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[description] For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried out into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments and methods according to the present invention with reference to the according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a manufacturing process of a ceramic honeycomb structure body according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of the burning process in the manufacturing process of the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of the ceramic honeycomb structure body according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a side diagram of a chamfered part at an edge of an end surface in the ceramic honeycomb structure body according to the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a containing process of the ceramic honeycomb structure body into a steel case during the manufacturing process of the first embodiment; FIG. 6 is a sectional diagram of an exhaust gas purifying apparatus equipped with the ceramic honeycomb structure body of the first embodiment; FIG. 7 is a sectional diagram showing a chamfered part at the edge of the end surface in the ceramic honeycomb structure body according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a sectional diagram showing a R surface formed at the edge of the end surface in the ceramic honeycomb structure body obtained in the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a sectional diagram showing a C surface formed at the edge of the end surface in the ceramic honeycomb structure body obtained in the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing edge failure in the ceramic honeycomb structure body and taken along the line A-A of FIG. 11; FIG. 11 is a perspective diagram showing edge failure at the edge of the end surface in the ceramic honeycomb structure body; FIG. 12 is a scanning electron microscope (SEM) photograph showing a surface of the chamfered part at the edge of the end surface in the ceramic honeycomb structure body obtained in the first embodiment; FIG. 13 is a SEM photograph showing a surface of the chamfered part at the edge of the end surface in the conventional ceramic honeycomb structure body; and FIG. 14 is a perspective diagram showing a conventional ceramic honeycomb structure body.
|
['B29C4712' 'B32B312' 'B28B1116' 'B29C4700' 'C04B3332']
|
detailed_description
|
12,248,815
|
TRUSTED RELYING PARTY PROXY FOR INFORMATION CARD TOKENS [SEP] [abstract] An apparatus can include a secret mapping module running on a machine and configured to create a mapping that maps a secret to a claim stored in an information card, a receiver running on the machine and configured to receive a request for the secret from a remote application, a mapping query module running on the machine and configured to perform a search for the mapping, a credential provider application running on the machine and configured to retrieve the secret based at least in part on the claim, and a transmitter configured to transmit the secret to the remote application.
|
['H04L932' 'G06F1730']
|
abstract
|
12,192,681
|
[description] To facilitate an understanding of the present invention, a number of terms and phrases are defined below: “Prostate cancer” refers to a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. “Low grade” or “lower grade” prostate cancer refers to non-metastatic prostate cancer, including malignant tumors with low potential for metastasis (i.e. prostate cancer that is considered to be less aggressive). “High grade” or “higher grade” prostate cancer refers to prostate cancer that has metastasized in a subject, including malignant tumors with high potential for metastasis (prostate cancer that is considered to be aggressive). As used herein, the term “cancer specific metabolite” refers to a metabolite that is differentially present in cancerous cells compared to non-cancerous cells. For example, in some embodiments, cancer specific metabolites are present in cancerous cells but not non-cancerous cells. In other embodiments, cancer specific metabolites are absent in cancerous cells but present in non-cancerous cells. In still further embodiments, cancer specific metabolites are present at different levels (e.g., higher or lower) in cancerous cells as compared to non-cancerous cells. For example, a cancer specific metabolite may be differentially present at any level, but is generally present at a level that is increased by at least 5%, by at least 10%, by at least 15%, by at least 20%, by at least 25%, by at least 30%, by at least 35%, by at least 40%, by at least 45%, by at least 50%, by at least 55%, by at least 60%, by at least 65%, by at least 70%, by at least 75%, by at least 80%, by at least 85%, by at least 90%, by at least 95%, by at least 100%, by at least 110%, by at least 120%, by at least 130%, by at least 140%, by at least 150%, or more; or is generally present at a level that is decreased by at least 5%, by at least 10%, by at least 15%, by at least 20%, by at least 25%, by at least 30%, by at least 35%, by at least 40%, by at least 45%, by at least 50%, by at least 55%, by at least 60%, by at least 65%, by at least 70%, by at least 75%, by at least 80%, by at least 85%, by at least 90%, by at least 95%, or by 100% (i.e., absent). A cancer specific metabolite is preferably differentially present at a level that is statistically significant (i.e., a p-value less than 0.05 and/or a q-value of less than 0.10 as determined using either Welch's T-test or Wilcoxon's rank-sum Test). Exemplary cancer specific metabolites are described in the detailed description and experimental sections below. The term “sample” in the present specification and claims is used in its broadest sense. On the one hand it is meant to include a specimen or culture. On the other hand, it is meant to include both biological and environmental samples. A sample may include a specimen of synthetic origin. Biological samples may be animal, including human, fluid, solid (e.g., stool) or tissue, as well as liquid and solid food and feed products and ingredients such as dairy items, vegetables, meat and meat by-products, and waste. Biological samples may be obtained from all of the various families of domestic animals, as well as feral or wild animals, including, but not limited to, such animals as ungulates, bear, fish, lagamorphs, rodents, etc. A biological sample may contain any biological material suitable for detecting the desired biomarkers, and may comprise cellular and/or non-cellular material from a subject. The sample can be isolated from any suitable biological tissue or fluid such as, for example, prostate tissue, blood, blood plasma, urine, or cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Environmental samples include environmental material such as surface matter, soil, water and industrial samples, as well as samples obtained from food and dairy processing instruments, apparatus, equipment, utensils, disposable and non-disposable items. These examples are not to be construed as limiting the sample types applicable to the present invention. A “reference level” of a metabolite means a level of the metabolite that is indicative of a particular disease state, phenotype, or lack thereof, as well as combinations of disease states, phenotypes, or lack thereof. A “positive” reference level of a metabolite means a level that is indicative of a particular disease state or phenotype. A “negative” reference level of a metabolite means a level that is indicative of a lack of a particular disease state or phenotype. For example, a “prostate cancer-positive reference level” of a metabolite means a level of a metabolite that is indicative of a positive diagnosis of prostate cancer in a subject, and a “prostate cancer-negative reference level” of a metabolite means a level of a metabolite that is indicative of a negative diagnosis of prostate cancer in a subject. A “reference level” of a metabolite may be an absolute or relative amount or concentration of the metabolite, a presence or absence of the metabolite, a range of amount or concentration of the metabolite, a minimum and/or maximum amount or concentration of the metabolite, a mean amount or concentration of the metabolite, and/or a median amount or concentration of the metabolite; and, in addition, “reference levels” of combinations of metabolites may also be ratios of absolute or relative amounts or concentrations of two or more metabolites with respect to each other. Appropriate positive and negative reference levels of metabolites for a particular disease state, phenotype, or lack thereof may be determined by measuring levels of desired metabolites in one or more appropriate subjects, and such reference levels may be tailored to specific populations of subjects (e.g., a reference level may be age-matched so that comparisons may be made between metabolite levels in samples from subjects of a certain age and reference levels for a particular disease state, phenotype, or lack thereof in a certain age group). Such reference levels may also be tailored to specific techniques that are used to measure levels of metabolites in
|
['A61K3845' 'C12N506' 'A61P3100']
|
detailed_description
|
12,027,964
|
[invention] 1. Field of the Invention Embodiments of the invention generally relate to control of layer property over the surface of a substrate useful for fabricating into display devices. 2. Description of the Related Art For years, cathode ray tube (CRT) technology is used to make devices, such as TV screens or monitors, with great colors and high-quality pictures. Unfortunately, CRT devices are bulky and heavy, and can not be manufactured into large sizes. The demands for flat screens in large size have resulted in great advancement in the technologies of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Plasma Display Panels (PDP), Field Emission Display (FED), Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED), and other flat panel display technologies. Recently, a flat panel screen technology, called Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display (SED) has also emerged. SED devices use millions of Surface-conduction Electron Emitters (SEC) in miniaturized sizes as electron emitters instead of one big CRT tube Fabrication of these display devices, usually on large area substrates, such as glass substrates, requires deposition and etching of multiple layer layers w i t h each layer serving different function. In general, the substrate for device fabrication is subjected to various processes, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD), lithography, etching, ion implantation, ashing, cleaning, heating, annealing, and the like in a specific multi-step fabrication sequence to process layers of metal and silicon containing layers thereon. One example of a multilayer layer stack is a thin layer transistor (TFT) structure useful for fabricating LCD and other devices. Since the structures for various display devices and applications are distinct, it is important to control etch rates and etch profiles for various deposited layers on a surface of a substrate in order to generate a required final structure. FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate etching of a material layer 110 on a surface of a substrate 101 having a typical etching profile without any etching taper angle. As shown in FIG. 1A , the material layer 110 is deposited over the surface of the substrate 101 inside a deposition processing chamber. In FIG. 1B , a photoresist 112 can be deposited in accordance with a desired pattern over the material layer 110 during fabrication of a device structure. In FIG. 1C , pattern etch is performed on the substrate 101 placed inside an etch chamber or in a wet etch solution to etch the material layer 110 into a feature 150 , resulting in side walls 152 of the etched feature of the material layer 110 being straight with an etch angle α of zero degrees. Next, as shown in FIG. 1D , the photoresist 112 can be removed for continued substrate processing and the resulting material layer 110 exhibits a typical straight etch profile over the feature 150 . As device structures continues to evolve and vary among different display applications, it is desirable to control etching of a material layer into concave, convex, or taper etch profiles of the features over a defined mesa or pattern. Therefore, there remains a need for a method and apparatus to process one or more layers with controlled etch profile.
|
['C23F100']
|
background
|
11,967,621
|
[description] Overview Multi-regression technique has been employed to develop a causal model to: establish a cause-effect relationship between demand and the potential influencing factors; and calculate promotional uplift and demand forecast based on the casual relationship. A novel aggregate User Defined Function (UDF) is presented for improving processing throughput of multi-regression analysis. Current Approaches Varbyte Packing System is a data packing method to input a large number of data items into a tabular UDF. The packing is needed for tabular UDFs since they accept a maximum of 128 input parameters at a time. Multi-regression involves several factors from several rows of observations, which have to be fed in as a single record input into the tabular UDF. Four years of observations of each factor need to be packed into two varbytes, each varbyte storing up to 105 observations. Current Varbyte Representation Pack the raw data: response variable (weekly sales) and independent factors (price, promotional flags . . . ). Pack each of the observations at a SKU level into 2 large
|
['G06F1730' 'G06Q1000']
|
detailed_description
|
11,544,640
|
[summary] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the present invention is not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may not overcome any of the problems described above. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for converting an input color space into a CMYK color space which can enable printers to realize optimum colors regardless of an input color space by converting a color signal of an sRGB L*a*b* color space, which is obtained from a variety of input color spaces, into a color signal of a printer-output CMYK color space using a lookup table. However, the objectives of the present invention are not restricted to the one set forth herein. The above and other objectives of the present invention will become more apparent to one of daily skill in the art to which the present invention pertains by referencing a detailed description of the present invention given below. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of converting an input color space into a CMYK color space. The method includes (a) converting a color signal of an input color space into a standard RGB (sRGB) color space, (b) converting the color signal of the sRGB color space into an sRGB L*a*b* color space, and (c) converting the color signal of the sRGB L*a*b* color space into a color signal of a printer-output CMYK color space (CMYKPrinter) using a lookup table. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for converting an input color space into a CMYK color space. The apparatus includes a first conversion unit which converts a color signal of a input color space into an sRGB color space, a second conversion unit which converts the color signal of the sRGB color space into an sRGB L*a*b* color space, and a third conversion unit which converts the color signal of the sRGB L*a*b* color space into a color signal of a printer-output CMYK color space (CMYKPrinter) using a lookup table.
|
['H04N160']
|
summary
|
11,966,915
|
[invention] SAS and SATA are computer bus technologies primarily designed for transferring data to and from devices, such as a computer and a storage device. A SAS initiator generally is a task manager of other, target, devices connected to the system. The target device receives task management requests from the initiator and sends responses to those requests. SAS and SATA protocols were originally designed for Host to Target connections. SAS currently uses the same physical layers (Phy) as SATA with the assumption that all cables are straight. These devices connect through “Host” and “Target” Phy, where the Target Phy is wired backwards from the Host Phy. Therefore, the Host Phy transmit pin aligns with the Target Phy receiver pin, and the Host Phy receive pin aligns with the Target Phy transmit pin. When referring to SAS devices or protocols, it is intended to include SAS and SATA devices, protocols, and configurations. These systems expanded to backend setups adding analyzers and expanders between the Host and Target device. When adding these other devices into a system, users end up with a Host Phy (such as an HBA) needing to connect to another Host Phy (such as an expander or analyzer). These configurations require a crossover cable as the direct connection would connect the transmit pins from both the Hosts together. Cascading between expanders also requires crossover cables unless some ports are configured to be upstream and others are configured to be downstream. A SAS expander can generally be described as a switch that allows initiators and targets to communicate with each other in a network, and allows additional initiators and targets to be added to the network. A SAS expander is added to the host system through the host bus adapter (HBA), which connects the host to other network and storage devices. The SAS-2 protocol, the specification of which is currently available in draft form (Revision 12, Sep. 28, 2007) at www.t10.org and identified as T10/1760-D or Reference Number ISO/IEC 14776-152:200x, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, supports networks including cascades and trees (as well as trees of cascades) of SAS expanders. Typically, a cascade utilizes a single wide-port (containing multiple Phys) for connecting the expanders together with multiple physical connections. Given the unique port configurations for the Host and Target devices, special cables are used to properly connect the system devices together. Cables can be expensive, and the designer of a system must know whether the devices are Host or Target to ensure that they are properly connected. Another problem arises in identifying the type of cable; the straight and cross-over cables appear exactly the same. Therefore, the technician must know the configuration of the devices, and must keep track of which cables are straight and crossed-over. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary conventional SAS expander network 100 . FIG. 1 shows an initiator (I 0 ) 102 connected via multiple lines to a cascade of SAS expanders, E 0 , E 1 and E 2 through ports 104 on each expander. Attached to each SAS expander may be one or more SAS or SATA drives D 0 , D 1 and D 2 through port 106 or 108 . The initiator 102 and SAS expanders E 0 , E 1 , and E 2 are Hosts, while the SAS or SATA drives D 0 , D 1 , and D 2 are Target devices. When one of the expanders is connected to a drive, a conventional straight cable is used, as the transmit and receive lines of these devices are properly paired. However, when two Host devices are connected, such as the initiator to an expander or an expander to another expander, a crossover cable is required. If the initiator is connected to an expander with a straight cable, the transmit lines of both devices would be connected together, which would violate protocol and potentially harm one of the devices. The current system presents problems for system designers. When creating a new system, the system designer must carefully plan the required expanders and drives and ensure the configurations are connected properly. A designer must specify the Phy configurations of their system when designing the system. Generally, a designer will designate a number of Phys as Target and another number as Host Phys. Therefore, when a specific Phy is required in the future, there is an available location for whatever device is needed. However, this requires extra space within the system, extra parts, and leaves ports unused, as they are specifically dedicated to a certain type of device. Adding to this problem when additional ports are not available, altering a system by changing the connection between a Host to a Target would require a changing the port, which requires rewiring the Phys, or changing the cables. However, all these alternatives are expensive and time consuming. Another problem can arise from simple human error. When a technician makes the proper connection between the various system devices, the proper cables must be used. Since the straight and crossover cables appear exactly the same, it is easy for a technician to inadvertently connect two devices with the wrong cable. First, the system would not work properly, and the technician would have to spend time trouble shooting the set up to find the improper connection. Using an improper cable would also violate protocol and connect two transmit lines together from opposing devices. This could potentially harm these devices as the transmit lines were not intended to receive an input. At a minimum, the improper connection would prevent the device or system from working properly. Finally, in Fibre Channel (EC), all cables are assumed to be crossover cables, all ports are simply “device” ports, and no special cables are ever needed for normal configuration. Migrating to SAS, where there are different kinds of cables and different kinds of ports, can be a barrier to consumers.
|
['G06F1312']
|
background
|
11,957,425
|
[invention] 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to Internet based advertising and more specifically to Internet based advertising used in concert with Internet based media. 2. Description of the Known Technology Networked electronic devices, such as personal computers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, game consoles, interactive television or automotive telematic devices, increasingly have the ability to display rich media, such as video and audio clips and even interactive games. In the past, advertising necessary to provide economic return to support the development of this rich media has been restricted to graphical advertisements such as banner advertisements or text based advertisements, either of which is placed somewhere in a web page containing the rich media. One drawback to this form of advertising is that the rich media is often detachable from the web page from where it originates and can appear in any of the number of different contexts. For example, rich media, such as a video found on an online service provider such as Yahoo! Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif., can be placed on web pages that are not hosted or searched by Yahoo! To be more specific, a video clip originally found on Yahoo! may be embedded using HTML code into a third party's personal web page. Therefore, given the mobility and variety of context sequential media appears in, an advertisement simply appearing in the page where the media first originated does not provide the necessary revenue and customer service opportunities needed to support the sequential media's hosting and distribution costs. Other solutions to this problem have included the use of post-roll, mid-roll and pre-roll advertising that is attached to the sequential media. Pre-roll advertisements are advertisements that are displayed to the user before the selected sequential media begins playing. Post-roll advertisements are displayed to the user after the sequential media has finished playing. Post-roll advertising suffers from the fact that once the sequential media has concluded playing, the user has little incentive to continue watching or listening to the post roll advertisement. Mid-roll advertisements are advertisements that are played in the middle of the sequential media. Timing of these mid-roll advertisements may be selected by either an algorithm or a human being. Mid-roll advertisements suffer from the fact that they may be awkward or may damage the users experience through unwanted interruption at a dramatic or informational high point. Additionally, the information the user sought from viewing the sequential media may have already been provided to the user, before the mid-roll advertisement is presented thus allowing the user to stop viewing the sequential media before the mid roll advertisement has been displayed. Therefore, there is a need for an improved system and method for providing advertising information to a user viewing rich media.
|
['G06Q3000' 'G06F3048']
|
background
|
11,840,811
|
[description] In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized, and logical, mechanical, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. Overview Verification as to whether a binary object file has been generated from a given set of source files entails two parts. First, digital signatures for the source files are generated and added to the binary object file. Second, when a developer is presented with the binary object file and the source files, he or she can have the digital signatures for the source files regenerated to determine whether they match the previously generated digital signatures stored within the binary object file. The source files for a binary object file of a computer program are written in a textual format, in a given computer program language, such as C++, or another type of computer programming language. The binary object file may be generated from these binary object file by using a compiler. The binary object file may be directly executable to execute, or run, the computer program, such that it is an executable binary object file. Alternatively, the binary object file may be an intermediate file, which is then parsed or interpreted, for instance, to execute or run the computer program. The binary object file is typically not in a human-readable format, whereas the source files are typically in a human-readable format. FIG. 1 shows a method 100 for generating digital signatures for the source files on which basis a binary object file has been generated and storing these digital signatures within the binary object file, according to an embodiment of the invention. The method 100 may be performed by one or more computer programs stored on a computer-readable medium of an article of manufacture. The computer-readable medium may be a tangible computer-readable medium, such as a recordable data storage medium, or an intangible computer-readable medium, such as a modulated carrier signal. The method 100 presumes that a binary object file has been generated from the source files in question. For each source file on which basis the binary object file has been generated, the following is performed (102). First, a digital signature is generated for the source file (104). The digital signature may be generated based on just the contents of the source file in their entirety, and may also be generated based on the filename and/or other attributes of the source file. The digital signature uniquely identifies the source file, such that if the source file is changed or modified in any way, the digital signature is at least substantially guaranteed to not be the same. In one embodiment, the digital signature may be generated as a number of hash values, as known within the art, such as by performing a secure hash algorithm (SHA), as also known within the art. Second, the digital signature is stored within the binary object file (106). In one embodiment, the digital signature for each source file is stored within a separate section of the binary object file. It is noted that in another embodiment, the digital signature is not stored within the binary object file, but rather is stored external to the binary object file. For instance, the digital signature may be stored in a file that is separate from the binary object file. The binary object file, within which the digital signatures for all the source files have been stored, is then output (108). For example, the binary object file may be stored on a computer-readable medium, may be electronically transmitted over a network such as the Internet, and so on. At some point, a developer retrieves or receives the binary object file and the source files on which basis the binary object file has been purportedly generated, such that the developer wishes to verify that the binary object file has indeed been generated from these source files. It is noted that the generation and storage of the digital signature may be performed in one of at least two different situations. First, the binary object file may have already been generated. Thereafter, the digital signature may be generated, and stored within the binary object file. Second, the digital signature may be generated while the binary object file is being generated, such that the digital signature is also stored within the binary object file as the binary object file is being generated. FIG. 2 shows a method 200 for verifying that the binary object file has been generated from these source files, according to an embodiment. As with the method 100 of FIG. 1, the method 200 may be performed by one or more computer programs stored on a computer-readable medium of an article of manufacture. The computer-readable medium may be a tangible computer-readable medium, such as a recordable data storage medium, or an intangible computer-readable medium, such as a modulated carrier signal. The method 200 presumes that a binary object file has been generated from the source files in question, that the source files are available, and that digital signatures for the source files have been stored within the binary object file. For each source file on which basis the binary object file has purportedly been generated, the following is performed (202). First, a digital signature is generated for the source file (204). Desirably, the digital signature is generated for the source file in part 204 of the method 200 in the same manner by which a digital signature for the source file was generated in part
|
['G06F945']
|
detailed_description
|
11,988,979
|
[invention] Surface epithelia constitute the first line of defense against pathogens. This defense depends both upon barrier function and upon specific microbicidal effector molecules. For example, the mammalian skin affords physical protection partly because it is composed of tightly associated cells covered by a highly cross-linked layer of keratin, and is normally impermeable to bacteria. In humans, several genetic diseases, such as mucoepithelial dysplasia or epidemolysis bullosa, which affect the cutaneous epithelial structure at different levels, are associated with greatly increased susceptibility to infection. Vidal et al., Nat Genet. 10:229-34, 2995; Witkop et al., Am J Hum Genet 31:414-27, 1979. But the skin displays microbicidal activity even when its physical integrity is breached. It contains an arsenal of bio-active molecules, among which antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as defensins and cathelicidins are of critical importance to host defense against microbial invasion (reviewed in Zasloff, Nature 415:389-95, 2002; Zasloff, N Engl J Med 347:1199-200, 2002). While AMPs are the best-studied cutaneous defense molecules, other protection systems may also exist. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), produced by the sebaceous glands, have been mentioned in this regard, and some MUFA are known to be microbicidal. Miller et al., Arch Dermatol 124:209-15, 1988; Wille and Kydonieus, Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol 16:176-87, 2003. However, their contribution to antimicrobial defense has never been established in vivo, nor is their biosynthesis known to be subject to regulation by microbial stimuli. A need exists in the art to develop improved compositions and methods that stimulate an innate immune response in response to microbial infection in mammalian subjects. A further need exists to develop improved compositions and methods for treating Gram positive bacterial infection and Gram positive bacterial skin infection in mammalian subjects.
|
['A61K39395' 'A61K317088' 'A61K3120' 'C12Q168' 'G01N33569']
|
background
|
11,208,230
|
Weight lifting power cage with slave rack [SEP] [abstract] A weight lifting power cage for use by a weight lifter includes a frame assembly including a pair of side frames and a rear lateral frame interconnecting the pair of side frames. A carriage is carried by the side frames and is movable simultaneously vertically and front to back. The carriage retains a weight bar mount for retaining a weight bar spanning between each side frame. The weight bar is movable by the carriage vertically and front to back.. The movable carriage also carries a pair of vertical weight rack bars. An engagement mechanism enables the weight lifter to rack the weight bar from a weight lifting position without stepping forward or backward.
|
['A63B2106']
|
abstract
|
11,371,975
|
[description] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the principal structure of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control system of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a constitutional example of photosensitive drums and a driving system for driving the photosensitive drums; FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an example in which a plurality of marks of a same color is formed on the transfer belt; FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C are conceptual illustration showing examples of intermediate value for respective adjustment colors; FIG. 6 is a conceptual illustration showing an example of selection of a minimum value and a maximum value; FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of timing adjustment procedure for image forming related to a reference rotational angle position; FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are a flowchart showing an example of calculating procedure of the reference rotational angle position; FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a constitutional example of photosensitive drums and a driving system for driving the photosensitive drums for adjustment colors driven by individual motors; and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of timing adjustment process for image forming related to a reference rotational angle position in the case where the photosensitive drums for adjustment colors are driven by individual motors.
|
['B41J2385' 'G03G1501']
|
detailed_description
|
10,543,773
|
[invention] Free-standing objects placed on slopes typically stand at an angle that is slightly but noticeably off vertical. This is the case for example with plant pots placed on a garden area, sidewalk or driveway or refuse receptacles or newspaper vending machines placed on sloping roadsides. Even outdoor areas such as parking lots or shopping plazas may be perceived as level but in fact are typically sloped for drainage, with the result that any object such as a plant pot or refuse receptacle placed in such an area is likely to be seated slightly off-vertical. Many ad hoc methods have been developed for improving the leveling of such free-standing objects, typically involving placing one or more shims under the object, but the result is generally less than satisfactory. This is partly because the deviation from vertical is often in more than one direction at the same time and it is difficult to make accurate and simultaneous adjustments at the base of the object so that a true vertical of the free-standing receptacle or other object is achieved despite the underlying slope. Devices for providing a level surface for supporting objects on a slope have been developed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,017,152 to Alpaugh; U.S. Pat. No. 3,043,049 to Gleason; U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,436 to Beghetto; U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,244 to Gopstein; U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,905 to Stolz; U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,137 to Hastings; U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,906 to Fatool et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,514 to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,350 to Zorichak; U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,957 to Shagoury; U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,864 to Flores; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,866 to Roy. Such prior art has certain limitations and disadvantages when applied to the problem of providing a level support surface for a free-standing object on a slope. Such disadvantages include: having one or more extensible support legs or other supporting elements that protrude beyond the object supported; having mechanical parts that could jam or corrode if the product were used in an outdoor environment; being relatively complex to adjust for varying slopes; or utilizing an approach that may not be aesthetically pleasing. Related art can also be found in objects developed to support or adjust furniture legs, pieces of furniture or larger objects having more than one locus of support, examples being U.S. Pat. No. 1,006,974 to Moore & McMahon, U.S. Pat. No. 3,018,992 to Lore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,021,638 to Kristek, U.S. Pat. No. 3,030,730 to Costar, U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,548 to Melles and U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,767 to Bezenek. In the approaches described in this prior art, the supporting components are attached to each other or to the object supported, requiring disengagement for adjusting, and/or involve a supported object which has attachments or supports at points additional to the support provided at the base of the supported object. As noted above, frequently metal components or mechanical parts are essential to the above inventions, which limits their utility in an outdoor environment, where factors leading to jamming, rusting and corrosion are likely to be involved. Accordingly, it is an object of an embodiment of this invention to provide an easily adjustable leveling pedestal assembly for leveling a free-standing object in relation to an underlying surface. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows.
|
['A47B9100' 'A47G2900' 'B65D1900']
|
background
|
11,731,521
|
[description] It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the disclosed invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the disclosed invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that these and other elements may be desirable. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the disclosed invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. FIGS. 1-2 illustrate various embodiments of a disposable loading unit 10, with FIG. 2 showing an exploded view of the disposable loading unit 10. The disposable loading unit 10 includes a first end 12 configured for releasable connection to a surgical instrument (see FIG. 15), and a second end 14 opposite the first end 12. The disposable loading unit 10 comprises a housing assembly 16, an agent cartridge 18, a knife assembly 20, a staple cartridge 22, and an anvil assembly 24. The disposable loading unit 10 may be removed and discarded after a single use. The housing assembly 16 comprises a channel 26 and a channel cover 28 connected to the channel 26. The channel 26 and the channel cover 28 may be fabricated from any suitable material such as, for example, a plastic. The channel 26 includes a first end 30 proximate the first end 12 of the disposable loading unit 10 and a second end 32 proximate the second end 14 of the disposable loading unit 10. The channel 26 comprises a base 34, a first wall 36, and a second wall 38. According to various embodiments, the base 34 defines an opening 40 proximate the first end 30 of the channel 26, a first slot 42 proximate the first end 30 of the channel 26, a second slot 44 proximate the first end 30 of the channel 26, and a third slot 46 proximate the second end 32 of the channel. The first wall 36 is connected to the base 34 and extends generally perpendicular therefrom. The second wall 38 is connected to the base 34, extends generally perpendicular therefrom, and is opposite the first wall 36. The second wall 38 may be a mirror-image of the first wall 36, and the first and second walls 36, 38 may be fabricated integral with the base 34. According to various embodiments, each of the first and second walls 36, 38 define a fourth slot 48, a first tab 50, a first indent 52, a fifth slot 54, a second indent 56, a sixth slot 58, a third indent 60, a fourth indent 62, a seventh slot 64, an eighth slot 66, and a first flange 68. The channel cover 28 includes a first end 70 proximate the first end 12 of the disposable loading unit 10 and a second end 72 opposite the first end 70, and may be symmetric along an axis that extends from the first end 70 of the channel cover 28 to the second end 72 of the channel cover 28. The channel cover 28 is configured to engage with the channel 26 at a plurality of locations. According to various embodiments, the channel cover 28 defines a pair of coupling pegs 74 proximate the first end 70 of the channel cover 28 that extends from the channel cover 28. One of the coupling pegs 74 passes through the opening 40 defined by the channel 26. The channel cover 28 also defines a slit 76 proximate the second end 72 of the channel cover 28. According to various embodiments, the channel cover 28 defines a first pair of tabs 78 that pass through and engage with the fourth slots 48, a first pair of interior projections that mate with the first indents 52, a second pair of tabs 80 that pass through and engage with the fifth slots 54, a second pair of interior projections that mate with the second indents 56, and a third pair of interior projections that engage with the sixth slots 58. According to other embodiments, the channel 26 and the channel cover 28 may be fabricated to include other arrangements of tabs, slots, projections, indents, etc. that may be utilized to connect the channel cover 28 to the channel 26. The agent cartridge 18 is connected to the housing assembly 16 and houses at least one medical agent. The medical agent may be any type of medical agent. For example, the medical agent may comprise an anesthetic, an adhesive, an antibiotic, a cauterizing substance, a coagulant, a growth hormone, a hemostatic agent, a sealant, etc., or any combination thereof. The agent cartridge 18 includes a first end 82 proximate the first end 12 of the disposable loading unit 10 and a second end 84 opposite the first end 82. The agent cartridge 18 comprises a body 86 (see FIG. 6) that may be fabricated from any suitable material (e.g., a plastic) that is compatible with the medical agent. According to various embodiments, the body 86 comprises a first section 88 and a second section 90. The first section 88 may define a first spline that extends therefrom, and passes through and engages with the first slot 42 of the base 34 of the channel 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the first section 88 may also define a first projection 94 and a first dispensing port 96 proximate the second end 84 of the agent cartridge 18. The first projection 94 may be of any shape (e.g., rectangular, triangular, hemispherical, etc.). The first dispensing port 96 is positioned between the first projection 94 and the second end 84 of the agent cartridge 18. The second section 90 is spaced apart from the first section 88 and may be a mirror-image thereof. The second section 90 may define a second spline that extends therefrom, and passes through and engages with the second slot 44 of the base 34 of the
|
['A61B1704']
|
detailed_description
|
12,403,549
|
[claim] 1. A data line termination circuit comprising: a swing-width sensing unit configured to sense a swing width of a voltage of a data line and to output a sensed signal according to the sensed swing width; and a variable termination unit configured to adjust a termination resistance value of the data line according to the sensed signal. 2. The data line termination circuit of claim 1, wherein the swing-width sensing unit is configured to compare the voltage of the data line with each of a plurality of reference voltages and to output the sensed signal having a logic level that is a first logic level or a second logic level, wherein the logic level is determined based upon whether the results of the comparison of each of the plurality of reference voltages with the voltage of the data line are the same. 3. The data line termination circuit of claim 2, wherein the swing-width sensing unit comprises: a first comparator configured to compare the voltage of the data line with a first reference voltage; a second comparator configured to compare the voltage of the data line with a second reference voltage; a third comparator configured to compare the voltage of the data line with a third reference voltage; and an encoder configured to encode outputs of the first to third comparators in order to output the sensed signal. 4. The data line termination circuit of claim 3, wherein the encoder is configured to output the sensed signal such that the logic level is the first logic level if the outputs of each of the first to third comparators have the same logic levels, and configured to output the sensed signal having the second logic level if the outputs of the first to third comparators all do not have the same logic level. 5. The data line termination circuit of claim 1, wherein the variable termination unit comprises: a first termination unit configured to set a resistance value of the data line to a first termination resistance value according to the sensed signal; and a second termination unit configured to set the resistance value of the data line to a second termination resistance value according to the sensed signal. 6. The data line termination circuit of claim 5, wherein the second termination resistance value of the second termination unit is greater than the first termination resistance value of the first termination unit. 7. The data line termination circuit of claim 6, wherein when the swing width sensing unit senses that the swing width of the voltage of the data line is greater than a predetermined swing width, the second termination unit is driven in order to reduce the swing width of the voltage of the data line. 8. The data line termination circuit of claim 5, wherein the first termination resistance value of the first termination unit is greater than the second termination resistance value of the second termination unit. 9. The data line termination circuit of claim 8, wherein when the swing width sensing unit senses that the swing width of the voltage of the data line is less than a predetermined swing width, the second termination unit is driven in order to increase the swing width of the voltage of the data line. 10. The data line termination circuit of claim 5, wherein the variable termination unit further comprises a termination control unit which deactivates the first termination unit or the second termination unit in response to a termination control signal.
