is performed employing various techniques, also based on the composition of the sheet material: for example, there are machines employing laser cutting, oxygen lance cutting, water-jet cutting, plasma cutting and so forth. A particular sector is that of metal sheet cutting, which is typically performed employing laser devices. In this sector, in the loading and unloading phase to and from the cutting centre, there is the need to handle sheets of a non-negligible weight. Typically, sheets are stored in a warehouse, where they are stacked, for example according to even thicknesses, wherefrom they must be taken and laid into a collection point in the order in which they must be used (hence also with different thicknesses). From the collecting point, the loading/unloading system must individually take the virgin sheets and lay them onto the movable tray of the cutting centre. Once the cutting is complete, the loading/unloading system must again take the cut pieces and forward them to unloading and palletising. The peculiarity of this process lies in the fact that the virgin sheet and the cut pieces are very different products and hence require a lifting and handling system which is capable of handling at the same time two rather different work conditions. Moreover, the cut pieces are rarely repetitive in size and arrangement between one sheet and the next. In order to meet these requirements, it is possible to use two different techniques. The most commonly used technique provides to arrange a bridge-like castle framework, opposite the cutting centre, whereon both a raiser with suction-cup gripper—which is intended to handle the virgin sheet—and a forklift—which is intended to take the cut-in sheet and to transfer it into the unloading station—are translatable. An example of such system is the ACS model available from Antil SpA. This solution is very popular, also due to its simplicity and ease of control, but it implies some drawbacks. The main problem is due to the fact that the cut-in sheet cannot be fully disassembled into individual components, otherwise the forklift might not operate correctly. This implies that the cutting programme does not complete any of the cuts of the individual pieces, but always leaves one or more small connecting bridges having a common frame (which then makes up work off-cuts). Therefore, once the cut-in sheet has been unloaded, it is necessary to break these small connecting bridges to free the individual pieces from the off-cuts: this task is traditionally performed by hand, with the imaginable consequences in terms of cost and performance time. Moreover, it is necessary that the suction loading system consists of a large number of small vacuum cups, otherwise it would be unable to impart an adequate force for lifting the weight of thick metal sheets. A second technology which may be employed in a loading/unloading system is that of Cartesian mechanical hands, which is traditionally used also in a number of other similar sectors. A Cartesian robotized hand typically consists of a retaining member, for example a vacuum cup, mounted at the end of a support mounted movable on a pair of bridge cranes: by suitably controlling driving motors, it is possible to move and position the retaining member into a desired point X, Y of the plane. In the cases in which the retaining member is also vertically translatable on the movable support, it is possible to obtain the desired positioning along the Z axis, thereby achieving an overall positioning in the Cartesian space X, Y, Z. A suitably-sized and suitably-configured Cartesian mechanical hand is hence suited to the handling of sheets also. The advantage of a suitably controlled mechanical hand is that of being able to perform a simple, repetitive translating movement, useful for the loading of a virgin sheet, but also of performing more complex movements, such as the identification of a single workpiece cut out from the sheet, the lifting thereof and the transfer thereof into a desired unloading position. For transferring a large and heavy object, such as a metal sheet, it is also widely known to resort to the coordinated (i.e. synchronous) movement of two or more Cartesian mechanical hands, so that it is not necessary to use a single, very sturdy mechanical hand which must necessarily act in the centre of gravity of the object. As can be guessed, resorting to Cartesian mechanical hands makes the system more flexible, even though it causes more problems in terms of tuning. In particular, the workpieces may be completely cut and separated from the cut-off structure, because they are then taken individually by the mechanical hands and orderly stacked in the unloading station, which makes useless the subsequent manual separation action. Again, as known, such a system is by its nature suited to operate unmanned continuously for many hours. The present invention fits in this sector. In particular, the object of the invention is that of providing a loading/unloading system with Cartesian mechanical hands which is particularly efficient and suited to meet the peculiar requirements in the handling of metal sheets serving cutting centres. As a matter of fact, in this field, as well as in similar fields, the handling system normally provides a single bridge crane whereon a single Cartesian mechanical hand is supported translatable, or a pair of mechanical hands, equipped with suction-cup ends: this configuration is not fully satisfactory for transferring large and heavy workpieces, such as full virgin metal sheets or cut-off structures, or to have a good unloading productivity of the cut workpieces. Furthermore, when it is necessary to exploit simultaneously both mechanical hands for lifting a large piece, it is no longer possible to change the orientation thereof in the plane, because the pair of mechanical hands remains necessarily aligned on the same bridge crane. Moreover, the suction-cup gripping elements are unable, individually, to lift heavy loads: it is hence necessary to make a compromise choice between a large number of suction cups—which, however, increases the bulk of the gripping head of the hand—and a small number of suction cups, which, however are unable to lift heavy pieces. It must furthermore be noted that the unloading of the cut-off structure is critical, because it does not offer a surface wide enough to allow the suction cups to operate correctly: there is hence a significant limit to said structure weight. Finally, there is a problem connected with the feeding tray of the handling centre: as a matter of fact, it should be made of sturdy metal materials, to meet the requirements related to the handling apparatus, but at the same time it is intended to interact with the laser cutting machine within which it might undergo accidental welding to the sheets to be cut. Therefore, the Applicant set himself the object of solving these drawbacks of the known art.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Firearms typically include a rail assembly, such as a picatinny rail, for the attachment of accessories. One such accessory is a scope. Scopes provide a user with a magnified field of view that facilitates more accurate shot placement. Typically, scope mount assemblies are used to attach the scope to the firearm. Many scope mount assemblies, however, utilize a substantial amount of the rail assembly of the firearm and/or the scope may interfere with the use of certain portions of the rail assembly of the firearm.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The HTML, or other, code that makes up each web page on the World Wide Web is commonly dynamically generated by an event-driven program that is running on server hardware. This type of program is known as a web application. In the following, the terms “web server” will be used to refer to the logical entity that provides a web page in response to an http request and “web application” to the set of components that provide this function using general-purpose computing platforms within general-purpose operating environments such as are provided by the Microsoft Windows, Linux or HP-UX operating systems and their related programming libraries and tools. Web applications are generally event-driven interactive systems which react to HTTP requests from the client, the http request being directed to a web address (a URL). The web application will generate and return a web page to the browser. The difference between this type of arrangement and a simple “static” site is that each action the user takes can have some semantics associated with it. In other words, the resulting web page can differ according to the user, the current time or other factors prevailing in the system. When the web application receives an event, it is arranged to evaluate the received event and decide how to respond to the client. This evaluation process may involve interaction with business logic of some kind. The interaction with the business logic can take place independently of the screen design or user interface and often involves transactions with back-end systems, such as remote databases. Web servers typically provide for user sessions which enable session data relating to a series of http requests from a single user to be retained on the server. A modern production web server would normally be arranged to conduct a relatively large number of user sessions in parallel. Since multiple http requests can be received at the same time by a web server, the processing of requests by a web server is inherently multi-threaded and, in most modern web servers, each request is normally processed by a separate thread or process, depending on the design. A state machine may be used for controlling a web application. Where a state machine is used to control the web application, each user session will normally have a single state machine instance that will only be affected by http requests pertaining to that session. However some protection of the state machine data for each session must be put in place to avoid concurrency problems due to access by multiple threads processing separate events from the same session, corresponding, for instance, to multiple mouse clicks from a single user. The simplest approach to this is would be to place a lock on the state contexts at the time the state machine starts processing an event. Using this approach, further event processing would then be disabled until processing of the event is complete. However, it is possible in such systems that a state transition and the generation of a new web page to display may take a significant amount of time and that during that time further events may be deliberately generated by the user. For instance, before a new page can be generated, the user may change their mind as to what they want to do, or may simply lose patience. If the processing of events were to be isolated by holding a coarse-grained lock on event reception until the event is fully processed, there would be no way for a user to change their mind when they click to perform an action that takes a long time to complete: the lock would not allow a new event to be processed until the previous action has run to completion.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention This device relates to devices for measuring force and particularly to a device that measures the force exerted by the flexure spring that supports a magnetic recording head. 2. Prior Art and Informatio Disclosure Statement Disk files for magnetic recording include a one or more magnetic recording heads held against a rotating memory disk. The surface of the head facing the moving disk surface is contoured so that an airbearing is generated at the interface (the region between the two surfaces) that maintains the separation of the two surfaces. The separation for present day disk files is less than five microinches. It must be maintained very accurately, i.e. within a microinch in order to maintain a uniform predictable recording signal from the head and in order to help prevent contact between the two surfaces that would lead to damage of the recording surface. The force that maintains the head at this spacing from the disk is very small, typically grms. and must be maintained at a precise value. The standard construction for supporting the head is a leaf spring or flexure of a thin metal sheet, typically about an inch or so long and one half an inch wide in todays diskfiles. The head is secured at one end of the broad side of the flexure facing the disk. The other end of the flexure is clamped to the arm of an actuator that positions the head on the desired recording track on the disk surface. The precise value of force applied by the head against the disk can only be achieved by accurately positioning the clamping location with respect to the disk surface and by accurately controlling various factors that influence fexing of the flexure. These factors include, dimensions of the flexure (including thickness), the location of the head on the flexure relative to the clamping location, residual stresses in the flexure that might affect flatness of the flexure in the unstressed condition, etc. Because of the criticality of the head force load and the numerous factors that must be controlled to achieve the required head load force, it is standard practice to test the flexing properties of each head-flexure assembly before it is built into the diskfile assembly. A device and method for testing the force characteristics of the head flexure assembly has been developed by the Automatech Corporation located in Santa Cruz, Calif. The test device includes a reference plate having a plate reference surface. A load cell is mounted on the plate reference surface and has a cell reference surface against which the force to be measured is applied thereby generating an electronic signal. The signal is displayed as force against the cell surface expressed in grams. The device is calibrated by resting a precisely known calibrating weight on the cell reference surface then adjusting electronic parameters of the measuring circuit until the displayed value of force equals the calibrating weight. This procedure ensures that the cell display will present an accurate measurement of the force exerted against the cell reference surface. Next, a test yoke is placed on the reference surface straddling the cell reference surface so that a reference surface on the yoke faces the cell reference surface. The legs of the yoke have been precisely machined so that the difference between the height of the reference surface on the yoke above the plate reference surface and the height of a flexure clamp surface above the plate reference surface equals a value corresponding to the distance of the flexure clamping surface on the file from the disk surface. Then a screw connecting the cell to the reference plate is turned to bring the cell reference surface into contact with the yoke reference surface. Contact of the cell reference surface with the yoke reference surface is that position of the screw where the display of force jumps from zero to a value greater than ten milligrams (since the display of present devices will read no smaller than ten milligrams and the present screw arrangement allows for no controlled adjustment finer than ten milligrams. The steps described in the two preceding paragraphs are the steps required to calibrate the force testing device to display the correct force when the flexure is clamped in the test device with the head in contact with the cell reference surface so that the flexure is bent an amount equal to the bend that is imposed on the same flexure when mounted in the disk file. The quality control procedure is to place each head-flexure assembly in the calibrated test fixture so that the test device will display a force that must be within prescribed limits in order for it to be accepted for mounting into a disk file. The device according to the prior art displays a value of force out to hundredths of a gram thereby requiring a requirement to calibrate the device to within a hundredth of a gram. The present trend in disk files is toward ever smaller disk files requiring smaller head loading forces and calibration procedures that are mor precise than ten milligrams.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention is concerned with special vehicle seats. Heretofore, each vehicle car seat was a small removable seat generally equipped with a restraining device or harness and can be fastened to the seat of a vehicle for securing a person in the vehicle. Most often it is a seat that is portable for use in the automobile and fastens onto a car's built-in seat and is used for securing a small child in a car's regular seating position. The seat is removable and is designed to hold the small child safely while riding in the automobile and attaches to a standard seat with hooks or straps and detaches from the standard seat by unhooking the hooks and straps. As referred to herein, the term ‘car seat’ includes a ‘car booster seat’, generally used for a child who has outgrown both an infant car seat and a toddler car seat and lifts the child by several inches. As with an infant car seat, a booster seat is placed on a vehicle adult seat and is designed to restrain the child in the booster seat employing the built-in adult seat belt of the vehicle. A booster seat is generally recommended for children from 40 to 80 pounds. Many booster seats are designed without a back and the child seated on it is lifted by several inches and restrained employing an adult built-in seat belt. Herein, a person using and/or needing a car seat is referred to as a car seat user. Also, although reference is made to infants, toddlers and/or children, this invention is applicable to any car seat user that uses and/or needs a car seat when traveling in a land, sea or air vehicle. Thus the term ‘car seat’ is used for a removable vehicle seat generally equipped with a restraining device or harness and can be fastened to the seat of a vehicle for securing a person in the vehicle. It is noted that when seating is required for a plurality of car seat users, a separate car seat is needed for each car seat user. Thus each car seat user uses up a separate regular seat built into the vehicle. Thus a family or group including a plurality of children and/or other car seat users is limited in seating capacity by the adult seating capacity of the vehicle being used. This limitation manifests itself as a serious problem for large families and/or groups that find it difficult to meet children car seat needs for all their children or to meet the needs of car seat users of the group. These families must either not meet car seating requirements or leave one or more children out of the vehicle. It would be advantageous to find a way to better utilize the adult seating capacity in a vehicle to provide more seating for persons in car seats than is provided by the vehicle's adult seating capacity. Besides cars, this may be particularly useful in vans, buses or other land, water or air vehicles.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Vehicles equipped with diesel engines typically include exhaust systems that have aftertreatment components such as selective catalytic reduction catalyst devices, lean NOx catalyst devices, or lean NOx trap devices to reduce the amount of undesirable gases, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust. In order for these types of aftertreatment devices to work properly, a doser injects reactants, such as urea, ammonia, or hydrocarbons, into the exhaust gas. As the exhaust gas and reactants flow through the aftertreatment device, the exhaust gas and reactants convert the undesirable gases, such as NOx, into more acceptable gases, such as nitrogen and oxygen. However, the efficiency of the aftertreatment system depends upon how evenly the reactants are mixed with the exhaust gases. Therefore, there is a need for a flow device that provides a uniform mixture of exhaust gases and reactants.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to printed wiring board capable of forming an electrical connection to an external device. Conventionally, a printed wiring board is provided with a connecting terminal for forming an electrical connection to an external device, such as an other printed wiring board or other electronic equipment. The electric connection is realized by connecting a connecting terminal to another flexible printed wiring board by thermo-bonding or by inserting the connecting terminal to a connector of external devices. FIGS. 6 and 7 show a conventional printed wiring board having such construction. An insulating base material 61 is provided having one surface with a predetermined circuit 62 formed by an operation such as screen printing exposure, etching or the like. Reference numeral 63 is a connecting terminal formed on the end portion of the base material simultaneously with the formation of the circuit 62. This connecting, terminal informing an electrical connection to the an external device. A terminal circuit 64 is also connected to the connecting terminal 63. A region including the circuit 62 of the base material 61 and the terminal circuit 64 is coated by a solder resist layer 65, thereby protecting them from oxidation. In this case, the solder resist layer 65 is not coated on a connection terminal forming region 66 for ejecting the electric connection to the external equipment. In such a construction, the connecting terminal 63 may be subjected to insulation failure due to oxidization and an adhesion strength of thermo-bonding for the electric connection becomes insufficient. Thus, it is conventionally necessary to reinforce the connecting terminal 63. To ,this end, respective connecting terminals 63 are coated with a protecting layer 67. This protecting layer 67 is formed by printing conductive carbon ink on the base material 61. As shown in FIG. 7, a part of this protecting layer 67 is overlapped on the end portion of the previously applied solder resist layer 65. As circuits becoming more dense, the distance between the connecting terminals 63 formed on the base material 61 becomes more narrow. In the conventional printed wiring board, a short-circuit results between the connecting terminals 63 and insulation becomes deteriorated. In other words, a copper foil, such as the connecting terminal provided on the base material 61, has a thickness of about 35 .mu.m, and solder resist layer 65 has a thickness of 14.about.17 .mu.m, so that stepped level differences of 49.about.52 .mu.m are caused on the surface of the base material 61, and thus the protecting layer 67 must be printed on such a stepped level differences. On printing the protecting layer on the stepped level differences, as shown in FIG. 8, a blur 68 of the protecting layer 67 occurs at the overlapped portion of the protecting layer 67 and the solder resist layer 65. When such a blur 68 occurs on the high densified connecting terminal 63, a bridged connecting is generated between adjacent connection terminals 63, so that the connecting terminals 63 are short-circuited to each other and the insulating property between the connecting terminals 63 becomes inferior.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a mobile communication system, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for transmitting an RPC (Reverse Power Control) channel in a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) mobile communication system. 2. Description of the Related Art Long signal paths and shadowing worsen signal attenuation, inter-system interference, and fading in a radio environment. Thus the carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I) of a signal varies greatly according to channel condition. Standardized mobile communication systems adopt link adaptive techniques of controlling a data rate according to channel condition or C/I to increase channel throughput. The data rate is determined by a code rate and a modulation scheme. When the C/I is higher, the data rate is increased by using a higher code rate and a higher-order modulation. When the C/I is lower, the data rate is decreased by using a lower code rate and a lower-order modulation, thereby increasing channel reliability. A receiver estimates channel condition on the basis of a C/I, determines a data rate according to the estimated channel condition, and feeds back information about the data rate to a transmitter. Then the transmitter assigns the requested data rate to the receiver. The Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) has established 1× EV-DO (Evolution-Data Only) and HDR (High Data Rate) standards for the purpose of supporting high-speed data service based on cdma200 1× standards. According to the standards, a transmitter is known as an AN (Access Network) and a receiver is known as an AT (Access Terminal) if it is forward link. On the 1× EV-DO physical layer adopting a link adaptive technique, 12 data rates are available according to three modulation schemes including QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying), 8PSK (8-ary Phase Shift Keying), and 16QAM (16-ary Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), two code rates (i.e., ⅕ and ⅓), and packet length. An AT determines a data rate at which it can receive a forward traffic channel by measuring the C/I of a forward pilot channel and feeds back data rate information to an AN so that the AN can select a forward data rate based on the feed-back information. The data rate information is DRC (Data Rate Control) information. The DRC information is represented by a 4-bit DRC symbol transmitted on a DRC channel. Aside from the DRC information, the AT transmits 3-bit information indicating a sector that will be serviced among eight effective sectors on the DRC channel. The 3-bit sector information is defined as a DRC cover indicative of the index of an orthogonal code for covering such as a Walsh code. