text
stringlengths 2
806k
| meta
dict |
|---|---|
This invention relates to and has among its objects the provision of a novel method for reducing the sodium content of a food and simultaneously increasing the potassium content by use of a cation exchange membrane.
It is estimated that in the United States alone over 25 million people suffer from hypertension and its related problems. Although the role of salt (sodium chloride) in hypertension remains contraversial, a number of scientific studies have shown a positive correlation between salt intake, systolic blood pressure and the incidence of hypertension. In its 1980 report, the National Research Council (Toward Healthful Diets, Food and Nutrition Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., pp 12-13 (1980)) recommended that the American population reduce its average daily salt intake from 10 to 3 grams per day.
It has been suggested that a diet high in potassium may be helpful particularly in high salt diets. In animal studies in which animals were fed extra potassium chloride in a diet containing salt at levels which ordinarily produced high levels of hypertension, the extra potassium had the effect of ameliorating the hypertension developed. When extra potassium chloride was added to a diet containing 5.6 per cent sodium chloride, the level of hypertension was not changed, but improvement of the animals' life span resulted. Presently, human studies regarding the effect of potassium are inconclusive, although some studies suggest that increased potassium has therapeutic effects. The National Research Council (Recommended Dietary Allowances, Ninth Edition, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. pp 169-177 (1980)) recommended a potassium intake for adults of between 1.9-5.6 grams/day with a sodium /potassium ratio of 1/1.7.
Consumer concern over salt in foods has caused some food processors to voluntarily decrease the amount of sodium directly added to foods or to decrease the amount which may be incorporated indirectly during processing. In some foods, however, such as fermentation sauces (e.g., soy sauce, tamari sauce, oriental fish sauce, pickling brine), a high salt concentration is required to effectively exclude undersirable organisms during production and thus a product having a high salt content is inherently produced. Several methods have been tried to reduce the sodium content of these foods. For example, Japanese Pat. No. 77,148,699 discloses dialysis of soy sauce across a semipermeable membrane which separates substances based on different molecular size to reduce the sodium chloride content from 18 to 9 percent. This method has the disadvantage that some protein, carbohydrates and flavor components are removed by the process. Japanese No. 72 46,360 discloses the production of a reduced-sodium soy sauce by electrodialysis wherein cation- and anion-exchange resin membranes are placed alternately in a bath, and soy sauce is introduced in alternating compartments. Disadvantages of this method are the requirement of electric power to drive the process and the production of undesirable flavor or other substances at the electrodes.
Some efforts have been made to reduce the salt content of high salt foods such as soy sauce using cation exchange resins. The disadvantages of this method include losses of solids due to sorption of non-polar substances onto the resin (inbibition losses) and losses due to liquid remaining between the resin beads (interstitial losses).
No method has been disclosed for both reducing the content of sodium while at the same time increasing potassium content of sodium-containing foods. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates generally to automatic gain control in a radio frequency receiver. More particularly the invention relates to a method of controlling gain of an amplifier for received radio signals in a radio receiver, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a computer program, for instance in the form of a digital processor algorithm, according to claim 12, a computer readable medium according to claim 13 and an arrangement according to the preamble of claim 14.
A problem that arises in most radio communications receivers concerns the wide variation in power level of the radio signals received at the antenna. This variation is due to a variety of causes. For example, the distance between the transmitter and the receiver can vary considerably. Different transmitters may also utilise different power levels. Since, disregarding the influence of any screening objects, the received signal power decreases as the square of the distance to the transmitter, wide variations in received power level are likely to arise in many situations. Furthermore, these variations may occur very rapidly due to changes in the radio conditions. Movements of the receiver station and/or transmitter station or repositioning of objects between the stations are typical situations in which the conditions for the radio channel can change dramatically.
In radio design it is therefore common practice to include an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit in the receiver. The AGC circuit utilises feedback to maintain a fixed (or at least as stable as possible) signal power level within the receiver even though the signal level at the antenna varies widely. The AGC is achieved by using an amplifier whose gain can be controlled by an external signal, e.g. a voltage or a current.
In analogue receivers it is known to incorporate AGC circuits that operate on a down converted intermediate frequency (IF) signal, i.e. a signal component, which has been frequency transformed down from a received radio frequency (RF) signal and which is to be further frequency transformed down in a following frequency down conversion step.
Receivers in which the radio signal is digitally processed, in most cases after frequency down conversion, usually perform the AGC operation by digitally assisted processing. Thus, the AGC loop implies both analogue to digital conversion and digital to analogue conversion. For many of today's applications this gives a satisfying compensation for the power level variations in the received radio signals.
However, besides capable A/D- and D/A-converters, digital AGC also requires an amount of processing power, which in turn is correlated with power consumption and costs. For large signal bandwidths this effect becomes especially pronounced. Moreover, a large bandwidth places relatively demanding requirements on the A/D- and D/A-converters, particularly if a high digital resolution is necessary.
In a radio communication system for so-called bursty communication, for instance in the form of data packets, short pieces of information are passed between transmitter stations and receiver stations at irregular and generally unpredictable time instances. A particular station can, in most such systems, act both as a transmitter station and as a receiver station. With some exceptions, this means that every station in the system is a potential receiver of a radio message at any time. The station must therefore be capable of tuning its AGC circuit to received radio signals very rapidly.
The IEEE: 802.11a, 802.11b and ETSI: Hiperlan/2 constitute specific examples of wireless LAN protocols where extremely quick and accurate AGC-tuning is demanded. (IEEE=The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, ETSI=The European Telecommunications Standards Institute, LAN=Local Area Network, Hiperlan=High performance radio local area network). 802.11b specifies packet data exchange at speeds up to 11 Mbps/channel (under direct sequence modulation at 2.4 GHz) and Hiperlan/2 makes possible wireless access to the Internet and real time video services at speeds of 54 Mbps (at 5 GHz). In order to meet the hardest requirements of these standards a radio receiver must be capable of calibrating its receiver circuitry to the power level of received radio signals within 10 μs from start of transmission. This means that the AGC function must control the receiver amplifier gain to a suitable level within 10 μs or less.
However, it is both technically complicated and expensive to accomplish an AGC function involving digital signal level detection with sufficient accuracy and within such short time limits by utilising today's A/D converters, D/A converters and digital signal processors. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a leakage test method and apparatus for determining, using air or other gas, whether there is any flaw in a hollow object such as a
2. Prior Art
Conventional air leakage test methods are generally classified into the simplified type and the pressure differential-detecting type.
A leakage test method of the simplified type as shown in FIG. 1 of Japanese Laid-Open (Kokai) Patent Application No. 49774/76 is performed using a leakage test apparatus including an air passage having a pressure input terminal and a pressure output terminal, the pressure input terminal being connected to a pressure source. A regulator, a three-port exhaust valve, and an on-off valve are provided on the air passage in this order from the upstream side to downstream side of the air passage, and a pressure sensor is connected to the air passage at a position downstream of the on-off valve.
In the above leakage test method of the simplified type, the on-off valve is set in an open condition, and the exhaust valve is set in such a manner that the pressure output terminal is disconnected from the regulator and communicates with the ambient atmosphere. In this condition, a hollow object to be tested (hereinafter often referred to as "object") is connected to the pressure output terminal. Then, the exhaust valve is switched to connect the object to the regulator. As a result, the pressure of the pressure source is reduced by the regulator, and this reduced pressure is applied to the object as a test pressure. Then, the on-off valve is closed to disconnect the object from the regulator, and in this condition, the pressure sensor determines whether any leakage develops in the object, that is, whether the pressure within the object is lower than the test pressure.
In the above leakage test method of the simplified type, when the test pressure is introduced into the object, the temperature of the air in the object becomes higher than the ambient temperature because of the compression of the air. Therefore, when the object is disconnected from the pressure source immediately after the test pressure is introduced into the object, the temperature within the object drops because of heat radiation from the object. As a result, even when there is no air leakage in the object, the air pressure within the object gradually drops. This pressure drop stops when the temperature of the air within the object becomes equal to the ambient temperature.
In the above method, the leakage detection can not be carried out a short period of time after the test pressure is introduced into the object. The reason is that the air pressure drop within the object due to the above-mentioned heat radiation can not clearly be distinguished from the air pressure drop due to an air leakage developing in the object. Thus, it is difficult to clearly judge whether there is any leakage in the object.
Therefore, practically, the communication of the object with the regulator is maintained until the temperature within the object becomes equal to the ambient temperature, thereby maintaining the pressure within the object at the test pressure. Then, the on-off valve is closed, and the leakage detection is carried out. With this method, however, since the leakage detection must wait until the temperature within the object becomes equal to the ambient temperature, the time required for one cycle of the leakage test is long, and therefore this leakage test can not be carried out efficiently.
In an apparatus for performing an air leakage test method of the pressure differential-detecting type, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application Nos. 66486/74 and 99686/79, an air passage has two branch passages at the downstream side, and the distal ends of the two branch passages serve as pressure output terminals, respectively. A regulator and an exhaust valve are provided on the air passage in this order from the upstream side, and on-off valves are provided on the two branch passages, respectively. Each of two pressure inlet ports of a pressure sensor is connected to a respective one of the two branch passages at a position downstream of the on-off valve. The exhaust valves and the on-off valves perform the same functions as those described above for the leakage test method of the simplified type. An object to be test and a reference container confirmed to be free from leakage are connected to the two pressure output terminals, respectively. A test pressure is applied to both the object and the reference container. The pressure sensor detects a pressure differential between the pressure within the object and the pressure within the reference container. More specifically, when the object is not subjected to pressure leakage, the pressures inputted respectively into the pressure inlet ports of the pressure sensor are equal, and therefore an output voltage of the pressure sensor is substantially zero. When there is a pressure leakage in the object, the pressure within the object is lower than the pressure within the reference container, and therefore the pressure sensor feeds an output voltage representative of such a pressure difference.
With the above air leakage test method of the pressure differential-detecting type, the leakage can be detected with a high sensitivity. In addition, when the object and the reference container have the same volume and the same shape, the airs within the object and the reference containers are subjected to the same pressure drop due to a heat radiation. Therefore, it is not necessary for the leakage detection to wait until the temperature of the air within the object and the reference container becomes equal to the ambient temperature. Actually, however, in many cases, the reference container is different in volume and shape from the object. In such a case, the reference container is different in heat radiation from the object, and hence different in pressure drop due to such heat radiation. Therefore, when the object and the reference container in their sealed condition radiate heat, there occurs a difference in pressure between the two. Therefore, the leakage detection must wait until the temperature of the air within each of the object and the reference container becomes equal to the ambient temperature. Thus, with this conventional method, the leakage test can not be carried out in an efficient manner.
The prior art related to the present invention is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Nos. 60586/74, 53095/74 and 48385/76. Particularly, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 60978/74 and FIG. 2 of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 49774/76 disclose the technique of stabilizing the pressure, but a pressure relieving means is not disclosed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric component and a method for manufacturing the piezoelectric component.
2. Discussion of Background
Piezoelectric components have been widely employed in various types of electronic devices such as filters, resonators or oscillators in the prior art. A basic requirement that must be fulfilled by a piezoelectric component is that, since desired characteristics are achieved by utilizing the resonance characteristics, the degree of accuracy of its resonance frequency be high.
The following three methods are well known as means for achieving desired resonance characteristics by adjusting the resonance frequency of a piezoelectric component. In the first method, the thickness of the piezoelectric substrate is adjusted through polishing. In the second method, the thickness of the electrode is adjusted and in the third method, the desired resonance characteristics are achieved through the adjustment of the quantity of resin deposited onto the resonating part.
However, the first method poses problems in that it is difficult to perform polishing at the accuracy required for adjusting the resonance frequency and in that inconsistency occurs in the resonance frequency. The second method requires a great length of time and a great deal of work and, furthermore, it does not achieve good reproducibility. The third method presents a problem in that it is difficult to finely adjust the quantity of resin to be deposited onto the resonating part.
An improvement on the third method is disclosed in, for instance, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 160121/1981. This publication discloses a method whereby the resonance frequency of a piezoelectric substrate to which a mass substance is added in advance is measured, a correct quantity of the mass substance is removed by radiating a laser beam which is controlled in correspondence to the degree of deviation of the resonance frequency relative to the frequency setting on the mass substance added to the piezoelectric substrate to adjust the resonance frequency to the frequency setting.
However, the publication does not refer to specifically how the mass substance should be processed or what type of laser beam should be employed. Consequently, the method disclosed in the publication above is not sufficient to provide a piezoelectric component with a high degree of accuracy in the resonance frequency and a high Q value for its resonance characteristics. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixture for endoscopic inspection which regulates an insertion direction of an endoscope and particularly relates to a fixture for endoscopic inspection installed in an inspection of a blade of an engine and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in inspecting a blade of a jet engine and the like, an endoscope device in which an insertion portion is inserted into the jet engine and a defect inspection of a blade is made by using a picked up inspection image of the blade is widely used.
Such a prior-art endoscope device technology is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-163723, for example. In the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-163723, a technology of a fixture detachably installed in the vicinity of an access port provided in a jet engine when an insertion portion of an endoscope device is inserted into the jet engine is disclosed. This fixture is installed by bringing two pressing plates into contact with a wall surface of the jet engine and is fixed to the access port when the insertion portion of the endoscope device is inserted therein. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The Optical Transport Network (OTN) is a technique of digital wrapper disclosed in 1999 to solve the problem of high capacity transmission for high speed Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) signals. The OTN defined in the version of 2003 can provide functions such as transmission, multiplexing, protection and monitoring management and so on for client layer signals, the supported client layer signals are mainly Ethernet signals supported by the Synchronous Transmission Module Level N (STM-N) and Asynchronous Transmission Module (ATM) and supported through the Generic Framing Procedure (GFP), and the defined rate levels are 2.5G, 10G and 40G. With the Internet Protocol (IP) normalization for the transport network bearing signals and the popularization of a 10G Local Area Network (LAN) interface, the bearing of 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GE) on the OTN becomes an important problem. Therefore, the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) developed a supplement standard (i.e. the G.sup43 standard) for the G.709 in 2007, which defined the mode of the OTN transmitting 10GE signals.
A multiplexing system of a traditional OTN is extremely simple. And the rate levels are 2.5G, 10G and 40G, which correspond to an Optical channel Data Unit (ODU)1, ODU2, ODU3 respectively. Services of Constant Bit Rate (CBR) are mapped to corresponding ODUks by the way of Asynchronous Mapping Procedure (AMP) or Bit-synchronous Mapping Procedure (BMP), Packet services are mapped to the ODUks by the way of GFP, and then these ODUks are mapped to corresponding Optical channel Transmission Unit (OTU)ks. Certainly, the ODUs with low rate level also can be multiplexed to the ODUs with high rate level as shown in FIG. 1.
In order to adapt to multiple services, a new concept of High Order (HO) ODU and Low Order(LO) ODU is introduced in the OTN, as shown in FIG. 2, counting from the left in FIG. 2, the first column is the LO ODU, the rate levels in all frames, such as the rate level of the ODU 3, are marked as ODU3(L), and L is precisely the Low Order; the second column is the HO ODU, the rate levels in all frames, such as the rate level of the ODU3, are marked as ODU3(H), and H is precisely the High Order. The HO/LO is identical with the concept of high order/low order container in a Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH), the LO ODU is equivalent to that a service layer is used to adapt to services with different rates and formats, the HO ODU is equivalent to that a tunnel is used to provide transmission capability with certain bandwidths, this layering structure supports the separation between a service board card and a circuit board card, which thus can bring more flexibility and economy to the network deployment.
Compared with the G.709, the G.709 Amendment 3 and G.sup 43 have changed greatly, and new signal types are introduced, which includes ODU0, ODU2e, ODU3e1, ODU3e2, flexible ODU (ODUflex) and ODU4. The new optical channel data unit ODU0 with a rate of 1.244 Gb/s is firstly introduced, the ODU0 can be cross-connected independently, and also can be mapped to the high order ODU (such as the ODU1, ODU2, ODU3 and ODU4). In order to adapt to the transmission for 100GE services, the ODU4 is introduced, and the rate is 104.355 Gb/s.
The ODU1 is mapped to the ODU2 and ODU3 and the ODU2 is mapped to the ODU3 by keeping a 2.5G branch timing sequence mapping and multiplexing mode of the original version G.709, and 1.25G branch timing sequences is added with the ODU1 being mapped to the ODU2 and ODU3, and a 1.25G branch timing sequence is added with the ODU2 being mapped to the ODU3; all the other new rates (the ODU0, ODU2e and ODUflex) are mapped to the ODU1, ODU2, ODU3 and ODU4 with a 1.25G branch timing sequence mapping and multiplexing mode. According to the G.sup 43, the ODU2e can be mapped to a 2.5G branch timing sequence of the ODU3e1, and the ODU2e also can be mapped to the 1.25G branch timing sequence of the ODU3e1. Most of the low order ODUs have the same number of branch timing sequences in the high order. However, the ODU2e is an exception, and the ODU2e needs to occupy 9 1.25G branch timing sequences or 5 2.5G branch timing sequences in the ODU3, but needs to occupy 8 1.25G branch timing sequences in the ODU4. FIG. 3 is a detailed mapping and multiplexing path structure of the G.709 standard and G.sup43 standard.
The idea of Flexible ODU was widely discussed at the ITU-T Q11/SG15 intermediate meeting in September, 2008 and the ITU-T SG15 plenary meeting in December, 2008 initially. The initial thought of Flexible ODU is to provide bit transparent transmission of the OTN for client signals with arbitrary bit rates. The ODUflex is currently expected to be used for supporting those new bit rates which can be mapped to the ODU2, ODU3 or ODU4 effectively. The ODUflex is taken as one low order ODU; one ODUflex occupies the branch timing sequences whose number is the arbitrary integral multiple of branch timing sequences of the high order ODUk. The ODUflex bandwidth can be adjusted dynamically.
Currently, the size of Packet ODUflex is recommended to be: n×1.24416 Gbit/s±20 ppm (1≦n≦80), and the size of CBR ODUflex is 239/238 times of the client signal rate. The newly defined ODUflex will not provide mapping for the client signals which have been mapped to the ODU0, ODU1, ODU2 and ODU3 any more. With regard to CBR client signals, it is the first choice to map the client signals to the ODUflex through the BMP, and the ODUflex rate is 239/238 times of the client signal rate (above the 2.5G client signal rate). With regard to Packet service client signals, it is currently discussed that the client signals are mapped to the ODUflex using the GFP; ODUflex=n*1.24416G, wherein 1≦n≦80; and the ODUflex bit rate is integer multiple of the number of branch timing sequences of the high order ODUk.
After the G.709 standard of version 2003 is released, OTN devices are deployed abundantly after the development for several years, and the latest G.709 standard are also changed largely, after the newly deployed OTN devices are loaded with control planes, one end-to-end label switching path may control a great many old devices and new devices simultaneously, the old devices can only support a 2.5G branch timing sequence unit, and the new devices can support both the 2.5G branch timing sequence unit and 1.25G branch timing sequence unit; when one end-to-end label switching path goes through the old devices and new devices, the related interconnections during the management of end-to-end services become a technical problem existing in the reality.
As shown in FIG. 4, the OTN has been deployed in the network, the implementation of all node devices in the OTN is based on the G.709 standard version released in 2003, and each node in the network does not support the ODU0 and ODUflex and is based on the 2.5G branch timing sequence. With the larger-scale application of data services, operators need to introduce the applications of ODU0 and ODUflex into the existing network, when the applications of the ODU0 and ODUflex are introduced into the existing network, a problem of interconnection between the networks supporting the 1.25G Timing Sequence (TS) and the deployed networks supporting the 2.5G TS occurs, if no other technologies are introduced, the operators have to upgrade all nodes in the existing network to support the ODU0 and ODUflex, and this certainly will destroy the OTNs which have been invested by the operators.
One end-to-end ODUk service may go through a great many old devices and new devices simultaneously, the old devices can only support the 2.5G branch timing sequence unit, and the new devices can support both the 2.5G branch timing sequence unit and 1.25G branch timing sequence unit; when one end-to-end ODUk goes through the old devices and new devices, the related interconnections during the management of end-to-end services become a technical problem existing in the reality. Meanwhile, the problem of introducing services of the ODU0 and ODUflex into the OTN to perform interconnection with the deployed networks also occurs. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a copper foil for printed circuit board with taking environmental conservation into consideration, and more particularly to a copper foil for printed circuit board with taking environmental conservation into consideration which does not contain hexavalent chromium, and has good heat resistance, moisture resistance and bondability with respect to a base material.
2. Description of the Related Art
A copper foil or a copper alloy foil (hereinafter, referred to simply as “copper foil”) is widely used for the purpose of a conductor (conductive member or conductive strip). Particularly in the field of the flexible printed circuit (FPC), a printed circuit board is manufactured by layering (laminating) a copper foil on a polyimide film or by coating a copper foil with a varnish mainly composed of polyamic acid. Hereinafter, materials such as polyimide film, varnish, or solidified varnish to be used for the printed circuit board are referred as “base material (substrate) for a printed circuit board” or simply as “base material”.
A good bonding is required between the copper foil and the base material for a printed circuit board. Therefore, the roughening treatment is frequently conducted for an bonding surface of the copper foil to increase an anchoring effect, thereby improving the bonding with the base material for a printed circuit board.
The copper foil is classified into an electro-deposited copper foil and a rolled copper foil according to the manufacturing method therefor. However, the roughening treatment is conducted in similar manner for these two types of copper foils. For example, as a manner of roughening treatment, a manner of applying (depositing) copper in the form of rice-grains on a surface of the copper foil by burnt plating and a manner of selectively etching grain boundaries by using acid are generally used.
As to the roughening treatment using the burnt plating, the roughening treatment by alloy platings has been developed in addition to the usual copper plating. Japanese Patent Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 52-145769 (JP-A-52-145769) discloses copper-nickel alloy plating as a representative example of alloy platings.
In addition, as to a surface treatment after such a roughening treatment, Japanese Patent Publication for Opposition (Kokoku) No. 6-54829 (JP-B-6-54829) proposes to provide a cobalt plating or cobalt-nickel alloy plating, etc.
On one hand, as to a method for improving the bonding with the base material, there is a method for providing an anchoring effect by using the roughening treatment (improvement in physical bondability), as described before. Further, there is also a step for improving a chemical bondability between the copper foil and the base material for a printed circuit board by a surface treatment for providing a metallic layer with a high affinity with the base material on a surface of the copper foil.
Conversion treatment such as so-called chromate treatment or silane-coupling treatment conducted for a surface of the copper foil is an example of the method for providing the metallic layer with the high affinity with the base material on the copper foil surface. The chromate treatment and silane-coupling treatment are methods for the purpose of rust preventing the surface of the copper foil as well as for the purpose of improving the bondability with the base material for a printed circuit board, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3142259 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2005-8972 (JP-A-2005-8972). In addition, the rust prevention (corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance) effect is expected (required) also for the surface of the copper foil, which is a surface not to be bonded with the base material (the back side of the bonding surface).
As disclosed in the JP-B-6-54829, Japanese Patent No. 3142259, and JP-A-2005-8972, the chromate treatment has been conducted by immersing the copper foil to be treated in a treatment solution containing hexavalent chromium, or by electrolyzing the copper foil which is provided as an anode or a cathode in the chromate treatment solution. However, considering the recent emphasis on the environmental protection, the conversion treatment free of any hexavalent chromium has been developed.
As one of techniques therefor, a chromate treatment wherein a treating solution containing trivalent chromium is used exhibits the most remarkable actual achievement, and it becomes commercially available as shown in, for example, JP-A-2005-42139.
In reality, however, hexavalent chromium-free plating does not proceed in a manufacturing process of a copper foil, because its rustproof ability is usually inferior to a chromate treatment wherein a treating solution containing hexavalent chromium is used as compared with that of hexavalent chromium-free treating solution, besides there is a burden share for changing facilities.
In addition, there is another reason for preventing progress in a trivalent chromium treatment in that a coating weight of hexavalent chromium per unit area in a copper foil used in a printed circuit board is essentially very small, so that it is difficult to detect as a result of analysis.
According to a chromate treatment wherein a conventional treating solution containing hexavalent chromium is used, however, it cannot be denied that there is a possibility of providing totally a significant load to environment, even if it is a very small amount of coating weight in a present situation where a demand of a copper foil increases from year to year. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Generally WC powder is produced in most cases by solid state reaction in which W powder and solid state carbon powder are mixed and carbonized at high temperature. However, the prior art method users a start material in solid state and so requires mixing and milling process. Also the process is complicated due to many steps in the process of oxidized W, and time consuming due to the interaction between solid state materials in the growth of WC powder.
Meanwhile, liquid state methods have been used to produce fine powder of WC/Co by spray-drying solution including W and Co by using water-soluble metal base. However, these methods require many complicated process. Also further, with these types of methods, there are limitations in producing ultra-fine powder of 0.1 μm or less due to the growth of WC powder in the carbonizing heat treatment. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Television is a powerful cultural force, yet television is a relatively inflexible medium. Viewer choice is confined to deciding whether to watch at all, selecting from at most a few hundred choices and the adaptation of their personal life to the broadcast schedule. The advent of the digital video recorder (DVR) has provided viewers with freedom of timing. In addition, DVRs provide viewers with pause, rewind or fast forward. DVRs give viewers more control but do not significantly change the nature of that viewing experience.
The advent of video over the Internet is starting to change the control relationship between viewer and broadcaster. Early Internet video systems were characterized by long waits for buffers to fill, low resolution and limited ability to select parts of a video stream to watch. However, bandwidth has improved sharply and video protocols have greatly improved. It is now possible to watch video over the Internet that has the following key attributes: high definition (HD) resolution, video startup of just a few seconds, delivery over a digital network to a computing device rather than an analog tuner, and the ability to jump to any point in a video stream in less than two seconds. The immediate benefit of these developments is that viewers can now watch what they want, whenever they want, outside of the control of large institutional gatekeepers. These are great developments, but much more is possible. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a camera and, more particularly, to an active type distance measuring device for auto-focusing in a camera which radiates distance measurement light on an object to be photographed, and detects the object distance in accordance with the reflected signal light of the distance measurement light.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an active trigonometric distance measuring device which radiates light such as infrared light toward an object to be photographed, receives a signal light beam reflected by the object via a light-receiving lens separated from a light-emitting means by a base length, and detects its incident position to detect the object distance is known as a distance measuring device for auto-focusing used for a camera.
It is well-known that the light beam incident position is detected by an optical position sensing device (PSD) constituted by a semiconductor, and it is described in, e.g., Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 50-23247.
The present applicant proposes a distance measuring device which performs distance measurement at different distances upon switching, and calculates not only a light beam incident position but also an amount of incident light beam in accordance with an output signal from a PSD to calculate the object distance, according to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 1-291111.
However, it is difficult to perform distance measurement with respect to an object in a long distance range with the above active trigonometric distance measuring device which uses a PSD for distance measurement. That is, an amount of incident signal light beam reflected by the object at a long distance is at a very low level of about 1 nA or 2 nA, and as a matter of course, an output current from the PSD is 1 nA or less. For this reason, noise produced from a circuit in amplification calculation of the signal tends to be superposed.
As described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 1-291111, the present applicant proposes a distance measuring device using an amount of signal light beam reflected by the remote object. In this scheme, however, distance measurement is affected by the reflectance corresponding to a color of the object, and even if an object, e.g., a person in a white dress and an object, e.g., a person in a black dress position at the same distance, distance measurement results tend to be different. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ceramic substrates having a polished surface zenith high surface smoothness and methods of polishing such ceramic substrates, and more particularly, to a method of polishing a ceramic substrate for use in a thermal fixation device for a toner image such as a copying machine and a printer.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, when a ceramic material is used for various purposes, in general. the surface of the ceramic material should be polished or ground into smoothness. There have been various proposed methods of smoothing a ceramic surface depending upon the shape, use, required smoothness and the like of the ceramic material.
One typical method of polishing a ceramic material is barrel-polishing, according to which a ceramic material and an abrasive are put together into a container to polish the ceramic material by rotation or vibration, and Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 58-192745 for example discloses a method of polishing a ceramic element by a vibrating barrel using a pier-shaped abrasive.
Other methods of treating a ceramic surface include lapping, honing, and grinding. These methods employ hone or abrasive grains to pressurize the ceramic material to be treated and the surface is ground.
The conventional, typical methods of polishing or grinding described above are suitable for treating relatively small and thick ceramic elements, but are not appropriate for smoothing the surface of a ceramic substrate having a large area and a relatively small thickness such as a substrate for a ceramic heater in a thermal fixation device for toner image.
In barrel-polishing, for example, a thin ceramic substrate is sometimes destroyed by a grinder during rotation or vibration. In lapping, honing, and grinding, a ceramic substrate is prone to cracking, because a prescribed pressure is applied between abrasive grains or a grinder used and the ceramic material.
The lapping, honing, grinding or the like requests that the untreated surface must be ground as much as 0.1 to 0.2 mm in order to eliminate variations in the surface smoothness by the working. Therefore, a ceramic substrate having a thickness larger than a finished product by the margin for working should be prepared, which increases the material cost.
The present invention is directed to a solution to the problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a ceramic substrate having a large area, a relatively small thickness and a smooth surface such as a ceramic substrate for use in a ceramic heater in a thermal fixation device for toner image and to provide a method of polishing the surface of such a ceramic substrate having a large area and a relatively small thickness into smoothness without damaging the surface.
In order to achieve the above-described object, a method of polishing a ceramic substrate according to the present invention uses a ductile rotating body containing abrasive grains, and the surface of the ceramic substrate is polished by the circumferential portion of the rotating body. This polishing method is preferable for polishing a thin ceramic substrate, particularly, a ceramic substrate as thin as 20 mm or less.
In the method of polishing a ceramic substrate, the direction orthogonal to the rotating axis of the rotating body is preferably inclined by an angle in the range from 10xc2x0 to 80xc2x0 relative to the direction of polishing the ceramic substrate. If this angle is smaller than 10xc2x0 or larger than 80xc2x0, a line is impressed on the ceramic substrate by the abrasive grains, and the surface roughness is relatively increased.
The polishing process may be divided into two or more steps and the average grain size of abrasive grains contained in the rotating body may be reduced stepwise.
A ceramic substrate resulting from the polishing as described above has at least one surface polished, which surface is formed by a substantially flat portion and a recessed portion remaining in the flat portion.
Such a ceramic substrate is suitable for a ceramic substrate having a large area and a relatively small thickness such as a substrate for a ceramic heater used in a thermal fixation device for toner image. The flat portion herein includes microscopically small irregularities.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Smokeless powders have been developed since the 19th century to replace traditional gun powder or black powder, which generates substantial amounts of smoke when fired. The most widely used smokeless powders are nitrocellulose-based. Nitrocellulose is obtained by using nitric acid to convert cellulose into cellulose nitrate and water according to a general reaction:3HNO3+C6H10O5→C6H7(NO2)3O5+3H2ONitrocellulose-based smokeless powder is then obtained by treating the thus obtained nitrocellulose by extrusion or spherical granulation, with or without solvent, two techniques which are well known to the persons skilled in the art.
Various improvements have been developed since the first discovery of nitrocellulose, by addition of further components, such as nitroglycerin and/or nitroguanadine allowing an increase of the detonation velocity. Pure nitrocellulose propellant is referred to as single-base propellant, and double- and triple-base propellants refer to compositions comprising nitrocellulose and one or two additional energetic bases, respectively, typically blasting oils such as nitroglycerin, nitroguanidine, or secondary explosives.
Nitrocellulose, as most nitrate esters, is prone to self-ignition as a result of thermal degradation due to the weakness of its O—N bond. When employed as an ingredient of propellants or other explosive compositions, the spontaneous ignition of nitrocellulose has caused serious accidents. It is obviously vital to inhibit or slow down this degradation for safety reasons but it is also important to retain the initial properties of the energetic composition. Degradation usually leads to gas emissions, heat generation and reduction of molecular mass affecting negatively the material structure and ballistic properties.
The decomposition of the nitrocellulose usually starts with a bond scission or hydrolysis, generating alkoxy radicals and nitrogen oxide (NOx) species (cf. FIG. 1). The radicals further react generating more radicals, speeding up the degradation process, and ultimately lead to chain scission accompanied by heat generation. In order to prolong the service life of the propellants, stabilizers are added to the energetic mixture in order to scavenge these radical species and slow down the degradation pattern.
All conventional stabilisers used to date for nitrocellulose-based propellants belong to (a) aromatic amines (e.g., diphenylamine, 4-nitro-N-methylamine) or (b) aromatic urea derivatives (e.g., akardite, centralite) and are or produce toxic and/or potentially carcinogenic species at some point during the propellant's lifetime. For example, the most widely used stabilizers to date are diphenyl amine, akardite, and centralite. These compounds, however, form carcinogenic derivatives such as N-nitrosodiphenylamine (cf. FIG. 2(a)) or N-nitrosoethylphenylamine.
Hindered amines, such as triphenylamine, reduce the formation of N—NO groups, but fail to stabilize nitrocellulose satisfactorily. Conventional hindered phenols used in the plastics industry have been tested and at short term stabilize nitrocellulose with little to no N—NO formation. The phenols are able to trap the alkoxy radicals generated during the degradation of nitrocellulose and thus form new, relatively stable alkoxy radicals, by delocalisation of an electron at the foot of electron-rich, hindered groups as illustrated in FIG. 2(b). The long term stability is, however, not always guaranteed, probably due to rapid phenol depletion and relative stability of the newly formed alkoxy radicals.
There thus remains in the field of solid propellants a need for stabilizers allowing long term stabilization of nitrocellulose-based propellants, fulfilling at least STANAG 4582 (Ed. 1) and which do not produce carcinogenic and/or mutagenic by-products. The present invention proposes a family of stabilizers fulfilling both above requirements. These and other advantages of the present invention are presented in continuation. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
As is well-known, thermostats control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) systems in buildings. A non-programmable thermostat allows a user, such as an occupant or building manager, to set one setpoint temperature for the heating season and one setpoint temperature for the cooling season to control the HVAC system. When the measured indoor temperature is below or above these setpoint temperatures, the HVAC system is activated. A programmable thermostat allows a user to program setpoint temperatures for different times of the day. For example, in the heating season, many users still set the thermostat to a lower set-back temperature at night. This temperature set-back reduces the amount of time that the HVAC system is activated in order to maintain the lower temperature and thus saves energy and money. However, the energy savings from such time-based programmed setpoint temperatures as compared to the comfort temperature that is set during the day is unknown to a user.
The Energy Star programmable thermostat specification has been in effect since April of 1995. The Energy Star specification states that a programmable thermostat is “a device that enables the user to set one or more time periods each day when a comfort setpoint temperature is maintained and one or more time periods each day when an energy-saving setpoint temperature is maintained.” The current specification defines comfort setpoint temperature as “the temperature setting in degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius for the time period during which the building is expected to be occupied, e.g., the early morning and evening hours. The specification defines energy-saving setpoint temperature as “the setpoint temperature for the energy-saving periods usually specified for both the heating and cooling seasons. In the energy-saving mode, the thermostat setpoint may vary from the comfort setpoint temperature to the set-back temperature or the set-up temperature depending on the season. The set-back temperature is the setpoint temperature used during the heating season, normally at night or during unoccupied times of the day. This is a lower setpoint temperature than the comfort setpoint temperature. Similarly, the set-up temperature is a setpoint temperature used during the cooling season, normally at night or during unoccupied times of the day. This is a higher setpoint temperature than the comfort setpoint temperature. This specification has been confusing to users as to how to achieve energy savings from programmable thermostats. The EPA is considering issuing a new Energy Star specification in 2010. Even if the new specification is not finalized, the old Energy Star specification will be suspended due to the confusion to users.
Presently, users that invest in programmable thermostats to save energy and money do not have any ready means to determine how much energy and money is being truly saved. The programmable thermostats therefore are arbitrarily set at different temperatures, which may or may not save the user money and energy. Therefore, the present known programmable thermostats do not provide energy savings feedback to allow a user to adjust temperature setpoints and times based on how the building environment responds to changes in the internal and external environments. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The crystallization of proteins for structure-function studies and structure based drug design has become an increasingly important part of biotechnology research. When crystal growth is attempted for a new protein, the appropriate chemical conditions (i.e. protein concentration in solution, precipitate type and concentration, pH, and growth temperature) are unknown and have typically been determined by trial and error experimentation.
