The present disclosure relates generally to the field of orthopedics and spinal surgery, and in some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to intervertebral prosthetic joints for use in the total or partial replacement of a natural intervertebral disc, and methods and tools for use therewith.
In the treatment of diseases, injuries or malformations affecting spinal motion segments, and especially those affecting disc tissue, it has long been known to remove some or all of a degenerated, ruptured or otherwise failing disc. In cases involving intervertebral disc tissue that has been removed or is otherwise absent from a spinal motion segment, corrective measures are taken to ensure the proper spacing of the vertebrae formerly separated by the removed disc tissue.
In some instances, the two adjacent vertebrae are fused together using transplanted bone tissue, an artificial fusion component, or other compositions or devices. Spinal fusion procedures, however, have raised concerns in the medical community that the bio-mechanical rigidity of intervertebral fusion may predispose neighboring spinal motion segments to rapid deterioration. More specifically, unlike a natural intervertebral disc, spinal fusion prevents the fused vertebrae from pivoting and rotating with respect to one another. Such lack of mobility tends to increase stresses on adjacent spinal motion segments.
Additionally, several conditions may develop within adjacent spinal motion segments, including disc degeneration, disc herniation, instability, spinal stenosis, spondylosis and facet joint arthritis. Consequently, many patients may require additional disc removal and/or another type of surgical procedure as a result of spinal fusion. Alternatives to spinal fusion are therefore desirable.
In particular, this disclosure relates to an articulating disc prosthesis that can be inserted from the anterior approach to aid in the correction of spondylolisthesis.


1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a panel for supporting a plurality of cards in a predetermined, orderly manner and with the supported cards being anchored relative to the panel against shifting relative thereto due to wind, vibration or upset of the panel. The panel may be constructed to support only the cards being played by a single player or all of the played cards during a game by a plurality of game players.
2. Description of Related Art
Various different forms of card holding game panels, card game boards, game packages and card game playing aids heretofore have been provided including some of the general structural and operational features of the instant invention. Examples of these different devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,880,175, 2,115,276, 2,150,850, 2,450,325, 3,667,757, 4,317,515 and 4,436,324. However, these previously known devices do not include the overall combination of structural and operational features of the instant invention which coact to provide a simple, readily constructed, durable and easy to use playing card holder.


The present invention generally relates to a data reproducing circuit for a memory system having a reading head, such as a magnetic disk memory system, a magnetic tape memory system, an optical memory system, etc., and reproducing analog signals read out from the head as digital reproduction signals, with a high accuracy.
A conventional data reproducing circuit for a magnetic disc device is designed to detect the position of a peak of a reproduction signal from a magnetic disk through a data sensing head and an amplitude thereof exceeding a predetermined slice level and to generate, on the basis of the detected position of peak and the detected amplitude, a rectangular-wave read (reproduction) signal which represents the original or correct signal with high fidelity. As is well known, the peak position deviates from its original peak position due to a correlation between the peak position of interest and its adjacent peak positions (magnitude of the time interval). From this point of view, it is required to provide for an equalizing circuit which corrects a shift of the peak position (peak shift). Further, the amplitude of the reproduction signal varies due to a change of the reproduction frequency. Thus, it is required to provide for an equalizing circuit which corrects the amplitude variation. Moreover, the equalizing circuit directed to correcting a peak shift has an optimum value which is different from that for the equalizing circuit directed to correcting an the amplitude variation. For this reason, it is required to determine an optimum equalizing character, taking into consideration the difference between the optimum values of the two different equalizing circuits.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a conventional data reproducing circuit. The illustrated data reproducing circuit includes a data sensing head 10, which reads a recording medium (not shown) and generates a reproduction signal. A preamplifier 24 amplifies the reproduction signal from the head 10, and outputs an amplified reproduction signal. The amplified reproduction signal is pulled up to a power source voltage Vcc through a resistor 26, and is then supplied to a delay circuit 16-1 and an attenuator 18-1. An output from the delay circuit 16-1 is input to a non-inverting input terminal of a subtracter amplifier 20. An output from the attenuator 18-1 is input to an inverting input terminal of the subtracter amplifier 20, which subtracts the output supplied from the attenuator 18-1 from the output supplied from the delay amplifier 16-1, and outputs the result of this subtraction. The output from the subtracter amplifier 20 is pulled up to the power source voltage Vcc through a resistor 28, and is then input to a delay circuit 16-2 and an attenuator 18-2. An adder amplifier 22 adds an output from the delay circuit 16-2 and an output from the subtracter amplifier 18-2.
