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1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to disposable diapers and more particularly to an elasticized diaper having waterproof crotch seals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, elasticized contoured diapers have been developed such as that disclosed in the U.S. patent to Buell, No. 3,860,003, issued Jan. 14, 1975 for "Contractable Side Portions for Disposable Diaper" wherein elastic strips are secured to the crotch portions of the diaper and spaced at least 3/4 inch from the absorbent pad to form elasticized crotch seals for securement over the legs of the infant to prevent loss of fluid from the interior of the diaper along the legs of the infant. The elasticized strips were placed more than 3/4 inch from the absorbent pad in order to prevent pleats forming transversely of the crotch area of the diaper.
Another diaper is presently in production in which the elasticized strips are less than 3/4 inch from the absorbent pad for the production of the transverse pleats in the crotch area of the diaper for the purpose of increasing the absorbent capacity at the crotch area of the diaper. However, it has been found that these pleats may act as a channel resulting in excessive diaper leakage and the pleats in the crotch area make the infant's bottom uncomfortable when sitting, especially while the diaper is not saturated.
In each of these prior diapers there is no provision for providing a waterproof seal below the pad between the pad and the backing sheet. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The invention relates generally to image processing circuits and techniques, and more particularly to a circuit and method for formatting each of a series of encoded video images into respective first and second regions. Such formatting facilitates the subsequent overlaying of another image, such as an electronic program guide, onto the video images.
FIG. 1 is a video image 6, which is a video frame that includes a first region 7 and a second region 8. Although described as a video frame for example purposes, the image 6 may also be a video field. Furthermore, although shown as two rectangles in a top-bottom arrangement, the number, shape, and respective locations of these regions is arbitrary.
Typically, one views a sequence of video frames 6 in their respective entireties. But one may sometimes wish to view another image, i.e., an overlay image, in one of the regions 7 and 8. For example, one may wish to view an electronic program guide (EPG) in the region 8 while he/she is watching a program in the region 7 (and also in the region 8 if the EPG is transparent). Or, one may wish to view an internet order menu in the region 8 while he/she is viewing merchandise for sale in the region 7 (and also in the region 8 if the menu is transparent). Thus, the overlay image is typically a partial frame that is the same size as or that is smaller than the frame region that it overlays, although the overlay frame can overlay an entire video frame. But for simplicity, both partial and full overlay frames are referred to as xe2x80x9coverlay framesxe2x80x9d.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional television receiver system 10, which includes a set-top box 11 such as a cable TV (CATV) or satellite TV box, a remote control 12, and a digital video display 13. Generally, the box 11 allows one to view overlay imagesxe2x80x94such as those that compose an EPGxe2x80x94in the respective regions 7 of a sequence of video frames 6 (FIG. 1). The box 11 includes a processing circuit 14, which receives an encoded, multiplexed broadcast video signal on an input terminal 15, receives command signals from the remote control 12 on a command terminal 16, and generates a video display signal on an output terminal 17. The broadcast video signal includes one or more broadcast channels and one or more overlay frames such as the frames that compose an EPG, and is encoded according to a compression standard such as the Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) standard (discussed below). In response to channel-select and overlay commands from the remote control 12, the circuit 14 blends the video frames from the selected channel with the appropriate overlay frame or frames and generates the display signal as a sequence of these blended video frames. The display 13 receives the display signal from the terminal 17 and decodes and displays the sequence of blended video frames.
More specifically, the processing circuit 14 includes a command decoder 18, which decodes the commands from the remote control 12 and generates corresponding control signals, such as an overlay signal, that control other portions of the processing circuit 14. A channel selector 20 receives the broadcast signal from the terminal 15 and, in response to a channel-select signal from the command decoder 18, demultiplexes the selected channel from the broadcast signal. In response to an overlay signal from the decoder 18, the selector 20 also demultiplexes the selected overlay frames from the broadcast signal. For example, the selector 20 may demultiplex the EPG that corresponds to the selected channel. A video decoder 22 decodes the video frames of the selected channel into pixel-domain frames, i.e., frames of pixel luminance and chromanance values. In response to the overlay signal, the video decoder 22 also decodes the selected overlay frames into the pixel domain, and an overlay/video combiner 24 blends the decoded video frames with the decoded overlay frames. Conversely, if the command decoder 18 does not generate an overlay signal, then the selector 20 does not demultiplex the overlay frames, and thus the combiner 24 merely passes through the decoded video frames from the decoder 22. In one embodiment, the output terminal of the combiner 24 is coupled directly to the output terminal 17. But because it is sometimes undesirable to couple decoded video frames (blended or unblended) directly to the display 13, in another embodiment the circuit 14 includes an optional re-encoder 26, which re-encodes the decoded video frames from the combiner 24 before providing them to the display 13. Although shown as including a number of separate circuit blocks, the processing circuit 14 may include one or more processors that perform the functions of the above-described circuit blocks 18, 20, 22, 24; and 26.
Still referring to FIG. 2, in operation during a period when a viewer does not want to view an overlay frame, he selects a channel with the remote control 12, which generates a corresponding control signal. The control terminal 16, which is typically an infrared detector, receives the control signal and couples it to the command decoder 18. In response to the control signal, the decoder 18 generates the channel-select signal, which causes the channel selector 20 to recover the encoded video signal of the selected channel by demultiplexing the broadcast signal. The video decoder 22 decodes the recovered video signal into frames of pixel values, and the combiner 24 passes these frames to the optional re-encoder 26, which re-encodes the frames and provides a re-encoded video signal to the display 13. If, however, the re-encoder 26 is omitted, then the combiner 24 passes the decoded frames directly to the display 13.
In operation during a period when the viewer wants to view an overlay frame, he selects a channel as described above and also selects an overlay frame or a series of overlay frames, such as an EPG, with the remote control 12. The decoder 18 generates the channel-select signal and an overlay signal, which together cause the channel selector 20 to recover both the encoded video signal of the selected channel and the encoded video signal containing the overlay frame or frames. The overlay signal causes the video decoder 22 to decode the recovered channel and overlay video signals from the channel selector 20 into respective sequences of frames, and causes the combiner 24 to blend the overlay frames with the channel frames to generate blended frames. The optional re-encoder 26 re-encodes these blended frames and provides them to the display 13, which decodes the re-encoded blended frames. If, however, the re-encoder 26 is omitted, then the combiner 24 provides the blended frames directly to the display 13.
Unfortunately, the set-top box 11 cannot utilize the decoding ability of the display 13, and thus includes its own redundant decoding circuitry, which often adds significant size and cost to the box 11. Typically, the display 13 includes channel-select and full decoding circuitry respectively similar to the channel selector 20 and the decoder 22 of the box 11. Thus, the display 13 typically can directly receive the encoded, multiplexed broadcast video signal, recover the encoded video signal of the selected channel, and decode and display the video frames of the recovered video signal. But the display 13 typically cannot blend overlay frames with the video frames. Therefore, to allow such blending, the box 11 includes the same decoding capability (the decoder 22) as the display 13. The viewer, however, typically requests the display of overlay frames for only a small portion of the time that he/she spends watching a program. Therefore, because the blending abilities of the box 11 are needed only a small part of the time, the decoding abilities of the box 11 are redundant to those of the display 13 most of the time. That is, the viewer paid for two full decoders when one decoder will do the job the vast majority of the time! Furthermore, where it is desired to provide the display 13 with an encoded video signal, the processing circuitry also includes the re-encoder 26, which adds even more size and expense to the box 11!.
To help the reader more easily understand the concepts discussed below in the description of the invention, following is a basic overview of conventional video-compression techniques.
To electronically transmit a relatively high-resolution image over a relatively low-band-width channel, or to electronically store such an image in a relatively small memory space, it is often necessary to compress the digital data that represents the image. Such image compression typically involves reducing the number of data bits necessary to represent an image. For example, High-Definition-Television (HDTV) video images are compressed to allow their transmission over existing television channels. Without compression, HDTV video images would require transmission channels having bandwidths much greater than the bandwidths of existing television channels. Furthermore, to reduce data traffic and transmission time to acceptable levels, an image may be compressed before being sent over the internet. Or, to increase the image-storage capacity of a CD-ROM or server, an image may be compressed before being stored thereon.
Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the basics of the popular block-based Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) compression standards, which include MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, are discussed. For purposes of illustration, the discussion is based on using an MPEG 4:2:0 format to compress video images represented in a Y, CB, CR color space. However, the discussed concepts also apply to other MPEG formats, to images that are represented in other color spaces, and to other block-based compression standards such as the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) standard, which is often used to compress still images. Furthermore, although many details of the MPEG standards and the Y, CB, CR color space are omitted for brevity, these details are well-known and are disclosed in a large number of available references.
Still referring to FIGS. 3-6, the MPEG standards are often used to compress temporal sequences of imagesxe2x80x94video frames for purposes of this discussionxe2x80x94such as found in a television broadcast. Each video frame is divided into subregions called macro blocks, which each include one or more pixels. FIG. 3A is a 16-pixel-by-16-pixel macro block 30 having 256 pixels 32 (not drawn to scale). In the MPEG standards, a macro block is always 16xc3x9716 pixels, although other compression standards may use macro blocks having other dimensions. In the original video frame, i.e., the frame before compression, each pixel 32 has a respective luminance value Y and a respective pair of color-, i.e., chroma-, difference values CB and CR.
Referring to FIGS. 3A-3D, before compression of the frame, the digital luminance (Y) and chroma-difference (CB and CR) values that will be used for compression, i.e., the pre-compression values, are generated from the original Y, CB, and CR values of the original frame. In the MPEG 4:2:0 format, the pre-compression Y values are the same as the original Y values. Thus, each pixel 32 merely retains its original luminance value Y. But to reduce the amount of data to be compressed, the MPEG 4:2:0 format allows only one pre-compression CB value and one pre-compression CR value for each group 34 of four pixels 32. Each of these pre-compression CB and CR values are respectively derived from the original CB and CR values of the four pixels 32 in the respective group 34. For example, a pre-compression CB value may equal the average of the original CB values of the four pixels 32 in the respective group 34. Thus, referring to FIGS. 3B-3D, the pre-compression Y, CB, and CR values generated for the macro block 10 are arranged as one 16xc3x9716 matrix 36 of pre-compression Y values (equal to the original Y value for each pixel 32), one 8xc3x978 matrix 38 of pre-compression CB values (equal to one derived CB value for each group 34 of four pixels 32), and one 8xc3x978 matrix 40 of pre-compression CR values (equal to one derived CR value for each group 34 of four pixels 32). The matrices 36, 38, and 40 are often called xe2x80x9cblocksxe2x80x9d of values. Furthermore, because it is convenient to perform the compression transforms on 8xc3x978 blocks of pixel values instead of 16xc3x9716 blocks, the block 36 of pre-compression Y values is subdivided into four 8xc3x978 blocks 42a-42d, which respectively correspond to the 8xc3x978 blocks A-D of pixels in the macro block 30. Thus, referring to FIGS. 3A-3D, six 8xc3x978 blocks of pre-compression pixel data are generated for each macro block 30: four 8xc3x978 blocks 42a-42d of pre-compression Y values, one 8xc3x978 block 38 of pre-compression CB values, and one 8xc3x978 block 40 of pre-compression CR values.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an MPEG compressor 50, which is more commonly called an encoder. Generally, the encoder 50 converts the pre-compression data for a frame or sequence of frames into encoded data that represent the same frame or frames with significantly fewer data bits than the pre-compression data. To perform this conversion, the encoder 50 reduces or eliminates redundancies in the pre-compression data and reformats the remaining data using efficient transform and coding techniques.
More specifically, the encoder 50 includes a frame-reorder buffer 52, which receives the pre-compression data for a sequence of one or more frames and reorders the frames in an appropriate sequence for encoding. Thus, the reordered sequence is often different than the sequence in which the frames are generated and will be displayed. The encoder 50 assigns each of the stored frames to a respective group, called a Group Of Pictures (GOP), and labels each frame as either an intra (I) frame or a non-intra (non-I) frame. For example, each GOP may include three I frames and 12 non-I frames for a total of fifteen frames. The encoder 50 always encodes an I frame without reference to another frame, but can and often does encode a non-I frame with reference to one or more of the other frames in the GOP. The encoder 50 does not, however, encode a non-I frame with reference to a frame in a different GOP.
During the encoding of an I frame, the 8xc3x978 blocks (FIGS. 3B-3D) of the pre-compression Y, CB, and CR values that represent the I frame pass through a summer 54 to a Discrete Cosine Transformer (DCT) 56, which transforms these blocks of values into respective 8xc3x978 blocks of one DC (zero frequency) coefficient and sixty-three AC (non-zero frequency) coefficients. That is, the summer 54 is not needed when the encoder 50 encodes an I frame, and thus the pre-compression values pass through the summer 54 without being summed with any other values. As discussed below, however, the summer 54 is often needed when the encoder 50 encodes a non-I frame. A quantizer 58 limits each of the coefficients to a respective maximum value, and provides the quantized AC and DC coefficients on respective paths 60 and 62. A prediction encoder 64 predictively encodes the DC coefficients, and a variable-length coder 66 converts the quantized AC coefficients and the quantized and predictively encoded DC coefficients into variable-length codes, such as Huffman codes. These codes form the encoded data that represent the pixel values of the encoded I frame. A transmit buffer 68 then temporarily stores these codes to allow synchronized transmission of the encoded data to a decoder (discussed below in conjunction with FIG. 6). Alternatively, if the encoded data is to be stored instead of transmitted, the coder 66 may provide the variable-length codes directly to a storage medium such as a CD-ROM.
If the I frame will be used as a reference (as it often will be) for one or more non-I frames in the GOP, then, for the following reasons, the encoder 50 generates a corresponding reference frame by decoding the encoded I frame with a decoding technique that is similar or identical to the decoding technique used by the decoder (FIG. 6). When decoding non-I frames that are referenced to the I frame, the decoder has no option but to use the decoded I frame as a reference frame. Because MPEG encoding and decoding are lossyxe2x80x94some information is lost due to quantization of the AC and DC transform coefficientsxe2x80x94the pixel values of the decoded I frame will often be different than the pre-compression pixel values of the I frame. Therefore, using the pre-compression I frame as a reference frame during encoding may cause additional artifacts in the decoded non-I frame because the reference frame used for decoding (decoded I frame) would be different than the reference frame used for encoding (pre-compression I frame).
Therefore, to generate a reference frame for the encoder that will be similar to or the same as the reference frame for the decoder, the encoder 50 includes a dequantizer 70 and an inverse DCT 72, which are designed to mimic the dequantizer and inverse DCT of the decoder (FIG. 6). The dequantizer 70 dequantizes the quantized DCT coefficients from the quantizer 58, and the inverse DCT 72 transforms these dequantized DCT coefficients into corresponding 8xc3x978 blocks of decoded Y, CB, and CR pixel values, which compose the reference frame. Because of the losses incurred during quantization, however, some or all of these decoded pixel values may be different than their corresponding pre-compression pixel values, and thus the reference frame may be different than its corresponding pre-compression frame as discussed above. The decoded pixel values then pass through a summer 74 (used when generating a reference frame from a non-I frame as discussed below) to a reference-frame buffer 76, which stores the reference frame.
During the encoding of a non-I frame, the encoder 50 initially encodes each macro-block of the non-I frame in at least two ways: in the manner discussed above for I frames, and using motion prediction, which is discussed below. The encoder 50 then saves and transmits the resulting code having the fewest bits. This technique insures that the macro blocks of the non-I frames are encoded using the fewest bits.
With respect to motion prediction, an object in a frame exhibits motion if its relative position changes in the succeeding frames. For example, a horse exhibits relative motion if it gallops across the screen. Or, if the camera follows the horse, then the background exhibits relative motion with respect to the horse. Generally, each of the succeeding frames in which the object appears contains at least some of the same macro blocks of pixels as the preceding frames. But such matching macro blocks in a succeeding frame often occupy respective frame locations that are different than the respective frame locations they occupy in the preceding frames. Alternatively, a macro block that includes a portion of a stationary object (e.g., tree) or background scene (e.g., sky) may occupy the same frame location in each of a succession of frames, and thus exhibit xe2x80x9czero motionxe2x80x9d. In either case, instead of encoding each frame independently, it takes fewer data bits to tell the decoder xe2x80x9cthe macro blocks R and Z of frame 1 (non-I frame) are the same as the macro blocks that are in the locations S and T, respectively, of frame 0 (I frame).xe2x80x9d This xe2x80x9cstatementxe2x80x9d is encoded as a motion vector. For a relatively fast moving object, the location values of the motion vectors are relatively large. Conversely, for a stationary or relatively slow-moving object or background scene, the location values of the motion vectors are relatively small or equal to zero.
FIG. 5 illustrates the concept of motion vectors with reference to the non-I frame 1 and the I frame 0 discussed above. A motion vector MVR indicates that a match for the macro block in the location R of frame 1 can be found in the location S of frame 0. MVR has three components. The first component, here 0, indicates the frame (here frame 0) in which the matching macro block can be found. The next two components, XR and YR, together comprise the two-dimensional location value that indicates where in the frame 0 the matching macro block can be found. Thus, in this example, because the location S of the frame 0 has the same X,Y coordinates as the location R in the frame 1, XR=YR=0. Conversely, the macro block in the location T matches the macro block in the location Z, which has different X,Y coordinates than the location T. Therefore, XZ and YZ represent the location T with respect to the location Z. For example, suppose that the location T is ten pixels to the left of (negative X direction) and seven pixels down from (negative Y direction) the location Z. Therefore, MVZ=(0, xe2x88x9210, xe2x88x927). Although there are many other motion-vector schemes available, they are all based on the same general concept.
Referring again to FIG. 4, motion prediction is now discussed in detail. During the encoding of a non-I frame, a motion predictor 78 compares the pre-compression Y values (the CB and CR values are not used during motion prediction) of the macro blocks in the non-I frame to the decoded Y values of the respective macro blocks in the reference frame and identifies matching macro blocks. For each macro block in the non-I frame for which a match is found in the reference frame, the motion predictor 78 generates a motion vector that identifies the reference frame and the location of the matching macro block within the reference frame. Thus, as discussed below in conjunction with FIG. 6, during decoding of these motion-encoded macro blocks of the non-I frame, the decoder uses the motion vectors to obtain the pixel values of the motion-encoded macro blocks from the matching macro blocks in the reference frame. The prediction encoder 64 predictively encodes the motion vectors, and the coder 66 generates respective codes for the encoded motion vectors and provides these codes to the transmit buffer 48.
Furthermore, because a macro block in the non-I frame and a matching macro block in the reference frame are often similar but not identical, the encoder 50 encodes these differences along the with motion vector so that the decoder can account for them. More specifically, the motion predictor 78 provides the decoded Y values of the matching macro block of the reference frame to the summer 54, which effectively subtracts, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, these Y values from the pre-compression Y values of the matching macro block of the non-I frame. These differences, which are called residuals, are arranged in 8xc3x978 blocks and are processed by the DCT 56, the quantizer 58, the coder 66, and the buffer 68 in a manner similar to that discussed above, except that the quantized DC coefficients of the residual blocks are coupled directly to the coder 66 via the line 60, and thus are not predictively encoded by the prediction encoder 44.
Additionally, it is possible to use a non-I frame as a reference frame. When a non-I frame will used as a reference frame, the quantized residuals from the quantizer 58 are respectively dequantized and inverse transformed by the dequantizer 70 and the inverse DCT 72 so that this non-I reference frame will be the same as the one used by the decoder for the reasons discussed above. The motion predictor 78 provides to the summer 74 the decoded Y values of the I reference frame from which the residuals were generated. The summer 74 adds the respective residuals from the circuit 72 to these decoded Y values of the I reference frame to generate the respective Y values of the non-I reference frame. The reference frame buffer 76 then stores the non-I reference frame along with the I reference frame for use in encoding subsequent non-I frames.
Still referring to FIG. 4, the encoder 50 also includes a rate controller 80 to insure that the transmit buffer 68, which typically transmits the encoded frame data at a fixed rate, never overflows or empties, i.e., underflows. If either of these conditions occurs, errors may be introduced into the encoded data stream. For example, if the buffer 68 overflows, data from the coder 66 is lost. Thus, the rate controller 80 uses feed back to adjust the quantization scaling factors used by the quantizer 58 based on the degree of fullness of the transmit buffer 68. The fuller the buffer 68, the larger the controller 80 makes the scale factors, and the fewer data bits the coder 66 generates. Conversely, the more empty the buffer 68, the smaller the controller 80 makes the scale factors, and the more data bits the coder 66 generates. This continuous adjustment insures that the buffer 68 neither overflows nor underflows.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional MPEG decompresser 82, which is commonly called a decoder and which can decode frames that are encoded by the encoder 60 of FIG. 4.
For I frames and macro blocks of non-i frames that are not motion predicted, a variable-length decoder 84 decodes the variable-length codes received from the encoder 50. A prediction decoder 86 decodes the predictively encoded DC coefficients, and a dequantizer 87, which is similar or identical to the dequantizer 70 of FIG. 4, dequantizes the decoded AC and DC transform coefficients. An inverse DCT 88, which is similar or identical to the inverse DCT 72 of FIG. 4, transforms the dequantized coefficients into pixel values. The decoded pixel values pass through a summer 90xe2x80x94which is used during the decoding of motion-predicted macro blocks of non-I frames as discussed belowxe2x80x94into a frame-reorder buffer 92, which stores the decoded frames and arranges them in a proper order for display on a video display unit 94. If a decoded I frame is used as a reference frame, it is also stored in the reference-frame buffer 96.
For motion-predicted macro blocks of non-I frames, the decoder 84, dequantizer 87, and inverse DCT 88 process the residuals as discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 4. The prediction decoder 86 decodes the motion vectors, and a motion interpolator 98 provides to the summer 90 the pixel values from the reference-frame macro blocks that the motion vectors point to. The summer 90 adds these reference pixel values to the residuals to generate the pixel values of the decoded macro blocks, and provides these decoded pixel values to the frame-reorder buffer 92. If a decoded non-I frame is used as a reference frame, it is stored in the reference-frame buffer 96.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, although described as including multiple functional circuit blocks, the encoder 50 and the decoder 82 may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. For example, the encoder 50 and the decoder 82 are often implemented by a respective one or more processors that perform the respective functions of the circuit blocks.
More detailed discussions of the MPEG encoder 50 and decoder 82 of FIGS. 4 and 6, respectively, and of the MPEG standard in general are available in many publications including xe2x80x9cVideo Compressionxe2x80x9d by Peter D. Symes, McGraw-Hill, 1998, which is incorporated by reference. Furthermore, there are other well-known block-based compression techniques for encoding and decoding images.
In one aspect of the invention, a video processing circuit includes a processor that receives encoded images each having respective first and second regions and that receives a motion vector that is associated with the first region of a first one of the images. If the motion vector points to the second region of an image, then the processor re-encodes at least a portion of the first region of the first image such that the first region of the first image has no motion vector that points to the second region of an image.
Such a processing circuit can subdivide each image of a series of images into independent regions, each of which includes references to only the corresponding region in other images. Therefore, if one wishes to modify one of these regions, he need only decode the region and not the entire image. For example, suppose that one wishes to blend an EPG with the same bottom portion of each of a sequence of video frames. He first uses the processing circuit to re-encode these frames such that no motion vectors point between the bottom portion of one frame and the top portion of another frame. He then decodes the EPG and the bottom portions of the frames, blends the decoded EPG and bottom frame portions, and re-encodes the blended frame portions. Because the top portions of the frames need not be decoded or re-encoded, the processing circuit requires less decoding and encoding power, and is thus often faster, cheaper, and has a simpler design than a processing circuit that fully decodes the frames. So that the processing circuit requires even less decoding and encoding power, one can decode the bottom frame portions to the transform domain instead of all the way to the pixel domain. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Generally, Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a serial bus standard to the Personal Computer (PC) architecture with a focus on computer interface, consumer and productivity applications. The existing Universal Serial Bus (USB) interconnects have the attributes of plug-and-play and ease of use by end users. Now, as technology innovation marches forward, new kinds of devices, media formats and large inexpensive storage are converging. These devices require significantly more bus bandwidth to maintain the interactive experience that users have come to expect. In addition, the demand of a higher performance between the PC and increasingly sophisticated peripherals is increasing. The transmission rate of USB 2.0 is insufficient. As a consequence, faster serial bus interfaces such as USB 3.0, have been developed, which may provide a higher transmission rate so as to satisfy the need of a variety devices.
Electronic devices, such as personal mobile devices, tablet computers, etc., have become lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller. In order to reduce the size of the electronic device, the electrical receptacle connector assembled to the electronic device needs to be small and precise. Normally, the electronic device has a standardized connector interface such as a Micro USB electrical receptacle connector adapted to be mated with a Micro USB electrical plug connector for power or signal transmission.
A conventional Micro USB electrical plug connector comprises a plastic core, a plurality of terminals, an upper shell, and a lower shell. The plastic core has a base portion and a tongue portion extended from the base portion. The terminals are held in the base portion, one end of each of the terminals is located at the surface of the tongue portion, and the other end of each of the terminals is protruded from the base portion and soldered with a circuit board. The upper shell and the lower shell are combined with each other to enclose the base portion and the circuit board. However, the upper shell and the lower shell provide functionality for covering the circuit board, but not positioning the circuit board. In addition, the lower shell defines grooves at two sides for assembling the circuit board. When the circuit board is assembled into the grooves, the lower shell may be deformed or bent easily because the lower shell is devoid of strengthening structures. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field
This invention relates to electrical components and more particularly to potentiometers which vary in electrical resistance.
2. State of the Art
Potentiometers are standard elements of electrical and electronic circuits. They are widely in use today for a variety of purposes including the measurement of mechanical movement. Even though a wide variety of potentiometers are presently available, no potentiometer known to applicant produces a consistently and predictably variable electrical output upon deflection or bending between various configurations.
The use of electrically conductive inks in association with electrical or electronic circuitry is also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,784 (Fulks, et al.) discloses the use of a conductive ink which is pressure sensitive to produce electrical switching signals for a keyboard. However, no flexible or deflectable potentiometer is known which uses electrically conductive ink. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention is generally directed to techniques for analyzing image data, and more particularly to the analysis of image data representing images containing text to classify the types of non-running text regions therein without the need for predefining structure within the image. The invention first employs the characteristics of running text regions to distinguish them from non-running text regions in a page image. As the input of the present invention, there is assumed to be digital representation of a hardcopy document that contains text regions. In addition, the image will have been processed by any one of a number of well-know processes for segmenting text regions in an image, and identifying the boundaries of such regions. While it is understood that such boundaries may be represented by a polynomial, it will be assumed that such boundaries are rectangular in shape for purposes of simplifying the description of the instant invention.
This invention first presents a geometric, bottom-up method for partitioning a scanned page into two kinds of regions: (i) regions encompassing running text, i.e., text formatted in paragraphs and columns; and (ii) regions encompassing text formatted in other layout structures, such as headings, lists, and tables. This partitioning further, supports the present invention in the classification of the non-running text regions so as to enable selective scanning for text recognition within non-running text regions. For example, table detection, crucial for establishing reading order, is done by testing the non-running text regions for alignment and similar relationships in order to classify the image.
Page layout analysis processes may be divided into two broad categories, geometric layout analysis and logical structure analysis (R. Haralick. Document image understanding: geometric and logical layout. Proc. IEEE Conf. On Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, 1994: 385-390). Geometric layout analysis, also termed bottom-up analysis, extracts whatever structure can be inferred without reference to models of particular kinds of pages - e.g., letter, memo, title page, table, etc. Intuitively, this is the structure that would be apparent even to an illiterate person. Also, it is the structure common to pages of all kinds. Logical structure analysis. classifies a given page within a repertoire of known layouts, and assigns functional interpretations to components of the page based on this classification. Geometric analysis is generally preliminary to logical structure analysis.
Bottom-up analysis schemes attempt to segment a page into homogeneous regions of text, line art (graphics), and photographs (halftone images), and then stop. This is normally taken to be the highest level of structure that can be established bottom-up. However, the present invention establishes that a yet higher level of structure can be extracted using a bottom-up analysis technique, and that this can benefit subsequent logical structure analysis.
Heretofore, a number of patents and publications have disclosed methods for segmenting images and the identification of structure therein, the relevant portions of which may be briefly summarized as follows:
Text block segmentation has been addressed by R. Haralick, "Document image understanding: geometric and logical layout," Proc. IEEE Conf. On Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, 1994: 385-390. Component aggregation or clustering methods that assemble homogeneous regions from individual connected components subject to size similarity and proximity constraints were described by L. O'Gorman, "The document spectrum for bottom-up page layout analysis," Advances in structural and syntactic pattern recognition, Ed. H. Bunke, Singapore: World Scientific, 1992: 270-279. Background structure methods detect bands of white space (gutters) in the image and treat these as the boundaries of text blocks as described by H. S. Baird, "Background structure in document images," Advances in structural and syntactic pattern recognition, Ed. H. Eiunke, Singapore: World Scientific, 1992: 253-269; T. Pavlidis and J. Zhou, "Page segmentation by white streams,"Proc. 1st lnt. Conf. On Document Recognition, Saint-Malo, 1991: 945-953; and A. Antonacopoulos and R. T. Ritchins, "Flexible page segmentation using the background," Proc. 12th Int. Conf. On Pattern Recognition, 1994: 339-344.
Top-down logical structure analysis processes do attempt to distinguish types of text, but do so using a priori layout models as taught, for example, by G. Nagy, S. Seth, and S. Stoddard, "Document analysis with an expert system," Pattern Recognition in Practice II, E Gelsema and L. Kanal, editors, North Holland, Amsterdam, 1986: 149-159; and R. Ingold and D. Armangil, "A top-down document analysis method for logical structure recognition," Proc. 1st Int. Conf. On Document recognition, Saint.-Malo, 1991: 41 49.
J. Fisher, in "Logical structure descriptions of segmented document images," Proc. 1st Int. Conf. On Document recognition, Saint-Malo, 1991: 302-310, describes a rule-based system that identifies geometrical and logical structures of document images. Location cues, format cues and textual cues (OCR) are employed to make identifications and transformations during the identification of text and non-text regions.
Specific analysis of tabular formatted text is described by S. Chandran and R. Kasturi, "Structural recognition of tabulated data," Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. On Document Recognition, 1993: 516-519; H. Kojima and T. Akiyama, "Table recognition for automated document entry system," Proc. SPIE Vol. 1384 High-Speed Inspection Architectures, Barcoding, and Character Recognition, 1994: 285-292; and M. A. Rahgozar, Z. Fan, and E. V. Rainero, "Tabular document recognition," Proc. SPIE Vol. 2181 Document Recognition, 1994: 87-96.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,596 to Mahoney, issued Aug. 24, 1993, incorporated herein by reference for its teachings, describes techniques for labeling pixels in an image based upon nearest neighbor attributes.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method comprising the steps of: retrieving an input image, the image comprising an array of image signals and associated data defining a set of boundaries of a plurality of text-blocks represented therein, and storing the array of image signals in a bitmap array and the data defining the set of boundaries in a second array; partitioning the text-blocks defined by the set of boundaries stored in the second array into text groups; classifying the text-groups to determine those text-groups which represent running text regions of the image and those which represent non-running text regions of the image; regrouping at least one non-running text region of the image based upon locations of the text blocks within the non-running text region; and further classifying a non-running text region as to the extent to which such a text region is tabularized.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method operating on a programmable computer for partitioning an image containing text into regions of running text and non-running text, the image consisting essentially of an array of image signals and associated data defining a set of boundaries of a plurality of text- blocks represented therein, said method comprising the steps of: retrieving an input image and storing image signals thereof in a first bitmap array memory location and the data defining the set of boundaries in a second memory location; partitioning the text blocks, using data defining the boundaries stored in the second memory location, into text groups; classifying the text groups to determine those text groups which represent running text regions of the image and those which represent non-running text regions of the image; regrouping at least one non-running text region of the image based upon locations of the text blocks within said non-running text region; and further classifying at least one text group representing a non-running text region as to the extent to which the text group is tabularized.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, comprising a first memory for storing image data; a second memory for storing data repressenting characteristics of an image, the bitmap data for said image being stored in said first memory array; instruction memory; a text processor, connected to said first and second memory and said instruction memory for accessing the data stored in the first and second memory in accordance with instructions stored in said instruction memory, the processor in executing the instructions:
accessing the image data stored in the first memory location to produce text block boundaries representing text blocks in the image, the data defining the text block boundaries being stored in the second memory as image characteristic data; partitioning the text-blocks defined by the boundaries stored in the second memory location into text groups;
classifying the text groups to determine those text groups which represent running text regions of the image and those which represent non-running text regions of the image; regrouping at least one non-running text region of the image based upon locations of the text blocks within said non-running text region; and further classifying, in response to instructions stored in said instruction memory, at least one text group representing a non-running text region as to the extent to which the non-running text group is tabularized.
One aspect of the present invention deals with a basic problem in image recognition--that of applying structural norms in a top-down analysis. In top-down or logical structure analysis, a given page image is analyzed based upon functional interpretations of components of the page. In the more generalized geometric analysis techniques employed by the present invention, it is possible to extract a similar level of structure in a bottom-up approach. This aspect is further based on the discovery of a technique that alleviates this problem by partitioning a page image into two principal types of regions: running text and non-running text. Once the non-running text regions of the document are identified, they may be further analyzed in accordance with the present invention to identify tabular regions in the non-running text.
The techniques employed in practicing the present invention are advantageous because they not only avoid problems with conventional top-down or logical structure analysis methods, but they allow the further characterization of non-running text regions identified within an image. Thus, the present invention supports format analysis and selective scanning for text recognition. For example, the detection of tables in a scanned page is crucial for establishing proper reading order during optical character recognition. Moreover, such information is necessary to subsequent manipulation of the tabularized information. | {
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The invention generally relates to a semiconductor device. More particularly, the invention relates to a semiconductor comprising of a fin-transistor and a method for fabricating the same.
In a fin-channel-array-transistor (FCAT), a fin channel transistor has a three-dimensional structure where a tri-gate surrounds a channel. It is possible to manufacture the fin channel structure with existing manufacturing technology. The fin channel structure has more surface area to reduce short channel effects between a drain region and a source region. The fin channel structure allows a reduction in channel doping concentration which reduces leakage current through a junction region.
A lower gate electrode of the fin channel transistor includes a p+ polysilicon layer. A work function of the p+ polysilicon layer is larger than that of a p− silicon substrate. Using a DRAM cell as an example, when there is a binary “1” voltage in the drain region while the fin channel transistor is turned off, a leakage current in the drain region is increased due to a gate induced drain leakage (“GIDL”) phenomenon. As a result, data retention of a DRAM cell (in this case “1”) is reduced which degrades a refresh characteristic of the DRAM. | {
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A plasma is an ionized gas whose charged particle constituents (electrons and ions) interact primarily through electromagnetic forces. Plasmas in various forms make up a large portion of the known universe. In addition, they form the basis of a multitude of everyday devices from incandescent or fluorescent lighting to recent plasma television development. They are also used in the manufacture and processing of printed circuit boards, have recently been shown to have medical application, and are the focus of research in areas such as power generation associated with nuclear fusion reactors.
To characterize a plasma, various diagnostics must be performed to understand the physics of particle interactions. One of these parameters is plasma potential φp. This is the potential of the plasma at a particular location usually with respect to an experimental chamber wall. This is distinguished from the floating potential at which an object immersed in the plasma collects zero net current. Floating potential is typically negative with respect to plasma potential and the two are generally not equal.
The most widely used technique still today for determining plasma parameters such as the plasma potential φp or the electron energy distribution function ƒ(ε) is through the use of a Langmuir probe placed in the plasma. I. Langmuir and H. Mott Smith, “The theory of collectors in gaseous discharges”, Phys. Rev. 28, 727 (1926).
One method for finding plasma potential φp which involves using a Langmuir probe relies on current collection using a dc voltage sweep, and from these data the dc current characteristic of the plasma Ip(Vp) is derived, where Ip is the probe collected current and Vp is the probe voltage. R. L. Merlino, “Understanding Langmuir Probe current-voltage characteristics,” Am. J. Phys. 75, 1078 (2007).
In Langmuir probe-based methods, plasma potential φp is determined by noting that the probe collected current Ip with respect to probe voltage Vp falls rapidly once the applied probe voltage exceeds the plasma potential φp. Thus,
ⅆ I p ⅆ V p has a peak, and
ⅆ 2 I p ⅆ V p 2 V p = ϕ p ≃ 0.See Godyak et al., “Probe diagnostics of non-Maxwellian Plasmas,” J. AppL Phys 73, 3657 (1993). Godyak asserts that this method gives an unequivocal value for the plasma potential φp. Id.
Thus, conventional methods of finding plasma potential φp using a Langmuir probe require taking a second derivative of Ip(Vp) and determining the inflection point of Ip(Vp), i.e., the point where
ⅆ 2 I p ⅆ V p 2 = 0.
However, Langmuir probes are susceptible to contamination, and in many cases calculating the second derivative often is severely affected by noise and so introduces errors in the values of φp.
Consequently, to avoid having to calculate the second derivative, many researchers resort to fitting routines of various forms, based in part on the probe geometry, to determine the inflection point, i.e., the point where
ⅆ 2 I p ⅆ V p 2 = 0.See, e.g., J. J. Carroll, et. al., “A segmented disk electrode to produce and control parallel and transverse particle drifts in a cylindrical plasma,” Rev. Sci. Instrum., 65(9), 2991 (1994). These fitting routines also have been used to avoid errors introduced by probe contamination, but by their nature are only approximate and most often assume a Maxwellian distribution. Since the fit itself treats a complete curve, a fit to one area of the curve (such as the electron saturation region) influences the entire curve fit and therefore the determination of plasma parameters. Also fitting routines should be based on physical reasoning and not on the assumption of prevailing geometry (i.e., algebraic fits) as is often the case. R. F. Fernsler, “Modeling Langmuir probes in multi-component plasmas,” Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 18, 014012 (2009)
Other methods which also attempt to avoid having to make this double differentiation of the current-voltage characteristic use ac voltages in an indirect determination. By superposing on V a small constant ac voltage component, ξ sin ωt , such that ξ<<V, it can be shown that the time-averaged increment to the current gives the second derivative above. Yu. P. Raizer, Gas Discharge Physics, p. 111, (Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg New York, 1997).
However, noise remains a serious problem in all such cases. Whether calculating a second order derivative, using fitting routines or time averaging, even small amounts of noise can produce large fluctuations which generate uncertainty in the value of φp.
The inventors herein have explored the use of an rf probe to determine parameters such as electron temperature Te, electron density ne(r), and electron sheath profile structure. See D. N. Walker, R. F. Fernsler, D. D. Blackwell, and W. E. Amatucci, “On the Non-intrusive Determination of Electron Density in the Sheath of a Spherical Probe,” Naval Research Laboratory Memorandum Report, NRL/MR/6750-07-9033, Apr. 20, 2007 (“Walker 2007”); D. N. Walker, R. F. Fernsler, D. D. Blackwell, and W. E. Amatucci, “Determining electron temperature for small spherical probes from network analyzer measurements of complex impedance,” Physics of Plasmas 15, 123506 (2008) (“Walker 2008”); see also D. N. Walker, R. F. Fernsler, D. D. Blackwell, W. E. Amatucci, and S. J. Messer, “On collisionless energy absorption in plasmas: Theory and experiment in spherical geometry,” Physics of Plasmas 13, 032108 (2006) (“Walker 2006”), all of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application in their entirety. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method of treating meat prior to cooking which, when cooked, either in a conventional or microwave oven, results in a cooked product having less moisture loss and a greater retention of flavors than a non-treated product. The present invention also relates to a coating combination which when applied onto a meat product and then cooked imparts to the resultant cooked product a moist, marinated-like flavor. The coating combination of the present invention typically comprises from about 20 to about 33% by weight glycerol and from about 67 to about 80% by weight seasoning, with the weight percent being based on the combined weight of the glycerol and seasoning. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of glycerol and its application to a meat in order to reduce the normal amounts of moisture loss incurred during cooking, as well as to enhance the flavor impact of seasonings applied to the meat before cooking. Due to the intensification of the flavor impact of the applied seasonings provided by the methods and coating combination of the present invention, a meat product may be sufficiently seasoned with the use of a lower amount of the seasoning than is normally required.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Two of the most important characteristics of a meat for the consumer are the meat's juiciness and flavor upon serving. It is well known to anyone who has cooked a piece of meat that upon cooking, meat loses moisture and undergoes a substantial weight loss which results in an obvious shrinkage of the cooked meat product. The total moisture loss in a meat, due to the cooking out of the natural meat juices, is an inevitable consequence of the cooking process and largely depends on the degree of cooking. This fact is evidenced by the simple comparison of the juiciness between a very rare steak and that of a well cooked steak.
Various and numerous methods have been employed over the years in attempts to guard against the moisture loss which is encountered in cooking meats. One such method, which became a standard practice throughout the meat industry, involved a method by which various brine solutions were injected into uncooked meats. These brine solutions, such as aqueous solutions of sodium chloride and one or more phosphate salts, would particularly inhibit and compensate for excessive moisture loss incurred during cooking. For example, an untreated beef roast will characteristically lose between about 25 to about 30% of its pre-cooked weight when subjected to normal cooking conditions. However, a beef roast having a pre-cooked weight of ten pounds and which is injected, prior to cooking, with a one pound brine solution comprising 0.825 pounds of water, 0.125 pounds of sodium chloride and 0.050 pounds of sodium tripolyphosphate, will weigh approximately ten pounds after proper cooking. Consequently, the weight of the cooked meat product treated with the brine solution reflects a moisture loss of approximately 10%, an amount considerably less than the normal 25 to 30% moisture loss generally incurred.
A similar composition is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,522 to Wofford, et al., which is directed to a composition and method for treating meat to reduce moisture loss during cooking. The composition which is dispersed into the meat product is a briny slurry and is comprised of non-halogenated water, acetic acid, gelatin, starch, sodium chloride and one or more phosphate salts.
However, the use of brine solutions and brine slurries in reducing moisture loss in cooked meats is an involved and specific process, requiring the use of complicated and special equipment. In addition, an uneven distribution of the brine solution can cause color, flavor and texture problems in the meat. Accordingly, it would be preferable to find an alternative method for reducing moisture loss in meats, one which is simpler and easier to employ.
