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The present invention relates generally to an adjustable seat support assembly and, more particularly, to a vehicle seat adjustment assembly which further provides for mechanical and pneumatic adjustment of the seat cushion allowing the seat cushion to slide fore and aft and allowing the front portion of the seat cushion to raise and lower vertically about a common pivot.
Vehicle seats generally are adjustable in that the entire seat, including the backrest, is slidable and the backrest generally is adjustable relative to the seat bottom. A feature of a vehicle seat not readily available is a seat which allows such adjustability and which also allows the seat cushion to adjust fore and aft independent of the backrest and vertically providing for greater variation in passenger height and thigh support.
The present invention provides an efficient and economical mechanical and pneumatic seat adjustment assembly which allows the seat cushion to adjust fore and aft relative to the seat backrest and also raises or lowers the front of the seat cushion. | {
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As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements can vary between different applications, information handling systems can also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information can be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems can include a variety of hardware and software resources that can be configured to process, store, and communicate information and can include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. | {
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In the field of computer graphics, the rendering of two-dimensional objects is of fundamental importance. Two-dimensional objects, such as character shapes, corporate logos, and elements of an illustration contained in a document, are rendered as static images or as a sequence of frames comprising an animation. There are numerous representations for two-dimensional objects and it is often the case that one representation is better than another representation for specific operations such as rendering and editing. In these cases, a conversion from one form to another is performed.
Although we focus here on digital type, possibly the most common and important two-dimensional object, the following discussion applies to all types of two-dimensional objects.
We begin with some basic background on digital type. A typical Latin font family, such as Times New Roman or Arial, includes a set of fonts, e.g., regular, italic, bold and bold italic. Each font includes a set of individual character shapes called glyphs. Each glyph is distinguished by its various design features, such as underlying geometry, stroke thickness, serifs, joinery, placement and number of contours, ratio of thin-to-thick strokes, and size.
There are a number of ways to represent fonts, including bitmaps, outlines, e.g., Type 1 [Adobe Systems, Inc. 1990] and TrueType [Apple Computer, Inc. 1990], and procedural fonts, e.g., Knuth's Metafont, with outlines being predominant. Outline-based representations have been adopted and popularized by Bitstream Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., Adobe Systems, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., Apple Computer, Inc., of Cupertino, Calif., Microsoft Corporation of Bellevue, Wash., URW of Hamburg, Germany, and Agfa Compugraphic of Wilmington, Mass.
Hersch, “Visual and Technical Aspects of Type, ” Cambridge University Press. 1993 and Knuth, “TEX and METAFONT: New Directions in Typesetting, ” Digital Press, Bedford, Mass. 1979, contain comprehensive reviews of the history and science of fonts.
Of particular importance are two classes of type size: body type size and display type size. Fonts in body type are rendered at relatively small point sizes, e.g., 14 pt. or less, and are used in the body of a document, as in this paragraph. Body type requires high quality rendering for legibility and reading comfort. The size, typeface, and baseline orientation of body type rarely change within a single document.
Fonts in display type are rendered at relatively large point sizes, e.g., 36 pt. or higher, and are used for titles, headlines, and in design and advertising to set a mood or to focus attention. In contrast to body type, the emphasis in display type is on esthetics, where the lack of spatial and temporal aliasing is important, rather than legibility, where contrast may be more important than antialiasing. It is crucial that a framework for representing and rendering type handles both of these classes with conflicting requirements well.
Type can be rendered to an output device, e.g., printer or display, as bi-level, grayscale, or colored. Some rendering engines use bi-level rendering for very small type sizes to achieve better contrast. However, well-hinted grayscale fonts can be just as legible.
Hints are a set of rules or procedures stored with each glyph to specify how an outline of the glyph should be modified during rendering to preserve features such as symmetry, stroke weight, and a uniform appearance across all the glyphs in a typeface.
While there have been attempts to design automated and semi-automated hinting systems, the hinting process remains a major bottleneck in the design of new fonts and in the tuning of existing fonts for low-resolution display devices. In addition, the complexity of interpreting hinting rules precludes the use of hardware for font rendering. The lack of hardware support forces compromises to be made during software rasterization, such as the use of fewer samples per pixel and poor filtering methods, particularly when animating type in real time.
Grayscale font rendering typically involves some form of antialiasing. Antialiasing is a process that smoothes out jagged edges or staircase effects that appear in bi-level fonts. Although many font rendering engines are proprietary, most use supersampling, after grid fitting and hinting, with 4 or 16 samples per pixel followed by down-sampling with a 2×2 or 4×4 box filter, respectively.
Rudimentary filtering, such as box filtering, is justified by the need for rendering speed. However, even that approach is often too slow for real-time rendering, as required for animated type, and the rendered glyphs suffer from spatial and temporal aliasing.
Three important trends in typography reveal some inherent limitations of prior art font representations and associated methods and thus provide the need for change.
The first trend is the increasing emphasis of reading text on-screen due to the dominant role of computers in the office, the rise in popularity of Internet browsing at home, and the proliferation of PDAs and other hand-held electronic devices. These displays typically have a resolution of 72-150 dots per inch, which is significantly lower than the resolution of printing devices.
This low-resolution mandates special treatment when rasterizing type to ensure reading comfort and legibility, as evidenced by the resources that companies such as Microsoft and Bitstream have invested in their respective ClearType and Font Fusion technologies.
The second trend is the use of animated type, or kinetic typography. Animated type is used to convey emotion, to add interest, and to visually attract the reader's attention. The importance of animated type is demonstrated by its wide use in television and Internet advertising.
The third trend is the proliferation of display devices that incorporate numerous layouts for components of pixels of such displays. Vertically and horizontally striped RGB components have been the standard arrangement for conventional displays, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,385 “Method and apparatus for displaying images such as text”, Hill et al. Arranging the components differently, however, has numerous advantages, as described in U.S. Patent Application publication number 20030085906 “Methods and systems for sub-pixel rendering using adaptive filtering”, Elliott et al.
Unfortunately, traditional outline-based fonts and corresponding methods have limitations in all of these areas. Rendering type on a low-resolution display requires careful treatment in order to balance the needs of good contrast for legibility, and reduced spatial and/or temporal aliasing for reading comfort.
As stated above, outline-based fonts are typically hinted to provide instructions to the rendering engine for optimal appearance. Font hinting is labor intensive and expensive. For example, developing a well-hinted typeface for Japanese or Chinese fonts, which can have more than ten thousand glyphs, can take years. Because the focus of hinting is on improving the rendering quality of body type, the hints tend to be ineffective for type placed along arbitrary paths and for animated type.
Although high quality filtering can be used to antialias grayscale type in static documents that have a limited number of font sizes and typefaces, the use of filtering in animated type is typically limited by real-time rendering requirements.
Prior art sub-pixel rendering methods, like those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,385, have numerous disadvantages pertaining to all three trends.
First, they require many samples per pixel component to get adequate quality, which is inefficient. When rendering on alternative pixel layouts comprising many components, e.g., such as the layouts described in U.S. Patent Application publication number 20030085906, their methods become impractical. Second, they exploit the vertical or horizontal striping of a display to enable reuse of samples for neighboring pixel components, which fails to work with many alternative pixel component layouts. Third, they use a poor filter when sampling each component because of the inefficiencies of their methods when using a better filter.
Fourth, the methods taught do not provide any measure for mitigating color fringing on alternative pixel component layouts. Fifth, translations of a glyph by non-integer pixel intervals require re-rendering of the glyph. Re-rendering usually requires re-interpreting hints, which is inefficient. Sixth, hints are often specific to a particular pixel component layout, and therefore must be redone to handle the proliferation of alternative pixel component layouts. Redoing hints is both expensive and time consuming. | {
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The invention relates to a switch arrangement for switching electrical functions with switches having at least two electric contact elements, and it especially concerns an arrangement of at least two switches wherein the two switches are located adjacent one another and are so constructed as to be operated essentially simultaneously in response to a single finger press or the like by the operator, such arrangement, for example being desireable for use in controlling the movement functions of an apparatus for supporting patients.
In the case of patient supporting apparatus, motorized adjustable movement functions for changing the positions of patients frequently are switched by existing double electrical switch circuits independent of one another. If a fault occurs in one of the electrical circuits the movement of the support apparatus is immediately stopped or not carried out. The reason for this is that any danger to a patient from a faulty movement function of the supporting apparatus must be prevented.
It is already known to provide, in a switch or service unit for a patient support apparatus, two switches for operating the separate switch circuits, in which case the desired movement function of the patient support apparatus can only be carried out if both of the switches are actuated. This especially provides an assurance that a movement of the support apparatus can be interrupted in any event, even if in one of the switches the contact elements at a given time remain stuck to one another or the like. This solution involves however an increased surface requirement for the switch unit, and therewith a corresponding constructional size, since this switch unit for the plurality of movement modes of the support apparatus has a corresponding plurality of switches whose operating elements can not arbitrarily be made smaller. Moreover, the operation of two switches at the same time is troublesome.
The invention has as its object the provision of a switch arrangement of the aforementioned type which with regard to the avoidance of the previously described disadvantages has a low space requirement and makes possible an easy operation.
This object is solved in accordance with the invention in that at least one switch is made as a foil switch having a flexible base foil carrying one contact element and a switch element, particularly a switch foil, having an opposing contact element and elastically deflectable toward the contact element of the base foil, and in that the other switch is arranged behind the foil switch in the keying direction, so that the second switch is operable by a pressure on the foil switch which exceeds the pressure needed to operate the foil switch.
Therefore, for a switch arrangement according to the invention, for example in a switch device, only the area associated with the key surface of the foil switch is required. Also, the heigth of the switch arrangement in the keying direction is very small, since the foil switch itself requires only a small amount of space. By pressing on the foil switch it itself is first actuated. By further pressure on the flexible foil switch the electrical switch arranged below or behind it can then also be operated. This rear switch likewise can be made as a foil switch or also can be made as a mechanical pressure switch. In the case of several rearwardly arranged foil switches it is advantageous, with respect to the heigth of the entire switch arrangement, if the base foil of the forwardly lying foil switch forms the switch foil of the following foil switch in the keying direction.
Basically, it is possible to connect the switch arrangement of the invention in a switch circuit so that all of the switches in the same switch circuit are in series with one another. For the above-mentioned special application it is preferable if the switches are arranged in separate switch circuits which are connected with the inputs of an AND-gate whose output signal first controls a movement function of the support apparatus. So long as not all of the switches are simultaneously engaged the movement function of the support apparatus can be interrupted in all events, even if in one of the switches the contact elements remain unwantedly closed, as for example in the case of their being stuck to one another.
The invention is explained in more detail in the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, with respect to embodiments of the invention. | {
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Acrylamide has hitherto been prepared by a so-called catalytic hydration process which comprises reacting acrylonitrile with water in the presence of a catalyst, such as a copper catalyst.
An aqueous acrylamide solution prepared by the catalytic hydration process tends to undergo coloration or become turbid immediately after the preparation thereof, or with the passage of time, due to trace amounts of impurities, such as decomposition products of a stabilizer present in the starting acrylonitrile, substances eluted from the catalyst used, by-products, and the like.
The crude aqueous acrylamide solution containing such impurities should be subjected to a purification step to remove the color or turbidity before it is commercially presented in the form of an aqueous solution or crystals. It has been generally considered preferable to carry the purification by passing the aqueous solution through a column packed with activated carbon, particularly granular activated carbon. However, acrylamide is very apt to be polymerized around activated carbon, thus causing obstruction of the column. As a result, the advantages of the granular activated carbon cannot be fully utilized. In an attempt to prevent polymerization of acrylamide, a method has been proposed of incorporating cupric ion in the activated carbon in advance, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 28608/76 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,741).
In recent years, a process for preparing acrylamide by direct hydration of acrylonitrile using microorganisms capable of hydrating nitriles has been proposed, as described, e.g., in Japanese patent application Ser. No. (OPI) 86186/76 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,081) and Japanese Patent Publication No. 17918/81 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,968) (the term "OPI" used herein means an "unexamined published application"). According to this microbiological process, if the acrylamide concentration is increased, pigments and traces of impurities tend to be extracted from the microorganism to enter into the aqueous solution. Therefore, it is desirable to purify the aqueous solution obtained by this process by treating with activated carbon similarly as in the case of the aforesaid catalytic hydration process.
However, when the acrylamide aqueous solution obtained by the microbiological process is purified using activated carbon in which cupric ion has been incorporated for the purpose of preventing polymerization of acrylamide in accordance with the conventional technique, the cupric ion tends to be extracted into the aqueous solution, resulting in not only reduction of cupric ions adsorbed on the activated carbon to readily cause polymerization of acrylamide around the activated carbon, but also incorporation of cupric ions that were not formerly present in the crude aqueous solution in the purified solution. The extraction or dissolution of cupric ions in the acrylamide aqueous solution is believed related to a copper ion equilibrium between activated carbon and the aqueous solution. An aqueous acrylamide solution containing a cupric ion even in a trace amount is unsuitable as a monomer for obtaining high molecular weight polymers, and is, therefore, required to be further purified by ion-exchange resins. | {
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Recently, due to progresses made in digital techniques and improvements made in data compression techniques, there is much attention on optical disks for storing information (hereinafter also referred to as “contents”) such as music, movies, photographs and computer software. The optical disks include compact disks (CDs), digital versatile disks (DVDs) capable of recording approximately 7 times the amount of data recordable on a CD having the same diameter as the DVD. Optical disk apparatuses which use the optical disks as the information recording medium have become popular as the optical disks have become less inexpensive.
The optical disk apparatus records information on or erases information from a spiral track or concentric tracks on the optical disk by irradiating laser light on a recording layer of the optical disk, and reproduces information from the spiral track or concentric tracks based on a reflected light (returned beam) from the recording layer. Hence, the optical disk apparatus is provided with an optical pickup unit that emits the laser light and receives the returned beam.
Generally, the optical pickup unit includes an objective lens, an optical system that guides the laser light emitted from a light source to the recording layer and guides the returned beam to a predetermined light receiving position, and a photodetector that is arranged at the light receiving position. The photodetector outputs signals including not only reproduced information of data recorded in the recording layer, but also information (servo information) necessary to control the position of the objective lens.
The amount of information of the contents is increasing every year, and there are demands to further increase the recording capacity of the optical disk. As one means of increasing the recording capacity of the optical disk, information recording media having a plurality of recording layers and apparatuses which use such information recording media as the access target have been developed. For example, such information recording media and apparatuses which use such information recording media as the access target are proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications No. 2001-52342, No. 2002-74679, No. 2003-91874, No. 8-147762, No. 11-96568 and No. 2002-334448.
In order to control the position of the objective lens with respect to the information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers so that a light spot is accurately formed at a target position, it is necessary to accurately discriminate the recording layer on which the light spot is formed. In addition, in order to achieve a high-speed access, the position of the objective lens must be controlled at a high speed. However, according to the information recording media and the apparatuses proposed in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications No. 2001-52342, No. 2002-74679, No. 2003-91874, No. 8-147762, No. 11-96568 and No. 2002-334448 referred above, it sometimes takes time to discriminate the recording layer on which the light spot is formed, and the access time may become long. | {
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1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to cooling-fan motors and impellers that are used in electronic devices and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to fan motors that must generate high static pressure and ample airflow volume, and to cantilever-type impellers that are used in such fan motors.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a conventional centrifugal fan motor. FIG. 9 is a vertical cross section along the line X1-O1-Y1-Z1 in FIG. 8. This centrifugal fan motor includes a motor component 104 for generating rotational driving force, an impeller component 101 for generating airflow, and a housing 106. This centrifugal fan motor has a rotational axis O1 shown in FIG. 8.
The impeller component 101 is located around the outer periphery of the motor component 104 and includes a lower end wall 102 and blades 103. The lower end wall 102 is an annular plate member located surrounding the motor component 104 at a lower position in the axial direction, and lies in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis. The lower ends of the blades 103 are fixed to the surface of the lower end wall 102 at its outer radial margin. The blades 103 are supported only by the lower end wall 102, which structure is called as cantilever structure. When the motor component 104 rotates in the normal direction, the blades 103 generate an airflow in the direction indicated by the arrow B1. In the direction indicated by the arrow A1, an intake airflow through an air inlet 108 is generated by the sucking action of this airflow B1. On the other hand, in the direction indicated by the arrow C1, an ejection airflow is generated by the blowing action of the airflow B1.
In configuring the impeller component 101 of conventional centrifugal fans used for electronic devices and the like, the tendency is to make the blade diameter 2r1 greater than the height h1, where 2r1 represents the diameter of the blades 103 to their outer perimeter and h1 represents the height of the blades 103 in the axial direction. One of the purposes of adopting this structure is to save space in the axial direction. Another purpose for thus having the blade diameter be greater than the height h1 is to improve air volume and static pressure of the ejection airflow C1 by raising the rotational speed at the periphery of the blades 103. Therefore, in the conventional centrifugal fan having a cantilever impeller for cooling electronic devices and the like, the impeller has a low-profile configuration in which the relationship h1≦2r1 holds.
In this conventional centrifugal fan, the intake airflow A1 pushes on the airflow B1 as indicated in FIG. 9, and the airflow B1 strikes downward on the lower end wall 102 because of the shorter height h1 of the blades, which results in a large windage loss between the downward airflow and the wall surface of the lower end wall 102. This is why, in considering the distribution of wind speed measured at several observation locations corresponding to points along the rotational axis of the impeller component 101, the wind speed of the intake airflow within the impeller tends to be maximal at the upper surface of the lower end wall 102 of the impeller. The windage loss on the wall surface can decrease airflow volume from the fan and lower the cooling efficiency below the inherent performance of the fan motor.
Meanwhile, electronic devices recently are being made smaller and smaller so as to be suitable for carrying, as is the case with cellular phones, mobile personal computers, and other devices that call for being downsized further. At the same time, integration of electronic circuits has been enhanced and circuit processing speeds have been increased, which has led to a tendency for the total amount of heat produced by LSI chips and embedded electronic circuitry to increase. Therefore, there is a need to realize a fan motor having not only a smaller size but also higher cooling efficiency. | {
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A number of nucleoside analogs such as cytarabine, fludarabine, cladribine, capecitabine, gemcitabine, and pentostatin are used clinically as highly effective anti-neoplastic agents. Among these, gemcitabine (2′,2′-difluoro-2′-deoxycytidine, Gemzar™) is of particular interest due to its unique activity against solid tumors and is presently used therapeutically to treat bladder, breast, lung, ovarian and pancreatic cancer.
Several self-potentiating mechanisms unique to this nucleoside analog are believed responsible for the activity of gemcitabine against solid tumors. The diphosphate metabolite of gemcitabine inhibits ribonucleotide reductase, which results in lower concentrations of intracellular deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) and thus increased incorporation of the triphosphate gemcitabine metabolite into DNA, which results in inhibition of DNA synthesis and blocks completion of the cell division cycle. Additionally, reduction in dCTP concentration upregulates the enzyme cytidine kinase, which is responsible for the initial phosphorylation of gemcitabine, a necessary step in the inhibition of DNA synthesis by gemcitabine. Finally, the triphosphate metabolite of gemcitabine is an inhibitor of cytidine deaminase, which is responsible for gemcitabine inactivation by conversion to the uridine metabolite. Accordingly, the additive nature of the above factors may explain the efficacy of gemcitabine in treating solid tumors. Synthetic derivatives of gemcitabine, including several prodrug compounds, have been previously described (see for example, Ishitsuka et al, International Publication No. WO03/043631; Alexander et al, J. Med. Chem. 2003, 46, 4205-4208; Greenwald et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,569; Guo et al, Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 2001, 48, 169-176; Greenwald and Choe, International Publication No. WO01/21135; Di Stefano et al, Biochem. Pharmacol. 1999, 57, 793-799; Guo et al, J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 8319-8322; Greenwald et al, International Publication No. WO99/33483; Myhren et al, International Publication No. WO98/32762; Zhao et al. International Publication No. WO98/00173; Chou et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,048; Chou, U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,124; Chou et al, European Patent Application No. EP712860; Wildfeuer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,294; Kjell, U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,183; Chou, U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,838; Bonjouklian et al, European Patent No. EP0376518; Chou et al, European Patent Application No. EP577303; Hertel et al, European Patent Application No. EP576230; Chou et al, Synthesis 1992, 565-570; Richardson et al, Nucleic Acid Res. 1992,20, 1763-1769; Baker et al, J. Med. Chem. 1991, 34, 1879-1884; Klaveness and Undheim, International Publication No. WO91/15498; Hertel et al, European Patent Application No. EP329348; Koppel et al, European Patent Application No. EP272891).
Previous studies have characterized multiple cellular transport mechanisms for nucleoside analog drugs and their derivatives (for a review, see Balimane and Sinko, Adv. Drug Delivery Rev. 1999, 39, 183-209). A relatively hydrophilic compound, gemcitabine has limited ability to permeate plasma membranes via passive diffusion, and several studies have demonstrated that gemcitabine is a substrate for equilibrative and concentrative nucleoside transporters (ENT's and CNT's respectively). Specifically, gemcitabine is transported by human ENT1, ENT2, CNT1 and CNT3, but not the purine-selective concentrative transporter CNT2 (see Mackey et al, Cancer Res. 1998, 58, 4349-4357; Mackey et al, J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 1999, 91, 1876-1881; Fang et al, Biochem. J. 1996, 317, 457-465).
The superior efficacy of gemcitabine against solid tumors makes gemcitabine a particularly compelling candidate for conversion to an orally bioavailable prodrug. Oral administration of cancer drugs may provide for a more convenient dosing regimen and greater efficacy than intravenous infusions of cancer drugs, which are typically used in cancer therapy. Intravenous infusions of cancer drugs require long intervals between administration to allow the patient to recover from the treatment as the IV doses given are near their toxicity limit. Oral delivery of cancer drugs may allow for the attainment of a much more attractive plasma concentration profile in which the concentration of the drug is kept just above its therapeutic threshold for an extended period. Consequently, the patient may experience fewer side effects, while still obtaining the anti-neoplastic benefit of the drug.
However, a significant problem with oral administration of gemcitabine is the intestinal toxicity of this nucleoside analog. Accordingly, there is a need for gemcitabine analogs, which lack intestinal toxicity while retaining the efficacious anti-tumor activity of the parent drug. | {
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As a next generation communication standard that is compatible with a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which is the standardization organization, is promoting the standardization of Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-Advanced: LTE-A). In the LTE system, a wireless communication device (hereinafter, also referred to as “Network Entity (NE)”) of a network (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network: E-UTRAN) provides one or more communication cells.
The wireless communication device is a device such as a wireless communication base station (E-UTRAN NodeB: eNB), a remote base station (Remote Radio Head: RRH), or a relay device (relay node or repeater), which serves as an access point of a wireless communication terminal (User Equipment: UE). The wireless communication terminal belongs to one communication cell among one or more communication cells provided by the wireless communication device. In addition, the wireless communication terminal may use a plurality of frequencies and belong to a plurality of communication cells. Further, the wireless communication terminal may perform transmission and reception with a plurality of communication cells of one frequency. Hereinafter, the wireless communication device is referred to as a “base station”, the wireless communication terminal is referred to as a “terminal”, and the communication cell is referred to as a “cell”.
In the LTE system, a DL grant (also referred to as DL assignment) instructing data assignment of DownLink (DL) to the terminal from the base station and a UL grant instructing data assignment of UpLink (UP) to the base station from the terminal are transmitted, using a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). The DL grant notifies a DL resource allocated to a terminal, in a subframe to which the DL grant is transmitted. On the other hand, the UL grant has different subframes for a resource allocated to a terminal in a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system and a Time Division Duplex (TDD) system. In the FDD system, the UL grant notifies a UL resource allocated to a terminal, in a target subframe after 4 subframes from the subframe to which the UL grant is transmitted. Further, in the TDD system, the UL grant notifies a UL resource allocated to a terminal, in a target subframe after 4 or more subframes from the subframe to which the UL grant is transmitted. In the TDD system, as the allocation target subframe for the terminal, after how many subframes from the subframe, to which the UL grant is transmitted, a subframe is allocated is determined in response to a pattern in which an uplink line and a downlink line are time-divided (hereinafter, referred to as “UL/DL configuration pattern”). However, even in any UL/DL configuration pattern, the UL subframe is the subframe after 4 or more subframes from the subframe to which the UL grant is transmitted.
The terminal performs blind decoding (BD) on the common search space which is in the PDCCH region and the UE specific search space and knows whether or not a control signal required by the terminal is transmitted. The control signals for all terminals are transmitted in the common search space, and the control signal for each terminal is transmitted in the UE specific search space.
In the LTE-Advanced system, with the increase in the number of terminals to be connected to a single cell or the increase in the amount of communication packets at each terminal, there is concern of resource shortage of a PDCCH region. If the base station cannot map to the PDCCH, a control signal instructing a data assignment for the terminal due to the shortage of resources of a PDCCH region, the data assignment for the terminal is not performed. In this case, even if the resources of a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) region to which data is mapped is not occupied, the resources cannot be used, and thus there is a concern that the system throughput is reduced.
As a method to resolve the resource shortage in the PDCCH region, it is considered that a control signal addressed to the terminal under the base station is placed also in the resource used as a data region (for example, a PDSCH region). A new region, to which the control signal addressed to the terminal under the base station is mapped, is referred to as an Enhanced PDCCH (ePDCCH) region, a New-POOCH (N-PDCCH) region, an X-PDCCH region, or the like. Further, a relay technology is introduced to the LTE-Advanced system, and the control signal for a relay device is placed in the data region. Since there is a possibility that the control signal for the relay device is extended and used as the control signal for the terminal, the region in which the control signal is placed is also referred to as an R-PDCCH (POOCH for a relay device). It is possible to increase the number of control signals by increasing the number of the new regions in which the control signal is placed as described above. Further, by changing between cells a new region (hereinafter, also referred to as “ePDCCH”) other than the PDCCH region to which the control signal is transmitted, a transmission power control for the control signal transmitted to a terminal located in the vicinity of the cell edge, an interference control of applying a transmitted control signal to other cells, or an interference control of applying the control signal from other cells to its own cell can be realized.
In the LTE-Advanced system, a region (R-PDCCH region) in which the control signal for the relay device is placed is provided in the data region (for example, PDSCH region). The DL grant and the UL grant are placed also in the R-PDCCH similarly to the PDCCH. Further, in the R-PDCCH, the DL grant is placed in a first slot and the UL grant is placed in a second slot (see NPL 1). Since the decoding delay of the DL grant is reduced by placing the DL grant only in the first slot, the relay device can be ready for the transmission of an ACK/NACK for the DL data (transmitted after 4 subframes from receiving the DL grant, in the FDD). If “relay device subframe configuration (RN subframe Config)” is transmitted from the base station in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the relay device determines the allocated resource (search space) of the R-PDCCH region based on the R-PDCCH configuration (rpdcch Config) included in the configuration information. Further, the relay device receives a control signal transmitted from the base station in the R-PDCCH region.
[Description of Resource]
In the LTE system and the LTE-Advanced system, one Resource Block (RB) is “12 subcarriers×0.5 msec”, and a unit of a combination of two RBs on a time axis is termed a RB pair. Accordingly, the RB pair is “12 subcarriers×1 msec”. In a case of representing a set of 12 subcarriers on the frequency axis, the RB pair is simply termed a RB. Further, the RB pair is termed a Physical RB (PRB) pair in a physical layer. Further, a unit of “one subcarrier×one OFDM symbol” is termed a Resource Element (RE). The number of OFDM symbols per one RB pair changes depends on the length of the Cyclic Prefix (CP) of an OFDM symbol. The number of REs of the region, in which the ePDCCH is placed, per one RB pair is different depending on the number of OFDM symbols or the number of REs used for the Reference Signal (RS). However, the number of OFDM symbols which can be used and the reference signal change in each subframe. Accordingly, the reception quality of the ePDCCH is reduced in the subframe having a small number of REs which can be used. Further, in a case where the PDCCH region is not used for the ePDCCH, the number of OFDM symbols which can be used in the ePDCCH is reduced depending on the number of OFDM symbols in the PDCCH region. The number of OFDM symbols used in PDCCH is 1 to 4.
[Description of Reference Signals]
The reference signal has the following main three types. The first type is a Cell specific Reference Signal (CRS). The CRS is transmitted using a specific RE in all RBs. However, the CRS is transmitted also in the data region in subframes other than a Multimedia Broadcast multicast service Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframe, but is transmitted only in the first two OFDM symbols in the MBSFN subframe. Further, in the CRS, the RE to be placed is determined by the cell ID.
The second type is a UE specific Reference Signal (DMRS). The DMRS is transmitted for decoding the PDSCH. The antenna port of the DMRS to be dynamically used in the DL assignment is indicated to the terminal. Consequently, the base station can indicate different numbers of DMRS for each terminal. Further, the DMRS is transmitted in the data region (see NPL 2).
The third type is a Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS). In the CSI-RS, although the resource that can be transmitted by the base station is defined in advance, it is possible to change the resource to be actually transmitted, in each cell. The terminal can know an interval and a resource to be transmitted, based on the specific control information transmitted in a RRC layer.
Further, the PDCCH and the R-PDCCH have four levels including levels 1, 2, 4 and 8 as an aggregation level (for example, see NPL 2). Then, the levels 1, 2, 4 and 8 respectively have search spaces which are configured from 6, 6, 2 and 2 types of mapping candidate positions. Here, the mapping candidate positions are candidates of regions to which control signals are mapped. If one aggregation level is configured for one terminal, a control signal is actually mapped to one of the mapping candidate positions of a plurality of control signals that the aggregation level has.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a search space corresponding to the R-PDCCH. Each ellipse shown in FIG. 19 shows the mapping candidate position of the control signal of each aggregation level. A plurality of mapping candidate positions in each search space of each aggregation level are continuously placed in Virtual Resource Blocks (VRB). Then, each mapping candidate position in the VRBs is mapped to Physical Resource Blocks (PRB) by signaling of the RRC layer.
It is considered that the search space corresponding to the ePDCCH is individually configured for each terminal. With regard to the design of the ePDCCH, it is possible to use a portion of the design of the R-PDCCH, or to use a design totally different from the design of the R-PDCCH. Actually, it is considered that the designs of the ePDCCH and the R-PDCCH are different.
As described above, in the R-PDCCH, a DL grant is mapped to a first slot and a UL grant is mapped to a second slot. In other words, the resource to which the DL grant is mapped and the resource to which the UL grant is mapped are divided in the time axis. In contrast, it is considered that in the ePDCCH, the resource to which the DL grant is mapped and the resource to which the UL grant is mapped are divided in the frequency axis (that is, subcarriers or RB pairs) or an RE in a PRB pair is divided into a plurality of groups.
Further, as a placing method of the ePDCCH, both of “Localized allocation” which collectively places the ePDCCHs in close positions on the frequency band and “Distributed allocation” which distributes and places the ePDCCHs on the frequency band are considered. “Localized Allocation” is an allocation method which obtains a frequency scheduling gain and can allocate the ePDCCH in a resource having good channel quality, based on channel quality information. “Distributed Allocation” is able to distribute the ePDCCHs on the frequency axis so as to obtain a frequency diversity gain. Further, it is considered that the base station simultaneously configures “Localized search space” and “Distributed search space”. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention is concerned with the field of devices and methods that provide an appearance of longer or thicker hair. More specifically, the invention is concerned with a hair attachment comprised of natural or synthetic hair that is releasably attached directly to hair of a wearer in order to provide the wearer with an appearance of highlighted and or longer and or thicker hair, without causing any tension to the wearer's scalp and or hair.
It is a common desire among many people to acquire hair that is longer and thicker than that which they posses for a variety of reasons, such as self esteem and satisfaction, quickly changing fashion styles, and the like. For example, short hair, which is in fashion for a period of time, may quickly be replaced as current fashion with longer fuller hairstyles. In another example, bangs worn on a forehead may be in fashion for the winter and by the summer this style may be quickly replaced by another style. As hair grows at a rate of approximately less than one inch per month, many people find that it is exceedingly difficult to acquire a contemporary hairstyle in a reasonable time. Even when someone possesses hair of substantial length, the hair may lack thickness or overall volume to achieve a desirable hairstyle. People may also want to add highlights to their hair without having to cause damage to their hair.
Various devices and techniques are available in the prior art and in the marketplace that attempt to satisfy a need and desire for longer and thicker hair. A common well known device is a wig. Although wigs provide a quick and simple means to achieve longer hair, they do not present a fully natural appearance, a condition that leads to their recognition when they are being worn. More recently, a variety of more natural hair enhancement techniques have become popular with a variety of users. These consist of hair weaves, hair extensions, hair braiding and the like, whereby natural or synthetic hair is attached to a scalp of existing hair of a wearer by a variety of techniques in order to provide an appearance of longer, thicker hair without a noticeable artifice of a wig. These techniques and systems, which overcome obvious disadvantage of a wig, also suffer from several drawbacks as they are relatively expensive and time consuming to acquire and frequently discomfort the wearer during application, as well as possibly being difficult to maintain.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous designs, devices, and methods for lengthening and enhancement have been provided in the prior art. Even though these designs may be suitable for specific individual purposes to which they are addressed, they would not be suitable for purposes of the invention as they involve relatively elaborate and time consuming techniques and methods as referenced earlier. These techniques are exemplified by: U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,745, Hair Extension Process, issued to Cheh on Dec. 17, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,867, Process for Extending Human Hair, issued to Barrington on Apr. 28, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,145, Hair Extension and Thickening process, issued to Spann on Feb. 9, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,737, Method of Attaching A Hair Weft To The Hair Of A Wearer, issued to Nelson on Mar. 16, 1999; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,736, Method of Using A Self Adhesive Hair Extension, issued to Townsend on Jun. 18, 2002, which discloses a hair attachment device designed to provide an appearance of longer, thicker, and fuller hair. The attachment device consists of a quantity of natural or synthetic human hair that is sewn to a rectangular shaped, self-adhesive tape having a removable back, which is applied to a scalp or hair of a wearer in a releasably engageable manner. While a hair attachment is relatively simple to apply, the self-adhesive tape provides a less than adequate means to secure ends of strands of natural or synthetic hair, which can become prematurely separated from the self-adhesive tape and become unusable in the future.
As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing need for a new and improved method and device for providing an appearance of longer and thicker hair in a manner that is relatively simple and inexpensive to achieve. In these respects, the present invention substantially departs from conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus that substantially fulfills this need. Additionally, the aforementioned patents and commercial techniques do not suggest the present inventive combination of component elements arranged and configured as disclosed herein.
The present invention achieves its intended purposes, objects, and advantages through a new, useful and unobvious combination of method steps and component elements, with use of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, and with use of readily available materials. | {
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Although vinyl chloride resin has been widely used in the prior art as a soft resin, since vinyl chloride resins are known to generate harmful substances during the course of their combustion, there is a strong desire for an alternative product. Propylene polymer is an alternative to soft vinyl chloride resin. Propylene polymer has been produced in the presence of various catalysts. When propylene polymer produced using catalytic systems of the prior art are attempted to be made softer (namely to have a low elastic modulus), there is the shortcoming of an increase in the amount of sticky components. That is, conventional attempts for attaining soft polymers leads to the increase in APP components causing stickiness, resulting in poor surface characteristics of the resulting molded product. In addition, in the case where such a propylene polymer is formed into molded products such as sheets or films used in food, health care and other applications, there is the risk of causing various problems. Therefore, there is a need for a propylene polymer that offers an improved balance between elastic modulus and the amount of sticky components. | {
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Currently, various services and additional functions provided by portable devices are gradually expanding. In order to increase an effective value of the electronic device and meet various demands of users, various applications executable by the electronic device have been developed. Accordingly, at present, at least several to hundreds of applications can be stored in the electronic device, such as a smart phone, a mobile phone, a notebook Personal Computer (PC), and a tablet PC, which is movable and includes a screen.
Further, the electronic device may transceive stored data with another electronic device by using Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), and the like. Further, the electronic device may receive biometric information, such as a fingerprint and an iris, from a user through one or more sensors. | {
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Most surgical and other types of instruments are rather rigid and unbendable. These characteristics allow the operator of the instrument excellent control, but sometimes hinder or eliminate the possibility of using the instrument to perform its function at a site which is difficult to reach due to unusual angular entry to the site. Surgeons, dentists and model-makers in particular must often contend with unusual angular entry into the areas in which they must operate. The need for a more flexible instrument is clear.
A further drawback of current surgical and other types of instruments is their unitary construction. If one part of an instrument becomes damaged or unworkable, other than a replaceable part such as a blade, the entire instrument must often be replaced. Thus, a multitude of similar instruments must be kept in stock. An instrument which has interchangeable working ends or tips would eliminate the need for keeping so many similar instruments in stock. Also, an instrument which could be easily disassembled and reassembled would permit the use of replacement parts, ease cleaning and repair processes, and make storage of the instrument more economical. Furthermore, the length of an instrument can be easily varied with replaceable parts. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery pack including a primary cell and a secondary cell.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A battery pack which can be charged is normally constituted by one type of secondary cell. The battery built in the battery pack is a primary cell or a secondary cell. Here, the primary cell may be a manganese cell, alkali cell, lithium cell, air cell, and the like. The secondary cell may be nickel-cadmium cell, nickel hydrogen cell, lithium-ion cell, lithium polymer cell, and the like.
For example, a drive battery pack for a portable telephone is normally constituted by one type of secondary cell which is a single lithium-ion cell. A battery pack serving as a drive source of a portable personal computer is constituted by one type of secondary cell which is one to nine cells. Moreover a battery pack serving as a drive power source for a portable video camera is constituted by a secondary cell which is one to nine cells.
In the aforementioned battery pack having a conventional secondary cell, when the battery capacity has become small, the battery pack should be charged using a charger and a domestic power source (AC100V) for several hours.
Accordingly, when a user uses an portable electronic apparatus outside home and no battery capacity is left, the user cannot use the portable electronic apparatus any more.
On the other hand, there has been suggested a battery pack which can drive a portable electronic apparatus using a primary cell instead of the secondary cell when the battery capacity become none. However, such a battery pack has a problem that the secondary cell cannot be charged while the primary cell is mounted.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a battery pack which can mount a primary cell to increase the battery capacity and charge a secondary cell while the primary cell is mounted.
The battery pack according to the present invention achieves the aforementioned object by including: a primary cell; a secondary cell; an I/O terminal through which discharge voltage is output or charge voltage is input; select means for selecting a primary terminal connected to the primary cell or a secondary terminal connected to the secondary cell, so as to connect the selected terminal to the I/O terminal; comparison means for comparing the voltage of the primary cell and the secondary cell and, during discharge, controlling the select means so as to select the primary or the secondary terminal connected to a higher voltage, and during charge from an external power source, controlling the select means so as to select the secondary terminal; an inverse current preventing means for connecting the I/O terminal to the secondary cell, so that current flows from the I/O terminal to the secondary cell and not vice versa. | {
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In order to increase the resolution in capturing a large object, a plurality of overlapping partial images are taken and are composed into a single image. In the process of composing the overlapping partial images, one exemplary prior art reference, Hei 8-116490 discloses a system for taking a plurality of partially overlapping images with a predetermined number of cameras. The plurality of the images is corrected for their distortion and parallax. The corrected images are moved and rotated so that they are composed into a single image. However, it is impossible to perfectly match these partially overlapping images by moving and rotating since the direction of the image plane for these images is not identical when these images have been taken by an ordinary camera. In order to match the partially overlapping images without any disparity, it is necessary to perform perspective transformation on the images. The relation between a point on two image planes is as follows in Equation [1]: [ x1 y1 ] = [ c0x0 + c1y0 + c2 c6x0 + c7y0 + 1 c3x0 + c4y0 + c5 c6x0 + c7y0 + 1 ] [ 1 ] where the two points are (x0, y0) and (x1, y1) and c0 through c7 are variable parameters.
One prior attempt to use the above Equation [1] is “Video Mosaics for Virtual Environments” by Richard Szeliski, IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, pp 22-30, March (1996). Without dividing an image into blocks, pixel values of two partially overlapping images are compared for a difference, and the parameters c0 through c7 of the Equation [1] are repeatedly evaluated by minimizing the difference. However, since the parameter value changes are determined by “yamanobori” based upon intensity gradient, depending upon the initialization of the parameter values, an erroneous minimization of the pixel value difference may follow. Thus, the correct solution is not necessarily obtained. Furthermore, when the light intensity is not uniform on an image, the above described minimal pixel value difference method cannot accommodate the light intensity variations. For example, a central portion of an image has less light intensity than its edge portions. Another example is that the light intensity of the image depends upon an angle of an image-capturing device, the location within the image or an automatic exposure function. Although, one way to improve the above problem is to reiterate non-linear optimized calculation, it is difficult to determine certain coefficients for the calculation and it is also time consuming to process the calculation.
Because of the above described difficulties, it has remained desired to improve a method of composing a single image from partially overlapping images that have been taken by a common image-capturing device. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a double beam optical head. The double beam optical head of the present invention can be applied to an optical head which forms two optical spots on a single information track or a recording medium to perform simultaneous recording and reproduction or to an optical head which forms optical spots on two respectively associated information tracks in a recording medium to perform parallel recording and/or reproduction.
2. Related Background Art
There has been suggested conventional optical heads used in magneto-optical recording/reproducing apparatus, such as an optical head which can perform simultaneous data recording and reproduction (read-while-write) while forming two optical spots on a single information track on a magneto-optical disc or an optical head which can perform parallel data recording and/or reproduction (parallel write/read) while forming optical spots on two information tracks, respectively, in a magneto-optical disc. An example of such optical head is one as described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 64-82348. FIG. 1 shows the scheme of the optical head as described in the Japanese application. It is an optical head for read-while-write to perform simultaneous recording and reproduction while forming two optical spots on one information track.
In FIG. 1, an optical beam emitted from a semiconductor laser 1 is collimated by a collimating lens 2 and the collimated beam is split into three optical beams by a diffraction grating 3. These optical beams pass through a beam shaping prism 5 and a beam splitter 6 and are then condensed by an objective lens 7 so as to be focused on a magneto-optical disc 8. Light reflected on the magneto-optical disc 8 is again condensed by the objective lens 7 and is then reflected by the beam splitter 6. The reflected light passes through a half wave plate 10, a condenser lens 11 and a beam splitter 12 to be received by photodetectors 13, 14. A servo signal and an RF signal are obtained from outputs from the photodetectors 13, 14. Numeral 9 designates a magnetic head which can apply a modulation magnetic field to the magneto-optical disc 8.
Light spots formed on the magneto-optical disc 8 are located on a same information track in the graph as shown in FIG. 2. Namely, an optical spot SP1, corresponding to an optical beam on the optical axis of the objective lens 7, has a larger quantity of light than the two other spots SP2, SP3. In this conventional example the optical spot SP1 is zeroth order diffracted light emerging from the diffraction grating 3. Thus, the optical spot SP2 corresponding to first order diffracted light has a smaller quantity of light than the optical spot SP1. The two optical spots SP1, SP2 are so arranged that the optical spot SP1 advances and the optical spot SP2 follows on the same information track moving in the direction as shown by the arrow. In recording information the optical spot SP1 is formed with a predetermined recording power and the magnetic head 9 applies a magnetic field modulated by data information to a recording area. At the same time, reproduction is conducted with the optical spot SP2 to check (or verify) recorded information just after the recording with the optical spot SP1. Also, the optical spot SP1 is formed with a reproduction power in normal information reproduction.