Typically 1000 or more different sets of crystal growth conditions are screened to determine conditions conducive to crystallization. The screening involves repetitive procedures that are extremely laborious and tedious. With present laboratory protein crystal growth equipment, each crystallization chamber requires about one micro-liter of protein solution. The protein solutions typically have concentrations in the range of 10 to 25 micrograms per-microliter to facilitate crystal growth. Therefore, to screen 1000 samples typically requires between 10 and 25 milligrams of protein. This is a considerable and costly amount, especially for proteins that are difficult to isolate or generally express. A large percentage (about 50%) of the proteins cannot easily be expressed in milligram quantities.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide methods for screening protein crystal growth conditions that require picogram to microgram amounts of protein for each screening condition. Preferably such methods would require only picogram to nanogram amounts of protein in picoliter to nanoliter volumes in each screening condition sample.
It would be further desirable to provide high throughput screening methods for screening protein crystal growth conditions in a large number of samples on a sub-microgram scale. These methods would use a microarray as a platform for protein crystal growth. The methods would also utilize automatic dispensing of solutions and scoring of crystal growth. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system comprising a controller and field devices distributed in equipment, which are interconnected via a transmission line so as to construct a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In equipment represented by manufacturing apparatus and inspecting apparatus used in the field of semiconductor production, analyzing apparatus and automation apparatus used in the field of medical service, etc., it has been conventional that an equipment controller board for controlling the entire equipment and I/O boards are both arranged in a single rack, and an equipment controller controls input means, such as sensors, and output means, such as motors and valves, in a centralized manner. Also, the input/output means, such as motors, valves and sensors, in the equipment are connected to the I/O boards in the rack in one-to-one relation by wiring of special cables. The equipment controller then controls the input/output means via the I/O boards individually. In such a conventional arrangement, therefore, the input/output means cannot be controlled without the equipment controller.
Recently, field devices incorporating microprocessors therein have been developed and put into practice with an improvement of the semiconductor integrated circuit technology. Input/output means, such as motors, valves and sensors, are connected to the field devices, which are made intelligent to be able to control the input/output means by the incorporated microprocessors. Thus, the field devices take over a portion of the measuring and control functions that have so far been performed by an equipment controller. According to one proposal, a transmission line interconnects an equipment controller and a plurality of field devices such that these field devices are connected to the same transmission line in multi-drop fashion. The equipment controller and the field devices construct a system in which two-way communication is carried out via a network using digital signals, whereby the amount of wiring required in equipment is cut down.
In a field network, generally, each field device performs its own operation corresponding to a position at which the field device is connected to the network, and even the field devices having the same function perform different operations from each other depending on their connected positions. By way of example, in a transporting apparatus comprising a first belt conveyor driven by a first motor and a second belt conveyor driven by a second motor, the transport distance of the first belt conveyor is 10 cm and the transport distance of the second belt conveyor is 20 cm. The first motor is controlled by a first field device, and the second motor is controlled by a second field device. Also conventionally, to uniquely define the first and second field devices connected to the transmission line, a specific ID is assigned to each field device.
In a conventional control system using field devices, however, the following problem arises when a failure or any other trouble occurs. For checking the operation of the field devices and the input/output means including a failed one, it is often tried in such a case to attach another normally operating field device to the system instead of the existing one. Because of the field devices having different IDs, however, the attached field device must be set again to the ID corresponding to the connected position, and hence maintainability is poor when the work of checking the operation is performed upon the occurrence of a failure. A similar problem also arises in assembly. When only one field device is usable and employed to check the operation of the field device and the input/output means by attaching it to the system at different positions in turn, the attached field device must be set again to the ID corresponding to the connected position, and therefore maintainability is also poor in the work of checking the operation during assembly.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control system having improved maintainability and operability.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a control system comprising a plurality of field devices distributed in equipment and controlling input/output means, and a host controller connected to the plurality of field devices via a transmission line and controlling the field devices, the field devices and the host controller constructing a network in the equipment for control of the equipment, wherein the control system further comprises a plurality of connectors for connecting the plurality of field devices to the transmission line, the connectors having network IDs representing respective connected positions to the network, and a node address creating unit for generating node addresses based on the network IDs.
With those features, since the field devices of the same type can be employed in the network in a replaceable manner, the operation can be checked using the field device, which is normally operating, in adjustment work or in the event of a system failure. As a result, maintainability and operability of the control system are improved. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
For projection applications, laser sources in fundamental mode operation or monomode operation with ever higher powers are required in order, with increasing image diagonals of the projection area, to obtain sufficient brightnesses and nevertheless to achieve a very high efficiency. Moreover, in many cases a low aspect ratio of the laser beam is desirable in order to be able to simplify complex and lossy lens systems.
In typical index-guided laser structures such as, for instance, laser diodes having ridge waveguide structures, a monomode nature is achieved by the laser ridge having an extremely small width. However, this constitutes a significant disadvantage in the high technological requirements, since conventional exposure and etching technologies are encountering their limits. A further major disadvantage of such narrow ridge widths consists in the increased operating voltages necessary for operating such laser diodes.
A further possibility for improving the monomode nature of a laser diode having a ridge waveguide structure consists in a small ridge height. The resultant weak optical guidance has the effect that only the fundamental mode can establish oscillations. However, this simultaneously leads to increased threshold currents, since a weak wave guidance or a small height of the ridge is generally associated with current spreading.
It is furthermore known to apply absorber layers to a thin passivation layer alongside the laser ridge. However, since very thin passivation layers are required for this configuration, electrical problems can occur, for instance with regard to the breakdown strength or with regard to leakage currents. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous in this case that generally it is not possible to prevent the fundamental mode from also being damped by the absorber, which means losses in the laser parameters, in particular a reduced efficiency. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention is directed to molecular sieves and a process for their preparation and use. More particularly, this invention is directed to carbonaceous molecular sieves, having high selectivity ratios and high capacity values. The molecular sieves of this invention are produced by the impregnation of carbonaceous substrates with an organic polymer having a molecular weight of at least 400, as determined by vapor phase osmometry, or with an inorganic polymer.
Munzner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,129, describes a carbon molecular sieve produced by impregnating a porous coke with a low molecular weight organic compound having a boiling point of from 200.degree.-550.degree. C. as measured at atmospheric pressure. (See Column 2, lines 50-57). This impregnation technique effectively reduces the substrate micropores to between 2 to 6 Angstroms, but generates a sieve with reduced capacity.
Carbon molecular sieves have been prepared by externally coating granular activated carbon with from about 20 to 50 weight percent of a partially polymerized solution followed by curing of the polymer and carbonization (charring) of the polymer coating. See: P. L. Walker, Jr., et al., Conference on Industrial Carbon and Graphite, Proceedings (London) 1965, "The Preparation of 4 .ANG. and 5 .ANG. Carbon Molecular Sieves".
Addison, U.S. Pat. No. 2,761,822, describes a finishing process for activated carbon. This process improves the adsorption selectivity, but reduces the internal capacity of the carbon substrate.
It has been discovered that the macropore structure of carbonaceous substrates may be blocked by impregnation with an organic or inorganic polymer. This polymeric block acts to limit access through the macropore structure of the substrate without significantly affecting either the micropore capacity or the microporous diffusion characteristics of the substrate. Thus, selectivity of the substrate is improved without a substantial loss of substrate capacity. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The field of the invention is cell proliferation.
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is well suited for developmental genetic studies because the entire cell lineage has been mapped and is essentially invariant from one animal to the next. Thus, by comparing the cell lineage of a wild-type animal to that of a mutant animal, the changes in cell fates caused by the mutation can be determined.
A number of mutations that alter cell lineage in C. elegans, termed lin mutations, were obtained in genetic screens conducted by Horvitz and Sulston in the late 1970's. A subset of the mutations affected the formation of the vulva, a structure on the ventral surface of C. elegans hermaphrodites through which eggs are laid and through which sperm enters during cross-fertilization. Six vulval precursor cells have the potential to undertake a vulval cell lineage, as defined by the number and pattern of cell divisions. In a wild-type animal only three of these cells actually undertake vulval cell fates and these three cells generate the 22 cells that make up the adult vulva. In multivulva (Muv) animals, most or all of the six vulval precursor cells undertake vulval cell fates. In addition to the cells required for the formation of a normal vulva, these mutant animals generate an excess of cells which cause the formation of raised, vulva-like structures on the ventral surface of the animal. On the other hand, a vulvaless (Vul) phenotype results when no or too few vulval precursor cells adopt vulval cell fates.
Genetic and molecular analyses of Muv and Vul animals have defined a Ras signal transduction pathway that mediates induction of the hermaphrodite vulva. This pathway includes the LIN-3 EGF-like ligand, the LET-23 receptor tyrosine kinase, the SEM-5 adaptor, LET60 Ras, the KSR-1 kinase, LIN-45 MEK-2, and the MPK-1 MAP kinase, and regulates the activities of the ETS transcription factor LIN-1 and the winged-helix transcription factor LIN-31 (reviewed by Horvitz and Sternberg, Nature 351:535-41, 1991; Sundaram and Han, Bioessays 18:473-480, 1996; Tan et al., Cell 93:569-580, 1998). Mutant animals in which this pathway is ectopically activated can display a Muv phenotype, whereas mutant animals that have reduced Ras pathway signaling can display a Vul phenotype.
The synthetic multivalva (synMuv) genes act in two functionally-redundant pathways as negative regulators of the nematode Ras signaling pathway. The first synthetic multivulva mutant was identified by Horvitz and Sulston. The two genetic loci mutated in this mutant were termed lin-8 and lin-9. Reduction-of-function mutations in both of these loci were required for a multivulva phenotype. Subsequent genetic screens identified a set of loci which fall into the same class as lin-8, termed class A genes, and genes which fall into the same class as lin-9, termed class B genes. In general, an animal with a reduction-of-function mutation in any class A gene and a reduction-of-function mutation in any class B gene will display a multivulva phenotype, while animals carrying one or more mutations of the same class have a wild-type vulval phenotype. These two classes appear to define two functionally redundant pathways that negatively regulate the expression of vulval cell fates.
Thus far at least four class A loci (lin-8, lin-15A, lin-38, and lin-56) and at least fourteen class B loci (lin-9, lin-15B, lin-35, lin-36, lin-37, lin-13, lin-52, lin-53, lin-54, lin-55 (dpl-1), lin-61, hda-1, tam-1 (Hsieh et al., Genes & Dev. 13:2958-2970, 1999), and the C. elegans E2F1 homolog (efl-1)) have been identified genetically. lin-15 encodes both A and B activities in two non-overlapping transcripts. In addition, lin-37, lin-35, lin-53, lin-52, lin-54, lin-55 (dpl-1), lin-15A, lin-15B, lin-36, lin-9, lin-55, and efl-1 have been cloned (Ceol and Horvitz, Molecular Cell 7:461-473, 2001; Clark et al., Genetics 137:987-997, 1994; Huang et al., Mol. Biol. Cell 5:395-411, 1994; Beitel et al., Gene 254:253-263, 2000; and PCT WO 98/54299).
A number of the synMuv family members encode polypeptides with sequence similarity to polypeptides involved in cancer development and progression. For example, lin-35 encodes a homolog of the mammalian pocket protein family, which includes retinoblastoma protein (Rb), p107, and p130. This family of proteins has been the subject of intense study since the cloning of Rb in 1986. Rb is a tumor suppressor gene; mutations that inactivate Rb predispose individuals to tumor formation. Most commonly, inactivation of Rb results in a type of eye cancer, retinoblastoma, although inactivating mutations in Rb have been found in other types of tumors. The Rb protein is thought to function as a negative regulator of cell cycle progression. A number of molecules that interact, both directly and indirectly, with Rb and the other pocket proteins have been characterized in mammalian cells.
Another synMuv family member, lin-53, encodes a homolog of p48, a protein which has been shown to bind Rb. Although the functional significance of the interaction between p48 and Rb is not fully understood, recent studies suggest that p48 may play a role in remodeling chromatin structure. In addition, lin-55(dpl-1) encodes a homolog of the DP family of proteins (Ceol and Horvitz, Molecular Cell 7:461-473, 2001). DP family members, together with E2F proteins, bind DNA at specific sites, thereby regulating the transcription of genes that are essential for cell cycle progression. Furthermore, pocket proteins such as Rb bind to the DP-E2F complex to repress transcription.
As in the nematode, Ras pathways have been found to control cell proliferation in a range of organisms from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to humans. The Ras pathway defines one class of oncogene signaling pathways; members of this pathway, most commonly Ras itself, have been shown to be mutated in a broad range of human cancers (Hunter, Cell 88:333-346, 1997). Accordingly, analysis of the Ras pathway, in particular the vulval induction pathway, in C. elegans addresses the significant need of increasing our understanding of cancer in general. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Digital camera modules are currently being incorporated into a variety of host devices such as, for example, cellular telephones, personal data assistants (PDAs), computers, etc. Such host devices are becoming increasingly more compact and, therefore, permitting less and less space for camera module form factors. Accordingly, host device manufacturers prefer digital camera modules to be small, so that they can be incorporated into the host device without increasing the overall size of the host device. Of course, host device manufacturers also prefer camera modules that capture images of the highest possible quality.
A conventional digital camera module generally includes an integrated image capture device (ICD), passive components, a printed circuit board (PCB), a housing, and a lens. Typically, the ICD and passive components are mounted on the PCB, and then the housing is attached to the PCB so that the ICD and passive components are covered by the bottom of the housing. Then, the lens is mounted on the opposite end of the housing to focus incident light onto an image capture surface of the ICD.
One problem with conventional camera module designs is that they have a relatively large footprint and, therefore, occupy a significant amount of real-estate area on the host device. This is because the base of the housing has to be large enough to cover the ICD and the passive components mounted around the ICD. Further, conventional camera modules typically cannot satisfy small form factor requirements without sacrificing image quality.
It is against this background that a camera module that can satisfy stricter form factor requirements and capture high quality images has been developed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a film-like material made of a resin, more particularly, to a manufacturing method of a film-like material made of a thermoplastic resin with excellent appearance. The invention also relates to a crystalline thermoplastic resin film with a high elastic modulus and a high strength and a manufacturing method of the same.
Conventionally the following methods have been known as a manufacturing method of a film made of a thermoplastic resin; a T-die molding method for extruding a melted resin into a thin film-like shape out of a slit die with a wide width, so-called T-die and an inflation molding method for molding a cylindrical film by extruding a resin into a cylindrical shape out of a die slit of such as a ring die and the like while cooling the resin and keeping it flat by two plates. Also, a calendar molding method (Japanese Provisional Publication No. 10-296766(A)) using a plurality of calendar rolls has been known.
However, the above-described methods have the following problems. (1) If a resin with a high molecular weight, a resin with a high melt viscosity, or a resin deficient in melt elongation is used, defects such as voids are easy to be formed and the appearance of the film becomes inferior and especially in the case of production of a film with a film thickness of 200 μm, the appearance was considerably inferior. (2) In the case of the above-described calendar molding method, when melted resin composition is passed through a pair of calendar rolls while forming a bank, the molding is carried out while making the peripheral velocities of both heated rolls different, so that the surface of the obtained film is not necessarily smooth and beautiful and the surface inevitably becomes roughened and also from such a point, subsequently, it is impossible to produce a film with a sufficiently high film thickness precision. (3) In the case of the T-die molding method and the inflation molding method, the film thickness precision of the molded film is insufficient and especially, in the case of producing a film from a resin with a high melt viscosity and a hardly formable resin with a low melt elongation degree, the film thickness precision is significantly deteriorated and these methods cannot be said a proper molding method as a manufacturing method of a film or a sheet required to provide a high film thickness precision.
The invention has been developed taking the above-described circumferences into consideration and a object of the invention is to provide a manufacturing method capable of obtaining a film-like material made of resin and having excellent appearance.
In consideration of the above-described problems of the conventional techniques, another object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a film-like material made of a resin and having a high film thickness precision even in the case of using a resin material with a high melt viscosity and a low melt elongation degree, for example, a thermoplastic resin containing a long molecular chain polyolefin.
As a film of a crystalline thermoplastic resin, various kinds of films have been known and employed for practical uses. As a technology of providing a crystalline thermoplastic resin film with a high elastic modulus, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-173302 discloses a manufacturing method of a polypropylene sheet using a polypropylene mixed with a crystallization nucleating agent.
Although the polypropylene sheet produced by the above-described known technique is provided with a higher elastic modulus than that of polypropylene sheets produced ever before and improved secondary processibility such as the vacuum molding property, these improvements cannot be said sufficient yet.
The other purpose of the invention is to provide a crystalline thermoplastic resin film with a high elastic modulus and a high strength and a manufacturing method for the same.
2. Description of the Related Art | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to a drink holder for a vehicle and more particularly, but not by way of limitation to a dual drink holder adapted for receipt on an automobile's center console.
Heretofore, operators of fine automobile's, such as a Mercedes, quite often set a drink on or near the center console of the automobile and would inadvertently spill the drink onto the console. Because the console often houses electrical wiring, the spillage has caused the shorting out of the electrical controls and damage to the car. Until now, there has been no type of drink holder adapted for mounting on the center console to prevent the above-mentioned problem.
In the following U.S. patents; U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,567 to Selvaggio, U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,412 to Langland and U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,923 to Manke various types of container and beverage holders are described for mounting in automobiles and different types of vehicles. None of these prior art devices provide the unique features and advantages of the subject invention. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Thermoplastic polyamides, such as nylon 6,6, are a class of materials which possess a good balance of properties comprising strength and stiffness which make them useful as structural materials. However, for a particular application, a thermoplastic polyamide may not offer the combination of properties desired, and therefore, means to correct this deficiency are of interest.
One major deficiency of thermoplastic polyamides is their poor resistance to impact, especially when dry. A particularly appealing route to achieving improved impact resistance in a thermoplastic is by blending it with another polymer. It is well known that stiff plastics can often be impact modified by addition of an immiscible low modulus elastomer. However, in general, physical blending of polymers has not been a successful route to toughen thermoplastic polyamides. This is due to the poor adhesion immiscible polymers typically exhibit with each other. As a result, interfaces between blend component domains represent areas of severe weaknesses, providing natural flows which result in facile mechanical failure.
A route to achieve interfacial adhesion between dissimilar materials is by chemically attaching to one or more of the materials functional moieties which enhance their interaction. Such interactions include chemical reaction, hydrogen bonding, and dipole-dipole interactions.
It has been previously proposed to increase the impact strength of polyamides by addition of a modified block copolymer. Hergenrother et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,828 and Shiraki et al in International Kokai Application No. WO83/00492 disclose blends of thermoplastic polyamide with a modified block copolymer. These blends are deficient, however, because the blended components, especially the block copolymer, are relatively expensive. Also, polyamides have a tendency to absorb water and consequently properties are degraded. Blending polyolefins with polyamides would decrease the water absorption for the blend since a portion of the polyamide which absorbs water would be replaced by polyolefin which absorbs relatively little water. In the past attempts to extend impact modified polyamides with polyolefins have been unsuccessful because the polyamides were incompatible with the polyolefins.
It has been discovered that by functionalizing various components in a polyamide-polyolefin-elastomer blend a desirable combination of properties and cost can be obtained. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Computing devices have made significant contributions toward the advancement of modern society and are utilized in a number of applications to achieve advantageous results. Numerous devices, such as personal computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, smart phones and the like are directed toward specific markets and applications. For example, there are relatively large desktop personal computers for use in home and office. The desktop PCs are generally able to operate with a large number of external peripheral devices, such as monitors, keyboards, pointing devices, printers, cameras, speakers and the like. Desktop PCs are generally adapted to be readily expanded and/or upgraded. Laptop computers, tablet computers and smart phones provide increasing portability but generally are adapted to support fewer external peripheral devices, particularly at any given time and it generally is more difficult to upgrade or expand the devices.
Most conventional computing devices include a plurality of ports for communicating with one or more peripheral device and/or one or more other devices. For example, a conventional laptop computer may include an HDMI port, a DVI port, a plurality of USB ports, an Ethernet port, a WIFI transceiver, and/or the like. A conventional tablet computer may include one HDMI port, one USB port, a WIFI transceiver and/or the like. Typically, the smaller the form fact of the computing device, the less communication ports are included.
Usually one or more peripherals such as a keyboard, a pointing device, speakers, a camera, a storage device and the like are coupled to the computing device through the USB port of the computing device. At times the operation of the computing device or between the computing device and one or more USB coupled peripheral device, and/or software running on the computing device or USB peripheral may experience problems. In a conventional computing device having a plurality of USB ports, one of the ports may be used to debug the problem. In such case, one USB port can be used for normal USB operations while a debug platform can be coupled to another USB port for debugging the software or hardware of the computing device. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In the NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) television system, the television picture adapted for solid state sensors is comprised by a plurality of image pixels arranged in horizontal parallel rows 1-n. The image is divided into a field "A" and a field "B". Lines 1, 3, 5, etc. are first scanned and displayed in a field "A". After field "A" has been scanned, alternating lines 2, 4, 6, etc. are scanned and displayed in a field "B". Field "A" is said to be interlaced with field "B".
For compatibility reasons, the NTSC scanning method has been carried over to the still picture recording scheme. In this recording scheme, the horizontal lines from field "A" are stored in a suitable storing device such as a magnetic disc, and then the lines from field "B" are scanned and stored. The alternate field recording scheme, although satisfactory for TV camera operation, presents a problem for still picture recording.
The time separation of field "A" and field "B" in the above recording scheme creates a difficulty when an image sensor attempts to record a scene after the manner of still photography. To simulate still photography, it is necessary to take the exposure of both fields at the same time. However, for compatibility with the NTSC system and still picture storing method, the field "A" must be separately stored in the sensor, i.e., the device, from field "B" to facilitate the time sequential NTSC compatible display.
A number of designs have recently appeared in the industry to accomplish the task of making still image recording compatible with the NTSC TV system. One recent frame transfer device has a CCD imager array, an adjacent CCD memory array large enough to store both fields "A" and "B", and one-half of a CCD memory array separated by a serial readout register for the field "A" for storing field "B". The "B" field memory has its own serial readout register adjacent to it. In this frame transfer array scheme, both fields "A" and "B" are first transferred to the first memory and the line readout thereafter begins. A field "A" line is read from the first memory array, and a field "B" line is transferred through the readout register to the second, half-memory array for later readout. Fields "A" and "B" may then be read out independently while they were exposed simultaneously.
In the described device, the field "B" information must be stored in the two different locations, first in the full field memory A and B and thereafter in the half-memory B. This results in an excessively large device size that is accompanied with high device fabrication cost.
Another recent device employs an interline transfer image array and a full field memory located adjacent to the image area. In this device it is possible to transfer the lines of field "A" to the memory first and then the lines of the field "B". This results, however, in a time-delayed exposure for field "B" respective to field "A" which in turn presents a problem in recording the still pictures of imaged objects.
Conventional interline image sensors suffer from low resolution and less light sensitivity.
In view of the above, a need has arisen in the industry for a high resistivity, high-resolution image sensor that takes the same exposure for both fields at the same time and does not suffer from an inefficient utilization of the silicon chip area. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Several conference papers and patents address the issue of decreasing the protocol overhead of the transmission of small sized voice packets in IP based packet networks by proposing multiplexing solutions.
According to the known solution, for example, document US 2006/0120347 A1 proposes multiplexing in the transport layer for general IP based networks and document US2006/0133372 A1 proposes similar UDP based multiplexing schemes for mobile networks. The multiplexing can also be executed in the IP protocol of the network layer as proposed by document U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,125 B1 for mobile networks and by document “Transport Multiplexing Protocol (TMux)” by P. Cameron et al, RFC 1692, August 1994, for general IP based networks. Further, document “RTP payload multiplexing between IP telephony gateways” by B. Subbiah et al, Globecom '99, pp. 1121-1127, Rio de Janeiro 1999, proposes a multiplexing solution operating in the RTP layer for IP telephony gateways.
These solutions are common in the sense that they propose non-adaptive multiplexing operation, i.e., the number of maximum multiplexed packets are determined on a-priori given thresholds (waiting time/number of packets threshold) and the actual network state does not influence the operation.
Further, adaptive multiplexing solutions for the adaptive setting of multiplexing parameters are proposed in documents US 2009/0103504 A1, document “Adaptive Multiplexing Based on E-model for Reducing Network Overhead in Voice over IP Security Ensuring Conversation Quality” by R. M. Pereira et al, 2009 Fourth International Conference on Digital Telecommunications, pp. 53-58, Colmar, France, 2009, ISBN: 978-0-7695-3695-8, document “Measurement-Based Multi-Call Voice Frame Grouping in Internet Telephony” by H. Kim et al, IEEE Communications Letters, vol. 6, no. 5, May 2002, and document “Voice-TFCC: A TCP-Friendly Congestion Control Scheme for VoIP Flows” by A. Trad et al, PIMRC 2008, 15-18 Sep. 2008, Cannes, France. Pereira, Kim and Trad consider multiplexing in a general IP based network while document US 2009/0103504 A1 assumes an LTE communication network. Document US 2009/0103504 A1 proposes to set the maximum number of multiplexed packets according to the remaining storage capacity of the reception buffer. This solution uses a static timer value, thus the delay added by the multiplexing cannot be adapted to the actual network state.
Pereira proposes to set the multiplexing timer value according to the quality of the voice calls. This needs the evaluation of the voice calls individually. Due to complexity concerns this solution is hardly applicable in telecommunication systems.
According to Kim, the value of the multiplex timer is determined from the measured mouth to ear delay. The delay is predicted from the measurements using the retransmission timeout calculation algorithm of the Transport Control Protocol (TCP) in order to temper the variation of the predicted mouth to ear delay. In a mobile communication network the significant part of the mouth to ear delay can be the air interface delay, thus the application of this solution would need the measurement of the delay of each connection that is not feasible due to complexity issues.
Moreover, Trad proposes to set the number of multiplexed voice calls according to a TCP friendly rate setting formula. This solution varies only the number of multiplexed voice calls and uses a fixed multiplex timer, thus it cannot minimize the added delay.
Hence, the above mentioned solutions are operating based on the information from the receiving entity on the quality of the connection. In contrast thereto, the solution according to embodiments of the present invention to be described later operate based only on information that is available at the multiplexer entity side. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Ultrasound is a useful, non-invasive imaging method used for diagnosing a variety of conditions. Historically, ultrasound machines were large, expensive machines used only in radiology departments by high trained specialists. Various attempts have been made to reduce the size and cost of medical ultrasound systems while maintaining high image quality. There is a general desire to enable ultrasound to be more portable, and used at the point-of-care by more users.
One of the main factors that negatively affects ultrasound image quality is a type of inherent noise called speckle. Speckle reduces resolution and image contrast, decreasing diagnostic accuracy.
A variety of methods exist to reduce the impact of speckle, either by reducing how much speckle is created in the first place or by employing image processing to remove speckle from images. The goal of speckle reduction is to remove the speckle to increase image quality without losing too much useful diagnostic information. Smoothing can remove speckle, but also affects fine details and edges. There are better speckle reduction techniques. However, these typically require significant processing power and can therefore be performed only using hardware that provides significant computer resources.
There remains a need for apparatus and methods capable of producing good quality ultrasound images. The inventors have realized that there is a particular need for small, portable ultrasound devices which can provide such images. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Traditional means of location estimation using a wireless receiver and known beacons, as is implemented in a traditional GPS system, require knowledge of the position of four or more beacons and the distance of the receiver from each beacon. Three beacons may be used if assumption about location on the earth's spherical surface is made. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A digital oscilloscope samples analog signals at a very high rate and stores the data in a RAM buffer for display on a display screen. In some architectures, a dedicated data acquisition subsystem acquires the data, and a display subsystem hosts the user interface and displays the data to the user. In these architectures, the display subsystem may be hosted by a standard personal computer, while the digital data acquisition subsystem may be an external module or “black box” connected to the personal computer via a high-speed communications link.
In a typical display subsystem, a large buffer size allows a large number of samples to be stored, which provides more details for display, such as for a “data zooming”feature. Generally, these architectures tradeoff the number of samples transferred to the display subsystem against display refresh rate. For example, if a very fast communication link is used, such as USB 2.0 “high speed,” a large number of samples can be transferred at an acceptable rate (e.g. 500,000 samples of 16 bits at 10 waveforms per second). Unfortunately, high-speed data transfer requires expensive components and commensurately high processing power on the display subsystem. Conversely, if a moderate or slow speed communication link is used, such as, for example, USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 “full speed,” RS-232, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc., the number of samples that can be transferred at an acceptable refresh rate is much more limited, and data may not be acquired, transferred and displayed at the desired rate.
Furthermore, a typical application of a digital oscilloscope is the detection of an irregularity in a train of pulses. Such irregularity, usually called a “glitch,” can consist of a missing pulse or an extra pulse or a bad shaped pulse. In a vehicular diagnostic context, pulse trains may include injector pulses, primary ignition pulses, phase sensors, TDC sensors, as well as many others. Usually, a glitch in these signals indicates a malfunction. Such failures are often sporadic and difficult to detect, as they may appear only at specific speed or load conditions. The ability of the digital oscilloscope to detect and capture glitches, while minimizing false alarms, is therefore important in order for the diagnostic process to be useful. One of the problems that affect current devices is the difficulty associated with changes in frequency, which is a normal behavior of the signal in case of accelerations or decelerations.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a digital data acquisition module that maintains provides improved glitch detection, full zooming capabilities and a fast refresh rate while operating over a slow or moderate speed communication link. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field
Embodiments relate to a flexible display panel and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, flexible displays are gaining huge popularity as a new technology in the display field. Flexible displays are implemented on a thin bending substrate, such as a substrate formed of plastic, and thus may not be damaged even by being folded or rolled like paper. Currently, flexible displays are implemented by employing a liquid crystal display (LCD) having thin film transistors (TFTs), an organic light emitting display (OLED), etc. A protective layer and plastic are coated on a supporting substrate, such as glass, on which a process of forming the display element is performed. Then, an encapsulation process is performed thereon to prevent moisture and air permeation. A protective film is attached onto the encapsulation member and then the supporting substrate is removed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to information retrieval, and particularly to document retrieval from a computer database using probability techniques. More particularly, the invention concerns a method and apparatus for establishing probability thresholds in probabilistic information retrieval systems and for estimating representation frequencies in document databases for representations having no pre-computed frequency.
There are, in theory, two categories of information retrieval systems: algebraic systems and probabilistic systems. Algebraic systems logically match terms and their positions in a stored information (such as a document) to terms in a query; Boolean systems are examples of algebraic systems. Probabilistic systems match representations (concepts) in a stored information to concepts in a query to retrieve information based on probabilities rather than algebraic or Boolean logic.
Presently, document retrieval is most commonly performed through use of Boolean search queries to search the texts of documents in the database. These retrieval systems specify strategies for evaluating documents with respect to a given query by logically comparing search queries to document texts. One of the problems associated with text searching is that for a single natural language description of an information need, different Boolean researchers will formulate different Boolean queries to represent that need. Because the queries are different, different documents will be retrieved for each search.
Another difficulty with Boolean systems is that all documents meeting the query are retrieved, regardless of number. If an unmanageable number of documents are retrieved, the searcher must reformulate the search query to more narrowly define the information need, thereby narrowing the retrieved documents to a more manageable number. However, in narrowing the search, the researcher risks missing relevant documents partially meeting the information need. Moreover, Boolean systems will not retrieve documents only partially meeting the query, which themselves are often important secondary documents to the query.
More recently, probabilistic systems employing hypertext databases have been developed which emphasize flexible organizations of multimedia "nodes" through connections made with user-specified links and interfaces which facilitate browsing in the network. Early networks employed query-based retrieval strategies to form a ranked list of candidate "starting points" for hypertext browsing. Some systems employed feedback during browsing to modify the initial query and to locate additional starting points. Network structures employing hypertext databases have used automatically and manually generated links between documents and the concepts or terms that are used to represent their content. For example, "document clustering" employs links between documents that are automatically generated by comparing similarities of content. Another technique is "citations" wherein documents are linked by comparing similar citations in them. "Term clustering" and "manually-generated thesauri" provide links between terms, but these have not been altogether suitable for document searching on a reliable basis.
Deductive databases have been developed employing facts about the nodes, and current links between the nodes. A simple query in a deductive database, where N is the only free variable in formula W, is of the form {N.vertline.W(N)}, which is read as "Retrieve all nodes N such that W(N) can be shown to be true in the current database." However, deductive databases have not been successful in information retrieval. Particularly, uncertainty associated with natural language affects the deductive database, including the facts, the rules, and the query. For example, a specific concept may not be an accurate description of a particular node; some rules may be more certain than others; and some parts of a query may be more important than others. For a more complete description of deductive databases, see Croft et al. "A Retrieval Model for Incorporating Hypertext Links", Hypertext '89 Proceedings, pp 213-224, November 1989 (Association for Computing Machinery), incorporated herein by reference.
A Bayesian network is a probabilistic network which employs nodes to represent the document and the query. If a proposition represented by a parent node directly implies the proposition represented by a child node, an implication line is drawn between the two nodes. If-then rules of Bayesian networks are interpreted as conditional probabilities. Thus, a rule A.fwdarw.B is interpreted as a probability P(B.vertline.A), and the line connecting A with B is logically labeled with a matrix that specifies P(B.vertline.A) for all possible combinations of values of the two nodes. The set of matrices pointing to a node characterizes the dependence relationship between that node and the nodes representing propositions naming it as a consequence. For a given set of prior probabilities for roots of the network, the compiled network is used to compute the probability or degree of belief associated with the remaining nodes.
An inference network is one which is based on a plausible or non-deductive inference. One such network employs a Bayesian network, described by Turtle et al. in "Inference Networks for Document Retrieval" SIGIR 90, pp. 1-24 Sep. 1990 (Association for Computing Machinery), incorporated herein by reference. The Bayesian inference network described in the Turtle et al. article comprises a document network and a query network. The document network represents the document collection and employs document nodes, text representation nodes and content representation nodes. A document node corresponds to abstract documents rather than their specific representations, whereas a text representation node corresponds to a specific text representation of the document. A set of content representation nodes corresponds to a single representation technique which has been applied to the documents of the database.
The query network of the Bayesian inference network described in the Turtle et al. article employs an information node identifying the information need, and a plurality of concept nodes corresponding to the concepts that express that information need. A plurality of intermediate query nodes may also be employed where multiple queries are used to express the information requirement.
The Bayesian inference network described in the Turtle et al. article has been quite successful for small, general purpose databases. However, it has been difficult to formulate the query network to develop nodes which conform to the document network nodes. More particularly, the inference network described in the Turtle et al, article did not use domain-specific knowledge bases to recognize phrases, such as specialized, professional terms, like jargon traditionally associated with specific professions, such as law or medicine.
One important aspect to probabilistic retrieval networks, such as a Bayesian inference network, is the identification of the frequency of occurrence of a representation in each document and in the entire document collection. A representation that occurs frequently in a document is more likely to be a good descriptor of that document's content. A representation that occurs infrequently in the collection is more likely to be a good discriminator than one that occurs in many documents. Consequently, when creating a database for a probabilistic network, care is taken to identify the representations (content concepts) in the documents, as well as their frequencies. However, it is not always possible to identify certain representations (such as phrases, proximities and thesaurus or synonym classes) or their frequency when creating the database. More particularly, phrases are usually comprised of multiple words which themselves are individual concepts or representations. The concept or representation of a phrase might be different from the concepts or representations of the individual words forming the phrase. For example, the phrase "independent contractor" is a different concept than either of the constituent words "independent" and "contractor". Since it is not always possible to identify all possible phrases, or their frequency of occurrence, during creation of the database, the use of phrases as a matching term in probabilistic networks has not been altogether successful. Proximities (such as citations) and thesaurus and synonym classes have likewise not been successful identifiers because of the inability to identify all synonyms, proximities and thesaurus classes during creation of the database or to pre-assign their frequencies.
Techniques have been developed to identify phrases, synonyms, proximities and thesaurus classes as concepts in the query, and to find phrases, synonyms, proximities and thesaurus classes as representations in the documents. However, no satisfactory technique exists for identifying the frequencies of occurrence of representations in the documents and in the collection when the document collection is large and the frequencies of occurrence are not included in the database.