Aside from moisture loss in a cooked meat product, it is also critical to the consumer, as mentioned above, that the product has a pleasant taste to it. Raw meat, as it is well known, has no particular appealing flavor. It is only during the various processes of cooking that a meat flavor is developed through the combined effect of the chemicals produced from the thermal degradation of the meat components. Although a certain meat flavor is acquired by the meat during the cooking process, it has become quite popular to use one or more various seasonings to further enhance the taste and flavor characteristics of a cooked meat product.
Seasonings are used in the food industry in almost every product category, with processed meats being one of the major users of seasonings. With the proper choice of spices and/or flavoring agents, a myriad of flavor possibilities exist which can be imparted onto a meat product.
Depending upon the ultimately desired flavor or taste, the type of meat product, and the overall desired effect, varying amounts of seasoning is required. For example, if the meat is to possess a certain flavor throughout the product, the meat will generally have to be marinated. Marination is a process whereby a meat is allowed to soak in a seasoned solution for a period of time, allowing the meat to be enriched by the flavor of the marinade which penetrates the meat product. Such a process not only requires additional time in excess of the normal cooking time required, but also requires excessive amounts of seasonings. It would be preferable to have a method that results in a flavorable impact on meat, and most preferably, a marination effect on meat, that uses a minimum amount of seasoning and which can be accomplished in less time.
Propane-1, 2, 3-triol, or as it is more commonly known, glycerol, a trihydric alcohol, is a clear, water-white, viscous, hygroscopic liquid with a sweet taste at ordinary room temperatures. Glycerol occurs naturally in combined form as glycerides in all animal and vegetable fats and oils, and may be recovered as a by-product upon the saponification of these fats and oils in the process of manufacturing soap. Glycerol can also be obtained from the direct splitting of fats in the production of fatty acids. Commercially, glycerol has been produced since the late 1940's by synthesis from propylene.
The various uses of glycerol number in the thousands and include use in the manufacture of synthetic resins and ester gums, drugs, cosmetics and toothpastes. Tobacco processing, as well as foods, also account for large uses of glycerol. Glycerol as a food is easily digested and nontoxic. It's metabolism places it in the same category as carbohydrates, although it is present in combined form in all vegetable and animal fats. In flavoring and coloring products, glycerol acts as a solvent and its viscosity gives body to the product. Glycerol has been known to be used as a solvent, a moistening agent and as a vehicle for syrups. The uses of glycerol, however, in relation to meat products, and especially in relation to the problems sought to be solved by the present invention, are few.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,882,184; 4,904,490 and 5,069,916 (all to Buckholz, et al.) disclose the use of glycerine in microwave cooking. However, the glycerine is used for raising the dielectric constant of the surface of a foodstuff to be cooked. It is also disclosed that browning of the meat is enhanced through the use of dextrose and vinegar powder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,236 to Parliment et al. discloses the use of glycerol in an aroma-generating flavor composition for a food and/or package which is subjected to microwave radiation. | {
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The need and demand for an accurate, non-invasive method for determining biological attributes of tissue is well documented. Accurate, non-invasive determination of blood glucose, as an example, could reduce many of the complications associated with diabetes. Similarly, accurate, noninvasive determination of various disease states could allow faster, more convenient screening and diagnosis, allowing more effective treatment.
Proposed non-invasive methods for determining biological attributes generally utilize quantitative infrared spectroscopy. Infrared spectroscopy measures the response of a substance to electromagnetic radiation (0.7-25 .mu.m) at various wavelengths. The response can be considered as derived from two categories, diffuse reflectance and specular reflectance. The specular reflectance of a sample is the light which does not propagate into the sample, but rather reflects from the front surface of the sample. This component contains information about the sample at the surface. If the material is homogeneous, this surface reflection can be related to the bulk. While the specular component does not physically appear much like an absorbance spectrum, it can be related to the absorbance spectrum of the bulk material through a transformation called the Kramers-Kronig transformation. The diffuse component is generally considered more useful for sample qualification and quantification than is the specular component. Various approaches have been proposed to emphasize the diffuse component relative to the specular component, but all suffer from shortcomings that limit their utility.
Accordingly, there is a need to improvements in spectroscopic technology that allow greater use of the diffuse component of a substance's response relative to the specular component. | {
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In some processes used in the semiconductor industry, it is desirable to heat a substrate rapidly to reduce the portion of the thermal budget used by a process. Typically, rapid thermal processing systems utilize a high intensity light source to rapidly heat a substrate that is held within a processing chamber, sometimes under vacuum conditions. The light source, which may consist of an array of high intensity lamps, is located inside the chamber or outside of the chamber and adjacent to a transparent window through which the light passes into the chamber. Inside of the chamber the substrate is supported with very little physical contact (usually around the edge) so the substrate temperature can respond quickly to the incoming light. The front of the wafer is exposed and receives light from the high intensity lamps. The lamps are essentially black-body radiators and are heated as quickly as possible (typically 300 to 500 ms) to operating temperature. For many substrates, like silicon substrates as commonly used in the manufacture of integrated circuits, optical absorption is higher for shorter wavelengths especially at the beginning of a heating cycle when the substrate is closer to room temperature. Rapid silicon substrate heating begins after the lamps reach high temperatures (about 3000° C.) at which time the lamps begin emitting a significant portion of short wavelength light.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a flood type rapid thermal heating apparatus in which a wafer 100 disposed in chamber 105 is heated by radiation from lamps 125 mounted on a chamber lid 120. The lamps 125 are typically tungsten-halogen lamps and may be brought to different temperatures to evenly heat the substrate. Pyrometry measurements may be made by monitoring light through windows 135 in the chamber 105. The rate with which the lamps 125 can be turned on and off is limited with typical heat lamps and results in limitations on how fast a substrate can be heated.
Alternative light sources have been used to overcome some of these limitations and to provide shorter pulse durations in order to stay within processing time targets. Annealing substrates, or their near-surface regions, with a flash lamp provides optical pulse durations from about 100 microseconds to 1 milliseconds and pulsed laser processing has been used to provide optical pulses between about 1 nanosecond about 100 nanoseconds. For pulses of short duration, spatially inhomogeneous pulses result in poor process uniformity across an illuminated portion of a substrate.
Since illumination may modify the substrate by thermal means, inhomogeneous pulses that cause thermal non-uniformities can significantly impact wafer yields. Some examples of how substrates are modified by thermal means include diffusion of dopants, exposure of photoresist, and chemical alterations or reactions that form a film on the substrate.
Therefore, a system and method for reliably and rapidly thermally processing wafers with improved uniformity is needed. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electron beam based inspection apparatus for inspecting defects in patterns formed on the surface of an object to be inspected, and more particularly, to an inspection apparatus useful, for example, in inspecting defects on a wafer in a semiconductor manufacturing process, which includes irradiating an object to be inspected with an electron beam, detecting secondary electrons which vary in accordance with the properties of the surface thereof to form image data, and inspecting patterns formed on the surface of the object to be inspected based on the image data at a high throughput, and a method of manufacturing devices at a high yield rate using the inspection apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to a projection type electron beam inspection apparatus which adopts a area beam and a method of manufacturing devices using the inspection apparatus.
2. Field of the Invention
In semiconductor processes, design rules are reaching 100 nm and the method of production form is evolving from mass production, with a few models, such as a DRAM, into small-lot production with a variety of models such as a SOC (Silicon on chip). This has resulted in an increase in the number of processes, and an improvement in yield for each process is essential; which makes it more important to inspect for defects occurring in each process. The present invention relates to an apparatus to be used in the inspection of a wafer after particular steps in the semiconductor fabrication process, and in particular to an inspection method and apparatus using an electron beam and also to a device manufacturing method using the same.
3. Description of the Related Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention
4. Description of the Prior Art
In conjunction with a high level of integration of semiconductor devices and a micro-fabrication of patterns thereof, an inspection apparatus with higher resolution and throughput is desired. In order to inspect a wafer substrate with 100 nm design rules for any defects, a resolution equal to or finer than 100 nm is required, and the increased number of processes resulting from large-scale integration of devices calls for an increase in the number of inspections, which consequently requires higher throughput. In addition, as multilayer fabrication of devices has advanced, the apparatus is further required to have a function for detecting contact failures in vias for interconnecting wiring between layers (i.e., electrical defects). In the current trend, an inspection apparatus using optical methods has been typically used, but it is expected that an inspection apparatus using an electron beam may soon enter the mainstream, substituting for inspection apparatus using optical methods, given the requirements of higher resolution and detection of contact failures. The electron beam method, however, has a weak point in that it is inferior to the optical method in throughput.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have an apparatus having higher resolution and throughput and being capable of detecting the electrical defects. It has been known that the resolution of the optical method is limited to ½ of the wavelength of the light to be used, and it is about 0.2 .mu.m in a typical case of visible light being put to practical use.
On the other hand, in the method using an electron beam, typically a scanning electron microscopy method (SEM method) has been put to use, wherein the resolution thereof is 0.1 .mu.m and the inspection time is 8 hours per wafer (20 cm wafer). The electron beam method has the distinctive feature that it is able to inspect for any electrical defects (breaking of wires in the wirings, bad continuity, bad continuity of via). However, the inspection speed (sometimes also referred to as inspection rate) thereof is very low, and so the development of an inspection apparatus with higher inspection speed has been eagerly anticipated.
Generally, since an inspection apparatus is expensive and the throughput thereof is rather lower as compared to other processing apparatuses, the inspection apparatus has been used after an important process, for example, after the process of etching, film deposition, CMP (Chemical-mechanical polishing) flattening or the like.
The scanning method (SEM) using an electron beam will now be described. In the inspection apparatus of SEM method, the electron beam is contracted to be finer (the diameter of this beam corresponds to the resolution thereof) and this fined beam is used to scan a sample so as to irradiate it linearly. On the other hand, moving a stage in the direction normal to the scanning direction allows an observation region to be irradiated by the electron beam as a plane area. The scanning width of the electron beam is typically some 100 .mu.m. Secondary electrons emanating from the sample by the irradiation of said contracted and fined electron beam (referred to as a primary electron beam) are detected by a detector, either a scintillator plus photo-multiplier (i.e., photoelectron multiplier tube) or a detector of semiconductor type (i.e., a PIN diode) or the like. The coordinates for the irradiated locations and an amount of the secondary electrons (signal intensity) are combined and formed into an image, which is stored in some recording medium or displayed on a CRT (a cathode ray tube). The above description illustrates the principles of the SEM (scanning electron microscopy), and defects in a semiconductor wafer (typically made of Si) in the course of processes may be detected from the image obtained in this method. The inspection rate (corresponding to the throughput) is varied depending on the amount (the current value), beam diameter, and speed of response of the primary electron beam. A beam diameter of 0.1 .mu.m (which may be considered to be equivalent to the resolution), a current of 100 nA, and a detector speed of 100 MHz are currently the highest values, and in using those values the inspection rate has been about 8 hours for one wafer having a diameter of 20 cm. This inspection rate, which is extremely low compared to the optical method (not greater than 1/20), has been a serious production problem (drawback).
Also, in regard to the prior art of inspection apparatus related to the present invention, an apparatus using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) has been commercially available. This apparatus involves scanning an object to be inspected with a fine electron beam at very narrow intervals of scanning width, detecting secondary electrons emitted from the object to form a SEM image, and comparing such SEM images of different dies at the same locations to extract defects of the object being inspected.
Conventionally, however, there has been no electron beam based defect inspection apparatus which is completed as a general system.
A defect inspection apparatus which applies SEM requires a long time for defect inspection. In addition, increasing the beam current to improve throughput would cause a degradation of the beam due to the space-charge effect and charging on the wafer with insulating material formed on the surface thereof, thereby failing to produce satisfactory SEM images.
Hitherto, no proposal has been made for the overall structure of an inspection apparatus which takes into account the combination of an electron-optical device for irradiating an object to be inspected with an electron beam, with other subsystems associated therewith for positioning the object to be inspected to for irradiating by the electron-optical device in a clean state, and for aligning the object to be inspected. Further, with the trend of increasing diameters of wafers to be subjected to inspection, the subsystems are also required to cope with wafers of such large diameters.
In view of the problems mentioned above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inspection apparatus which employs an electron beam based electron-optical system, and achieves harmonization of the electron-optical system with other components, which constitute the inspection apparatus, to improve the throughput.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an inspection apparatus which is capable of efficiently and accurately inspecting an object by improving a loader for carrying the object to be inspected between a cassette for storing objects under inspecting and a stage device for aligning the object to be inspected with respect to the electron-optical system, and devices associated with the loader.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inspection apparatus which is capable of solving the problem of charging, experienced in the SEM, to accurately inspect an object.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing devices at a high yield rate by inspecting an object such as a wafer, using the inspection apparatus as mentioned above.
Also, with increasing integration of semiconductors, there has been a need for a sensitive inspection apparatus to be used in the semiconductor device manufacturing process for defect inspection in the pattern or the likes in semiconductor wafers. In this regard, there have been electron microscopes used as the inspection apparatus for such defect inspections, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publications Nos. Hei 2-142045 and Hei 5-258703.
For example, in the electron microscope as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. Hei 2-142045, an electron beam emitted from an electron gun is converged by an objective lens to irradiate a sample to be inspected, and secondary electrons emitted from the sample are detected by a secondary electron detector. In addition, in this electron microscope, a negative voltage is applied to the sample, and further an E.times.B type filter is arranged between the sample and the secondary electron detector, said filter having an electric field and a magnetic field crossed at right angles.
With such a configuration, this electron microscope allows a high resolution to be obtained by decelerating the electrons irradiated onto the sample by way of the negative voltage applied to the sample.
Further, the application of the negative voltage to the sample helps accelerate the secondary electrons emitted from the sample, and the accelerated secondary electrons are further deflected by the E.times.B type filter toward the secondary electron detector, thus to be efficiently detected by the secondary electron detector.
In those conventional apparatuses using the electron microscope as described above, the electron beam from the electron gun is kept accelerated to be highly energized until just before it impinges onto the sample, by a lens system such as an objective lens with a high voltage applied. Then, the negative voltage applied to the sample decelerates electrons impinging upon the sample, thus allowing a high resolution to be achieved.
However, since the high voltage is applied to the objective lens, while the negative voltage is applied to the sample, there has been a risk that an electric discharge may occur between the objective lens and the sample.
Further, in the electron microscope in the prior art, even in the case where no negative voltage is applied to the sample, if there is a great potential difference between the objective lens and the sample, then it is again feared that the electric discharge may occur between the objective lens and the sample.
Still further, if the voltage applied to the objective lens is set lower in order to deal with a possible electric discharge to the sample, the electrons aren't sufficiently energized, resulting in a poor resolution.
An explanation will be further given for a case where the sample to be inspected is a semiconductor wafer having a via, that is a wiring pattern extending in the approximately vertical direction to the upper-layer and lower-layer wiring planes for providing an electrical connection between the upper layer wiring and the lower layer wiring.
When the semiconductor wafer with the via is inspected for defects by using a conventional electron microscope, a high voltage, for example, a voltage of 10 kV is applied to the objective lens as in the above description. Further, in this case, it is assumed that the semiconductor wafer is grounded. Accordingly, an electric field is generated between the semiconductor wafer and the objective lens.
These conditions could make the electric field more intense in the vicinity of the via on the surface of the semiconductor wafer, thus forming a high electric field. Then, when the electron beam is irradiated onto the via, a large number of secondary electrons is emitted from the via, which is further accelerated by the high electric field in the vicinity of the via. Those accelerated secondary electrons have a sufficient energy (>3 eV) to ionize a residual gas generated by the irradiation of the electron beam onto the semiconductor wafer. Accordingly, the secondary electrons ionize the residual gas so as to generate ionized charged particles.
Then, said ionized charged particles, i.e., the positive ions, are accelerated by the high electric field in the vicinity of the via toward the via to impinge against the via, so that more secondary electrons are emitted from the via. Through a series of these positive feedback, eventually an electric discharge occurs between the objective lens and the semiconductor wafer and damages the pattern or the like on the semiconductor wafer, which has been problematic in the prior art.
Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an electron gun apparatus which can prevent an electric discharge to a sample being inspected and a method for manufacturing a device by using said electron gun apparatus.
Also, as stated above, an inspection for defects in a mask pattern used in manufacturing a semiconductor device or in a pattern formed on a semiconductor wafer has been performed by the steps of detecting secondary electrons emitted from a sample upon irradiation of a primary electron beam against a surface of the sample, obtaining a pattern image of the sample, and comparing said image with a reference image. Typically, such defect inspection apparatus has been equipped with an E.times.B separator for separating the primary electrons and the secondary electrons.
FIG. 52 shows schematically a typical configuration of a projective electron beam inspection apparatus having an E.times.B separator. An electron beam emitted from an electron gun 721 is formed to be rectangular in shape with a forming aperture (not shown) and reduced in size by the electrostatic lenses 722, thus to be a formed beam of 1.25 mm square at the center of an E.times.B separator 723. The formed beam is deflected by the E.times.B separator 723 so as to be normal to a sample W, and reduced to be ⅕ in size with an electrostatic lens 722, which is then irradiated against the sample W. A beam of the secondary electrons emitted from the sample W has a certain intensity corresponding to the pattern data on the sample W, which is expanded by the electrostatic lenses 724, 741, and then enters into a detector 761. The detector 761 generates an image signal corresponding to the intensity of the received secondary electrons, which is compared with a reference image, thereby detecting any defects in the sample.
The E.times.B separator 723 has a configuration in which an electric field and a magnetic field cross at right angles within a plane orthogonal to the normal of the surface of the sample W (the upward direction on paper), so that it advances the electrons straight forward when the relationship of the electric field, the magnetic field, and the energy and speed of the electrons meets certain criteria, while it deflects the electrons in any case other than the said case. In the inspection apparatus of FIG. 44, the conditions are set so that the secondary electrons are advanced straight ahead.
FIG. 53 shows more precisely the movements of the secondary electrons emitted from the rectangular area on the surface of the sample W, which has been exposed to the primary electron beam. The secondary electrons emitted from the sample surface are magnified with the electrostatic lens 724, and imaged onto a central area 723a of the E.times.B separator 723. Since the electric field and the magnetic field of the E.times.B separator 723 have been set such that the secondary electrons are allowed to be advanced straight ahead, the secondary electrons are thus advanced straight ahead to be magnified with the electrostatic lenses 741-1, 741-2 and 741-3, and then imaged on a target 761a within the detector 761. Then, the electron in the image is multiplied by MCP (Multi Channel Plate, not shown) and is formed into an image by a scintillator, CCD (Charge Coupled Device), or the like (not shown). Reference numerals 732 and 733 respectively designate aperture diaphragms arranged in a secondary optical system.
FIG. 54 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional E.times.B separator and the distribution of an electric field generated by said separator. A pair of parallel plate electrodes 723-1 and 723-2 is used to generate an electric field, and a pair of magnetic poles 723-3 and 723-4 is used to generate a magnetic field orthogonal to said electric field. In this configuration, since the magnetic poles 723-3 and 723-4 are made of metals having the ground potential, the electric field is forced to bend toward the ground sides. Accordingly, the distribution of the electric field is as shown in FIG. 54, and the parallel pattern of the electric field may only be obtained in the small central region.
In the case where an E.times.B separator having such a configuration as described above has been applied to a defect inspection apparatus such as a projective electron beam inspection apparatus, there has been a problem of efficiency in inspection in that the irradiated region of the electron beam cannot be enlarged, in order to perform a precise inspection.
Thus, an another object of the present invention is to provide an E.times.B separator which allows a region including both the electric field and the magnetic field having uniform intensities and cross at right angles to each other, to be expanded in a plane parallel to a sample, and which also allows the outer diameter of the whole body to be reduced. Further, another object of the present invention is to reduce the aberration for the detected image obtained, by means of said E.times.B separator applied to a defect inspection apparatus, thus to conduct the precise defect inspection efficiently.
Also, as stated above, there is a conventional apparatus which, in an inspection of a pattern on a semiconductor wafer or a photo mask with an electron beam, reveals a defect in the following way: primarily it scans the surface of a sample such as the semiconductor wafer or the photo mask, or it scans the sample, by sending the electron beam thereto; secondarily it detects secondary charged particles generated from the surface of said sample to generate image data based on the detected result; and lastly it compares the data per cell or die.
However, the above defect inspection apparatus in the prior art has been problematic in that the irradiation of the electron beam causes the surface of the sample to be charged, and carriers from this charging cause a distortion in the image data, which makes it difficult to detect any defects accurately. When alternatively the electron beam current is reduced to make the distortion by the carriers small enough to resolve the problem of said distortion in the image data, the S/N ratio for the secondary electron signal is adversely affected, so that the possibility of invalid error detection is increased, which has been another problem. Further, it has also been a problem in the prior art that multiple scanning and averaging processes for improving the S/N ratio causes a decrease in throughput.
Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which prevents any distortion from being caused by charging, or which minimizes such distortions if any, and thereby allows a highly accurate defect inspection to be performed, and also to provide a method for manufacturing a device by using said apparatus.
Also, there has been known an apparatus for inspecting a substrate for any defects in an image formed on the substrate in such a manner that the apparatus irradiates a charged particle beam against a surface of the substrate to scan said surface by said charged particle beam, detects secondary electrons emanated from the surface of the substrate, generates image data from the detected result, and then compares the data for each die to one another to detect those defects.
However, this type of imaging apparatus according to the prior art, including the above-described apparatus that has been disclosed in the publication, has been problematic in that the potential distribution on the surface of the substrate or the object to be inspected is not necessarily uniform and the contrast of the image is insufficient, which may cause distortion.
Therefore, a further object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus having an improved performance in defect detection without any loss of throughput.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus having an improved performance in defect detection by improving the contrast in an image obtained by the detection of secondary electrons from the object to be inspected.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus having improved performance in defect detection by making uniform the potential distribution on the surface of an object to be inspected and thereby improving the contrast, thus reducing distortion, in an image obtained by the detection of secondary electrons from said surface of the object to be inspected.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device manufacturing method in which a sample in the course of processes is evaluated by using such an imaging apparatus as described above.
There has also been one such prior art defect inspection apparatus used conventionally in a semiconductor manufacturing process or the like, which inspects a sample such as a wafer or the like for any defects by detecting secondary electrons emanated by irradiating a primary electron beam onto the sample.
Japanese patent Application Public Disclosure No. 11-132975, for example, discloses a defect inspection apparatus which comprises: an electron beam irradiating section for irradiating an electron beam against a sample; a projecting optical section for image-forming a one-dimensional and/or a two-dimensional image of secondary or reflected electrons, said secondary electrons being emanated in response to shape, material, and variation in potential on the surface of the sample; an electron beam detecting section for outputting a detection signal based on a formed image; an image display section for receiving said detection signal and displaying an electron image of the surface of the sample based thereon; and an electron beam deflecting section for changing the angle of incidence of the electron beam irradiated from the electron beam irradiating section onto the sample and the angle of intake of the secondary or reflected electrons into the projecting optical section. According to this inspection apparatus, the primary electron beam is irradiated onto a surface in a specified rectangular region of the sample wafer of the real device.
However, if the electron beam is irradiated on the surface in a relatively large area of the sample wafer of the real device, due to the sample surface being made of an insulating material such as silicon dioxide or silicon nitride, the electron beam irradiation against the sample surface and associated emanation of secondary electrons from the sample surface causes the sample surface to be positively charged, and an electric field produced by this potential has problematically caused a variety of image disorders in the secondary electron beam image.
The present invention has been made in the light of above-mentioned facts, and an object thereof is to provide an defect inspection apparatus and a defect inspection method that enable an inspection of a sample to be performed with higher accuracy by reducing positive charge builed-up in the surface of the sample, thereby overcoming the problem of disorder associated with this charge-up.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor manufacturing method that can improve the yield of devices and prevent delivery of any defective products to market by using an inspection apparatus described above to carry out a defect inspection of a sample.
Further, a stage for accurately positioning a sample in a vacuum atmosphere has been used in an apparatus in which a charged particles beam such as an electron beam is irradiated onto the surface of a sample such as a semiconductor wafer so as to expose the surface of the sample to a pattern of a semiconductor circuit or the like, or so as to inspect a pattern formed on the surface of the sample, or in another apparatus in which the charged particles beam is irradiated onto the sample so as to apply an ultra-precise processing thereto.
When said stage is required to be positioned highly accurately, one structure has been conventionally employed, in which the stage is supported in non-contact manner by a hydrostatic bearing. In this case, the vacuum level in a vacuum chamber is maintained by forming a differential exhausting mechanism for exhausting a high pressure gas in an area of the hydrostatic bearing so that the high pressure gas supplied from the hydrostatic bearing may not be directly exhausted into the vacuum chamber.
FIGS. 55A-55B shows one of the examples of such a stage according to the prior art. In the configuration of FIG. 55A, the tip portion of an optical column 71 or a charged particles beam irradiating section 72 of a charged particles beam apparatus for emitting and irradiating a charged particles beam against a sample is attached to a housing 98 which makes up a vacuum chamber C. The interior of the optical column is exhausted to vacuum through a vacuum pipe 710, as in the chamber C through a vacuum pipe 911. Herein, the charged particles beam is irradiated from the tip portion 72 of the optical column 71 against a sample W such as a wafer or the like placed thereunder.
The sample W is detachably held on a sample table 94, and the sample table 94 is mounted on the upper face of a Y directionally movable unit 95 of an XY stage (hereafter referred to as a stage for simplicity). The above Y directionally movable unit 95 is equipped with a plurality of hydrostatic bearings 90 attached on planes (on both of the right and left faces and also on a bottom face in FIG. 55A) facing to guide planes 96a of an X directionally movable unit 96 of the stage 93, and is allowed to move in the Y direction (lateral direction in FIG. 55B) with a micro gap maintained between the guide planes and itself by said hydrostatic bearings 90. Further, a differential exhausting mechanism is provided surrounding the hydrostatic bearing so that a high-pressure gas supplied to the hydrostatic bearing does not leak into the vacuum chamber C. This is shown in FIG. 56. Doubled grooves 918 and 917 are formed surrounding the hydrostatic bearings 90, and are regularly exhausted to vacuum through a vacuum pipe by a vacuum pump (not shown). Owing to such structure, the Y directionally movable unit 95 is allowed to move freely in the Y direction in the vacuum atmosphere as supported in the non-contact manner. Those doubled grooves 918 and 917 are formed in a plane of the movable unit 95 in which the hydrostatic bearing 90 is arranged, so as to circumscribe said hydrostatic bearing. The structure of the hydrostatic bearing may be any of those conventionally known and its detailed explanation can be omitted here.
The X directionally movable unit 96 having said Y directionally movable unit 95 loaded thereon is formed to be concave in shape with the top face opened, as obviously seen from FIG. 55A, and said X directionally movable unit 95 is also provided with completely similar hydrostatic bearings and grooves, and further the unit 96 is supported in a non-contact manner with respect to the stage 97 so as to be movable freely in the X direction.
Combining said Y directionally movable unit 95 with the X directionally movable unit 96 allows the sample W to be moved to a desired position in the horizontal direction relative to the tip portion of the optical column or the charged particles beam irradiating section 72, so that the charged particles beam can be irradiated to a desired location of the sample.
With the stage including a combination of the hydrostatic bearing and the differential exhausting mechanism as described above, the guide plane 96a or 97a facing the hydrostatic bearing 90 makes a reciprocating motion between a high-pressure atmosphere in the electrostatic bearing portion and a vacuum environment within the chamber while the stage moves. During this reciprocating motion, such gas supply cycle is repeated in which while the guide plane is exposed to the high-pressure atmosphere, the gas is adsorbed onto the guide plane, and upon being exposed to the vacuum environment, the adsorbed gas is desorbed into the environment. Because of this gas supply cycle, every time when the stage moves, it has happened that the vacuum level in the chamber C is lowered, which has caused such problems that the exposure, inspection, or processing with the charged particles beam described above could not be carried out stably, and the sample might be contaminated.
Therefore, an another object of the present invention is to provide a charged particles beam apparatus capable of preventing the degradation of the vacuum level and thereby allow a process such as inspection or processing by a charged particles beam to be carried out stably.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a charged particles beam apparatus having a non-contact supporting mechanism by means of a hydrostatic bearing and a vacuum sealing mechanism by means of a differential exhausting so as to produce a pressure difference between the charged particles beam irradiating region and a supporting section of the hydrostatic bearing.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a charged particles beam apparatus capable of reducing a gas desorbed from the surface of a part facing to the hydrostatic bearing.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a defect inspection apparatus for inspecting the surface of a sample or an exposure apparatus for delineating a pattern on a surface of a sample, by using such a charged particles beam apparatus as described above.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor manufacturing method for manufacturing a semiconductor device by using a charged particles beam apparatus such as described above.
Also, in the conventional stage including a combination of the hydrostatic bearing and the differential exhausting mechanism shown in FIGS. 55A-55B, there have been such problems that because of the differential exhausting mechanism having been added, the structure has become more complicated and its reliability as a stage has decreased while its cost has increased over that of a stage having a hydrostatic bearing used in the atmospheric pressure.
Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide a charged particles beam apparatus having a simple structure capable of being made compact without employing a differential exhausting mechanism for the XY stage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a charged particles beam apparatus with a differential exhausting mechanism for exhausting a region on a surface of a sample to which a charged particles beam is to be irradiated, as well as for exhausting the inside of a housing containing an XY stage to vacuum.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a defect inspection apparatus for inspecting the surface of a sample for defects or an exposing apparatus for delineating a pattern on the surface of the sample by using either of the charged particles beam apparatuses described above.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device by using either of the charged particles beam apparatuses described above.
Also, as stated above, there has been used in the semiconductor manufacturing processes or the like a defect inspection apparatus for inspecting a sample such as a semiconductor wafer for defects by detecting secondary electrons emitted upon an irradiation of a primary electrons against said sample.
In such defect inspection apparatus, there has been employed a technology in which an image recognition technique is put into practical use to accomplish an automated inspection and to achieve higher efficiency in the inspection. In this technology, a computer carries out a matching operation between pattern image data for a region to be inspected in the sample surface obtained by detecting the secondary electrons and reference image data for the sample surface stored in advance, so that it is automatically determined if there are any defects existing in the sample, based on the operation results.
Recently, especially in the semiconductor manufacturing field, patterns are increasingly miniaturized, and consequently requiring detection of finer defects with high precision and efficiency. Under such condition, even the defect inspection apparatus taking advantage of the image recognition technique described above must further improve its recognition accuracy.
However, there has been such a problem associated with the prior art described above, which is that a position mismatch occurs between the image of the secondary electron beam obtained upon irradiating the primary electron beam against the region to be inspected in the sample surface and the reference image prepared in advance, which decreases the accuracy in defect detection. This position mismatch becomes a serious problem especially when the irradiation region of the primary electron beam is offset to the wafer resulting in the inspection pattern partially being out of the detection image of the secondary electron beam, which could not be handled only with the technology for optimizing a matching region within the detection image. This problem could be a fatal drawback especially in the inspecting of patterns of high precision.
Therefore, a still further object of the present invention is to provide a defect inspection apparatus which can prevent a loss of accuracy in the defect detection possibly caused by a position mismatch between the image of an inspection sample and a reference image.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor manufacturing method used in semiconductor device manufacturing processes, which attempts to improve the yield of devices and to prevent any faulty products from being delivered to market by using a defect inspection apparatus as described above for performing a defect detection of a sample. | {
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An MPEG (Motion Pictures Experts Group) coding system that uses inter-frame differences is often employed as a technique for compression-coding (hereafter simply referred to as “coding”) moving image information. As the MPEG coding system, in addition to conventionally used MPEG-2 (ISO/IEC 13818-2) and MPEG-4 (ISO/IEC 14496-2), new coding systems such as H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (ISO/IEC 14496-10) (hereafter simply referred to as “H.264”) and VC-1 (SMPTE 421M) are increasingly used in recent years.
In such coding systems, one screen (picture) is divided into blocks each of which is made up of a predetermined number of pixels (luminance components: 16 pixels×16 pixels), and a decoding process or a coding process is performed on a block-by-block basis. This block is called a macroblock.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing adjacent macroblock dependencies in H.264. In new coding systems represented by H.264, when coding a macroblock, correlation between the coding target macroblock and its neighboring macroblocks is exploited to enhance compression efficiency. Therefore, in order to decode or code an arbitrary macroblock MB10, it is necessary to reference processing results of four adjacent macroblocks, namely, a left adjacent macroblock MB11, an above left adjacent macroblock MB12, an above adjacent macroblock MB13, and an above right adjacent macroblock MB14 that are adjacent to the macroblock MB10, as shown in FIG. 18. This requires these adjacent macroblocks MB11 to MB14 to be decoded or coded beforehand.
Moreover, an image decoding apparatus or an image coding apparatus that executes a decoding process or a coding process in parallel by using a plurality of decoding units or a plurality of coding units that decode or code macroblocks (hereafter, these decoding units or coding units are simply referred to as “macroblock processing units”) is proposed for a high-speed decoding process or coding process. In such an image decoding apparatus or image coding apparatus, the aforementioned adjacent macroblock dependencies need to be solved not by an individual macroblock processing unit but through cooperation between a plurality of macroblock processing units operating in parallel. Accordingly, methods for solving the dependencies are conventionally proposed (for example, see Patent Reference 1).
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of an image decoding apparatus and an image coding apparatus described in Patent Reference 1 mentioned above. In FIG. 19, the numbers assigned to macroblocks MB indicate a processing order of macroblocks MB in a picture Pic, where macroblocks MB with the same number are processed in parallel. As shown in FIG. 19, the image decoding apparatus and the image coding apparatus start processing from a top left macroblock MB in the picture Pic. In the case of processing an arbitrary macroblock MB, this macroblock MB and a macroblock MB positioned one row below and two columns to the left of the macroblock MB are processed in parallel, thereby solving the aforementioned adjacent macroblock dependencies.
Which is to say, to process (decode or code) a macroblock MB, information showing processing results of adjacent macroblocks MB that are adjacent left, above left, above, and above right to the processing target macroblock MB is necessary due to the aforementioned dependencies. However, in the case of processing each row (macroblock line) of the picture Pic in parallel, simply processing macroblocks MB positioned in the same column of the different rows in parallel makes it impossible to obtain information on adjacent macroblocks MB necessary for each processing target macroblock MB, so that such parallel processing cannot be achieved. In view of this, in the image decoding apparatus and the image coding apparatus in Patent Reference 1 mentioned above, the column in which the processing target macroblock MB is positioned is made different in each row, thereby processing each row of the picture Pic in parallel.
Thus, by setting the position (column) of the processing target macroblock for each of the macroblock processing units operating in parallel, processing of each adjacent macroblock of the processing target macroblock MB can always be completed beforehand. This enables the aforementioned adjacent macroblock dependencies to be solved, with it being possible to achieve parallel processing for each row of the picture Pic. | {
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Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle braking system.
Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2009-227023 (which is hereinafter referred to as JP2009-227023A) discloses the following technique. According to the disclosed technique, at the start of operation of a yaw-moment control device, a slave cylinder is temporarily operated, a brake pressure generated in the slave cylinder is added to a brake pressure generated by the yaw-moment control device, and the sum of the brake pressures is outputted to wheel cylinders. The object of the above technique is to supplement deficiency in the initial responsiveness of the brake pressure generated by the yaw-moment control device with the initial responsiveness of the brake pressure in the slave cylinder and generate a brake pressure having high initial responsiveness.
In addition, according to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2005-153716 (which is hereinafter referred to as JP2005-153716A), the yaw moment of a vehicle is feedforward controlled and feedback controlled according to the steering angle and the like of the vehicle.
The technique disclosed in JP2009-227023A is intended to improve the initial responsiveness of the yaw-moment control by operating the slave cylinder in an initial stage of the yaw-moment control and increasing the hydraulic brake pressure.
However, in the case where the slave cylinder is operated as above at the start of the yaw-moment control in which braking force begins to be applied in advance of occurrence of a disturbance in the vehicle behavior by feedforward control or the like, the accuracy of the yaw-moment control is lowered. (See JP2005-153716A and the like for the yaw-moment control as above.) That is, in the yaw-moment control as disclosed in JP2005-153716A and the like, the yaw moment control is performed by generating a relatively small braking force. Therefore, when the braking force generated in the slave cylinder is added to the small braking force as above, it is difficult to accurately control the brake pressure to be equal to a target brake pressure. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to the field of debris removal, and specifically to an apparatus that is capable of retrieving a wide variety of litter and refuse from any type of surface, such as a road surface, while the apparatus is in continuous forward motion.
2. Description of Related Art
A common type of litter collecting device includes a single pick up roller or drum rotatably supported on a frame which is movable over the ground. In its simplest form, the device is simply a sweeper, an example of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,189, issued to Horton et al. Resilient fingers project from the rollers to entrap, or at least redistribute, litter during rotary contact with the ground. The entrapped litter is then lifted from the ground by the fingers as the roller or drum rotates.
If the device is to be used to actually entrap and store the litter, a smaller, elevated brush roller downstream from the pick up roller can be employed to remove and transfer trapped litter from the fingers for discharge into a trash bin carried by the frame. An example of such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,101, issued to Donahue.
The major problem encountered by such roadbed engaging devices is brush or finger wear. The brush must have some resilience in order to avoid breaking when repeatedly encountering the unyielding road surface. Thus, numerous researchers have addressed the problem of designing a strong wear resistant brush capable of some deflection, the proper amount of deflection often being a somewhat poorly defined parameter. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,649,984, issued to Kershaw et al., discloses a brush element having a protruding steel core surrounded by a rubber sheath. The steel core limits maximum deflection while adding a substantial weight penalty. Hence, the roadbed sweeper with which such bristles are used is required to have a substantial power source as well as a relatively rugged transmission. A similar rubber element reinforced with a series of spring steel plates is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,373, issued to Price. The use of bundles of bare wire brush elements without any sort of coating is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,044, issued to Kayabara.
An attempt to utilize a more resilient brush or finger is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,286,650, which uses a brush element formed of pure gum rubber. Additional flexibility is obtained by cutting a series of lateral grooves into the exterior of the brush element. However, the brush disclosed is far too fragile to withstand repeated contact with a road surface, and is in fact intended for use with a poultry plucking machine. A somewhat stronger brush is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,350, issued to White, which uses a substantially identical brush element as found in the '650 disclosure, with the addition of internally molded fiber reinforcing elements. U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,564 discloses a stiffer brush element having a rounded leading edge and reinforced by an internally molded, stranded, fibrous material.
All of the above mentioned brush elements suffer from being excessively heavy and requiring the combining of multiple materials into a specific composite structure. Further, each of the aforementioned brushes must be individually mounted by threading into a receptacle or being individually secured by separate threaded fasteners. Such mounting arrangements are a major source of dissatisfaction in a litter collecting environment, since debris tends to foul such fastening arrangements and tools are required to replace each individual brush. An attempt to simplify the mounting of the brush is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,187, issued to Drumm, in which a continuous brush is mounted to a continuous clip which is then inserted into a groove residing on the rotating drum. However, a method of adapting such an arrangement to a series of discrete finger elements is not disclosed.
While the above devices are somewhat effective to remove certain types and quantities of litter scattered over relatively large areas, the rotating pick up fingers often fail to initially engage or retain entrapped litter for subsequent removal by the elevated brush roller. Consequently, substantial quantities of litter remain on the ground. Additionally, substantial quantities of litter lifted by the fingers are often ejected back onto the ground by the rotating brush roller.
Another type of litter collecting apparatus utilizes a tandem pair of identical, oppositely rotating rollers, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,916,753, issued to Redpath et al. Each roller supports many radially extending fingers which engage the ground, and which also intermesh in a gear like fashion with the fingers of the adjacent roller. This type of prior art apparatus tends to lift greater quantities of litter from the ground than the single roller/elevated brush arrangement discussed above, since litter not grasped by the front roller fingers is usually lifted by the rear roller fingers.
In order to transfer litter to a downstream conveyor for discharge into a rear trash bin, Redpath et al. uses plural elevated, finger projecting rollers meshing with front and rear finger projecting, ground level rollers. The elevated and ground level rollers convey litter downstream along an arcuate transfer path above the ground level rollers. Difficulties are encountered, however, in maintaining precise control over transfer of litter entrapped between the fingers of the ground level rollers. Specifically, there is a tendency for the elevated rollers to redeposit entrapped litter onto the ground since the fingers cannot maintain positive control over all types of litter so as to insure movement to the conveyor residing along the same transfer path. Also, whereas the rollers yield to uneven terrain, the equipment is complex and cumbersome, increasing production and maintenance costs.
In all of these machines, the transfer of the collected litter from the collector to the storage bin involves a number of discrete handling steps in which the litter goes from one location to another between the ground and the storage bin. However, each time that a piece of litter must be handled by a separate piece or structure in the machine there exists an opportunity for the overall collecting efficiency of the machine to be reduced. For example, when a transfer of litter between two relatively moving machine elements is required, it is always possible that flexible types of litter such as cardboard cartons or paper wrappers can become jammed between the two elements. Rather than being transferred from one element to the other, the litter may be returned to the ground or require stoppage of the machine to clear the obstruction.
In another type of entrainment action, collected litter may be allowed to freely drop from one type of handling apparatus into another. For example, it may fall from a collecting roller into a trap area where it is picked up by a subsequent handling device. In such situations, it is entirely possible that litter such as a glass bottle or the like may break as it falls into the trap area, allowing the smaller pieces to drop through spaces in the machine and return to the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,141, issued to Donahue, employs a relatively simple collecting concept that does not involve numerous handling steps in transferring the litter from the collecting device to the storage bin. However, the basic collecting device itself is too simple in concept, comprising a series of relatively rigid rods mounted on a shaft and adapted to picking up only certain types of litter or litter of certain sizes that is capable of being wedged between the rods.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,465, issued to Chrisley, utilizes a plurality of flexible fingers to collect litter, the fingers being subject to wear, thus reducing their effectiveness. The fingers in such prior art machines are difficult to replace, and their circular cross section tends to deflect rather than entrain at least some portion of the debris.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,717, issued to Smith, also utilizes flexible fingers arranged on opposed conveyors to lift debris entrained by a pair of ground engaging rollers. The fingers are intermeshed so as to increase the probability of entraining and transferring a high percentage of the litter, and the multiple conveyor scheme reduces the horizontal length of the litter collecting apparatus, leaving a greater length available for use as a collection hopper for a vehicle of a given size. However, the intermeshed fingers require a controlled timing sequence among the various rollers that prevents rapid variations in conveyor and collector speeds. Further, certain types of litter, such as blankets or carpeting, tend to become entangled in the intermeshed fingers which define a relatively tortuous path for the entrained litter. The intermeshing of the fingers and the spacing of the opposed conveyors impose a finite limit on the size of the debris which may be transported through the space in between the conveyors. Although the collection bin is potentially enlarged, there is no mechanism to insure that substantially the entire volume of the bin will be filled before the proximity of the collected debris to the conveyors will preclude further debris entrainment. Finally, the length of the vehicle is such that the collection bin is necessarily behind the rearmost wheels of the vehicle, resulting in wide center of gravity variations and undesirable low frequency undamped resonant oscillations of the entire vehicle at certain, unpredictable speeds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,011, issued to Moore, discloses a litter collection device in which a series of fingers engage the ground and transfer entrained litter to a single conveyor. Rotating discs are interposed between each row of fingers to strip entrained debris and direct it to the conveyor. The ground engagement feature of this device promotes a high rate of finger wear, while the rotating discs add substantial mechanical complexity and power transmission requirements.