In the optical head as described above, a reproduction signal for verification by the optical spot SP2 is used to check a recorded signal. It is, therefore, preferred that the quality of reproduced signal for verification is kept at a same level as that of the reproduced signal in normal reproduction. In the conventional example the three optical beams are separated from each other at the diffraction grating 3 and start traveling at different angles. Generally, the distribution of a beam incident on the objective lens can be assumed to have a substantially Gaussian distribution. Then the optical beams entering the objective lens 7 have respective intensity distributions as shown in FIG. 3. The intensity center of distribution Bm1 corresponding to the optical spot SP1 is coincident with the optical axis of the objective lens 7, while the intensity center of distribution Bm2 corresponding to the optical spot SP2 deviates by a distance d from the optical axis of the objective lens 7. In other words, a deviation amount .delta., which is a distance from the optical axis of the objective lens 7 to the center of intensity distribution of optical beam, is 0 for distribution Bm1 and d for distribution Bm2.
FIG. 4 shows a relation between a deviation amount .delta. and the size of the optical spot in the direction of deviation. In the conventional example as described above, .delta.=d for distribution Bm2 corresponding to the optical spot SP2, which corresponds to C as a spot diameter of optical spot SP2, relatively large as compared with B for the spot diameter of optical spot SP1. Accordingly, the quality of the reproduced signal from the optical spot SP2 is inferior to that from the optical spot SP1.
This is also the case in read-while-write or in parallel record/reproduction without using the diffraction grating but using array lasers to form two optical beams. | {
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Electronic communications may be delivered through a variety of methods, and to different numbers of recipients. One-to-one methods include synchronous methods, such as voice telephony, and asynchronous methods, such as email. One-to-many methods include various message publishing models, such as broadcast or publish-subscribe approaches. Messages may be viewed over a web browser or other application on different kinds of electronic devices. Additionally, recipients may subscribe to many of the different publishing models to automatically receive messages of a certain type, such as articles or emails, through a subscription service.
Increasing connectivity to the growing amount of varied electronic data drives a need for flexibility in subscriptions for desired content. Improving the ways in which users are able to specify what they want allows them to receive data more closely suited to their personal preferences, and to filter the ever increasing amount of available data to the most relevant content. | {
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The present invention relates to a process for producing a modified polymer, a modified polymer obtained by the process and a rubber composition. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process for producing a modified polymer which enhances interactions with silica and carbon black when used for both of silica-blended and carbon black-blended rubber compositions and which elevates the fracture characteristic, the abrasion resistance and the low heat buildup property at the same time and can exhibit a good workability, a modified polymer having the characteristics described above which is obtained by the above process, a rubber composition comprising the above modified polymer and a tire prepared by using the above rubber composition. | {
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When an x-ray image is obtained, there is generally an optimal distance and angle between the radiation source and the two dimensional receiver that records the image data. In most cases, it is preferred that the x-ray source provide radiation in a direction that is perpendicular to the surface of the recording medium. For this reason, large-scale radiography systems mount the radiation head and the recording medium holder at a specific angle relative to each other. Orienting the head and the receiver typically requires a mounting arm of substantial size, extending outward well beyond the full distance between these two components. With such large-scale systems, source-to-image distance (SID) is tightly controlled and unwanted tilt or skew of the receiver is thus prevented by the hardware of the imaging system itself. Further, because the spatial positioning and geometry of conventional large-scale systems is well-controlled, proper use and alignment of a grid, positioned in front of the imaging receiver, is straightforward.
Mobile x-ray apparatus are of particular value in intensive care unit (ICU) and other environments where timely acquisition of a radiographic image is important. Because it can be wheeled around the ICU or other area and brought directly to the patient's bedside, a mobile x-ray apparatus allows an attending physician or clinician to have recent information on the condition of a patient and helps to reduce the risks entailed in moving patients to stationary equipment in the radiological facility.
The perspective view of FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional mobile x-ray apparatus that can be employed for computed radiography (CR) and/or digital radiography (DR). A mobile radiography unit 600 has a frame 620 that includes a display 610 for display of obtained images and related data and a control panel 612 that allows functions such as storing, transmitting, modifying, and printing of the obtained image.
For mobility, unit 600 has one or more wheels 615 and one or more handle grips 625, typically provided at waist-, arm-, or hand-level, that help to guide unit 600 to its intended location. A self-contained battery pack typically provides source power, eliminating the need for operation near a power outlet.
Mounted to frame 620 is a support member 635 that supports an x-ray source 640, also termed an x-ray tube or tube head, mounted on a boom apparatus 70, more simply termed a boom 70. A generator may also be mounted adjacent the tube head or, alternately, within frame 620. In the embodiment shown, support member 635 has a vertical column 64 of fixed height. Boom 70 extends outward a variable distance from support member 635 and rides up and down column 64 to the desired height for obtaining the image. Boom 70 may extend outward by a fixed distance or may be extendible over a variable distance. Height settings for the x-ray source 640 can range from low height for imaging feet and lower extremities to shoulder height and above for imaging the upper body portions of patients in various positions. In other conventional embodiments, the support member for the x-ray source is not a fixed column, but is rather an articulated member that bends at a joint mechanism to allow movement of the x-ray source over a range of vertical and horizontal positions.
With the advent of portable radiation imaging apparatus, such as those used in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) environments, a fixed angular relationship between the radiation source and two-dimensional radiation receiver and any accompanying grid is no longer imposed by the mounting hardware of the system itself. Instead, an operator is required to aim the radiation source toward the receiver surface, providing as perpendicular an orientation as possible, typically using a visual assessment. In computed radiography (CR) systems, the two-dimensional image-sensing device itself is a portable cassette that stores the readable imaging medium. In direct digital radiography (DR) systems, the two-dimensional image-sensing receiver is a digital detector with either flat, rigid, or flexible substrate support.
The receiver itself, however, may not be visible to the technician once it is positioned behind the patient. This complicates the alignment task for portable systems, requiring some method for measuring SID, tilt angle, and centering, and making it more difficult to use a grid effectively for reducing the effects of scatter. Because of this added complexity with a portable radiography system, the technician may choose not to use a grid; the result without a grid, however, is typically a lower-quality image.
There have been a number of approaches to the problem of providing methods and tools to assist operator adjustment of x-ray source-to-receiver angle. One conventional approach has been to provide mechanical alignment in a more compact fashion, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,948 entitled “Mobile Radiography Alignment Device” to MacMahon. A platform is provided with a pivotable standard for maintaining alignment between an imaging cassette and radiation source. However, complex mechanical solutions of this type tend to reduce the overall flexibility and portability of these x-ray systems. Another type of approach, such as that proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,750 entitled “Digital X-ray Imager Alignment Method” to Kwasnick et al. uses an initial low-exposure pulse for detecting the alignment grid; however, this method would not be suitable for portable imaging conditions where the receiver must be aligned after it is fitted behind the patient.
Other approaches project a light beam from the radiation source to the receiver in order to achieve alignment between the two. Examples of this approach include U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,143 entitled “Alignment Method for Radiography and Radiography Apparatus Incorporating Same” and No. 5,241,578 entitled “Optical Grid Alignment System for Portable Radiography and Portable Radiography Apparatus Incorporating Same”, both to MacMahon. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,522 entitled “Method, System and Apparatus for Aiming a Device Emitting Radiant Beam” to Cumings describes the use of a reflected laser beam for alignment of the radiation target. However, the solutions that have been presented using light to align the film or CR cassette or DR receiver are constrained by a number of factors. The '143 and '578 MacMahon disclosures require that a fixed Source-to-Image Distance (SID) be determined beforehand, then apply triangulation with this fixed SID value. Changing the SID requires a number of adjustments to the triangulation settings. This arrangement is less than desirable for portable imaging systems that allow a variable SID. Devices using lasers, such as that described in the '522 Cumings disclosure, in some cases can require much more precision in making adjustments than is necessary.
Other examples in which light is projected from the radiation source onto the receiver are given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,671 entitled “Locating Device” to Bautista and U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,486 entitled “X-ray Photography Device” to Madsen. Both the Bautista '671 and Madsen '486 approaches use multiple light sources that are projected from the radiation source and intersect in various ways on the receiver.
Significantly, the solutions noted above are often of little of no value where the receiver and its accompanying grid are hidden from view, lying fully behind the patient as may be the case, for example, for chest x-ray imaging with a portable system. Today's portable radiation imaging devices allow considerable flexibility for placement of the film cassette, CR cassette, or Digital Radiography DR receiver by the radiology technician. The patient need not be in a horizontal position for imaging, but may be at any angle, depending on the type of image that is needed and on the ability to move the patient for the x-ray examination. The technician can manually adjust the position of both the cassette or receiver and the radiation source independently for each imaging session. Thus, it can be appreciated that an alignment apparatus for obtaining the desired angle between the radiation source and the grid and image receiver must be able to adapt to whatever orientation is best suited for obtaining the image. Tilt sensing, as has been conventionally applied and as is used in the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,553 entitled “Portable Radiation Imaging System and a Radiation Image Detection Device Equipped with an Angular Signal Output Means” to Tanaka et al. and elsewhere, does not provide sufficient information on cassette-to-radiation source orientation, except in the single case where the cassette lies level. More complex position sensing devices can be used, but can be subject to sampling and accumulated rounding errors that can grow worse over time, requiring frequent resynchronization.
Thus, it is apparent that conventional alignment solutions may be workable for specific types of systems and environments; however, considerable room for improvement remains. Portable radiography apparatus must be compact and lightweight, which makes the mechanical alignment approach such as that given in the '948 MacMahon disclosure less than desirable. The constraint to direct line-of-sight alignment reduces the applicability of many types of reflected light based methods to a limited range of imaging situations. The complex sensor and motion control interaction required by the Tanaka et al. '553 solution would add considerable expense, complexity, weight, and size to existing designs, with limited benefits. Many less expensive portable radiation imaging units do not have the control logic and motion coordination components that are needed in order to achieve the necessary adjustment. None of these approaches gives the operator the needed information for making a manual adjustment that is in the right direction for correcting misalignment, particularly where a grid is used.
Yet another problem not addressed by many of the above solutions relates to the actual working practices of radiologists and radiological technicians. A requirement for perpendicular delivery of radiation, given particular emphasis in the Tanaka et al. '553 application, is not used in all cases because it is not optimal for all types of imaging. In fact, there are some types of diagnostic images for which an oblique (non-perpendicular) incident radiation angle is most desirable, provided that the grid alignment is acceptable for the given angle. For example, for the standard chest anterior-posterior (AP) view, the recommended central ray angle is oblique from the perpendicular (normal) by approximately 3-5 degrees. Conventional alignment systems, while they provide for normal incidence of the central ray, do not adapt to assist the technician for adjusting to an oblique angle.
Still other problems relate to the need to achieve a source-to-image distance (SID) that is well-suited for the image to be obtained and for the grid used. Conventional alignment solutions do not provide SID information, leaving it to the technician to make separate measurements or to make an approximate SID adjustment. Moreover, conventional solutions do not provide the technician with tools to help reduce backscatter, caused by misalignment or poor adjustment of the collimator blades. This type of scatter, while not particularly problematic with other types of radiographic imaging, such as dental and mammographic imaging, can be troublesome with portable radiographic imaging apparatus, since the radiation is directed over a broad area. Radiation that works past the imaging receiver and any blocking element associated with the receiver can inadvertently be reflected back into the receiver, adversely affecting image quality. To reduce backscatter as much as possible for chest x-rays and other types of x-ray, the technician is required to estimate the location and orientation or outline of the imaging receiver and to adjust the collimator accordingly.
Thus, it can be seen that there is a need for an apparatus that enables proper angular alignment and centering of a radiation source relative to an image receiver for recording a radiation image. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Automating the production of a fully routed and design rule compliant design involves a high level of computational complexity. Therefore, a given router might not be able to achieve 100% routing completion in a single run. Design rule constraints at the transistor level are quite rigorous, necessitating intelligent strategies to resolve incomplete routes. For example, design rule constraints (e.g., spacing requirements) for the contact layers between the transistor terminals and the metal 1 (M1) layer are complex and difficult to satisfy, especially as semiconductor fabrication technologies approach 10 nm and below. Applying simple strategies for resolving incomplete routes (e.g., route extensions or relocating existing routes to make room for other routes) may result in a combinatorial explosion of the search space. | {
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As a prior-art bucket-type jaw crusher attached to an arm of a work machine such as a hydraulic excavator and the like, a bucket for crushing and selecting stones in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-45529 (Patent Literature 1), for example, discloses a bucket structure provided with an inlet opening portion and an outlet opening portion for a material such as stones, a shovel-shaped main body regulating a flow direction of the material such as the stones between this inlet opening portion and the outlet opening portion, first and second jaws attached in this main body and opposed to each other, moving means having an eccentric connection portion between a member rotationally moving around a rotation axis and the first jaw so as to give first rotational movement and translational movement of the first jaw around the rotation axis in relation at least with the first jaw by bringing the first jaw close to or separating the same away from the second jaw in order to crush the material such as the stones flowing through these jaws, and a toggle connection portion between the main body and the first jaw in order to give second rotational movement and translational movement of the first jaw, in which this toggle connection portion has a support column pivotally supported by the first jaw and the main body so as to rotationally move around the respective pivotal support axis, this support column extends between the first jaw and the main body so that a line segment connecting the both pivotal support axes inclines by an angle larger than 90° with respect to a line segment connecting the pivotal support axis between the support column and the first jaw and the rotational axis, and this bucket includes a lower part in which a cell-shaped structural body is formed and a reinforcing plate attached to the respective side portions of the main body.
Moreover, a bucket-type jaw crusher in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-56423 (Patent Literature 2) discloses a structure of a bucket-type jaw crusher to be attached to an arm of a hydraulic excavator in which a fixed jaw is provided on an inner surface on the bottom of the bucket, an upper part is pivotally supported by an eccentric main spindle driven by a hydraulic motor opposite to that, a lower part is supported by a toggle plate, and a material to be crushed can be crushed by a moving jaw in inverted triangular arrangement, in which, in an intermediate portion between the hydraulic motor on one side of the eccentric main spindle and a flywheel on the other side, a counterweight is provided so as to adjust the balance, and while the moving jaw is reciprocally moved so as to press down the material to be crushed from the upper part to the lower part by means of rotation of the eccentric main spindle, the toggle plate is attached to an up grade ahead and the material to be crushed is pressed onto the fixed jaw so that strong and fine crushing can be performed.
In these types of the bucket-type jaw crusher, an eccentric shaft is provided on a shaft portion supporting the moving jaw and this is rotated, and thus, a motion trajectory of the surface of the moving jaw and a jaw plate is close to a circular motion in the vicinity of the eccentric shaft but changes from an oval motion to an arc motion as it gets closer to a toggle support portion on the discharge side, draws in the material to be crushed to the discharge side by rotating the eccentric shaft in the forward direction and pushes it up to the scooping side by rotation in the reverse direction.
Therefore, in a normal crushing work, only forward rotation is made and not in the reverse direction, and only if the material to be crushed is caught by the jaw crusher, the machine is stopped once, the opening of the bucket is displaced downward, and the crusher is rotated in the reverse direction so as to discharge the caught material to be crushed.
In the bucket-type jaw crusher, since the work of scooping up the material to be crushed and crushing it by the bucket and discharging it is repeated, it is necessary to repeat start and stop of the jaw crusher frequently.
In a stationary jaw crusher (compression-type crusher), the jaw crusher is started from a non-load state, while in the case of the bucket-type jaw crusher, it is started in a loaded state in which the material to be crushed is scooped in the bucket as described above.
Thus, when a hard material to be crushed is to be treated, if start-up of the jaw crusher is to be started in a state where the material to be crushed is caught by directing the opening of the bucket upward, the material to be crushed is bitten, and start-up might become impossible.
Thus, in the prior-art bucket crusher, by starting start-up of the jaw crusher in a state where the bucket is in an inclined posture in the middle of the course from scooping the material to be crushed by the bucket to moving with the opening of the bucket completely upward, a degree of being caught of the material to be crushed at the upward crush position is reduced in the crushing treatment, but an operator needs to adjust timing of start-up in accordance with hardness and size of the material to be crushed, and if the timing is wrong, the material to be crushed is caught and the start-up of the jaw crusher might become impossible.
Moreover, since bucket-type jaw crusher in Patent Literature 2 is configured such that the hydraulic motor is directly connected to one side of the eccentric main spindle, the eccentric main spindle becomes an output shaft of the hydraulic motor, and an impact generated when a foreign substance is bitten is directly transmitted to the hydraulic motor. Thus, if a hard metal material or the like contained in the slag during the crushing treatment of the slag is bitten, for example, there is a risk of giving an extremely large impact load to the hydraulic motor, and the machine cannot be applied to the slag treatment.
Furthermore, in the bucket-type crusher, in order to handle weight limitation, the weight reduction of the moving jaw is promoted, but since a tip end of the jaw plate of the moving jaw is hooked by a hook-shaped hook portion formed integrally on a base portion of the moving jaw, if elongation is generated in the jaw plate made of manganese, it cannot be absorbed but a crack or damage occurs in the hook portion, which causes nonconformity that repair of the entire base portion is required. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to non-wovens. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to non-woven fabrics containing propylene-based polymers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Elastic nonwoven materials are used in personal care products including diapers, adult incontinence wear, and other personal hygiene products. Such elastic nonwoven materials are typically constructed of elastomer and/or elastomer-like polymers that provide stretchability and that are tailored for processing in conventional spunmelt equipment.
Nonwoven materials with good stretchability and elasticity are particularly desirable for such personal care products. For clothing, stretchability and elasticity are performance attributes that allow the nonwoven material to provide a closely conforming fit to the body of the wearer. However, elastic materials inherently have a “rubbery” feel that is unacceptable from a consumer's perspective in applications involving contact with human skin. Accordingly, elastic materials have been modified to have a more pleasant feel; yet such modification of the spunmelt polymers has a tendency to compromise the physical and elastic properties of the resulting nonwoven material.
There is a need, therefore, for improving the feel of nonwoven fabrics containing elastomer and/or elastomer-like polymers without compromising the physical and elastic properties of the material. | {
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A wireless device including multiple wireless modules which receive signals via multiple antennas on the basis of a high-frequency signal has known to public (see, for example, Patent Literatures 1 and 2). The wireless device controls the differences of phases of multiple signals received by respective wireless modules by controlling the phase of at least one of the multiple signals received by the respective wireless modules.
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-071889
[Patent Literature 2] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-304205 | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to collision attenuating systems and, more particularly, to improved collision attenuating systems for the front ends of railroad trains and other relatively large moving vehicles, and to methods for their use.
2. Description of Related Art
Railroad trains are heavy vehicles that are difficult to stop in emergency situations. Furthermore, railroad trains cannot be steered to avoid pedestrians and other motor vehicles that inadvertently cross the path of a moving railroad train. Railroad trains are extremely heavy relative to pedestrians as well as most motor vehicles including automobiles, sport-utility vehicles, trucks, vans, and buses. The front of a locomotive or a railroad car is typically constructed of a large rigid steel structure that yields minimally, if at all, in the event of a collision with a pedestrian or a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, due to these factors, collisions between railroad trains and pedestrians or between railroad trains and motor vehicles result all too often in fatalities for the pedestrians or for the occupants of the impacted motor vehicles.
Current efforts to reduce such fatalities have focused on collision prevention. Collision prevention techniques include warning devices on the railroad train such as horns and lights, warnings and barriers at railway and pedestrian crossings and as well as railway and motor vehicle crossings. Also, fencing is used along railroad right of ways to restrict access by pedestrians and/or motor vehicles. Unfortunately, pedestrians and motor vehicle operators on occasion accidentally miss, ignore, or deliberately circumvent these warning systems.
One known system for reducing the severity of impact between a train and a land vehicle is disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,205 to Butler. The Butler patent discloses a train collision system in the form of a flatbed car coupled to the front of a train. Disadvantageously, such systems are large and relatively expensive in that an additional railcar is required. Such systems are difficult to store and would occupy space that could be used by other working railcars and locomotives. Such systems may also be very expensive to maintain, replace or recondition, possibly approaching or exceeding the cost of a railcar. Furthermore, such systems are simply ineffective for collisions involving pedestrians.
What is needed is an improved collision attenuating system that overcomes the above and other disadvantages of known collision attenuating devices and collision prevention techniques.
Additionally, when a relatively large moving vehicle, such as a sport-utility vehicle, truck, or bus, impacts a pedestrian or a smaller vehicle, the difference in mass of the two results in an inordinate amount of damage and injury to the pedestrian or occupants of the smaller impacted vehicle.
What is also needed is an improved collision attenuating system that can be utilized on larger moving vehicles while overcoming the above and other disadvantages of known collision attenuating devices and collision prevention techniques.
In summary, one aspect of the present invention is directed to a collision attenuating system for a moving vehicle including an energy-absorbing airbag assembly dimensioned and configured for attenuating the impact between the moving vehicle and a pedestrian or an impacted vehicle located in or crossing the path of the moving vehicle as the pedestrian or impacted vehicle impacts against the airbag assembly, a mounting bracket dimensioned and configured for being affixed to the moving vehicle, an engagement bracket affixed to the airbag assembly and engagable with the mounting bracket, and a quick-release fastener for removably engaging the engagement bracket to the mounting bracket for removably mounting the airbag assembly to the moving vehicle. In one embodiment, the collision attenuating system is mounted to a leading end of a leading railcar supported on a railway.
The airbag assembly may include an airbag and an assembly frame supporting the airbag, the engagement bracket being affixed to the assembly frame. The collision attenuating system may include a plurality of mounting brackets, a plurality of engagement brackets affixed to the assembly frame, and a plurality of quick-release fasteners for releasably engaging respective ones of the mounting and engagement brackets. The collision attenuating system may include a retractable wheel assembly mounted on the assembly frame for selectively raising the airbag assembly. The collision attenuating system may include a lifting mechanism mounting the retractable wheel assembly to the assembly frame. The collision attenuating system may include an energy-absorbing crush structure interconnecting the assembly frame and the engagement bracket. The collision attenuating system may include a shock absorber interconnecting the assembly frame and the engagement bracket.
In one embodiment, the collision attenuating system includes a speed sensor for determining the speed of the vehicle and a pressure regulator for controlling a pressure function of the airbag responsive to the speed sensor. The pressure regulator is an air pressure release valve.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a collision attenuating system for a moving vehicle including an energy-absorbing airbag assembly dimensioned and configured for attenuating the impact between the moving vehicle and a pedestrian or an impacted vehicle located in or crossing the path of the moving vehicle as the pedestrian or impacted vehicle impacts against the airbag assembly, the airbag assembly including an airbag and an assembly frame supporting the airbag, a speed sensor for determining the speed of the vehicle, and a pressure regulator for controlling a pressure function of the airbag responsive to the speed sensor. In one embodiment, the pressure regulator may include an air pressure release valve. Alternatively, the air pressure regulator may include a variable speed inflation fan. The attenuating system may include a mounting bracket dimensioned and configured for being affixed to the moving vehicle, an engagement bracket affixed to the airbag assembly and engagable with the mounting bracket, and a quick-release fastener for removably engaging the engagement bracket to the mounting bracket for removably mounting the airbag assembly to the moving vehicle.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a collision attenuating system including an energy-absorbing assembly dimensioned and configured for attenuating the impact between the moving vehicle and a pedestrian or an impacted vehicle located in or crossing the path of the moving vehicle as the pedestrian or impacted vehicle impacts against the energy-absorbing assembly, and an assembly frame for securing the energy-absorbing assembly to the moving vehicle, wherein the airbag assembly may include an upper deflatable airbag, and a lower pedestrian support, the pedestrian support including energy-absorbing structure. The upper deflatable airbag may include at least one internal baffle. The pedestrian support may include a hydraulic shock absorber and/or a pneumatic shock absorber. The pedestrian support may include an energy-absorbing crush structure. The collision attenuating system may include a skid plate located below the pedestrian support. In one embodiment, the energy-absorbing structure is constructed of foam, an air bladder, or a combination thereof.
In one embodiment, the pedestrian support is flexibly supported by the assembly frame such that a leading edge of the pedestrian support moves upward upon at least partial deflation of the upper deflatable airbag due to impact with the pedestrian or impacted vehicle. The collision attenuating system may include a hinge flexibly supporting the pedestrian support on the assembly frame. The collision attenuating system may include a locking retractor configured to prevent downward motion of the leading edge of the pedestrian support. The collision attenuating system may include a speed sensor for determining the speed of the vehicle, and a pressure regulator for controlling a pressure function of the airbag responsive to the speed sensor. In one embodiment, the pressure regulator is an air pressure release valve. The collision attenuating system may include a retractor interlock, wherein the retractor interlock locks the locking retractor once the release valve releases air from the upper deflatable airbag. The collision attenuating system may include a release mechanism for lowering the pedestrian support after the locking retractor is locked. The collision attenuating system may include, a mounting bracket dimensioned and configured for being affixed to the moving vehicle, an engagement bracket affixed to the airbag assembly and engagable with the mounting bracket, and a quick-release fastener for removably engaging the engagement bracket to the mounting bracket for removably mounting the airbag assembly to the moving vehicle.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved collision attenuating system to better reduce the severity of an impact, which cannot be otherwise prevented, between a moving train or other relatively large vehicle and either a pedestrian or another relatively small vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a collision attenuating system configured to capture an impacted pedestrian.
The collision attenuating system of the present invention has other features and advantages that will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, and the following Detailed Description of the Invention, which together serve to explain the principles of the present invention. | {
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The present invention relates to direct injection spark ignition engines and more particularly to, improving performance of such engines at high engine loads.
Conventional direct injection spark ignition engines typically have at least one combustion chamber having at least one air intake port for introducing air into the combustion chamber and a fuel injector port for directly injecting fuel into the combustion chamber. Fuel injection during compression stroke causes stratas of different air-fuel mixtures to be formed in the combustion chamber, the layer closest to the spark plug containing a stoichiometric or slightly rich of stoichiometry mixture, and with subsequent layers containing progressively leaner mixtures. Stratified mode is preferred for low engine loads and provides improved fuel economy.
At high engine loads, typically greater than 50% of full engine load, a homogeneous air-fuel mixture is provided in the combustion chamber by injecting fuel into the chamber during the intake stroke. At high loads, the air-fuel mixture is at or slightly rich of stoichiometry. When the air intake ports are open, the injected fuel spray is deformed by the incoming air stream and is blown to the intake port side. This prevents fuel droplets and vapor from penetrating across the cylinder and causes air-fuel mixture stratification. This condition can result in loss of power, and is particularly pronounced at high speed, high load conditions.
Various methods have been disclosed in the art of direct injection spark ignition engine design for improving engine performance at high load conditions by improving air-fuel mixture homogeneity. One method is described in Japan Patent Application No. 11,193,707 A, wherein improved air-fuel mixture homogeneity is achieved by providing a deflector at the bottom of the inner periphery of an intake valve of an intake air port deviated toward the side where a fuel injection valve is located. This causes the intake air to make a detour around the fuel injection valve, allowing the fuel to be injected at a wide angle and therefore improving air-fuel mixture homogeneity.
The inventors herein have recognized a disadvantage with this approach. Namely, the deflector is placed at the inner periphery of an air intake port in the vicinity of the intake valve, which has the problem of restricting the amount of air that can be injected into the combustion chamber, and can therefore cause the engine to be underpowered, most severely so at high speed, high engine loads.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for improving performance of a vehicle equipped with a direct injection spark ignition engine.
The above object is achieved and disadvantages of prior approaches overcome by a direct injection, spark ignition internal combustion engine having a minimum of one combustion chamber formed in a cylinder block, and having a cylinder head attached to the block, the chamber comprising: a minimum of one air intake port formed in the cylinder head for introducing an air stream into the combustion chamber; a fuel injection port formed in the cylinder head for directly injecting a fuel spray into the combustion chamber; and an intake air deflector formed in the cylinder head between said air intake port and said fuel injection port, said deflector sized and positioned such as to reduce said air stream impinging on said fuel spray during an intake stroke of the engine.
In another aspect of the present invention the above object is achieved and disadvantages of prior approaches overcome by a method of forming a homogeneous air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of a direct injection spark ignition engine, the method comprising: inducting an air stream into the combustion chamber, said air stream impinging on a first side of an intake air deflector; and injecting a fuel spray into the combustion chamber, said fuel impinging on a second side of said intake air deflector.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the above object is achieved and disadvantages of prior approaches overcome by a method of forming a homogeneous air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of a direct injection, spark ignition internal combustion engine, the method comprising: inducting an air stream through an air intake port housed in a lower plateau protruding into the combustion chamber, said lower plateau formed in a cylinder head; and simultaneously injecting a fuel spray through a fuel injection port housed in an upper plateau, said upper plateau formed in said cylinder head and separated from said first plateau by a step of about 1-25 millimeters in height.
An advantage of the above aspects of the invention is that by preventing the intake air from deflecting the fuel spray to the intake side of the combustion chamber during the intake stroke of the engine, fuel droplets and vapor are allowed to be better distributed throughout the combustion chamber, and thus better air-fuel mixture homogenization is achieved. Since the deflector is formed in the cylinder head between the fuel injector port and the air intake port(s), and not inside the air intake port as in the prior art invention, the flow of intake air is not restricted, and thus higher output torque and better engine performance at high engine loads is achieved.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated by the reader of this specification. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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It is known in the art that tetrahydrofuran may be produced by a number of different methods, the more prominent among them the dehydration of 1,4-butanediol and the catalytic hydrogenation of furan. Most tetrahydrofuran is, in fact, manufactured in a multi-step sequence starting with the reaction of acetylene and formaldehyde in the presence of a cuprous acetylide complex to form butynediol. The butynediol is hydrogenated to butanediol, which is dehydrated to tetrahydrofuran as indicated above.
In addition, tetrahydrofuran can be prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of maleic, fumaric and succinic acids, their respective anhydrides and ester derivatives, and butyrolactone.
All of these methods involve the use of hazardous or expensive materials, and catalysts that are expensive in some instances and easily poisoned in others.
The liquid phase conversion of 1,4-butanediol carboxylate ester derivatives to tetrahydrofuran in the presence of strongly acidic catalysts and water has been described by Kohll in British Pat. No. 1,170,222 and by Ono et al, in German Offenlengungsschrift 2,062,950. As disclosed in copending applications of William E. Smith, Ser. Nos. 623,904 and 623,905 (now U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,011,244 and 4,010,171 respectively) filed on Oct. 20, 1975, both titled A Process for Preparing Tetrahydrofuran, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, tetrahydrofuran can be advantageously produced by vapor phase dehydroacyloxylation or hydrolysis-dehydroacyloxylation of carboxylate esters of 1,4-butanediol promoted by such catalysts as alumina, silica and silica-alumina.
Tetrahydrofuran is a useful solvent for natural and synthetic resins and is a valuable intermediate in manufacture of a number of chemicals and plastics. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates to a remote shut-off valve, and in particular to a valve for the remote shutting-off of a fluid such as a main water supply.
The invention is expected to find its greatest utility as a shut-off valve for the water supply to a domestic dwelling, and the following description will therefore relate primarily to such application. However, use of the invention for other liquid flows such as liquid petrochemicals, and in other applications such as the water supply to commercial and recreational premises, are not thereby excluded. Also, the invention is applicable to gas flows, i.e. it can be used to shut off the flow of, a gas along a pipeline.
The mains water supply usually enters a domestic dwelling through a single pipeline, and close to the point of entry a tap (known as a xe2x80x9cstop-cockxe2x80x9d) is typically provided so that the water supply to the dwelling can be shut-off if required, for example if there is a water leak within the dwelling. The stop-lock is usually located out of sight, and is not always easily accessible, particularly for the elderly or infirm. In addition, the stop-lock may not need to be operated for many years, and might have become seized during that time, so that it is not possible for the dwelling occupier to operate it when it is ultimately required.
It is known to provide a shut-off valve which can be fitted into the mains supply adjacent or instead of the stop-cock, which shut-off valve can be more easily operated, particularly by the elderly or infirm. In addition, certain designs are remotely operated so that the valve can be actuated from a convenient location.
One prior art device is disclosed in GB patent application 2,279,393. That document discloses an electrically-operated stop-cock which can be fitted to the mains supply pipe in addition to or instead of the manually-operated stop-cock. The electically-operated stop-cock can be actuated by the dwelling occupier from a remote location.
The device of GB 2,279,393 has the major disadvantages of being expensive and complex, due to the requirement for electrical actuation. Also, it is indicated that in the event of an electrical failure the valve will close, shutting off the water supply, but that a magnet can be used to-reopen the valve manually if desired. Clearly, it might not be desired that the water be shut off if there is a failure in the electricity supply, and the requirement to locate a suitable magnet, and then be able to open the valve manually, is likely to be extremely difficult.
Another prior device is disclosed in WO 97/05416. In that document there is provided a shut-off valve which can be actuated remotely, and which operates by water pressure alone, i.e. it requires no complex mechanical or electrical components. That document discloses a diaphragm valve located in a water supply pipeline, and which valve is normally biassed closed. When it is desired for water to flow along the pipeline (which may be connected to a tap over a domestic sink for example), the user can depress an actuator which mechanically opens a pilot valve, which in turn opens the diaphragm valve and allows water to flow along the pipeline. When the user stops depressing the actuator the pilot valve closes and the diaphragm valve subsequently closes. The device is intended to save water use by cutting off the water supply to the tap when the actuator is not being depressed, in the event that the tap is left turned on, for example.
The device of WO97/05416 also has a number of disadvantages for use as a shut-off valve, however. Thus, it is designed to fit into a pipeline adjacent an individual water outlet or tap, and is therefore normally biassed closed. The present invention, however, is directed to a stop-cock which controls the flow of all water into the building, and so is normally open. It is not practical for an shut-off valve such as that of WO97/05416 to be used for the mains supply pipeline into a building or dwelling.
Also, the device of WO97/05416 is directional, in that both the diaphragm valve and the pilot, valve must be fitted correctly into the water supply line; incorrect fitment of either component will result in the device not operating correctly, e.g. the diaphragm valve could remain closed even if the pilot valve is opened.
In addition, the water pressure within the pilot valve seeks to open the pilot valve, but this water pressure is resisted by the mechanical linkage of the actuator. If the mechanical linkage should fail, the pilot valve and hence the diaphragm valve would be biassed towards its open condition, avoiding the intended purpose of the device.
Furthermore, the inlet to the diaphragm valve communicates with the control chamber above the diaphragm by way of a number of small holes in the diaphragm. The size of those holes is critical to operation of the device. It is a recognised disadvantage of such diaphragm valves that if the holes are too large then the diaphragm valve will not open even if the pilot valve is opened, so that fluid flows from
the inlet to the outlet by way of the holes in the diaphragm and the pilot valve. The holes in the flexible diaphragm may become enlarged through successive opening and closing movements of the diaphragm, leading to premature failure of the device.
In the disclosed embodiments of the device of WO97/05416, there is a threaded connection between the valve body and the valve top; securement of the valve top is likely to distort the diaphragm which might also act to increase the size of the holes, increasing the likelihood of premature failure of the device.
The connections between the flexible fluid conduits and the rigid components of the device of WO97/05416 are by way of push-on fish-tail connectors, which are not suitable for mains water pressure supply, i.e such connectors are likely to leak at mains water pressures.
Alternative quick-release connections are known for use in mains water supply applications. Ones such connection is known as a xe2x80x9cJohn Guestxe2x80x9d connection in which the flexible fluid conduit is fitted into an opening in a rigid body and engages an O-ring seal. A resilient collet surrounds the end of the flexible conduit and is located within the recess. The formation of the collet and recess is such that attempts to pull the flexible conduit out of the recess act to increase the friction between the collet and the conduit so that the conduit is effectively retained within the collet, in sealing engagement with the O-ring. Quick-release of the connection is possible, however, in that when it is desired to remove the conduit from the recess it is necessary to press the collet into the recess as the conduit is being removed.
It is an object of the present invention to reduce or avoid the disadvantages of the devices mentioned above. It is a further object to provide a remote shut-off valve which can be quickly and easily installed into a mains water supply pipeline.
According to the present invention there is provided a remote shut-off valve comprising a diaphragm valve and a pilot valve, the diaphragm valve having an inlet, an outlet, a valve member and a valve seat, the valve member having a closed position in which it engages the seat and blocks the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet and an open position in which the valve member does not engage the valve seat and fluid can flow from the inlet to the outlet, a first fluid conduit connecting the inlet of the diaphragm valve to the inlet of the pilot valve and a second fluid conduit connecting the outlet of the pilot valve to the outlet of the diaphragm valve, the diaphragm valve having a control chamber, and a flow channel connecting the control chamber to the diaphragm valve inlet, characterised in that the flow channel is located within the body of the diaphragm valve.
By virtue of the flow channel being located within the body of the diaphragm valve, it is not necessary to have holes in the diaphragm itself, so that the above-mentioned disadvantages of such an arrangement are reduced or avoided.
Connecting the control chamber to the diaphragm valve inlet ensures that the diaphragm valve will be biassed closed when the pilot valve is closed, and the diaphragm valve will be open when the pilot valve is open. Since it is intended that the diaphragm valve will normally be open (and will only be shut when it is desired to close off the mains water supply pipeline to the dwelling or the like) the pilot valve normally remains open. It is an advantage of such an arrangement that whilst the pilot valve is open, fluid will flow along the fluid conduits (in addition to the flow through the diaphragm valve) and so reduce the likelihood that scale or other deposits will build up in the fluid conduits or the pilot valve.
Preferably, the diaphragm valve includes a removable cap member which provides the control chamber; preferably also a part of the fluid conduits are formed through the cap member. Desirably, the flow channel comprises a branch in the first fluid conduit within the cap member. Desirably also the periphery of the diaphragm can be clamped between the cap member and the diaphragm valve body. Such an arrangement reduces the complexity of the diaphragm valve, and in particular makes assembly easier, and also replacement of the diaphragm easier, should this become necessary. In addition, the diaphragm periphery can act as a seal between the cap member and the diaphragm valve body.
Desirably, the diaphragm valve body, cap member, pilot valve body and valve member are manufactured from plastics materials. Such materials are known to be less liable to scale formation (as might occur with some mains water supplies) than metallic components.
Preferably, part of the first and second fluid conduits are provided by respective flexible tubes secured to the diaphragm valve (and preferably to the cap member thereof) by way of xe2x80x9cquick-releasexe2x80x9d connectors. Ideally, the quick-release connectors include respective O-ring seals which can engage a part of the flexible tube and provide a seal therearound. Preferably, releasable securing means are provided to secure the flexible tubes within the respective O-ring seal. In a preferred embodiment, the releasable securing means for securing the flexible tubes to the diaphragm valve comprises a securing housing within which both of the tubes are securely retained, the housing carrying locking means to lock the housing, and therefore the flexible tubes, to the diaphragm valve.
The provision of flexible tubes providing a part of the respective fluid conduits is advantageous for remote applications, since the diapgragm valve and the pilot valve can be secured in their required or desired positions, and the flexible tubes can be manipulated as required to provide the fluid communication therebetween.
Desirably, the flexible tubes are at least partially resilient, and each is retained within the securing housing at least in part by a curved channel within which the tube is located. It will be understood that a flexible resilient tube will seek to straighten itself out into a substantially a linear configuration; forcing the tube into a curve can result in a frictional engagement retaining the tube within the channel.
Preferably, the securing housing includes a collar for each of the respective flexible tubes; preferably also, a part of the channel wall is removed at a position substantially aligned with the collar. The removed wall allows the tube to be maintained substantially linear whilst it is inserted into the required position relative to the collar; only when the tube has been correctly positioned within the collar is it necessary to curve the tube to locate this within the channel.
Preferably, the pilot valve is located within a valve housing. Preferably also, the valve housing includes a curved channel for each of the flexible tubes. Desirably, the pilot valve is removable from the housing. This arrangement permits the flexible tubes to be fitted to the pilot valve in a substantially linear configuration, or at least a configuration with shallow curvature. Only when the conduits are secured to the pilot valve is it necessary to curve each tube into its respective channel, the tendency of the tube to straighten itself out acting to retain it within the channel. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device and more particularly to an electronic device for reading identity cards.
2. Related Art
In the recent years, the government of China began to issue the second generation resident identity card (2nd generation ID card for short) to its citizens. Each of 2nd generation ID card has an embedded chip storing encrypted personal data. The encrypted personal data is read via a wireless card reader. For example, a laptop with a built-in wireless card reader is available in the market. The laptop includes an antenna of the wireless card reader. The antenna is disposed between a display panel and a keyboard of the laptop. In order to read the 2nd generation ID card by the antenna of the wireless card reader, a user has to open the laptop for exposing the antenna of the wireless card reader. However, it is inconvenient for users to open the laptop first before reading the 2nd generation ID card. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Digital images are formed by many devices and used for many practical purposes. Devices include TV cameras operating on visible or infrared light, line-scan sensors, flying spot scanners, electron microscopes, X-ray devices including CT scanners, magnetic resonance imagers, and other devices known to those skilled in the art. Practical applications are found in industrial automation, medical diagnosis, satellite imaging for a variety of military, civilian, and scientific purposes, photographic processing, surveillance and traffic monitoring, document processing, and many others.
To serve these applications the images formed by the various devices are analyzed by digital devices to extract appropriate information. One form of analysis that is of considerable practical importance is determining the position, orientation, and size of patterns in an image that correspond to objects in the field of view of the imaging device. Pattern location methods are of particular importance in industrial automation, where they are used to guide robots and other automation equipment in semiconductor manufacturing, electronics assembly, pharmaceuticals, food processing, consumer goods manufacturing, and many others.
Another form of digital image analysis of practical importance is identifying differences between an image of an object and a stored pattern that represents the “ideal” appearance of the object. Methods for identifying these differences are generally referred to as pattern inspection methods, and are used in industrial automation for assembly, packaging, quality control, and many other purposes.
One early, widely-used method for pattern location and inspection is known as blob analysis. In this method, the pixels of a digital image are classified as “object” or “background” by some means, typically by comparing pixel gray-levels to a threshold. Pixels classified as object are grouped into blobs using the rule that two object pixels are part of the same blob if they are neighbors; this is known as connectivity analysis. For each such blob we determine properties such as area, perimeter, center of mass, principal moments of inertia, and principal axes of inertia. The position, orientation, and size of a blob is taken to be its center of mass, angle of first principal axis of inertia, and area, respectively. These and the other blob properties can be compared against a known ideal for proposes of inspection.