|
['H03K1716']
|
claim
|
11,212,621
|
[description] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an entire structure of an alternator according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the alternator, viewed form direction II shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a rear end frame and a pulley used in the alternator, in an enlarged scale.
|
['H02K710']
|
detailed_description
|
12,463,981
|
[description] One of the problems to be solved by the present invention is to provide novel nutritional products that are easily digested, provide physiochemical benefits, and/or provide physiological benefits. In an embodiment of the present invention, a nutritional composition comprises a lipid or fat, a protein source, a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which include docosahexanoic acid (DHA), a prebiotic composition having at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide, and, optionally, TGF-β. In certain embodiments, the prebiotic comprises polydextrose, and can be a combination of polydextrose and galacto-oligosaccharide. More particularly, the composition disclosed herein comprises: a. up to about 7 g/100 kcal of a fat or lipid, more preferably about 3 to about 7 g/100 kcal of a fat or lipid; b. up to about 5 g/100 kcal of a protein source, more preferably about 1 to about 5 g/100 kcal of a protein source; c. about 5 to about 100 mg/100 kcal of a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which include DHA, more preferably about 10 to about 50 mg/100 kcal of a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which include DHA; and d. about 1.0 to about 10.0 g/L of a prebiotic composition having at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide, more preferably about 2.0 g/L to about 8.0 g/L of a prebiotic composition having at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide. In an embodiment, the composition further includes about 0.015 to about 0.1 (pg/μg) ppm TGF-β, more preferably about 0.0225 to about 0.075 (pg/μg) ppm TGF-β. In some embodiments, the nutritional composition may be an infant formula. As used herein, the term “infant” means a person not more than 12 months of age. The term “infant formula” applies to a composition in liquid or powdered form that satisfies the nutrient requirements of an infant by being a substitute for human milk. In the United States, the content of an infant formula is dictated by the federal regulations set forth at 21 C.F.R. §§100, 106 and 107. These regulations define macronutrient, vitamin, mineral, and other ingredient levels in an effort to simulate the nutritional and other properties of human breast milk. In a separate embodiment, the nutritional product may be a human milk fortifier, meaning it is a composition which is added to human milk in order to enhance the nutritional value of human milk. As a human milk fortifier, the inventive composition may be in powder or liquid form. In yet another embodiment, the inventive nutritional product may be a children's nutritional composition. As used herein, the term “young child” or “young children” means persons more than 12 months of age up to the age of three years (36 months). The term “child” or “children” as used herein means persons over the age of 3 years and prior to adolescence. The nutritional products of the invention may provide minimal, partial, or total nutritional support. The compositions may be nutritional supplements or meal replacements. In some embodiments, the compositions may be administered in conjunction with a food or nutritional composition. In this embodiment, the compositions can either be intermixed with the food or other nutritional compositions prior to ingestion by the subject or can be administered to the subject either before or after ingestion of a food or nutritional composition. The compositions may be administered to preterm infants receiving infant formula, breast milk, a human milk fortifier, or combinations thereof. The term “preterm infants” or “premature infants” as used herein means infants born after less than 37 weeks gestation. In one embodiment, the composition is administered to preterm infants as an enteral nutritional supplement. The compositions may, but need not, be nutritionally complete. The skilled artisan will recognize “nutritionally complete” to vary depending on a number of factors including, but not limited to, age, clinical condition, and dietary intake of the subject to whom the term is being applied. In general, “nutritionally complete” means that the nutritional composition of the present invention provides adequate amounts of all carbohydrates, lipids, essential fatty acids, proteins, essential amino acids, conditionally essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and energy required for normal growth. As applied to nutrients, the term “essential” refers to any nutrient which cannot be synthesized by the body in amounts sufficient for normal growth and to maintain health and which therefore must be supplied by the diet. The term “conditionally essential” as applied to nutrients means that the nutrient must be supplied by the diet under conditions when adequate amounts of the precursor compound is unavailable to the body for endogenous synthesis to occur. The composition which is “nutritionally complete” for the preterm infant will, by definition, provide qualitatively and quantitatively adequate amounts of all carbohydrates, lipids, essential fatty acids, proteins, essential amino acids, conditionally essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and energy required for growth of the preterm infant. The composition which is “nutritionally complete” for the term infant will, by definition, provide qualitatively and quantitatively adequate amounts of all carbohydrates, lipids, essential fatty acids, proteins, essential amino acids, conditionally essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and energy required for growth of the term infant. The skilled artisan will recognize the term “term infant” as referring to infants born after at least 37 weeks gestation and, commonly, between 37 and 42 weeks gestation. The composition which is “nutritionally complete” for a child will, by definition, provide qualitatively and quantitatively adequate amounts of all carbohydrates, lipids, essential fatty acids, proteins, essential amino acids, conditionally essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and energy required for growth of a child given the specific age and developmental stage of said child. The nutritional composition may be provided in any form known in the art, including a powder, a gel, a suspension, a paste, a solid, a liquid, a liquid concentrate, or a ready-to-use product. In one
|
['A61K3818' 'A23C2100' 'A23L130' 'A61P900']
|
detailed_description
|
11,841,344
|
[summary] The present invention satisfies, to a great extent, the foregoing and other needs not currently satisfied by existing systems. This result is achieved, in an exemplary embodiment, by providing an integrated health care delivery network with enabling technology to maximize bed resources, manage varying census levels, and avoid patient diversions through real-time monitoring, automation and communication. Preferably, the present invention is embodied in a bed management system that interfaces with and complements existing health care facilities admission systems such as Admission/Discharge/Transfer (ADT) systems. The bed management system is an easy-to-use intelligent application that is designed to allow administrators, clinicians and managers to easily access, analyze and display real-time patient and bed availability and related information from ancillary information systems, databases and spreadsheets. In other words, it enables users to see trends and relationships in hospital management data directly from their desktop personal computers and/or handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs). The present invention improves patient placement efficiency and saves time and money by assisting with the clinical and business decision process that occurs when a patient needs to be admitted to a hospital, for instance. The system includes the use of virtual instruments to provide a cross-functional view of enterprise status throughout a facility or organization. Decision makers can easily move from big-picture analyses to transaction-level details while, at the same time, safely sharing this information throughout the enterprise to derive knowledge and make timely, data-driven decisions. The system of the present invention enables more efficient patient placement by, for example, reducing/eliminating telephone calls and paper processes, and automatically matching patient requirements to available resources. In addition, it is an extremely powerful data warehouse and data mining tool that provides on-demand historical, real-time and predictive reports, alerts and recommendations. The system of the present invention is real-time and mission critical. That is, it handles both scheduled and emergency events. The system also assists with the clinical and business decision processes that occur when a patient needs to be assigned to a specific bed location, for example. Collectively, the system provides organizations or enterprises with an array of enabling technologies to: schedule/reserve/request patient bed assignments; assign/transfer patients from an emergency department and/or other clinical areas; reduce/eliminate dependency on telephone calls to communicate patient and bed requirements; apply statistical process control (SPC) and “Six Sigma” methodologies to manage occupancy and patient diversion; and provide administrators, managers and caregivers with accurate and on-demand reports and automatic alerts such as through pagers, electronic mail, telephone and intelligent software agents. Other features of the present invention include: easy-to-use visual navigation; intuitive interactive interface; easy queries; runs on standard computers; real-time, historical and predictive analyses; user configurable settings; remote access and control; geographical information system interfaces; text-to-speech conversion; interactive agent support and alarms; automatic messaging via email, pagers, telephone, etc.; integrated online help; file management and configuration utilities. In addition to these features, the present invention bed management system is designed to protect patient confidentiality and be fully compliant with the evolving Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. A full security system is embedded within the dashboard to authenticate users, audit user access and assign users to definable system roles. These roles restrict both processes and the ability to view or change key data. With these and other advantages and features of the invention that may become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention and to the several drawings attached herein.
|
['G06Q5000']
|
summary
|
12,068,057
|
Mount structure for sensor device [SEP] [abstract] A mount structure for a mobile unit includes a wall member, a sensor device, and a color film. The wall member is provided to the mobile unit, and the wall member has a through hole and an outer surface. The sensor device is mounted on the wall member via the through hole such that a sensing element of the sensor device is able to perform sensing. The sensor device is coupled to the wall member in a state, where the sensor device has a portion that is generally flush with the outer surface of the wall member, and that is provided inside the through hole. The color film is adhered to an entire surface of the outer surface of the wall member, and the entire surface has an opening of the through hole. The sensor device contacts the color film.
|
['G12B908' 'G01D1130' 'H05K714' 'G01S1593' 'G12B902' 'G01D1124']
|
abstract
|
12,074,908
|
[invention] 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to apparatus for use in testing the fluid tightness of closed vessels or fluid systems, such as found in the pressurized cooling system of an internal combustion engine and the fluid transmission of an automobile, and more particularly, to apparatus for detecting and/or quantifying fluid leakage from a fluid system that is under pressure when in use, such as through imperfections in the housing or sealing structure of the fluid system whereby to warn the provider of such fluid system that a leakage condition exists. 2. Description of the Prior Art The automobile is comprised of many components that take many forms and some are very complex, such as the engine and the coolant system for circulating coolant for cooling the engine cylinders. The engine is assembled from separate parts, some possibly die cast, to form a housing having various ports, internal passageways and/or inside chambers, and seals. The walls and junctions of the engine housing may have minor imperfections, and the components, when assembled, may have a gap or minor separation between mated parts, and thus have a potential for developing a leak. In these systems, fluids are introduced into interior fluid chambers at high positive pressure. Since the fluid system operates at atmospheric pressure, if there is a hole or imperfection in the construction of the fluid system, the pressure differential will cause the fluid inside the system to be forced outside (i.e., develop a vapor leak). A vapor leak in the engine cylinder can cause a lean condition in the engine air-fuel mixture, which in turn can lead to serious engine damage, such as piston seizure, detonation, and the like. Further, a drop in pressure or a decrease in the amount of pressurized coolant fluid delivered by the vehicle water pump due to leakage may result in a failure of the pump to provide necessary cooling and the engine to overheat. Importantly, the engine manufacturer wants to minimize the likelihood of leakage because a drop in pressure could affect the performance of the engine and leakage of fluids under pressure could possibly violate various environmental laws. If for some reason the engine has to be recalled to fix a problem, or some other operational reason, this is very expensive and creates customer dissatisfaction with the product. Accordingly, engine manufacturers typically check fluid systems prior to shipping or installation for use. In general, any fluid system that is to be checked for leakage has an interior fluid chamber, or air space, for receiving a predetermined supply of pressurized fluid. In some cases the volume of the fluid chamber is known, and in others, the volume is not known, or at least not known with any degree of precision. That is, the amount (or mass) of pressurized air required to conduct a fluid leakage test might not be known from unit to unit. For example, in a transmission, the supplier may pre-fill the fluid chamber thereof with a quantity of transmission fluid. As such, neither the internal volume and/or air/fluid percentage of the chamber is known precisely from unit to unit. Like other forms of nondestructive testing, leak testing has a great impact on the safety or performance of a product. Reliable leak testing saves costs by reducing the number of reworked products, warranty repairs and liability claims. The time and money invested in leak testing often produces immediate profit. Various apparatus to check for leakage from hydraulic systems and other systems have been proposed. By way of example, attention is drawn to U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,801 (Rhindress, Jr.); U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,225 (Fegel); U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,423 (Eason); U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,824 (Cybulski, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,492 (Aarts); U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,031 (Harmand); U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,294 (Lebmann); U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,985 (Bedwell); U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,109 (Dailey et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,193 (Liu), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,771 (Finlay et al.). These patent documents are believed to disclose improvements in the art that were suitable for the particular problem to be then solved and are listed in recognition of the duty of disclosure of related subject matter which may be relevant as prior art under 37 CFR 1.56. It is to be appreciated that there is an ongoing need for improvements in the apparatus and methodology for the testing of automobile engines for the presence of a leak prior to being shipped. Desirably, an apparatus for testing a fluid system for leakage would not require that the volume of the fluid chamber be known, only that the leak test apparatus be capable of attachment to an inlet of the fluid system and, at least in part, cooperate with a source of pressurized fluid to introduce pressurized fluid into the interior chamber of the fluid system and provide an indication that there is, or not, any fluid leakage from the fluid system. In this aspect, hidden internal volumes in a complex fluid system, which could effect leak measurements, should not affect the ability of the leak testing apparatus to test for leakage. Further, the apparatus for testing for fluid leakage would desirably be inexpensive and not require the leak measuring apparatus to gain physical access into the interior fluid chamber of what is oftentimes a previously assembled/sealed unit.
|
['G01M328']
|
background
|
12,550,493
|
[invention] An image sensor is a semiconductor device for converting optical images into electric signals, and is typically classified into a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor and a CMOS image sensor. The CMOS image sensor includes a photodiode and a MOS transistor in each unit pixel, and sequentially detects the electric signals of each unit pixel in a switching mode to realize images. Generally, the image sensor includes a metal interconnection and an interlayer dielectric layer formed on a substrate including unit pixels, and a passivation layer, a color filter array, a planarization layer, and a micro-lens formed on the interlayer dielectric layer. As the size of such an image sensor is reduced, the light collecting efficiency of a photodiode is gradually reduced. As a result, the image sensor has a limitation in condensing light only by using a micro-lens. Particularly, as the size of a pixel is reduced, light is diffracted so that cross-talk may occur. In addition, since several layers such as a metal interconnection layer and a color filter are formed between the photodiode and the micro-lens, light is absorbed into the layers, so that the sensitivity of the photodiode may be degraded. In the case of a micro-lens corresponding to a unit pixel, the thickness of the micro-lens and a color filter may vary according to an incident angle or an incident position of light between the center and the edge of the micro-lens. In other words, when the thickness of the color filter varies with respect to incident light, light transmittance may be changed. For example, a red color filter receives light having a wavelength of 600 nm to 700 nm. However, since the thickness of the micro-lens of the unit pixel varies between the center and the edge area thereof, the red color filter may receive light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm. This is because the thickness of the color filter and the micro-lens varies according to the light incidence angle, so that the selectivity of the light transmittance is degraded. Accordingly, the color filter receives light having a wide wavelength, so that the color filter does not perform the original function thereof.
|
['G02B606' 'H01L2100' 'G01J351']
|
background
|
12,553,468
|
[summary] According to one embodiment, a PMDS includes a printing material storage that includes a printing material, a print head, and a pressurizing device defining a housing that includes an inlet coupled to the printing material storage, an outlet coupled to the print head, and that houses a rotatable member that is operable to rotate and create a pressure differential in order to transfer the printing material from the printing material storage, through the pressurizing device, and out of the print head.
|
['B41J2175']
|
summary
|
11,245,105
|
[claim] 1. A storage container comprising: a container main body forming a housing portion having an opening; a cover member for closing the opening of the container main body; and a sealing member for hermetically sealing a space between the container main body and the cover member and formed on one of the container main body and the cover member, wherein the sealing member is fitted into a fitting groove formed in one of the container main body and the cover member, and includes a plurality of individually deformable portions disposed opposite to each other through a gap formed along a fitting direction in a sectional view, and a sealing piece for sealing a space in abutment with a wall surface of the other one of the container main body and the cover member. 2. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is fitted in such a manner that leading edges of the plurality of individually deformable portions fit into a deep portion of the fitting groove. 3. The storage container according to claim 2, wherein the fitting groove has a protrusion fitted in between the plurality of individually deformable portions of a fitting portion of the sealing member. 4. The storage container according to claim 3, wherein at least one rib is formed on opposite sides of the plurality of individually deformable portions of the sealing member, which comes in close contact with the protrusion to keep an inner space airtight. 5. The storage container according to claim 3, wherein at least one lip is formed on opposite sides of the plurality of individually deformable portions of the sealing member, which comes in close contact with the protrusion to keep an inner space airtight. 6. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of individually deformable portions of the sealing member are continuously formed, and the sealing member is fitted in such a state that leading edges of the plurality of individually deformable portions are directed to a side opposite to the deep portion of the fitting groove. 7. The storage container according to claim 6, wherein a fitting member is fitted between the plurality of individually deformable portions of the sealing member. 8. The storage container according to claim 6, wherein at least one rib is formed on the side opposite to the opposite sides of the plurality of individually deformable portions of the sealing member, which comes in close contact with a wall surface of the fitting groove to keep an inner space airtight. 9. The storage container according to claim 6, wherein at least one lip is formed on the side opposite to the opposite sides of the plurality of individually deformable portions of the sealing member, which comes in close contact with a wall surface of the fitting groove to keep an inner space airtight. 10. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein slippage-preventing means for preventing the sealing member from coming off is provided on an opening side of the fitting groove. 11. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the fitting groove is expanded so as to incline at 1 to 6 degrees toward the opening. 12. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the wall surface against which the sealing piece of the sealing member abuts is inclined within a bendable range of the leading edge of the sealing piece. 13. The storage container according to claim 12, wherein the wall surface against which the sealing piece of the sealing member abuts is one of a horizontal support and a vertical support that is inclined toward the sealing piece at an angle of 2 to 8 degrees to one of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane. 14. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of individually deformable portions of the sealing member are inserted into the fitting groove in an elastically compressed state. 15. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein a gap of a predetermined capacity is formed between the plurality of individually deformable portions of the sealing member and a wall surface of the fitting groove. 16. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the container main body includes a thin-plate supporting portion supporting a plurality of thin plates disposed at a predetermined interval, and the cover member includes a thin-plate retainer supporting the plurality of thin plates supported by the thin-plate supporting portion under pressure. 17. A storage container comprising: a container main body which forms a housing portion having an opening; a cover member for closing the opening of the container main body; and a sealing member for hermetically sealing a space between the container main body and the cover member and formed on one of the container main body and the cover member, wherein the sealing member has a main body portion fitted into a fitting groove formed in one of the container main body and the cover member, and a sealing piece extending from the main body portion to an opposite wall surface of the other one of the container main body and the cover member to seal a space between the container main body and the cover member in abutment with the wall surface, the fitting groove has a plurality of sub-grooves at its bottom, and the main body portion includes individually deformable portions respectively fitted into the plurality of sub-grooves. 18. The storage container according to claim 17, wherein the individually deformable portions include a convex elastic rib formed throughout a perimeter on one side or both sides. 19. The storage container according to claim 17, wherein the individually deformable portions are set smaller than an inner dimension of the sub-grooves, and include a lip having a larger degree of freedom than the individually deformable portions and formed throughout a perimeter on one side or both sides. 20. A storage container comprising: a container main body which forms a housing portion having an opening; a cover member for closing the
|
['B65D5300' 'B65D4304']
|
claim
|
11,188,495
|
[summary] Consequently, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide a zirconia porous body with excellent thermal stability. The inventors perfected the present invention when they discovered as a result of research in light of the problems of related art that the aforementioned object could be achieved by means of a porous body obtained by adoption of specific steps. That is, the present invention relates to the following zirconia porous body and manufacturing method therefor. 1. A zirconia porous body having peaks at pore diameters of 8 to 20 nm and 30 to 100 nm in a pore distribution based on the BJH method, with a total pore capacity of 0.4 cc/g or more. 2. A zirconia porous body according to 1 above, wherein the total volume of pores having a diameter of 20 to 200 nm is 50% or more of the total pore volume. 3. A zirconia porous body having a peak at a pore diameters of 20 to 110 nm in a pore distribution based on the BJH method, wherein the total pore volume is 0.4 cc/g or more. 4. A zirconia porous body according to 3 above, wherein the total volume of pores having a diameter of 10 to 100 nm is 50% or more of the total pore volume. 5. A zirconia porous body according to any of 1 through 4 above, wherein the primary particle size is 5 to 30 nm. 6. A zirconia porous body according to any of 1 through 5 above, wherein the specific surface area after 3 hours of baking at 1000° C. is at least 30 m 2 /g. 7. A method for manufacturing a zirconia porous body, which is a method for manufacturing a zirconia porous body having: (1) a first step wherein basic zirconium sulfate-containing reaction liquid A, which is prepared by mixing a sulfating agent at a temperature of at least 80° C. but less than 95° C. with a zirconium salt solution at a temperature of at least 80° C. but less than 95° C., is mixed with basic zirconium sulfate-containing reaction liquid B, which is prepared by mixing a sulfating agent at a temperature of at least 65° C. but less than 80° C. with a zirconium salt solution at a temperature of at least 65° C. but less than 80° C., (2) a second step wherein the reaction liquid obtained in the first step is aged at a temperature of 95° C. or more, (3) a third step wherein zirconium hydroxide is produced by adding alkali to the mixture obtained in the second step to neutralize the aforementioned basic zirconium sulfate, and (4) a fourth step wherein the aforementioned zirconium hydroxide is heat treated to obtain a zirconia porous body. 8. A manufacturing method according to 7 above, wherein in the preparation of the aforementioned reaction liquid A and/or reaction liquid B the sulfating agent and zirconium salt solution are mixed so that the production speed with basic zirconium sulfate converted to zirconium oxide is 20 g/min/L or less. 9. A manufacturing method according to 8 above, wherein the proportion of the aforementioned reaction liquid A mixed with the aforementioned reaction liquid B is at least 0.1 but less than 1 as a liquid volume ratio of reaction liquid A/(reaction liquid A+reaction liquid B). 10. A method for manufacturing a zirconia porous body, which is a method for manufacturing a zirconia porous body having: (1) a first step wherein a basic zirconium sulfate-containing reaction liquid A is prepared by mixing a sulfating agent at a temperature of at least 80° C. but less than 95° C. with a zirconium salt solution at a temperature of at least 80° C. but less than 95° C. so that the production speed with basic zirconium sulfate converted to zirconium oxide is 20 g/min/L or less, (2) a second step wherein the reaction liquid obtained in the first step is aged at 95° C. or more, (3) a third step wherein zirconium hydroxide is produced by adding alkali to the mixture obtained in the second step to neutralize the aforementioned basic zirconium sulfate, and (4) a fourth step wherein the aforementioned zirconium hydroxide is heat treated to obtain a zirconia porous body. 11. A manufacturing method according to any of 7 through 10 above, wherein the free acid concentration of the aforementioned reaction liquid A is 0.1 to 2.0 N. 12. A manufacturing method according to any of 7 through 9 above, wherein the free acid concentration of the aforementioned reaction liquid B is 0.1 to 2.0 N. 13. A manufacturing method according to any of 7 through 12 above, comprising a step of adding a compound of at least one of the rare earth elements, transitional metal elements, Ca, Mg, Al, Si and Zn during at least one of the first through fourth steps. 14. A manufacturing method according to any of 7 through 12 above, comprising a step of adding a salt of at least one of the rare earth elements, transitional metal elements, Ca, Mg, Al, Si and Zn to the basic zirconium sulfate. 15. A manufacturing method according to any of 7 through 12 above, comprising a step of adding an oxide and/or hydroxide of at least one of the rare earth elements, transitional metal elements, Ca, Mg, Al, Si and Zn to the zirconium hydroxide.
|
['C01G2502']
|
summary
|
12,121,870
|
[invention] 1. Field of the Invention This invention generally relates to the data processing field. More specifically, this invention relates to configuring computer systems in a networked computing environment. 2. Background Art Since the dawn of the computer age, computer systems have become indispensable in many fields of human endeavor including engineering design, machine and process control, and information storage and access. In the early days of computers, companies such as banks, industry, and the government would purchase a single computer which satisfied their needs, but by the early 1950's many companies had multiple computers and the need to move data from one computer to another became apparent. At this time computer networks began being developed to allow computers to work together. Networked computers are capable of performing tasks that no single computer could perform. In addition, networks allow low cost personal computer systems to connect to larger systems to perform tasks that such low cost systems could not perform alone. Most companies in the United States today have one or more computer networks. The topology and size of the networks may vary according to the computer systems being networked and the design of the system administrator. It is very common, in fact, for companies to have multiple computer networks. Many large companies have a sophisticated blend of local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) that effectively connect most computers in the company to each other. Most existing computer networks have a client-server architecture, where one or more server machines service requests from client machines (such as desktop computer systems). Computer networks are typically managed by one or more “system administrators.” A system administrator is responsible for making sure the network runs smoothly. This means that a system administrator typically is responsible for many tasks, including: making hardware upgrades, installing new software on servers, installing software on client machines, setting security parameters for network resources, etc. One complication for system administrators is that many modern networks include computer systems that run different operating systems, commonly referred to in the art as “platforms”. Each platform has its own unique operating system. As a result, the tools for configuring a client computer system are platform-specific. For example, if a system administrator works on a network that includes IBM zSeries computers, IBM iSeries computers, and IBM pSeries computers, the system administrator will have to learn the platform-specific management tools to set system settings for each of these three platform types. Another complication is that the system settings for each platform may vary in number, type, and name. This requires a system administrator to keep track of which system setting on one platform corresponds to a similar system setting on a different platform. With the complication of many platforms on a network, resulting in different systems settings and different tools for changing those system settings, a system administrator has a difficult job, indeed. Without a mechanism and method for administrating computer system settings for different platforms in a common, uniform way, the computer industry will continue to suffer from inefficient ways of administrating the system settings of computer systems on computer networks.