In summary, previously developed litter collecting machines have not solved the problem of collecting the wide variety of litter that is commonly found on surfaces such as, for example, highways. In particular, the previous devices have been subject to incomplete litter collection, jamming and fouling of collection elements, poor utilization of the available collection bin volume, limitations on the size and shape of the debris which can be entrained and an inability to operate while in motion at any substantial forward velocity. The lack of reliability of prior art debris pick up devices has caused most public safety departments with responsibility for high speed limited access highways to routinely block traffic in all lanes in anticipation of debris removal by a stationary vehicle assisted by pedestrian personnel. This practice is inherently dangerous, slow and labor intensive. | {
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} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the field of digital circuitry. More particularly, this invention relates to block id encoder circuitry.
2. Background
As the computer revolution has progressed the quest of microprocessor developers has been to develop chips exhibiting more power and faster performance. Substantial effort has been focused on increasing transistor populations on single microprocessor integrated circuits. That effort continues with today's microprocessors now housing literally millions of transistors on a single chip. Further integration has allowed processor clock speeds to be greatly increased with the increased density of transistors.
Given their increased power and performance, modern microprocessors have found uses in a wide range of fields. Many of the electronic goods which are commercially available today and the majority of control systems used in manufacturing and industry include one or more microprocessors.
Given the large number of transistors involved, modern microprocessors are divided into discrete functional blocks through which instructions are propagated one stage at a time. As the number of transistors on a single chip has increased, effort has been expended to reduce the number of transistors used within these functional blocks. Reducing the number of transistors required to carry out the function of a particular functional block frees up space which can be used to incorporate additional capabilities in the chip.
An additional concern in microprocessor design has been to increase the overall speed of the microprocessor. This is accomplished by increasing the speed at which each of the functional blocks, as well as the logic devices within the functional blocks, operates.
One such logic device which is often utilized in microprocessors, as well as other electronic devices, is an encoder. A typical encoder is a device which encodes onto n binary output signals which one of up to 2.sup.n binary input signals is asserted. Encoders can be very useful in many areas because they can reduce the number of signals which have to be transported within the chip and, possibly, stored. For example, eight input signals can be encoded onto three output signals, thereby reducing the number of signals which need to be transported to other areas of the chip by five, and if the value needs to be stored, then reducing the number of bit storage elements required by five.
One method of building encoders which has been used in microprocessors is a multiple-level combinatorial logic approach. This approach includes combining multiple inverters, logical NAND gates, and logical NOR gates. This approach, however, typically involves passing the input signals through several levels of gates, thereby reducing the speed of the encoder. Thus, it would be beneficial to design an encoder with a reduced number of levels of gates through which signals propagate.
Additionally, many transistors are typically used to build an encoder using a multiple-level combinatorial logic approach, thereby taking valuable chip area away from other components which may need the area. Thus, it would be beneficial to design an encoder with a reduced number of transistors.
One additional logic device used in many electronic devices, including microprocessors, is a memory array or similar structure. Memory arrays have a wide variety of uses, such as storing multiple data entries. When using memory arrays, it is often desirable to identify which one of the multiple entries matches a particular input. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a circuit which quickly identifies, using a reduced number of transistors, which one of multiple memory array entries matches a particular input.
As will be described in more detail below, the present invention provides for a circuit that achieves these and other desired results which will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description to follow. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a multi-packaging device for unitizing and carrying a plurality of containers having a range of possible container diameters.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Multi-packaging devices, such as the device according to this invention, are used to unitize a plurality of containers. Typically, containers include bottles, cans and other containers having a sidewall and a chime or raised rib around an upper portion of the container. Much of the prior art in this area, specifically multi-packaging devices constructed from elastic, polymeric materials, comprises multi-packaging devices that engage the chime or rib around the upper portion of the container. Another style of multi-packaging device is the sidewall applied carrier wherein the multi-packaging device engages the sidewall of the container.
Regardless of the style of multi-packaging device, one challenge in the art is to provide a multi-packaging device that can be used with a range of container sizes, specifically a range of container diameters. Because the container engaging portions of the multi-packaging device are generally elastic, which is governed by the modulus of elasticity or "modulus" of the multi-packaging device, the multi-packaging device relies upon the engagement of a stretched container engaging portion with the container sidewall or chime. Container diameters outside of a narrow range of diameters will either stretch the container engaging portion too much thereby permanently losing elasticity, called "neck-down," or not stretch the container engaging portion at all, both scenarios resulting in package failure.
Prior art multi-packaging devices generally require several different versions or configurations to accommodate different diameters of containers. Typically, a single design multi-packaging device can accommodate a range of container diameters of 0.200 inches. It is therefore desirable to provide a multi-packaging device that can accommodate an increased range of container diameters. | {
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Retail shopping bags have gone through a significant evolution in the last 15 years from 100% brown paper with box bottoms, which are still popular today, to a variety of paper-plastic composite bags and all plastic bags having integral and separate handles.
Most of today's all plastic retail shopping bags are constructed of extruded polyethylene having thicknesses from less than 1 mil. up to 5 or 6 mils. In this thickness range, the bags will not stand erect and must be manually opened to insert the product at the sales location. In some cases, bag racks have been devised for holding these plastic bags open during loading such as illustrated in the Jenkins, U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,743, Provan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,388, and the Malik, U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,652.
While these wire form racks work quite well, they require additional counter space and, of course, add significantly to the overall containerizing cost.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a flexible plastic container that ameliorates the problems in prior containers noted above. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In bolted tank radiator manufacturing practice, it is customary to bolt up the complete assembly and then conduct a leak test. If the radiator has leaks in the corners that are difficult to repair, the side channels are removed and reinstalled after the leak is repaired.
In some cases, the channels are not installed, but the bolts that attach the channels to the tanks are installed. This provides a sealed joint between the and tank and headsheet. After leak testing and repair, if necessary, the bolts holding the tank in the channel area are removed and the channel installed.
These practices are undesirable for the reasons that (1) the sealed joint between the tank and gasket can be opened or unsealed, producing a subsequent leak, or (2) the installation of the channel may, at times, prestress the end tube-to-headsheet joint and break the seal between the tube and the headsheet. Partially adjustable side channels have been used to eliminate the possibility of prestressing. However, in the event of leaks, the channels must be completely removed to permit the repair work.
In both cases, the operation of removing the channels for repair purposes, or removing the bolts to install the channel after test is time consuming. | {
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The present invention relates to a portable lectern and voice amplification device and, more particularly, to a portable voice amplification device having a hinged panel and offset lever arm support member which forms an inherently stable sloping shelf for use as a lectern.
With the ever-increasing number of public speaking activity and engagements, there has arisen a great need for a compact portable public address system and lectern which may be quickly and easily set up on a tabletop. Due to this need, a variety of portable amplifier lectern devices have recently been introduced on the market.
These prior art devices have typically utilized a swinging panel which when extended from the carrying case, provide a slanted or inclined surface to support notes and books of the speaker. Although these prior art designs have proven useful in their limited application, they have been fraught with support, stability, and setup problems.
The support problems of these prior art devices have been primarily caused by their inability to maintain the fixed position of the slanted lectern panel relative to the carrying case. Although these support problems are minimal when the slanted panel is only supporting books or papers, they become acute when the panel is subjected to the occasional increased force of a speaker leaning forward on the device. This increased force often causes the lectern panel to deflect and loosen at its interface with the carrying case or, in extreme cases, even buckle or collapse.
In an effort to alleviate these support problems, many prior art devices have utilized intricate support designs in which a plurality of braces or support members strengthen the lectern panel. However, these braces add substantially to the weight of the device and often cause the resulting structure to become unstable. The results of this instability is manifested in the tendency for these devices to tip over upon a minimal vertical force applied against the lectern panel.
The setup and operation of many of these prior art devices has also proven to be difficult due to the requirement of external electrical connections or intricate bracing and support designs which often require reference to an instruction manual to facilitate proper assembly and operation of the device. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of setting contacts, particularly socket contacts, in a housing for an electric connector.
2. Prior Art
There are known some types of connectors adapted for use with printed circuit boards wherein a plurality of socket contacts are secured in a housing of each connector. Each of the socket contacts that have not yet been set in place has an elongate unfinished lead continuing from the end of a socket-shaped body. In the prior art method, the unfinished lead is then bent to provide a straight lead extending generally in parallel with the socket-shaped body. An end portion of the straight lead will subsequently be bent again to form a connectable leg protruding down from the housing of a socket connector assembled this way. FIGS. 4(a) to 4(e) as whole illustrate such a prior art method of assembling the connector.
In detail, FIG. 4(a) shows the socket contact 1 referred to above and made by punching and pressing a thin sheet of a metal such as phosphor bronze. Its socket-shaped body 2 is of a shape to receive a pin contact (not shown). The elongate unfinished lead 3 extends downward from the rear end of a bottom of the socket-shaped body 2.
FIG. 4(b) shows a connector housing 5 made of an insulating material such as a Nylon (registered trademark) so as to accommodate a plurality of such socket contacts 1. Compartments 6 formed side by side and in a row will respectively hold therein the socket bodies 2 of those contacts. Groove-shaped cutouts 7 for receiving the elongate unfinished leads 3 are located in a bottom of the housing 5, correspond to the respective compartments 6. Each cutout 7 extends from the rear end to a front end of the housing 5. The reference numeral 8 denotes a lockable arm engageable with a mating connector.
FIGS. 4(c) to 4(e) show the sequential steps of incorporating the socket contacts 1 into the connector housing 5. The socket-shaped body 2 of each contact 1 will at first be put in the compartment 6, from rear of the housing. Then, the unfinished lead 3 extending from each body 2 thus fixed in said compartment will be bent using a tool 21 so as to have a major portion fitting in the groove-shaped cutout 7. This bent major portion of each unfinished lead 3 lies straight along a bottom of said cutout 7, substantially in parallel with the body 2. Such a major portion protruding forward from the front of housing 5 is referred to herein as a --straight lead 3'--. Subsequently, a rear part of this straight lead 3' fitting in the cutout 7 will be held in place with an anvil 22 as shown in FIG. 4(d) so that a further tool 23 may press down a frontal part of said lead 3' to form a leg 4 connectable to a printed circuit board (see FIG. 4(e)).
Since there is no element or member disposed below and supporting each straight lead 3', those socket contacts 1 set in the housing 5 by the prior art method are not necessarily held firmly enough to be immovable relative thereto. In particular, those straight leads 3' and their connectable legs 4 are susceptible to deformation caused by external force. Thus, it has been considerably difficult to firmly retain the legs 4 on any printed circuit board. Further, presence of a large number of groove-shaped cutouts 7 between the frontal and rear bottom ends of the housing 5 has often caused it to become distorted when molded. | {
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In general, this invention relates to nucleic acid and amino acid sequences involved in fat metabolism regulation and the use of these sequences as targets for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of obesity and obesity-related diseases. In addition, the invention relates to screening methods for identifying modulators of body fat metabolism and the development of treatments for obesity and obesity-related diseases.
Fat metabolism is controlled by a regulatory loop that exists between the central nervous system (CNS) and adipocytes. Adipocytes are specialized cells that store energy in the form of fat droplets, composed primarily of triglycerides. These fat droplets are thought to form by pinching off from membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum. Access to these fat stores is regulated by a protective protein coat, which limits their exposure to cellular lipases, enzymes that breakdown fat. Adipocytes communicate with the CNS via peptide and hormonal signals that carry information regarding the peripheral energy state. In response to these signals, the CNS controls food seeking or satiety behaviors in order to maintain energy homeostasis.
Large gaps remain in our understanding of the cell biology of fat storage, fat droplet biogenesis, and fat droplet size regulation. Moreover, the global regulators of fat metabolism, the interplay of food signals and hormones, and the genetic and environmental factors that influence body weight are still poorly understood. Addressing these deficits is crucial given the devastating impact of obesity on human health throughout the developed world. The dysregulation of body weight is associated with obesity, atherosclerosis, type II diabetes mellitus, and osteoarthritis of body joints. Conservative estimates of economic costs associated with the adverse health effects of obesity range between 2% to 7% of total health costs in the developed world. In the United States, for example, diabetes, one of the diseases associated and exacerbated by obesity, is thought to affect over 16 million individuals at an annual cost of over 92 billion dollars.
As current therapies offer limited effectiveness in treating obesity and obesity-related disease, a need exists for new therapeutic targets. | {
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The present invention relates to depilating devices, and more particularly, to a hand held, motorized depilating device for removing wanted skin hair, utilizing a novel mechanical design to provide improved depilating coverage, to achieve the desired depilating effect per give: skin area without requiring the user to pass the device over it numerous times, thereby increasing the hair plucking efficiency.
A problem shared by many of the depilating devices currently on the market is that the user must pass the device over the same given skin area numerous times in order to achieve the depilating effect desired, thus providing limited depilating coverage. This is commonly the result of how the hair-traps are aligned one with respect to the other and to the given skin area being depilated. Without optimal alignment of hair-traps in relation to coverage of skin area, hair plucking efficiency is decreased.
One approach for increasing the area effectively treated per depilating pass has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,190 to Inoue. The suggested approach is to mechanically force the hair-plucking assembly to traverse the given skin area from side to side, while simultaneously rotating about a shaft. Both types of motion are powered by means of the device""s motor.
This approach has two major drawbacks:
1. The necessity to add moving parts, which translates into increased production costs and energy consumption.
2. A substantial reduction in depilating efficiency as a result of diminishing the effective hair-trap opening exposed to the skin surface at any given time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,233 to Dolev discloses a novel hair removal device, which includes disc assemblies, which are designed to alternately close and open a large number of relatively large hair-traps.
The Dolev patent discloses a depilating device comprising a hair-plucking assembly being rotatable about a shaft and including one or more disc assemblies. Each disc assembly comprises a pair of complementary discs, each of which has one or more radially extending arms, which terminate in a flattened peripheral portion. The disc assemblies also include a hub, which accommodates said pair of discs, one on each of its axial faces.
The hub has shoulders for engaging the arms of each of the discs so as to impart rotational motion to the discs upon the rotation of the hub. The hub also has pairs of protrusions, which extend axially beyond the plane of arms of each disc. The hub further has an edge, which is perpendicular to its axis.
In one embodiment, each of the arms of the pair of discs is pivotable about the edge so as to alternately bring two flattened peripheral portions into contact thus closing a hair-trap and then opening the trap to release the depilated hairs.
In an alternate embodiment, the edge of the hub includes a pinch plate, which projects radially outwardly from the edge. It is disposed in a plane opposite the plane of the flattened peripheral portion, so as to be flush with the flattened peripheral portion. Each arm of the pair of discs is pivotable about the edge so as to alternately bring two flattened peripheral portion and the pinch plate into contact thus closing two hair-traps simultaneously and then opening the traps to release the depilated hairs.
In both embodiments, however, the hair-traps are lined up one after the other, i.e. in a tandem arrangement. In a single depilating pass over a given skin area, a narrow band of skin area is treated by this tandem arrangement of hair-traps. Strips of skin, between these bands, are not treated. As a result, the device""s efficiency is reduced and consequently, the user must pass the device over the same given skin area several times in order to achieve the depilating effect desired.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a depilating device that enables improved depilating coverage ensuring achieving the depilating effect desired per given skin area without requiring the user to pass the device over the same given skin area numerous times. In addition, it would be desirable to increase the hair plucking efficiency, without increasing the energy expenditure in using the device and without increasing the number of parts involved.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and provide a hand-held, motorized depilating device for removing unwanted skin hair, introducing a novel mechanical design to provide improved depilating coverage, ensuring achieving the depilating effect desired per given skin area without requiring the user to pass the device over the same given skin area numerous times, and thereby increasing the hair plucking efficiency.
The present invention is based on U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,233 to Dolev and is essentially an improvement of the aforementioned patent. Instead of the hair-traps being lined up one after the other, i.e. in a tandem arrangement, the novel mechanical design enables the hair-traps to be lined up in a staggered manner and consequently cover the entire given skin area.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a motor-powered depilating device comprising:
a hair-plucking assembly, coupled to motor means, and being exposed through an opening in a manually-held housing, said hair-plucking assembly being rotatable about an axis of rotation and including a plurality of disc assemblies, each disc assembly comprising:
a pair of complementary discs, each of said discs having at least two radial arms extending outwardly, each one of said complementary discs being mounted, respectively, on each of two axial faces of a hub having a predetermined thickness, said hub having at least two shoulders, each shoulder engaging one of said radial arms so as to impart rotational motion to said pair of discs upon rotation of said hub about the axis of rotation,
said hub further including engagement means, for engaging at least one adjoining hub such that rotational motion of one hub imparts rotational motion to said adjoining hub,
each of said a terminating in a flattened peripheral portion which, when pressed against a corresponding portion of a complementary disc in a pivoting motion about an edge of said hub, forms a trap for the hair, each trap lying in a predetermined one of a plurality of virtual planes, said dual planes comprising three substantially parallel planes orthogonal to the axis of rotation, including
a centerplane bisecting said hub thickness,
a first offset plane, spaced apart from said centerplane by a first offset dimension, and
a second offset plane, spaced apart from said centerplane by a second offset dimension,
said three virtual planes defining a plurality of contiguous depilating coverage zones on the skin surface within said offset dimensions,
said at least two shoulders of said hub each having a pair of protrusions which extend axially from each of said shoulders towards adjoining disc assemblies, one on either side thereof,
such that, at intervals, during the rotation of said plurality of said disc assemblies, said axial protrusions extend through open spaces between adjacent radial arms of said discs to press a radial arm of an adjoining disc assembly,
so as to alternately close and open said hair-traps in said plurality of disc assemblies, thereby plucking skin hair with improved coverage within said depilating coverage zones, and releasing it.
In the preferred embodiment, the hair-plucking assembly is rotatable about a shaft and includes at least two disc assemblies. Each disc assembly comprises a pair of complementary discs, each of which has two or more radially extending arms which terminate in a flattened peripheral portion, which when pressed against a corresponding portion forms a trap for the hair. Each trap lies in a predetermined plane, constituting one of a plurality of virtual planes.
At least one of the radially extending arms and its opposing complementary disc arm are bent, so that the hair trap formed lies in a different predetermined virtual plane offset from the other hair-traps associated with the disc assembly, thus forming a staggered arrangement of hair-traps.
The disc assemblies also include a hub which accommodates a pair of complementary discs, one on each of its axial faces. Each hub has a predetermined thickness, upon which is mounted one of the complementary discs, on each of the two axial faces of the hub. The hub has three shoulders for engaging the arms of each of the discs, sol as to impart rotational motion to the discs upon the rotation of the hub. The hub has an edge, substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, about which each pair of arms of the pair of discs is pivotable, so as to alternately bring, two flattened peripheral portions into contact, thus closing a hair-trap, lying in one of the predetermined planes, and then opening the trap to release the depilated hairs.
The virtual planes are three substantially parallel planes orthogonal to the axis of rotation, a centerplane bisecting the hub thickness, a first offset plane, spaced apart from the centerplane by a first offset dimension, and a second offset plane, spaced apart from the centerplane by a second offset dimension. The virtual planes define depilating coverage zones within the offset dimensions.
At least one of the hair-traps, associated with each disc assembly, and formed by the flattened peripheral portion pressed against its corresponding portion, lies in a different predetermined plane than the other hair-traps associated with the disc assembly. This staggered arrangement results in improved depilating coverage within the depilating coverage zones defined by the offset dimensions.
Each shoulder of the hub has a pair of protrusions, each member of which extends axially from the shoulder towards an adjoining disc assembly. At intervals, during the rotation of the disc assemblies, the axial protrusions extend through the open spaces between adjacent radial arms of the discs to touch the nearer disc of an adjoining disc assembly, so as to alternately close and open the hair-traps lying in each of the virtual planes, thereby plucking skin hair within the contiguous depilating coverage zones, and releasing it.
In each of the disc assemblies, the hub has extending from one of its shoulders at least one pair of axial protrusions, extending axially in opposite directions, offset from the other pairs of axial protrusions of the hub. This enables closing and opening of the staggered arrangement of hair-traps and thereby improves the depilating coverage afforded by the plurality of disc assemblies.
The hub includes engagement means, for engaging at least one adjoining hub, such that rotational motion of one hub imparts rotational motion to at least one adjoining hub.
According to another embodiment, the hub""s edge has formed thereon a pinch plate, which projects radially outwardly from the edge. The pinch plate is disposed in between and equidistant from the arms of complementary discs, so as to be substantially flush with the flattened peripheral portions of these arms.
Each pair of anus of the pair of discs is pivotable about the edge so as to alternately bring two flattened peripheral portion and the pinch plate into contact thus closing two hair-traps simultaneously and then opening the traps to release the depilated hairs. This doubles the number of hair-traps closed simultaneously and thereby, greatly increases depilating efficiency.
According to the preferred embodiment, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the hubs are rotatably mounted on a fixed arcuate shaft and each hub includes engagement means for engaging at least one adjacent hub so that rotational motion of one hub imparts rotational motion to an adjacent hub. Trap opening and closing is accomplished by using a motion control means employing inclined pressure bearings.
According to another embodiment, the hubs are rotatably mounted on a straight shaft, and trap opening and closing is accomplished by using a motion control means employing cams or inclined thrust bearings.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and the description contained herein below. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In an information recording medium, such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable), a DVD-ROM, a DVD-R, a DVD-RW, and a DVD+R, for example, as described in patent documents 1 and 2, etc., there is also developed an information recording medium, such as a multilayer type or dual layer type optical disc, in which a plurality of recording layers are laminated or pasted on the same substrate. Then, on an information recording apparatus, such as a DVD recorder, for performing the recording with respect to the dual layer type, i.e., two-layer type, optical disc, laser light for recording is focused or condensed on a recording layer located on the front (i.e. on the closer side to an optical pickup) as viewed from the irradiation side of the laser light (hereinafter referred to as an “L0 layer”, as occasion demands) to thereby record information into the L0 layer in an irreversible change recording method by heat or a rewritable method. Moreover, the laser light is focused or condensed on a recording layer located on the rear of the L0 layer (i.e. on the farther side from the optical pickup) as viewed from the irradiation side of the laser light (hereinafter referred to as an “L1 layer”, as occasion demands), through the L0 layer or the like, to thereby record information into the L1 layer.
When information is recorded into the L1 layer, which constitutes such a two-layer type optical disc, the optimum recording power of the laser light with which the L1 layer is irradiated through the recorded L0 layer, as shown in FIG. 14(a), is 44.5 (mW: milliwatt) at which a jitter value is minimal on a parabolic curve in a thin line (with white triangles) in FIG. 14(c), for example. On the other hand, the optimum recording power of the laser light with which the L1 layer is irradiated through the unrecorded L0 layer which has a different light transmittance from that of the recorded L0 layer, as shown in FIG. 14(b), is 46 (mW: milliwatt) at which a jitter value is minimal on a parabolic curve in a thick line (with black triangles) in FIG. 14(c), for example. Thus, there is a need to consider whether or not the L0 layer is recorded, in the case of the recording in the L1 layer. With respect to this, there is devised or invented a recording method in which a so-called recording order is satisfied, which is that the laser light for recording which has penetrated or transmitted the L0 layer in a recorded state is to be irradiated, for example.
However, in producing such a two-layer type information recording medium, the L0 layer and the L1 layer are formed by different stampas, and are pasted or laminated. Thus, there is a possibility to cause an eccentricity due to a pasting error, in the L0 layer and the L1 layer. Alternatively, since the L0 layer and the L1 layer are formed by different stampas, there likely arises deviation in a track pitch in each recording layer, or there likely arises deviation, a so-called dimensional error or measuring error, in an absolute radial position with respect to a reference address in each recording layer. These cause a shift in the radial position of a recording area in the L1 layer which is associated with or corresponds to a recording area in the L0 layer by address information, such as a pre-format address, for example, and thus there arises a possibility that the above-mentioned recording order is not necessarily satisfied.
More specifically, it is assumed that the recording is performed with a recording power which is optimized in the recording after the penetration of the recorded L0 layer. When the information is recorded into the L1 layer, as shown in the left part of FIG. 15, if the laser light for recording which has penetrated the L0 layer in the recorded state is irradiated on a single track, the amplitude of a reproduction signal becomes large, and good signal quality is obtained. In other words, an asymmetry value, which is one example of the signal quality, is appropriate. On the other hand, as shown in the right part of FIG. 15, if the laser light for recording which has penetrated the L0 layer in an unrecorded state is irradiated, the amplitude of the reproduction signal is small, and good signal quality is not obtained. In other words, the asymmetry value is not appropriate. On the other hand, as shown in the middle part of FIG. 15, if the laser light for recording which has penetrated the L0 layer in which the recorded area and the unrecorded area are mixed is irradiated on a single track, the amplitude of the reproduction signal varies depending on the extent of an eccentric amount. In other words, the asymmetry value transits from one to the other out of the appropriate level and the inappropriate level.
In order to eliminate the deviation of the optimum recording power due to the relative shift, if a recording apparatus detects the recording state of the recording area in the L0 layer which is associated with the recording area in the L1 layer, a recording control process becomes complicated because it is necessary to accurately recognize the above-mentioned relative shift. On the other hand, if the information is recorded in disregard of the deviation of the optimum recording power due to the relative shift, the control becomes complicated; for example, a process parameter for obtaining a binary signal is to be dynamically changed, on a reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recorded information, which increases a load in the reproduction process.
Thus, the inventors of the present invention have devised or invented a method of defining a relationship between an address and a physical radial position in advance, in order not to cause the problem of the deviation of the reproduction quality of the recorded information even if the recording is performed with a constant recording power in the normal case between the L0 layer and the L1 layer. Specifically, the recording medium is prepared such that the radial position in the address system of the L0 layer is located on the inner circumferential side of the radial position in the address system of the L1 layer corresponding to that of the L0 layer.
patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2000-311346
patent document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2001-23237 | {
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This invention relates to fuel assemblies for nuclear reactors, and more particularly to nuclear fuel rod spacers or spacer grids which are usually placed at predetermined distance(s) along the length of the fuel assembly in order to provide lateral bracing and spacing, and to maintain the nuclear fuel rods in fixed positions.
In a nuclear reactor, the reactor core contains nuclear fuel which is typically in the form of fuel rods grouped together in fuel assemblies. Groups of fuel assemblies are arranged into a matrix to form a core capable of controlled fission reaction.
Each fuel rod is typically a long member approximately 0.4 inches in diameter and 8 to 15 feet long containing fuel usually in the form of a stack of fuel pellets which are surrounded by tubular cladding. The fuel rods which make up an assembly are grouped together to form a plurality of longitudinally extending members which are supported by two parallel end plates, an upper and a lower tie plate. These plates are usually connected to one another by tie rods, or other structural elements.
Each fuel assembly or bundle may also include nonfuel bearing members. Examples include guide tubes to form passageways for control rods which assist in controlling the rate of fission, instrumentation tubes for in-core instrumentation, spacer capture rods, and water rods to modify the neutron moderation in the assembly. The spaces between adjacent fuel rods create flow channels through which coolant and/or moderator can circulate. In light water reactors, the coolant and moderator is water. Lateral bracing and spacing of the fuel rods in the fuel assembly are provided by spacers or spacer grids.
The fuel assembly or bundle, whether in a pressurized water reactor, boiling water reactor, high temperature gas cooled reactor, or any other type of reactor, functions in part to maintain the fuel rods in a fixed position, ideally free of vibration and restrained from bowing or other lateral displacement during normal and other operating conditions. In addition, by maintaining the fuel rods in fixed positions, proper cooling and neutron moderation can be achieved. Devices that assist in maintaining the fuel rods in fixed positions in the fuel assembly or bundle and which thereby facilitate proper fuel cooling are spacers.
Spacers or spacer grids which provide lateral bracing are typically designed to allow differential axial expansion of the fuel rods. Springs incorporated in the spacer grids are most frequently used to permit some sliding of the fuel rods with respect to the spacer grids. In some of the designs, the spacer grid is free to move axially a small amount to accommodate minor changes in the axial length of the fuel rods during irradiation.
If spacers were to be rigidly connected to the fuel rods as well as to structural members of the fuel assembly, then relative axial movement due to rod growth and thermal expansion of adjacent rods can cause local fuel rod skewing and bowing.
By being positioned at regular intervals, spacers maintain rod-to-rod spacing along the length of the fuel assembly. Spacers are typically made of zirconium based alloy sheet material or sometimes from Inconel or stainless steel, and are built up from a relatively large number of different intricately shaped strips that are fitted together by hand and subsequently welded or brazed. The spacers generally have an egg crate shape and each spacer cell includes features such as dimples and/or springs to maintain the desired rod-to-rod spacing. Sometimes, short sections of tubing are used that are welded to one another along parts of their edges. Thus, the springs and dimples keep the fuel rods in their proper lateral positions. But, under the influence of radiation, undesirable changes in fuel rod pitch (i.e. rod-to-rod spacing) can occur which may cause gaps or spaces to develop between fuel rods and the spacers, and increase the likelihood that the rods and/or spacer grids will vibrate. Such gaps, changes in fuel rod pitch, and vibration may lead to fuel rod fretting and failure. Furthermore, as the fuel is irradiated, the fuel rods undergo a shrinkage or diameter reduction known as "creepdown" which can result in gaps between the fuel rod cladding and the spacer which in turn can cause or contribute to fuel rod fretting.
Spacers should be thin members and have minimal cross-sectional area. Ideally, they are invisible to moderator and coolant flow while providing required lateral strength. Spacer designs reduce flow area and, also increase flow resistance and restrict coolant flow causing undesirable pressure drops. Thus, the particular physical configuration of a spacer can create or contribute to local or even non-local undesirable flow redistribution, restriction, or distortion.
Typically, the fabrication of spacers requires extensive labor in shaping the separate parts and in assembling and welding these parts to form a spacer grid. Many of these operations can be automated. However, even with automated spacer fabrication, assembly and joining, high manufacturing cost and inspection costs result from complex designs.
It would be an advantage if the effective coolant flow area surrounding each fuel rod is maximized by minimizing the spacer cross sectional surface area which impedes coolant flow.
It would be a further advantage if the assembly of the spacer was simplified by the spacer design itself.
It would be an additional further advantage if a spacer having each of the above advantages could be fabricated, tested and inspected at a lower cost than conventional spacers and at the same time improve overall quality and reliability. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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A camera used in a security and surveillance system must be adjustable to different shooting angles. A camera system installed on a bus or other large-size vehicles usually includes a camera for shooting images in the bus and a reversing camera for taking pictures during reversing, and both of these two cameras are adjustable in their shooting angles. After the cameras have been adjusted to the desired shooting angles, they are locked in place on the bus using screws.
Following the progress and development of the modern society, the traffic in cities has become more and more complicated. However, there are many people, including drivers and walkers, not following the traffic rules in the environment crowded with cars. As a result, there are accidents of different seriousness occurring everyday. According to investigations, most of the parties in traffic accidents can hardly remember how the accident occurred. Under this circumstance, it is often very difficult to clarify and determine who should be responsible for the accident and indemnify for loss and damage. In a lucky case, the accident is recorded by a nearby surveillance camera, and it will be easier to clarify who should be responsible for the accident. Lacking such video recorded images as evidence, it would be much harder for the police to correctly find out the truth just by measuring the accident site and inferring the possible reasons. Particularly when there is someone being killed in the accident, it would be unfair and unreasonable to determine the responsibility simply by relying on the survivor's argument. And, even if the survivor's argument is true, it is not necessarily accepted by the families of the dead or the public. That is why many traffic accidents eventually involve in longstanding and weary lawsuit and negotiation for indemnity, and form a spiritual and physical burden for both parties. Therefore, it is really necessary to install a camera device on a car for shooting images of the car during driving to help in finding out the causes of an accident. Moreover, when the images of the driver during driving and the images of road in front the car are synchronously shot, it will be easier to determine the party who should be responsible for the accident.
In view that it is uneasy to find out the cause of an accident and determine which party should be responsible for the accident with the conventional cameras mounted on a car, the inventor has developed a shooting angle adjustable camera device for synchronously shooting images inside and outside a car, particularly the driver's physical and spiritual condition during driving and the road condition in front of the car, so as to help in recreating the site of an accident. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical device for placing an embolic coil at a preselected location within a vessel of the human body, and more particularly, relates to a flexible delivery member having a heating element and a heat responsive coupling member at the distal tip of the delivery member for holding the embolic coil in order to transport the coil to a desired position within the vessel and release the embolic coil at that position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For many years flexible catheters have been used to place various devices within the vessels of the human body. Such devices include dilatation balloons, radiopaque fluids, liquid medications and various types of occlusion devices such as balloons and embolic coils. Examples of such catheter devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,407, entitled "Method And Apparatus For Placement Of An Embolic Coil"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,136, entitled, "Endovascular Electrolytically Detachable Guidewire Tip For The Electroformation Of Thrombus In Arteries, Veins, Aneurysms, Vascular Malformations And Arteriovenous Fistulas." These patents disclose devices for delivering embolic coils to preselected positions within vessel of the human body in order to treat aneurysms, or alternatively, to occlude the blood vessel at the particular location.
Coils which are placed in vessels may take the form of helically wound coils, or alternatively, may be random wound coils, coils wound within other coils or many other such configurations. Examples of various coil configurations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,210, entitled, "Vascular Occlusion Assembly; U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,259, entitled, "Vasoocclusion Coil With Attached Tubular Woven Or Braided Fibrous Coverings." Embolic coils are generally formed of radiopaque metallic materials, such as platinum, gold, tungsten, or alloys of these metals. Often times, several coils are placed at a given location in order to occlude the flow of blood through the vessel by promoting thrombus formation at the particular location.
In the past, embolic coils have been placed within the distal end of the catheter. When the distal end of the catheter is properly positioned the coil may then be pushed out of the end of the catheter with, for example, a guidewire to release the coil at the desired location. This procedure of placement of the embolic coil is conducted under fluoroscopic visualization such that the movement of the coil through the vasculature of the body may be monitored and the coil may be placed at the desired location. With these placements systems there is very little control over the exact placement of the coil since the coil may be ejected to a position some distance beyond the end of the catheter.
Numerous procedures have been developed to enable more accurate positioning of coils within a vessel. Still another such procedure involves the use of a glue, or solder, for attaching the embolic coil to a guidewire which, is in turn, placed within a flexible catheter for positioning the coil within the vessel at a preselected position. Once the coil is at the desired position, the coil is restrained by the catheter and the guidewire is pulled from the proximal end of the catheter to thereby cause the coil to become detached from the guidewire and released from the catheter system. Such a coil positioning system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,964, entitled, "Coaxial Traction Detachment Apparatus And Method."
Another coil positioning system utilizes a catheter having a socket at the distal end of the catheter for retaining a ball which is bonded to the proximal end of the coil. The ball, which is larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the coil, is placed in a socket within the lumen at the distal end of the catheter and the catheter is then moved into a vessel in order to place the coil at a desired position. Once the position is reached, a pusher wire with a piston at the end thereof is pushed distally from the proximal end of the catheter to thereby push the ball out of the socket in order to release the coil at the desired position. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,397, entitled, "Axially Detachable Embolic Coil Assembly." One problem with this type of coil placement system which utilizes a pusher wire which extends through the entire length of the catheter and which is sufficiently stiff to push an attachment ball out of engagement with the socket at the distal end of the catheter is that the pusher wire inherently causes the catheter to be very stiff with the result that it is very difficult to guide the catheter through the vasculature of the body.
Another method for placing an embolic coil is that of utilizing a heat releasable adhesive bond for retaining the coil at the distal end of the catheter. One such system uses laser energy which is transmitted through a fiber optic cable in order to apply heat to the adhesive bond in order to release the coil from the end of the catheter. Such a method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,407, entitled, "Method And Apparatus For Placement Of An Embolic Coil." Such a system also suffers from the problem of having a separate, relatively stiff element which extends throughout the length of the catheter with resulting stiffness of the catheter.
Still another method for placing an embolic coil is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/177,848, entitled, "Embolic Coil Hydraulic Deployment System," filed on Oct. 22, 1998 and assigned to the same assignee as the present patent application. This patent application discloses the use of fluid pressure which is applied to the distal tip of the catheter for expanding the lumen of the catheter in order to release the embolic coil. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Unless otherwise indicated herein, the description in this section is not prior art to the claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
The disclosure relates to a fixing device that employs a belt fixing method where a paper sheet carrying an unfixed toner image is inserted into a fixing nip portion, which is formed by a heated fixing belt and a pressure member, and the unfixed toner is heated and melted for fixation on the paper sheet. The disclosure also relates to an image forming apparatus including the fixing device employing an electrophotographic method.
In the conventional image forming apparatus that employs the electrophotographic method, the following belt fixing method has been developed. Instead of a heating roller, an endless fixing belt that absorbs radiant heat from a heat source and generates heat is employed as a heating member for heating the paper sheet. The paper sheet carrying an unfixed toner image is inserted into a fixing nip portion formed by the heated fixing belt and a pressure member, which is brought into pressure contact with the fixing belt, thus a toner is fixed on the paper sheet.
In this belt fixing method, at least one of a fixing roller pair forming the fixing nip portion is used as a heating roller. Inserting the paper sheet carrying the unfixed toner image into the fixing nip portion can decrease thermal capacity and shorten a warm-up period, thus reducing power consumption, compared with a heat roller fixing method fixing a toner on a paper sheet.
The following methods for driving the fixing belt are known, for example. Flange-shaped end cap members are secured on both ends of the endless fixing belt in a rotation shaft direction. The fixing belt is driven via a gear formed at the end cap members. Alternatively, the fixing belt is driven with a suspension roller disposed downstream of a nip portion inside of the endless fixing belt.
However, with the above-described method of directly driving the fixing belt, pressing members, such as the end cap member and the suspension roller disposed inside of the fixing belt, may need to be rotated. Accordingly, it was difficult to freely configure a shape and a width of the nip portion.
As a method for expanding a nip width, for example, a method of using a pressure roller with large diameter, a method of increasing rubber thickness or reducing rubber hardness at a surface of the pressure roller, or a method of enhancing pressing force by the pressure roller are generally known. However, the pressure roller with large diameter may result in large-size fixing device and a cost increase, whereas an increase in rubber thickness may result in extension of the warm-up period. Reduction in rubber hardness increases a change in outer diameter due to temperature, causing reduction in conveyability, also degrading durability. Further, elevation in the pressing force by the pressure roller leads to reduction in conveyability due to excessive amount of deflection of the roller surface and a cost increase due to reinforcement of a fixing frame.
Therefore, the following sliding-belt fixing method has been devised. A supporting member is disposed inside of the fixing belt. A pressure roller is brought into pressure contact with the supporting member from outside of the fixing belt. At the same time, a friction force between the pressure roller and the outer surface of the fixing belt slides the supporting member and the inner surface of the fixing belt, thus rotating the fixing belt.
The following fixing device has been disclosed, for example. The fixing device includes a fixing belt, a radiant heat source (halogen heater) inside of the belt, a supporting member with a sliding surface, and a pressure roller. Rotatably driving the pressure roller to slide a fixing belt and the supporting member at a nip portion formed by the fixing belt and the pressure roller, thus rotating the fixing belt.
With the above-described sliding-belt fixing method, to rotate the fixing belt smoothly, slidability between the fixing belt and the supporting member may need to be ensured. Accordingly, another fixing belt has been disclosed. A sliding layer, which forms a sliding surface on a side sliding along the supporting member of the fixing belt (inner circumferential surface), is disposed. This ensures the improved wear resistance and slidability of the belt inner circumferential surface. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club head comprising a center of gravity height adjustability assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
The prior art discloses various designs with center of gravity adjustments to improve golf club performance, but fails to provide a golf club with designs that efficiently alter center of gravity parameters and consequentially enable the golf club to be swung faster along its path and contribute to an improved impact event with the golf ball.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) has increasingly limited the performance innovations of golf clubs, particularly drivers. Recently, the USGA has limited the volume, dimensions of the head, such as length, width, and height, face compliance, inertia of driver heads and overall club length. Current methods previously used to improve the performance of a driver have been curtailed by limitations on design parameters set by the USGA. An area of driver performance improvement that exists, as of this date, is the potential to adjust the height of the center of gravity. A change in height of the center of gravity would allow the driver club head to travel faster along its path and contribute to an improved impact event with the golf ball, resulting in higher golf ball velocities and consequentially, in longer golf shots.
The purpose of this invention is to effectively incorporate several design features in the golf club head that will enable adjustment of the height of the center of gravity. The recent past has shown that driver designs have trended to include characteristics to increase the driver's inertia values to help off-center hits go farther and straighter. Driver designs have also recently included larger faces, which may help the driver deliver better-feeling shots as well as shots that have higher ball speeds if hit away from the face center. However, these recent trends may also be detrimental to the driver's performance due to the head speed reductions that these design features introduce due to the larger geometries. The design of the present invention allows for higher inertias and robust face design of current drivers in addition to a golf club head design wherein the center of gravity is adjustable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a video camera system and more particularly to a video camera system which is capable of controlling a video camera having a panhead for use in, for example, a video conference.
2. Description of the Related Art
An apparatus which is arranged as shown in FIG. 1 has been known as a terminal unit for a video conference system. Referring to FIG. 1, an image signal from a video camera 72 is processed by an image processing part 75 and is outputted by a transmission part 76 to a communication line. An audio signal from a microphone or the like is encoded by an audio part 71 and is outputted by the transmission part 76 to the communication line. The image and audio signals outputted to the communication line are transmitted to another terminal unit which is arranged similarly to the unit shown in FIG. 1 and is set at a remote conference place.