The illustrated data reproducing circuit has a first function of correcting a peak shift of the reproduction signal which occurs during reproduction and a second function of correcting an amplitude variation due to a change of the reproduction frequency. An optimum correction characteristic of the data reproducing circuit can be provided by adjusting the amount of attenuation in each of the attenuators 18-1 and 18-2.
As shown in FIG. 2, the reproduction signal supplied from the head 10 has negative edges 32 having amplitude components which have a polarity opposite to that of a main signal waveform 30 of the reproduction signal and which are located on both sides thereof. From this viewpoint, the attenuator 18-1 is adjusted so as to have a characteristic suitable for correcting the peak shift and amplitude variation of the main signal waveform 30, and the attenuator 18-2 is adjusted so as to have a characteristic suitable for correcting the peak shift and amplitude variation arising from the negative edges 32.
It is noted that generally the optimum values to be provided for the attenuators 18-1 and 18-2 for correcting the peak shift of the main signal waveform 30 are not equal to those to be provided for the attenuators 18-1 and 18-2 for correcting the amplitude variation thereof. For this reason, it is impossible to provide each of the attenuators 18-1 and 18-2 with an optimum value suitable for correcting both the peak shift and amplitude variation. For this reason, the data reproducing circuit shown in FIG. 1 cannot correct both the peak shift and the amplitude variation effectively and cannot reproduce the original signal with a high accuracy.
The above discussion holds true for another conventional data reproducing circuit as shown in FIG. 3, in which those parts which are the same as those shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals. The output from the preamplifier 24 is input to the delay circuit 16-1 and the attenuator 18-2. The output from the delay circuit 16-1 is input to the delay circuit 16-2 and the attenuator 18-1. The output from the delay circuit 16-2 is applied to a first non-inverting input terminal of an adder/subtracter amplifier 20'. The outputs from the attenuators 18-1 and 18-2 are applied to an inverting input terminal and and a second non-inverting input terminal of the adder/subtracter amplifier 20', respectively. The adder/subtracter amplifier 20' subtracts the output supplied from the delay circuit 16-2 from the output supplied from the attenuator 18-1, and adds the output from the attenuator 18-2 to the result of subtraction.
The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 has the same problem as the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. That is, the optimum values to be provided for the attenuators 18-1 and 18-2 for correcting the peak shift of the main signal waveform 30 are not equal to those to be provided for the attenuators 18-1 and 18-2 for correcting the amplitude variation. Thus, it is impossible to provide each of the attenuators 18-1 and 18-2 with an optimum value suitable for correcting both the peak shift and amplitude variation. For this reason, the data reproducing circuit shown in FIG. 3 cannot correct both the peak shift and the amplitude variation effectively and cannot reproduce the original signal with a high accuracy.


The invention relates to a drive unit for elevators consisting of a motor mounted in a casing, the motor driving a traction sheave via a drive shaft, there being a braking device to hold the traction sheave.
From the German patent specification DD 44 278 an electric elevator motor has become known which has a traction sheave and brake drum which are fastened together. The traction sheave and brake drum are mounted outside both the motor casing and the bearing closest to the motor on the free end of a shaft in an overhung manner. The traction sheave and the brake drum can be constructed in one piece. The brake, which has two shoes, consists of an actuating device, brake arms, and brake shoes, the actuating device being fastened on the outside of the casing of the motor. To support the heavy loads occurring on the side closest to the traction sheave there is a bearing plate and a bearing for heavy loads.