Blob analysis is relatively inexpensive to compute, allowing for fast operation on inexpensive hardware. It is reasonably accurate under ideal conditions, and well-suited to objects whose orientation and size are subject to change. One limitation is that accuracy can be severely degraded if some of the object is missing or occluded, or if unexpected extra features are present. Another limitation is that the values available for inspection purposes represent coarse features of the object, and cannot be used to detect fine variations. The most severe limitation, however, is that except under limited and well-controlled conditions there is in general no reliable method for classifying pixels as object or background. These limitations forced developers to seek other methods for pattern location and inspection.
Another method that achieved early widespread use is binary template matching. In this method, a training image is used that contains an example of the pattern to be located. The subset of the training image containing the example is thresholded to produce a binary pattern and then stored in a memory. At run-time, images are presented that contain the object to be found. The stored pattern is compared with like-sized subsets of the run-time image at all or selected positions, and the position that best matches the stored pattern is considered the position of the object. Degree of match at a given position of the pattern is simply the fraction of pattern pixels that match their corresponding image pixel, thereby providing pattern inspection information.
Binary template matching does not depend on classifying image pixels as object or background, and so it can be applied to a much wider variety of problems than blob analysis. It also is much better able to tolerate missing or extra pattern features without severe loss of accuracy, and it is able to detect finer differences between the pattern and the object. One limitation, however, is that a binarization threshold is needed, which can be difficult to choose reliably in practice, particularly under conditions of poor signal-to-noise ratio or when illumination intensity or object contrast is subject to variation. Accuracy is typically limited to about one whole pixel due to the substantial loss of information associated with thresholding. Even more serious, however, is that binary template matching cannot measure object orientation and size. Furthermore, accuracy degrades rapidly with small variations in orientation and/or size, and if larger variations are expected the method cannot be used at all.
A significant improvement over binary template matching came with the advent of relatively inexpensive methods for the use of gray-level normalized correlation for pattern location and inspection. The methods are similar, except that no threshold is used so that the full range of image gray-levels are considered, and the degree of match becomes the correlation coefficient between the stored pattern and the image subset at a given position.
Since no binarization threshold is needed, and given the fundamental noise immunity of correlation, performance is not significantly compromised under conditions of poor signal-to-noise ratio or when illumination intensity or object contrast is subject to variation. Furthermore, since there is no loss of information due to thresholding, position accuracy down to about ¼ pixel is practical using well-known interpolation methods. The situation regarding orientation and size, however, is not much improved with respect to binary template matching. Another limitation is that in some applications, contrast can vary locally across an image of an object, resulting in poor correlation with the stored pattern, and consequent failure to correctly locate it.
More recently, improvements to gray-level correlation have been developed that allow it to be used in applications where significant variation in orientation and/or size is expected. In these methods, the stored pattern is rotated and/or scaled by digital image re-sampling methods before being matched against the image. By matching over a range of angles, sizes, and x-y positions, one can locate an object in the corresponding multidimensional space. Note that such methods would not work well with binary template matching, due the much more severe pixel quantization errors associated with binary images.
One problem with these methods is the severe computational cost, both of digital re-sampling and of searching a space with more than 2 dimensions. To manage this cost, the search methods break up the problem into two or more phases. The earliest phase uses a coarse, subsampled version of the pattern to cover the entire search space quickly and identify possible object locations in the n-dimensional space. Subsequent phases use finer versions of the pattern to refine the locations determined at earlier phases, and eliminate locations that the finer resolution reveals are not well correlated with the pattern. Note that variations of these coarse-fine methods have also been used with binary template matching and the original 2-dimensional correlation, but are even more important with the higher-dimensional search space.
The location accuracy of these methods is limited both by how finely the multidimensional space is searched, and by the ability of the discrete pixel grid to represent small changes in position, orientation, and scale. The fineness of the search can be chosen to suit a given application, but computational cost grows so rapidly with resolution and number of dimensions that practical applications often cannot tolerate the cost or time needed to achieve high accuracy. The limitations of the discrete pixel grid are more fundamental—no matter how finely the space is searched, for typical patterns one cannot expect position accuracy to be much better than about ¼ pixel, orientation better than a degree or so, and scale better than a percent or so.
A similar situation holds when gray-level pixel-grid-based methods are used for pattern inspection. Once the object has been located in the multidimensional space, pixels in the pattern can be compared to each corresponding pixel in the image to identify differences. Some differences, however, will result from the re-sampling process itself, because again the pixel grid cannot accurately represent small variations in orientation and scale. These differences are particularly severe in regions where image gray levels are changing rapidly, such as alone object boundaries. Often these are the most important regions of an object to inspect. Since in general, differences due to re-sampling cannot be distinguished from those due to object defects, inspection performance is compromised. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Conventionally, an EPG is an interactive, onscreen display feature which displays information analogous to television listings for channel programming. The EPG is typically arranged in a grid format with time listed on one axis and channels listed on another axis. The EPG provides users with information about each program covered by the EPG, which typically ranges from a current time through the next several days. Information about each program may include a time, duration, synopsis, program title, topic, or theme.
Additionally, conventional interactive EPGs allow users to scroll up, down, left or right on a time and channel basis. When this navigation occurs the entire grid shifts in the corresponding direction because all the channels and times are affected. Furthermore, a user has to scroll all the way back if the user wishes to go back to their original start time. The original start time corresponds to shows that are within a current time frame, and the user cannot view shows which have already aired. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Storage systems are commonly used for a variety of purposes, such as providing multiple users with access to shared data, backing up data and others. Various forms of storage systems are used today. These forms include network attached storage (NAS) systems, storage area networks (SANs), direct attached storage (DAS) and others.
A storage system typically includes at least one computing system (may also be referred to as a “server” or “storage server”), which is a processing system configured to store and retrieve data on behalf of one or more client computing systems (“clients”) at one or more storage devices. Multiple storage systems may be provided to take over operations of a failed storage system when an error event (may also be referred to as a failover event) occurs.
Conventional systems replicate storage volumes/storage space. The replicated copies are managed by a storage system that stores a data structure for describing the replicated copies. If the storage system fails, then a failover operation is initiated. Before the new storage system can take over the failed storage system, it reads the data structure for various replicated copies. If there are a large number of replicated copies then the failover operation slows down because the new storage system has to read the data structure for all the replicated copies describing the replicated copies. Continuous efforts are being made to efficiently execute a failover operation for continued client access to storage devices. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Detaching ice from surfaces is important in applications such as, for example, deicing of equipment that is stationary or is used outdoors (e.g., aircraft, power lines, roadways, roofs), deicing of equipment that builds up ice in operation (e.g., heat exchangers, freezers), and icemaking equipment.
In conventional residential and commercial ice makers, ice is slowly grown from water cooled by a cold plate or grid. After ice growth is completed, the cold plate/grid is heated slowly above an ice melting point to release the ice; this heating stage Consumes both energy and time, thus reducing ice-maker efficiency and productivity. Moreover, it takes significant heat flow to warm up ice-maker hardware and the grown ice from ice growth temperature to the ice melting point. It then takes even more time and energy to re-cool the ice-maker hardware before new ice begins to grow. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates to hydraulic positive displacement devices, and more specifically to planetary hydraulic motors.
There is known an internal-gear type hydraulic pump or more (U.S. Pat. No. 3,087,436; published Apr. 30, 1963, Cl. 418-61) comprising an outer stator gear and an inner star gear disposed eccentrically relative thereto, the spaces between the two gears defining volume chambers of varying volume to convert the pressure energy of the incoming fluid into mechanical energy of the rotating shaft. The volume chambers of this motor are confined at the two sides thereof by a cover plate and a wear plate attached to the housing, the latter accommodating a valving mechanism and a tooth-type coupling intended to translate the compound motion of the inner star gear into shaft rotation.
In this known device a control valve of the valving mechanism is driven by universal-joint connections of the toothed coupling, the teeth thereof being subjected to considerable loads which result in their wear and consequently in a phase displacement of the passage of the working fluid into the volume chambers entailing reduced hydromechanical efficiency of the motor. Another disadvantage is that the valving mechanism featuring the universal-joint connections tends to increase longitudinal dimensions of this hydraulic motor. Therefore, a planetary hydraulic motor of the above construction has low efficiency and reliability and requires that components thereof be manufactured to close tolerances.
Also known is a planetary hydraulic motor (cf. USSR Inventor's Certificate No. 181,977; IPC F 05 B; published in the Bulletin "Discoveries, Inventions, Industrial Designs and Trademarks", No. 10, 1966--in Russian) comprising disposed in one plane two pairs of gears--the outer working one, and the inner driving one, and two cover plates arranged at the outer stator gear with a ring rotor having inner teeth cooperating with the shaft teeth and outer teeth engaging with the teeth of the stator gear to define volume chambers.
In this planetary hydraulic motor the function of distributor is performed by the ring rotor having at the end faces thereof axial passages communicating with the spaces between the teeth. The end face of one of the cover plate contacting the ring rotor is likewise provided with axial passages, some of them being adapted to communicate with a working fluid inlet passageway, the others communicating with a working fluid outlet passageway. A disadvantage inherent in the abovedescribed planetary hydraulic motor resides in a rather low delivery rate thereof caused by the small passage area of the passages provided in the ring rotor and one of the cover plates.
There is further known a planetary hydraulic motor (cf. USSR Inventor's Certificate No. 176,186; IPC F 05 B; published in the Bulletin "Discoveries, Inventions, Industrial Designs and Trademarks" No. 21 of Oct. 26, 1965--in Russian) comprising a ring rotor positioned essentrically relative to a shaft, and an outer stator gear enclosed by two cover plates. A valving mechanism of this motor is fashioned as a stationary disk provided with a series of axial passages and a cylindrical sleeve having at the outer surface thereof helical grooves communicated by radial passages in the ring rotor with volume chambers of the ring rotor and alternately communicating with axial passages of the cover plate, the passages being arranged at 180.degree. relative to the corresponding volume chambers.
The helical sleeve is provided with inner teeth adapted to come into meshing engagement with the teeth of the stationary shaft. The ring rotor of the hydraulic motor is subjected to axially acting forces produced by the pressure of the working fluid in the valving mechanism.
Yet another planetary hydraulic motor (cf. French Pat. No. 2,056,110; published May 14, 1971; IPC F 04 C 1/00) comprises positioned in one plane two gear sets: an inner working one and an outer driving one: two cover plates secured on the outer stator gear with an eccentrically arranged ring rotor interposed between the cover plates, the ring rotor having outer teeth mating with the teeth of the stator gear and inner teeth mating with the teeth of the shaft gear to define volume chamber.
The ring rotor of this planetary hydraulic motor functions as a distributor, an end face of this ring rotor being provided with zigzag grooves in communication with the interteeth space of the volume chambers. A disk member is secured on the shaft to adjoin the grooves, the disk having axial through passages communicated with the zigzag grooves. Arranged between the disk member and the cover plate adjacent thereto are annular passages to feed and discharge the working fluid, the annular passages being separated by an annular wall dividing the volume chambers and effecting the distribution of the working fluid into the volume chambers during the movement of the ring rotor jointly with the disk. This valving mechanism featuring the zigzag grooves on the ring rotor closed by the disk moving jointly with the ring rotor requires close manufacturing tolerances and has an excessive sealing periphery which reduces the delivery rate of the planetary hydraulic rotor. The provision of the zigzag grooves increases the overall dimensions of the motor, while the disk member is subjected to considerable forces exerted thereon by the pressure of the working fluid.
A planetary hydraulic motor which bears closest resemblance to the one to be described in the present description (cf. USSR Inventor's Certificate No. 696,179; IPC F 04 C 1/00; published in the Bulletin "Discoveries, Inventions, Industrial Designs and Trademarks" No. 41 of Nov. 5, 1979--in Russian) comprises a housing having a stator gear, the stator gear being confined on one side by a mounting cover plate and on the other side by a cover plate for feeding a working fluid, a shaft installed in the housing and having a gear secured thereon, a ring rotor arranged eccentrically relative to the shaft and adapted to cooperate with the shaft gear and with the stator gear of the housing. The stator gear and outer teeth of the ring rotor come into a meshing engagement with each other, while the shaft gear and inner teeth of the ring rotor cooperate to define volume chambers receiving an expelling the working fluid supplied by a valving mechanism. The valving mechanism includes secured on the shaft a distributor and arranged in the cover plate for feeding the working fluid a control valve, the distributor and the control valve being adapted to come into contact by their working surfaces having valving ports thereon. The volume chambers are confined on one side by a wear plate fixedly secured on the shaft and on the other side by the distributor. Part of the valving ports (every other valving port) is put in registration with an inlet passageway of the pump, while the other part is arranged in a similar manner against an outlet passageway.
In this planetary hydraulic motor the working surfaces of the distributor and control valve are not relieved of the pressure of the working fluid acting thereon from the side of a nonengageable end face of the control valve, this pressure being created by the leakage of the fluid from the volume chambers. These working surfaces are generally subjected to very high specific loads which result in a premature wear of the above described planetary hydraulic motor.
Another disadvantage of the above planetary hydraulic motor resides in that the valving ports are arranged on the surface of the distributor equidistantly or at a regular angular pitch, which fails to ensure proper timing of supplying the working fluid at the moment when the volume chamber starts to expand or contract resulting in closing the liquid in the volume chambers thereby affecting the efficiency of the planetary hydraulic motor.
This planetary hydraulic motor is not provided with means for adjusting phase displacement of the working fluid entering the volume chambers.
The above planetary hydraulic motor suffers from one more disadvantage residing in that it is not provided with means relieving the axial loads exerted by the pressure of the working fluid on the bearing of the mounting cover plate which requires the employment of an additional thrust bearing. This makes the motor structurally more complicated and adds to the overall weight thereof. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention is directed toward the field of integrated logic gates. More specifically, the present invention is a structure for an integrated injection logic (I.sup.2 L) Gate which provides a reduced leakage current in a high temperature, high voltage application, along with increased gate current gain and a method for producing such a structure.
I.sup.2 L gates are useful where a dense concentration of circuits is required on a chip, due to the compact size of each gate. However, I.sup.2 L gates have been plagued by problems such as low current gain (.beta.) and power loss in the lateral transistor when implemented in high temperature, high voltage, bipolar processes. Current loss occurs at the silicon-silicon dioxide interface due to the presence of interface traps which attract the holes and electrons and causes recombination. The area of this recombination zone is dependent upon doping concentration and temperature. Current loss between the emitter and collector of a transistor affects the transistor's .beta..
One attempted solution to reduce power loss in I.sup.2 L gates is the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,988 issued to Russell. This patent discloses an I.sup.2 L gate with a double diffused injector transistor which can be configured with a high resistance region between its base and ground as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C of the cited patent. This additional resistance, it is claimed, reduces parasitic leakage in the injector transistor. However, the double diffused injector and the use of the common substrate as the emitter of the vertical output transistor are incompatible with a high voltage, analog-digital bipolar process having lightly doped epitaxial and substrate. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vehicle fuel systems and more particularly to a closed fuel system having a pressurized vessel capable of venting air and/or fuel vapor present in the vessel in a controlled manner.
2. Related Art
Closed (i.e., unvented) fuel systems typically rely on the integrity of the vacuum created and maintained within sealed containers or collapsible bladders to prevent the intrusion of air and/or vapor into the system. Such systems generally do not provide countermeasures to remove internally generated fuel vapor and/or air that enters due to improper fueling or leaks. Accordingly, the total volume of air and/or fuel vapor inside the various components (e.g., fuel bladders, tanks, lines, etc.) of a closed system can reach critical levels capable of progressing through the fuel lines into the engine and thereby inducing engine-seizure.
In contrast, open (i.e., vented) fuel systems typically incorporate a mechanism that allows the removal of undesirable air or fuel-vapor from the fuel lines. Such mechanisms, however, are usually independent from the system fuel sump and are not electronically controlled or modulated based on system conditions. Furthermore, the mechanism may not typically be located immediately before the engine and significant distance between the mechanism and the engine can allow for the intrusion of air through leaks or poorly sealed connections, or additional fuel vapor generated in the lines subsequent to the mechanism, thereby obviating the advantages of an open system. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Large-scale construction projects involving concrete, such as roadways and dams for example, are now routinely facilitated using fully mobile concrete batching plants. Typically, a mobile batching plant includes aggregate bins, a cement silo and the required weighing and conveying apparatus all mounted to a truss configured as a semi-trailer for portability. Such mobile batching plants are described in my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,872,980 and 3,251,484, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.
Portable batching plants can be configured to measure and discharge the concrete ingredients into the drum of a conventional concrete transit mixer truck, with mixing being accomplished on the truck en route to the construction site. Alternatively, the batching plant can be set up s a central mix plant where a mixer at the plant receives the materials, mixes the concrete, and dumps it into conventional dump trucks for transit to the construction site.
The central mix type of operation has heretofore typically included an on-site tilting mixer. This mixer, while adequate in the general sense, suffers from a specific drawback in that a relatively long period of time is required to fill, mix and discharge this kind of mixer. Efficiency in other aspects of large-scale construction have improved to the point where the mixing operation at a central mix plant is the "bottle neck" which establishes the speed of construction. In other words, the raw material supply function and the concrete delivery function are now so efficient that mix time at the central mix plant determines the rate in cubic yards of concrete per day which can be delivered and utilized at the construction site. It is not uncommon to see a central mix plant with a line of dump trucks waiting to receive concrete at a typical central mix batching plant. Thus, there presently exists a need for a concrete mixing apparatus and method which will substantially decrease the amount of time required to load, mix and discharge batches of concrete at a central mix concrete plant.
In addition to the tilt type of mixer now in use, there are numerous other configurations of mixing apparatus that have been used in concrete mixing and/or other environments. For example, Besser Co. of Alpena, Mich. offers a central mix concrete mixer having horizontal spiral ribbons rotating in a horizontally cylindrical drum. The drum is stationary, with a discharge opening in the bottom of the drum opened and closed by a hydraulically operated trap door. The Besser prior art mixers have a typical cycle time of five minutes between batches. U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,821 to Laycock issued May 28, 1974 discloses a tilt type mixing apparatus for producing coated roadstone. U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,545 to Krimmel issued Nov. 22, 1983 discloses a mixer wherein hydraulic motors rotate spiral mixing blades within a horizontal drum and a clutch is used to couple the mixing blade shaft to the drum in order to rotate the drum between a mixing and a dumping position. U.S. Pat. No. 2,155,454 to Temple issued Apr. 25, 1939 discloses a dough mixing apparatus having a horizontally rotatable drum rotated between a mixing and a dumping position by means of a worm gear drive. U.S. Pat. No. 2,165,568 to Muench issued July 11, 1939 discloses a mixing device rotatable between a dumping and a mixing position by means of a worm gear mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 2,929,658 to Killebrew issued Mar. 22, 1960 discloses a dumpable receptacle mounted on a vehicle for rotation about an eccentric axis by means of a hydraulic cylinder in compression. U.S. Pat. No. 3,100,064 to Kacena issued Aug. 6, 1963 shows a morter-plaster mixer having a mixing container rotatable to a dump position about an eccentric axis by way of a hydraulic cylinder in compression. U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,069 to Tomatis issued May 25, 1982 discloses a curd making machine wherein an eccentrically mounted mixing container rotates to a dump position by way of hydraulic cylinders in compression. U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,536 to Hinkle issued June 5, 1984 discloses a cart for relatively small concrete batches having a container pivotable about an eccentric axis to a dump position by way of a hydraulic cylinder in compression. West German Patent No. 976,415 discloses a mixer having a container which ca be pivoted for discharge about an eccentric axis. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to the head structure of golf clubs and, more particularly, to an improvement in the head structure of iron clubs.
In general, iron clubs are intended primarily for second, third and bunker shots rather than tee shots, and they are used often for hitting shots from the bare ground, a sandy place and so on as well as from turf. Accordingly, conventional iron clubs are designed so that the club head is made in one body from a metallic material such as soft iron, stainless steel or the like in order to prevent the club head, and in particular its sole, from being readily damaged by a pebble or sand when hitting a ball.
In the design of such a club head, it is regarded as preferable in terms of function to add weight to the toe, the heel and the sole of the club head and to lessen the weight of the hitting region of the clubface. From this point of view, the hitting region is usually formed thin, but this results in the defect of decreased hitting distance of a ball hit by such a club. Further, the hitting region of the clubface is made of a hard metal, and hence its repulsive force is small. Accordingly, the use of hard metal is not always preferable from the viewpoints of the direction and distance of the ball. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In the related art, a method of measuring the resistance of a transparent conductive film formed on a light-transmissive substrate by utilizing optical transmission/reflection characteristics of the material is known (for example, see Patent Literature 1).
Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology in which, for example, a solar-cell substrate provided with a transparent conductive film is irradiated with light in a solar-cell manufacturing line, so as to evaluate the characteristics of the transparent conductive film on the basis of the reflectivity calculated from the light intensity of the irradiated light and the light intensity of reflected light. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention relates to a roll bending device for the control of profile and flatness in the rolling of materials. In particular the invention relates to the well known principle of roll bending by using hydraulically actuated pistons to modify the load distribution between rolls of a rolling mill stand and a rolled material for example a metal plate or a strip in order to control the profile and flatness of the metal plate or strip. It is well known to apply bending to the work rolls of a rolling mill stand which might have an additional pair of backup rolls (4-high rolling mill stand) or additional pairs of backup and intermediate rolls (6-high rolling mill stand).
Furthermore the invention relates to a rolling mill stand with at least a pair of rolls pivoted in roll chocks and arranged in a mill stand housing and with at least one hydraulically actuated piston arranged in a bending block, for the bending of rolls, in order to allow control of profile and flatness in the rolling of metal strips or plates.
Typically, in systems known from prior art, hydraulic cylinders between work roll chocks, for the bearing of rolls in a rolling mill stand, are used to bend the work rolls in order to modify the profile and flatness of the rolled material.
In older prior art roll bending systems the hydraulic cylinders for the roll bending are built into either the work roll or the backup roll chocks. However, modern roll bending systems often use roll bending cylinders which are built into blocks, called roll bending blocks, which are attached to the mill stand housing. This type of system is preferred because the hydraulic connections can be permanently installed, they are generally capable of higher bending forces, and they are easier to maintain.
In addition to roll bending, many modern mills are equipped with roll shifting systems in which the work rolls can be axially shifted. By using work rolls with special profiles the axial shifting of the work rolls can be used to provide additional profile and flatness control capabilities.
In order to work with roll shifting, many modern roll bending systems are designed to work with the axial shifting of the work rolls. There are two main types of system in use. They are both designed to ensure that the roll bending force is applied to the centreline of the work roll bearing whatever the axial shift position of the roll might be. In one type the whole bending block containing the hydraulic cylinders is shifted axially together with the work rolls. In the other type the force is applied by a pair of bending cylinders and the distribution of load between the two cylinders is adjusted to keep the resultant total force centred on the bearing.
A fundamental problem with known roll bending block systems is the fact that especially with thick rolled material the top work roll chock loses the capability of support against side loads.
Some systems known from prior art also provide support where the work roll chock wing contacts the mill stand housing but this is not satisfactory due to the small area of contact. High stresses at the work roll chock wing and the difficulty of providing both good support for the chock and allowing enough clearance for axial shift of the rolls and for roll change are the disadvantages of this systems. As the side loads on the work roll chocks are high this problem is an important consideration for mills rolling thick material such as plate mills.
According to the known prior art, it is very difficult to achieve good support of the work roll chock when rolling thick material with existing bending block designs. Consequently many modern plate mills still use the older in-chock type of bending systems in order to be able to handle thick material. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Minimally invasive medical techniques are aimed at reducing the amount of extraneous tissue which is damaged during diagnostic or surgical procedures, thereby reducing patient recovery time, discomfort, and deleterious side effects. Millions of surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Many of these surgeries can potentially be performed in a minimally invasive manner. However, only a relatively small number of surgeries currently use these techniques due to limitations in minimally invasive surgical instruments and techniques and the additional surgical training required to master them.
Advances in minimally invasive surgical technology could dramatically increase the number of surgeries performed in a minimally invasive manner. The average length of a hospital stay for a standard surgery is significantly larger than the average length for the equivalent surgery performed in a minimally invasive surgical manner. Thus, the complete adoption of minimally invasive techniques could save millions of hospital days, and consequently millions of dollars annually in hospital residency costs alone. Patient recovery times, patient discomfort, surgical side effects, and time away from work are also reduced with minimally invasive surgery.
The most common form of minimally invasive surgery may be endoscopy. Probably the most common form of endoscopy is laparoscopy, which is minimally invasive inspection and surgery inside the abdominal cavity. In standard laparoscopic surgery, a patient""s abdomen is insufflated with gas, and cannula sleeves are passed through small (approximately xc2xd inch) incisions to provide entry ports for laparoscopic surgical instruments.
The laparoscopic surgical instruments generally include a laparoscope for viewing the surgical field, and working tools defining end effectors. Typical surgical end effectors include clamps, graspers, scissors, staplers, or needle holders, for example. The working tools are similar to those used in conventional (open) surgery, except that the working end or end effector of each tool is separated from its handle by, e.g., an approximately 12-inch long, extension tube.
To perform surgical procedures, the surgeon passes these working tools or instruments through the cannula sleeves to a required internal surgical site and manipulates them from outside the abdomen by sliding them in and out through the cannula sleeves, rotating them in the cannula sleeves, levering (i.e., pivoting) the instruments against the abdominal wall and actuating end effectors on the distal ends of the instruments from outside the abdomen. The instruments pivot around centers defined by the incisions which extend through muscles of the abdominal wall. The surgeon monitors the procedure by means of a television monitor which displays an image of the surgical site via a laparoscopic camera. The laparoscopic camera is also introduced through the abdominal wall and into the surgical site. Similar endoscopic techniques are employed in, e.g., arthroscopy, retroperitoneoscopy, pelviscopy, nephroscopy, cystoscopy, cisternoscopy, sinoscopy, hysteroscopy, urethroscopy and the like.
There are many disadvantages relating to current minimally invasive surgical (MIS) technology. For example, existing MIS instruments deny the surgeon the flexibility of tool placement found in open surgery. Most current laparoscopic tools have rigid shafts and difficulty is experienced in approaching the surgical site through the small incision. Additionally, the length and construction of many surgical instruments reduces the surgeon""s ability to feel forces exerted by tissues and organs on the end effector of the associated tool. The lack of dexterity and sensitivity of surgical tools is a major impediment to the expansion of minimally invasive surgery.
Minimally invasive telesurgical systems for use in surgery are being developed to increase a surgeon""s dexterity as well as to allow a surgeon to operate on a patient from a remote location. Telesurgery is a general term for surgical systems where the surgeon uses some form of remote control, e.g., a servomechanism, or the like, to manipulate surgical instrument movements rather than directly holding and moving the instruments by hand. In such a telesurgery system, the surgeon is provided with an image of the surgical site at the remote location. While viewing typically a three-dimensional image of the surgical site on a suitable viewer or display, the surgeon performs the surgical procedures on the patient by manipulating master control devices, at the remote location, which control the motion of servomechanically operated instruments.
The servomechanism used for telesurgery will often accept input from two master controllers (one for each of the surgeon""s hands), and may include two robotic arms. Operative communication between each master control and an associated arm and instrument assembly is achieved through a control system. The control system includes at least one processor which relays input commands from a master controller to an associated arm and instrument assembly and from the arm and instrument assembly to the associated master controller in the case of, e.g., force feedback.
It would be advantageous if the position of the image capturing device could be changed during the course of a surgical procedure so as to enable the surgeon to view the surgical site from another position. It will be appreciated that, should the image capturing device position change, the orientation and position of the end effectors in the viewed image could also change. It would further be advantageous if the relationship in which end effector movement is mapped onto hand movement could again be established after such an image capturing device positional change.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method and control system for a minimally invasive surgical apparatus which maps end effector movement onto hand movement. It is further an object of the invention to provide a method and control system for a minimally invasive surgical apparatus which permits the mapping of end effector movement onto hand movement to be reestablished after having been interrupted, for example, by an image capturing device positional change.
It is to be appreciated that although the method and control system of the invention is described with reference to a minimally invasive surgical apparatus in this specification, the application of the invention is not to be limited to this application only, but can be used in any type of apparatus where an input is entered at one location and a corresponding movement is required at a remote location and in which it is required, or merely beneficial, to map end effector orientational and positional movement onto hand movement through an associated master control device.
The invention provides enhanced telepresence and telesurgery systems which automatically update coordinate transformations so as to retain coordination between movement of an input device and movement of an end effector as displayed adjacent the input device. The invention generally maps a controller workspace (in which the input device moves) with an end effector workspace (in which the end effector moves), and effects movement of the end effector in response to the movement of the input device. This allows the use of kinematically dissimilar master and slave linkages having, for example, different degrees of freedom. Using an image capture device coupled to the end effector linkage allows calculation of the desired mapping coordinate transformations automatically. Input member pivot to end effector jaw pivot mapping enhances the operator""s control, while the use of intermediate transformations allows portions of the kinematic train to be removed and replaced. Dexterity is enhanced by accurately tracking orientation and/or angles of movement, even if linear movement distances of the end effector do not correspond to those of the input device.
In a first aspect, the invention provides a surgical robotic system comprising a master controller having an input device moveable in a controller workspace. A slave has a surgical end effector and actuator, the actuator moving the end effector in a surgical workspace in response to slave actuator signals. An imaging system includes an image capture device with a field of view moveable in the surgical workspace. The imaging system generates state variable signals indicating the field of view. A processor couples the master controller to the slave arm. The processor generates the slave actuator signals by mapping the input device in the controller workspace with the end effector in the surgical workspace according to a transformation. The processor derives the transformation in response to the state variable signals of the imaging system.
The processor will generally derive the transformation so that an image of the end effector in the display appears substantially connected to the input device in the controller workspace. The processor can determine a position and orientation of the input device in the master controller space from state variable signals generated by the master controller. Similarly, the processor will often determine a position and orientation of the end effector in the surgical workspace from the state variable signals of the slave. The processor can then generate the slave actuator signals by comparing the position and orientation of the input device and the end effector in the mapped space. Advantageously, this end-to-end mapping allows the use of very different kinematic trains for the master and slave systems, greatly facilitating specialized linkages such as those used in minimally invasive surgery.
In many embodiments, the slave and imaging system will be coupled to facilitate derivation of the transformation by the processor from state variable signals provided from these two structures. For example, the imaging system may comprise a linkage moveably supporting the image capture device, and the slave may also comprise a linkage moveably supporting the end effector. The linkages may comprise joints having joint configurations indicated by the state variable signals. The linkages may be coupled in a variety of ways to facilitate derivation of the transformation by the processor. The coupling of the slave and imaging systems may be mechanical, electromagnetic (such as infrared), or the like. In the exemplary embodiment, the slave and imaging system linkages are mounted to a common base. This base may comprise a wheeled cart for transportation, a ceiling or wall mounted structure, an operating table, or the like. The state variable signals from the imaging system and/or slave need not necessarily comprise joint configuration or position signals, as the transformation may instead be derived from magnetic sensors (including those which can direct both location and orientation), image recognition-derived information, or the like. Regardless, the processor will preferably derive the transformation in real time, thereby allowing enhanced dexterity during and after image capture device movement, changes of association between masters and slaves, tool changes, repositioning of either the master or slave relative to the other, or the like.
In another aspect, the invention provides a surgical robotic system comprising a master controller having an input device moveable in a controller workspace. A slave has a surgical end effector and at least one actuator coupled to the end effector. The actuator moves the end effector in a surgical workspace in response to slave actuator signals. An imaging system includes an image capture device with a field, of view moveable in the surgical workspace. The imaging system transmits an image to a display. A processor couples the master controller to the slave arm. The processor generates the slave actuator signals by mapping the input device in the controller workspace with the end effector in the surgical workspace according to a transformation. The processor derives the transformation so that an image of the end effector in the display appears substantially connected to the input device in the workspace.
Often times, the master controller will comprise a linkage supporting the input device, while the slave comprises a linkage supporting the end effector, with the master linkage and the slave linkage being kinematically dissimilar. More specifically, joints of the master linkage and joints of the slave linkage will have different degrees of freedom, and/or the joints will define different locations in the mapped space. End-to-end mapping of the input device and end effector allow the processor to accurately generate the desired slave actuation signals despite these kinematic dissimilarities, which can be quite pronounced in specialized slave mechanisms such as those used in minimally invasive robotic surgery.
In the exemplary embodiment, the processor will derive the transformation indirectly using an intermediate reference frame located at a detachable connection along a linkage supporting the master, end effector, and/or image capture device. This indirect transformation calculation significantly facilitates replacement or modification of a portion of the subsystem.
The substantial connection presented to the system operator between the input device and the end effector can be enhanced by directing non-visual sensory information to the operator corresponding with the image on the display. The non-visual information will preferably indicate force and/or torque applied to the slave. While the information may be presented in a variety of forms, including audio, thermal, smell, or the like, the non-visual information will preferably be in the form of loads, forces, and/or torques applied via the input device to the hand of the operator, ideally with orientations substantially corresponding to the orientations of the forces and torques applied to the slave (according to the image of the slave shown in the display). As described above regarding movement, correlation between orientations and torques on the input device in the slave may be revised by the controller (often when the transformation is revised) using end-to-end mapping. Optionally, the force and torque information presented to the operator indicates contact information (for example, engagement between an end effector and a tissue), disturbance information (for example, where one slave arm engages another slave arm outside a patient body), and/or synthetic information (including limitations on movements or xe2x80x9cvirtual wallsxe2x80x9d calculated in a simulated domain to prevent movement of an end effector in a restricted direction). Hence, the force and torque information may be derived from slave motor signals, sensors (including force sensors, pressure sensors, acceleration sensors, velocity sensors, or the like), simulation (including computed constraints), and other sources.
In another aspect, the invention provides a surgical robotic system comprising a master controller having an input device supported by a linkage so that the input device can move in a controller workspace with a first number of degrees of freedom. A slave has a surgical end effector and a plurality of actuators coupled thereto so that the end effector can move in a surgical workspace with a second number of degrees of freedom in response to slave actuator signals, the second number being less than the first number. A processor couples the master controller to the slave. The processor generates the slave actuator signals by mapping the input device in the controller workspace with the end effector in the surgical workspace. This allows, for example, the use of masters having at least one redundant degree of freedom, or the use of a full six degree of freedom master with a slave having a more limited motion capability. Such masters can give a wide range of motion to a surgeon without constraining slave design, size, complexity, and/or end effector interchangeability.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a surgical robotic system comprising a master controller having an input device moveable in a controller workspace. A slave comprises a slave arm and a first tool releasably mountable on the arm. The first tool has a first end effector which moves in a surgical workspace in response to slave actuator signals. A second tool is releasably mounted on the slave in place of the first tool. The second tool has a second end effector moveable in the surgical workspace in response to the slave actuator signals. The second tool is kinematically dissimilar to the first tool. The processor couples the master controller to the slave arm. The processor generates the slave actuator signals by mapping the input device in the controller workspace with the end effector of the mounted tool in the surgical workspace.
In a still further aspect, the invention provides a surgical robotic system with a master controller moveable in a master controller space. The input device has a grip sensor for squeezing with a hand of an operator. The grip sensor defines a grip pivot. The slave arm has an end effector supported by a linkage so that the end effector is moveable in an end effector workspace. The slave arm has actuators coupled to the linkage for moving the end effector in response to slave actuator signals. The end effector comprises jaws with a jaw pivot. An image capture device has a field of view within the end effector workspace and transmits an image to a display. A processor couples the master controller to the slave arm, the processor generating the slave actuator signals in response to movement of the input device so that the jaw pivot in the display appears substantially connected with the grip pivot.
A still further aspect of the present invention provides a surgical robotic system comprising a master controller having an input device moveable with a plurality of degrees of freedom in a master controller space. The movement of the input device defines at least one angle selected from the group comprising a change in angular orientation and an angle of translation. A slave arm has an end effector supported by a linkage with a plurality of joints so that the slave is moveable in an end effector workspace. The slave arm has actuators coupled to the joints for moving the end effector in response to slave actuator signals. An image capture device transmits an image to a display adjacent to the master controller. A processor couples the master controller to the slave arm. The processor generates the slave actuator signals in response to the movement of the input device so that at least one angle selected from the group comprising a change in angular orientation and an angle of translation of the end effector is within five degrees of the at least one angle of the input device. Advantageously, such angular accuracy can enhance the substantial connectedness of the input device and the end effector despite significant differences in movement distances perceived by the system operator.
In a method aspect, the invention provides a surgical robotic method comprising moving a master input device in a controller workspace by articulating a plurality of master joints. A surgical end effector is moved in a surgical workspace by articulating a plurality of slave joints in response to slave motor signals. An image of an arbitrary field of view within the surgical workspace is displayed on a display adjacent the master controller. The slave motor signals are automatically generated in response to moving the master so that an image of the end effector in the display appears substantially connected with the input device in the master controller space.
In yet another system aspect, the invention provides a surgical robotic system comprising a master controller having an input device moveable in a master controller space. The input device includes first and second grip members for actuating with first and second digits of a hand of an operator. A slave has a surgical end effector that moves in a surgical workspace in response to slave actuator signals. The end effector includes first and second end effector elements. A processor couples the master to the slave. The processor generates the slave actuator signals so that movement of the first grip member substantially maps movement of the first end effector element, and so that movement of the second end effector element substantially maps movement of the second end effector element.
The grip members and end effector elements shown in the display may optionally be substantially connected at the pivotal joints between the grip members and end effector elements. Alternatively, the point of substantial connectedness may be disposed at midpoints between the tips of the grip members and end effector elements, particularly when using tools having relatively long end effector element lengths between the pivot point and the tip.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a surgical robotic system comprising a master controller having a surgical handle supported by a plurality of joints so that the handle is moveable in a master controller space. The joints define a gimbal point of rotation about a plurality of axes, and the handle is adjacent the gimbal point. A slave has a surgical end effector which moves in a surgical workspace in response to movement of the handle. This can reduce the inertia of the master system when the surgeon changes orientation, particularly when the handle is substantially coincident with the gimbal point. Often times, a processor couples the master to the slave, and generates slave actuator signals so that the gimbal point of the master is substantially connected to a last joint of the slave adjacent the end effector.
In yet another system aspect, the invention provides a surgical robotic system comprising a master controller having a handle which moves in a master controller workspace. A slave supports a surgical end effector and moves the end effector within a surgical workspace in response to slave actuation signals. A processor couples the master to the slave. The processor generates the slave actuation signals so that movement of a mapping point along the handle of the master controller substantially maps movement of a mapping point along the end effector. The processor is capable of changing at least one of the handle mapping point and the end effector mapping point.
In general, the actuators may comprise a variety of motors (including electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, and the like). In other embodiments, the actuators may comprise brakes, clutches, vibrating devices which apply cycling loads using inertia, or the like. Still other actuators may used, particularly those which provide tactile stimulation in the form of heat, or the like. The tools of the present invention may include a variety of surgical tools and/or end effectors including forceps, grips, clamps, scissors, electrosurgical and mechanical scalpels, and the like. Still further end effectors may provide irrigation, aspiration or suction, air jets, lights, and/or imaging devices. General robotic systems are also provided (analogous to those described above), and both general and surgical robotic methods.
While these systems, methods, and devices are particularly advantageous for robotic surgery, the present invention also encompasses similar robotic systems, methods, and devices for telemanipulation and telepresence in other fields and for general robotic applications. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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There is a printer for issuing printed papers such as tickets for entertainment or receipts as acknowledgement of a money transfer. Such a printer includes a printing unit having a platen roller rotatably supported around its shaft, a power unit including a stepping motor and a gear train which drives the stepping motor to transfer a force generated by the stepping motor to the platen roller and rotate the platen roller around the shaft, a cutting unit provided at a further downstream of a forward direction than the platen roller to cut a paper at a certain position of the paper and a control unit to control the driving of the stepping motor and the operation of the cutting unit. The forward direction is a direction in which the paper printed by the printing unit is fed by the forward rotation of the platen roller.
Such a printer performs a desired printing on papers with the printing unit while feeding the paper in the forward direction by the forward rotation of the platen roller. After the printing of the printing unit, the control unit rotates the platen roller forward by driving the stepping motor by a first number of steps to feed the paper to the downstream of the forward direction and place a certain portion (unprinted portion at more upstream than the printed portion) of the paper at a predetermined position of the cutting unit.
Here, the platen roller is rotated by transferring the force generated by the stepping motor driven by the control unit to the platen roller via the gear train.
Furthermore, due to the backlash of the gear train as the power unit, the platen roller may rotate idly (rattle) in the paper feeding direction by the amount of backlash.
By the idle rotation of the platen roller, a printing position of the printing unit may be shifted and illegible lettering may occur due to overlapping printing caused by insufficient paper feeding.
In view of this, a printer which can remove the backlash by reversely rotating the stepping motor by the amount equal to or exceeding the backlash has been proposed (Patent Documents 1, 2).
In addition, a driving method of the stepping motor of the printer has been proposed, which removes the backlash by rotating the stepping motor by a predetermined number of steps in the forward direction corresponding to the paper feeding direction after power-on or paper cutting (Patent Documents 3, 4). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to torque coupling assemblies for motor vehicles, and more particularly to a torque coupling assembly having an electronically controlled hydraulic actuator including an electro-magnetically actuated variable pressure relief valve.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hydraulic couplings are used in various vehicular drivetrain applications to limit slip and transfer drive torque between a pair of rotary members. In all-wheel drive applications, hydraulic couplings are used to automatically control the drive torque transferred from a driven member to a non-driven member in response to speed differentiation therebetween. In limited slip applications, couplings are used in association with a differential to automatically limit slip and bias the torque distribution between a pair of rotary members.
Such hydraulic couplings conventionally use a frictional clutch between the rotary members. The frictional clutch may be selectively actuated by various hydraulic actuator assemblies, which are constructed of elements disposed inside the differential casing. The hydraulic actuator assemblies internal to a torque-coupling case often include displacement pumps disposed inside the torque-coupling case and actuated in response to a relative rotation between the torque-coupling case and the output shaft. The displacement pumps are usually in the form of internal gear pumps, such as gerotor pumps adapted to convert rotational work to hydraulic work. In the internal gear pumps, an inner gear having outwardly directed teeth cooperates with an external gear having inwardly directed teeth so that fluid chambers therebetween increase and decrease in volume as the inner and outer gears rotate in a housing.
While known hydraulic couplings, including but not limited to those discussed above, have proven to be acceptable for various vehicular driveline applications, such devices are nevertheless susceptible to improvements that may enhance their performance and cost. With this in mind, a need exists to develop improved hydraulic torque-coupling assemblies that advance the art. More specifically, the need exists for a pressure relief valve assembly that simplifies torque coupling design and provides a reliable means of actuating the pressure relief valve. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Hydraulic tensioners have been widely used with timing belts and timing chains that transmit rotation between the crankshaft and one or more camshafts in an internal combustion engine. The purpose of these tensioners is to suppress vibration generated during the travel of the timing belt or chain, and to maintain proper tension.