Meanwhile, an image signal which is inputted to the transmission part 76 via the communication line from the terminal unit arranged at the remote conference place is processed by the image processing part 75. An image is displayed on a monitor 73 on the basis of the processed image signal. An audio signal which is inputted to the transmission part 76 via the communication line from the terminal unit arranged at the remote conference place is decoded by the audio part 71. The decoded audio signal is outputted to a speaker which is not shown.
The actions of the video camera 72 are arranged to be controlled by a camera controller 74 according to an operation performed on the operation part 78 or on an operation part of the terminal unit set at the remote conference place. The camera controller 74, the image processing part 75 and the transmission part 76 are controlled by a system control part 77.
However, according to the arrangement of the conventional video conference system described above, it has been impossible to know the exact location within the remote conference place of an image currently shown on the monitor 73. It has been also impossible to confirm a preset position at which the camera is to be set again when it is desired, for example, to see on the monitor 73 a particular participant present at the remote conference place.
It is an object of this invention to provide a video conference system which solves the above-stated problems of the prior art by enabling participants in a conference held between remotely separated places to know the directions of the video cameras and also to confirm the preset positions of the video cameras.
To attain this object, a video camera system arranged according to this invention as an embodiment thereof comprises detecting means for detecting the amount of a panning operation performed on a video camera, forming means for forming an electronic image indicating the direction of the video camera according to the amount of the panning operation detected by the detecting means, and combining means for combining the electronic image formed by the forming means with an image obtained from the video camera. This embodiment detects by the detecting means the amount of the panning operation performed on the video camera, forms by the forming means an electronic image indicating the direction in which the video camera is set, and combines by the combining means the electronic image formed by the forming means with an image obtained from the video camera.
A video camera system arranged as another embodiment of this invention comprises detecting means for detecting the amount of a panning operation performed on a video camera, storing means for storing the amount of the panning operation detected by the detecting means every time a presetting action is performed, forming means for forming an electronic image indicating the preset direction of the video camera according to the amount of the panning operation stored by the storing means, and combining means for combining the electronic image formed by the forming means with an image obtained from the video camera. That embodiment stores by the storing means the amount of the panning operation detected by the detecting means every time the presetting action is performed, forms an electronic image indicating the direction in which the video camera is set according to the amount of the panning operation stored by the storing means, and combines the electronic image formed by the forming means with an image obtained from the video camera.
It is another object of the invention to provide a video conference system which is arranged to permit confirmation of the direction in which a video camera is set even when the video camera is in a zoom-up state.
To attain that object, a video camera system arranged as an embodiment of this invention to detect the amount of a panning operation performed on the video camera and to form an electronic image which indicates the direction of the video camera on the basis of the amount of the panning operation detected comprises camera direction indicating picture forming means for forming, according to the amount of the panning operation, an electronic image indicating the direction in which the video camera is set image memory means for storing an image obtained with the video camera in a wide-angle position, and combining means for combining the image stored in the image memory means with the electronic image formed by the camera direction indicating picture forming means. In the embodiment, the video camera is arranged to be capable of always storing, in the image memory means, an electronic image showing a whole scene taken with the video camera set on a wide-angle side so that the image which indicates the direction of the video camera can be displayed in combination with the electronic image which shows the whole scene. Therefore, the direction in which the video camera is set can be clearly displayed even if an image being currently picked up by the video camera is in a zoom-up state.
These and other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. | {
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The present invention relates generally to an anti-skid brake control system for an automative vehicle, which controls braking pressure in order to optimize braking characteristics. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and system for deriving a measure of the angular speed of a vehicle wheel.
As is well known, in anti-skid control, the braking force applied to wheel cylinders is so adjusted that the peripheral speed of the wheels during braking is held to a give ratio, e.g. 80%, of the vehicle speed. Such a practice has been believed to be effective, especially when road conditions and other factors are taken into consideration. Throughout the accompanying disclosure, the ratio of wheel peripheral speed to vehicle speed will be referred to as "slip rate" or "slip ratio".
U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,575, issued on May 12, 1981 to Peter BOUNDS, discloses a system, which serves to provide signals to a microcomputer-based control system from which instantaneous values of speed can be computed, includes a wheel-driven alternator which provides an alternating current output whose frequency varies with wheel speed. A signal processor converts this signal to a series of sensor pulses whose width varies inversely with frequency. A sample pulse supplied by a microprocessor sets the period or length of time during which the sensor pulses are examined for each speed calculation cycle of the microprocessor. The sample period pulses are AND-gated with a high-frequency clock signal and also with the sensor pulses to provide a series of maker pulses marking the up and down excursions of the sensor pulses. The marker pulses occurring in each sample period are counted directly in a first counter, and in addition are supplied to a latch circuit and from thence to an AND gate which responds to the first marker pulse in the sample period to count occurrences of the first counter exceeding its capacity. A third counter is also connected to receive the high-frequency clock pulses and counts only the clock pulses occurring after the last market pulse in the sample period. At the end of the sample period, the counts from all three counters are transferred to the microprocessor which uses this information to compute a value for wheel velocity over the sample period. The system continuously provides the input counts to enable the microprocessor to calculate wheel velocity over each sample period.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,213, issued on Feb. 9, 1982 to Manfred WOLFF, discloses a method for obtaining an acceleration or deceleration signal from a signal proportional to speed and apparatus therefore. The method for obtaining an acceleration or deceleration signal from a signal proportional to the speed consists of storing the n most recently ascertained changes in the speed signal in a memory, and upon ascertainment of a new change to be stored in memory, erasing the change which has been stored the longest, and forming a deceleration or acceleration signal by addition of the stored n changes periodically at intervals of dT. In this method, the occurrence of deceleration or acceleration exceeding the threshold is recognized quickly.
In another approach, U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,330 to Toshiro MATSUDA, issued on May 17, 1983 discloses a brake control system for controlling application and release of brake pressure in order to prevent the vehicle from skidding. The system includes a sensing circuit for determining wheel rotation speed, a deceleration detecting circuit for determining the deceleration rate of the wheel and generating a signal when the determined deceleration rate becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a target wheel speed circuit for determining a target wheel speed based on the wheel rotation speed and operative in response to detection of a peak in the coefficient of friction between the vehicle wheel and the road surface, and a control circuit for controlling application and release of brake fluid pressure to wheel cylinders for controlling the wheel deceleration rate. The wheel rotation speed sensing circuit detects the angular velocity of the wheel to produce alternating current sensor signal having a frequency corresponding to the wheel rotation speed. The wheel rotation speed sensor signal value is differentiated to derive the deceleration rate.
Another approach for deriving acceleration has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,345 issued on Mar. 9, 1976 to Noriyoski ANDO et al. The system disclosed includes a first counter for counting the number of pulse signals corresponding to the rotational speed of a rotating body, a second counter for counting the number of pulses after the first counter stops counting, and a control circuit for generating an output signal corresponding to the difference between the counts of the first and second counters.
In the present invention, another approach has been taken to derive the wheel rotation speed which will be hereafter referred to as "wheel speed" based on input time data representative of the times at which wheel speed sensor signal pulses are produced. For instance, by latching a timer signal value in response to the leading edge of each sensor signal pulse, the intervals between occurrences of the sensor signal pulses can be measured. The intervals between occurrences of the sensor signal pulses are inversely proportional to the rotation speed of the wheel. Therefore, wheel speed can be derived by finding the reciprocal of the measured intervals. In addition, wheel acceleration and deceleration can be obtained by comparing successive intervals and dividing the obtained difference between intervals by the period of time over which the sensor signals were sampled.
To perform this procedure, it is essential to record the input timing in response to every sensor signal pulse. A difficulty is encountered due to significant variations in the sensor signal intervals according to significant variations in the vehicle speed. In recent years, modern vehicles can be driven at speeds in the range of about 0 km to 300 km. Sensor signal intervals vary in accordance with this wide speed range. In particular, when the vehicle is moving at a relatively high speed, the input intervals of the sensor signal pulses may be too short for the anti-skid control system to resolve. As accurate sampling of input timing is essential for the proposed approach, errors in the recorded input time data will cause errors or malfunction of the anti-skid brake control system. One possible source of error in sampling the input timing is accidentally missing one or more sensor signal pulses. Such errors are particularly likely to occur when the vehicle and wheel speeds are relatively high and therefore the intervals between adjacent sensor signal pulses are quite short.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,290, issued on Oct. 4, 1983 to the common inventor of this invention is intended to perform the foregoing input time data sampling for use in calculation of acceleration and deceleration. In the disclosure of the applicant's prior invention, an acceleration sensor acts on the variable-frequency pulses of a speed sensor signal to recognize any variation of the pulse period thereof and to produce an output indicative of the magnitude of the detected variation to within a fixed degree of accuracy. The durations of groups of pulses are held to within a fixed range by adjusting the number of pulses in each group. The duration of groups of pulses are measured with reference to a fixed-frequency clock pulse signal and the measurement periods of successive groups of equal numbers of pulses are compared. If the difference between pulse group periods is zero or less than a predetermined value, the number of pulses in each group is increased in order to increase the total number of clock pulses during the measurement interval. The number of pulses per group is increased until the difference between measured periods exceeds the predetermined value or until the number of pulses per group reaches a predetermined maximum. Acceleration data calculation and memory control procedure are designed to take into account the variation of the number of pulse per group.
The applicant's prior invention in effective for expanding intervals for sampling the input time data of the sensor pulse signals and for enabling the anti-skid control system to resolve variations in the wheel speeds.
In such known conventional systems, it is possible to cause error in calculation of a wheel speed data due to noise components contained in the sensor signal or so forth. As the wheel speed data is one of the most important essential data for performing anti-skid control, error in calculation of the wheel speed data may cause serious malfunction of the anti-skid control. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to an adaptable target RAT (Radio Access Technology) threshold for inter radio access technology handover.
2. Background
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and so on. Such networks, which are usually multiple access networks, support communications for multiple users by sharing the available network resources. One example of such a network is the Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The UTRAN is the radio access network (RAN) defined as a part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a third generation (3G) mobile phone technology supported by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The UMTS, which is the successor to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technologies, currently supports various air interface standards, such as Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA). For example, China is pursuing TD-SCDMA as the underlying air interface in the UTRAN architecture with its existing GSM infrastructure as the core network. The UMTS also supports enhanced 3G data communications protocols, such as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), which provides higher data transfer speeds and capacity to associated UMTS networks. HSPA is a collection of two mobile telephony protocols, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), that extends and improves the performance of existing wideband protocols.
As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, research and development continue to advance the UMTS technologies not only to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband access, but to advance and enhance the user experience with mobile communications. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing an optically active epoxy compound which is an important intermediate in the synthesis of optically active medicines including benzopyran compounds, etc., for the treatment of hypertension, asthma, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One of the most general methods in case that an epoxy compound is used for preparing optically active medicines is a separation of diastereomer at a further proceeded stage (e.g., to treat amino-alcohol compound obtained by reacting the epoxy compound with ammonia). It is exemplified by the optical resolution of pyranobenzoxadiazole compounds described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 141286/1991, EP 409165, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,037, and also by the synthesis of optically active indene oxide described in J. Med. Chem. 35, 1685-1701 (1992). There is another method which involves the step of making a halohydrin compound (as a precursor of an epoxy compound) into its derivatives and conducting the separation of the diastereomer on it at that step, or which resorts to the stereoselectivity of an enzyme. An example is the optical resolution of benzopyran compounds, which is described in Circulation Research, 62, 4, 679-686 (1988). The foregoing two methods, however, suffer a serious economical disadvantage that as they separate racemic mixture, enantiomer which is not used become completely wasted.
There has recently been found a new process for synthesis which employs an optically active manganese complex as an asymmetric catalyst. This process is attracting attention because of its ability to yield optically active epoxy compounds effectively. Examples of the asymmetric catalyst are given by Jacobsen et al. in J. Am. Chem. Soc., 113, 7063-7064, (1991) and also by Katsuki in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 301878/1993 and European Patent Laid-Open No. 535377. Unlike the separation of racemic mixture, this process solved the problem that enantiomer which is not used becomes wasted. Therefore, it affords high chemical and optical yields if appropriate olefins are selected as the starting material. However, the catalysts reported so far are not satisfactory for the production of every optically active epoxy compound. Active researches are under way for further improvement.
After the present inventors have conducted their intensive researches, they have found out a process for producing optically active epoxy compounds by using olefin compounds which do not have functional group coordinating with metals such as hydroxy group at the neighbor of a double bond. (Said olefin compounds are hereinafter referred to as "unfunctionalized olefin compound" or "olefin compound having no precoordinating functional group".) | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a novel apparatus for reducing levels of organic pollutants present in groundwater or other fluid.
Attention is called to U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,203,690; 3,520,806; 3,686,827; 3,750,688; 3,869,382; 3,881,295; 3,958,590; 3,999,653; 4,024,882; 4,155,849; 4,168,228; 4,172,031; 4,182,677; 4,302,337; and 4,248,705. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to an endless flexible conveyor belt.
More particularly, the invention relates to an endless flexible conveyor belt of the type which is of box-shaped or trough-shaped cross-section, i.e., which has a bottom wall and side walls which extend upwardly from the same.
Still more particularly, the invention relates to such an endles flexible conveyor belt which has side walls provided with corrugations.
Conventional endless conveyor belts are, in their simplest execution, endless strips of flexible material which are trained about reversing rollers. There are many types of materials which can not be conveyed on these belts, because they drop off the lateral edges of the belt.
To avoid this problem it has been proposed to utilize an endless conveyor belt of box-shaped or trough-shaped cross-section, i.e., a belt having the usual strip-shaped supporting portion which is smooth and is trained about smooth drum-shaped reversing rollers and sidewalls which project normal or otherwise inclined to the plane of the supporting portion. This type of belt is especially advantageous for applications where material is to be transported between two or more levels, e.g., a higher level and a lower level.
However, when the conveyor belt is deflected from one level to another level, it is necessary that the sidewalls be able to accommodate themselves to the change of direction which takes place at each point of deflection, i.e., depending upon the direction of deflection the sidewalls must be able to longitudinally stretch or undergo compression. To facilitate this it has been proposed to corrugate the sidewalls transversely to their elongation, so that the resulting folds are either pulled apart (i.e., stretched) or squeezed together (i.e., compressed), depending upon the direction of deflection. It will be evident that the degree of stretching or compression is the greater the higher the sidewalls are; the reason for this is an increase in the height of the sidewalls also results in increasing spacing of the upper free edges of the sidewalls from the neutral bending zone of the belt which in the known conveyor belts lies within the bottom wall or strip of the belt.
This, in turn, dictates the deflection radius required for deflecting the belt where the belt changes direction. For example, a known conveyor belt of the type under discussion, having sidewalls of about 300 mm height, requires a deflection radius of about 750 mm to be deflected from the horizontal into the vertical. This translates into a need for deflecting drums having a diameter of 1500 mm. When this belt is deflected around these drums the sidewalls are longitudinally compressed; the limit of possible compression is evidently reached when the adjacent folds of the corrugation move into surface-to-surface abutment with one another. This is of course generally true of all corrugated sidewalls, whether high or low, which are required to continue to extend substantially normal to the bottom wall at all times, i.e., even during deflection. The use of sidewalls which are so profiled that they fold over laterally during deflection of the conveyor belt, has been proposed but is almost completely discontinued in the industry because of their susceptibility to damage and their low ability to retain conveyed materials against spilling.
Conversely, during deflection of the belt from the upper run to the lower run or vice versa a longitudinal stretching of the sidewalls takes place. The folds formed by the corrugations open up but this is of course limited to the degree of stretching achieved at the time the sidewalls have become completely flat, i.e., until the folds have been stretched flat. The degree of stretching is therefore limited by the amount of sidewall material which is "stored" in the folds. Evidently, additional material could be "stored" in this manner by increasing the depth of the corrugations, i.e., the depth of the folds in transverse direction of the belt. This, however, results in a corresponding decrease of the available load-carrying space of the belt; if one seeks to maintain that space unchanged, then the only alternative solution is to make the overall width of the belt correspondingly greater. A decrease in the load-carrying space is evidently undesired whereas an increase in belt width is often unacceptable because of space limitations at the point of use; also, belt widths are generally fixed by industrial and/or government norms.
The corrugating of sidewalls is also governed by other considerations. Thus, if the corrugated sidewall projects upwardly from the bottom wall by a distance greater than about 160 mm, it must be made specially resistant to folding-over in the lateral direction. Until now this was achieved by simply widening the corrugations in longitudinal direction of the sidewall, i.e, by making them wider in that direction than would otherwise be the case. However, this leads to deeper folds and a concomitant loss of carrying capacity. Moreover, conveyed matter tends to settle in such deep folds and, after unloading of the belt, travels along in the return run and becomes scattered during such travel.
In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,538 I have attempted to counteract the above problem by filling the sidewall folds at least partially with an elastic material to obtain improved stability and a better self-cleaning effect of the folds. However, I have found it to be a disadvantage of that construction that greater amounts of material are required to construct the belt and that the overall belt weight is increased. Moreover, the lateral sidewall stability can be economically improved only up to a sidewall height of about 200 mm in that manner.
The ability of a corrugated conveyor sidewall to undergo compression and extension in respect of the deflection radius for the belt, is largely a function of the geometry of the corrugation. The known solutions are not satisfactory, especially in the case of conveyor belts intended for large-volume conveying applications.
Also, known belts of this type exhibit markedly poor roll performance, which is defined as the ability of the sidewalls to be supported and roll on supporting rollers located beneath the return run of the conveyor. Conventionally, the free edges of the folds of the sidewalls are supported on cylindrical rollers as they travel in the return run but, because of the too great distance from one fold to the next and the too great depth of the folds, the sidewalls tend to flex in direction opposite the movement of the return run. This results from the point contact pressure transmission and leads to increasing destruction of the originally smooth contact surfaces on the sidewalls. As the damage proceeds the contact surfaces become progressively more uneven and this, in turn, leads to increasing damage to the support rollers. Ultimately this causes vibrations which are transmitted to the entire conveying installation. Short of using very expensive auxiliary equipment to counter these problems, there is nothing that can be done in the prior art to avoid them.
Another disadvantage of the prior art is that the construction principles employed in these conveyors often make it impossible to produce corrugated-sidewall conveyors for special conveying applications. Yet, the increasing use of corrugated-sidewall conveyors has opened up many new fields of applications and industry is constantly asking the belt manufacturers to provide such belts for new conveying applications. For example, it is currently being requested that corrugated-sidewall belts be furnished which have a width of 4000 mm and a sidewall height of 1000 mm; these belts are, however, required for use in situations where little vertical space is available so that the large 1200 mm-diameter reversing drums ordinarily required cannot be used. The only possible compromise is to use smaller reversing drums having a diameter of only about 400 mm. Moreover, such belts have a high inherent weight which makes it impossible to support the return run on rollers, requiring instead separate supporting belts for the return run. These, in turn, require additional vertical space for their installation.
It can be concluded, then, that the ability of the corrugated sidewalls to compress and to extend is the factor which governs the diameter of deflecting drums that can be used, the deflection radius required for deflection of the belt from one level to another, and the amount of vertical space required for installation and operation of the belt. The service life of the belt is largely dependent on the corrugation profile of the sidewalls and the ability of the corrugated sidewalls to resist deformation resulting from pressures acting upon them from various directions. | {
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This invention relates to the preparation of rigid cellular polyurethanes. This invention further relates to novel gel catalyst compositions for preparing rigid cellular polyurethanes. Using these catalyst compositions the rate of the isocyanate-polyol reaction can be controlled within a wide range not heretofore possible using combinations of prior art catalysts.
Rigid polyurethane foams are used as insulating materials for numerous end-use applications, including insulation for structures and containers. For some of these applications, such as spraying, it may be desirable that foam formation and solidification take place as rapidly as possible once the polyfunctional isocyanate and the polyol are combined. For other applications, wherein the formulation must fill large cavities or complex molds, it would be desirable to delay initiation of the isocyanate-polyol reaction until the mixture of reagents has completely filled the cavity or mold. Once this has occurred, foaming and solidification should occur as rapidly as possible to minimize residence time in a mold. Using conventional gel catalysts for rigid polyurethane foams, which include tertiary amines used either alone or in combination with organotin compounds, it is not feasible to control the rate of the isocyanate-polyol reaction over the range required for the various applications of rigid polyurethane foams. The reaction when catalyzed by amine is relatively slow, and the rise time (the time required for the foam to reach its final height) may be as long as 3 or 4 minutes. The rise time is decreased by several orders of magnitude if the amine is used in combination with an organotin compound such as dibutyltin dilaurate. This combination of an amine with an organotin compound is synergistic with the result that the reaction mixture may solidify too rapidly for certain applications, even when the concentration of the organotin compound is reduced to the lowest practical level.
It is an objective of this invention to define a catalyst composition for rigid cellular polyurethanes that will enable the rate of the isocyanate-polyol reaction and the time required to initiate this reaction to be varied within wide ranges. This objective can be achieved using a gel catalyst composition containing an antimony carboxylate, a potassium carboxylate and a zinc carboxylate. This composition can be used along or in combination with the amines and organotin compounds conventionally employed as catalysts for rigid cellular polyurethanes. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to angular accelerometers and more particularly to a type of device which operates on a principle whereby the relative motion between a gas or fluid volume (inertial mass) contained within an annulus or torroid is sensed by means of measuring the heat transfer between thermally sensitive elements located within the fluid volume and fixed in position to the container.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
The operation of all common types of linear or angular accelerometers is based on Newton's Second Law of Motion: Force=Mass.times.Acceleration (F=MA). A force on a mass is proportional to the amount of acceleration to which the mass is subjected. As the force on a mass is measured, the amount of acceleration can be determined. Common types of accelerometers known to prior art include:
(1) Potentiometric: An applied acceleration moves a sensitive mass which is a sliding contact of a resistive element. PA0 (2) Strain Gauge Type: An acceleration sensitive mass is mounted to a wire which changes resistance in proportion to the applied forces. The resistance is usually determined using a Wheatstone Bridge Circuit. PA0 (3) Piezo-Electric: A piezo-electric crystal produces an electrical output proportional to an applied force (acceleration). PA0 (4) Variable Reluctance: The reluctance of a magnetic path is varied by an acceleration sensitive moving armature producing an output proportional to applied acceleration. PA0 (5) Servo Accelerometers: An acceleration sensitive mass (liquid or solid), when subjected to a force, causes a position error signal to be generated, which through servo action, or feedback, force restores the mass to its original position. The feedback required is proportional to the applied force, i.e. acceleration.
The disadvantages of these types of accelerometers in addition to being difficult to manufacture and thus relatively costly are their limited frequency response, poor cross-axis sensitivity, and poor temperature sensitivity characteristics. In addition, their reliance on mechanical couplings and their connections to an acceleration sensitive seismic mass generates peculiarities to each type which effect the device performance characteristics, such as linearity, hysteresis, repeatability, phase angle, null offset and null uncertainty because of mechanical variations and wear due to random vibration and normal useage. | {
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Embodiments described herein relate generally to an apparatus for preparing a fluid and a method of preparing a fluid. More specifically, the embodiments relate to a sample preparation apparatus and method which relatively quickly prepares a whole blood sample for medical tests, such as a white blood cell differential, immuno-phenotyping and the like, performed by an automated analytical instrument.
Automated analytical instruments are available to perform a number of tasks. For instance, the automated instrument may perform a number of tests on a fluid, a biological sample and the like. In some embodiments, the fluid on which the tests are performed is a whole blood sample. The tests performed on the whole blood sample can be used to determine health status of an individual from whom the whole blood sample came.
To perform the tests on the whole blood sample, a portion of the whole blood sample may be mixed with another fluid, such as a reagent and the like. The whole blood sample, or the whole blood sample mixed with the another fluid, is sent to a detector. The detector measures or detects presence of an item of interest in the whole blood sample. The item of interest may be a cell, a particle and the like. The detector "reads" the sample and reports data to a computer. The computer processes the data and reports a result, which indicates presence of the item of interest in the whole blood sample, to an operator of the instrument.
To prepare the whole blood sample to be sent to the detector, a fluid preparation apparatus and method of sorts may be used. A portion of the whole blood may be mixed with another fluid to remove parts of the blood, such as red cells. To remove the red cells, while preserving white cell morphology, the another fluid and the whole blood may have to stay together or be incubated for a time period of about 3 to 10 minutes at a temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius or greater. The demand on blood tests may be relatively high. It may not be desirable to wait about 5 to 10 minutes to begin a blood test. Also, it may be difficult to keep the blood sample and the another fluid at the desired temperature for the desired time. | {
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The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for material processing using a dual source, cyclonic, thermal plasma reactor.
Glass substrates may be used in a variety of applications, including windows, high-performance display devices, and any number of other applications. The quality requirements for glass substrates have become more stringent as the demand for improved resolution, clarity, and performance increases. Glass quality may, however, be negatively impacted by various processing steps, from forming the glass melt to final packaging of the glass product.
One processing step that may result in reduced glass quality is the melting process, wherein the components of a glass batch material are mixed and heated in a melting apparatus. During this process, the components of the glass batch material melt and react, giving off reaction gases, which produce bubbles in the molten glass. Additionally, the melting process may produce an inhomogeneous glass melt having regions of differing chemical compositions. The first melt to form is often highly reactive with the refractory materials, which may lead to excessive wear of the apparatus and/or defects in the glass melt. Denser portions of the melt may also sink to the bottom of the melting apparatus, leading to a sludge layer, which may have different optical properties than the rest of the melt and is difficult to completely mix back into the overall melt. The sludge layer therefore results in inhomogeneous portions of the melt, referred to in the art and herein as chord. Finally, due to typically large processing volumes, it is possible that various glass batch materials may not completely melt. Any un-melted or partially melted materials are carried through the melting process and may later become defects in the glass product.
Current melting processes for producing high quality optical glass utilize high temperatures and stirring to remove bubbles from the glass melt. However, such processes may be cost prohibitive, as they require expensive metals and specially-designed high temperature refractory materials for the processing equipment. Further, these costly melting systems require a long processing time and high energy expenditure as the reaction gases have a long distance to travel to escape the glass melt and the sludge layer must be mixed from the bottom of the melter tank into the rest of the glass melt in the tank, requiring a mixing motion over a long distance through a highly viscous fluid.
Alternative methods for preventing glass bubbles and inhomogeneous portions in the glass melt include processing the melt in smaller batches. In this manner, the gas bubbles have a shorter distance to travel to escape the melt and the sludge layer can be more easily incorporated into the rest of the melt. However, as with many small scale processes, these methods have various drawbacks such as increased processing time and expense.
Accordingly, there are needs in the art for techniques to improve the melting processes of glass batch materials for producing high quality optical glass. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure of a semiconductor laser device used for optical disk apparatus such as a CD-R/RW drive, a DVD-RAM drive and an MD drive, and the like.
2. Description of Related Arts
FIG. 5 is an end face view of a ridge type semiconductor laser device formed of ALGaAs group materials.
On a substrate 1, a lower cladding layer 2 is formed. An active layer 3 is formed on the lower cladding layer 2. An upper first cladding layer 4 is formed thereon. An etching stop layer 5 is formed thereon. Formed on the etching stop layer 5 is a ridge-shaped upper second cladding layer 7, and on both sides thereof, a light confining layer 6 is formed. Further, a contact layer 8 is formed on the upper second cladding layer 7 and the light confining layer 6.
FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing a shape of a conventional semiconductor laser device. The members shown in FIG. 4 corresponding to those shown in FIG. 5 are assigned the same reference characters with those of FIG. 5. However, in FIG. 4, the illustration of the structure below the upper second cladding layer 7 and the light confining layer 6 is omitted.
The contact layer 8 is not formed on the whole surface of the upper second cladding layer 7 and the light confining layer 6. That is, no contact layer 8 is formed in a certain range in each of regions in the vicinity of a laser emitting end face A and in the vicinity of a reflective end face B, thereby providing current non-injection regions CL, CR which are not excited by current injection. Current non-injection lengths WL, WR, which are the lengths of the current non-injection regions CL, CR along the upper second cladding layer 7 respectively, are substantially equal to each other. When the resonator length L is 500 xcexcm, both of the current non-injection lengths WL, WR are set about 40 xcexcm.
FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view for explaining processes of cutting or singulating a plurality of semiconductor devices each having the abovementioned structure out of a larger semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor laser substrate here means a structure in which layers from a lower cladding layer 2 to a light confining layer 6 and an upper second cladding layer 7 are formed on a substrate 1 and contact layers 8 are formed at predetermined positions thereon. In such a semiconductor laser substrate, a plurality of piece regions D4 (one piece region D4 is shown with oblique lines in FIG. 8) each corresponding to a single semiconductor laser device shown in FIG. 4 are laterally and longitudinally connected with one another in a grid-like arrangement.
By cutting such a semiconductor laser substrate at cutting positions C, a plurality of pieces of semiconductor laser devices each having a sectional shape shown in FIG. 4 can be obtained. The cutting position C is set substantially at the center of the region having no contact layer 8. Consequently, each of cut-out pieces has a side shape in which the current non-injection length WL on the laser emitting end face A side and the current non-injection length WR on the reflective end face B side are substantially equal to each other as shown in FIG. 4.
The current non-injection regions CL, CR are provided in order to prevent heat generation due to occurrence of non-radiative recombination in the end portions of the semiconductor laser device at the time of laser emission. That is, if the contact layer 8 is elongated to both of the end faces A, B and current is injected up to these portions, non-radiative recombination occurs to cause heat generation especially at the laser emitting end face A. Due to the heat generation, the band gap becomes small, and thereby laser light absorption increases, which causes further temperature rise. Repetition of this brings so-called COD (Catastrophic Optical Damage), namely, melting of the end face or faces of the semiconductor laser device, which results in destruction of the semiconductor laser device.
In a semiconductor laser device having a limited resonator length L, by making long the total current non-injection lengths WL+WR, the effect of non-injection increases in correspondence therewith and the COD level becomes high. However, if the total current non-injection lengths WL+WR are excessively long, the effective resonator length Le (see FIG. 4), which is the length of the current injection region, becomes short. Accordingly, the current density becomes large and heat generation in the semiconductor laser device increases, so that the COD level is lowered. As a result, disadvantageously, no high output power laser light can be obtained.
Especially in a small-sized semiconductor laser device, since the resonator length L (see FIG. 4), which is the whole length of the device, is short, the total current non-injection lengths WL+WR cannot be made so long for ensuring a certain effective resonator length Le. This results, disadvantageously, in that the COD level becomes low and no high output power laser light can be obtained.
On the other hand, relating to the two end faces A, B of a semiconductor laser device, heat generation at the time of laser light emission occurs mostly on the laser emitting end face A side, and heat generation on the reflective end face B side is not so serious. Therefore, it can be judged that the current non-injection region CR on the reflective end face B side does not contribute so much to the improvement of the COD level.
An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor laser device in which, by providing a long current non-injection region on the laser emitting end face side, the COD level can be improved and thereby a high output power laser can be obtained.
A semiconductor laser device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a lower cladding layer, an active layer and an upper first cladding layer stacked in this order on a compound semiconductor substrate, a ridge-shaped upper second cladding layer provided on the upper first cladding layer, a light confining layer provided on both sides of the upper second cladding layer, and a contact layer provided on the upper second cladding layer, and the device has two end faces thereof with respect to the longitudinal direction of the ridge-shaped upper second cladding layer, namely, a laser emitting end face and a reflective end face, and a current non-injection region having no contact layer is provided only on the laser emitting end face side of the two end face sides.
According to this invention, by omitting a current non-injection region on the reflective end face side, a long current non-injection length can be ensured on the laser emitting end face side without excessively restricting the effective resonator length, namely, the length of the region in which current injection into the active layer is effected. Thereby, non-radiative recombination at the laser emitting end face can be effectively restricted and at the same time the current density in the device can be controlled to be low. As a result, the COD level can be remarkably improved and a high output power semiconductor laser device can be realized.
Especially in a small-sized semiconductor laser device having a short resonator length (whole length of the device), either of the current non-injection length and the effective resonator length can be also set to be a sufficient length. Consequently, the COD level of the small-sized semiconductor laser device can be improved and a small-sized high output power semiconductor laser device can be realized.
A semiconductor laser device according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a lower cladding layer, an active layer and an upper first cladding layer stacked in this order on a compound semiconductor substrate, a ridge-shaped upper second cladding layer provided on the upper first cladding layer, a light confining layer provided on both sides of the upper second cladding layer, and a contact layer provided on the upper second cladding layer, and the device has two end faces thereof with respect to the longitudinal direction of the ridge-shaped upper second cladding layer, namely, a laser emitting end face and a reflective end face, and two current non-injection regions each having no contact layer are provided respectively in the vicinity of both of the laser emitting end face and the reflective end face in such a manner that the current non-injection length, which is the length of the current non-injection region along the longitudinal direction of the upper second cladding layer, is longer on the laser emitting end face side than on the reflective end face side.
The effect of the COD level improvement can be obtained without necessarily completely omitting the current non-injection region on the reflective end face side. By making the current non-injection length on the laser emitting end face side longer than that on the reflective end face side, unnecessary current non-injection length on the reflective end face side is reduced. The effective resonator length can be made the longer by a length corresponding to the reduced length of the current non-injection length on the reflective end face side, so that the current density in the region of the effective resonator length can be lowered. Accordingly, in comparison with the case in a conventional structure, heat generation is more restricted and thereby the COD level can be improved. As a result, a high output power semiconductor laser device can be realized. Further, since the COD level of a small-sized semiconductor laser device can be also improved, a small-sized high output power semiconductor laser device can be realized.
It is preferable that the current non-injection length on the laser emitting end face side is equal to or more than two times the current non-injection length on the reflective end face side.
As the current non-injection length on the laser emitting end face side becomes longer with respect to the current non-injection length on the reflective end face side, the abovementioned effect of the COD level improvement becomes higher. When the current non-injection length on the laser emitting end face side is equal to or more than two times the current non-injection length on the reflective end face side, the effect of the COD level improvement becomes apparent in comparison with the COD level of a conventional structure.
The substrate 1 may be a GaAs compound semiconductor substrate and the lower cladding layer may be an Alx1Ga(1-x1)As layer.
The active layer may be a single layer of Aly1Ga(1-y1) As, a composite layer formed of Aly11Ga(1-y11)As and Aly12Ga(1-y12)As layers or a composite layer formed of Aly1Ga(1-y1)As and GaAs layers. When the active layer is a MQW (Multi Quantum Well) active layer, it is a composite layer formed of the abovementioned compositions.
The upper first cladding layer may be an Alx2Ga(1-x2)As layer, and the ridge-shaped upper second cladding layer may be an Alx3Ga(1-x3)As layer. The light confining layer may be an Aly2Ga(1-y2)As layer, and the contact layer may be a GaAs layer.
The abovementioned and other objects, features and effects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments given with reference to the appended drawings. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electro-optical device, e.g. to an active liquid crystal electro-optical device, in particular, to a device provided with two complementary thin film insulated gate field effect transistors (hereinafter referred to as C/TFTs) having a structure of modified transfer gate MTG).
Also, the present invention relates to a method for driving an active electro-optical device, in particular, to a method for driving an active electro-optical device with clear gradation level in a digital mode.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An active liquid crystal electro-optical device utilizing TFT is conventionally know. In this device, an amorphous or polycrystalline semiconductor is used for TFT, while either one of conductive type alone is used for each picture element thereof. Namely, an N-channel TFT (referred to as NTFT) is generally linked to the picture element in series.
Since the dielectric constant in a direction parallel to a molecular axis of the liquid crystal composition provided between substrates is different from that in a direction perpendicular thereto due to the material property thereof, arrangement of the composition con easily be made in both directions, horizontally or vertically, to the outside electric field. By utilizing the anisotropy of dielectric constant, the amount of transmitted light or of dispersion thereof is controlled in a liquid crystal electro-optical device, so as to perform on/off display.
FIG. 3 shows an electro-optic property of nematic liquid crystal. When the applied voltage is small, which is indicated by Va or a point A, the amount of transmitted light is approximately 0%, and at Vb or point B, it is approximately 20%, while at Vc or point C, it is approximately 70%, and at Vd or point D, it amounts to approximately 100%. Therefore, when the points A and D alone are used, two-graded display in black-and-white is possible, while, when the points B, C, or the points where electro-optical property (transmittance) rises in FIG. 2, are used, the display of intermediate gradation is possible.
As for the conventional electro-optical device utilizing TFTs, gradation display was performed by varying the voltage applied to a gate or the TFT or that applied between source and drain thereof, and controlling the voltage in an analogue mode.
Concerning the conventional method of gradation display in the electro-optical device utilizing TFT, an explanation will be made: an N-channel thin film transistor used for the conventional electro-optical device has the voltage-current characteristic as shown in FIG. 3, which shows the voltage-current characteristic of the N-channel thin film transistor utilizing amorphous silicon, and of that utilizing poly-silicon.
By controlling the voltage applied to a gate electrode of the thin film transistor having such characteristic in an analogue mode, drain current can be controlled and therefore strength of the electric field to be applied to the liquid crystal can be varied, whereby gradation display is possible.
In the case of an electro-optical device having picture elements of, for example, 640×400 dots, however, it is difficult to manufacture all 236,000 TFTs without variation in characteristics thereof. It is thought that 15 gradation levels are limit of the number of gradation levels of such electro-optical device having 640×400 picture elements in order to achieve productivity and yield required for practical process.
A gradation display may be performed by predetermining the value of gate voltage, while controlling only the turning of ON/OFF by gate voltage, and by variably controlling source or drain voltage. In this case, however, about 16 gradation levels are considered to be a limit, based on the fact that the characteristic are unstable. In an analogue mode of the gradation display control, clear display was difficult due to variation in characteristics of TFT.
Another method of gradation display using multiple frames is suggested. As shown in the outline indicated in FIG. 11, when a gradation display is to be performed using, for example 10 frames, by making two frames out of ten transparent, while the remainder of eight frames nontransparent, average 20% of transparency can be displayed at picture element A. A picture element B displays 70% of transparency on an average in the same manner, while a picture element C 50% of transparency on an average.
When such a display is carried out, however, since the number of frame is practically reduced thereby, flickering and display failure were generated. To solve the problem, the increasing of frame frequency, or the like, is suggested, whereas, the increase in power to be consumed in accordance with the increase in driving frequency, as well as the difficulty in the achievement of higher operation speed IC, indicated a limit of this method. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to grain drills having a forwardly disposed seed spout and a rearwardly disposed fertilizer spout, and pertains more particularly to a means for determining where the fertilizer is deposited in a furrow with respect to the seed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
While a number of grain drills have been marketed without any means for introducing fertilizer into the furrow, a number of fertilizer-grain drills have been employed. Some of these grain drills deposit a mixture of seed and fertilizer through a single tube or spout. Others make use of two tubes or spouts, the seed flowing downwardly through one spout and the fertilizer through the other.
If too much fertilizer is deposited directly onto the seed, then so-called burning can result which interferes with the germination of the seed and also can injure young plants after the seeds have germinated. While various metering devices can control the mixture of seed and fertilizer, this results only in an optimum relation initially and does not provide a latent supply of nutrients that will become available from the fertilizer later on. | {
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Heat trace systems are commonly used in industrial and commercial settings to maintain or raise the temperature of pipes or tanks in a piping system through the use of electrical heating elements or heat traces that are in physical contact with the pipe or tank, as the case may be. Most heat trace systems are controlled by a main control system and also include many types of sensors and control devices throughout the piping system. The main control system receives data about conditions of the heat trace system that are detected by the various sensors and control aspects of the heating system by controlling the various control devices.
While wireless sensors and control devices have gained acceptance in many industries, they have not gained much acceptance in heat trace systems because there is no suitable way to power the wireless modules. Batteries are not preferred in heat trace systems because a battery failure could result in catastrophic failure (such as when a frozen pipe bursts when a wireless sensor with a spent battery is unable to detect the decreasing temperature of the pipe). Also, running power cables to the wireless devices is expensive and defeats the purpose of having a wireless device. | {
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Digital cameras have been popular for years, which convert subject light through a taking lens into an electrical signal using an image sensor, and produce image data from this electrical signal, and then store the image data in such a recording medium as a memory card.
Since the image sensors are getting smaller and less expensive these days, some of the digital cameras are composed of a lens unit having the image sensor in a lens barrel, and a camera body to which the lens unit is attached detachably (see, Japanese Patent Laid-open publication No. 08-172561). In this type of digital camera, the electrical signal from the lens unit is converted to the image data at the camera body, and stored in the recording medium. This configuration allows for selective use of various lens units in a single digital camera.
It is also planed, on the other front, to provide the camera body with another pair of the taking lens and the image sensor, so that photography can be carried out without the lens unit. However, with this configuration, a lens unit mount appears on the camera body when the taking lens of the camera body is used, and the overall appearance of the digital camera is therefore spoiled. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laminated glazing comprising at least two rigid substrates joined by an interlayer comprising at least one sheet of a thermoplastic material, in particular, polyvinyl butyral (PVB) . More particularly, the invention relates to a laminated glazing for use as a sliding side window in the body of a motor vehicle, but it is nevertheless not limited to an application of this kind.
2. Background of the Invention
The side windows of motor vehicles are usually fitted by sliding the glass into the body of the vehicle, generally the doors. In order to be fitted in such a way that it can be moved, the window needs to be positioned in the mechanism by which the window is raised and lowered. This mechanism is referred to as the lifting mechanism.
Known methods of positioning of the type mentioned above may, without implying any limitation, be divided into two categories:
A first method of positioning involves a screw assembly. This method requires PA1 the drilling of one or more hole(s) through the window, then screwing two parts PA1 which are integral with the lifting mechanism tight against the two faces of the PA1 window by means of a screw passing through the hole(s). The second method of positioning is that which is described in EP 0 694 669, and involves assembly by gripping. This is done by making two plates bearing on the outer faces of the windows move towards one another, these plates generally forming part of the same U-shaped piece. Specifically, they are moved towards one another by one or more screws which are tightened with a high torque to ensure effective fastening, more particularly when the window is being lowered into the body. This high torque generates a very sizeable force gripping the outer faces of the windows, equal to at least 120 daN. The degree of the torque employed is dictated by the car companies.
There is an increasing demand from the same automobile manufacturing companies, to improve the performance of side windows of an automobile, especially in terms of acoustic insulation and mechanical strength, in particular resistance to break-ins. These factors contribute to the establishment of standards in force, such as regulation No, 43.