|
['G06F15177']
|
background
|
11,966,594
|
[summary] The present invention generally relates to the field of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and more particularly to MEMS that include out-of-plane structures. The invention concerns the application of such structures to the implementation of a Fourier transform spectrometer Typical MEMS devices are fabricated and operate in one or more planes that are parallel to the substrate on which the devices are made. There are, however, applications for MEMS in which it is desirable to have out-of-plane structures. For example, many micro-optical systems require that the MEMS optical elements (lenses, mirrors, or beamsplitters), all of which can be fabricated in the plane of the substrate, be erected generally perpendicular to the substrate to allow an optical beam to pass through or reflected by each element in turn, as it would in a macroscopic, bench optical system. In general, according to one aspect, the invention features a spectroscopy system. The system comprises a housing being smaller than 100 millimeters cubed, a light source for generating an optical signal to illuminate a species, and an optical bench in the housing for processing the optical signal illuminating the species and dividing the optical signal between two interferometer arms and detecting interference of the optical signal from the two arms. In one embodiment, a sample cell is included that is defined by mirrors in the housing for containing the species to be illuminated. A preconcentrator is also useful for absorbing gas species of interest and adsorbing the gas species into the sample cell. The system is preferably small, with the housing being less than 200 millimeters long and with a diameter of less than 20 millimeters. In other examples, an attenuated total reflection cell is provided for containing the species. In different implementations, the light source is installed on or directly coupled to the bench. In other implementations, a detector installed on or directly coupled to the bench. In general, according to another aspect, the invention features a spectroscopy method. This method comprises exposing a cell to species of interest, illuminating the species of interest in the gas cell with an optical signal, processing the optical signal between two interferometer arms defined by mirror structures formed on an optical bench, and driving a mirror actuator formed on the optical bench that moves one of the mirror structures on the optical bench. In general, according to still another aspect, the invention features a spectroscopy system. This system comprises a light source for generating an optical signal to illuminate a species and a microelectromechanical systems optical bench including two interferometer arms for processing the optical signal illuminating the species by dividing the optical signal between the two interferometer arms and detecting interference of the optical signal from the two arms. The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
|
['G01J345']
|
summary
|
12,160,617
|
[description] The present invention is illustrated in details by the description of a preferred embodiment together with its related drawings as follows. A portable solar power supply system of the invention includes various different structures that apply the solar power supply system. With reference to FIG. 1 for a perspective view of a portable solar power supply system in accordance with the present invention, designers can design the portable solar power supply system in a 3D stylish shape and having an external solar power receiving interface 111 and a DC power receiving interface 112. These two receiving interfaces 111, 112 can receive a solar power or directly use an external direct current power DC for the operation of the system, and the power supply system 10 also installs a USB interface 121 and a DC power output interface 122, and these two output interfaces 121, 122 are used for transmitting the direct current power DC to the power supply system 10, and the display unit 13 is provided for displaying a working state (such as a charging, power supplying or power low state) of the power supply system 10. With reference to FIG. 2 for a schematic view of a circuit structure of a portable solar power supply system in accordance with the present invention, the portable solar power supply system 10 comprises a receiving unit 11, an output unit 12, a display unit 13, a control block 14 and a storage unit 15, wherein the receiving unit 11 is coupled to a solar panel for receiving a solar power, and the control block 14 is coupled to the receiving unit 11 for converting the solar power into a direct current power DC, and stabilizing the direct current power DC at a specific value (for a voltage stabilization effect), while charging the storage unit 15, and thus the storage unit 15 must be a rechargeable battery used for storing the direct current power DC. If a user needs to have a power source, the direct current power DC will be transmitted to the system, and the display unit 13 is coupled to the control block 14 for displaying a working state (such as a charging, power supplying, or power low state) of the power supply system 10, and the output unit 12 is used for outputting the direct current power DC out from the power supply system 10. With reference for FIG. 3A for a schematic view of a receiving unit of a portable solar power supply system in accordance with the present invention, the receiving unit 11 installed in the power supply system 10 further comprises a solar power receiving interface 111 and a DC power receiving interface 112, and the solar power receiving interface 111 is coupled to the solar panel 20, and the solar panel 20 can be a flexible solar panel. In addition to a specific elasticity, the flexible solar panel also features a light, thin and compact design for an easy connection to meet the requirements of a portable system. The DC power receiving interface 112 can be coupled directly and externally for supplying the direct current power DC to the system or charging the power supply system 10. With reference to FIG. 3B for a schematic view of an output unit of a portable solar power supply system in accordance with the present invention, the output unit 12 installed in the power supply system 10 can be designed as a data transmission interface with a power transmission function, and this interface can be one of the connecting interfaces such as a universal serial bus (USB) transmission interface and a Firewire transmission interface for connecting various different portable products 30. In this preferred embodiment, the data transmission interface is a USB interface 121 and a DC power output interface 122, wherein a serial port of the output interface 121 is coupled to an information processing system 31, and the DC power output interface 122 is a general power transmission connector for connecting a general portable electric appliance 32. With reference to FIG. 3C for a schematic view of a control block of a portable solar power supply system in accordance with the present invention, the control block 14 of the invention comprises a charge controller 141, an overdischarge controller 142 and a DC-DC converter 143, wherein the charge controller 141 is used for controlling a charge of the storage unit 15 by the direct current power DC, and the overdischarge controller 142 is used for terminating a discharge of the storage unit 15 to protect the storage unit 15 if the direct current power DC is lower than a safe value, and the DC-DC converter 143 stabilizes the direct current power DC at a specific value and outputs the direct current power DC to produce a voltage stabilization effect. The control block 14 further comprises a filter for absorbing a surge and preventing the storage unit 15 from being damaged by the surge produced during the process of switching a power source. With reference to FIG. 4 for a schematic view of a structure of a first application of a portable solar power supply system in accordance with the present invention, if a user connects the portable solar power supply system of the present invention with an information processing device 31, the working power source of the information processing device 31 is supplied by the power supply system 10, and the operation of the power supply system 10 includes the following steps. The solar panel 20 collects a solar light source, converts the solar light source into a solar power and transmits the solar power to the solar power receiving interface 111. The power supply system 10 converts the solar power into a direct current power D, and the USB interface 121 discharges the direct current power DC. After a port of the information processing device 31 is connected to the USB interface 121, the power supply system 10 starts outputting an electric power source to
|
['H02J700' 'H01M1046']
|
detailed_description
|
11,724,506
|
[invention] Japanese Publication Patent Application (Tokkai) 2005-157875 published on Jun. 16, 2005 exemplifies a previously-proposed object detection apparatus. In that apparatus, an object (or a forward object) detected by both of a camera and a radar is extracted on the basis of information obtained from the camera and information obtained from the radar. Furthermore, the apparatus detects a center position in a vehicular width direction of a vehicle and the vehicular width of the vehicle as vehicular characterization quantities from such a characteristic that the four-wheeled vehicle has ordinarily reflectors (reflective raw materials) on its rearward portion bisymmetrically to accurately recognize the forward object to the vehicle (or, the so-called host vehicle) in which the object detection apparatus is mounted.
|
['G06K900' 'G06F1900']
|
background
|
11,686,333
|
[invention] The watch industry is continuously seeking to improve the durability of watch bands. Originally, watch bands were formed from leather or fabric. While these materials were relatively flexible and comfortable, bands made from these materials were not very durable. Exposure to water and continuous wear, for example, will quickly degrade leather and fabric watch bands. To address these deficiencies, some watch makers have created watch bands out of metal links. Metal link watch bands are more resilient than leather and fabric watch bands, but they are relatively heavy and expensive. Recently, inexpensive and rugged watches have become popular, particularly for various sporting activities such as running, boating, diving, and climbing. In order to keep the cost of these watches low while still providing an environmentally-resistant band, some watch makers have begun using watch bands formed from plastic or rubber. These bands conventionally will have an attachment portion on each end that defines some type of a springbar passage for receiving a springbar. As known in the art, a springbar has a hollow cylinder containing two pins at either end. The pins are forced outward by a spring within the cylinder. The watch, in turn, will have two extensions or “lugs” that extend from each side of the watch (i.e., the watch will have a pair of opposing lugs on either side). Usually, these lugs are integrally formed with the watch casing. Also, each lug defines a pin recess facing a corresponding pin recess on the opposite lug. To attach the band to a watch, a springbar is inserted into the springbar passage of an attachment portion at one end of the band, and the pins are pressed into the hollow cylinder. With the pins thus compressed, the attachment portion of the band is inserted between two opposing lugs of a watch casing. When the attachment portion is positioned so that the springbar is aligned between the lug recesses, the spring in the springbar forces the pins into the lug recesses to secure the attachment portion between the lugs. This process is then repeated with the attachment portion on the other end of the watch band and the remaining pair of opposing lugs. While this configuration allows a watch band to be quickly replaced, the entire strength of the attachment is based upon the springbar. If enough force is placed on the band or watch to bend the springbar or to compress even one of the pins in the springbar, then the band will come away from the watch. Because conventional springbars are very thin (typically not more than 1-1.5 millimeters in diameter), this type of separation is not an uncommon occurrence. Accordingly, watch makers are continuously seeking improved techniques and structures to securely attach a watch band to a watch.
|
['G04B3716']
|
background
|
11,104,265
|
[summary] Accordingly, heat dissipation devices and heat dissipation fins are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a heat dissipation fin comprises a first section, a second section and a connecting portion. The first section has a first surface and the second section has a second surface parallel to the first surface. The first surface and the second surface are at different levels. The connecting portion connects the first and second sections. An air passage is formed on the connecting portion between the first section and the second section so that air passes sequentially through the first surface, the air passage and the second surface. The heat dissipation fin comprises two connecting portions. An opening is formed between the first section and the second section and air passes sequentially through the first surface, the opening and the second surface. The connecting portion extends along a normal direction of the first surface. The heat dissipation fin comprises two flanges respectively connected to the first and second sections. The flanges are substantially perpendicular to the first surface. A distance extends along the normal direction of the first surface between the first and second surfaces, and each flange has a width exceeding the distance, such as twice as the distance. The heat dissipation fin comprises four flanges respectively connected to the fringes of the first and second sections. Namely, the flanges connect to sides of the first and second sections. Another exemplary embodiment of a heat dissipation fin comprises a first section, a second section, a third section, a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The first section has a first surface, the second section has a second surface, and the third section has a third surface. The first, second, third surfaces are parallel to each other. The first connecting portion connects the first and second sections and extends along a normal direction of the first surface. A first air passage is formed on the first connecting portion and between the first section and the second section. The second connecting portion connects the second and third sections and extends along the normal direction of the first surface. A second air passage is formed on the second connecting portion and between the second section and the third section. Air passes sequentially through the first surface, the first air passage, the second surface, the second air passage and the third surface. The heat dissipation fin comprises a plurality of flanges respectively connected to the first, second and third sections. An exemplary embodiment of a heat dissipation device comprises a plurality of heat dissipation fins. Each heat dissipation fin comprises a first section, a second section and a connecting portion. The first section has a first surface and the second section has a second surface parallel to the first surface. The connecting portion connects the first and second sections and extends along a normal direction of the first surface. An air passage is formed between the first section and the second section so that air passes sequentially through the first surface, the air passage and the second surface. The heat dissipation fins are connected and arranged along the normal direction of the first surface. Each heat dissipation fin further comprises two connecting portions. An opening is formed between the first section and the second section and the connecting portions. Air passes sequentially through the first section, the opening and the second section. Each heat dissipation fin comprises four flanges respectively connected to the first and second sections. The flanges are substantially perpendicular to the first surface. A distance extends along the normal direction of the first surface between the first and second surfaces, and each flange has a width exceeding the distance, such as twice as the distance. Each heat dissipation fin comprises two first flanges and two second flanges. The first flanges are connected to a fringe of the first section, and the second flanges are connected to a fringe of the second section. Meanwhile, the first flanges connect to the first surface of the adjacent heat dissipation fin and the second flanges connect to the second surface of the adjacent heat dissipation fin.
|
['H05K720']
|
summary
|
12,463,792
|
[claim] 1. A method for treating a subject afflicted with a disease in which increased production of a matrix metalloprotease (MMP) is associated with said disease, comprising the step of administering to said subject a composition comprising a compound represented by the structure of the general formula (A): wherein L is a lipid or a phospholipid; Z is either nothing, ethanolamine, serine, inositol, choline, or glycerol; Y is either nothing or a spacer group ranging in length from 2 to 30 atoms; X is a physiologically acceptable monomer, dimer, oligomer, or polymer, wherein X is a glycosaminoglycan; and n is a number from 2 to 1000; wherein any bond between L, Z, Y and X is either an amide or an esteric bond, thereby treating a subject afflicted with a disease in which increased production of MMP is implicated. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound is represented by the structure of the general formula (I): wherein R1 is a linear, saturated, mono-unsaturated, or poly-unsaturated, alkyl chain ranging in length from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; R2 is a linear, saturated, mono-unsaturated, or poly-unsaturated, alkyl chain ranging in length from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; Y is either nothing or a spacer group ranging in length from 2 to 30 atoms; X is either a physiologically acceptable monomer, dimer, oligomer or a physiologically acceptable polymer, wherein X is a glycosaminoglycan; and n is a number from 2 to 1,000; wherein if Y is nothing the phosphatidylethanolamine is directly linked to X via an amide bond and if Y is a spacer, said spacer is directly linked to X via an amide or an esteric bond and to said phosphatidylethanolamine via an amide bond. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound is represented by the structure of the general formula (II): wherein R1 is a linear, saturated, mono-unsaturated, or poly-unsaturated, alkyl chain ranging in length from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; R12 is a linear, saturated, mono-unsaturated, or poly-unsaturated, alkyl chain ranging in length from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; Y is either nothing or a spacer group ranging in length from 2 to 30 atoms; X is a physiologically acceptable monomer, dimer, oligomer or polymer wherein x is a glycosaminoglycan; and n is a number from 2 to 1000; wherein if Y is nothing the phosphatidylserine is directly linked to X via an amide bond and if Y is a spacer, said spacer is directly linked to X via an amide or an esteric bond and to said phosphatidylserine via an amide bond. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound comprises a glycosaminoglycan, which is hyaluronic acid, heparin, heparan sulfate, chondrotin sulfate, keratin, keratan sulfate, dermatan sulfate or a derivative thereof. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein L is dipalmitoyl phosphatidylethanolamine and X is heparin, chondroitin sulfate or hyaluronic acid. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein L is dimyristoyl phosphatidylethanolamine and X is hyaluronic acid. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein said method diminishes or abrogates a deleterious inflammatory response in said subject. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound inhibits the release of Arachidonic acid and Oleic acid from a cell in which increased production of MMP is implicated, inhibits the production of a Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) in a cell in which increased production of MMP is implicated, reducing a phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in a cell in which increased production of MMP is implicated, or any combination thereof. 22. The method of claim 1, wherein said disease is Pterygium, Kerataconus, macular degeneration, corneal melting, occlusions in the choroid, a heart disease, arthritis, a cerebral disease, a tissue ulceration, abnormal wound healing, a periodontal disease, a bone disease, a cancer characterized by tumor growth, a cancer characterized by tumor metastasis or invasion, HIV-infection, decubitus, decubitis ulcer, restenosis, epidermolysis bullosa, sepsis, septic shock, neoplasm, psoriasis, neovascularization, or multiple sclerosis. 23. A method of treating a subject afflicted with a metastatic cancer, comprising the step of administering to said subject a composition comprising a compound represented by the structure of the general formula (A): wherein L is a lipid or a phospholipid; Z is either nothing, ethanolamine, serine, inositol, choline, or glycerol; Y is either nothing or a spacer group ranging in length from 2 to 30 atoms; X is a physiologically acceptable monomer, dimer, oligomer, or polymer, wherein X is a glycosaminoglycan; and n is a number from 2 to 1000; wherein any bond between L, Z, Y and X is either an amide or an esteric bond, thereby treating a subject afflicted with a metastatic cancer. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said compound is represented by the structure of the general formula (I): wherein R1 is a linear, saturated, mono-unsaturated, or poly-unsaturated, alkyl chain ranging in length from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; R2 is a linear, saturated, mono-unsaturated, or poly-unsaturated, alkyl chain ranging in length from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; Y is either nothing or a spacer group ranging in length from 2 to 30 atoms; X is either a physiologically acceptable monomer, dimer, oligomer or a physiologically acceptable polymer, wherein X is a glycosaminoglycan; and n is a number from 2 to 1,000; wherein if Y is nothing the phosphatidylethanolamine is directly linked to X via an amide bond and if Y is a spacer, said spacer is directly linked to X via an amide or an esteric bond and to said phosphatidylethanolamine via an amide bond. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein said compound is represented by the structure of the general formula (II): wherein R1 is a linear, saturated, mono-unsaturated, or poly-unsaturated, alkyl chain ranging in length from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; R2 is a linear, saturated, mono-unsaturated, or poly-unsaturated, alkyl chain ranging in length from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; Y is either nothing or a spacer group ranging in length from 2 to 30 atoms; X is a physiologically acceptable monomer, dimer, oligomer or polymer wherein
|
['A61K31726' 'A61K31727' 'A61K31728' 'A61K3817' 'A61P2900' 'A61P3500'
'C12N500']
|
claim
|
11,521,462
|
[claim] 1. A method for extracting operational entities from a data source comprising terms, comprising: a) A Negative Entity Dictionary comprising terms are not considered entities; and b) A means for comparing each term in the data source with the dictionary of words; and c) Extraction of operational entities by creating a list of terms in the data source that are not found in the dictionary of words. 2. The method of claim 1 where the operational entities are comprised of personal names. 3. The method of claim 2 where the list of terms comprises misspelled terms. 4. The method of claim 1 where the Negative Entity Dictionary is created comprising the following steps: a) A Dictionary of Words comprising terms considered not entities is identified; and b) A Name Dictionary comprising personal names is identified; and c) A Common Words Dictionary comprising commonly used terms which are not considered entities is identified; and d) The Negative Entity Dictionary is created by: I) Removing from the Dictionary of Words all terms from the Name Dictionary; and II) Adding to the result of (I) all terms in the Common Words Dictionary. 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step: e) A Topic Dictionary comprising terms relating to a topic of interest relevant to the operational entities; and III) Removing from the result of (II) all terms in the Topic Dictionary. 6. The method of claim 4 where the terms are selected from the group comprising: typed terms, spoken terms, handwritten terms, and images. 7. The method of claim 5 where the terms are spoken words. 8. A system for extracting operational entities from a data source comprising terms, comprising: a) A Negative Entity Dictionary comprising terms are not considered entities; and b) A software system comprising a means for comparing each term in the data source with the dictionary of words; and c) Extraction of operational entities by creating a list of terms in the data source that are not found in the dictionary of words. 9. The system of claim 8 where the operational entities are comprised of personal names. 10. The system of claim 9 where the list of terms comprises misspelled terms. 11. The system of claim 8 where the Negative Entity Dictionary is created comprising the following steps: a) A Dictionary of Words comprising terms considered not entities is identified; and b) A Name Dictionary comprising personal names is identified; and c) A Common Words Dictionary comprising commonly used terms which are not considered entities is identified; and d) The Negative Entity Dictionary is created by: I) Removing from the Dictionary of Words all terms from the Name Dictionary; and II) Adding to the result of (I) all terms in the Common Words Dictionary. 12. The system of claim 11 further comprising the step: e) A Topic Dictionary comprising terms relating to a topic of interest relevant to the operational entities; and III) Removing from the result of (II) all terms in the Topic Dictionary. 13. The system of claim 11 where the terms are selected from the group comprising: typed terms, spoken terms, handwritten terms, and images. 14. The system of claim 12 where the terms are spoken words.
|
['G06F1730']
|
claim
|
11,121,723
|
[claim] 1. In a computing environment, a method comprising: creating a definition in an element tree of user interface elements; associating the definition with a group; and associating an information sharing object with the definition. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the definition with a group comprises, attempting to register with a previously-created information sharing object, and if not previously created, creating the information sharing object. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the definition with a group comprises, providing the information-sharing object with a reference to the definition, and providing the definition with a reference to the information-sharing object. 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, associating the definition with a scope by having a scope value set on a higher-level element in the tree that the definition is below. 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising, changing the scope value, and in response, merging the information sharing object with an information sharing object associated with another definition. 6. The method of claim 4 further comprising, changing the scope value, and in response, splitting the information sharing object into one information object associated with the definition and another information sharing object associated with another definition. 7. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform the method of claim 1. 8. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform steps, comprising: determining a size for a first definition in a tree of user interface elements; changing the size of the first definition based on the determined size; and changing the size of a second definition that is related to the first definition based on the determined size. 9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein determining the size comprises evaluating a size of first content to be displayed in the first definition and a size of second content to be displayed in the second definition. 10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein changing the size comprises applying a programmatically-forced size. 11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein determining the size comprises applying a size corresponding to a master element's size. 12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 having further computer-executable instructions, comprising, creating a size sharing object that relates the second definition to the first definition. 13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the size sharing object relates the second definition to the first definition based on a common group property identifier associated with the first and second definition. 14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 having further computer-executable instructions, comprising a third definition having an association with the common group property identifier, and further comprising, not changing the size of the second definition when changing the size of the first and second definitions based at least one scope value. 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the first and second definitions each comprise a column definition of a grid element, and wherein changing the size of the first definition and changing the size of a second definition comprise changing a column width of each column definition. 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the first and second definitions each comprise a row definition of a grid element, and wherein changing the size of the first definition and changing the size of a second definition comprise changing a row height of each row definition. 17. In a computing environment, a method comprising: associating a plurality of definitions in an element tree with a common size sharing object based on common grouping information, and based on scope information associated with at least one higher-level element in the element tree; and laying out elements based on the definitions for rendering representations of the elements, including sizing the elements based upon shared information accessed via the common size sharing object. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein sizing the elements based upon the shared information comprises determining which element needs a larger size for content, and using that larger size for each other element corresponding to a definition associated with the size sharing object. 19. The method of claim 17 wherein sizing the elements based upon the shared information comprises determining a changed size of a master element associated with the size sharing object. 20. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform the method of claim 17.
|
['G06F1700']
|
claim
|
12,537,016
|
[invention] 1. Technical Field The present invention relates to a printing device and a printing method. 2. Related Art There is a printing device which performs printing by moving a medium and a nozzle column, in which nozzles discharging liquid to the medium are arranged in a line, in a predetermined direction relatively to each other in a moving direction which intersects the predetermined direction. In such a printing device, if the nozzle column is inclined in a predetermined direction or the nozzle columns are misaligned with each other in a predetermined direction, dots are not formed at positions instructed by print data, resulting in deterioration in print quality. In order to solve this problem, JP-A-2005-96368 discloses a method of detecting the inclination of the nozzle column with respect to a predetermined direction based on the overlapping of two correction patterns formed by two nozzle columns which are arranged in a direction which intersects the nozzle column direction. The above detection method has a problem in which there is variance in the overlapping of the correction patterns due to the size of dots constituting the correction patterns. In such a case, there is a possibility that there will be false detections of the inclination of the nozzle column with respect to the predetermined direction and misalignment of the nozzle columns in the predetermined direction.
|
['B41J2938']
|
background
|
12,430,813
|
[description] Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description is illustrative and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the claimed subject matter will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. It shall be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the devices and methods described hereinafter may vary as to configuration and as to details. An electronic device that generates a file name for images using voice recognition is described. By way of example and not of limitation, the illustrative electronic wireless device is a wireless handset. Additionally, a method for associating a text-based file identifier with the captured image is also described. The illustrative wireless handset and electronic device both include a camera, a memory, a microphone, a processor and a voice recognition module. By way of example and not of limitation, the electronic device may be a digital camera that includes the camera, memory, microphone, processor and voice recognition module. In one illustrative embodiment, a wireless handset embodiment is communicatively coupled to a network. The illustrative wireless handset is configured to receive updates or is capable of downloading files that re-program the wireless handset to generate a file name for images using voice recognition as described herein. In operation, the microphone receives a voice message that recorded and converted to a text-based file identifier. The processor associates the text-based file identifier with the image that was captured by the camera. In one illustrative embodiment, a switch can be activated to initiate a voice generated picture file mode at approximately the same time as when the image was captured by the camera. The voice generated picture file mode automatically activates the microphone to receive the voice message, activates the processor that records the voice message, converts the voice message to the text-based file identifier, and automatically associates the text-based file identifier with the captured image. Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a wireless handset in an open position with a hinge. The wireless communication device 10 includes a flip module or display housing member 12, a keypad 14, a microphone 16. The illustrative microphone is adjacent the keypad 14 and is configured to receive a plurality of voice messages. In the illustrative embodiment, the display housing member 12 includes a first internal display 18 on the front face 20 of the flip module 12. The display 18 is configured to display the file identifiers and associated images. The keypad 14 includes input keys such as alphanumeric keys that can be used to input numbers or letters, and soft keys that perform functions displayed near the key, or other similar key arrangements. Additionally, the illustrative keypad 14 includes a camera switch 22. The camera switch 22 is configured to capture images or video recorded from camera 26 shown in FIG. 2. Additionally, the camera switch 22 may be configured to start and stop a video. By way of example and not of limitation, the illustrative camera switch 22 may also be a user activated switch that triggers a voice generated picture file mode. The voice generated picture file mode includes automatically activating the microphone to receive the voice message, automatically activating the processor to record the voice message, automatically converts the voice message to the text-based file identifier, and automatically associating the text-based file identifier with the captured image. Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown the illustrative wireless handset in a closed position with the camera 26 and light sensor 28. The camera 26 is configured to capture images, videos, or any such combination. The light sensor 28 adjusts can be used to adjust the f-stop or shutter speed. In the closed position, the back face 30 of the display housing member 12 is shown. In the closed position, the keypad 14, the camera switch 22 and the microphone 16 are covered by the display housing member 12. Thus for the illustrative embodiment, in the closed position the voice generated picture file mode cannot be activated. A second external display 24 is on the back face 30 of the display housing member 12. The second external display 24 would typically be smaller than the first internal display 18. Additionally, the second external display 24 is adjacent the camera 26 in the illustrative wireless communication device 10. The camera 26 may be configured to capture images that are presented on one either of the displays 18 or 24. Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown an illustrative communication system, in which the wireless communication device communicates using a variety of different standards. In the illustrative system 50, the wireless communication device 10 is a wireless handset that is configured to communicate with one or more base stations 54, 56 and 58 using different communication access technologies (CATs). The illustrative base stations may communicate with the wireless handset using a variety of different communication standards including, but not limited to, various forms of code division multiple access (CDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), and time division multiple access (TDMA) wireless interfaces. By way of example and not of limitation, the wireless handset 10 communicates with base station 54 using a CAT that operates using
|
['H04W412']
|
detailed_description
|
11,448,701
|
[summary] In view of the need for biodegradable, biocompatible matrices for use in repairing tissues, the present inventors have developed matrix compositions that support the repair of tissue. Furthermore, the inventors have developed methods for preparing such matrices, and methods of treatment that utilize the matrices. In addition, the inventors disclose the use of matrices comprising a polyester entangled with a polysaccharide for the manufacture of a medicament for promoting tissue growth. Accordingly, the present teachings disclose matrices for supporting the repair of a tissue. A matrix of embodiments of these teachings comprises a polyester entangled with a polysaccharide. In some aspects, a matrix can be comprised by an implant, which can have, in various embodiments, the shape of a fastener, a prosthesis, a substantially anatomical shape, a substantially geometric shape, or a combination thereof. In some configurations, a matrix of these embodiments can further comprise at least one growth factor, which can be an epithelial growth factor (EGF), a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), a growth differentiation factor, an anti-dorsalizing morphogenetic protein-1 (ADMP-1), a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), an acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) a hedgehog protein, an insulin-like growth factor, a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), an interleukin (IL), a colony-stimulating factor (CSF), and/or an activin. In addition, a matrix of these embodiments can further comprise a collagen. In various aspects, a matrix disclosed here can have a viscosity ranging from about 200,000 centipoise to about 3×10 10 centipoise at 20° C. In certain other aspects, viscosity of a matrix at 20° C. can range from about 10 6 centipoise to about 10 9 centipoise at 20° C., while in yet other aspects, the viscosity of a matrix can range from about 10 7 centipoise to about 10 8 centipoise at 20° C. Various embodiments of the present teachings include matrices which comprise not only a polyester entangled with a polysaccharide, but also further comprise at least one therapeutic agent. In these embodiments, a therapeutic agent can be, without limitation, an anti-infective agent, a pain medication, an analgesic, or anti-inflammatory agent, and an immunosuppressive agent. In various aspects, an anti-infective agent which can be comprised by a matrix of the present teachings can be an antibiotic such as gentamicin, dibekacin, kanendomycin, lividomycin, tobramycin, amikacin, fradiomycin, sisomicin, tetracycline, hydrochloride, oxytetracycline, hydrochloride, rolitetracycline, doxycycline hydrochloride, ampicillin, piperacillin, ticarcillin, cephalothin, cephaloridine, cefotiam, cefsulodin, cefinenoxime, cefinetazole, cefazolin, cefotaxime, cefoperazone, ceftizoxime, moxolactam, latamoxef, thienamycin, sulfazecin, azthreonam or a combination thereof. In various configurations of the disclosed embodiments, a polysaccharide can be hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, heparan, heparan sulfate, dextran, dextran sulfate, alginate, or a combination thereof. In addition, a polyester of a matrix can be polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, or a co-polymer comprising polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid. Furthermore, a polysaccharide comprised by a matrix can be both entangled with a polyester, and cross-linked. In some configurations of a matrix comprising a cross-linked polysaccharide, the polysaccharide can be an oxidized polysaccharide. In some alternative configurations, the polysaccharide can be cross-linked via a cross-linking agent. In addition, in various configurations, a cross-linked matrix can include, not only a cross-linked polysaccharide and a polyester, but also a growth factor and/or a collagen. Matrices can be of various viscosities, so that in some configurations, a matrix can be suitable for injection or suitable for implantation. Methods of preparing a matrix of the present teachings comprise entangling, in a mixture, a polyester and a polysaccharide. A method of preparing a matrix can further comprise cross-linking a polysaccharide. Cross-linking can include oxidizing a polysaccharide, and/or contacting a polysaccharide with a cross-linking agent. The oxidizing and/or the contacting of a polysaccharide with a cross-linking agent can be effected either before or after entangling a polysaccharide with a polyester. In addition, a method of preparing a matrix can further include adding to a mixture at least one growth factor and/or a collagen. The present inventors have also developed methods for promoting tissue growth in a mammal, such as a human patient in need of treatment. A human patient in need of treatment can include a person suffering from a traumatic injury, a disease, a birth defect and/or a genetic defect, and/or a person desirous of a cosmetic change. In various embodiments, the methods comprise administering to the mammal, at a site in need of tissue growth, a matrix described herein. In various aspects, administering a matrix can comprise surgical implantation of a matrix and/or injection of a matrix at a site in need of tissue growth and/or repair. Promoting tissue growth and/or repair can include conducting tissue growth, and/or inducing tissue growth. In various aspects, a site in need of tissue growth can comprise tendon tissue, ligament tissue, vascular tissue, dermal tissue, periodontal tissue such as a periodontal ligament, intervertebral disc tissue, hyaline cartilage, fibrous cartilage, elastic cartilage, a nerve tunnel or a combination thereof. In various aspects, the methods include administration of a matrix described herein by surgical implantation and/or injection into or adjacent to the muscle tissue of a patient. These methods can thus be used, in some aspects, to stimulate muscle growth and/or repair in an individual patient in need, such as a person experiencing loss of muscle mass resulting from a disease having symptoms of dystrophic or atrophic muscle, such as, without limitation, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, diabetes or cancer. In various aspects, methods of administering to a subject a matrix described herein can include injecting the matrix and/or implanting the matrix into the subject. In various configurations, a site in need of tissue growth can comprise, without limitation, dermis, a rotator cuff tendon, an Achilles tendon, a ligament such as an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a posterior cruciate ligament, (PCL), a medial collateral ligament, a lateral collateral ligament or a periodontal ligment, a sphincter such as an anal sphincter, a urethral sphincter, an esophageal sphincter or an antral sphincter, herniated tissue such as an abdominal hernia, a Cooper's hernia, a diaphragmatic hernia, an
|
['A61F206']
|
summary
|
12,125,176
|
[claim] 1. An ion extraction system for extracting ions from an ion source, the ion extraction system comprising: an extraction aperture plate electrode forming one wall of an ionization chamber of an ion source, said extraction aperture plate formed with an aperture through which ions are transported; a suppression electrode disposed adjacent said extraction aperture plate, said suppression electrode formed with an aperture through which ions are transported, said aperture in said suppression electrode configured to be generally aligned with said aperture in said extraction aperture plate; and a ground electrode disposed adjacent said extraction electrode, said ground electrode formed with an aperture, said aperture in said ground electrode generally aligned with said electrodes in said suppression electrode and said extraction aperture plate electrode, wherein said aperture in said extraction aperture plate electrode is configured to minimize over-focus of a cluster ion current. 2. The ion extraction system as recited in claim 1, wherein said aperture in said extraction aperture plate electrode is formed with a flat portion from the upstream edge of the aperture. 3. The ion extraction system as recited in claim 2, wherein said aperture in said extraction aperture plate electrode is formed with a trench portion adjacent the flat portion. 4. The ion extraction system as recited in claim 3, wherein said trench portion is formed with a uniform angle throughout the thickness of the extraction aperture plate. 5. The ion extraction system as recited in claim 3, wherein said trench portion is formed with a non-uniform angle throughout the thickness of the extraction aperture plate. 6. An ion extraction system for extracting ions from an ion source, the ion extraction system comprising: an extraction aperture plate electrode forming one wall of an ionization chamber of an ion source, said extraction aperture plate formed with an aperture through which ions are transported; a suppression electrode disposed adjacent said extraction aperture plate, said suppression electrode formed with an aperture through which ions are transported, said aperture in said suppression electrode generally aligned with said aperture in said extraction aperture plate electrode; and a ground electrode disposed adjacent said suppression electrode, said ground electrode formed with an aperture, said aperture in said ground electrode generally aligned with said electrodes in said suppression electrode and said extraction aperture plate electrode, wherein said extraction aperture plate electrode formed with upper, lower and a main plate which includes an extraction aperture, said upper, lower and main plates electrically insulated from one another, said upper and lower portions adapted to receive electrical bias voltages for focusing said ion beam. 7. The ion extraction system as recited in claim 6, wherein said bias voltages have the same polarity. 8. The ion extraction system as recited in claim 7, wherein said bias voltages have a positive polarity. 9. The ion extraction system as recited in claim 7, wherein said bias voltages have a negative polarity.