A disadvantage of the known device is that the overhung arrangement of the traction sheave and brake drum necessitate an expensive bearing plate and bearing for heavy loads. A further disadvantage is having the brake arms and brake shoes arranged at the sides, which increases the diameter of the drive unit.
The present invention concerns a drive unit with a narrow construction for use with an elevator.
The advantages resulting from the invention relate mainly to the fact that the drive unit is narrow in the direction at right angles to the drive shaft, and that the narrow construction makes it possible for the drive unit to be built into an elevator hoistway, for example in the space between the path of travel of the car and the wall of the hoistway. A further advantage lies in the common support of the traction sheave and drive shaft. There is no unsupported free end of a shaft, the traction sheave being supported directly on the bearing plate. As a result, bending forces on the drive shaft can be avoided.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a collimator with an adjustable focal length, particularly in x-ray inspection systems.
2. Description of the Background Art
Inspection methods with the use of x-rays are employed particularly in the detection of critical substances and objects in luggage or other freight. For this purpose, multi-stage systems are known whose first stage is based on the absorption of x-radiation. To detect certain critical substances such as, for example, explosives, a second stage is employed to which objects from the first stage are selectively supplied. Systems whose operating principle is based on diffraction phenomena are used as the second stage. In this case, the diffraction angle at which an incident x-ray is diffracted depends on the atomic lattice distance of the material to be analyzed and the energy and thereby the wavelength of the incident radiation. By analyzing the diffraction phenomena by means of x-ray detectors, conclusions can be reached about the lattice distance and thereby about the material. This type of two-stage system is disclosed, for example, in the German patent application 103305211.
Because x-ray inspection systems work with extremely low radiation intensities, highly sensitive detectors are employed. To avoid measurement inaccuracies, it must therefore be achieved that only the radiation produced by the testing device strikes the detector. In addition, care must be taken that radiation diffracted only at a single point is detected, because otherwise localization within the object to be examined is not possible. Spatial filtering is therefore necessary, which is performed by a so-called collimator.
Because it is technically very costly to generate monochromatic x-radiation, the highly limited x-ray used for testing, the so-called pencil beam, has an energy spectrum known, for example, from measurements. It follows from the Bragg equation that the incident radiation is diffracted at each point at an angle that depends on the radiation energy. Radiation with an energy spectrum is therefore diffracted within an angle range, and thereby the diffraction is rotation symmetric about the incident pencil beam. In an x-ray inspection, it is desirable to detect only radiation diffracted at a certain angle. This is also achieved with the use of a collimator. The passband of the collimator corresponds substantially to the generated surface of a cone whose tip coincides with the point whose diffraction properties are to be analyzed. To examine an area within an object, a plurality of points must be focused.
German patent application 103305211 discloses a method for the examination of an object area in which the setup comprising a detector and collimator can be moved in the direction of the incident x-ray. The disadvantage of this method is that, on the one hand, a highly precise traveling unit is required and, on the other, the entire device must have an overall height more than twice the height of the object to be examined.
A second possibility is the use of a collimator that has a plurality of parallel apertures of the same aperture angle and with which therefore a plurality of points on the rotation axis can be focused simultaneously. The use of a non-segmented detector, which is not position-sensing and therefore provides a common output signal for all focused points, however, results in the disadvantage that the evaluation and clear assignment of the detected radiation to a diffraction point are difficult. With use of a segmented detector, which, for example, is divided into separately evaluable circular rings, this disadvantage in fact does not arise, but this type of detector is laborious and costly.


The present invention relates to a socket for electrical parts for detachably accommodating and holding an electrical part such as a semiconductor device (called as xe2x80x9cIC packagexe2x80x9d hereinafter) and also relates to a method of assembling such socket for electrical parts.
As a conventional xe2x80x9csocket for electrical partsxe2x80x9d of this kind, there has been provided an IC socket for detachably accommodating and holding an IC package as xe2x80x9celectrical partxe2x80x9d.