Another difficulty with probabilistic networks is that for large databases, for example databases containing about one-half million documents or more, the processing resources required to evaluate a query have been too great to be commercially feasible. More particularly, probabilistic networks required that all representations for all documents in the collection containing at least one query term must be examined against all of the concepts in the query. Hence, probabilistic networks required extensive computing resources. While such computing resources might be reasonable for small collections of documents, they were not for large databases. There is, accordingly, a need to improve the processing of probabilistic networks to more efficiently employ the processing resources.
For a more general discussion concerning inference networks, reference may be made to Probabilistic Reasoning in Intelligent Systems: Networks of Plausible Inference by J. Pearl, published by Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Inc., San Mateo, Calif., 1988, and to Probabilistic Reasoning in Expert Systems by R. E. Neapolitan, John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 1990. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Various approaches to automated or semi-automated three-dimensional object production or Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing have become available in recent years, characterized in that each proceeds by building up 3D objects from 3D computer data descriptive of the objects in an additive manner from a plurality of formed and adhered laminae. These laminae are sometimes called object cross-sections, layers of structure, object layers, layers of the object, or simply layers (if the context makes it clear that solidified structure of appropriate shape is being referred to). Each lamina represents a cross-section of the three-dimensional object. Typically lamina are formed and adhered to a stack of previously formed and adhered laminae. In some RP&M technologies, techniques have been proposed which deviate from a strict layer-by-layer build up process wherein only a portion of an initial lamina is formed and prior to the formation of the remaining portion(s) of the initial lamina, at least one subsequent lamina is at least partially formed.
According to one such approach, a three-dimensional object is built up by applying successive layers of unsolidified, flowable material to a working surface, and then selectively exposing the layers to synergistic stimulation in desired patterns, causing the layers to selectively harden into object laminae which adhere to previously-formed object laminae. In this approach, material is applied to the working surface both to areas which will not become part of an object lamina, and to areas which will become part of an object lamina. Typical of this approach is Stereolithography (SL), as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,330, to Hull. According to one embodiment of Stereolithography, the synergistic stimulation is radiation from a UV laser, and the material is a photopolymer. Another example of this approach is Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,538, to Deckard, in which the synergistic stimulation is IR radiation from a CO.sub.2 laser and the material is a sinterable powder. This first approach may be termed photo-based stereolithography. A third example is Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP) and Direct Shell Production Casting (DSPC), as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,340,656 and 5,204,055, to Sachs, et al., in which the synergistic stimulation is a chemical binder (e.g. an adhesive), and the material is a powder consisting of particles which bind together upon selective application of the chemical binder.
According to a second such approach, an object is formed by successively cutting object cross-sections having desired shapes and sizes out of sheets of material to form object lamina. Typically in practice, the sheets of paper are stacked and adhered to previously cut sheets prior to their being cut, but cutting prior to stacking and adhesion is possible. Typical of this approach is Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,352, to Feygin in which the material is paper, and the means for cutting the sheets into the desired shapes and sizes is a CO.sub.2 laser. U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,312 to Kinzie also addresses building object with LOM techniques.
According to a third such approach, object laminae are formed by selectively depositing an unsolidified, flowable material onto a working surface in desired patterns in areas which will become part of an object laminae. After or during selective deposition, the selectively deposited material is solidified to form a subsequent object lamina which is adhered to the previously-formed and stacked object laminae. These steps are then repeated to successively build up the object lamina-by-lamina. This object formation technique may be generically called Selective Deposition Modeling (SDM). The main difference between this approach and the first approach is that the material is deposited only in those areas which will become part of an object lamina. Typical of this approach is Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,121,329 and 5,340,433, to Crump, in which the material is dispensed in a flowable state into an environment which is at a temperature below the flowable temperature of the material, and which then hardens after being allowed to cool. A second example is the technology described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,009, to Penn. A third example is Ballistic Particle Manufacturing (BPM), as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,665,492; 5,134,569; and 5,216,616, to Masters, in which particles are directed to specific locations to form object cross-sections. A fourth example is Thermal Stereolithography (TSL) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,680, to Almquist et. Al.
When using SDM (as well as other RP&M building techniques), the appropriateness of various methods and apparatus for production of useful objects depends on a number of factors. As these factors cannot typically be optimized simultaneously, a selection of an appropriate building technique and associated method and apparatus involve trade offs depending on specific needs and circumstances. Some factors to be considered may include 1) equipment cost, 2) operation cost, 3) production speed, 4) object accuracy, 5) object surface finish, 6) material properties of formed objects, 7) anticipated use of objects, 8) availability of secondary processes for obtaining different material properties, 9) ease of use and operator constraints, 10) required or desired operation environment, 11) safety, and 12) post processing time and effort.
In this regard there has been a long existing need to simultaneously optimize as many of these parameters as possible to more effectively build three-dimensional objects. As a first example, there has been a need to enhance object production speed when building objects using the third approach, SDM, as described above (e.g. Thermal Stereolithography) while simultaneously maintaining or reducing the equipment cost. As a second example, there has been a long existing need for a low cost RP&M system useable in an office environment.
In SDM, as well as the other RP&M approaches, typically accurate formation and placement of working surfaces are required so that outward facing cross-sectional regions can be accurately formed and placed. The first two approaches naturally supply working surfaces on which subsequent layers of material can be placed and lamina formed. However, since the third approach, SDM, does not necessarily supply a working surface, it suffers from a particularly acute problem of accurately forming and placing subsequent lamina which contain regions not fully supported by previously dispensed material such as regions including outward facing surfaces of the object in the direction of the previously dispensed material. In the typical building process where subsequent laminae are placed above previously formed laminae this is particularly a problem for down-facing surfaces (down-facing portions of laminae) of the object. This can be understood by considering that the third approach theoretically only deposits material in those areas of the working surface which will become part of the corresponding object lamina. Thus, nothing will be available to provide a working surface for or to support any down-facing surfaces appearing on a subsequent cross-section. Downward facing regions, as well as upward facing and continuing cross-sectional regions, as related to photo-based Stereolithography, but as applicable to other RP&M technologies including SDM, are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,345,391, and 5,321,622, to Hull et. al. and Snead et. al., respectively. The previous lamina is non-existent in down-facing regions and is thus unavailable to perform the desired support function. Similarly, unsolidified material is not available to perform the support function since, by definition, in the third approach, such material is typically not deposited in areas which do not become part of an object cross-section. The problem resulting from this situation may be referred to as the "lack of working surface" problem.
The "lack of working surface" problem is illustrated in FIG. 1, which depicts two laminae, identified with numerals 1 and 2, built using a three-dimensional modeling method and apparatus. As shown, lamina 1, which is situated on top of lamina 2, has two down-facing surfaces, which are shown with cross-hatch and identified with numerals 3 and 4. Employing the SDM approach described above, unsolidified material is never deposited in the volumes directly below the down-facing surfaces, which are identified with numerals 5 and 6. Thus, with the SDM approach, there is nothing to provide a working surface for or to support the two down-facing surfaces.
Several mechanisms have been proposed to address this problem, but heretofore, none has proven completely satisfactory. One such mechanism, suggested or described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,508, to Housholder; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,961,154; 5,031,120; 5,263,130; and 5,386,500, to Pomerantz, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,515, to Helinski; U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,680, to Almquist, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,009, to Penn; U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,435, to Cohen, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,427, to Mitchell; U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,193, to dunghills; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,286,573 and 5,301,415, to Prinz, et al., involves filling the volumes below down-facing surfaces with a support material different from that used to build the object, and presumably easily separable from it (by means of having a lower melting point, for example). In relation to FIG. 1, for example, the volumes identified with numerals 5 and 6 would be filled with the support material prior to the time that the material used to form down-facing surfaces 3 and 4 is deposited.
A problem with the two material (i.e. building material and different support material) approach is that it is expensive and cumbersome because of the inefficiencies, heat dissipation requirements, and costs associated with handling and delivering the support, or second, material. For example, a separate material handling and dispensing mechanism for the support material may have to be provided. Alternatively, means may have to be provided to coordinate the handling and delivery of both materials through a single system.
Another approach, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,143, to Hull, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,616, to Masters; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,500, to Pomerantz, et al., is to build generally spaced support structures from the same material as that used to build the object. A multitude of problems have occurred with this approach. A first problem has involved the inability to make support structures of arbitrary height while simultaneously ensuring that they were easily separately from the object. Second, a problem has been encountered regarding the inability to achieve easy separability between object and support structure while simultaneously maintaining an effective working surface for the building of and support of the outward facing surfaces. A third problem involves the inability to accumulate support structure in the direction perpendicular to the planes of the cross-sections (e.g. vertical direction) at approximately the same rate as that at which the object accumulates. A fourth problem has involved the inability to ensure easy separability and minimal damage to up-facing surfaces when supports must be placed thereon in order to support down-facing surfaces thereabove which are part of subsequent layers. A fifth issue has involved the desire to increase system throughput.
To illustrate, the objective of achieving easy separability dictates that the surface area over which each support contacts the object be kept as small as possible. On the other hand, the objective of accumulating a support in the Z-direction at a rate approximating that of object accumulation dictates that the cross-sectional area of each support be as large as possible to provide a large area to perimeter ratio thereby minimizing loss of material for build up in the Z-direction due to run off, spreading, mis-targeting and the like by allowing a large target area to compensate for any inaccuracies in the deposition process and to limit the ability of material to spread horizontally instead of building up vertically.
Further, the objective of achieving minimal damage to the down-facing surface dictates that the spacing between the supports be kept as large as possible in order to minimize the area of contact between the supports and the object. On the other hand, the objective of providing an effective working surface for the building of the down-facing surface dictates that the spacing be kept as small as possible. As is apparent, there is a conflict in simultaneously achieving these objectives.
This problem is illustrated in FIG. 2, in which, compared to FIG. 1, like elements are referenced with like numerals. As shown, down-facing surface 3 is supported through columnar supports 7a, 7b, and 7c, while down-facing surface 4 is supported through columnar supports 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d. Columnar supports 7a, 7b, and 7c are widely spaced from one another in order to minimize damage to down-facing surface 3. Moreover, they are each configured to contact the down-facing surface over a relatively small surface area to enhance separability. On the other hand, because of their small cross-sectional surface area, they may not be able to accumulate, in the vertical direction, fast enough to keep up with the rate of growth of the object. Moreover, because of their wide spacing, they may not be able to provide an effective working surface for the building of and support of down-facing surface 3.
Columnar supports 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d, by contrast, are more closely spaced together in order to provide a more effective working surface for the building and support of down-facing surface 4. Also, each is configured with a larger surface area to enable them to grow at rate approximating that of the object. Unfortunately, because of their closer spacing and larger cross-sectional area, these supports will cause more damage to the down-facing surface when they are removed.
All patents referred to herein above in this section of the specification are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in full.
3. Attached Appendices and Related Patents and Applications
Appendix A is attached hereto and provides details of prefered Thermal Stereolithography materials for use in the some preferred embodiments of the invention.
The following applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full herein:
Application Title Filing Date No. Status 9/27/95 08/535,772 Selective Deposition Abandoned Modeling Materials and Method 9/27/95 08/534,477 Selective Deposition Abandoned Modeling Method and System
The assignee of the subject application, 3D Systems, Inc., is filing this application concurrently with the following related application, which is incorporated by reference herein as though set forth in full:
Application Docket No. Filing Date No. Title Status 08/722,326 9/27/96 08/722,326 Method and Apparatus for 5,943,235 Data Manipulation and System Control in a Selective Deposition Modeling System
According to Thermal Stereolithography and some Fused Deposition Modeling techniques, a three-dimensional object is built up layer by layer from a material which is heated until it is flowable, and which is then dispensed with a dispenser. The material may be dispensed as a semi-continuous flow of material from the dispenser or it may alternatively be dispensed as individual droplets. In the case where the material is dispensed as a semi-continuous flow, it is conceivable that less stringent working surface criteria may be acceptable. An early embodiment of Thermal Stereolithography is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,141,680. Thermal Stereolithography is particularly suitable for use in an office environment because of its ability to use non-reactive, non-toxic materials. Moreover, the process of forming objects using these materials need not involve the use of radiations (e.g. UV radiation, IR radiation, visible light and/or other forms of laser radiation), heating materials to combustible temperatures (e.g. burning the material along cross-section boundaries as in some LOM techniques), reactive chemicals (e.g. monomers, photopolymers) or toxic chemicals (e.g. solvents), complicated cutting machinery, and the like, which can be noisy or pose a significant risks if mishandled. Instead, object formation is achieved by heating the material to a flowable temperature then selectively dispensing the material and allowing it to cool.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/534,447, now abandoned, referenced above, is directed to data transformation techniques for use in converting 3D object data into support and object data for use in a preferred Selective Deposition Modeling (SDM) system based on SDM/TSL principles. This referenced application is also directed to various data handling, data control, and system control techniques for controlling the preferred SDM/TSL system described hereinafter. Some alternative data manipulation techniques and control techniques are also described for use in SDM systems as well as for use in other RP&M systems.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/535,772, now abandoned, as referenced above, is directed to the preferred material used by the preferred SDM/TSL system described herein. Some alternative materials and methods are also described.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/534,477, now abandoned, as referenced above, is directed to some particulars of the preferred SDM/TSL system. Some alternative configurations are also addressed.
The assignee of the instant application, 3D Systems, Inc., is also the owner of a number of other U.S. patent applications and U.S. patents in RP&M field and particularly in the photo-based Stereolithography portion of that field. These patents include disclosures which can be combined with the teachings of the instant application to provide enhanced SDM object formation techniques. The following commonly owned U.S. patent applications and U.S. patents are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in full herein:
App No. Status and/or Filing Date Topic Patent No. 08/484,582 Fundamental elements of Stereolithography are taught. 5,573,722 Jun 7, 1995 08/475,715 Various recoating techniques for use in SL are 5,667,820 Jun 7, 1995 described including a material dispenser that allows for selective deposition from a plurality of orifices. 08/479,875 Various LOM type building techniques are described. 5,637,169 Jun 7, 1995 08/486,098 A description of curl distortion is provided along with Abandoned Jun 7, 1995 various techniques for reducing this distortion. 08/475,730 A description of a 3D data slicing technique for 5,854,748 Jun 7, 1995 obtaining cross-sectional data is described which utilizes Boolean layer comparisons to define down- facing, up-facing and continuing regions. Techniques for performing cure-width compensation and for producing various object configurations relative to an initial CAD design are also described. 08/480,670 A description of an early SL Slicing technique is 5,870,307 Jun 7, 1995 described including vector generation and cure width compensation. 08/428,950 Various building techniques for use in SL are described Abandoned Apr 25, 1995 including various build styles involving alternate sequencing, vector interlacing and vector offsetting for forming semi-solid and solid objects. 08/428,951 Simultaneously Multiple Layer Curing techniques for 5,999,184 Apr 25, 1995 SL are taught including techniques for performing vertical comparisons, correcting errors due to over curing in the z-direction, techniques for performing horizontal comparisons, and horizontal erosion routines. 08/405,812 SL recoating techniques using vibrational energy are 5,688,464 Mar 16, 1995 described. 08/402,553 SL recoating techniques using a doctor blade and liquid 5,651,934 Mar 13, 1995 level control techniques are described. 08/382,268 Several SL recoating techniques are described Abandoned Feb 1, 1995 including techniques involving the use of ink jets to selectively dispense material for forming a next layer of unsolidified material. 08/148,544 Fundamental elements of thermal stereolithography are 5,501,824 Nov 8, 1993 described. 07/182,801 Support structures for SL are described. 4,999,143 Apr 18, 1988 07/183,015 Placement of hole in objects for reducing stress are 5,015,424 Apr 18, 1988 described. 07/365,444 Integrated SL building, cleaning and post curing 5,143,663 Jun 12, 1989 techniques are described. 07/824,819 Various aspects of a large SL apparatus are described. 5,182,715 Jan 22, 1992 07/605,979 Techniques for enhancing surface finish of SL objects 5,209,878 Oct 30, 1990 are described including the use of thin fill layers in combination with thicker structural layers and meniscus smoothing. 07/929,463 Powder coating techniques are described for enhancing 5,234,636 Aug 13, 1991 surface finish. 07/939,549 Building techniques for reducing curl distortion in SL 5,238,639 Aug 31, 1992 (by balancing regions of stress and shrinkage) are described. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the leading cause of death in the industrialized countries. The primary cause of CHD is atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by the deposition of lipids, including cholesterol, in the arterial vessel wall, resulting in a narrowing of the vessel passages and ultimately hardening of the vascular system. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) levels and the incidence of CHD (Castelli, W. P. et al., J. Am. Med. Assoc., 256, 2835 (1986); Miller and Miller Lancet, 1, 16 (1975); Gordon et al., Circulation 79, 8 (1989)). Low levels of HDLc represent a significant independent CHD risk factor whether or not these patients have elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) levels (Kannel, W. B., Am. J. Cardiol. 76, 69c (1995)). Indeed, high density lipoprotein (HDL) is recognized as the anti-atherogenic lipoprotein (Stein, O. and Stein, Y., Atherosclerosis 144, 28 (1999)). Several clinical studies have demonstrated reduced CHD events with treatments that raised HDLc. For example, the recent VA-HIT trial showed for the first time that by raising HDL cholesterol without affecting LDL cholesterol, cardiac events in patients with CHD were substantially reduced (Rubins, H. B. and Robins, S., Am. J. Cardiol. 86, 543 (2000)). Every 1% rise in HDLc, produced a corresponding 2-3% decrease in CHD.
Atherosclerosis generally begins with local injury to the arterial endothelium followed by proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells from the medial layer to the intimal layer along with the deposition of lipid and accumulation of foam cells in the lesion. As the atherosclerotic plaque develops it progressively occludes more and more of the affected blood vessel and can eventually lead to ischaemia or infarction. Because deposition of circulating lipids such as cholesterol plays a major role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, it is important to identify compounds, methods and compositions to help remove cholesterol from the developing peripheral tissues, including atherosclerotic plaque. As described below, HDL promotes reverse cholesterol transport, a process by which excess cholesterol is extracted from peripheral cells by HDL and delivered to the liver for its elimination. Thus, it is important to identify compounds, methods and compositions that can increase HDLc (Euro. Heart J. 2001 March 15; 22(6), 465-471) and improve the functionality of HDL (K. Alam et al., J. Biol. Chem. 2001, in press).
Circulating lipoproteins serve as vehicles for the transport of water-insoluble lipids like cholesteryl esters, triglycerides and the more polar phospholipids and unesterified cholesterol in the aqueous environment of plasma (Bradely, W. A. and Gotto, A. M.: American Physiological Society, Bethesda, Md., pp 117-137 (1978)). The solubility of these lipids is achieved through physical association with proteins termed apolipoproteins, and the lipid-protein complexes are called lipoproteins (Dolphin, P. J., Can. J Biochem. Cell. Biol. 63, 850-869 (1985)). Five distinct classes of lipoproteins have been isolated from human plasma: chylomicrons, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL) and lipoprotein) (a (LP(a)). (Alaupovic, P. (1980) In Handbook of Electrophoresis. Vol. 1, pp. 27-46; Havel, R. J., Eder, H. A.; Bragdon, J. H., J. Clin. Invest. 34, 1343 (1955)).
HDL particles are first secreted from the liver and intestine as small, discoidal particles called “pre-beta 1” HDL. HDL particles undergo a continuous interconversion in the plasma beginning with the conversion of the “nascent discoidal “pre-beta 1” HDL into spherical HDL3, through the action of plasmatic enzymes, mainly lecithin-cholesteryl acyltransferase (LCAT), that converts free cholesterol to cholesteryl ester (Glomset J. A., and Norum K. R., Advan. Lipid Res., 11, 1-65, (1973)); McCall, M. R., Nichols, A. V., Morton, R. E., Blanche, P. J., Shore, V. G., Hara, S. and Forte, T. M., J. Lipid Res. 34, 37 (1993)). HDL3 acquires phospholipids (PL) and free cholesterol (FC) in the presence of other plasmatic enzymes such as lipoprotein lipase (LPL) (Patsch, J. R., Gotto, A. M., Olivercrona, T. and Eisenberg, S., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 75, 4519 (1978)), and further action of LCAT helps form large CE-rich HDL which constitute the CE-rich HDL2 subpopulation (McCall, M. R., et al., J. Lipid Res. 34, 37 (1993)). Mature HDL is spherical and contains various amounts of lipids and apolipoprotein. Apolipoprotein A-I (apoAI) is the major protein component of mature HDL, and most of the cholesterol associated with HDL is esterified as cholesteryl esters (CE). HDL is believed to play a fundamental functional role in the transport of lipids and represents a site for storage of potentially harmful lipids and apolipoproteins which if unregulated could have harmful effects including changing cellular functions, altering gene expression, and obstructing blood flow by narrowing the vessel lumen. apoAI has been found to be more powerful as a marker for coronary disease than the cholesterol component of HDL (Maciejko J. J. et al., New England J. Med. 309, 385-389 (1983)). However, HDLc remains an important independent predictor of atherosclerosis, and HDLc is an important predictor of survival in post coronary artery bypass graft patients as a result of the 20-year experience from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation ((Foody J M et al. (2000) Circulation, 102 (19 suppl3), III90-94). Clinical surveys have confirmed that elevated HDLc is favorable in preventing the development of atherosclerotic lesion and low levels of HDLc together with low apoAI levels are currently considered to be the most reliable parameters in predicting the development of atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic patients ((Mingpeng s and Zongli W, (1999) Experimental Gerontology, 34 (4); 539-48)).
Reverse Cholesterol Transport
HDL promotes reverse cholesterol transport, a process by which excess cholesterol is extracted from peripheral cells by HDL and delivered to the liver for its elimination. Reverse cholesterol transport, therefore, reduces cholesterol accumulation in the artery wall (Reichl, D and Miller, N. E., Arteriosclerosis 9, 785 (1989)). Because there is no cholesterol accumulation in extrahepatic organs, cholesterol must be transported to the liver by HDL for ultimate excretion into bile, either as free cholesterol, or as bile acids that are formed from cholesterol (Kwiterovich, P. O., Amer. J. Cardiol. 82, 13Q, (1998)). HDL may acquire part of its anti-atherogenic character by promoting the reverse transport of cholesterol. Because promoting the reverse transport of cholesterol leads to removal of cholesteryl esters and antiatherogenic effects, it is important to discover new compounds that promote the reverse transport process. One potential target for promoting reverse transport is apoAI, because increased apoAI would allow more efflux of cholesterol from peripheral tissues, including atherosclerotic lesions, and also improve the functionality of circulating HDL. The major functional role of HDL is to remove cholesterol from peripheral tissues including atherosclerotic lesions and taking cholesterol in its ester form to the liver for elimination. It would therefore be desirable to improve the functionality of HDL by acting on proteins and receptors involved in RCT in such a way as to increase the half life of apoAI-HDL and/or to increase the delivery of cholesteryl esters to the liver.
Reverse cholesterol transport involves several steps that are important for the transport of cholesterol from artery walls and in general from peripheral cells to the liver. The first step is the efflux of cholesterol from peripheral tissues to nascent and circulating HDL particles (Fielding C. J. and Fielding P. E, J. Lipid. Res. 36, 211 (1995); Rothblat G. H., de la Llera-Moya, M., Atger, V., Kellner-Weibel, G., Williams, D. L., and Phillips, M. C., J. Lipid Res. 40, 781 (1999)). Recent findings suggest that ABC1 (ATP-cassette binding protein 1) plays a crucial role in that process (Gura, T., Science 285, 814 (1999)). The second step involves the plasmatic modulation of HDL that loads cholesterol from peripheral cells, and the interactions with plasmatic enzymes and proteins that modulate plasma HDL concentrations during this process. One major enzyme known as lecithin-cholesteryl acyltransferase (LCAT) and its cofactor apoAI promote the esterification of free cholesterol to cholesteryl ester, which is then packaged into the core of the HDL (Kwiterovich, P. O., Amer. J. Cardiol. 82, 13Q (1998)). LCAT function maintains a concentration gradient (Francone et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264, 7066 (1989)). Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) helps shuttle excess cholesteryl ester from HDL to triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in exchange for triglycerides (Eisenberg, J. Lipid Res. 26, 487 (1985); Morton, R. E., and Zilversmit D. B., J. Biol. Chem., 258, 11751 (1983)). The last step of the reverse cholesterol transport involves the movement of cholesterol in its esterified form from HDL to the liver and from there into the bile, either directly or after conversion to bile acids, for ultimate elimination.
Numerous efforts are being made to understand the process of reverse cholesterol transport and the underlying mechanisms of cholesterol and cholesteryl ester exchange between cellular surfaces and HDL. The cholesteryl esters at the core of the HDL may be delivered to the liver for elimination by several mechanisms. First, the receptor independent model explains diffusion as a process for both the uptake and the eflux of free cholesterol (Rothblat, G. H. et al., J. Lipid Res., 40, 781 (1999)). Second, cholesteryl ester transfer protein moves cholesteryl ester from HDL to the triglyceride rich lipoproteins and very low density lipoprotein. The cholesteryl esters are then taken up by the liver through the LDL receptor pathway. Third, if the cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity is low, large apolipoprotein-E containing HDL particles may be cleared via the LDL receptor pathway. Fourth, cholesteryl ester may be selectively removed from HDL by an HDL receptor on the liver (Kwiterovich, P. O., Amer. J. Cardiol. 82, 13Q (1998); Arbeeny, C. M. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Acta. 917, 9 (1987)).
The receptor-dependent model accounts for HDL-binding proteins, such as class B, type I and type II scavenger receptors (SR-BI and SR-BII) which can mediate the selective uptake of HDL cholesteryl esters to the liver and steroidogenic tissues (Acton, S. et al., Science 271, 518 (1996); Murao, K. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272, 17551 (1997); Webb, N. R. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273, 15241 (1998)). It has been postulated that HDL binds to SR-BI at the cell surface via direct interaction between SR-BI and the amphipathic helical repeats of apolipoprotein A-I providing a water-depleted “channel” that allows cholesteryl ester (CE) molecules to diffuse from CE-rich HDL to the cell plasma membrane (Williams, D. L. et al., Current Opinion Lipidology, 10, 329 (1999); Rodrigueza W. V. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274, 20344 (1999)). Mice with genetically manipulated SR-BI expression and the murine adrenal Y1-BS1 cell line have been useful in defining the role of SR-BI in HDL metabolism. HDL cholesterol levels are increased in animals deficient in SR-BI indicating the importance of SR-BI in the clearance of HDL cholesterol. However, activating the reverse cholesterol transport system through increased SRB-1 expression is a potential way to reduce atherogenesis if HDLc is not significantly reduced (Ueda, Y., Gong, E., Royer, L., Cooper, P. N., Francone, O. L., and Rubin E. M., J. Biol. Chem., 275, 27, 20368 (2000)). Therapeutic interference with HDL metabolism that will bring changes in the kinetics and functionality of HDL rather than plasma HDL cholesterol levels per se will reduce atherogenesis (Eckardstein, V., and Assmann, G., Current Opinion in Lipidology, 11, 627 (2000)). Therapeutic intervention that will increase HDL cholesterol and in addition improve HDL kinetics and functionality, will significantly reduce atherogenesis.
HDL catabolism by SR-B1 does not involve HDL holoprotein particle uptake and lysosomal degradation of apolipoproteins. This is supported by the finding that transgenic mice deficient in SR-B1 display elevated HDLc yet exhibit no change in levels of plasma apoAI (Rigotto, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 94, 12610 (1994)) Endocytosis and lysosomal degradation of HDL holoprotein is known to occur (Steinberg, D. Science, 274, 460 (1996)), but endocytic HDL receptors have remained elusive. A recently characterized receptor, cubilin, has been found to mediate HDL holoparticle endocytosis (Hammad et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 96, 10158 (1999)). A similar protein or putative receptor, still remains to be found, that could be responsible for hepatic clearance of HDL holoproteins.
In humans, low HDL cholesterol levels may relate to defects in synthesis or catabolism of apoAI, with catabolic defects being more common (Brinton, E. A., et al., Ateriosclerosis Thromb. 14, 707 (1994)); Fridge, N., et al., Metabolism 29, 643 (1980)). Low HDL is often associated with hypertriglyceridemia, obesity, and insulin resistance (Brinton, E. A., et al., Ateriosclerosis Thromb. 14, 707 (1994)). HDL from hypertriglyceridemic subjects characterized by low HDL levels have small HDL particles which are susceptible to renal filtration and degradation. The liver is the principal organ of HDL apolipoprotein degradation (Horowitz, B. S., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 91, 1743 (1993)).
HDL has other important characteristics that may contribute to its anti-atherogenic properties. Recent evidence suggests that HDL may have antioxidant and antithrombotic properties (Tribble, D., et al., J. Lipid Res. 36, 2580 (1995); Mackness, M. I., et al., Biochem. J. 294, 829 (1993); Zeither, A. M., et al., Circulation 89, 2525 (1994)). HDL may also affect the production of some cell adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), (Cockerill, G. W., et al., Arterioscler. Thromb., 15, 1987 (1995)). These properties of HDL also provide protection against coronary artery disease.
Existing Lipid Therapies
Therapeutic agents that elevate HDL, are prime targets for drug development, given the evidence in favor of HDL and its protective function against atherosclerosis. Towards this end, one pathway targeted by industry has been to increase synthesis and secretion of apolipoprotein A-I (apoAI), the major protein in HDL.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,908 discloses analogs of 9-cis-retinoic acid and their use to raise HDLc levels by increasing the synthesis of apoAI.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,435 discloses a method of regulating cholesterol related genes and enzymes by administering lipid acceptors such as liposomes. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,223 discloses a method of forcing the reverse transport of cholesterol by administering liposomes.
Several known agents such as Gemfibrozil (Kashyap, A., Art. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 16, 1052 (1996)) increase HDLc levels. Gemfibrozil is a member of an important class of drugs called fibrates that act on the liver. Fibrates are fibric acid derivatives (bezafibrate, fenofibrate, gemfibrozil and clofibrate) which profoundly lower plasma triglyceride levels and elevate HDLc (Sirtori C. R., and Franceschini G., Pharmac Ther. 37, 167 (1988); Grundy S. M., and Vega G. L. Amer. J Med. 83, 9 (1987)). The typical clinical use of fibrates is in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, low HDLc and combined hyperlipidemia.
The mechanism of action of fibrates is not completely understood but involves the induction of certain apolipoproteins and enzymes involved in VLDL and HDL metabolism. For example, cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity is reduced by fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, phentyoin and alcohol.
Ethanol is known to increase HDLc levels and has been found to decrease coronary disease risk (Klatsky, A. L., et al., Intern. Med. 117, 646 (1992)). Regular use of alcohol has been shown to be correlated with increases in serum apoAI and HDL cholesterol levels. These increases are believed to be related to liver cytochrome P450 induction (Lucoma, P. V., et al., Lancet 1, 47 (1984)).
Nicotinic acid (niacin), a water-soluble vitamin has a lipid lowering profile similar to fibrates and may target the liver. Niacin has been reported to increase apoAI by selectively decreasing hepatic removal of HDL apoAI, but niacin does not increase the selective hepatic uptake of cholesteryl esters (Jin, F. Y., et al., Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 17, 2020 (1997)).
In addition, premenopausal women have significant cardio-protection as a result of high HDLc levels, probably due to estrogens. Tam et al. have shown that human hepatoma cells increased apoAI mass in culture medium when cells were treated with estrogen (Tam S. P., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 260, 1670 (1985); Jin, F. Y., et al., Arterioscler. Thomb. Vasc. Biol. 18, 999 (1998)). Dexamethasone, prednisone, and estrogen activate the apoAI gene, increase apoAI and HDL cholesterol, reduce lipoprotein B, and reduce LDL cholesterol (Kwiterovich, P. O. Amer. J. Cardiol. 82, 13Q (1998)). The side effects of such steroids are well known and limit their chronic use in atherosclerosis.
Diet contributes up to 40% of cholesterol that enters through the intestine and bile contributes the rest of the “exogenous” cholesterol absorbed through the intestine (Wilson M. D., and Rudel L. L. J. Lipid Res. 35, 943 (1994)). Decreasing dietary cholesterol absorption therefore is a regulatory point for cholesterol whole body homeostasis. Cholesterol absorption inhibitors lower plasma cholesterol by reducing the absorption of dietary cholesterol in the gut or by acting as bile acid sequestrants (Stedronsky, E. R., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1210, 255 (1994)).
Cholesterol lowering agents decrease total plasma and LDL cholesterol and some may increase HDLc. Several such agents, which primarily reduce LDL cholesterol, are discussed because of an associated slight increase in HDLc levels. For example, statins represent a class of compounds that are inhibitors of HMG CoA reductase, a key enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway (Endo, A., In: Cellular Metabolism of the Arterial Wall and Central Nervous System. Selected Aspects. Schettler G, Greten H, Habenicht A. J. R. (Eds.) Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg (1993)).
The statins decrease liver cholesterol biosynthesis, which increases the production of LDL receptors thereby decreasing total plasma and LDL cholesterol (Grundy, S. M. New Engl. J. Med. 319, 24 (1988); Endo, A., J. Lipid Res. 33, 1569 (1992)). Depending on the agent and the dose used, statins may decrease plasma triglyceride levels and some may increase HDLc. Currently the statins on the market are lovastatin (Merck), simvastatin (Merck), pravastatin (Sankyo and Squibb) and Fluvastatin (Sandoz). A fifth statin, atorvastatin (Parke-Davis/Pfizer), is the most recent entrant into the statin market. Statins have become the standard therapy for LDL cholesterol lowering. The statins are effective LDLc lowering agents but have some side effects, the most common being increases in serum enzymes (transaminases and creatinine kinase). In addition, these agents may also cause myopathy and rhabdomyolysis especially when combined with fibrates. Because of possible side effects of LDLc lowering drugs, it is important to discover novel compounds that possess antiatherogenic characteristics such as increasing HDLc levels and HDL functionality without raising LDLc levels.
Another drug that in part may impact the liver is probucol (Zimetbaum, P., et al., Clin. Pharmacol. 30, 3 (1990)). Probucol is used primarily to lower serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic patients and is commonly administered in the form of tablets available under the trademark Lorelco™. Probucol is chemically related to the widely used food additives 2,[3]-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl phenol (BHT). Its full chemical name is 4,4′-(isopropylidenedithio) bis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol). Probucol is a lipid soluble agent used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia including familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Probucol reduces LDL cholesterol typically by 10% to 20%, but it also reduces HDLc by 20% to 30%. The drug has no effect on plasma triglycerides. The mechanism of action of probucol in lipid lowering is not completely understood. The LDLc lowering effect of probucol may be due to decreased production of apoB containing lipoproteins and increased clearance of LDL. Probucol lowers LDLc in the LDL-receptor deficient animal model (WHHL rabbits) as well as in FH populations. Probucol has been shown to actually slow the progression of atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient rabbits as discussed in Carew et al. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84:7725-7729. The HDLc lowering effect of probucol may be due to decreased synthesis of HDL apolipoproteins and increased clearance of this lipoprotein. High doses of probucol are required in clinical use.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,936 to Robert Kisilevsky describes a method for potentiating the release and collection of cholesterol from inflammatory or atherosclerotic sites in vivo, the method including the steps of increasing the affinity of high-density lipoprotein for macrophages by administering to a patient an effective amount of a composition comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of native serum amyloid A (SAA) and a ligand having SAA properties thereby increasing the affinity of high density lipoprotein (HDL) for macrophages and potentiating release and collection of cholesterol.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,821,372 and 5,783,707 to Elokdah et al. describe 2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one derivatives that are useful for increasing blood serum HDL levels.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,849 to Rittersdorf et al. discloses an apparatus comprising a first porous carrier and a second porous carrier for evaluating biological fluid samples. The apparatus is used for separating non high density lipoprotein (non-HDL) from a lipoprotein in a body sample and for determining high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in a HDL and non high density lipoprotein (non-HDL) in a body sample.
European Patent Publication 1029928 A2 to Watanabe, Motokazu et al. discloses a method for determining cholesterol in low density lipoprotein comprising the steps of (a) measuring total cholesterol level in a sample containing at least high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein and chylomicron, and (b) measuring cholesterol levels in the high density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein and chylomicron in the sample, wherein the cholesterol level in the low density lipoprotein is determined by subtracting a value obtained in the step (b) from a value obtained in the step (a). The invention enables concurrent determination of cholesterol level in low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol level, facilitating acquisition of two types of biological information at a time.