|
['H01J4900']
|
claim
|
12,507,274
|
[invention] 1. Technical Field The present invention relates to a liquid droplet ejection apparatus that ejects liquid droplets. 2. Related Art As liquid droplet ejection apparatus, inkjet recording apparatus are known which conduct printing on paper by causing the paper to be attracted to an endless conveyor belt, conveying the paper to the underside of inkjet recording heads, and ejecting ink droplets onto the paper from the inkjet recording heads. The endless conveyor belt is stretched around a drive roll and a driven roll, and is circulated/driven (rotates) as a result of the drive roll being caused to rotate. The present invention provides a liquid droplet ejection apparatus that can eliminate variations in image quality arising between the pages of a recording medium, even when shifts in the landing positions of ink droplets resulting from variations in the conveyance speed of a conveyor belt in a recording apparatus arise.
|
['B41J2938']
|
background
|
12,327,218
|
[description] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the present invention provides a system comprises a cooling machine 1, a sensing module 2, and a monitoring system 3 connected with the sensing module 2. The sensing module 2 is fixed with the cooling machine 1, and is responsible for detecting the temperature of all regions of a wafer 4 relative to the cooling machine 1, and for detecting the slope of the wafer 4 relative to the cooling machine 1. Therein the cooling machine 1 includes a fixing module 11 and a rotatable cooling module 12, and the fixing module 11 is under the rotatable cooling module 12. The rotatable cooling module 12 includes a body 121, a cooling board 122, a pair of fixing apparatus 123 for fixing the wafer 4, and a plurality of posts 124 for supporting the wafer 4. The cooling board 122 and the plurality of posts 124 are connected with the body 121, and the pair of fixing apparatus 123 is fixed at the cooling board 122. The pair of fixing apparatus 123 are responsible for clamping and stabilizing the wafer 4 mounted on the cooling board 122. The sensing module 2 includes a first sensing unit 21 and a second unit 22, and the first sensing unit 21 is embedded with the body 121, and the second unit 22 is fixed with the fixing module 11. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a method for monitoring the temperature and slope of the wafer 4 is presented. The steps of the method include: S101: the wafer 4 is placed on a surface of the cooling board 122, and between the pair of fixing apparatus 123, and the wafer 4 is cooled by the cooling board 122; S102: the rotatable cooling module 12 starts rotating, and the wafer 4 moves with the rotatable cooling module 12; S103: the first sensing unit 21 senses the temperature of a partial region of the wafer 4, and because the wafer 4 rotates with the rotatable cooling module 12, the second sensing unit 22 can detect the temperature of all region of the wafer 4 relative to the cooling board 122 and detect the slope of the wafer 4 relative to the cooling board 122. The first sensing unit 21 and the second sensing unit 22 transmit the detected data of the temperature and slope of the wafer 4 to the monitoring system 3; S104: the monitoring system 3 determines whether or not the temperature and slope of the wafer 4 conforms to a set temperature and a set slope established by the monitoring system 3; S105: if the temperature and slope of the wafer 4 conforms to the set temperature and the set slope established by the monitoring system 3, the cooling board 22 continues cooling the wafer 4; S106: if the temperature of the wafer 4 does not conform to the set temperature established by the monitoring system 3, the cooling board 22 stops cooling the wafer 4, furthermore the monitoring system 3 outputs a first alarm signal to alert an operator, so that the operator may check whether or not the cooling machine 1 has a breakdown, so as to regulate parameters of the cooling machine 1; and S107: if the slope of the wafer 4 does not conform to the set slope established by the monitoring system 3, the cooling board 22 stops cooling the wafer 4, furthermore the monitoring system 3 outputs a second alarm signal to alert an operator, so that the operator may check whether or not the wafer 4 is mounted on the cooling board 122 with a large angle of inclination relative to the cooling machine 1. As shown in FIG. 5, when the cooling process of the wafer 4 is finished, the plurality of posts 124 extend to support the wafer 4, and the wafer 4 is lifted from the cooling board 122. A mechanic arm will follow through to take the wafer 4 which has been cooled by the cooling board 122 away from the posts 124, and the next cooling process for the wafer 4 will start. The efficacy of the present invention is as follows: because the sensing module 2 mounted on the cooling machine 1 can sense the temperature and slope of all regions of the wafer 4, when the temperature and slope of the wafer 4 does not conform to the set temperature and the set slope of the monitoring system 3, then the monitoring system 3 will output different alarm signals to alert the operator, so that yield of the wafer 4 is enhanced, cost of manufacturing the wafer 4 is reduced, and the trouble-shooting time is decreased. What are disclosed above are only the specification and the drawings of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and it is therefore not intended that the present invention be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various equivalent changes may be made depending on the specification and the drawings of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention.
|
['G08B1700']
|
detailed_description
|
11,159,277
|
[summary] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a pad structure of a liquid crystal display device and a fabrication method thereof that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. An advantage of the present invention is to provide a pad structure of a liquid crystal display device capable of preventing corrosion of a pad by forming a molybdenum layer thicker than about one quarter of the thickness of an aluminum alloy layer both included in a dual structure of the pad and controlling an etching process to form a contact hole with a gradual slope. Another ob advantage ject of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating a pad structure of a liquid crystal display device capable of preventing corrosion of a pad by forming a molybdenum layer thicker than about one quarter of the thickness of an aluminum alloy layer both included in a dual structure of the pad and controlling an etching process to form a contact hole with a gradual slope. Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. These and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a pad structure of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, includes: a bottom electrode formed on an array substrate with a predetermined area at one edge side of each of signal lines; an insulation layer formed over the bottom electrode; a contact hole for exposing the bottom electrode, the contact hole formed as a predetermined portion of the insulation layer is etched; and a terminal electrode formed over the contact hole, thereby being connected with the bottom electrode. The bottom electrode is preferably formed in a dual structure including an aluminum alloy layer using AlNd and a molybdenum (Mo) layer and a thickness of the Mo layer is greater than at least about one quarter of the thickness of the aluminum alloy layer formed beneath the Mo layer. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for fabricating a pad structure of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, including: forming a bottom electrode with a predetermined area at one edge side of each of signal lines formed on an array substrate; forming an insulation layer over the bottom electrode; etching a predetermined portion of the insulation layer to form a contact hole for exposing the bottom electrode; and forming a terminal electrode over the contact hole such that the terminal electrode is connected with the exposed bottom electrode, wherein forming a bottom electrode is in a dual structure including an aluminum alloy layer and a molybdenum (Mo) layer and a thickness of the Mo layer is greater than at least about one quarter of the thickness of the aluminum alloy layer formed beneath the Mo layer. In a further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pad structure of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, including: a bottom electrode being formed on an array substrate with a predetermined area at one edge side of each of signal lines and including a dual structure of a top metal layer and a bottom metal layer; an insulation layer formed over the bottom electrode; a contact hole for exposing the bottom electrode, the contact hole formed as a predetermined portion of the insulation layer is etched; and a terminal electrode formed over the contact hole, thereby being connected with the top metal layer. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
|
['G02F1136']
|
summary
|
11,219,048
|
[summary] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method for managing storage used by a processor when processing instructions, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a set of instructions for processing; b) receiving a storage estimate indicating the required storage for processing the set of instructions; c) comparing the required storage with free storage in a primary storage facility; d) if the free storage is less than the storage estimate then transferring data from the primary storage to a secondary storage facility; and e) processing the set of instructions and storing data relating to the processing in the primary storage facility. Preferably, in step d) the transferring of data is performed whenever a communications path to the secondary storage is not in use. Preferably the method further comprises the step of: f) if the free storage is greater than or equal to the required storage then only transferring data from the primary storage to a secondary storage facility when the primary storage facility reaches a predetermined limit. Preferably the storage used for the processing of a given set of instructions is recorded in a storage record associated with the set of instructions and the storage record is used to provide the storage estimate for a subsequent processing of the given set of instructions. Preferably the storage record is updated with the storage used for each subsequent processing of the given set of instructions. Preferably a plurality of storage estimates are provided, each the storage estimate being associated with a set of instructions. Preferably the storage estimate is provided by one of the set of instructions. Preferably the storage estimate is generated during compilation of the set of instructions from source code. Preferably the storage estimate is generated from a call graph for the source code. Preferably the storage estimate is inserted into the set of instructions during the compilation of the source code. Preferably if during the compilation the storage requirement of one or more instructions cannot be determined then the storage estimate is determined during linking of object code for the set of instructions. Preferably the primary storage is a register stack frame and the set of instructions are assembly code instructions representing a procedure or function call. Preferably the processor is and Itanium™ processor and the transferring of data to the secondary storage is carried out by a register stack engine. Preferably the register stack engine is switched to eager mode to carry out the transferring of data in step d). According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for managing storage used by a processor when processing instructions, the apparatus comprising: a) means for receiving a set of instructions for processing; b) means for receiving a storage estimate indicating the required storage for processing the set of instructions; c) means for comparing the required storage with free storage in a primary storage facility; d) transferring means operable if the free storage is less than the storage estimate to transfer data from the primary storage to a secondary storage facility; and e) means for storing data relating to the processing in the primary storage facility. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program or set of computer programs arranged to cause a computer to carry out a method for managing storage used by a processor when processing instructions, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a set of instructions for processing; b) receiving a storage estimate indicating the required storage for processing the set of instructions; c) comparing the required storage with free storage in a primary storage facility, d) if the free storage is less than the storage estimate then transferring data from the primary storage to a secondary storage facility, and e) processing the set of instructions and storing data relating to the processing in the primary storage facility. According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program or set of computer programs arranged to enable a computer to provide an apparatus for managing storage used by a processor when processing instructions, the apparatus comprising: a) means for receiving a set of instructions for processing; b) means for receiving a storage estimate indicating the required storage for processing the set of instructions; c) means for comparing the required storage with free storage in a primary storage facility, d) means operable if the free storage is less than the storage estimate to transfer data from the primary storage to a secondary storage facility, and e) means for storing data relating to the processing in the primary storage facility. According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided processor comprising: a central processing unit for processing input instructions in accordance with an instruction set; a register stack for storing data associated with the processing of instructions; a register stack engine for managing the register stack and operable in a plurality of modes the instruction set including an instruction operable to change the mode of the register stack engine in response to an estimate of register usage associated with a set of input instructions. According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of controlling the register stack engine in a processor, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a required stack usage for a set of instructions to be processed; b) comparing the required stack usage with the current stack frame; c) if the required stack usage is greater than the free space in the current stack frame then operating the register stack engine to increase the free space by saving data from the current stack frame; and d) processing the set of instructions. According to a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a method of compiling a program from source code to object code for use by a processor, the method comprising the steps of: a) determining the memory requirement for the processing of each
|
['G06F1300']
|
summary
|
12,229,052
|
In situ conversion of subsurface hydrocarbon deposits to synthesis gas [SEP] [abstract] A method for producing synthesis gas from underground hydrocarbon deposits is described. Oxygen and water are reacted with the hydrocarbon deposit under conditions conducive to the production of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The method is applicable to oil reservoirs from which conventional production means are unable to recover additional oil practically, to viscous oil deposits from which production is limited, and to shale oil deposits.
|
['E21B4324']
|
abstract
|
11,210,540
|
[invention] This invention relates generally to repairing cracks in workpieces, and more particularly, to a method for repairing cracks in structural workpieces using a cammed drawbolt approach. Cracks occur in structural materials during manufacturing processes such as casting of metal or ceramic objects and molding of synthetic material objects. Cracks also occur during use of structural objects due to causes including stress, fatigue, aging or other conditions of use. The material of the structural object and the conditions of its use are taken into account in determining the most practical repair technique. X-ray, fluorescent penetrant or various other inspection techniques are used to evaluate the characteristics of cracks and the need and practicality for repair. Some cracks may be small enough that they represent no risk to performance, but others will require repair to allow safe and compliant operation of the machine, such as a power generator, locomotive, ship propulsion engine or other system. Many cracks may best be repaired by a technique not requiring extreme heating as occurs with, for example, welding or soldering. Extreme heat may induce stresses in the structural workpiece material which may be difficult or expensive to remedy. Bonding using chemical agents which soften a portion of a structural workpiece may be undesirable, because solvents or other softening agents may damage the material of the structural workpiece surfaces or require expensive or complex treatments to remove solvent residue. Large structural components, for example, diesel engine cast components, such as frames and engine blocks, are expensive to manufacture. Maintaining a spare engine in a user's inventory is rarely done due to the associated inventory costs, and waiting to re-engine a power generator, locomotive, ship or other industrial user may create considerable cost and inconvenience for the user. A technically sound, low-cost crack repair method is needed to facilitate reliable repair of cracks to minimize downtime and overall life cycle cost. Some materials other than metals have characteristics, such as limited temperature tolerance or corrosion, which make repair by techniques using heat or chemical bonding difficult or impossible.
|
['B23P600' 'B29C7300']
|
background
|
11,308,426
|
[summary] A liquid-cooling heat sink in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a base, a heat exchanger, a housing, an inlet and an outlet. The heat exchanger has a hollow formed therein, and is thermally coupled to the top surface of the base. The housing has a chamber formed therein, and is placed over the base with the heat exchanger enclosed within the chamber. The chamber is separated by the heat exchanger into a first sub-chamber encircled by the heat exchanger and a second sub-chamber encircling the heat exchanger. The first sub-chamber is in fluid communication with the second sub-chamber through a plurality of microchannels formed within the heat exchanger. The inlet is fluidly connected to the first sub-chamber so as to impinge liquid coolant onto the top surface of the base. The outlet is fluidly connected to the second sub-chamber so as to drain liquid coolant from the second sub-chamber. Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
|
['H05K720']
|
summary
|
12,581,835
|
Projected Display [SEP] [abstract] A reprojection system which allows a projection to be displayed onto a display screen, and reprojected by that display screen. The display is received on the surface that itself displays, and it is then redisplayed on the surface. The redisplay can be at the same size or at a different size as the original projection. Preferably the redisplay is at the same relative intensity but a brighter actual intensity than the original display. The information is can be received and redisplayed in a number of different ways.
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['H04N574' 'G06F3038']
|
abstract
|
12,396,397
|
[invention] There is considerable interest in the identification, isolation and generation of human stem and progenitor cells. Stem cells are totipotential or pluripotential precursor cells capable of generating a variety of mature cell lineages, and precursor cells are cells capable of generating cells of specific cell lineages. These abilities serve as the basis for the cellular differentiation and specialization necessary for organ and tissue development. Recent success at transplanting stem and progenitor cells have provided new clinical tools to reconstitute and/or supplement bone marrow after myeloablation due to disease, exposure to toxic chemical and/or radiation. Further evidence exists that demonstrates that stem cells can be employed to repopulate many, if not all, tissues and restore physiologic and anatomic functionality. The application of stem cells in tissue engineering, gene therapy delivery and cell therapeutics is also advancing rapidly. Many different types of mammalian and progenitor stem cells have been characterized. For example, embryonic stem cells, embryonic germ cells, adult stem cells or committed stem cells or progenitor cells are known. Certain stem cells have not only been isolated and characterized but have also been cultured under conditions to allow differentiation to a limited extent. However, a basic problem remains; that is, it has been difficult to control or regulate the differentiation of stem cells and progenitor cells, such as hematopoietic progenitor cells. Presently, existing methods of modulating the differentiation of these cells are crude and unregulatable, such that the cells differentiate into unwanted cell types, at unwanted times. Moreover, the yield of the product cells is typically low. Furthermore, obtaining sufficient numbers of human stem cells for therapeutic or research purposes is problematic. Isolation of normally occurring populations of stem or progenitor cells in adult tissues has been technically difficult and costly, due, in part, to the limited quantity of stem or progenitor cells found in blood or tissue, and the significant discomfort involved in obtaining bone marrow aspirates. In general, harvesting of stem or progenitor cells from alternative sources in adequate amounts for therapeutic and research purposes is generally laborious, involving, e.g., harvesting of cells or tissues from a donor subject or patient, culturing and/or propagation of cells in vitro, dissection, etc. With respect to stem cells in particular, procurement of these cells from embryos or fetal tissue, including abortuses, has raised religious and ethical concerns. The widely held belief that the human embryo and fetus constitute independent life has prompted governmental restrictions on the use of such sources for all purposes, including medical research. Alternative sources that do not require the use of cells procured from embryonic or fetal tissue are therefore desired for further progress in the use of stem cells clinically. There are, however, few viable alternative sources of stem or progenitor cells, particularly human stem or progenitor cells, and thus the supply is limited. Hu et at (WO 00/73421 entitled “Methods of isolation, cryopreservation, and therapeutic use of human amniotic epithelial cells,” published Dec. 7, 2000) discloses human amniotic epithelial cells derived from placenta at delivery that are isolated, cultured, cryopreserved for future use, or induced to differentiate. According to Hu et al., a placenta is harvested immediately after delivery and the amniotic membrane separated from the chorion, e.g., by dissection. Amniotic epithelial cells are isolated from the amniotic membrane according to standard cell isolation techniques. The disclosed cells can be cultured in various media, expanded in culture, cryopreserved, or induced to differentiate. Hu et al. discloses that amniotic epithelial cells are multipotential (and possibly pluripotential), and can differentiate into epithelial tissues such as corneal surface epithelium or vaginal epithelium. The drawback of such methods, however, is that they are labor-intensive and the yield of stem cells is very low. Currently available methods for the ex vivo expansion of cell populations are also labor-intensive. For example, Emerson et al. (Emerson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,198 entitled “Methods and compositions for the ex vivo replication of stem cells, for the optimization of hematopoietic progenitor cell cultures, and for increasing the metabolism, GM-CSF secretion and/or IL-6 secretion of human stromal cells”, issued Dec. 4, 2001); discloses methods, and culture media conditions for ex vivo culturing of human stem cell division and/or the optimization of human hematopoietic progenitor stem cells. According to the disclosed methods, human stem cells or progenitor cells derived from bone marrow are cultured in a liquid culture medium that is replaced, preferably perfused, either continuously or periodically, at a rate of 1 ml of medium per ml of culture per about 24 to about 48 hour period. Metabolic products are removed and depleted nutrients replenished while maintaining the culture under physiologically acceptable conditions. Kraus et al. (Kraus et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,942, entitled “Selective expansion of target cell populations,” issued Jan. 15, 2002) discloses that a predetermined target population of cells may be selectively expanded by introducing a starting sample of cells from cord blood or peripheral blood into a growth medium, causing cells of the target cell population to divide, and contacting the cells in the growth medium with a selection element comprising binding molecules with specific affinity (such as a monoclonal antibody for CD34) for a predetermined population of cells (such as CD34 cells), so as to select cells of the predetermined target population from other cells in the growth medium. Rodgers et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,335,195 entitled “Method for promoting hematopoietic and mesenchymal cell proliferation and differentiation,” issued Jan. 1, 2002) discloses methods for ex vivo culture of hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells and the induction of lineage-specific cell proliferation and differentiation by growth in the presence of angiotensinogen, angiotensin I (AI), AI analogues, AI fragments and analogues thereof, angiotensin II (AII), All analogues, All fragments or analogues thereof or All AT 2 type 2 receptor agonists, either alone or in combination with other growth factors and cytokines. The stem cells are derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood. The drawback of such methods, however, is that such ex vivo methods for inducing proliferation and differentiation of
|
['A61K3512' 'A61P4300']
|
background
|
12,109,334
|
[summary] Accordingly, the inventor has succeeded in discovering that cholinergic agonists can inhibit the release of proinflammatory cytokines from a mammalian cell, either in vitro or in vivo. This inhibitory effect is useful for inhibiting inflammatory cytokine cascades that mediate many disease conditions. Furthermore, cholinergic agonist treatment in vivo can be effected to inhibit either local or systemic inflammatory cytokine cascades by stimulating efferent vagus nerves. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of inhibiting the release of a proinflammatory cytokine from a mammalian cell. The method comprises treating the cell with a cholinergic agonist in an amount sufficient to decrease the amount of the proinflammatory cytokine that is released from the cell. In preferred embodiments, the cell is a macrophage. Preferably, the proinflammatory cytokine is tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (L)-1.beta., IL-6, IL-18 or HMG-1, most preferably TNF. In preferred embodiments, the cholinergic agonist is acetylcholine, nicotine, muscarine, carbachol, galantamine, arecoline, cevimeline, or levamisole. In other preferred embodiments, the cell is in a patient suffering from, or at risk for, a condition mediated by an inflammatory cytokine cascade, preferably appendicitis, peptic, gastric or duodenal ulcers, peritonitis, pancreatitis, ulcerative, pseudomembranous, acute or ischemic colitis, diverticulitis, epiglottitis, achalasia, cholangitis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, Crohn's disease, enteritis, Whipple's disease, asthma, allergy, anaphylactic shock, immune complex disease, organ ischemia, reperfusion injury, organ necrosis, hay fever, sepsis, septicemia, endotoxic shock, cachexia, hyperpyrexia, eosinophilic granuloma, granulomatosis, sarcoidosis, septic abortion, epididymitis, vaginitis, prostatitis, urethritis, bronchitis, emphysema, rhinitis, cystic fibrosis, pneumonitis, pneumoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, alvealitis, bronchiolitis, pharyngitis, pleurisy, sinusitis, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus infection, herpes infection, HIV infection, hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus infection, disseminated bacteremia, Dengue fever, candidiasis, malaria, filariasis, amebiasis, hydatid cysts, burns, dermatitis, dermatomyositis, sunburn, urticaria, warts, wheals, vasulitis, angiitis, endocarditis, arteritis, atherosclerosis, thrombophlebitis, pericarditis, myocarditis, myocardial ischemia, periarteritis nodosa, rheumatic fever, coeliac disease, congestive heart failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, meningitis, encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral infarction, cerebral embolism, Guillame-Barre syndrome, neuritis, neuralgia, spinal cord injury, paralysis, uveitis, arthritides, arthralgias, osteomyelitis, fasciitis, Paget's disease, gout, periodontal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, synovitis, myasthenia gravis, thryoiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Goodpasture's syndrome, Behcets's syndrome, allograft rejection, graft-versus-host disease, Type I diabetes, ankylosing spondylitis, Berger's disease, Type I diabetes, ankylosing spondylitis, Berger's disease, Retier's syndrome, or Hodgkins disease. In more preferred embodiments, the condition is appendicitis, peptic, gastric or duodenal ulcers, peritonitis, pancreatitis, ulcerative, pseudomembranous, acute or ischemic colitis, hepatitis, Crohn's disease, asthma, allergy, anaphylactic shock, organ ischemia, reperfusion injury, organ necrosis, hay fever, sepsis, septicemia, endotoxic shock, cachexia, septic abortion, disseminated bacteremia, burns, Alzheimer's disease, coeliac disease, congestive heart failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, cerebral infarction, cerebral embolism, spinal cord injury, paralysis, allograft rejection or graft-versus-host disease. In the most preferred embodiments, the condition is endotoxic shock. In some embodiments, the cholinergic agonist treatment is effected by stimulating efferent vagus nerve activity sufficient to inhibit the inflammatory cytokine cascade. Preferably, the efferent vagus nerve activity is stimulated electrically. The efferent vagus nerve can be stimulated without stimulating the afferent vagus nerve. Vagus nerve ganglions or postganglionic neurons can also be stimulated. Additionally, peripheral tissues or organs that are served by the vagus nerve can also be stimulated directly. The present invention is also directed to a method of inhibiting an inflammatory cytokine cascade in a patient. The method comprises treating the patient with a cholinergic agonist in an amount sufficient to inhibit the inflammatory cytokine cascade, wherein the patient is suffering from, or at risk for, a condition mediated by the inflammatory cytokine cascade. The cholinergic agonist is preferably acetylcholine, nicotine, muscarine, carbachol, galantamine, arecoline, cevimeline, or levamisole, and the condition is preferably appendicitis, peptic, gastric or duodenal ulcers, peritonitis, pancreatitis, ulcerative, pseudomembranous, acute or ischemic colitis, diverticulitis, epiglottitis, achalasia, cholangitis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, Crohn's disease, enteritis, Whipple's disease, asthma, allergy, anaphylactic shock, immune complex disease, organ ischemia, reperfusion injury, organ necrosis, hay fever, sepsis, septicemia, endotoxic shock, cachexia, hyperpyrexia, eosinophilic granuloma, granulomatosis, sarcoidosis, septic abortion, epididymitis, vaginitis, prostatitis, urethritis, bronchitis, emphysema, rhinitis, cystic fibrosis, pneumonitis, pneumoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis-, alvealitis, bronchiolitis, pharyngitis, pleurisy, sinusitis, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus infection, herpes infection, HIV infection, hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus infection, disseminated bacteremia, Dengue fever, candidiasis, malaria, filariasis, amebiasis, hydatid cysts, burns, dermatitis, dermatomyositis, sunburn, urticaria, warts, wheals, vasulitis, angiitis, endocarditis, arteritis, atherosclerosis, thrombophlebitis, pericarditis, myocarditis, myocardial ischemia, periarteritis nodosa, rheumatic fever, Alzheimer's disease, coeliac disease, congestive heart failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral infarction, cerebral embolism, Guillame-Barre syndrome, neuritis, neuralgia, spinal cord injury, paralysis, uveitis, arthritides, arthralgias, osteomyelitis, fasciitis, Paget's disease, gout, periodontal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, synovitis, myasthenia gravis, thryoiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Goodpasture's syndrome, Behcets's syndrome, allograft rejection, graft-versus-host disease, Type I diabetes, ankylosing spondylitis, Berger's disease, Type I diabetes, ankylosing spondylitis, Berger's disease, Retier's syndrome, or Hodgkins disease. In more preferred embodiments, the condition is appendicitis, peptic, gastric or duodenal ulcers, peritonitis, pancreatitis, ulcerative, pseudomembranous, acute or ischemic colitis, hepatitis, Crohn's disease, asthma, allergy, anaphylactic shock, organ ischemia, reperfusion injury, organ necrosis, hay fever, sepsis, septicemia, endotoxic shock, cachexia, septic abortion, disseminated bacteremia, burns, Alzheimer's disease, coeliac disease, congestive heart failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, cerebral infarction, cerebral embolism, spinal cord injury, paralysis, allograft rejection or graft-versus-host disease. In the most preferred embodiments, the condition is endotoxic shock. The cholinergic agonist treatment can be effected by stimulating efferent vagus nerve activity, preferably electrically. In additional embodiments, the present invention is directed to a method for treating a patient suffering from, or at risk for, a condition mediated by an inflammatory cytokine cascade. The method comprises stimulating efferent vagus nerve activity of the patient sufficient to inhibit the inflammatory cytokine cascade. Preferred methods of stimulation and preferred conditions are as with the previously described methods. In still other embodiments, the present invention is directed to a method for attenuation of a systemic inflammatory response to endotoxin in a patient. The method comprises stimulating efferent vagus nerve activity of the patient sufficient to inhibit an inflammatory cytokine cascade. The present invention is additionally directed to a method for determining whether a compound
|
['A61N102']
|
summary
|
11,486,289
|
Case for a watch movement [SEP] [abstract] A watch case for an analog watch movement has a housing and a setting ring in a rotateably moveable and axially slideable relationship. The setting ring is coupled with a setting stem of the analog watch for rotation of the setting stem by rotation of the setting ring and for axial movement of the setting stem by orthogonal axial movement of the setting ring.