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of channel structure in an AN of a conventional mobile communication system supporting high-speed data transmission. The channel structure is comprised of a traffic and control channel 101 to 108, a preamble 111 and 112, a MAC (Media Access Control) channel 121 to 123 and 131 to 134, and a pilot channel 141. In the traffic and control channel, an encoder 101 encodes forward traffic/control channel information. A scrambler 102 scrambles the code symbols received from the encoder 101 with a predetermined scrambling code and a modulator 103 modulates the scrambled symbols by one of QPSK, 8PSK and 16QAM according to a data rate. A puncturing and repetition unit 104 punctures and repeats the modulation symbols received from the modulator 103 in a predetermined rule to match the data rate. A symbol demultiplexer (DEMUX) 105 demultiplexes the output of the puncturing and repetition unit 104. The outputs of the symbol DEMUX 105 are spread with orthogonal codes such as Walsh codes. A channel gain processor 107 multiplies each spread channel signal by a predetermined gain (e.g., ¼) and a chip level summer 108 sums the outputs of the channel gain processor 107 on a chip level. In the preamble, a spreader 111 spreads a preamble signal with a Walsh code Wi32 assigned according to a MAC index and a preamble repeater 112 repeats the spread signal a predetermined number of times according to the data rate. A MAC channel is divided into an RA (Reverse Activity) channel and an RPC channel. Each channel is spread with a length 64 Walsh code. An RA bit repeater 121 repeats a 1-bit RAB (Reverse Activity Bit) according to a repetition factor set in RABLength. The RAB provides information about reverse link interference load and is broadcast to all ATs within the sector. An RA channel gain processor 122 multiplies the output of the RA bit repeater 121 by an RA channel gain and a spreader 123 spreads the output of the RA gain processor 122 with a predetermined Walsh code W464. An RPC channel gain processor 131 multiplies RPC bits by a channel gain G(i). The RPC bits indicate reverse power control information for an AT with MACIndex i. The AN measures the C/I of the reverse link from the AT with MACIndex i. If the C/I is lower than a threshold, the RPC bits are set to ‘0’ (UP) and if the C/I is higher than the threshold, they are set to ‘1’ (DOWN). A spreader 132 spreads the output of the RPC channel gain processor 131 with a predetermined Walsh code Wi64. A chip level summer 133 sums the outputs of the spreaders 123 and 132 at a chip level. A repeater 134 repeats the sum according to a predetermined repetition factor (e.g., 4). The transmission power of the RA channel and the RPC channel is maintained to be the same as that of the traffic, control, and pilot channels. In the pilot channel, a spreader 141 spreads a pilot signal with all 0s on an In-phase channel with a predetermined Walsh code, Walsh 0. A time-division multiplexer (MUX) 151 time-division multiplexes the outputs of the traffic and control channel, the preamble, the MAC channel, and the pilot channel according to a predetermined rule. A complex spreader 152 complex-spreads the outputs of the time-division MUX 151 with a predetermined PN (Pseudo Noise) code. A baseband filter 153 baseband-filters the PN-spread signal. The resulting signal is modulated with a corresponding carrier and transmitted to an AT through an antenna. Here, the transmission power is maintained to be reference transmission power, which can be set usually to the highest transmission power level of the transmitter. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the structures of slots in which the multiplexed forward traffic/control channel, MAC channel, and pilot channel output from the time-division MUX 151. FIG. 2A illustrates an active slot in which a traffic/control channel is delivered. In the active slot, each of two 96-chip pilot bursts is located at the center of each half slot. A 64-chip symbol of the MAC channel containing the RA channel and the RPC channel occurs four times in the slot, before and after the two pilot bursts. The remaining 1600 chips of the slot are occupied by the traffic/control channel. FIG. 2B illustrates an idle slot free of the traffic/control channel. In the idle slot, only the pilot channel and the MAC channel are delivered. The AN transmits the time-division multiplexed traffic/control, MAC, and pilot channels with its highest transmission power on the forward link. The MAC channel includes one RA channel and up to 59 RPC channels that are code-division multiplexed using 64 Walsh codes. Each of the channels is transmitted with its channel gain. A MAC index is assigned to the RA channel and each RPC channel. Each channel is spread with a 64 Walsh code corresponding to its assigned MAC index. For example, Walsh code 4 is assigned to the RA channel and different Walsh codes between Walsh code 5 to Walsh code 63 are assigned to each RPC channel. Since the RA channel is broadcast to all ATs within a sector, its channel gain is determined such that the reception energy of RA channels accumulated in as many slots as RABLength with respect to an AT at a cell boundary satisfies a reference RF error performance. On the other hand, each RPC channel is destined for a specific AT within the sector and up to 59 RPC channels exist. Because of limited power available to all the RPC channels, a channel gain sufficient to satisfy a reference RPC error performance cannot be assigned to each AT within the sector. As the number of ATs increases or an AT moves farther from an AN, channel gain requirements are increased. If the sum of RPC channel gains required to ensure sufficient RPC performance for all ATs is higher than the total power assigned to all of the RPC channels, a required channel gain cannot be assigned to each RPC channel or an RPC channel cannot be assigned to some ATs. As a result, the power control performance of each AT is seriously deteriorated. As the number of ATs increases, as more ATs are located at a cell boundary, and as the reception channel condition of ATs are bad, an RPC channel power assigned to each AT becomes less. Some of ATs within the sector may be in a soft handoff situation and thus are assigned RPC channels from at least two sectors. If received RPC bits are identical, the AT detects the RPC bit by diversity-combining the RPC channels received from the sectors. On the other hand, if the RPC bits are different, the AT detects them and increases its transmission power only when both RPC bits are ‘0’ (UP). That is, an RPC channel delivers information for controlling the transmission power of an AT. As described above, one AT occupies RPC channels from at least two sectors to achieve the diversity gain of the RPC channels at a soft handoff. However, power that could be assigned to an RPC channel for another AT is consumed for the benefit of the diversity gain, which causes a potential RPC channel power shortage and decreases the power control performance of the AT. What is worse, since the AT at soft-handoff is near a cell boundary and experiences degraded channel condition, it requires a higher channel gain to satisfy corresponding RPC channel error performance. If there are many concurrent ATs at soft-handoff, the RPC channel power shortage becomes more severe. Although the number of ATs at soft-handoff varies with sector size, AT distribution within the sector, and channel condition, a soft-handoff AT consumes much more RPC channel power than an AT in a normal operating situation. Thus it can be concluded that since at soft handoff, an AT requires relatively high RPC channel power from at least two sectors, leading to a potential RPC channel power shortage, degrading the overall reverse link power control performance and simultaneously reducing the number of available RPC channels.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a chip inductor, and in particular to a method for manufacturing a surface mountable chip inductor used for electric appliances, etc. 2. Description of the Prior Art A chip inductor is used for various electric appliances such as electronic home appliances as well electronic industrial equipment, etc. Recently, responsive to miniaturization and lightweight trends of various electric appliances, electric parts for electric appliances are also being miniaturized and rendered lighter. In the meantime, as a result of the development of digital communication, the frequency being used is gradually extended to a high frequency region, and accordingly, electromagnetic interference conditions have deteriorated. Most electronic devices are surface-mounted on a printed circuit board to automate fabrication processes. However, because the surface-mounted devices have a square shape, the conventional cylindrical inductor has difficulty in surface mounting. An inductor is divided into a wire wound type and a stacked type, each having different application fields and fabrication methods. In a wire wound type inductor, a coil is wound on a base body such as a magnetic material, etc. In this case, as the number of windings increases in order to get a high inductance, the high frequency characteristic deteriorates based on the increased number of windings, because a stray capacitance is present between the wound coils. In the meantime, in a stacked type inductor, a base body is the same as the wire wound type inductor, but green sheets having internal electrodes printed as a spiral shape are stacked instead of a wound coil. Pressurization and sintering are performed on the stacked green sheets, and an external electrode is placed at both ends of the base body. The stacked type inductor is surface mounted on a circuit board and is used for noise elimination or impedance matching, etc., it is appropriate to for mass production and at the same time has an excellent high frequency characteristic by using Ag (silver) as an internal electrode. On the contrary, because the number of stacked green sheet is limited, there is a limitation on inductance, and particularly because a width of internal electrode is limited, there is a limitation in permitting sufficient current. Accordingly, it is inappropriate to use the stacked type inductor for power device, so its use is mainly limited for a low voltage and a low current. In addition, the fabrication process itself is very intricate and lots of equipment costs are required. In order to solve above-mentioned problems, an inductor fabricated by forming a metal layer on a cylindrical body and forming a coil pattern on the metal layer by trimming of the metal layer has been presented, however surface mounting of the fabricated inductor is difficult because of its cylindrical shape. On the contrary, a square-shaped inductor is advantageous to surface mounting however a square-shaped inductor requires much time for trimming a metal layer on its surface using a laser, which causes fabrication costs to increase. In addition, variation in the quantity of laser light-interception prevents a pattern on the surface of the inductor from forming uniformly; accordingly its electric characteristic lowers.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a detachable structure for an ink cartridge in a printer and a control method for attaching/detaching an ink cartridge in a printer. 2. Description of Related Art In an inkjet printer, various types of inks are used such as a water-based type, an oil-based type and a UV type according to its printing usage. Since an image size to be printed becomes larger and thereby consumption amount of ink becomes larger in recent days, an ink cartridge tends to be replaced more frequently than before. Compared with ink supplying through the ink supply needle, ink dripping from a joint tends to increase according to the above-mentioned joint mechanism. The ink dripping onto the ink cartridge, the inside of the printer and so on may taint user's hands and clothes or an attachment section of the ink cartridge in the printer. Especially, ink tends to drip off in a detachable structure of an ink cartridge as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. However, coagulation or separation of inks may occur when different types of inks are mixed due to an erroneous attachment by a user. In addition, coagulation or separation of inks may sometimes occur when different colors of a type of ink are mixed. Therefore, mechanical troubles such as injection failures and plugs on an ink passageway may be sometimes brought unfortunately when different ink types or ink colors are used with a common type of an ink cartridge. Some techniques for solving the above-mentioned issue were proposed. For example, Japanese Application Laid-open No. 2006-21398 (Patent Document 1) discloses color indicators that are provided on an ink cartridge and a printer and visible when the ink cartridge is installed on the printer. When the ink cartridge is installed on the printer appropriately, colors of their color indicators will be identical.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Embodiments relate generally to computer security. Computer exploits are techniques which may be used to compromise the security of a computer system or data. Such exploits may take advantage of a vulnerability of a computer system in order to cause unintended or unanticipated behavior to occur on the computer system. For example, Return Oriented Programming (ROP) exploits may involve identifying a series of snippets of code that are already available in executable memory (e.g., portions of existing library code), and which are followed by a return instruction (e.g., a RET instruction). Such snippets may be chained together into a desired sequence by pushing a series of pointer values onto the call stack. In this manner, an attacker may create a virtual code sequence without requiring injection of external code.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to non-invasive functional assessment of coronary artery stenosis, and more particularly, to machine learning based non-invasive functional assessment of coronary artery stenosis from medical image data. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of deaths worldwide. Among various CVDs, coronary artery disease (CAD) accounts for nearly fifty percent of those deaths. Despite significant improvements in medical imaging and other diagnostic modalities, the increase in premature morbidity and mortality for CAD patients is still very high. The current clinical practice for diagnosis and management of coronary stenosis involves the assessment of the diseased vessel either visually or by Quantitative Coronary Angiography (QCA). Such assessment provides the clinician with an anatomical overview of the stenosis segment and parent vessel, including the area reduction, lesion length, and minimal lumen diameter, but does not provide a functional assessment of the effect of the lesion on blood flow through the vessel. Measuring the fractional flow reserve (FFR) by inserting a pressure wire into the stenosed vessel has been shown to be a better option for guiding revascularization decisions, since the FFR is more effective in identifying ischemia causing lesions, as compared to invasive angiography. QCA only evaluates the morphological significance if the stenosis and has a number of other limitations. Pressure wire based FFR measurements involve risks associated with the intervention necessary to insert the pressure wire into the vessel, and for a very narrow stenosis, the pressure wire may induce an additional pressure drop. Recently, mechanistic models have been proposed that use mathematical equations to model the physics of the blood flow in a three-dimensional anatomical model of the coronary vessels of a patient extracted from medical images. Such approaches rely on physics-based mathematical equations to model the physiology at rest and at hyperemia, thereby allowing one to numerically solve the equations on a computer and determine the flow and pressure drop for an individual patient. The most widely used physics-based model is the Navier-Stokes equation, which is a non-linear partial differential equation that is based on principles of mass, momentum, and energy conservation and is used to characterize the flow of blood in the coronary arteries. This is often coupled with mathematical equations that model the physiology of the upstream (heart, aorta) and downstream (myocardium) regions of the anatomy. Depending on the complexity and clinical use case, these methods can be used to incorporate physiological models at various scales. Although various types of physics-based models, boundary conditions, and physiological assumptions have been proposed for blood flow, a common theme of mechanistic models is their use of mathematical equations to model the various physiological interactions explicitly. However, a drawback of such mechanistic models is the high computational cost and complexity of associated with the model preparation and numerical solution of the physics-based equations. Additionally, such mechanistic models typically incorporate only anatomical and some partial physiological measurements, and leave out other meaningful measurements.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
There is disclosed in the prior art, several types of collapsible and foldable tents and similar structures which use armatures made of wire loops across which sheets of canvas have been spread and attached about their periphery. U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,892 Norman, which patent is incorporated in this specification by this reference, discloses a typical embodiment of this type of structure. In most self-erecting canvas structures of the prior art, the structural or supporting elements are constituted by roof, wall and floor panels, each including a resiliently wire frame. In some cases, one of the wire frame-supported elements is strengthened or replaced by external supporting or anchoring components such as posts, stakes, and other rigid implements which add weight and volume to the structure in its collapsed configuration. The instant invention results from an attempt to simplify the construction of collapsible and foldable canvas structures by limiting the number of framed panels.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to fastener retainers and, more particularly, to a convoluted fastener retainer for maintaining a fastener having an extending shank within a bore provided on a structural member. 2. Discussion Manufacturers are constantly striving to increase productivity by reducing assembly time during the manufacturing process. It is known in the art to streamline manufacturing by pre-attaching fasteners to structural members which are later used in the assembly of a component. U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,796, which issued on Apr. 2, 1959 to Bell, discloses a rigid annular sleeve including inwardly extending fingers which is disposable over a fastener shank. The fastener is inserted through a bore contained on a bracket and the sleeve is then disposed over the fastener shank whereby the inwardly extending fingers engage the fastener threads and fixedly hold the sleeve relative to the fastener. The fastener is thereby secured on the bracket by the annular sleeve and subsequently applied to second member through a threaded opening. The sleeve must be interposed between the two members, however, to maintain them in spaced relation, and therefore the annular sleeve is not suitable for use in most manufacturing applications. Thus, a bolt retainer operable within a conventional bore is still needed. Assembly times may also be improved by providing a means to more easily align the fastener with a corresponding bore on a second component which may or many not be in axial alignment with the central axis of the first bore. U.S Pat. No. 3,008,368, which issued Nov. 14, 1961 to Hammitt et al., discloses an annular sleeve slidably inserted over a fastener shank whereby, upon tightening the fastener, the exterior surface of the aligning device engages the wall of the bore extending through the first surface. A lateral force is thus produced which tends to push the first surface away from the fastener at the point of contact thereby aligning the bores. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,357, which issued Aug. 25, 1992 to Sherman et al., discloses a similar apparatus designed to align fasteners within tapered bores. A cone shaped outer body having an eccentric cone shaped aperture extending therethrough is disposed within a tapered bore. A cone shaped inner body having an eccentric cylindrical bore is then positioned within the tapered inner bore of the outer body. By rotatably adjusting the outer and inner bodies relative to one another, the cylindrical bore is aligned with a bore on a second surface. Neither Hammitt nor Sherman, however, provide a device disposable within an axial bore which allows the fastener to be simultaneously tilted and laterally shifted within the bore in order to achieve alignment with a bore on a second member. Sherman is disposable within a bore, but does not permit the fastener to tilt away from the central axis of the first bore. Conversely, Hammitt permits the fastener to be inserted into a nonparallel second bore but must be disposed on the fastener shank prior to fastener insertion. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a retainer which both maintains pre-attached fasteners within a bore and permits the fastener to shift within the bore in order to achieve alignment with a second bore. The retainer must be disposable within a bore and capable of maintaining the fastener along the central axis of the bore in the absence of external forces. Additionally, the retainer must yield to selective translational and/or rotational movement of the fastener shank within the axial bore. Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide such a retainer which will further increase manufacturing productivity.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Telephony devices, such as telephones, analog fax machines, and data modems, have traditionally utilized circuit-switched networks to communicate. With the current state of technology, it is desirable for telephony devices to communicate over the Internet, or other packet-based networks. Heretofore, an integrated system for interfacing various telephony devices over packet-based networks has been difficult due to the different modulation schemes of the telephony devices. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an efficient and robust integrated system for the exchange of voice, fax data and modem data between telephony devices and packet-based networks. An echo canceller is a device that removes the echo present in a communication signal, typically by employing a linear transversal filter. Due to non-linearities in hybrid and digital/analog loops and estimation uncertainties, linear cancellers cannot entirely remove the echo present. A non-linear device, commonly referred to as a non-linear processor (NLP), can be used to remove the remaining echo. This device may be a variable loss inserted into the system, a device that removes the entire signal and injects noise with the correct level, and possibly the correct spectrum, or a combination thereof. Existing echo cancellers in packet voice communication devices endeavor to suppress echo in the ingress signal, that is, the signal that the device sends out over the network. This is typically an echo of the egress signal (the signal that the device receives from the network) that occurs at the device. However, many packet voice transceivers do not have echo cancellers. When a first packet voice transceiver is communicating with a second packet voice transceiver over a network and the second device does not employ echo cancellation on its ingress signal, the first device may receive an egress signal transmitted by the second device that contains echo. Thus it would be advantageous to be able to efficiently suppress echo that is present in such an egress signal. However, cancellation of echo present in the egress signal is problematic because the echo path includes a round-trip journey over the communication network, as well as all of the processing performed on the signal by the packet voice transceiver at the other end of the network. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The invention relates to a system and method for controlling the movement of a cursor relative to an image displayed in a video screen display by use of an operating element that is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. A system of this type is known from European patent document EP 0 796 766 A2. In this case, the operating element functions to increase the number of levels within a menu structure. For this purpose, it is indicated to arrange the levels such that they are distributed about the circumference of the video screen display. Such a system, however, provides a certain difficulty for the user because he finds no unambiguous assignment between the additional movement of the operating element and the axial or rotational movement of this part. The transition between the levels and within the menu structure also does not take place in a form that is unambiguous to the user. Finally, it has the overall effect that the user is distracted considerably from the traffic situation at hand. There is therefore needed a system and method of the above-mentioned type wherein an unambiguous assignment exists between the video screen display and the different movement possibilities of the operating element. This need is met according to the invention, which provides a system and method for controlling the movement of a cursor relative to an image displayed in a video screen display by use of an operating element that is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. Starting from an initial position, the operating element can carry out movements transversely with respect to its longitudinal axis with two additional degrees of freedom and, in this case, the cursor can be moved in two mutually perpendicular directions. In the case of an additional rotation of the operating element, during the transverse movement of the cursor, the cursor can be moved in a direction diagonal thereto. By use of the operating element, the movement of the cursor in the video screen display can be controlled in various manners. As a result of transversely moving the operating element, movements in two degrees of freedom can be carried out. As a result of an additional rotation of the operating element during the transverse movement, the cursor can be moved in a direction that is diagonal thereto. An arbitrary point within the display can, thereby, be approached rapidly and reliably. A possibly existing axial movement of the operating element is not required for the overall position control of the cursor and may, as described in detail below, be used for further functionalities. Embodiments of the inventions can be obtained in multiple manners. On the one hand, the transverse movement of the operating element may have different forms. For example, it may be a transverse or a tilting movement. In addition, a restricted guidance may also be provided for this purpose. As a result, the cursor can be moved without error in both base-line directions. This movement can advantageously take place as long as the operating element is deflected from its initial position. The diagonal movement triggered by the rotation of the operating element may also be different. Thus, the diagonal angle may be fixed and, for example, equal to 45°. As an alternative, the diagonal angle may correspond to the angle of rotation of the operating element. This results in a large variation in the movement control and in the advantage of being able to reliably move to arbitrary points on the display. During the movement, the direction of the movement can always be corrected again by a corresponding rotation of the operating element. Advantageous further developments of the invention are described and claimed herein. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The instant invention relates to a process and device for piecing on an open-end spinning device in which a fiber feeding device is switched on and the fiber stream produced thereby is deflected and removed on its way between the fiber feeding device and a fiber collection surface and in which a yarn is then fed back to the fiber collection surface whereupon, in synchronization with this back-feeding of the yarn, the fiber stream is again deflected and conveyed to the fiber collection surface even before the fiber stream which is started by switching on the fiber feeding device has reached its full force, and in which the yarn is again drawn off continuously while fibers are incorporated into it. According to a known process of this type, the feeding device is first switched on to deliver fibers which are however at first prevented from reaching the fiber collection surface (DE 39 03 782 A1). In synchronization with the running-up of the fiber flow, the yarn is then fed to the fiber collection surface. When the fiber stream has reached the predetermined force below full production force, fiber removal is stopped in that the fiber stream is now fed to the fiber collection surface. The running-up of the fiber stream acting in the spinning rotor is often so rapid that sufficient time is no longer available to adapt the acceleration of yarn withdrawal to the desired extent to the running-up of the fiber stream once the fiber stream, which was first taken for removal by the fiber feeding device, has been switched over to the fiber collection surface. It has been furthermore shown that, depending on the state of the stopped fiber tuft which is exposed to the rotating opener roller, the running up of the fiber stream may be different, and this makes it difficult to determine the moment for switching over the fiber stream to begin fiber feeding to the fiber collection surface.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates generally to an illumination system for illuminating the surface to be illuminated, by use of light from plural light sources. More specifically, the invention concerns a method and a structure for controlling the light quantity of an illumination system to be used in a process for exposing a workpiece such as a monocrystal substrate for a semiconductor wafer or a glass substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example, as well as an illumination system and an exposure apparatus having such structure. The present invention is suitably applicable to a control system for an illumination system to be used in a projection exposure apparatus, for example, in which a glass substrate for an LCD is exposed by a scan method in a photolithographic process by use of plural light sources. However, the applicability of the present invention is not limited to such exposure apparatus, and it can be applied widely to photolithography, projection inspection, projectors and so on. The scan method mentioned above is an exposure method in which an illumination optical system for illuminating a mark or a reticle (hereinafter, mask) and a projection optical system disposed between the mask and a workpiece, such as a wafer being coated with a resist, are used and in which a portion of a pattern is projected by the projection optical system onto the resist while the mask and the workpiece are scanningly moved in synchronism with each other, relative to the projection optical system, whereby the whole pattern is transferred to the workpiece. Generally, projection exposure apparatuses have an illumination optical system for illuminating a mask, and a projection optical system disposed between the mask and a workpiece. In order to obtain a uniform illumination region, in such illumination optical system, the light from a light source is introduced into an optical integrator (hereinafter, referred also to xe2x80x9cintegratorxe2x80x9d) such as a fly""s eye lens, and, while using the light exit surface of the integrator as a secondary light source surface, a condenser lens illuminates the mask surface. In projection exposure apparatuses, it is desired to increase the light quantity (or an exposure illuminance) of an illumination optical system to thereby improve the throughput. A generally adopted method therefore is enlargement of the output power of a high-pressure halogen lamp which is a light source of the illumination optical system. In the first half 1980s, those lamps of a few hundred watts (W) to 2.0 kW were used. In the first half of 1990s, lamps of 3 kW were developed and, in the second half of 1990s, lamps of 5 kW were developed. Development of higher power lamps still continues. However, since use of a higher power lamp causes increases in size and cost of the illumination system, proposals have been made recently to use plural light sources and to combine light fluxes emitted from the light sources. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application, Laid-Open No. 349710/1994 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,248) and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application, Laid-Open No. 135133/1995 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,248) show an exposure apparatus of san projection type, having two light sources, comprising a tilted lamp and an elliptical mirror. In these documents, light fluxes emitted from the light sources are introduced into a fly""s eye lens and are combined with each other there. Where the light quantities of these light sources are controlled and if the structure is arranged so that, when any one of the light sources is out of order, the light quantity is compensated by the output of the other light source, it applies a large burden. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application, Laid-Open No. 349710/1994, there is a checking sensor for exposure control which is disposed at the back of each elliptical mirror. The checking sensor comprises a light receiving element for receiving leakage light from the elliptical mirror, and a timer for integrating the time during a period in which a photoelectrically converted signal from the light receiving element is higher than a predetermined level. The checking sensor functions to control the replacement timing of the light source and also to discriminate the number of light sources being turned on. The exposure control is made thereby so that, when a single light source is turned on, the scan speed is made a half of that where two light source are turned on. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application, Laid-Open No. 135133/1995, a half mirror is disposed obliquely, with respect to the light path, before the light fluxes emitted from the lamps are collected by an elliptical mirror. A light receiving element is disposed at the point of convergence of the light divided by the half mirror. The result of detection thereby (i.e., monitor signal) is used to control the light quantities of the lamps. However, these conventional illumination systems using plural light sources involves a problem that high precision light quantity control is unattainable. The image quality of a pattern transferred to a workpiece is largely influenced by the performance of the illumination system, for example, the illuminance distribution upon the mask surface or the wafer surface. For this reason, an exposure apparatus having such illumination system as described above is unable to accomplish high precision exposure amount control. As a result, the pattern transfer to a resist is insufficient, and production of high quality semiconductor wafers, LCDs, thin film magnetic heads, etc., is unattainable. Particularly, where a light source (halogen lamp) having a lifetime of about 1,000 hours is replaced by a new halogen lamp, during a few ten hours in the initial stage of operation, consumption of lamp electrodes is large and also the luminance varies largely. During such period in which the lamp electrode consumption is large, it has been found that there is an error of a few percents produced between the light quantity as can be measured by the light receiving element of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application, Laid-Open No. 135133/1995 and the quantity of light projected to the mask surface where uniform illumination is performed. According to the investigations about this phenomenon, made by the inventors of the subject application, it has been found that, in the structure of this document, the sensor is disposed near the light source and, consequently, the light quantity of each light source is not controlled on the basis of the light quantity which the workpiece actually receives, in spite of that for precise exposure amount control the light quantity which a workpiece actually receives should be detected and the light quantities (or illuminances) of the plural light sources should be feedback-controlled on the basis of the detection result (i.e., monitor signal). It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a unique and useful illumination system and an exposure apparatus having such illumination system. It is another object of the present invention to provide an illumination system in which plural light sources are used and light fluxes emitted from plural light sources are combined for illumination, and in which the light quantities of these light sources are measured very precisely. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an illumination control system and an illumination control method for such illumination system described above. It is a further object of the present invention to produce high quality devices such as semiconductors, LDCs, CCDs, thin film magnetic heads, etc., on the basis of high precision exposure amount control using such illumination system as described above. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illumination system, comprising: a first optical system for combining plural light fluxes from plural light sources and for projecting the plural light fluxes to a surface to be illuminated; a second optical system for separating a portion of one of the combined plural light fluxes; and a first detecting system for detecting the light quantity of the portion separated by said second optical system. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illumination system wherein the surface to be illuminated and a light receiving surface of said first detecting system are placed in an optically conjugate relationship. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exposure apparatus for illuminating a reticle or a mask by use of an illumination system as recited above, and for exposing a workpiece with a pattern formed on the surface being illuminated. In this exposure apparatus, there may be a third optical system for projecting the pattern of the reticle or the mask onto a workpiece, wherein the workpiece comprises a glass plate for an LCD, and wherein the pattern is transferred to the workpiece through a scan of the reticle or the mask and the workpiece. In accordance with a yet further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control system, comprising: an optical system for separating a portion of one of plural light fluxes emitted from plural light sources and being separatably combined; detecting means for detecting the light quantity of the portion of the one light flux separated; and control means for controlling the light quantity of one of the plural light sources corresponding to the one light flux, on the basis of the detection by said detecting means. With this control system, the light quantity of the corresponding light source can be controlled very precisely on the basis of the light quantity of one light flux as separated by the optical system. In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illumination method, comprising the steps of: discriminating whether a first light quantity, of a first light flux separated from plural light fluxes which are emitted from plural light sources, including a first light source for emitting the first light flux, and which are being separatably combined, is within a first target range; and controlling the output of said first light source, when it is concluded that the first light quantity is outside the first target range, so that the first light quantity is kept within the first target range. With this method, the first light flux is separated from the combination with the second light flux and is detected. The output of the first light source is controlled on the basis of the detection. In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device manufacturing method, comprising the steps of: exposing a workpiece by use of an illumination light flux controlled in accordance with an illumination method as recited above; and performing a predetermined process to the exposed workpiece. The device manufacturing method can provide the same function as of the illumination control method described above. The scope of the method extends to intermediate and final products, that is, devices which may be, for example, semiconductor chips (such as LSI or VLSI), CCDs, LCDs, magnetic sensors, thin film magnetic heads, etc. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to articles of jewelry, and in particular to a monolithic or modular simulated gem and gem setting arrangement. 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Unitary jewelry articles and/or modular links for forming jewelry bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and rings are well known. The so-called tennis bracelet, for example, is a bracelet having a series of connected modular units, each unit comprising an actual diamond or other gem and a setting therefor. Reference is made to the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: Reference is also made to prior U.S. patent applications of the inventor of the present invention as follows: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/572,678, filed Aug. 23, 1990 for xe2x80x9cBRACELET DESIGNxe2x80x9d, now abandoned, which is a continuation application of Design Application Ser. No. 397,094 filed Aug. 22, 1989 entitled xe2x80x9cBRACELET OR THE LIKExe2x80x9d, now U.S. Pat. No. D314,929. Non-patent references of interest may include: 1. xe2x80x9cCharmsxe2x80x9d catalog, Page 136, Item #136-20, by Americas GOLD, 650 South Hill St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90014 2. xe2x80x9cLiberty Collectionsxe2x80x9d catalog, Pages 4 and 21, by Liberty I. Exchange, 333 Washington St. #203-1, Boston, Mass. 02108; 3. xe2x80x9cDiamond Flowerxe2x80x9d jewelry by SandR Designs, Inc., Marlton, N.J.; 4. Items #P10529, #84619, #84622, National Jeweler, May 16, 1997; 5. Janet Alix necklace, Jewelers"" Circular Keystone, May, 1997; 6. Catalog Item #4D, Skalet Gold, 3600 N. Talman Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60618 7. Caroline Ballou Collection, June Las Vegas Show, K25-K27, and Barnett Robinson, Inc. June Las Vegas Show, Galleria #10; 8. Item N362, P.Q.C. Jewelry, National Jeweler, Jun. 1, 1998, Page 142; 9. xe2x80x9cLove Tearsxe2x80x9d collection, by Studs, Inc., 42 W. 48 St., New York, N.Y. 10036; 10. Slide pendant, by Superior Diamond Cutters Inc., 589 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017; 11. Uni-Creation, Inc., Emby International, Inc. collection, 589 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017; 12. A Promotional Supplement To JCK, May 1997, Pages 178, 179; 13. Item SS424, Corona Jewellery Company, 16 Ripley Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3N9, Canada; 14. xe2x80x9cBezel-set jewelry, California Gold Center, 606 S. Hill St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90014; 15. xe2x80x9cPartnersxe2x80x9d fashion jewelry, Cache fashion watches, Mervyn""s California catalog flyer, 1998, Page 11; 16. California Precision Products Co. Catalog xe2x80x9cLaser Spot-Welding Systemsxe2x80x9d, One Industrial Court, Riverside, R.I. 02915; 17. Maty, Collection Automnexe2x80x94Hiver 97-98, Valeur 30F, No. 76. The jewelry articles shown and described in the prior art noted above take on various aesthetically pleasing forms for displaying gems, real or simulated, in a variety of visual and structural configurations. Channel settings and bezel settings that use real gems increase the price of a jewelry item dramatically. In all such articles of the prior art in which a gem or simulated gem is mounted in a gem setting, the gem or simulated gem is positioned above the setting. In assembling the gem and gem setting combination, typically a series of upwardly directed prongs project from the setting, also referred to as a xe2x80x9cbasexe2x80x9d, and the gemstone, or simulated gemstone, is placed within the setting from above, after which the series of prongs are bent downwardly to embrace the gem or simulated gem. While this configuration displays the gem in the foreground relative to the setting, there are many disadvantages to such construction. In particular, with the prongs of the setting exposed, it is relatively easy to snag clothing or inflict minor injuries to the skin of a person by an inadvertent scraping action. Moreover, the prongs of the setting base are unsightly, detracting from the aesthetic qualities of the article of jewelry. If one were to conceive of the idea of avoiding the unsightliness of extending mounting prongs, the idea would be quickly rejected, due to the fact that if a precious stone, for example a diamond or ruby, or the like, is mounted below the upper surface of the setting base, the pointed bottom of the stone would penetrate the skin of the user even more so than is commonly done even with stones mounted from the top of a setting base or bezel. The pointed bottom of a precious stone is, by design, formed with specific depth and angles to capture as much light as possible for reflection through the stone, thereby enhancing the brilliance and spectacle of the gem. Yet another disadvantage of the use of prior art unitary modules for connection in series to form a tennis bracelet, for example, is that such bracelet construction is rather labor intensive, each modular unit having to be connected to an adjacent unit, and for a bracelet with, typically thirty or more, individual modules, the cost of the bracelet to the ultimate consumer may be inflated beyond expectation of the purchaser who values the article of jewelry on the basis of its precious stone content. Typical prong, channel, and bezel settings not only use expensive gems that sometimes get damaged during the setting procedure, but these types of settings themselves are costly. The purchaser would be greatly benefitted by a less costly manufacturing process, since, for the same purchase price, the purchaser would receive more or larger stones, or stones of a greater quality. There is therefore a need in the art for reducing the manufacturing costs of multi-modular jewelry items. The present invention satisfies the needs and desires of the purchasing public while simultaneously solving the afore-mentioned problems associated with jewelry items in which the gem is mounted above the setting. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a decorative jewelry article comprising a hollow base member, a decorative insert, and a fastener arrangement. The hollow base member has a top, a bottom, an interior, and an opening in the top. The decorative insert is sized in relation to the interior of the base member so as to be placed within the hollow base member and viewed through the top opening. The fastener arrangement fixes the decorative insert within the hollow base member below the base member top. Employing the principles and concepts of the present invention, it will be appreciated that, since the decorative insert or simulated decorative insert is positioned within a base member below the top and above the bottom of the base member, snagging of clothing, and penetration of the user""s skin is avoided. Unlike real gems, the simulated gem of the present invention does not extend below the bottom of the base member in which it is contained. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a plurality of such hollow base members, or modular links, for example a pair of such base members may be linked together in the manufacturing process so that the number of individual modular units to be assembled to form a tennis bracelet, for example, is halved. The present invention also provides for a number of selectable structural configurations and mounting processes, depending on need, desired security for a mounted gem or simulated gem, and aesthetic considerations.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to a method and to a mobile radio telephone network for handling a packet data service wherein an interface created for the interworking between a service node and both an integrated service switching function and a service control function supports uniform service handling which can be applied both for packet-oriented communication and connection-oriented communication. 