It is moreover known that monolithic glazings provide only minor attenuation of acoustic waves, and that the mechanical strength properties of glass windows are greatly enhanced when the glass is toughened. However, in the particular case of side windows, this mechanical strength should not be too high, because, when it becomes desirable to break the windows, for example in the event of an accident, it prevents rapid breaking and, therefore, impedes the possibility of rapid escape by the occupants of the vehicle.
This is why, in order to reach a satisfactory compromise between the abovementioned required properties, laminated glazings, which include glazings of two glass substrates and which have a differentiated level of toughening either from one substrate to another or over the surface of one or both glass substrates, in particular by making the core tensile stress greater in the marginal region of the glazing, have already been proposed, for example in patents EP 0 418 123 and EP 0 560 639.
In order to manufacture such a laminated glazing, it is necessary either to use a thermoplastic sheet of relatively large thickness and/or complex chemical formulation as an interlayer, or to make adequate use of bending/toughening devices designed for the aforementioned differentiated toughening, devices for which fine tuning may prove difficult. In other words, such manufacturing requirements significantly increase the costs of laminated glazings.
It has been found that laminated glazings prepared from two glass substrates having a low degree of toughening over their entire surface, which is to say the core tensile stresses are less than 35 MN/m.sup.2 and which have a thickness .ltoreq. 2.1 mm, and are joined together by a "conventional" interlayer such as a sheet of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), results in a perfect compromise between the properties of mechanical strength and acoustic insulation of the glazing which are desired for side windows which slide in the door of a motor vehicle. Such glazings meet standards such as rule No. 43, particularly from the viewpoint of resistance to breaking. What is more, glazings of this type are easy to manufacture using customary manufacturing techniques, which is advantageous from the industrial viewpoint.
It would, therefore, be beneficial, to substitute the latter type of laminated glazing for the optionally laminated toughened glazing mentioned above as side windows in motor vehicles. The problem which results from this substitution is, quite clearly, that of fitting the laminate glazing in question.
It would, therefore, be very beneficial, both in practical and economic terms, to be able to fit such glazings without major modification either to the frame of the side window or to the mechanism for moving it, particularly with respect to the positioning mechanisms mentioned above, since, among other reasons, it would make it possible to have standardized fittings for all the abovementioned side windows for motor vehicles.
Several types of solution may then be envisaged.
A first type consists in employing the screw assembly mentioned above. For this method a drilling step is required. This step may be carried out before or after the glazing has been laminated by the combined effect of a difference in pressure and heat, for example, in an autoclave. The drilling requirement may lead to a problem of matching up the holes. A second possible problem is that it may be difficult to effectively utilize this method because of the very fact that the thickness of the laminated glazing is small.
A second solution employs the gripping assembly mentioned above, wherein the gripping action is exerted on one of the two glass substrates whose dimensions are larger than the other's, as this configuration is described in EP 0 418 123. However, if the gripping assembly is applied to a substrate made of glass having a low degree of toughening with a thickness .ltoreq. 2.1 mm by means of the fixed tightening torque, this force will be too strong and the substrate will, therefore, fracture.
A third and last solution involves gripping on the sleeve of a rigid plastic piece extended by a U-shaped end part whose branches are bonded to the laminated glazing using an adhesive. However, as well as the fact that this method dictates a particular geometry for the piece which exerts the gripping, care must be taken, on the one hand, that the area of adhesive provided is sufficient and, on the other hand, that no part of the said plastic piece protrudes into the region of the seal which is referred to as the "weather strip", thereby preventing water from entering between the window and the door of the motor vehicle. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fixation element for an implantable microphone which, with a cylindrical housing part provided with an acoustic inlet membrane, can be inserted into a hole which crosses the rear bony wall of the auditory canal and which, for example, can form a component of a partially or fully implantable hearing aid.
2. Description of Related Art
One embodiment of a microphone of the aforementioned type is the subject of commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/816,633, filed Mar. 13, 1997, and is detailed in the article "An implantable microphone for electronic hearing implants" by H. Leysieffer et al., HNO 45: 816-827 (October 1997). It is known from this article that the microphone housing can be mechanically fixed in the mastoid using bone cement. However, fixing with cement engenders a number of problems. Under certain circumstances the bone cement can trigger undesirable side effects at the implantation site. Due to the restricted space conditions and unfavorable visual conditions, handling at the implantation site is difficult. Bone cement can also unwantedly reach locations where it is disruptive. Subsequent correction of the microphone location in the hole of the wall of the auditory canal is essentially precluded. Clinical experiments show that this is a problem due to the small thickness of the bony wall of the auditory canal. In addition, screws in the region of this implantation site are often felt to be painful even long after surgery. | {
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There are a wide variety of ways of storing data persistently, particularly with cloud-based systems. These include file systems, relational databases (e.g., DB2, MySQL, SQL Server), and NoSQL systems.
The emergence and popularity of in-memory NoSQL databases (often interpreted as “not only SQL” where SQL refers to structured query language) can be attributed to the flexible data model and the huge performance gain they provide as compared with a traditional relational database management system (RDBMS). In particular, NoSQL databases adopt flexible, schema-less data models, which ease application usage and fit well to the needs of many applications. In addition, by relaxing the stringent design properties required by traditional RDBMS, NoSQL databases can often benefit from a less sophisticated design architecture, which yields much greater performance as the database scales. As a result, open-source and proprietary NoSQL data stores such as Memcached, Redis, Voldemort, MongoDB and Couchbase have gained huge grounds in terms of market adoption in recent years.
Redis is a memory-based key-value database, which is commonly used for constructing high-performance and extensible distributed application systems that include one or more servers (a “cluster”) and multiple clients. By using Redis with an application server, the application server can be connected to a service node in the Redis server cluster through the client to read or write data. The client is connected to a particular service node in the server cluster according to pre-defined configuration information at the application server.
Detecting and managing failovers and replication events is a critical component of operating such an environment. For example, use of a cluster of Redis databases as “cache servers” can increase the availability of, and speed of access to, information stored in the database by providing access to frequently used data without having to access a persistent data store. In such a replicated distributed database there are often copies of the same information stored on servers that are not directly connected to one another, but which may be connected by one or more switches, dedicated lines, etc. Managing these relationships in real-time without sacrificing performance introduces certain architectural and operational challenges. | {
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1. Technical Field
Aspects of the present documents relate to gangable electrical units which are mounted adjacent other electrical device mounting boxes for the installation of electrical components contained therein.
2. Background Art
Electrical outlets for powering electrical equipment are typically installed in boxes within walls or other structural elements. Electrical outlets typically have a voltage output of about 120 volts for a standard electrical outlet, although may have higher outputs depending upon the requirements of a particular application. Such outlets are commonly called high-voltage outlets. Electrical codes typically require high-voltage outlets to be enclosed by a box structure. Standard electrical boxes may contain any number of sections or “gangs,” such as single-gang, double-gang, triple-gang, and so forth. Electrical boxes are typically configured for installation to a wall stud during initial construction of a structure, or during remodeling.
Low-voltage outlets have become increasingly used for low-voltage communications equipment such as telephone, cable, computer networks, and the like. Electrical codes typically do not require low-voltage outlets to be enclosed by a box structure. It is become routine practice to install electrical outlets in close proximity to cable and phone lines and access points, frequently in numerous locations within a single structure. | {
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The present invention relates generally to computer graphics and animation. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods for specifying arbitrary sets of animation control variables for model objects presented in animation and modeling tools.
Many computer graphic images are created by mathematically modeling the interaction of light with a three dimensional scene from a given viewpoint. This process, called rendering, generates a two-dimensional image of the scene from the given viewpoint, and is analogous to taking a photograph of a real-world scene. Animated sequences can be created by rendering a sequence of images of a scene as the scene is gradually changed over time. A great deal of effort has been devoted to making realistic looking rendered images and animations.
As part of the animation modeling process, it is desirable to directly manipulate objects in a scene to better ensure proper positioning and orientation of objects when an animated scene is displayed. Many current tools exist to facilitate manipulation of objects in a scene. Typically these tools use animation control variables to facilitate manipulation of an object. Different animation control variables enable different manipulation tasks, such as for example translation, rotation or stretching of a model object.
Prior systems provide tools that allow manipulation of model objects in a scene. These systems typically are shipped with default animation control variables tailored to specific tasks. However, it is not possible using prior systems for an animator, developer or other user to specify arbitrary animation control variables for object parts that would persist with that part. For example, it may be desirable for a user to tag a model part with one or more arbitrary animation control variables and have those control variables accessible or enabled any time that model part is selected. Prior systems do not provide such ability.
Therefore it is desirable to provide systems and methods that overcome the above and other problems. | {
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A speech recognizer trained with office environment speech data and operating in a mobile environment may fail due at least to at least two distortion sources. A first is background noise such as from a computer fan, car engine, road noise. The second is microphone changes such as from hand-held to hands-free or from the position to the mouth. In mobile applications of speech recognition, both microphone and background noise are subject to change. Therefore, handling simultaneously the two sources of distortion is critical to performance.
The recognition failure can be reduced by retraining the recognizer's acoustic model using large amounts of training data collected under conditions as close as possible to the testing data. There are several problems associated with this approach.
Collecting a large database to train speaker-independent HMMs is very expensive.
It is not easy to determine if the collected data can cover all future noisy environments.
The recognizer has to spend large number of parameters to cover collectively the different environments.
The average of a variety of data results in flat distribution of models, which degrades the recognition of clean speech.
Cepstral Mean Normalization (CMN) removes utterance mean and is a simple and efficient way of dealing with convolutive distortion such as telephone channel distortion. This is described by B. Atal in “Effectiveness of Linear Prediction Characteristics of the Speech Wave for Automatic Speaker Identification and Verification”, Journal of Acoust. Society America, 55:1304–1312,1974. Spectral subtraction (SS) reduces background noise in the feature space. Described by S. F. Boll in “Suppression of Acoustic Noise in Speech Using Spectral Subtraction”, IEEE Trans. On Acoustics Speech and Signal Processing, ASSP-27(2):113–120, April 1979. Parallel Model Combination (PMC) gives an approximation of speech models in noisy conditions from noise-free speech models and noise estimates as described by M. J. F. Gales and S. Young in “An Improved Approach to the Hidden Markov Model Decomposition of Speech and Noise”, In Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, Volume I, pages 233–236, U.S.A., April 1992. The technique is effective for speech recognition in noisy environments with a fixed microphone. These techniques do not require any training data. However, they only deal with either convolutive (channel, microphone) distortion or additive (background noise) distortion.
Joint compensation of additive noise and convolutive noise can be achieved by introduction of a channel model and a noise model. A spectral bias for additive noise and a cepstral bias for convolutive noise are described in article entitled “A General Joint Additive and Convolutive Bias Compensation Approach Applied to Noisy Lombard Speech Recognition” in IEEE Transactions on Speech and Audio Processing by M. Afify, Y. Gong and J. P. Haton, in 6(6):524–538, November 1998. The two biases can be calculated by application of EM (estimation maximization) in both spectral and convolutive domains. The magnitude response of the distortion channel and power spectrum of the additive noise can be estimated by an EM algorithm, using a mixture model of speech in the power spectral domain. This is described in an article entitled “Frequency-Domain Maximum Likelihood Estimation for Automatic Speech Recognition in Additive and Convolutive Noises” by Y. Zhao in IEEE Transaction on Speech and Audio Processing. 8(3):255–266, May 2000. A procedure to calculate the convolutive component, which requires rescanning of training data is presented by J. L. Gauvain et al. in an article entitled “Developments in Continuous Speech Dictation Using the ARPA NAB News Task” published in Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, pages 73–76, Detroit, 1996. Solution of the convolutive component by steepest descent methods is reported in article of Y. Minami and S. Furui entitled “A Maximum Likelihood Procedure for a Universal Adaptation Method Based on HMM Composition” published in Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, pages 128–132, Detroit, 1995. The method described by Y. Minami and S. Furui entitled “Adaptation Method Based on HMM Composition and EM Algorithm” in Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, pages 327–330, Atlanta 1996 needs additional universal speech models, and re-estimation of channel distortion with the universal models when the channel changes. A technique presented by M. J. F. Gales in Technical Report TR-154, CUED/F-INFENG, entitled “PMC for Speech Recognition in Additive and Convolutive Noise” December 1993 needs two passes of the test utterance; e.g. parameter estimation followed by recognition, several transformations between cepstral and spectral domains, and a Gaussian mixture model for clean speech.
Alternatively, the nonlinear changes of both type of distortions can be approximated by linear equations, assuming that the changes are small. A Jacobian approach described by S. Sagayama et al. in an article entitled “Jacobian Adaptation of Noisy Speech Models” in Proceedings of IEEE Automatic Speech Recognition Workshop, pages 396–403, Santa Barbara, Calif., USA, December 1997, IEEE Signal Processing Society. This Jacobian approach models speech model parameter changes as the product of a Jacobian matrix and the difference in noisy conditions, and statistical linear approximation described by N. S. Kim are along this direction. The statistical linear approximation of Kim is found in IEEE Signal Processing Letters, 5(1): 8–10, January 1998 and entitled “Statistical Linear Approximation for Environment Compensation.”
Finally, Maximum Likelihood Linear Regression (MLLR) transforms HMM parameters to match the distortion factors. See article of C. J. Leggetter et al entitled “Maximum Likelihood Linear Regression for Speaker Adaptation of Continuous Density HMMs”, in Computer, Speech and language, 9(2):171–185,1995. MLLR does not model explicitly channel and background noise, but approximates their effect by piece-wise linearity. When given enough data, it is effective for both sources. However, it requires training data and may introduce dependence to the speaker.
In order to make speaker-independent system robust to a wide variety of noises and channel distortions, a new method is needed that handles simultaneously both noise and channel distortions. | {
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The semiconductor processing industry has made significant progress in recent years in forming ever-smaller minimum device geometries, which has created a need for processes that form very thin films. This development has in turn led to a need for metrology equipment to measure those films. In many process steps, the thickness of the thin films used to form these structures is becoming ever thinner. Gate oxide thicknesses, for example are now typically on the order of 10 to 20 Angstroms thick. One technique for measuring the thickness of such films is known as ellipsometry.
Ellipsometry is a non-contact, nondestructive, optical technique for the characterization of transparent thin films on surfaces. When a surface or interface is struck by polarized light, ellipsometers measure the change in the reflected light's polarization by detecting and quantifying the change in the amplitude ratio (psi) and the change in phase (delta) induced by reflection of light from the surface.
In another trend, the increasing requirements of high-speed and low-power semiconductor devices has resulted in a significant shift away from aluminum conductors and silicon oxide insulators as the dominant metal/insulator combination in semiconductor multi-level metallization technology. Copper and low k dielectric materials are replacing aluminum metallurgy and silicon oxide dielectrics. It is also anticipated that copper metallurgy and low k dielectric materials will dominate the semiconductor integrated circuit designs. One technique for measuring the thickness of metal films is known as photoacoustic film thickness measurement.
Photoacoustic film thickness measurement is a non-contact, nondestructive optical technique for measuring the thickness of single or multi-layer opaque metal films. A photoacoustic thickness measurement system forms two optical beams: an excitation beam used to excite the surface of the film sample periodically, and a probe beam used to sense the reflectivity of the surface of the sample following each pulse from the excitation beam. | {
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Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the use of American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) to increase neurocognitive function (for example, memory, attention, and calmness, among others).
Description of the Related Art
The term “Ginseng” is generally used to refer to the species of the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae. Extracts of Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng) have been used for millennia in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases, and have been also used as general health elixirs and performance enhancers (including in the neurocognitive area). There is a growing body of evidence to support Asian Ginseng as a cognitive enhancer. American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is also in the family Araliaceae, although until now the cognition-enhancing properties of American Ginseng have not been known.
Research evaluating behavioural effects of chronic administration of Asian Ginseng in animals has demonstrated attenuation of learning deficits in aged rodents (Wen, T. C. et al. (1996) “Ginseng root prevents learning disability and neuronal loss in gerbils with 5-minute forebrain ischemia,” Acta Neuropathol 91:15-22; Zhao, R. & McDaniel, K. (1998) “Ginseng improves strategic learning by normal and brain-damaged rats,” NeuroReport 9:1619-1624; Nitta, H. et al. (1995) “Panax Ginseng extract improves the scopolamine-induced disruption of 8-arm radial maze performance in rats” Biol Pharm Bull 18:1439-1442). In one study, not only was learning improved in gerbils with learning deficits associated with forebrain ischemia, but Asian Ginseng was also neuroprotective, rescuing hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons (Wen et al. 1996). In young rodents, Asian Ginseng-related improvements may follow an inverted U-dose response. Mice administered 3, 10, 30, 100 & 300 mg/kg Asian (extract G115) improved performance following 10 mg/kg in an inverted-U-dose-response manner. However, this effect was observed for a selection of tasks only (Petkov, V. D. & Mosharrof, A. H. (1987) “Effects of standardized Ginseng extract on learning, memory and physical capabilities,” Am J Chin Med 15:19-29). Studies have observed cognitive benefits over a range of dosages of Asian Ginseng, ranging from 10 mg/kg to 150 mg/kg (Petkov & Mosharrof, 1987; Petkov V. D. et al. (1993) “Memory effects of standardized extracts of Panax Ginseng (G115), Ginkgo biloba (GK 501) and their combination Gincosan (PHL-00701),” Planta Med 59:106-114), with some doses appearing to impair cognitive function. For example, Petkov & Mosharrof (1987) found that higher dosages of Asian Ginseng G115 (300 mg/kg) impaired conditioned reflex activity in rats. The dose-response profile of Asian Ginseng is further complicated by variations in methods of assessment, age and dosage (Petkov et al. 1993).
In the few chronic administration studies on human subjects beneficial effects of Asian Ginseng were observed in cognitive deficit populations. For example, Neri et al. administered an Asian Ginseng-containing vitamin complex or placebo for 9 months and examined performance of participants suffering from age-related cognitive decline (Neri, M. et al. (1995) “Influence of a double blind pharmacological trial on two domains of well being in subjects with age associated memory impairment,” Arch Gerontol Geriatr 21:241-252). They observed improvement of mnemonic performance following Asian Ginseng. In non-insulin dependent diabetic patients 8-week administration of 200 mg Asian Ginseng improved psychophysical performance compared to placebo (Sotaniemi, E. A. et al. (1995) “Ginseng therapy in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients,” Diabetes Care 18:1373-1375). One study aimed to assess the effects of an Asian Ginseng supplement combination ‘Gericomplex’ (Asian Ginseng, vitamins, minerals and trace elements) on mental health and wellbeing of geriatric patients. Two capsules were taken daily for 8 weeks, but they failed to observe any cognitive enhancement by the intervention (Thommessen, B. & Laake, K. (1996) “No identifiable effect of Ginseng (Gericomplex) as an adjuvant in the treatment of geriatric patients,” Aging 8:417-420). In healthy individuals over the age of 40 Sorensen & Sonne administered 400 mg of standardized Asian Ginseng extract for 8 to 9 weeks and observed significantly faster reaction times compared to placebo (Sorensen, H. & Sonne, J. (1996) “A double masked study of the effects of Ginseng on cognitive functions,” Curr Ther Res 57:959-968). In healthy young individuals D'Angelo et al. found that following 12 weeks of treatment of either 100 mg of Asian Ginseng (G115) or placebo (taken twice daily), patients administered Asian Ginseng demonstrated mental arithmetic (D'Angelo, L. et al. (1986) “A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on the effect of a standardized Ginseng extract on psychomotor performance in healthy volunteers,” J Ethnopharmacol 16:15-22). However, these data should be interpreted with caution as the above studies have been criticized on a number of methodological issues such as inadequate sample sizes, non-standardised treatments, and inadequate research designs and statistical analysis (see Bahrke, M. S. & Morgan, W. P. (1994) “Evaluation of the ergogenic properties of Ginseng,” Sports Med 18:229-248; Bahrke, M. S. & Morgan, W. P. (2000) “Evaluation of the ergogenic properties of Ginseng: an update,” Sports Med 298:113-133; Kennedy, D. O. et al. (2003) “Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following administration of single doses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) with human CNS nicotinic and muscarinic receptor binding properties,” Neuropsychopharmacology 28: 1871-1881).
In a series of studies assessing the effects of acute administration of Asian Ginseng on cognition in young healthy individuals, enhancement by Asian Ginseng was observed largely for ‘secondary memory’ (a composite of four secondary memory tasks). (Kennedy et al. 2003; Scholey, A. B. & Kennedy, D. O. (2002) “Acute, dose-dependent cognitive effects of Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng and their combination in healthy young volunteers: differential interactions with cognitive demand,” Hum Psychopharmacol Clin 17:35-44). In the first study, doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg Asian Ginseng (G115) were administered (Kennedy, D. O., et al. (2001a) “Differential, dose-dependent changes in cognitive performance and mood following acute administration of Ginseng to healthy young volunteers.” Nutr Neurosci 4:295-310). Enhancement of ‘secondary memory’ was found following 400 mg at four post-dose testing sessions, while the lower and higher dosage diminished performance for ‘speed of attention’ (Id.)
In a further study, assessing combinations of Asian Ginseng and Ginkgo (ratio 100:60) at dosages of 320, 640, 960 mg, a similar pattern was observed (Kennedy, D. O. et al. (2001b) “Differential, dose dependent changes in cognitive performance following acute administration of a Ginkgo biloba/Panax Ginseng combination to healthy young volunteers,” Nutr Neurosci 4:399-412). With performance of secondary memory being improved by 960 mg, and reduced performance on speed of attention for the other dosages (320 and 640 mg) (Id.). A later study, replicated the finding that a 400 mg dosage improves “secondary memory.” Further study also assessed the effect of 200, 400 and 600 mg Asian Ginseng on mental arithmetic performance, where cognitive demand was manipulated (Kennedy, D. O., et al. (2002a) “Modulation of cognition and mood following administration of single doses of Ginkgo biloba, Ginseng and a Ginkgo/Ginseng combination to healthy young adults,” Physiol Behav 72:953-964). Again this task was improved by a 400 mg dosage but only for the most demanding version of the task (Serial Sevens) (Reay, J. L. et al. (2005) “Single doses of Panax ginseng (G115) reduce blood glucose levels and improve cognitive performance during sustained mental activity,” J Psychopharmacol. 19(4):357-65; Reay, J. L. et al. (2006) “Effects of Panax ginseng, consumed with and without glucose, on blood glucose levels and cognitive performance during sustained ‘mentally demanding’ tasks,” J Psychopharmacol. 20(6):771-81.) It appears to be the case that Asian Ginseng or its constituents are capable of producing tangible cognitive enhancing effects and that for Asian Ginseng 200 or 400 mg appears to be an optimal dose for young healthy adults when administered acutely prior to a cognitive test.
The constituents of Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng) that are thought to contribute to its bioactivity are the ginsenoside saponins Ginsenosides can be classified into three groups on the basis of their chemical structure; the Panaxadiol group (Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc etc.), Panaxatriol group (Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2, Rh1), and the oleanolic acid group (e.g. Ro).
American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), by contrast, has its own characteristic profile exhibiting a high expression of the Ginsenoside Rb1. The American Ginseng extract used in the present study contains 11.65% Ginsenosides (Rb1 (5.68%), Re (2.05%), Rc (1.86%), Rd (1.47%), Rb2 (0.029%), Rg1 (0.027%)).
Many of these ginsenosides have been isolated and evaluated for pharmacological effects in animal and human models. They have been reported to exert effects on the cholinergic system; isolated Rb1 was both observed to increase synaptosomal choline uptake, and stimulate acetylcholine release (Benishin, C. G. et al. (1991) “Effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on central cholinergic metabolism,” Pharmacology 42:223-229; Benishin, C. G. (1992) “Actions of ginsenoside Rb1 on choline uptake in central cholinergic nerve endings,” Neurochem. Int. 21:1-5). Ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 have also been found to elicit marked alterations in brain serotonin concentrations (Zhang, J. T. et al. (1990) “Preliminary study on antiamnestic mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1,” Chin Med J 103:932-938). Furthermore, Salim found that in rat brains Rb1 increased expression of choline acetyltransferase and nerve growth factor messenger RNA (Salim, K. N. et al. (2004) “Ginsenoside Rb1 regulates ChAT, NGF and trkA mRNA expression in rat brain,” Brain Res Mol Brain Res 1997 47:177-182). Other ginsenosides have also been reported to effect specific physiological mechanisms, ginsenoside Rd has been reported to affect corticosterone secretion (Hiai, S. et al. (1983) “Evaluation of corticosterone secretion-inducing activities of ginsenosides and their prosapogenins and sapogenins,” Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 31(1):168-174) and ginsenosides Rd and Re may inhibit synaptosomal uptake of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and GABA (Tsang, D. et al., (1985) “Ginseng saponins influence on neurotransmitter uptake in rat brain synaptosomes,” Planta Med 47:221-224). Furthermore, in vivo modulation of LTP in the hippocampal formation by Ginsenoside Rb1 has been observed in rats (Abe, K. et al. (1994) “Differential effects of ginsenoside Rb1 and malonylginsenoside Rb1 on long-term potentiation in the dentate gyms of rats,” Brain Res. 649 (1-2):7-11.)
With respect to evaluating potential cognitive enhancement by whole extract American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), one study observed that scopolamine induced amnesia in Sprague-Dawley rats was attenuated by administration of American Ginseng. American Ginseng attenuated the scopolamine-associated decrement on performance of the Morris water maze task (spatial learning) and increased choline uptake in synaptosomal preparations (Sloley, B. D., et al. (1999) “American Ginseng extract reduces scopolamine induced amnesia in a spatial learning task,” J Psychiatry Neurosci 24:442-452). However, studies assessing the psychogenic benefits of American Ginseng are rare. | {
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The invention relates to the field of bottles and attachments therefor. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for interchangeably securing nipple assemblies and the like to baby feeding bottles.
Various styles of infant feeding bottles are known. One typical feeding bottle design, referred to herein as the traditional bottle, is generally cylindrical in shape, and has a relatively narrow, externally threaded mouth. A nipple positioned over the mouth of the bottle is held in place by an internally threaded ring secured to the externally threaded mouth. The nipple and threaded ring assembly form a seal at the mouth of the bottle, to prevent liquid from leaking out of the bottle. Traditional baby bottles generally have a standard-sized mouth, so that nipples and rings of varying brands can be interchanged.
Another well known feeding bottle design is adapted to receive a disposable liner. This bottle design is referred to herein as the disposable liner bottle. This design includes a cylindrical bottle having a relatively wide, externally threaded mouth. A nipple positioned over the disposable liner and the mouth of the bottle is held in place by an internally threaded ring secured to the externally threaded mouth. The nipple and threaded ring assembly secure the disposable liner in place, and form a seal to prevent liquid from leaking out of the disposable liner.
In some cases, it is found that an infant prefers the shape of one nipple over another. In other cases, it may be discovered that an infant or care giver is more comfortable holding a specific bottle style. In yet other situations, it may be necessary to feed a newborn from a disposable liner bottle. Thus, it may be most preferable to feed an infant from a bottle of a selected style, with a nipple of selected shape.
A problem often exists, however, in accommodating these preferences. The nipple and threaded ring assembly of a traditional bottle is not interchangeable with the nipple and threaded ring assembly of a disposable liner bottle. Therefore, if it is necessary to feed an infant from a disposable liner bottle, the selection of nipples available to use is limited to those specifically designed for the disposable liner bottle. Likewise, if only traditional bottles are available, only nipple and threaded ring assemblies for traditional bottles can be used, even if the infant prefers or requires a different nipple shape.
The non-interchangeability of nipple and threaded ring assemblies between bottle styles is also problematic from a practical standpoint. For example, it may be initially necessary to feed a very young infant from a wide mouth bottle which accommodates disposable liners. As the infant grows, however, the features of the disposable liners may no longer be required. It may at this point be desirable, for reasons of cost and convenience, to switch to a traditional narrow mouthed bottle that does not require the use of disposable liners. But, if the infant has become accustomed to the nipple shape unique to the wide mouth bottle, it can be difficult or even impossible to train the infant to accept a new nipple shape.
The invention provides a bottle adapter for securing an attachment to a bottle. The attachment can be a nipple and ring assembly for a baby bottle. The bottle adapter has a base, and the base has a bottom end and a top end. A bottle receiving portion extends from the bottom end of the base, and an attachment receiving portion extends from the top end of the base.
In an embodiment, the bottle receiving portion includes an outer bottle receiving ring and an inner bottle receiving ring. The outer bottle receiving ring and the inner bottle receiving ring are substantially concentric. In an additional embodiment of the invention, the bottle receiving portion includes a single bottle receiving ring.
In an embodiment, the attachment receiving portion includes an outer attachment receiving ring and an inner attachment receiving ring. The outer attachment receiving ring and the inner attachment receiving ring are substantially concentric. In an additioanl embodiment of the invention, the attachment receiving portion includes a single attachment receiving ring.
The base of the bottle adapter includes a passage defined therethrough for allowing the flow of a fluid from the bottle receiving portion to the attachment receiving portion of the bottle adapter. In an embodiment, the passage in the base is substantially concentric with the inner bottle receiving ring and the inner attachment receiving ring.
In an embodiment of the invention, the bottle adapter is sized to adapt a disposable liner bottle to receive a traditional nipple and ring assembly, and is also sized to adapt a traditional bottle to receive a disposable liner bottle nipple and ring assembly.
An advantage of the bottle adapter of the present invention is that it allows the interchangeable use of nipple and ring assemblies, or other attachments, on bottles such as baby bottles.
Another advantage of the bottle adapter of the present invention is that it allows the use of a traditional nipple and ring assembly with a disposable liner baby bottle.
A further advantage of the bottle adapter of the present invention is that it allows the use of a disposable liner bottle nipple and ring assembly with a traditional baby bottle.
Yet an additional advantage of the bottle adapter of the present invention is that with the bottle adapter, the various needs and preferences of infants and care providers with respect to the type of bottle and nipple and ring assembly can be used, can be accommodated. The bottle adapter makes it possible to continue using the nipple and ring assembly of a disposable liner bottle without continuing to use the disposable liner bottle itself. Similarly, the bottle adapter makes it possible to use a traditional bottle nipple and ring assembly with a disposable liner bottle, which may be necessary to accommodate the preference of the infant.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be made clear in the description and drawings that follow. | {
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This application is based on, and claims priority from, Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-218010, filed on Sep. 28, 2012 with the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a positively-charged single-layer electrophotographic photoreceptor and an image forming apparatus comprising the positively-charged single-layer electrophotographic photoreceptor as an image carrier.
Conventionally, organic photo conductors (OPCS) are widely used as photoreceptors in image forming apparatuses. Organic photo conductors can be roughly divided into single-layer organic photo conductors in which a single layer created by dispersing a charge generating material (CGM) and a charge transporting material (CTM) in a binder resin is formed on a support base tube made of aluminum or the like, and organic photo conductors in which a layer containing a CGM and a layer containing a CTM are laminated on a support base tube.
Among organic photo conductors, single-layer organic photo conductors have a simple layer construction and therefore offer superior productivity. In addition, when such a single-layer organic photo conductor is combined with a charging member which adopts a contact-charging system which contacts directly with a photoconductive layer and used as a positively-charged single-layer organic photoreceptor, oxidized gas such as ozone which adversely affects office environment is hardly created.
Therefore, due to such advantages, positively-charged single-layer electrophotographic photoreceptors are becoming more utilized.
An electrophotographic photoreceptor is manufactured by applying a photosensitive material on a circumferential surface of a photoreceptor support base.
In addition, an application method thereof usually involves moving a container (a coating tank) that houses an application liquid of the photoreceptor material and the support base relative to each other, dipping the support base in the application liquid, and pulling the support base out from the container at a predetermined speed.
According to the adopted method, the extracted photoreceptor support base is next immobilized and dried naturally, and subsequently placed in an oven or the like to be completely dried. Since an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive coating film with a uniform thickness is manufactured in a short period time, a quick-drying solvent is usually used as a solvent of the application liquid.
When using a quick-drying solvent, although a drying rate of the application liquid can be increased and the application liquid can be solidified in a short period time, since heat loss occurs after dipping at the coating film and the support base due to heat of vaporization as the solvent evaporates between extraction and drying, an abrupt temperature drop occurs and the temperature of the coating film falls to or below dew point. When the temperature of the coating film drops to or below dew point, due to condensation of water vapor in the air, the coating film takes in moisture and causes the surface of the coating film to turn white (a blushing phenomenon). Whitening of the surface of the coating film as described above is not only unfavorable in terms of appearance but is also problematic in that the whitening significantly affects charging characteristics, photosensitivity, and abrasion resistance of the electrophotographic photoreceptor and lead to a fatal defect.
Although characteristics of laminated organic photo conductors are also affected by blushing, the impact on single-layer organic photo conductors is more prominent since the charge generating material exists on the surface of the photo conductor. As a result, an inconvenience in that various characteristics of the photo conductor such as repetition characteristics during continuous use, ozone resistance, and abrasion resistance decline become pronounced.
In consideration of such circumstances, there are demands for suppressing blushing that occurs during production of positively-charged single-layer electrophotographic photoreceptors. Conventionally, a method of preventing the occurrence of blushing has involved bringing a holding member that is used during coating into contact with an inner surface of a support base and adjusting a length and material of the holding member to control a temperature of the support base. However, this method is not sufficient. Furthermore, while attempts have been made involving heating a support base during drying of a coating film (Related Art 1), managing temperature of an application liquid (Related Art 2), managing a difference in temperature between a coating atmosphere and an application liquid (Related Art 3), and controlling humidity of a coating atmosphere (Related Art 4), applying these methods require investment in facilities.
In contrast, as a method of preventing blushing without the use of specialized equipment, a method is proposed in which a solvent used, density, specific heat, and thickness of support base material, and thickness of a formed photoreceptor layer are controlled so as to satisfy specific conditions (Related Art 5).
In recent years, from the perspectives of downsizing, cost reduction, reduction in power consumption, and the like of electrophotographic apparatuses, reductions in size and weight of electrophotographic photoreceptors are desired. In addition, reductions in material cost and necessary drive power with respect to photosensitive layer supports by further weight reduction are also desired. While a reduction in weight of a support base can be readily achieved by reducing wall thickness of the support base, this also causes a decline in heat capacity of the support base itself. Since a decline in heat capacity of the support base makes it easier for heat of vaporization due to evaporation of a solvent during coating of a photosensitive layer to cool the support base down to or below dew point, blushing is more likely to occur.
Therefore, when a thin-walled support base is used, depending on a method of controlling a solvent used, density, specific heat, and thickness of support base material, and thickness of a formed photoreceptor layer so as to satisfy specific conditions as described in Related Art 5, the occurrence of blushing cannot be prevented.
The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the circumstances described above, and an object thereof is to provide a positively-charged single-layer electrophotographic photoreceptor which comprises a blushing-free photosensitive layer on a thin-walled support base.
The present inventors have found that the occurrence of blushing can be prevented with a positively-charged photoreceptor that uses a photosensitive layer support base with a wall thickness of 0.7 mm or less by adjusting a content of charge transporting material to a specific range relative to a binding resin that constitutes the photosensitive layer. The present disclosure is based on these findings. | {
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4-((R)-2-[5-(2-fluoro-3-methoxy-phenyl)-3-(2-fluoro-6-trifluoromethyl-benzyl)-4-methyl-2,6-dioxo-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyrimidin-1-yl]-1-phenyl-ethylamino)-butyric acid sodium salt (“Elagolix”) is a drug currently in development of the treatment of the signs and symptoms of endometriosis and uterine fibroids.
Rifampin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It is a potent CYP3A inducer and OATP inhibitor, and can typically lead to decreased exposure levels of many other drugs that are CYP enzyme substrates when co-administered.
Ketoconazole is a synthetic imidazole drug that may be used, for example, to treat fungal infections. It is a potent CYP3A and P-gp inhibitor. | {
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The present invention provides an amorphous, pharmaceutically active form of a compound of formula I
which is substantially free of crystalline compound. This compound is also known as 3-(1-methyl-3-indolyl)-4-(1-methyl-6-nitro-3-indolyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5,-dione. This invention also provides a process for making the, amorphous form of the compound of formula I as well as pharmaceutical compositions including such compound.
A crystalline form of the compound of formula I is known. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. Re. 36,736. This crystalline form has a melting point of approximately 285xc2x0 C. (Id. column 22, lines 5-6). This compound belongs to a novel class of cell cycle inhibitors and apoptosis-inducers having potent anti-cancer therapeutic activity, in particular in solid tumors such as non-small cell lung, breast and colorectal cancers. See, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,887 and EP 0 988,863. In its previously known crystalline form, compound of formula I has relatively low aqueous solubility ( less than 10 xcexcg/mL) at physiological pHs (which range from 1.5-8.0) and consequently less than optimal bioavailability (less than 5% in dogs). As this is a therapeutically active compound, it is thus desirable to obtain a form of the compound of formula I which has improved solubility/dissolution rate and bioavailability.
The bioavailability of a therapeutically active compound is generally determined by (i) the solubility/dissolution rate of the compound, and (ii) the partition coefficient/permeability of the compound through a subject""s gastrointestinal membrane. The major cause of poor bioavailability of a therapeutically active compound is usually the poor solubility/dissolution rate of said compound. Poor bioavailability is also often accompanied by high variable patient blood levels and unpredictable dose/therapeutic effects due to erratic absorption of the drug by the patient.
Several techniques can be used to improve the bioavailability of therapeutically active compounds having relatively low aqueous solubility. These techniques are discussed in the background Section of EP 0988,863. Also described in EP 0988,863, is a novel process pursuant to which crystalline therapeutically active compounds having relatively low aqueous solubilities may be rendered more bioavailable by being incorporated or dispersed in an ionic polymer.
While the dispersion or incorporation of therapeutically active compounds having relatively low aqueous solubilities in ionic polymers using certain methods may increase the bioavailability of these compounds, these methods can be cumbersome and time consuming. Such methods also require that the therapeutically active compounds are delivered to a patient in combination with a polymer, which may not always be beneficial or desirable. It is thus desirable to develop a process of making the compound of formula I in its amorphous form which does not require dispersion of the compound in a polymer.
The invention relates to an amorphous form of the compound of formula I which is substantially free of the crystalline form of the compound. This amorphous (also referred to as xe2x80x9chigh energyxe2x80x9d) form of the compound of formula I exhibits a faster dissolution rate than and superior bioavailability to the previously known crystalline form of the compound. The bioavailability of the amorphous form of the compound of this invention is significantly higher than the crystalline form of the compound, thereby enabling the amorphous form of the compound to be used in the treatment or therapy of cancerous tumors.
Another aspect of the invention relates to stable, amorphous compound of formula I which remains in stable, amorphous form for a period of time to permit the compound to have a reasonable shelf life (for example, two (2) years at room temperature) independent of form stabilizers such as an ionic polymer.
Another aspect of the invention is a process for making the high energy amorphous compound of formula l.
Another aspect of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition including a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of formula I in amorphous form. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In conventional air-conditioning apparatuses such as a multi-air-conditioning apparatus for a building, cooling operation or heating operation is carried out by circulating a refrigerant between an outdoor unit that is a heat source device disposed outdoors and indoor units disposed indoors. Specifically, a conditioned space is cooled with the air that has been cooled by the refrigerant removing heat from the air and is heated with the air that has been heated by the refrigerant transferring its heat. Regarding the refrigerant used for such an air-conditioning apparatus, hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant, for example, is typically used. An air-conditioning apparatus using a natural refrigerant, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), has also been proposed.
There is also an air-conditioning apparatus having a different configuration represented by a chiller system. Further, in such an air-conditioning apparatus, cooling or heating is carried out such that cooling energy or heating energy is generated in a heat source device disposed outdoors; a heat medium such as water or brine is heated or cooled in a heat exchanger disposed in an outdoor unit; and the heat medium is conveyed to indoor units, such as a fan coil unit, a panel heater, or the like, disposed in the conditioning space (for example, see Patent Literature 1).
Moreover, there is a heat source side heat exchanger called a heat recovery chiller that connects a heat source unit to each indoor unit with four water pipings arranged therebetween, supplies cooled and heated water or the like simultaneously, and allows the cooling and heating in the indoor units to be selected freely (for example, see Patent Literature 2).
In addition, there is an air-conditioning apparatus that disposes a heat exchanger for a primary refrigerant and a secondary refrigerant near each indoor unit in which the secondary refrigerant is conveyed to the indoor unit (see Patent Literature 3, for example).
Furthermore, there is an air-conditioning apparatus that connects an outdoor unit to each branch unit including a heat exchanger with two pipings in which a secondary refrigerant is carried to the corresponding indoor unit (see Patent Literature 4, for example). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The design of bus controllers has evolved over the years as performance requirements and customer needs have driven computer architectures to become more sophisticated and efficient. Specifically, the desire for higher performance has necessitated that a bus controller be able to operate with both a local bus and a system bus simultaneously and autonomously. Additionally, a bus controller that is not limited with regard to speed is needed; in this way both the local bus or the system bus may interact with the bus controller as fast as circuitry on the boards permit without suffering from speed limitations incurred by the bus controller. Lastly, a need has been felt for a bus controller that may operate as a master during a transaction or as a slave during a transaction simultaneously with both the local bus and the system bus, thus providing for more system flexibility.
The design of bus architectures typically include a number of compromises to optimize performance parameters that may be inversely related to one another. Certain bus architecture standards are designed as open standards to provide a general framework, yet provide flexibility so that performance criteria may be enhanced for specific system applications. Futurebus+ is one such open standard. The Futurebus+ standard is an IEEE specification #896.1-1991 and is described in an article entitled "Futurebus+ Coming of Age" (Theus, John, "Futurebus+ Coming of Age", Microprocessor Report, May 27, 1992, pp. 17-22).
It is an object of this invention to provide a dual bus controller architecture that enables simultaneous, autonomous interaction with both the local bus and the system bus and is compatible with the Futurebus+ bus architecture standard (IEEE spec #896.1-1991). It is another object of this invention to provide a dual bus controller architecture that allows both the local bus and the system bus to interact with the bus controller operating as a master or a slave without any imposed speed limitations. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having reference to the following specification together with the drawings herein. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Engine systems may utilize recirculation of exhaust gas from an engine exhaust system to an engine intake system (intake passage), a process referred to as exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), to reduce regulated emissions. An EGR system may include various sensors to measure and/or control the EGR. As one example, the EGR system may include an intake gas constituent sensor, such as an oxygen sensor, which may be employed during non-EGR conditions to determine the oxygen content of fresh intake air. During EGR conditions, the sensor may be used to infer EGR based on a change in oxygen concentration due to addition of EGR as a diluent. One example of such an intake oxygen sensor is shown by Matsubara et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,379. The EGR system may additionally or optionally include an exhaust gas oxygen sensor coupled to the exhaust manifold for estimating a combustion air-fuel ratio.