In a hydraulic tensioner, oil is typically introduced, through a one-way check valve, into a high pressure chamber formed by a housing and a plunger. In one proposed tensioner, described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-206603 (On page (2), column 1, lines 2to 6; on page (4), column 5, lines 4to 28; on page (6), column 9, lines 19to 34; and in FIG. 1) a metal cylinder is fitted to a cylindrical hole formed in a housing. A hollow plunger, which fits slidably into the cylinder, is urged in the protruding direction by a compression spring, which is in engagement with a bottom plate formed on the cylinder. An oil chamber is formed by cooperation of the inside of the plunger and the cylinder. The bottom plate has a central hole for the inward flow of oil. A reduced diameter cylindrical hole is provided at the bottom of the cylindrical hole of the housing, and a check valve mechanism is fitted into the reduced diameter cylindrical hole. The check valve mechanism is pre-assembled, and comprises a cylindrical block having an oil passage, a ball seat fitted into the cylindrical block, a check ball, a coil spring urging the check ball against the seat, and a lid holding the coil spring in place. Abutment of the upper part of the cylindrical block with the bottom plate formed on the metal cylinder holds the check valve mechanism in place in the housing.
The hydraulic tensioner disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-206603 has several problems. First, because, the ball seat is press-fit into the cylindrical block when the check valve mechanism is pre-assembled, the inner circumferential surface of the block and the outer circumferential surface of the ball seat must be machined to a high working accuracy. The requirement for accurate machining leads to a high manufacturing cost. Second, when the check valve assembly is incorporated into the housing, the force exerted by the compression spring on the bottom of the metal cylinder is depended upon to hold the check valve assembly in the reduced diameter cylindrical hole. The dependency on the force exerted by the compression spring to hold the check valve assembly in place gives rise to difficulties in the assembly of the tensioner.
Accordingly, among the objects of the invention are the solution to the above-mentioned problems, reduction in the manufacturing cost of a hydraulic tensioner having a check valve assembly, and simplification of the assembly of the tensioner. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Automated data storage libraries are known for providing cost effective storage and retrieval of large quantities of data. The data in automated data storage libraries is stored on data storage media that are, in turn, stored on storage shelves or the like inside the library in a fashion that renders the media, and its resident data, accessible for physical retrieval. Such media is commonly termed “removable media.” Data storage media may comprise any type of media on which data may be stored and which may serve as removable media, including but not limited to magnetic media (such as magnetic tape or disks), optical media (such as optical tape or disks), electronic media (such as PROM, EEPROM, flash PROM, CompactFlash™, Smartmedia™, Memory Stick™, etc.), or other suitable media. Typically, the data stored in automated data storage libraries is resident on data storage media that is contained within a cartridge and referred to as a data storage media cartridge. An example of a data storage media cartridge that is widely employed in automated data storage libraries for mass data storage is a magnetic tape cartridge.
In addition to data storage media, automated data storage libraries typically contain data storage drives that store data to, and/or retrieve data from, the data storage media. The transport of data storage media between data storage shelves and data storage drives is typically accomplished by one or more robot accessors (hereinafter termed “accessors”). Such accessors have grippers for physically retrieving the selected data storage media from the storage shelves within the automated data storage library and transport such media to the data storage drives by moving in the X and Y directions.
In an effort to increase storage capacity, deep slot technology (or deep cartridge slots) allows for storage slots that contain more than a single cartridge. Such storage libraries allow for higher density, or more cartridges stored per square foot. In ‘deep slot’ libraries, two or more cartridges are arrayed in series so that accessing desired cartridges may require removing cartridges stored in front of the desired cartridge. As used herein, the term “deep slot” refers to a magazine or storage slot including an array of storage slots such that at least two slots are arranged in series such that accessing an interior slot requires traversing at least one exterior slot.
Deep slot technology requires that there be enough free storage space to hold the number of cartridges that can be contained in a deep slot, minus one. This is because the library may have to access the last cartridge in a deep slot, and the cartridges in front of the last cartridge must be moved out of the way. For example, if a library has storage slots that can contain 5 cartridges, then the library will need to be able to place 4 of the 5 cartridges somewhere else, while it accesses the 5th cartridge with a library gripper. This additional required space shall be referred to as “swap space”. Swap space may comprise additional storage slots, I/O slots, drive slots, gripper slots, or any other location that may be used to hold a cartridge while another cartridge is being accessed.
One problem with deep slot technology is inventory. This is because, except for the first cartridge, a bar code reader cannot see the cartridge labels in a deep slot without removal. As a result, the library must remove each cartridge to read the label of the cartridge behind it, and to ensure that there are no more cartridges to read. This can be very time consuming, and an operator may be long gone after replacing a magazine, closing a library door, or powering up a library.
What is needed is a quick method of determining that the minimum required number of storage slots are available as swap space in a deep slot library after a magazine has been placed in the library, after a library door has been closed, or after a library reset or power-on.
Furthermore, capacity on demand systems provide vendors the ability to offer their customers more physical storage capacity than the customer has paid for, while allowing an upgrade to storage capacity without installing new hardware. Such systems allow a customer greater flexibility in managing storage requirements. However, with deep slot technology, such systems run the danger to the vendor that a customer could place more cartridges in a capacity on demand system than the customer has paid for, and it would be difficult for the library to detect.
What is needed is a method of determining if more cartridges have been placed in a deep slot library than have been activated with a capacity on demand solution.
It is therefore a challenge to develop strategies for storing cartridges to overcome these, and other, disadvantages. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for detecting an incident position of radiation beam on a predetermined surface.
2. Description of Prior Arts
Speaking, for example, of a field of a detector such as a range finder to measure a distance to an object or a focus detecting device to find out an in-focus condition of an image forming optical system to an object, there have already been known the so-called "active type distance measuring device" or "focus detecting device", in which a distance to an object is measured, or the in-focus, condition of the image forming optical system to the target object is detected, by providing a radiation projecting means on the side of the measuring device, and projecting radiation beam such as infrared or near infrared ray toward the object, at which time variations in the incident position of the reflected radiation beam from the object on a predetermined surface is utilized for distance measurement on the target object.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 43,250, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,085, of the same assignee as that of the present application discloses an example, in which a self-scanning type linear image sensing means such as CCD, BBD, MOS image sensor, etc. is adopted as the means for detecting the reflected radiation beam in such active type range finding device and the focus detecting device.
The abovementioned earlier application discloses as one embodiment thereof a device for detecting an incident position of reflected radiation beam, as one of the expedients for detecting the incident position of the reflected radiation beam in utilization of a time-sequential output of a sensor array device having a plurality of linearly arranged radiation sensing elements as the self-scanning type linear image sensing means, wherein a slice level is determined at a certain definite ratio on the basis of a peak value of the time-sequential output, based on which slice level another time-sequential output from the sensor array device to be obtained at the subsequent reading is sliced, and then a position of the sliced signal portion in the time-sequential output signal is detected. However, even with this embodimental device in the earlier application, there still remain some points to be improved. For example, this embodimental device is to judge the incident position of the reflected radiation beam by detecting a peak value of an envelope of the time sequential signal which has first been read out of the sensor array device, then setting and maintaining a slice level to be determined from this peak value at a predetermined ratio, thereafter slicing the signal envelope which has second been read out based on the determined slice level, and finally digitally determining whether the signal envelope portion which is about to be sliced is at the center of the signal envelope as a whole, or is deviated from the center to either direction of left or right. In such method of determination, the outputs from the sensor array device should be continuously read out for two times with a view to detecting the incident position of the reflected radiation beam with the consequence that a long period of time is required for the determination. Further, since the detecting limit of the signal depends on the slice level, it becomes difficult by slicing to distinguish the signal envelope in the upper and lower portions, when the peak value of the output signal becomes lowered due to the degree of convergence of the radiation beam, or due to an object being at a far distance, or an object having a low reflective power with the consequence that errors tend to occur in determining the incident position of the reflected radiation beam, and other points of problem. In view of such difficulties and inconveniences, there still remains rooms for improvements in the embodimental device of the earlier application.
Besides the above problem points, in order to attain accurate and highly precise detection of the incident position of the radiation beam, a gain control with respect to the output from the sensor array device and/or an appropriate gain control in the subsequent signal processing circuit system are essential. In this point, too, there still remains room for improvement.
Furthermore, as disclosed in the afore-described earlier U.S. patent application Ser. No. 43,250, when a signal radiation beam such as infrared or near infrared ray is projected from the device to an object, and a reflected signal radiation beam from the object is to be detected, there should essentially be made a clear distinction, for the sake of the signal processing, between radiation due to external light, etc. existing in the surrounding atmosphere and the signal radiation beam emitted from the device, in other words, there should inevitably be made a contrivance for effective elimination of the noise signal component caused by the radiation due to external light, etc. In particular, as disclosed in this earlier filed application, when the signal radiation beam is projected toward a target object to be focussed through an object lens, and a reflected signal radiation beam from the target object is to be detected through the object lens by the sensor array device (i.e., in the case of the so-called TTL (Through The Lens) type, active focus detecting device), the intensity distribution of harmful radiation due to external light, etc. existing in the surrounding atmosphere on the radiation receiving surface of the sensor array device becomes non-uniform. In order therefore to remove the noise signal component which is derived from such harmful radiation and is unavoidably included in the output from the sensor array device, a further and particular contrivance is required. | {
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The present disclosure relates to a crating arrangement in which, for example, a heavy product such as an electronic apparatus or the like is crated.
Conventionally, wooden crates have been used as crating arrangements in which a large and heavy product is crated to be carried. However, although the wooden crates excel in durability, the wooden crates are not only heavy and expensive for disposal but also pose a problem from the perspective of resource saving. Boards are fixed with nails, and this requires a significant amount of time for crating and uncrating and poses the danger of an operator getting hurt with nails or wood splinters.
As a solution, crating arrangements made of cardboard which are inexpensive for disposal and which cause less pollution and less environmental burden are widely used. For example, a cardboard case with a pallet is known in which a collapsible slope for placing a product with casters is swingably coupled to an end part of the top surface of the pallet. With the cardboard case with a pallet, it is unnecessary to place the cardboard case having a product packed therein again on another pallet; this makes it easy to pack and carry products and the like, particularly large ones.
A cardboard case as mentioned above is closed with adhesive tape or the like, and thus, after the cardboard case is opened once, its appearance deteriorates due to creases or breakage; this inconveniently makes it impossible to use the cardboard case repeatedly. When the cardboard cases are stacked and carried, to improve stacking efficiency by efficient use of space, so-called tiered stacking is performed by stacking the cardboard cases on top of each other. However, the cardboard cases have a lower strength than that of wooden crates, and thus the top boards may sag when the cardboard cases are carried or kept in storage; this inconveniently makes it impossible to stably place products.
As a solution, goods stocking devices have been proposed which allows efficient storage and transport of goods and which can be used repeatedly. For example, a goods stocking device (transport rack) is known which includes a goods placement member on which goods are placed, a plurality of pillars that can be fitted to the goods placement member, and a coupling member that couples the pillars together, and a method of collapsing pillars is also known. | {
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Thermal conductivity detectors are used to detect certain liquid or gaseous substances (fluids) on the basis of their characteristic thermal conductivity, particularly in gas chromatography. For this purpose, the substances to be detected, after their chromatographic separation, are successively guided past an electrically heated heating filament disposed in a channel. Depending on the thermal conductivity of the substance flowing past, more or less heat is diverted from the heating filament to the channel wall, and the heating filament is correspondingly cooled to a greater or lesser degree. As a result of the cooling of the heating filament, its electrical resistance changes, which is detected. For this purpose, the heating filament is typically disposed in a measuring bridge, which contains additional resistors and an additional heating filament in a further channel through which a reference fluid flows.
To detect very small amounts of substances with great sensitivity and accuracy requires a correspondingly small structure of the thermal conductivity detector. Micromechanical production methods are particularly suitable for this purpose. Due to the small overall size, however, special problems are encountered. For example, the heating filament, which is under tension at an ambient temperature, may relax as a result of its thermal expansion at operating temperatures ranging from 100° C. to 200° C. and above. The relaxed filament may then cause the fluid flowing through the channel to then induce vibrations in the heating filament, which increase the detector noise of the thermal conductivity detector and thereby decrease the detection limit. These vibrations may also cause premature fracturing of the very thin heating filament. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process through which it is possible to join, with the aid of laser welding, metal sheets that are pre-protected against the corrosive action of external agents; the invention is especially directed towards the field of frame and box-like structure building, used to contain electric and electronic circuits, and the aim of the present invention is to obtain effective shielding of electromagnetic fields to avoid both the spreading of external electromagnetic waves towards the inside of these frames and box-like structures, and the outward spreading from these structures and frames of electromagnetic fields produced inside them.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the fields of electro-technics, electromechanics and electronics, metal sheet containing structures, with welded together and permanently joined parts, are widely used. These metal sheets are usually made of steel and they are normally pre-protected against corrosion caused by external agents by a layer of zinc which allows the electrical contact between the sheets and the equipotentiality of distinct parts forming the final assembled containing structure. All the above creates a Faraday cage, which protects from electromagnetic fields the contents of the box-like structures obtained form cut, bent and joined sheets. Said layer of zinc must be several thousandths of millimetres thick in order to be quite resistant to external agents and to avoid that the friction caused by the bending, shaping machines should remove it, therefore uncovering the steel that should be protected in certain areas.
The electrical welding of the joined parts is carried out by passing an intense current through the metal, which heats it locally, until it reaches the temperature in which the layers of zinc fuse and on the spot where they have fused, the sheets that are pressed one on top of the other are joined. On the spots where the electrodes push the sheets one on top of the other to be welded, the surfaces become rough because the layer of zinc is burnt (it fuses at approx. 420.degree. C.) and this visible scar reduces the quality of the finished product.
Another disadvantage of electric welding in mass production is the fact that the points to be welded are not always easily to reachable by the electrodes. This is why, it is necessary to have welding machines having specifically built welding heads which involves considerable expense. Furthermore, if there are various welding points on the same steel structure, it may be necessary to provide welding machines equipped with welding heads having different shapes. Therefore, the same metal structure being built must undergo different welding passages at different stations and must pass through the action of different welding machines. These welding machines may require changing their welding heads according to the type of welding they must carry out, this is often difficult and costly.
When the aesthetic aspect is important to establish the value of the welded box, it is necessary to use non protected steel sheets, then to weld them together and finally to protect the surfaces uniformly with zinc, thus involving extra costs. In some cases it is even impossible to protect the surfaces uniformly against the corrosion of external agents, because the protecting component, paint or zinc, cannot reach the parts between the joined and welded surfaces in some points.
The inconveniences and disadvantages of the rough surfaces where they have been welded and of the welding machines with specifically designed welding heads, a consequence of the use of the electric spot welding method, may be overcome by welding with laser welding machines.
The latter ones can operate at a distance of 100 to 200 mm from the surface where the heating effect, through which the welding occurs, must take place, therefore, these machines can operate without mechanically touching the parts that need welding and without the need of an electric contact, they can carry out welding points and lines on structures that are very different or they can carry out the welding on different parts of the same structure, without needing to modify their welding head. This makes the laser welding process much faster, cheaper and more flexible, in fact the required changes to adapt the welding laser machine to different welding conditions consist in modifications of the software program that commands the movements of the robot and of its welding head and does not require mechanical modifications.
Another advantage in the use of laser welding machines consists in the fact that the welding could be carried out by hitting the internal surface (not visible) of the structure being built with the laser beam, therefore provoking a trace that will not damage the aesthetic aspect of the finished steel structure.
However, the laser welding cannot be presently used to join sheets that have been pre-protected by a thick layer of zinc, without inconveniences. In fact, in order for the welding to be accurate, the laser beam overheats the metal until it fuses at the point where the surface is hit by the said beam. Then the heat penetrates in depth until reaching the other sheet which is pressed close to the one hit by the laser beam.
In that case the reached temperatures are the ones that fuse sheets and they are however over 1000.degree. C. to allow a rapid spreading of the heat from the sheet hit by the beam to the one next to it, and/or on the points of contact, or pressed together to obtain a migration of particles from one sheet to the next obtaining a permanent joining of the parts. However, zinc burns at these temperatures and also develops violent reactions with explosions that cause perforations on the sheet hit by the laser beam and brought to a fusion temperature.
Therefore, splashes of fused metal and the formation of an irregular and rough surface on and around the perforation occur where the welding has been carried out. The roughness and unevenness of the surface hit by the laser beam make the frame unacceptable for both the aesthetic aspect and the inconsistency of the welding. This is an impediment to the use of the laser welding process, unless one uses steel sheets unprotected by zinc, which can be coated with a thick layer of zinc after the welding process, with the inconveniences described above.
In this case (using non coated sheets), the protection on the joined surfaces where the welding has been carried out, is uneven because the zinc cannot penetrate well between the overlapped sheets, therefore, the sheets will oxidise and in time ruin and damage where the parts of the structure are not well protected.
Due to all the above described facts, manufacturers that build frames and steel sheet box-like structures use electric welding, with the above described disadvantages. Another disadvantage when using sheets pre-protected by zinc is its porosity that causes the formation of prints and stains on the surfaces when touched by oily or greasy hands or machines.
Another disadvantage of the prior art techniques is that sheet frames are missing shields for electromagnetic fields corresponding to openings closed by elements that are made from non conductive material, such as connecting gaskets, plastic caps and other components that interrupt the metal continuity of the same containing frames. | {
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The disclosure relates generally to secure record management, and more specifically, to long-term secure record management of computing logs and data by a record management facility.
In general, increased regulations and auditing has driven the need for computing logs that provide long-term secure record management through data and record tracking. Yet, current mechanisms are limited to only identifying ‘whether’ something is wrong with the data or logs and not ‘what’ is wrong.
Further, the long-term nature of computing logs and current data storage methods inherently permit ample opportunity for tampering, and more particularly deleting or adding of at least a portion of the logs or associated data by anyone with access to the record management facility, such as system administrators. | {
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In the past, binder arrangements consisted of a pair of covers each joined to a spine by a hinge with at least one binder, such as a three ring binder, attached to an inside surface of one of the covers. In previous binder arrangements, the hinge was a conventional hinge that is a separate component that attaches to the spine and one of the covers. Unfortunately, use of a separate hinge is not only more costly to produce, but it also increases assembly costs because it requires more assembly steps. More recently, living hinges formed by a break or weakness in a board of one-piece construction have been used to break the board up into a pair of covers and a spine. However, such a hinge only permits the cover to bend relative to the spine along a single line. Where the storage volume of the binder is at or greater than the storage capacity of the binder, closing the binder becomes more difficult. In fact, repeated closings of an overfilled binder can create a crease elsewhere in one or both binder covers. Over time, such a crease can develop into a crack that leads to premature failure of the binder cover, ultimately requiring replacement of the binder.
Binders often include a hold down page whose function is to help hold down the contents being held by the binder to keep the contents of the binder more organized. Unfortunately, hold down pages typically are themselves not tied down or otherwise anchored, making them largely ineffective. In addition, hold down pages often warp, curl or become bent over time because of this. As a result, hold down pages are often a nuisance and many times are discarded.
Binder arrangements can be packaged in the configuration of a case that can be opened using a zipper that has one end attached to the spine. Unfortunately, over time, repeated openings and closings of the zipper can tear the end of the zipper from the spine or tear the zipper such that the zipper teeth will no longer properly engage thereby making it difficult, if not impossible, to close the case.
Finally, binder arrangements that have a pair of opposed binders often are difficult to close because the rings of one of the binders often interferes against the rings of the other one of the binders. Repeated interference can cause binder rings to bend making it difficult to open and close them. Just as bad, interference between the rings can cause creasing of one or both covers if excessive force is applied, such as what can happen out of frustration, when closing the binder arrangement.
In the past, hold down pages have been solely used to help secure the contents of a binder. Typically, they are provided to help prevent the contents of a binder from warping, twisting or otherwise undesirably shifting relative to the binder and to each other. In fact, binder hold down pages have generally been of such flimsy or poor construction, they end up being ill suited to perform their intended hold down function, let alone do anything else. As such, it is heretofore believed that binder hold down pages have not been configured to do anything else other than serving its intended hold down function. The result is a great deal of wasted binder page surface area.
What is needed is an improved binder arrangement that can be configured as a case that addresses at least one of these problems. What is further needed is a binder arrangement that opens and closes more smoothly, that is more robust, and that lasts longer.
What is also needed is a binder hold down page that function as something else in addition to functioning as a hold down page. What is further needed is a binder hold down page that more efficiently utilizes at least a portion of its surface area. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates to a composition for preventing from leaning a capacitor in a semiconductor device, and a method for manufacturing a capacitor using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the demand for semiconductor devices increases, various techniques for manufacturing a capacitor with a high capacitance have been suggested.
In the capacitor, a dielectric film is interposed between a lower electrode as a storage node and an upper electrode as a plate node. The capacitance of the capacitor is proportional to the surface area of the electrode and the dielectric constant of the dielectric film, and it is inversely proportional to the gap between the electrodes (i.e., the thickness of the dielectric film). A method using a dielectric film with a large dielectric constant, a method for reducing the thickness of a dielectric film, a method for increasing the surface area of the lower electrode, and a method for reducing the gap between electrodes have been used to manufacture a capacitor with a high capacitance.
However, with an increasing degree of integration, the size of the semiconductor memory device has been gradually reduced. It is thus difficult to manufacture a capacitor with a sufficient capacitance. Accordingly, research has been steadily conducted to improve the structure of the storage node. Concave-type and cylinder-type capacitors with a three-dimensional structure have been developed as a solution. Recently, the cylinder-type capacitor using both the internal area and the external area as the node area has been more popularly used than the concave-type capacitor using only the internal area as the node area.
Hereinafter, a conventional method of manufacturing a capacitor for a semiconductor device will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b briefly illustrate a manufacturing process for a three-dimensional cylinder-type capacitor according to a conventional method.
FIG. 1a shows that an interlayer insulating film 3 is formed over a semiconductor substrate 1 having a semiconductor circuit such as transistors (not shown) and bit lines (not shown), and the interlayer insulating film 3 is etched to form storage node contact holes (not shown) to expose part of the semiconductor substrate 1.
Then, the storage node contact holes are filled with storage node contact plugs 5. Moreover, a nitride film 7 used as an etching barrier film, and a capacitor oxide film 9 determining the height of a lower electrode are deposited sequentially on the top surface of the interlayer insulating film 3 containing the storage node contact plugs 5.
The capacitor oxide film 9 is dry etched to form a trench (not shown) used for a storage node, and then a lower electrode 11 used for a storage node is formed inside the trench.
FIG. 1b shows that the lower electrode 11 used for a storage node undergoes a chemical mechanical polishing process or an etch-back process until the capacitor oxide film 9 is exposed to isolate the remaining portions of the lower electrode 11.
FIG. 1c shows that the capacitor oxide film 9 is removed by a wet-dip out process, in which the resultant structure of FIG. 1b is immersed and wet etched at a room temperature of 23° C. for about 25 minutes. The wet etching solution is an HF/NH4F solution prepared by mixing deionized water and HF/NH4F (manufactured by Techno Semichem Co., Ltd, Product Name: LAL400) at a volume ratio of 20:1. The structure is then sufficiently washed with deionized water, and placed in a vapor of isopropyl alcohol to be dried.
However, a reduced or finer design rule has resulted in a decrease in floor space at the time of formation of the storage node of a cylinder-type capacitor. Therefore, in an attempt to secure the capacitance of the capacitor, the capacitor oxide film 9 is formed to greatly increase the surface area of the lower electrode 11. This causes an increase in the aspect ratio of the lower electrode 11.
Consequently, during the drying step for removing moisture infiltrated between the lower electrodes 11 during the wet-dip out process for removing the capacitor oxide film 9, surface tension occurring between adjacent lower electrodes 11 leads to the frequent occurrence of a leaning phenomenon 13 in which the lower electrodes come in contact with each other and are bridged, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Unfortunately, the leaning phenomenon worsens with a decrease in the distance (i.e., line width) between capacitors. A narrower line width floor for a capacitor or an increased capacitor height is a result of the size reduction of semiconductor devices. This problem results in serious failures during the manufacturing process, reducing final production yields of semiconductor memory devices.
So far, an aspect ratio of 11 is best for enabling the manufacturing of 60 nm devices. In order to satisfy that the capacitance required for the cell is larger than 25*10−15, particularly for the operation of a device having a line width of 50 nm or less, the aspect ratio is expected to be 20 or larger. | {
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Queues are a commonly occurring feature in data processing systems as well as daily life. When there are more things that can be done with available resources, a queue is a commonly used mechanism to sequence the demand.
To begin with a daily life example, people at a theme park routinely form queues to experience a ride or attraction. The capacity of the ride or attraction is often less than the number of people demanding a use of that capacity. Consequently, arriving people take a position in a queue and await their turn to experience the ride or attraction.
Similarly, in a data processing system, a queue is useful for arranging the processes that are awaiting the use of the limited computing resources in the data processing system. Hereinafter, a reference to a “member” can be interpreted as a reference to a person when the scenario or embodiment is applied to a human circumstance, such as in the example of the theme park, and as a reference to a thread, a process, or generally a consumer of a resource in a data processing system when the scenario or embodiment is applied to a data processing system circumstance, such as in the example of the processes using a computing resource (process option) in the data processing system.
Hereinafter, a “sequence” or a “sequence of execution” can similarly be interpreted as a reference to an ordering of human activities or an ordering of computer processes depending on the circumstances of the scenario or embodiment.
Hereinafter, a “process option” can similarly be interpreted as a reference to a human activity, a process available in a data processing system, or a resource in a data processing system, depending on the circumstances of the scenario or embodiment.
A variety of ways exists in which to arrange or order the members for using one or more process options. For example, a first-in-first-out (FIFO) allows waiting members to be queued in the order of their arrival, i.e., in the order in which they presented their demand for the limited resource. A priority-based queuing technique queues members based on their priorities. A higher priority member is queued ahead of a lower priority member, for using the process option before the lower priority member. Many other methods for ordering members for using one or more process options are well known.
In a converse way, the queuing process can also be viewed as a sequencing of process options for a member to use. In other words, a queuing process can also be used to create a sequence in which a member will use a given set of process options.
Often, it is not a single process option that a member uses. Frequently, several members will want to use several process options in some order or sequence. For example, a group of people may want to go on five different rides at the park in some order. As another example, each of one thousand threads may want to use several hardware and software components of a data processing system in some sequence. | {
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The present invention relates to a method of producing spacer elements between pairs of mutually facing surfaces of layers comprising filter or membrane material for a fluid purifier. The invention also relates to a spacer element produced in accordance with the method.
In addition to holding the surfaces apart, such spacer elements also serve to generate turbulence so as to minimize the thickness of the boundary layer of the fluid that shall pass between the surfaces.
Known spacer elements of this kind are normally comprised of sheet-like grid or net constructions which are placed loosely between the mutually facing membrane surfaces, so as to permit turbulent fluid flow therebetween. When attempting to mechanize production of membrane modules Lot fluid purifiers, the separate spacer elements are in contrast to the desire to handle as few construction elements as possible when assembling the modules. Another problem caused by the loosely placed spacer elements is that vibrations in the membrane modistes cause the elements to move slightly in relation to the thin membrane surfaces lying against the spacers with the associated risk of wearing-down the membrane surfaces. | {
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The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
VCSELs, and particularly VCSEL arrays, emitting in the range of 50 mW to 10 W of optical power are important technology for applications within a variety of markets, including but not limited to, the consumer, industrial, automotive, and medical industries. Example applications include, but are not limited to, illumination for security cameras, illumination for sensors such as three-dimensional (3D) cameras or gesture recognition systems, medical imaging systems, light therapy systems, or medical sensing systems such as those requiring deep penetration into tissue. In such optical sensing and illumination applications as well as other applications, VCSELs and VCSEL arrays offer several benefits, as will be described in further detail herein, including but not limited to, power efficiency, narrow spectral width, narrow beam divergence, and significant packaging flexibility.
Indeed, for VCSELs and VCSEL arrays, power conversion efficiency (PCE) of greater than 40% can be achieved at wavelengths in at least the 800-1000 nm range. PCE may be defined as the ratio of optical power emitted from a laser(s), such as a VCSEL or VCSEL array, divided by the electrical power used to drive the laser(s). While VCSEL PCE, alone, is fairly comparable to that for some of the most efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) currently available, when spectral width and beam divergence are considered, there are significant efficiency benefits to VCSELs over LEDs.
For example, VCSEL arrays generally have a spectral width of approximately 1 nm. This allows the use of filters for a photodetector or camera in order to reduce the noise associated with background radiation. For comparison, a LED typically has a spectral linewidth of 20-50 nm, resulting in the rejection of much of the light by such a filter, and hence reducing the effective PCE of the LED. In addition, the wavelength of a VCSEL is less sensitive to temperature, increasing only around 0.06 nm per 1° Celsius. The VCSEL rate of wavelength shift with temperature is four times less than in a LED.
Also for example, the angular beam divergence of a VCSEL is typically 10-30 degrees full width half maximum (FWHM), whereas the output beam of a LED is Lambertian, filling the full hemisphere. This means that generally all, if not all, of the light of a VCSEL can be collected using various optical elements, such as lenses for a collimated or focused beam profile, diffusers for a wide beam (40-90 degrees or more) profile, or a diffractive optical element to generate a pattern of spots or lines. Due to the wide beam angle of a LED, it can be difficult to collect all or nearly all of the light (leading to further degradation of the PCE), and also difficult to direct the light as precisely as is possible with a VCSEL.
The vertically emitting nature of a VCSEL also gives it much more packaging flexibility than a conventional laser, and opens up the door to the use of the wide range of packages available for LEDs or semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs). In addition to integrating multiple VCSELs on the same chip, as will be described in further detail below, one can package VCSELs or VCSEL arrays with photodetectors or optical elements. Plastic or ceramic surface mount packaging or chip-on-board options are also available to the VCSEL.
VCSEL geometry traditionally limits the amount of optical power a VCSEL can provide. To illustrate the issue, FIG. 1 is a diagram of the cross-section of a typical VCSEL 100, and includes general structural elements and components that may be utilized, as an example, for VCSEL and VCSEL array embodiments disclosed herein. In general, epitaxial layers of a VCSEL may typically be formed on a substrate material 102, such as a GaAs substrate. On the substrate 102, single crystal quarter wavelength thick semiconductor layers may be grown to form mirrors (e.g., n- and p-distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs)) around a quantum well based active region to create a laser cavity in the vertical direction. For example, on the substrate 102, first mirror layers 104 may be grown, such as but not limited to layers forming an AlGaAs n-DBR. A spacer 106, such as but not limited to an AlGaAs or AlGaInP spacer, may be formed over the first mirror layers 104. Then a quantum well based active region 108, such as but not limited to an AlGaInP/GaInP or GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well (MQW) active region, may be formed, along with another spacer layer 110, such as but not limited to an AlGaAs or AlGaInP spacer. Over that, second mirror layers 112 may be grown, such as but not limited to layers forming an AlGaAs p-DBR, over which a current spreader/cap layer 114 may be formed, such as but not limited to, an AlGaAs/GaAs current spreader/cap layer. A contacting metal layer 116 may be formed over the cap layer 114, leaving an aperture of desired diameter generally centered over the axis of the VCSEL. In some embodiments, a dielectric cap 120 may be formed within the aperture 118. As will be explained in more detail below with specific reference to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a mesa 122 may be formed by etching down the epitaxial structure of the VCSEL to expose a higher aluminum containing layer or layers 124 for oxidation. The oxidation process leaves an electrically conductive aperture 126 in the oxidized layer or layers that is generally aligned with the aperture 118 defined by the contacting metal layer 116, providing confinement of current to the middle of the VCSEL 100. More specific details regarding VCSEL structure and fabrication as well as additional VCSEL embodiments and methods for making and using VCSELs are disclosed, for example, in: U.S. Pat. No. 8,249,121, titled “Push-Pull Modulated Coupled Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers and Method;” U.S. Pat. No. 8,494,018, titled “Direct Modulated Modified Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers and Method;” U.S. Pat. No. 8,660,161, titled “Push-Pull Modulated Coupled Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers and Method;” U.S. Pat. No. 8,989,230, titled “Method and Apparatus Including Movable-Mirror MEMS-Tuned Surface-Emitting Lasers;” U.S. Pat. No. 9,088,134, titled “Method and Apparatus Including Improved Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers;” U.S. Reissue Pat. No. RE41,738, titled “Red Light Laser;” and U.S. Publ. No. 2015/0380901, titled “Method and Apparatus Including Improved Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers;” of which the contents of each are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Without being limited to solely the VCSELs described in any one of the foregoing patents or patent applications, VCSELs suitable for various embodiments of the present disclosure or suitably modifiable according to the present disclosure include the VCSELs disclosed in the foregoing patents or patent applications, including any discussion of prior art VCSELs therein, as well as VCSELs disclosed in any of the prior art references cited during examination of any of the foregoing patents or patent applications. More generally, unless specifically or expressly described otherwise, any VCSEL now known or later developed may be suitable for various embodiments of the present disclosure or suitably modifiable according to the present disclosure.
For efficient operation of a VCSEL, a method for providing current confinement in the lateral direction (achieved with the electrically insulating oxidation layer shown) to force current flow through the center of the device is often required. The metal contact 116 on the surface of the device may provide a means for injecting current into the VCSEL. As described above, the metal contact 116 should have an opening or aperture 118 in order to allow the light to leave the VCSEL. There is a limit to how far current can be spread efficiently across this aperture, and hence there is a limit to the lateral extent of the laser, and in turn, the maximum power that can be emitted from a single aperture. A solution to this, for applications requiring more power, is to create multiple VCSELs on a chip that operate together in parallel. In such an approach, the total output power can be scaled simply by scaling the number of VCSEL devices or apertures. FIG. 2 illustrates an example layout for a VCSEL die or chip 200 with, for example, one hundred eleven (111) VCSEL devices/apertures 202. A common metal layer 204 on the top surface of the chip 200 (or similar contact mechanism) may contact the anode of each VCSEL device 202 simultaneously, and a common cathode contact (or similar contact mechanism) may be made on the backside of the chip, allowing all the VCSEL devices to be driven in parallel.
An array approach not only solves the technical issue of emitting more optical power, but also provides important advantages. For example, a conventional single coherent laser source results in speckle, which adds noise. However, as will be explained in more detail below with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, speckle contrast can be reduced through the use of an array of lasers which are mutually incoherent with each other.
Another advantage or benefit is that of improved eye safety. An extended source is generally more eye safe than a point source emitting the same amount of power. Still another advantage or benefit is the ability to better manage thermal heat dissipation by spreading the emission area over a larger substrate area.
Requirements for an optical source typically depend upon the application and the sensing mechanism used. For example, illumination for night vision cameras may involve simply turning on the light source to form constant uniform illumination over a wide angle which is reflected back to the camera. However, additional illumination schemes can provide more information, including but not limited to, three-dimensional (3D) information. FIGS. 3A-C illustrate example sensing mechanisms—structured lighting, time-of-flight, and modulated phase shift—used to gather information in three dimensions. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, in structured lighting, a pattern (e.g., dots, lines, more complex patterns, etc.) 302 may be imposed upon the light source 304, and then one or more cameras 306 are used to detect distortion in the structure of the light to estimate distance. As conceptually illustrated in FIG. 3B, in a time-of-flight approach, a time-gated camera may be used to measure the roundtrip flight time of a light pulse. As graphically illustrated in FIG. 3C, in the case of modulated phase shift, an amplitude modulation may be imposed upon the emitted light, and the phase shift between the emitted beam and reflected beam may be recorded and used to estimate the distance traveled.
Typically, requirements of an optical light source for any given application may include consideration of one or more of the following:
1. Optical output power: Sufficient power is required for illumination of the area of interest. This can range from tens of milliwatts optical power, such as for a sensing range of a generally a few centimeters, to hundreds of milliwatts, such as for games or sensing of generally a meter or two or so, to ten watts, such as for collision avoidance systems, and kilowatts of total power, such as for a self-driving car.
2. Power efficiency: Particularly for mobile consumer devices, a high efficiency in converting electrical to optical power is desirable and advantageous.
3. Wavelength: For many applications, including most consumer, security, and automotive applications, it may be preferable that the illumination be unobtrusive to the human eye, and often in the infrared region. On the other hand, low cost silicon photodetectors or cameras limit the wavelength on the long end of the spectrum. For such applications, a desirable range therefore, may be generally around or between 800-900 nm. However, some industrial applications may prefer a visible source for the purpose of aligning a sensor, and some medical applications may rely on absorption spectra of tissue, or materials with sensitivity in the visible regime, primarily around 650-700 nm.
4. Spectral width and stability: The presence of background radiation, such as sunlight, can degrade the signal-to-noise ratio of a sensor or camera. This can be compensated with a spectral filter on the detector or camera, but implementing this without a loss of efficiency often requires a light source with a narrow and stable spectrum.
5. Modulation rate or pulse width: For sensors based, for example, upon time of flight or a modulation phase shift, the achievable pulse width or modulation rate of the optical source can determine the spatial resolution in the third dimension.
6. Beam divergence: A wide variety of beam divergences might be specified, depending upon whether the sensor is targeting a particular spot or direction, or a relatively larger area.
7. Packaging: The package provides the electrical and optical interface to the optical source. It may incorporate an optical element that helps to control the beam profile, and may generate a structured lighting pattern. Particularly for mobile devices or other small devices, the overall packaging would desirably be as compact as possible.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for VCSELs or VCSEL arrays, or configurations thereof, that enhance performance or functionality for use, for a non-limiting example, as illumination sources for cameras and sensors. | {
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} |
Disposable absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinence pads, training pants, and catamenial napkins generally include an absorbent core for receiving and holding bodily exudates. The absorbent core typically includes a fibrous web, which can be a nonwoven, airlaid web of natural or synthetic fibers, or combinations thereof. Fibrous webs used in such absorbent articles also often include certain absorbent gelling materials usually referred to as “hydrogels”, “superabsorbents”, or “hydrocolloid” materials to store large quantities of the discharged bodily liquids. These materials absorb through capillary or osmotic forces, or a combination of both.
Many absorbent articles such as catamenial pads, adult incontinent products, and diapers are subject to leakage due to an inability to absorb second and subsequent discharges of liquid even if the first liquid discharge has been effectively absorbed. Leakage due to second and subsequent discharges is especially prevalent during the night, when users commonly experience multiple discharges before the absorbent article is changed. One reason for the inability of many absorbent articles to adequately handle multiple discharges of liquid is the inability of the absorbent core to transport discharged liquid away from the region of discharge once the absorbent capacity of that region has been reached. Thus, the overall performance of the absorbent article is limited by the inability to transport the liquid to the farthest reaches of the absorbent core.
An alternative absorbent material capable of providing capillary liquid transport is open-celled polymeric foam. Appropriately made open-celled polymeric foams provide features of capillary liquid acquisition, transport, and storage required for use in high performance absorbent cores for absorbent articles such as diapers. Shaped or contoured absorbent cores made from such open-celled foam materials having particularly desirable liquid transport characteristics are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,345 issued to Young et al. on Sep. 15, 1992. The Young et al. '345 absorbent core includes both a liquid acquisition/distribution member and a liquid storage/redistribution member. The liquid acquisition/distribution member is positioned within the absorbent article in such a way as to receive or contact aqueous bodily liquid which has been discharged into the absorbent article by the wearer of the article. The liquid storage/redistribution member, in turn, is positioned within the article to be in capillary liquid communication with the liquid acquisition/distribution member.
Absorbent cores providing the desirable absorbent characteristics of the Young et al. '345 patent in an exemplary multi-piece configuration are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,602 issued to Weber et al. on 25 May 1999, which describes shaped absorbent cores having a front panel and a back panel in capillary liquid communication with a center section. The center section includes material generally suitable for liquid acquisition/distribution, while the front and back panels include material generally suitable for liquid storage/redistribution.
Despite the advances in absorbent articles and in liquid handling absorbent core materials, absorbent articles having multiple absorbent core components as well as those having unitary absorbent cores are generally designed for single use wear. Once the storage/redistribution member is saturated with bodily discharges, such as urine, the entire absorbent article is generally discarded and replaced. Often parts of the absorbent article are still usable, and except for being unitary with the absorbent core, these parts could be used further. In addition to the added cost and waste associated with discarding reusable materials, it is often inconvenient to remove and replace the entire absorbent article when absorbent core components are saturated.
Absorbent articles having removable absorbent inserts and thereby being potentially usable for more than a single use are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,761 to Buell, issued Jul. 1, 1986, discloses a disposable absorbent insert for use inside an over-garment such as a conventional reusable diaper, or a disposable diaper. Once the absorbent insert becomes saturated it may be removed and discarded. The absorbent article may then be reused with a fresh absorbent insert. However, because the absorbent insert is removable only from the body side of the article, the absorbent article must be removed from the wearer in order to remove the insert. Therefore, the removal of the absorbent insert is often inconvenient and time consuming.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an absorbent article having a replaceable absorbent core component wherein the absorbent core component can be replaced without having to remove the absorbent article from the wearer.
Additionally, it would be desirable to provide an absorbent article having a replaceable absorbent core component and an apertured backsheet, allowing a saturated component of the absorbent core to be removed through the backsheet aperture, thereby exposing an unsaturated component and allowing for prolonged use of the reusable portions of the absorbent article.
Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide an absorbent article having a replaceable absorbent core component disposed between a topsheet and a backsheet, configured such that access to the replaceable absorbent core component is gained by separating the topsheet and the backsheet in a predetermined area to form an opening. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to machines for packaging highly compressed materials, such as insulation, glass wool and the like, in plastic bags and more particularly to the apparatus for placing such a bag on a spout so that the compressed material can be inserted into the bag to form a neat and tight package.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
At the present time the plastic bags are placed on the spout by hand preparatory to receiving the compressed material. Because of the limp nature of the plastic bags used to package such materials the bags are difficult to open and place on the spout by hand. The present invention is directed to apparatus which automatically takes a bag from a stack, opens and shapes the bag and places such bag on the spout so that the compressed material can be rammed into the spout and bag.
The apparatus of the present invention is an improvement over the hand operation in that it is faster, more reliable in positioning the bag on the spout and saves labor. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This disclosure relates to methods and devices for producing mono-crystalline sheets, in particular to mono-crystalline silicon sheets. Further, a method for producing a solar cell and a solar cell arrangement is presented.
Most semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits or microchips are based on silicon. In addition, silicon can be applied in photovoltaic applications and forms the basis for the majority of solar cells used. For use in solar cell applications thin silicon substrates are extensively used.
It is known that the efficiency of a solar cell based on silicon depends on the crystallinity of the silicon used as substrate. For example, solar cells applying amorphous silicon show efficiencies less than 10%. Higher efficiency solar cells using multi-crystalline silicon may reach efficiencies of around 15%. The efficiency of solar cells is usually measured in terms of the electric power generated by a solar cell per incident solar power. The highest efficiencies for solar cells can be obtained with single crystalline silicon substrates. Also other semiconductor materials, preferably in their single-crystal form, are used in photovoltaic applications. However, in commercial applications predominantly silicon substrates are employed. | {
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The application of clear top coats over basecoat paint layers is becoming increasingly popular in the automotive industry. In such a color-plus-clear or basecoat/clearcoat system the pigmented basecoat is sprayed on the automotive panel and is overcoated with a reactive clear composition which crosslinks and hardens after being sprayed and dried. For example, the recent patent to Simpson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,811, describes a transparent topcoat formed by spraying over the paint layer a liquid crosslinkable composition comprising a polyepoxide and a polyacid curing agent. According to the patent, this provides a composite with outstanding gloss and distinctness of image. Simpson et al give no suggestion that any problems result from mixing the components of the clearcoat composition well in advance of spraying the mixture.