2. Description of the Prior Art As is known, it is possible to have connections controlled by an intelligent network (IN) for connection-oriented communication services in a communication network. For example, a CAMEL platform (customized applications for mobile network enhanced logic) is thus defined according to the GSM Recommendation 03.78 for mobile radio telephone networks according to the GSM standard (global system for mobile communication) in order to enable a worldwide use of the performance features of the intelligent network. The standard architecture of the intelligent network provides both a service switching function and a service control function that are connected to one another via a signaling link. A specific protocol that is composed of the CAP protocol (CAMEL application part) for the mobile radio telephone network is thereby employed. New data services such as the packet data service GPRS (general packet radio service) according to GSM Recommendation 03.60 currently are being currently introduced in existing mobile radio telephone networks according to the GSM standard. The transmission in the mobile radio telephone network thereby does not occur connection-oriented, but occurs in the form of packet data. The advantage of packet-oriented transmission is that the given transmission resources in the mobile radio telephone network can be utilized better. The network architecture for the packet data service provides that the communication terminal equipment used by the mobile subscriber, the mobile station, is serviced at its respective location by a service network node (serving GPRS support node). Access to a packet data network is necessary in order to receive or send packet data. To this end, one or more access network nodes (gateway GPRS support nodes) are offered that respectively allows for this access to the packet data network (for example, the Internet) and support a specific packet data protocol (for example, Internet protocol). The packet data transmission occurs via a tunnel which is provided between the service network node and the access network node. It is currently not possible to support the packet data transmission according to the packet data service with the standard IN architecture. An object of the present invention is, therefore, to specify a method and a mobile radio telephone network with which a handling of the packet data service for packet data transmission is enabled via an IN architecture. Accordingly, proceeding from the handling of a packet data service in the mobile radio telephone network by a service network node in conjunction with an access network node for the transmission of packet data, the present invention promotes an interworking of the packet data service with network functions of an intelligent network whereof a service switching function is interconnected with the respective service network node and a service control function is connected via an interface to the service network node with integrated service switching function. Only by the interworking with integration of the service switching function into the service network node can the handling of the packet data service be achieved. This has the advantage of a service handling identical to all other IN services. The newly-created interface for the interworking between service network node with integrated service switching function and service control function thereby supports the uniform service handling that can be applied for packet-oriented communication as well as for connection-oriented communication. Over and. above this, the interworking of the service switching function of the intelligent network into the service network node yields the advantage that the subscriber-related data needed for handling the service (such as, for example, the location of the mobile station, the identification data, etc.) can be made directly available to the service switching function from the service network node, and not via xe2x80x9cdetours.xe2x80x9d Pursuant to an embodiment of the present invention, the service switching node with integrated service switching function uses a plurality of statusses according to a status model for handling the packet data service, and status changes between the statusses are interpreted for the interworking with the network functions of the intelligent network. According to another embodiment of the present invention, messages for the implementation of operations for the packet data service are sent and received via the interface between service switching function and service control function. It also has proven to be beneficial to use certain events as trigger points for the packet data service for opening up a communication between service switching function and service control function. Over and above this, events also can be employed as detection points for the packet data service whose occurrence is respectively reported by the service switching function integrated in the service network node. Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments and the Drawings.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a planar array type microwave antenna for use in, for example, receiving satellite broadcasts. 2. Description of the Prior Art In a suspended line feed type planar antenna in which a substrate is sandwiched between metal or metallized plastics plates having a number of openings forming parts of radiation elements, a circular polarized wave planar array antenna has been proposed. In this previously-proposed antenna, a pair of excitation probes which are perpendicular to each other, the number of which corresponds to the number of openings, are formed on a common plane and signals fed to the pair of excitation probes are mixed in phase within the suspended line. Thus, the above-mentioned planar antenna can be reduced in thickness as compared with the existing one, and also its mechanical configuration can be simplified. Further, an inexpensive substrate now available on the market can be employed for high frequency use, achieving antenna gain equal to or greater than that of a planar antenna using an expensive microstrip line substrate. The suspended line achieves such advantages in that it forms a low loss line as a circuit for feeding the planar antenna, and also in that it can be formed on an inexpensive film shaped substrate, and so on. Further, since this conventional planar antenna utilizes a circular or rectangular waveguide opening element as a radiation element, it is possible to construct an array antenna which has a small gain deviation over a relatively wide frequency range. A so-called patch-slot array antenna has been proposed, which effectively utilizes features of the suspended line and thin radiation elements to provide high efficiency and wide bandwidth. Also, this type of array antenna can be reduced in thickness and weight (see our U.S. patent application Ser. No. 223,781 filed Jul. 25, 1988), now U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,920. In the suspended line feed-type planar array antenna in which the substrate is sandwiched between the pair of metal or metallized plastics plates, a number of resonance type printed patch radiators are formed on the substrate at positions corresponding to openings formed through one of the metal or metallized plastics plates. However, the planar array antenna described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,920 has formed around a number of resonance type printed patch radiators thereof flanges as supporting portions so that difficult cutting work cannot be avoided, which makes the efficient mass-production of the antenna impossible. Also, this makes the antenna expensive. In order to solve the aforenoted problems, a suspended line feed type planar array antenna has been proposed (see our U.S. patent application Ser. No. 258,728), now U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,926, in which a substrate is sandwiched between an upper plate having a number of openings and a lower plate opposing the upper plate. Specifically, in this previously-proposed suspended line feed type planar array antenna, protrusions are formed on the upper and lower plates at their corresponding positions by a press-treatment and the substrate is supported by these protrusions. According to this antenna, difficult cutting work is not needed and only the simple press-treatment is required, which permits the efficient mass production. This can also make the antenna inexpensive. FIG. 1 shows a circuit arrangement in which a plurality of circular polarized wave radiation elements are fed in phase by a suspended line, forming the array. In that case, the circular polarized wave radiation elements are such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 258,728. The solid line in FIG. 2 illustrates a portion cut through the line II--II in FIG. 1. The broken-line portion of FIG. 2 illustrates such a condition that the second metal plate 2 covers the top of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of protrusions 11 are formed on the first metal plate 1 between the conductive foils 8 and the suspended lines in order to support the substrate 3. The protrusion 11 is further provided on the first metal plate 1 around the outer peripheral portion of the planar array antenna, as shown. Other portions of the first metal plate 1 form cavity portions 7. There is then the substantial risk that the outputs from the plurality of conductive foils 8 may be delivered through the same cavity portion 7 and hence the above-mentioned outputs will be coupled with each other. If, however, the spacing between the neighboring conductive foils 8 and the spacing between the upper and lower walls of the cavity portion 7 are properly selected, necessary isolation can be established, thus eliminating the above-mentioned risk of the mutual coupling. Since the electric lines of force are concentrated on the upper and lower walls of each cavity portion 7, the electric field along the substrate 3 supporting the conductive foils 8 is substantially removed, thus lowering the dielectric loss. As a result, the transmission loss of the line is reduced. The protrusions and the cavity portions are also formed on the second metal plate 2 in correspondence with those of the first metal plate. More specifically, protrusions 12 are formed on the second metal plate 2 around the slots 5 bored therethrough and around the periphery of the feeding portion positions between the conductive foils 8 and the suspended lines to support the substrate 3, while other portions between the protrusions form the cavity portions 7. Since the substrate 3 is uniformly supported by the protrusions 11 and 12 provided as described above, the substrate 3 can be prevented from being warped downwardly. In addition, since the top and bottom metal plates 1 and 2 are brought in face-to-face contact with the substrate 3 around the respective radiation elements, the feeding portions and so on similarly as described above, it is possible to prevent any resonance at a particular frequency from being caused. Referring to FIG. 1, 16 radiation elements are arranged in groups of four, to provide four radiation element groups G.sub.1 to G.sub.4. A junction P, of the suspended lines in each group is displaced from the center point of the group by a length of .lambda.g/2 (.lambda.g represents the line wavelength at the center frequency). Junctions P.sub.2 and P.sub.3 in the suspended lines feeding two radiation elements in each group are connected with a displacement of each of .lambda.g/P.sub.4 from the center point between these two. Accordingly, in each group of the radiation elements, the lower-right-hand radiation element is displaced in phase from the upper-right-hand radiation element by 90 degrees, the lower-left-hand radiation element is displaced therefrom by 180 degrees and the upper-lefthand radiation element is displaced therefrom by 270 degrees, respectively, which results in the axial ratio being improved. In other words the axial ratio can be improved to be wide by varying the spatial phase and the phase of the feeding line. In view of another aspect, any two of vertically or horizontally neighboring patch radiators have slit directions 90 degrees apart from each other. The junction P in each group and the junctions P.sub.4 to P.sub.6 in the suspended lines feeding the respective, groups are coupled to one another in such a fashion that they are distant from the feeding point 10 of a feeding portion 9 by an equal distance. That is, it is possible to obtain various kinds of directivity characteristics, by changing the feeding phase and the power distribution ratio, by changing the positions of the junction P, and the junctions P.sub.4 to P.sub.6. In other words, the feeding phase is changed by varying the distances from the feeding point 10 to the junctions P, and to the junctions P.sub.4 to P.sub.6, and the amplitude is varied by varying the impedance ratio by increasing or decreasing the thickness of the lines forming the various branches of the suspended line, whereby the directivity characteristics can be varied in a wide variety of range. According to the method in which the substrate is supported by a number of protrusions as shown in FIG. 1, the protrusions are formed on the pair of metal plates between the conductive foils, and the patch slot type resonance print elements deposited on the substrate are coaxial with the slots and the suspended lines, so that no problem will arise in a portion where the protrusions are concentrated to some degree. However, in a portion where the protrusions are formed poorly, the substrate can not be uniformly supported at its intermediate portion. Thus, the positional displacement of the substrate occurs in the up and down direction partly in the upper to lower direction. In worst cases, the substrate is slackened. There is then the substantial risk that the printed radiation element will touch the metal plate. As a result, there is the substantial disadvantage that deterioration of antenna characteristic such as the decrease of antenna gain or the like will occur. Furthermore, since a number of protrusions have to be formed in correspondence on the pair of plates, the number of manufacturing-process for manufacturing the plates is increased and the productivity is relatively poor. Therefore, in a suspended line feed type planar antenna in which a substrate is sandwiched between an upper plate having a number of openings and a lower plate opposing to the upper plate, spacers or distance pieces having a number of corresponding openings are provided between the upper plate and the substrate and between the substrate and the lower plate, respectively thereby supporting the substrate. Thus, the substrate can be positively supported at the intermediate portion between the upper and lower plates with a uniform distance therebetween. As a result, the protrusions formed on the upper and lower plates can be reduced considerably, which makes the manufacturing process of the upper and lower plates simple and which can increase the productivity (see Japanese Patent Application No. 63-199513). FIG. 3 shows in cross section a structure of planar array antenna described in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-199513. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 20 designates a rear cover, 21 a lower plate, 22 a distance piece or spacer, 23 a film substrate on which a number of resonance type printed patch radiators (radiation elements) 23' are printed, 24 a distance piece or spacer, 25 an upper plate, 26 a support cushion made of low foaming styrol and 27 a radome. In that case, the rear cover 20 is 3 mm in thickness, the upper and lower plates 21, 25 and distance pieces 22, 24 are 1 mm in thickness, respectively, the support cushion 26 is 12 to 14 mm in thickness, and the radome 27 is 1 mm in thickness. The entire thickness of this planar array antenna is about 20 to 22 mm. This previously-proposed planar array antenna shown in FIG. 3 can not avoid the following shortcomings and disadvantages: (1) Since the distance between the radiation element 23, and the lower plate 21 provided as the ground plate is 1 mm, the change of element impedance and the ratio in which the operational gain is changed are made large due to slackening of the film substrate 23. PA1 (2) Since the distance between the lower plate 21 and the upper plate 25 is 2 mm, the feed line loss is large. For example, when the line width was 1.5 mm at the frequency of 12 GHz and the characteristic impedance Z.sub.0 of line was selected to be 76.OMEGA., feed line loss was 1.6 to 1.8 dB/m. PA1 (3) The element gain is small (about 6.5 dB). PA1 (4) The impedance matching band width of elements is narrow. PA1 (5) Since the resonance type printed patch radiator is of the type for feeding one feed point, the circularly polarized wave band is narrow and the pair of four elements must be fed with a phase difference therebetween. PA1 (6) Because of the disadvantages (4) and (5), the excitation balance of elements can not be made without difficulty.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates generally to high power laser sources and, more particularly, to midwave infrared (MWIR) high power laser sources. These laser sources are needed for a variety of applications, both military and commercial, but output power is significantly limited with current MWIR technology. Midwave infrared radiation is typically defined as having a wavelength between 2.5 to 6 μm. Near infrared (NIR) radiation has a wavelength between visible red and the midwave IR range, i.e., about 0.7 to 2.5 μm. Phased arrays of high power fiber amplifiers have been demonstrated or proposed but have significant drawbacks. In a typical prior art approach, output from a master oscillator (MO) is distributed to an array of high power fiber amplifiers pumped by laser diode arrays. The output beams from the fiber amplifiers are combined in a closely packed lens array to form the output beam. A sample of each output beam is compared on a detector array, to a frequency shifted reference wavefront derived from the MO, to provide a measurement of the instantaneous phase of each fiber amplifier in the array, and the phases are then corrected in real time to form the output beam. The output from the MO defines the spectrum and modulation waveform input to the amplifiers. A critical limitation is that the wavelength of operation is restricted by the gain bandwidth of the rare earth dopant used in the core of the fiber amplifiers. For the most efficient designs this wavelength happens to fall in the region of 1000 nm to 1100 nm using ytterbium (Yb) as the dopant. Unfortunately, this is a spectral region in which the eye is quite vulnerable to permanent damage. While fiber laser arrays can be constructed at longer eyesafe wavelengths (e.g., beyond 1500 nm) using erbium-ytterbium (ErYb), Thulium (Tm), holmium (Ho), and other materials, the efficiency and wavelength coverage are not optimum. If factors relating to eye safety force the selection of a wavelength longer than 1500 nm for a laser weapon system or high power illuminator, for example, performance can be significantly compromised unless potentially efficient and scalable architectures can be developed. The basic architecture of which the present invention is an improvement, is described in various prior patents, notably U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,408 to Bott et al., “Fiber Optic Laser System and Associated Lasing Method.” The present invention also utilizes a prior art technique for beam formation and phase control, as described in four other patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,147,755 to Heflinger et al., “Dynamic Optical Phase State Detector,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,616 to Brosnan et al., “Heterodyne Wavefront Sensor,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,168 to Heflinger et al., “Dynamic Optical Micrometer,” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,366,356 to Brosnan et al., “High Average Power Fiber Laser System with High-Speed, Parallel Wavefront Sensor.” To the extent needed to provide a complete disclosure, these patents are incorporated by reference into this document. It will be appreciated from the foregoing, that there is a need for a laser source that is both scalable to high powers and operable at a selected wavelength that is not restricted by the properties of dopants used in fiber amplifiers. The present invention satisfies this need and provides other advantages over the prior art.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field The present invention relates to a mapping method for frequency and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol regions of a signal transmitted on downlink in a cellular OFDM wireless packet communication system. 2. Discussion of the Background When transmitting/receiving a packet in a mobile communication system, a receiver should inform a transmitter as to whether or not the packet has been successfully received. If the reception of the packet is successful, the receiver transmits an acknowledgement (ACK) to cause the transmitter to transmit a new packet. If the reception of the packet fails, the receiver transmits a negative acknowledgement (NACK) to cause the transmitter to re-transmit the packet. Such a process is called automatic repeat request (ARQ). Meanwhile, hybrid ARQ (HARQ), which is a combination of the ARQ operation and a channel coding scheme, has been proposed. HARQ lowers an error rate by combining a re-transmitted packet with a previously received packet and improves overall system efficiency. In order to increase throughput of the system, HARQ demands a rapid ACK/NACK response from the receiver compared with a conventional ARQ operation. Therefore, the ACK/NACK response in HARQ is transmitted by a physical channel signaling method. The HARQ scheme may be broadly classified into chase combining (CC) and incremental redundancy (IR). The CC method serves to re-transmit a packet using the same modulation method and the same coding rate as those used when transmitting a previous packet. The IR method serves to re-transmit a packet using a different modulation method and a different coding rate from those used when transmitting a previous packet. In this case, the receiver can raise system performance through coding diversity. In a multi-carrier cellular mobile communication system, mobile stations belonging to one or a plurality of cells transmit an uplink data packet to a base station. That is, since a plurality of mobile stations within one sub-frame can transmit an uplink data packet, the base station must be able to transmit ACK/NACK signals to a plurality of mobile stations within one sub-frame. If the base station multiplexes a plurality of ACK/NACK signals transmitted to the mobile stations within one sub-frame using CDMA scheme within a partial time-frequency region of a downlink transmission band of the multi-carrier system, ACK/NACK signals with respect to other mobile stations are discriminated by an orthogonal code or a quasi-orthogonal code multiplied through a time-frequency region. If quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) transmission is performed, the ACK/NACK signals may be discriminated by different orthogonal phase components. When transmitting the ACK/NACK signals using CDMA multiplexing scheme in order to transmit a plurality of ACK/NACK signals within one sub-frame, a downlink wireless channel response characteristic should not be greatly varied in a time-frequency region in which the ACK/NACK signals are transmitted. This is because if orthogonality is maintained between the multiplexed different ACK/NACK signals, a receiver can obtain satisfactory reception performance without applying a special receiving algorithm such as channel equalization. Accordingly, the CDMA multiplexing of the ACK/NACK signals should be performed within the time-frequency region in which a wireless channel response is not significantly varied. However, if the wireless channel quality of a specific mobile station is poor in the time-frequency region in which the ACK/NACK signals are transmitted, the ACK/NACK reception performance of the mobile station may also be greatly lowered. Accordingly, the ACK/NACK signals transmitted to any mobile station within one sub-frame may be repeatedly transmitted over separate time-frequency regions in a plurality of time-frequency axes, and the ACK/NACK signals may be multiplexed with ACK/NACK signals transmitted to other mobile stations by CDMA in each time-frequency region. Therefore, the receiver can obtain a time-frequency diversity gain when receiving the ACK/NACK signals. However, in a conventional physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel (PHICH) mapping method, there exists a defect that PHICH groups between neighbor cells have difficulty avoiding collision as illustrated in FIG. 1.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