International application WO 01/7388 A1 to Sugiuchi describes a method for fractional quantification of cholesterol in low density lipoproteins; a quantification reagent to be used; a method for continuous fractional quantification of cholesterol in high density lipoproteins and cholesterol in low density lipoproteins; a reagent kit to be used; a method for continuous fractional quantification of cholesterol in high density lipoproteins and total cholesterol; and a quantification reagent kit to be used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,515 to Fisher; Michael H. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,253 to Brockunier; Linda et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,106 to Biftu; Tesfaye et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,048 to Mathvink; Robert J. et al. (Merck) describes substituted sulfonamides, fused piperidine substituted arylsulfonamides; oxadiazole substituted benzenesulfonamides and thiazole substituted benzenesulfonamides, respectively, as β3 adrenergic receptor agonists with very little β1 and β2 adrenergic receptor activity as such the compounds are capable of increasing lipolysis and energy expenditure in A cells. The compounds thus have potent activity in the treatment of Type II diabetes and obesity. The compounds can also be used to lower triglyceride levels and cholesterol levels or raise high density lipoprotein levels or to decrease gut motility. In addition, the compounds can be used to reduced neurogenic inflammation or as antidepressant agents. Compositions and methods for the use of the compounds in the treatment of diabetes and obesity and for lowering triglyceride levels and cholesterol levels or raising high density lipoprotein levels or for decreasing gut motility are also disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,304 to Hino discloses a method for quantitatively determining cholesterol in high density lipoproteins, in which, prior to the determination of cholesterol by an enzymatic method, a surfactant and a substance which forms a complex with lipoproteins other than high density lipoproteins are added to a sample containing lipoproteins. The method does not require any pretreatments such as centrifugal separation. With a simple operation, cholesterol in HDLs can be measured effectively. Also, this method can be adopted in a variety of automated analyzers, and thus is very useful in the field of clinical assays.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,822 to Fischettiet al. discloses methods and compositions for cloning and expression of serum opacity factor of Streptococcus pyogenes genes. The portion produced by the recombinant DNA techniques may be employed in qualitative and quantitative testing for high density lipoprotein, as a fibronectin binding factor and for the regulation of high density lipoprotein in a mammal. The gene may further be employed as a molecular probe for accurate identification of opacity factors from various strains of Streptococcus pyogenes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,766 to Holloway et al. describes the use of 2-(phenoxypropanolamino)ethoxyphenoxyacetic acid derivatives or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in lowering triglyceride and/or cholesterol levels and/or increasing high density lipoprotein levels. These compounds are used in treating hypertriglycerdaemia, hyper-cholesterolaemia, conditions of low HDL (high density lipoprotein) levels and atherosclerotic disease.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,967 to Morganelli discloses bispecific molecules which react both with an Fcγ receptor for immunoglobulin G (IgG) of human effector cells and with either human low density lipoprotein (LDL), or fragment thereof, or human high density lipoprotein (HDL), or a fragment thereof. The bispecific molecules bind to a Fcγ receptor without being blocked by the binding of IgG to the same receptor. The bispecific molecules having a binding specificity for human LDL are useful for targeting human effector cells for degradation of LDL in vivo. The bispecific molecules of the present invention which have a binding specificity for human HDL are useful for targeting human HDL to human effector cells such that the HDL takes up cholesterol from the effector cells. Also disclosed are methods of treating atherosclerosis using these bispecific molecules.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,607 to Miki et al. provides a method and a kit for measuring the amount of an objective constituent contained in a specific lipoprotein in a biological sample such as serum and plasma, specifically for measuring the amount of cholesterol contained in high density lipoprotein, which can be applicable to clinical tests.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,241 Bok et al. discloses a method for increasing the plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) level in a mammal comprises administering a bioflavonoid or its derivative.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,836 to Adams et al. discloses acetylphenols which are useful as antiobesity and antidiabetic compounds. Compositions and methods for the use of the compounds in the treatment of diabetes and obesity and for lowering or modulating triglyceride levels and cholesterol levels or raising high density lipoprotein levels or for increasing gut motility or for treating atherosclerosis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,435 to Babiak use of 2-substituted-l-acyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline derivatives to increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration and as therapeutic compositions for treating atherosclerotic conditions such as dyslipoproteinamias and coronary heart disease.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,536 to Wright et al. describe compositions and methods for neutralizing lipopolysaccharide, and treatment of gram-negative sepsis based therein. Accordingly, the invention is directed to a composition of homogeneous particles comprising phospholipids and a lipid exchange protein, such as phospholipid transfer protein or LPS binding protein. The lipid exchange protein is characterized by being capable of facilitating an exchange protein of lipopolysaccharide into the particles. In a specific embodiment, exemplified herein, the lipid particles are high density lipoprotein particles comprising apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), a phospholipid, and cholesterol or a lipid bilayer binding derivative thereof. In a specific example, the phospholipid is phosphatidylcholine (PC). In a specific example, the ratio of phosphatidylcholine:cholesterol:apolipoprotein A-I is approximately 80:4:1. The levels of LPS exchange protein activity in a sample from a patient provides a diagnostic, monitoring, or prognostic indicator for a subject with endotoxemia, gram-negative sepsis, or septic shock.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,993 to James L. Sanders describes a method for isolating high density lipoproteins from low density lipoproteins in human serum together with a quantitative determination of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Precipitation of low density lipoproteins is accomplished by a precipitating reagent without the addition of metal ions into the sample. The precipitating reagent lowers the pH of the human serum approximately to the isoelectric point of the low density lipoproteins through the use of an organic buffer. The precipitating reagent also contains a polyanion and neutral polymer. The preferred composition of the precipitating reagent contains about 0.4% phosphotungstic acid by weight thereof, about 2.5% of polyethylene glycol by weight thereof and 2-i-morpholino) ethane sulfonic acid as the buffer present in a concentration of from about 0.2 molar to about 0.5 molar. According to the method provided, the precipitating reagent is added to the human serum sample thereby causing the low density lipoproteins to form a precipitate, leaving the high density lipoproteins in the resulting supernatant liquid. The supernatant is separated from the precipitate and a cholesterol assay reagent is added to the supernatant. The cholesterol assay reagent reacts with the high density lipoprotein to produce a compound that absorbs radiation at a specific wavelength. The amount of high density lipoprotein cholesterol present in the human serum sample is then determined by comparing the absorbance of a sample with the absorbance of a known standard.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,439 to Parthasarathy discloses analogs of probucol with increased water solubility in which one or both of the hydroxyl groups are replaced with ester groups that increase the water solubility of the compound. In one embodiment, the derivative is selected from the group consisting of a mono- or di-probucol ester of succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, seberic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid or maleic acid. In another embodiment, the probucol derivative is a mono- or di-ester in which the ester contains an alkyl or alkenyl group that contains a functionality selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid group, amine group, salt of an amine group, amide groups, amide groups and aldehyde groups.
WO 98/09773 filed by AtheroGenics, Inc. discloses that monoesters of probucol, and in particular, the monosuccinic acid ester of probucol, are effective in simultaneously reducing LDLc, and inhibiting the expression of VCAM-1. These compounds are useful as composite cardiovascular agents. Since the compounds exhibits three important vascular protecting activities simultaneously, the patient can take one drug instead of multiple drugs to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
De Meglio et al., have described several ethers of symmetrical molecules for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. These molecules contain two phenyl rings attached to each other through a —S—C(CH3)2—S— bridge. In contrast to probucol, the phenyl groups do not have t-butyl as substituents. (De Meglio et al., New Derivatives of Clofibrate and probucol: Preliminary Studies of Hypolipemic Activity; Farmaco, Ed. Sci (1985), 40 (11), 833-44).
WO 00/26184 discloses a large genus of compounds with a general formula of phenyl-S-alkylene-S-phenyl, in which one or both phenyl rings can be substituted at any position. These compounds were disclosed as lubricants.
A series of French patents disclose that certain probucol ester derivatives are hypocholesterolemic and hypolipemic agents: Fr 2168137 (bis 4-hydroxyphenylthioalkane esters); Fr 2140771 (tetralinyl phenoxy alkanoic esters of probucol); Fr 2140769 (benzofuryloxyalkanoic acid derivatives of probucol); Fr 2134810 (bis-(3-alkyl-5-t-alkyl-4-thiazole-5-carboxy)phenylthio)alkanes; FR 2133024 (bis-(4-nicoinoyloxyphenythio)propanes; and Fr 2130975 (bis(4-(phenoxyalkanoyloxy)-phenylthio)alkanes).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,250 discloses that 2,6-dialkyl-4-silylphenols are antiatherosclerotic agents. The same compounds are disclosed as serum cholesterol lowering agents in PCT Publication No. WO 95/15760, published on Jun. 15, 1995. U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,095 discloses that alkylated-4-silyl-phenols inhibit the peroxidation of LDL, lower plasma cholesterol, and inhibit the expression of VCAM-1, and thus are useful in the treatment of atherosclerosis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,600 discloses that dialkyl ethers lower Lp(a) and triglycerides and elevate HDL-cholesterol and are useful in the treatment of vascular diseases.
A series of European patent applications of Shionogi Seiyaku Kabushiki Kaisha disclose phenolic thioethers for use in treating arteriosclerosis. European Patent Application No. 348 203 discloses phenolic thioethers which inhibit the denaturation of LDL and the incorporation of LDL by macrophages. The compounds are useful as anti-arteriosclerosis agents. Hydroxamic acid derivatives of these compounds are disclosed in European Patent Application No. 405 788 and are useful for the treatment of arteriosclerosis, ulcer, inflammation and allergy. Carbamoyl and cyano derivatives of the phenolic thioethers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,514 to Kita, et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,616 to Hall, et al., discloses arylthioalkylphenylcarboxylic acids for the treatment of thrombotic disease. The compounds disclosed are useful as platelet aggregation inhibitors for the treatment of coronary or cerebral thromboses and the inhibition of bronchoconstriction, among others.
A series of patents to Adir et Compagnie disclose substituted phenoxyisobutyric acids and esters useful as antioxidants and hypolipaemic agents. This series includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,206,247 and 5,627,205 to Regnier, et al. (which corresponds to European Patent Application No. 621 255) and European Patent Application No. 763 527.
WO 97/15546 to Nippon Shinyaku Co. Ltd. discloses carboxylic acid derivatives for the treatment of arterial sclerosis, ischemic heart diseases, cerebral infarction and post PTCA restenosis.
The Dow Chemical Company is the assignee of patents to hypolipidemic 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)thio carboxamides. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,029,812, 4,076,841 and 4,078,084 to Wagner, et al., disclose these compounds for reducing blood serum lipids, especially cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
WO 98/51662 filed by AtheroGenics, Inc. discloses therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, which are mediated by VCAM-1, including compounds of formula I below. The PCT application also describes a method of inhibiting the peroxidation of LDL lipid, as well as lowering LDL lipids, in a patient in need thereof by administering an effective amount of the defined compound. The application does not address how to increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, or how to improve the functionality of circulating high density lipoprotein. wherein Ra, Rb, Rd, and Rd are independently any group that does not otherwise adversely affect the desired properties of the molecule, including hydrogen, straight chained, branched, or cyclic alkyl which may be substituted, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl, aralkyl or substituted aralkyl; substituents on the Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd groups are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, nitro, amino, haloalkyl, alkylamino, dialkylamino, acyl, and acyloxy; Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, heteroaryl, heteroaralkyl, a carbohydrate group, —(CH2)—Re, —C(O)—Rg, and —C(O)—(CH2)n—Rh, wherein (a) when each of Ra, Rb, Rd, and Rd are t-butyl, Z cannot be hydrogen and (b) when each of Ra, Rb, Rd, and Rd are t-butyl, Z cannot be the residue of succinic acid; Re is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, alkoxy, substituted alkyloxy, alkoxyalkyl, substituted alkoxyalkyl, NH2, NHR, NR2, mono- or polyhydroxy-substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, acyloxy, substituted acyloxy, COOH, COOR, —CH(OH)Rk, hydroxy, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHR, C(O)NR2; Rg is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, alkoxy, substituted alkyloxy, alkoxyalkyl, substituted alkoxyalkyl, NH2, N-HR, NR2, mono- or polyhydroxy-substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl; Rh is selected from the group consisting of alkyl substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, alkoxy, substituted alkyloxy, alkoxyalkyl, substituted alkoxyalkyl, NH2, NHR, NR2, mono- or polyhydroxy-substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, acyloxy, substituted acyloxy, COOH, COOR, —CH(OH)Rk, hydroxy, O-phosphate, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHR, C(O)NR2 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
PCT/US01/09049, filed Mar. 21, 2001 by AtheroGenics, Inc., discloses a subclass of thioethers of formula (II) below that are useful in treating diseases mediated by VCAM-1, inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular diseases, occular diseases, automimmune diseases, neurological diseases, cancer, hypercholesterolemia and/or hyperlipidemia. The application does not address how to increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, or how to improve the functionality of circulating high density lipoprotein. wherein a) Ra, Rb, Rc, and Rd are independently any group that does not adversely affect the desired properties of the molecule, including hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl, aralkyl, or substituted aralkyl; and Z is (i) a substituted or unsubstituted carbohydrate, (ii) a substituted or unsubstituted alditol, (iii) C1-10alkyl or substituted C1-10alkyl, terminated by sulfonic acid, (iv) C1-10alkyl or substituted C1-10alkyl, terminated by phosphonic acid, (v) substituted or unsubstituted C1-10alkyl-O—C(O)—C1-10alkyl, (vi) straight chained polyhydroxylated C3-10 alkyl; (vii) —(CR2)1-6—COOH, wherein R is independently hydrogen, halo, amino, or hydroxy, and wherein at least one of the R substituents is not hydrogen; or (viii) —(CR2)1-6—X, wherein X is aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocycle, and R is independently hydrogen, halo, amino, or hydroxy.
Since cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in North America and in other industrialized nations, there is a need to provide new therapies for its treatment, especially treatments that work through a mechanism different from the current drugs and can be used in conjunction with them.
It is an object of the present invention to provide new compounds, compositions and methods that are useful as HDLc elevating agents.
It is another object of the present invention to provide methods for identifying compounds that elevate plasma HDL cholesterol levels and improve the functionality of HDL.
It is another object of the present invention to provide methods for identifying compounds that increase selective uptake of cholesteryl esters.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new method to improve the HDL/total cholesterol ratio by elevating HDLc levels.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an assay to assess the effectiveness of the new method to increase HDL cholesterol and HDL functionality.
It is another object of the present invention to provide assays to assess the effectiveness of the new method to increase HDL holoprotein levels by decreasing the internalization and degradation of HDL holoproteins.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide new compounds and compositions that increase the selective uptake of cholesteryl ester. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Though manual development, washing and gum application, also referred to as "gumming", is still practiced by the occasional user of photolithographic plates, the large scale commercial utilization of offset plates has made automatic processing of exposed plates an economic necessity. Numerous machines have been proposed to execute otherwise manually performed tasks and have met with qualified success. Machines specifically adapted to process exposed photolithographic plates automatically are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,608,464; 3,593,641; 3,589,261; 3,562,834; 3,448,720; and others.
In general, the more successful machines have emulated the rotary, heretofore manual movement, particularly for the development of the plate. Consequently, it has been popularly believed that failure of other modes of mechanical rubbing motion as a substitute for manual rubbing is a foregone conclusion.
Moreover, the more successful machines are relatively large, enormously complicated and, not unexpectedly, require a capital investment which precludes their acquisition by a small user of plates. With respect to size, it is noted that available machines, for plates from about 25 inches to about 33 inches in width, will not pass, fully assembled, through a standard 36 inches wide doorway and consequently must be assembled at the installation site, preferably by a qualified factory representative. Similarly a factory-trained maintenance person is generally required to diagnose and rectify malfunctions of prior art machines due to the complicated inter-relationship of moving parts and the large number of electrical circuits. Thus, there has been a growing need for a simple, inexpensive automatic plate processor which will not only be easy to acquire but easy to maintain; and which is mechanically as ruggedly as it is photographically, routinely reproducible in results. This invention is directed to such a need. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Conventionally, various dust-and-water proof structures for a casing are known wherein a casing having an internal space is split into two halves, and the fitting surfaces of the two casing halves are sealed so that dust or water droplets do not enter inside the casing. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2008-92096 discloses a structure to seal the fitting surfaces of two casing halves of an electronic device, such as a mobile phone handset, in order to prevent water from entering inside. Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-111246 discloses a water proof structure for a device used outside. Since the dust proof function of a casing can be identical, to the water proof function, only a water proof structure will be explained below.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2008-92096 illustrates a water proof structure of a body casing of a foldable mobile phone handset. The foldable mobile phone handset is provided with a front casing member provided with operation key holes and a rear casing member, wherein a water proof packing, such as an O-ring made of rubber, is held between the fitting surfaces of both casings. The front casing member is provided with a groove at the fitting portion with the rear casing member, and the water proof packing is fitted in the groove. The rear casing member is provided with an elongated protrusion at the fitting portion with the front casing member. When the front casing member and the rear casing member are engaged, the elongated protrusion is inserted in the groove, so that the water proof packing fitted in the groove is compressed, to realize the water proof structure.
On the other hand, the casing described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-111246 comprises a cover and a casing body closed by the cover, wherein the casing body is provided on its upper end with a wall portion having a predetermined height, and inner peripheral surfaces of the casing body and the wall portion are continuous. The inner peripheral surface of the cover is fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of the wall portion. The overall length of an elastic packing held between the cover and the casing body is shorter than the overall circumference of the wall portion, and the elastic packing, when mounted, is stretched. Also, there is a recess inside the periphery of the cover, and when the cover and the casing body are engaged using screws, the elastic packing is compressed in the recess to provide a water proof structure.
Further, other than the water proof structures mentioned above, which use water proof packing or elastic packing, there is also known a water proof structure wherein one of the connecting surfaces of the two casings has a looped groove filled with a sealing agent, so that when the connecting surface is adhered to the connecting surface of the other casing half, water-tightness is established. Also, a structure is known, wherein after a sealing agent filled in the groove is cured, the sealing agent is compressed by the connecting surface of a mating casing half to seal.
However, in the water proof structures disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2008-92096 or in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-111246, wherein a looped packing is used, the packing must be fitted in the groove or stretched to fit in the wall portion when the casing is assembled, thus leading to an increase of the number of assembly steps. Moreover, if the groove extends meanderingly, or the portion to which the packing is to be attached is three dimensional (cubic), it is necessary to deform and mount the packing in accordance with the shape of the groove, therefore, an operator must be highly skilled or very careful in assembling the casing, thus resulting in troublesome operations. In addition, the packing, if mounted twistedly, may fail to seal.
On the other hand, in the water proof structure using a sealing agent, the sealing function cannot be provided until the sealing agent is hardened, therefore, the assembling efficiency is reduced. Also, after the sealing agent is hardened, the connecting surfaces are adhered firmly to each other, therefore, it is necessary to destroy the sealed portion when the casing is disassembled for maintenance or repair, thus, it is inconvenient to repair or recycle the casing. Moreover, in the structure wherein the casing members are adhered to each other after the sealing agent filled in the groove is completely hardened, there is a possibility that an elastic deformation of the sealing agent occurs before it is hardened, and if such a deformation occurs, a dimensional deviation or positional displacement of the sealing agent may occur, thus leading to poor sealing performance. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The importance of maintaining proper weight for good health continues to receive increased public attention. Such increased attention adds to the frustration of overweight persons who not only desire better health, but are also conscious of their overweight appearance. In serious cases, effective weight control is best accomplished by initially coordinating training in mental discipline with specific physiological measures. Such physiological measures may be necessary because overweight persons who have made repeated attempts to lose weight experience demoralizing frustration with each successive failure. The use of more stringent methods which supplement individual self discipline by physiologically forcing a change in eating habits may be helpful in re-establishing self confidence.
The parent U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,771 discloses a general method of weight control wherein mechanical devices are used to slow down the eating process to allow the body time to naturally register the sensation of having hunger satisfied prior to the completion of a meal. It is well known, for example, that the digestive system requires approximately 15 minutes of processing time before the brain registers satisfaction of the hunger sensation. Consequently, persons who eat quickly may consume much more food than is physiologically necessary for satisfaction of hunger. The referenced patent focuses on the method of impeding the eating process by providing a blocking device which at least partially obstructs the passage of unchewed, solid foods through the mouth to the stomach. By increasing the time duration food is retained in the mouth, one automatically reduces the rate of food consumption. Accordingly, the use of dental devices which are retained at tooth structure has proven to be an effective method for weight control, when used independently or in conjunction with diets or other weight loss methods. The present disclosure constitutes an improvement subsumed within the general method set forth and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,771. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention related to data processing. More specifically, embodiments of the invention are related to calculating a measure of similarity for two names, each represented by character strings.
2. Description of the Related Art
In comparing character strings, algorithms are available that measure how “close” two strings are to one another. Typically, such algorithms measure “closeness” based on the number of individually matching characters and on the positional proximity of matching characters. One commonly used algorithm for comparing character strings is the public-domain Jaro-Winkler algorithm for string correlation. The Jaro-Winkler algorithm assigns a score that accounts for the following: length of both strings, percentage of common characters in each string, missing characters, mismatched characters, and letters that have been swapped with one another.
However, when applied to name comparisons, simple string correlation techniques, such as Jaro-Winkler have proven to be inadequate. To properly compare names one needs to not only ensure that the individual words or name elements are similar, but how the entire name is assembled is also important. For example, the name Thomas Joe Allen could easily be altered to be Joseph Alan Thomas and none of the words would match in position. The difference in two names being compared may result from how people write their names in formal versus informal situations, such as “James vs Jimmy” or even from unintentional errors. For example, when filling out a form, someone may write their name as “James, Robert.” If this is incorrectly entered as “James Roberts,” then a simple string comparison fail to match these names. Sometimes individuals may write different permutations of their names in an attempt to hide one's identity. Consider hotel registrations at casino resorts. Sometimes, individuals may be banned from a particular casino. In such a case, the banned individual may attempt to register at the hotel using a false, but similar name to their actual one. In each of these examples, applying conventional string correlation algorithms fails to identify that two names are very similar to one another.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method for assigning a similarity measure to names. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a method of constructing precast modular marine structures.
Much of the World""s production of oil and gas is derived from offshore wells. While the early offshore oil and gas fields were located in relatively shallow water, the need to develop oil fields in deep water has become more important as the shallow water oil and gas fields become depleted. As a result, many deep-water basins throughout the world have been opened to oil and gas exploration and drilling.
During the exploration for, and production of sub-sea resources like oil and gas, an array of marine vessels, structures and appurtenances are employed. Prior proposed vessels used for exploration, drilling, production and storage of oil and gas at sea included: ships, boats, mobile offshore drilling units, semi-submersible units, submersible units, jack-up rigs, platforms, spars, deep draft caisson vessels, tension leg platforms and various combination of these and other components often in conjunction with a riser or sub-sea system.
Platforms, spars, deep draft caisson vessels, and tension leg platforms typically include a long vertical cylindrical hull that supports a platform above the water line. The platform provides space for drilling and maintaining oil or gas wells where the production wells may be positioned along an outside edge of the platform. Alternatively, the production wells may be located in the center of the platform within a moon bay or pool. Likewise, the above water platform of such a marine structure can be configured for use such as a launch pad for aeronautical and space vehicles, housing, hotels, resorts, and manufacturing and processing facilities.
Generally, traditional construction methods and materials for marine structures, including platforms, spars, deep draft caisson vessels, tension leg platforms, jack-up rigs, semi-submersible units, mobile offshore drilling units, ships and boats require the erection of frames about which plates, planks or sheets of material such as metal, wood or resin impregnated cloth are faired by and attached (permanently or otherwise) to the frames by skilled labor to form a complete or at least a significant portion of the marine structure""s hull. Thereafter, the marine structure is launched or introduced into the water for further outfitting or operation.
Traditional materials of metal and/or wood require fairing, fixing and supporting the material(s) between frames. However, due to limitations in the structural and strength characteristics of traditional construction materials and the lack of economical labor with the proper skills, alternative construction methods have been developed. For example, the world""s first metal oil/gas production spar hull was constructed as two separate sections in Finland. The two separate sections were shipped across the Atlantic Ocean aboard heavy lift vessels until reaching the Gulf of Mexico. There, the two separate sections of the spar hull were brought back to shore and welded together. The entire welded hull was then towed horizontally to the project site and upended to the vertical position by filling its lower ballast tanks with water.
Marine structures, such as the Troll A Platform, have been constructed from concrete materials using the slip form construction technique. This technique typically calls for the pouring of concrete in a vertically movable form. The form is connected to jack rods with hydraulic jacks, which move the form vertically in minute increments as the concrete is being poured. Once pouring begins, it continues until the top of the structure is reached, allowing for a monolithic poured concrete structure. Utilizing the slip form construction technique for marine structures requires a transportation path of sufficient clearances (in terms of water depth and overhead clearances) to accommodate the vertical monolithic poured structure. Furthermore, the scantlings of the lower regions of the pour must be of sufficient strength to accommodate the weight of the upper regions of the structure while being poured.
The structural sections may include either plated hull tank sections, or a combination of tank and truss-type section. An example of such spar platforms is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,467 issued on Sep. 24, 1996 to Horton (hereinafter Horton ""467). The Horton ""467 patent describes a hull having a passage longitudinally extending through the hull in which risers run down to the sea floor. However, the Horton ""467 patent fails to provide for a precast modular marine structure or incorporation of an equalized pressure system that adjusts internal pressure of the structure in relation to external pressure, namely hydrostatic pressure, exerted thereupon.
An alternative design of an existing spar platform is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,728 issued on Mar. 2, 1999 to Ayers, et al. (hereinafter Ayers ""728). The Ayers ""728 patent provides for a spar platform incorporating an essentially vertical cylindrical buoyant vessel and a shroud surrounding the vessel. The shroud includes two intersecting sets of foam-filled fiberglass elements that are secured to the vessel using standoffs. Nevertheless, the Ayers ""728 patent neither describes nor claims a precast modular marine structure or incorporation of an equalized pressure system, which gives the structure the ability to withstand an increasing hydrostatic force as the water depth increases.
Without an equalized pressure system, a spar system and any other marine structure requires additional reinforcement to withstand the significant hydrostatic forces. Such structures, including spars, risers, tension legs, and buoyancy cans must include greater wall thickness; stronger, lightweight materials; pressure resistant shapes; pre-pressurization of the structure and combinations of these techniques, especially when operating water depth increases. Utilizing the greatest wall thickness to withstand the maximum hydrostatic pressure over the complete depth of operation of the marine structure results in a simplified construction, but with a significant increase in weight and limit upon the ultimate water depth at which the marine structure can operate. A significant weight reduction can be achieved by varying the wall thickness in relation to the depth of water. Such a solution, however, significantly increases the complexity and cost to construct the marine structure, yielding only a modest increase in the limit of the ultimate operating water depth. The same result is true with the use of stronger lightweight materials, different shapes or combinations of the same. Each of these approaches use the strength of the construction material to withstand the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the external surface or wall of a typically hollow, closed marine structure.
Another known solution requires an increase in the internal pressure of the marine structure to a pressure that approximates the hydrostatic pressure that will be experienced at the depth at which the structure is planned to be operated. The obvious goal is to significantly reduce or eliminate the pressure differential experienced at the marine structure""s wall. One approach is to pre-pressurize the marine structure, or compartments thereof, in order to eliminate or significantly reduce the pressure differential that will be experienced once the marine structure is located in its operational position. As can be appreciated, pre-pressurization calls for designing the marine structure to be, in effect, a pressure vessel with a positive pressure contained inside until finally positioned at the prescribed depth. This pre-pressurization requires increased wall thickness and presents a potential safety hazard because of the often-high pressures that must be contained within the vessel during handling prior to, and during installation. One method of delaying pre-pressurization is contemplated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,943 issued on Jun. 10, 1997 to Haney (hereinafter Haney ""943). According to Haney ""943, gas is automatically generated on the inside of the tubular member as the structure descends to its optimal location. However, gas generation is dependent upon the consumption of pre-installed chemicals and a one-time reaction involving such chemicals.
In view of the above-described complexities associated with the design and use of known marine structures, which by their nature were usually designed and constructed to withstand significant internal-external pressure differentials across an outer wall or hull, the present invention has been developed to alleviate these drawbacks and provide further benefits to the user. These enhancements and benefits are described in greater detail herein below with respect to several alternative embodiments of the present invention.
The present invention in its several disclosed embodiments alleviates the drawbacks described above with respect to conventionally designed and constructed marine structures and incorporates several additionally beneficial features further enhancing the design and construction of such structures. Specifically, the present invention contemplates a novel method of constructing a precast, modular spar system for drilling, oil and gas production, and oil storage in a variety of water depths. The spar incorporates arcuate-shaped concrete segments cast and assembled onshore to form a cylindrical module having a central longitudinal passageway. The modules are assembled onshore to form cylindrical units which are then assembled onshore or offshore to form the final cylindrical spar of the desired length and width for the specific production site. In the event the final assembly of the spar occurs onshore, the structure is towed horizontally to the production site and upended. If the final assembly of the spar occurs offshore, the modules are towed either vertically or horizontally to the production site. At the production site, the modules are vertically assembled to form the final spar structure. The spar is adapted to have a length in which its normal draft places the bottom of the spar at a location sufficiently below the water surface that the effect of waves is attenuated to very low amplitudes and wave excitation forces are relatively small. The heave motion of the spar may thereby be reduced to almost zero even in the most severe seas while surge, sway, roll and pitch motions remain within readily acceptable limits.
The invention further contemplates an equalized pressure system including a vertical column of water with a segmental length positioned concentrically along the entire length of the buoyant section of the spar and an equalized pressure pipe system for pressurizing the interior compartments of the segments to equal the pressure of the adjacent sea water. The equalized pressure pipe system is also used in the upending process and in maintaining a constant draft of the spar at the specific production site.
The present invention is intended to provide:
(a) a spar of novel precast modular construction which can be economically used from shallow to deep water applications for oil storage facilities, oil and gas production facilities, and a riser system;
(b) an independent structure which can be used with several different types of production systems;
(c) a structure which has low sensitivity to fatigue or sea water corrosion, and which is resistant to the chemical and mechanical deterioration associated with freezing and thawing;
(d) a spar buoy which provides enhanced stability in a floating catenary moored condition;
(e) a novel, inexpensive precast modular construction method for structures used from shallow to deep water applications; and
(f) a novel equalized pressure system equalizing a hydrostatic pressure differential experienced at a wall of a marine structure at a predetermined operational water depth.
As an independent structure, the present invention may take the form of a spar which can be used with several different types of production systems such as tension leg platforms, semi-submersible platforms, FPSO""s or to support topside production, facilities and crew living structure. As can be appreciated, the enhanced stability of a marine structure with at least one spar lends itself to supporting an oil/gas production package, hotel accommodations, launch pad, runway, heliport or other activities which require a stable payload platform. A further purpose of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensively constructed modular marine structure, such as a spar, with an equalized pressure system capable of equalizing a hydrostatic pressure differential experienced at a wall of the marine structure at a predetermined operational water depth.
The novel precast modular construction method simplifies the required structural engineering by the repetitive use of rings or pre-cast modular units. The pre-cast modular units are cast and erected on land to form the substantial portion or the whole marine structure. Construction of the structure with pre-tensioned and post-tensioned reinforced concrete provides an extremely large safety fatigue factor. The standard construction aids in fabrication plant productivity and quality control. Structural engineering is simplified and uniform wall thicknesses can be achieved because a novel equalizing pressure system is utilized to equalize the pressure differential across the submerged portion of the marine structure""s hull or wall.
In its simplest form, the equalizing pressure system includes a pressurized gas source fluidly connected via a conduit to at least two internal compartments of a marine structure (like a spar system) designed to be located underwater for at least portions of the structure""s operation life. The compartments are fluidly connected to each other to allow gas and water to flow between the compartments and the water column, which substantially surrounds the marine structure.
As may be appreciated, if an interior compartment of a marine structure is open at its bottom to the surrounding water column, the pressure differential across the marine structure""s hull plating adjacent to the interior compartment will be equal to, or nearly zero regardless of the depth at which the compartment is located. Furthermore, by positioning a fluid passage at a lower portion of the compartment, gas can be pumped through the passage and into the compartment to be trapped in an upper portion thereof. As the gas pressure increases in the fluid passage, water exits through the bottom opening of the compartment. If the gas pressure in the fluid passage decreases, water moves into the compartment through the bottom opening, and any gas in the compartment is compressed to a pressure substantially equal to the hydrostatic pressure at the bottom opening. In this manner, the pressure within the compartment is substantially equal to the hydrostatic pressure at the bottom opening. If the marine structure has a significant height, there will be a pressure differential gradient experienced along the height of the hull plating or wall since the interior pressure will be uniformly equal to the hydrostatic pressure at the bottom opening while the hydrostatic pressure on the outside of the marine structure will vary with respect to depth. Normally, a particular marine structure will have a height sufficiently short where this gradient presents little effect. If, however, the marine structure is significantly tall, it may be easily segmented into a plurality of one-above-the-other compartments, each having an individualized equalizing capability. By controlling the balance between the volume of water and gas in the compartment, the buoyant effects experienced upon the marine structure can be altered.
In another aspect, the equalizing pressure system of the present invention further includes a pressurized gas source fluidly connected via a conduit system to two or more compartments of a marine structure situated in water. Each compartment has a passage configured to allow gas and/or water to freely pass between the lower region of a compartment and the water, which surrounds the marine structure. The conduit system has a manifold positioned between the gas source and a plurality of pipes, each of which connects to the two or more compartments. The conduit system permits selective and variable control of the buoyancy factor obtainable from the vessel.
In a further embodiment, the gas source is fluidly connected via a segmented conduit system to two or more compartments of a marine structure situated in water. The segmented conduit system is configured to allow gas and/or water to flow between adjacent compartments and the body of water in which the marine structure is situated.
While the invention is described as an equalizing pressure system for marine structures, it is clearly possible to apply the same system and methods to other structures, fluids and/or materials where pressure equalization is desired between interior and exterior spaces of a vessel; and it is permissible that at least a limited amount of exterior surrounding fluid, whether it be liquid or gas, migrate between the two spaces.
The beneficial effects described above apply generally to the exemplary devices and mechanisms disclosed herein for an equalizing pressure vessel typified as an underwater buoyancy vessel. The specific structures through which these benefits are delivered will be described in detail herein below. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds, especially to certain indole derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, methods for their use, and methods for preparing these compounds.
2. Background of the Invention
Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), have a problem of causing serious side-effects such as gastrointestinal tract distress or nephro-toxicity. NSAIDs inhibit the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX), which is an enzyme involved in prostaglandin G/H synthesis, resulting in the inhibition of the biosynthesis of prostaglandins not only in inflammatory loci but also in stomach and kidney. It has been found that COX exists in two forms: COX-1 and COX-2, Cell, 83, 345, (1995).
COX-1 is expressed in normal cells and controls the function of stomach and kidney, while COX-2 is induced by mitogens or cytokines in inflammatory sites where inflammation and other immunoreactions occur, J. Biol. Chem., 271, 33157(1996).
To avoid the toxicity of NSAIDs due to the inhibition of coexisting COX-1, selective inhibitors of COX-2 have been investigated. The selective COX-2 inhibitors have anti-inflammatory action, pain-relieving action, and/or antipyretic action; with less side effects such as bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. COX-2 inhibitors may show anticancer activity, and lower the induction of asthma in asthmatic patients who are sensitive to conventional NSAIDs. These selective inhibitors of COX-2 may also be used in treating Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis of women after menopause. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to surgical apparatuses, devices and/or systems for performing endoscopic surgical procedures and methods of use thereof. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to electromechanical, hand-held surgical apparatus, devices and/or systems configured for use with removable disposable end effectors and/or single use end effectors for clamping, cutting and/or stapling tissue.
2. Background of the Related Art
A number of surgical device manufacturers have developed product lines with proprietary drive systems for operating and/or manipulating electromechanical surgical devices. In many instances the electromechanical surgical devices include a reusable handle assembly, and disposable or single use end effectors. The end effectors are selectively connected to the handle assembly prior to use and then disconnected from the handle assembly following use in order to be disposed of or in some instances sterilized for re-use.