|
['G04B2702']
|
abstract
|
12,074,497
|
[summary] We have developed an improved vapor-phase deposition method and apparatus for the application of organic molecules having a variety of functional groups as films (coatings) on a variety of different substrate materials. The substrate surface is halogenated using a specialized technique which is dependent on the substrate. The precursors for the organic molecules contain at least one nucleophilic functional group capable of reacting with a halogenated substrate surface. The halogenation of the substrate surface and the subsequent reaction with the organic molecule nucleophilic functional group are carried out in the same process chamber in a manner such that the halogenated substrate surface does not lose its functionality prior to reaction with the nucleophilic functional group(s) on the organic molecule. Typically the process chamber is operated under a pressure ranging from about 10 mTorr to about 10 Torr. It would be possible to operate at a lower pressure (this is more expensive because of the kind of vacuum pump required), but a lower pressure is not required for most applications. The substrate surface preparation frequently includes the use of a plasma or ozone treatment. Preferably, the plasma is a remotely-generated plasma. One preferred plasma is generated from an oxygen-containing plasma source gas. This substrate surface preparation removes any organic contamination from the substrate surface, and in some instances activates the surface for reaction. Depending on the substrate, the substrate surface preparation may not be required if the substrate surface is very clean and the substrate is treated to apply an adhesion promoting layer. Application of an adhesion promoting layer is optional with respect to some substrates, for example those which have an oxide layer on their surface. For other substrates, such as most plastics, application of an adhesion promoting layer may be necessary. Application of an adhesion promoting layer is generally carried out by reacting the substrate surface with halogen-containing gaseous compound, which is typically used in combination with water vapor, in a low pressure (pressure ranging from about 5 Torr to about 50 Torr environment. However, at pressures above about 10 Torr reactive materials are typically in excess of the amount needed to provide the adhesion promoting layer, and reactive materials are wasted. Examples of such halogen-containing compounds include SiCl 4 , Si 2 OCl 6 , SnCl 2 , PCl 5 , and SOCl 2 , not by way of limitation. Relative vapor pressure ratios of the halogen-containing gaseous compound to the water vapor in the process chamber range from about 1:4 to about 1:10, depending on which halogen-containing compound is used. The relative vapor pressures are set so that not all of the water present in the process chamber will be consumed in the reaction. Typically the reaction temperature ranges from about 25° C. to about 60° C., and the reaction time period ranges from about 3 minutes to about 15 minutes. The process in which SiCl 4 is the halogen-containing compound creates a thin layer of silicon oxide on top of a wide variety of substrates, where the hydroxylated silicon oxide provides a dense —OH terminated surface for subsequent modification to the halogen-terminated surface of the present invention. The halogenation of the substrate surface, with and/or without an adhesion oxide layer, is typically carried out by first pumping down the process chamber in which the substrate is present to a pressure of about 15 mTorr or less, at a temperature ranging from about 25° C. to about 50° C. for a time period sufficient to reduce the residual vapor pressure of water present in the chamber. Halogenation of the hydroxylated substrate surface is done by exposing the surface to a halogen-containing compound which is capable of reacting with the —OH active sites on the substrate surface. Examples of preferred halogen-containing compounds include compounds represented as R n SiX (4−n) where X is a hydrolyzable group, typically halogen, alkoxy, acyloxy, or amine, and R n represents an organic moiety. Chlorosilanes and chlorosiloxanes such as SiCl 4 or Si 2 OCl 6 work particularly well. This process builds a layer of halogenated molecules on an oxide surface which was originally present or which was produced by an adhesion layer deposition. An additional pump down of the chamber, followed by exposure of the surface to additional halogen-containing compound may be used to scavenge all residual water in the process chamber and to ensure that complete halogenation of the substrate surface is achieved. Halogenated layers comprised of —SiCl 3 or —SiCl 2 groups, created in the manner described above, have performed well in the method of the invention. The halogenation process typically is carried out at a process chamber pressure ranging from about 1 Torr to about 5 Torr and at a temperature ranging from about 25° C. to about 100° C., where the reaction time ranges from about 1 minute to about 10 minutes. When SiCl 4 is used as the precursor for formation of the halogenated layer on the substrate surface, for example, the pressure in the process chamber is in the range of about 1 Torr to about 4 Torr and the reaction is carried out for a time period of about 3 to 5 minutes, and then the process chamber is pumped down and the application of SiCl 4 is repeated, typically at least one additional time. The organic layer deposition over the halogenated substrate surface is accomplished by exposing the halogenated surface to an organic molecule containing at least one nucleophilic functional group, where the organic molecule is in a vaporous state. The reaction between the halogenated surface and the organic molecule is carried out in a low pressure environment, where the pressure typically ranges from about 0.1 Torr to about 10 Torr. For example, when the organic molecule is hexanediol, the pressure in the process chamber is typically in the range of about 0.1 Torr to about 1 Torr, and more typically in the range of about 0.1 Torr to about 0.3 Torr. The reaction is typically carried out at a temperature ranging from about
|
['C23C1600']
|
summary
|
11,697,906
|
[invention] The present invention is directed to structural members for vehicles, including motor driven vehicles and trailers. In particular, it is directed to frame members for such vehicles, including boat trailers. Vehicle construction, including the design of frames and structural members for frames and sub-frames has evolved with improvements in the metallurgy of the materials which have also opened advances in manufacturing processes. With the advent to high-strength, corrosion-resistant, aluminum alloys, structural members previously made from rolled steel have steadily given way to extruded aluminum alloy members. With these aluminum structural members being suitable for extrusion manufacture, not only has the weight of a vehicle been reduced, but the extrusion manufacturing has opened paths for making structural member shapes not previously practical in rolled members or cast members. Extrusion manufacturing has also eliminated stamping steps often used in steel member manufacturing. Boat trailers, being on-the-road vehicles, are subject to DOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) regulations for strength, durability, and safety. Side rails and cross members, being the primary structural support members of a boat trailer frame, are subject to DOT standards as a part of certifying the entire trailer. The side rails and cross members form the frame (or skeleton) of a trailer to support the boat cradle members, to carry the hitch coupling, and to be connected to the wheel axel(s). A boat trailer frame is subject to many types of forces, from bending to torsion to compression to tensile forces. Not only must each member be strong enough to withstand these forces, but the couplings between members must also. Painted steel tubing was used for many years for boat trailer side rails and cross members. To ward off corrosion and to enhance appearance, galvanized steel tubing steadily began to replace painted steel. However, zinc coatings can crack, are affected at weld points, and discolor with use. High strength, corrosion-resistant aluminum alloys have begun to be used for boat trailer structural members, including cross members and side rails. These aluminum structural members are more attractive than galvanized members at the off-set, and maintain their appearance longer. Extruded tubes, either C-channels or box-tubes, were first used. Recently an aluminum I-beam has been used for boat trailer side rails by Load Rite Trailers, Inc. of Fairless Hills, Pa. The assembly of aluminum structural frame members on boat trailers has followed the assembly practices with painted steel and galvanized steel members. Namely, they were drilled through for bolts, punched for fasteners, welded, or clamped together with U-bolts. Not only are these assembly practices relatively labor intensive and therefore relatively expensive, the hardware use is costly. Moreover, once drilled or stamped or welded, the assembly positions became fixed and later adjustments are precluded. While U-bolts and clamps are adjustable, they are generally unsightly, and can work loose especially if struck being a catch point. While an I-beam shape provides strength and rigidity, its cross-sectional configuration is awkward for attaching fenders, axels, load bearing cross bars, tie-down brackets, and the like, without through drilling the web or the top or bottom flanges and through bolting. Alternatively welding or clamping can be used. Such through drilling and bolting or such welding and heat treating adds to the cost of manufacturing and may weaken the beam or set up undesirable stress points (stress risers). U-clamping has the same short comings as with other structural members of other cross-sectional shapes. What is desired is a structural member for a vehicle, including a C-channel, a tube, and an I-beam, which carries a slot in one wall, for holding a bolt or bolts, for joining thereto another structural member, or another component of the vehicle. What is secondly desired is that such a slot hold the head of each bolt with the threads extending outwardly and also hold each bolt in position once the bolt is tightened with its mating nut, whereof such slot also holds the bolt from turning while the tightening process is carried out. What is further desired is that such slot be capable of withstanding the forces applied to the structural member without a tear out of the bolt head. What is even further desired is that such slot permits the structural member to be bolted to such trailer members as fenders, axels, load bearing cross bars, tie down brackets and the like. Placing a slot in a structural member such as an I-beam, for holding a bolt or an anchor member is not new. These prior art slotted beams have been designed as building structural members and not for use in vehicles. Their designs depart from the scope and direction of the present invention. Timm, U.S. Pat. No. 1,561,126, shows a channel for receiving and holding the square head of a stove bolt. Phillips, U.S. Pat. No. 2,909,054, shows a metal box with a slot for holding a concrete anchor. Burrell, U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,604, shows an aluminum joist with a slot for receiving and holding the hex-head of a machine bolt. Stanford, U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,809, shows a fabricated wood-metal composite I-beam with an extruded aluminum bottom flange, which has a T-shaped slot for receiving the head of a bolt. Janson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,095 shows a cruciform-shaped slot in a crane beam for receiving and holding a variety of members from a bolt to a trolley wheel. Marsland, U.S. Publication No. 2005/0284078 A1, shows an I-beam used as a structural joist having a slot in the bottom flange including notches for receiving the flange portion of the head of a bolt. The Janson slot is large enough to accommodate a wrench placed on the head of a bolt when tightening the bolt, Phillips requires a clip to hold his anchor from turning. Germane to the design of each prior art slot is the fact that each slot cavity has rectangular walls. This means that the walls transition at right angles Any lateral force exerted against a wall of these slots remains a strict bending moment (bending force). A tightened bolt has its head
|
['B62D2102' 'F16B3900']
|
background
|
11,669,091
|
[invention] Parking authorities continue to look to the use of single space parking meters as a source of revenue from both on street parking as well as parking in unattended parking lots. However, in addition, these parking spaces are also used to entice car drivers to certain areas of a city by allowing parking for limited periods of time thus assuring the availability of parking. Therefore parking meters must be convenient, easy to operate and very versatile in terms of the variety and clarity of the messages that they display. In order to respond to such a need, electronic parking meters have been developed. Examples of such parking meters are the Watchman® and the Guardian® electronic parking meters by J. J. MacKay Canada Ltd. These meters are operated by microcontrollers, which control the input interfaces for a user to purchase parking time, output interfaces to provide a user with information such as unexpired parking time and communications ports for uploading information to the meters and downloading audits from the meters. The Watchman® input interface includes a coin chute whereas the Guardian® also includes a smart card reader. The output interfaces include LCD's with various parking related messages and LED's for visual status information such as parking time paid, meter expired, meter out of service. These electronic parking meters are normally stand alone meters and are powered by battery. The requirements of parking authorities place a number of constraints on the powering of the parking meters. They wish to use standard batteries to keep the cost of batteries and battery replacement down and to use a battery type compatible with their existing meters. In addition, the space within the meter housing limits the size and thus the power storage capacity of the battery. Present electronic parking meters operate in the order of one year before battery replacement is necessary. In spite of these advances, it is still desirable to have stand alone parking meters that will operate for longer periods of time to avoid the high maintenance costs incurred to replace the batteries in the large numbers of individual parking meters. In addition, with space limiting the size and thus the energy storage of a battery, the only gains that can be made in present electronic parking meters are through the use of much more expensive batteries. Therefore, there is a need for an improved electronic parking meter that is more energy efficient.
|
['G07F1700']
|
background
|
11,259,937
|
[invention] Digital images are currently used in many applications, for example in new generation acquisition devices, such as digital cameras or DSC (Digital Still Camera). Moreover, digital images are becoming more widely used in portable multimedia communication terminals. Typically, a digital image is represented by a pixel matrix. The total number of pixels present in said matrix defines the spatial resolution of the image. Each pixel is identified by a pair of spatial coordinates that correspond to the position of the pixel inside the matrix and by one or more digital values associated to it, each of which represents a parameter of the pixel. For example, three digital values are associated to each pixel in an RGB format color digital image, representative of the following parameters respectively: intensity of the red color component, intensity of the green color component and intensity of the blue color component. In numerous applications, representation of a digital image as a pixel matrix is not optimal because it requires a large quantity of memory and it cannot be enlarged at will without this leading to a considerable loss in quality. It is known that a digital image can be stored and processed with a method known in the art as vector representation or format. A method that uses this format provides for the image to be represented as a plurality of regions that are not superimposed but altogether cover the entire image. The information necessary to define the contours of said regions are stored, while the information regarding the pixel parameters comprised in each region are summarized in a few parameters generically associated to the entire region or only associated with a limited number of pixels in the region. It can be seen from the above that transformation of a digital image originally represented by means of a pixel matrix to a corresponding image represented by means of the above-described vector format method leads to a reduction in the quantity of information necessary to describe the image and, therefore, to a greater image transmission speed and a lower memory requirement for its storage. It is known, furthermore, that in particular applications, such as zooming techniques and processing techniques in general that require an increase/decrease (i.e. resizing) in the spatial resolution of the image, vector representation is more convenient and efficient than pixel matrix representation. It has been observed that numerous raster-to-vector conversion methods belonging to the state of the art, even if widely used, do not guarantee satisfactory performance in terms of the dimensions occupied by the vectorized images and in terms of the measured or perceived quality of said images.
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['G06K946']
|
background
|
12,255,396
|
[invention] In racing, small changes in the position of the vehicle's center of gravity can significantly alter the vehicle's handling. One way in which this has been accomplished is by addition of a slave cylinder at the shock and spring assembly of at least one wheel or corner of the vehicle. A typical shock and spring assembly includes a shock absorber with an upper shock case and a lower piston end and includes a coil spring coaxial surrounding the shock absorber. The spring is preloaded in compression between elements connected with the upper shock case and the lower piston end. The slave cylinder is inserted serially between the upper shock casing and the upper end of the spring. The slave cylinder can be operated by the driver, while driving, by turning a knob inside the vehicle. The knob is mechanically connected with the slave cylinder to correspondingly extend or retract it, which raises or lowers that corner of the vehicle, and the vehicle's center of gravity is accordingly shifted. What is needed is an improved apparatus for shifting the center of gravity of the vehicle.
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['B60G17015']
|
background
|
12,219,496
|
Plasma display panel [SEP] [abstract] A plasma display panel (PDP) includes first and second substrates, a plurality of first and second electrode lines extending along a first direction on the first substrate, the first and second electrode lines having an alternating pattern, a plurality of address electrodes on the second substrate and extending along a second direction, the plurality of address electrodes including bent portions, barrier ribs between the first and second substrates to define a plurality of discharge cells, a plurality of first electrode portions extending from each of the first electrode lines toward discharge cells in two different arrays along the first direction, and a plurality of second electrode portions extending from each of the second electrode lines toward discharge cells in two different arrays along the first direction, the second electrode portions overlapping the bent portions of the address electrodes.
|
['H01J1749']
|
abstract
|
11,135,333
|
[invention] Metal joining processes, such as brazing, typically require heating of base metal components to an elevated temperature that is lower than the base metal's melting point. Filler material may then be brought into contact with the heated base metal components, where it melts and is subsequently drawn through spaces between the base metal components, thereby forming a brazed workpiece. Metal joining processes can be adversely affected by the presence of oxygen during heating. For example, an oxide layer can form on a surface of the base metal components, which can adversely affect the brazing process by altering properties of the base metal. To minimize these adverse affects,. manufacturers have developed methods and devices (e.g., purging devices) for reducing oxygen exposure to the base metal prior to the application of heat described above. One such purging device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,976 (“the '976 patent”), issued to Till on Jan. 21, 2003. The '976 patent describes a purging device that supplies a purge gas in at least a partially liquefied form to a chamber. When introduced to the chamber, the liquefied portion of the gas undergoes a large volumetric expansion upon transition from liquid to gas. To maintain the pressure and atmospheric conditions within the chamber, the chamber may be partially isolated from the ambient atmosphere. The purging system of the '976 patent includes a seal to isolate the chamber atmosphere from the ambient atmosphere outside the chamber, such that an artificial atmosphere within the chamber can be produced, maintained, and/or manipulated. Although the purging device of the '976 patent may potentially reduce the effects of oxygen contamination, the seal used to maintain the chamber atmosphere in isolation from the ambient atmosphere may add complexity and cost to the purge device. Further, because the purging device of the '976 patent is designed to purge a chamber, it may be unsuitable for purging complex workpieces having, for example, air-trapping geometry that may be difficult to purge within a chamber-purging device. In addition, because the purging device of the '976 patent cannot focus on a specific region of a workpiece, the purging process may be inefficient. The purging system of the present disclosure solves one or more of the problems set forth above.
|
['B23K2014' 'B23K100']
|
background
|
11,568,217
|
[invention] 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the inspection of marine vessels such as barges, bulk carriers, and tankers and particularly the underdeck structure including the beams, girders, welds, and stiffeners. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved method of video inspection for barges, ships, and other marine vessels, that employs video imaging, preferably a digital video camera and a high resolution telephoto-magnifying lens that scans an area (such as a suspect area) of a vessel, such as for example the underdeck area of a barge. 2. General Background of the Invention The inspection of marine vessels such as barges and ships requires that an inspector be within about 24 inches (about 61 cm) of the area to be inspected so that any cracks flaws, corrosion or pitting can be observed in welds, beams, girders, stringers and other structural members. This presents a problem for inspection of under deck areas of very large vessels because the underdeck area can be a long distance away from any floor or like supporting surface that could be occupied by an inspector. To provide for inspection of under deck areas of barges, bulk carriers, and tankers, the owner is typically required “stage out” the cargo hold so that the surveyor or inspector can be placed very close to the structure being inspected. This can be a very expensive proposition costing hundreds of thousands of dollars for a very large vessel such as a four hundred foot (120 m) ship or a five hundred foot (150 m) barge. Patents have issued that discuss video inspection using digital video cameras and a telephoto lens. The Offerhause et al. patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,273, entitled “Method of Reducing Surface Irregularities in Paper Machine Head Box Components” discussed video inspection of hole inlet radii to provide further evidence of non-uniformities related to streak locations. A digital video camera inspection technique is discussed using CCD (Charged Coupled Device) technology to obtain distortion free images of superior quality and resolution. Halogen “broom” lighting is provided in order to give clear contrast and a telephoto lens to ensure a flat image. The images are then digitized for detailed computer analysis to an accuracy of 0.1 millimeters (0.004 inch), in a manner similar to using an optical comparator. This technique was said to be useful for inspection of the apron floor joint, turbulence generator perforated plate, and inlet tube bank. Offerhause is not directed to long distance inspection of marine vessels. The Mueller patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,735, entitled “Underdeck Inspection Device” relates to an apparatus and method for the remote visualization and inspection of an internal storage space, such as a ship's hold. The apparatus includes a mounting stand to which is rotationally mounted a support shaft, the support shaft having a camera and a light source secured thereto. The camera and light source rotate with the support shaft, and are pivotally movable relative to the support shaft. A drive shaft extends through the support shaft and is operable to simultaneously pivot the light source camera. A light adjustment drive shaft is mounted to the hollow support shaft and allows the operator to pivot the light source independently of the camera to permit a wider field of view than would otherwise be available. The apparatus is inserted, via an exterior access opening, into a storage space and thereafter operated to allow an inspector, located outside of the storage space, to visually inspect the surfaces surrounding and defining the storage space. The Mueller device does not cover many areas (and is therefore unacceptable) because it rotates about a fixed center. It is only functional from the outside of the tank. A stereo microscopic inspection system that employs a telephoto objective assembly is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,228. Electronic video dental cameras that employ telephoto lenses are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,016,098; 5,115,307; 5,251,025; and 5,429,502. Other patents that discuss the use of a telephoto lens with a video camera include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,808,810; 5,572,277; 5,543,840; 5,515,206; 5,479,203; 5,420,632; 5,290,168; 5,285,317; and 5,260,834. The following U.S. patents were cited in a corresponding U.S. patent application: Strait et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,818), Chang et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,035), Minami (U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,595), Jones (U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,371), McDonald (U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,983) and Levine (U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,224).
|
['H04N718']
|
background
|
11,447,437
|
[invention] Camshaft phasers for varying the phase relationship between the crankshaft and a camshaft of an internal combustion engine are well known. A prior art vane-type phaser generally comprises a plurality of outwardly-extending vanes on a rotor interspersed with a plurality of inwardly-extending lobes on a stator, forming alternating advance and retard chambers between the vanes and lobes. Engine oil is supplied via a multiport oil control valve (OCV), in accordance with an engine control module, to either the advance or retard chambers as required to meet current or anticipated engine operating conditions. In a typical prior art vane-type cam phaser, a locking pin, disengage-able by oil pressure, is slidingly disposed in a bore in a rotor vane to permit rotational locking of the rotor to the stator (or sprocket wheel or pulley) under certain conditions of operation of the phaser and engine. In older prior art phasers, it is desired that the rotor be locked at its parked position at an extreme of the rotor authority, either at the full retard position as in the case of an intake camshaft phaser or at the full advance position as in the case of an exhaust camshaft phaser. To assist in positioning the rotor for lock pin engagement, it is known to incorporate a mechanical stop for the rotor and a torsional bias spring acting between the rotor and the stator to urge the rotor against the stop for locking. In newer prior art phasers as disclosed in co-pending application having Ser. No. 11/225,772, it is desirable that the rotor be lockable to the stator at an intermediate position, preferably within an increased rotor range of rotational authority. A known problem in such phasers is that there is no mechanical means such as a stop to assist in positioning the rotor for locking in an intermediate position; thus, locking is not reliable, and an unacceptably high rate of locking failures may occur. Further, in prior art phasers, the torsion spring may generate an unwanted torque on the rotor about an axis orthogonal to the rotor axis, causing the rotor to become slightly cocked within the stator chamber before the phaser is installed onto the end of a camshaft during engine assembly. This cocking is permitted by necessary clearances between the rotor and the stator. Although relatively slight, such cocking can be large enough to prohibit entry of the camshaft into the rotor during engine assembly. What is needed in the art is an improved vane-type camshaft phaser having additional range of rotational authority wherein the rotor may be reliably locked to the stator at an intermediate position within the range of authority. What is further needed in the art is an improved vane-type camshaft phaser wherein the rotor of an assembled phaser may be reliably entered onto the end of a camshaft during engine assembly. It is a principal object of the present invention to cause a rotor lock pin to be properly positioned for engagement with a stator. It is a further object of the present invention to increase the reliability of entry of the rotor of an assembled phaser onto an engine camshaft during engine assembly.
|
['F01L134']
|
background
|
11,420,678
|
[claim] 1. A method for improving health care transactions comprising: a host operating a web-based marketplace; providing a database identifying a plurality of health care providers; wherein at least one of the health care providers is a doctor providing treatment services; wherein the database is searchable at the marketplace by a patient based on a plurality of criteria; wherein at least one of the plurality of criteria is a price for one of goods and services provided by the plurality of health care providers, including the doctor; facilitating receipt of payment by one of the plurality of health care providers from the patient for one of goods and services provided by the health care provider to the patient; and facilitating electronic communication concerning the payment by the patient to the health care provider to a location designated by at least one of the host and the patient. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the payment is made from a health savings account. 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating electronic communication concerning the identity of the one of goods and services provided by the health care provider to the patient to a location designated by the host. 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating electronic communication concerning the identity of the one of goods and services provided by the health care provider to the patient to a location designated by the patient. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of criteria further comprises two or more of a physical location of the health care provider, sex of the health care provider, a specialty of the health care provider. 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating creation of an electronic medical record concerning the patient containing information concerning a plurality of services provided by at least one health care provider identified by the patient from the marketplace. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the electronic medical record is delivered to a personal computer owned by the patient. 8. The method of claim 6 wherein the electronic medical record is accessible via the marketplace. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the price is communicated as a percentage of a multiple of the Medicare fee schedule. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the price is communicated directly. 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating a change by the health care provider in the price disclosed to the patient at the marketplace. 12. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating communication to a location designated by the patient of information concerning purchases of goods and services from health care providers for the period of a single tax year. 13. The method of claim 6 further comprising facilitating the addition of information by the patient to the electronic medical record. 14. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating advertisement on the marketplace by at least one advertiser. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of facilitating advertisement further comprises facilitating advertisement that is selected for display to a particular patient based on at least one criteria. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one criteria is an identity of a specialty of a health care provider that is being searched by the patient at the marketplace. 17. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating payment by the health care provider to a designee of the host. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the payment is a percentage of the payment from the patient to the health care provider. 19. A method for improving health care transactions comprising: a host operating a web-based marketplace; providing a database identifying a plurality of health care providers; wherein the database is searchable at the marketplace by a patient based on a plurality of criteria; wherein at least one of the plurality of criteria is a price for one of goods and services provided by the plurality of health care providers; facilitating a change by the health care provider in the price disclosed to the patient at the marketplace; facilitating receipt of payment by one of the plurality of health care providers from the patient for one of goods and services provided by the health care provider to the patient; wherein the payment is made from a health savings account; facilitating electronic communication concerning the payment by the patient to the health care provider to a location designated by the host; and facilitating electronic communication concerning the payment by the patient to the health care provider to a location designated by the patient. 20. A method for improving health care transactions comprising: a host operating a web-based marketplace; providing a database identifying a plurality of health care providers; wherein the database is searchable at the marketplace by a patient based on a plurality of criteria; wherein at least one of the plurality of criteria is a price for one of goods and services provided by the plurality of health care providers; facilitating a change by the health care provider in the price disclosed to the patient at the marketplace; facilitating receipt of payment by one of the plurality of health care providers from the patient for one of goods and services provided by the health care provider to the patient; wherein the payment is made from a health savings account; facilitating electronic communication concerning the payment by the patient to the health care provider to a location designated by the host; facilitating electronic communication concerning the identity of the one of goods and services provided by the health care provider to the patient to a location designated by one of the host and the patient; facilitating electronic communication concerning the payment by the patient to the health care provider to a location designated by the patient; and further comprising facilitating creation of an electronic medical record concerning the patient containing information concerning a plurality of services provided by at least one health care provider identified by the patient
|
['G06Q1000' 'G06Q4000' 'G07G114']
|
claim
|
12,533,944
|
[description] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the automatic detection and isolation of network problems according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a graph of indicators generated by the system illustrated in the embodiment in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a graph of indicators generated by the system illustrated in the embodiment in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a graph of indicators generated by the system illustrated in the embodiment in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a graph of indicators generated by the system illustrated in the embodiment in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a graph of indicators generated by the system illustrated in the embodiment in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a graph of indicators generated by the system illustrated in the embodiment in FIG. 2.
|
['H04L1226']
|
detailed_description
|
11,249,690
|
Off-load engine to re-sequence data packets within host memory [SEP] [abstract] A re-sequencing system offloads the cycle intensive task of re-sequencing TCP packets from host memory using a partial offload engine to re-sequence out-of-sequence data packets. However, as opposed to re-ordering the actual data packets, no actual data copy is needed. Instead, packet descriptors associated with each data packet are generated, and it is the packet descriptors that are re-sequenced. The data packets themselves are temporarily stored in packet buffers while the packet descriptors are sorted into sequence. The re-sequencing system preferably re-sequences a data stream of TCP data packets received from an ethernet network. The re-sequencing system is implemented within a computing device, preferably a personal computer or a server.
|
['H04L1256' 'H04L1254']
|
abstract
|
12,626,688
|
Method, System, and Computer Program Product for Providing Cosmetic Application Instructions Using Arc Lines [SEP] [abstract] Individuals want to look their best because when they look good, they feel good. It affects not only how they perceive themselves, but also how others perceive them. Unfortunately, many individuals don't look as good as they would like. And even more frustrating, they don't know how to produce their optimal facial look. Imagine a plain or average looking woman being able to transform herself into a very pretty woman. Imagine an already pretty woman being able to transform herself into a gorgeous woman. The Perfect Shape™ Makeover Process empowers individuals to achieve this magical transformation. Confidence, self-esteem, perception, and respect are enhanced in very positive ways. This is something individuals want on a universal, world-wide level. The Perfect Shape™ Makeover Process instructs the client how to use makeup to reshape each of these facial features to the ultimate of what they have to work with.
|
['G06K946' 'G06T700']
|
abstract
|
12,335,111
|
RATCHET CLIP [SEP] [abstract] A ratchet clip for lockably and releasably closing a cover onto a base of a air filter housing is disclosed. The ratchet clip includes an elongated retention member secured at one portion of the housing and having a plurality of teeth forming a series of pockets and ridges. A rocker member is pivotally secured to a different housing portion and is aligned to lockably engage the retention member. A latching member on the rocker member is sized, configured and positioned to lockably engage into the pockets thereby inhibiting movement of the latching member in an opening direction relative to the retention member. A spring biases the rocker member to lockably and releasably engage the retention member thereby preventing movement in an opening direction of the rocker member relative to the retention member. The teeth have surfaces configured to permit the latching member to slide over the teeth in a closing direction relative to the retention member, even while the spring biases. The rocker body is operable to overcome biasing of the spring, permitting the rocker member to disengage the latching member thereby allowing the latching member to slide freely relative to the retention member.