Another kind of clear top coat composition for application by spraying is described by Ambrose et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,814. This contains a low molecular weight epoxy-functional polyurethane obtained by reacting an isocyanate with a hydroxy polyepoxide. A polyacid curing agent is used. Again no problem is indicated with mixing the components well before the mixture is applied.
Recently a new process for applying paints and clearcoats to automobile bodies and other three dimensional articles which yields finishes of outstanding quality has been described in the Reafler patent application Ser. No. 116,426. The new process involves coating one side of a stretchable polymeric film by laminar flow with a pigmented basecoat, thereafter applying a clearcoat over the basecoat and applying an adhesive layer to the other side of the film, which then is adhered by thermoforming to automobile body panels or other substrates, for example, in the manner described in European Patent Application 0251546 published Jan. 7, 1988. The coating technique used for optimum quality involves the continuous laminar flow coating of a moving web of the plastic film by contact with a horizontally extending bead of the liquid coating composition. The latter is extruded from a narrow horizontal slot of an extrusion coating hopper.
Extrusion coating hoppers have been used previously in precision coating of photographic goods, as disclosed, for example, in the patent to Miller et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,206,323. They can produce coatings having exceptional smoothness, gloss and other good qualities. They are, however, more sensitive to problems with the feed composition than is the conventional spray painting method of applying clear coats to automobile bodies. Thus, it has been found that reactive clearcoat compositions begin to increase in viscosity soon after the components are mixed. If the mixed clearcoat composition is held in a supply vessel for an excessive length of time before being fed to the extrusion hopper the viscosity of the feed composition may increase during the coating operation. When this occurs, the extrusion hopper may produce coatings of less than optimum quality.
It has also been found that after the components of the clearcoat have been mixed in the supply vessel, heterogeneous particles or slugs of polymer begin to form. These tend to stick to the metal in and around the coating hopper exit slot and cause line defects in the coatings. Evidently neither of these phenomena cause problems when reactive clearcoat compositions are sprayed, possibly because the high shear of the spray nozzles lowers the viscosity of the coating composition.
In accordance with the present invention it has been found that potential problems in the coating of batch mixed reactive clearcoats on paint-coated polymeric films through the narrow slot of an extrusion coating hopper can be reduced or avoided by mixing continuous streams of the components of the clearcoat shortly before the mixture is coated on the moving plastic film web. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical systems and methods for treatment. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for treating aneurysms.
Aneurysms are enlargements or “bulges” in blood vessels which are often prone to rupture and which therefore present a serious risk to the patient. Aneurysms may occur in any blood vessel but are of particular concern when they occur in the cerebral vasculature or the patient's aorta.
The present invention is particularly concerned with aneurysms occurring in the aorta, particularly those referred to as aortic aneurysms. Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA's) are classified based on their location within the aorta as well as their shape and complexity. Aneurysms which are found below the renal arteries are referred to as infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms occur above the renal arteries, while thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA's) occur in the ascending, transverse, or descending part of the upper aorta.
Infrarenal aneurysms are the most common, representing about eighty percent (80%) of all aortic aneurysms. Suprarenal aneurysms are less common, representing about 20% of the aortic aneurysms. Thoracic aortic aneurysms are the least common and often the most difficult to treat.
The most common form of aneurysm is “fusiform,” where the enlargement extends about the entire aortic circumference. Less commonly, the aneurysms may be characterized by a bulge on one side of the blood vessel attached at a narrow neck. Thoracic aortic aneurysms are often dissecting aneurysms caused by hemorrhagic separation in the aortic wall, usually within the medial layer. The most common treatment for each of these types and forms of aneurysm is open surgical repair. Open surgical repair is quite successful in patients who are otherwise reasonably healthy and free from significant co-morbidities. Such open surgical procedures are problematic, however, since access to the abdominal and thoracic aortas is difficult to obtain and because the aorta must be clamped off, placing significant strain on the patient's heart.
Over the past decade, endoluminal grafts have come into widespread use for the treatment of aortic aneurysm in patients who cannot undergo open surgical procedures. In general, endoluminal repairs access the aneurysm “endoluminally” through either or both iliac arteries in the groin. The grafts, which typically have been fabric or membrane tubes supported and attached by various stent structures, are then implanted, typically requiring several pieces or modules to be assembled in situ. Successful endoluminal procedures have a much shorter recovery period than open surgical procedures.
Present endoluminal aortic aneurysm repairs, however, suffer from a number of limitations. For example, a significant number of endoluminal repair patients experience leakage at the proximal juncture (attachment point closest to the heart) within two years of the initial repair procedure. While such leaks can often be fixed by further endoluminal procedures, the need to have such follow-up treatments significantly increases cost and is certainly undesirable for the patient. A less common but more serious problem has been graft migration. In instances where the graft migrates or slips from its intended position, open surgical repair is required. This is a particular problem since the patients receiving the endoluminal grafts are often those who are not considered to be good surgical candidates.
Further shortcomings of the present endoluminal graft systems relate to both deployment and configuration. For example, many of the commercially available endovascular systems are too large (above 12 F) for percutaneous introduction. Moreover, current devices often have an annular support frame that is stiff and difficult to deliver as well as unsuitable for treating many geometrically complex aneurysms, particularly infrarenal aneurysms with little space between the renal arteries and the upper end of the aneurysm, referred to as short-neck or no-neck aneurysms. Aneurysms having torturous geometries, are also difficult to treat.
For these reasons, it would be desirable to provide improved methods and systems for the endoluminal and minimally invasive treatment of aortic aneurysms. In particular, it would be desirable to provide systems having lower delivery profile and methods which can be delivered percutaneously and that can track and be deployed in tortuous vessels. It would also be desirable to provide prostheses with minimal or no endoleaks, which resist migration, which are flexible and relatively easy to deploy, and which can treat many if not all aneurismal configurations, including short-neck and no-neck aneurysms as well as those with highly irregular and asymmetric geometries. It would be further desirable to provide systems and methods which are compatible with current designs for endoluminal stents and grafts, including single lumen stents and grafts, bifurcated stents and grafts, parallel stents and grafts, as well as with double-walled filling structures which are the subject of the commonly owned, copending applications described below. It would also be desirable to provide systems and methods that provide feedback to the operator as to the positioning and deployment of the endoluminal repair device in the aneurysm. The systems and methods would preferably be deployable with the stents and grafts at the time the stents and grafts are initially placed. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide systems and methods for repairing previously implanted aortic stents and grafts, either endoluminally or percutaneously. At least some of these objectives will be met by the inventions described hereinbelow.
2. Description of the Background Art
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0025853 describes a double-walled filling structure for treating aortic and other aneurysms. Copending, commonly owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0212112, describes the use of liners and extenders to anchor and seal such double-walled filling structures within the aorta. The full disclosures of both these publications are incorporated herein by reference. PCT Publication No. WO 01/21108 describes expandable implants attached to a central graft for filling aortic aneurysms. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,330,528; 5,534,024; 5,843,160; 6,168,592; 6,190,402; 6,312,462; 6,312,463; U.S. Patent Publications 2002/0045848; 2003/0014075; 2004/0204755; 2005/0004660; and PCT Publication No. WO 02/102282. | {
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3D display has become a major trend in the display field. The basic principle of the stereoscopic display is to produce a stereoscopy by utilizing a parallax, i.e., to make a viewer's left eye see a left-eye image and right eye see a right-eye image, where the left-eye image and the right-eye image here are a pair of stereoscopic images with parallax. A so-called 3D display device makes the left and right eyes receive two 2D (2-dimension) images having the parallax, respectively, so that a 3D image can be perceived after the brain acquires different 2D images.
In prior art, there are two ways to manufacture a birefringent grating for the 3D display device. The first way is in that: coating an alignment layer on a glass substrate followed by rubbing; next, preparing a concave lens film on another glass substrate; then, performing a rubbing treatment on the concave lens film (as an alternative, an alignment layer may be coated, however, the currently available material for the alignment layer may dissolve the material of the concave lens film, and thus, the rubbing treatment is performed directly on the concave lens film in practice); next, assembling the two substrates and injecting liquid crystals into a space therebetween; and orienting and curing the liquid crystals. The second way is in that: preparing a layer of transparent electrode on a glass substrate; forming an alignment layer on the layer of transparent electrode and then performing a rubbing treatment; forming a layer of transparent electrode on another glass substrate followed by forming a concave lens film; then performing a rubbing treatment (as an alternative, an alignment layer may be coated, however, the currently available material for the alignment layer may dissolve the material of the concave lens film, and thus, the rubbing treatment may be performed directly on the concave lens film in practice); next, assembling the two substrates and injecting liquid crystals into a space therebetween, wherein the deflection of the liquid crystals is controlled by applying a voltage to the transparent electrodes of the two substrates so as to achieve 3D display.
In a manufacturing process for a conventional birefringent grating of the 3D display device, the rubbing and orienting of a concave lens film are factors affecting the 3D display quality. For a general TN (twisted nematic) type LCD, an angle between a polarization direction of emitting light of a polarizer and a horizontal plane is 45 degrees. And for an IPS (in-plane switching) type LCD, an angle between a polarization direction of emitting light of a polarizer and a horizontal plane is 90 degrees or zero degree. An angle between a ridge direction of the concave lens film of the birefringent grating and the horizontal plane is θ, which is generally different from the angle between the polarization direction of emitting light of the polarizer and the horizontal plane, however, in the birefringent grating of such a 3D display device, it is required that the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is parallel to the polarization direction of emitting light of the polarizer, which means that a rubbing direction forms a certain angle with the ridge direction of the concave lens film, as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, a part of rubbing furs may rub peak positions of the concave lens film, and some of the rubbing furs may rub valley positions of the concave lens film. Generally, a width of the concave lens film is very narrow, and the valley is deep. In this case, the liquid crystal molecules at the valleys can not be well oriented and thereby the 3D display effect is substantially degraded. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus, more particularly to an air conditioning apparatus with a water pump disposed therein and driven by a motor of a blower.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional air conditioning apparatus generally has a drain pane disposed in a bottom of a case body thereof for collecting droplets of condensate resulting from the cooling of air stream, and a drain pipe fluidly communicated with an outlet of the drain pane and extending outwardly of the case body for draining water outwardly of the air conditioning apparatus. In this manner, it is difficult to drain the water collected in the drain pane completely. To solve this problem, it has been heretofore proposed to connect a water pump to the air conditioning apparatus. However, the water pump needs to be driven by an additional motor, thereby resulting in an increase in the manufacturing cost. In addition, the water pump is disposed outwardly of the air conditioning apparatus, and affects the outer appearance of the apparatus. | {
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In an indoor environment, such as a large house or an office, a single access point (AP) often may not be able to cover the entire indoor area.
One straightforward attempt to solve this problem is to increase the transmission power. However, solely relying on increasing the transmission power on the AP would be a poor solution. In addition to regulatory bodies that limit the transmission power of the AP, it is typical that the wireless local area network (WLAN) communications link between an AP and a client is highly asymmetrical, that is, the client's transmission power is usually lower than the AP's transmission power. The client's antenna efficiency conventionally is also lower than the AP. Moreover, a portable client, e.g. a mobile phone, often is hand held by a user, and because of the signal absorption and disruption by the human body, signals from such portable client may reach the AP at even lower powers. Yet, many commonly used WLAN protocols require each side of the link to receive an acknowledgement (ACK) for the packets that are transmitted, e.g. in a downlink direction. If one side of the WLAN link cannot receive from the other side of the link, no packet can be transmitted to the other side of the link.
Instead of one AP with high transmission power and high performance antennas, an attractive alternative is using a multitude of smaller APs that are deployed in the environment in a scattered, distributed manner. These smaller APs form a wireless mesh network, and therefore are also called mesh points. When a client device establishes connection with one of the mesh points, the mesh points can forward the traffic to the mesh point that is connected to the gateway, which in turn communicates the traffic to the outside world, e.g. wide area network (WAN) and/or the Internet. However, there are also many challenges associated with implementing these wireless mesh networks, especially in a home environment where a layman user may be involved in installing and configuring these mesh points.
Generally speaking, as mentioned above, a better alternative to an access point (AP) with large transmission power is a wireless mesh network with a multitude of smaller APs, deployed in the environment in a scattered, distributed manner. These smaller APs (or mesh points) are often marketed as so-called “range extenders” or “repeaters.” A range extender generally works by associating itself to a user's main AP and receiving Internet connection from the main AP. Then, clients such as mobile phones, laptops, and desktop computers, and smart devices can associate to the range extender.
In many of these settings, it is up to the connection client to decide what happens, e.g. what action or reaction to take when a certain type of issues takes place, such as poor reception, in the wireless mesh network, which may adversely affect the efficiency and stability of such network. For example, roaming between the main AP and repeater can be a common issue where the clients may be stuck in a connection with the main AP or a repeater mesh point and may not roam to the mesh point that can provide the clients with the best throughput. All too often, roaming between multiple range extenders and the main AP may not function as designed, and different roaming methods may be required for different types of clients.
IEEE 802.11, commonly referred to as Wi-Fi, is widely used for wireless communications. Many deployed implementations have effective ranges of only a few hundred meters. To maintain communications, devices in motion that use it must handoff from one access point to another.
Handoffs are already supported under the preexisting standard. The fundamental architecture for handoffs is identical for 802.11 with and without 802.11r, i.e. the mobile device is entirely in charge of deciding when to hand off and to which access point it wishes to hand off.
The key negotiation protocol in 802.11i specifies that, for 802.1X-based authentication, the client is required to renegotiate its key with the RADIUS or other authentication server supporting Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) on every handoff. This is a time-consuming process.
The 802.11 Working Group standards k, r, and v let clients roam more seamlessly from AP to AP within the same network. IEEE 802.11k and 802.11r are industry standards that enable seamless Basic Service Set (BSS) transitions in the WLAN environment. The 802.11k standard provides information to discover the best available access point.
The 802.11k standard helps a device to speed up its search for nearby APs that are available as roaming targets by creating an optimized list of channels. When the signal strength of the current AP weakens, the device scans for target APs from this list.
802.11k is intended to improve the way traffic is distributed within a network. In a wireless LAN, each device normally connects to the AP that provides the strongest signal. Depending on the number and geographic locations of the subscribers, this arrangement can sometimes lead to excessive demand on one AP and under-utilization of others, resulting in degradation of overall network performance. In a network conforming to 802.11k, if the AP having the strongest signal is loaded to its full capacity, a wireless device is connected to one of the underutilized APs. Even though the signal may be weaker, the overall throughput is greater because more efficient use is made of the network resources.
In 802.11k, the following steps are performed before switching to a new access point: the access point determines that a client is moving away from it, the access point informs the client that it should prepare to switch to a new access point, the client requests a list of nearby access points, the access point provides a site report to the client, the client moves to best access point based on the report.
In 802.11k, therefore, roaming from AP to AP is client-centric. | {
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1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a security device, and more particularly to an adjustable security device which wraps around and secures a box-like structure in a secure locked position. Even more particularly, the invention relates to such a cable security device which includes a plurality of wires or cable that wrap around the article to be protected and has an unique ratchet mechanism for tightening the cable around the article of merchandise and a quick release locking mechanism, and which has an attached key for unlatching the ratchet mechanism.
2. Background Information
Retail stores have a difficult time protecting boxes containing various expensive merchandise, books and other similarly structured packages, or protecting such containers from being opened and the contents thereof being removed without authorization from store personnel or damaged while on display. Consumers often want to visually inspect the packaged expensive articles before deciding to purchase them. The store is faced with the problem of how to protect these expensive articles from theft while displaying them for sale.
One method used to protect these packages and the articles contained therein is to enclose the article within a transparent glass display case which can only be accessed from behind a counter of the retail store. The consumer can view the article through the glass but is not able to handle the article or read any of the information about the article that may be printed on the box unless a store clerk removes the article from the case. However, in large retail stores, the problem then arises of getting the selected merchandise to the customer after the customer wishes to purchase the same without subjecting the merchandise to theft. One manner is to maintain a supply of the boxes containing the expensive articles or merchandise close at hand for delivery to or pick-up by the customer for subsequent taking to a check-out clerk. However this makes the boxes susceptible to theft and requires additional sales personnel.
Another method used by retail stores is to list the article in a catalog and require consumers to place an order from the catalog. The article is delivered from a back storage area and the consumer must simultaneously pick up and pay for the merchandise at the same location to prevent unauthorized removal from the store. The consumer does not get to inspect the article before purchasing and if they are not satisfied they must undergo the hassle of returning the article for a refund.
Boxes and box-like structures are also subjected to unauthorized openings while being shipped via a courier. These articles can be easily opened and resealed when packaged and taped-shut in the conventional manner without the recipient or the sender knowing of such actions. Shipped packages can be secured within a security container with a locking mechanism but these containers are expensive to purchase and add size and weight to the package making it more expensive to ship. Also, would-be thieves can gain unauthorized access to the contents of these containers by “picking” the locking mechanisms or possibly guessing the combination to a combination lock.
Few prior art locking devices have adequately solved this problem of securing packages or objects in a closed condition while being displayed in retail stores or shipped from one location to another. Some prior art security devices include a wire which wraps around an article and is secured by some type of locking mechanism. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,611,760, 4,418,551, 4,756,171, 4,896,517, 4,930,324, 5,156,028, 5,794,464, and 6,092,401.
The particular security device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,464 has proven satisfactory, but requires a special tool to operate the latch mechanism, both for tightening the cable about the object to be protected and to release the latch mechanism after the security device has been removed from the package to enable the internal mechanism on which the cable is wound to be free-wheeling in order to be pulled outwardly to a larger size for placement around another package. This separate and specially designed key becomes a problem in that it can become lost or stolen and must always be associated with and manipulated for operating the security device.
Furthermore, the ratchet mechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,464 as well as the other known cable wrap ratchet-actuated security devices can be defeated by excessive force or manipulation of the ratchet device and/or of the package being protected, which could go undetected by the store personnel.
Therefore, the need exists for a cable wrap security device which includes a ratchet member and a locking member which does not require any special tool to tighten the cable about a package, in which part of the lock mechanism forms the tool for unlatching the ratchet mechanism to provide for the free-wheeling of the internal spool thereof, and in which the ratchet member can be provided with an internal audible alarm which will be actuated if the integrity of the security device is compromised or the protected article stolen from the retail store. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the design of fluorescent compounds used as glucose sensors that have selected fluorescent properties, such as long fluorescence lifetimes, long absorption or emission wavelengths, or high quantum yields. More particularly, the invention relates to biomedical sensors for continuous transdermal optical transduction of tissue glucose concentration for the treatment of diabetes.
2. Description of Related Art
Molecular recognition coupled with fluorescent quenching is a promising analytical technique for optical transduction of analyte concentrations in bioassays. Several schemes employing fluorescent resonant energy transfer (FRET) have been proposed. Intramolecular electron transfer schemes, also called photoinduced electron transfer or PET, appear superior from the standpoint of chemical robustness and simplicity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,770 to James et al. discloses a fluorescent compound used for the detection of saccharides or sugars such as glucose. The use of these fluorescent compounds was extended in U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,954 to Van Antwerp et al., by incorporating the compounds in an implantable optical sensor for transduction of glucose concentration for the treatment of diabetes. The fluorescent transducer is implanted 1-3 mm below the surface of the skin and optically interrogated externally to determine the level of tissue glucose in diabetic patients. A minimally-invasive, continuous glucose sensor is of great benefit to patients in achieving tighter blood-glucose control when combined with existing insulin pumps.
One of the systems described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,954 is made of anthracene boronate, which is excited at about 380 nm and emits at about 420 nm. Unfortunately, excitation and fluorescent emission at wavelengths in the range of about 360-420 nm is only weakly transmitted through skin. The light transmission through the skin must be significantly increased for the molecule to be useful as a sensor over the clinically relevant range of tissue glucose concentration. In addition, it may also be advantageous to modify other properties of the system associated with the fluorescent portion of the sensing molecule. Such properties may include the quantum yield, the fluorescence lifetime, photostability, chemical stability, and biocompatibility.
To improve transmission of the signal through the skin, the fluorescent compound should operate at longer wavelengths than about 450 nanometers. The transmission through a few millimeters of skin increases logarithmically with wavelengthxe2x80x94from 0.1% at about 400 nm to almost 100% at 850 nm. Thus, the longer the wavelength, the greater the transmission through skin. An excitation and emission wavelength greater than about 600-650 nm is an enormous improvement over about 400-450 nm. Because of the significant increase in optical skin transmission at longer wavelengths, a practical glucose sensor can operate more efficiently, more accurately, and with a greater signal-to-noise ratio.
In addition, it is advantageous to match the peak excitation wavelength with an existing light source (such as an LED or diode laser). Furthermore, by operating at longer wavelengths, there is a reduction in the tissue autofluorescence background. Further progress in creating such compounds, however, entails the formidable task of synthetically assembling various combinations of fluorophores and glucose-recognizers into integrated molecules that have the desired fluorescent properties, such as operating at longer wavelengths (450-700 nm), while simultaneously retaining the requisite glucose transduction properties.
This invention addresses the optical transmission problem and provides exemplary fluorescent compounds that have been demonstrated to exhibit the needed photochemical behavior and operate in a wavelength range that makes a subcutaneous fluorescent glucose sensor practical.
The invention disclosed herein provides fluorescent analyte binding compounds defined by a specified formula and wherein substituent molecules of these compounds are selected to have complimentary molecular properties which can be determined via simplified version of the Rehm-Weller equation. The representative molecules of the invention have a number of exceptional activities that make them uniquely suited for incorporation into a sensor for analytes such as sugars. These activities include highly desirable fluorescent properties such as longer excitation and emission wavelengths, properties which are highly compatible with their use in minimally implantable systems for the continuous transdermal monitoring of blood glucose concentrations.
As shown by the disclosure provided herein, it is an object of the present invention to provide fluorescent compounds that may be incorporated into a sensor for saccharides or sugars and that have desired fluorescent properties, such as longer absorption or emission wavelengths, high quantum yields, or long fluorescence lifetimes. It is an object of the present invention to provide glucose sensing fluorescent molecules that operate at emission wavelengths greater than about 450 nm. It is another object of the present invention to provide glucose sensing fluorescent molecules that operate at excitation wavelengths greater than about 400 nm. The sensors can then be used to sense glucose concentrations in media with high visible blue and ultraviolet opacities such as human tissue.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sensor comprising a biocompatible polymer containing covalently bonded fluorescent molecules that specifically and reversibly bind glucose. Upon binding with the glucose, the fluorescence quantum yield of the molecules is increased, resulting in increased fluorescent emission at increasing glucose concentrations. Glucose transduction is achieved at wavelengths that allow the sensor to be implanted subcutaneously and permit improved optical transmission through skin.
The invention basically involves a fluorescent compound having three functional components in one molecule: a substrate-recognition component (typically a substituted aryl boronic acid), a fluorescence xe2x80x9cswitchxe2x80x9d that is mediated by a substrate recognition event (typically an amine), and a fluorophore. The sensor molecule is designed so that the photo-excited fluorophore and the boron atom compete for the unbonded amine electrons. In the absence of glucose binding, electron transfer occurs predominantly with the fluorophore, causing fluorescent quenching and subsequently weak emission. When glucose is bound to the boronate group, the average charge on the boron atom becomes more positive, which increases the attraction of the unbonded electrons, preventing electron transfer, thus disabling the fluorescent quenching, and therefore causing strong emission.
Achieving successful interplay of these molecular components, resulting in optochemical glucose sensitivity, requires a precise matching of their electrochemical and photophysical properties. For example, given a functioning glucose-sensor molecule, shifting the wavelength of operation cannot be accomplished by simply substituting the original fluorophore with another fluorophore of the desired wavelength. Rather, a fluorophore and a switch with compatible reduction and oxidation potentials and photo-excited state energy must be selected. Similarly, other modifications of the molecule, such as to accommodate immobilization of the molecule in a biocompatible substrate (suitable for surgical implantation), could alter the oxidation potential of the xe2x80x98switchxe2x80x99 component, thereby upsetting the electrochemical balance required for operation. Therefore, modifications, variations or substitutions of these three components must be evaluated both electrochemically and optochemically so that compatibility can be established prior to the often lengthy process of synthetically incorporating them into a new molecular system. Experimental measurements were carried out for the purpose of screening prospective components and for evaluating the opto-chemical glucose sensitivity of compounds synthetically derived from those components.
When these components are assembled into the final sensor molecule, interactions between the assembled components are easily capable of modifying both the electrochemical potentials and photophysical characteristics of the stand-alone components. Surprisingly, it was found that for the boronate glucose sensing molecule having the specific formula described in this application, these interactions are minimal. Therefore, measurements made on the individual components such as the specific fluorophore afford an accurate prediction of the PET behavior of the final assembled molecule. Consequently, a simplified version of the Rehm-Weller equation can be employed to identify saccharide binding fluorescent compounds having the desired activities so that they can be synthesized for a variety of applications.
Glucose transduction has been successfully achieved by three typical classes of candidate molecules that were investigated: transition metal-ligand boronate compounds and conjugated organic heterocyclic ring system compounds that are oxazine, oxazine-one, oxazone, and thiazine boronate compounds and anthracene boronate compounds. Typically, these compounds are excited at wavelengths greater than about 400 nm. In addition, these compounds typically operate (emit) at wavelengths greater than about 450 nm.
The present invention is thus useful in the detection, localization, and quantification of saccharide or sugar concentration in media that are opaque in the visible blue or ultraviolet spectral regions. A glucose sensor according to the present invention can be incorporated into a minimally invasive, implantable system for continuous transdermal monitoring of glucose levels in diabetic patients. In addition, glucose sensors can be designed having other desired molecular properties, such as a longer fluorescence lifetime, specific excitation and emission wavelengths, high quantum yields, photostability, chemical stability, high water solubility, low temperature sensitivity, or low pH sensitivity. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for displaying and manipulating graphic information, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a computer controlled display system for selecting control functions, and retaining desired data disposed in a menu on a display regardless of other display operations in process.
2. Art Background
It is common for computer display systems to represent and convey information to a user through various graphic representations of data. Representations of data may take a variety of forms, such as for example, alpha-numeric characters, Cartesian graphs, as well as shapes of well known physical objects. Today, many computer systems utilize one of a variety of object oriented user interfaces in which many previously coded programming commands are replaced with two or three dimensional graphic images on a computer display. The object oriented system utilizes various icons which symbolically indicate the type of operation the computer system will execute if the icon function is chosen. In addition, many object oriented interfaces utilize multiple "windows" displayed on the cathode ray tube (CRT) display in which combinations of text and graphics are used to convey information to a user. Each window may take the form of a variety of objects such as a file folder, loose-leaf binder, or simple rectangle, and the windows may overlap one another with the "top" window fully visible and constituting the current work file. The user may delete information from a window, move data from one window to another, and generally operate on the window as if an actual file in an office is being used. Thus the user is permitted to operate on and manipulate the window contents, and the window itself, as if the image constituted an actual object. Numerous object oriented systems exist today and are displayed on computers manufactured by the assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc., as well as other manufacturers, including: International Business Machines, Apple Computer, Inc., and others. [See, D. Robson, "Object Oriented Software Systems", BYTE, August 1981, pg. 74, Vol. 6, No. 8; and L. Tesler, "The Small Talk Environment", BYTE, August 1981, pg. 90, Vol. 6, No. 8.See also, U.S. Pat. No. Re.32,632, reissued Mar. 29, 1988.]
Although a variety of object oriented interfaces have been developed by various computer manufacturers, the various methods by which a user interfaces with the computer display system varies significantly between machines. In addition, the functionality of the graphic interface of a computer system significantly impacts the efficiency and ease of use of the particular computer. It has been found that certain features are desirable to be incorporated into the graphic interface of object oriented computer display systems, and the present invention discloses one such significant improvement to permit a user to select button control functions, and retain certain data on the display regardless of other display operations being performed by the computer system. As will be described, the present invention provides apparatus and methods which permit a user to choose a particular object oriented function which results in the generation and display of a "menu" on the display. The present invention further permits the user to retain the contents of the selected menu on the display while the display system is performing other unrelated operations. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Polyurethanes have been used for a wide variety of applications. Since the early 1970's aqueous polyurethane dispersions have expanded in utility. The incorporation of ionic salt groups into the polyurethane prepolymer before dispersing into water greatly facilitates the formation of the aqueous polyurethane dispersion. Aqueous polyurethane dispersion technology has matured considerably; however, the basic polyurethane in the polyurethane dispersion is the result of reacting a diisocyanate, a diol or diamine (polyether, polyester, etc.) and a hydroxyl or diol (or amine analogue) molecule containing an ionic salt group. The ionic salt groups most often used are carboxylic, sulfonic and phosphoric acids (or the base neutralized acids), amine (or acid neutralized amine), or quaternary nitrogen groups. One of the most often used carboxyl reactants is dimethylol propionic acid.
Aqueous polyurethane dispersions have been used extensively as adhesives and coatings on essentially any synthetic or natural substrate such as paper, wood, cotton, leather, wool and hair. Specific applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and hair fixative areas have been disclosed. Recently hair fixative applications have focused upon using hard polyurethanes which have a glass transition, Tg, above about room temperature. These hard, high Tg polyurethanes are used to provide the hold and curl retention necessary for hair fixatives but suffer from unpleasant, hard aesthetic feel on hair and brittleness of the polyurethane which results in flake development, raspy feel, or difficult to comb properties.
Most hair fixative compositions contain a film-forming polymer, which acts as the fixative, and a delivery system, which is usually an alcohol or a mixture of alcohol and water. In the case of aerosol delivery, the delivery system will also contain a propellant, which is typically a volatile hydrocarbon. Due to environmental regulations controlling the emission of volatile organic components (VOCs) into the atmosphere, these alcohol and hydrocarbon delivery systems are becoming less acceptable, and it is foreseen that water will become a greater component in hair fixative compositions. In addition, several different delivery systems for hair fixatives are now utilized, for example hair sprays, both aerosols and pumps, gels and mousses. Hair fixative polymers taught for use in aqueous based systems are known, for example, those disclosed in Japanese publication JP 47-46332. However, many of these exhibit a loss of performance properties in aqueous systems, for example, curl retention and on-hair stiffness are inferior, and in other cases the solution viscosity increases, and if delivered by aerosol, the composition foams at the valve actuator and on the hair. In addition, current systems may also exhibit poor compatibility with aqueous delivery systems. Overall the requirements for hair fixatives have increased. Performance requirements for hair fixatives now demand that the hair fixative polymer maintain a high degree of hold, gloss, curl retention, stiffness, and humidity resistance, but yet have pleasing aesthetics with a natural soft feel with no adhesive tackiness, no raspiness or brittle feel, no flake development and yet be readily removable. These factors have prompted the search for better performing hair fixative polymers that are soluble or dispersible in aqueous or in low VOC systems, that is, systems containing 80% or less VOCs. Current systems do not provide this required balance of properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,840 discloses polyurethanes prepared from an organic diisocyanate, a diol with a number average molecular weight greater than 1000, and a 2,2-hydroxymethyl-substituted carboxylic acid which are neutralized with a cosmetically acceptable organic or inorganic base and formulated into a hair fixative composition containing low amounts of volatile organic solvent. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The presence invention relates in general to a method for the automatic coarse differentiation between a liquid or a bulk material of a filling product present in a receptacle by analyzing an echo signal, in particular by analyzing the therefrom generated envelope curve of a filling level measuring device. The present invention further relates in general to devices for the automatic coarse differentiation between a liquid or a bulk material of a filling product present in a receptacle by analyzing an echo signal, in particular by analyzing the therefrom generated envelope curve, as well as filling level measuring devices working in particular on the pulse echo principle and scanning a reflected echo signal.
Filling level measuring devices working on the pulse echo principle and scanning a reflected echo signal, generate from the scanned echo signal a series of data for each echo in the echo image or the so-called envelope curve. Generating an envelope curve from echo signals is sufficiently known and, accordingly, further explanations as to this technology are not required here (cf., for example, German Patent DE 44 07 369 C2; M. Scholnik xe2x80x9cIntroduction to Radar Systemsxe2x80x9d, 2nd edition, 1980, McGraw-Hill; Peter Devine xe2x80x9cRadar level measurementxe2x80x94the user""s guidexe2x80x9d, VEGA Controls Ltd., 2000, ISBN 0-9538920-0-X).
Conventional filling level measuring devices or sensors detect the filling level by measuring individual echoes in the envelope curve. A method for the filling level measurement according to the radar principle is described in European Patent Application EP 1 039 273 A1, by means of which a non-planar, in particular arched bottom can be determined by examining the measurement signal or the envelope curve for a typical noise signal behavior. When this typical noise signal behavior is determined, the empty state of the receptacle is detected. A characteristic feature for the noise signal behavior of the measurement signal consists in erratic random changes of the local peaks or in an increasing amplitude of the local minimum or maximum points with a rising frequency. German Patent DE 43 32 071 A1 described a method for the filling level measurement according to the radar principle is known, wherein the actual echo function is compared to memorized undisturbed echo function, which corresponds to an undisturbed measurement, and deviations ascertained in the antenna zone and the short range following the antenna, are evaluated for recognizing an initial formation and/or other disturbances. Furthermore, Great Britain Patent Application GB 2 123 237 A shows a filling level detector working with microwaves, which does not work according to the echo principle, but causes the reflected beam to interfere with a beam branched off using a waveguide.
With the conventional devices, it is, however, necessary for improving the evaluation of the envelope curve, to manually input whether the filling product to be measured is a liquid or a bulk material. Through this manual input, the type of the envelope curve measurement, and hence the determination of the filling level, is changed. Thus, if it is predetermined that the filling product is a liquid, the amplitude to be measured is placed at a predetermined amplitude before the maximum of the envelope curve with prior art. In case the operator has predetermined that the filling product is a bulk material, the beginning of the envelope curve up to the maximum is measured as the amplitude to be measured.
In summary, it has to be stated that according to prior art, an improved measurement of the individual echoes of an envelope curve of an echo signal depending on the type of filling product, is only then possible when a coarse manual differentiation on the filling level measuring device is carried out by an operator.
The present invention relates to a method and a device for carrying out an automatic coarse differentiation between a liquid or a bulk material of a filling product present in a receptacle. A possibility is therewith supposed to be created that a filling level measuring device working in particular on the pulse echo principle and scanning a reflected echo signal, automatically carries out a coarse differentiation between a liquid or a bulk material of the filling product.
In particular, according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for the coarse differentiation between a liquid and a bulk material of a filling product present in a receptacle is described, where a filling level measuring device is used scanning a reflected echo signal, and the coarse differentiation is made in dependence on the width of the individual echoes of an envelope curve in an echo signal.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for the coarse differentiation between a liquid and a bulk material of a filling product present in a receptacle using a filling level measuring device scanning an echo signal is described, where the coarse differentiation is made in dependence on the number of equidistant echoes in an echo signal.
According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for the coarse differentiation between a liquid and a bulk material of a filling product present in a receptacle, using a filling level measuring device scanning an echo signal, is described, where the coarse differentiation is made in dependence on the detection of a stirring apparatus.
A preferred exemplary embodiment of a device according to the present invention for the coarse differentiation between a liquid and a bulk material of a filling product present in a receptacle, includes an arrangement for detecting the echo widths of echoes of a generated envelope curve, an arrangement for detecting the number of echoes having an echo width larger than a reference echo width, and the number of echoes having an echo width smaller than the reference echo width, and a signal outputting arrangement for the type of filling product, which signal outputting arrangement outputs a signal representative of a liquid when the number of echoes having an echo width larger than a reference echo width is greater than the number of echoes having an echo width smaller than a reference echo width.
A further preferred exemplary embodiment of a device according to the present invention for the coarse differentiation between a liquid and a bulk material of a filling product present in a receptacle, includes an arrangement for determining the number of equidistant echoes of a generated envelope curve, and an arrangement for outputting a signal determining the type of filling product in dependence on the determined number of equidistant echoes.
Still another preferred exemplary embodiment of a device according to the present invention for the coarse differentiation between a liquid and a bulk material of a filling product present in a receptacle, includes an arrangement for detecting a stirring apparatus by evaluating the echoes of a generated envelope curve, and an arrangement for outputting a signal representative of the type of filling product in dependence on the detection of a stirring apparatus.
Furthermore, according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a filling level measuring device is described. The filling level measuring device utilizes a pulse echo principle which evaluates an envelope curve generated from the reflected echo signal, and including a device according to the above configurations. The device may also be modified according to one or more of the following configurations.
As indicated above, the present invention utilizes an idea of examining for the first time the individual echoes of an envelope curve for determined characteristics providing at least an indication as to the type of the filling product, namely liquid or bulk material. Thus, it is possible to make this coarse differentiation in dependence on the width of the individual signals of an envelope curve in an echo signal. Profit is thereby taken from the fact that, caused by the shape of a bulk material, wide echoes are more likely to occur in a product. When the filling product is a liquid, narrow echoes are more likely to occur in the envelope curve. By therewith relating the echo width of all echoes within an echo curve, or the echo image, to a predetermined reference echo width value, which is easy to fix by simple tests, then it can be concluded, if it is stated that the number of the wide echoes is larger than the number of the narrow echoes, that the filling product in question is a bulk material. Otherwise, it would be a liquid. Under circumstances, it is also purposeful to indicate that a mixture of these two basic types of filling products is concerned.
As an alternative hereto, it is yet also possible to examine the envelope curve for the fact how the distance between the individual echoes to be detected is relative to each other. Here, profit is taken from the effect that in case the filling product in question is a liquid, the echoes are more likely to occur at regular distances relative to each other. Hence, if it is stated that the echoes are present in the echo signal at regular distances, then it is possible to draw conclusions as to the type of the filling product. As an example, the case shall be mentioned that more than three equidistant echoes are detected. In this case, it is outputted that the filling product in question is a liquid.
A further alternative could consist in carrying out the coarse differentiation in dependence on the detection of a stirring apparatus. If a stirrer is recognized in the echo signal, then it may be concluded that the filling product concerned is a liquid.
It is of course also possible to combine one or more of the aforementioned alternatives for the coarse differentiation between a liquid or bulk material of the filling product, so as to increase the safety of recognizing the type of filling product. Further, it is of course also possible to lend weight to these separate alternatives with respect to each other, when they are combined, that is, to multiply them in each case with a predetermined (under circumstances even variable) factor. As a matter of course, these factors may be identical for any of the type of coarse differentiation described above, or may even be different. Through the corresponding weighting, the one or the other presented type of coarse differentiation may be imparted more or less weight.
The type of the coarse differentiation in dependence on the width of the individual echoes of an envelope curve can in particular be met in that the number of the echoes having a width larger than a reference echo width, and the number of the echoes having a width smaller than the reference echo width is ascertained. For the coarse differentiation, the ascertained larger echo number will then be referred to. Thus, as an example shall be mentioned here that in an envelope curve, four echoes are ascertained, which are larger than a reference echo width, and two echoes, which are smaller than the reference echo width. Then the coarse differentiation is made in that a bulk material is presumably concerned, since it is rather characteristic for a bulk material that the width of the echoes is larger than with a liquid.
An advantageous embodiment of this method hence provides that after the detection of the individual signals in the echo signal, the widths of individual echoes in an echo signal of an envelope curve are then ascertained by conventional (mathematical) means. Thereupon, the number of the echoes having a width greater than or equal to a reference echo width is ascertained. The number of the echoes having a width smaller than a reference echo width is likewise assessed. Thereupon, a signal determining the type of filling product is outputted in dependence on the echo widths, the number of which has been ascertained to be larger.
With the alternative for the coarse differentiation between bulk material or liquid of the filling product, wherein the equidistant echoes are ascertained in an echo signal, the distance between adjacent echoes in an envelope curve are in each case measured. Then, all echoes are preferably summarized which exhibit a distance relative to each other falling into a predetermined tolerance band (i.e. a distance range), hence equidistant echoes. The distance of the echoes is preferably calculated so that the respective locations of the maximum points of the individual echoes are determined, and the distance between these maximum points is measured. The tolerance band can be a fixed value range, e.g. xc2x10.1 m. It is in particular advantageous to take the first distance between the zero point and the first echo as the reference distance. In this case, it is for example advantageous to fix the tolerance range at xc2x150 cm, i.e. that all those echoes are considered to be equidistant echoes, the distance from each other is equal to the reference distance of xc2x150 cm. If another echo distance is fixed as the reference distance, then the tolerance band preferably has to be set to be smaller than xc2x150 cm.
In the further alternative for the coarse differentiation made with consideration of the ascertainment of a stirrer, echoes of an actual envelope curve are preferably compared with the corresponding echoes of the preceding envelope curve. Echoes from running stirrers are characterized in that their amplitude highly fluctuates, or that echoes having a large signal noise distance, i.e. the amplitude of the echo above the system noise or the dying-out transmission signal, periodically disappear and reappear. Such echoes can be marked and excluded from the filling level decision. In the present case, they are preferably used for a stirrer recognition and for accordingly outputting that the filling product in question is a liquid. Two envelope curves are in particular compared for determining the amplitude fluctuation of individual echoes, and the amplitude fluctuation thereof is compared to a reference value.
As explained above, the separate types of coarse differentiation as described before may be used individually or may be arbitrarily combined with each other. In this case, it is advantageous that the information of each type of filling product coarse differentiation is multiplied by a weighting factor, and the therefrom resulting values are added and divided by the sum of the weighting factors so as to ascertain a probability whether a liquid or a bulk material is concerned. In particular, it is then advantageous that the therefrom resulting value is compared to a reference value. If the ascertained value is, for example, smaller than this reference value, then a signal has to be outputted which is representative of liquid. In the other case, a signal has to be outputted which is representative of bulk material.
A corresponding device for the differentiation between a liquid or a bulk material of a filling product present in a receptacle, includes in an embodiment an arrangement for detecting the echo widths of echoes of a generated envelope curve, an arrangement for detecting the number of echoes having a width greater than a reference echo width, and the number of echoes having an echo width smaller than the reference echo width. Further, a signal outputting arrangement for the type of filling product is present, which outputs a signal representative of a liquid, when the number of echoes having an echo width larger than a reference echo width is greater than the number of echoes having an echo width smaller than a reference echo width.
An alternative exemplary embodiment according to the present invention includes an arrangement for detecting the number of equidistant echoes of a generated envelope curve, and an arrangement for outputting a signal determining the type of filling product in dependence on the detected number of equidistant echoes.
A further alternative exemplary embodiment of a device for the coarse differentiation between a liquid and a bulk material of a filling product present in a receptacle, is equipped with an arrangement for detecting a stirring apparatus by evaluating the echoes of a generated envelope curve, and an arrangement for outputting a signal representative of the type of filling product in dependence on the detection of a stirring apparatus.