The IC package includes, for example, a BGA (Ball Grid Array) type of IC package in which solder balls as a number of terminals are provided to the lower surface of the package body so as to protrude downward in a grid (lattice) arrangement having vertical (Y) and horizontal (X) rows.
The IC socket is provided with a socket body, a number of contact pins disposed to the socket body so as to contact the terminals of the IC package, respectively. Furthermore, a movable member for contacting or separating the contact pins to or from the solder balls of the IC package, through elastic deformation of the contact pins, is also arranged to be vertically movable.
Furthermore, the socket body is provided with lever members to be rotatable (pivotal) about pivotal shafts so as to vertically move the movable member, and an operation member for rotating the lever members is also provided for the socket body to be vertically movable.
When this operation member is vertically moved, the lever members are rotated (pivoted), and according to this rotating motion, the movable member is vertically moved, thus contacting or separating contact portions of the contact pins to or from the solder balls of the IC package.
However, in such conventional IC package as mentioned above, a base end portion of the lever member is secured to the socket body to be rotatable through a rotation shaft and an E ring is also provided for preventing the lever member from coming off from the socket body, so that the number of elements or parts is increased and the assembling working is hence increased, thus being inconvenient and disadvantageous.
Furthermore, in order to prevent the front end portion of the lever member from falling sideways, the front end portion of the lever member is coupled to the operation member to be rotatable through a support shaft, so that, in this meaning, the number of elements or parts is increased and the assembling working is hence increased, thus being inconvenient.
An object of the present invention is to substantially eliminate defects or drawbacks encountered in the prior art mentioned above and to provide a socket for electrical parts and a method of assembling the same, by which the number of elements or parts to be utilized can be effectively reduced as well as reduction of the assembling workings.
This and other objects can be achieved according to the present invention by providing, in one aspect, a socket for electrical parts in which a number of contact pins contacting a number of terminals of an electrical part is arranged to a socket body in which the electrical parts is accommodated, an operation member is provided for the socket body to be vertically movable in an installed state, and when the operation member is vertically moved, a movable member is moved through lever members to thereby displace the contact pins to be electrically contacted to or separated from the terminals of the electrical part,
wherein the socket body is formed with boss portions to which base end portions of the lever members are secured to be rotatable and the socket body is formed with guide wall sections so as to guide side portions of the base end portions of the lever members to thereby prevent the lever members from coming off from the boss portions.
In a preferred embodiment of the above aspect, the operation member is formed with guide grooves into which front end portions of the lever members are inserted so as to prevent the lever members from falling sideways.
The socket body is formed of synthetic resin, the boss portions are integrally formed with the socket body and the lever members are formed of metal material. The base end portions of the lever members are formed with holes into which the boss portions are fitted. The terminals of the electrical part are solder balls. The socket is an IC socket and the electrical part is an IC package.
In a modified aspect, there is provided a socket for electrical parts comprising:
a socket body to which an electrical part having a number of terminals is accommodated;
a number of contact pins arranged to the socket body so as to accord with the arrangement of the terminals of the electrical part;
an operation member disposed to the socket body to be vertically movable in an installed state;
lever members provided for the socket body to be rotatable in association with the vertical movement of the operation member; and
a movable member disposed to the socket body to be movable in accordance with the movement of the operation member through the lever members to thereby displace the contact pins so as to contact or separate the contact pins to or from the terminals of the electrical part,
the socket body being formed with boss portions, the lever members being formed with base end portions which are fitted to the boss portions to be rotatable, and the socket body being formed with guide wall sections so as to guide side portions of the base end portions of the lever members to thereby prevent the lever members from coming off from the boss portions.
In another aspect, there is also provided a method of assembling a socket for electrical parts in which a number of contact pins contacting a number of terminals of an electrical part is arranged to a socket body which accommodates the electrical part and which is provided with an operation member and a movable member which is operatively connected to the operation member through lever members,
wherein the lever members are fitted to the boss portions of the socket body to be rotatable, when the lever members are rotated while being guided along guide wall sections of the socket body and the operation member is disposed to the socket body to be vertically movable.