|
['A44B2100']
|
abstract
|
12,509,013
|
[claim] 1. A switch controller comprising: a voltage sensor generating an input sensing voltage corresponding to a voltage input into the switch; a zero voltage detector comparing the input sensing voltage with a predetermined first reference value and generating a zero cross detection signal with a first level or a second level in accordance with the comparison result; a reference clock generator generating a reference clock signal such that the reference clock signal varies in frequency by one cycle of the zero cross detection signal; a digital sine curve generator generating digital signals by using the reference clock signal and the zero cross detection signal, the digital signals synchronizing with the zero cross detection signal while increasing in accordance with the reference clock signal during half of one cycle of the zero cross detection signal and decreasing in accordance with the reference clock signal during the other half cycle of the zero cross detection signal; and a digital-to-analog converter generating a reference signal with a voltage level corresponding to the digital signal. 2. The switch controller of claim 1, wherein the voltage sensor comprises a sensing current generator generating a current corresponding to the voltage of the first electrode, and a current-voltage transformer generating a voltage corresponding to the current. 3. The switch controller of claim 1, wherein the zero voltage detector generates a zero cross detection signal with a first level when the input sensing voltage exceeds the first reference value, and a zero cross detection signal with a second level when the input sensing voltage is less than the first reference value. 4. The switch controller of claim 3, wherein the reference clock generator senses a reference point when the zero cross detection signal varies from the first level to the second level so as to produce one cycle of the zero cross detection signal by using the two successive reference time points, and generates a reference clock signal rising and falling a predetermined number of times during the produced one cycle. 5. The switch controller of claim 3, wherein an arbitrary time point is sensed as a reference time point during the time period ranging from the point when the zero cross detection signal varies from the first level to the second level to the point when the zero cross detection signal varies from the second level to the first level so as to produce one cycle of the zero cross detection signal by using the two successive reference time points, and a reference clock signal rising and falling a predetermined number of times during the produced one cycle is generated. 6. The switch controller of claim 1, wherein in case the zero cross detection signal is in an abnormal state where the zero cross detection signal is not specified in the cycle, the effective value of the maximum reference signal value in the normal state of the zero cross detection signal is determined as the reference signal. 7. A converter comprising: an inductor; a power switch controlling the current flowing along the inductor; and a switch controller controlling the switching operation of the power switch, wherein the switch controller generates a reference signal corresponding to the input voltage supplied into the inductor, and controls the duty of the power switch by using the current flowing along the power switch and the reference signal. 8. The converter of claim 7, wherein the input voltage is supplied to a first end of the inductor and the power switch is electrically connected to a second end of the inductor, further comprising a diode connected between the second end of the inductor and the power switch, wherein the current flows along a route comprising the inductor and the power switch when the power switch turns on, while the current flows along a route comprising the inductor and the diode when the power switch turns off. 9. The converter of claim 7, wherein the switch controller comprises: a voltage sensor generating an input sensing voltage corresponding to the switch voltage when the switch turns off and a switch voltage corresponding to the input voltage is supplied to an end of the power switch; a zero voltage detector comparing the input sensing voltage with a predetermined first reference value and generating a zero cross detection signal with a first level or a second level depending upon the comparison result; a reference clock generator generating a reference clock signal varying in frequency by one cycle of the zero cross detection signal; a digital sine curve generator generating digital signals by using the reference clock signal and the zero cross detection signal, the digital signals synchronizing with the zero cross detection signal while increasing in accordance with the reference clock signal during a half of one cycle of the zero cross detection signal and decreasing in accordance with the reference clock signal during the other half cycle of the zero cross detection signal; and a digital-to-analog transformer generating the reference signal with a voltage level corresponding to the digital signal. 10. The converter of claim 9, wherein the zero voltage detector generates a zero cross detection signal with a first level when the input sensing voltage exceeds the first reference value during the turned-off period of the switch, and generates a zero cross detection signal with a second level when the input sensing voltage is less than the first reference value. 11. The converter of claim 10, wherein the reference clock generator senses a reference point when the zero cross detection signal varies from the first level to the second level so as to produce one cycle of the zero cross detection signal by using the two successive reference time points, and generates a reference clock signal rising and falling a predetermined number of times during the produced one cycle. 12. The converter of claim 10, wherein the reference clock generator senses an arbitrary time point as a reference time point during the period ranging from the point when the zero cross detection signal varies
|
['H03B2800']
|
claim
|
11,870,589
|
[summary] The present invention is directed to a method for the treatment of Disruptive Behavior Disorder including both Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition that comprises at least one compound of Formula 1 or Formula 2: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester form thereof, wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl, wherein C 1 -C 4 alkyl is substituted or unsubstituted with phenyl, and wherein phenyl is substituted or unsubstituted with up to five substituents independently selected from; halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy, nitro, cyano and amino wherein amino is optionally mono or disubstituted with C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , X 4 and X 5 are independently hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. Embodiments of the present invention include a compound of Formula 1 or Formula 2 wherein X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , X 4 and X 5 are independently selected from; hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. In certain embodiments, X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , X 4 and X 5 are independently selected from hydrogen or chlorine. In other embodiments, X 1 is selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. In another embodiment, X 1 is chlorine, and X 2 , X 3 , X 4 and X 5 are hydrogen. In another embodiment, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are hydrogen. The present invention provides enantiomers of Formula 1 or Formula 2 for treating Disruptive Behavior Disorders including either Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder or DBD NOS in a subject in need thereof. In certain embodiments, a compound of Formula 1 or Formula 2 will be in the form of a single enantiomer thereof. In other embodiments, a compound of Formula 1 or Formula 2 will be in the form of an enantiomeric mixture in which one enantiomer predominates with respect to another enantiomer. In another aspect, one enantiomer predominates in a range of from about 90% or greater. In a further aspect, one enantiomer predominates in a range of from about 98% or greater. The present invention also provides methods comprising administering to the subject a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of a composition that comprises at least one compound of Formula 1 or Formula 2 wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl; and X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , X 4 and X 5 are independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. The present invention is further directed to a method for the treatment of Disruptive Behavior Disorders including both Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder comprising administering to a subject in need thereof co-therapy with a therapeutically effective amount of at least one antidepressant and a compound of Formula 1 or Formula 2 Exemplifying the invention is a method of treating Disruptive Behavior Disorders including both Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of any of the compounds or pharmaceutical compositions described above. In another example, the present invention is directed to a method of treating Disruptive Behavior Disorders including both Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder comprising administering to a subject in need thereof at least one additional psychoactive medication in combination with any of the compounds or pharmaceutical compositions described above.
|
['A61K3127' 'A61K31335' 'A61K31343' 'A61K314458' 'A61K31451' 'A61K314525'
'A61K314725' 'A61K315375' 'A61K315415' 'A61K3155' 'A61K31553' 'A61P2500']
|
summary
|
11,770,581
|
[claim] 1. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs comprising: providing an energy plane; providing a pair of antipads within the energy plane; providing a pair of via structures within respective ones of the pair of antipads, where the pair of via structures are electrically coupled to a differential pair; and providing a conductive bridge within the energy plane and separating the pair of antipads. 2. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 wherein the antipads comprise an insulating material. 3. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 further comprising forming the conductive bridge as a part of the energy plane. 4. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 wherein the conductive bridge is made from a same conductive material as a conductive region of the energy plane. 5. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 wherein the conductive bridge is a minimal line width of conductive material allowing the pair of antipads to be as physically close to each other as possible while still separate and isolated. 6. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 further comprising connecting ends of the conductive bridge to the conductive region. 7. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 further comprising etching apertures in the conductive region to form the antipads. 8. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 further comprising: forming via holes within the via structures by a technique selected from the group consisting of laser drilling, mechanical drilling, and photo definition; forming via barrels within the via holes into a shape selected from the group consisting of a hollow cylinder, a solid cylinder, a partial cylinder, and strips, and wherein the via barrels are made from conductive material. 9. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 further comprising reversing polarities of signal trace pairs. 10. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 wherein a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer are parallel to the energy plane, perpendicular to the via structures, and separated by a plurality of layers. 11. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 wherein the antipads are regions having a shape selected from the group consisting of circular-shaped regions, clipped circular-shaped regions, elliptical-shaped regions, rectangular shaped regions, modified rectangular-shaped regions, rectangular-shaped regions with rounded corners, rectangular-shaped regions with corners of about 45 degrees, closed geometric-shaped regions, open geometric-shaped regions, polygonal shaped regions, curved regions, and compound-shaped regions. 12. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 wherein a first antipad of the pair of antipads is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis with a second antipad of the pair of antipads, and wherein the longitudinal axis is aligned with the center of the conductive bridge. 13. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs as recited in claim 1 wherein a first antipad of the pair of antipads is symmetrical about a latitudinal axis with a second antipad of the pair of antipads, and wherein the latitudinal axis is aligned with the center of the conductive bridge. 14. A method for improving signal integrity for differential pairs comprising: providing a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of dielectric layers; providing a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer separated by a dielectric layer; providing a positive going signal trace on the first conductive layer and negative going signal trace on the first conductive layer wherein the positive and negative signal traces form a first signal trace pair; providing a positive going signal trace on the second conductive layer and a negative going signal trace on the second conductive layer wherein the positive and negative signal traces form a second signal trace pair; coupling the first conductive layer to the second conductive layer using a via structure, including a first via and a second via; providing non-conductive regions conterminous with at least a portion of the first via and at least a portion of the second via; providing an at least partially conductive bridge, conterminous with the non-conductive regions between the first via and the second via. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the dimension of the non-conductive regions or the via structure, wherein adjusting the dimension tunes impedance associated with a differential pair. 16. A method comprising: forming a differential pair on a partial or complete power plane; coupling signal traces of the differential pair with via structures; isolating the via structures from a conductive region with antipad regions; separating antipad regions with a conductive bridge; and tailoring an impedance of the differential pairs. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: determining a distance D1 wherein D1 is a distance between centers of a first via structure and a second via structure; determining a distance D2 wherein D2 is a distance between centers of a first antipad and a second antipad; determining a distance D3 wherein D3 is a shortest distance from the first via structure to the second via structure; and isolating the via structures from the conductive bridge on the power plane with distances D1, D2, and D3. 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: determining a distance D3 wherein D3 is the shortest from the first via structure to the second via structure; determining a distance D4 wherein D4 is a distance from the center of the first via structure to an edge of the first antipad along a first axis parallel to the conductive bridge; determining a distance D5 wherein D5 is a distance from the center of the first via structure to an edge of the first antipad along a second axis perpendicular to the conductive
|
['H01K310' 'H03H738']
|
claim
|
12,497,995
|
[description] This disclosure is directed to memory cells and arrays that have phase-change memory cells stacked in series with a resistive switch, such as a programmable metallization cell, a second phase-change cell, or other resistive cell configured for changing between a high resistance level and a low resistance level. The switch may be a uni-polar or bi-polar switch. The construction of the stacked memory cells allows their isolation from other memory cells in a memory array, inhibiting sneaky currents. In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying set of drawings that form a part hereof and in which are shown by way of illustration several specific embodiments. It is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense. Any definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein and are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes, amounts, and physical properties used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing the teachings disclosed herein. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. FIG. 1 shows a schematic of the memory array consisting of memory storage cells stacked with selective elements. Memory array 10 has a plurality of word lines WL and a plurality of bit lines BL. At the intersection of each of the word lines WL and bit lines BL is a memory storage cell 15. To access (i.e., read, write or erase) a specific memory cell 15, the corresponding bit line BL and word line WL are activated; for example, to access memory cell 15-1, bit line BL-1 and word line WL-1 are activated. To avoid loss of voltage or current from the selected memory cell 15 via the selected bit line BL and selected word line WL (known as “sneaky” voltage or current), non-selected memory cells 15 are inactivated, inhibiting passage of current or voltage there across. To inactivate non-selected memory cells 15, these cells 15 include a selecting element or switch that is set to an “open” configuration, inhibiting and sometimes not allowing sneaky current or voltage to pass through the switch and thus these cells 15. In some embodiments, in the open configuration, the resistance of the switch is high. In accordance with this disclosure, each of the memory cells 15 has a phase-change memory cell stacked in series with a resistive selecting element or switch, such as a programmable metallization cell, a second phase-change cell, or other resistive cell configured for a high resistance level and a low resistance level. FIG. 2 illustrates a phase-change memory cell. Phase change (PC) memory cell 20 of FIG. 2 has a first electrode 22, a second electrode 24 and a phase change material 25 therebetween. Phase change material 25 changes phases between stable crystalline and amorphous states. When in the crystalline phase, PC memory cell 20 has a low resistance, whereas when in the amorphous phase, PC memory cell 20 has a high resistance. In some embodiments, the low resistance state represents a “1” data bit and the high resistance state represents a “0” data bit. Electrodes 22, 24 are electrically conducting and typically composed of at least one electrically conducting metal, metal oxide or metal nitride. In most embodiments, electrode 22 is the same as electrode 24, however, in alternate embodiments, electrode 22 is different than electrode 24. Suitable materials for electrodes 22, 24 include, but are not limited to, copper, silver, gold tungsten, titanium, aluminum, nickel, chromium, oxides thereof, nitrides thereof, and combinations and alloys thereof. Suitable phase change materials 25 for cell 20 include, but are not limited to, binary and ternary compounds of Ge, Sb and Te, and any other materials that possess hysteretic phase change characteristics. The compounds involving Ge, Sb and Te are often referred to as GST compounds or GST materials. A specific example of a suitable material 25 is Ge2Sb2Te5. In some embodiments, phase change material 25 is a chalcogenide material. In its standard phase, a chalcogenide material is in its amorphous state. Upon the application of heat, for example by passing a current therethrough, the chalcogenide material transitions to its crystalline state. The chalcogenide material can be reverted back to its amorphous state by melting, e.g., by the application of a higher heat. In some embodiments, the change between crystalline and amorphous states of material 25 occurs at temperatures of about 200° C. or greater. At ambient temperature (e.g., below 150° C.) both phases are stable. Above the nucleation temperature (Tn) of phase-change material 25 (e.g., about 220° C.), fast nucleation of crystallites occurs. If the material is kept at an appropriate temperature for a sufficient length of time, the material becomes crystalline. To bring material 25 back to its amorphous state, it is necessary to raise the temperature above the melting temperature (Tm) (e.g., about 600° C.) and then cool it off rapidly. It is possible to reach both critical temperatures, nucleation temperature (Tn) and melting temperature (Tm), by causing a current to flow through material 25. In some embodiments, it is also possible to heat beyond the melting temperature and then either quench phase change material 25 quickly or cool it slowly over a longer period of time to attain the crystalline or amorphous state, respectively. FIG.
|
['G11C1100']
|
detailed_description
|
11,129,519
|
Adaptive control system [SEP] [abstract] In an insect lure and trap, a system for generating a carbon dioxide attractant has a combustion chamber in which carbon dioxide is generated by means of an exothermic reaction from a gaseous fuel rich in carbon. A container contains a pressurized supply of said fuel and a supply line connects said container to said combustion chamber. A normally closed valve is included in said supply line. The system includes means for sensing the temperature in said combustion chamber and for generating a control signal representative of said temperature. A controller responsive to said control signal compares said temperature to a reference temperature and opens said valve during selected segments of successive equal time intervals.
|
['A01M106' 'A01M102']
|
abstract
|
11,106,208
|
[summary] The above and other drawbacks and deficiencies are overcome or alleviated by a switch system having a hand-operable switch, the hand-operable switch having a longitudinal axis and including a switching element for providing a control signal to a control box, an activation rod for activating or deactivating the switching element, and an operating portion for moving the activation rod, wherein the operating portion surrounds the activation rod and is hand operable at any circumferential location of the operating portion. In another embodiment, a converter for converting a hand operable switch, having a hand operable operating portion, into a foot operable switch, includes a bottom plate, a first foot pedal section and a second foot pedal section, wherein the first foot pedal section and the second foot pedal section are depressible towards the bottom plate, a first operating portion engagement device in association with the first foot pedal section and a second operating portion engagement device in association with the second foot pedal section, wherein depressing the first foot pedal section pushes the first operating portion engagement device against the operating portion for activating a first switching element within the hand operable switch and wherein depressing the second foot pedal section pushes the second operating portion engagement device against the operating portion for activating a second switching element within the hand operable switch. In yet another embodiment, a hand operable switch includes a longitudinal axis, a housing, a first switching element in the housing for sending a control signal to move a controlled device in a first direction, a second switching element in the housing for sending a control signal to move a controlled device in a second direction, opposite the first direction, and an operating portion movable along the longitudinal axis, wherein movement of the operating portion towards the housing activates the first switching element and movement of the operating portion away from the housing activates the second switching element. The above discussed and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following description and drawings.
|
['H01H300']
|
summary
|
12,132,730
|
[summary] Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure, among others, include scanning ion probe systems, methods of use thereof, scanning ion source systems, methods of use thereof, scanning ion probe mass spectrometry systems, methods of use thereof, methods of simultaneous ion analysis and imaging, and methods of simultaneous mass spectrometry and imaging. One exemplary scanning ion source system, among others, includes: a scanning ion probe and an ion generation chamber including a membrane disposed at a first end of the ion generation chamber and chamber walls interfaced with the membrane, wherein the membrane includes a plurality of orifices through the membrane, and wherein the scanning ion probe is disposed adjacent the membrane. One exemplary method of the disclosure, among others, includes: providing a scanning ion source system; as described herein disposing the scanning ion probe into a sample, wherein the sample includes an electrolyte, and wherein the sample is disposed adjacent a sample electrode; determining a first location in the sample using the scanning ion probe; applying a first voltage to the sample electrode and a second voltage to the membrane; ionizing molecules in the sample to produce a plurality of first ionized molecules, wherein the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage generates a first potential force that drives the first ionized molecules towards the membrane, wherein the first ionized molecules are from the first location; producing a reverse-Taylor-cone of the electrolyte through one or more of the orifices in the membrane, wherein the electrolyte includes the first ionized molecules; and applying a third voltage to an ion generation chamber electrode disposed on a portion of the chamber walls, wherein the difference between the third voltage and the second voltage generates a second potential force that drives the first ionized molecules towards a second end of the ion generation chamber. One exemplary method of the disclosure, among others, includes: disposing a scanning ion probe into a sample, wherein the sample includes an electrolyte, wherein the scanning ion probe is disposed on a first side of a membrane having a plurality of orifices; determining a first location in the sample using the scanning ion probe; ionizing molecules in the first location of the sample to produce a plurality of first ionized molecules, wherein the first ionized molecules are disposed on the first side of the membrane; producing a reverse-Taylor-cone of the electrolyte through one or more of the plurality of orifices in the membrane on a second side of the membrane opposite the scanning ion probe, wherein the electrolyte includes the first ionized molecules; generating de-solvated first ionized molecules from the reverse-Taylor-cone of the electrolyte on the second side of the membrane; and generating a potential force on the second side of the membrane that drives the de-solvated first ionized molecules away from the membrane. One exemplary scanning ion probe system, among others, includes: an array of scanning ion sources. Each scanning ion source includes: a scanning ion probe, and an ion generation chamber including a membrane disposed at a first end of the ion generation chamber and chamber walls interfaced with the membrane, wherein the membrane includes a plurality of orifices through the membrane, and wherein the scanning ion probe is disposed adjacent the membrane. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of this disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of this disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
|
['G01N2300']
|
summary
|
11,640,828
|
[summary] One aspect of this invention relates to an improved bleaching process for bleaching pulp comprising at least one bleaching stage which comprises treating a hardwood pulp with a bleaching agent comprising ClO2 in the presence of a weak base such as, for example, Mg(OH) 2 preferably at pH from about 3.5 to about 6.5. Another aspect of this invention relates to an improved bleaching process comprising at least one extraction stage and at least one bleaching stage wherein the least one bleaching stage comprises bleaching bleaching a hardwood pulp with a bleaching agent comprising ClO2 in the presence of a weak base, as for example, Mg(OH) 2 preferably at pH of about 3.5 to about 6.5. A further aspect of the present invention relates to an improved bleaching process for bleaching pulp having two or more bleaching stages, at least one of which and preferably two of which comprises treating a pulp with a bleaching agent comprising ClO2 in the presence of a weak base such as Mg(OH) 2 . Yet another aspect of this invention relates to an improved bleaching process for bleaching pulp comprising a bleaching sequence selected from the group consisting of the formula: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? Three-stage bleaching sequence: D o ED 1 where E can be E, Eo, Ep, or Eop in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? Four-stage bleaching sequence: D o ED 1 D 2 where E can be E, Eo, Ep, or Eop in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? Four-stage bleaching sequence: D o ED 1 P where E can be E, Eo, Ep, or Eop in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? Five-stage bleaching sequence: D o E 1 D 1 E 2 D o where El can be E, Eo, Ep, or Eop and E 2 can be in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"? Ep with interstage washing and wherein: in-line-formulae description="In-line Formulae" end="tail"? D is a stage in which a pulp is treated with a bleaching agent comprising ClO2. The first D o stage is a delignification stage. The second and third D 1 and D 2 stages are the bleaching stages comprising ClO2 in the presence of Mg(OH) 2 at pH from about 3.5 to about 6.5. E is an extraction stage, where E can be E, Eo, Ep, Eop. The extraction stage Eo is defined as treating the pulp with oxygen in presence of a base. The extraction stage E is defined as treating the pulp in the presence of a base. The extraction stage Ep is defined as treating the pulp with peroxide in presence of a base. The extraction stage Eop is defined as treating the pulp with oxygen and peroxide in presence of a base. The process of the present invention provides one or more advantages over prior processes for brightening bleached pulps. For example, advantages of some of the embodiments of the process of this invention include 1) improve bleaching efficiency which is defined as brightness development per unit of ClO 2 , 2) reducing the bleaching cost, 3) high pulp brightness and brightness stability, 4) improve pulp cleanliness, 5) a combination of two or more of the aforementioned advantages. Mg(OH) 2 is more effective than NaOH in raising D 1 pH and gives better results in both brightness development and dirt removal in the D1 stage at the same pH basis. Unlike NaOH, Mg(OH) 2 is a weaker base and provides a pH buffer effect, which helps pH uniformity and stability in the D1 tower compared with NaOH. The ability of Mg(OH) 2 to achieve a higher pH and better pH uniformity and stability than NaOH is the basis for the improved D 1 performance with Mg(OH) 2 . Some embodiments of this invention may exhibit one of the aforementioned advantages while other preferred embodiments may exhibit two or more of the foregoing advantages in any combination.
|
['D21C900']
|
summary
|
12,409,791
|
[description] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary implementation of an engine system according to the principles of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary implementation of an engine control module according to the principles of the present disclosure; and FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting exemplary steps performed in the engine control module.
|
['F02D4500']
|
detailed_description
|
12,325,994
|
[invention] 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to ink cartridges configured to be used in an image recording apparatus, and methods of manufacturing such ink cartridges. More specifically, the present invention relates to ink cartridges comprising an elastic member and a cap surrounding the elastic member, and methods of manufacturing such ink cartridges. 2. Description of Related Art A known ink-jet image recording apparatus has a recording head and an ink supply device configured to supply ink to the recording head. A known ink cartridge is configured to be mounted to the ink supply device. The known ink cartridge has a case, and the case has an ink chamber formed therein. The ink chamber is configured to store ink therein. The case has an ink supply portion, and ink is supplied from an interior of the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber via the ink supply portion. When the known ink cartridge is mounted to the ink supply device, ink stored in the ink chamber is supplied to the recording head via the ink supply portion. The recording head is configured to selectively eject ink toward a sheet of paper, such that an image is recorded on the sheet. Another known ink cartridge, such as the ink cartridge described in JP-A-2007-144808, has an ink supply portion having a tube-shaped wall extending from a particular face of a case of the ink cartridge. The another known ink cartridge also has an elastic member positioned at the end of the tube-shaped wall. The elastic member has an opening formed therein. When the another known ink cartridge is mounted to the ink supply device, an ink tube of the ink supply device is inserted into the opening of the elastic member. When this occurs, the elastic member elastically deforms and contacts the outer surface of the ink tube liquid-tightly. The another known ink cartridge also has a cap, and the elastic member is sandwiched between the end of the tube-shaped wall and the cap while the elastic member is elastically deformed. The cap has an end wall having an opening formed therein, and a peripheral wall covering a portion of the elastic member and a portion of the tube-shaped wall. When the another known ink cartridge is mounted to the ink supply device, the ink tube is inserted into the opening of the cap and then into the opening of the elastic member. The another known ink cartridge has protrusions extending from the outer surface of the tube-shape wall in radial directions of tube-shaped wall. The peripheral wall of the cap has openings formed therethrough. The protrusions of the ink cartridge are fitted in the openings of the peripheral wall of the cap, respectively, such that the cap is attached to the tube-shaped wall. The peripheral wall of the cap also has slits formed therethrough, and the slits extend in the axial direction of the tube-shaped wall. Because the protrusions extend in the radial directions of tube-shaped wall, the peripheral wall of the cap deforms, such that the diameter thereof increases in the radial directions of tube-shaped wall during the process of attaching the cap to the tube-shaped wall. Nevertheless, the elastic member may be elastically deformed while being sandwiched between the end of the tube-shaped wall and the cap, such that a portion of the elastic member moves into the openings of the peripheral wall of the cap. Consequently, the elastic member may be deformed unevenly. When the ink tube is inserted into the opening of the elastic member, the contact between the elastic member and the outer surface of the ink tube may not be liquid-tight because of the uneven deformation of the elastic member. In such a case, ink may leak between the elastic member and the ink tube. Moreover, the cap may deform unevenly during the process of attaching the cap to the tube-shaped wall because of the slit formed in the peripheral wall of the cap. This also may cause the uneven deformation of the elastic member.