Many of these electromechanical surgical devices include complex drive components that utilize a variety of user interfaces that accept user inputs (e.g., controls) for controlling the devices as well as provide feedback to the user. To prevent inadvertent activation, various lockout mechanisms exist. However, existing mechanisms only provide a single safety check.
Unlike purely mechanical systems, powered systems possess the ability to detect and react to some failures even after they have occurred. If this detection is completed in a rapid manner, corrective actions and emergency measures can be implemented to reduce and/or prevent patient and/or user harm. Accordingly, there is a need for systems and apparatuses having redundant safety mechanisms that can detect such failures. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates in general to fan jet gas turbine engines and, more specifically, to a system for supporting the aft engine of the engine against bending forces.
In conventional fan jet engines of the sort used in large commercial aircraft, the engine cowling is supported within the engine nacelle near the front through an annular array of struts. Since the engine is relatively narrow and "wasp waisted", it is subject to bending and flexing in operation causing a number of problems, such as metal fatigue, fastener loosening, etc. Also, these movements can lead to increased turbine blade clearances and lower engine efficiency with resulting lower fuel efficiency.
Attempts have been made to reduce bending and flexing by adding supports near the aft end of the engine. Such supports have a number of problems accommodating the radial and longitudinal thermal expansion of the engine during operation. Prior supports tend to be heavy and complex, adding fuel consuming weight to the aircraft and adding opportunity for errors in mounting the engine and potential for failures in operation.
Typical of these proposed aft engine supports is the complex system of annular teeth and grooves with radial pins and ball joints described by Naud in U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,717 and the complex system described by Pachomoff et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,975 which requires the addition of safety rods to protect against failure of the support system.
Thus, there is a continuing need for an engine support system which is simple, light weight and accommodates radial and longitudinal engine thermal expansion during use. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates in general to delivery of data objects associated with content items in general, and more specifically to scheduling and delivery of data objects associated with segmented media representing insights, for example, scheduling and delivery based on events associated with a target user.
Organizations generate large amount of data and content based on user interactions. Various types of content generated by users is spread across various applications and formats. For example, content may be provided and exchanged via emails, videos, documents, web pages, or shared on calls as conversations, and so on. However, significant content often gets lost within the large amount of information generated. For example, a user may draft a document describing a concept that is significant for the enterprise. However, conventional techniques for information retrieval may not rank the document very high in enterprise searches. As a result, the document is likely to get lost within other documents generated by other users. This causes several significant content items provided by users to get lost in the plethora of the information generated by the enterprise without giving a chance to other users to view or comment upon the content item. Conventional techniques rely on the manual efforts of the user in delivering the content item to other users in order to disseminate the information captured within the content item. Accordingly content items aggressively promoted by individuals gain higher visibility with the enterprise even if the content items are not significant with respect to particular topics of interest to users of the enterprise. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Hydraulic or pneumatic piston-cylinder devices are commonly used in force or lift apparatus. Depending on the application involved, different sizes or working cylinders must be available for different lifts (strokes) as well as for different force (power) effects. To cover all requirements, therefore a wide range of different piston diameters and piston strokes are necessary. The stocking of such components for a diversity of requirements necessitates a large amount of capital. Another disadvantage of pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder devices is that the size of the end face of the piston is determined by the desired force, or by the pressure of the medium. Reduction of the piston area requires increased pressure of the medium to deliver a given force. For high forces, therefore, undesirably large piston areas may be required.
Pressurized devices for force or lift apparatus utilizing inflatable bellows, which may be connected either in parallel (force addition) or in series (lift addition) are known. Such devices are complicated in construction, are expensive, and are liable to damage. They are generally rigid in construction, and single elements cannot be combined at will to form units which take account of the desired conditions in optimal manner. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication; for instance, voice and/or data can be provided via such wireless communication systems. A typical wireless communication system, or network, can provide multiple users access to one or more shared resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power, etc.). For instance, a system can use a variety of multiple access techniques such as Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Code Division Multiplexing (CDM), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiplexing (SC-FDM), and others. Additionally, the system can conform to specifications such as third generation partnership project (3GPP), 3GPP long term evolution (LTE), etc.
Generally, wireless multiple-access communication systems can simultaneously support communication for multiple access terminals. Each access terminal can communicate with one or more base stations via transmissions on forward and reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from base stations to access terminals, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from access terminals to base stations. This communication link can be established via a single-input-single-output (SISO), multiple-input-single-output (MISO), single-input-multiple-output (SIMO) or a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system.
Wireless communication systems oftentimes employ one or more base stations and sectors therein that provide a coverage area. A typical sector can transmit multiple data streams for broadcast, multicast and/or unicast services, wherein a data stream may be a stream of data that can be of independent reception interest to an access terminal. An access terminal within the coverage area of such sector can be employed to receive one, more than one, or all the data streams carried by the composite stream. Likewise, an access terminal can transmit data to the base station or another access terminal. With many access terminals transmitting signal data in proximity, power control is important for yielding sufficient signal to noise ratios (SNRs) at different data rates and transmission bandwidths for communications over the uplink. It is desirable to keep the overhead incurred from the transmission of the power adjustments to these access terminals as low as possible while achieving the aforementioned goals. The reduction in the overhead in support of power control adjustments make it difficult to guarantee an adequate reception reliability level in all situations, and most notably in situations with extended periods of data inactivity in the UL. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Most motor vehicles that operate on roads and highways typically have an occupant compartment, where the driver and any passenger or passengers sit, and in front of the occupant compartment, an engine compartment for housing the engine that propels the vehicle.
Certain electrical devices, such as driver information displays and various controls, are present inside the occupant compartment. Certain ones of those devices need to be in electrical communication with vehicle components that are disposed outside the occupant compartment. Those components include the engine and the transmission through which the engine is coupled with the drivetrain.
Consequently it is common practice to bundle wires into wiring harnesses having some connectors that make connections to electrical devices inside the occupant compartment and other connectors that make connections to components that are outside the occupant compartment. Necessarily such harnesses must pass through a wall shared by the two compartments. Such a wall is sometimes referred to as a dash panel, or simply a dash.
Because a number of vehicle components and systems are disposed on or in close proximity to the dash, available space for routing wiring harnesses through the dash is typically at a premium. The location of a wiring harness pass-through in the dash is not the only consideration in the design phase of motor vehicles; the nature of the pass-though is also a consideration.
One type of pass-through comprises a grommet that fits to a through-opening in the dash and through which bundled wires pass. Such a grommet may be affixed in some suitable way to the bundled wires so as to be immovable along the length of the harness. Installation of such a harness involves feeding one or more connectors through the through-opening and then pulling the harness until the grommet seats in the through-opening. In that type of pass-through, any connector that must be fed through the dash opening must be small enough in size to freely pass through.
Another type of pass-through is somewhat different in that the through-opening in the dash serves as the location where a harness that is inside the occupant compartment mates with a harness that extends into the engine compartment. Mating of the two harnesses is via one connector in one harness mating with another connector in the other harness at the dash. These are sometimes referred to as bulkhead connectors. For example, the occupant compartment harness can terminate in a connector that fits to the through-opening on one side of the dash and is mounted in any suitable way to the dash. The other harness terminates in a mating connector that plugs into the connector on the occupant compartment side of the dash. This type of pass-through is typically more expensive not only because the bulkhead connectors are required, but because other design and manufacturing issues often arise.
One of those other issues may be the sequence of steps in assembling a vehicle. Certain motor vehicles have what is sometimes called a body-frame construction. A frame provides the structure for mounting chassis components that form the vehicle powertrain. A body forms the occupant compartment, and at some point in the vehicle assembly process, the body is placed on and fastened to the frame. In the case of a truck, the body is sometimes referred to as the cab.
Assuming that many powertrain components, including the engine, transmission, and drivetrain, have been already mounted on the frame at the time that the body is placed on the frame, it then becomes necessary to make connection of engine compartment wiring harness connectors with corresponding occupant compartment wiring harness connectors. Available space considerations after body placement may render it difficult for assembly line personnel to efficiently make those connections.
Certain vehicle models that use essentially the same platform may have different electrical devices and components from vehicle to vehicle. Consequently, while the vehicles are generally similar, the wiring may differ from vehicle to vehicle. This means that some wiring harnesses may have more wires in a bundle and other harnesses fewer wires. Consequently, the diameter of a wiring harness passing through the dash in some vehicles will be larger than in others. The wiring harness through-openings in a dash panel are typically created at the time the dash panel is manufactured, typically by punching in sheet metal during the dash panel stamping process. While it would be possible to manufacture dash panels with different sized wiring harness through-openings, that would introduce complexities that would far outweigh the benefits. Therefore it is typical for a wiring harness through-opening in a dash that is common to different vehicle models to have a common size that can accommodate wire bundles of different diameters depending on the particular number and size of wires in a harness needed to satisfy requirements for the respective models and their electrical equipment.
Sealing of a grommet to bundled wires in a wiring harness may also be important in order to provide weather—and sound—tightness through the grommet. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,270,487 and 6,402,155 are examples of grommets that have sealant within the grommet that aids in sealing to the wire bundle passing through the grommet opening. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Access networks and/or systems using digital subscriber line (DSL) technologies are commonly utilized to provide communication services to customer premises. DSL technologies enable service providers to utilize telephone lines to connect customers to, for example, a high data-rate broadband Internet network, a broadband service and/or broadband content. An example telephone line uses twisted-pair copper wire to provide Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) services.
A communication company and/or service provider may utilize a plurality of DSL modems implemented by a DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM) and/or a video ready access device (VRAD) at a central office (CO), a remote terminal (RT) or a serving area interface (SAI) to provide DSL communication services to a plurality of customer-premises DSL modems located at respective customer premises. In general, a DSLAM/VRAD receives broadband service content for a subscriber from, for example, a backbone server. A CO DSL modem at the DSLAM/VRAD forms from the content a downstream DSL signal to be transmitted to a customer-premises DSL modem via a telephone line that electrically couples the CO DSL modem at the SAI, RT or CO to the customer-premises DSL modem. Likewise, the CO DSL modem receives an upstream DSL signal from the customer-premises DSL modem via the corresponding subscriber's telephone line, and the DSLAM/VRAD provides the data received via the upstream DSL signal to the backbone server. One or more characteristics of the subscriber's telephone line determine what type(s) and/or speed(s) of DSL services can be supported by the subscriber's telephone line. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A transformation stylesheet defines how to transform a source document into an output document. For instance, an eXtensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) listing includes a set of rules that determine how to transform a source extensible Markup Language (XML) document into an output document. The output document may also be an XML document, or may be another type of document, such as a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) document, or a Portable Document Format (PDF) document. Typically, an XSL stylesheet defines the formatting style of the output document, such as text color, line spacing, etc. However, the XSL stylesheet may also define alterations that transform the structure of the source document into a different structure. For example, a structure of nodes in a source XML document may be transformed according to the XSL stylesheet to produce an output XML document with nodes arranged in a different order, or replaced with different nodes altogether. Similarly, the structure of a source XML document may be transformed according to the XSL stylesheet to produce an output HTML document that is structurally different and not simply just a translation of the XML into HTML. Thus, a source document can not only be transformed into an output document according to formatting rules that are included in an XSL stylesheet, but more broadly, the XSL stylesheet can be used to transform the source document in many other aspects, beyond just formatting. Transformation rules provided in an XSL stylesheet are particularly useful, because an XSL stylesheet can be employed to transform various source documents containing different information into a single desired uniform output structure and format. An XSL stylesheet is also especially useful for transforming a large amount of source data into a structure and format desired for display in a Web browser program.
Creating Web page “views” of database data is difficult and often very computer intensive. For example, if trying to create a view of a 1000 record database table, the user experience when employing a conventional Web page creation and editing program can be very slow and tedious. Users can create custom Web page “views” of their data, for example, from an XML file, a database table, or a SharePoint™ list. The experience when creating a Data View can be completely “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” (WYSIWYG), i.e., the end-user can be shown exactly how the Web page and the inserted data will look at runtime when viewed in a window of a browser program. From an architectural standpoint, a Data View is built upon Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT), which is a standard for converting XML data to HTML. The Web page creation and editing program can provide automatic generation of XSLT based on formatting that the user does in a design mode. Specifically, when the user makes changes to the data in the design mode, the Web page creation and editing program updates the XSLT to represent the new look and the user can see the data in the Data View as if viewing the data in the Web page within a browser window.
However, because a WYSIWYG tool does dynamic XSLT generation, including the use of actual data, it can cause certain performance and user experience challenges. For example, every change made to the data by a user will typically cause a new XSLT generation to occur so that the change can promulgate back into the HTML that is used to create the Data View, making simple operations such as typing appear sluggish and very unresponsive. XSLT generation for complicated views and large data sets can be very computationally expensive, causing the Web page creation and editing program to appear to be hung. Lastly, sometimes a “WYSIWYG” view is not what the user wants—for example, when a data set is sparse (with rows of data having no values for some of the fields), or very large, the user will likely find that using real data during the editing and design process is actually a hindrance. To address these issues, there are three features that should be developed to help improve the user experience when editing and viewing Web pages that include data.
Specifically, it would be desirable to not update the HTML document using the XSLT transformation for each letter or other input made by the user, since the delay for carrying out the update makes the system seem too slow to respond or sluggish. Still, it would be desirable to show the change made by the user in a cell or field of the data being edited—but not immediately promulgate the change to all corresponding cells of the data. Further, it would be desirable to enable a user to cancel a transformation or update of the data that is taking longer than the user is willing to wait, and the data state that is displayed after the cancellation should be the same as before the user initiated a change to all of the data. Finally, it would be desirable to provide modified preview form views of the data that are not strictly WYSIWYG. In some cases, the user may not need to view all of the data or may want to control how templates are affecting the display of the data. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The field of the invention relates to amusement rides, shows or attractions.
Amusement or theatrical attractions have long been employed to give guests the impression of movement in various fantasy worlds. For example, almost 100 years ago, a theatrical scenic apparatus was described (in U.S. Pat. No. 817,577) in which patrons can view scenic effects as they travel up and down in elevators suspended from pulleys. Similarly, a Subterranean Exhibition Apparatus (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 482,736) was intended to give patrons the effect of traveling down into a subterranean world which the patrons can explore.
In another technique using elevators, (as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 797,372) an amusement ride simulates an elevator car that travels to a subterranean location. The elevator car simulates upward and downward movement of the patrons. Adjacent to the elevator are two compartments suspended over a well by a cable and pulley system attached to a counterbalancing weight to permit the compartments to move up and down. When the guests are located in the elevator car, the adjacent compartments are raised or lowered into position adjacent the elevator car. The attraction creates the impression on the passengers of traveling from the surface of the earth to a subterranean location, then returning to the surface.
While these and other designs may have been successful in their era, none of them were able to create the illusion of being magically transported to another location nearly instantaneously, and without actually physically moving the guests or audience.
Unlike these known attractions, an attraction having a feature that imparts on the guests the feeling of being nearly instantly transported to another location is desirable. In such attraction or show, the guests would be baffled and astonished as to how they were magically transported to another location without experiencing any movement.
Consequently, there remains a need for an amusement attraction or show that gives the guests the feeling of being transported to another location without the guests experiencing any feeling of physical movement. The guests would thus feel as if they had been nearly instantaneously transported, in an unperceived way, to a different location within the amusement ride. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The increasing sophistication of recombinant DNA technology is greatly facilitating research and development in the medical, veterinary and allied human and animal health fields. This is particularly the case in the investigation of the genetic bases involved in the etiology of certain disease conditions. One particularly significant condition from the stand point of morbidity and mortality is obesity and its association with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and cardiovascular disease.
Obesity is defined as a pathological excess of body fat and is the result of an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure for a sustained period of time. Obesity is the most common metabolic disease found in affluent societies. The prevalence of obesity in these nations is alarmingly high, ranging from 10% to upwards of 50% in some subpopulations (Bouchard, 1994). Of particular concern is the fact that the prevalence of obesity appears to be rising consistently in affluent societies and is now increasing rapidly in less prosperous nations as they become more affluent and/or adopt cultural practices from the more affluent countries (Zimmet, 1992).
In Australia, for example, studies using the definition of obesity of BMI>30 have found prevalence rates for obesity of 8.2-9.3% in men and 9.1-11.1% in women (Risk Factor Prevalence Study Management Committee, 1990; Waters and Bennett 1995). The prevalence rates for obesity are increasing in Australia, as they are in many affluent societies. Bennett and Magnus (1994) found that the mean weight of Australian females aged 20-69 increased by 3.1 kg (from 61.7 to 64.8 kg) from 1980 to 1989, while the corresponding increase in males was 1.8 kg (from 77.0 to 78.8 kg). No change in height was observed during this period. Accordingly, the crude prevalence rates of obesity increased from 8.0 to 13.2% in females and from 9.3 to 11.5% in males (Bennett and Magnus 1994). All of the above changes were statistically significant (p<0.05).
The high and increasing prevalence of obesity has significant health implications. Obesity has been identified as a key risk indicator of preventable morbidity and mortality due to disease such as NIDDM and cardiovascular disease (National Health and Medical Research Council, 1996). The annual costs of obesity in Australia, for example, associated with these and other disease conditions have been conservatively estimated at AU$810 million (National Health and Medical Research Council, 1996).
A genetic basis for the etiology of obesity is indicated inter alia from studies in twins, adoption studies and population-based analyses which suggest that genetic effects account for 25-80% of the variation in body weight in the general population (Bouchard 1994; Kopelman et al, 1994; Ravussin, 1995). It is considered that genes determine the possible range of body weight in an individual and then the environment influences the point within this range where the individual is located at any given time (Bouchard, 1994).
Obesity is a complex and heterogeneous disorder and of considerable relevance to society. However, despite numerous studies into genes thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity, there have been surprisingly few significant findings in this area. In addition, genome-wide scans in various population groups have not produced definitive evidence of the chromosomal regions having a major effect on obesity.
The hypothalamus has long been recognised as a key brain area in the regulation of energy intake. Early studies let to the dual-centre hypothesis which propised that two opposing centres in the hypothalamus were responsible for the initiation and termination of eating, the lateral hypothalamus (LHA; “hunger centre”) and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH; “satiety centre”; Stellar 1954). The dual-centre hypothesis has been repeatedly modified to accommodate the increasing information about the roles played by various other brain regions, neurotransmitter systems, and hormonal and neural signals originating in the gut on the regulation of food intake. In addition to the LHA and VMH, the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is now considered to have an important integrative function in the control of energy intake.
A large number of neurotransmitters have been investigated as possible hypothalamic regulators of feeding behaviour including neuropeptide Y (NPY), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), serotonin, cholecystokinin and galanin. Some of these neurotransmitters stimulate food intake, some act in an anorexigenic manner and some have diverse effects on energy intake depending on the site of administration. For example, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibits food intake when injected into the LHA, but stimulates eating when injected into the VMH or PVN (Leibowitz, 1985). Feeding behaviour is thought to be greatly influenced by the interaction of stimulatory and inhibitory signals in the hypothalamus.
In work leading up to the present invention, the inventors have made a significant break through in determining a genetic basis of obesity by identifying a genetic sequence differentially expressed in lean and obese animals. In accordance with the present invention, the inventors have isolated a novel gene which is proposed to be associated with energy balance and also in modulating obesity and diabetes. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
With reference to the classification of art as established in and by the United States Patent Office, this invention is believed to be found in the general class of "Fire Escapes, Ladders and Scaffolds", and particularly to attachable members having resilient facing portions that are adapted to engage walls and gutters of a house. This invention discloses a particular embodiment and variations thereof. Preferably, this invention provides like pairs arranged as mirror images and disposed to be removably carried on the stiles of the ladder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Ladders and particularly extension ladders are well known and are usually constructed of wood, aluminium and magnesium. As commercially produced, the stiles are alike and the rungs are substantially alike and of regular spacing and disposition from the edge. In my reference patent in Class 182, subclasses 107 and 108, the following patents are noted: U.S. Pat. No. 1,964,067 as issued 6/1934 to Leach; No. 2,904,128 as issued 9/1959 to Boham; No. 2,925,877 as issued 2/1960 to Wright; No. 3,037,579 as issued 6/1962 to Barrow; No. 3,062,319 as issued 11/1962 to Wright; No. 3,115,212 as issued 12/1963 to Keatley; No. 3,662,856, as issued 5/1972 to D'Amico, and No. 3,993,163 as issued 11/1976 to Barrett. In these and prior art references the protective devices are directed to protective devices attached at the end of the stile rather than intermediate the length. Usually these devices are for ladders of great extent and the protective devices are to prevent sharp ends of the ladders (usually sharp metal) from damaging any engaging wall surface. This protection is usually constucted with rubber boots, taped ends or wheels but these do not provide the control of this invention. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The prior art provides a number of stationary cardiovascular exercise machines. Such machines include treadmills, stationary bicycles, elliptical machines, rowing machines and the like. These devices are commonly found at health clubs and in private residences.
A problem with such prior art machines is that they can become monotonous to use. The user is stuck in a single position for the entire duration of an exercise session.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,601 attempts to address this problem by providing a monorail system having a track on a top side thereof for receiving and guiding the tires of a traditional bicycle on a top side of the monorail system track. A user may then ride the bicycle around on the monorail track. A problem with this prior art system is that the bicycles must be fitted with a special apparatus in order to avoid physical contact with other bicycles. Additionally, bicycles must ride in-line with each other, preventing one user from passing another or achieving a speed faster than a bicycle positioned in front of the user.
A further problem with the above system is that it is limited to the use of bicycles at the exclusion of other types of cardiovascular exercise machines.
In addition to exercise devices, recreational vehicles, such as amusement rides generally do not permit interactive engagement with the vehicle to independently control velocity and direction along selected pathways of a plurality of interconnecting rails.
It would, therefore, be advantageous to provide a system that overcomes these and additional shortcomings of the prior art. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Peristaltic tubes can be exposed to compression forces that cause failure due to internal stresses and spallation. The stresses can be concentrated at the sides of the tube where the failure typically takes place. There exists a need for an improved tube adapted to resist failure due to compression.
Skilled artisans appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the invention. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of preventing polymer scale deposition in polymerization of a monomer having an ethylenic double bond, and a polymer scale preventive agent used for the method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In processes of preparing polymers by polymerizing a monomer in a polymerization vessel, the problem that polymer deposits on the inner wall surface and so forth in the form of scale, is known. The deposition of the polymer scale on the inner wall results in disadvantages that the yield of the polymer and the cooling capacity of the polymerization vessel are lowered; that the polymer scale may peel and mix into manufactured polymer, thereby impairing the quality of the manufactured polymer; and that removal of such polymer scale is laborious and hence time-consuming. Further, since the polymer scale contains unreacted monomer and operators may be exposed thereto, which may cause physical disorders in the operators.
Heretofore, as methods for preventing polymer scale deposition on the inner wall surface and so forth of a polymerization vessel, methods in which substances exemplified below are coated on the inner wall surface, etc. as a scale preventive agent, have been proposed. For example, particular polar organic compounds (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 45-30343(1970), a dye or pigment (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 45-30835(1970), an aromatic amine compound (Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 51-50887(1976)) and a reaction product of a phenolic compound and an aromatic aldehyde (Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 55-54317(1980)).
These methods can fairly effectively prevent the deposition of polymer scale in the polymerization of a vinyl halide monomer such as vinyl chloride or a monomer mixture mainly comprised of such a monomer.
In the meantime, vinyl chloride polymers obtained by polymerization are required to have a good whiteness; for example, they are required to have an L value according to the Hunter's color difference equation, which is described below, of 70 or more.
The prior art polymer scale preventive agents generally include a great number of colored substances as exemplified typically by the dyes and pigments described in Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 45-30835(1970) or 52-24953(1977), the aromatic amine compounds described in Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 51-50887(1976), and the reaction products of a phenolic compound and an aromatic aldehyde described in Japanese Pre-examination Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 55-54317(1980). Although these polymer scale preventive agents can fairly effectively prevent polymer scale deposition in the polymerization of a vinyl halide monomer such as vinyl chloride or a monomer mixture mainly comprising a vinyl halide as mentioned above, where the coating comprising such a colored polymer scale preventive agent is dissolved, causing contamination of the produced polymer, a problem may arise that the produced polymer become colored and its quality is seriously lowered. That is, according to measurement of the lightness L in the Hunter's equation described in JIS Z 8730 (1980), the L may be measured to be 65 or less, and coloration is thereby confirmed. Presumably, the coloration is caused by incorporation of components of the coating which has dissolved or peeled into the polymerization system.
Moreover, terrible substance such as aniline, nitrobenzene, formaldehyde, etc. among the polar compounds described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 45-30343(1970), and dyes containing a heavy metal such as chromium or lead among the dyes described in Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 45-30835(1970) are poisonous. The dyes described in Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) Nos. 45-30835(1970) and 52-24953(1977) include some dyes that involve concern about carcinogenesis. Therefore, use of these substances may cause problems in safety of operators. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A large proportion (some estimates are as high as 25%) of the electricity generated in the United States each year goes to lighting. Accordingly, there is an ongoing need to provide lighting that is more energy-efficient. It is well-known that incandescent light bulbs are very energy-inefficient light sources. About 90% of the electricity they consume is released as heat rather than light. Fluorescent light bulbs are more efficient than incandescent light bulbs (e.g., by a factor of about 10) but are still less efficient as compared to solid state light emitters, such as light emitting diodes.
In addition, as compared to the normal lifetimes of solid state light emitters, e.g., light emitting diodes, incandescent light bulbs have relatively short lifetimes, typically about 750-1,000 hours. In comparison, light emitting diodes, for example, have typical lifetimes between 50,000 and 70,000 hours. Fluorescent bulbs have yet longer lifetimes (e.g., 10,000-20,000 hours) than incandescent lights, but provide less favorable color reproduction.
Color reproduction is typically measured using the Color Rendering Index (CRI Ra), which is a relative measure of the shift in surface color of an object when lit by a particular lamp. CRI Ra is a modified average of the measurements of how the color rendition of an illumination system compares to that of a reference radiator when illuminating eight reference colors. The CRI Ra equals 100 if the color coordinates of a set of test colors being illuminated by the illumination system are the same as the coordinates of the same test colors being irradiated by the reference radiator. Daylight has a high CRI (Ra of approximately 100), with incandescent bulbs also being relatively close (Ra greater than 95), and fluorescent lighting being less accurate (typical Ra of 70-80). Certain types of specialized lighting have very low CRI Ra. For example, mercury vapor or sodium lamps have Ra as low as about 40 or even lower. Another challenge facing the development of new lighting systems is how to achieve a high CRI.
Another issue faced by conventional light fixtures is the need to periodically replace the lighting devices (e.g., light bulbs, etc.). Such issues are particularly problematic where access is difficult (e.g., vaulted ceilings, bridges, high buildings, traffic tunnels, etc.) and/or where change-out costs are extremely high. The typical lifetime of conventional fixtures is about 20 years, corresponding to a light-producing device usage of at least about 44,000 hours (e.g., based on usage of 6 hours per day for 20 years). Light-producing device lifetime is typically much shorter, thereby creating the need for periodic change-outs. Thus, a further challenge lies in achieving a long lifetime so as to reduce the amount of downtime.
Designs have been provided in which existing LED component packages and other electronics are assembled into a fixture. In such designs, a packaged LED is mounted to a circuit board mounted to a heat sink, and the heat sink is mounted to the fixture housing along with required drive electronics. In many cases, additional optics (secondary to the package parts) are also needed to produce uniform illumination. Short of the optics, LEDS behave as point sources that fan out the light. LEDS especially at the die level are Lambertian in nature.
The expression “light emitting diode” is sometimes used to refer to the basic semiconductor diode structure (e.g., the chip). The commonly recognized and commercially available “LED” that is sold (for example) in electronics stores typically represents a “packaged” device made up of a number of parts. These packaged devices typically include a semiconductor based light emitting diode such as (but not limited to) those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,918,487; 5,631,190; and 5,912,477 (each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), various wire connections, and a package that encapsulates the light emitting diode.
In substituting light emitting diodes for other light sources, e.g., incandescent light bulbs, packaged LEDs have been used with conventional light fixtures, for example, fixtures that include a hollow lens and a base plate attached to the lens, the base plate having a conventional socket housing with one or more contacts that is/are electrically coupled to a power source. For example, LED light bulbs that comprise an electrical circuit board, a plurality of packaged LEDs mounted to the circuit board, and a connection post attached to the circuit board and adapted to be connected to the socket housing of the light fixture, whereby the plurality of LEDs can be illuminated by the power source, have been constructed.
FIG. 1 is a molded, flexible silicone rubber untinted, diffused light guide array 102 usable in connection with LED light sources. The FIG. 1 example may be used, for example, in connection with backlighting keypads and indicator windows, e.g., in front panel assemblies. Differently sized and/or shaped light pipe elements 104, 106, and 108 may be provided in the light guide array 102. LED lamps may fit against the bases of the solid light pipe elements 104, 106, and 108, or fit inside hollow light pipe elements. The light pipe array 102 may be placed over an LED lamp PC board assembly to form a backlighting unit.
FIG. 2 is a simplified view of a LED lighted panel assembly 200. This internally lighted panel uses HLMP-650X untinted, non-diffused, SMT subminiature LED lamps 202 surface mounted on a double-sided PC board 204. Maximum metalization is used on both sides to achieve a low thermal resistance to ambient, and metallization vias 206 are shown in FIG. 2. The LED lamps 202 are distributed throughout the panel (which includes a glass substrate 208) to achieve a desired lighting effect. Light rays from the LED lamps 202 blend together within the panel to produce a somewhat more even illumination through the illuminated areas on the face of the panel 200. These illuminated areas are diffused and coated with a thin layer of translucent white paint. In daylight, the LED lamps 202 are off, and the illumination areas 210 appear white by reflecting ambient light. At night, these areas are internally illuminated by the LED lamps 202 and appear the same color as the LED light. The exterior surfaces of the panel 200 are painted with a white reflecting paint, leaving open the areas on the face of the panel to be internally illuminated. An overcoat of black, scratch resistant paint is added to form the exterior finish 212. The overall thickness of the panel is 5.84 mm.
Although the development of light emitting diodes has in many ways revolutionized the lighting industry, some of the characteristics of light emitting diodes have presented challenges, some of which have not yet been fully met. For example, the emission spectrum of any particular light emitting diode is typically concentrated around a single wavelength (as dictated by the light emitting diode's composition and structure), which is desirable for some applications, but not desirable for others, e.g., for providing lighting, such an emission spectrum provides a very low CRI Ra.
Thus, it will be appreciated that there is a need in the art for an improved light source/fixture that overcomes one or more of these and/or other difficulties, and/or method of making the same.
In certain example embodiments, a method of making a coated article including a substrate supporting a coating is provided. A titanium-based precursor is provided. A chelate is provided. The titanium-based precursor is reacted with the chelate to form a chelated titanium-inclusive substance. An organic resin material is provided. The chelated titanium-inclusive substance is cross-linked with the organic resin material to form an organic-inorganic hybrid solution. The organic-inorganic hybrid solution is disposed on the substrate in forming the coating.
In certain example embodiments, a method of making a coated article including a substrate supporting a coating is provided. An organic-inorganic hybrid solution is provided, with the organic-inorganic hybrid solution having been made by: reacting a titanium- and/or zirconium-based precursor with a chelate to form a chelated substance, and cross-linking the chelated substance with an organic material to form the organic-inorganic hybrid solution. Either (a) the organic-inorganic hybrid solution is wet applied on the substrate, or (b) the organic-inorganic hybrid solution is introduced into a carrier medium and then the carrier medium is extruded onto the substrate. The organic-inorganic hybrid solution is cured once disposed on the substrate.
In certain example embodiments, a method of making an electronic device is provided. A substrate is provided. At least one light emitting diode (LED) is disposed on the substrate. An organic-inorganic hybrid solution is provided, with the organic-inorganic hybrid solution having been made by: reacting a titanium- and/or zirconium-based precursor with a chelate to form a chelated substance, and cross-linking the chelated substance with an organic material to form the organic-inorganic hybrid solution. Either (a) the organic-inorganic hybrid solution is wet applied on the substrate over the at least one LED, or (b) the organic-inorganic hybrid solution is introduced into a carrier medium and then the carrier medium is extruded onto the substrate over the at least one LED. The organic-inorganic hybrid solution is cured once disposed on the substrate.
In certain example embodiments, a device is provided. A first substrate is provided. A mirror is supported by the first substrate. A printed circuit board supports a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)/A second substrate is provided. A laminate is supported by a first major surface of the second substrate that faces the printed circuit board supporting the plurality of LEDs. The laminate is formed from a first organic-inorganic hybrid solution, with the laminate having an index of refraction of at least about 1.8.
In certain example embodiments, a device is provided. A first glass substrate is provided. A thin-film mirror coating is supported by the first substrate. A flexible printed circuit (FPC) supports a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) flip-chip mounted thereto. A second glass substrate is provided. A laminate is supported by a first major surface of the second substrate that faces the printed circuit board supporting the plurality of LEDs, with the laminate laminating together the first and second substrates.
In certain example embodiments, a device is provided. A first glass substrate is provided. A thin-film mirror coating is supported by the first substrate. A flexible printed circuit (FPC) supports a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) flip-chip mounted thereto. A polymer-based insulator layer is interposed between the mirror and the FPC, with the insulator layer being formed from a first organic-inorganic hybrid solution. A second glass substrate is provided. A laminate is supported by a first major surface of the second substrate that faces the printed circuit board supporting the plurality of LEDs, with the laminate laminating together the first and second substrates.
In certain example embodiments, a method of making an LED device is provided. A substrate is provided. A plurality of LEDs is formed on the substrate. A random pattern is created on the LEDs and/or in one or more layers of the LEDs, with the random pattern having a light scattering effect on light produced by the LEDs. In certain example embodiments, an LED device is provided.
According to certain example embodiments, the random pattern may be created by: generating a fractal pattern, with the fractal pattern being a random fractal pattern or having randomness introduced thereto; and transferring the generated fractal pattern onto one or more layers of the LEDs.
According to certain example embodiments, the random pattern may be created by: providing an aqueous solution of nano- or micron-scale elements; and disposing the solution to an area, directly or indirectly, on the LEDs to randomly disperse the elements on the LEDs.
In certain example embodiments, a device is provided. First and second glass substrates are provided, with the first and second substrates being substantially parallel and spaced apart so as to define a cavity therebetween. A plurality of pillars is disposed between the first and second substrates. An edge seal is provided around the periphery of the first and/or second susbtrate(s). At least one conductive bus bar is disposed on an inner surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate. At least one n-leg and at least one p-leg is in contact with the at least one bus bar. At least one conductor connects the at least one n-leg and the at least one p-leg. At least one LED supported by the at least one conductor. In certain example embodiments, a method of making the same is provided.
In certain example embodiments, a device is provided. First and second glass substrates are provided, with the first and second substrates being substantially parallel and spaced apart so as to define a cavity therebetween. A plurality of pillars is disposed between the first and second substrates. An edge seal is provided around the periphery of the first and/or second susbtrate(s). At least one conductive bus bar is disposed on an inner surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate. A plurality of thermoelectric (TE) modules is in contact with the at least one bus bar, with each said TE module including an n-leg and p-leg connected to one another via a conductor. A plurality of ILEDs is disposed on conductors of the plurality of TE modules. In certain example embodiments, a method of making the same is provided.
The features, aspects, advantages, and example embodiments described herein may be combined in any suitable combination or sub-combination to realize yet further embodiments. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The invention relates to a method for determining the ignition angle for an internal combustion engine with adaptive knocking control.
German patent document DE 40 08 170 A1, for example, discloses such an adaptive knocking control of an internal combustion engine, in which the ignition angle is read out from a characteristic diagram, and is by a predetermined amount when knocking occurs. The ignition angle is then advanced by a reduced amount until knocking again occurs. When the engine leaves a predetermined operating range, the current ignition angle is stored in an adaptive characteristic diagram for reuse the next time the operating range is reached. DE 40 01 476 A1 discloses how, instead of the current ignition angle, the mean value of the control ranges in the operating range are stored in the adaptive characteristic diagram.
The tendency of an internal combustion engine to knock increases as the rotational speed rises and the fuel quality (the so-called RON value) decreases. The dependence of the rotational speed is taken into account, for example, according to DE 42 05 889 A1, via a rotational speed-dependent weighting factor for the control range of the knocking control. In addition, in order to take into account the RON value of the fuel used, it is known to use different characteristic diagrams for the set point ignition angle. The changeover between these characteristic diagrams is carried out via a mechanical or electronic switch which has to be activated manually when the user of the vehicle fills the vehicle fuel tank with fuel of a different quality. If this changeover process is forgotten, or not carried out for some other reasons, knocking increases. Additionally, with these methods, the influence of the ambient air pressure on the occurrence of knocking events is not taken into account.