European patent application EP 1 016 787 A2 discloses a gas-supply system as well as an appertaining operating method of the above-mentioned type. This prior-art gas-supply system comprises a gas-carrying pipeline, a controllable compressor arranged in the pipeline and a consumer namely, a gas turbine. connected to the pipeline and located downstream from the compressor. In order to actuate the compressor, a control unit in the form of a regulator is provided that regulates the compressor as a function of a setpoint/actual-value comparison of the discharge pressure of the compressor. For regulation purposes, the regulator can change the rotational speed and/or the guide vane setting of the compressor. The actual discharge pressure of the compressor can be measured in a conventional manner at the compressor outlet. In contrast to this, normally speaking, the set point discharge pressure of the compressor is permanently preset, whereby this preset value depends on the location of the gas turbine, particularly on the lowest ambient temperatures that can be expected. Furthermore, the predetermined setpoint discharge pressure of the compressor is derived from the maximum output of the gas turbine as well as from the maximum gas temperature and from the lower caloritic value of the gas. Moreover, in the prior-art gas-supply system, a throttle element is installed in the pipeline upstream from the compressor, said throttle element being actuated by means of a separate regulator. When the pressure in the pipeline changes, the throttle element can be employed to continuously regulate the desired admission pressure for the compressor that allows the compressor to adjust the discharge setpoint pressure of the compressor. In this manner, the compressor can be continuously operated at a high output, particularly at its rated output. This, however, is not always sensible for energy reasons. Here, in particular, compressors having a fixed compression ratio are frequently employed. If the pressure in the pipeline increases, the discharge pressure can reach impermissibly high values if the admission pressure is not appropriately adjusted down by means of the throttle element located upstream. Such a compressor operates continuously at full load or at the rated load.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The invention relates in general to a focusing controller and the method thereof, and more particularly to a focusing controller and the method thereof used in an optical disk drive. 2. Description of the Related Art Focus error signal Fe is used to adjust the position of pick up head of an optical disk drive so as to focus the laser beam emitted by the pick up head onto a currently loaded optical disk. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a convention optical disk drive 100, which includes a focusing controller 120 and a pick up head 110 used for accessing an optical disk 130. After the focus error signal Fe being derived according to the reflected light from the optical disk 130, the focusing controller 120 outputs a focus control signal Foo to control the pick up head 110 according to the focus error signal Fe. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the focusing controller used conventionally, which basically includes an analog-to-digital converter (A/D converter) 210, a focus compensator 220 and a digital-to-analog converter (D/A converter) 230. The A/D converter 210 receives and digitizes the focus error signal Fe and delivers a digital focus error signal to the focus compensator 220. The D/A converter 230 then converts signal at the output terminal of the focus compensator 220 to generate required focus control signal Foo for controlling the position of the pick up head 110. However, noises inside the optical disk drive affect the servo signals, including the focus error signal, so that the laser beam cannot precisely focus on the optical disk. There includes a plurality of tracks having pits and lands thereon used to record information on the surface of an optical disk. However, the focus error signal Fe is easily coupled with the track error signal Te during tracking operations, which indicates that the pickup head may not be allocated at an accurate position during the following focusing operations since the currently derived focus error signal Fe is erroneous because of coupling low-frequency error component from the track error signal Te. FIG. 3 shows waveform diagrams of the track error signal Te and the focus error signal Fe during tracking operations. Obviously, the focus error signal Fe is usually coupled with the low-frequency component of the track error signal Te such that the actually focus status of the pickup head may not obtained due to an erroneous Fe is derived.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
From DE 10 2009 032 938 A1 a generic piston pin for connecting the small connecting rod eye of a clamp-type connecting rod to a piston of an internal combustion engine is known, wherein the piston comprises hub bores for receiving the piston pin and wherein the piston pin comprises an inner bore. Here it is provided that the inner bore has an eccentricity relative to the outer surface of the piston pin, which allows embodying the volume of the inner bore larger and because of this achieve a material saving, in particular also a weight saving. From U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,265 a further generic piston pin is known. From U.S. Pat. No. 3,053,595 B a piston pin with an eccentric inner bore is known. The connecting rod and the piston pin in this case are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner by two screws. Usually, the piston pin connects the connecting rod with the piston of the internal combustion engine, wherein the connecting rod in turn connects the piston with the crankshaft. The small connecting rod eye of the connecting rod facing the piston in this case is arranged aligned with the hub bores, which are introduced in pin hubs provided on the piston. The pin hubs and the connecting rod eyes count among the regions of a piston that are subjected to the highest load because the piston pin cannot only bend during the oscillating movement of the piston because of the huge forces acting on the piston but because the piston pin can also rub on the hub bores and the small connecting rod eye.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention generally relates to electronic vacuum devices and, more particularly, relates to vacuum cleaners having sensor-triggered, automated operations. For many years, cleaning implements—e.g., brooms, rags, dusters—have not significantly changed. In fact, the basic tools for cleaning houses, offices, and other indoor and outdoor areas were long ago designed and commercialized. Over the last several decades, electronically operated cleaning devices have been invented. For example, electrically driven vacuum cleaners, and the like, have been known for a good number of years. Certain improvements and added features have been designed for these devices, but the basic concepts of the conventional cleaning devices remain as long ago conceived. Over the last several decades, the various new improvements and added features for cleaning tools have typically regarded improved chemical and solvent-type formulas, better absorption and gathering cloths and other materials, and further automation of existing cleaning implements. With even these improvements and additions, however, manpower is nevertheless typically required to operate the tools and perform cleaning activities. Only recently, an objective of further automation in vacuum-equipped cleaning devices has been to limit the manpower required in cleaning processes. For example, the recently newly available ROOMBA™ vacuum cleaner attempts to reduce the manpower required for performing vacuum cleaning. This vacuum cleaner unit includes drive motors and features to enable the vacuum device to automatedly traverse a surface and concurrently vacuum the surface. Notwithstanding nuances of the ROOMBA™ product, reducing manpower and human involvement has not usually been the primary focus of development of new cleaning tools. Rather, new development efforts for cleaning tools have largely focused on improved chemicals and materials, and automated cleaning—but not substantial elimination of manpower in cleaning operations. Conventionally, sweeping as a cleaning process has required a human to handle a broom and dustpan. The human manually sweeps with the broom to collect refuse strewn over an entire surface. The collected refuse is manually gathered, including by sweeping with the broom, into the dustpan. The refuse swept into the dustpan is then manually carried and disposed in a separate location, such as in a trash repository or can. The manual collection and gathering typically requires the human to twist, lean, bend-over, and otherwise make somewhat tortuous body movements and bends. It would be a significant improvement in the art and technology to further automate cleaning processes, such as certain of the manual efforts required for sweeping, collecting, gathering, and disposing of refuse via broom and dustpan. Additionally, it would be such an improvement to particularly automate those efforts that normally require the greatest manpower and most significant bodily capabilities and efforts. Moreover, it would be a significant improvement in the art and technology to provide simplified steps and procedures for such automated cleaning processes, particularly, including desirable switching among and between various levels or modes of manual involvement in the processes and of automated capabilities, performance, and options. The present invention provides numerous advantages and improvements, including, for example, automation of certain cleaning processes, reduced manpower requirements in such processes, and additional capabilities and modes for performing the processes.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-130179 (filed on Jun. 13, 1994) and Japanese Patent Application No. 7-58515 (filed on Mar. 17, 1995), which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope having a tool guide member for changing the direction of projection of a bioptic forceps or other tool for an endoscopic procedure (hereinafter referred to as "tool"), which is projected outwardly from the distal end of the insert part of the endoscope. 2. Description of the Prior Art The tool guide member of an endoscope is generally disposed at the distal end of the insert part of the endoscope so as to be pivotable about a shaft, and pivoted by a control wire which is remote-controlled. FIG. 7 shows the distal end of an insert part of a conventional endoscope, with a plastic cover detached therefrom. The endoscope has a distal end block 51 which is provided at the distal end of the insert part. The distal end block 51 has a viewing window 52 and an illuminating window 53, which are provided in one of side portions of the distal end block 51. A tool guide member 54 is provided in the other side portion to change the direction of projection of a tool, which is projected sidewardly. The distal end block 51 has a pair of inner and outer walls 55 and 56 which are in contact with both side surfaces of the tool guide member 54. The tool guide member 54 pivots about a shaft 57 which is inserted at both ends thereof into the two walls 55 and 56. The outer wall 56 is provided with a relatively large cut portion 59 so as not to interfere with a stopper pin 58 which projects from the side surface of the tool guide member 54. A control wire 60 for pivoting the tool guide member 54 by remote control extends through the cut portion of the outer wall 56, and the distal end of the control wire 60 is connected to the side surface of the tool guide member 54. In the endoscope having the above-described structure, however, a relatively large gap is formed between the cut wall portion 59 and the control wire 60. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, when a tool 100 is to be projected outwardly along the tool guide member 54 from a tool inserting channel 62, the distal end of the tool 100 may enter the gap between the control wire 60 and the cut wall portion 59 to get caught on the control wire 60, resulting in a failure to control the tool 100. Reference numeral 61 in FIG. 8 denotes a plastic cover which covers the distal end block 51. There is a conventional endoscope in which the outer wall 56 is formed to extend as close to the control wire 60 as possible, thereby minimizing the gap (Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication (KOKAI) No. 4-218134). The conventional technique can cope with the above-described problem to a certain extent. However, when a tool with a thin distal end is used, it is likely that the thin distal end will get caught in the gap between the control wire 60 and the outer wall 56. There is another conventional endoscope in which the control wire is disposed at the inside of the inner wall so as to be separate from the tool guide member (Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication (KOKAI) No. 54-90088). With this arrangement, however, the control wire lies between the viewing window and the tool guide member, and the tool guide member lies correspondingly far away from the viewing window. As a result, the tool guide member can be seen only at an edge of the observation field of view. Therefore, the tool guiding performance deteriorates to a considerable extent.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates to the field of plants and more specifically to the field of giant Miscanthus plants and involves a new and distinct cultivar of giant Miscanthus, botanically known as Miscanthus×giganteus and referred to hereinafter by the name ‘MSU MFL1’. The novel giant Miscanthus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor at Starkville, Miss., to develop a new giant Miscanthus cultivar with good plant characteristics, vigorous growth habits, and large per acre yield. The species itself was derived from natural crossing in Japan of Miscanthus sacchariflorus (2n=4x) and M. sinensis (2n=2x), and the resulting hybrid is a seed sterile triploid (2n=3x). The present invention, the new giant Miscanthus cultivar, is derived from parental material that was in the public domain (USDA ARS-GRIN, Miami, Fla.). Individual rhizomes/tillers were selected for the most vigorous growth (serial propagation) at Starkville, Miss. beginning in 2001 and further propagated by the inventor. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘MSU MFL1’ by vegetative division/rhizomes has shown that the unique features of this novel plant are stable and reproduced true-to-type in successive generations.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to continuous motion therapy systems. In particular, the present invention relates to safety features for a continuous motion therapy system. 2. Description of the Prior Art In recent years there has been an increasing awareness of the advantages of mobilization of joints as part of the orthopedic care which follows an injury, an illness or surgical procedure. A joint can stiffen rapidly as a result of immobilization, and in many cases, extensive therapy is required in order to regain full use of a joint after it has stiffened. Active motion of a joint occurs when the patient has sufficient muscle strength to flex or extend the limb without the need for external applied force. In contrast, passive motion of a joint involves the use of an external force to flex and extend the limb to induce motion. Continuous passive motion of a joint following injury, illness or surgery has been found to reduce post-operative pain, decreased adhesions, decreased muscle atrophy, and enhance the speed of recovery, while minimizing other risks of immobilization such as venous stasis, thromboembolism and post-traumatic osteopenia. Continuous motion systems for providing continuous motion therapy are known and commercially available. One such system is disclosed in the Berner et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,440. It is also known to aid the continuous motion provided by the systems with neuromuscular stimulation (NMS). A system of this type is disclosed in Wright et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,827. Continuous motion systems such as the types discussed above have proven to be both safe and effective. There is, however, always room for additional safety features.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
In the transmission of signals between devices or elements, such as the transmission of audio-visual data streams, certain technologies may require the transmission of multiple different types of data streams. For example, consumer electronics and other systems may transmit and receive one or more data streams of HDMI™ (High Definition Multimedia Interface) protocol data and MHL™ (Mobile High-definition Link) protocol data. There is a proliferation of devices that transmit, receive, store, present, render or store multi-media content that includes high-definition video and audio. The multi-media content needs to be transferred from one device to another, depending on the consumer network. For example, HDMI provides an interface that allows for the transfer of uncompressed digital high-definition video and audio, together with associated control signals. In another example, MHL provides an audio/video interface to connect portable electronic devices to other devices, allowing for transfer of HDMI information utilizing connectors with fewer pins through the multiplexing of multiple data signals, combining the three lanes of HDMI data to a single lane of multiplexed data without requiring a separate clock. Protocols for communication elements may include MHL technology. With HDMI technology, there are several lanes used for the transfer of control signals, these including being DDC (Display Data Channel) for configuration and status exchange between a source device and a sink device, an optional CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) protocol to provide high-level control function among audio visual products in a user's environment. In contrast, MHL technology may include a control bus carrying multiplexed control signals. Electronic devices may include various interfaces for the transfer of data, but smaller devices may have limitations with regard to connections because of the physical size. For example, certain handheld and other smaller devices may utilize a micro-USB (Universal Serial Bus), mini-USB or a standard USB connector (or socket) compatible with USB protocol, or similar connector having limited space. However, the transmission of multiple different protocols generally requires the inclusion of multiple drivers for the transmission of the data, with each data protocol utilizing a different set of pins. For this reason, the manufacture of devices that transmit multiple data protocols requires additional device area for communication, as well the additional cost of producing the required drivers and interconnects.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for determining whether a suitable data storage cartridge has been inserted into a disk drive, thereby protecting the drive against damage due to the insertion of disk cartridges and foreign objects that are unacceptable for use in the drive. Removable disk cartridges for storing digital electronic information typically comprise an outer casing or shell that houses a rotatable recording medium, or disk, upon which electronic information can be stored. The cartridge shell often comprises upper and lower halves that are joined together to house the disk. The disk is mounted on a hub that rotates freely within the shell. When the cartridge is inserted into a disk drive, a spindle motor engages the disk hub in order to rotate the disk. The outer shell of the cartridge typically has some form of opening near its forward edge to provide the recording heads of the drive with access to the recording surface of the disk. A shutter or door mechanism is often provided to cover the opening when the cartridge is not in use, thereby preventing dust or other contaminants from entering the cartridge and settling on the recording surface of the disk. The term "disk cartridge," as used in this application, refers to any data storage device, including tape cartridges. The actuator that carries the recording heads of the disk drive across the recording surface of the disk should not be allowed to move unless the presence of a disk cartridge with an appropriate form factor, i.e., geometry, is detected. Movement of the actuator where a foreign object or a disk with an inappropriate form factor has been inserted will likely damage the drive or corrupt the data stored on the disk. Thus, when a data-storage cartridge is inserted into a drive, it is critical that the type of cartridge be recognized by the drive as a cartridge that is suitable for safe and reliable use in that particular drive. Most removable cartridge drives use cartridges having similar form factors. Additionally, foreign objects are easily inserted into disk drives. Therefore, disk drives that receive removable disk cartridges must have some mechanism for detecting the insertion or presence of a suitable cartridge within the drive. This mechanism must also be able to discriminate between cartridges appropriate for use in the drive, disks which are not suitable for the drive, and foreign objects. In the prior art, mechanical switches are typically employed to detect the presence of a disk cartridge. Such switches are often positioned such that when a disk cartridge is fully inserted into a drive, the cartridge contacts the switch and thereby produces an indication that the cartridge is present. Disk detection systems utilizing reflective materials have been developed and patented. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,228 ("the '228 patent"), which issued on Jun. 10, 1997, discloses such a system. The '228 patent is hereby incorporated by reference. This patent describes a disk cartridge comprising a reflective marker. The patent also describes a disk drive comprising a light emitter and a light detector coupled to an electrical circuit. When the disk cartridge is inserted into the drive, the emitter and detector become optically coupled by via the reflective marker. This coupling causes an increase in the amount of irradiance reaching the detector, which in turn causes a change in the electrical output of the detector. As described in the '228 patent, the amount of light reflected by a reflector-equipped cartridge is greater than the amount reflected by most other objects. Therefore, by sensing that the light reflected from an object inserted into a disk drive exceeds a predetermined threshold, the detector and electrical circuit can recognize that a disk cartridge with a reflective marker has been inserted. The electronic circuit will permit activation of the drive's read/write heads under these conditions, thereby allowing the drive to interface with the disk cartridge. Conversely, when the intensity of the reflected light does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the electronic circuit interprets this as indication that a suitable data. cartridge is not present in the drive. The electrical circuit will not enable the heads under this condition, thereby preventing the drive from operating. The emitter/detector described in the '228 patent has proven to be effective in identifying the presence of disks appropriate for use in a particular disk drive. Under certain limited circumstances, however, the '228 design allows activation of the drive in the presence of disks and foreign objects that may damage the drive. Such activation occurs because objects having surface reflectivities similar to or greater than that of a reflector are interpreted by the '228 design as disks appropriate for use in the drive. Hence, there is a need to provide a greater degree of differentiation between disks appropriate for use in a particular drive, and disks and other objects that can damage the drive if inserted.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical wavefront sensor and more particularly to an optical wavefront sensor which incorporates optical and electronic heterodyning to enable high accuracy and high speed phase measurements to be made, relative to known optical wavefront sensors. 2. Description of the Prior Art Wavefront sensors are known to be used to correct for distortions in optical beams caused by, for example, atmospheric aberrations. In particular, such wavefront sensors are known to be used with high power laser weapon systems, for example, as disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,607. The effectiveness of such laser weapon systems depends on many factors including the power of the laser at the target. Atmospheric aberrations are known to cause distortion of the wavefront of high powered laser beams and thus reduce the power and effectiveness of such weapons. As such, systems are known which predistort the wavefront to compensate for atmospheric aberrations so that maximum laser power is delivered at the targets. Examples of wavefront sensors are disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,229,616 and 6,366,356. These wavefront sensors are based upon optical heterodyning a reference optical signal with an optical test signal. More particularly, an electro-acoustical device, such as a Bragg cell, is used to frequency upshift an optical reference signal. The optical test signal and frequency upshifted optical reference signal are then optically combined, which results in optical heterodyning of the two optical signals. The resulting optically heterodyned signal has a frequency equivalent to the beat frequency of the two signals, the RF signal driving the Bragg cell, normally in tens of MHz. The optically heterodyned signal is subsequently directed to a detector which converts the optical signal to an electronic signal having the same phase as the optical test signal. The electronic heterodyned signal is then used to develop a compensation signal to compensate for phase distortion in the original optical test signal. More particularly, the output of the photodetector is a sinusoidal output with a phase equivalent to the original optical phase. A heterodyne signal processor is used to convert the sinusoidal waveform into a plurality of pulse trains whose duty cycles are proportional to the sampled optical phase. These pulse trains are electronically integrated by a low pass filter in order to develop a DC voltage that is proportional to the duty cycle and to the phase of the optical test signal. There are several problems with such known optical heterodyne wavefront sensors. First, such wavefront sensors are relatively slow due to the need to integrate the pulse trains from the optical heterodyne processors. In addition, known acoustical optical devices, such as Bragg cells, normally frequency shift at frequencies in the tens of MHz. However at these frequencies, the electronic jitter of approximately 1 nanosecond of the devices used for edge detection can be a source of substantial phase measurement noise. Thus, there is a need for a optical wavefront sensor which is faster than known optical wavefront sensors while virtually eliminating electronic jitter.