As such, due to the location of the oxygen sensor downstream of a charge air cooler in the high pressure air induction system, the sensor may be sensitive to the presence of fuel vapor and other reductants and oxidants such as oil mist. For example, during boosted engine operation, purge air may be received at a compressor inlet location. Hydrocarbons ingested from purge air, positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) and/or rich EGR can consume oxygen on the sensor catalytic surface and reduce the oxygen concentration detected by the sensor. In some cases, the reductants may also react with the sensing element of the oxygen sensor. The reduction in oxygen at the sensor may be incorrectly interpreted as a diluent when using the change in oxygen to estimate EGR. Thus, the sensor measurements may be confounded by the various sensitivities, and the accuracy of the sensor, and thus, measurement and/or control of EGR, may be reduced.
In one example, some of the above issues may be addressed by a method for an engine comprising: in response to ingestion of purge or crankcase hydrocarbons during EGR flow, increasing a reference voltage applied to an intake manifold oxygen sensor; and adjusting EGR flow to the engine based on an output of the sensor at the increased reference voltage. In this way, the hydrocarbon effect on the sensor can be nullified and the accuracy of EGR estimation can be improved.
For example, during EGR conditions when purging and/or positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) is not enabled, a lower (nominal) reference voltage may be applied to the intake manifold oxygen sensor and EGR may be estimated based on a pumping current output by the sensor upon applying the nominal voltage. By comparing a change in the sensor output upon applying the lower voltage relative to a reference point indicative of sensor output during no EGR, the corresponding change in oxygen concentration can be used to infer the EGR dilution of the intake aircharge. An EGR flow can then be adjusted based on the estimated EGR relative to a desired EGR flow. In comparison, during EGR conditions when purging and/or PCV is enabled, a higher reference voltage may be applied to the intake manifold oxygen sensor and EGR may be estimated based on a pumping current output by the sensor upon applying the higher voltage. For example, the nominal reference voltage may be 450 mV while the higher voltage may be at or above 800 mV. At the higher voltage, the intake oxygen sensor goes from reacting hydrocarbons with oxygen at the sensor to dissociating the products of the reaction (namely, water and carbon dioxide). The sensor output at the higher voltage therefore reflects the oxygen concentration due to the EGR dilution effect only and not the oxygen reduction due to reaction of the ingested hydrocarbons on the sensing element. By comparing a change in the sensor output upon applying the higher voltage relative to a reference point indicative of sensor output during no EGR, the corresponding change in oxygen concentration can be used to estimate the EGR dilution of the intake aircharge and accurately adjust an EGR flow.
In this way, by applying a higher reference voltage to an intake manifold oxygen sensor during purging and crankcase ventilation conditions, the effect of the ingested hydrocarbons on the output of the sensor can be nullified. As such, this reduces the corruption of the sensor output in the presence of purge air or blow-by gas hydrocarbons. By improving the accuracy of EGR dilution estimation in the presence of purge air or crankcase gases, EGR control can be improved.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure. | {
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During the past decade there has been substantial effort expended to develop materials for the repair and replacement of various tissues, especially cartilage tissue in the knee joint. Although various polymeric biomaterials have been developed for tissue repair, these biomaterials suffer from immune incompatibility and improper distribution of stress. Furthermore, the use of material from animals, such as cow hide or cartilage from pigs or sharks, has raised concerns of possible contamination by infectious agents, such as prions. Thus, improved materials of biological origin that have improved compatibility, present a reduced risk of contamination, and provide the proper biomechanical characteristics for tissue repair are needed. In addition, these materials will preferably promote the interaction between native tissue and implanted cells. The ability to control the rate of biodegradation of these material is also desirable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention relates to a structure of redundant arrays of inexpensive disks (R.A.I.D.) with servers. More specifically, the invention relates to a structure which has a server installed directly on a R.A.I.D.
An industrious specification for computer housing includes 1U, 2U, 3U and 4U. The limit to the interior space of the computer housing for arranging devices greatly influences the performance of the computer. Usually, a computer housing of 3U specification is used as a memory cell. A plurality of hard disks are arranged in the front half space of the 3U housing to form the R.A.I.D. A power supply and an electric fan are arranged in the remaining space of the 3U housing. Under such an arrangement, a control panel can be mounted only in the remaining space. Because of the limited space, a server, including a motherboard, CD-ROM drives, and floppy drives, has to be mounted in another computer housing of 1U or 2U specification and connected to other devices through buses. However, this arrangement has several problems, such as:
1. The control panel can be installed in a same housing with the hard disks. But the control panel is usually mounted face inward. Therefore, either the control panel has to be turned back until it faces outward or a user has to change his(her) position in a manner to face the control panel. It is thus not user-friendly.
2. The motherboard and the R.A.I.D. are mounted in different housings, which needs longer signal wires for connection and transmission. Longer signal wires may cause signal decay and complicate the wiring of the devices.
3. Since the motherboard is mounted in another housing, an additional power supply is needed for the motherboard and therefore the equipment cost is increased.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a structure in which a server is mounted directly on redundant arrays of inexpensive disks (R.A.I.D.) so that more devices can be received in a same housing.
It is another object of the invention to provide a control panel for controlling the R.A.I.D. that is formed in front of the server, while the distance between the internal connections is reduced and a power supply can be shared. Thereby, the prior problems can be solved.
In order to achieve the above and other objectives, a structure of R.A.I.D. with servers is provided. The structure of the invention includes a R.A.I.D., a server, and a housing. The connection between the R.A.I.D. and the server, and the connection between the server and the housing are achieved by connectors respectively formed on edges of the R.A.I.D., the server and the housing. Thereby, the device space and wiring limitations can be overcome. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a filtering medium used for precision filtration such as a filter for liquid used for washing electronic devices or a prefilter for liquid or gas used for producing medicines. More particularly, it relates to a filtering medium for precision filtration, obtained by hot-melt-adhering a non-woven fabric composed of microfine fibers having the intersections thereof hot-melt-adhered, to a net made of hot-melt adhesive fibers, which medium has no change in the pore diameter due to heating and a superior processability for pleat form, etc., and a process for producing the above filtering medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, industries directed to electronics, biochemicals, etc. have been developed, and an opportunity using a purified gas or liquid for producing these materials have been increasing. Heretofore, as a filtering medium for a precision filtration, glass fiber non-woven fabrics, synthetic fiber non-woven fabrics composing of microfine fibers, etc. have been used. However, the above glass fiber non-woven fabrics have such problems that the fabrics are weak to alkali-resistance, and when they are processed into a pleat form in order to afford a large surface area for filtration or processed into various steric shapes, they are inferior in the so-called shapability, and so on. On the other hand, the above synthetic fiber non-woven fabrics have such advantages that they have a less specific gravity and a lighter weight as compared with glass fiber non-woven fabrics; the shapability is better than that of glass fiber non-woven fabrics; they are cheaper; the material does not scatter away at the time of processing the filtering medium as in the case of glass fibers so that they are easily dealt with; and so on. Thus, the filtering medium of the synthetic fiber non-woven fabrics has rapidly come to be used broadly.
For the filtering medium of synthetic non-woven fabrics, polyester spun bonded non-woven fabrics, polypropylene melt-blown non-woven fabrics, etc. have been used, but there is a problem that mesh-openings of the non-woven fabric enlarge due to heating, vibration, abrasion, etc. to make the pore size larger, thus the stability of the pore size is inferior.
As a material having improved the shapability of the filtering medium of non-woven fabric, a filtering medium obtained by hot-melt-adhering a non-woven fabric onto a net-form sheet has been known. Japanese patent application laid-open No. Hei 1-194912 discloses a filter obtained by hot-melt-adhering a microfine fiber non-woven fabric brought into an electret, onto a net-form material, and Japanese patent application laid-open No. Hei 4-346805 discloses a filtering medium obtained by hot-melt-adhering a microfine fiber non-woven fabric onto a net composed of hot-melt-adhesive filaments and metal-gage wires.
In the case of any of the above products obtained by hot-melt-adhering a non-woven fabric onto a net-form sheet, regular fibers such as those of melt-blown polypropylene, melt-blown polyesters, etc. have been used. That is, a product obtained by hot-melt-adhering the microfine fiber web so that the intersections of the fibers have not been hot-melt-adhered, a product obtained by hot-melt-adhering the microfine fiber web so that the intersections of the fibers have been partly hot-melt-adhered by means of emboss roll, calender roll or the like, a product obtained by laminating a net onto a web or a hot-press-adhered non-woven fabric, followed by hot-melt-adhering the non-woven fabric onto a net by means of a heating means such as calender roll, dryer or the like.
However, when the hot-melt-adhesion of the non-woven fabric is observed from the micro-view point, it is difficult for the above filtering medium of non-woven fabrics to sufficiently hot-melt-adhered through the intersections of the fibers without damaging the air permeation resistance of the medium. For example, in the case of emboss roll, parts other than hot-pressed parts have not been hot-melt-adhered. In the case of calender roll, the upper and under surfaces of the non-woven fabric have been mostly hot-melt-adhered, but the hot-melt-adhered parts are few at the central parts in the direction of the thickness, or even if there are many hot-melt-adhered parts, such parts are liable to be weak. In the case of such non-woven fabrics having different hot-melt-adhesion states of fibers as described above, mesh-openings in the non-woven fabric are liable to be enlarged on account of heating at the time of processing the woven fabric into pleat weave or into a cylindrical form, heat-sealing both the end surfaces of a cylinder with an end surface member of a synthetic resin, or heating a filtering medium for heat-sterilization, or on account of vibration, impulse, vibration of housing at the time of filtration, etc. Thus, there is a drawback that the maximum pore size of the non-woven fabric becomes larger, that is, a drawback that the pore size stability is inferior. In particular, a product having a basis weight as high as about 25 g/m.sup.2 or more is liable to be insufficient in the hot-melt-adhesion of fibers in the vicinity of the intermediate part in the thickness direction, of non-woven fabric, and is inferior in the pore size stability, and often had a maximum pore size after heated, increased as large as by 25% or more.
Further, the filtering medium obtained by hot-melt-adhesion at a high temperature and under a high pressure according to calender roll process or the like is somewhat improved in the pore size stability, but since the whole of the fibers is melted and changed into a film form, there is raised a problem that the air permeation resistance becomes notably high. | {
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The present invention relates to the field of electronic systems having a video and/or audio decompression and/or compression device, and is more specifically directed to sharing a memory interface between a video and/or audio decompression and/or compression device and another device contained in the electronic system.
The size of a digital representation of uncompressed video images is dependent on the resolution and color depth of the image. A movie composed of a sequence of such images, and the audio signals that go along with them, quickly become large enough so that, uncompressed, such a movie typically cannot fit entirely onto a conventional recording medium such as a Compact Disc (CD). It is now also typically prohibitively expensive to transmit such a movie uncompressed.
It is therefore advantageous to compress video and audio sequences before they are transmitted or stored. A great deal of effort is being expended to develop systems to compress these sequences. Several coding standards currently in use are based on the discrete cosine transfer algorithm including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.261, and H.263. (MPEG stands for "Motion Picture Expert Group", a committee of the International Organization for Standardization, also known as the International Standards Organization, or ISO.) The MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.261, and H.263 standards are decompression protocols that describe how an encoded bitstream is to be decoded. The encoding can be done in any manner, as long as the resulting bitstream complies with the standard.
Video and/or audio compression devices (hereinafter "encoders") are used to encode the video and/or audio sequence before it is transmitted or stored. The resulting bitstream is decoded by a video and/or audio decompression device (hereinafter "decoder") before the video and/or audio sequence is displayed. However, a bitstream can only be decoded by a decoder if it complies with the standard used by the decoder. To be able to decode the bitstream on a large number of systems, it is advantageous to encode the video and/or audio sequences in compliance with a well accepted decompression standard. The MPEG standards are currently well accepted standards for one-way communication. H-261, and H.263 are currently well accepted standards for video telephony.
Once decoded, the images can be displayed on an electronic system dedicated to displaying video and audio, such as television or a Digital Video Disk (DVD) player, or on electronic systems where image display is just one feature of the system, such as a computer. A decoder needs to be added to these systems to allow them to display compressed sequences, such as received images and associated audio, or ones taken from a storage device. An encoder needs to be added to allow the system to compress video and/or audio sequences, to be transmitted or stored. Both need to be added for two-way communication such as video telephony.
A typical decoder, such as an MPEG decoder 10 shown in FIG. 1a, contains video decoding circuit 12, audio decoding circuit 14, a microcontroller 16, and a memory interface 18. The decoder can also contain other circuitry depending on the electronic system in which the decoder is designed to operate. For example, when the decoder is designed to operate in a typical television, it will also contain an on-screen display (OSD) circuit.
FIG. 1b shows a better decoder architecture, used in the STi3520 and STi3520A MPEG Audio/MPEG-2 Video Integrated Decoder manufactured by ST Microelectronics, Inc., Carrollton, Tex. The decoder has a register interface 20 instead of a microcontroller. The register interface 20 is coupled to an external microcontroller 24. The use of a register interface 20 makes it possible to tailor the decoder 10 to the specific hardware with which the decoder 10 interfaces, or to change its operation without having to replace the decoder by just reprogramming the register interface. It also allows the user to replace the microcontroller 24, to upgrade or tailor the microcontroller 24 to a specific use, by just replacing the microcontroller and reprogramming the register interface 20, without having to replace the decoder 10.
The memory interface 18 is coupled to a memory 22. A typical MPEG decoder 10 requires 16 Mbits of memory to operate in the Main Profile at Main Level mode (MP at ML). This typically means that the decoder requires a 2 Mbyte memory. Memory 22 is dedicated to the MPEG decoder 10 and increases the price of adding a decoder 10 to the electronic system. In current technology, the cost of this additional dedicated memory 22 can be a significant percentage of the cost of the decoder.
An encoder also requires a memory interface 18 and dedicated memory. Adding the encoder to an electronic system again increases the price of the system by both the price of the encoder and its dedicated memory.
FIG. 1c shows a conventional decoder inserted in a computer architecture. A conventional computer generally includes a peripheral bus 170 to connect several necessary or optional components, such as a hard disk, a screen, etc. These peripherals are connected to bus 170 via interfaces (e.g., a display adapter 120 for the screen) which are provided directly on the computer's motherboard or on removable boards.
A Central Processing Unit (CPU) 152 communicates with bus 170 through an interface circuit 146 enabling a main memory 168 of the computer to be shared between CPU 152 and peripherals of bus 170 which might require it.
The decoder 10 is connected as a master peripheral to bus 170, that is, it generates data transfers on this bus without involving CPU 152. The decoder receives coded data CD from a source peripheral 122, such as a hard disk or a CD-ROM, and supplies decoded images to display adapter 120. Recent display adapters make it possible to directly process the "YUV" (luminance and chrominance) image data normally supplied by a decoder, while a display adapter is normally designed to process "RGB" (red, green, blue) image information supplied by CPU 152.
Display adapter 120 relies on memory 12-1 for storing the image under display, which comes from the CPU 152 or from the decoder 10. A conventional decoder 10 also relies on dedicated memory 22. This memory is typically divided into three image areas or buffers M1 to M3 and a buffer CDB where the compressed data are stored before they are processed. The three image buffers respectively contain an image under decoding and two previously decoded images.
FIG. 1d illustrates the use of buffers M1 to M3 in the decoding of a sequence of images I0, P1, B2, B3, P4, B5, B6, P7. I stands for a so-called "intra" image, whose compressed data directly corresponds to the image. P stands for a so-called "predicted" image, the reconstruction of which uses pixel blocks (or macroblocks) of a previously decoded image. Finally, B stands for a so-called "bidirectional" image, the reconstruction of which uses macroblocks of two previously decoded images. The intra and predicted images are likely to be used to reconstruct subsequent predicted and bidirectional images, while the bidirectional images are not used again.
Images I0 and P1 are respectively stored in buffers M1 and M2 during their decoding. The filling and the emptying of a buffer in FIG. 1d are indicated by oblique lines. The decoding of image P1 uses macroblocks of image 10. Image 10, stored in buffer M1, is displayed during the decoding of image B2, this image B2 being stored in buffer M3. The decoding of image B2 uses macroblocks of images I0 and P1. Image B2 is displayed immediately after image I0. As the locations of buffer M3 become empty, they are filled by decoded information of image B3. The decoding of image B3 also uses macroblocks of images I0 and P1. Once image B3 is decoded, it is displayed immediately, while image P4 is decoded by using macroblocks of image P1. Image P4 is written over image I0 in buffer M1 since image I0 will no longer be used to decode subsequent images. After image B3, image P1 is displayed while buffer M3 receives image B5 under decoding. The decoding of image B5 uses macroblocks of images P1 and P4. Image P1 is kept in buffer M2 until the decoding of image B6, which also uses macroblocks of images P1 and P4, and so on.
Referring again to FIG. 1c, when any component needs access to the main memory 168 either to read from or write to the main memory 168, it generates a request which is placed on the bus 170. When the request is a write, the data to be written is also placed on the bus 170. The request is processed and the data is then either written to or read from the main memory 168. When data is read from the main memory 168, the data is now placed on the bus and goes to the component that requested the read.
There are typically many components in the computer systems that may require access to the main memory 168, and they are typically all coupled to the same bus 170, or possibly to several buses if there are not enough connectors on one bus to accommodate all of the peripherals. However, the addition of each bus is very expensive. Each request is typically processed according to a priority system. The priority system is typically based on the priority given to the device and the order in which the requests are received. Typically, the priority system is set up so no device monopolizes the bus, starving all of the other devices. Good practice suggest that no device on the bus require more than approximately 50% of the bus's bandwidth.
The minimum bandwidth required for the decoder 10 can be calculated based on the characteristics and desired operation of the decoder. These characteristics include the standard with which the bitstream is encoded to comply, whether the decoder is to operate in real time, to what extent frames are dropped, and how the images are stored. Additionally, the latency of the bus that couples the decoder to the memory should be considered.
If the decoder does not operate in real time, the decoded movie would stop periodically between images until the decoder can get access to the memory to process the next image. The movie may stop and wait quite often between images.
To reduce the minimum required bandwidth and still operate in real time, the decoder 10 may need to drop frames. If the decoder 10 regularly does not decode every frame, then it may not need to stop between images. However, this produces very poor continuity in the images. This is problematic with an image encoded to the MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 standards, or any standard that uses temporal compression. In temporal (interpicture) compression, some of the images are decoded based on previous images and some based on previous and future images. Dropping an image on which the decoding of other images is based is unacceptable, and will result in many poor or even completely unrecognizable images.
The computer can also contain both a decoder and encoder to allow for video telephony, as described above. In this case, not operating in real time would mean that the length of time between the occurrence of an event such as speaking at one end of the conversation until the event is displayed at the other end of the conversation--is increased by the time both the encoder and then the decoder must wait to get access to the bus and the main memory. Not being able to operate in real time means that there would be gaps in the conversation until the equipment can catch up. This increases the time needed to have a video conference, and makes the conference uncomfortable for the participants.
One widely used solution to allow a component in a computer system to operate in real time is to give the component its own dedicated memory. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1c, the decoder 10 can be given its own dedicated memory 22, with a dedicated bus 26 to connect the decoder 10 to its memory 22. The dedicated memory 22 significantly increases the cost of adding a decoder 10 to the computer. A disadvantage of a computer equipped with a conventional decoder is that it has a non-negligible amount of memory which is unused most of the time.
Indeed, memory 22 of the decoder is only used when decoded images are being viewed on the computer screen or need to be encoded, which amounts to only a fraction of the time spent on a computer. This memory--inaccessible to the other peripherals or to the CPU--has a size of 512 Kbytes in an MPEG-1 decoder and Mbytes in an MPEG-2 decoder. Further, this memory is oversized, since it is obtained by using currently available memory components. | {
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Composite blocks of adsorptive material are useful as filtration media in the treatment of liquid feed streams such as in water treatment applications, for example. In such applications, composite blocks can include activated carbon particles that are bound together by a polymeric binder material such as one or more polyolefin materials including ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene, for example. Composite blocks provide treatment capabilities comparable to and often better than those of a loose bed of carbon particles when used in the removal of organic contaminants from water. Moreover, composite blocks are compact in their construction and can be handled with a reduction in the mess commonly associated with the handling of loose beds of carbon particulate.
Composite blocks may be made for use in any of a variety of filtration applications by including appropriate components in the construction of the block, either in addition to activated carbon or in place of it. Such components can include, for example, ion exchange resin, adsorbent materials; metal ion exchange zeolite sorbents; activated aluminas; silver, zinc and halogen based antimicrobial compounds; acid gas adsorbents; arsenic reduction materials, iodinated resins, textile fibers and the like.
Although composite blocks have been widely applied in a variety of filtration applications, the technology has suffered from long recognized limitations. One such limitation has been in the treatment of filtration feeds having high sediment content. Composite block filtration media that comprise activated carbon have been used for the purification of residential water at the point of entry (POE) to a home, for example. Residential water supplies can have high sediment content, and filtration media comprised of composite block filters (e.g., blocks of activated carbon) have suffered from a low tolerance for such sediment. As a result, composite block filters can completely foul (e.g., become obstructed) within relatively short periods of time following an initial exposure to a high-sediment feed stream containing silt, iron or the like.
A long felt and unmet need has persisted for a composite block construction useful as filtration media which is more resistant to fouling when used in the treatment (e.g., filtration) of feed streams having high sediment content, for methods of making such composite blocks, and for filtration systems comprising such composite blocks. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the image processing, and more particularly to the image processing method, the image processing apparatus and the image processing system for compressing color data.
2. Prior Art of the Invention
The color image has a huge size of data regarding colors. When the color data is displayed or transmitted, it is used to apply the method to the compression of the data size that the number of the original color data is approximated with the smaller number of colors.
A method is well known as the compressing; that is to calculate an approximated data by treating respective RGB signals (“R” means “red”, “G” means “green”, and “B” means “blue”) independently, and which is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open publication No. 61-252792, for example. The processing is explained according to FIG. 15. In FIG. 15, every color data of image information per color (the image information classified by colors included in the image data) are inputted into pre-encoder 91a, 91b and 91c, via input device 90a, 90b and 90c. The pre-encoder 91a, 91b and 91c calculate an average of data per color (the intensity of each RBG signal), and then divide a specified block of color image into two regions according to the average. In addition, the pre-encoder 91a, 91b and 91c average each data of picture elements included in the divided regions, and then calculate two representative values. According to the above processing, the block is divided into two regions per color, and two representative values are calculated per color. The combination of three colors of RGB can divide the block into 23 regions, that is to say, 8 regions, and obtain 8 colors representing each region. A post-encoder 92 detects the appearance frequency of 8 representative colors in the block, and then extracts two colors as a representative color. Those two colors are defined as a representative color in the block. Thus obtained two representative colors are inputted into an output device 93.
Besides, another method is also well known; the approximation data can be calculated by analyzing main components of RGB signals, which is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Publication No. 01-264092, for instance. In this method, the colors (main components) representing the specific block are determined according to the correlation of the RGB signals, and according to the main components the block is divided. Therefore, the colors of the block can be approximated with specific number of representative colors.
However, the method disclosed in the Japanese Laid-open Publication No. 61-252792 has a problem that it is easy to generate a difference between the restoration image and the original because each of RGB signals is treated independently and the correlation of colors each other is not taken into consideration at all.
On the other hand, the method in the Japanese Laid-open Publication No. 01-264092 has the following problems. Since the analysis of the main components requires the multidimensional matrix calculation in order to calculate the RGB correlation, the processing volume increases. Along with the increase of the processing volume, the hardware scale such as processing circuits also gets big. Additionally, in case of the software processing with CPU and the like, the method needs much calculation time.
Moreover, in any methods described above, it is not possible to obtain the output data until all processing are completed. Accordingly, it is not possible to correspond to a case of requiring the approximation data immediately. | {
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Control regulators or throttling valves of the type that incorporate deformable elastomeric diaphragms or liners that operate by pressure differentials on their two sides to variably uncover a plurality of orifices, e.g., slots, in a baffle positioned between an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet in a flowpath are well known in the art. The operating pressure is referred to as a pilot pressure and is changeable to control the operating position of the liner. Such valves may, for example, be used for controlling the flow of a variety of fluids and gases and, because of their throttling nature, often operate in a partially open position with a substantial differential between the upstream and downstream pressures. While such valves have, in general, rendered satisfactory service, they are not without problems. In gas applications in particular, the flow velocity may create icing conditions on the diaphragm and give rise to problems in shut-off.
The flexible liners are also subject to stretching. Under certain operating conditions the diaphragms may be "pinched" or folded over upon themselves which is detrimental to the life of the liner and proper functioning of the valve.
The baffle generally comprises a frustroconical shaped grill containing slot shaped apertures that are progressively covered and uncovered by the diaphragm as it is "rolled" into contact therewith. The portion of the slots that are uncovered by the diaphragm determines the flow rate through the baffle. Difficulties in some designs have resulted from uneven rolling of the diaphragm. A backup "nose piece" is often included to provide a stationary surface against which the diaphragm may rest to assist in controlling its movement during unrolling to minimize the above mentioned pinching and foldover. The slot configuration for the grill holes is very common, although circular or other shaped holes may also be used.
Another problem encountered with the rolling diaphragm is the tendency of the liner to be extruded into the slots of the frustroconical grill by action of the operating pilot pressure against the diaphragm when the valve is closed or partially closed. A notable deficiency is the lack of any readily available means for indicating the amount that the valve is open for flow. Also, the valves are generally cylindrically shaped and designed to be clamped in the pipeline by suitable flanges and bolting. This has rendered servicing of the valve inconvenient in many installations. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a diffractive optical element and an optical system using the same, and in particular relates to a so-called lamination (multi-layer) type diffractive optical element in which a plurality of diffraction gratings made of different materials are laminated so that a high diffraction efficiency can be obtained in the entire region of use wavelength band.
2. Description of the Relating Art
A method for combining a plurality of lenses composed of glass materials respectively having different dispersions has been conventionally known as one of the methods for correcting chromatic aberration of a refractive optical system.
Also, as another method, methods for decreasing chromatic aberration by using a diffractive optical element having a diffractive action on a part of a lens surface or an optical system are disclosed in the literature of SPIE Vol. 1354 International Lens Design Conference (1990), Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication Nos. 1992-213421 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,706) and 1994-324262 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,321). These methods utilize a physical phenomenon in which chromatic aberration with respect to a certain reference wavelength appears in opposite directions at the refractive portion and diffraction portion in an optical system. Further, such a diffractive optical element is able to have an effect similar to that of an aspherical surface lens by adjusting the period of the periodic structure thereof, and with the diffractive optical element, various aberrations other than the chromatic aberration can be reduced.
Herein, in comparing the refractive action of light with the diffractive action thereof, on a lens surface having a common refractive action, although a single ray of light having a certain wavelength remains to be a single ray after being refracted, a single ray having a certain wavelength is divided into a plurality of rays having different diffraction orders on the diffractive surface.
Therefore, in a case where a diffractive optical element is used in an optical system, it is necessary to determine a grating structure so that a light flux of a use wavelength area is centralized at a specific diffraction order (which may be called a “design order”). In a case where light is centralized at a specific diffraction order, the intensity of light is made small at diffraction orders other than that. If the intensity of light is 0, no light of the diffraction order will exist. Therefore, it is necessary that the diffraction efficiency of the design order is sufficiently high to have the above-described features.
In view of such situations, the present applicant proposed a structure of preventing the diffraction efficiency from being lowered in a wide wavelength region in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1998-133149. The diffractive optical element proposed in the above is a lamination type diffractive optical element in which a diffraction grating 104 and a diffraction grating 105, made of different materials, are laminated on a substrate 102 as shown in FIG. 28. By respectively selecting appropriate values of the refractive indices of materials which compose two diffraction gratings 104 and 105, dispersion characteristics thereof, and grating thickness d1 and d2 thereof, a high diffraction efficiency can be achieved in the entire use wavelength region.
Also, a structure of preventing the diffraction efficiency from being lowered has been proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1997-127322 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,488). Herein, by optimally selecting three types of different materials and grating thickness d1 and d2 of three diffraction gratings 104, 105 and 106, and laminating them as shown in FIG. 29, a high diffraction efficiency is achieved in the entire visible region.
In the above-described prior art lamination type diffractive optical element, no description is given of the angles of diffraction grating side surfaces 104a and 105a (grating sidewall portions not contributing to image formation) shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, and all of the grating sides 104a and 105a are made perpendicular to a surface Ha where the diffraction gratings are provided.
In a case where a diffractive optical element is used in an actual optical system, for example, an image-pickup optical system used for a silver film camera and digital camera, etc., and a part of an observation optical system such as a telescope, binoculars, microscope, etc., all the effective rays are not always made incident into diffraction gratings at any optional positions in the diffractive surface at the incident angle of 0° or at equal positive or negative angle distribution centering around 0°. Therefore, when the angles of the grating side surfaces at all the diffraction gratings are made perpendicular with respect to a surface where the diffraction gratings are provided, over the entire region in the diffractive surface, or when rays having an incident angle other than 0° or having an incident angle distribution center around an angle other than 0° are made incident, there are cases where the rays are eclipsed by the grating side surfaces, the ratio of rays not passing through an optical path to satisfy conditions for achieving a high diffraction efficiency is increased (in the present specification, these are commonly called “eclipse”), not only the quantity of effective light contributing to image formation is reduced, but also harmful light (light which adversely influences the image quality) which becomes a factor of flare, ghost, etc., is increased. | {
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This invention relates to data processing apparatus and, more specifically, is concerned with a data processing apparatus including a cache memory.
It is well known to provide a two-level memory system, consisting of a main memory and a smaller, faster cache memory. In operation, the cache is arranged to hold copies of data items from the main memory that are currently in use, or are likely to be required in the near future, so that these items can be accessed rapidly, without the delay of a main memory access. Such memories are described, for example, "Cache Memories" by A. J. Smith, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Computing Surveys, Vol. 14, No. 3, September 1982, pages 473-529.
As described on page 479 of the above Computing Surveys article, in a computer system with virtual memory, the cache may potentially be accessed either with a real (or physical) address, or a virtual address. The advantage of using the virtual address is that it is not necessary to wait for the address to be translated before accessing the cache, and hence the cache access is faster. The address has to be translated only if the required data item is not present in the cache.
The translation of the virtual address may conventionally be performed by a memory management unit (MMU) comprising an associatively addressed memory holding address translation information (e.g. page table entries) for recently used virtual addresses. If the required address translation information is not present in the MMU, then the main memory is accessed, to read the required page table entry. Possibly several main memory accesses are required to translate an address.
A problem with this is that, since main memory access is relatively slow, the address translation process can take a relatively long time. The object of the present invention is to overcome this problem. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to consumer shopping and purchase support services and, more particularly, to a method and system for assisting in the evaluation of products, pricing and purchase options using a Rich Internet Application (RIA) client that can be download on demand or exist as a locally installed application, accessible directly from any accelerated or researchable page, web based or otherwise, containing product information, to collect and present targeted information from a central data repository(said information having been acquired by specialized software spiders), and consolidate it in a navigational user-interface that combines an array of information tools necessary for consumers to obtain comprehensive shopping and purchase support without leaving the web page they are viewing. A method for adding XML elements containing product-related information into a video stream is also disclosed, to thereby enable a user to ascertain static information about a product displayed in a video stream by selecting it with a pointing device.
2. Description of the Background
The volume of on-line shopping has eclipsed local shopping in recent years as consumers grow more comfortable with electronic commerce. Part of the trend is due to speed and convenience. When a user accesses a typical ecommerce web site with a product request, the request and its associated parameters, such as the product name and model number, are passed from a web server to an application server. The application server performs necessary computation to identify what kind of data it needs from the database. Then the application server sends appropriate queries to the database or other sources. After the database returns the query results to the application server, the application server uses these to prepare a web page and passes it to the web server, which then sends it to the user. In milliseconds, the user receives comprehensive product information including current pricing.
Despite the convenience, consumers are inherently uncomfortable unless they shop around. Even when an ultimate purchase is made locally, consumers very often conduct an online price check and do online research to ensure that their planned purchase is price-competitive and a worthy product. Still, consumers can spend an inordinate amount of time searching for specific products and performing price comparisons. A variety of existing search engines attempt to consolidate the comparison shopping task, including Google™ product search, Yahoo® Shopping, Epinions® and PriceScan®. These search engines break down information into categories-directories or indexes. Directories group retailers under similar categories, such as furniture or electronics. The results of a search will be a list of web sites related to a search term. Indexes use software programs called spiders that scour the Internet, analyzing millions of web pages principally hosted by database-driven ecommerce web sites, social network sites, publication sites and newsgroup postings, indexing all of the words. Depending on their revenue model, many such search engines solicit advertising and preferentially rank their advertisers, thereby eroding consumer confidence. As a result, finding a desirable or low price for an item on the Internet is no easy task. It is still necessary to check multiple websites to ensure that you are getting the price on the best product. The consumer typically finds an appealing product on a retailer website, then checks the manufacturer websites for detailed information on the product, then checks rating websites for user reviews or problems associated with the product, then checks multiple price comparison engines to find the best prices on the product, and then checks auction or reverse auction websites for a street value reference price. This prolonged web browsing process is cumbersome and time consuming, and is fraught with potential pitfalls. Even if a consumer succeeds in finding an item at a good price there is no unified way to measure if it is the best price available, because there is not a non-preferential comprehensive price listing to compare it to. Consequently, there remains a high degree of consumer doubt that such search engines are non-biased and truly comprehensive, giving a truly comprehensive price comparison despite nuances in retailer descriptions and product SKU numbers. Therefore, just because a price comparison website indicates a seemingly low price, the consumer should always be wary. Many price comparison sites lack a deep depth of merchants, or retailer neutrality, or merchant reliability ratings, and so a low price might not actually provide a consumer with a good value. There are, very simply, too many variables and details to keep track of when shopping, and no existing comparison sites which consolidate all variables and details in a clean, useable user-interface. The comparison tools described above individually give only part of the picture, though when used together they can be extremely valuable to consumers.
With the continued growth in use of smart phones and personal data assistants (PDAs), some search engine providers have expanded into mobile comparison shopping. There are now a variety of mobile application price comparison engines, including SMS-based comparison, mobile web applications, and native client applications, which require installation on a computing device before use. Some existing native client applications even offer features such as bar code scanning, such as Barnes & Noble's Bookstore™ iPhone® applet. Users can snap a photo of a book cover, or barcode, which then links to more information about the book. The applet also includes a store locator, recommendations on other books that might appeal, a store events calendar, online purchasing, and video clips of interviews with authors. There is no price comparison or retailer neutrality.
Consolidating all the variables and details needed for truly informed product pricing decisions is a daunting task. Consumers typically do it manually by finding and visiting a variety of product review sites and price comparison engines, and then typing in search terms at each site. Partial solutions exist in the form of multiple price comparison website search engines. A variety of these exist, such as RoboShopper.com. With RoboShopper®, the consumer enters search keyword(s) once and click's a “Shop” button. However, the end result is a listing of multiple comparison and information engines. This approach saves keystrokes because it is no longer necessary to re-enter keywords at multiple sites each specializing in product information, reviews or online price comparison services, as well as local shopping engines (Yellow Pages). However, RoboShopper® is simply a navigation tool that links to these other sites, and it is still necessary to navigate amongst and between multiple sites to glean the necessary information.
What is needed is an entirely different approach, a turnkey system including a central data repository including an Internet based database, spiders that scour the Internet analyzing the millions of product-oriented pages, a server application for classifying and indexing all of the information derived from the spiders, and a Rich Internet Application (RIA) that is accessible directly from any viewed webpage containing product information, which draws information from the central data repository and consolidates it in a navigational user-interface that puts all of the information tools necessary to obtain a comprehensive product picture at the consumers fingertips, without ever leaving the page they were originally viewing. | {
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Electrically energized toy racing cars are known which may be raced against one another. It is usual in the prior art to provide a track with side walls for use with such cars, and for the cars to be controlled so that they may be steered so as to be biased against one or the other of the side walls, this being achieved by selecting the polarity of the direct-current voltage applied to the electric drive motor in each car, the voltage being applied through electrically conductive strips extending along the track. Prior art cars are steered by mounting the rear wheels to be individually rotatable on the rear axle, and by providing a somewhat complex gear train from the motor such that one or the other rear wheel is driven in the forward direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor which, in turn, depends upon the polarity of the direct current voltage applied to the motor. The action tends to cause the car to be biased to the left or right against the adjacent wall depending on the polarity of the voltage applied to the motor.
The steering mechanism of the toy racing car of the present invention, unlike the steering mechanism in the prior art cars, provides a steering control, which is achieved by actually turning the front or rear wheel axle a limited amount in one direction or the other through a gear train included in the steering mechanism. The steering mechanism of the invention is simpler and less expensive than the mechanism used in the prior art cars, and it provides a more direct and positive steering control. | {
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In the formation of silver halide emulsions suitable for use in photographic materials, it is necessary to sensitize the emulsions. Chemical sensitization is utilized to improve the photo efficiency of the emulsions. Spectral sensitization is utilized to make grains sensitive to specific wavelengths of light. The addition of chemical and spectral sensitizing materials to silver halide grains normally is referred to as finishing of the grains. During finishing, other additives are also introduced into the emulsions, such as antifoggants, coating aids, ripeners, supersensitizers, and surfactants.
The application of heat during emulsion finishing has a tendency to raise the minimum fog level of unexposed areas. Fog also may increase in an emulsion during storage. Therefore, the use of antifoggants is necessary to minimize these effects. Such antifoggants are discussed in Research Disclosure 36544 of September 1994 in Section VII.
The antifoggants generally are added during the finishing process after chemical sensitization and prior to, during, or after the spectral sensitization. There is a continuing need for improvements in the efficiency of antifoggants.
It is known in the formation of high chloride grains (above 90%) to utilize bromide as a material added during finishing. It is added to the grain surface in order to improve the adsorption of sensitizing dyes onto the grain surface, enhance the speed/fog performance of the grains, and also improve reciprocity. Generally this material is added as a sodium or potassium bromide salt. It is also known that bromide may be added to the emulsion by the addition of a Lippmann (fine grain) emulsion to the finish. Such a process is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,962. Other photographic materials may be with a fine grain emulsion as shown in Konica JP 02-103,032 (1990).
Generally modern negative-working color photographic paper utilizes high chloride emulsions. Such emulsions, while allowing rapid development and high quality images, are subject to fog upon storage.
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
There is a continuing need for improvements in Dmin of negative-working photographic papers by decreasing the fog. Particularly, there is a need to prevent the increase of fog during storage of such papers prior to use. There is also a need to more efficiently use known antifoggants. | {
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(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pliers, and in particular, an improved structure of terminal connector pliers to connect by pressing the terminal connector positioned between a sliding seat and a connection seat so that a conductive wire is connected to the terminal connector.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Co-axial cables have been widely used, as cable TV and Internet services have been a trend recently. Connecting device or tool for terminal connector for these co-axial cables comprises two handles having one end each being a holding region and the other end being a pressing region and the pressing of the holding region urging two pressing regions to close toward each other or apart from one another; a module having a mold seat and a replaceable mold and the mold seat being mounted to the pressing region and a cavity being formed in the mold, the diameter of the cavity being substantially the same as the external diameter of the mounting element, and the end portion of the cavity being provided with a protruded edge spaced apart axially with the cavity, and the diameter of the protruded edge being substantially the same as the external diameter of the cable; a push rod spaced apart from the module so as to support the connector and the end thereof and a base seat mounted to the pressing regions of the two handles and having a push rod to move in linear direction to the support seat or away from the support seat. In application when the two handles are closed to one another, the front end of the handle (i.e. the connector and one end of the cable) is not pressed against the connector in a linear direction but in an arch-shaped direction. Thus the path of the pressing process of the device is not parallel to the connector. Thus when the user applies the device, the pressing process is not smooth and the operation is rather laborious. This is the drawback of the conventional device for connection of co-axial cable to a terminal connector. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide and improved structure of terminal connector pliers, which can mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structure of terminal connector pliers, wherein the pliers comprises a connection seat having a wire slot at the top end thereof; a first pliers body being mounted with a spring at the top end thereof, and elastically and pivotally connected to a first side of the connection seat; a second pliers body being mounted with a spring at the top end thereof, and elastically and pivotally connected to a second side of the connection seat; a sliding seat slidably connected to the connection seat and a top pressing region being defined at the top end, and the top pressing region being projected onto the wire slot; a first connection rod having a first end pivotally mounted onto a first pliers body and having a second end pivotally connected to the first side of the sliding seat; a second connection end having a first end pivotally mounted onto a second pliers body and having a second end pivotally connected to the second side of the sliding seat; thereby when the first and the second pliers bodies are combined, the first and the connection rod are urged to cause the sliding seat on the connection seat moves in linear direction so that a terminal connector located between the sliding seat and the connection seat is relatively pressed with respect to the top and bottom end so that a conductive wire is fastened to the terminal connection.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of terminal connector pliers, wherein the wire slot is mounted with a position plate having a clipping space at the center thereof which forms a connection with the top side of the wire slot, and an internally extended spring plate is provided at the position plate and the extended end section of the spring plate is provided with an internally extended protruded edge such that the terminal connector of a co-axial cable from the wire slot is clipped and positioned at the spring plate of the position plate.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of terminal connector pliers, wherein at least an engaging block is provided to the middle section of the first and the second pliers bodies extended outward from the connection seat, the engaging block is provided with a plurality of screw holes allowing screw mounting of all types of screws.
The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. | {
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This invention relates to the field of magneto-optic recording. More particularly, it relates to improvements in apparatus for inverting (i.e. changing the polarity of ) a magentic field through which a magneto-optic recording element passes during the information recording and erasing steps of the magneto-optic recording process.
In the magneto-optic recording process, a vertically magnetizable recording layer is initially sensitized by simultaneously subjecting it to a uniform magnetic field and a temperature which exceeds its Curie temperature (e.g.400.degree. C.). The magnetic field, being directed perpendicular to the recording layer, serves to uniformly align all of the magnetic domains therewith. Once all the magnetic domains are facing in the same direction, the recording layer is ready to record information. Such recording is effected by subjecting the recording layer to a magnetic field of reverse polarity while scanning the layer with an intensity-modulated laser beam.