The object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for adaptive knocking control for internal combustion engines which automatically takes into account the effects of ambient conditions and the fuel quality.
This and other objects and advantages are achieved by the method and apparatus according to the invention, in which the occurrence of knocking is reduced by a controlled adjustment of the ignition angle in the retarded direction. The current values for the adjustment in the retarded direction are stored in a characteristic diagram in an operating parameter-dependent fashion. An average adjustment in the retarded direction is determined from these characteristic diagram values, and both a correction ignition angle and a control range limitation for the knocking control are determined therefrom. The fuel quality and ambient influences are automatically sensed with reference to a learned RON level, and are also used to reduce the amount of energy expended to control engine knocking.
In this manner, it is simple and easy to take into account the fuel quality and ambient influences on the knocking control of an internal combustion engine. On the one hand, the expected fuel quality and ambient conditions can be predefined by means of a starting value. On the other hand, however, deviations from these are taken into account by determining a learned RON level from the average retarded-direction adjustment angles.
The knocking control can be relieved of work by predefining a correction ignition angle on the basis of the current RON level. At the same time, by predefining the maximum control range as a function of the learned RON level, the sum of the correction ignition angle and the actual ignition angle adjustment of the knocking control is prevented from exceeding the permissible range.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stop value data detecting device for a camera which can be used with a flash unit connected to it for providing stop value data consisting of a frequency clock and with an automatic stop control unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Japanese patent application No. 56-88,532 filed by the same applicant as of the instant application discloses the use of a pulse signal consisting of a frequency clock as stop value data generated from a flash unit. However, no circuit which can detect the stop value data noted above has yet been proposed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-299504 discloses that a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine including a port injection valve and a cylinder injection valve, depending on auxiliary machines, preferentially performs the electric power feed to an electric fuel pump that feeds fuel to the cylinder injection valve at the time of automatic engine start. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This disclosure relates generally to person-support apparatuses. More particularly, but not exclusively, this disclosure relates to person-support apparatuses with movable portions.
Person-support apparatuses such as birthing beds provide support for patients during medical procedures. In the case of birthing beds, the person-support apparatus supports the mother throughout the labor and delivery of a baby. During the medical procedures or birthing process, the person-support apparatus may need to be configured to provide improved access to a portion of the patient's body to a caregiver while maintaining the patient in a comfortable position. While various person-support apparatuses have been developed, there is still room for improvement. Thus, a need persists for further contributions in this area of technology. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The early postpartum period, specifically the first few weeks after delivery, is a time of high risk for a major depressive episode, also referred to as postpartum depression. During this time there is a heightened vulnerability for low mood due to postpartum blues. Severe postpartum blues may indicate the onset of postpartum depression (O'Hara et al., 1991). The sadness commonly observed around day-5 postpartum is considered in the healthy range of experience. However, it has also been observed that vulnerability to depressed mood is highly correlated to postpartum blues at day-5 and to exhibition of dysfunctional attitudes on day-5 postpartum (Dowlati et al, 2014). The neurobiological mechanisms leading to postpartum blues and postpartum depression are unclear.
Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is a pro oxidant enzyme with the ability to metabolize monoamines such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine which help to maintain normal mood. Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels are observed to be lowered during major depressive episodes. Elevated MAO-A levels are observed in individuals with major depressive disorder during a major depressive episode, and may contribute to monoamine-lowering observed during a major depressive episode in depressed individuals (Meyer et al., 2006; and Meyer et al., 2009).
Following delivery, estrogen levels typically drop 100- to 1000-fold during the first 3 to 4 days postpartum (O'Hara et al, 1996). Changes in estrogen levels have an inverse relationship with MAO-A levels (smith et al, 2004). Elevated MAO-A levels in early postpartum can serve as a marker of a monoamine-lowering process that contributes to mood changes associated with postpartum blues (Sacher et al., 2010).
Antidepressant medication can be utilized to address postpartum blues and postpartum depression. However, drug utilization carries with it concerns about side effects, and potential drug excretion into breast milk.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,526 (Gorach) suggests the use of a composition containing purified isoflavonoids, for example as derived from soy, for treating or preventing postpartum depression. The treatment purports to impart effect because of parallels between the chemical structure of isoflavonoids and estrogens, thus imparting an estrogen-like effect by increase of circulating isoflavonoids. No data is provided to illustrate any beneficial effect.
It has been suggested that dietary supplementation of tryptophan and tyrosine may be utilized to address postpartum blues or postpartum depression, as reported by Sullivan 2011, quoting J. H. Meyer at 4th World Congress on Women's Mental Health (Madrid). However no regime or illustration of efficacy was provided.
There is a need to address depressed mood arising in the postpartum period as well as depressed mood arising from other conditions associated with MAO-A levels. It is desirable to develop strategies that seek to address depressed mood. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to leak detection and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for detecting leaks based on a volume of bubbles emitted from an object.
2. Description of Related Art
Numerous components are manufactured which must meet a standard for a "leak tightness". Leak tightness is a relative term, as nothing can ever be completely free of leakage. A balance must be made between the increasing cost of finding smaller and smaller leaks and their importance to the functioning of the component over its useful life. Leak tightness is the practical leakage that is acceptable under normal operating circumstances.
Components which require some degree of leak tightness, for example, include fuel tanks, radiators, fuel systems, water pumps, wheels, refrigeration systems, heater cores, torque convertors, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, etc. The acceptable leakage will depend upon the usage of the component with respect to the type of fluid which must be contained, i.e. a gas or a liquid, and whether or not the contents will be pressurized.
There are many devices available to test for the presence of a leak. One method is mass spectroscopy where a high vacuum is drawn around the component and a test gas (helium) is introduced into the component. A spectrometer is used to scan the vacuum space for the presence of helium. Another "test gas" leak detection method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,731, in which the vacuum exhaust is run past a test gas sensor. It is extremely difficult to quantify a leak using a test gas method of detection because of the difficulty in measuring the amount of trace gas emitted through the leak. Another method of leak detection is air pressure decay where a leak will reduce the vacuum in or surrounding the component tested. While this method does provide a measure of leak quantification, the air pressure decay is time consuming and not well suited for small leaks.
A long-used leak detection technology is the bubble detection method in which a component is submerged in a liquid such as water and bubbles emerging from the component indicate a leak. Improvements on this bubble detection method are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,590,256; 4,854,158; 4,924,694 and 4,903,524.
While these various devices can identify a "leak" by detecting the passage of one or more bubbles through a given area, and can even count the bubbles passing, none can accurately quantify the volume of the bubbles over time and thus the size of the leak.
Several leak quantifying apparatuses and methods are commonly used in industry. An example of one such leak quantifying apparatus and method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,907 to Patterson et al. This patented apparatus is a soap film flowmeter which may be used to measure the flow rate of gas leaking from an object over a period of time. The patented flowmeter includes an inverted U-shaped gas flow tube adjustably mounted in a sensor assembly. The flowmeter measures the flow rate of the gas leak by admitting the gas into an inlet of the gas flow tube, introducing a soap film into the interior of the gas flow tube in a region adjacent the inlet, and permitting the entering gas to propel the soap film within the tube past a sensing region. The sensing region measures the elapsed time of the soap film past a pair of detectors and displays the result as a flow rate of the gas leak.
One problem of the above-patented flowmeter is that the flow rate of individual bubbles is measured to detect a leak. This is undesirable because the flow rate may vary between individual bubbles. Another problem of the patented flowmeter is that the volume of bubbles emitted from an object cannot be quantified. Yet another problem of the patented flowmeter is that a soap film is required to measure the flow rate of the gas leak. This is also undesirable because soap films are messy and must be continually supplied. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color picture information transmission system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For transmitting a picture information such as video signals, for example, a variable density sampling system has been proposed wherein a sampling frequency is varied adaptively according to a frequency of the video signal for transmission. FIG. 1 is a pattern drawing of a principle of the variable density sampling system.
In FIG. 1, first an original video signal waveform is sampled according to a sampling frequency fsp, divided at every predetermined sampling point number (4 sampling points, for example) as indicated by a term T in the drawing, and then whether the original video signal waveform is sparse or dense is discriminated at every divided blocks. Then, in the block decided to be dense, all data obtained through sampling the original video signal is transmitted as transmission data, but in the block decided to be sparse, only a part of all data is transmitted as transmission data, and the remaining data is held as thinned-out data and hence is not transmitted. In the drawing, that with a mark C is a data to be transmitted (transmission data), and that with a mark x is a data not transmitted (thinned-out data).
The number of data to be transmitted per unit time will be decreased and a transmission band of the transmission video signal will be compressed by transmitting the data indicated by the mark O at constant intervals.
The thinned-out data having not been transmitted is restored approximately by means of the transmitted data, thus obtaining an interpolation data (with a mark in the drawing). Then, the interpolation data corresponds to a portion sparse in the original video signal waveform and is restored as a data extremely approximate to the thinned-out data, therefore substantial information content does not change as compared with the case where all data are transmitted, and thus a transmission band of the video signal may be sharply compressed.
In this case, all data are transmitted in each group, however, whether or not a part of data is transmitted will be decided upon investigating of the density of the original video signal waveform, and the decision information is transmitted as a transmission mode information signal at the same time.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for realizing the aforementioned transmission system.
A video signal (or NTSC signal, for example) inputted from an input terminal is digitized by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 2. The sampling frequency fsp in this case is specified to be double or more of a maximum frequency component of the input video signal. An output signal of the A/D converter 2 is fed to a decoder 3 and separated into a luminance signal Y and two kinds of chrominance signals I and Q. The luminance signal Y is fed to a mode discriminating circuit 16 and also introduced to a matrix circuit 4, and the signals I, Q are fed to the matrix circuit 4 likewise. In the matrix circuit 4, three-primary color signals R, G, B are obtained through arithmetic operation according to each of the inputted signals Y, I, Q.
A relation between the signals R, G, B and the signals Y, I, Q stands as follows: EQU Y=0.30R+0.5G+0.11B EQU I=0.74(R-Y)-0.27(B-Y) EQU Q=0.48(R-Y)+0.41(R-Y)
The three-primary color signals R, G, B obtained from the matrix circuit 4 are loaded in R-, G-, B-memories 10, 11, 12 of a first memory group respectively as signals having a 1/2 fsp band by the matrix circuit 4 and also fed to a prefilter 6. For example, in the case of unidimensional variable density sampling in one block construction of the four sampling points like FIG. 1, the band is limited further to a quarter of 1/2 fsp through the prefilter 6. An output of the prefilter 6 has information of the three sampling points other than one sampling point inputted first of information of the four sampling points removed by a thinning-out circuit 5. The three-primary color signals having the band compressed to a quarter as above are loaded in R-, G-, B-memories 7, 8, 9 of a second memory group.
Outputs of the first and second memory groups are led to three input terminals of switch circuits 13 and 14, and further outputs of the switch circuits 13 and 14 are led to input terminals E, C of a switch circuit 15. An operation of the mode discriminating circuit 16 will be described according to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d).
FIG. 4(a) represents a luminance signal row sampled by the sampling frequency fsp. A luminance signal at time t.sub.n is indicated by y.sub.n, a luminance signal at time t.sub.n+1 is indicated by y.sub.n+1, then y.sub.n+2, y.sub.n+3 and so on. Now, let it be assumed that y.sub.n to y.sub.n+3 constitute one unit block.
The luminance signal y.sub.n led to the mode discriminating circuit 16 is latched in a latch circuit 20 at the leading edge (t.sub.n) of a clock 1 shown in FIG. 4(b). An output of the latch circuit 20 is led to a latch circuit 21 and an interpolation circuit 22. The output of the latch circuit 20 is latched at a leading edge (t.sub.n+4) of the next pulse of the clock 1 by the latch circuit 21. As in the case of the thinning-out circuit 5, the luminance signals y.sub.n, y.sub.n+4 of the sampling point inputted first of the luminance signal unit block are latched on the latch circuits 20 and 21. Then, each output is led to the interpolation circuit 22.
The interpolation circuit 22 computes and outputs interpolation luminance signals y.sub.n to y.sub.n+3 at times t.sub.n to t.sub.n+3 from two inputs y.sub.n, y.sub.n+4 through a primary interpolation as shown, for example, in a broken line of FIG. 4(d).
On the other hand, the luminance signal y.sub.n is also inputted to a shift register 23 and shifted by leading edges (t.sub.n, t.sub.n+1, t.sub.n+2, . . . ) of the clock 2 shown in FIG. 4(c). As described, the luminance signal row led to the mode discriminating circuit 16 is output by the interpolation circuit 22 and the shift register 23 at the time t.sub.n+4 as shown in FIG. 3.
Each output works as an input to a subtractor 24, and the differential is led to an adder 26 by way of an absolute value circuit 25. An output of the adder 26 works as one input to a comparator 27 and is compared with a threshold value Yth preset on the other input.
As described above, in the mode discriminating circuit 1, a level of the luminance signal or a difference in power between information of the original sampling points constituting a block unit and information of the sampling points by interpolation is detected, and if the sum exceeds a threshold value, a transmission mode of the block is decided to be a mode (hereinafter called "E mode") for transmitting information of all the sampling points, but if it comes below the threshold value, then the transmission mode is decided to be a mode (hereinafter called "C mode") for transmitting information of the thinned-out sampling points, and thus a mode information data is generated by a mode information generator 28 according to the decision. The transmission mode information data thus generated is loaded once in a mode memory 17 of FIG. 2. Then, at the time of transmission, the switch circuits 14 and 13 are first connected to a terminal R side in the drawing. The circuits operate to connect the switch circuit 15 to the first memory group side when E mode but to the second memory group side when C mode according to the transmission mode information loaded in the mode memory 17, and a signal R read by the memory is transmitted through a transmission part 18 together with the mode information data. Then, whenever the signal R has been transmitted, the switch circuits 13, 14 are transferred one after another to G side and B side to transmit the signals G and B through the transmission part 18 likewise.
Meanwhile, according to the prior art transmission system described as above, a mode to transmit is discriminated by the mode discriminating circuit 16 only on a level of the luminance signal or a difference in power, therefore the video signal transmitted according to such transmission system is capable of causing an error in a hue from a band compression operation particularly in the block small in a change of the luminance signal but large in a change of the hue, and since such error may cause unevenness of color or the like, it is difficult to transmit the video signal with a picture quality thoroughly ensured.
Then, in case the video signal transmitted according to such transmission system as described is displayed on a display, since a human visual system characteristic is keen to a change in luminance in a low luminance portion as compared with a high luminance portion, a visual system distortion is intensified in the low luminance block as compared with the high luminance block, and thus an image after transmission seems to be degraded considerably.
Further, the video signal transmitted according to the aforementioned transmission system has a transmission mode discriminated in any case, according to the luminance signal and not to a color information, therefore when displayed on a display, the important portion or human face, for example, on a picture becomes low in resolution, and if so, then the picture quality seems to be considerably degraded. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat-assisted magnetic recording head for use in heat-assisted magnetic recording where a recording medium is irradiated with near-fiel a recording.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, magnetic recording devices such as magnetic disk drives have been improved in recording density, and thin-film magnetic heads and magnetic recording media of improved performance have been demanded accordingly. Among the thin-film magnetic heads, a composite thin-film magnetic head has been used widely. The composite thin-film magnetic head has such a structure that a reproducing head including a magnetoresistive element (hereinafter, also referred to as MR element) for reading and a recording head including an induction-type electromagnetic transducer for writing are stacked on a substrate. In a magnetic disk drive, the thin-film magnetic head is mounted on a slider which flies slightly above the surface of the magnetic recording medium.
To increase the recording density of a magnetic recording device, it is effective to make the magnetic fine particles of the recording medium smaller. Making the magnetic fine particles smaller, however, causes the problem that the magnetic fine particles drop in the thermal stability of magnetization. To solve this problem, it is effective to increase the anisotropic energy of the magnetic fine particles. However, increasing the anisotropic energy of the magnetic fine particles leads to an increase in coercivity of the recording medium, and this makes it difficult to perform data recording with existing magnetic heads.
To solve the foregoing problems, there has been proposed a technique so-called heat-assisted magnetic recording. This technique uses a recording medium having high coercivity. When recording data, a magnetic field and heat are simultaneously applied to the area of the recording medium where to record data, so that the area rises in temperature and drops in coercivity for data recording. The area where data is recorded subsequently falls in temperature and rises in coercivity to increase the thermal stability of magnetization.
In heat-assisted magnetic recording, near-field light is typically used as a means for applying heat to the recording medium. A known method for generating near-field light is to irradiate a plasmon antenna, which is a small piece of metal, with laser light. The plasmon antenna has a near-field light generating part which is a sharp-pointed part for generating near-field light. The laser light applied to the plasmon antenna excites surface plasmons on the plasmon antenna. The surface plasmons propagate to the near-field light generating part of the plasmon antenna, and the near-field light generating part generates near-field light based on the surface plasmons. The near-field light generated by the plasmon antenna exists only within an area smaller than the diffraction limit of light. Irradiating the recording medium with the near-field light makes it possible to heat only a small area of the recording medium.
In general, the laser light to be used for generating the near-field light is guided through a waveguide that is provided in the slider to the plasmon antenna that is located near the medium facing surface of the slider. Possible techniques of placement of a light source that emits the laser light are broadly classified into the following two. A first technique is to place the light source away from the slider. A second technique is to fix the light source to the slider.
The first technique is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0233062 A1, for example. The second technique is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0055762 A1 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0002298 A1, for example.
The first technique requires an optical path of extended length including such optical elements as a mirror, lens, and optical fiber in order to guide the light from the light source to the waveguide. This causes the problem of increasing energy loss of the light in the path. The second technique is free from the foregoing problem since the optical path for guiding the light from the light source to the wave guide is short.
The second technique, however, has the following problem. Hereinafter, the problem that can occur with the second technique will be described in detail. The second technique typically uses a laser diode as the light source. The laser light emitted from a laser diode can be made incident on the waveguide by a technique described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0055762 A1, for example. This publication describes arranging an edge-emitting laser diode with its emission part opposed to the incident end of the waveguide so that the laser light emitted from the emission part is incident on the incident end of the waveguide without the intervention of any optical element. According to this technique, the laser diode is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the laser diode, i.e., the direction of the optical axis of the laser light to be emitted from the emission part, is perpendicular to the end face of the slider where the incident end of the waveguide is located. In such a case, the laser diode needs to be positioned with high precision so that the optical axis of the laser light emitted from the emission part will not tilt with respect to the optical axis of the waveguide. If the optical axis of the laser light emitted from the emission part tilts with respect to the optical axis of the waveguide, the laser light may fail to be delivered to the plasmon antenna with sufficient intensity. When the laser diode is to be arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the laser diode is perpendicular to the end face of the slider where the incident end of the waveguide is located, however, there is a problem that the longitudinal direction of the laser diode can easily tilt with respect to the direction perpendicular to the end face of the slider where the incident end of the waveguide is located, and it is thus difficult to align the laser light with the waveguide.
The laser light emitted from a laser diode may be made incident on the waveguide by other techniques. For example, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0002298 A1, the laser diode may be disposed with its emission part facing the surface of the slider on the trailing side so that the laser light emitted from the emission part is incident on the waveguide from above. This technique facilitates the alignment of the laser light with the waveguide.
Disposing the laser diode on the trailing side of the slider facilitates the alignment of the laser light with the waveguide, as mentioned above. In this case, however, there arises the following problem. Disposing the laser diode on the trailing side of the slider increases the distance from the emission part of the laser diode to the waveguide as compared with the case where the laser diode is disposed with its emission part facing the incident end of the waveguide. Laser light emitted from the emission part of the laser diode increases in diameter with increasing distance from the emission part. Accordingly, if the laser diode is disposed on the trailing side of the slider, part of the laser light fails to be incident on the waveguide due to the increased distance from the emission part of the laser diode to the waveguide. This causes a drop in the amount of the laser light that propagates through the waveguide, thereby reducing the use efficiency of the laser light to be used for generating near-field light. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates generally to a data providing system, a data providing apparatus and method, a data acquisition apparatus and method, and a program storage medium. For example, the present invention is suitably applicable to a data providing system constituted by a data providing apparatus and a camera-mounted digital mobile phone.
Recently, digital mobile phones having electronic mail transfer capabilities are in wide use. Use of these digital mobile phones allows easy transfer of electronic mail also outside home or office, which has been gradually increasing the chances of using electronic mail in daily communication.
Today, a communication service is in practice in which electronic mail originated from digital mobile phones is first sent to a predetermined service server to be attached with advertisements before being received by addressees. In compensation for placing advertisements, the service server discounts the transmission cost for example of electronic mail senders.
However, this service presents a problem that, although this cost reduction service should be provided to those exposed to advertisements, it is provided to the electronic mail senders who are not exposed to advertisements, thereby making it difficult to appropriately provide the advertisement attachment service. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The invention relates to a can for preserving foodstuffs and a process for its manufacture, the body of which is basically cylindrical in shape and has a top and a bottom part permanently affixed to it.
Cans made from tin plate and used for preserving sterilizable foodstuffs over periods of several years have been known now for more than a century.
The metal tin, which provides the corrosion protection for the iron (steel) in tin plate, is one of the chemical elements which occurs in the Earth's crust in very small quantities. The relatively large amount of tin plate used for cans has now led to the situation where tin is already one of the metals giving problems as a result of its lack of abundance. Furthermore, it is also relatively expensive, for example four times as expensive as copper.
Aluminum, which is one of the most abundant elements in the Earth's crust, would be suitable for the manufacture of cans, if the aluminum sheet for this purpose had the same thickness as can material usually has, and would be therefore not significantly more expensive than the conventional cans made of tin plate. Certain plastics would also be suitable for the manufacture of cans, both with respect to mechanical properties and price. What is of disadvantage however in the case of plastic cans is that their physical and chemical structure is permeable to gases and aromas, which means that foodstuffs can not be stored unchanged in plastic cans for extended periods.
It has not been found that it is technically and economically feasible to make cans out of so-called aluminum-plastic composites and that these cans completely fulfil the requirements made of such cans both with respect to price and the preservation of foodstuffs.
The object of the present invention is to provide a can for the preservation of foodstuffs and a process for the manufacture of such cans by means of which the above mentioned disadvantages of the conventional cans are avoided. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to an image capturing unit that is adapted to be built in a tip portion of an electronic endoscope.
Generally, an image capturing unit of an electronic endoscope including a solid-state image capturing element is provided with bonding wires that conduct electricity to a conductive material arranged behind the solid-state image capturing element. The bonding wires are loosely bent in a front space of the solid-state image capturing element and arranged to extend from edges of an image capturing area outwardly. Such an image capturing unit is generally further provided with a transparent cover glass to protect the solid-state image capturing element, which is fixed to a frame of the image capturing unit. Examples of such an image capturing unit are disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos. 2003-100920 and HEI 10-74865.
As an inserted portion of a tip of the endoscope is adapted to be inserted into live bodies, the image capturing unit of the endoscope is required to be downsized by tenths of a millimeter to a minimum extent.
In the image capturing units disclosed in the above-referenced publications, however, outlines of the cover glasses are formed to be greater than an area wherein the bonding wires extend, and the cover glasses are arranged to be substantially spaced from the solid-state image capturing element so that the cover glasses do not become in contact with the bonding wires, as the bonding wires may be deteriorated by the contact.
With this structure, downsizing of an image capturing unit for the electronic endoscope is thus limited and it is difficult to configure a diameter of the tip portion to be considerably small. In such a case, a length of a solid portion of the inserted portion tends to be greater, and thus, fine movements of the inserted portion are restricted. As the movements of the inserted portion are restricted, observation capability of the endoscope may be deteriorated. Further, functionalities of an objective optical system of the endoscope, such as a zooming function, may be prevented from being improved. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Semiconductor memories are used in many electronic systems to store data that may be retrieved at a later time. As the demand has increased for electronic systems to be faster, have greater computing ability, and consume less power, semiconductor memories that may be accessed faster, store more data, and use less power have been continually developed to meet the changing needs. Part of the development includes creating new specifications for controlling and accessing semiconductor memories, with the changes in the specifications from one generation to the next directed to improving performance of the memories in the electronic systems.
Semiconductor memories are generally controlled by providing the memories with command signals, address signals, clock signals. The various signals may be provided by a memory controller, for example. The command signals may control the semiconductor memories to perform various memory operations, for example, a read operation to retrieve data from a memory, and a write operation to store data to the memory. With newly developed memories, the memories may be provided with system clock signals that are used for timing command signals and address signals, for example, and further provided with data clock signals that are used for timing read data provided by the memory and for timing write data provided from the memory.
In typical designs, read data is provided by a memory with known timing relative to receipt of an associated read command by the memory. The known timing is defined by read latency information RL. Similarly, write data is received by a memory with known timing relative to receipt of an associated write command by the memory. The known timing is defined by write latency information WL. The RL information and WL information are typically defined by numbers of clock cycles of system clock signals CK and CKF. For example, RL information may define a RL of 18 clock cycles of the system clock signals (tCKs). As a result, read data will be provided by a memory in 18 tCKs after the read command is received by the memory. The RL information and WL information may be programmed in the memory by a memory controller.
With regards to memory designs using data clock signals, the data clock signals are provided to a memory (e.g., from a memory controller) to synchronize provision of read data or receipt of write data by the memory. The data clock signals are provided according to a specification with a timing relative to receipt of a memory command in order to provide data or receive data to satisfy the RL/WL information. The memory responds to the active data clock signals and provides or receives the data accordingly.
Clock circuits included in a semiconductor memory may be used to generate internal clock signals that are used for performing various operations. For example, some clock circuits may provide multiphase clock signals based on the data clock signals. The multiphase clock signals may be used, for example, for timing the provision and/or receipt of data by the memory. The multiphase clock signals have relative phases with one another (e.g., 90 degrees) and with the data clock signals. In some memories, the clock circuits provide the multiphase clock signals having a phase relationship relative to the data clock signals that is unknown until determined by evaluation of one or more of the multiphase clock signals.
Determination of the phase relationship between the multiphase clock signals and the data clock signals may be required for proper operation of the memory. In such situations, the determination should be made quickly and efficiently so that proper operation of the memory may begin or resume with minimal delay and power consumption. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Message delivery refers to the communication of messages between data communication devices. The messages may include e-mail, instant messages or exchanging documents between two or more data communication devices. Data communication devices generally include any computing device such as a personal computer, laptop, as well as facsimile machines, personal digital assistants or other mobile communication devices. The data communication may be “wireless” or “wired”.
E-mail messages, and particularly wireless e-mail messages, are one of the more popular forms of data communication. E-mail messages are usually sent to more than one recipient. In order to enter multiple recipients, the sender manually inputs the name of each recipient in the “TO”, “CC” or “BCC” address fields of the e-mail message. However, entering multiple recipients, especially for emails that are sent to a large number of recipients, may be a slow and cumbersome task if the user is required to type all of or a portion of the recipient's name. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Recent electronic technologies have conspicuously progressed so that, e.g., miniaturization and/or light weight of electronic equipments can be realized in succession. Followed by this, also for batteries as portable power supply (source), there has been still more increased demand of miniaturization, light weight and high energy density.
Hitherto, as the secondary battery of general use, aqueous solution system batteries such as lead battery, or nickel/cadmium battery, etc. were the main current. These batteries can be satisfied to some extent in the cycle characteristic, but it cannot be said that they have satisfactory characteristic in points of battery weight and the energy density.
On the other hand, studies/developments of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries using lithium or lithium alloy as anode have been extensively carried out in recent years. Such batteries have excellent characteristics of high energy density, small self-discharge and light weight by using, as cathode material, Li contained composite oxide represented by LiCoO2 of high discharge voltage.
However, in non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries using, as anode, lithium or lithium alloy, lithium is crystal-grown in dendrite form at the time of charging followed by development (progress) of the charge/discharge cycle and reaches the cathode so that there results the internal short. In addition, since there results production of dendrite, practical quick charge cannot be carried out. For these drawbacks, realization of practical use became difficult.
As a battery which solves such problem, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries using carbon material as the anode, which are so called lithium ion secondary battery, have been remarked. The lithium ion secondary battery utilizes doping/undoping of lithium into portion between carbon layers as the anode reaction. Even if charge/discharge cycle is developed, precipitation of crystal in dendrite form cannot be observed at the time of charging. Thus, such batteries exhibit satisfactory charge/discharge cycle characteristic.
Meanwhile, there are several carbon materials which can be used as the anode. The material which was first put into practical use is coke or carbon in glass form. These carbon materials are material having low crystallinity obtained by allowing organic material to undergo heat-treatment at relatively low temperature, and has been commercialized as practical battery by using electrolytic solution mainly consisting of propylene carbon (PC). Further, in recent years, when propylene carbon (PC) is used as main solvent, graphite or the like which cannot be used as anode has reached usable level by using electrolytic solution mainly consisting of ethylene carbon (EC).
As the graphite or the like, flaky graphite (the flake of graphite such like a fish) can be relatively easily obtained. Hitherto, such graphite or the like has been widely used as conductive material for alkali battery. This graphite or the like has advantageously high crystallinity and high true density as compared to non-graphitaizable carbon material. Accordingly, if the anode is constituted by the graphite or the like, high electrode filling (packing) ability can be obtained and the energy density of the battery is caused to be high. From this fact, it can be said that the graphite or the like is greatly expected material as the anode material.
On the other hand, in non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries using the carbon material as the anode, material which can be used as its cathode material is Li contained composite oxide represented by LiCoO2.
However, in Li contained composite oxide, unit crystalline lattice was caused to undergo expansion/contraction at the time of charge/discharge operation such that change takes place in the electrode thickness by about 10% at the maximum. Further, also in carbon material used for the anode, the crystalline lattice is expanded by about 10% at the maximum. For this reason, expansion/contraction takes place in the both cathode and anode electrodes every time the charge/discharge cycle is repeated. For this reason, stress is repeatedly applied to the electrode, so the electrode is apt to be broken. Particularly, in the cathode in which the conductivity of the active material itself is low, electron conducting ability (conduction) is lost by breakage. As a result, deterioration becomes conspicuous. In addition, also in the anode mainly containing metal oxide, there exists similar problems. Therefore, their improvements have been required. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to 10,11-dihydro-3-carboxycyproheptadine-N-oxide (1-methyl-1-oxo-4-(3-carboxy-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-yl idene) piperdine) as an appetite stimulant and as an antihistaminic agent; also contemplated within the scope of the present invention are the pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester and amide derivatives of such compound. Further, this invention relates to processes for the preparation of such compounds; to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; and to methods of treatment comprising administering such compounds and compositions when an appetite stimulant and/or antihistamine effect is indicated. The free acid form of the 10,11-dihydro-3-carboxycyproheptadine-N-oxide of the present invention has the following structural formula (I): ##STR1##
Unexpectedly, it has been discovered that the 10,11-dihydro-3-carboxycyproheptadine-N-oxides of the present invention are appetite stimulants and antihistaminics substantially devoid of other pharmacological effects such as anticholinergic activity, which latter activity is so characteristic of compound structurally related to cyproheptadine, including dihydro derivatives thereof. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide 10,11-dihydro-3-carboxycyproheptadine-N-oxide and its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester and amide derivatives as appetite stimulants and antihistaminic agents. It is a further object of this invention to provide processes for the preparation of such compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; and methods of treatment comprising administering such compounds and compositions when an appetite stimulant and/or antihistaminic effect is indicated. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In conventional magnetic recording, thermal instabilities of the stored magnetization in the recording media can cause loss of recorded data. To avoid this, media with high magneto-crystalline anisotropy (Ku) are required. However, increasing Ku also increases the coercivity of the media, which can exceed the write field capability of the write head. Since it is known that the coercivity of the magnetic material of the recording layer is temperature dependent, one proposed solution to the thermal stability problem is thermally-assisted recording (TAR), also called heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), wherein high-Ku magnetic recording material is heated locally during writing to lower the coercivity enough for writing to occur, but where the coercivity/anisotropy is high enough for thermal stability of the recorded bits at the ambient temperature of the disk drive (i.e., the normal operating or “room” temperature of approximately 15-30° C.). In some proposed TAR systems, the magnetic recording material is heated to near or above its Curie temperature. The recorded data is then read back at ambient temperature by a conventional magnetoresistive read head. TAR disk drives have been proposed for both conventional continuous media, wherein the magnetic recording material is a continuous layer on the disk, and for bit-patterned media (BPM), wherein the magnetic recording material is patterned into discrete data islands or “bits”.
One type of proposed TAR disk drive uses a laser source and an optical waveguide coupled to a near-field transducer (NFT) for heating the recording material on the disk. A “near-field” transducer refers to “near-field optics”, wherein the passage of light is through an element with subwavelength features and the light is coupled to a second element, such as a substrate like a magnetic recording medium, located a subwavelength distance from the first element. The NFT is typically located at the air-bearing surface (ABS) of the air-bearing slider that also supports the read/write head and rides or “files” above the disk surface.
A NFT with a generally triangular output end is described in US published applications 20110096639 and 20110170381, both assigned to the same assignee as this application. In this NFT an evanescent wave generated at a surface of the waveguide couples to surface plasmons excited on the surface of the NFT 74 and a strong optical near-field is generated at the apex of the triangular output end.
What is needed is a TAR head with improved efficiency of the NFT so as to reduce the required laser power. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium, and more particularly to a high density recording medium having excellent physical and electromagnetic conversion characteristics.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As ferromagnetic powders which have been employed for magnetic recording media, there are, for instance, .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Co-containing .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4, Co-containing Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 and CrO.sub.2. However, the magnetic characteristics of these ferromagnetic powders, such as the coercive force and the maximum residual magnetic flux density, are inadequate for high density recording with high sensitivity, and they are not suitable for magnetic recording of a signal having a short recording wavelength of at most about 1 .mu.m or for magnetic recording with a narrow track width.
As the requirements for such magnetic recording media have become to be severe, ferromagnetic powders having characteristics suitable for high density recording have been developed or proposed. As such magnetic powders, there may be mentioned metals or alloys such as Fe, Co, Fe-Co, Fe-Co-Ni and Co-Ni, or alloys of these materials with Al, Cr or Si. A magnetic recording layer employing such an alloy powder is required to have a high coercive force and a high residual magnetic flux density for the purpose of the high density recording, and it is required to select a process for the preparation or an alloy composition so that the above-mentioned magnetic powder meets these requirements.
The present inventors have prepared magnetic recording media by employing various alloy powders, and have found that a magnetic recording medium with a noise level being sufficiently low and suitable for high density short wave recording is obtainable when the specific surface area as measured by BET method is at least 48 m.sup.2 /g, the coercive force of the magnetic layer is at least 1000 Oe, and the surface roughness of the magnetic layer is at most 0.08 .mu.m as a R.sub.20 value (an average value of 20 values as measured by Talystep method of Taylor-Hobson Co. by means of a needle of 0.1.times.2.5 .mu.m under a needle pressure of 2 mg and with a cut off of 0.17 mm).
On the other hand, magnetic recording media having a thin ferromagnetic metal layer formed on a plastic base film have recently been used for the same purpose of high density recording.
A thin ferromagnetic metal layer formed by electroplating, chemical plating, vacuum vapor-deposition, sputtering or ion plating, is composed of 100% metal or alloy, and thus is capable of having a high recording density. However, when a thin ferromagnetic metal layer is formed by such a method, the surface condition of the substrate gives a substantial effect on the surface condition of the thin ferromagnetic layer, and thus affects the electromagnetic conversion characteristics, although the surface roughness can be thereby minimized to a level of 0.01 .mu.m.
Besides, in either one of these magnetic recording media, there is a trend that the thickness of the substrate such as a plastic base film made of e.g. polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyimide or polyamide, becomes thinner. At present, a thickness of 11 .mu.m or less is being studied. As the base film becomes thinner, the medium tends to be so flexible that the friction will increase, and the tape running tends to be difficult. Therefore, it has been desired to improve the stiffness of the base film and thereby to regain the good running property. As a method for improving the running property, it has been proposed to provide a top coating on the magnetic surface. In such a case, however, there has been a problem such that the lubricating agent on the top coating is not durable, or gives rise to stickiness during storage under a high temperature condition. Further, when a top coating is provided, the surface roughness of the magnetic layer is minimum, whereby adhesion due to the tightening of the tape winding is likely to result, such being undesirable.