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to fume exhaust ducts and more particularly to a dual wall duct having a laminated inner wall whose innermost layer incorporates continuous, helically-wound carbon fibers which dissipate and neutralize built-up electrostatic charges resulting from vapors or gases flowing within the duct. 2. Description of the Related Art Ductwork for corrosive or otherwise dangerous vapor and gas exhaust systems is used extensively in many diverse industries which utilize hazardous chemicals to process raw materials or perform manufacturing procedures, such as the semiconductor industry, the plating industry, and the pharmaceutical industry. Such ductwork also is required in the many research and development laboratories which use highly reactive, toxic or otherwise hazardous chemicals in conducting experiments. Consequently, vapors from such chemicals must be exhausted through leak-proof air ducts to safely remove them from work areas. Installations can be very large, consisting of many thousands of feet of ductwork which may be manifolded and connected to multiple exhaust fans. Because of the wide diversity of chemicals used in industrial and research applications, it is extremely difficult to provide a single material for fabricating ductwork which can withstand all the chemicals to which duct interiors may be exposed. Materials which have been used heretofore to fabricate fume exhaust ductwork include black steel, galvanized steel and stainless steel, as well as plastic materials such as polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, coated materials, and fiberglass reinforced plastics (FRP""s). Over the past forty years the trend in materials has been away from metals and coated metals and toward the use of plastics, particularly FRP""s. Various types of resins have been used in manufacturing FRP""s. Some are resistant to certain families of chemicals, but no single resin can resist all the vapors used in industries such as semiconductor manufacturing and electroplating. Another problem is providing adequate resistance to fire. Unlike metallic ducts, plastic ducts exhausting chemicals which can react exothermically with themselves or with duct surfaces are at risk to combustion. Plastics typically burn rapidly and generate much smoke, creating hazards of their own. A third problem in using plastic is the possibility of static electrical charge building up on a duct""s interior surface. Electrostatic charge is usually generated by frictional processes during contact and separation of materials. So-called xe2x80x9ctriboelectric chargingxe2x80x9d can occur even when dry media such as air or air laden with dust particles flow through ungrounded plastic pipes. Because plastic is an insulator, a considerable amount of charge can be generated on a duct""s inner surface. An insulative material does not readily allow the flow of electrons, so both positive and negative charges can reside on the surface at the same time, although at different sites. If the voltage at a site builds up sufficiently, an electrostatic discharge will occur creating an arc which, depending on the characteristics of the ambient vapor, can trigger an explosion or fire. Perhaps the worst cases when exhausting hazardous vapors are those containing halogens such as fluorine or chlorine and those containing metallic vapors such as cesium or potassium. Such vapors are easily ionized as well as highly corrosive and/or toxic. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,298,299 (xe2x80x9c""299xe2x80x9d) and 5,383,994 (xe2x80x9c""994xe2x80x9d) to L. E. Shea, which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference, are directed to, respectively, a composite fume exhaust duct having both good chemical resistance and good fire resistance properties, and a method for making the dual-laminate duct. Ducts made in accordance with the invention described in these patents are generally tubular with a diametral size in the range of 2 inches to 84 inches, and have an inner laminate portion of chemically resistant material covered by and integral with an outer laminate portion of fire retardant material. The inner laminate is comprised of material such as fiberglass which is saturated with a chemically resistant resin such as a halogenated vinyl ester. The outer laminate which covers the inner laminate is similarly comprised of fabric or fiberglass material which is combined with a resorcinol or phenol/resorcinol type fire-retardant resin. The duct is formed by first coating a Mylar wrapped mandrel with the chemically resistant resin and then wrapping the mandrel with successive layers of fabric material saturated with the resin. The outer fire-retardant laminate is then formed directly over the inner laminate by applying successive layers of a suitable fabric material saturated with the fire-retardant resin. The composite structure is then allowed to cure and harden before being removed from the mandrel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,949 (xe2x80x9c""949xe2x80x9d) to D. Williams et al., which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, is directed to sealant compositions for sealing the circumferential joint between pairs of dual-laminate fume duct sections, and a joint sealing method enabling strong bonding between the sealant and phenolic/glass and vinyl ester surfaces without sanding mating surfaces. Such duct sections and connecting joints do not, however, eliminate or even mitigate the hazard of static charge build-up on the innermost surface of the inner laminate, which typically has a resistivity of the order of 1014-1015 ohms-cm. Application Ser. No. 09/603,468 (xe2x80x9c""468) is directed to a dual wall fume duct wherein the innermost layer of the laminated inner wall is made of a cured epoxy vinyl ester resin impregnated with chopped carbonized carbon fibers. The inner surface of the duct described therein can withstand degradation from corrosive fumes while also neutralizing triboelectric charges. However, the fabrication method needs to be improved to achieve higher production rate and better quality control of the end product. Applying the carbon fibers to a rotating mandrel coated with liquid resin is a time-consuming manual procedure not amenable to standardization and quality control. Moreover, the ""468 application is not directed to providing high electrical conductivity across connecting joints. In view of the limitations of the related art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved self-grounding fume exhaust duct, having an innermost portion withstanding hazardous fumes while dissipating and neutralizing electrostatic charge build-up, fabricated using a substantially automated method. Another object of the invention is to provide a self-grounding duct fabricated using a production method amenable to standardization and high quality control. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a self-grounding joint for joining duct sections. Other objects of the invention will become evident when the following description is considered with the accompanying drawing figures. In the figures and description, numerals indicate the various features of the invention, like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and description. These and other objects are achieved by the present invention which in a first aspect provides a self-grounding dual wall duct for transporting corrosive vapors and gases having a laminated inner wall including an innermost layer of cured epoxy vinyl resin in which are embedded contiguous helical segments of electrically conductive continuous ribbons forming a continuous ribbon-layer integrated with the innermost layer inner surface. In another aspect the invention provides a process for fabricating a self-grounding dual wall laminated duct for transporting corrosive vapors and gases, which includes the steps of: forming a fluidic admixture of an epoxy vinyl ester resin and a curing agent; evenly coating a horizontal mandrel covered with a polyester sheeting with the admixture to form a thin layer; helically winding around the mandrel a band including electrically conductive, continuous ribbons, disposed edge-to-edge, each having continuous longitudinal carbon filaments impregnated with the admixture, so that contiguous helical segments form a continuous first ribbon-layer which is embedded in the admixture layer and integrated with the layer interior surface; helically winding additional band to form a thickness of ribbon-layers; evenly coating a second layer of the admixture; rolling out air trapped in the ribbon-layers; helically winding a layer of mat-type fiberglass, post-wetted with the admixture; and curing the admixture. The process further includes: forming an admixture of a phenolic impregnating resin and a catalyst therefor; evenly coating the fiberglass outer surface with a thin layer of the admixture; helically winding a band of continuous glass filament ribbons impregnated with the admixture to form an inner glass filament layer; rolling out air trapped in the inner layer; helically winding additional band to form an outer glass layer; rolling out air trapped in the outer glass layer; helically winding a layer of glass veil, wetted out with the admixture; and curing the admixture. A more complete understanding of the present invention and other objects, aspects and advantages thereof will be gained from a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiment read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings provided herein.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Technical Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to computing systems and more particularly to data storage within such computing systems. 2. Description of Related Art This invention relates generally to computing systems and more particularly to data storage solutions within such computing systems.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Existing digital picture frames synchronize with popular social media platforms, such as Facebook™ and Instagram™, using, among other techniques, a WiFi™ interconnection. However, multiple steps may be required for such synchronization. These manual steps can be difficult to do if one wants to change to a different social media account, such as while entertaining guests. There is a continuing need for improvements for implementing social media through displays such as home digital picture frames.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The subject invention relates generally to gauging apparatus and, more particularly, to gauges for performing measurements to check or confirm the integrity of vehicle structures. 2. Description of Related Art Vehicle gauges are known in the prior art which are adjustable in width in order to perform various measurements with respect to vehicle structure. Such gauges have typically employed relatively complicated cabling or cords cooperating with rollers to provide adjustability. In addition to being structurally complex, the adjusting action provided by such mechanisms is not as smooth or precise as would be desirable. Nor have such prior art gauges provided a suitable array of features facilitating multipurpose uses with increased accuracy.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to a separator for separating windings in an electrical apparatus. Electrical apparatuses such as motors, generators and transformers generally comprise electrical windings wound on an iron core. The individual wires in the windings are electrically insulated by means of an outer insulation layer, which is typically enamel. However faults may develop in the outer insulation layer either due to the manufacturing process, or due to stresses imposed on the wires during construction or use of the apparatus. Many electrical machines are constructed with overlapping groups of windings. For example, in a three phase motor or generator each phase many have one or more groups of windings, and each group may overlap another group. In such a machine, overlapping groups of windings may be at different electrical potentials. Any faults in the insulation in the wires could then lead to arcing between the groups. This would make the machine inefficient and could lead to the eventual destruction of the machine. In order to prevent arcing between groups of windings, it is known to insert electrically insulating composite paper between the groups of windings. This composite paper typically comprises layers of Aramid and Mylar materials in varying thicknesses, depending on the physical and electrical requirements of any given application. In electrical machines heat tends to be generated through, amongst other things, resistance in the windings and losses in the iron. The machine rating is often determined by the actual temperature rise of the machine, and thus the cooling efficiency of the construction may help to determine the rating of the machine. A problem which has been identified in machines which use composite paper between groups of windings is that the paper may reduce the cooling efficiency of the machine. This is firstly because the exposed surface area of the windings may be reduced, and secondly because air flow through the windings may be restricted.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus. More particularly, it relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member having in its photosensitive layer a specific charge-transporting material, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have the electrophotographic photosensitive member. 2. Related Background Art Image-bearing members used in electrophotographic photosensitive member include electrophotographic photosensitive members. Form the viewpoints of high productivity and future developments and easiness of material designing, organic electrophotographic photosensitive members making use of organic photoconductive materials are energetically put forward. In regard to the functionality as electrophotographic photosensitive members, electrophotographic photosensitive members superior to inorganic electrophotographic photosensitive member have come to be manufactured. It, however, is desired to achieve higher sensitivity and to improve image stability in repeated use and durability in organic electrophotographic photosensitive members. To settle these subjects, approaches to the improvement of charge-transporting materials have been proposed (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. H9-292724 and 2001-133994). Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. H9-292724 and 2001-133994 disclose that a charge-transporting material having three or four structures having in its molecule a tertiary amine in which phenyl groups are bonded to the nitrogen atom (hereinafter “triphenylamine structures”) is used in an electrophotographic photosensitive member to achieve a higher sensitivity, and superior charge transport performance is brought out by the three or four triphenylamine structures possessed in the charge-transporting material. There, however, is no disclosure as to a charge-transporting material having five or more structures having a tertiary amine in which either of substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbocyclic groups and substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic groups are bonded to the nitrogen atom (hereinafter “triarylamine structures”) charge-transporting material. There is also no disclosure as to the durability in mechanical strength of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Similarly, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-206721 gives an example of a charge-transporting material having therein two to four triphenylamine structures. This Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-206721 discloses that the charge-transporting material having two to four triphenylamine structures makes the charge transport layer have higher glass transition temperature, but admits in Comparative Examples that only the incorporation of this charge-transporting material can not achieve the improvement in durability. Thus, the improvement of charge-transporting materials have achieved a superior charge transport performance. Since, however, a low-molecular-weight charge-transporting material is mixed in a binder resin, it would be said that the inherent mechanical strength of the binder resin is not necessarily fully exhibited. For the purpose of more preferably preventing the layer from having a low mechanical strength because of the addition of a low-molecular-weight charge-transporting material, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S61-151545 and Japanese Patent Publication No. H5-49106 disclose a high-molecular-weight charge-transporting material of a polymer type which contains triarylamine structures in a large number. In these patent publications, it is disclosed that the high-molecular-weight charge-transporting material of a polymer type which contains triarylamine structures in a large number is used in an electrophotographic photosensitive member, thereby improving its durability in repeated use. According to the disclosure in these patent publications, the high-molecular-weight charge-transporting material is synthesized by polymerization reaction, and hence it is produced in the form of a mixture containing charge-transporting materials with various molecular weights. However, in Japanese Patent Publication No. H5-49106, it is also disclosed that there is little difference from a high-molecular-weight charge-transporting material having no molecular weight distribution as long as the number of times of the repetition of repeating structural units is 10 times or less. As examples in which a high-molecular-weight charge-transporting material of a polymer type is similarly used in an electrophotographic photosensitive member, those disclosed in International Publications No. WO00/078843 and No. WO99/32537 may be given. A high-molecular-weight charge-transporting material disclosed in International Publication No. WO00/078843 is a high-molecular-weight charge-transporting material of a polymer type having a molecular weight distribution, which is produced by polymerization reaction of a low-molecular-weight monomer, showing that the use of this charge-transporting material in the electrophotographic photosensitive member enables higher sensitivity to be achieved in virtue of an improvement in durability and an improvement in charge transport performance. Publication No. WO00/078843 further discloses a method in which a high-molecular-weight charge-transporting material of a polymer type which contains triphenylamine structures in a large number is separated into molecular-weight fractions, and also discloses that such separation into molecular-weight fractions brings an improvement in charge transport performance. International Publication No. WO99/32537 further discloses that the use of a high-molecular-weight charge-transporting material of a polymer type brings an improvement in durability of electrophotographic photosensitive members, proposing an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a high charge transport performance and a high durability. However, even if the polymer-type charge-transporting material has a small number of times of the repetition of repeating structural units and is separated into molecular-weight fractions, it has a molecular weight distribution and contains charge-transporting materials with various molecular weights. Hence, all the polymer-type high-molecular-weight charge-transporting materials do not necessarily have sufficient mechanical strength and electrophotographic performance. Also, even when they have a certain mechanical strength, they have such a disadvantage that their manufacturing cost is so high as to be not suited for practical use. In addition, since an improvement in wear resistance makes the depth of wear smaller, the photosensitive layer have a longer lifetime and the influence of electrical external force coming from the steps of charging, imagewise exposure, development with toner and transfer the photosensitive layer undergoes, becomes relatively large. Hence, when the photosensitive layer is repeatedly used, such influence is liable to appear. For example, smeared images may appear in a high-humidity environment due to deterioration in the electrophotographic photosensitive member surface. Thus, problems have come to arise which should be solved at the same time the durability of electrophotographic photosensitive members is improved.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to an article of footwear, and in particular to a medial rotational traction element arrangement for an article of footwear. Articles of footwear having traction elements arranged in circular patterns have been previously proposed. Kuhtz et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,685,745) discloses a traction member for a shoe, including a group of large traction elements circumferentially-spaced about a periphery of a hub. Campbell et al. (US patent application publication number 2010/0229427) discloses a cleated athletic shoe with cushion structures, including protrusions arranged in a helical manner. There exists a need in the art for a traction element arrangement that provides increased traction and mobility for an article of footwear. In particular, there exists a need in the art for a traction element arrangement that assists a wearer of an article of footwear with rotational and/or transverse movement.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