A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include one or more of the aforementioned arrangements, so that the different types of coarse differentiation are combined with each other. The individual arrangement work according to the above-described methods.
Finally, it has to be noted that the aforementioned methods can, for example, be implemented in an evaluation program for evaluating generated envelope curves.
Such evaluation programs are, for example, known under the trademark Echofox(copyright) of the company VEGA Grieshaber KG, Germany. Accordingly, methods and devices according to the present invention, or the correspondingly functioning software, can either be implemented in separate evaluation arrangement or, if desired, can be directly integrated in filling level measuring devices. Filling level measuring devices of the type interesting here, for the remainder, are all known filling level measuring devices, which scan a reflected echo signal, i.e. which generate en envelope curve. Such filling level measuring devices are, for example, ultrasonic filling level measuring devices or radar filling level measuring devices, in particular, so-called pulse radar filling level measuring devices. | {
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The present invention relates generally to an alkyl allyl amine, more particularly to a polymer formed from an alkyl allyl amine, and even more particularly the present invention relates to a hair fixative composition utilized in styling gels, mousses or sprays (aerosol or pump) which includes a polymerizate of an alkyl allyl amine. It is preferable that the aqueous hair styling composition of the present invention contain a low concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with it being preferable that the VOCs make up 80% or less of the overall concentration of the hair spray formulation, and even more preferably that the VOCs make up 55% or less of the overall concentration of the hair spray formulation.
Hair fixing or styling formulations are used to hold hair in a particular shape or configuration. They can take the form of, for example, hair sprays (aerosol or pump), styling gels, spray-on gels, or mousses. Hair styling formulations normally form a thin film of hair fixative resin when applied to the hair. This thin film of resin holds adjacent hairs together to retain a particular shape or configuration. When the hair styling composition is formulated as a spray it is most common to use a propellant (i.e. an aerosol) in the hair styling formulation. This normally adds to the overall VOC content of the hair spray formulation.
Hair fixing or styling formulations typically contain one or more volatile organic compound (VOC). VOCs as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contain at least one carbon atom and are typically used as solvents or propellants in the hair styling compositions. VOCs contribute to ground level air pollution in the presence of sunlight and air, and are volatile under ambient conditions. VOCs include, for example, C1 to C12 straight or branched chain alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, or butanol; C1 to C12 straight or branched chain hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, propane, isopropane, isobutane, pentane, isopentane, or butane; or ethers such as dimethyl ether, or dimethoxymethane.
Aerosol hair sprays traditionally were formulated to contain 90-95% VOC in the form of ethanol and hydrocarbon propellants. In April 1996, the EPA published the first nationwide VOC regulations for consumer and commercial products, requiring all hair spray to meet an 80% VOC limit by March 1997. Air pollution issues in heavily populated metropolitan areas such as California are required to have more stringent regulations than the EPA, making these areas the bellwether for mass VOC regulations. The California Air Resources Board has had an 80% VOC limit in effect since 1993 and currently plans to enforce a 55% VOC limit on hair sprays by mid-year 1999. Other states with highly populated areas, such as New York, Connecticut and Texas, have also considered enacting a 55% VOC limit.
The 55% VOC limit is much more of a challenge from a technical perspective than the 80% limit because the addition of large amounts of water to the hair spray formulation negatively affects both the hold performance and spray characteristics of the hair spray. Water impacts hold performance because it contributes to an increase in solution viscosity and surface tension. This results in increased initial curl droop and extends both tack time and dry time. Spray performance is impacted because an increase in viscosity (generally greater than 15 centipoise) of the spray solution leads to coarser, wetter sprays which are inefficient in coating the hair. In addition, the introduction of water causes compatibility problems in the ethanol/hydrocarbon solvent/propellant systems used for hair sprays, and can also lead to corrosion problems in steel cans used as vessels for the hair sprays.
Water can also cause the composition, when sprayed, to form droplets or beads on the hair. These beads leave undesirable visible residue on the hair when dried, and can impart a raspy feel to the hair when combed. Water soluble hair fixative resins, when used in low VOC hair styling formulations, are also more likely to become tacky after being applied to the hair. The water soluble hair fixative resins in a low VOC hair styling formulations may also have poor curl retention properties due to their inability to dry completely when applied to the hair.
These undesirable properties become particularly severe when the hair styling formulation contains 15 weight percent or more water. As a result, hair styling formulators have begun to redesign their hair styling compositions in order to formulate hair styling compositions or hair sprays which achieve low VOC levels, but yet which are acceptable for their intended use. In this regard, hair style formulators have focussed on using solvents which are not classified as VOCs and on developing resins which are suitable in low VOC formulations. A resin is considered suitable when it can be applied to the hair in a carrier at low VOC and form a smooth feeling film and is resistant to cracking or breaking when combed. An example of a low VOC hair styling formulation already developed is U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,898 to Goldberg, et al., which discloses an aqueous hair spray formulation having less than 80 weight percent VOC. The aqueous hair spray formulation contains from 1 to 10 weight percent volatile silicone, preferably cyclomethicone or dimethicone copolyol, from 15 to 40 weight percent water/alcohol solution, from 5 to 60 weight percent propellant, from 1 to 10 weight percent water soluble hair fixative resin, and from 0.05 to 3.0 weight percent neutralizer/plasticizer.
The present invention is directed to an alkyl allyl monomer and polymers thereof, particularly an alkyl allyl monomers useful in a hairspray formulation. More particularly the present invention is directed to a hair spray formulation which satisfies low VOC standards now in place and those anticipated in the future, and which overcomes a number of undesirable characteristics found in known low VOC hair spray formulations (i.e., decreased hold, increased tackiness, larger particle size, poor spray patterns, increased drying times, instability due to hydrolysis, increased can corrosion and poor compatibility with the solvent.
The present invention is directed to an alkyl allyl amine represented by the formula:
wherein R1 represents hydrogen or an allyl, R2 represents hydrogen or methyl, n is an integer from 0 to 6, R4, R5 and R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 22 carbon atoms, a cycloalkylene (i.e. an aryl group) having 6 to 22 carbon atoms or an alkylaryl group having from 7 to 22 carbon atoms.
It is preferable that at least one of R4, R5 or R6 represent a substituent other than hydrogen, and more preferable that the alkyl portion of the alkyl allyl amine represented in formula (2) below be a branched alkyl group, more preferably, a tertiary alkyl group, more preferably a tertiary butyl group, and most preferably a tertiary octyl group:
The alkyl group may also include methylene spacers (nxe2x89xa71) before the alkyl group begins to branch. The alkyl group may also include a hetero atom or a functional group. It is preferable that the alkyl allyl amine be a tertiary octyl mono allyl amine represented by formula (3) below:
wherein R2 represents hydrogen or methyl.
There appears to be a beneficial effect when the alkyl allyl amines of the present invention are symmetrical. It is speculated that the benefit is due to a more rigid polymer structure. Thus, it is more preferable that R1 of Formula (1) represent an allyl group, with R2 and R3 each independently representing a hydrogen or methyl group, with it being most preferred that R2 and R3 be the same, and even more preferred that both R2 and R3 both be hydrogen. Formula (4) below illustrates a preferred alkyl diallyl amine which has a substantial degree of xe2x80x9csymmetryxe2x80x9d:
wherein R2 and R3 each independently represent hydrogen or methyl, n is an integer from 0 to 6, R4, R5 and R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having from 3 to 22 carbon atoms, a cycloalkylene (i.e. an aryl group) having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms or an alkylaryl group having from 7 to 22 carbon atoms.
As with the alkyl mono allyl amine, it is also preferred that the alkyl portion of the diallyl amine be a branched alkyl group, more preferably a tertiary group (see Formula (2)) such as a tertiary butyl group, and even more preferred that it be a tertiary octyl group. Such a preferred embodiment, for instance, t-octyl diallyl amine (TODA), may be represented by the formula:
The present invention also relates to a hair fixative resin comprised of a polymer formed from an alkyl allyl amine monomer. The alkyl allyl amine monomer may be either a alkyl diallyl amine (i.e. formula (4)) or an alkyl mono allyl amine (i.e. formula (1) wherein R1 is hydrogen). The polymer may be generally represented by the formula:
xe2x80x83[L]xxe2x80x94[M]yxe2x80x94[N]zxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(6)
where x, y and z are integers equal to or greater than 1 and a sum of x, y and z is an integer greater than 5, and where L, M and N represent a conversion unit of a monomer which may be the same or different from each other. L, M, and Z may be random or repeating sequences of a conversion unit of a monomer with at least one of L, M and N being a conversion unit of an alkyl mono allyl amine (i.e. the polymerizate of formula (1) wherein R1 is H) or a conversion unit of alkyl diallyl amine of formula (7) shown below:
wherein
R2 and R3 each independently represent hydrogen or methyl,
l is 0 or 1, if l is 0, m is 1, and if l is 1, m is 0,
n is 0 to 6, and
R4, R5 and R6 each independently represent hydrogen, an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having from 3 to 22 carbon atoms, a cycloalkene (i.e. an aryl group) having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms or an alkylaryl group having from 7 to 22 carbon atoms.
It is preferable that the polymer be formed as a homopolymer, that is, where L, M and N are all the conversion product of either the alkyl allyl amine monomer of formula (3), the conversion product of the alkyl diallyl amine of formula (5) (i.e. that of formula (7)), or a conversion unit of another known monomer. In the where L, M and N are different, the conversion units appear in a regular sequence. Even more preferably the polymer is a copolymer formed from, for example a monomer of Formula (5) and Formula (3), a methyl methacrylate monomer, or acrylic acid monomer or a combination thereof, For example, L, M and N of formula (6) may be a conversion unit of any (meth)acrylate or (meth)acrylic acid (i.e., methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid) as well as an alkyl diallyl amine or alkyl mono allyl amine in a regular or random sequence. Other monomers which may be used in conjunction with either the alkyl diallyl amine and/or alkyl mono allyl amine of the present invention include a monomer selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylates, acrylamides, and (di)allyl ammonium salts. For example, acrylamide, butyl aminoethyl methacrylate, methyl octyl diallyl ammonium bromide, dimethylamino ethylacrylate, tertiary-octyl acrylamide, and isobornyl methacrylate are suitable monomers useful in the present invention.
It is preferable that the polymer of formula (6) include a conversion unit of the alkyl diallyl amine and that the that the alkyl group of the alkyl allyl amine be a branched alkyl group, more preferably a tertiary butyl group, and most preferably a tertiary octyl group. The polymer formed from a tertiary octyl diallyl amine monomer may be represented by formula (8) below:
wherein each of R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, l, m, n, L, N, x, y and z have the same definition as with regard to formula (6) and (7) above and wherein at least one of R4, R5 and R6 of formula (8) are an alkyl group, even more preferably a t-alkyl group represented by Formula (2) above.
In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the polymer is incorporated in a hair spray or fixative formulation comprised of a volatile organic compound at a weight percentage of less than 80%, more preferably a hair spray formulation having a VOC concentration less than 55%. Typically, the hair spray formulation includes water and/pr other exempt solvents. The hair spray formulation preferably includes a VOC selected from the group consisting of methanol, an alcohol (i.e., ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol) dimethoxymethane, and dimethyl ether. The hair spray formulation may also include acetone, typically classified as a solvent exempt from the VOC category as well as other solvents exempt from the VOC classification. It is preferable that the hair fixative formulation be formed at least in part with the monomer of formula (1), more preferably from a monomer wherein R1 of formula (1) is an allyl group and the alkyl portion of formula (1) is tertiary alkyl, more preferably t-octyl as shown in formula (4) above.
The present invention is also directed to a method of manufacturing a hair fixative comprised of polymerizing an alkyl allyl monomer either as a homopolymer or a copolymer preferably along with methyl methacrylate and/or acrylic acid monomer. It is preferable that water and carrier solvents, including VOC solvents are mixed with the polymer and that, the overall concentration of VOCs in the hair spray formulation are less than 80% (wt/wt %) and more preferably less than 55% (wt/wt %) or less VOC.
The features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to an article holding device particularly adapted to have unusual holding capacity and to be removable from a supporting surface without damage to the surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Adhesively secured article holding devices or hangers are in common use.
Generally such hangers are made to have sheer strength and tear strength whether formed as a laminated structure or of a single piece of material. This is indicated generally in prior patents issued to the inventor herein with reference to his U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,241,795; 3,885,768, 4,003,538 and 4,310,137.
It is desirable to have an adhesively secured hanger particularly adpted to avoid peel back and which is separable upon removal whereby the surface secured layer is separately removed without damage to the supporting surface. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cryogenic systems and more particularly to a cryogenic system for cooling selected surface areas in a safe, carefully controlled manner. While the highly versatile system of the present invention has many non-medical uses in supercooling selected surface areas, in cryo-adhesion, cryo-fragmentation, cryo-solidification of liquids, and the like, an important application is in the medical field of cryosurgery.
2. Prior Art.
The term "cryosurgery" relates broadly to a wide variety of surgical procedures wherein tissues are selectively destroyed by freezing with cryogenic materials.
While cold temperatures were reportedly used as early as the 1850's in the treatment of such diseases as cancer, significant medical use of cryogens did not occur until the 1890's. Processes for liquifying air were developed as early as 1877, but the new product did not come into broad use until the vacuum insulated cryogen storage vessel was developed nearly 15 years later.
Liquid air continued to be the principal liquified gas cryogen in medical use until the 1940's when liquid nitrogen became available. Liquid nitrogen is preferable to liquid air and most other liquified gases for medical uses because it does not support combustion. It continues to be the preferred cryogen for most medical purposes not only because it is available very economically, but also due to its very high latent heat of vaporization. Whereas, other available non-flammable cryogens such as CO.sub.2, N.sub.2 O and freon change phase at -90.degree. centigrade or above, liquid nitrogen changes phase at -196.degree. centigrade. The resulting extraordinary latent heat of vaporization makes liquid nitrogen of unique value in effecting a fast deep penetrating freeze in diseased tissues.
Four cryogenic treatment techniques have been used with success:
(1) The swab method; PA1 (2) The spray method; PA1 (3) The open probe method; and PA1 (4) The closed chamber probe method.
The swab method utilizes a swab such as a wooden stick with cotton tightly twisted around one end to form an absorbent tip. The cotton covered tip is dipped in a cryogen and then is placed on the tissue to be treated. This direct application technique is not well adapted for use with liquid nitrogen to treat large tissue areas or to effect deep penetration freezing.
The spray method is another direct application technique where a cryogen mist is sprayed onto the tissue to be treated. This technique is commonly used with liquid nitrogen to thinly freeze broad surface areas. It can also be used to obtain substantial depth of penetration with prolonged application. The spray method has several drawbacks including difficulty in achieving uniformity of penetration, and in controlling the deflection of cryogen droplets from the primary target. These drawbacks render the spray technique unsuitable for intra-cavity use and for discrete site freezing-in-depth to controlled limits.
The open probe method utilizes a tubular probe having an open applicator end which is pressed into surrounding engagement with a tissue surface to be treated. The tissue closes the applicator end and cooperates with the tubular wall of the probe to define a chamber into which liquid cryogen is introduced for direct application to the tissue. During cryogen application, the tissue freezes firmly to the end of the probe.
The closed chamber probe method typically provides a probe structure having a relatively rigid tip cooled internally by cryogenic exposure. It differs from the swab, spray, and open probe methods, in that the cryogen itself is not brought into contact with the tissue to be treated. This better enables the probe to be used in intra-cavity applications. Sufficient accuracy is attainable to enable discrete site freezing-in-depth. The closed chamber probe has even been used in micro-surgery.
The freezing process is typically monitored by carefully observing its progress as indicated by changes of color and texture of tissues. Needle-like thermistor units implanted in the tissues to be frozen are also used on occasion to provide a more exact indication of temperature changes as they occur.
The depth, extent and rate of freezing achieved with any cryoprobe system depends on several factors, including the type of cryogen used, the area of contact between the cryoprobe and the target tissue, and the time during which the tissue is exposed to cryogen cooling. Other factors which also come into play include the rate at which cryogen is supplied to the probe tip, and the efficiency of the probe in transferring heat out of the tissue and into the cryogen. Since the target tissues freeze rigidly to the probe tip during treatment and the probe-to-tissue contact cannot be disrupted reliably without thawing, the freezing process is controllable chiefly by regulating the supply of cryogen to the probe tip.
Early cryoprobes used in the 1900's included cylindrical and shperical applicators made of glass or brass which were filled with liquid and rolled over the tissues to be treated. More sophisticated probes were developed together with more precise instrumentation in the early 1960's through the work of Dr. I. S Cooper. The Cooper system employed a cannula about 2.2 mm. in diameter which ws vacuum insulated except for the tip. The temperature of the tip was monitored by a thermocouple control system which regulated the flow of liquid nitrogen to the cannula.
While various types of control systems are known for regulating the flow of cryogen to the tip of a probe, most of these known systems have valves or other controls located at some distance from the site of freezing. Adjusting the flow of cryogen during surgery accordingly requires that apparatus outside the surgical field be manipulated. This is undesirable not only because it is often inefficient and clumsy, but also because time delays are involved in effecting the adjustments and before uniform cryogen flow is re-established at the newly adjusted setting.
Still another problem with known and proposed cryoprobes is that they typically employ relatively rigid tips or applicator surfaces which rarely conform with the tissue surfaces to be treated. The accepted solution has been to design a wide range of specialized probe configurations and to select the most appropriate available probe for surgical use. Maintaining a large probe inventory is a costly undertaking which is often frustrated by non-conformance of available probe shapes to the highly irregular and randomly variable shapes of tissue surfaces.
Most known probes cannot be reshaped due to the rigid nature of the materials from which they are constructed. Most probes are also provided with directed cryogen flow paths which become disrupted if the probe is deformed, thereby rendering the probe unusable.
The use of a thin, softly compliant sleeve or membrane supported on a hard foamed plastic or metallic probe body is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,421,508, issued Jan. 14, 1969, to F. L. Nestrock. The applications to which the Nestrock probe can be put are severely limited by the relatively rigid nature of the probe. It cannot be reshaped by hand prior to use. The resilience of the probe is limited to the resilience of the outer membrane or sleeve, and as such is not readily deformable to accommodate substantial tissue surface irregularities. The cryogen flow path through the probe tip requires a remotely controlled flow which is dependent upon the cryogen supply system design. The need for a carefully controlled cryogen flow through the probe severely limits the selection of probe sizes and shapes which can be used without redesigning the cryogen supply system. Moreover, the multi-part precision machined nature of the probe assembly results in a very costly medical apparatus. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a carburetor for supplying mixtures of gasified fuel and air into an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to a carburetor for use in a so-called torch-ignition type internal combustion engine comprising a main combustion chamber and an auxiliary combustion chamber maintained in communication with said main combustion chamber through a small port.
In general, the torch-ignition type internal combustion engine comprises a main combustion chamber to which a lean mixture of gasified fuel and air is supplied and an auxiliary combustion chamber maintained in communication with said main combustion chamber through the small port and to which a rich mixture of gasified fuel and air is supplied. The flames of combustion created in the auxiliary combustion chamber by igniting the rich mixture of gasified fuel and air supplied into the auxiliary combustion chamber, in turn ignite the lean mixture of gasified fuel and air which is supplied into the main combustion chamber, thereby integrally operating the engine by using the lean mixture of gasified fuel and air.
With a view to the improvements of the fuel consumption rate and the decrease of nitrogen oxide and the like in quantities in the construction of the torch-ignition type internal combustion engine, the volume of auxiliary combustion chamber may be preferably smaller than that of main combustion chamber, and for example, the volume of auxiliary combustion chamber is practicable to be at 3 to 4% of that of main combustion chamber.
A carbureter for supplying mixtures of gasified fuel and air into the torch-ignition type internal combustion engine of the type described must accurately control the flow of mixtures of gasified fuel and air to be supplied, Particularly, an accurate control is required for a throttle valve of the auxiliary carbureter supplying the rich mixture of gasified fuel and air into the auxiliary combustion chamber having an extremely small volume as compared with that of main combustion chamber, as described above.
There have heretofore been used butterfly valves as the throttle valves in carburetors in general. In case that a butterfly valve of the type described is used in the auxiliary carbureter supplying an extremely small quantity of mixture of gasified fuel and air into the auxiliary combustion chamber of the torch-ignition type internal combustion engine, the mixture of gasified fuel and air is greatly affected by air leakage around the periphery of the valve. Thus, the butterfly valve is not suitable as the throttle valve for the carburetor used in the auxiliary combustion chamber of the torch-ignition type internal combustion engine.
In this respect, there has recently been proposed a carburetor in which the air leakage around the periphery of a valve is minimized by a provision of a rotary throttle valve provided therethrough in the radial direction of the rotary shaft with a gasified fuel-air mixture passageway, thereby permitting the accurate control of the flow of mixtures of gasified fuel and air.
However, with a view to construction, a low speed bypass mechanism of the carburetor having a butterfly valve cannot be utilized in the aforesaid carburetor having a rotary throttle valve. Thus, a characteristic for feeding combined fuels from a low speed fuel system and a main fuel system is not favorable, so that there occurs a phenomenon in which the flow rate of fuel is not smoothly increased and the mixture becomes lean in a transient operating condition of the internal combustion engine in which the main fuel system starts to operate. In other words, a combined fuels feeding characteristics is favorably carried out in the carbureter using the butterfly valve, because the low speed bypass mechanism operates in accordance with an opening of the butterfly valve, but, in the case of a rotary throttle valve, the conventional bypass mechanism does not operate, even if the rotary throttle valve is open, thus resulting in an unfavorable combined fuel feeding characteristics. As the result, an ignition plug provided in the auxiliary combustion chamber fails to ignite the mixture of gasified fuel and air in the auxiliary combustion chamber, which in turn leads to any failure in igniting the mixture of gasified fuel and air in the main combustion chamber. Thus, such problems are presented that favorable rotation of the engine cannot be obtained, and unburnt combustible components of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and the like increase which are contained in exhaust gases. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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As the minimum pitch required to be resolved has decreased more aggressive off-axis illuminations have been required. These aggressive illuminations allow the minimum pitch to be resolved but have also decreased the depth of focus of larger pitches (typically pitches 1.5 times the minimum pitch). One of the methods employed to improve printability and image fidelity of features with pitches greater than minimum is use of printed resolution assist feature (PRAF), which has dimensions greater or equal to that of the minimum feature size. The difference between a PRAF and a sub-resolution assist feature (SRAF) is that the dimensions of the PRAF are large enough that they are resolvable, while the SRAF are not resolvable but do enhance the aerial image of the desired features. As a consequence, the PRAF is printed on a photoresist, while the SRAF is not printed on a photoresist despite the fact that both are present on a lithographic mask.
Double exposure lithography, in which a first photoresist is applied and patterned followed by application and patterning of a second photoresist, provides a method of patterning a complex pattern with enhanced resolution. Meiring et al., “ACLV driven double-patterning decomposition with extensively added printing assist features (PrAFs),” Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 6520, 65201U (2007) discloses a double exposure scheme, in which PRAFs are employed in the first exposure and then removed in the second exposure. This can be very important in modern circuit designs where decreasing the area that any give function takes up can allow for more functionality to be placed within a given chips area. These PRAFs to date have been lines. In other words, extra lines are added to a design pattern so that the resulting pattern is more like a grating of lines. Because the pattern is more regular in nature the aerial image has more contrast than the pattern where PRAFs have not been added. Because these added lines are not desirable in the final pattern on wafer a second exposure is done which removes the PRAFs.
This combination of double exposure and PRAFs has allowed for even more aggressive illumination to be used (conventional to annular to quasar to custom diffractive optical elements) which has resulted in tighter minimum pitches being resolved. However, many solutions that have been developed for enhancing the process window of layers such and contract holes or metal lines (which require resist holes and/or trenches) with clear PRAFs have drawbacks, Dah-Chung Owe-Yang et al., “Double exposure for the contact layer of the 65-nm node”, Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt, Eng. 5753, 171 (2005) discloses alcohol based photoresist to be used for the second exposure to prevent intermixing of the second photoresist with the first photoresist remaining after the first exposure. These alcohol based photoresist are highly undesirable in a manufacturing facility. Alternatively, extra features may be physically present on the wafer, which is present only for supporting the printing of the design. This can usually not be done since the extra features interfere with the functionality of the chip.
In other words, the known methods described above for adding holes or trenches to a pattern to make the pattern more grating like and enhance the aerial image of the design features either are not desirable from a manufacturing perspective or do not eliminate the cPRAF. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/733,412 describes a manufacturable method that employs a trilayer photoresist system or a bilayer photoresist system for the first and second exposures, respectively. The bilayer photoresist fills the holes or trenches of the unwanted features printed in the first exposure. Therefore, a conventional organic-based single layer photoresist or an inorganic hardmask may not be employed according to this method.
In view of the above, there exists a need for a method of forming a lithographic pattern containing cPRAF features while employing conventional organic-based single layer resists.
Further, there exists a need for a method of forming a lithographic pattern containing cPRAF features while employing a common hardmasks used in the semiconductor industry. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates to semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture, and more particularly to a technique for preventing pattern sensitivity in a dynamic RAM type of memory device.
Manufacture is well underway of MOS/LSI type dynamic memory devices having 64K bit density and a single 5 V supply as described in Electronics, Sept. 28, 1978, pp. 109-116 Single 5 V supply dynamic RAMs offer substantial advantages over the previous generations of three-supply dynamic RAMs, such as the 4027 and 4116 devices, in the areas of reduced power dissipation, easier PC board layout, total TTL compatibility, etc. However, the -5 V substrate supply used in these prior 4K and 16K dynamic RAMs not only provided an adjusted internal threshold voltage for input TTL compatibility but also protected the internal nodes from ever being forward biased whenever significant current transients occur--it is not uncommon for dynamic RAMs to exhibit 50 to 100 MA transients. Huge transients in high performance devices almost preclude the use of on-chip substrate bias generators because these circuits can supply at best several hundred microamps. Consequently, devices as described in the above-mentioned Electronics article use a grounded substrate so as not to compromise the speed of the part as would be necessary if an on-chip substrate bias were employed.
With all its advantages, grounded substrate bias has one disadvantage: unless adequate protection is made on all nodes, there is a possibility that minority carriers injected into the substrate will diffuse to the areas of the storage capacitors and discharge these nodes which store charge dynamically. This condition can cause failure upon testing the devices after manufacture; the test patterns are indeed much more stringent than occur in normal operation. Patterns of "1's" and 0's" are written in and read out to detect "pattern sensitivity." An extremely tough pattern that is normally used in testing by manufacturers and users of dynamic RAMs is called "refresh disturb," as will be later described.
It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved semiconductor memory device and method of manufacture. Another object is to provide improved dynamic RAM devices which have single 5 V supply and no substrate bias, particularly such devices which do not exhibit pattern sensitivity upon testing. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention relates to digital communications networks, and particularly, although not exclusively to an arrangement and method for transmitting multiplexed multi-user asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) traffic across such communications networks.
The known asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) transmission technique is a modem telecommunications switching technique which is able to switch connections for a wide range of different data types at a wide range of different bit rates. ATM technology provides a flexible form of transmission which allows various types of service traffic data, e.g. voice data, video data, or computer generated data to be multiplexed together onto a common physical means of transmission. Currently, several trends are encouraging the widespread introduction of ATM; for example the availability of high speed, low error rate communication links between switching centers, an availability of technology to digitize video and speech, and pressure to reduce operating costs by integrating previously separate telephony and data networks. ATM technology allows speech data, video data and inter-computer data to be carried across a single communications network. The information carried in each of these services is reduced to digitized strings of numbers which are transmitted across such a communications network from point to point.
A method of switching synchronous transfer mode cells in a circuit emulated ATM switch using a layered protocol model is described in specification No. WO-95-34977. A method of transferring ATM microcells in a telecommunications system is described in specification No. WO-96-34478.
Referring to FIG. 1 herein, there is shown schematically a portion of a communications network comprising first and second node devices 100, 101 respectively linked by a communications link 100. Transport of ATM data communications traffic is made across the communications link 102 between the first and second node devices, which may be for example switches 101, 102. Digitized data is received from customer equipment such as telephones, computers, faxes, modems and video broadcast apparatus in the form of frames of digitized signals at transmitting node, e.g. switch 100. The frames can either be of variable length or fixed length, and may arrive at the switch at a variable rate; or at a fixed rate. The frames of data arriving at the switch are packaged into ATM data cells 103, which have a fixed number of bytes. Transport of ATM cells between node devices is handled by the node devices operating in accordance with the ATM protocol corresponding to the International Standards Organization (ISO) Open Systems Inter-connexion (OSI) architecture, layers two and three(1). Packaging of the incoming data frames received asynchronously from the customer equipment is handled by the switches operating in accordance with ATM adaptation layer (AAL) protocols which segment the arriving frames of data into payload data of the ATM cells at the transmission node, and reassemble the payload data into frames at the destination node 102. The ATM adaptation layer corresponds to layer four of the OSI model. Equipment operating in accordance with the ATM adaptation layer protocols are capable of structuring incoming data in different ways, to suit different service types, e.g. video data, computer generated data, voice data. Many different service types can be implemented by the ATM adaptation layer simultaneously.
The basic reason for having ATM cells is that they have a fixed length. Fixed length cells are easier for hardware to handle than variable length frames. The ATM adaptation layer packages various types of data of variable length or fixed length frame type into the fixed length ATM cells for transport between physical devices. Because the ATM cell length was historically selected to accommodate various types of traffic, fixing the length of the ATM cell involved difficult decisions, and the final length of ATM cell selected is not perfect for each type of data carried. The ATM cell comprises a header portion which carries routing information and other housekeeping information necessary for the operation of the ATM network, and a payload portion which carries the actual data traffic. To transfer delay sensitive services such as speech, it is important that the ATM cell be reasonably short in order to avoid unacceptably long delays in filling the cell payload portion before transmitting the cell across the network. On the other hand, for other types of traffic such as computer to computer file transfers longer cells are more efficient, since the proportion of available transmission bandwidth taken up by the ATM cell header compared to the data payload of the cell is reduced. For delay insensitive traffic, the overhead of the housekeeping information sent in the header of each ATM cell would be relatively large if short cells were to be used. Thus, the choice of ATM cell size is a compromise and is settled at a length of 53 octets, comprising 48 octets of data payload (the ATM Service Data Unit, ATM-SDU) and a 5 octet header for transmission of housekeeping protocol information, as shown schematically in FIG. 2 herein. The protocol header in the ATM cell constitutes approximately 10% of the whole cell. This size of ATM cell introduces a delay in transmission of data which is significant for types of data having a low data rate, for example speech data. For example for a conventional 64 kilobits per second (kbit/s/s) voice data traffic, normal speech data samples are converted into one octet of digital data every 125 microseconds (xcexcs). Thus, 48xc3x97125 xcexcs=6000 xcexcs are required to fill the 48 data octets of an ATM cell payload. This introduces a 6 millisecond (ms) delay to each cell transmitted, in addition to two network switching delays one from each switch, and transmission delays across the network. For speech services, it is important to have an effectively constant delay between source and destination of a call, and the delay must be reasonably short. Large variations in delay produce broken sound effects, and make voice signals unintelligible to a service user. Long delays, for example those sometimes encountered on transatlantic satellite links, make two-way conversation awkward. In general, a conventionally accepted maximum one-way delay for speech data is 25 ms. Delays longer than this, as well as making the speech service unacceptable to users, also require complicated and expensive echo suppression equipment, which has the additional disadvantage of introducing noise. Thus, the conventional 53 octet ATM cell is not ideal for 64 kbit/s voice data traffic. However, with the advent of mobile telecommunications systems, normal 64 kbit/s sampled voice signals are compressed using code compression algorithms, resulting in transmission data rates as low as 4 kbit/s. Under these circumstances, the delay introduced in filling a full ATM cell may be as high as 96 ms, an unacceptably high delay.
In view of the above delays and to accommodate different data traffic types, the ATM adaptation layer (AAL) is split into a number of sub-layers. A first sub-layer, the known AAL-type 1 layer is aimed at constant bit rate services. The currently developing, and not yet finalized AAL-type 2 layer (formerly known in Europe as AAL-type 6, and elsewhere as AAL-CU) allows multiple variable length sub-cells, called mini-cells to be carried within one ATM cell. An object of AAL-type 2 is to support all services which require the multiplexing of information from multiple user data sources into a single ATM connection. The AAL-type 2 protocol, which breaks the basic rule of ATM that all cells be of fixed length, is aimed at being expedient for carrying low speed data where the delay caused by waiting for a full ATM cell to fill is too long, and the overhead of carrying an incomplete ATM cell is too great. However, the implementation of this layer is incomplete and there still remains a requirement for a method of transmitting data from a multiplicity of sources, including low bit rate data, over ATM networks in an efficient manner.
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for transmitting delay sensitive data from a plurality of user data sources over a communications network.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of transmitting multi-service data from a range of different data sources over an ATM network in an efficient manner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a robust method of transmitting large trunk groups of data of a plurality of data user sources, over a communications network.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of transmitting data in a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving a plurality of data samples comprising at least one said data sample received from each of a plurality of user data sources;
multiplexing said plurality of data samples into a data payload of at least one asynchronous transfer mode mini-cell;
packetizing said mini-cell(s) into at least one asynchronous transfer mode cell; and
transmitting said asynchronous transfer mode cell(s).
Preferably each said mini-cell carries data from a plurality of user data sources.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of communicating user data of a plurality of user data sources over a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:
multiplexing a respective data sample from each of a plurality of user data sources to produce a frame of user data, said frame containing data of each of said plurality of user data sources; and
assembling said frame into a plurality of data payloads of a corresponding plurality of asynchronous transfer mode mini-cells.
Said frame may be of a length greater than a payload of a single said mini-cell.
A said frame may be partitioned to run consecutively across a plurality of said data packet payloads.
Preferably said method comprises the step of:
assembling a respective protocol header to each of said mini-cells, said protocol header comprising a continuation indicator signal indicating whether or not said frame continues beyond a length of said mini-cell.
Preferably said continuation indicator signal comprises a single bit field.
Preferably a said mini-cell comprises an asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer-type 2-common part sub-layer packet.
Preferably said continuation indicator signal comprises an asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer-type 2 header.
Preferably said continuation indicator signal comprises an asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer-type 2 service specific convergence sub-layer field.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of communicating user data of a plurality of user data sources over a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:
signaling an asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer type-2 connection;
multiplexing user data of said plurality of user data sources into a trunk group frame;
assembling said trunk group frame into a payload of at least one asynchronous transfer mode variable length cell;
transmitting said asynchronous transfer mode cell(s) across said network.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of communicating user data of a plurality of user data sources over a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:
multiplexing a data sample from each of a plurality of user data sources to produce a frame of user data, said frame containing data of each of said plurality of user data sources; and
assembling said frame into a data payload of at least one asynchronous transfer mode mini-cell.
Preferably said method comprises the step of:
including a protocol header signal in a said mini-cell, to indicate a change in number of user data sources who""s data is assembled into a said at least one mini-cell.
Preferably said method comprises the step of using a packet payload type field of a service specific convergence sub-layer header of an asynchronous transfer mode mini-cell to indicate change of number of said user data sources who""s data is carried in a series of said mini-cells.
Preferably said method comprises the step of using a packet payload type field of an asynchronous transfer mode mini-cell header to signal timing of a change of a number of said multiplexed users.
Preferably said mini-cell comprises an ATM adaptation layer type-2 mini-cell.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of communicating user data to a plurality of user data sources of a communications network, said method comprising the steps of;
multiplexing data of a first plurality of user data sources into a first data group having a first group size;
assembling said first data group into a data payload of a first set of at least one mini-cell;
multiplexing data of a second plurality of user data sources into a second data group having a second group size;
assembling said second data group into a data payload of a second set of at least one mini-cells,
wherein each said mini-cell comprises a respective protocol header, said protocol header arranged to indicate a change in group size between successive mini-cells.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of transmitting data in a communications network, comprising the steps of:
receiving a plurality of data samples comprising at least one said data sample received from each of a plurality of user data sources;
multiplexing said plurality of data sources into a trunk group;
establishing a trunk group connection using an asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer-type 2 negotiation procedure;
signaling additions or subtractions of users in the trunk group by incorporation of signals contained within an asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer-type 2 protocol header, whilst leaving said asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer-type 2 trunk group connection intact.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of communicating user data of a plurality of user data sources across a communications network comprising a plurality of transmitting entities and receiving entities, said method comprising the steps of:
signaling to a said receiving entity to create a trunk group connection;
multiplexing data of said plurality of user data sources into a trunk group data frame;
signaling to said receiving entity a length of said trunk group data frame;
assembling said trunk group data frame into a plurality of asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer type-2 mini-cells; and
signaling a change in length of said trunk group data frame in an asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer type-2 mini-cell header.
Preferably said step of signaling a length of said trunk group data frame comprises signaling by an asynchronous transfer mode negotiation procedure protocol.
Preferably said step of signaling a change in length of said trunk group data frame comprises signaling within an asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer type-2 payload packet type field.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of implementing changes in data payload of an asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer type-2 mini-cell by decoding a payload packet type field of said mini-cell in accordance with the following steps:
decoding a received packet payload type signal 10 as indicating a mini-cell contains a new data payload containing data from a different number of user data sources compared with a previously received mini-cell.
Preferably said method comprises the step of decoding a received packet payload type field signals as follows:
decoding a first mini-cell having packet payload type field 00 followed by an immediately succeeding second mini-cell including packet payload type signal 00 as indicating no change in a number of user data sources in a data payload of said mini-cells.
Preferably said method comprises the step of decoding a received packet payload type field signals as follows:
decoding a first mini-cell having packet payload type field 01 followed by an immediately succeeding second mini-cell including packet payload type signal 01 as indicating no change in a number of user data sources in a data pay load of said mini-cells.
Preferably said method comprises the steps of:
in an asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer-type 2 connection, decoding a received packet payload type signal 00 of a first mini-cell and a received packet payload type signal 01 of a next received mini-cell as indicating a loss of data.
Preferably said method comprises the steps of:
in an asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer-type 2 connection, decoding a received packet payload type signal 01 of a first mini-cell and a packet payload type signal 00 of next received mini-cell as indicating a loss of data. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to radiation dosimetry systems and networks of radiation detectors and, particularly, to accurate calculation of the equivalent absorbed dose due to a radiation exposure event.
2. Background of the Invention
Occupational radiation exposure events can occur in healthcare, the oil and gas industry, the military and other industrial settings where the use of materials or devices that emit ionizing radiation can result in accidental or occupationally unavoidable exposure events.
Emergency radiation exposure events can occur when a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD), Improvised Nuclear Device (IND), or another source of radioactive material is released and contaminates a given area.
Radiation dosimetry programs have been developed to monitor and protect workers who might be exposed to radiation. The personal dose equivalent, measured using a radiation dosimeter, is commonly used to monitor radiation dose to an individual. The accurate and reliable measurement of the personal dose equivalent from a radiation exposure event is a key component of radiation dosimetry. The personal dose equivalent is typically measured over a wide range of energies and from different radiation sources, which might include x-rays, gamma rays, alpha particles, beta particles and neutrons. In order to accurately estimate the dose from different radiation sources, many personal dosimeters incorporate an array of detector elements, each with varying types of radiation filtration materials, and use a dose calculation algorithm to accurately calculate the personal dose equivalent from a numerical combination of the responses from each detector element.
More recently, emergency management plans have been developed to enable the safe and timely response to emergency radiation events. An important aspect of any emergency management plan following a radiation event is to ensure the safety of fire, police and other emergency response personnel (“First Responders”), health-care workers, and citizens that might be exposed to radiation resulting from the radiological or nuclear device. Radiation exposure of first responders and health-care workers is often, at least partially, monitored using traditional radiation detecting devices, however, monitoring the exposure of potentially tens of thousands of citizens presents a more difficult problem.
Furthermore, after the removable contamination has been eliminated, there may be a need for ongoing external personal dosimetry monitoring for individual First Responders, healthcare workers, and members of the public. Site restoration could be a lengthy project and, to minimize disruption to society, it may be necessary to allow inhabitants to have access to certain areas before cleanup is complete. For example, allowing citizens to pass through transit centers, thoroughfares, or certain areas of buildings would facilitate government operations, commerce, uniting of families, routine medical treatments, etc. As an individual moves through a contaminated area, it would be valuable to know the dose and time of exposure at each location visited. Such dose measurements could reduce reliance on model-based estimates of dose, and avoid unnecessary area restrictions by providing a geographic map of the dynamic dose distribution reconstructed from a large number of dosimeters collecting dose event data over the potentially still-contaminated area. Unlike cleanup at decommissioned facilities where the public could be excluded with little cost to society, in an urban environment, time is of the essence and the cost of exclusion may be greater than the benefit avoiding exposure to a relatively low radiation dose. After cleanup, personal dosimetry could boost public confidence that their personal dose is below acceptable thresholds, and that the final cleanup was effective.
Several radiation measurement technologies currently exist including TLD dosimeters, OSL dosimeters, electronic dosimeters, quartz or carbon fiber electrets, and other solid-state radiation measurement devices.
Thermoluminescent Dosimeter (TLD) badges are personal monitoring devices using a special material (i.e. lithium fluoride) that retains deposited energy from radiation. TLD badges are read using heat, which causes the TLD material to emit light that is detected by a TLD reader (calibrated to provide a proportional electric current). Significant disadvantages of TLD badges are that the signal of the device is erased or zeroed out during reading, and the dosimeters must be returned to a processing laboratory for reading, and substantial time is required to obtain the reading.
Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) badges use an optically stimulated luminescent material (OSLM) (i.e., aluminum oxide) to retain radiation energy. Tiny crystal traps within the OSL material trap and store energy from radiation exposure. The amount of exposure is determined by illuminating the crystal traps with a stimulating light of one color (i.e., green) and measuring the amount of emitted light of another color (i.e., blue). Alternatively, pulsed light stimulation can be used to differentiate between the stimulation and emission light [e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,892,234 and 5,962,857]. Unlike TLD systems, OSL systems provide a readout in only a few seconds and, because only a very small fraction of the exposure signal is depleted during readout, the dosimeters can be readout multiple times. OSL dosimeters can be read in the field using small, field-transportable readers, however, the readers are still too large, slow and expensive to allow individual, real-time readings in the field. In currently-existing OSL dosimetry programs for reporting the dose of record, the dosimeters must be returned to a processing laboratory for readout.
Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) badges use an optically stimulated luminescent material (OSLM) (i.e., aluminum oxide) to retain radiation energy. Tiny crystal traps within the OSL material trap and store energy from radiation exposure. The amount of exposure is determined by illuminating the crystal traps with a stimulating light of one color (i.e., green) and measuring the amount of emitted light of another color (i.e., blue). Alternatively, pulsed light stimulation can be used to differentiate between the stimulation and emission light [e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,892,234 and 5,962,857]. Unlike TLD systems, OSL systems provide a readout in only a few seconds and, because only a very small fraction of the exposure signal is depleted during readout, the dosimeters can be readout multiple times. OSL dosimeters can be read in the field using small, field-transportable readers, however, the readers are still too large, slow and expensive to allow individual, real-time readings in the field. In currently-existing OSL dosimetry programs for reporting the dose of record, the dosimeters must be returned to a processing laboratory for readout. For more information on OSL materials and systems, see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,590 issued to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,434 issued to Akselrod; U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,108 issued to Schwietzer et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,685 issued to Yoder et al.; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/768,094 filed by Akselrod et al.; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. See also, Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimetry, Lars Botter-Jensen et al., Elesevier, 2003; Klemic, G., Bailey, P., Miller, K., Monetti, M. External radiation dosimetry in the aftermath of radiological terrorist event, Rad. Prot. Dosim, in press; Akslerod, M. S., Kortov, V. S., and Gorelova, E. A., Preparation and properties of Al.sub.2O.sub.3:C. Radiat. Prot Dosim 47, 159-164 (1993); and Akselrod, M. S., Lucas, A. C., Polf, J. C., McKeever, S. W. S. Optically stimulated luminescence of Al.sub.2O.sub.3:C. Radiation Measurements, 29, (3-4), 391-399 (1998), all of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Solid State Sensors use solid-phase materials such as semiconductors to quantify radiation interaction through the collection of charge in the semiconductor media. As the radiation particle travels through the semiconductor media electron-hole pairs are generated along the particle path. The motion of the electron-hole pair in an applied electric field generates the basic electrical signal from the detector. There are two main categories of solid state sensors, active and passive. Active sensors often use a semiconductor that is biased by an externally powered electric field that requires constant power. The active sensors generate electric pulses for each radioactive particle striking the sensor. These pulses must be continuously counted to record the correct radiation dose. A loss of power means no dose is measured. Active solid state sensors are typically made from silicon and other semiconductors. Passive solid state sensors utilize an on device charged medium that maintains the electric field necessary to separate the electron-hole pairs without drawing external power. Passive solid state dosimeters often use what is called a floating gate where the gate is embedded within the detection medium so it electronically isolated. The floating gate is charged and provides the electric field for charge separation (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,368 issued to Tarr). The medium above the floating gate is typically an insulator such as silicon oxide however it can also be a sealed gas chamber (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 5,739,541 issued to Kahilainen). Passive Solid state electronic detectors offer a means of monitoring radiation that are compatible the present invention.
Electronic dosimeters are battery powered, and typically incorporate a digital display or other visual, audio or vibration alarming capability. These instruments often provide real-time dose rate information to the wearer. For routine occupational radiation settings in the U.S. electronic dosimeters are mostly, but not strictly, used for access control and not for dose of record. A number of cities and states issue electronic dosimeters to HAZMAT teams as part of their emergency response plans. There are presently tens of thousands of electronic dosimeters deployed, for example, for homeland security purposes; however, electronic dosimeters are impractical for widespread use dosimeters due to their high cost.
Quartz or carbon fiber electrets are cylindrical electroscopes where the dose is read by holding it up to the light and viewing the location of the fiber on a scale through an eyepiece at one end. A manually powered charger is needed to zero the dosimeter. The quartz fiber electret is an important element of many state emergency plans. For example, some plans call for emergency responders to be issued a quartz fiber electret along with a card for recording the reading every 30 minutes, as well as a cumulative dosimetry badge or wallet card. While they are specified for use in nuclear power plant emergencies, the NRC does not require them to be NVLAP accredited, only that they be calibrated periodically.
Existing passive personal radiation monitoring devices do not provide immediate access to recorded dose measurements, while active devices typically consume sufficient power to require regular recharging. No existing devices measure the complete “radiation event.”
In general, a need exists for “event detection” devices, e.g., radiation dosimeters or other detection devices, with the following characteristics: (1) small and easily carried or mounted to fixed structures or mobile transports; (2) capable of measuring a dose event, including the measured amplitude or intensity of the event, time of the event, location of the event, ambient temperature, motion of the detector and proximity to other detectors; (3) accurate calculation of the dose, e.g., the Personal Dose Equivalent, over a wide dose range, wide energy range, and large angles of incidence; (4) ability to display the measured dose event on the detector, or using a personal mobile device, in order to alert the User to anomalous events, and in order to transmit the measured dose over private and public networks to a dose event repository; (5) ability to track and report dose events in the field over extended periods of time without replacing or externally charging the power source; (6) ability to map the distribution of dose over a geographic area, to identify anomalous dose distributions, to dynamically track sources and to alert Authorized Personnel of anomalous dose events.
The personal dose equivalent, measured using a radiation dosimeter, is the most commonly used metric of radiation dose to an individual. The accurate and reliable measurement of the personal dose equivalent is a key component of radiation dosimetry. The personal dose equivalent is typically measured over a wide range of energies and from different radiation sources, which might include x-rays, gamma rays, alpha particles, beta particles and neutrons. In order to accurately estimate the dose from different radiation sources, many personal dosimeters incorporate an array of detector elements, each with varying types of radiation filtration materials, and use a dose calculation algorithm to accurately calculate the personal dose equivalent from a numerical combination of the responses from each detector element.
In general, a need exists for small, low-cost, self-contained and field-readable radiation dosimeters that provide an accurate calculation of the Personal Dose Equivalent over a wide dose range, wide energy range, and over large angles of incidence. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a magnetic tape cassette for use with a digital audio tape recorder (DAT) or the like and, more particularly, is directed to a magnetic tape cassette in which a slider can be reliably engaged with a lower cassette part at a predetermined position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional tape recorders such as a digital audio tape recorder (DAT) or the like employ a magnetic tape cassette which is generally depicted by reference numeral 11 in FIGS. 1 to 3, for example.
As illustrated, in the case of the magnetic tape cassette for the DAT, a magnetic tape T is protected not only by upper and lower cassette parts 2, 3 but also by a lid 7, a slider 8 or the like in order to prevent a drop-out from occurring in a reproduced signal when the surface of the magnetic tape T is smudged by fingermarks, oily components, dust or the like.
A pair of reel hubs 5a, 5b around which the magnetic tape T is wound is accommodated within a cassette housing 4 that is composed of the upper cassette shell or part 2 and the lower cassette shell or part 3 which are fastened together by some suitable means such as screws or the like. A transparent window 2a is formed on the upper cassette part 2 so that the user can visually confirm the remaining amount of the magnetic tape T wrapped around the reel hubs 5a and 5b. Also, in order to prevent the magnetic tape T from being exposed through a mouth portion 6 of the cassette housing 4 when the magnetic tape cassette 11 is not in use or when the magnetic tape cassette 11 is preserved, a lid 7 is pivotally attached to the front portion of the cassette housing 4 such that the lid 7 becomes freely rotatable in the upper direction. The lid 7 is constantly spring-biased by a spring (not shown) in the direction in which the lid closes the mouth portion 6.
The slider 8 is provided on the lower cassette part 3 so that it slides along the lower cassette part 3 back and forth (in the directions shown by arrows a and b in FIGS. 2A, 2B) to thereby open and close the mouth portion 6. The slider 8 has bored therethrough a pair of reel shaft insertion apertures 8b, 8b that communicate with a pair of reel shaft insertion apertures 3b, 3b bored through the lower cassette part 3 at the opening position of the mouth portion 6. The slider 8 is constantly spring-biased by a slider spring S in the forward direction (in the arrow a direction (see FIG. 2A) in which the slider 8 closes the mouth portion 6) relative to the lower cassette part 3.
When the magnetic tape cassette 11 thus arranged is not in use, as shown in FIG. 2A, the lid 7 closes the front portion of the mouth portion 6 and the slider 8 closes the lower portion of the mouth portion 6, whereby the magnetic tape T extended within the mouth portion 6 is isolated from the outside. The reel shaft insertion apertures 3b of the lower cassette part 3 and the reel shaft insertion apertures 8b of the slider 8 are not coincident with one another and the slider 8 closes the reel shaft insertion apertures 3b of the lower cassette part 3, thereby preventing the inside of the cassette housing 4 from being smudged by dust or the like.
When the magnetic tape cassette 11 is loaded onto a recording and reproducing apparatus such as the DAT or the like, as shown in FIG. 2B, the slider 8 is slid rearward of the cassette housing 4 (in the arrow b direction) and then held. Also, the lid 7 is rotated upwardly to open the front portion and the lower surface of the mouth portion 6.
Under this condition, a tape loading guide member (not shown) on the recording and reproducing apparatus side can be inserted into the mouth portion 6 of the cassette housing 4. Also, the reel shaft insertion apertures 8b, 8b of the slider 8 become coincident with the reel shaft insertion apertures 3b, 3b of the lower cassette half 3, whereby reel shafts (not shown) of the recording and reproducing apparatus can be inserted into the reel shaft insertion apertures 3b, 8b.
When the magnetic tape cassette 11 is not in use, the slider 8 is moved forwardly and held at the position at which the slider closes the mouth portion 6. When the magnetic tape cassette 11 is loaded onto the recording and reproducing apparatus, the slider 8 is moved backwardly and then held at the position at which the slider opens the mouth portion 6. In order to hold the slider 8 at the respective predetermined positions, two pairs of engagement apertures 8c, 8c and 8d, 8d are bored through the slider 8 at two positions in the arrow b direction in FIG. 2B and a pair of slider lock portions 3c, 3c of pin-configuration that can be engaged with the engagement apertures 8c, 8c and 8d, 8d are formed on the lower cassette part 3.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the slider lock portions 3c, 3c are formed by cutting one portion of the lower cassette part 3. These slider lock portions 3c, 3c have a spring-biasing property so that the respective engagement protrusions 3d, 3d formed on the tops thereof are constantly spring-biased so as to return to the direction in which the engagement protrusions 3d, 3d are engaged with the engagement apertures 8c or 8d of the slider 8. In order to prevent the returning force of the slider lock portions 3c, 3c from being reduced when the lower cassette part 3 is deformed by the deterioration of the material forming the lower cassette part 3, it is proposed that compression coil springs (hereinafter referred to as slider lock springs) 9, 9 be respectively interposed between the engagement protrusions 3d, 3d of the slider lock portions 3c, 3c and the upper cassette part 2.
FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings shows an example of the slider lock spring 9 that the assignee of the present application has previously proposed (see Japanese Patent Application No. 3-48741). As shown in FIG. 3, the slider lock spring 9 comprises a spring body portion 9a formed of a coil spring whose inner diameter is progressively increased upwardly and an elongated portion 9b that is linearly elongated from the upper end edge of the spring body portion 9a. The coil spring is doubly wound around only the upper and lower end portions tightly.
In the slider lock springs 9, 9 thus arranged, the spring body portions 9a, 9a are wound around a pair of pins 2b, 2b protruded from the inner side surface of the upper cassette part 2 in response to the inner surface sides of the tops of the engagement protrusions 3d, 3d of the slider lock portions 3c, 3c. The elongated portion 9b is welded (fixed by a caulking process) to a recess 2d of a fixed portion 2c of the upper cassette part 2. Therefore, the slider lock springs 9, 9 can be prevented from disenging from the upper cassette part 2 and come in contact with the inner end faces of the engagement protrusions 3d, 3d of the slider lock portions 3c, 3c to downwardly press the engagement protrusions 3d, 3d, thereby reinforcing the spring-biasing force of the slider lock portions 3c, 3c.
The above conventional magnetic tape cassette 11, however, suffers from the following disadvantages:
That is, if the spring-biasing force of the slider lock spring 9 is increased, although the returning force of the slider lock portion 3c is reinforced more effectively, a force (opening force) that is required to open the slider 8 must be increased because the top end faces of the respective engagement protrusions 3d are brought in parallel contact with the respective engagement apertures 8c when the engagement protrusions 3d of the slider lock portions 3c are disengaged from the engagement apertures 8c of the slider 8.
There is then the antinomy that, while the spring-biasing force of the slider lock spring 9 cannot be set to a too large a value, the small spring-biasing force of the slider lock spring 9 cannot achieve a reinforcing effect of the slider lock portion 3 sufficiently, thereby locking the slider 8 in the unstable locked condition.
Moreover, the above conventional magnetic tape cassette cannot overcome the shortcomings which follow:
Welding fixing by the caulking process) the slider lock spring on the upper cassette part is not advantageous in conformability when the magnetic tape cassette is assembled by machines or the like.
When the slider lock spring is of a tight-winding type, a difference between the inner diameter of the slider lock spring and the outer diameter of the pin on the upper cassette part can be reduced so that the slider lock spring can be fitted into the pin with a small pressure. Since the difference between the inner diameter of the slider lock spring and the outer diameter of the pin on the upper cassette half is set to be small, such difference is not suitable for mounting the slider lock spring that is hard to deform at the tight-winding portion of the slider lock spring.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved magnetic tape cassette in which the aforesaid shortcomings and disadvantages encountered with the prior art can be eliminated.
More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape cassette in which a force required to open a slider can be suppressed to be small while a spring-biasing force for reinforcing a slider block portion can be set to be large.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape cassette in which a slider lock spring can be fitted into a pin with a small pressure.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape cassette in which a slider lock spring can be easily assembled on an upper cassette part by an automatic assembling apparatus.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape cassette which is suitable for use with a digital audio tape recorder (DAT) or the like.
As a first aspect of the magnetic tape cassette according to the present invention, in order that a slider, slidably attached to a lower cassette part so as to open and close a mouth portion of a cassette housing, be locked at a predetermined position, a slider lock portion is provided on the lower cassette part, an engagement aperture that is engaged with the slider lock portion is bored through the slider and a spring is interposed between the slider lock portion and an upper cassette part to thereby spring-bias the slider lock portion in the direction in which the slider lock portion is fitted into the engagement aperture. This magnetic tape cassette further includes an inclined portion having a configuration tapered toward a cassette housing being formed on one end face of the engagement aperture bored through the slider which opposes the top of the slider lock portion of the lower cassette part.
As a second aspect of the magnetic tape cassette according to the present invention, in order to lock a slider slidably attached to a lower cassette part at a predetermined position, a slider lock spring, that is fitted into a pin projected from an upper cassette part, is interposed between the slider lock portion provided on the lower cassette part and the upper cassette part to thereby spring-bias the slider lock portion in the direction in which the slider lock portion is fitted into the engagement aperture. In this magnetic tape cassette, at least one end portion of the slider lock spring is bent toward the inside of a coil winding portion to form a pin supporting portion.
The above-mentioned and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to identify the same or similar parts in the several views. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of using iguratimod (N-[7-[(methanesulfonyl)amino]-4-oxo-6-phenoxy-4H-1-benzopyran-3-yl]formamide) or a salt thereof and an immunosuppressive agent in combination for the treatment such as the therapy or prevention of autoimmune diseases. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing iguratimod or a salt thereof and an immunosuppressive agent, which is useful in the treatment such as therapy or prevention of autoimmune diseases.
(2) Description of Related Art
Chronic arthritis caused by connective tissue diseases typified by autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis brings about, for example, dysfunction due to the progression of cartilage and/or bone destruction, and largely affects daily life. Although the cause of such autoimmune diseases remains unclear, these diseases are considered to be triggered by excessive immune response to autoantigens.
Against this backdrop, disease-modifying anti-rheumatoid drugs (DMARDs) typified by immunomodulatory drugs (e.g., gold preparation, D-penicillamine, and salazosulfapyridine) and immunosuppressive agents (e.g., methotrexate and tacrolimus) are used as the first drug of choice in the medical therapy of rheumatoid arthritis and other types of arthritis or autoimmune diseases. Particularly, for the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis, use of DMARDs from an early stage after definitive diagnosis is recommended by treatment guidelines (Arthritis Rheum. Vol. 39, p. 713-722 (1996); and Arthritis Rheum. Vol. 46, p. 328-346 (2002)). Now, immunological therapy is absolutely important for this disease. In addition, steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or indomethacin are used according to the symptoms of patients. These therapeutic methods currently used, however, cannot completely suppress the progression of joint or bone destruction, which is the biggest problem in arthritis, and long-term use thereof is difficult in terms of adverse reactions. Thus, these therapeutic methods have not yet provided as a satisfactory treatment.
Immunosuppressive agents are known to be effective for autoimmune diseases. These immunosuppressive agents inhibit antibody production, cytokine production, and lymphocyte or synovial cell proliferation, etc., thereby suppressing excessive autoimmune phenomena and, by extension, symptoms of arthritis or the like. Methotrexate, leflunomide, and tacrolimus are commercially available as immunosuppressive agents. Drug development is still continuing. Moreover, steroid drugs have strong immunosuppressive effects, as well known.
Iguratimod having anti-arthritic effects exhibits inhibitory effects on cytokine production and immunomodulatory effects (Chem. Pharm. Bull., Vol. 48, p. 131-139 (2000); J. Pharmacobio-Dyn., Vol. 15, p. 649-655 (1992); and Int. J. Immunotherapy, Vol. 9, p. 69-78 (1993)) and is useful in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis and other types of arthritis or autoimmune diseases (Japanese Patent No. 3521145). Unfortunately, iguratimod is known to have adverse reactions such as hepatocellular damage (Mod. Rheumatol., Vol. 17, p. 1-9 (2007)).
A method using therapeutic drugs for arthritis in combination is known (N. Engl. J. Med., Vol. 334, p. 1287-1291 (1996)) and, however, does not produce satisfactory therapeutic effects due to the limited number of therapeutic drugs for arthritis. Also, such combined use is generally known to produce the additional or additive effect of improving arthritis symptoms. Reportedly, the combined use of iguratimod and methotrexate potentiates therapeutic effects on arthritis (Arthritis Research & Therapy), Vol. 10, No. 6, R136 (2008)).
However, it has been totally unknown so far that the combined use of therapeutic drugs for arthritis reduces the respective adverse reactions of the drugs. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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A curette is a surgical instrument consisting of a handle, a shaft, and a tip which is generally cup shaped, much like a small spoon, used for the purpose of scraping and scooping out various pathological (diseased) bodily tissues, such as a disc between two vertebrae. The open space of the cup-like tip has a sharpened rim to enhance its effectiveness for scraping.
In practice, the tip of the instrument is placed into the area of tissue to be removed and scraped against the tissue. When the cup is filled the instrument is removed from the wound and the tissue within the cup is then manually emptied. The instrument is then returned to the wound, where the process is performed repeatedly until the entirety of the pathological tissue has been removed.
A ring curette is a particular type of curette in which the cup is without a bottom, forming a ring. While such a curette is less useful in scooping out and removing scraped tissues, this is more than offset by its enhanced effectiveness in the more specific task of scraping the tissue free. Since the bottom of the cup is absent, the scraped tissue passes through the ring and does not accumulate in the cup, allowing the instrument to continue scraping. As large amounts of tissue once freed can more easily be removed with a surgical instrument known as a rongeur, it is more efficient to utilize the ring type curette followed by use of the rongeur, rather than using the cup type curette.
Furthermore, since the ring curette and the rongeur are more specialized to their singular purposes, they are more effective. Also, since they require less frequent passing of the instrumentation in and out of the body, with the attendant risk of internal tissue injury and wound contamination, they are also safer. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Along with diffusion of information processing devices such as personal computers, PDAs, cellular phones, and the like in recent years, it is conceivable that a technique for providing a service by use of a so-called digital ticket (hereinafter referred simply to as a ticket in the present invention) will become widespread. Such a ticket allows fraudulent duplication because of the nature of electronic data. Accordingly, it is conceivable to be increasingly necessary to prevent acts of performing multiple accesses by use of a fraudulently duplicated ticket (hereinafter referred to as multiple uses).
Although such fraudulent acts must be eliminated, the ticket in the present invention is a piece of electronic data, and it is difficult to prevent the multiple uses of the duplicated ticket only by means of a software unit.
Therefore, it is understood that elimination of the above-described fraudulent acts must depend on hardware to some extent. However, a security device implemented in hardware has a limitation in hardware resources allocatable for this purpose. For this reason, with regard to conventionally used security devices, it is also conceivable that data for preventing the fraudulent acts must be stored in an area outside the security device. In this case, it is possible to execute complicated encryption processing between the security device and the external area. However, such processing may cause response delays in transactions and may damage efficiency of using electronic tickets. On the other hand, a method of storing the data for preventing fraudulent acts in the external area has a disadvantage of damaging reliability of the security device itself due to fraudulent accesses to the data for preventing the fraudulent acts.
A method of storing an encryption key in an encrypted format outside the security device has been heretofore known. However, it is hard to say that the method sufficiently addresses a question of restricting the number of signatures, i.e. restricting the multiple uses. In this case, it is also conceivable to add a counter to a key Blob. However, reliability of the counter must be assured at the same time. Accordingly, adoption of a data format in which the counter is simply added is not sufficient in terms of eliminating the fraudulent multiple uses.
The following document is considered:
[Non-Patent Document 1] Terada et al., “Copy Prevention Scheme for Rights Trading Infrastructure”, Journal of Information Processing Society of Japan, Vol. 42, No. 8, August 2001, pp. 2017-2029
Meanwhile, there has been disclosed a technique configured to delete a token representing a ticket from hardware after use, (See non-patent document 1). In this case, it is essential to validate whether this token is reliable. Accordingly, a key issued by a certificate site should be retained in the hardware. However, to assure safe storage of this key involves additional complexity and a new threat to reliability.
In other words, it has been heretofore deemed necessary to impart highly reliable number identification capability to data such as digital tickets which require prevention of fraudulent uses. Moreover, it has been deemed necessary to prevent fraudulent uses of data such as tickets with high reliability only by adding minimum hardware resources. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for displaying flight-management information in an aircraft.
In the cockpit of an aircraft a great deal of information which is relevant for piloting the aircraft is displayed to the pilot, for which purpose there exist the customary instruments consisting of a large number of indicating instruments and control lights which in modern aircraft are also substantially supplemented and/or replaced by display screens (cathode ray tubes and LCD displays).
In order for the pilot to absorb the information indicated there is required a sequential scanning of the instruments in accordance with a scheme which has been learned, and the mental combining of the information so as to form an overall picture of the flight situation. This procedure of absorbing and processing information must be constantly repeated in order to be able to observe and control the course of the flight.
With the introduction of display screens, the displaying of information has been improved but the displays for flying position and navigation remained separate. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Organic materials and especially polymers have proven to be difficult organic materials to stabilize against the deleterious affects of oxygen and ozone, particularly the unsaturated polymers, both natural and synthetic. Although many materials have been suggested and used as stabilizers in oxidizable organic materials, no completely satisfactory material has been found that will fully protect these materials under the widely different conditions to which they are subjected. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention is directed to a metallic beverage-type can end having a captively retained tear strip and pull tab attached thereto, and more particularly to a can end whereby venting of internal pressure contained in the can is ensured during initial lifting of the pull tab.
Many metallic cans for holding beverages or other liquid products are provided with easy open can ends, wherein a pull tab attached to a tear strip defined by a score line in the can end may be pulled to provide an opening in the can end for dispensing the can contents. For ecological and safety reasons, many areas now require that the tear strip and attached pull tab be retained to the can end after opening. In order to meet these requirements, various designs have been suggested by the prior art for ensuring that the tear strip and pull tab do not become separated from the can end. Generally, the pull tab is retained to the can end by means of a rivet or other similar attachment device. A recurring problem in the prior art, however, is that initial lifting of the pull tab oftentimes does not first fracture the score line immediately in front of the rivet attaching the pull tab to the can end. This initial action, referred to as "pop," vents or releases internal pressure in the can when beer or carbonated beverages are contained therein. If the venting action does not occur before continued lifting of the pull tab fractures the remainder of the score panel to complete the opening (known as "push"), it is possible that internal pressure in the can could cause the entire panel contained within the score line to blow out and expose the consumer to danger.
More specifically, the method of rivet development utilized in the prior art, such as found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,465,204 and 4,530,631 to Kaminski, et al., while successful, results in "loose metal" in the can end at the base of the rivet. By "loose metal," it is meant that such portions of can ends are flexible and may be deformed, or bent, with relative ease. During initial lifting of the pull tab, the rivet is forcibly tilted and the can end, specifically the metal around the rear side of the rivet base, is deformed. If tilting of the rivet is severe, opening of the can end in the area defined by the score line may occur simultaneously with the venting action described above, thereby causing the previously referred to blowout. Flexibility in the metal around the base of the rivet is also objectionable since, under pressure of the contents, the can end may bulge upward to the extent that the upper surface of the pull tab may rise above the chime of the seamed can, thereby impairing processing of the filled cans (pasteurization, casing, etc.). However, without the can end being flexible to allow deformation during lifting of the pull tab, undue stress can be placed on the rivet. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention process is concerned with the enhanced recovery of oil from underground formations. More particularly, the invention relates to the length of horizontal production wells located between vertical production wells in patterns containing horizontal and vertical wells.
Horizontal wells have been investigated and tested for oil recovery for quite some time. Although horizontal wells may in the future be proven economically successful to recover light petroleum from many types of formations, at present, the use of horizontal wells is usually limited to formations containing highly viscous crude. It seems likely that horizontal wells will soon become a chief method of producing tar sand formations and other highly viscous oils which cannot be efficiently produced by conventional methods because of their high viscosity.
Various proposals have been set forth for petroleum recovery with horizontal well schemes. Most have involved steam injection or in situ combustion with horizontal wells serving as both injection wells and producing wells. Steam and combustion processes have been employed to heat viscous formations to lower the viscosity of the petroleum as well as to provide the driving force to push the hydrocarbons toward a well.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,088 illustrates the use of a system of radial horizontal wells, optionally in conjunction with an inverted 9-spot having an unsually large number of injection wells. U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,067 illustrates a scheme of using horizontal and vertical wells together to form a pentagonal shaped pattern which is labeled a "5-spot" in the patent, although the art recognizes a different pattern as constituting a 5-spot. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technology for installing or updating an application program of a sensor node for providing a personalized service by interworking with various sensor nodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the development of a sensing application that may receive sensing information from a sensor node and provide a personalized service to various fields such as medicine, security, and the like is in progress. Changing the sensor node based on the sensing application may be possible and thus, a smart device user may make use of various sensing applications.
However, limitations of installing a new application program that may control the sensor node when the sensor node is changed, and a need for the sensor node to be updated by a retailer, exist.
Accordingly, there is a desire for a technology that automatically installs an application program provided in a package of a sensing application in a corresponding sensor node when the sensing application is installed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to silicone resin compositions and methods for making such compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for making silicone resins from .beta.-phenylethyltrichlorosilane and an alkylchlorosilane and silicone resin compositions made thereby.
The majority of silicone resins contain both alkyl and phenyl siloxane units. The presence of phenyl siloxane units is particularly important as they convey high heat resistance, oxidation resistance, toughness, air drying ability and compatibility with organic resins to such silicone resins. There are, however, applications for silicone resins that depend not on high heat resistance, oxidation resistance, and the like, but rather upon imparting ultraviolet light resistance and weather resistance to the final product. Most notable of such applications is the copolymerization of the silicone resin with an alkyd or polyester to form a paint vehicle.
Inasmuch as silicone resins containing phenyl siloxane units are relatively expensive, it is desirable to find substitutes therefor and methods for making such substitutes which are more cost efficient but which still provide the properties and characteristics for which the silicone resin was included, i.e. weatherability, UV light resistance, etc.
One substitute for phenyl siloxane units in silicone resins is phenylethylsiloxane units. It is well known that chlorosilanes having at least one silicon-bonded hydrogen atom can be added to styrene to obtain phenylethylchlorosilanes from which resins having phenylethyl siloxane units can be prepared. Generally such addition results in a mixture of various isomers. For example, in the addition reaction of trichlorosilane to styrene using a platinum catalyst some of the silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms of the silane molecules will attach to the carbon atom nearest the benzene ring while some of the silyl radicals of the silane molecules will attach to the carbon atom farthest from the benzene ring, and some of the silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms and silyl radicals will attach in the opposite positions. Accordingly, there results from such addition reaction a mixture of .beta.-phenylethyltrichlorosilane and .alpha.-phenylethyltrichlorosilane. These reactions may be represented by the following equations, respectively: ##STR2##
In the normal course of such addition reaction there is produced a mixture containing approximately 60 weight percent .beta.-phenylethyltrichlorosilane and 40 weight percent .alpha.-phenylethyltrichlorosilane. One disadvantage of such mixture of isomers is that resins made therefrom have a slow rate of reaction with alkyds or polyesters and thus renders it unsuitable as a substitute for phenyl units in paint vehicles and the like.
Brown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,069 assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, discloses a novel process for producing .beta.-phenylethylchlorosilane. Briefly, such process comprises forming a mixture of styrene, a chlorosilane having at least one silicon-bonded hydrogen atom, a platinum catalyst and an effective amount of a tertiary amine as a position-directing agent and heating the mixture to effect addition of chlorosilane to the styrene.
Quite surprisingly, the present applicant has discovered that silicone resins formed from substantially 100% .beta.-phenylethyltrichlorosilane and an alkylchlorosilane react with organic compositions, such as alkyds or polyesters much more rapidly than do silicone resins which are formed from mixtures of alpha and beta phenylethyltrichlorosilane and an alkylchlorosilane.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide silicone resins comprising .beta.-phenylethylsiloxy units and alkylsiloxy units.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method of making silicone resins comprising .beta.-phenylethylsiloxy units and alkylsiloxy units.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide silicone resins suitable for use in formulating paints and varnishes.
It is another object of the present invention to provide silicone resins which exhibit excellent resistance to weather and ultraviolet light.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a process for producing silicone resins which exhibit increased reactivity with organic compositions.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious from the following detailed description. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In conventional elevator controlling panels, a front surface cover is divided into three parts vertically. These covers are a type of cowling, and the covers are removed from a main body panel completely when opening a front surface of the main body panel (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
In other conventional elevator controlling panels, a first end portion in a width direction of a cover is connected to a box body by means of a plurality of hinges (a type of door). Because of that, when a front surface of the box body is opened, the cover is pivoted around the hinges and opened out (see Patent Literature 2, for example). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laundry machine, and more particularly, to a laundry machine having a steam generator provided thereto for preventing creases from forming on clothes and sterilizing the clothes, and a method for controlling the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, laundry dryers are electric appliances that dry washed laundry, mainly washed clothes, by using high temperature air.
In general, the laundry dryer is provided with a drum, a driving source for driving the drum, heating means for heating air introduced to the drum, and a blower unit for drawing/discharging air from/to the drum.
In the dryers, there are electric type dryers and gas type dryers depending on air heating systems, i.e., the heating means. The electric type dryers heat the air with heat from electric resistance, and the gas type dryers heat the air with heat from combustion of gas.
The dryers may also be sorted as condensing type dryers and exhaust type dryers. In the condensing type dryer, the humid air having heat exchanged with an drying object in the drum is, not discharged to an outside of the dryer, but circulated in the dryer, and heat exchanged with external air at a condenser provided separately to form condensed water which is discharged to an outside of the dryer. In the exhaust type dryer, the humid air having heat exchanged with the drying object in the drum is discharged to an outside of the dryer, directly.
The dryers may also be sorted as top loading type dryers, and front loading type dryers depending on systems for introducing the drying object to the dryers. In the top loading type dryers, the drying object is introduced to the dryer from a top thereof, and in the front loading type dryers, the drying object is introduced to the dryer from a front thereof.
However, the related art dryers have the following problems.
In general, the related art dryer dries laundry washed, spun, and introduced thereto. However, in view of nature of washing with water, creases are formed on the washed laundry, and the creases formed thus are not removed perfectly in drying with the dryer. Therefore, in order to remove the creases from a drying object, such as the laundry dried at the related art dryer, pressing is required, additionally.
Moreover, besides the washed laundry, in cases of conventional storage, and use of clothes, creases, crumples, and folds (will be called as crumples, collectively) are formed on the clothes. Development of an appliance has been required, which can make easy removal of the crumples coming from the conventional storage and use of the clothes. | {
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Such a security document is known from German patent no. 16 96 245. According to the method described in this publication, a suitable carrier material, such as silk, cotton or plastics, is provided with a magnetic coating mixture and then embedded in the security document. If the security element is designed as a safeguarding thread, the magnetic band can additionally be coated on both sides with an opaque white coating slip. This prevents the dark ferromagnetic material from being detected without aid. It is a particular advantage of this safeguarding thread that it is almost impossible to detect visually in incident light (reflection) due to the high luminous reflectance on the white coating and the light scatter in the paper layer covering the safeguarding thread, but stands out very clearly from its surroundings as a dark coat in transmitted light. In addition the magnetic properties are clearly identifiable by machine.
However, it is increasingly proving to be disadvantageous that the magnetic properties can conceivably be imitated, at least to a limited extent, using commercially available magnetic tape materials (sound tapes, video tapes, etc.). Furthermore, most oxidic magnetic pigments are so dark that a complete white cover cannot be obtained with reasonable layer thicknesses. A safeguarding thread which is almost invisible in incident light is thus very difficult or even impossible to obtain with conventional means.
To make imitation more difficult, security documents are now frequently provided with additional security features which commercial magnetic tapes do not have. German patent no. 27 54 267 describes e.g. a security document having a security element with at least two different physical properties which can be checked independently of each other. One of the physical properties is fundamentally of magnetic nature. Magnetic materials with high coercive field strength and remanence are preferably used to protect magnetization codes from accidental demagnetization. A UV fluorescent material can be applied congruently to the magnetic patterns. Alternatively, an electrically conductive aluminum coating can be provided.
The production of such security elements is thus very elaborate and expensive since many individual phases of operation are necessary to apply the individual materials with the various physical properties successively and partly even in exact register.
The invention is therefore based on the problem of proposing a security element that is simple to produce, has both a light appearance and magnetic properties, and is still difficult to imitate due to its special magnetic properties. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In the digital audio and telecommunications fields, the high accuracy and high resolution digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) technology has become one of the key analog circuit technologies. Conventionally, either the weighted network circuit technique with trimming, or the multislope integration technique has been utilized for high resolution DACs. In the weighted network, some trimming of the weighted network utilizing a laser, dynamic element matching, or the digital method utilizing Read-Only Memory (ROM), was required. This is due to the conversion accuracy, which depended in large part on the device matching tolerance of the weighted network. Typically, untrimmed weighted networks would yield a fourteen bit accuracy, whereas the trimmed network could attain a conversion accuracy of over fifteen bits. In the multislope integration circuit technique, on the other hand, integrators, sample and hold circuits and current sources are required, which of necessity must be high speed devices with relatively high accuracy. High resolution DACs utilizing this technology are difficult to realize due to the sample charge and the sample capacitor leaking through the base impedance of the transistors, which typically use bipolar technology.
Another technique that has come to the forefront in DAC technology is that utilizing oversampling conversion techniques. These typically utilize a delta-sigma modulator in conjunction with conventional oversampling noise shaping techniques utilizing digital filters. Typically, an interpolation filter is utilized to increase the sample rate and then filter all images and quantization noise at F.sub.s /2 and above, F.sub.s being the input sampling frequency. The output of the interpolation filter is then processed through a sample and hold circuit to provide the oversampled output. If the interpolation filter provides a factor of 8x increase in the sampling rate, the sample and hold circuit could provide another 8x of increase to result in a total of 64x of oversampling. The delta-sigma modulator receives the output of the combined interpolation filter and sample and hold circuit and converts this oversampled signal into a one-bit data stream. This one-bit output controls a DAC, which has only two analog levels and, therefore, is inherently linear. This signal is then input to an analog low pass filter.
With the oversampling noise shaping techniques utilized with high resolution DACs, two problems have been recognized--DC offset and phase linearity. The digital portion of the DAC comprising the interpolation filter, sample and hold circuit and the delta-sigma modulator can be designed such that they are substantially phase linear, and DC offset can also be provided. However, when the analog portion of the overall DAC system is implemented, i.e., the analog low pass filter, an additional level of DC offset may be introduced into the system in addition to a phase response non-linearity. It is very difficult to remove DC offset and provide a linear phase response in the analog portion of the DAC converter system. In applications such as digital audio, this DC offset and phase response linearity is audible and detracts from the high quality of audio that is desired. In view of these disadvantages, it is desirable to provide a DAC system that provides a method to calibrate the DC offset for the combined digital-to-analog portions of the DAC system, and also provide an overall phase linearity for the system. | {
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In metal processing, various thermal treatment operations such as annealing, hardening, brazing and sintering are often performed under inert or reducing atmospheres in order to avoid and/or remove oxidation from metal parts. In powder metallurgy, for example, high pressure is applied to metal powders to form compacts which are then sintered in a furnace to form metal parts. Sintering of the compacts is typically performed under an inert or reducing atmosphere such as a mixture of nitrogen (N2) and hydrogen (H2) or an Endo gas mixture containing carbon monoxide (CO), H2 and N2. The sintered metal parts are then subjected to a cooling phase, during which transformation of the microstructure of the metal parts may occur. Certain metal parts may also be subjected to sinterhardening, i.e., transformation to a hard martensite phase during cooling. Sinterhardening is typically carried out in a cooler such as a convection cooler, with alloy additives such as nickel, molybdenum, among others, added to the metal powders prior to sintering. These alloy additives are used to facilitate sinterhardening of the metal parts, resulting in products that are either harder or tougher than non-sinterhardened parts. Water coolers, which provide slower cooling than convection coolers, may also be used with more expensive types of powder mix to provide metal parts with increased martensite phase.
Much of the efforts for improving sintering methods have focused on the control of process conditions during sintering. However, since the transformation of microstructure during the cooling phase directly affects the material properties of the processed parts, there is a need for an improved method of sintering by controlling process conditions during the cooling phase. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the treatment of disorders which receive blood flow from the uterine arteries, and more particularly to devices and methods for occlusion of the uterine arteries.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) is performed on approximately 600,000 women annually in the United States. For approximately 340,000 women, hysterectomy is probably the best current therapeutic choice for the treatment of their diseases (uterine cancer, endometriosis, menorrhagia, and prolapse). For approximately 60,000 women with dysfunctional uterine bleeding (abnormal menstrual bleeding that has no discrete anatomic explanation such as a tumor or growth), newer endometrial ablation techniques may be an alternative to hysterectomy. For approximately 200,000 women with benign but symptomatic (excessive bleeding, pain, and “bulk” sensations) muscular tumors of the uterus, known as leiomyoma or fibroids, newer treatment methods have been developed which may spare these women a hysterectomy, as well.
Hysterectomy for treating uterine fibroid disorders, though effective, has many undesirable characteristics. Thus, any method which can approximate the therapeutic result of a hysterectomy without removing the uterus (and commonly the ovaries since they are closely adjacent to the uterus) would be a significant improvement in this field.
The undesirable characteristics of hysterectomy include a known mortality rate of 0.5 deaths per 1000 hysterectomies. Stated another way, the risk of death within 30 days of hysterectomy is thirty times greater for women who have had a hysterectomy than for women of similar ages and backgrounds who have not had a hysterectomy. Morbidity (medical symptoms and problems short of death) associated with hysterectomy include possible injury to adjacent organs (the bladder, the ureters, and bowel), hospital stay of approximately one week, five to six weeks of slow recovery to normal activity three weeks of absence from work, direct medical expenses of at least $10,000, indirect cost of time away from work, a future three-fold increase in the incidence of cardiovascular disease, decreased sexual pleasure in approximately thirty percent of women, and depression and anxiety for many years after the hysterectomy for approximately eight percent of women.
The endometrium is a glandular mucous membrane of the uterus, the thickness and structure of which varies with the phase of the menstrual lining. It is normal for portions of the lining to slough off and bleed during menstruation, but many women suffer from painful dysfunctional uterine bleeding or endometritis. Thus, endometrial ablation (removal or destruction of the endometrium) may be an alternative to hysterectomy for approximately 60,000 women. A great many new devices have been invented to perform endometrial ablation to treat dysfunctional uterine bleeding. To distinguish the present invention and its applications from endometrial ablation devices, the endometrial ablation devices will be briefly described. Endometrial devices can be categorized into two major groups: devices which require direct visualization of the endometrium to apply an energy source to ablate the endometrium; and those that do not require visualization for their application.
Direct visualization of the lining of the uterus is accomplished by placing a hysteroscope through the vagina and into the uterus via the cervical os (opening). The hysteroscope image is then displayed as a color image on a TV monitor adjacent to the patient. The gynecologist then manipulates the hysteroscope and endometrial ablation instrument to ablate the lining of the uterus. Endometrial lining ablation instruments directed by hysteroscope include radiofrequency or electrosurgery loops, roller-balls, and lasers. The goal of all of these hysteroscopic endometrial ablation instruments is to transfer heat energy to the endometrium sufficiently to heat and thereby destroy it. An ablated endometrium cannot respond physiologically or pathologically to hormonal stimulation and cannot, therefore, proliferate and bleed.
To treat all of the endometrium, it must be entirely visible through the hysteroscope. However, visualization of all of the endometrium is difficult. The uterus must be distended like a water balloon to allow adequate visualization. In this distension process, some women become water intoxicated and hyponatremic. Furthermore, the uterine cavity is an awkward shape, somewhat triangular and often angulated. Directly visualizing each and every square millimeter of endometrial surface and ablating each and every square millimeter is seldom achieved. Consequently, portions of the dysfunctional endometrium may persist and dysfunctional bleeding may continue.
Because of these hysteroscopic visualization and ablation limitations, alternative methods have been invented to destroy the lining of the uterus without the need at all for visualization of the uterine lining. On such method uses a prototypic instrument, the ThermaChoice™ balloon, which is produced by GyneCare, a division of Ethicon, Inc. (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,129, incorporated in its entirety herein). This device is inserted through the vagina into the uterus via the cervical os. The balloon is shaped like a triangle to conform to the shape of the uterus. Once in place, hot fluid is added to the balloon to heat and destroy the uterine lining. Treatment only occurs where the balloon is in adequate contact with the uterine lining. As an alternative, hot fluids can be directly introduced into the uterus (e.g., ENABL brand system manufactured by Innerdyne, Inc., and marketed by U.S. Surgical Corporation).
Endometrial destruction can also be brought about with chemical damage, photochemical injury, or thermal damage (heat or cold). Energy that reaches and destroys the cells of the endometrial lining of the uterus potentially destroys the uterine lining and thereby treats dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
Surgically removing fibroids or in situ ablation of uterine fibroids is a bit like eradicating ants in the pantry—they are not all seen from one perspective and there may be a lot of them. Commonly, a diagnosis of uterine fibroids involves the presence of multiple fibroids, often averaging ten fibroids or more per afflicted uterus. Consequently, it is difficult to know which fibroid is causing symptoms to the patient (bleeding, pain, and bulk effects on adjacent organs). Furthermore, fibroids occur at different layers in the uterus. Uterine fibroids can occur adjacent to the lining of the uterus (submucosal fibroid), in the myometrium (intramural fibroid), or adjacent to the outer layer of the uterus (subserosal fibroid). Consequently, if one is directly observing the uterus from the peritoneal cavity, only subserosal fibroids would be seen. If one is directly observing the uterus from the endometrial surface of the uterus, only the submucosal would be seen. Fibroids deep within the wall of the uterus are poorly visualized from either surface. Finally, since fibroids come in all sizes, only the larger fibroids will be seen in any case.