During the recording process, the laser beam intensity is switched between high and low levels, representing the digital (binary) information being recorded. Only the high level is sufficiently intense to raise the temperature of the irradiated portion of the recording layer to above its Curie temperature, thus, digital information is recorded at the point of incidence of the laser as the more intensely irradiated magnetic domains flip in orientation to align themselves with the reverse magnetic bias field. Playback of the recorded information is commonly achieved by scanning the information tracks with a plane-polarized beam of radiation and monitoring the reflected beam for shifts in the plane of polarization, as produced by the well-known Kerr effect. To erase the recorded information, the polarity of the applied external magnetic field is reversed, and the recording layer is scanned with a beam of sufficient intensity to again heat the recording layer to above its Curie temperature. After this erasure step, all of the irradiated magnetic domains will again face in the same direction.
Various schemes have been proposed to achieve the magnetic field inversions required in switching between the record and erase modes of the magneto-optic recording process. In the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,895, for example, a cylindrical permanent magnet is positioned radially with respect to a spinning magneto-optic disk. The poles of the magnet are diametrically opposed, and the magnet is supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis. Circular eddy currents induced by the cylindrical magnet on the surface of the spinning disk, serve to generate a second magnetic field which opposes that of the magnet. As a result, the cylindrical magnet rotates freely about its axis, driven by the eddy current-produced magnetic field on the disk. A mechanism is provided for stopping the rotation of the magnet with one or the other of its poles located adjacent the disk. Depending on the orientation of the permanent magnet, either a recording or erasing magnetic bias field is provided.
In the magnetic field inversion scheme described above, the eddy current-induced magnetic field used to rotate the permanent magnet is relatively weak. Hence, fast a reliable field reversals are not attainable. Moreover, since the amplitude of the eddy currents is dependent on the electrical conductivity of the recording layer, certain types of recording layers may not be useful in producing the required driving force for rotating the magnet.
U.S. Patent No. 4,748,606, discloses various other magnetic field-inverting mechanisms. In all such mechanisms, a multiturn coil is used to flip (by 180.degree.) the orientation of a rotatably supported bar magnet relative to a magneto-optic recording element. The coil surrounds the magnet and, in response to a current pulse being applied to the coil, produces a transient magnetic field tending to repel the field of the permanent magnet. To assure that this transient field applies a rotational force (torque) on the bar magnet, the center of the magnetic field of the bar magnet is displaced with respect to that of the magnetic field winding (coil). Alternatively, the necessary torque is achieved by arranging a ferromagnetic (e.g. iron) strip or auxillary bar magnet along one side of the rotary housing of bar magnet to cause the field of the bar magnet to be slightly inclined, relative to the field of the coil.
While the use of a separate magnetic field winding provides a more positive torque on the permanent magnet than that produced by magnetically-induced eddy currents, the mechanisms disclosed in the '606 patent are disadvantageous in that they require considerable time for the bar magnet to settle to a steady-state position after pole-flipping (i.e., 180.degree. rotation ) has occurred. Since there is no means provided for damping the inherent oscillating movement of the bar magnet about its two nominal positions, the position of the magnet tends to oscillate prior to settling to its nominal position. This oscillation, of course, adversely impacts the rate at which the magneto-optic process can be switched between recording and erase modes. While stop mechanisms, such as disclosed in the '895 patent, could be used to eliminate this oscillation problem, such mechanisms add complexity and cost to the system. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical outlets, and more particularly, to sequentially connectable electrical outlet systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Applicant believes that one of the closest references corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,158 issued to Milan on Aug. 19, 1997 for a modular surge protection system with interchangeable surge protection modules. However, it differs from the present invention because Milan teaches a modular surge protection system having interchangeable power supply and surge protection modules connectable to a power distribution module. The power distribution module provides surge protection for the power supply modules while independent surge protection is provided in the surge protection modules.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,676 issued to Milan on Jun. 29, 2004 for a modular outlet strip. However, it differs from the present invention because Milan teaches a modular surge protection system having a power distribution module connected to at least one surge protection module in a coplanar relationship. The power distribution module has a housing and surge protection disposed in the housing. At least one female electrical outlet is disposed on the housing and is electrically connected to the surge protection. A first portion formed on the housing connects with a corresponding second portion on the surge protection module to secure the modules together in a co-planar relationship.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,220,145 issued to Denovich, et al. on May 22, 2007 for a patch panel system. However, it differs from the present invention because Denovich, et al. teach a patch panel system that comprises a frame, a patch panel and connector ports. The patch panel is attached to the frame and has first and second connectivity interfaces. The first connectivity interface has multiple sections joined to form an N-sided portion of a polygon where N is greater than 2. The connector ports are provided at the first connectivity interface. The sections of the first connectivity interface have planar front surfaces that are oriented at obtuse angles to one another.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,999 issued to Flohr on Aug. 15, 1989 for an electric adapter connector. However, it differs from the present invention because Flohr teaches a handy pentaprism-shaped connector that has on its sides plug pin arrangements (2) for five different plugging systems and contains a revolving body (4, 7) which has in the area of the top and/or bottom surface of the connector sockets for two more plugging systems. These can be manually snapped (8, 9) into contact (3, 5, 6) with the plug pin arrangement (2) of the connector needed at any time, the remaining plug pins being then absolutely deprived of any voltage.
Applicant believes that another reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,189 issued to Gantt on Apr. 3, 2001 for a rigid Christmas light installation system. However, it differs from the present invention because Gantt teaches a Christmas light system including a plurality of rigid housings each having a couple mounted on each end thereof and a side face with a plurality of sockets mounted thereon for accepting a bulb therein. The sockets are each connected between the couples for providing electrical communication therebetween. The housings may be releasably coupled end-to-end in fixed relationship for providing electrical communication therebetween.
Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auxiliary artificial heart of the embedded-in-body type embedded in the left or right ventricle of the heart of a human body.
More particularly, it relates to an auxiliary artificial heart intended to feed blood by a pump in addition to blood fed by the human heart, without damaging the function of the human heart.
2. Description of the Related Art
The conventional artificial hearts of the embedded-in-body type include those of the diaphragm, sack, centrifugal, pusher plate and other systems.
However, these artificial hearts are intended to feed blood, using the human heart as a bypass or instead of the human heart. They are therefore large in size and not suitable for embodiment in the human body. When the artificial heart is large in size, the patient who has the artificial heart embedded in his or her heart must bear a large burden. In addition, that area of the artificial heart which is contacted with blood becomes large, thereby causing a thrombus.
Further, it is required that the artificial heart is durable and reliable. Conventional artificial hearts are complicated in structure and they have a limitation in enhancing their durability and reliability.
In addition to these artificial hearts intended to feed blood, using the human heart as a bypass or instead of the human heart, there is another artificial heart of such a type as disclosed in an essay "In Vivo Evaluation Of A Peripheral Vascular Access Axial Flow Blood Pump" reported by Richard K. Wampler et al on pages 450-454 of "TRANS AM SOC ARTIF INTERN ORGANS" Vol. XXXIV (1988).
This artificial heart has a small-sized pump inserted into the artery and a tube is attached to a sucking opening of the pump. The tube is inserted into the ventricle of the human heart, passing through the artery valve. Blood in the ventricle is sucked through the tube and fed into the artery. This artificial heart does not substantially damage the function of the human heart and it can feed blood in addition to blood fed by the human heart.
The pump must be small in size to insert it into the artery. To meet this requirement, the pump in the above-mentioned artificial heart excludes a driving motor from it. The driving motor is arranged external of the human body, and the driving force is supplied from the motor through a wire to it. Due to such an arrangement, not only the movement of the patient is restricted while the artificial heart is operating, but also the patient cannot carry the artificial heart for a long time. | {
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This invention was made with government support. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of antitoxin production, and in particular, antibodies to naturally-occurring plant and/or bacterial toxins.
2. Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to antitoxins suitable for treatment of humans and animals as well as for analytical use.
A toxin is a single protein or peptide that has deleterious effects in man or animals. A venom comprises a plurality of toxins; they are relatively complex mixtures of proteins and peptides that can cause considerable morbidity and mortality in humans and animals.
The chemical actions of and biological reactions to venoms are as diverse as their sources. Depending on the nature of the venoms, their toxic effects may be evident in the cardiovascular, hematologic, nervous, and/or respiratory systems.
Each region of the world has its own particularly troublesome venomous species. Within Eukarvota (see Table 1), some specific venom sources from the Animalia kingdom are most notable.
A. Eukaryota
i) Chordata. A number of Chordata classes are sources of venoms (e.g., Amphibians, Fish, Reptiles). Among Reptiles, the most significant order is snakes. Snake venom is a relatively complex mixture of enzymes, non-enzymatic proteins and peptides, and as yet unidentified compounds. W. A. Wingert and J. Wainschel, S. Med. J. 68:1015 (1975). D. C. Christopher and C. B. Rodning, S. Med. J. 79:159 (1986). While there are some chemical similarities, the.venom.of each species exhibits its own characteristic toxicity. M. J. Ellenhorn and D. G. Barceloux, Medical Toxicology, Ch.39 (Elsevier Press 1988).
Of the over 100 species of snakes in the United States, approximately 10% are poisonous. H. M. Parrish, Public Health Rpt. 81:269 (1966). The majority of these are from the family Crotalidae. The venomous species include the rattlesnakes (Crotalus), cottonmouths and copperheads (Agkistrodon), and pigmy and massassauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus). There are also poisonous members of the Elapidae family, the coral snakes (Micruroides). F. E. Russell et al., JAMA 233:341 (1975).
ii) Arthropoda. In the Arthropoda phylum, an important class is Arachnida. Among Arachnida, scorpions (Order Scorpiones) produce the most significant venoms. While scorpion venoms are also complex mixtures, there has been some success identifying their active agents. Approximately thirty different protein neurotoxins, each having a molecular weight of about 7000 daltons, have been isolated. M. E. Ayeb and P. Delori, In: Handbook of Natural Toxins, Vol.2, Insect Poisons, Allergens, and Other Invertebrate Venoms, (Anthony T. Tu, Ed.)(Marcel Dekker 1984), Chapter 18 (pp. 607-638). Of the approximately 650 scorpion species, the most dangerous belong to the Buthidae family and the genuses Tityus (North and South America), Centruroides (U.S. and Mexico), Centrurus (Mexico), Androctonus (Mediterranean/North Africa), Buthacus (Mediterranean/North Africa), Leiurus (Mediterranean/North Africa), Buthotus (Mediterranean/North Africa), Buthus (Mediterranean/North Africa), and Parabuthus (South Africa). F. Hassan, In: Handbook of Natural Toxins, Vol.2, Insect Poisons, Allergens, and Other Invertebrate Venoms, (Anthony T. Tu, Ed.)(Marcel Dekker 1984), Chapter 17 (pp. 577-605).
iii) Coelenterata. In the Coelenterata phylum, jelly fish are an important venomous species; the venom from Chironex fleckeri is among the most potent and medically significant. In the waters off Northern Australia, about one fatality occurs each year. J. Lumley et al., Med. J. Aust. 148, 527 (1988). Several toxic fractions have been characterized from C. fleckeri venom including two high molecular weight myotoxins (R. Endean, Toxicon 25, 483 (1987)) and several low molecular weight toxins having hemolytic or dermonecrotic properties (C. E. Olson et al., Toxicon 22, 733 (1984); E. H. Baxter and A. G. M. Marr, Toxicon 7, 195 (1969)).
iv) Mollusca. In the Mollusca phylum, the most significant venomous members are the coneshells (Conidae) which produce potent myotoxins that can be fatal. G. G. Habermehl, Venomous Animals and Their Toxins (Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1981). Little is known about the structure of the molluscan myotoxins.
B. Prokaryota
Prokaryotes are an important source of toxins. Most bacterial toxins, for example, are well known. Among species of bacteria, the most notorious toxin sources are certainly Clostridum botulinum and Clostridium Parabotulinum. The species produce the neurogenic toxin known as botulinus toxin. While a relatively rare occurrence in the United States, involving only 355 cases between 1976 and 1984 (K. L. MacDonald et al., Am J. Epidemiology 124, 794 (1986)), the death rate due to the botulism toxin is 12% and can be higher in particular risk groups. C. O. Tacket et al., Am. J. Med. 76, 794 (1984).
Many other bacteria produce protein toxins of significance to humans, including Bacillus anthracis, Bordetella pertussis (diptheria), Pasteurella pestis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcos pyrogenes, Bacillus cereus, E. coli, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, and Clostridium tetani. Thorne and Gorbach, Pharmacology of Bacterial Toxins, In: International Encyclopedia of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, F. Dorner and J. Drews (eds.), Pergamon Press, Oxford (1986), pp. 5-16.
As noted above, a toxin is defined as a single protein or peptide and a venom is defined as comprising a plurality of toxins. Both toxin and venom have been used as antigen for treatment.
Exposure to most venoms in humans does not result in protective immunity. Furthermore, all attempts to create protective immunity against venoms with vaccines have failed. F. E. Russell, JAMA 215:1994 (1971) (rattlesnake venom). By contrast, there has been success creating protective immunity against individual toxins, including diptheria (F. Audibert et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 79:5042 (1982)) and tetanus vaccines. J. E. Alouf, Ann Inst. Pasteur/Microbiol. 136B, 309 (1985).
A. Active Immunization
Tetanus toxoid injections provide an effective protection because they elicit a low level of circulating antibody and establish immunological memory. When exposed to a low dose of the tetanus organism and toxin, the immunized animal can neutralize the organism and toxin before the infection develops.
In the case of animal venoms, such prophylactic measures have not been feasible. First, many animal venoms are too difficult or too expensive to obtain to immunize a population where a relatively small percentage of that population will be exposed to the animal venom. Second, even if they can be obtained, animal venoms, unless detoxified, may cause more morbidity when administered to a large population than would be caused by the venomous animals themselves. Third, even if the venom is affordable, obtained in sufficient quantity, and detoxified, it is extremely difficult to achieve the titer of circulating antibody necessary to neutralize the infusion of what can be a large amount of venom (up to one gram of animal venom as compared with nanogram or picogram amounts of tetanus toxin). Finally, even with successful immunization, immunological memory is too slow to respond to the immediate crisis of envenomation.
Although active immunization with venoms has the above-named problems, some investigators have chosen to pursue research in this area rather than in the area of passive immunization, arguing that passive immunization is too long and expensive. These investigators have made some progress in the method of immunization by using liposomes. R. R. C. New et al., New Eng. J. Med. 311 56 (1984). T. V. Freitas et al., Toxicon 27:341 (1989).
B. Passive Immunization
Because the problems with active immunization have not been overcome, the only treatment available for venoms is passive immunization. Passive immunization, like active immunization, relies on antibodies binding to antigens. For our purposes here, antitoxin refers to antibody raised against a single toxin. Antivenom refers to.antibody raised against whole venom.
In the case of passive immunization, the antibody used to bind the venom (antigen) is not made in the animal afflicted with the venom. Generally, an immune response is generated in a first animal. The serum of the first animal is then administered to the afflicted animal (the xe2x80x9chostxe2x80x9d) to supply a source of specific and reactive antibody. The administered antibody functions to some extent as though it were endogenous antibody, binding the venom toxins and reducing their toxicity. (It is not known whether the antibody directly blocks the action of venom toxins or merely carries venom toxins out of the blood stream.)
i) Raising Antivenoms. The first step in treatment by passive immunization involves raising an antibody with reactivity that is specific for the venom. Such an antibody is referred to as an antivenom. As noted above, venoms pose unique problems for immunization. They are often expensive and available in only small amounts. Furthermore, because they are toxic, they can do great damage before, and in some cases without, generating an immune response.
Usually the problem of a toxicity is approached by modifying the venom in some manner. Modification of venoms, however, creates new problems. On the one hand, the modification may have so damaged the venom that it is largely non-immunogenic. On the other hand, while not rendered non-immunogenic, the modification may have so altered the venom that a new antigenicity is created. That is, antibody raised to the modified venom is directed to the modification as part of the antigenic site. In this case, the antibody raised to the modified venom may not react with the unmodified venom (as it will be found in its natural state). Finally, the modification may itself be toxic or cause unexpected side effects.
Immunization with venoms is also complicated by their complex composition. Venoms are remarkably heterogeneous. Furthermore, the various components of venoms are present in different amounts. There is some concern that immunization with whole venom will not result in antibody reactive with all venom components.
ii) Administration. The second step in treatment by passive immunization (assuming, of course, the problems with the first step have been dealt with), involves the administering of antivenom to the host. The first concern is whether the host will tolerate the administration of xe2x80x9cforeignxe2x80x9d antibody. In other words, will the host""s immune system recognize the administered antibody as antigen and mount an adverse response?
Adverse host responses are typically of two types, immediate and delayed. Immediate reactions are also of two types: 1) anaphylaxis, and 2) Arthus reaction. Anaphylaxis is IgE mediated and requires sensitization to antigen. The Arthus reaction is complement dependent and requires only antibody-antigen complexes. Both immediate types of reactions are referred to as hypersensitivity reactions; the host responds as if primed by a first exposure. Such immediate reactions can be acute. Indeed, anaphylaxis, if untreated, can lead to respiratory failure and death.
Delayed reactions are caused by a host primary immune response to the foreign proteins of the antivenom. The reaction, called xe2x80x9cserum sickness,xe2x80x9d is characterized by fever, enlarged lymph glands, and joint pain. These symptoms are apparent a number of days after passive immunization and gradually subside.
The next concern about administering antivenoms is the dose. Without knowing the amount of venom in the host it is difficult to know the amount of antivenom needed to treat the host. Furthermore, even if the amount of venom can be estimated, how is the amount of antivenom to be measured? Some approaches measure antivenom in units of volume. Such an approach does not account for different antivenom antibody concentrations within the same volume of serum.
iii) Commercial Antivenoms. Antivenoms have been raised in a number of mammals. See J. C. Perez et al., Toxicon 22:967 (1984) (mice). D. Iddon et al., Toxicon 26:167 (1988) (mice). R. A. Martinez et al., Toxicon 27:239 (1989) (mice). M. E. Ayeb and P. Delori, In: Handbook of Natural Toxins, Vol.2, Insect Poisons, Allergens, and Other Invertebrate Venoms, (Anthony T. Tu, Ed.) (Marcel Dekker 1984), Chapter 18 (pp. 607-638) (rabbits). F. E. Russell et al., Toxicon 8:63 (1970) (goats). S. C. Curry et al., J. Toxicol.xe2x80x94Clin. Toxicol. 21417 (1983-1984) (goats). F. Hassan, In: Handbook of Natural Toxins, Vol.2, Insect Poisons, Allergens, and Other Invertebrate Venoms, (Anthony T. Tu, Ed.) (Marcel Dekker 1984), Chapter 17 (pp. 577-605) (cows). Horses, however, are the animal of choice by an overwhelming number of investigators and commercial antivenom producers. World Health Organization Publication No. 58 (Geneva 1981).
Horses are sturdy and tolerant to the antibody-raising process. Most importantly, they yield large volumes of blood (as much as ten liters per bleeding for large animals).
There are significant disadvantages, however, when using horses for antivenom production. First, for large production of antivenoms, horses more than 5 years old and usually less than 8 years old are required. Second, because new horses are easily killed or injured, production should be under veterinary care and supervision. Third, tetanus is known to be a common disease among horses; animals must be immunized as soon as they are introduced to the farm. F. Hassan, In: Handbook of Natural Toxins, Vol.2, Insect Poisons, Allergens, and Other Invertebrate Venoms, (Anthony T. Tu, Ed.) (Marcel Dekker 1984), Chapter 17 (pp. 577-605). Fourth, large amounts of venom (antigen) are required for immunization in order to generate a satisfactory immune response in horses. Fifth, horse antibody binds and activates human and other mammalian complement pathways, leading (at the very least) to complement depletion and (at worst) to a more acute reaction by the host. Most commercial antivenoms contain anticomplementary activity. S. K. Sutherland, Med J. Australia 1:613 (1977). Sixth, some humans are hypersensitive to horse serum proteins and may react acutely to even very small amounts of horse protein. P. A. Christensen, In: Snake Venoms (Springer-Verlag 1979), Chapter 20 (pp. 825-846).
In spite of these problems, horse antivenom is the only specific treatment of most venom poisonings known at the present time. It is considered vital for treating severe cases of snake envenomation. H. M. Parrish and R. H. Hayes, Clin. Tox. 3:501 (1970). Similarly, horse serum containing antivenoms is considered life-saving in the treatment of scorpion stings. F. Hassan, In: Handbook of Natural Toxins, Vol.2, Insect Poisons, Allergens, and Other Invertebrate Venoms, (Anthony T. Tu, Ed.) (Marcel Dekker 1984), Chapter 17 (pp. 577-605).
In the United States, the primary commercial producer of antivenom to snake venoms is Wyeth Laboratories (Marietta, Pennsylvania). To make a useful antivenom to members of the Crotalidae family, horses are immunized with a mixture of venom from four distinct species. To reduce their toxicity, the venoms are modified by treatment with formalin. To prolong their absorption, the modified venoms are mixed with aluminum hydroxide gel. H. M. Parrish and R.H. Hayes, Clin. Tox. 3:501 (1970). Serum is collected and total antibody is precipitated. During the collection process, it is reported that the ammonium sulfate precipitation destroys up to one half of the neutralizing antibodies of the crude antivenom. M. J. Ellenhorn and D. G. Barceloux, Medical Toxicology, Ch.39 (Elsevier Press 1988).
One of the most difficult aspects of clinical management of envenomation is the lack of standardization of antivenoms. The recommended dosages of therapeutic horse-derived antivenoms is usually given in units of volume. For example, treatment with the Wyeth antivenom is measured in terms of vials of antivenom; each vial represents approximately 10 mls of antivenom in solution. D. C. Christopher and C. B. Rodning, S. Med. J. 79:159 (1986). M. J. Ellenhorn and D. G. Barceloux, Medical Toxicology, Ch.39 (Elsevier Press 1988). H. M. Parrish and R. H. Hayes, Clin. Tox. 3:501 (1970). F. E. Russell et al., JAMA 233:341 (1975).
The potency of individual lots of antivenoms will vary because of two principal factors. First, because whole antisera or immunoglobulin fractions are used and the specific antibody titer per unit volume will vary from animal to animal and from day to day, the amount of venom-reactive antibodies will differ from preparation to preparation. Second, refinement procedures such as ammonium sulfate precipitation and pepsin digestion can reduce the yield of active antibody, causing variations in the titer of active ingredient per unit volume. These difficulties are exacerbated when antivenom is raised against a set of venoms in order to treat a range of species. That is, when certain species are more diverged from the immunizing group, it is more difficult to determine how much antivenom will be required.
Because of the array of common and serious side effects of unpurified antivenoms the physician must exercise caution not to give excessive amounts of horse product. Patients who receive seven or more vials of the Wyeth preparation are reported to invariably develop serum sickness; approximately 80% of patients overall who receive the preparation develop serum sickness within three weeks. M. J. Ellenhorn and D. G. Barceloux, Medical Toxicology, Ch.39 (Elsevier Press 1988).
iv) Avoiding Side Effects. Because the commercial antivenoms presently available can cause their own adverse reactions, the risk of possible death or serious injury from the venom must be weighed against the risk of a hypersensitivity reaction to horse serum. Before administration of horse serum, good medical practice requires that serum sensitivity tests be performed. H. M. Parrish and R. H. Hayes, Clin. Tox. 3:501 (1970).
Serum sensitivity is typically performed by subcutaneously injecting a small amount of diluted serum in the arm of the patient. A salt solution is injected in the other arm as a control. Normally, a positive hypersensitivity test is indicated by no more than formation of a welt on the skin surface with surrounding swelling. Some patients, however, develop anaphylactic shock, i.e., a full hypersensitivity reaction. It is recommended in the medical literature that adrenalin be available for these cases.
While sensitivity testing has its advantages, it is generally acknowledged that it has no predictive value for serum sickness and reactions due to complement activation. World Health Organization Publication No. 58 (Geneva 1981). Thus, all patients must be regarded as potential xe2x80x9creactorsxe2x80x9d and all drugs and equipment required for dealing with reactions must be available before antivenoms are administered.
v) Purification. One approach to avoiding side effects deserves special note. It has been theorized that the high incidence of side effects with current commercial horse antivenoms is due to the bulk of irrelevant protein in these preparations. (Protein other than specific antibody is considered to be irrelevant protein.) Under this theory, the removal of irrelevant protein would reduce the burden of foreign protein and, thereby, reduce the incidence of adverse immune responses.
F. Hassan, In: Handbook of Natural Toxins, Vol.2, Insect Poisons, Allergens, and Other Invertebrate Venoms, (Anthony T. Tu, Ed.) (Marcel Dekker 1984), Chapter 17 (pp. 577-605) attempted a crude purification of horse antivenom. First, the horse serum was subjected to a mild pepsin digestion followed by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Then, the precipitate was heat denatured; the heat-labile fraction was removed. Unfortunately, approximately one-third of the initial antivenom activity was reported to be lost by this method.
A handful of antivenom investigators have considered immunoaffinity purification. However, most studies have only examined antibodies to a single toxin. C. C. Yang et al., Toxicon 15, 51 (1977) attempted immunoaffinity purification of antibody to a toxin in a snake venom. These investigators used cobrotoxin, a neurotoxic crystalline protein isolated from the venom of Taiwan cobra (Naja naja atra); whole venom was not used. Cobratoxin attached to Sepharose (CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B) was used as an antigen matrix and formic acid was used to elute the toxin-specific antibodies. The immunoaffinity purified antibody was reported to have a greater toxin-neutralizing capability than the unpurified antiserum.
V. Kukongviriyapan et al., J. Immunol. Meth. 49:97 (1982) followed with a similar purification scheme. Again, whole venom was not used. These investigators used Naja naja siamensis toxin 3, purified according to the method of E. Karlsson et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 21, 1 (1971). A number of antigen matrices were studied, including toxin-Sepharose (CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B), toxin-succinylaminoethyl Sepharose, toxin-albumin Sepharose, and toxin-succinylaminoethyl Biogel. Horse antibody was used. Unfortunately, only approximately 5% of the applied protein was reportedly bound and the destruction of antigenic sites on the immobilized toxin occurred extensively. Most importantly, the toxin-neutralizing capacity recovered in the purified antibody represented only approximately one-third that of the unpurified globulin.
M. E. Ayeb and P. Delori, In: Handbook of Natural Toxins, Vol.2, Insect Poisons, Allergens, and Other Invertebrate Venoms, (Anthony T. Tu, Ed.) (Marcel Dekker 1984), Chapter 18 (pp. 607-638) also followed the Yang et al. procedure and applied it to purifying antibodies against individual scorpion neurotoxins. Again, whole venom was not used. These investigators used toxin II of A. australis Hector. While these investigators did not report yields, they noted that formic acid caused denaturation of the antibody.
B. Lomonte et al., Toxicon 23:807 (1985), purified antibodies against B. Asper myotoxin coupled to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. The anti-myotoxin was only 0.5-1.0% of the antivenom protein and was found to be less effective than crude antivenom in neutralizing the lethal effects of the venom.
J. B. Sullivan""s research group examined immunoaffinity purification with whole venoms. See J. B. Sullivan et al., J. Vet. Hum. Toxicol. 24:192 (Suppl.) (1982). J. B. Sullivan and F. E. Russell, Proc. Western Pharmacol. Soc. 25:185 (1982). J. B. Sullivan and F. E. Russell, Toxicon Suppl. 3:429 (1983). W. S. Jeter et al., Toxicon 21:729 (1983). D. Bar-Or et al., Clin. Tox. 22:1 (1984). F. E. Russell et al., Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 34:141 (1985). J. B. Sullivan, Ann. Emerg. Med. 16:938 (1987). All of this work was performed with a polyacrylamide resin and trapping as the means for associating the venom with the resin.
Trapping involves suspending molecules in a gel. Trapping does not involve attachment (covalent or non-covalent) of the venom via a reactive group on the resin; without such an attachment, venom can find its way through the matrix and end up in the eluate. Furthermore, as venom from the antigen matrix finds its way out of the suspension, there is a progressive reduction in the antibody binding capacity of the antigen matrix. Loss of binding capacity renders the matrix non-recyclable, i.e., one cannot recover the same amount of purified antibody in subsequent purifications.
Polyacrylamide has several drawbacks. First, polyacrylamide has low porosity and, hence, can sterically hinder some antibody-antigen interactions, thereby reducing the antibody binding capacity of the polyacrylamide-antigen matrix. A. Johnstone and R. Thorpe, Immunochemistry in Practice, 2d Edition (Blackwell Scientific Publications 1987), p. 209. Second, polyacrylamide itself is a neurotoxin; there is a concern that polyacrylamide may leech from the polyacrylamide-antigen matrix into the eluate and contaminate purified antibody.
vi) Non-mammalian Sources of Antivenoms. As mentioned above, most antivenoms are made in mammals and the overwhelming majority have been made in horses. There have been only a few attempts made at raising antivenoms in non-mammals. A. Polson et al., Immunol. Comm. 9:495 (1980), attempted to raise antivenoms against snake venoms in chickens. Their work was unsuccessful; the chicken immunoglobulin showed no protective activity against the venom in an assay performed in mice. It was speculated that chicken antibody interactions with venom are inherently weaker and less stable than those of horse antibody.
The present invention relates to antitoxins suitable for treatment of humans and animals as well as for analytical use.
The present invention contemplates a method of producing antitoxins. In one embodiment, the producing method comprises: a) providing one or more immunizing toxins; b) providing at least one avian species; and c) immunizing the avian species with one or more immunizing toxins, so that a neutralizing antivenom is produced. In one embodiment, the toxin is selected from the group comprising plant toxins, such as ricin. In another embodiment the toxin is selected from the group saxitoxin and botulinus toxin. In another embodiment, the toxin comprises a bacterial enterotoxin, such as a Staphylococcal enterotoxin. Preferably, the avian species comprises chickens.
The present invention also contemplates a method of treatment using antitoxins. In one embodiment, the present invention contemplates a method of treatment, comprising: a) providing: i) avian antitoxin in an aqueous solution in therapeutic amounts that is intravenously injectable, and ii) at least one intoxicated subject; and b) intravenously injecting said avian antitoxin into said subject.
The present invention also contemplates a composition comprising antitoxins. In one embodiment, the present invention contemplates a composition comprising antitoxin, comprised of immunoglobulin of which greater than fifty percent is venom-reactive. The composition is preferably in an aqueous solution in therapeutic amounts and intravenously injectable.
It is desirable that the avian antitoxin is comprised of protein comprised of greater than 90% immunoglobulin and greater than 50% venom-reactive immunoglobulin. Preferably, the avian antitoxin is comprised of protein comprised of greater than 90% immunoglobulin and greater than 99% venom-reactive immunoglobulin.
The.present invention also contemplates an antitoxin xe2x80x9ccocktailxe2x80x9d. Such a reagent would be useful when the precise toxin is not known. Such a reagent can be made by immunizing with a variety of toxins or by pooling antibody following immunizations with individual toxins.
It is not intended that the present invention be limited by the source of the toxin used for immunizing, purifying or analyzing. Similarly, it is not intended that the present invention be limited by the source of the toxin for which the antitoxin compositions of the present invention are reactive. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pedal retraction amount control apparatus for a running vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a pedal retraction amount control apparatus for a running vehicle, there is for example, an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. Hei 10-512518. The apparatus disclosed in the publication has a pushing member, which can protrude into a passenger compartment from the forward side of a vehicle, and a pedal is supported by a support member, which bridges between two pillars and which also supports a steering, and a rear end of the pushing member faces a pivot located above the tread portion. This apparatus rotates the pedal to move the tread portion in the forward direction of the vehicle, by moving the pushing member to the rearward of the vehicle so as to protrude into the passenger compartment at the moment of a head-on collision of the vehicle, wherein a power unit provided in the front portion of the vehicle moves toward the rearward direction, which results in the pushing member contacting the upper part of the pedal above the pivot so as to press the upper part of the pedal toward the rearward side of the vehicle.
However, there are various forms of collision of a running vehicle, and because these are not limited to the pushing member moving along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. For example, when the pushing member moves in a inclined state along the longitudinal direction, the pushing member cannot press the upper part of the pedal, and the tread portion of the pedal is thus cannot be moved in the forward direction of the vehicle. | {
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A device in a network often needs to access a resource associated with another device in the network. Consider, for example, a Local Area Network (LAN) that includes a number of Personal Computers (PCs). Moreover, a first PC in the network needs to access a file that it does not currently have (e.g., a file that is not stored locally at the first PC). In this case, the PC may locate a second PC in the network that does have the file. The first PC can then ask the second PC to transmit the file to the first PC via the network.
To locate the second PC, the first PC can transmit a discovery request, including the file's name, to the other PCs in the network. Every PC in the network that has the file can then transmit a response to the first PC.
Such an approach, however, can have a number of disadvantages. For example, the first PC may receive a large number of responses to the discovery request. These responses can consume bandwidth in the network and take a considerable amount of time to process, especially in a large network (e.g., a network having a thousand PCs).
Similarly, a large number of discovery requests may be transmitted in the network. For example, hundreds of PCs may need to access a file that contains an updated virus definition list. All of these discovery requests, and associated responses, will also use bandwidth and processing time.
Moreover, more than one PC in the network may have the file. Each of those PCs, however, may not be equally suitable to transmit the file to the first PC. For example, one PC might have a fast processor that is not currently being used, while another PC has a slower processor that is being heavily used. Similarly, different PCs might have different maximum speeds at which information can be transmitted. In either case, the file may be accessed inefficiently. | {
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Current demands for high density and performance associated with ultra large scale integration require submicron features, increased transistor and circuit speeds and improved reliability. Such demands require formation of device features with high precision and uniformity, which in turn necessitates careful process monitoring, including frequent and detailed inspections of the devices while they are still in the form of semiconductor wafers.
One important process requiring careful inspection is photolithography, wherein masks are used to transfer circuitry patterns to semiconductor wafers. Typically, a series of such masks are employed in a preset sequence. Each photolithographic mask includes an intricate set of geometric patterns corresponding to the circuit components to be integrated onto the wafer. Each mask in the series is used to transfer its corresponding pattern onto a photosensitive layer (i.e., a photoresist layer) which has been previously coated on a layer, such as a polysilicon or metal layer, formed on the silicon wafer. The transfer of the mask pattern onto the photoresist layer is conventionally performed by an optical exposure tool such as a scanner or a stepper, which directs light or other radiation through the mask to expose the photoresist. The photoresist is thereafter developed to form a photoresist mask, and the underlying polysilicon or metal layer is selectively etched in accordance with the mask to form features such as lines or gates.
Fabrication of the mask follows a set of predetermined design rules set by processing and design limitations. These design rules define the space tolerance between devices and interconnecting lines and the width of the lines themselves, to ensure that the devices or lines do not overlap or interact with one another in undesirable ways. The design rule limitation is referred to as the critical dimension ("CD"), defined as the smallest width of a line or the smallest space between two lines permitted in the fabrication of the device. The CD for most ultra large scale integration applications is on the order of a fraction of a micron.
As design rules shrink and process windows (i.e., the margins for error in processing) become smaller, inspection and measurement of surface features' CD, as well as their cross-sectional shape ("profile") are becoming increasingly important. Deviations of a feature's CD and profile from design dimensions may adversely affect the performance of the finished semiconductor device. Furthermore, the measurement of a feature's CD and profile may indicate processing problems, such as stepper defocusing or photoresist loss due to over-exposure.
Thus, CD and profile values, and the variation of feature CD from design dimensions, are important indicators of the accuracy and stability of the photoresist and etch processes, and "CD control" to reduce such variation is an important part of semiconductor processing. CD control necessarily involves monitoring and adjusting both the photolithography and etch processes to address CD variations from field to field (FTF) within a wafer, from wafer to wafer (WTW) and from lot to lot (LTL). Among FTF, WTW and LTL variation, FTF and LTL are dominant variation components, while WTW typically counts for less than 10% of the total CD variation. FTF variation is generally determined by process tool performance, such as photoresist coating and baking uniformity, stepper or scanner stage leveling, and etch micro-loading uniformity. On the other hand, LTL variation is generally determined by process stability, including process equipment stability.
Because of the extremely small scale of current CD's, the instrument of choice for measurement and inspection of surface features produced by photolithographic processing is a scanning electron microscope (SEM) known as a "critical dimension scanning electron microscope" (CD-SEM). Although conventional SEM's are useful for measuring CD's, they generally do not provide immediate feedback to the photolithography process to reduce LTL variations, and the results of conventional inspections are not typically used to adjust subsequent etch processing. Furthermore, conventional CD-SEMs cannot provide an adequately detailed direct image or measurement of feature profiles. Still further, conventional methods of direct inspection of feature profiles are destructive to the sample under inspection, are time-consuming, or both.
There exists a need for a simple, cost-effective methodology for fast and meaningful identification and correction of lot to lot CD variation without significantly reducing production throughput. | {
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Payload accommodations systems typically have vents on the exterior of a payload launch vehicle designed generally to vent gases from the interior to the atmosphere during ascent. Simultaneously, during launch, it is also important to keep contaminants and moisture out of the payload launch vehicle, to keep cooling air inside and flowing properly in the payload launch vehicle, and to maintain the interior acoustic environment of the payload launch vehicle.
The traditional approach has been to use flapper valves in combination with internal acoustic baffles to address all of these issues. The flapper valves are used for venting and contaminant protection, while the internal baffles control the internal acoustic load. This approach suffers from at least three main problems. First, installation of the flapper valves and internal baffles can be complicated and time consuming. Additionally, because flapper valves and internal baffles are permanently attached to the payload launch vehicle, they add unnecessary weight to the payload and thus increase launch vehicle power requirements. Finally, the use of interior baffles changes the flow characteristics within the payload cavity.
A second approach to this problem has been to use lanyard release mechanisms. In this method, plugs are used to cover the vent holes. These plugs are connected to one another by a rope. Upon launch, the rope is cut releasing the plugs and uncovering the vents. This approach also has problems. First, it can be quite complicated to implement. Second, it is not as reliable as desired.
A third method is to use a louvered, open hole. However, the disadvantage of this method is that contamination control is not guaranteed.
Therefore, there exists a need for an ascent vent cover that addresses the above venting issues, is simple, lightweight and reliable and saves operational time. | {
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Use of imaging sensors in vehicle imaging systems is common and known. Examples of such known systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,949,331; 5,670,935 and/or 5,550,677, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Image processing of captured image data may be used to detect objects, such as traffic lights, forward of the vehicle and in the field of view of one or more of the imaging sensors.
Known vehicle traffic light indication or monitoring systems may display a traffic light's augmented image in the shape of a traffic light head having the typical three lights (red, yellow and green) on a head unit display or head up system or a cluster display. An example of such a display is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. These display augmentations are similar to those described in German patent application DE102014003781. | {
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Currently a system is available providing a communication service using a network configured with a plurality of different types of networks and equipped with a radio communication function such as cellular communication covering a middle and long-distance service area by one base station and a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) function covering a relatively short-distance service area. A radio communication terminal connectable with these networks also is available.
In Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a wireless communication terminal and the relating communication techniques are being discussed, the wireless communication terminal having a communication function with various different types of networks such as a wireless LAN, other cellular networks (including networks before second generation, and 3GPP2 network), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), IEEE802.16 type wireless wide area network (WWAN) in addition to a 3GPP network (hereinafter referred to as a 3G network) as such a network configured with a plurality of different types of networks.
Particularly, discussion is being conducted to implement seamless mobility and add a mobility service to a session such as real time video or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in such different types of networks. For instance, the following Non-Patent Document 1 considers a relationship between a 3G network and a non 3G network in the different types of network environment, mainly considering a physical handover of a UE between different types of networks.
In these networks, specifications on authentication, access control and accounting also are important requirements. For instance, in a cellular network, it is being considered to perform authentication based on functions of Authentication and Key Agreement (AKA) in Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and GSM Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) in Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM).
Many of these functions are used for example in a communication method using EAP described in the following Non-Patent Document 2 and the following Non-Patent Document 3. For instance, in EAP-SIM described in the following Non-Patent Document 4, authentication and a session key are exchanged using information in a SIM card based on an EAP protocol. EAP-AKA described in the following Non-Patent Document 5 is expanded so as to be used in a 3G network with consideration given to compatibility with authentication in GSM, In Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.1X as an authentication standard used for LAN connection also, authentication is possible using various EAPs such as EAP-Message Digest version 5 (EAP-MD5) and EAP-Transport Layer Security (EAP-TSL).
Meanwhile, the following Non-Patent Document 6 describes a technique relating to session mobility when transferring a communication session performed by a UE to another UE. This technique described in Non-Patent Document 6 is considering the continuity of a session when a part or the entire session a certain UE uses is transferred to another UE.
The following Non-Patent Document 7 and Non-Patent Document 8 are considering a mechanism to make a notice of disaster information such as an earthquake and a tsunami. A system described in Non-Patent Document 7 is to make a notice of disaster information using a 3GPP network when a disaster such as an earthquake or a tsunami occurs, which is called an Earthquake Tsunami Warning System (ETWS).
This ETWS is a system to notice a terminal (UE: User Equipment) of occurrence of a disaster, notifying the UE of a first notification (hereinafter referred to as a primary notification) on the occurrence of about 100 kinds disasters such as an earthquake and a tsunami and a second notification (hereinafter referred to as a secondary notification) on detailed information on the disasters.
More specifically, when a disaster occurs, a base station is notified of the occurrence of the disaster from the 3G network side, and the base station urgently notifies a terminal as notification information. The base station is required to notify the terminal of the first notification within 4 seconds after reception of the primary notification. For this urgent notification on the primary notification to the terminal, it is considered to make such a notification as system information. Further, as for system information such as urgent access class control due to a rapid traffic increase in a communication cell in addition to such an urgent disaster notification, a notification of a change is made within a specific period (modification period), whereby access control of a terminal can be performed more minutely.
At least a primary notification has to he provided to a terminal at the highest priority, and it is being considered to make a notification of secondary information with a Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) in the future. Further, discussion is being conducted as to whether or not a notification service of disaster information in the ETWS is to be provided not only to a macro base station (NE/eNB) but also to more local base station (HNB/HeNB). From a functional aspect, however, such a service can be provided to a local base station as well. | {
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Design and graphics related applications, such as Adobe® Illustrator®, typically provide various ways for a user to specify or otherwise select color, including text based and graphical color pickers. Examples of text based color pickers include input boxes for entering RGB (Red, Green, Blue), CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black), and HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) values for a particular color. Examples of graphical color pickers include color sliders, color wheels, and color grids. Color pickers typically display a continuous spectrum of colors from which a user can choose.