“Canola”, refers to a particular class of rapeseed (Brassica napus oleifera annua) having: (i) a seed oil that contains less than 2% erucic acid, and (ii) an oil-free meal that contains less than 30 micromoles aliphatic glucosinolates per gram of meal. Canola seed is pressed for cooking oil and the residual meal is used as an organic fertilizer and as a high-protein animal feed supplement. Industrial uses of canola include biodiesel and plastic feedstocks. Farmers in Canada began producing canola oil in 1968. Early canola cultivars were known as single zero cultivars because their oil contained 5% or less erucic acid, but glucosinolates were high. In 1974, the first licensed double zero cultivars (low erucic acid and low glucosinolates) were grown. Today all canola cultivars are double zero cultivars. The Canadian Health and Welfare Department recommended conversion to the production of low erucic acid varieties of rapeseed. Industry responded with a voluntary agreement to limit erucic acid content to less than 5% in food products, effective Dec. 1, 1973. In 1985, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted canola oil GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status for use in human foods. Because canola oil is perceived to be “healthy”, its use is rising steadily both as an oil for cooking and as an ingredient in processed foods. The consumption of canola oil is expected to surpass corn and cottonseed oils, becoming second only to soybean oil. It is low in saturated fatty acids and high in monounsaturated fatty acids, containing a high level of oleic acid. Many people prefer the light color and mild taste of canola oil over olive oil, the other readily available oil high in monounsaturates. Canola is an important and valuable field crop. The goal of a canola breeder is to develop new, unique, and superior canola cultivars and hybrids having improved combinations of desirable traits and therefore, increased economic value. Improved performance is manifested in many ways. Higher yields of canola plants contribute to higher seed production per acre, a more profitable agriculture and a lower cost of products for the consumer. Improved plant health increases the yield and quality of the plant and reduces the need for application of protective chemicals. Adapting canola plants to a wider range of production areas achieves improved yield and vegetative growth. Improved plant uniformity enhances the farmer's ability to mechanically harvest canola. Improved nutritional quality increases its value in food and feed. Canola is a dicot plant with perfect flowers, i.e., canola has male, pollen-producing organs and separate female, pollen receiving organs on the same flower. Canola flowers are radial with four sepals alternating with four petals forming the typical cross pattern from which the Cruciferae family derives its name. In addition, canola flowers consist of two short lateral stamens, four longer median stamens and a stigma. Pollination occurs with the opening of the anthers and shedding of pollen on the stigma or with the deposit of pollen on the stigma by insects. Canola flowers are mainly self-pollinating, although outcrossing occurs when pollen is transferred from the anthers to the stigmas by wind or bees or other insects. After fertilization, which is usually complete within 24 hours of pollination, the syncarpous ovary elongates to form a silique (pod). Because each pod may contain 25 or more seeds and each plant produces many pods, the multiplication rate per generation usually exceeds 1,000 to 1, thereby accelerating the breeding and evaluation process. The development of new cultivars in a canola plant breeding program involves numerous steps, including: (1) selection of parent canola plants (germplasm) for the initial breeding crosses; (2) producing and selecting inbred breeding lines and cultivars by either the doubled-haploid method or repeated generations of selfing individual plants, which eventually breed true; (3) producing and selecting hybrid cultivars by crossing a selected inbred male-sterile line with an unrelated inbred restorer line to produce the F1 hybrid progeny having restored vigor; and (4) thoroughly testing these advanced inbreds and hybrids compared to appropriate standards for three or more years in environments representative of the commercial target area(s). The best inbred and hybrid experimental cultivars then become candidates for new commercial cultivars. Those lines still deficient in a few traits may be used as parental lines to produce new populations for further selection. Development and selection of new canola parental lines, the crossing of these parental lines, and selection of superior hybrid progeny are vital to maintaining a canola breeding program. The F1-hybrid canola seed is produced by manual crosses between selected male-fertile parents or by using male-sterility systems. These hybrids are selected for certain single-gene traits such as herbicide resistance, which can indicate that the seed is truly a hybrid from the intended cross. Additional data on parental lines, as well as the phenotype of the hybrid, influence the breeder's decision whether to continue with the specific hybrid cross. The method of doubled-haploid breeding consists of donor selection, microspore culture and chromosome doubling, embryo cold stress, plantlet regeneration, ploidy analysis, and self-pollination to produce seed of doubled-haploid lines. The advantage of the doubled-haploid method is that the time to develop a new completely homozygous and homogeneous cultivar can be reduced by 3 years compared to the conventional inbreeding method of multiple generations of self pollination. When two different, unrelated canola parent cultivars are crossed to produce an F1 hybrid, one parent cultivar is designated as the male, or pollen parent, and the other parent cultivar is designated as the female, or seed parent. Because canola plants are capable of self-pollination, hybrid seed production requires elimination of or inactivation of pollen produced by the female parent. Different options exist for controlling male fertility in canola plants such as physical emasculation, application of gametocides, and cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). Hybrid canola seed can be produced on a commercial scale by means of a system whereby the female parent has an allele in the mitochondrial genome for cytoplasmic male sterility and the male parent has an allele in the nuclear genome for fertility restoration (Rf). Cytoplasmic male sterility prevents the production of functional pollen, thereby preventing self pollination of the female parent. Pollen from the male parent planted in close proximity to the female parent is then able to freely cross pollinate the female parent to produce hybrid seed. The fertility-restoration allele contributed by the male parent to the seed embryo enables the hybrid crop plants to be male fertile. The resulting hybrid canola crop, which is fully fertile, may then demonstrate heterosis (increased vigor) to produce grain yields potentially greater than that of inbred cultivars. A cytoplasmic male-sterile inbred (A) line is genetically maintained and increased in a breeding and hybrid-production program by growing it in isolation with a male-fertile maintainer (B) line that is normal (N) for cytoplasmic fertility and is homozygous recessive at the nuclear male-fertility restoration locus (rfrf). All seed harvested from the A line is then male sterile (S rfrf) and all seed harvested off the B line is male fertile (N rfrf). The A line is then maintained, increased, and used as the female parent for hybrid seed production in combination with an unrelated male parent that has the dominant allele (Rf) for male fertility restoration. One example of a CMS system in canola hybrid production and breeding is the Ogura (Ogu) cytoplasm and its specific nuclear fertility-restoration gene, Rfo—a system discovered in radish (Raphanus sativus) and transferred to Brassica napus after protoplast fusion. The system was later improved by breeding to lower the glucosinolate content for hybrid canola. These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing and distribution of a cultivar, usually take from 8 to 12 years from the time the parental cross is made. Therefore, development of new canola inbred and hybrid cultivars is a slow, costly process that requires the resources and expertise of plant breeders and numerous other specialists. It is nearly impossible for two canola breeders to independently develop genetically-identical canola inbreds or hybrids expressing all the same trait characteristics. The cultivars that are developed cannot be predicted because the breeder's selection occurs in unique environments, with no control over meiotic genetic recombination (using conventional breeding procedures), and with millions of different possible genetic combinations possible. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the final resulting lines he/she develops, except possibly in a very gross and general fashion. The same breeder cannot produce the same cultivar twice by using the exact same original parents and the same selection techniques. Canola cultivars and other sources of canola germplasm are the foundation material for all canola breeding programs. Despite the existence and availability of numerous canola cultivars and other source germplasm, a need still exists for the development of improved germplasm to improve and maximize yield and quality. The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates to the production of methanol at relatively low temperatures and particularly to catalysts which are active for the production of methanol. On an industrial scale, methanol is generally prepared by the reaction of oxides of carbon with hydrogen. Generally, the prior art practice has been to react carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide with hydrogen using copper oxide and zinc oxide catalysts at temperatures in the range of 570.degree. F. to 750.degree. F. Because of equilibrium values, when the reaction of carbon dioxide and hydrogen is conducted at temperatures of 570.degree. F. to 750.degree. F., it is necessary to carry out this reaction at high pressures in order to obtain suitable yields. However, at these high temperatures and high pressures, the formation of higher molecular weight oxygenated hydrocarbons appear to occur. In fact, with a zinc oxide, chromium oxide catalyst, it is essentially impossible to obtain highpurity methanol at temperatures above 735.degree. F. However, if the methanol synthesis reaction is carried out at lower temperatures, i.e., 400.degree. F. to 560.degree. F., there is a resulting approach to more favorable equilibrium conditions. Thus, it is highly desirable to provide a catalyst active for the synthesis of methanol in the lower temperature range.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital multiplexer for time-division multiplexing digital signals from framing units. 2. Description of the Related Art A digital multiplexer is a device for converting lower-order group input signals, which are asynchronous digital signals, on a plurality of channels to a higher-order group signal by time-division multiplexing. A conventional digital multiplexer is described in "Multiplexing and Synchronization Techniques," ch. 3 in a book entitled "Digital Communication Techniques," Tokai University publishing society in Japan. According to this digital multiplexer, a plurality of framing units are provided for a plurality of channels, respectively, and output signals of the framing units are time-division multiplexed by a multiplexer. In this case, the multiplexer provides to the framing units block synchronization signals each of which is delayed in time by a predetermined number of bits which differs from channel to channel. Each of the framing units produces a block signal composed of a m-bit information signal and a 1-bit block delimiter signal in synchronism with a corresponding block synchronization signal. The multiplexer multiplexes block signals sequentially sent from the framing units and adds C bits to a resultant multiplexed signal. This results in a BSI-code higher-order group signal composed of mBlC. According to the multiplexing scheme as described above, to produce the block synchronization signals which are subjected to delays suitable for the respective channels, the multiplexer needs delay circuits corresponding in number to the channels. This will result in increased scale and cost of the multiplexer circuitry. In addition, to design a digital multiplexer with a different number of multiplexing (the number of channels for lower-order group signals), delay circuits necessary for producing block synchronization signals must be provided in the number of signals to be multiplexed. This will render flexible alteration of the number of signals to be multiplexed difficult.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
NF-κB, a heterodimer of the proteins p50 and RelA, is an inducible eukaryotic transcription factor complex that is broadly expressed and plays a pivotal role in regulating multiple biological responses, such as the inflammatory and immune responses in mammalian cells. See, Baldwin, Jr., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 14:649–683 (1996) and Ghosh, S. et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 16:225–260 (1998). NF-κB binds to regulatory regions of genes, termed enhancers, that increase the expression of these genes thereby exerting important effects on inflammatory, immune and anti-apoptotic responses. Activation of NF-κB is implicated in a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases. In addition, the long terminal repeat (LTR) of HIV is subject to activation by NF-κB, a response that can lead to heightened levels of viral replication. NF-κB was first identified as a constitutively expressed protein that bound to a specific decameric DNA sequence (5′-ggg act ttc c-3′SEQ ID NO:1), within the intronic enhancer of the immunoglobulin kappa light chain in mature B- and plasma cells, but not pre B-cells (Sen et al. (1986) Cell 46:705–716). Later, it was demonstrated that the DNA binding activity of NF-κB is induced in most cells following exposure to a variety of exogenously applied stimuli, and that this activation occurs independently of de novo protein synthesis. NF-κB binds to specific sites on DNA (referred to as κB sites, and having the general consensus sequence: 5′-ggg rnn tyc c-3′ (SEQ ID NO:2), where R is a purine, and Y is a pyrimidine). These κB sites have been identified in promoters and enhancers of a large number of inducible NF-κB genes. For reviews see, e.g., May et al., Sem. Cancer Biol. 8:63–73 (1997); and May et al., Immunol. Today 19(2):80–88 (1998). The prototypical NF-κB complex, which corresponds to a heterodimer of p50 and RelA subunits, is kept in an inactive form and sequestered in the cytoplasm by a family of inhibitory proteins termed the IκBs, which includes IκBα. Upon exposure to a wide variety of stimuli, for example proinflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 1 (IL-1), IκBα is phosphorylated. This event, mediated by a macromolecular IκB kinase complex (IKK) (Karin, M., Oncogene 18:6867–6874 (1999)), triggers the rapid ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of this inhibitor by the 26S proteasome complex. The unmasking of the nuclear localization signal in the RelA component of the p50/RelA NF-κB heterodimer allows its rapid translocation into the nucleus, where it engages cognate κB sites and activates transcription of various target genes. Transcriptional activation by NF-κB principally reflects the action of its RelA subunit, which contains an active C-terminal transcriptional activation domain. In contrast, the p50 subunit principally plays a role in DNA binding. Overall transcriptional activity of the RelA subunit is also regulated by casein kinase II- and IKK-mediated phosphorylation of serine residues present in the C-terminal activation domain of RelA. See, for example, Sakurai, H., J. Biol. Chem. 274:30353–30356 (1999), Wang, D., J. Biol. Chem. 275:32592–32597 (2000), and Bird, T. A., J. Biol. Chem. 272:32606–32612 (1997). Binding of NF-κB to DNA promotes the recruitment of such co-activators as p300 or CBP (cyclic AMP Response Element Binding Protein (CREB) Binding Protein) and P/CAF that participate in the transcriptional activation of target genes. See, Perkins, N. D. et al., Science 275:523–527 (1997), Hottiger, M. O., EMBO J. 17:3124–3134 (1998), and Sheppard, K. A. et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 19:6367–6378 (1999). Phosphorylation of the N-terminal portion of the RelA subunit by protein kinase A facilitates its assembly with CBP/p300 (Zhong, H. et al., Mol. Cell 1:661–671 (1998)). Both CBP and p300 exhibit histone acetyltransferase activity, which has been implicated in the control of gene expression. This action involves both acetylation of core histones that lead to changes in chromatin structure, and direct acetylation of select host transcription factors like p53, GATA-1 and E2F, where acetylation alters the biological function of the factors. See, for example, Imhof, I. and Wolffe, A. P., Curr. Biol. 8:422–424 (1998); Sterner, D. E. and Berger, S. L., Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 64:435–459 (2000); and Kouzarides, M. T., EMBO J. 19:1176–1179 (2000). Although the biochemical steps underlying IκB degradation and NF-κB activation are relatively well understood, much less is known about how the cell re-establishes control over the powerfully active nuclear NF-κB complexes once they are expressed in the nucleus. Histones are proteins found in the nucleus that play a major role in regulating gene expression by modifying chromatin structure. See, Imhof, A. and Wolffe, A. P., Curr. Biol. 8:422–424 (1998). Histones are acetylated and deacetylated in vivo. These opposing processes are regulated by two complementary groups of enzymes, the histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Eight different HDACs (HDAC 1–8) have now been identified in mammalian cells. See, Cress, W. D. and Seto, E., J. Cell Physiol. 184:1–16 (2000). Based on their primary structure, these HDACs have been divided into two classes; the class I HDACs include HDAC 1, 2, 3 and 8, which share homology with a yeast transcriptional repressor, RPD3 (Taunton, J. et al., Science 272:408–411 (1996)), and the class II HDACs including HDAC 4, 5, 6 and 7, which display similarity to another yeast deacetylase, HDA1 (Rundlett, S. E. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:14503–14508 (1996)). Each of the HDACs contains a conserved catalytic domain that mediates deacetylation of histones (Ng, H. H. and Bird, A., TIBS 25:121–126 (2000)). In general, acetylation of histones by the HATs promotes nucleosome rearrangement and transcriptional activation. Conversely, deacetylation of histones by the HDACs promotes nucleosome assembly and transcriptional repression. See, Kouzarides, M. T., EMBO. J. 19:1176–1179 (2000) and Kuo, H. and Allis, C. D., Bioessays, 20:615–626 (1998). In addition, it is known that trichostatin A (TSA) is a specific inhibitor of the HDACs. See, Yoshida, M. and Horinouchi, S., Ann N.Y. Acad. Sci. 886:23–36 (1999). Since NF-κB plays a key role in regulating both inflammatory and immune responses in mammalian cells, as well as contributing to cancer cell growth and increased replication of various viruses like HIV-1, the development of agents that impair NF-κB activation or function could have important therapeutic applications. The present invention describes a novel approach to the regulation of nuclear NF-κB activity taking advantage of the recent observation that nuclear NF-κB action is regulated by reversible acetylation. There is a need for compositions and methods to modulate NF-κB activity, particularly agents that modulate NF-κB activity through a mechanism or pathway different from the NE-κB modulating agents currently available. Providing such agents expands the scope of methods for treating conditions associated with dysregulation of NF-κB activity, thus ultimately providing the clinician and the patient with alternative therapies. Thus, there is a need for methods for identifying agents that can modulate NF-κB activity through, for example, a pathway other than that involving regulation of interaction with IκBα and its components, or other extranuclear pathway. The present invention addresses this need.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a connector for use with telephones, computers, computer disc drives, and the like type of electronic apparatus, and more specifically to an improved type connector which enables double locking, reduced thickness of the female housing, increased resistance to electromagnetic noise and simple construction. 2. Description of the Prior Art Miniature type modular male/female type connectors offer various merits and have found use in telephone connections and the like. However, in the case of vehicular telephones, the construction illustrated in FIG. 1 has exhibited the drawback that a lock lever L/L on the male member sometimes cones out of engagement with the corresponding structure in the female housing when subject to external forces and vibration and thus does not not exhibit the required level of reliability. FIG. 2 shows a second type of prior art connector. This type of so called EMI type connector enables a higher number of connections to be established and which is able to shut out electromagnetic wave noise. However, with this type of connector, in order to avoid the shape of the female housing becoming irregular, the thickness of the same met be increased. JP-A-59-198675 discloses a connector construction of the above mentioned nature. However, this type of connector features a very large number of components and thus tends to be excessively costly.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to magnets and particularly to magnets that are controlled as to field strength and plurality by mechanical twisting. 2. Description of the Prior Art For many years the so-called Wiedemann Effect has been well known. The Wiedemann Effect is a twist produced in a wire that exhibits magnetostriction when that wire is placed in a longitudinal magnetic field and current flows through the wire. The converse or inverse of this has also been long recognized and is commonly called the Inverse Wiedemann Effect. In the Inverse Wiedemann Effect axial magnetization is produced by a magnetostrictive wire that carries current therethrough when the wire is twisted. There have been a number of attempts to employ the effect outside of the rod as the entire magnetic field produced by the anisotropic remanence is wholly within the rod and hence is not externally apparent. However, if the rod is twisted, the direction of anisotropy will be shifted from the circular to a helical direction whereby to cause the magnetic induction to align with a new direction of anisotropy and thus have a longitudinal component. This will cause longitudinally extending magnetic flux to appear at the ends of the rod and thereby exhibit magnetism.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
A typical standard networking system implemented single-function, fixed functionality. The first generation of virtualized systems offers per-customer functionality, but the functionality is still fixed. These limitations lead to several drawbacks. Customers may judge service providers based on service availability. Customers may perceive any downtime as a problem with the service provider and may consider switching providers. Service providers want to add service products to their offerings to generate more revenue and increase margins with higher-value offerings. Some of today's systems require downtime associated with upgrades. This is the case because their systems package all functionality into a single runtime image. It is simpler to design and test a system when all functionality is packaged and released in a single unit. In some cases, the service provider has to minimize downtime by building a redundant topology and taking down one system while the backup system handles service. This is non-optimal because it forces the service provider to purchase redundant hardware and design complex configurations. To achieve economies of scale and lower capital expenditures, service providers are installing systems that service multiple customers on a single system. Rather than dedicating hardware to each individual customer, the service provider amortizes that capital expense across many customers, lowering the average cost. These service providers typically schedule downtime with their customers for routine maintenance. This scheduling is more difficult when multiple customers are configured to utilize the same system. In addition, typical networking systems may offer fixed functionality that is composed in a fixed manner. For instance, the processing is usually layer 2 followed by layer 3, or secure socket layer (SSL) aceleration followed by load balancing. Typically, networking systems implement fixed functionality with a monolithic version of software. Those systems that offer Virtual loading typically use a simple link-time configuration strategy or simple Virtual loading at start time, but not thereafter. Thus, you may get to choose what functionality you want to run at startup time, but you cannot change it thereafter. Typically, prior systems have had disadvantages such as they require a reboot when they are upgraded. This causes downtime. As a result, some conventional systems lack the ability to configure functionality in an arbitrary manner using an arbitrary topology, to add new functionality to a running system without causing downtime, or to upgrade a portion of functionality to a new revision. Furthermore, in data enters, from time to time they have to upgrade the software running on a packet processing system or change the network topology or upgrade the hardware. Any upgrade of software or hardware disrupts the service availability. Such upgrades are normally done during the maintenance hours in which the service is not available to the customers. Alternatively, the service network is duplicated so that the service is available on one of networks always. In the first approach, service is disrupted. In the second approach, redundant network must be setup and maintained carefully. Therefore, a better solution is highly desirable to be able to compose, manage, change, or upgrade a topology of a network system.