It has been common to provide a backing layer instead of the top coating, to ensure smooth running, proper winding and adequate tape strength. However, the properties of the conventional magnetic tapes provided with a backing layer are not necessarily satisfactory, and the following problems have been pointed out.
(a) A decrease of the S/N ratio as a result of providing the backing layer.
(b) Occurrence of a cinching phenomenon due to an inclusion of air.
(c) Abrasion of the backing layer.
(d) A magnetic tape for a long hour operation being susceptible to a damage during the loading or unloading operation.
(e) Defective winding of a magnetic tape. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to social networking, and more particularly to social network device memberships, resource allocation, and related services and communications.
2. Related Art
The popularity and growth of social network sites and services has increased dramatically over the last few years. Existing social network sites include Facebook, Google+, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, LinkedIn, Flicker, Jaiku, MYUBO, Bebo and the like. Such social networking sites are typically organized around user profiles and/or collections of content accessible by members of the network. Membership in such social networks is comprised of individuals, or groupings of individuals, who are generally represented by profile pages and permitted to interact as determined by the social networking service.
In many popular social networks, especially profile-focused social networks, activity centers on web pages or social spaces that enable members to communicate and share activities, interests, opinions, status updates, audio/video content, etc. across networks of contacts. Social networking services might also allow members to track certain activities of other members of the social network, collaborate, locate and connect with former acquaintances and colleagues, and establish new connections with other members.
While social networks are usually comprised of individuals, members might also include companies, restaurants, political parties and event profiles that are represented in a like manner to human members (e.g., profile pages accessible by members of a social network). Individual members typically connect to social networking services through existing web-based platforms via a computing device and/or mobile smartphone. Smartphone and games-based mobile social networking services are other rapidly developing areas.
Social media is often utilized as a method of facilitating a variety of social interactions. When a person meets someone in a social or business setting, for example, that person may desire to exchange a variety of contact information. In addition, a person may desire to provide differing sets of information to different acquaintances (e.g., business contacts, family members, friends, and visitors). Such contact information may include one or more of a person's phone numbers, email addresses; and web page addresses, twitter handles, blog addresses, social network (SNET) handles, VoIP/video call handles, etc. When a change occurs to contact information, it is presently very difficult to convey the information to all other members and member devices, both within and without social networks.
Often, a visitor to a location, network, or the like is granted access to a location, business network, and possibly to a social networking environment, cloud applications, or cloud media content. Such grants are often virtually unlimited in duration and scope. In addition, a social group has a variety of mechanisms for establishing contact with another member, member device, or member device service, including, for example, telephone numbers, IP or other routing addresses, VoIP/video call handles, twitter handles, other SNET handles, blogs, web page addresses, email addresses, etc. When a change the above occurs, it may be difficult to convey the information to all other members and member devices. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wall construction such as used in frame building construction exterior walls and the like.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Prior wall structures have usually employed wooden studding with flat outer and inner surfaces and have located the insulating board or sheathing and the lath and plaster or dry wall directly against the flat surfaces of the studding as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,482,918 and 3,318,056. The first of these patents utilizes insulation positioned in the cavities between the studding and the second provides grooved surfaces in the insulating board or sheathing and the constructions of both patents permit a relatively free heat transfer between the lath and plaster or dry wall on the interior of the studding and the insulating board or sheathing on the exterior of the studding. U.S. Pat. No. 2,118,237 provides minute transverse grooves in the interior and exterior surfaces of the studding and U.S. Pat. No. 2,410,922 attempts to space both the interior and exterior wall materials by forming outwardly facing dimples in the sides of metal studding against which the wall materials are positioned.
The present invention provides an exterior load bearing wall wherein the inner wall material, such as lath and plaster or dry wall, is supported in flat contact with the studding so as to enable heat from the interior lath and plaster or dry wall to move outwardly into the studding and heat the cavity in the wall defined between the studding. The transfer of the heat by the studding to the exterior insulated wall board or sheathing and siding is prevented by the contouring of the exterior surface of the studding through the formation of a plurality of closely spaced transverse scallops therein. The exterior insulating board and its siding therefore remain at exterior temperature and the inner lath and plaster or dry wall remain at room temperature with the cavities defined by the studding in the wall being warmed by the heat flow through the studding which act as heating fins therein. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic blackboard (hereinafter “board”), more particularly, to an electronic board that comprises a polarizing film comprising a plastic film with high hardness that may replace a cover plate.
This application is a National Stage Entry of International Application No. PCT/KR2015/001662, filed on Feb. 17, 2015, and claims the benefit of and priority to Korean Application No. 10-2014-0020288, filed on Feb. 21, 2014 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0024301, filed on Feb. 17, 2015, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A display device is a device that treats an image data input from the outside or an image data stored inside by various processes and displays as an image on a display panel or screen, and it may be variously realized in the form of a TV, a monitor, a portable media player and the like according to the purpose. With the development of technology, various functions are added and reinforced to the display device, and for example, it may be realized in the form of an electronic board.
An electronic board is a board capable of interactively communicating with a computer, such as signalizing written contents contacted on the surface of a display device to directly realize as an image on the display device, and is currently developed in various forms.
In the case of a thin display device such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic electroluminescent device generally used in an electronic board, a cover plate consisting of glass or tempered glass is installed on the surface so as to protect a display from external impact or scratch and the like, and recently, with the rapid development of devices including a touch function such as a smart phone or a tablet PC, standards for durability and abrasion resistance required for a display device is increasingly rising.
However, in the case of a cover plate made of glass material that was generally used in an electronic board in the prior art, since the weight and the thickness are significant, it is not suitable for a thinning and weight-lightening tendency, and it has a problem of being easily broken by external impact.
Thus, ways to replace a cover plate using plastic resin that is easy to make weight-light and infrangible are being studied. However, in order to improve hardness of a plastic film to a level capable of replacing glass, the thickness of a resin layer should be above a certain thickness, for example, 50 μm, or 70 μm, or 100 μm, but a plastic resin layer has problems in that curl or bending due to cure shrinkage may be easily generated as the thickness increases, and cracks may be generated with the curing of the resin layer.
Accordingly, there is a need for development of technology capable of weight-lightening and thinning a device while affording excellent durability and abrasion resistance so as to realize a touch function in a large scale display such as an electronic board and the like. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The discovery of a vast number of disease biomarkers and the establishment of miniaturized medical systems have opened up new avenues for the prediction, diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of diseases in a point-of-care setting. Point-of-care systems can rapidly deliver test results to medical personnel, other medical professionals and patients. Early diagnosis of a disease or disease progression can allow medical personnel to begin or modify therapy in a timely manner.
Multiplexed biomarker measurement can provide additional knowledge of the condition of a patient. For example, when monitoring the effects of a drug, three or more biomarkers can be measured in parallel. Typically, microtiter plates and other similar apparatuses have been used to perform multiplexed separation-based assays. A microtiter plate (for example, a 384 well microtiter plate) can perform a large number of assays in parallel.
In a Point-of-Care (POC) device, the number of assays that can be performed in parallel is often limited by the size of the device and the volume of the sample to be analyzed. In many POC devices, the number assays performed is about 2 to 10. A POC device capable of performing multiplexed assays on a small sample would be desirable.
A shortcoming of many multiplexed POC assay devices is the high cost of manufacturing the components of the device. If the device is disposable, the high cost of the components can make the manufacturing of a POC device impractical. Further, for multiplexed POC devices that incorporate all of the necessary reagents onboard of the device, if any one of those reagents exhibit instability, an entire manufactured lot of devices may have to be discarded even if all the other reagents are still usable.
When a customer is interested in a customizing a POC device to a particular set of analytes, manufacturers of multiplexed POC assay systems are often confronted with a need to mix-and-match the assays and reagents of the device. A multiplexed POC assay suitable to each customer can be very expensive, difficult to calibrate, and difficult to maintain quality control.
POC methods have proven to be very valuable in monitoring disease and therapy (for example, blood glucose systems in diabetes therapy, Prothrombin Time measurement in anticoagulant therapy using Warfarin). By measuring multiple markers, it is believed that complex diseases (such as cancer) and therapies such as multi-drug therapy for cancer can be better monitored and controlled. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A computer system can be generally divided into four components: the hardware, the operating system, the application programs and the users. The hardware (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), memory and input/output (I/O) devices) provides the basic computing resources. The application programs (e.g., database systems, games, business programs (database systems, etc.) define the ways in which these resources are used to solve computing problems. The operating system controls and coordinates the use of the hardware resources among the various application programs for the various users. In doing so, one goal of the operating system is to make the computer system convenient to use. A secondary goal is to use the hardware in an efficient manner.
The Unix operating system is one example of an operating system that is currently used by many enterprise computer systems. Unix was designed to be a time-sharing system, with a hierarchical file system, which supported multiple processes. A process is the execution of a program and consists of a pattern of bytes that the CPU interprets as machine instructions (text), data and stack. A stack defines a set of hardware registers or a reserved amount of main memory that is used for arithmetic calculations.
The Unix operating system consists of two separable parts: the “kernel” and the “system programs.” Systems programs consist of system libraries, compilers, interpreters, shells and other such programs that provide useful functions to the user. The kernel is the central controlling program that provides basic system facilities. The Unix kernel creates and manages processes, provides functions to access file-systems, and supplies communications facilities.
The Unix kernel is the only part of Unix that a user cannot replace. The kernel also provides the file system, CPU scheduling, memory management and other operating-system functions by responding to “system-calls.” Conceptually, the kernel is situated between the hardware and the users. System calls are used by the programmer to communicate with the kernel to extract computer resource information. The robustness of the Unix kernel allows system hardware and software to be dynamically configured to the operating system while applications programs are actively functional without having to shut-down the underlying computer system.
The kernel and system programs consist of a machine-code representation of programs developed in a higher-level language, such as C, C++, or assembly language. These programs make use of data structures—a structured grouping of program data, the order and composition of which are essential to understanding the data structures. This ordering and composition information is used during a compilation process—the translation of programs from high-level languages to machine code. During the compilation of optimized code, such as that used for the Unix kernel and system programs, the ability to easily extract this information from the resulting program objects or modules objects is lost.
As computers become networked and the addition of a variety of applications to the computer network become a mainstay of many computing environments, the relationship between the operating system and user applications have become a critical component in determining the right user interfaces to these applications to encourage the ease of use while ensuring system integrity and efficiency. In recent times, many computing devices have being adding various programs to diversify the applicability of the tradition computing notion to new devices. One of such programs is speech recognition programs that operate within the operating system's speech subsystem.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustration of an exemplary prior art computer system 100 that is configurable to perform speech recognition in a network connected applications based on speech recognition grammars stored in either a network connected server or in a network connected client device. As shown in FIG. 1, the computer communication network 100 includes a speech server having speech recognition grammar stored in it and networked connected applications 130 communicatively linked to each other through the computer network system 100. The computer network system 100 further includes central processing unit 110, memory 120, applications 130, operating system 150, storage device 160 and I/O device 170.
The computer system 100 can also include audio circuitry 180 suitable for receiving and processing analog audio signals into digitized speech data for use in a speech recognition system. The audio circuitry 180 also can be used to synthesize digital speech data into analog speech signals. Thus, the audio circuitry 180 can be used in the same fashion as a convention sound card. The speech server 140 has a grammar recognition grammar stored in it and applications 130.
An exemplary operation of the grammar speech recognition module 140 is described in “Ruback, Harvey M.; et al., U.S. patent application, entitled “Selective enablement of speech recognition grammars” Serial No.: 20030046074, filed on Jun. 15, 2001. To the extent not repeated herein, the contents of this patent application are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The computer system 100 is further connected to an external storage device 160 and to an external drive device 170 through which computer programs can be loaded into computer system 100. The external storage device 160 and external drive 170 are connected to the computer system 100 through respective bus lines. The computer system 100 further includes main memory 130 and processor 110. The drive 170 can be a computer program product reader such a floppy disk drive, an optical scanner, a CD-ROM device, etc.
FIG. 1 additionally shows memory 130 including a kernel level memory. Memory 130 can be virtual memory which is mapped onto physical memory including RAM or a hard drive, for example. In the computer system described in FIG. 1, programmers add speech recognition to their applications by manually modifying the speech recognition source code in the speech recognition system 140. This often involves a fair amount of development work and can be problematic.
These manual speech recognition source code operations, which are essential for enabling speech recognition in the computer system 100, results in programmers spending more time interacting with the speech recognition subsystem 140 rather than concentrating on developing better speech user interfaces. Furthermore, in the computer system shown in FIG. 1, the speech subsystem 140 automatically “speechifies” an application by using methods such as remote object models or pre-programmed speech grammar stored in the speech subsystem 140. This results in user interfaces tending to be stiff and difficult to use and uncompelling to users because they provide limited customization of grammar phrases the user may use.
The prior art system in FIG. 1, generally performs object-specific operations and further limits the ability for the user to perform application specific speech recognition operations. The system shown in FIG. 1, further does not allow user to generate grammar profiles for applications via a software analysis of the application. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Assessment of tumor margin during surgery is essential to the optimal outcome of many oncologic procedures. Tumor margins are the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor, more specifically, the distance between the tumor tissue and the edge of the surrounding tissue removed along with the tumor. Ideally, the margins are selected so that the risk of leaving tumor tissue within the patient is low.
Fluorescence image-guided systems can be used in conjunction with a series of imaging agents to visualize tumor margins during surgical procedures for cancer removal. However, in many cancer surgeries deep surgical cavities with closed spaces and hidden linings pose significant challenges for the use of over-head imaging systems. This is particularly true for breast-conserving surgeries and treatments of head and neck cancers. Discharging bio-fluids and small fields of view also can compromise the utility of handheld fluorescence devices for margin assessment at the surgical cavity. Therefore, intraoperative diagnosis on resected surgical samples promises to be a more effective means for margin assessment in many surgical cancer treatment applications. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dual-image flat display device, and more particularly, to a dual-image flat display device only comprising a single display panel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With technology development, liquid crystal display devices have been widely applied to various kinds of electric appliances, consumer products and information products, which provide more convenient and colorful display images and interfaces. In order to cater for the demand for a variety of display products in the market, the industry begins on developing a single display device that concurrently shows two or more image pictures (or image frames). Taking a flat television for instance, Picture-In-Picture (PIP) or Picture-Out-Picture (POP) technology has been developed currently and can display different image pictures on the same television screen, such as enabling the television screen to display a main image picture with a full-screen size and display a minor image picture with a small size, which is smaller than a quarter of full screen and positioned on the right-bottom corner of the television screen. Accordingly, different users would see the contents of the main image picture and the minor image picture according to personal favor or demand. However, under such design, a part of main image picture would be shielded by the minor image picture, and the minor image picture with much smaller size influences the clarity and integrality of the information received by viewers.
Thus, how to enable a single flat display device or a flat display panel to concurrently display two or different images with full-screen sizes so as to provide different image pictures for different viewers at the same time. The industry still can't successfully develop a concrete, feasible and low-cost structure of dual-image flat display and a practice method thereof until now. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In recent years, due to the improvement of food lives and development of the medical technologies, the life spans of human beings have been prolonged and aged population has increased rapidly. It is most important for the aged to regularly exercise every day in order to maintain healthy lives for the rest of their lives. The aged persons who can move freely can do light exercises regularly while going to nearby mineral springs at daybreak every day or strolling around the villages. However, it is dangerous and difficult for the aged persons who cannot move freely due to the old ages or diseases to do exercise outdoor.
Further, for rehabilitation patients who cannot move well due to various industrial accidents, traffic accidents, or strokes, doing regular rehabilitation exercises for predetermined time periods every day are the best methods for recovering the previous heath states. Although a robot type walking exercise device that fixes a body to allow the user to do an upright walking exercise has been released, it is so high-priced to be purchased. Further, an exercise device that allows the aged or disabled or the rehabilitation patients to fix the body to the exercise device to safely do walking exercises.
The aged have functional differences due to the aging of the body functions as compared with the young. The functional differences include a body reaction time, a delay, degradation of cognitive skills, deterioration of sense of equilibrium. For this reason, the walking velocity, the step length, the walking frequency, the decrease of the joint motion range and the angular speed, and the sense of equilibrium of the aged are limited.
The abnormal walking of the aged is a main cause of hampering activities of daily living (ADL), and causes falls so that they become positive to social participation due to the fear of movement. Therefore, a walking rehabilitation of the aged is necessary to improve the quality of lift (QOL) of the aged.
In order to recover the walking functions of the aged, muscular forces should be maintained and improved through exercises. To achieve this, a suitable rehabilitation program should be established by recognizing the characteristics of the walking of the walkers, and a systematic and repetitive training should be executed through this. In order to perform rehabilitation training, assistant systems that the aged may rely on are widely used. The assistant systems may easily realize repetitive operations, and support the postures of patients instead, thereby increasing stability and training effects. Actually, the cases in which the rehabilitation using the assistant systems show effects in the upper aim rehabilitation treatments and the neural rehabilitation treatments, and the rehabilitation medical world have interests in treatments using the assistant systems.
An example of such technologies is disclosed in the following patent document and non-patent documents.
For example, Patent Document 1 (Korean Patent No. 10-0623417 (registered on Sep. 6, 2006)) discloses a walking assistant apparatus for old persons and rehabilitation patients including: a lower body having a plurality of legs installed on the left, right, front and rear sides thereof, and a horizontal frame connecting upper ends of the legs while being curved in a channel type a rear side of which is opened; an upper body having at least one pair of vertical frames arranged on the left and right sides and lower ends of which are coupled to opposite ends of the horizontal frame to be detachable from the horizontal frame and such that the heights thereof may be adjusted, and a plurality of connecting frames arranged on the left and right sides and connecting the front sides of the vertical frames corresponding to each other; and a safety fixing member connected to the upper body such that a walker may put on the safety fixing member, wherein the safety fixing member is detachably connected to the upper by four or more fixing members.
Further, Patent document 2 (Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-0064571 (published on Jun. 19, 2012)) discloses a walking assistant robot control apparatus including a sensor unit configured to detect an input electromyogram and analyze the detected electromyogram signal, a signal generating unit configured to generates a walking signal according to a change degree of contraction of muscles through the analyzed electromyogram signal, and a control unit configured to control a walking assistant robot by using a walking signal.
Further, because the rehabilitation using a robot shows effective cases in the upper aim rehabilitation treatments and the neural rehabilitation treatments, the rehabilitation medical world having great interests in the treatment using robots. For example, the following non-patent document (J. Perry and J. Burnfield, Gait Analysis: Normal and Pathological Function, 2nd Edition, SLACK Incorporated, 2010.) discloses a technology of designing a controller configured to be operated according to the walking of the user for walking rehabilitation using a robot.
However, in the prior art, because it is difficult to accurately estimate the step length of a walker, it is impossible to drive the walking assistant device according to the walking of the walker. That is, it is important to perform a walking rehabilitation according to the walking of the walker, and according to the related art, it is impossible to control the assistant system according to the walking of the walker.
Further, the estimation of a joint angle of a knee-joint according to the related art includes a method using a pressure sensing resistor (FSR) on the bottom of a foot, a method using an angle or angular speed sensor (an inclination sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a gyro sensor), and a method using a vision system, but it is difficult to estimate a gate phase in a time series scheme. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Dependable systems are characterized by their level of fault tolerance, safety, and reliability, amongst others. While those terms are often used in the literature interchangeably, there are profound differences among them. For example, reliability deals with component failures and their impact on the system availability. Failed components could conceivably cause unsafe system conditions, not necessarily due to the failure itself, but because of lack of sufficient constraints around the conditions caused by the failure.
Safety, on the other hand, is a control and or data related issue. Unsafe conditions occur because of lack of sufficient control within the system. Insufficient or invalid data could also create unsafe conditions.
The question as how to deal with an unsafe condition or a fault condition depends on the application and type of fault. In some control applications, a failsafe state is reached by shutting down the system or part of it when a critical fault occurs. Determining the root cause of the problem may not be the primary goal to reach, because as long as the system safely shuts down following a fault condition, that may be sufficient for failsafe operation. In other applications, system shut down is not necessarily a feasible solution. Instead, a set of actions ensuring transition to a safe operational condition is required.
Fault tolerance has traditionally been associated with defining a level of redundancy for the system components and/or connectivity between those components. While that has proved to be essential for safety-critical systems, it is a solution tailored mostly towards overcoming reliability problems and, in some cases, data related issues. Redundancy can be applied at both the hardware and software levels. Exemplary software failsafe techniques include complement data read/write, checksum comparison, redundant coding and orthogonal coding. The effectiveness of redundancy solutions on problems originating from the lack of sufficient control on system operation is quite debatable. That is because the lack of proper control laws must be the same in both primary and secondary systems. Furthermore, redundant solutions can only be made for those sources of problems that are known in advance.
Fault Analysis at Design & System Testing Stage
A common approach to develop fault tolerant or safe systems has been for the design team to spend an extensive amount of time and effort at the control system design stage, followed by extensive testing and validation after the system is built. There are a number of semi-formal techniques, mainly borrowed from reliability engineering, that can facilitate the above analysis. Examples include FTA (Fault Tree Analysis) and FEMA (Fault modes and effect analysis). FTA is a deductive technique used to identify the specific causes of potential undesirable conditions. The top event in the tree is a previously known potential condition. In principle, it is similar to backward diagnosis which utilizes a backward chaining logic in order to determine the sequence of events and conditions leading to a given failure. Such techniques are described, for example, in the following: D. Swaroop, “String Stability of Interconnected Systems,” PhD thesis, the University of California, Berkeley, 1994; S. Lapp and G. Powers, “Computer-aided Synthesis of Fault Trees,” IEEE Transaction of Reliability Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 2-13, April 1977; A. Misra, “Sensor-Based Diagnosis of Dynamical Systems,” PhD thesis, Vanderbilt University, 1994; R. De Vries, “An Automated Methodology for Generating A Fault Tree,” IEEE Transaction of Reliability, Vol. 39, pp. 76-86, 1990; and M. Sampath, “A Discrete Event Systems Approach to Failure Diagnosis,” PhD thesis, University of Michigan, 1995.
FEMA is an inductive analysis technique used to identify and evaluate potential undesirable conditions, and to determine control actions to eliminate or reduce the risk of those conditions. Another approach is the forward diagnosis approach, where state hypotheses are made in the model and updated according to current events and sensor readings until a conclusion is made. That approach is described by M. Steinder and A. S. Sethi, “Probabilistic fault diagnosis in communication systems through incremental hypothesis updating,” Computer Networks 45, 2004; A. Misra, “Sensor-Based Diagnosis of Dynamical Systems,” PhD thesis, Vanderbilt University, 1994; and P. Zhao, A. Amini, M. A. Jafari, “A Failure/Fault Diagnoser Model for Autonomous Agents under Presence of Disturbances,” IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, 2006.
In the last decade there has been considerable R&D work on establishing more formal approaches to safety, fault and hazard analysis, but from a control perspective. One example is the work performed by an MIT group, described, for example, in N. Leveson, “A Systems-Theoretic Approach to Safety in Software—Intensive Systems,” IEEE Trans. on Dependable and Secure Computing (2005). The main thrust of that work is to minimize software faults and hazards at the design stage by formalizing software requirements, simulating and analyzing the design prior to implementation. In STAMP (Systems-Theoretic Accident Modeling and Process) methodology developed by that team, the cause of an accident, instead of being understood in terms of a series of failure events, is viewed to be the result of a lack of constraints imposed on system design and operations. STAMP uses concrete models of the underlying processes. It is assumed that any controller, human or automated, must contain a model of the system being controlled. Whether the model is embedded in the control logic of an automated controller or in the mental model of a human controller, it must contain the same type of information: the required relationship among the system variables (the control laws), the current state (the current values of the system variables), and the ways the process can change state. Accidents, particularly system accidents, are then viewed as inconsistencies between the model of the process used by the controllers (both human and automated) and the actual process state. The above methodology is now in use in some application areas, such as aerospace and aeronautics.
A similar paradigm has also been promoted by a different research community working on event driven systems modeling, such as Petri nets, NCES, temporal logic, and other state/transition systems. Generally speaking, a single model of the controlled closed loop behavior of the system is used, containing both the underlying process and the control actions. Through the analysis and evaluation of that model, one can identify, a priori, the undesirable states potentially reachable by the system. For instance, using Petri net theory, one can mathematically establish such conditions as un-boundedness, different levels of liveness, some deadlock conditions, etc. A comprehensive review of those methodologies is presented in L. E. Pinzon, H. M. Hanisch, M. A. Jafari and T. O. Boucher, “A Comparative Study of Synthesis Methods for Discrete Event Controllers,” Journal of Formal Methods in System Design, Vol. 15, No. 2, 1999.
While each stand alone agent (or system component or controller) is simpler to design and control, developing a safe and dependable distributed multi-agent system is far challenging than its centralized counterpart, due to the distributed nature of information and control. For distributed fault analysis, one must deal with a number of major issues: a) Which agent should initiate the fault detection/diagnosis? b) What information should be exchanged? How should the exchange proceed? Which agents should be involved? c) How should the same fault be avoided in the future? d) What information must be kept for avoidance, prevention or recovery in the future?
The extension of failure analysis to distributed systems has been done in the literature in two ways. First, centralized control is directly extended to distributed systems so that each agent has its own local analysis engine, while there is also a global coordinator that communicates with the local ones when necessary. Each agent is assigned a set of observable events, and it locally processes its own observation and generates its diagnostic information. Some of that information is then communicated to the global coordinator as needed. The type of information communicated is determined by the communication rules used by the agents. The task of the coordinator is to process the messages received from each agent, and to make proper inferences on the occurrences of failures, according to some prescribed decision rules. An example of the first approach is presented in R. Debouk, “Failure Diagnosis of Decentralized Discrete-Event Systems,” PhD thesis, University of Michigan, 2000.
In the second approach each agent receives and processes locally and from its neighbors. That approach is more suitable for distributed systems, but it can hardly outperform the centralized one, since none of the agents can have more information than the coordinator in the first approach. Examples of that approach include Y. Pencole, “Decentralized diagnoser approach: Application to telecommunication network,” in Proc. of DX 2000, Eleventh International Workshop on Principles of Diagnosis, pp. 185-193, June 2000; and R. Sengupta, “Diagnosis and Communication in Distributed Systems,” in Proc. of WODES 1998, International Workshop on Discrete Event Systems, pp. 144-151, Published by IEE, London, England, August 1998.
Online, Run Time Fault Analysis
The above approaches, though pro-active, assume that fault or undesirable conditions are determined in advance, either at the design or testing stage. The problem is that, in practice, very often the balance between the economics and safety or fault tolerance becomes important. Hence, design and pre-programming almost certainly concludes with not having included all the possible fault conditions. It is arguably true that for a reasonably complex system the problem of identifying all the fault conditions is “un-decidable.” Furthermore, in many real-life applications and especially in complex distributed systems, the occurrence of faults is often time-dependent, with their likelihood changing with the system's operational schedule. Furthermore, faults may occur due to inadequate coordination among different controllers or decision makers, including unexpected side effects of decisions or conflicting control actions. Communication flaws and invalid data could also play an important role in the occurrence of faults, with many of those circumstances quite difficult to predict in advance.
A recent alternative to the above approach has been to address safety issues in an “online” basis as faults occur. The majority of the work in that area has been in computing and computer networking. Examples include the concept of autonomic computing by IBM and the work done by the researchers at the Berkeley/Stanford Recovery Oriented Computing (ROC) Laboratory. The common underlying assumption in that work is that there is no way to prevent obscure and unexpected faults from happening, and not all those faults can be identified at the design stage. Autonomic computing refers to building computer hardware/software and networks that can adapt to changes in their environment, strive to improve their performance, heal when damaged, defend themselves against attackers, anticipate users' actions, etc. The work by the ROC lab centers around a similar concept but for distributed systems by making the system more adaptable to its environment, so that faults can be promptly detected, efficiently contained, and recovered from without requiring the whole system to shut down.
The online approaches improve system dependability by embedding a high level of intelligence into the system control. The potential non-determinism, however, in terms of response time and outcome, could arguably make those approaches unworkable for safety-critical applications. On the other hand, relying only on a pre-programmed automation, with some level of fault tolerance determined at the design or testing stage, will not make systems immune to unexpected faults and hazards, as many real life incidents have shown in the past. Therefore, it is the inventors' belief that in order to maximize system safety and dependability, one must take a hybrid approach: i) pro-actively attempt to identify as many fault and undesirable conditions as possible at design and system testing stages; and ii) embed some reasonable level of intelligence into the control system so that when a fault occurs, it is effectively detected and appropriate remedies are made at run time.
There is one more reason to justify the online approach. Suppose it is technologically possible to build a simulation of the underlying “plant” normative and disruptive dynamic behavior (to the extent known in advance). In the assumed distributed system, the plant model will be a network of individual agent models. Now suppose that the simulation includes an initial control design (call it “first level of approximation”) and have it work in closed loop with the simulated plant model. Assuming that the simulation runs for a sufficient amount of time, it should be possible to observe some unknown fault conditions. Now if the controller has embedded in it, the intelligence proposed by the inventors herein, it should be possible to detect, diagnose and avoid the observed fault conditions. With every newly discovered major fault condition, the control system is up-graded to a higher level of approximation.
There is therefore presently a need to provide a highly effective framework for fault detection and fault avoidance in multi-controller industrial control systems. To the inventors' knowledge, no such technique is currently available. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a semiconductor device capable of improving mounting reliability and to a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, high-density integration and miniaturization technology of semiconductor devices has been progressed, and electronic appliances tend to be more miniaturized, light-weighted, and have higher performance. Due to these facts, semiconductor devices are increasingly accelerated to have higher-density integration and higher functionality, such as the ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) in LSI (Large Scale Integration). In such semiconductor devices with high-density integration and high functionality, the total number of external terminals (pins) and the layout of more terminals (pins) are being required to be increased.
Examples of such semiconductor devices are semiconductor packages that include IC chips, LSI chips, or other semiconductor chips mounted on a lead frame and sealed with dielectric-resin. As these semiconductor packages, types that are thin and have small mounting area such as QFN (Quad-Flat No-lead) packages and SON (Small Outline No-lead) packages are known. The resin-sealed types of semiconductor devices, called BGAs (Ball Grid Arrays), that are surface-mounted types of packages with solder balls serving as external terminals of the package, are also mass-produced. In addition, semiconductor devices called LGAs (Land Grid Arrays) are present as another surface-mounted type of packages. In LGAs, matrix-formed planar electrodes are provided as external terminals thereof instead of the solder balls provided in a BGA.
Examples of these conventional semiconductor devices are described in, for example, JP-A-8-227964 (1996) and JP-A-8-138988 (1996).
The semiconductor integrated circuit device disclosed in JP-A-8-227964 includes a lead frame with a circular outline and leads extending radially from a die pad disposed centrally. According to JP-A-8-227964, this conventional semiconductor-integrated circuit device has high mounting reliability for a gull-wing lead package. However, this conventional circuit device does not meet the needs of recent years for the thinning-down and downsizing of packages.
In addition, although JP-A-8-138988 describes a package including a chip of a polygonal shape with at least six sides (or of a circular shape), it is considered to be difficult to fabricate such a polygonal or circular chip.
Recently, compact semiconductor devices of lead frame types (QFN, SON, LGA, etc.), for example, are being required to have further improved mounting reliability. When a semiconductor is used in a high-temperature environment, for example in an automobile, thermal stresses are applied to the semiconductor device. Mounting reliability against such thermal stresses is particularly expected to be further improved by bringing a thermal expansion coefficient of the semiconductor device close to that of its mounting substrate.
Meanwhile, the semiconductor package of a BGA type semiconductor device disclosed in JP-A-2001-230338 has an insulating substrate formed in a circular shape so that the stresses do not concentrate at corners, and instead be applied equally according to the distance from the center. This BGA type of semiconductor device is enhanced in reliability against thermal shocks and other environmental changes. However, when mounting reliability against thermal stresses is to be further improved, such construction may be insufficient. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Popular injection devices are inexpensive devices with a deformable plastic container filled with a medicine and used in place of piston syringes. Such devices, as described for example, in application WO 93/09826, used as a prototype, contain a needle pressed into a housing of a device, the passage of which connects with a cavity of a plastic container. By squeezing the plastic container, a medicine runs under pressure into a patient's body.
The drawback of these devices is the possibility of their uncontrollable reuse. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a control valve structure for an oxygen machine, and more particularly to a pair of valve rods activated by a disc of a motor to control air passages.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional oxygen maker on the market uses an air compressor to suck air and to filter the air in the compressor before providing it to a user. The basic design is to suck air from outside into the compressor, and then filter the air to produce oxygen.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,260 discloses a pair of electromagnetic valves of an air inlet control valve to control two pistons in the control valve to move in sequence so that air flows in and out in a circle status.
However, should any of the electromagnetic valves is not functioning, the air flow in sequence is broken and air flow is out of control, thus oxygen can not be produced properly. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Color picture tubes used in computer terminals, personal computers and the like are required to have a good focus characteristic; that is to say, the spot size of an electron beam which collides against a fluorescent screen needs to be small. The spherical aberration of a main lens has a great influence on this focus characteristic. To decrease the spherical aberration, the effective diameter of the main lens needs to be increased. Various methods have heretofore been proposed to increase the effective diameter of the main lens. FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional large-diameter electron gun, in which its main lens is formed between a focus electrode 4 and an anode electrode 6. A plate electrode 5 is formed in the inside of the focus electrode 4, and a plate electrode 7 is formed in the inside of the anode electrode 6. Holes through which to individually pass three electron beams are formed within the focus electrode 4 and the anode electrode 6 by the respective inner plate electrodes 5 and 7. A hole 4xe2x80x2 which is formed in the focus electrode 4 and a hole 6xe2x80x2 which is formed in the anode electrode 6 are holes common for three electron beams. Examples of this type of electron gun are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,146,133, 4,599,534 and 4,581,560. As another method of increasing a lens diameter, there is a method of arranging an intermediate electrode between an anode electrode and a focus electrode to reduce the potential gradient in the main lens, thereby enlarging the effective lens diameter.
An example of this method is shown in FIG. 2. Examples of this type of electron gun are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 180648/1997 and 320485/1997. The method employing the intermediate electrode is useful in enlarging the lens diameter, but since the required number of components increases, there occur problems, such as the occurrence of astigmatism in an electron lens and the variability of focus or convergence characteristics due to variability in the assembly of components or variability in the assembly of electron guns.
An object of the present invention is to provide a large-diameter electron gun which is reduced in astigmatism and in the variability of focus or convergence characteristics. To this end, the present invention provides a construction which includes a focus electrode having a plate electrode in its inside, an anode electrode having a plate electrode in its inside and an intermediate electrode arranged between the focus electrode and the anode electrode. The focus electrode and the anode electrode are cylindrical electrodes, and the plate electrodes are secured to the inner walls of the respective cylindrical electrodes. The intermediate electrode is made of two cylindrical electrodes and a middle plate electrode, and the middle plate electrode is sandwiched between the two cylindrical electrodes. In accordance with this construction, it is possible to obtain a large-diameter electron gun which is unsusceptible to the influence of assembly and component accuracy and is reduced in the variability of its characteristics. Another object of the present invention is to decrease aberration to a further extent by specifying the ratio of the dimension of the intermediate electrode measured in a direction perpendicular to an inline direction to the length of the intermediate electrode measured in the axial direction of the electron gun. A further object of the present invention is to provide a large-diameter electron gun which is reduced in the variability of its focus characteristic by reducing the potential of the intermediate electrode to 52-58% of an anode potential. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the storage of information by optical means, as well as to the reading of this information.
In technologies for the optical storage of information, the maximum density of storage is limited by the diffraction at the wavelength of the writing or of the reading. For the optical wavelengths commercially available in the form of laser diodes, this limit may be, for example, in the region of one bit per square micrometer. With the new blue laser sources emitting towards 0.4-0.5 .mu.m, it becomes possible to increase the storage of the information accordingly. Typically, an increase in storage density by a factor of 4 to 5 is expected as compared with current sources emitting in the near infra-red range. However, even these storage systems do not appear to be likely to enable surface densities of information suited to the storage of high definition television signals of a duration sufficient for large-scale consumer applications.