|
['B41J2175']
|
background
|
12,472,033
|
[description] The present disclosure provides multilayered nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices with adaptive control schemes in accordance with the following exemplary figures, in which: FIG. 1 shows a schematic graphical diagram of a program (PGM) pulse for a multilayered nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment multilayered nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the lookup matrix of FIG. 2 in greater detail, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a block group set implementation in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of a lookup matrix with block groups in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of a first block grouping example in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of a second block grouping example in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 shows a schematic block diagram of a third block grouping example in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 shows a schematic block diagram of a fourth block grouping example in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 10 shows a schematic flow diagram of a control method for lookup matrix setup in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 11 shows a schematic flow diagram of a memory cell programming method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 12 shows a schematic flow diagram of a memory cell erase method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 13 shows a schematic flow diagram of a memory cell read method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 14 shows a schematic graphical diagram of an incremental step pulse programming (ISPP) signal in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 15 shows a schematic block diagram of a second embodiment multilayered nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 16 shows a schematic block diagram of the lookup matrix of FIG. 15 in greater detail, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 17 shows a schematic graphical diagram of an incremental step pulse programming (ISPP) signal in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 18 shows a schematic graphical diagram of the threshold voltage (Vth) distribution resulting from the incremental step pulse programming (ISPP) signal of FIG. 17 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
|
['G11C1604' 'G11C1606']
|
detailed_description
|
11,187,506
|
[description] This invention is based on the idea of using an algorithm to manage the issuance of virtual import/export element addresses (VIEEAs). The invention disclosed herein may be implemented as a method, apparatus or article of manufacture using standard programming or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein refers to code or logic implemented in hardware or computer readable media such as optical storage devices, and volatile or non-volatile memory devices. Such hardware may include, but is not limited to, field programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”), application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), complex programmable logic devices (“CPLDs”), programmable logic arrays (“PLAs”), microprocessors, or other similar processing devices. Referring to figures, wherein like parts are designated with the same reference numerals and symbols, FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates aspects of an exemplary storage area network (“SAN”) 99, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The SAN 99 is designed as a switched-access-network, wherein switches 67 are used to create a switching fabric 66. In this embodiment of the invention, the SAN 99 is implemented using Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) protocol running over a Fibre Channel (“FC”) physical layer. However, the SAN 99 could be implemented utilizing other protocols, such as Infiniband, FICON, TCP/IP, Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, or iSCSI. The switches 67 have the addresses of both the hosts 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and storage units 90, 92, 94, 96. Host computers 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 are connected to the fabric 66 utilizing I/O interfaces 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 respectively to fabric 66. I/O interfaces 71-75 may be any type of I/O interface; for example, a FC loop, a direct attachment to fabric 66 or one or more signal lines used by host computers 71-75 to transfer information respectfully to and from fabric 66. Fabric 66 includes, for example, one or more FC switches 67 used to connect two or more computer networks. In one embodiment, FC switch 67 is a conventional router switch. Switch 67 interconnects host computers 61-65 to storage 90, 92, 94, and 96 across respective I/O interfaces 76-79. I/O interfaces 76-79 may be any type of I/O interface, for example, a Fibre Channel, Infiniband, Gigabit Ethernet, Ethernet, TCP/IP, iSCSI,
|
['G06F1200']
|
detailed_description
|
11,842,729
|
[claim] 1. An additive package composition comprising: a diluent; a hydrocarbyl substituted triazole compound; and an amide formed by reacting an amine compound chosen from guanidines, ureas and thioureas with a C5 to C60 aliphatic carboxylic acid, with the proviso that the triazole compound is not an alkyl bis-3-amino-1,2,4-triazole or an oleyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-amine. 2. The additive package composition of claim 1, wherein the triazole compound is a 1,2,4-triazole compound. 3. The additive package composition of claim 2, wherein the 1,2,4-triazole compound is a compound of formula I: where R1, R2 and R3 are independently chosen from a hydrogen atom and a hydrocarbyl group having at least 3 carbon atoms. 4. The additive package composition of claim 3, wherein R1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbyl group, and where R2 and R3 are hydrogen atoms. 5. The additive package composition of claim 1, wherein the triazole compound is a compound of the formula II, where R′ and R″ are independently chosen from hydrogen and a C2 to C50 linear or branched alkyl group, with the proviso that at least one of R′ and R″ is not hydrogen. 6. The additive package composition of claim 5, wherein the amine is a compound of the general formulae III, or salts thereof: where X is NR5, O or S, wherein R5 is H or C1 to C15 hydrocarbyl; and R4 is H, —NR7R8 or C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl or hydroxyl-substituted hydrocarbyl, wherein R7 and R8 can be the same or different and are H or C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl or hydroxyl-substituted hydrocarbyl. 7. The additive package composition of claim 5, wherein R′ and R″ are independently chosen from C4 to C12 linear or branched alkyl groups. 8. The additive package composition of claim 7, wherein the amine compound is a salt of aminoguanidine and the aliphatic carboxylic acid is a C16 to C26 fatty acid. 9. The additive package composition of claim 7, wherein the amine compound is aminoguanidine bicarbonate and the aliphatic carboxylic acid is oleic acid. 10. The additive package composition of claim 1, wherein the amine is a compound of the general formulae III, or salts thereof: where X is NR5, O or S, wherein R5 is H or C1 to C15 hydrocarbyl; and R4 is H, —NR7R8 or C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl or hydroxyl-substituted hydrocarbyl, wherein R7 and R8 can be the same or different and are H or C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl or hydroxyl-substituted hydrocarbyl. 11. The additive package composition of claim 1, wherein the amine compound is a salt of aminoguanidine and the aliphatic carboxylic acid is a C16 to C26 fatty acid. 12. The additive package composition of claim 1, wherein the amine compound is aminoguanidine bicarbonate and the aliphatic carboxylic acid is oleic acid. 13. The additive package composition of claim 1, wherein the triazole compound is present in an amount ranging from about 400 ppmw or greater, and the amide is present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt. % to about 15 wt. %. 14. The additive package composition of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional additives chosen from dispersants, detergents, anti-wear agents, supplemental antioxidants, viscosity index improvers, pour point depressants, corrosion inhibitors, rust inhibitors, foam inhibitors, anti-swell agents and friction modifiers. 15. A lubricant composition comprising: a major amount of a base oil; and a minor amount of a hydrocarbyl substituted triazole compound and an amide formed by reacting an amine compound chosen from guanidines, ureas and thioureas with a C5 to C60 aliphatic carboxylic acid, with the proviso that the triazole compound is not an alkyl bis-3-amino-1,2,4-triazole or an oleyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-amine. 16. The lubricant of claim 15, wherein the triazole compound is a 1,2,4-triazole compound. 17. The lubricant of claim 16, wherein the 1,2,4-triazole compound is a compound of formula l: where R1, R2 and R3 are independently chosen from a hydrogen atom and a hydrocarbyl group having at least 3 carbon atoms. 18. The lubricant of claim 17, wherein R1 is a linear, or branched hydrocarbyl group, and where R2 and R3 are hydrogen atoms. 19. The lubricant of claim 15, wherein the triazole compound is a compound of the formula II, where R′ and R″ are independently chosen from hydrogen and a C2 to C50 linear or branched alkyl group, with the proviso that at least one of R′ and R″ is not hydrogen. 20. The lubricant of claim 19, wherein R′ and R″ are independently chosen from C4 to C12 linear or branched alkyl groups. 21. The lubricant of claim 15, wherein the amine is a compound of the general formulae III, or salts thereof: where X is NR5, O or S, wherein R5 is H or C1 to C15 hydrocarbyl; and R4 is H, —NR7R8 or C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl or hydroxyl-substituted hydrocarbyl, wherein R7 and R8 can be the same or different and are H or C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl or hydroxyl-substituted hydrocarbyl. 22. The lubricant of claim 15, wherein the amine compound is a salt of aminoguanidine and the aliphatic carboxylic acid is a C16 to C26 fatty acid. 23. The lubricant of claim 15, wherein the amine compound is aminoguanidine bicarbonate and the aliphatic carboxylic acid is oleic acid. 24. The lubricant of claim 15, wherein the triazole compound is present in an amount ranging from about 50 ppmw to about 20,000 ppmw and the amide is present in an amount ranging from about 0.5 wt. % to about 5 wt. %, relative to the total weight of the composition. 25. The lubricant of claim 15, further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of dispersants, anti-wear agents, antioxidants, friction modifiers, anti-foam agents, pour point depressants and viscosity index improvers. 26. A method of improving lead corrosion protection of a lubricant composition, the method comprising: providing to a machine a lubricant composition of claim 15, wherein the lubricant composition provides improved lead corrosion protection as compared to the same composition that does not contain both the hydrocarbyl substituted triazole compound and the
|
['C10M13344']
|
claim
|
12,570,265
|
AIRFOIL SHAPE [SEP] [abstract] An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in a table. The table selected from the TABLE. Wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
|
['F01D514' 'F01D902']
|
abstract
|
11,725,952
|
[description] Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A liquid crystal display (LCD) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a lower substrate, an upper substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the lower and upper substrates. In the lower substrate, electrodes intersect each other to apply a voltage to the liquid crystal layer, and pixels are defined by the electrodes. FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of a pixel area formed in a lower substrate of a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2A through 2C are cross-sectional views taken along lines I-I′, II-II′ and III-III′ of FIG. 1, respectively. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C, in the FFS, mode LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a gate line 120 and a data line 150 are arranged to intersect each other on a lower substrate 100; a thin film transistor (TFT) is arranged at an intersection between the gate line 120 and the data line 150 as a switching element; and a transparent common electrode 110 and a transparent pixel electrode 170 including a plurality of slits having a predetermined angle with respect to the gate line 120 are arranged in a unit pixel area defined by the gate line 120 and the data line 150, and are spaced apart from each other with an interlayer insulating layer 160 interposed therebetween. In FIG. 1, the transparent common electrode 110 is manufactured in a plate shape, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, the transparent common electrode 110 may include a plurality of slits. FIG. 2D illustrates only the transparent common electrode 110, the transparent pixel electrode 170 and the data line 150 in the FFS mode LCD. Here, the slits of the transparent pixel electrode 170 have a predetermined angle θ with respect to the gate line 120. Further, the transparent common electrode 110 and the transparent pixel electrode 170 are insulated from each other by the interlayer insulating layer 160. Also, a gate insulating layer 130 is provided between the gate line 120 and an active layer 140. Meanwhile, a common bus line 122 parallel to the gate line 120 is arranged in a pixel edge part spaced from the gate line 120. The common bus line 122 is electrically connected to the transparent common electrode 110 and continuously transmits a common signal to the transparent electrode 110. Above the lower substrate 100, the upper substrate 200 is provided spaced from the lower substrate 100 by a predetermined distance. The upper substrate 200 includes a light shielding region 205, a color filter (not shown) and an overcoat 220. The upper substrate 200 is adhered to the lower substrate 100 with a liquid crystal layer (not shown) having a plurality of liquid crystal molecules interposed therebetween. A manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C. First, a transparent conductive layer is deposited on a lower substrate 100 and then patterned to form a transparent common electrode 110. Then, an opaque metal is deposited on the transparent common electrode 110 and then patterned to form a gate line on one side of the transparent common electrode 110, and a common bus line 122 is formed to partially cover the transparent common electrode 110 (refer to FIG. 2B) A gate insulating layer 130 is deposited on the entire surface of the lower substrate 100 having the patterned transparent common electrode 110, the gate line 120 and the common bus line 122. Then, an a-Si layer and an n+ a-Si layer are successively deposited on the gate insulating layer 130 above the gate line 120 and patterned to form an active layer 140. Further, a metal layer is deposited on the entire surface of the lower substrate 100 having the patterned active layer 140, and then patterned to form a data line 150 and a source-drain electrode 152. An interlayer insulating layer 160 is deposited on the lower substrate 100 having the data line 150 and the source-drain electrode 152. Then, a contact hole CN is formed to partially expose the source-drain electrode 152, and a transparent conductive layer is deposited on the interlayer insulating layer 160. At this time, the transparent conductive layer is patterned to connect the source-drain electrode 152 and a transparent pixel electrode 170 through the contact hole CN and to form the transparent pixel electrode 170 having a slit shape. In addition, a light shielding region 205 is formed on an upper substrate 200 corresponding to the pixel area. According to the present embodiment, the light shielding region 205 is formed on the upper substrate 200 corresponding to only a switching element. According to the related art, the light shielding region is formed above the gate line 120 and the data line 150. However, in this embodiment, the light shielding region is not formed on the upper substrate 200 corresponding to the data line 150 and/or the gate line 120. It can be easily appreciated that an aperture ratio increases as the light shielding region decreases. Further, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a structure that the light shielding region is not formed above the data line will be described below. In the FFS mode LCD of this embodiment, the transparent common electrode 110 and the transparent pixel electrode 170 including a plurality of slits control the alignment of the liquid crystal layer (not shown), thereby controlling the light transmittance of the LCD in the unit of a pixel. Further, in the FFS mode LCD, there is no light shielding region on the upper substrate 200 above the data line 150 to enhance the aperture ratio. The light shielding region (e.g., black matrix) is used for preventing transmission of the light in the area where the
|
['G02F11343']
|
detailed_description
|
12,053,184
|
[invention] 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to the art of drilling devices, and in particular to portable drilling devices for use in boring horizontally through the soil beneath an impediment. More particularly, the invention relates to a drilling device for boring a horizontally-extending hole beneath an impediment, such as a cement slab, sidewalk or driveway, the presence of which makes direct vertical trenching impossible, in order to more easily lay pipes, electrical conduits and the like, beneath the impediment. 2. Background Art Often times it becomes necessary to lay pipe, electrical conduits and the like, in the soil or substrate beneath an impediment, such as a driveway or a sidewalk. Typically, this is necessary when sprinkler systems, outdoor lighting, or other utility improvements such as security systems or landscape lighting are to be installed at locations where a sidewalk or driveway is already in place. Direct vertical trenching through the sidewalk or driveway in order to lay the pipe or conduit in the soil beneath the impediment would require that the sidewalk or driveway be broken apart, which adds additional costs and delays because the sidewalk or driveway must then be repaired after the pipe or conduit has been laid. Moreover, the sidewalk or driveway cannot be readily used during the time of trenching or during a usually extended period after the repair to the sidewalk or driveway is completed, because generally the repair of the sidewalk or driveway will need extended periods to set-up or cure so that normal use can be continued again. Prior art methods and devices for horizontal drilling have generally been used in these types of situations. In one such prior art method, a trench is dug into the soil on both sides of the impediment, such as a sidewalk, and then a connection is made between the two trenches. This can be carried out by hand digging through the soil beneath the impediment, using picks and shovels; or by directing a stream of high pressure water at the soil beneath the impediment. This connection can also be carried out by utilizing a longitudinally extending blunt instrument, such as a pipe, that is driven through the soil beneath the sidewalk and which is then removed to leave a horizontally-extending hole through the soil beneath the sidewalk. This method can be particularly difficult because as the diameter of the blunt instrument increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to force or drive the instrument through the soil beneath the sidewalk or driveway, All of the aforementioned methods and devices for horizontal drilling are time consuming and involve a certain amount of difficulty. More particularly, in the case of the high pressure water technique, there is always the problem of drainage for or pump removal of the accumulated water, not to mention the possibility of erosion of the surrounding soil or substrate adjacent the bore which could result in a fracture or cave-in of the sidewalk which is above the horizontally-extending hole being drilled. Still other more complicated prior art devices have been utilized in order to drill a horizontally-extending hole in the soil beneath an impediment. One such prior art device includes an auger that is mounted on a large vehicle, such as a skidsteer or tractor. This particular device is typically operated using hydraulics and, it is therefore, quite complex and expensive. Moreover, because it is typically mounted on a large vehicle, such as a skidsteer or tractor, it is difficult to use the device where space around the sidewalk or the driveway is limited, such as where the sidewalk is located in close proximity to an existing structure like a house or a barn. More particularly, where space is limited adjacent the impediment, it may be extremely difficult if not impossible to maneuver the skidsteer or tractor into position in order to horizontally drill beneath the impediment. Furthermore, because of the large size of the skidsteer or tractor, this particular device can also cause unnecessary damage to surrounding lawns and/or landscaping and the like. Because any damage to surrounding lawn and landscaping must be repaired in order to return the location to its prior condition, this particular drilling device adds unnecessary costs and expenses to the operation. Yet still other prior art devices have been utilized in order to drill a horizontally-extending hole through the substrate beneath impediments. One such other prior art device includes an auger that is operatively connected to a wiggle-joint and a power source and is manufactured by Little Beaver, Inc. More particularly, this prior art device has a power source that is located on a small cart which is operatively connected to a hand-held auger that is held by the operator and which controls the rotation of the auger. More particularly, the handle/control is operatively connected to a drive shaft that is connected to a wiggle joint which is in turn operatively connected to an auger bit. The auger bit is typically about 5 feet in length. In order to operate this prior art drilling device, the operator is required to dig a six-foot long trench perpendicular to one side of the impediment along with a smaller trench directly opposite the long trench. The auger bit is then placed in the six-foot long trench and the power source is switched on. The power source rotates the drive shaft, wiggle-joint, and the auger bit, in order to drill horizontally below the impediment. As the auger bit is rotated, the operator pushes the device in the direction of the impediment in order to force the auger bit horizontally beneath the impediment. Once the small trench on the opposite side of the impediment is reached by the distal end of the auger bit, the operator then pulls the auger bit away from the impediment, leaving a horizontally-extending hole through the substrate beneath the impediment. This particular prior art device can be difficult to use because assembly of the various pieces of the device is required prior to operation. Moreover, because the
|
['E21B708']
|
background
|
12,634,720
|
HIGH VISIBILITY SAFETY ORANGE WITH REDUCED VISIBILITY TO DEER AND OTHER DICHROMATIC ANIMALS [SEP] [abstract] The present invention relates to a material with high visibility to humans and low visibility to deer and other dichromatic animals, and a method for making the same. The color “Safety Orange” emits and reflects light at the long visible wavelengths of 595-605 nm, which are conspicuous to humans and largely unseen by dichromates. Common manufacturing and laundering practices cause existing Safety Orange products to also emit strongly at 455 nm and 496 nm, the peak sensitivity of deer blue cones and deer rods respectively. The present invention differentially reduces light emission and reflection at wavelengths below 500 nm for decreased visibility to dichromatic animals. This differential reduction preferably incorporates a pattern, such as a camouflage pattern, to further reduce visibility to deer. This pattern is preferably visible to dichromates while remaining largely invisible to humans.
|
['B32B702' 'F21V906']
|
abstract
|
12,071,545
|
Cylinder head gasket [SEP] [abstract] A cylinder head gasket for an open deck engine includes a first metal plate having a base portion and a folded portion, and a second metal plate having a first half bead provided between inner and outer portions and extending in a direction away from the base portion. An annular bead plate with a first full bead is provided on the inner portion. An intermediate plate is provided between the outer portion of the second metal plate and the base portion of the first metal plate. The intermediate plate has a second half bead extending toward the base portion of the first metal plate. The inner periphery of the second half bead is located on or along an outer-periphery of the cylinder portion.
|
['F02F1100']
|
abstract
|
12,347,254
|
Blank Mask and Method for Fabricating the Same [SEP] [abstract] A blank mask includes a pattern target layer formed over a transparent substrate and a self-assembly monolayer disposed over and modifying the surface of a back side of the transparent substrate opposite to the pattern target layer.
|
['G03F100']
|
abstract
|
12,242,833
|
[description] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a polarity of a display panel with column inversion in the prior art. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an LCD according to an embodiment of the present invention.
|
['G09G336']
|
detailed_description
|
11,347,255
|
[summary] The present invention provides an optical scanning imaging system capable of improving resolution without increasing the size of a scanning surface. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical scanning imaging system including: an illumination system emitting an imaging beam; a scanner scanning the beam incident from the illumination system; a non-linear optical element made of a material having a Kerr effect and forming a lens automatically aligned while following a path of the imaging beam scanned by the scanner; and a pumping light source causing non-linear optical refractive index change forming a lens in the non-linear optical element while following the path of the imaging beam by activating the non-linear optical element. The non-linear optical element may have a shape following an arc of a circle whose center coincides with a center of an axis of the scanner. The illumination system may be a laser illumination system using a laser light source. The illumination system may be formed to emit a plurality of laser beams for each wavelength including R, G, and B laser beams modulated according to an image signal through a single optical path. The pumping light source may be a laser light source. A pumping beam emitted from the pumping light source may be incident to the scanner through the same optical path as that of the imaging beam. The pumping light source may emit a pumping beam having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the imaging beam emitted from the illumination system. The system may further include a pumping beam modulator disposed on a path of a pumping beam emitted from the pumping light source and modulating an intensity of the pumping beam so as to adjust a focal length of the lens formed by the non-linear optical element. An optical scanning imaging system including at least one of the above-described characteristics may be applied to an optical scanning apparatus. An optical scanning imaging system including at least one of the above-described characteristics may be applied to a projection apparatus so as to form a projection image.
|
['H01J314']
|
summary
|
11,072,482
|
[claim] 1. An article comprising a cover for a canister, wherein said cover comprises: a main region; and a marginal region, wherein: (i) said cover couples to said canister at said marginal region; (ii) said marginal region completely surrounds said main region; and (iii) said cover has a physical adaptation that causes it fragment in said marginal region or at an interface of said main region and said marginal region, but not in said main region, when exposed to a first pressure. 2. The article of claim 1 wherein said physical adaptation is that said marginal region is thinner than said main region. 3. The article of claim 1 wherein said physical adaptation is that said marginal region comprises a first material and said main region comprises a second material, wherein said first material fractures under exposure to pressure before said second material. 4. The article of claim 1 wherein said physical adaptation is a pre-stressed interface between said marginal region and said main region. 5. The article of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a single layer of a homogenous material. 6. The article of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a single layer of a composite material. 7. The article of claim 1 further comprising a physical adaptation that enables said cover to resist pressure equally at all locations along said marginal region. 8. The article of claim 7 wherein said physical adaptation comprises a ridge, wherein said ridge is disposed on an inside surface of said cover. 9. The article of claim 8 wherein said ridge is disposed in said main region, and further wherein said marginal region and said ridge are concentric. 10. The article of claim 8 wherein said ridge is disposed in said main region within 2 inches of a wall of said canister. 11. The article of claim 7 wherein said main region comprises a first material, and further wherein said ridge comprises said first material. 12. The article of claim 1 wherein said marginal region completely overlies a wall of said canister. 13. The article of claim 1 further comprising said canister. 14. The article of claim 13 further comprising a missile, wherein said missile is disposed within said canister. 15. An article comprising a cover for a canister, wherein said cover comprises: a main region, wherein said main region comprises a single layer of a first material, and further wherein said main region has a first thickness; a marginal region, wherein said marginal region depends from, and surrounds, said main region, and wherein said cover is coupled to said canister at said marginal region, and wherein said marginal region comprises said single layer of said first material, and further wherein said marginal region has second thickness; and wherein: said second thickness is thinner than said first thickness; and said marginal region is supported from below by a wall of said canister. 16. The article of claim 15 wherein a ring-shaped portion of said main region depends from an inside surface of said cover. 17. An article comprising a cover for a canister, wherein said cover comprises a unitary layer of material and a first physical adaptation that causes said cover to fracture into: (i) a relatively larger first piece that does not remain coupled to said canister; and (ii) a relatively smaller, ring-shaped, second piece that remains coupled to said canister, wherein said cover fractures on exposure to a first pressure, but only when said first pressure is an internal canister pressure, not an external pressure. 18. The article of claim 17 wherein said physical adaptation is that said cover comprises a main region and a marginal region, and wherein said marginal region encircles said main region, and wherein said marginal region is thinner than said main region, and further wherein said marginal region overlies a wall of said canister. 19. The article of claim 18 wherein said cover comprises a second physical adaptation, wherein said second physical adaptation enables said cover to resist pressure equally at all locations along said marginal region. 20. The article of claim 17 further comprising said canister.
|
['F41F500']
|
claim
|
12,298,611
|
Wound Closure Adhesive Remover [SEP] [abstract] A kit for storing and applying an adhesive removing device comprising an enclosure which includes a base portion and a removable top layer releasably secured to the base portion; an adhesive removing device including at least one wiping mechanism which includes at least one absorbent portion; and a biocompatible composition including a solvent and a moisturizing agent embedded in the absorbent portion of the wiping mechanism. A method for storing and applying an adhesive removing device comprises a series of steps for using the adhesive removing device to remove an adhesive from a surface.
|
['A61B1900' 'A61M3500' 'B65B4340']
|
abstract
|
11,293,253
|
[invention] The present invention relates to golf clubs and, in particular, to fairway woods. The invention especially relates to fairway woods having a head comprised of a stainless steel body and a titanium front face. Fairway woods are known whose head includes a titanium alloy faceplate attached to a stainless steel body. The use of titanium alloy for the faceplate reduces the weight of the club head, enabling faster head speed to be attained, as well as enabling the front face to perform a spring action for increased distance. As shown in FIG. 9 , it is also known to employ a titanium alloy faceplate 30 of variable thickness whose center region is thicker than the outer peripheral portion thereof. That enables the club face to perform an enhanced spring action which further increases the distance of a fairway shot. It is known to attach such a variable thickness faceplate to the body by a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding along the thin outer peripheral portion of the faceplate at a location spaced from the upper and lower edges 31 , 32 of the club face. The welding action causes the welded part of the thin peripheral portion to loose its beneficial flexibility. Since the height of the faceplate is relatively short, even a partial loss of flexibility has a significant adverse effect on the overall springiness of the faceplate. It is also known that optimum directional accuracy of a wood shot can be attained when impact occurs at the center sweet spot of the club face, but that an off-center hit which is offset toward the toe or heel of the club, can cause the club to twist, thereby causing the shot to hook or slice. Therefore, it would be desirable to minimize or obviate the above-described disadvantages and provide a fairway wood that is capable of producing longer and more accurate golf shots, even in the case of an off-center hit. It would also be desirable to provide a fairway wood that is more forgiving of off-center hits. It would be further desirable to provide a fairway wood that reduces backspin and increases the elevation of a struck ball. It would moreover be desirable to provide a fairway wood that can more easily become airborne at the start of the backswing.
|
['A63B5300']
|
background
|
12,646,465
|
[claim] 1. A method comprising: detecting when data communicated upon a reverse data channel exceeds a predetermined target level data rate; in response to the data communicated upon the reverse data channel exceeding the predetermined target level data rate, generating a supplemental pilot signal on a reverse supplemental pilot channel increasing total pilots power; transmitting the data on the reverse data channel; and transmitting control signals on a reverse pilot channel and the reverse supplemental pilot channel, wherein a power level of the reverse pilot channel is a smallest level possible to permit coherent demodulation of the data communicated upon the reverse data channel. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a traffic-to-pilot (T/P) ratio of the reverse data channel is independent of a data rate in the reverse data channel. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a traffic-to-pilot (T/P) ratio of the reverse data channel is set according to a reverse data channel data rate of a prior frame of data. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the power level of the reverse pilot channel is constant. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein a change in the power level of the reverse pilot channel is delayed following a data rate change of the data communicated upon the reverse data channel. 6. A method comprising: receiving data on a reverse data channel; and receiving control signals on a reverse pilot channel and a reverse supplemental pilot channel, wherein the reverse supplemental pilot channel is generated in response to the data communicated upon the reverse data channel exceeding a predetermined target level data rate, and wherein a power level of the reverse supplemental pilot channel is responsive to a data rate at which the data is sent upon the reverse data channel and a power level of the reverse pilot channel is a smallest level possible to permit coherent demodulation of the data communicated upon the reverse data channel. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reverse pilot channel is formed of a first portion of length 1152 chips and a 384 chip-length reverse power control subchannel. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the reverse pilot channel includes a reverse fast indication subchannel to provide a base station with an indication of a data rate change at an earliest possible time. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein selected power control bits of the reverse power control subchannel are punctured with values that define the reverse fast rate indication subchannel. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein a pilot signal generator functions as a rate indication generator that generates rate indications that indicate a data rate that is inserted into the reverse fast indication subchannel. 11. The method of claim 6, wherein the reverse supplemental pilot channel is formed of a first portion of length 1152 chips and a 384 chip-length reverse pilot control subchannel. 12. A method comprising: receiving data on a reverse data channel; and receiving control signals on a reverse pilot channel and a reverse supplemental pilot channel, wherein the reverse supplemental pilot channel is generated in response to the data communicated upon the reverse data channel exceeding a predetermined target level data rate, and wherein during a second time frame following a data rate change on the reverse data channel, adjusting an outer loop power control threshold to an initial target outer loop power control threshold of a new data rate. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reverse pilot channel and reverse supplemental pilot channel signals are unmodulated. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the reverse pilot channel and reverse supplemental pilot channel signals are modulated by a pseudodeterminative sequence. 15. An apparatus comprising: a transmitter circuit configured to transmit data to a mobile station; a receiver circuit configured to receive data and control signals from the mobile station; a frame error rate (FER) estimator configured to estimate the FER of the data received by the receiver circuit; and an outer loop power control configured to compare the FER of the received data with a target FER to set an outer loop power level. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a decoder configured to decode the data received by the receiver circuit. 17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a signal-to-noise estimator configured to estimate a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the data received by the receiver circuit. 18. An apparatus comprising: a pilot signal generator configured to generate a second pilot signal providing extra power supplementing a first pilot signal that corresponds to a reverse traffic channel in a radio communication system, the second pilot signal generated by said pilot signal generator to supplement signal energy of the first pilot signal responsive to data communicated upon the reverse traffic channel exhibiting a data rate that exceeds a selected target level wherein the reverse traffic channel comprises: a pilot channel for carrying pilot signals; a data channel for carrying data; a reverse rate indicator channel for carrying an indicator of a data rate change to a base station; and an auxiliary pilot channel for carrying auxiliary pilot signals when the reverse traffic channel exhibits the data rate that exceeds the selected target level.
|
['H04B7216' 'H04L1226']
|
claim
|
12,524,786
|
[claim] 1. A support frame for producing a dental workpiece, the frame having a Z axis and comprising wall sections defining a through hole that extends along the Z axis through the frame, wherein at least one of the wall sections comprises an adhesive-directing surface extending along the Z axis in a non-parallel relationship. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive-directing surface extends along the Z axis in a non-parallel relationship and thereby diverges by at least 2 mm from the Z axis. 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive-directing surface is non-parallel to the Z axis and has a tangent that is angled relative to the Z axis by at least 5 degrees. 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wall segment forms a fixation wall for affixing a blank within the through-hole. 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the fixation wall further comprises a bonding zone adjacent the adhesive-directing surface. 6. A device according to claim 1, further comprising the blank, wherein the blank is affixed at the fixation wall by adhesive bond with at least the bonding zone. 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive-directing surface provides at least a part of the through-hole that narrows from an exterior towards an interior of the through hole. 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive-directing surface due to its shape is adapted to direct a flowable adhesive received on the adhesive-directing surface toward the bonding zone and thereby toward the blank. 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the adhesive-directing surface is at least partially convex. 10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the adhesive-directing surface comprises a beveled portion. 11. A device according to claim 6, having two opposing fixation walls each having an adhesive-directing surface and a bonding zone for affixation to two surfaces of the blank. 12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the blank is affixed at the bonding zones of the opposing fixation walls by an adhesive. 13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the through-hole has a cross-section of a generally rectangular shape. 14. A device according to claim 6, wherein a projection (P) of the blank in a direction of the Z axis onto a plane perpendicular to the Z axis is generally rectangular. 15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the projection (P) in at least one of its dimensions is smaller than the space between the bonding zones of the fixation walls. 16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the projection (P) is smaller by between 0.5 to 1.5 mm than the space between the bonding zones of the fixation walls. 17. A device according to claim 6, wherein the support frame comprises at least one spacer within the through-hole for positioning the blank. 18. A device according to claim 6, wherein the through-hole comprises an adhesive barrier to hinder adhesive that flows between the fixation wall and the workpiece in flowing past the adhesive barrier. 19. A device according to claim 6, wherein the blank is made of one of a pre-sintered ceramics and composite material. 20. A device according to claim 11, wherein the adhesive is one of a chemically curing and thermosetting adhesive. 21. A device according to claim 1, wherein the support frame has dimensionally stable guiding surfaces that allow it to be automatically handled in a machine for processing blanks. 22. A device according to claim 6, wherein the support frame is dimensioned so that the blank does not extend beyond the support frame in any direction. 23. A device according to claim 6, wherein the blank in a dimension parallel to the Z axis has a size that substantially corresponds to a distance between the top and the bottom of the support frame. 24. A device according to claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises a machine readable code. 25. A device according to claim 1, wherein the support frame has visible indicia. 26. A device according to claim 1, wherein the support frame is injection molded. 27. Method of affixing a blank within a support frame, comprising the steps of (i) positioning a blank within a through-hole of a support frame; (ii) dispensing adhesive on a adhesive-directing surface of the support frame and keeping the blank free of adhesive; and (iii) causing the adhesive to flow towards the blank and contact the blank. 28. Method of affixing a blank at a fixation wall of a support frame, comprising the steps of: (i) placing adhesive on an adhesive-directing surface of the support frame as a generally non-flowable deposit; (ii) positioning a blank within a through-hole of a support frame; and (iii) causing the adhesive to flow towards the blank and contact the blank. 29. A magazine comprising multiple support frames, and at least one support frame according to claims 1. 30. A milling machine comprising the magazine of claim 29. 31. Kit comprising a device of claim 1 and a milling tool. 32. Kit of claim 31 comprising a set of milling tools.
|
['B29C6552']
|
claim
|
11,193,365
|
[claim] 1. An ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) circuit used in a multi-voltage system, wherein the multi-voltage system comprises a first voltage source and a second voltage source, the ESD circuit comprising: a voltage bus; a first ESD protection circuit coupled between the first voltage source and the voltage bus; and a second ESD protection circuit coupled between the voltage bus and the second voltage source. 2. The ESD circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first ESD protection circuit comprises: an ESD detecting unit for detecting an electrostatic voltage and generating a trigger signal; and an ESD discharge unit coupled to the ESD detecting unit and discharging an electrostatic current according to the trigger signal. 3. The ESD circuit according to claim 2, wherein the ESD discharge unit comprises a negative ESD protection unit for bypassing the electrostatic current from the voltage bus to the first voltage source when there is a negative electrostatic voltage between the first voltage source and the voltage bus. 4. The ESD circuit according to claim 2, wherein the ESD detecting unit comprises: a resistor; and a capacitor coupled to the resistor to form a terminal for outputting the trigger signal. 5. The ESD circuit according to claim 2, wherein the ESD detecting unit comprises: a resistor; a capacitor coupled to the resistor; a PMOS transistor having a gate coupled between the resistor and the capacitor; and an NMOS transistor having a gate coupled to the gate of the PMOS transistor and a drain coupled to a drain of the PMOS transistor to form a terminal for outputting the trigger signal. 6. The ESD circuit according to claim 2, wherein the ESD discharge unit is a switch for receiving the trigger signal and the switch is turned on when the trigger signal is higher than a threshold value. 7. The ESD circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second ESD protection circuit comprises cascaded diodes. 8. An ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) circuit used in a multi-voltage system, which comprises a first voltage source, a second voltage source and a third voltage source, the ESD circuit comprising: a voltage bus; a first ESD protection circuit coupled between the first voltage source and the voltage bus; a second ESD protection circuit coupled between the voltage bus and the second voltage source; and a third ESD protection circuit coupled between the voltage bus and the third voltage source. 9. The ESD circuit according to claim 8, wherein the first ESD protection circuit comprises: an ESD detecting unit for detecting an electrostatic voltage and generating a trigger signal; and an ESD discharge unit coupled to the ESD detecting unit and discharging an electrostatic current according to the trigger signal. 10. The ESD circuit according to claim 9, wherein the first ESD protection circuit further comprises a negative ESD protection unit for bypassing the electrostatic current from the voltage bus to the first voltage source when there is a negative electrostatic voltage between the first voltage source and the voltage bus. 11. The ESD circuit according to claim 9, wherein the ESD detecting unit comprises: a resistor; and a capacitor coupled to the resistor to form a terminal for outputting the trigger signal. 12. The ESD circuit according to claim 9, wherein the ESD detecting unit comprises: a resistor; a capacitor coupled to the resistor; a PMOS transistor having a gate coupled between the resistor and the capacitor; and an NMOS transistor having a gate coupled to the gate of the PMOS transistor and a drain coupled to a drain of the PMOS transistor to form a terminal for outputting the trigger signal. 13. The ESD circuit according to claim 9, wherein the ESD discharge unit is a switch for receiving the trigger signal and the switch is turned on when the trigger signal is higher than a threshold value. 14. The ESD circuit according to claim 13, wherein the switch is a transistor.
|
['H02H900']
|
claim
|
12,644,652
|
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BACK-UP OF CUSTOMIZED APPLICATION INFORMATION [SEP] [abstract] A method of operating a mobile communication device having a set of one or more applications, each with its own associated user-configurable customization, the method comprising detecting whether the user-configurable customization of any of the applications has changed since an earlier time, and for all applications for which the user-configurable customization has changed since said earlier time, wirelessly transmitting those changes to a remote server. The method further comprises maintaining a set of flags indicating whether changes have occurred to the user-configurable customization, wherein detecting whether the user-configurable customization of any of the applications has changed since said earlier time includes reading the set of flags. The remote server is one of a carrier server and a third party provider server.
|
['G06F1516' 'G06F1730' 'G10L1500' 'H04W414' 'H04B700' 'H04W8802']
|
abstract
|
11,999,254
|
Piezoelectric movement of a lens [SEP] [abstract] The invention relates to an apparatus, comprising a lens and a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element is configured to bend in response to a voltage applied thereto. The lens and the piezoelectric element are arranged so that the bending causes at least a portion of the lens to move in at least one movement direction. The invention further relates to an according method and computer-readable medium.