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to a swivelling device for pulling pump drive strings which may be under torque. Downhole rod pumps, particularly rotary pumps such as progressive cavity pumps (PCP), and stroke pumps, are generally driven by a drive string which extends through a concentrically arranged production tubing string. The drive string is made up of a plurality of rods or tubes which are connected together end-to-end by rod boxes. Alternatively the drive string may consist of one continuous rod cut and pinned to the desired length. Progressive cavity pumps generally include a stator affixed to the production tubing and a corkscrew-shaped rotor connected to and supported at the working end of the drive string. The drive string is connected at its top end to a smooth rod, called a polish rod, which allows an effective seal to be created between the outer production tubing and the inner drive string. The polish rod is attached to a drive unit which, in operation, rotates the drive string. Upon actuation of the pump by rotation of the drive string, fluids are forced to the ground surface through an annular space provided between the drive string and the production tubing. In operation, often the working end of a drive string will become jammed by such things as accumulation of debris, too high viscosity of the surrounding medium, or obstructions in the pump hole. When this happens with a rotary pump the end of the drive string may stop rotating, but the polish rod and remaining rods of the drive string continue to rotate until the drive unit is stopped by overload sensors; then a braking system that is built into the drive unit controllably releases back spin. The rotation of the drive string without rotation of its end causes the accumulation of torque, through twisting of the drive string. The accumulated torque, which may be substantial, due to the length of the drive string, may be released by "back spin", spinning the drive unit backwards. Under normal circumstances, the braking system releases in a controlled manner, thereby allowing the release of the torque accumulated in the drive string by "back spin". However, if the braking system locks on solid, the accumulated torque may be released uncontrolled once a drive clamp is disconnected from the drive unit by picking the polish rod up a few centimeters. The back spin is then released in an uncontrolled manner. In conventional systems, to pull the drive string and release torque, the drive unit is disconnected and the polish rod attached to a pony rod, a rod elevator and a rod hook. The rod hook contains a swivel which allows the drive string to "back spin", for the release of accumulated torque. Such conventional rod pulling devices, using a rod hook connected to a polish rod by a rod elevator, are not symmetrical along the axis of rotation. This means that the known devices are prone to "wobble", which can lead to stress under the high angular velocities attained when back spin is released uncontrolled. The "wobble" is exacerbated by the fact that the rod elevator and the rod hook form a point of articulation which can bend under the centrifugal force of rotation, allowing the bottom of the hook and the top of the elevator to "swing out" from the axis of rotation. The point of articulation between the rod elevator and the rod hook is a common cause of failure. Conventional devices also have moving parts for attaching the elevator to the rod hook, in the form of a locking finger on a hook portion of the rod hook, which is usually spring biassed in a closed position. The moving parts complicate the manufacture and assembly of the device, and provide weak points for failure. These factors contribute to make conventional rod pulling devices extremely unstable under conditions of high angular velocities, such as are encountered in the release of back spin. The conventional devices may fail during use, leading to equipment damage and human injury when the components fly apart. Pumps other than rotary pumps, such as a stroke pump, may become sanded in or stuck. If this situation occurs the only way to pull the pump rod string out of the hole is to strip it out. This is achieved conventionally by installing tubing tongs over the rod string. A device called a "back off tool" is then clamped to the rod string. The tubing tongs are then used to rotate the back off tool and rod string. The rod string then backs off at the weakest connection. The swivel is then removed and a rod hook and elevator are installed for pulling off the rods. If there is no tubing drain, the fluid inside the tubing (surrounding the rod string) must then be swabbed out down to the top of the remaining rods (i.e. the rods below the weakest connection). Once this is achieved the tubing is pulled out of the hole to the remaining rods. The back off procedure is repeated until all rods and tubing are removed from the well. Because the rods are backed off at the weakest connection the sudden rotation of the rods and/or torque created to back the rods off often causes the rod to jump violently. On some occasions the elevator can jump out past a safety latch of the rod hook, dropping the elevator onto the tubing tongs, causing equipment damage or possible injury to the working crew. The torque generated to back the rods off varies from type of pump, for example PCP (which rotates to the right under normal conditions) to a rod pump on a pump jack which strokes up and down. The pump jacks are not usually as tight requiring less torque to back the rods off, but still require substantial torque. The sudden back off causes sudden and very quick back spin that usually lasts a few seconds. The conventional method for backing off of a rod pump on a pump jack is therefore dangerous, and suffers the same drawbacks as mentioned above for backing off of a rotary pump. The "flush by" is a frequent procedure with PCP pumps. PCP pumps may need to be flushed because of debris causing the rotor to become sticky or the fluid may become too thick or heavy for the pump to force it to the ground's surface. A flush by is achieved by picking the polish rod up a few centimeters to unlock the polish rod clamp from the drive unit. Fluid is then pumped down the annular space between the production tubing the drive string; this causes the drive string to rotate backward, i.e. "back spin". The back spin may be very fast, for long periods of time causing equipment to fly apart.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates to an electromagnetically operated fluid passage unit. Such a fluid passage unit is used, for example, for hydraulic vibration dampers for varying the damping force. The fluid passage unit in such a vibration damper is provided as a bypass between two fluid chambers. In such hydraulic vibration dampers, it must be ensured particularly in view of low piston speeds that the fluid passage unit be absolutely tight.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
A polyimide powder for heat compression molding is produced by reacting an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride with an aromatic diamino compound in an organic polar solvent to form a polyamide acid, which is then imidated to precipitate polyimide particles. The resulting polyimide powder may be used, for example, as a molding material or may be mixed with a filler to impart strength characteristics to molded products. In the latter case in which a polyimide powder and a filler are mixed to obtain a polyimide molding powder, a polyimide powder and a filler powder are dry blended in a mixer, etc., or each powder is separately dispersed in a dispersing medium and the dispersions are mixed, followed by removal of the dispersing medium (wet blending). According to these methods, the polyimide powder and filler can uniformly be mixed, but the resulting mixed powder is a mere mechanical mixture of the polyimide powder and the filler. However, since a polyimide powder itself is substantially infusible or insoluble, it does not sufficiently flow in the heat compression molding, particularly due to interference from the filler powder. As a result, molded products obtained from such a molding powder is extremely brittle. Moreover, they have a seriously poor appearance as not only lacking gloss but also having cracks or spots due to non-uniform distribution of the polyimide powder on their surface. Japanese Patent Publication No. 22196/64 discloses a process for preparing a polyimide molding powder by suspending a fine metal powder or a metal oxide, etc. directly in a polyamide acid solution. However, this process produces a large-sized polyimide powder composed of a filler aggregate coated with a polyimide, from which only a very brittle molded product can be obtained. In other words, since the filler aggregate that is a mere assembly of particles is first subjected to destruction upon application of external force, the molded products are exceedingly brittle and thus have a small strength. Under these circumstances, the conventional polyimide molding powders containing a filler can produce no more than brittle molded products having poor appearance with no gloss. Nevertheless, it is inconceivable to exclude the filler, taking into account the excellent characteristics imparted to polyimide molded products by the filler. It has been, therefore, keenly demanded to improve flowability of a polyimide molding powder containing a filler during the molding.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The airfoils of a gas turbine engine, as well as other engine component parts, are subject to vibrational stress that can adversely affect the lifetime thereof as well as overall engine efficiency. The gas turbine industry, in consideration of this stress, has developed numerous ways of restraining or damping airfoil vibrations. One approach that has been taken involves frictionally damping particular modes of airfoil vibrations by interlocking the tips of tip-shrouded blades. To create the interlock, the blades are twisted during assembly of the engine. The applied twist is in a circumferential direction as viewed along the longitudinal axis of each blade. Such an assembly technique is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,185,441 to Reuter. It is now, in the art to configure the interlock between adjacent tip shrouds substantially as a "Z" thereby providing frictional damping only along the diagonals of the "Z" rather than along the entire lengths of the adjacent tip shroud edges. Twisting the blades creates a load on the tip shrouds that is normal to the plane of contact between adjacent shrouds. This particular load, hereafter referred to as an elastic load, arises from the inherent tendency of the blade to rebound to its former shape. In other words, the blade tries to untwist. The elastic load causes the tip shrouds to rub against each other during engine operation and thereby dissipates the airfoil vibrations at least in part. The elastic load may be insufficient in and of itself, however, to provide the total desired blade damping. Another source of tip shroud load is available for rotating blades, however. During engine operation the centrifugal forces generated by the rotation will create an additional load on the tip shrouds. In other words, as the centrifugal forces act on the blade, the blade tries to lengthen and does so by trying to untwist. Thus, this rotationally generated, or centrifugal, load also lies normal to the plane of contact between the tip shrouds and adds to the load created by the inherently elastic blade material trying to return to its former, untwisted shape. The total tip shroud load, centrifugal and elastic, in many cases, may be sufficient to provide the desired level of blade damping. In such cases the centrifugal and elastic loads may be considered to be inversely proportional to each other. That is, for a given constant total load, as the centrifugal load is increased, the elastic load may correspondingly be decreased. The faster the blade rotates, in other words, the greater the centrifugal load is and the less the elastic load need be. Conversely, the slower the blade rotates, the smaller the centrifugal load is and the greater the elastic load must be to maintain the constant total load. Typically, then, as an airfoil rotates more and more slowly at normal operating conditions, it must be subjected to ever increasing degrees of assembly twist to provide the desired damping characteristics. With many features of gas turbine engine technology trade offs exist with many design features--i.e., solving one problem may create others with the solution--and so it is with twisting blades during assembly. Twisting the blades can introduce high stress levels in certain localized regions of the airfoil lying adjacent the tip shroud and the blade root. These areas of high stress are subject to the development of cracks during engine operation and thus create a potential failure mode for the blade. In other words, the need to twist the blades to create the load necessary for proper damping of the blade during engine operation stresses the blade material structure so that cracks can develop more quickly than they would without the twist. In turn, the blade cracking can lead to blade failure with the resultant loss of the blade itself as well as downstream blades which are struck by portions of the disintegrating blade. The degree of twist is directly related to the amount of resulting stress. Thus, the greater the twist is, the greater the resulting stress will be. Where the degree of twist is great due to the need to compensate for the loss of the centrifugal load due to a slowly rotating engine, the stress will correspondingly be greater as will the potential for failure of the blade itself and for other engine components. It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a blade having a reduced failure mode due to high local stresses introduced by twisting of the blade during engine assembly while still retaining the damping ability provided by interlocking tip shrouds.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
3GPP LTE (3rd Generation Partnership Project Long-term Evolution) has adopted a CG (computer generated) sequence for transmission bandwidths of 1 and 2 RBs and a ZC (Zadoff-Chu) sequence for transmission bandwidths of 3 RBs or more as code sequences used for data demodulation reference signals (DM-RS: demodulation-reference signal) used in uplink. In an LTE uplink, a large number of sequences are divided into 30 sequence groups in each transmission bandwidth (1 to 110 RBs (resource blocks)) and a transmission bandwidth (more specifically, the number of allocated RBs) is associated with a sequence in each sequence group. Each sequence group is assigned a different number (sequence group number) and each cell is assigned one sequence group as shown in FIG. 1 (cell-specific sequence group assignment). Since each sequence group is configured of sequences having a high cross-correlation among sequences, the probability that sequences with a high cross-correlation may be used among neighboring cells is reduced and interference among neighboring cells is thus reduced. Since a base station (may also be called “eNB”) broadcasts a sequence group number to a terminal (may also be called “UE (User Equipment)”) in the cell, even when a transmission bandwidth is changed, the terminal can identify a DM-RS code sequence number, which in turn makes it possible to omit signaling of the code sequence number. The reason that a CG sequence which is different from a ZC sequence is selected in transmission bandwidths of 1 and 2 RBs is that the ZC sequence for transmission bandwidths of 1 and 2 RBs cannot secure 30 (number of sequence groups) sequences. That is, since 30 ZC sequences cannot be secured in transmission bandwidths of 1 and 2 RBs, a reuse factor of sequence (the number of repetitions of a ZC sequence number used as a DM-RS) decreases, so that the same sequence number may be assigned in neighboring cells, thus increasing inter-cell interference. Thus, the CG sequence is adopted in transmission bandwidths of 1 and 2RB. Since the sequence length of a ZC sequence is a prime number, for a DM-RS code sequence (ZC sequence) of 3 RBs or more, a sequence is used in which the leading portion of the ZC sequence which is smaller than a DM-RS in size is copied (extended) to the rear end portion (e.g., see FIG. 2). The ZC sequence is a kind of CAZAC (constant amplitude and zero auto-correlation code) sequence and expressed by following equation 1. The number of ZC sequences generated is (ZC sequence length NZCRS−1). [ 1 ] r _ u , v ⁡ ( n ) = x q ⁡ ( n ⁢ ⁢ mod ⁢ ⁢ N ZC RS ) , 0 ≤ n < M sc RS ⁢ ⁢ x q ⁡ ( m ) = ⅇ - j ⁢ ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ qm ⁡ ( m + 1 ) N ZC RS , 0 ≤ m ≤ N ZC RS - 1 ( Equation ⁢ ⁢ 1 ) ZC sequence number q assigned to each sequence group is calculated by equation 2.[2]q=└ q+½┘+v·(−1)└2 q┘ q=NZCRS·(u+1)/31 (Equation 2) Note that as shown in equation 3, sequence group number u is associated with cell ID(NIDcell) and sequence group hopping is applied in order to randomize interference between sequence groups. ⁢ [ 3 ] ⁢ u = ( f gh ⁡ ( n s ) + f ss ) ⁢ mod ⁢ ⁢ 30 ⁢ ⁢ f gh ⁡ ( n s ) = { 0 if ⁢ ⁢ group ⁢ ⁢ hopping ⁢ ⁢ is ⁢ ⁢ disabled ( ∑ i = 0 7 ⁢ c ⁡ ( 8 ⁢ n s + i ) · 2 i ) ⁢ mod ⁢ ⁢ 30 if ⁢ ⁢ group ⁢ ⁢ hopping ⁢ ⁢ is ⁢ ⁢ enabled ⁢ ⁢ ⁢ f ss PUCCH = N ID cell ⁢ mod ⁢ ⁢ 30 ⁢ ⁢ ⁢ f ss PUSCH = ( f ss PUCCH + Δ ss ) ⁢ mod ⁢ ⁢ 30 ( Equation ⁢ ⁢ 3 ) Using equation 2, a combination of sequences whose q/NZCRS value which is a ratio of ZC sequence number q and ZC sequence length NZCRS becomes closer to each other is assigned to an identical sequence group. Sequences whose inter-sequence q/NZCRS becomes closer to each other means sequences with a high cross-correlation. It is thereby possible to reduce the cross-correlation between sequence groups (e.g., see PTL 1). A CG sequence is expressed, for example, by following equation 4 (e.g., see NPL 1). Note that, φ(n) shown in equation 4 is defined in each sequence group number u for a transmission bandwidth of 1 RB as shown in FIG. 3 and defined in each sequence group number u for a transmission bandwidth of 2 RBs as shown in FIG. 4 (e.g., see NPL 1).[4] ru,v(n)=ejφ(n)π/4,0≦n≦MscRS−1 (Equation 4) In LTE-Advanced which is an evolved version of LTE, studies are being carried out on a heterogeneous network (HetNet) using a plurality of base stations having coverage areas different in size for further capacity improvement. For example, in an operation of HetNet, a picocell (LPN (low power node), also called “small power RRH” (remote radio head)) having small transmission power is disposed within a coverage area of a macrocell (also called “HPN” (high power node)) having large transmission power. In LTE-Advanced, studies are further being carried out on application of CoMP (coordinated multiple point transmission and reception) which is a communication scheme whereby a plurality of cells (base stations) cooperate to transmit/receive signals to/from a terminal for the purpose of improving throughput of users mainly located on a cell edge in a HetNet environment. For example, in the case of UL (uplink) CoMP, a plurality of cells (base stations) cooperate to receive signals from one terminal, then combine the signals and thereby improve receiving quality. In order to reduce the influence of inter-cell interference, a plurality of cells cooperate to schedule terminals to prevent inter-cell interference from increasing within a CoMP set (group of cells that cooperate to perform transmission/reception). Studies are being carried out on introduction of MU-MIMO (multiple user-multiple input multiple output) communication of a plurality of terminals to which UL CoMP is applied to obtain more performance improvement effects of the above-described UL CoMP, that is, terminals (hereinafter may also be referred to as “UL CoMP terminals”) that cooperate to receive and combine transmission signals. MIMO communication is a technique that provides the transmitting and receiving sides with a plurality of antennas and enables simultaneous spatially multiplexed transmission of different signal sequences at the same frequency. MU-MIMO communication is a technique of carrying out MIMO communication between a plurality of terminals and a base station, and can improve frequency utilization efficiency of a system. To demultiplex signals from different terminals in MU-MIMO communication, it is necessary to transmit DM-RSs which are orthogonal between the terminals. There are various methods of orthogonalizing DM-RSs such as application of OCC (orthogonal cover code) or use of a ZC sequence with CSs (cyclic shifts) differing among terminals applied (CS-ZC sequence). When OCC is applied, DM-RSs for a maximum of two terminals (UEs) can be orthogonalized. A CS-ZC sequence is a sequence obtained by cyclically shifting a ZC sequence. In the CS-ZC sequence, by setting a greater value than a maximum propagation delay time of a transmission signal of a terminal as an amount of cyclic shift, it is possible to orthogonalize a plurality of CS-ZC sequences obtained by cyclically shifting a ZC sequence of the same sequence number. However, since DM-RSs are received by a plurality of different cells in UL CoMP, there are cases with the aforementioned cell-specific sequence group assignment, where sequence numbers used vary among terminals for which MU-MIMO communication is introduced, causing a situation where DM-RSs cannot be orthogonalized. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, studies are being carried out on introducing, for terminals to which CoMP is applied, a UE-specific sequence (Group#2 in FIG. 5) in which a sequence is indicated to each terminal instead of using a cell-specific sequence (Group#0,#1 in FIG. 5), and orthogonalizing DM-RSs between UL CoMP terminals. MU-MIMO communication involves a problem in that, when transmission bandwidths vary among multiplexing target terminals, CS-ZC sequences used among the terminals (CS-ZC sequences of different bandwidths) are not orthogonalized. To solve the problem that CS-ZC sequences of different bandwidths are not orthogonalized, NPL 2 discloses that it is possible to orthogonalize CS-ZC sequences of different transmission bandwidths within an identical sequence group (combination of sequences having close q/NZCRS) by applying, to the ZC sequences, cyclic shift (CS) corresponding to the transmission bandwidth. This makes it possible to increase the number of terminals that can orthogonalize DM-RSs in MU-MIMO communication and increase the multiplex number of MU-MIMO communication.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Conventionally, plate type heat exchangers have been proposed in which a plurality of heat transfer plates are stacked between two side plates with predetermined intervals in between so that a first flow path through which a first fluid circulates and a second flow path through which a second fluid circulates are alternatively disposed in a space formed between the heat transfer plates. Further, for such conventional plate type heat exchangers, plate type heat exchangers have also been proposed in which inner fins are disposed in the flow paths in order to improve heat transfer performance, for example as described in the description “in the plate type heat exchanger in which a plurality of heat transfer plates 1, 1 . . . are stacked to form first flow paths 2, 2 . . . and second flow paths 3, 3 . . . each adjacent to the heat transfer plates 1, 1 and allow for heat exchange between the first fluid X and the second fluid Y which circulate in the first flow paths 2, 2 . . . and the second flow paths 3, 3 . . . , respectively, inner fins 4, 4 . . . that improve heat transfer and increase heat transfer surface area are disposed in the first flow paths 2, 2 . . . and the second flow paths 3, 3 . . . so that heat transfer between the heat transfer plates 1, 1 which form the flow paths 2, 3 is improved and the heat transfer surface area is also increased due to the interposed inner fins 4, 4 having high freedom of design.” (See Patent Literature 1.) Further, for the conventional plate type heat exchangers which include the inner fins disposed in the flow paths, plate type heat exchangers have been proposed, for example as described in the description “in the core section 1 of the oil cooler, the oil flow paths 7 and the cooling water flow paths 8 are alternatively formed between the core plates 5, 6 by alternatively stacking a plurality of first core plates 5 and second core plates 6 having the essentially same shape. The fin plates 11 are disposed in each of the oil flow paths 7. The first projections 31 and the second projections 32 are disposed on the first core plate 5 and the second core plate 6, respectively, so as to project outward from the oil flow path 7 and to be located alternatively with respect to the flow of oil.” (See Patent Literature 2.) Further, for the conventional heat exchangers which include the inner fins disposed in the flow paths, heat exchangers which include two heat transfer plates formed as one flat tube have also been proposed, for example as described in the description “a plurality of inclined grooves 7 for flowing condensate water are formed on the flat surface 1a of the flat tube 1 so as to be inclined to the longitudinal direction with the downstream end reaching a curved portion 1b of the tube, and the projection 7a is formed on the outer surface of the flat tube 1. Then, the inner fin 6 is inserted into the flat tube 1.” (See Patent Literature 3.)	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates to the production of a conveyor edge product containing device for use in paper making machinery and more particularly, to an improved construction of said device for use on the surfaces of a moving screen type conveyor to contain the product thereon.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }

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