Clearly, the strategy of identifying which individual fibroid is causing symptoms (when there are often many), finding that fibroid, and then either removing or destroying that individual fibroid is a rather complex strategy. It is therefore easy to understand why the hysterectomy is such a common surgical choice. With hysterectomy, all uterine fibroids are removed in one stroke.
In 1995, it was demonstrated that fibroids, in a uterus that contained one or multiple fibroids, could be treated without hysterectomy using a non-surgical therapy, specifically comprising bilateral intraluminal occlusion of the uterine arteries (Ravina et al., “Arterial Embolization to Treat Uterine Myomata”, Lancet Sep. 9, 1995; Vol. 346; pp. 671-672, incorporated in its entirety herein). This technique is known as “uterine artery embolization”. The technique uses standard interventional radiology angiographic techniques and equipment, whereby the uterine arteries are accessed via a transvascular route from a common femoral artery into the left and right uterine arteries.
Three facts explain the success of uterine artery embolization. First, it has been established that pelvic bleeding from a wide variety of sources (e.g., auto accidents, surgical errors, and post partum hemorrhage) can be effectively controlled with embolization techniques using coils placed in arterial and venous lumens (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,994,069, 5,226,911, and 5,549,824, all of which are incorporated in their entireties herein) (available from Target Therapeutics), or particles (GELFOAM pledgets, available from Upjohn, Kalamazoo, Mich., or IVALON particles, available from Boston Scientific).
Second, fibroids live a tenuous vascular life with very little ability to recruit a new blood supply from the host when the primary blood supply is compromised. Third, the uterus has a dual (or redundant) blood supply; the primary blood supply is from the bilateral uterine arteries, the secondary blood supply from the bilateral ovarian arteries (see FIG. 4).
Consequently, when both uterine arteries are occluded, i.e. bilateral vessel occlusion, the uterus and the fibroids contained within the uterus are both deprived of their blood supply. However, as demonstrated by Ravina et al., the effect on the fibroid is greater than the effect on the uterus. In most instances, the fibroid withers and ceases to cause clinical symptoms.
The uterine artery embolization technique utilized by Ravina et al. uses standard transvascular equipment, available in typical interventional radiology angiography suite. This equipment includes guide catheters to selectively enter the tortuous right and left uterine arteries, Ivalon or Gelfoam particles, and intravascular coils. With skill and these standard angiographic tools, the uterine arteries can be occluded bilaterally and fibroid disease treated through a 2 mm hole in the right groin and through the right common femoral artery. Following the procedure, the arterial puncture site is held with manual pressure for fifteen minutes. While post-procedural pain is often significant, and requires intravenously delivered pain medication, the patient is typically fully recovered in a few days.
The problem with uterine artery embolization is simple. The physicians who know how to do the procedure are interventional radiologists, who do not take care of gynecology problems. The physicians who take care of gynecology problems do not possess the skill necessary to perform catheter based uterine artery embolization. Accordingly, only hundreds of uterine artery embolizations have been performed, worldwide, over the past three years, whereas hundreds of thousands of hysterectomies have been performed each year for uterine fibroids which are symptomatic.
What is needed, therefore, are devices and methods which allow an average gynecologist to occlude the uterine arteries through a transvaginal approach, the standard site of access for evaluating and treating gynecologic disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a novel bipartite plant viral vector launch system for recombination in planta to regenerate full-length infectious virus, a viral vector advantageous for high level replication for protein expression resulting from efficient suppression of RNA silencing and also advantageous for effective virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) when modified to incorporate weak suppression of RNA silencing, cloned from a potexvirus, Alternanthera mosaic virus (AltMV); constructs containing the required parts of the bipartite viral vectors, constructs containing the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of AltMV infectious clones, constructs comprising the partial RdRp, TGB1, TGB2, TGB3 and CP of AltMV infectious clones, and such constructs further comprising T7 promoters, Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoters, duplicated sub-genomic RNA promoters and multiple cloning sites allowing for additional genes/sequences for expression; vectors containing exogenous T7 RNA polymerase for enhancing infectivity, variant constructs containing modifications to the efficiency of RNA silencing suppression thus enabling VIGS, a method of making a novel bipartite plant viral vector launch system comprising constructs capable of regenerating full-length infectious virus vectors advantageous for both protein expression and VIGS of exogenous genes and sequences, a method of using both the CaMV 35S promoter and the T7 promoters in the same vector making possible both DNA and RNA delivery to drive the transient expression of the infectious viral clones for efficient protein expression and VIGS, a method of ensuring early and enhanced levels of infectivity by including the addition of vectors encoding T7 RNA polymerase, and a method of manipulating the severity of infection by altering the temperature.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Alternanthera mosaic virus (AltMV) is a potexvirus most closely related to Papaya mosaic virus, and was originally reported from a weed species, Alternanthera pungens, in Australia (Geering and Thomas. 1999. Arch. Virol. 144:577-592). AltMV has since been reported to infect various ornamental plants, including several Phlox species (Hammond et al. 2006a. Arch. Virol. 151:477-493; Hammond et al. 2006b. Acta Horticulturae 722:71-77), and Portulaca (Ciuffo and Turina. 2004. Plant Pathol. 53:515; Hammond et al. 2006a,b, supra; Baker et al. 2006. Plant Disease 90:833), Scutellaria and Crossandra (Baker et al., supra), Angelonia (Lockhart and Daughtrey. 2008. Plant Dis. 92:1473) as well as Arabidopsis and soybean (H-S. Lim and J. Hammond, unpublished). The full 6607 nt sequence of one phlox isolate, AltMV-PA, has been reported (GenBank accession no. AY863024), and has a 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of 94 nt and a 126 nt 3′ UTR excluding the poly(A) tract; there are five open reading frames which encode the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), the triple gene block (TGB) proteins (TGB1, TGB2, TGB3), and the coat protein (CP) (Hammond at al. 2006b, supra). Some differences in symptom expression between isolates have been reported; in Nicotiana benthamiana, AltMV-SP (from phlox) and AltMV-PA produce faint chlorotic lesions on the inoculated leaves, followed by systemic chlorotic mosaic, with some rugosity and distortion, while AltMV-Po (from portulaca) produced mild symptoms. Under low temperature conditions (<20° C.) AltMV-SP produces necrotic local lesions and severe systemic necrosis (Hammond et al. 2006a, supra) an apparent hypersensitive response. It has also been noted that two geographically distinct isolates from portulaca share several coat protein (CP) amino acid residues that distinguish them from phlox and alternanthera isolates (Hammond et al. 2006a, supra); the complete sequence of a third geographically distinct isolate from portulaca has recently become available in GenBank (FJ822136) and the CP amino acid sequence is almost identical to those of the other portulaca isolates.
The presence of multiple sequence types, or mixed infection of distinct isolates, within a single plant has been reported for several viruses of different taxonomic groups e.g. capilloviruses (Magome et al. 1997; Phytopathology 87:389-396); closteroviruses (Sentandreu et al. 2006. Arch. Virol. 151:875-894); potyviruses (Sáenz et al. 2001. Mol. Plant Microbe Interact. 14: 278-287); alfalfa mosaic virus (Hull and Plaskitt. 1970. Virology 42: 773-776), including potexviruses (e.g. Ozeki et al. 2006. Arch. Virol. 151: 2067-2075). As RNA-dependent RNA polymerase lacks a proof-reading activity, RNA virus populations tend to accumulate many minor variations around a master sequence (or multiple master sequences), and thus exist as quasispecies populations (Domingo et al. 1985. Gene 40:1-8). Variation within isolates arises by viral polymerase error at a constant rate, but many of the newly generated mutants are sequestered in virions and may not serve as replication templates (Hall et al. 2001. J. Virol. 75: 10231-10243). However, the extent of population variation is limited by selection pressure for variants that interact successfully with different host and viral proteins necessary for completion of the infection cycle (Garcia-Arenal et al. 2001. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 39:157-186; Schneider and Roossinck. 2001. J. Virol. 75: 6566-6571; Rico et al. 2006. J. Virol. 80: 8124-8132). In order to survive, a virus must be diverse enough to adapt rapidly to changing environments without losing fitness during passage from host to host (Liang et al. 2002. J. Virol. 76: 12320-12324). Changing environmental conditions such as temperature can affect virus RNA replication (e.g. Aldaoud et al. 1989. Intervirology 30:227-233; Kaper et al. 1995. Arch. Virol. 140: 65-74). Genetic exchange plays a role to produce population diversity in bipartite or tripartite viruses (Lin et al. 2004. J. Virol. 78:6666-6675); but recombination has also been reported within monopartite viruses such as the potyviruses (Revers et al. 1996. J. Gen. Virol. 77: 1953-1965), closteroviruses (Rubio et al. 2001. J. Virol. 75: 8054-8062), and between defective potyviral genomes delivered as RNA transcripts (Gal-On et al. 1998; J. Virol. 72:5268-5270). There is also some evidence for recombination between isolates of the potexvirus Cymbidium mosaic virus (Sherpa et al. 2007. J. Biosci. 32: 663-669; Vaughan et al. 2008. Arch. Virol. 153: 1186-1189), although others found no such evidence (Moles et al. 2007. Arch. Virol. 152: 705-715), and Malcuit et al. (2000, Virus Genes 20: 165-172) have suggested that PVX strain groups evolved through convergent evolution rather than recombination. More recently Draghici and Varrelmann (2009. J. Virol 83: 7761-7769) have demonstrated RNA recombination under high selective pressure between defective PVX genomes delivered by agroinfiltration; in this instance the defective genomes either lacked the 5′ or the 3′ viral untranslated regions (utr) such that no replication of either partial genome alone was possible. Selection may disfavor recombined strains, as a result of incompatibilities between interacting viral proteins, or between viral proteins and cis-acting viral sequences (Malcuit et al., supra). The derivation of distinct Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) lineages by evolution and/or selection from a quasispecies population aided by host passage or aphid transmission has been documented (Sentandreu et al., supra). The origin of variants from a population derived from infectious cDNA clones of Tobacco mosaic virus (Kearney et al. 1999. Arch. Virol. 144: 1513-1526; Schneider and Roossinck. 2000. J. Virol. 74:3130-3134), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (Schneider and Roossinck, 2000, supra) has been documented, as has selection from a defined population of CMV variants (Li and Roossinck. 2004. J. Virol. 78:10582-10587).
The Potexvirus replicase is a single protein that contains methyltransferase, RNA helicase and RNA polymerase domains (Verchot-Lubicz et al. 2007. J. Gen. Virol. 88:1643-1655). A single amino acid change in the Pol domain of Potato virus X (PVX) or Plantago asiatica mosaic virus (PIAMV) RdRp induces systemic necrosis in N. benthamiana (Kagiwada et al. 2005. Virus. Res. 110:177-182; Ozeki et al., supra). PVX TGB1 has been reported as a suppressor of RNA silencing (Bayne et al. 2005. Plant J. 44: 471-482; Voinnet et al. 2000. Cell 103:157-167), and to block systemic spread of the silencing signal (Voinnet at al., supra). TGB1, TGB2, TGB3 and coat protein are required for movement; TGB2 and TGB3 are ER binding proteins, and TGB2 has two transmembrane domains and a central motif conserved'among potexviruses that lies in the ER lumen (Verchot-Lubicz at al., supra). PVX CP is an elicitor of the Rx resistance response, and overproduction of CP leads to Rx-mediated hypersensitive response (Bendahmane et al. 1995. Plant J. 8: 933-941; Tameling and Baulcombe. 2007. Plant Cell 19:1682-1694).
A strategy for use of RNA plant viruses as vectors was proposed by Siegel (Siegel, A. 1983. Phytopathology 73: 775) even before infectious clones of any plant viruses had been developed. According to this strategy, the rod-shaped plant viruses offered the greatest possibility as vectors, because the architecture of the particles does not place inherent limitations on the size of the insert; in contrast there are clear packaging constraints with viruses that have isometric particles. Several types of viral vectors have been developed among the rod-shaped and filamentous plant viruses, including gene replacement vectors, exemplified with Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) by Takamatsu et al. (1987. EMBO J. 6: 307-311); gene insertion behind a duplicated subgenomic promoter from the same virus (Dawson et al. 1989. Virology 172: 285-292) or a related virus (Culver et al. 1993. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 2055-2059); translational fusions of partial or complete ORFs to either the N-terminus or C-terminus of a viral structural protein, either with or without a proteolytic cleavage site allowing processing of the fused sequence (e.g. Gopinath et al. 2000. Virology 267: 159-173), as a readthrough fusion such that both wild-type and modified viral proteins are produced (Hamamoto at al. 1993. Bio/Technology 11: 930-932); epitope display in an internal, surface-exposed loop (Porta at al. 1994. Virology 202: 949-955), functional complementation with multicomponent viruses such as Cucumber mosaic virus (Zhao et al. 2000. Arch. Virol. 145:2285-2295); functional complementation of a defective RNA by a wild-type virus (Raffo & Dawson. 1991. Virology 184: 277-289); chimeric viruses expressing a heterologous viral CP for peptide presentation or epitope display (Yusibov et al. 1997. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 5784-5788); and viral amplicons delivered from the genome of a transgenic plant (Angell & Baulcombe. 1997. EMBO J. 16: 3675-3684) or via agroinfiltration (Liu & Lomonossoff, 2002. J. Virol. Methods 105: 343-348). Mallory et al. (2002. Nat. Biotechnol. 20:622-625) reported the use of a viral suppressor of RNA silencing to overcome RNA silencing to increase expression from the viral amplicon. Knapp at al. (2005. Virology 341: 47-58) have developed a bipartite system from a defective genome of TMV lacking the CP gene, paired with a defective RNA having an internally deleted replicase gene and a functional CP gene flanked by the TMV 5′ and 3′ TMV utr. Although this bipartite form was maintained in systemic infections, systemic movement was significantly debilitated (Knapp et al. 2007. Virology 367:82-91).
Replication of defective genomes in the presence of a fully functional genome occurs in several plant viral systems; in some cases replication of a ‘defective interfering” (DI) RNA inhibits replication of the functional genome (e.g. Jones et al. 1990. Virology 176:539-545). In other cases the DI RNA may intensify symptom expression (e.g. Li et al. 1989. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86, 9173-9177).
A further extension of hybrid viruses, combined with complementation, has been described. Marillonet et al. (2004. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101: 6852-6857) and Gleba et al. (2004. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 7: 182-188) have developed systems in which viral functions not needed for expression can be dispensed with, and complementation used to provide equivalent functions from other sources; this has been described as the ‘deconstructed virus’ approach; expression can be optimized by elimination of functions not needed for expression. This may also aid in biocontainment, by elimination of functions contributing to vectored transmission. An efficient means of delivery of multiple separate components by agroinfiltration, combined with in planta recombination through co-expression of a recombinase, was shown to both confer high yields, and to allow greater flexibility in comparing variants of one or more system components. One or more component may be supplied as a transgene, and induction of replication and expression may be regulated by use of either a developmentally-controlled promoter, or by application of an inducer (Gleba et al. 2004, supra).
Taschner et al. (1991. Virology 181: 445-450) transformed plants with the replicase functions of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AlMV), while Mori et al (1992. J. Gen. Virol. 73: 169-172) similarly transformed plants with the replicase functions of Brome mosaic virus; Sanchez-Navarro et al. (2001. Arch. Virol. 146: 923-929) engineered RNA3 of AlMV into an expression vector using the replicase-expressing plants.
Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) has become a significant tool for discovery of gene function in both dicotyledonous (Ratcliff of al. 2001. Plant J. 25: 237-245; Liu et al. 2002. Plant J. 31: 777-786) and monocotyledonous (Holzberg et al. 2002. Plant J. 30: 315-327) species. Although some viral vectors have been utilized for both protein expression and VIGS, including PVX (Chapman et al. 1992. Plant J. 2: 549-557; Ruiz of al. 1998, Plant Cell 10: 937-946) and Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV; Zhang & Ghabrial. 2006. Virology 344: 401-411), it is generally recognized that for high level protein expression, a virus with an effective suppressor of RNA silencing is desirable, whereas for VIGS, a less effective viral suppressor of RNA silencing is preferred (Dalmay of al. 2000. Plant Cell 12: 369-379). Indeed, it has been noted that BPMV does not effectively suppress RNA silencing, and that expression of an effective suppressor of RNA silencing in combination with BPMV vectors may be useful for enhancing foreign protein expression, which would probably need to be expressed from a co-infecting recombinant BPMV vector (Zhang and Ghabrial 2006, supra). BPMV has either weak or no suppressor of RNA silencing (Zhang and Ghabrial 2006, supra), and is more useful as a VIGS vector (Zhang et al. 2009. Mol. Plant—Microbe Interact. 22:123-131). PVX may fall into a middle group, as replication of PVX is significantly enhanced in a mixed infection with a potyvirus, as a consequence of the efficient suppression of RNA silencing provided by the potyvirus HC-Pro (Pruss et al. 1997. Plant Cell 9: 859-868), although PVX has its own suppressor of RNA silencing in TGB1 (Voinnet et al. 2000. Cell 103: 157-167).
Infectious clones of potexviruses including PVX (Hemenway et al. 1990. Virology 175: 365-371) have been developed and used as vectors for gene expression in plants (Chapman et al. 1992, supra) and for VIGS (Ruiz et al. 1998, supra). Separate constructs of infectious PVX clones driven by the Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter and the bacteriophage T7 promoter have been reported (Baulcombe et al. 1995. Plant J. 7: 1045-1053). An infectious monopartite clone of PVX has been placed into a binary Agrobacterium vector under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter, and further modified with unique restriction enzymes in a Multiple Cloning Site (MCS) to allow high throughput cloning and expression of suitably constructed cDNA libraries (Takken et al. 2000. Plant J. 24: 275-283).
The bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase (T7RNAP) is well known, and has previously been utilized from a chromosomal insertion for high-level expression of genes in bacteria (Studier & Moffatt. 1986. J Mol Biol. 189:113-130); in mammalian cells when T7RNAP was itself expressed from a recombinant vaccinia virus (Fuerst at al. 1986. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 83:8122-8126); and in insect cells when T7RNAP was delivered from a recombinant baculovirus (van Poelwijk et al. 1995. Biotechnology (NY). 13:261-264). The T7RNAP has also been used under the control of appropriate promoters for both tissue-specific and inducible expression in transgenic plants (Nguyen et al. 2004. Plant Biotechnol J 2, 301-310). Replication of the RNA of an insect virus was initiated (Ball. 1995. J. Virol. 69:720-727), and infectious rabies virus recovered in mammalian cells (Schnell et al. 1994. EMBO J. 13:4195-4203) using the vaccinia/T7 system. Infectious poliovirus was recovered from mammalian cells using the baculovirus/T7 system (Yap et al. 1997. Virology 231: 192-200). Reverse-genetics systems for negative-strand viruses are also often based on transcription of viral RNA by the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase (de Wit at al. 2007. J Gen Virol 88: 1281-1287). A hybrid baculovirus-T7 RNA polymerase system has been used for transient expression in mammalian cells (Yap et al. 1997, supra). The RNA minigenome system has been used for evaluating the functions of viral proteins and of sequences involved in viral RNA replication (Lohmann et al. 1999. Science 285: 110-113). Much of the work on the role of the 5′ and 3 UTR in viral replication has been through use of the minigenome (Dumas et al. 2007. J Virol Methods 142: 59-66; Friebe at al. 2001. J. Virol. 75: 12047-12057).
In summary, agroinfiltration, biolistic delivery of plasmid or transcripts, and mechanical inoculation of either plasmids or in vitro transcripts are the main methods for delivery of viral nucleic acids into cells. Agroinfiltration is relatively easy to apply with low cost; however, not all plant species are susceptible to agroinfiltration. In contrast, most plant species can be infected by biolistic delivery or mechanical inoculation with plasmids or in vitro transcripts, but the technique is more laborious and expensive than agroinfiltration. Each method has advantages, and disadvantages, but since most virus-based vectors are constructed with a single promoter sequence, it has not typically been possible to use both DNA and RNA delivery methods with the same vector. In addition, many plant viruses have been modified, for either protein expression or gene silencing. However, a single plant virus-based vector has been unable to effectively fulfill both functions because of the conflicting requirements for strong or weak RNA silencing suppression, respectively, for protein expression and VIGS.
Thus, there is a need for the development of alternative viral vector systems which have flexibility for modification and variation and which are applicable for effective in planta transient expression of multiple genes. We show here that the genome of representative potexviruses can be manipulated to serve as new bipartite plant viral vector launch systems for recombination in planta to regenerate full length infectious viruses, viral vectors effective for high levels of protein expression, and manipulated differently, for effective virus-induced gene silencing. | {
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The present invention relates to virtual private network (VPN) services, and particularly to providing VPN services between two or more Autonomous Systems (AS).
Virtual Private Networks (VPN) are commonly used for connecting trusted parties or “sites” to each other over an untrusted (public) backbone network through a secure tunnel. Two sites have IP connectivity over the common backbone only if there is some VPN which contains them both. Two sites which have no VPN in common have no connectivity over that backbone. If all the sites in a VPN are owned by the same enterprise, the VPN may be thought of as a corporate “intranet”. If the various sites in a VPN are owned by different enterprises, the VPN may be thought of as an “extranet”. A site can be in more than one VPN; e.g., in an intranet and in several extranets. In general, when we use the term VPN, we will not be distinguishing between intranets and extranets. The owners of the sites are often referred to as the “customers”. The owners/operators of the backbone are often referred to as the “Service Providers” (SPs). The customers obtain “VPN service” from the SPs. A customer may be a single enterprise, a set of enterprises, an Internet Service Provider, an Application Service Provider, another SP which offers the same kind of VPN service to its own customers, etc.
Security and management considerations may render it advantageous to subdivide a large network into several network parts that need to know as little as possible of each other. This is especially important in the case where these network parts are managed by different service providers. These network parts are often referred to as Autonomous Systems (AS). The Autonomous System corresponds to an administrative domain, such as university, company, backbone network, etc.
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has defined a concept which allows Service Providers to offer Virtual Private Network (“VPN”) services to their customers. Each VPN site must contain one or more Customer Edge (CE) routers. Each CE router is attached, via some sort of attachment circuit, to one or more Provider Edge (PE) routers. CE routers are logically part of the customer's VPN, and PE and P routers are logically part of the SP's network. The attachment circuit over which a packet travels when going from CE to PE is known as that packet's “ingress attachment circuit”, and the PE as the packet's “ingress PE”. The attachment circuit over which a packet travels when going from PE to CE is known as that packet's “egress attachment circuit”, and the PE as the packet's “egress PE”. We will say that a PE router is attached to a particular VPN if it is attached to a CE router which is in a site of that VPN. Similarly, we will say that a PE router is attached to a particular site if it is attached to a CE router which is in that site. When the CE router is a router, it is a routing peer of the PE(s) to which it is attached, but it is not a routing peer of CE routers at other sites. Routers at different sites do not directly exchange routing information with each other; in fact, they do not even need to know of each other at all. As a consequence, the customer has no backbone or “virtual backbone” to manage, and does not have to deal with any inter-site routing issues. Each PE router maintains a number of separate forwarding tables, including VPN Routing and Forwarding tables (VRFs). Every PE-CE attachment circuit is associated, by configuration, with one or more VRFs. An attachment circuit which is associated with a VRF is known as a “VRF attachment circuit”. In the simplest and most typical case, a PE-CE attachment circuit is associated with exactly one VRF. When an IP packet is received over a particular attachment circuit, its destination IP address is looked up in the associated VRF. The result of that lookup determines how to route the packet. The VRF used by the packet's ingress PE for routing a particular packet is known as the packet's “ingress VRF”. The packet's “egress VRF”, is located at the packet's egress PE.
An Autonomous System AS has an Autonomous System Border Router for connections to other Autonomous System(s). The Border Gateway Protocol (“BGP”) is used to distribute the customers routes across the provider's IP (Internet Protocol) backbone network, and Multiprotocol Label Switching (“MPLS”) is used to tunnel customer packets across the provider's backbone. This is known as a “BGP/MPLS IP VPN”. More specifically, if two sites of a VPN attach to PEs which are in the same Autonomous System, the PEs can distribute VPN-IPv4 routes to each other by means of an IBGP connection between them. The term “IBGP” refers to the set of protocols and procedures used when there is a BGP connection between two BGP speakers in the same Autonomous System. This is distinguished from “EBGP”, the set of procedures used between two BGP speakers in different Autonomous. Systems. Alternatively, each can have an IBGP connection to a route reflector [BGP-RR]. MP-iBGP is employed between two routers within the same AS, and MP-eBGP is used between routers in different AS systems, as will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.
RFC2547bis (draft-ietf-I3vpn-rfc2547bis-03.txt, Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF): BGP/MPLS IP VPNS), especially Chapter 10, defines different ways for providing IP VPN service in a situation wherein the customer sites are attached to provider edge routers PE belonging to different Autonomic Systems (AS) managed by different service providers.
FIG. 1 illustrates the first inter-AS option (a) defined by RFC2547bis. In the example shown, provider edge routers PE1 . . . 4 are the ingress/egress PEs of a packet. CE routers are typically located at the customer's facilities. PE has a logical attachment circuit leading to a CE router and associated with the VPN Routing and Forwarding table (VRF) which implements the virtual network of the respective customer. In the inter-AS (a), the Autonomous System Border Routers ASBR are directly interconnected (i.e., there is no Label Switched Path LSP or Multiprotocol Label Switching MPLS network between thereof). VRFs are distinguished from each other by means of a physical or logical connection between the ASBR routers so that the VRFs implementing the same VPN are associated with each other using a different physical connection or subconnection (logical connection). In the example shown FIG. 1, VRF1 in the ASBR1 and VRF1 in the ASBR2 are associated with each other. The routing of the VPN routes for this option (a) is as follows. Let us consider the case where a router CE1 at the customer's site advertises the IP network ‘10.0.0.0/24’ to the edge router PE1 by means of an eBGP session. The router PE1 installs the network ‘10.0.0.0/24’ to an appropriate VRF (e.g. VRF1) and thereafter advertises the network ‘10.0.0.0/24’ further to other PE routers (such as PE2, ASBR1) within the MPLS network of the same Autonomic System AS by means of the MP-iBGB protocol. As a result, also ASBR1 receives the advertisement and installs the route to a VRF. The ASBR1 then advertises the route as a normal IPv4 route to the ASBR2 by means of the eBGP protocol. The ASBR2 advertises the route to other PE routers (e.g. PE3,PE4) within its own Autonomic System AS by means of the MP-IBGP protocol, the other PE routers then advertising the route as a normal IPv4 route to the CE routers.
A problem in this option (a) is that the MPLS technique cannot be used between the ASBR routers but the use of logical or physical connection is required in the manner described above. Routing of the VPN routes requires one session per each VPN, which can also prevent scalability to a large number of VPNs.
FIG. 2 illustrates the second inter-AS option (b) defined by RFC2547bis. In this option, no actual VRFs are maintained in the ASBR routers. The ASBR routers have to maintain the VPN routes but they are not installed to VRFs. VPN route information, which also contains a label (VPN label) used for the respective route, is distributed using the MP-eGBP protocol. Typically the ASBR router rewrites the next hop attribute in the BGP message to address the ASBR router itself. Thus, the packet transferred between ASBR routers is labelled with a VPN label but contains no Packet Switched Network (PSN) label, due to which there can be no MPLS network with a PSN tunnel between the ASBR routers. This would be needed if more than two ASBR routers were interconnected to each other, or if the ASBR routers were remote from each other and MPLS technique were employed in the switching layer. Otherwise, the routing of the VPN route is similar to that of the option (a), expect that the a single MP-eBGP session is used between the ASBR routers to distribute the VPN-IPv4 addresses, and several eBGP sessions are not required for that purpose.
A problem in this option (b) is that a label switched path is needed between the ingress and the egress PEs, because the ASBR routers will not terminate the label switched path to a VRF instance. In this case, a label switched path is formed with VPN labels which are distributed by means of the MP-BGP protocol. As routes are not installed in a VRF, the service providers must take care of filtering of RT attributes for security reasons. The option (b) does not require use of subconnections to associate VRFs between the ASBR routers, which is an advantage over the option (a).
FIG. 3 illustrates the third inter-AS option (c) defined by RFC2547bis. In this option, the eBGP protocol is used between the ASBR routers to advertise an IPv4 address of the ingress edge routers (PE1 . . . PE4 in the example shown in FIG. 3) and a corresponding label to other Autonomous Systems AS. This way, a label switched path is provided between the ingress and the egress PEs of the packet. In this case, there is a PSN tunnel within which the VPN labels are transferred. VPN-IPv4 routes and VPN labels are typically distributed by means of a VPN Route Reflector. Each PE router (e.g. PE1,PE2,ASBR1, or PE3,PE4, ASBR2) in the same Autonomic System AS has an MP-iBGP session to a VPN Route Reflector of the specific AS. VPN Route Reflectors of different ASs exchange the VPN-IPv4 using the MP-eBGP protocol. However, label switched paths between several edge routers of different service providers pose a security risk. An advantage of the option (c) is that the ASBR router does not need to maintain VPN routes. | {
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An important and desirable feature of bedding articles, particularly comforters, is maintaining the comforter fill in position, so that it does not move to the sides, i.e. away from the central area, during use. The shifting of the comforter fill is undesirable because it decreases the uniform warmth of the comforter and results in cold spots in areas where the fill has shifted. The internal structure of a comforter is thus often designed to prevent shifting. Various arrangements have been designed to prevent the shifting of fill, including what are known as baffle box comforters, which use baffles to divide a comforter into a plurality of squares or boxes. While it is important to prevent shifting of fill during use, it is also important to be able to conveniently fill the comforter during manufacture. These important objectives are often in conflict to some extent.
It is therefore desirable to have a comforter structure which permits convenient and inexpensive filling of the comforter during manufacture, but also prevents or significantly limits shifting of the fill during use. | {
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3-Phenylbenzofuranylalkanoic acid and -alkenoic acids and certain derivatives thereof have been reported, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,682,976 and 3,862,134 as having antiinflammatory activity. The compound 2nitro- 3-phenylbenzofuran has been reported, although no physiological activity has been reported prior to the present invention. Certain neutral 2-nitrobenzofurans are known as antibacterial agents, for example, see French Pat. No. 2,081,585 and several publications by Rene Royer, et al. Acidic compounds combining the structural features of the compounds of the present invention have not previously been described. | {
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Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) processes are often utilized to produce Powdered Metal (PM) articles or components. During an exemplary HIP process, a PM alloy is loaded into the cavity of a specialized capsule or “HIP container.” The HIP container is then subject to elevated temperatures and isostatic pressures sufficient to consolidate or sinter the PM alloy into a coherent mass or “component preform,” which may have the near net shape of the finished component. After HIP processing, the component preform is removed from the HIP container and subjected to additional machining to define the more detailed features of the finished PM component. HIP processes of this type are employed across a wide range of industries to produce a number of different PM components. The aerospace industry, for example, has developed HIP processes suitable for producing Gas Turbine Engine (GTE) components including compressor rotors and turbine rotors (collectively referred to herein as “GTE rotors”). In certain instances, it may be desirable to produce shaped cavities within a PM component for a particular purpose. For example, in the case of a GTE rotor, it may be desirable to produce shaped cavities within the rotor hub for cooling or stress relief purposes. This can present a difficultly, however, in that such shaped cavities may have portions or regions that are not accessible from the exterior of the PM component and/or that have relatively complex three dimensional geometries. As a result, it can be impractical, if not impossible to produce such shaped cavities utilizing conventional machining techniques. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of detecting a moving object from captured images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Space debris is an out-of-service artificial object which orbits the Earth. A detection of the existence of the space debris is important for smooth operation of spacecraft (artificial satellites, space stations, space shuttles and the like). One method among conventional space debris detection methods determines the existence of space debris by extracting high-luminance parts respectively from images captured by a CCD (charge coupled device) camera on the Earth or on the orbit.
This method includes: cropping areas in the same size from three or more images captured at time intervals in accordance with the movement of a moving object such as space debris; and applying a stacking method to the cropped image areas. Here, the movement of the moving object is the uniform motion or the like having mobile vectors (velocities) in a two-dimensional direction in the xy-coordinate system, for example. To put it concretely, the cropped image areas are superposed on one another, and a median value is evaluated from pixel values at the same pixels across the superposed image areas. If the median value thus evaluated is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the pixel is extracted as a pixel representing the existence of the moving object (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publications Nos. 2002-139319 and 2003-323625, for example).
The stacking method is a widely-used effective method not only for detecting space debris, but also for detecting a moving object at a low luminance level in an image. Furthermore, as described above, the stacking method employs the median pixel value as the evaluation value for the moving object detection. Therefore, the stacking method causes no rise in the evaluation value even if a noise component happens to be captured in some of the images (for example, a star or a cosmic ray in the cosmos is captured in some of the images), in contrast to another case in which an average pixel value is used as the evaluation value. For this reason, the stacking method is advantageous in inhibiting erroneous detection of a moving object due to the existence of a star or a cosmic ray which happens to be captured therein. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
An automatic warehousing arrangement including racks and a handling apparatus has been known, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-218407. In this known arrangement, the handling apparatus or a crane comprises a lower frame, a pair of guide posts, front and rear, upstanding from the lower frame and spaced in the direction of back and forth movement of the crane, an upper frame interconnecting the top ends of the guide posts, and a vertically movable carriage guided along the guide posts. The vertically movable carriage carries a transfer device, such as a fork.
The posts have guide rail portions of an open groove shape formed on inwardly opposed surfaces thereof. The vertically movable carriage is provided at its front and rear ends each with a movable shaft urged by a spring for projection outward. Mounted to each movable shaft are a first guide roller for inhibiting longitudinal oscillations which contacts the bottom of the corresponding guide rail portion, and a second guide roller for inhibiting lateral oscillaions which is opposed to sides of the guide rail portion. Each post is hollow in its interior, the hollow interior being utilized for arrangement of a vertical drive chain which extends vertically in and outside the post. The vertical drive chain is connected to the vertically movable carriage.
According to this known arrangement, load transfer between the rack and the crane is carried out by a combination of horizontal movement of the crane on a predetermined track extending along the front of load-in/load-out sections of the rack, vertical movement of the carriage, and lateral stretch and retraction of a load transfer device. For this purpose, upward and downward movement of the vertically movable carriage is performed by the vertical drive chain being driven to run. The first guide rollers for inhibiting longitudinal oscillations and second guide rollers for inhibiting lateral oscillations are guided along the guide rail portions, whereby the vertically movable carriage can be moved upward and downward while being prevented from longitudinal and lateral oscillations.
According to such known arrangement, the vertical drive chains, positioned outside the posts and connected to the ends of the vertically movable carriage, are positioned close to the outer sides of the respective posts. Therefore, the vertical drive chains tend to sway back and forth during their run and may impinge upon outer surfaces of the posts. To avoid such an occurrence, the pair of posts may be sufficiently spaced from each other so as to allow the vertical drive chains to be positioned away from the outer surfaces of the respective posts, whereby the chains can be prevented from colliding with the outer surfaces of the posts. In this case, however, some adverse effect may be caused to the structural aspect of various parts of the crane.
In place of the vertical drive chain, other kind of cord element, such as wire rope, may be used to drive the vertically movable carriage for upward and downward movement. However, in that case, too, a similar problem is likely to occur.
According to the above described prior-art arrangement, the second guide rollers for inhibiting lateral oscillations are dimensionally so designed as to produce a clearance in relation to at least one side of the open-groove shaped guide rail portion, since smooth guidance through free rotation of the rollers cannot be effected if the rollers simultaneously come in contact with both sides of the guide rail portion. The presence of this clearance is a cause of jolting during a load transfer, in particular, in which the fork of the load transfer device is stretched and retracted. This does not permit any smooth and accurate load transfer, and may even result in generation of large noise when operation is carried out at high speed. Such jolting will also occur during upward and downward movement of the vertically movable carriage.
The first guide rollers for inhibiting longitudinal oscillations are each held in contact with the bottom of the corresponding guide rail portion by the resilient force of the spring and, therefore, they can absorb any surface irregularity of the guide rail portion to maintain the carriage constantly in a jolting-free condition. In this case, however, the second guide rollers for inhibiting lateral oscillations as mounted to each movable shaft are caused to shift in unison with the first guide rollers in the direction in which the first guide rollers are biased for surface contact, and this results in a lateral pressure being exerted on the second guide rollers. As a consequence, the second guide rollers are liable to some frictional wear which will in turn unfavorably affect the environment due to dust generation and will further enlarge the above mentioned clearance. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
An important aspect of the manufacture of integrated circuits (IC's) is the post-production testing process. The goal of the post-production testing process is to apply test inputs to a device and determine if the device is defective. Preferably, this defect detection process occurs as early point as possible since further integration of faulty components rapidly becomes very expensive. Consider for example, attempting to determine the location of a faulty IC in a personal computer system. There are several different kinds of tests that can be applied to IC defect testing. Exhaustive tests seek to apply every possible input in order to determine if any defects are present in the IC. Functional testing tests the functions present on the IC for correct operation. The fault model test determines each type of fault that is likely to occur, and devises tests for these common faults. The exhaustive test can be the most time-consuming and may also be expensive. Functional testing is problematic in that the test design must accurately ensure that all functionality is correctly tested. Functionality testing requires application specific knowledge to ensure that all incorporated functionality has been tested. Fault modeling will detect the faults assumed within the framework of the fault model. An example of the fault model is the stuck-at fault model. This model assumes a limited number of faults and assumes that the faults are permanent.
A well-designed test plan should use the least number of test inputs to cover the most number of defects or defective dice (DD's), and the test plan should be designed so that a test sequence is executed in an efficient fashion. Many of the exhaustive, functional, and fault models are based upon RTL and schematics. Thus the influence of the physical layout of the IC and the manufacture process (PLMP) on the defect creation in IC circuits is not exploited in the test strategy. The lack of relation between the test input data creation and the PLMP makes these methods susceptible to having redundant tests and performing a test inefficiently. The number of redundant tests and inefficient tests (RIT's) is a valuable parameter to consider when designing test plans, since there is a strong benefit in terms of reducing test execution time and test complexity when the number of RIT's are reduced. Current strategies that reduce the number of RIT's seek to eliminate the execution of redundant tests in the IC testing process using the same exhaustive, functional, and fault model strategies used in IC standardized IC testing.
Eliminating redundant tests and reordering tests to increase the test efficiency has become an important area of research as the IC test becomes increasingly expensive. In IC testing, tests are generated using simulations and other means. Evaluating the tests is important for increasing test efficiency and reducing test time. Efficient numerical algorithms for analyzing the test redundancy and the test sequence efficiency are required to meet the need for IC test time reduction techniques.
Thus, there is an unmet need in the art for an efficient numerical algorithm for analyzing a given test sequence redundancy and efficiency. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The current invention is directed to the delivery of a bias voltage using a pair of differential signals while it minimizing the electromagnetic interference produced by these differential mode signals in an Ethernet data port or other serial data port where a common mode transformer is employed for high potential (hipot) isolation.
Isolation transformers and common mode transformers are commonly used in the serial interface ports in communications equipment. One such serial interface type is Ethernet, as described in IEEE standard 802.3. In this type of communications interface, it is desired to transmit differential mode voltages over long distances to a remote point, and a pair of differential transmit signals and a pair of differential receive signals are sent over twisted pair copper wire. The data rate carried over these differential pairs varies from a data rate of 10 Mbps (million bits per second) to a data rate in excess of 1 Gbps. It is often desired to reduce the high frequency common mode component of the transmitted signal, and a class of transformers known as common mode transformers is employed, whereby the opposing flux produced by common mode currents cancels the common mode voltage at the output of the transformer, while the additive flux produced by differential mode currents reinforces the output voltage. In addition, an isolation voltage requirement provides for the biasing 1500V of DC from any differential pair to ground, and an isolation transformer is commonly employed to provide this isolation. FIG. 1 shows one such prior art termination. A device known as a SERDES (serializer-deserializer) provides a serial stream of differential output data on lines 41 and 41xe2x80x2, which couples to transmitter isolation transformer 14 of transformer 12. Isolation transformer 12 serves to provide the required hipot (high potential) isolation of typically 1500V between the data equipment associated with the serdes 40, and the incoming data lines of connector 30. Transmit isolation transformer 14 is followed by common mode transmit transformer 20 of common mode transformer 18. A common mode transformer provides very little impedance to currents of opposite polarity, and a higher impedance to currents of the same polarity, thereby reducing the conduction of high frequency currents from the serdes 40 to the external conductors of the cables attached to connector 30. This reduction in common mode transfer from the serdes to the connector conductors reduces the emissions of EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference) from the equipment. A balancing transformer 26 provides for symmetry in the output voltages, as well as an impedance reference for the common mode transformer 20. The output of transmit common mode transformer 20 is also furnished to an output connector 30, which for Ethernet is pins 1 and 2 of a shielded RJ-45 connector. Similarly, the receive path comprises a differential input arriving on connector 30 pins 3 and 6, thereafter being furnished to common mode receive transformer 22 of common mode transformer 18, and to receive isolation transformer 16 of isolation transformer 12, and to the receive inputs 43 and 43xe2x80x2 of the deserializer section of serdes 40. Receive balancing transformer 28 of balancing transformer 24 provides an impedance reference for common mode choke 22, as before. The reference resistors 42 and 44 provide an impedance reference for the unbalanced voltages present in the center tap of the balancing transformers 26 and 28. Capacitor 50 is a high voltage type that provides an AC return path for unbalanced common mode currents generated by either receive balancing tranformer 28 or transmit balancing tranformer 26. Resistors 46 and 48 provide a high frequency termination for unused pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 of the RJ-45 connector 30, for the case where an 8 wire cable using 2 pairs of twisted pair conductors is employed. As the cable connected to connector 30 may be very long, common mode voltages appearing on the twisted pairs for transmit and receive capacitively couple to the other twisted pairs, so all wires of the cable are provided a high frequency reference to ground, including the unused pins 4, 5, 7, and 8.
A first object of the invention is to provide a bias voltage using two differential pair electrical connections while preserving the hipot characteristics of the prior art termination. A second object of the invention is to provide an operating voltage over two differential pair electrical connections while preserving the common mode EMI attenuation of the prior art termination. A third object of the invention is to couple residual transient noise energy on the twisted pair cables to a shield conductor.
A differential mode termination includes a transmit isolation transformer coupled to a transmit common mode transformer, which is coupled to an output connector. The transmit common mode transformer has a reference autotransformer with a center tap for providing a shield reference, as well as the application of a bias voltage. The differential mode termination also includes a receive isolation transformer coupled to a receive common mode transformer, which is coupled to an output connector. The receive common mode transformer is coupled to a reference autotransformer with a center tap for providing a shield reference to the common mode transformer. By providing a bias voltage to the transmit reference autotransformer center tap and a bias voltage return to the center tap of the receive reference autotransformer, it is possible to power remote equipment while minimizing common mode coupling of EMI from the serdes and other noise sources internal to the equipment to the conductors of cables attached to the output connector. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
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