|
['G02B702']
|
abstract
|
11,304,397
|
[claim] 48. A method of forming a material over a semiconductive substrate comprising: chemical vapor depositing a material over a semiconductive substrate within a reactor using at least one reactant gas while the substrate is rotating; and reducing rotation rate of the substrate upon substantially ceasing flow of the at least one reactant gas to the reactor. 49. The method of claim 48 wherein the chemical vapor depositing comprises low pressure chemical vapor deposition. 50. The method of claim 48 wherein the chemical vapor depositing comprises low pressure chemical vapor deposition void of plasma. 51. The method of claim 48 wherein the rotation rate is reduced by at least 50% of that immediately prior to substantially ceasing flow of the at least one reactant gas to the reactor. 52. The method of claim 48 wherein said reducing is to some constant lower rate which is maintained for at least 1 minute. 53. The method of claim 48 wherein flow of all reactant gases fed to the reactor is ceased at substantially the same time. 60. A method of forming a material over a semiconductive substrate comprising: chemical vapor depositing a material over a semiconductive substrate within a reactor using at least one reactant gas while the substrate is rotating; and reducing rotation rate of the substrate within 2 minutes of substantially ceasing flow of the at least one reactant gas to the reactor. 61. The method of claim 60 wherein the reducing occurs within 60 seconds of substantially ceasing flow of the at least one reactant gas to the reactor. 62. The method of claim 60 wherein the reducing occurs commensurate with or after substantially ceasing flow of the at least one reactant gas to the reactor. 63. The method of claim 60 wherein the reducing occurs after substantially ceasing flow of the at least one reactant gas to the reactor. 64. The method of claim 60 wherein the reducing occurs before substantially ceasing flow of the at least one reactant gas to the reactor. 65. The method of claim 60 wherein the rotation rate is reduced by at least 50% of that immediately prior to starting said reducing. 66. The method of claim 60 wherein said reducing is to some constant lower rate which is maintained for at least 1 minute. 67. The method of claim 60 wherein the reducing occurs commensurate with or after substantially ceasing flow of the at least one reactant gas to the reactor, and the reducing is to some constant lower rate which is maintained for at least 1 minute. 68. The method of claim 60 wherein the reducing occurs after substantially ceasing flow of the at least one reactant gas to the reactor, and the reducing is to some constant lower rate which is maintained for at least 1 minute. 77. A method of forming a material over a semiconductive substrate comprising: chemical vapor depositing a material over a semiconductive substrate within a reactor using at least one reactant gas; and flowing an inert cooling gas through the reactor to cool the substrate and deposited material. 78. The method of claim 77 wherein pressure within the reactor during the cooling is greater than 1 atmosphere. 79. The method of claim 77 wherein the chemical vapor depositing is low pressure chemical vapor deposition. 80. The method of claim 77 wherein the chemical vapor depositing is low pressure chemical vapor deposition, and pressure within the reactor during the cooling is greater than 1 atmosphere.
|
['H01L2131']
|
claim
|
12,493,133
|
[summary] An apparatus according to the disclosure for inscribing containers may comprise an inscription unit, wherein this inscription unit comprises a plurality of laser light sources, which can be controlled independently of one another, and also a plurality of light discharge bodies, which are arranged next to one another and which direct laser light onto the containers to be inscribed. According to the disclosure, the laser light sources may be solid-state lasers. Contrary to the prior art, therefore, it is proposed to use, instead of gas lasers, solid-state lasers, which are less expensive to produce and meanwhile also allow high power levels or power levels which are sufficient for inscribing, for example, plastic containers. It has surprisingly been found that the emission wavelengths typical of solid-state lasers, which lie in the region of 500 nm-1500 nm and therefore differ considerably from the wavelengths typical of gas lasers, are also suitable for inscribing plastic containers. In an exemplary embodiment, the laser light sources may be semiconductor lasers and in some exemplary aspects diode lasers. As mentioned above, such diode lasers are inexpensive to produce, which in turn has an effect on the apparatus as a whole. The laser light is directed onto the containers via the light discharge bodies, which may be, for example, the ends of glass fibres. According to some aspects, the light discharge bodies may be connected to the laser light sources via a plurality of optical fibres. These optical fibres may comprise, for example, glass fibres and the like. In this way, the actual laser light sources can be positioned at a different location than the light discharge bodies, resulting in a greater spatial independence for the apparatus. The cooling of the laser light sources can also be facilitated in this way. According to various aspects, a so-called direct diode laser may be used as the laser light source. In the prior art, diode lasers are sometimes usually used to pump other laser devices, such as YAG lasers for example. However, the output radiation of the diode lasers described here is not used for pumping, but rather is directed directly onto the containers to be inscribed. One laser light source may therefore be assigned to each light discharge body. In some aspects, the light discharge bodies may be arranged in a common housing. In this way, it is possible to provide a relatively small housing which comprises a plurality of light discharge bodies for inscribing the containers. In various aspects, at least two light discharge bodies are offset relative to one another in a transport direction of the containers. It is thus proposed that the containers may be transported individually by means of a transport device, and the light discharge bodies are offset relative to one another in this transport direction. In this way, the individual laser light sources for producing certain imprints do not have to be activated simultaneously, but rather activation can take place in a manner offset over time. In this way, voltage peaks in the power supply to the laser light sources can be avoided. According to some aspects, the light discharge bodies may be arranged along a diagonal line relative to a longitudinal direction of the containers to be inscribed. This means that all of the light discharge bodies are respectively offset relative to one another, wherein this procedure also means that all of the laser light sources can be activated at different points in time. According to various aspects, the laser light sources may be light sources that emit pulsed radiation, or so-called quasi-continuous radiation. However, use may also be made of lasers that emit continuous light (so-called CW “continuous wave” lasers). Use may be made of between five and 30 light discharge bodies, and in some aspects between 10 and 20 light discharge bodies. In this way, a fine resolution of the characters to be printed in each case is possible. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a transport device which transports the containers individually. In an exemplary embodiment, the laser sources may emit radiation in a wavelength range between 700 nm and 1300 nm. Use may be made of radiation in a near-infrared (NIR) spectral range. In an exemplary embodiment, the optical fibres may run at least partially alongside one another. This means that a bundle of optical fibres coming from the laser sources is guided in the direction of the containers to be inscribed. In various aspects, at least one refractive element may be arranged between the light discharge bodies and the containers. This may be, for example, lenses and, in some aspects, cylindrical lenses, which focus the radiation coming from the light discharge bodies onto the containers. According to various aspects, the light discharge bodies can be moved jointly in the transport direction of the containers. By virtue of this mobility, it is possible for example to compensate differences in speed which may occur during transport of the containers. In some aspects, the light discharge bodies are arranged on a carriage. In addition, it would also be possible to move the light discharge bodies in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction and, in some aspects, to a direction running parallel to the longitudinal direction of the containers. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a control device which controls a movement of the light discharge bodies in the transport direction of the containers as a function of the transport speed of the containers. If, for example, the operating speed of the transport device has to be reduced, this would mean that the relative speed between the containers and the light discharge bodies is reduced. This would lead to a change in the printed image. In this case, it would be possible to regulate or adapt the relative speed between the light discharge bodies and the containers by moving the light discharge bodies in this case counter to the transport direction of the containers. In this case, a corresponding container could still in principle be
|
['H01S540']
|
summary
|
12,275,781
|
[description] The present invention will be more readily understood from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments presented below considered in conjunction with the attached drawings, of which: FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams of a system and method that employs contrast normalization and adaptive fusion for combining images from a plurality of images of different modalities, constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hardware architecture which implements the adaptive fusion method with contrast normalization employed in FIGS. 1A and 1B, constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a plot of a histogram distribution function that may be graphed from the histogram obtained in the histogram and linear stretching pre-processing step of FIG. 1A; FIG. 4 is a plot of a Rayleigh transform that may be employed in the pre-processing step of FIG. 1A; FIG. 5 is a plot of a Gaussian transform that may be employed in the pre-processing step of FIG. 1A; FIG. 6 displays gamma correction curves in terms of different correction indices that may be employed in the pre-processing step of FIG. 1A; FIG. 7 depicts the steps of image warping and applying a saturation mask to pre-processed image pixel data in the pre-processing step of FIG. 1A; FIG. 8 depicts a bi-cubic interpolation function employed during image warping in the pre-processing step of FIG. 1A; FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the data flow for noise coring on gradient images for level 0; FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a more detailed description of the noise coring process at all levels of a pyramid representation; FIG. 11 is a plot illustrating soft coring functions; FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating how an ROI mask is computed from the computed ROI of a warped image; FIG. 13 displays before and after photographs of an image when subjected to contrast normalization; FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating the general framework of contrast normalization; FIG. 15 is a plot showing the gain function of contrast normalization for various values of contrast index γ; FIG. 16 is a plot illustrating the gain function of contrast normalization at successive pyramid levels; FIG. 17 illustrates a plurality of images that show the effects of varying the target contrast T0 in contrast normalization; FIG. 18 illustrates a plurality of images that show the effects of varying contrast index γ in contrast normalization; FIG. 19 is a plot of a series of contrast normalized gain functions that indicate a boost of energy below the contrast target (T) and a decrease of energy beyond T; FIG. 20 is a plot of mapping functions for corresponding gain functions in contrast normalization specified in FIG. 19; FIG. 21 is a plot of gain functions for all pyramid levels in contrast normalization wherein ε and γ are held constant and the target contrast T is reduced by half as it progresses to higher levels in a pyramid; FIG. 22 is a plot of mapping functions for the corresponding gain functions in contrast normalization specified in FIG. 21; FIG. 23 is a plot of gain functions with noise coring in contrast normalization for all pyramid levels; FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating the steps of contrast normalization as it is employed in the present invention; FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating the steps of salience selective fusion for the contribution of a single source modality; FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating the steps of salience selective fusion when contributions from all image modalities are combined into a single fused image; FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating the steps of salience selective fusion that generates the contrast normalized Gaussian image for the contribution of the highest level Gaussian input image; FIG. 28 is a block diagram illustrating the steps of salience selective fusion for the contribution of the highest level Gaussian input image with an ROI mask; FIG. 29 is a block diagram illustrating the steps of salience selective fusion for the contributions from all modalities of the highest level Gaussian images with ROI mask; FIG. 30 is a flow chart of a method for fusing and enhancing color into an output image that has itself been subject to contrast normalization and adaptive fusion of the luminance portion of an input image with other modalities; and FIG. 31 is a flow chart of a method for orthogonalizing a correlated color space. It is to be understood that the attached drawings are for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and may not be to scale.
|
['G06K940' 'G06K936']
|
detailed_description
|
10,523,857
|
[invention] A number of clinical situations exist in medicine in which automated control of the temperature, pressure and chemistry of liquid within a body cavity are likely to be therapeutically useful. These include: 1. Traumatic or ischemic brain and spinal cord injuries, in which temperatures below normal and control of pressure may improve outcome. 2. Hemorrhage in the regions of the brain and spinal cord, in which removal of blood may improve outcome. 3. Infection in the regions of the brain and spinal cord, in which addition of antibiotics or antivirals to the CSF spaces may be beneficial. Hypothermia, hyperthermia, or oscillation between hypothermia and hyperthermia, pressure control, and removal of infectious organisms (pus) and inflammatory mediators from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may also be beneficial. 4. Brain edema related to liver failure, in which hypothermia has been shown to be beneficial. 5. Malignancy in the regions of the brain and spinal cord, in which hyperthermia has been shown to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme, the most common, and usually fatal, form of brain cancer. 6. Infection in the region of other body cavities, including peritonitis, pleuritis, and mediastinitis, in which the continuous delivery of antibiotic, antiviral, or related therapies under controlled temperature and pressure could be useful. Such therapies have been delivered into the peritoneum and other cavities, but without feedback control of temperature or pressure. 7. Malignancy in the region of body cavities, including the peritoneum, pelvis, mediastinum, and pleural space, in which hyperthermia and/or the local delivery of chemotherapeutic agents have shown greater effectiveness than conventional therapies in some studies. 8. Ischemia of the intestine or colon, in which hypothermia might protect the tissues from ischemic damage. Such protection may apply in other organs subject to ischemia, such as the heart. 9. Surgery involving any of the above regions, in which local hypothermia can decrease the metabolic demands of tissues, resulting in decreased susceptibility to injury and decreased bleeding due to lower blood flow, and post-operative adverse events in such regions. Hypothermia in Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries The protective effects of hypothermia applied during injuries has been extensively documented, and is currently in use intraoperatively in certain forms of brain surgery and cardiac surgery. Hypothermia has been shown to be effective when applied contemporaneously with the injury in both brain trauma and brain ischemia in animals in a large number of studies. Disappointing early results with delayed hypothermia, and the resultant widespread notion of a narrow ‘therapeutic window’ dampened enthusiasm in this area for many years. Recent reports suggest that much longer hypothermic times than were previously contemplated can compensate for delays in treatment and produce outcomes comparable to contemporaneous hypothermia. However, some studies indicate that the systemic complications of prolonged whole-body hypothermia (also called whole body cooling, or WBC) are a major barrier to the effectiveness of this therapy in either stroke or trauma in humans. As a result, some investigators have focused on a human strategy of selective brain cooling (also called SBC). Unfortunately, SBC is very difficult to achieve in large animals such as humans. Compared with smaller animals, the human head has a low surface area-to-volume ratio and a high degree of thermal inertia. The human brain is insulated from the surface of the head by approximately 2.5 cm of highly vascular scalp, bone, meninges and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In addition, the brain receives constant thermal input in the form of 20% of the cardiac output, or 1 L/min of blood at 37° C. Because of this, reduction of the surface temperature of the human head has been shown to be ineffective as a method of SBC. An alternative to surface cooling is intra-arterial cooling using either bypass-cooled blood or intra-arterial cooling probes. Intra-arterial approaches suffer from the major inherent risk of endovascular instrumentation of the cranial arteries; that of precipitating stroke. To minimize this risk, such instrumentation is normally done under full dose heparin anticoagulation, which may be contraindicated in both trauma and stroke due to the risk of bleeding. It has been taught to withdraw cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), cool it, and return the cooled CSF to a patient. U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,237 (Janese, 1990) discloses a CSF exchange system which removes CSF from the lumbar cistern, filters out blood contaminants, cools, pH adjusts and performs diagnostic measurements, then returns the CSF to the lumbar cistern by reversal of flow using a single reciprocating pump. This system seems intended primarily for the removal of subarachnoid blood from the CSF in the context of subarachnoid hemorrhage. In the preferred embodiment, 10 ml of CSF are exchanged in 25 s cycles, giving a flow rate of 24 ml/min. If the temperature of the returned CSF is at 4° C., this flow rate may not be adequate to achieve significant cooling in the spinal cord, where published flows of approximately 30 ml/min were required in a human trial (Davison et a/, 1994). U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,331 (Barbut, 2002) discloses another medical device for intrathecal cooling of the spinal cord in which separate inflow and outflow catheters are inserted into the CSF spaces of the spinal cord such that their tips are at the extremities of the cavity to be cooled. CSF is extracted from one catheter, cooled, and returned to the second catheter by means of a single pump without automated feedback control. The flow rate of the single pump is adjusted to keep intraspinal pressure (as estimated from the pressure of the extracorporeal fluid, and not from measurement within the cavity) below a safe level. This system is intended primarily for the special case of intraoperative spinal cord cooling in the context of abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery and provides no means of continued cooling over 24 h or more, as required for delayed hypothermia to be effective. Alternate placement of one of the catheters into the lateral ventricle of the brain is disclosed as a method of cooling the brain, although practical brain cooling would seem
|
['A61F712']
|
background
|
12,197,031
|
[invention] Thrombomodulin (TM) is a cell membrane glycoprotein. In humans, it is widely distributed on the endothelium of the vasculature and lymphatics. Its physiological importance has been extensively studied. (See, for example, Esmon et al., J. Biol. Chem . (1982), 257:859-864; Salem et al., J. Biol. Chem . (1983), 259:12246-12251). Thrombomodulin functions as a receptor for thrombin, a central enzyme in the coagulation cascade. When free, thrombin promotes coagulation both directly by converting fibrinogen to fibrin, indirectly through activation of other proteins in the coagulation cascade (Factors V, VIII and XIII, for example), and through platelet activation. When bound to thrombomodulin, however, the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex is involved in activation of protein C to activated protein C, which then downregulates the coagulation cascade by proteolytically inactivating the essential cofactors Factor Va and Factor VIIIa (Esmon et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci . (1991), 614:30-43), resulting in increased anticoagulant activity. The thrombin-thrombomodulin complex also is involved in activation of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), which, when activated, leads to inhibition of fibrinolysis. Although earlier studies were negative, more recent studies have indicated that thrombomodulin is not only present in brain endothelial cells (Boffa, et al., Nouv. Rev. Fr. Hematol . (1991), 33:423-9; Wong, et al., Brain Res . (1991), 556:15; Wang, et al., Arterioscier. Thromb. Vasc. Biol . (1997), 17: 3139-46; Tran, et al., Stroke (1996), 27:2304-10; discussion 2310-1) but also is expressed on the surface of astrocytes, where it functions identically to its role in the vasculature, activating protein C by forming a complex with thrombin (Pindon, et al., Glia (1997), 19:259-68). Thrombomodulin is also upregulated in reactive astrocytes in the CNS, in response to mechanical injury (Pindon, et al., J. Neurosci . (2000), 20:2543-50). A recent report suggests that recombinant thrombomodulin block thrombin's activation of another receptor, the protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) in cultured neuronal cells (Sarker, et al. Thromb. Haemost . (1999), 82: 1071-77). Activated protein C has also been strongly implicated in the regulation of inflammatory responses involving various cytokines or activated leukocytes (Esmon et al., Thromb. Haemost . (1991), 66:160-165). Consistent with this hypothesis, studies have shown that activated protein C prevents pulmonary vascular injury in rats given endotoxin by inhibiting production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), which potently activates neutrophils (Murakami et al., Blood (1996), 87:642-647; Murakami et al., Am. J. Physiol . (1996), 272:L197-2). Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin also prevents endotoxin-induced pulmonary vascular injury by inhibiting the activation of neutrophils through protein C activation (Uchiba et al., Am. J. Physiol . (1996), 271:L470-5; Uchiba et al., Am. J. Physiol . (1997), 273:L889-94). Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious condition which produces life-long disabilities (Stover et al., Paraplegia (1987), 24:225-228). Only limited therapeutic measures are currently available for its treatment (Bracken et al., New Engl. J. Med . (1990), 322:1405-1411). In fact, the most commonly accepted acute intervention after SCI, other than surgery, is administration of the steroid, methylprednisolone (MP) (Hall, E. D., Adv. Neurol . (1993), 59: 241-8; Bracken, M. B., J. Neurosurg . (2000), 93:175-9; Bracken, M. B., Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2 (2000); Koszdin, et al., Anesthesiology (2000), 92:156-63). However, after 10 years of experience this treatment is still quite controversial and a recent meta analysis has suggested that treatment with MP may actually be contraindicated (Hurlbert, R. J., J. Neurosurg . (2000), 93:1-7; Pointillart, et al., Spinal Cord (2000), 38:71-6; Lankhorst, et al., Brain Res . (2000), 859:334-40). The pathophysiology of SCI includes a primary mechanical injury and a delayed secondary neurological injury (Tator et al., J. Neurosurg . (1991), 75:15-26). Whereas the primary injury is determined by the circumstances of the trauma, the outcome of the secondary injury may be amenable to therapeutic modulation. Although the mechanisms involved in the secondary injury process are not fully understood, inflammatory responses leading to endothelial damage may be involved (Demopoulos, et al., Scan. Electron Microsc . (1978), 2:677-680) and this is an area which can serve as a target for therapeutic intervention. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) has recently been shown to play an important role in compression trauma-induced SCI in rats by activating neutrophils (Taoka, et al., Neuroscience (1997), 79:1177-182; Taoka et al., J. Neurotrauma (2000), 17:219-29). It has also been reported that activated protein C reduces the severity of compression trauma-induced SCI by inhibiting TNF-α production (Taoka et al., J. Neurosci . (1998), 18:1392-1398). Studies have shown that recombinant soluble thrombomodulin prevented compression trauma-induced SCI in a rat SCI model by inhibiting leukocyte accumulation through reduction of TNF-α mRNA expression at the injured site (Taoka et al., Thromb. Haemost . (2000), 83:462-468). These observations suggest that thrombomodulin may also prevent contusion trauma-induced SCI through activation of protein C, with the resultant inhibition of TNF-α production. Contusion, or weight drop rat models have recently been validated for human SCI (Metz et al., J. Neurotrauma (2000), 17: 1-17). We have discovered that certain soluble thrombomodulin compositions are effective in reducing the neurologic damage following SCI in a rat model, and are therefore useful in the treatment of such neurologic damage in mammals. Soluble analogs of thrombomodulin that retain most, if not all, of the activities of the native protein have been produced. Furthermore, soluble analogs of thrombomodulin which are resistant to oxidation, resistant to proteolysis, or have in other ways been modified so as to possess a longer half-life within the circulation, have been developed and are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,256,770, 5,863,760 and 5,466,668, which are incorporated herein by reference. These compositions have previously been described as being useful as anti-thrombotic agents. However, there has not been any disclosure as to the usefulness of these compositions as therapeutic agents for the amelioration of neurologic damage following SCI.
|
['A61K3816' 'A61P2500']
|
background
|
11,878,690
|
Atenna device [SEP] [abstract] The present invention provides an antenna device that is easy to manufacture by doing away with the wiring section. The antenna device includes an antenna member housed inside a nearly tubular case and a terminal body electrically connected to the antenna member for taking out electrical signal to outside, and the antenna member is sealed inside the case. The antenna device also has a housing for sealing the antenna member inside the case for engaging with a connector to be coupled, and a plugging member having an O-ring and a terminal stage fit into a nearly integral unit.
|
['H01Q142']
|
abstract
|
12,012,310
|
[description] The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears. FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tunable capacitor structure of one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate a simulated relative ESR (a), and measured ESR (b), for a 300 nm thick BST layer matched with a 150 nm gold top electrode and 200 nm platinum bottom electrode of one embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 4 depicts the measured ESR for a 710 nm thick BST layer matched with a 490 nm gold top electrode and 560 nm platinum bottom electrode.
|
['H01G700']
|
detailed_description
|
12,570,956
|
[claim] 1. A sensor adapted to detect and provide information related to tilted and non-tilted orientations, the sensor comprising: a first flow-through port adapted to receive a first fluid flow; and a flow stopping member, wherein the flow stopping member is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein, while the flow stopping member is in the first position, flow of the first fluid through the first flow-through port is measurably inhibited by the flow stopping member and the orientation of the sensor corresponds to a substantially non-tilted orientation. 2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein, while the flow stopping member is in the second position, a measurable amount of the first fluid flows through the first flow-through port and the orientation of the sensor corresponds to a tilted orientation. 3. The sensor of claim 2, wherein the first input port is connected to a primary fluid flow path, and wherein flow of the first fluid through the first flow-through port is detected by detecting at least one of a decreased pressure and increased flow rate in the primary fluid flow path. 4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the flow stopping member comprises a plug that is movable by accelerative forces and wherein the first flow-through port comprises an orifice and at least one inclined surface that is adapted to draw the moveable plug over the orifice and substantially inhibit flow of the first fluid through the orifice when the sensor is in a non-tilted orientation. 5. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the at least one inclined surface of the first flow-through port comprises a conical interface and the moveable plug comprises a spherical object adapted to sit within the conical interface and cover the orifice only when the first flow-through port is oriented substantially vertically. 6. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the at least one inclined surface comprises a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, wherein the first inclined surface comprises a first angle of inclination and the second inclined surface comprises a second angle of inclination, and wherein the first and second angles of inclination are different. 7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the non-tilted orientation comprises a vertical orientation of the first flow-through port within a tolerance of about plus or minus twenty degrees deviation from vertical. 8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first fluid comprises at least one of wall air, gas from a compressor, and gas from a tank. 9. A method of determining an orientation of an object, comprising: receiving a fluid flow in a primary flow path; detecting at least one of an increase in the fluid flow through the primary flow path and a decrease in pressure in the primary flow path; and in response to the detecting step, determining that the primary flow path comprises a tilted orientation. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the primary flow path comprises a sensor flow path in fluidic communication therewith and wherein fluid flow through the sensor flow path occurs when the primary flow path comprises a tilted orientation. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a flow stopping member that is operable to inhibit fluid flow through the sensor flow path when the primary flow path comprises a non-tilted orientation. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the flow stopping member comprises a plug that is movable by gravitational forces and wherein the sensor flow path comprises an orifice and at least one inclined surface that is adapted to draw the moveable plug over the orifice and inhibit flow of the fluid through the orifice when the sensor flow path is in a non-tilted orientation, 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one inclined surface comprises a conical interface and the moveable plug comprises a spherical object adapted to sit within the conical interface and cover the orifice only when the sensor flow path is oriented substantially vertically. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one inclined surface comprises a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, wherein the first inclined surface comprises a first angle of inclination and the second inclined surface comprises a second angle of inclination, and wherein the first and second angles of inclination are different. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-tilted orientation comprises a vertical orientation of the sensor flow path within a tolerance of about plus or minus twenty degrees deviation from vertical. 16. A computer readable medium comprising processor executable instructions that, when executed, perform the detecting and determining steps of claim 9. 17. A comparator operable to perform the detecting and determining steps of claim 9 18. A system, comprising: a primary fluid flow path; a tilt sensor comprising a fluid flow path and a flow stopping member adapted to inhibit fluid from flowing through the tilt sensor fluid flow path in a first position and further adapted to allow fluid flow through the tilt sensor fluid flow path in a second position; and a pressure sensor operable to detect that the flow stopping member is in the second position by detecting a decrease in fluidic pressure in the primary fluid flow path. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein, while the flow stopping member is in the first position, flow of the first fluid through the first flow-through port is substantially inhibited by the flow stopping member and the orientation of the sensor corresponds to a non-tilted orientation. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein, while the flow stopping member is in the second position, the orientation of the sensor corresponds to a tilted orientation. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the non-tilted orientation comprises a vertical orientation of the tilt sensor within a tolerance of about plus or minus twenty degrees deviation from vertical.
|
['G01F142']
|
claim
|
12,474,056
|
[invention] Mobile electronic devices, such as digital cameras, portable digital assistants, portable audio/video players and mobile terminals continue to require mass storage memory, preferably non-volatile memory with ever increasing capacities and speed capabilities. For example, presently available audio players can have between 256 Mbytes to 40 Gigabytes of memory for storing audio/video data. Non-volatile memory such as Flash memory and hard-disk drives are preferred since data is retained in the absence of power. Presently, hard disk drives having high densities can store 40 to 500 Gigabytes of data, but are relatively bulky. However, Flash memory, also known as solid-state drive, is popular because of their high density, non-volatility, and small size relative to hard disk drives. Flash memory technology is based on EPROM and EEPROM technologies. The term “flash” was chosen because a large number of memory cells could be erased at one time as distinguished from EEPROMs, where each byte was erased individually. Those of skill in the art will understand that Flash memory can be configured as NOR, NAND or other Flash, with NAND Flash having higher density per given area due to its more compact memory array structure. For the purpose of further discussion, references to Flash memory should be understood as being any type Flash memory. The cell array structure of NAND flash memory consists of n erasable blocks. Each block is subdivided into m programmable pages illustrates the cell array structure of an example NAND flash memory which consists of n erasable blocks. In this example, n=2048. Each block is subdivided into m programmable pages as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , where m=64. Each page consists of (j+k) bytes (x 8 b ) as shown in FIG. 3 . In this example, j=2048 and k=64. The pages are further divided into a j-byte data storage region (data field) with a separate k-byte area (spare field). The k-byte area is typically used for error management functions. 1 page=(j+k) bytes. 1 block=m pages=(j+K) bytes*m. Total memory array size=n blocks=(j+K) bytes*m*n. In conventional NAND flash devices, read and program operations are executed on a page basis while erase operations are executed on a block basis. All operations are driven by commands (refer to Samsung's 2Gb NAND Flash Specification: ds_k9f2gxxu0m_rev10 incorporated herein in its entirety). The internal memory array is accessed on a page basis. The read operation starts after writing READ command followed by addresses via common I/O pins (I/O 0 to I/O 7 ) to the device. The 2,112 bytes of data within the selected page are sensed and transferred to the page register in less than tR (data transfer time from flash array to page register) shown in FIG. 4 . Once the 2,112 bytes of data are sensed and transferred from the selected page in the cell array to the data register, the data in the data register can be sequentially read from the device at, for example, 8 bits or 16 bits per cycle. The conventional memory array is programmed on a page basis. For program operations, PROGRAM command followed by addresses and input data of 2,112 bytes is issued to the device through common I/O pins (I/O 0 to I/O 7 ). The 2,112 bytes of data are transferred to the data register during input data loading cycles and finally programmed to the selected page of the cell array less than tPROG (page program time) as shown in FIG. 5 . The memory array is erased on a block basis. For block erase operations, BLOCK ERASE command followed by block addresses is issued to the device through common I/O pins (I/O 0 to I/O 7 ). The 128K bytes of data are erased less than tBERS (block erase time) as shown in FIG. 6 . Refer to NAND Flash specifications (Samsung's 2Gb NAND: ds_k9f2gxxu0m_rev10) for detailed device operations. A NAND cell string typically consists of one string selector transistor 71 , i memory cells 72 and one ground select transistor 73 which are serially connected as shown FIG. 7 . The number (i) of cells per string can be varied by process technology, for example 8 cells per string or 16 cells per string or 32 cells per string. 32 memory cells per string are common in present 90 nm and 70 nm technologies. Hereinafter, ‘32’ is used for i as shown in FIG. 7 . Memory cell gates correspond to wordline 0 to 31 (W/L 0 to W/L 31 ). The gate of string select transistor is connected to a string select line (SSL) while the drain of string select transistor is connected to bitline (B/L). The gate of ground select transistor is connected to a ground select line (GSL) while the source of ground select transistor is connected to common source line (CSL). Each wordline corresponds to a page and each string corresponds to a block. FIGS. 8 and 9 depict physical structure of a block with 32 cells per NAND cell string. As shown in FIG. 8 , there are (j+k)*8 NAND strings in a block. Thus the unit block has total (j+k)*8*32 cells. Each wordline is defined as unit page. FIG. 9 shows n blocks Typically, flash memory cells are programmed and erased by either Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) tunneling or hot electron injection. In NAND flash memory, both erase and program are governed by F-N tunneling. The following erase and program operations are based on NAND flash memory. During an erase operation, the top poly (i.e. top gate) of the cell is biased to Vss (ground) while the substrate of the cell is biased to erase voltage Vers (eg. approximately 20 v, source and drain are automatically biased to Vers due to junction-forward-bias from P-substrate to n+ source/drain). By this erase bias condition, trapped electrons (charge) in the floating poly (i.e. floating gate) are emitted to the substrate through the tunnel oxide as shown in FIG. 10A . The cell Vth of the erased cell is negative value as shown in FIG. 10B . In other words, the erased
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['G11C1606' 'G11C1604' 'G11C800']
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