In this context, systems based on storage in volume have been proposed more recently. These systems should provide a gain by a factor of several tens in terms of surface density of information elements, but with the drawback of substantially increased complexity.
This is why the present invention proposes a new method of optical writing capable of giving rise to information carriers with high density of surface storage. The present invention also proposes a method for the reading of an information carrier with high density of surface storage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
At present, the approaches that enable surface storage are limited by problems of diffraction.
Indeed, when a writing laser beam is focused on the surface of a carrier, it is not focused at one point but in a region in which the distribution of density of power is the one shown in FIG. 1a. It is defined by the following surface equation: EQU D(x,y)=[2J1(Z)].sup.2 /Z.sup.2
with Z=2 EQU (x.sup.2 +y.sup.2).sup.1/2 (Sin A)/L
where
J1 is the first order Bessel function PA1 x and Y are surface coordinates, and PA1 L is the wavelength of the incident beam. PA1 it uses a laser with a wavelength L focused on the surface of the material (Ma) that is highly non-linear optically; PA1 the maximum power density of the focused laser beam is slightly greater than the threshold power density of the material (Ma) beyond which the material (Ma) can get transformed optically so as to record an information element that is appreciably smaller than the focusing spot of the beam used. PA1 only the regions (Ra) of the material (Ma) in which information elements have been recorded are transparent to the reading wavelength L1; PA1 the focusing of the reading beam at the wavelength L1 is done on the surface of the regions (Rb) of the material (Mb) that are facing the regions (Ra); PA1 the reading laser beam has a power such that the power-density at the center of the beam exceeds the threshold power solely in a small zone with a surface area that is several times smaller than the surface area of the focusing spot of the laser beam.
and
where
A is the angle defining the focus of the lens used for the convergence of the beam (this angle is shown in FIG. 1b). It is the angle of aperture of the focusing lens.
Thus the focusing spot, called the Airy spot, has a base is defined by a radius R.sub.o with EQU R.sub.o =1.22 L/2 sin A
These relationships are valid in the case of a uniform illumination of the pupil of the objective and for a less chromatic radiation. In practice, since the laser beam has a Gaussian distribution, the illumination in the pupil of the objective has an intensity with the shape of a truncated Gaussian curve. Furthermore, it has a certain spectral width. The distribution of illumination at the focus of the objective is not exactly an Airy function, but the approximation made herein is considered to be representative of the real phenomenon.
In the extreme case of a maximum focusing aperture (A=90.degree.), R.sub.om =1.22 L/2. However, for a smaller aperture, hence for a smaller field depth, the base of the Airy spot has a radius greater than R.sub.om. The radius R.sub.om corresponds rather to the size of the spot at mid-height of the curve D(x,y) and enables the definition of the size of an information element recorded with a sufficient density of power. Thus, typically, in using a recording beam focused at the wavelength L, it is not possible to record information elements having a lateral size smaller than L.
The present invention proposes the use of a material that is highly non-linear optically (Ma) and a focused laser beam having a maximum power density Pmax such that the threshold power density Pthreshold of the material (Ma) is slightly lower than Pmax. FIG. 2 shows that the invention uses the upper part of the curve D(x,y). It is concerned with the regions in which a small variation of the density of recording power leads to corresponding reductions at the level of the surface of the recorded information elements. The optical response of the material (Ma) should therefore be as highly non-linear as possible and the densities of power P.sub.max and P.sub.threshold are matched in such a way as to be on either side of the bending point of the curve illustrating the optical response of the material (Ma) with the density of power that it receives. This curve is shown schematically in FIG. 3. The hatched part of FIG. 2 corresponds to zones in which the material is transformed optically and which define the regions in which there has been a recording of information elements.
The size of the information elements may thus be far smaller than in the prior art and, hence, for an equivalent storage surface area, the storage density is notably increased. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Loudspeakers create sympathetic vibrations in neighboring items. This phenomenon is like the sympathetic vibrations induced in a piano string by a tuning fork. The sympathetic vibrations within a audio listening environment are often heard as buzzes that may either seem random or as regular beats in time with musical tones.
In a vehicle, such as an automobile, these buzzes are found in trim panels, door panels, instrument panels, and windows and the associated structures and mechanisms. As audio entertainment systems and communication systems become more powerful, the problem is exacerbated. Automotive engineers find that designing a buzz-free listening environment is quite a challenging endeavor. Conventional designs involve use of stiff structures with an abundance of fasteners and vibration dampening and cushioning materials.
Testing for buzzes has conventionally been carried out by using standard listening devices, such as the radio or tape or CD players. The automotive engineer simply turns on the radio, perhaps to a loud rock station, or the engineer puts on a tape of music with like characteristics. Any buzz readily identified is located and corrected. While this technique works to some extent for major buzzes, the less discernable buzzes are usually masked by tones in the music and voice of regular programming, tapes and recordings. And while small, frequency sensitive buzzes are difficult to locate, they tend to cumulate to bring about a net effect that detracts from the system, both to a listeners consciousness and subconsciousness.
The problem of the sympathetic buzz is exacerbated with light and less expensive (with less materials) automobile as are found in great abundance in today's automotive market. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
“Phishing” refers to attempting to fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card details, by spoofing web pages of legitimate organizations. Phishing usually involves reproducing in “look and feel” a legitimate web page—such as that of a bank—on a server under the control of an attacker. The victim enters personal information on the webpage, believing the webpage to be trusted, and that information is harvested by the attacker for fraudulent use. Financial organizations and their current or potential customers may lose billions of dollars as phishers perfect schemes of obtaining personal information. Some of these schemes include international domain name spoofing, open URL redirectors, and embedded frames, all of which can make a phishing website visually indistinguishable from a legitimate one. While phishing communications can be sent indiscriminately in the hopes that a recipient will respond, recent more sophisticated phishing techniques have involved targeting individual recipients; for example, sending customers of a particular bank a webpage that looks like the webpage of the bank that they use. This targeted phishing technique is known as “spear phishing”, and of course is much more effective than indiscriminate phishing.
Current phishing prevention methods are neither complete nor sufficiently responsive. Many phishing websites either go unnoticed completely or at least for a long enough period of time to do considerable damage. A major weakness in current phishing prevention methods is their dependence on user reports and manual updates. Many methods also require client-side software, which implicitly assumes—usually incorrectly—that end-users are aware of the dangers of phishing.
Many schemes to detect and prevent phishing have been proposed over the past few years, yet phishing-related losses incurred by victim organizations and their customers or potential customers continue to mount. A recent report estimates over 2.8 billion dollars of losses from phishing attacks in 2006 alone. The rise in the frequency and financial cost of phishing attacks results from both the increasing cleverness of phishers, (e.g., targeting more organizations, using sophisticated techniques to make the phishing website appear legitimate), and the ignorance of the typical Internet user concerning the dangers of phishing. Phishers are able to reach a larger population of end-users through spam email, instant messages, messages purported to be from friends (“spear phishing”), etc., where many users may not even be aware of the threat of phishing.
Current proposals to detect and mitigate phishing fall into three classes: 1) client-side solutions; 2) client-server solutions; and 3) server-side solutions. “Client-side solutions” are the most common among anti-phishing tactics. Many of these solutions are available as Web browser “plug-ins”. Current methods include a) prominently alerting a user that a URL domain is fraudulent, b) performing various checks on the URL and the content of a Web page and raising alarms on suspicious web accesses, and c) modifying a password that is submitted to a site as a function of the site's domain name so that the password submitted to a phishing site is not the same as the one submitted to the legitimate site. Tools that analyze email and detect potential phishing URLs (e.g., by raising an alert for HTML email if the text and the URL for a hyperlink do not match) are also client-side solutions.
“Client-server solutions” include all techniques that involve a database back-end, such as a URL blacklist, are also quite common. This solution type also includes “blackbox” security appliances sold by vendors that are used to filter URLs. Additionally, external reputation sources, such as search engines from which information about URLs are retrieved, also belong to this category. Studies show that although many blacklist-based schemes have high accuracy rates, they are lacking in that they are neither complete in their listing of phishing URLs, nor are they sufficiently responsive in the timely detection of phishing URLs.
“Server-side solutions” include attempts by the targeted organization to increase user awareness of phishing, such as placing a visual cue system on valid Internet web pages. Such methods often fail as users are less likely to notice the absence of a visual indicator than its presence.
Some limitations of the prior art can be seen by examining the construction of “blacklists”, a common anti-phishing technique. Blacklist construction of URLs is commonly made from user reports; therefore, it is an inherently reactive approach. Dependence on user reports makes a timely response to phishing attacks challenging, if not impossible. Before a phishing URL is reported, verified, and listed, many users may have already fallen prey to the attack. Many of these blacklists also list the complete URL of the phishing site, allowing even minor variants of the same phishing URL to escape listing. Additionally, phishers could poison the blacklist by submitting valid domain names to the blacklist. Worse yet, even if current techniques could be improved, they are inherently client-based. They require users to install toolbars and other client software and act appropriately in response to warnings. Unfortunately, most users do not realize the need for phishing protection, and do not install client-based anti-phishing tools.
By analyzing the current phishing prevention landscape, at least four limitations may be identified. These limitations are: 1) a lack of responsiveness, 2) a lack of completeness, 3) a need for end-user cooperation to install and use the anti-phishing technique, and 4) a reaction-based approach primarily utilizing historical data to fight phishing attacks.
Lack of responsiveness comes from the slow detection of new phishing URLs. Historical data has shown that the half-life of a phishing site is of the order of a week or less. Therefore, the inherent delay between when a phishing website is established until sufficient user feedback is received to validate adding the site to a blacklist of known phishing URLs makes it difficult to properly guard against phishing attacks.
Lack of blacklist completeness comes from a lack of end-user feedback regarding phishing attacks, since blacklists are generated from such feedback. This lack of completeness of blacklists is due to a lack of end-user awareness or appreciation of the phishing problem.
Lack of end-user awareness also leads to a lack of end-user participation in utilizing anti-phishing techniques. The end-users will be slow in loading anti-phishing software on their computers and will usually not pay proper attention to anti-phishing warnings.
Lack of a proactive approach and reliance on historical data to fight phishing attacks leads to significant periods of time between when the phishing website is established until it placed onto a blacklist. This period of time gives phishers ample time to cause significant damage.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method that addresses these limitations in protecting against phishing. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A document conveying apparatuses such as a scanner are used for various purposes in various locations such as households and offices, and various types of document conveying apparatuses have been provided in accordance with the purposes. For example, in offices etc., in order to allow more documents to be conveyed at a time, a so-called document conveying apparatus of a lower side retrieval method is used. In the document conveying apparatus of the lower side retrieval method, a document stacking angle of a document tray for stacking documents is almost horizontal, and documents stacked at a lower position are conveyed in order by a conveying roller provided in the document tray.
A feeding apparatus of a lower side retrieval type having a pick roller disposed at a central portion of a sheet stacking table and an apparatus main body side end portion of the sheet stacking table is disclosed (see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-170651). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to integrated circuit memories, and, in particular, to an integrated circuit memory having spare columns of memory cells which may be selectively connected to replace defective columns in the memory.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In integrated circuit memories, a single defect in any portion of the array of memory cells may render the entire memory useless. As improvements in the design and fabrication of integrated circuits are made, greater numbers of memory cells are being placed on a single chip. Furthermore, generally physically larger integrated circuits are being manufactured. Each factor tends to increase the likelihood of a defect in one or more cells which may render an entire chip useless.
One prior art solution to this problem has been to design and fabricate integrated circuit memories using more fault tolerant designs and processes. This approach, by itself, does not always suffice. Consequently, another solution which has received increasing attention is the fabrication of redundant components on the same chip. At a suitable stage in the fabrication process, the non-functional portions of the circuit are replaced with the redundant portions, typically by using redundant wiring techniques, fuses, discretionary metal masks, or other techniques. The usual prior art approach, however, has been to replace an entire relatively large block in the memory with a new block. For example, in a 64k memory divided into 16 sections, each of 4k bits, a defective bit in a single section will result in the replacement of the entire 4k section. Unfortunately, this approach requires a considerable amount of extra logic and extra space on the integrated circuit. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a dispensing closure for closing an end of a container or canister containing dispensable articles.
More particularly, the present invention relates to such a dispensing closure for closing a canister containing towels or tissues, e.g. towels or tissues which are joined by interlocking, or which are in the form of a continuous web with individual towels being separably connected by perforations.
There have been developed a great many types of dispensing units for dispensing towels and tissues. However, the dispensing of a web of towels which are separably connected by perforations presents particularly difficult dispensing problems, especially when the web of towels is a web of pre-moistened washcloth-type towels. Most prior art units for dispensing this type of product present inconveniences in use. More particularly, in such a dispensing unit, it is necessary to maintain some degree of airtightness of the dispensing unit to avoid drying out of the pe-moistened towels. This inherently leads to restriction of the size of the dispensing opening of the unit. If the continuity of dispensing of the towels is interrupted, then the dispensing unit must be completely opened to again thread or insert a towel through the dispensing opening. Furthermore, when initially commencing use of such prior art units, it is normally necessary to open the entire unit to insert the first towel through the dispensing opening. All of these problems result in inconvenience to the consumer and/or additional cost to the manufacturer or assembler.
One prior art attempt to overcome such disadvantages is shown in Ames U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,695, wherein there is shown a dispensing cap having a dispensing opening including an enlarged portion, a slot or groove connected at one end thereof to the enlarged portion, and a circular end portion connected to the other end of the slot. The entire dispensing opening is selectively covered by a lid which is hinged to the cap. Individual towels connected to other towels of a web by perforations are dispensed from a container or canister by threading the web of towels through the enlarged portion, and then pulling the towel outwardly through the slot and substantially into the circular portion. The slot and circular portion impart tension to a leading towel such that it is separated from a succeeding towel along the perforations, with the succeeding towel then partially extending through the slot and circular opening.
However, this dispensing arrangement of Ames still has certain inherent disadvantages. More particularly, the enlarged portion of the dispensing opening is oftentimes not large enough to enable the first towel to be dispensed to be manually pulled through the enlarged portion at commencement of use of the device. This necessitates removal of the entire cap to thread the first towel through the dispensing opening. This disadvantage also occurs if the continuity of the dispensing operation is interrupted by a towel being separated from the web of towels without the succeeding towel at least partially extending through the dispensing opening. Furthermore, in the arrangement of Ames, the towels cannot be dispensed without lifting the lid and exposing the entire dispensing opening. This inherently subjects the towels within the container to the surrounding atmosphere, and if the towels are pemoistened towels, then the towels will dry out more rapidly than is desirable. Similarly, before the canister or container of towels is used by a consumer, for example when the canister of towels is stored in a warehouse or store prior to purchase by the consumer, premoistened towels will tend to dry out unless the lid is tightly sealed over the dispensing opening. In practice it is quite difficult to achieve such tight sealing, and when sufficiently tight sealing is achieved the manufacturing cost of the unit is substantially increased. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Throughout businesses and other organizations, problems arise that require corrective action. Such problems may come to the attention of management of the organization in any of a number of ways. For example, in a hospital, doctors, nurses or other healthcare workers may make reports of problems to the hospital's management organization.
The nature of the problem may impact the way that reports are delivered. Reports, for example, might be made verbally, such as over the phone, to a manager of a service center that can dispatch personnel to address the problem, if warranted. Alternatively, the reports might be made in a written form, which may be physically or electronically transmitted to the organization's management who may schedule service to address the problem. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to metal powder compositions and more particularly to a method for preventing the segregation of powders of differing specific gravities.
Admixed powders having differing specific gravities tend to segregate during movement, flow or vibration. Such segregation is undesirable because subsequent compaction and sintering of a segregated powder mix may well produce final products having imperfections and non uniform physical characteristics. This problem arises frequently in the formation of powder metal parts where the basic powder metal is low carbon steel, stainless steel, tool steel, high alloy steel or, in fact, any steel where a low specific gravity powder such as graphite is added. As more fully explained in U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,927, the graphite is used to remove or limit the formation of oxides from the powder metal and also to provide the alloying element for the final composition of the metal product.
The graphite, having a much lower specific gravity than the metallic powder with which it is mixed, tends to segregate during any movement or flow of the mixture or even from vibrations during storage. Segregation even occurs during compaction. The present invention provides a method for eliminating such segregation. The present method is also effective for preventing segregation from metal powder of such additives such as silicon, boron, phosphorus or other powders which have a lower specific gravity than the metallic powder with which it is being mixed.
It is known to add a lubricant such as Acrawax (trademark), in powder form, to the admixed powders to provide lubrication during the compacting process. The usual amount of such lubricant is about 1% by weight of the total powder.
When small amounts (up to 1% by weight) of lower specific gravity powder such as graphite are admixed with the metallic powder, the wax lubricant helps to prevent segregation. But when higher percentages of powder additives are necessary, segregation will occur despite the wax lubricant.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to prevent the segregation of lower specific gravity powders added to a metallic powder.
The present invention prevents the segregation of lower specific gravity powders such as graphite when added to a metallic powder. In the method of the present invention, furfuryl alcohol is mixed with the powder metal and the lower specific gravity powder. During mixing, an acid such as toluene sulfonic acid is added to convert the alcohol to a solid resin film on the powder metal particles. The cured resin acts as a binder to bond the lighter powders to the metal powder and virtually eliminate all possibility of segregation.
The concentration and the amount of the acid can be adjusted so that the polymerization of the alcohol takes place while the blend is in motion during mixing. By the present method, the powder metal blend remains dry and free flowing, and the furfuryl alcohol resin does not bind the powder into a solid mass. The flowability of the powder blend of the present invention has proven superior to that of a powder metal blend utilizing a wax lubricant. However, wax lubricants can be used with the blend of the present invention for die lubrication purposes.
Since furfuryl alcohol contains a large amount of carbon, approximately one-half of the alcohol added is converted to carbon, and is dissolved in the metal powder along with the lower specific gravity powder, which is graphite in many cases, during subsequent sintering after compaction. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for removably installing any of a plurality of different truck equipments on the frame of a truck, to thereby enable fast and easy change of truck equipment. With that system, a single truck can be used for many purposes.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Presently, truck equipments are permanently installed on the trucks whereby contractors need different trucks for carrying out different purposes. This prevents the contractors to optimize the use of their trucks since each truck can be assigned to only one particular purpose. As the use of the trucks is not optimized, a larger number of trucks is required.
Of course, purchase and maintenance of a larger number of trucks is very expensive and greatly reduce the profits of the contractor. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Increasing the density of integrated circuits can increase speed and enable new applications. The increased density can increase undesirable electrical interactions between adjacent circuit elements and conducting lines. Unwanted interactions are typically prevented by providing trenches that are filled with electrically insulating material to isolate the elements both physically and electrically. As circuit densities increase, however, the widths of these trenches decrease, increasing their aspect ratios and making it progressively more difficult to fill the trenches without leaving voids. A trench which is not completely filled is undesirable since the degree of isolation may be compromised, thus limiting the maximum operational frequency or otherwise adversely affecting operation of the integrated circuit.
Common techniques that are used in such gapfill applications are chemical-vapor deposition (“CVD”) techniques. Conventional thermal CVD processes supply reactive gases to the substrate surface where heat-induced chemical reactions take place to produce a desired film. Plasma-enhanced CVD (“PECVD”) techniques promote excitation and/or dissociation of the reactant gases by the application of radio-frequency (“RF”) energy to a reaction zone near the substrate surface creating a plasma. The high reactivity of the species in the plasma reduces the energy required for a chemical reaction to take place, and thus lowers the temperature required for such CVD processes when compared with conventional thermal CVD processes. These advantages may be further exploited by high-density-plasma (“HDP”) CVD techniques, in which a dense plasma is formed at low vacuum pressures so that ionized reactants form a greater percentage of the total reactant population. While each of these techniques falls broadly under the umbrella of “CVD techniques,” each of them has characteristic properties that make them more or less suitable for certain specific applications.
In some instances where trenches have a large aspect ratio and narrow width, trenches have been filled with each of these CVD techniques using a “dep/etch/dep” process involving sequentially depositing material, etching some of it back, and depositing additional material. The etching step acts to reshape the partially filled trench, opening it so that more material can be deposited before it closes up and leaves an interior void. The etching step can penetrate through deposited material and damage underlying layers especially near the tops of trenches or vias. In the case of shallow trench isolation (STI) the underlying semiconductor and/or protective silicon nitride barrier layer may be damaged which can cause device instability. Device reliability is generally at risk when the etching step is allowed to remove too much material. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electrical switching apparatus such as power circuit breakers, network protectors and switches used in electric power circuits carrying large currents. More particularly, it relates to such apparatus which utilizes a large spring to store sufficient energy to close the contacts of the apparatus against the sizeable magnetic repulsion forces generated by the large currents. Specifically, it relates to an interlock which prevents release of the close spring when the contacts are already closed, or simultaneously with actuation of a trip device which opens the separable contacts.
2. Background Information
Electrical switching apparatus for opening and closing electric power circuits typically utilize an energy storage device in the form of one or more large springs to close the contacts of the device into the large currents which can be drawn in such circuits. Such electrical apparatus includes power circuit breakers and network protectors which provide protection, and electrical switches which are used to energize and deenergize parts of the circuit or to transfer between alternative power sources. The close spring is charged either by a manual charging handle or an electric motor. The energy stored in the close spring is released to rapidly close the contacts by a push to close button on the circuit breaker switch or by a solenoid which may be remotely actuated.
Such power protection devices and switches also include an open spring or springs which rapidly separates the contacts to interrupt current flowing in the power circuit. As indicated, either or both of the close spring and open spring can be a single spring or multiple springs and should be considered as either even though the singular is hereafter used for convenience. The open spring is charged during closing by the close spring which therefore must store sufficient energy to both overcome the mechanical and magnetic forces for closing as well as charging the open spring. The stored energy in the open spring is released, again, either by an open push button on the apparatus, or by a solenoid which may be remotely energized.
Once the contacts have been closed, the close spring may be recharged to be ready for a subsequent closing. Since the contacts are already closed, it is known to provide an interlock which prevents discharge of the close spring while the contacts are closed. It is also known to provide an interlock which prevents simultaneous actuation of both the open push button and the close button. In other circuit breakers of this type, it is known to have an interlock which gives priority to the open button or solenoid so the circuit breaker can always be opened. While these interlocks have been effective, there is room for improvement.
There is a need in general for an improved interlock for electrical switching apparatus.
In particular, there is a need for an interlock which gives priority to opening the contacts of the electrical switching apparatus.
There is a further need for such an interlock which prevents release of the closing springs when the contacts are closed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In 2005, over one trillion text messages were sent by users of mobile phones and similar hand-held devices worldwide. Text messaging usually involves the input of a text message by a sender or user of the hand-held device, wherein the text message is generated by pressing letters, numbers, or other keys on the sender's mobile phone. E-mail enabled devices, such as the Palm Treo or RIM Blackberry, enable users to generate emails quickly, in a similar manner. Further, such devices typically also have the capability of accessing web pages or information on the Internet. Searching for a desired web page is often accomplished by running a search on any of the commercially available search engines, such as google.com, msn.com, yahoo.com, etc.
Unfortunately, because such devices make it so easy to type in a text-based message for a text message, email, or web search, it is quite common for users to attempt to do so when the user of the hand-held device actually needed to focus his attention or hands on another activity, such as driving. Beyond those more capable hand-helds, the vast majority of the market is comprised of devices with small keypads and screens, making text entry even more cumbersome, whether the user is fixed or mobile. In addition, it would be advantageous for visually impaired people to be able to generate a text-based message without having to type in the message into the hand-held device or mobile phone. For these and for many other reasons, there has been a need in the mobile and hand-held device industry for users to be able to dictate a message and have that message converted into text. Such text can then be sent back to the user of the device for sending in a text message, email, or web application. Alternatively, such text message can be used to cause an action to be taken that provides an answer or other information, not just a text version of the audio, back to the user of the device.
Some currently available systems in the field have attempted to address these needs in different ways. For example, one system has used audio telephony channels for transmission of audio information. A drawback to this type of system is that it does not allow for synchronization between visual and voice elements of a given transaction in the user interface on the user's device, which requires the user, for example, to hang up her mobile phone before seeing the recognized results. Other systems have used speaker-dependent or grammar-based systems for conversion of audio into text, which is not ideal because that requires each user to train the system on her device to understand her unique voice or utterances could only be compared to a limited domain of potential words—neither of which is feasible or desirable for most messaging needs or applications. Finally, other systems have attempted to use voice recognition or audio to text software installed locally on the handheld devices. The problem with such systems is that they typically have low accuracy rates because the amount of memory space on hand-held devices necessarily limits the size of the dictionaries that can be loaded therein. In addition, voice recognition software installed on the hand-held typically cannot dynamically morph to handle new web services as they appear, a tremendous benefit of server-based solutions.
Thus, there remains a need in the industry for systems, methods, and thin-client software solutions that enable audio to be captured on a hand-held device, can display text results back in real time or near real time, is speaker independent so that any customer can use it immediately without having to train the software to recognize the specific speech of the user, uses the data channel of the device and its communication systems so that the device user is able to interact with the system without switching context, uses a backend server-based processing system so that it can process free form messages, and also has the ability to expand its capabilities to interact with new use cases/web services in a dynamic way.
Therefore, a number of heretofore unaddressed needs exist in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultraviolet ray sterilization device, more particularly one, which allows water to be exposed to ultraviolet ray for longer time so that water can be thoroughly sterilized, and which is structured in such a manner that the various internal components such as the ultraviolet ray lamp tube can be replaced relatively easily.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
People can use water filters to remove dangerous contaminants owing to the increasing concern over the quality and safety of tap water, which is nevertheless the more economical choice if one is only choosing between tap water and bottled water. And, water filters are getting popular because more people have begun to realize that drinking filtered water is a much more economical practiced than drinking bottled water, and pure water product of water filters can be cleaner and safer to drink than bottled water.
An ultraviolet ray sterilization device can be connected to a water filter to kill germ and microorganism in water passed through the filter so that water is even safer to drink. A common ultraviolet ray sterilization device consists of a sealed stainless steel tube, a quartz tube held in the stainless steel tube, and an ultraviolet ray lamp tube held in the quartz tube. When water is passed through the space between the quartz tube and the stainless steel tube from an inlet on one end of the sterilization device, it will be exposed to ultraviolet ray to be sterilized. Next, the sterilized water will flow out through an outlet on the other end of the ultraviolet ray sterilization device.
The above ultraviolet ray sterilization device is found to have the following drawbacks:
1. Water will travel from the inlet to the outlet along a substantially straight path. In other words, the length of time water is exposed to ultraviolet ray in the stainless tube of the sterilization device totally depends on the length of the ultraviolet ray lamp tube. If the ultraviolet ray lamp tube is short, water can't be sufficiently sterilized with the sterilization device.
2. The stainless steel tube is sealed up, and can't be easily opened. Therefore it is difficult for the user to replace the quartz tube and the ultraviolet ray lamp tube after they have been used for a certain amount of time.
Therefore, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an improvement on an ultraviolet ray sterilization device to overcome the above problems. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
4-(Indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-glutamic acid (3-(1-amino-1,3-dicarboxy-3-hydroxy-butane-4-yl)-indole) (hereinbelow referred to as “monatin”) represented by the following structural formula (3) is present in roots of a plant Schlerochitom ilicifolius and is a particularly promising low-calorie sweetener because of its remarkably high sweetness intensity (JP 64-25757 A):
4-(Indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-glutamic acid
Monatin has two asymmetries at positions 2 and 4, and the natural stereoisomer has been reported to be a (2S,4S) isomer. Other stereoisomers have been synthetically prepared, and three stereoisomers have been identified. It has been confirmed that any of them has sweetness intensity that is several ten to several thousand times higher than that of sucrose (Table 1).
TABLE 1Sweetness of monatin isomersStereoisomerSweetness (vs. sucrose)2R, 4R2700 times2R, 4S1300 times2S, 4R 300 times2S, 4S 50 times
As is shown in Table 1, not only naturally occurring (2S,4S)-monatin but also all other stereoisomers have the sweetness intensity with high scale factor. Particularly, (2R,4R)-monatin has an remarkably high sweetness intensity which is 2,700 times higher than that of sucrose and is the most highly expected as a sweetening agent or a sweetening agent ingredient (sweetener). Therefore, it has been desired to develop a method for efficiency producing monatin with high content of (2R,4R)-monatin.
Five examples of monatin production processes have been reported. Details thereof are described in (1) and (3) to (6) of the following prior art references.
(1) U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,559
(2) European Patent Publication No. 0736604 A
(3) Tetrahedron Letters, Vol. 42, No. 39, pages 6793-6796, 2001
(4) Organic Letters, Vol. 2, No. 19, pages 2967-2970, 2000
(5) Synthetic Communication, Vol. 24, No. 22, pages 3197-3211, 1994
(6) Synthetic Communication, Vol. 23, No. 18, pages 2511-2526, 1993
(7) Taylor et al., Journal of Bacteriology, Vol. 180, No. 16, pages 4319, 1998
However, none of the aforementioned references refers to any stereoselective method for producing (2R,4R)-monatin. In addition, all of the disclosed methods require multiple steps, which impedes practical production on an industrial scale.
In such a situation, the present inventors have proposed a novel method for producing monatin from 4-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutaric acid (hereinbelow referred to as IHOG) using an enzymatic reaction shown in the following formula (4).
This novel method utilizes an enzyme which catalyzes an amination reaction at position 2 of a monatin precursor (IHOG), to thereby produce monatin from IHOG. Aminotransferase is one of enzymes which catalyze the amination reaction of IHOG. Employment of the D-aminotransferase results in selective production of 2R-monatin, and employment of a L-aminotransferase results in selective production of 2S-monatin. That is, employment of the D-aminotransferase as the enzyme for catalyzing the reaction results in selective production of the 2R isomer, i.e. the highly sweet isomer, as a result of transfer of an amino group from a D-amino acid as an amino donor to position 2 of IHOG.
Studies by the present inventors have revealed that the D-aminotransferase which catalyzes a reaction of the substrate IHOG to produce 2R-monatin is present in microorganisms belonging to genus Bacillus or Paenibacillus. However, even when using the D-aminotransferase derived from these microorganism, it has been difficult to efficiently produce monatin containing (2R,4R)-monatin at a high ratio.
One of the reasons for such an inefficient (2R,4R)-monatin production appears to be poor recognition of the asymmetry at position 4 of IHOG by the D-aminotransferase derived from these microorganisms. That is, when the D-aminotransferase derived from the microorganisms belonging to genus Bacillus or Paenibacillus is allowed to act upon a racemic mixture as to position 4 (sometimes abbreviated hereinbelow as 4R, S-IHOG), it acts upon both 4R-IHOG and 4S-IHOG and produces both (2R,4R)-monatin and (2R,4S)-monatin at an almost equal ratio. Thus, even when using the D-aminotransferase derived from these microorganisms, it has been impossible to produce monatin having an optical activity at position 4.
Another reason therefor would be instability of IHOG, the material for producing monatin, in a certain pH. In order to test stability of IHOG in the amination reaction of IHOG, the present inventors measured a change of IHOG concentration with time in an amination reaction solution of IHOG with no microbial cell addition. The reaction was performed by shaking a test tube containing 1 ml of reaction solution composed of 100 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 8.3), 300 mM 4R, S-IHOG, 600 mM DL-Ala and 1 mM pyridoxal-5′-phosphate at 37° C. for 40 hours. As a result, a residual ratio of 4R, S-IHOG was decreased to 81% after 16 hours, 70% after 24 hours and 57% after 40 hours, respectively. It was found that IHOG was decomposed with the lapse of time. It is presumed that this phenomenon is due to a decomposition reaction where IHOG is decomposed into 3-indole-pyruvic acid and pyruvic acid and a cyclization reaction of IHOG, to consume IHOG in the reaction solution before being converted to monatin. That is, the reaction catalyzed by the D-aminotransferase derived from the genus Bacillus or Paenibacillus is not sufficiently fast, and a part of IHOG becomes unavailable for the amination due to the decomposition and the cyclization before the amination. This is thought to be one reason why (2R,4R) monatin can not be efficiently produced.
Accordingly, it has been desired to develop a method for efficiently producing (2R,4R)-monatin which has the highest sweetness intensity among the monatin isomers.
A task to be accomplished by the present invention is to provide a D-aminotransferase capable of efficiently producing the (2R,4R) isomer of the glutamic acid derivatives such as monatin and analogues thereof. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present disclosure relates to electronic circuits, and more particularly to a time-to-digital converter.
A time-to-digital converter (TDC) is an electronic circuit that converts the difference between transition times of two signals to a digital signal whose value is proportional to such timing difference. A time-to-digital converter may be used in a phase-locked loop to convert the difference between the transition times of a reference clock signal and an oscillating signal to a digital signal in order to lock the phase of the oscillating signal to the phase of the clock signal. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to managing software application domains and storage domains.
Data storage systems receive, store, and provide access for data retrieval by software applications such as database applications or other types of software. For determining internal layouts of the storage systems, representative maps can be displayed to provide insight of the hardwire interconnections within the storage system. The representative maps may be shown as a graphical tree structure where tree branches represent the interconnections of the storage system. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A gas turbine is a rotary power machinery, which converts heat energy into mechanical work with continuous flow of a gas as the working fluid. The gas turbine generally consists of three parts: a compressor, a combustor and a turbine.
When in operation, the compressor intakes air from the outside atmosphere, the air is pressurized by compressing stage by stage via an axial-flow compressor, and the air temperature is correspondingly increased; the compressed air is delivered to the combustor under pressure, and mixed with the injected fuel for combustion to generate a high-temperature and high-pressure gas; and then the high-temperature and high-pressure gas further enters the turbine to expand to do work, so as to push the turbine to drive the compressor to perform high-speed rotation together with an external load rotor, so as to convert the chemical energy of the gas or liquid chemical fuel into mechanical work and output electric work.
The compressor is a key component of the gas turbine, and in general, the compressor is an axial-flow compressor, and the operation state of the gas turbine compressor changes, so that the flow state of the air in the compressor changes. In order to make the compressor adapt to different operating states of the gas turbine, it is necessary to arrange guide vanes in the compressor. The flow state of the air entering the compressor is changed by changing the angle of attack of the guide vanes. The compressor is generally provided with continuously arranged multiple stages of guide vane groups, and each stage of the guide vane groups is provided with a plurality of guide vanes, and is driven by a drive mechanism corresponding to this stage of the guide vane groups.
The drive mechanism generally comprises a drive ring, wherein the drive ring is installed on a compressor housing, the drive ring needs to be arranged coaxially with the compressor housing, and if the drive ring deviates from the central axis of the compressor housing, the guide vanes in the same stage will be in different deflection angles, which may seriously affect the performance of the compressor.
Therefore, during the installation and operation of the gas turbine, it is necessary to measure the amount of shifting of the drive ring, so as to conveniently adjust the location of the drive ring. When installed, the amount of shifting of the drive ring may be measured using calipers, for example, eight fulcrums are provided between the drive ring and the compressor housing, the spacings between the drive ring and the compressor housing at the eight fulcrums are measured using the calipers, so as to calculate and determine whether the location of the drive ring is correct; however, during the operation of the gas turbine, such measurement cannot measure the amount of shifting of the drive ring.
FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view of a system for sensing a shifting of a drive ring in the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, a system 100 for sensing a shifting of a drive ring comprises a drive ring 12, a compressor housing 13 and a sensing mechanism 14. The drive ring 12 is installed on the compressor housing 13. The sensing mechanism 14 is of a cantilever structure, which comprises fasteners 142, a connecting lever 143 and a sensor 144, wherein the number of fasteners 142 is two, and the two fasteners 142 pass through the connecting lever 143 and are locked onto the compressor housing 13, so that one end of the connecting lever 143 is installed on the compressor housing 13, and the sensor 144 is disposed at the other end of the connecting lever 143.
The sensor 144 is a contact type sensor, which has one end abutted against the drive ring 12, and the other end thereof abutted against the compressor housing 13. The spacing between an inner wall of the drive ring 12 and the central axis of the compressor housing 13 may be sensed by the sensor 144, so as to determine whether the drive ring 12 shifts.
However, the sensing mechanism 14 has many elements, each element has a dimensional tolerance, and the superposition of dimensional tolerances will affect the sensing accuracy of the sensing mechanism 14. In addition, the sensing mechanism is complex in installation and high in costs. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.