There are cases in which users are limited to a particular set of allowed colors due to physical or other constraints. For example, users who work in print, silk screening, and branding often must work with a particular color library comprising of a finite number of colors. A continuous spectrum color picker is less useful in that it will pick colors outside of the allowed color set. If a user uses the Pantone library, for example, the user typically must first specify a color from a continuous spectrum color picker, and then request the closest Pantone color to that color. If the returned Pantone color is not desirable to the user, the user goes back, specifies another color from the continuous spectrum color picker, and again requests the closest Pantone color to that color. This process continues until a desirable Pantone color is returned. Only one Pantone color can be requested at a time. Thus, a Pantone color is selected by trial and error, testing out a series of guesses until a desirable Pantone color is found. This process is repetitive, inefficient, and may yield a suboptimal result. For example, a frustrated user may simply make do with an unsatisfactory color rather than waste time trying to find a better color. This process is also extremely tedious when attempting to find a set of related colors within the Pantone set. Since the user is navigating the continuous spectrum of colors using a color picker the user is unable to answer questions like, “What is the next greenest Pantone color?” or “What is the next most saturated Pantone color?” Thus, improved techniques for color selection are needed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a therapeutic fabric article, and, more particularly, to weighted garments and accessories therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
The tactile system provides input to the brain for interpretation of various types of touch, pressure, temperature and pain through receptors in the skin. For example, deep pressure touch can be very calming. This type of input facilitates the release of dopamine, also known as the “pleasure chemical”, in the brain that helps people maintain emotional neutrality. Dopamine activates the parasympathetic nervous system for a relaxed, neutral and balanced homeostatic state. Dopamine may neutralize cortisol and adrenaline, which contribute to the fight or flight response of the autonomic nervous system. Conversely, an excess of dopamine may increase hyperactivity, which may then be regulated by increasing serotonin levels via the proprioceptive system. Proprioception refers to the information gathered by the nervous system from one's muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. It is also known as the “position sense”, which offers a sense of grounding that is interpreted by the emotional state as perceived security and/or safety. Proprioceptive input facilitates the release of serotonin, the master regulator of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), as well as dopamine. Valued as the “coping chemical”, serotonin breaks up dopamine thereby preventing hyperactivity and over-processing of information, resulting in a neutral state of arousal. Persons having difficulty processing information from one or both of these systems will demonstrate behaviors that impede function. Poor sensory modulation leads to a compromised body system that is interpreted by the central nervous system as being “in pieces”. The brain and the body will focus on keeping the individual's self together, thereby rendering the individual substantially incapable of efficient higher cortical function. The basic sub-cortical needs must first be met before focus can be diverted to higher cortical function. Maintaining the nervous system at a calm and alert state is imperative for cognitive functions and learning.
Persons affected by impaired function of the nervous system can include those with developmental disabilities, Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders. Individuals with these conditions have difficulty maintaining homeostasis within the nervous system, thereby inhibiting their ability to participate in effective learning and sometimes causing behaviors incongruent with social norms. Such identifiable behaviors can include constant movement, impulsivity, decreased attention span, inability to focus on a particular task and seeking of heavy-pressure related tasks.
Current treatments for persons affected by an impaired function of the nervous system can include pharmaceutical products, behavioral therapy, speech-language therapy, physical therapy, play-based therapy, situational therapy and nutritional therapy. Often in combination, these forms of treatment can be a tremendous benefit; yet, they are not without their own shortcomings. For instance, pharmaceuticals may elicit irresponsive results, or worse they may cause adverse side effects for a particular individual. Results from treatment in general can vary greatly from one individual to another. Therefore, partially due to the individualistic nature of conventional treatment methods, alternative additional forms of treatment were developed, including types of treatments utilizing deep pressure and tactile input therapy.
Some applications of deep pressure therapy in the prior art include use of squeeze machines, weighted blankets, and various weighted articles such as gloves or vests. These deep pressure devices have been known to release serotonin, which helps an individual feel calm and secure. However, the problem with many of these forms of deep pressure therapy is that they are restrictive and can keep the user from fully engaging in daily activities such as routine tasks, learning, common social interactions and play.
What is needed in the art is an ergonomic and discreet therapeutic garment that serves a dual sensory function with reference to the proprioception and tactile systems without sacrificing mobility and aesthetics, which thereby enables the wearer to more fully participate in daily routines and the enjoyments of life. | {
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Mobile devices may be equipped with various sensors, such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetic field sensor, among others. The sensors are often fabricated to be small in size, so as to fit inside the small package provided by the mobile device. The sensors, at least from a functionality standpoint, may be essentially miniaturized versions of larger, more conventional electric and/or electro-mechanical sensors, and may be referred to as, or as part of, micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS).
Applications executed on the mobile devices may interface with the sensors and obtain sensor data, such as heading, position, and/or angular or linear acceleration, therefrom. During operation, the applications may receive and translate the raw sensor readings to determine the attitude of the mobile device, based on predetermined calibration data or other translation algorithms. Such processed information may be used in the applications for a variety of purposes, for example, to determine a direction in which the device is proceeding (e.g., the direction in which a user carrying the phone is walking), or to input instructions, for example, to move a cursor left or right by tilting the device, or to provide commands, invoke functions, etc. by manipulating the attitude of the device (e.g., by shaking the device).
However, there are shortcomings in current sensor data acquisition techniques, especially when used indoors. The heading of the device indoors may be determined at least partially using magnetic (e.g., compass) information; however, the accuracy of such information is sensitive to ambient magnetic fields, such as those created by nearby electrical current. Such nearby electrical currents are common in indoor use, leading to reduced sensor accuracy.
Another way to determine heading uses the gyroscope and the accelerometer. However, the gyroscopic and/or linear acceleration information may vary quickly, and requires frequent refreshing. Further, to maintain acceptable feedback response times, the polling rate of the sensors is often high. However, the processing resources on the mobile devices are typically scarce when compared to larger computing devices, owing at least partially by reduced size and/or limited power supply. Accordingly, sharing the processor between running the application and providing high-frequency sampling may lead to significant update latency.
Accordingly, present systems suffer from one or more of high update latency, slow response times, and limited accuracy. What is needed, then, are improved systems and methods for detecting attitude in a mobile device. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a system and method for providing path planning and generation in a semi-autonomous or autonomously driven vehicle and, more particularly, to a system and method for providing path planning and generation in a semi-autonomous or autonomously driven vehicle that includes altering the vehicle steering path in response to a detected moving object in front of the vehicle, where the object may be moving in either a transverse or longitudinal direction relative to the vehicle motion.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The operation of modern vehicles is becoming more autonomous, i.e., vehicles are able to provide driving control with less and less driver intervention. Cruise control systems have been on vehicles for a number of years where the vehicle operator can set a particular speed of the vehicle, and the vehicle will maintain at that speed without the driver operating the throttle. Adaptive cruise control systems have been recently developed in the art where not only does the system maintain the set speed, but also will automatically slow the vehicle down in the event that a slower moving preceding vehicle is detected using various sensors, such as radar and cameras. Certain modern vehicles also provide autonomous parking where the vehicle will automatically provide the steering control for parking the vehicle. Some vehicle systems intervene if the driver makes harsh steering changes that may affect vehicle stability. Some vehicle systems attempt to maintain the vehicle near the center of a lane on the road. Further, fully autonomous vehicles have been demonstrated that can drive in simulated urban traffic up to 30 mph, observing all of the rules of the road.
As vehicle systems improve, they will become more autonomous with the goal being a complete autonomously driven vehicle. For example, future vehicles probably will employ autonomous systems for lane changing, passing, turns away from traffic, turns into traffic, etc. Smooth maneuvering and automated lane centering and lane changing control is important for driver and passenger comfort in autonomously driven vehicles. However, as a result of sensor and actuator latency, measured vehicle states may be different from actual vehicle states. This difference may cause improper path generation, which will affect lane changing harshness.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,170,739 issued May 1, 2012, titled, Path Generation Algorithm for Automated Lane Centering and Lane Changing Control System, assigned to the assignee of this application and herein incorporated by reference, discloses a system for providing path generation for automated lane center and/or lane changing purposes. The system employs one or more forward-looking cameras that detect lane markings in front of the vehicle for identifying a travel lane on which the vehicle is traveling. A desired path generation processor receives the signals from the camera, vehicle state information and a steering angle of the vehicle, and a request for a vehicle lane change. The system also includes a path prediction processor that predicts the vehicle path based on the vehicle state information including vehicle longitudinal speed, vehicle lateral speed, vehicle yaw-rate and vehicle steering angle. The desired path information and the predicted path information are compared to generate an error signal that is sent to a lane change controller that provides a steering angle signal to turn the vehicle and reduce the error signal, where the path generation processor employs a fifth-order polynomial equation to determine the desired path of the vehicle based on the input signals.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0082195 to Lee et al., titled, Method to Adaptively Control Vehicle Operation Using an Autonomic Vehicle Control System, assigned to the assignee of this application and also herein incorporated by reference, discloses improvements to the path generation algorithm disclosed in the '739 patent that includes determining a preferred travel path for the vehicle based on a predicted travel path and an estimated roadway position.
Both the '739 patent and the '195 application do not provide desired path generation and automatic vehicle steering in a semi-autonomous or autonomously driven vehicle for collision avoidance purposes if a moving object is detected in front of the vehicle. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an object, a method, a manufacturing method, a process, a machine, manufacture, or a composition of matter. In particular, the present invention relates to, for example, a semiconductor device, a display device, a liquid crystal display device, a light-emitting device, a driving method thereof, or a manufacturing method thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to, for example, a semiconductor device including a transistor, a display device including a transistor, a liquid crystal display device including a transistor, or a light-emitting device including a transistor, or a driving method thereof. Alternatively, the present invention relates to, for example, an electronic appliance including the semiconductor device, the display device, the liquid crystal display device, or the light-emitting device.
Note that in this specification, a semiconductor device refers to any device that can function by utilizing semiconductor characteristics, and an electro-optical device, a semiconductor circuit, an electronic appliance, and the like are all semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A technique for forming a transistor by using a semiconductor film formed over a substrate having an insulating surface has attracted attention. The transistor has been widely used for semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits and display devices. A silicon film is known as a semiconductor film applicable to a transistor.
As the silicon film used as a semiconductor film of a transistor, either an amorphous silicon film or a polycrystalline silicon film is used depending on the purpose. For example, in the case of a transistor included in a large display device, an amorphous silicon film, which can be formed using an established technique for forming a film over a large substrate, is preferably used. On the other hand, in the case of a transistor included in a high-performance display device where driver circuits are formed over the same substrate, a polycrystalline silicon film, which can form a transistor having high field-effect mobility, is preferably used. As a method for forming a polycrystalline silicon film, high-temperature heat treatment or laser light treatment which is performed on an amorphous silicon film has been known.
In recent years, an oxide semiconductor film has attracted attention. For example, a transistor which includes an amorphous oxide semiconductor film containing indium, gallium, and zinc and having a carrier density lower than 1018/cm3 is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).
An oxide semiconductor film can be formed by a sputtering method or the like, and thus can be used for a channel formation region of a transistor in a large display device. A transistor including an oxide semiconductor film has high field-effect mobility; therefore, a high-performance display device where driver circuits are formed over the same substrate can be obtained. Moreover, there is an advantage that capital investment can be reduced because part of production equipment for a transistor including an amorphous silicon film can be retrofitted and utilized. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention is directed to a top or cover for a convertible vehicle, and more particularly, a removable cover for a Jeep or the like.
Covers for convertible vehicles are well-known in the art for providing shade and protection from the elements, such as rain. Current covers are complex having many parts, expensive to produce, and are difficult to attach and remove from a vehicle. As a result, a need exists for a device that is simple in construction and has fewer parts. Also needed is a device that is inexpensive to produce. Finally, a device is needed that is easy to attach, operate and remove. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of The Invention
This invention relates generally to cross-flow filters comprising a multiplicity of stacked filter plates, of a type wherein filter elements are disposed between adjacently paired stacked plates.
2. Description of the Related Art
Stacked plate cross-flow filters are utilized in a variety of solids-liquid separation operations, including the dewatering of solids-liquid suspensions such as aqueous biomass suspensions, the desalting of proteins, and the removal of secreted metabolites from cellular cultures. In such systems, the stacked plates making up the cross-flow filter are typically mounted in a unitary frame structure whereby the respective plates are retained in alignment, in a so-called "plate and frame" construction. A unitary liquid feed conduit provided with openings at spaced intervals along its length and extending through the stacked plates is typically employed as a feed means from which influent solids-containing liquid is introduced into the flow channels defined between adjacent plates in the stacked plate assembly. The flow channels in the plate and frame filter contain filter elements, such as disposable filter paper sheets, with which the solids-containing liquid is contacted and through which solids-depleted liquid passes. A unitary liquid withdrawal conduit featuring openings at spaced intervals along its length extends through the stacked plates in liquid flow communication with the respective flow channels of the stacked plate assembly and conveys solids-depleted liquid out of the filter system.
As filtration proceeds, the filtered solids build up in the flow channels of the filter, on the "feel liquid sides", i.e., active filtration surfaces, of the filter sheets. The filter is then periodically backwashed, or alternatively, it may be fully shut down after a predetermined level of solids has accumulated in the flow channels on the filtration surfaces of the filter sheet elements, following which the system is drained of liquid, and the filter sheets replaced as necessary.
In one type of presently marketed stacked filter system, commercially available from Millipore Corporation (Bedford, Mass.) as the Prostak.RTM. cross-flow filter, the adjacent filter plates define a flow channel. Solids-containing influent liquid is fed at one side of the plate from a central location into a transversely extending feed distribution conduit, which is provided with openings at spaced apart intervals along the length of the conduit for egress of the solids-containing liquid. At the opposite side of the adjacent plates, the flow channel is similarly constructed with a liquid collection conduit having openings along its length to collect the solids-depleted liquid and discharge same from a central outlet communicating with the collection conduit.
A major problem which has been encountered in cross-flow filters of the above-described type is that the liquid flow distribution, as for example reflected by the volumetric liquid flow rate or liquid superficial velocity, is highly non-uniform in the transverse directions of the flow channel. Such maldistribution of the solids-containing liquid is a result of the fact that the influent liquid is introduced into the feed distribution conduit at a central location. Due to the pressure drop in the transverse direction, from the medial inlet port out to the extremities of the feed distribution conduit, the local longitudinal flow (cross-flow of liquid from the inlet side to the outlet side of the stacked plates, at progressively farther transverse distances from the central liquid inlet port, is progressively reduced to an extent which is commensurate with the pressure drop experienced as the liquid is directed transversely to the outer extremities of the distribution conduit. As a result, there is preferential channeling of the liquid at the central part of the flow channel from the inlet side to the outlet side thereof, and concommitant under-utilization of the peripheral areas of the filter. When the solids in the central portion have been built up to a point requiring backwashing or draining of the filter, the peripheral areas of the filter still have available capacity to separate solids from the feed liquid.
Such transverse maldistribution of the feed liquid in cross-flow filters of the aforementioned type could conceivably be overcome by the provision of header manifolds to introduce feed liquid into the filtration channels at multiple introduction points along the sides of the stacked filter plates, with a corresponding outlet header manifold arrangement at the opposite side of the stacked plates. Unfortunately, however, such provision would significantly increase the overall system pressure drop as well as the complexity of the filter system, since it could be necessary to positively seal the multiplicity of feed liquid branch lines passing from the manifold into the filter.
Another type of stacked plate cross-flow filter which has been commercialized employs a transversely extending liquid distribution conduit with spaced apart openings therein to introduce solids-containing liquid into the flow channel between adjacent stacked plates, but instead of a central inlet port to flow the solids-containing liquid to such conduit, the liquid is axially fed into the conduit from a feed line connected to a transverse extremity of the conduit. Filters of such type are available from Millipore Corporation (Bedford, Mass.) under the trademark Pellicon.RTM.. This feed arrangement results in a progressive diminution of the liquid pressure at increasing transverse distances from the feed end of the distribution conduit, which in turn results in progressively transversely decreased cross-flow rates of liquid in the flow channel.
In an effort to overcome the aforementioned liquid flow maldistribution characteristics of stacked plate filters, filter plates have been constructed with baffle elements defining discrete flow channels, with the intent of achieving a more uniform distribution of the solids-containing influent liquid across the full areal extent of the filter elements in the flow channels of the filter.
A filter plate commercially available from Toyo Soda Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) features a structure in which solids-containing influent liquid is introduced to the flow channel at a central inlet port at one side of the plate. A wall is disposed in front of the liquid inlet, extending upwardly from the floor of the flow channel and transversely toward the extremities of the flow channel, to divide the influent stream into two outwardly directed streams. Downstream from such stream-splitting wall is a longitudinally extending divider partition, the stream-splitting wall and the divider partition together forming a "T" construction when viewed in plan view. Longitudinally spaced from and parallel to the stream-splitting wall are a series of baffle partitions on either side of the divider partition. The baffles extend transversely part way across the flow channel on either side of the divider partition, so that there is formed a serpentine flow path for each of the split streams, on the respective sides of the partition. A unitary liquid outlet port is provided at the opposite side of the stacked plates from the inlet port, whereby the respective serpentine flows are finally joined and discharged from the flow channels of the filter.
Although the dual serpentine flow path arrangement described above provides a somewhat better distribution of liquid flow across the areal extent of the filter paper element, the sharp turns in the flow path at the extremities of the baffles create edge and entrance effects in the flow streams which produce substantial dead space and bypassing therein. As a result of such anomalous flow phenomena, the filtration efficiency of the baffled serpentine flow arrangement is significantly reduced.
Accordingly, it would be a substantial advance in the art to provide a filter plate characterized by substantially uniform transverse distribution of liquid from a unitary liquid feed port, and highly uniform liquid cross-flow across the full transverse extent of the flow channel formed when plates of such type are stacked to form a cross-flow filter.
It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a filter plate of such type, which is simple and efficient in construction and operation.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cross-flow filter comprising stacked filter plates of such type.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Wagering game machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines depends on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing wagering game machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for wagering game machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play.
Further, manufacturers of devices used to generate input for a wagering game are continuously developing new devices and revising already existing devices. Devices that are used to generate input for a wagering game are often connected to a wagering game machine and are sometimes called “peripherals.” Quite often, manufacturers of the peripherals are separate entities from manufacturers of the wagering games. Manufacturers of peripherals may utilize various proprietary formats for data that are generated by the peripherals. When a manufacturer generates a new peripheral, or revises an already existing peripheral, the new and/or revised device often has differences in configuration that can affect the data generated by the new/revised peripherals, which, without specific configurations, makes the peripheral incompatible with existing wagering games. Thus, when peripherals to a wagering game machine change, wagering game manufacturers may have to re-engineer specific aspects of wagering games to work properly with the new and/or updated peripherals. Re-engineering can require substantial monetary and computing resources, can slow product cycles for new or revised wagering game, can introduce potential new errors or security risks, or can present a variety of other challenges. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Along with rapid development of the information technology, use of mobile terminals (such as mobile phone and tablet computer) becomes increasingly popular. Requirements of users on mobile terminals increase, not only is the relatively high processing speed required, but also dependence on Wi-Fi becomes stronger and stronger. Along with popularization of mobile terminals and Wi-Fi, the event of accessing a Wi-Fi network through a mobile terminal occurs more and more frequently. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to exercise equipment. In another aspect this invention relates to a recumbent exercise apparatus. In yet another aspect this invention relates to a push-up apparatus and a method of exercising the muscles of the upper body. In still yet another aspect this invention relates to a combination recumbent exercise apparatus and push-up machine, and a method of exercising the muscles of the upper body.
2. Description of the Related Art
The need for regular exercise is widely recognized. While running (or jogging) is a traditional method of exercise it is also recognized that running has disadvantages. Mostly, running is an outdoor activity which is practiced on public streets, roads, and sidewalks. Vehicle traffic is an ever present danger. Bad weather makes it disagreeable. There is no way of measuring the work expended. Heat monitors are used by some runners, but there is little if any relationship between the readings and muscle work output. Special footwear is required to prevent foot and leg injuries. Many people, due to excess weight, arthritis, bad feet or legs, or other ailments, simply cannot run. Even for a healthy individual, the pounding that the body absorbs during running may be injurious to the knees, feet, back and other parts of the body.
There are other traditional types of exercising such as swimming, bicycling, or racket sports. However, while these types of activities are quite popular, there still remains a need for alternative methods of exercise where the other methods are inconvenient or not available, such as, for example, where outdoor activities are limited because of weather, general surroundings such as city streets, the particular time of day, e.g. after nightfall, and the like. Other exercise activity, such a swimming or racket sports, require pools or specialized court facilities which are oftentimes either crowded or unavailable.
Recognizing the disadvantages of traditional exercise activities and methods, there have been many types of stationarycycle-type exercise machines developed in the prior art which are designed to provide the user with an exercise alternative to running, swimming or other activities.
In the simplest of these stationary cycle-type exercise machines, the user is seated in a traditional "bicycle" position and peddles the stationary bicycle. These conventional exercise bicycles employ mechanical arrangements of various types to vary the load or resistance which the rider must overcome to pedal the bicycle. However, these types of machines have a disadvantage of only exercising the muscles of the legs and lower torso. Also, some users object to sitting in the traditional bicycle position which requires a body posture which is generally uncomfortable and unstable.
In an effort to overcome the disadvantages of the simple conventional exercise bicycles and provide a means to also exercise the muscles of the upper torso, there have been provided in the prior art machines that exercise the muscles of both the upper and lower body. Such a stationary cycle-type exerciser which exercises the whole body through the arms and legs is a great improvement over running. It can be used indoors, is safe from traffic hazards, entirely independent of inclement weather. Work input is precisely measurable. Exercise bicycles also tend to impose less of a pounding on the body as compared to running, thus lessening the likelihood of injuries. And most people, regardless of weight, size or physical problems, can use one.
The following are several examples of exercise machines that provide for means to exercise the muscles of both the upper body and lower body.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,030, issued Feb. 12, 1980 to Hopper discloses a cycle exerciser which effectively works muscles in the arms, legs, and upper and lower torso simultaneously. This exerciser allows the seated user to peddle with the legs while simultaneously exercising the arms with a rowing motion. This machine is marketed by Schwinn Bicycle Company as the "AIR-DYNE.RTM." exercise. Similar types of machines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,757,988 issued Jul. 17, 1988 to Szymski, 4,762,3I7 issued Aug. 8, 1988 to Camfield et al., 4,824,102 issued Apr. 25, 1989 to Lo, and 4,852,872 issued Aug. 1, 1989 to Lo.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,984, issued Apr. 26, 1988 to Dranselka discloses a portable exercising machine which allows the seated user to pedal the pedal mechanism with either the hands or the feet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,863 issued Jan. 3, 1984 discloses a stationary exercise bicycle having a hand operated cranking mechanism for rotating the front wheel and a peddle operated cranking mechanism for rotating the rear wheel, so that the seated exerciser may exercise both the arms and legs simultaneously.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,480 issued Jul. 10, 1973 to Gause et al., discloses an exercise machine having a pedal driven load that may be pedaled by a seated user, or hand cranked by a prone user. In the prone position, the user's body is supported from about the ankles to the chest by a padded table. Leg supports and a belt secure the operator to the table, thus greatly restricting the movement of the user's body.
While there are prior art machines that do provide means for exercising the muscles of the upper and lower body, they do not provide a means for rigorously exercising the muscles of the upper body with rigor at least equivalent to push-ups or the bench press. Therefore, a need exists for an exercise machine that both provides for exercising the legs and provides for rigorously exercising the muscles of the upper body. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Dilated cardiomyopathy is one of the myocardial diseases characterized by progressive depression of myocardial contractile function and dilated ventricle, and the dysfunction of depressing dilated left ventricle is present. This disease often develops chronically and the prognosis is poor in the majority of cases. Therefore, in Europe and the United States, cardiac transplantation is necessary for this disease in many cases, and above 90% of cardiac transplantation cases in Japan were those of patients with this disease. 30% of dilated cardiomyopathy patients are said to have a congenital mutation in the gene that codes an important component of myocardium, which links cytoskeleton to cell matrix. However, the causes of the rest of cases are unknown. In both cases, the onset rate is very high (36.5 in 100,000 people) and the death rate is also high. However, there is no effective therapy except for cardiac transplantation.
In addition to ischemic, toxic, metabolic, infectious, and genetic causes, autoimmunity has been suspected to be one of the main causes. Several papers have reported that the patients of myocarditis or cryptogenic dilated cardiomyopathy have heart reactive autoantibodies. Antibodies to the mitochondrial ADP/ATP translocator or β1-adrenoceptor, which are often found in human patients, have been shown to enhance Ca2+ current (Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1988, 168(6), p 2105-2019, European Journal of Pharmacology, 2001, 423(2-3), p 115-119). In addition, immunoabsorption has been reported to have beneficial effects. (Circulation, 2001, 103(22), p 2681-2686). Stephan B. Felix proved that the therapy with immunoabsorption made patients' hemodynamics improved and the column eluent, which contains harvested antibodies from immunoabsorption column, decreased cell contraction in myocardial cells because of calcium current suppression (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2002, 39(4), p 646-652). Experimental studies in rodents have shown that cardiotropic viral infections or immunization with cardiac antigens can elicit injury of cardiomyocytes, leading to cardiomyopathy with concomitant production of heart-reactive autoantibodies and cytotoxic T cells (Circulation, 1982, 65(6), p 1230-1235, Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology, 1987, 43, 1, p 129-139, Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 1997, 29(2), p 641-655, Journal of Immunology, 1987, 139(11), p 3630-3636). However, because autoimmune responses observed in the rodent models and human patients could be secondary to heart inflammation, the involvement of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy is still debatable (Journal of Immunology, 1990, 145(12), p 4094-4100).
PD-1 is an immune inhibitory receptor belonging to CD28/CTLA-4 family and inhibits antigen receptor-mediated signaling by recruiting SHP-2 upon engagement with its ligands, PD-L1 or PD-L2 (Current Opinion Immunology, 2002, 14(6), p 779-782). C57BL/B6 PD-1-deficient mice developed lupus-like glomerulonephritis and arthritis (Current Opinion Immunology, 2002, 14(6), p 779-782). The inventors have recently shown that BALB/c PD-1-deficient mice develop dilated cardiomyopathy (Science, 2001, 291(5502), p 319-322, WO02/39813).
The dilated heart of the mice showed prominent depositions of immune complex on myocardial cells. Furthermore, sera from PD-1-deficient mice contained high-titer autoantibodies against a heart-specific, 30-kDa protein. Although these results support the hypothesis that autoimmunity is a probable cause of dilated cardiomyopathy, there was no direct evidence. Therefore, it is essential to identify the 30-kDa antigen and assess the pathogenic role of the antigen-specific autoimmune reaction in dilated cardiomyopathy. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Consumer and industrial refuse generation has reached an unprecedented level in the United States. Consumer consumption on the individual and family level combined with an increased amount of product packaging has raised the individual refuse generation volume to one of the highest levels in recorded history. To meet an increased consumer demand for products, industry has also increased their production which carries with it, as a natural by-product, increased refuse generation at the manufacturer level as well.
At the same time that the refuse output of the population is increasing, the available space in current and proposed landfills is rapidly decreasing due to increased consumer demand for land and the volume of refuse placed in current fills. As a result, much research and development activity has concentrated in the area of refuse management, and in particular on refuse incineration. Out of this research and development, various incineration systems have been patented, including those depicted in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,467,587, 3,937,023, 3,965,362, 4,852,344, 4,896,508, 4,970,969, 5,127,344, and 5,678,420. While many of these systems are able to alleviate the pressing problem resulting from the increased refuse generation, most are primarily concerned with aspects of the incineration process to maximize the electric power generated from the heat produced during the incineration of the refuse. While energy production and utilization is an important by-product benefit of refuse incineration, many of these systems overlook the environmental impact caused by the smoke and exhaust resulting from the incineration of refuse as fuel for power generation. To prevent much of this impact, many of the refuse incineration plants currently in operation require that the various types of refuse be separated to remove many types of materials prior to the incineration of the refuse. This significantly increases the cost of refuse incineration, and tends to dissuade further investment in this technology.
The requirement for the separation of this refuse stems from output emissions requirements and incinerator performance. Specifically, the output emissions filtration systems which are currently available and economically feasible simply cannot provide the required amount of filtration at an acceptable cost to allow the incineration of multiple types of refuse in a single incinerator. There exists therefore a need and a desire for an incineration plant which is capable of incinerating unsorted refuse while still meeting and exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency's requirements on clean air standards for emissions. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In recent years, it has been demanded that the throughput of an interface connecting LSIs to each other be improved, as an LSI clock frequency increases. To improve the throughput of the interface, the rise of the signal frequency per terminal and the increase of the number of terminals are necessary. However, when the number of the terminals is increased, the area of wiring lines occupied in an LSI package increases, and a wiring length required for the connection tends to increase. On the other hand, when the signal frequency per terminal is raised, the attenuation of an electrical signal per unit length increases, and hence a line length is limited. Therefore, even for a high-speed signal having a high frequency, there is required a contrivance such as the employment of a transmission line or the like in which the attenuation is minimized.
It is effective to use an optical transmission line as a transmission line which scarcely affects the signal attenuation dependent on the signal frequency. For example, when an optical fiber is used, the signal attenuation due to the transmission through the fiber having a length of about several ten meters can substantially be ignored. When such an optical transmission line is used, it is advantageous to perform electrical/optical signal conversion at a position very close to the LSI. Therefore, there has been investigated a structure in which an optical interface module having a photoelectric conversion function is arranged very close to the LSI package.
Above all, an LSI package has been proposed in which an interposer (a rewiring substrate) including a signal processing LSI mounted thereon is assembled on a printed wiring board (PWB) by use of a usual mounting step, and then the optical interface module is mounted on the interposer without performing any thermal step later on, whereby the interface module is not thermally influenced (e.g., Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-253456).
However, in the structure disclosed in the above document, there may be a problem that the positioning of the interface module and the interposer is difficult. For this kind of positioning, there is a method in which reference holes and guide pins are used, but in this method, the guide pins need to be inserted into the plurality of reference holes, respectively. Therefore, clearances are required between the reference holes and the guide pins. This reason is that if the diameter of each guide pin is not smaller than that of the reference hole, the guide pins cannot be inserted into the reference holes, even when a slight deviation (pitch deviation) is produced between the reference holes or between the guide pins. Moreover, the clearances include the pitch deviations and the fluctuations or errors of the hole and pin diameters, and hence they become causes to disturb the highly precise positioning. In consequence, there may be a problem that restrictions are placed on a narrow pitch constitution using a large number of pins for the electrical connection between the interface module and the interposer. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Modern computing and display technologies have facilitated the development of systems for so called “virtual reality” or “augmented reality” experiences, wherein digitally reproduced images or portions thereof are presented to a user in a manner wherein they seem to be, or may be perceived as, real. A virtual reality, or “VR”, scenario typically involves presentation of digital or virtual image information without transparency to other actual real-world visual input; an augmented reality, or “AR”, scenario typically involves presentation of digital or virtual image information as an augmentation to visualization of the actual world around the user. For example, referring to FIG. 1, an augmented reality scene 1000 is depicted wherein a user of an AR technology sees a real-world park-like setting 1100 featuring people, trees, buildings in the background, and a concrete platform 1120. In addition to these items, the user of the AR technology also perceives that he “sees” a robot statue 1110 standing upon the real-world platform 1120, and a cartoon-like avatar character 1130 flying by which seems to be a personification of a bumble bee, even though these elements do not exist in the real world. As it turns out, the human visual perception system is very complex, and producing a VR or AR technology that facilitates a comfortable, natural-feeling, rich presentation of virtual image elements amongst other virtual or real-world imagery elements is challenging. Systems and methods disclosed herein address various challenges related to VR and AR technology. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In a semiconductor device, a silicon layer is used in various portions, such as a conductive layer, a resistant element, a gate electrode of transistor, and a capacitor of a memory cell. As is well known, in a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), a capacitor of the memory cell is comprised of a silicon layer. The silicon layer composes a storage electrode and a cell-plate electrode of the capacitor. A method for manufacturing such capacitors of the DRAM is shown in Japanese Laid Open Patent “Toku-Kai-Hei 7-235616”, which was published on Sep. 5th, 1995.
In the DRAM of the publication, the silicon storage electrode of the capacitor is composed of a polycrystalline silicon layer and an amorphous silicon layer. Generally, if the silicon layers are applied as the conductive layers, the silicon layers are introduced with an impurity having a high concentration in order to reduce the resistance and maintain good conduction therein. In the polycrystalline silicon layer of the publication, which is connected to diffusion regions (source or drain of transistors) formed in a semiconductor substrate, a conductive impurity having a deep concentration is introduced therein.
In heat treatment processes after forming the storage electrode including the silicon layer which is introduced with the deep impurity, the impurity in the silicon layer is frequently diffused in the semiconductor substrate. The diffused impurity influences an impurity concentration of the diffusion region (source or drain) formed below the storage electrode. Also, the diffused impurity brings an unexpected extension of the diffusion region during the heat treatment after forming the storage electrode.
Therefore, the characteristics of the transistors, typically a threshold voltage of the transistor, is changed to unexpected results.
If an excess of the impurity is introduced into the silicon layer, the impurity can easily diffuse into the semiconductor substrate. As above, the characteristics of the transistors are then influenced.
The smaller the size of the DRAM, the more significant is the leakage current that occurs under a field oxidation layer. Such diffusing of the impurity accelerates the leakage current. Therefore, the date-retention-time may be shorten to less than a predetermined desired date-retention-time. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Various methods of producing components for internal combustion engines are known. Some common methods of manufacturing components for internal combustion engines include forming the components individually by, for example, casting or forging. After forming, these components are typically then finished by machining before or after assembly. Alternatively, components for the internal combustion engine can be formed together and then separated by, for example, fracturing, sawing, or cutting. After the components are separated, any excess material can then be removed, and the surfaces connecting the components during forming are typically machined.
See, for example U.S. Pat. No. 7,250,070, which is directed to a method of forming a powder metal connecting rod that has a main body and a separable cap. The main body and cap are separated from each other by fracturing the main body and the cap. To fracture the main body and the cap, a tensile force is applied at a point of fracture between the main body and cap.
Also, see U.S. Patent Application No. 2008/0295789 for an example of a roller finger follower for valve deactivation. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a data processing apparatus and method thereof, and more particularly to a data processing apparatus and method thereof capable of reducing the number of registers used in the multiply-accumulate (MLA) operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with increasing development of technology, data processing apparatus, such as micro processor, has been wildly used in different of application aspects, such as the micro processor capable of carrying out the multiply-accumulate (MLA) operation.
Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a conventional data processing apparatus is shown. In the conventional micro processor 100, registers Re1 to Re4 in a register bank 120 are used for storing data Pa, Pb, Pc, and operation data Pd, respectively, wherein the operation data Pd satisfied the equation: Pd=Pa×Pb+Pc. However, four registers Re1 to Re4 must be used to carry out the MLA operation in the conventional micro processor. Therefore, how to design a data processing apparatus to reduce the number of registers used in MLA operation is one of the efforts the industries are making. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Intermittent catheterization is a good option for many users who suffer from various abnormalities of the urinary system. A common situation is where single use, individually packaged, sterile catheters are used. An important criterion for any single use product is the cost of the product, i.e., a less expensive product is desired and valued.
It is also quite common for catheters to be provided with a surface treatment using a lubricant to reduce friction in order to allow for easier and less traumatic insertion. Currently, there are two major categories of catheters having lubricated surfaces, i.e., gel coated catheters and hydrophilic coated catheters.
The gel coated catheters are made easier to insert by application to the catheter surface of a water-based gel that can be applied by the user, or more conveniently, it can be supplied with the packaged catheter. Typically, a system is provided with the packaged catheter to apply the gel to the catheter surface. This system may be one where the gel is put onto the catheter surface just before or during the packaging operation or one where the gel is applied to the surface as the catheter is being inserted by the user.
In a hydrophilic coated catheter, the catheter is provided with a thin hydrophilic coating which is adhered to the outer surface of the catheter. When this coating is activated by swelling in contact with a hydrating liquid such as water, it becomes an extremely low coefficient of friction surface. The most common form of this product is where a sterile, individually packaged single use catheter is provided in a dry state or condition. The user opens the package, pours water into the package, waits 30 seconds, and then removes the catheter from the package, now ready for insertion.
A more recently introduced version of the hydrophilic coated catheter is where the catheter is provided in a package that already contains enough loose liquid water to cause it to be immersed. For this product, the user simply opens the package and removes the catheter ready for insertion without the need to add water and wait 30 seconds. Other new products provide the amount of liquid water necessary for immersion of the catheter in a separate compartment of the package. With these products, one must open the separate compartment of the package allowing the liquid immersion water to enter the catheter-containing chamber for direct contact with the hydrophilic coated surface. Depending on the product, and on the amount of water in the separate chamber, the user may be asked to manipulate the package to bathe the catheter surface in the hydrating liquid in order to activate the hydrophilic coating on the catheter surface. The catheter is then removed from the package ready for insertion by the user.
In all of these existing products, the catheter depends upon direct contact of the liquid swelling medium (e.g., liquid water) with the entirety of the hydrophilic coated catheter surface. Moreover, all of these existing products achieve this direct liquid water contact by providing a package for the catheter that permits liquid water to flow freely within the cavity of the package, and permits unobstructed access to the catheter surface. Because of the free flow of loose liquid water within the package and unobstructed access to the catheter surface, it is easy to ensure direct contact of the liquid swelling medium with the entire surface of the catheter that has been treated with the hydrophilic coating.
A disadvantage of the hydrophilic coated catheters described above is that the immersion liquid has a tendency to spill from the package as the user handles the catheter and tries to remove it for subsequent insertion. Another disadvantage of the hydrophilic coated catheters described above is that the catheter has an extremely slippery surface which makes it quite difficult for the user to handle during insertion.
For catheters that are removed from the package and then inserted, there is another disadvantage in that the handling of the catheter by the user will introduce microorganisms onto the surface of the catheter which can cause infectious problems after being introduced into the body during catheter insertion. To address this issue, manufacturers have devised systems whereby the catheter can be inserted by the user without first removing the catheter from the package, thus requiring the user to touch only the package, and not the catheter surface. These systems tend to work well for gel coated catheters, and they have the additional advantage that the user does not get gel on his or her hands as the catheter is being inserted. Another version of the gel lubricated catheter utilizes a sleeve around the catheter which is attached to a gel reservoir at the insertion end of the catheter whereby the gel reservoir and sleeve come out of the package attached to the catheter which is inserted by advancing it through the gel reservoir. In this type of product, the sleeve fits the catheter diameter very loosely, thereby allowing the catheter and the integral funnel which is typically provided on the distal end of the catheter to slip past the sleeve surface as the catheter is advanced by the user during insertion.
For hydrophilic coated catheters, there has also been consideration of delivery of the catheter without first removing it from the package, but a serious problem for this type of approach is the tendency of the immersion liquid to spill. Hydrophilic coated catheters with sleeves of any kind have generally not been available, because the presence of the sleeve interferes with the flow of liquid water to the catheter surface that is required for activation by direct liquid contact. Some designs are described in the patent literature where the hydrating liquid is inside of a hose member that can be used as a no touch delivery vehicle (See, for example, United States Publication No. 2003/0018322 A1, published Jan. 23, 2003). These described hose members are stiff, though, and require special concertina folds to allow for advancement of the catheter, and special gripping sections to allow for gripping of the catheter.
In some of the published patent art, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,107, there is discussion of keeping low the amount of water placed in the package with the catheter. They propose to do this, however, by simultaneously providing a narrow cavity around the catheter tube thereby using the design of the cavity to accomplish a reduction in the amount of water. In this way, the catheter remains substantially immersed in and subject to direct liquid water contact while contained in the package.
In one commercial product, the cavity is not completely filled with water, and so recommendation is made to the user to tilt or otherwise manipulate the package prior to use, to ensure direct liquid water contact with the catheter in order to fully activate the hydrophilic surface coating. Similarly, some commercial products with a liquid reservoir that is to be ruptured prior to use do not have enough liquid water to fill the package cavity that holds the catheter. The user is instructed to tilt the package multiple times to cause liquid water to move over the catheter to activate the hydrophilic surface coating by direct liquid water contact. As mentioned above, the liquid water in the package cavity presents a spill hazard for the user when the package is opened to use the catheter. As will be appreciated, the spill hazard is greater for hydrophilic catheters that more completely fill the package cavity with liquid water, whereas more patient manipulation is required for hydrophilic catheters that fill the cavity less completely with liquid water.
There is a tradeoff then, between undesirable alternatives with existing hydrophilic catheter products. On the one hand, the package cavity is provided with a quantity of liquid water designed to keep the catheter substantially immersed, but there is a significant spill hazard. On the other hand, when there is less liquid water relative to the overall package cavity volume, the user must manipulate the package prior to use to ensure activation of the catheter coating. The present invention avoids this tradeoff by eliminating any spill hazard while requiring no user manipulation. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Liriope muscari, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘LIRF’. Its market class is that of an ornamental plant. ‘LIRF’ is intended for use in landscaping and as a decorative plant.
The Liriope muscari variety ‘LIRF’ was finally selected in 2005 in an Australian nursery in the state of New South Wales following a selection process carried out from 2002 to 2005 involving approximately 20000 seedlings of Liriope muscari cultivar ‘Big Blue’ (unpatented) production stock. ‘LIRF’ is a seedling selection from open pollinated Liriope muscari cultivar ‘Big Blue’. ‘LIRF’ was selected due to its narrow leaf width combined with dense foliage and a pink flower color. ‘LIRF’ was first propagated asexually by division in the state of New South Wales, Australia and has since been asexually propagated by division and micropropagation. The distinctive characteristics of the inventive ‘LIRF’ variety are stable from generation to generation; clones of the variety produced by asexual reproduction maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the original plant.
‘LIRF’ has an upright growth habit with a very dense shoot density whereas ‘Big Blue’ has a semi upright growth habit and a medium shoot density. ‘LIRF’ has a narrow leaf width resulting in finer looking foliage whereas ‘Big Blue’ has a broad leaf width. ‘LIRF’ has a pink flower color whereas ‘Big Blue’ has a light purple to lilac flower color.
An application for plant breeders' rights for variety ‘LIRF’ has been lodged with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, and was first gazetted in Mar. 27, 2006 under Application No. 2006/038. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
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