The operation member is formed with guide grooves into which front end portions of the lever members are inserted so as to prevent the lever members from falling down sideways.
According to the present invention of the characters mentioned above, the base end portions of the lever members are fitted to the boss portions of the socket body to be rotatable and the guide wall sections are formed to the socket body so as to guide the side portions of the base end portions of the lever members to prevent the lever member from coming-off from the boss portions. Accordingly, it is not necessary to specifically locate any member for preventing the coming off of the lever members, thus reducing the number of parts or elements to be assembled and improving the assembling working of the lever members and others. Furthermore, the formation of the guide grooves eliminates the location of any member such as a support shaft for supporting the lever members.
Moreover, the socket body is formed of synthetic resin and the lever members are formed of metal material. Accordingly, the boss portions can be easily molded integrally with the socket body and the lever members can ensure the good rigidity thereof.
The nature and further characteristic features of the present invention will be made more clear from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings.


1. Field of the invention
The present invention concerns processes that allow measuring the induced magnetization in a nautical vessel in order to be able to thereafter carry out a process for the magnetic immunization of said vessels. It also concerns devices that allow this process to be carried out.
2. Summary of the prior art
At the present time, most nautical vessels, boats and submarines are built from steel or iron and thus have a high magnetization. This magnetization comprises, on the one hand, a permanent proportion that is specific to vessels and, on the other hand, a variable proportion induced by the magnetic field of the earth and which thus depends upon the position of the vessel with respect to the magnetic-field of the earth.
This magnetization of the vessel is superimposed upon a magnetic field of the earth and thus generates a disturbance called the "magnetic signature" of the vessel. This disturbance allows for the location of the vessel to be and determined thereby making it possible to guide or fire missiles intended to destroy it. It is therefore extremely important to minimize, or even suppress, this disturbance in order to avoid the vessel detected by a magnetic method.
This operation, called "magnetic immunization", is performed in a manner known per se by creating in the volume of the vessel a magnetic field that is opposed to that of the vessel in order to cancel the magnetic signature.
To do this,the vessel is fitted with an assembly of circuits known as "immunization loops" through which pass electric currents. The sizes and the disposition of the loops, and the intensity of the currents that pass through them, are determined so as to fully minimize the magnetic signature of the vessel, whatever its orientation in the magnetic field of the earth, i.e. whatever its head and its list due to rolling and to pitching. These immunization loops are distributed throughout three assemblies corresponding to the axes of roll, pitch and rocking, and conventionally called "L, M, A".
To determine the intensities of the currents that will pass through the immunization loops, it is necessary to measure the magnetic signature of the vessel and for this purpose a magnetic measuring station is used.
A magnetic measuring station advantageously comprises two linear networks of magnetic sensors, called bases, placed on the sea-bed and each aligned according to a cardinal direction, N/S for one, and E/W for the other. These sensors are connected to a land-based processing unit which receives the signals produced by the passage of the vessel to be immunized above the bases according to trajectories which are preferably themselves cardinal. These signals are processed in the station to determine the intensity and the polarity of the currents in the immunization loops in such a way as to obtain satisfactory immunization, whatever the orientation of the vessel in the magnetic field of the earth.
Since the permanent magnetization is steady with respect to the vessel in direction and amplitude and only evolves very slowly as a function of time, it is possible to determine a continuous component of the current in each loop, the value of which will be set and possibly reset during a subsequent immunization operation.
On the other hand, the induced magnetization is variable and it is necessary to superimpose upon this continuous component a variable component determined according to the heading and the orientation of the vessel which are known by measuring means, such as gyroscopic or optical means, for example.
To determine respectively these continuous components and variable components, it is necessary, when measuring the magnetic signature to separate the influences of the permanent magnetization from those of the induced magnetization in the total magnetization, and this separation must be made in the three directions corresponding to the three axes of the vessel.
To do this, the vessel is usually required to travel along the same route twice above the bases according to opposite headings. The vessel thus passes in a N/S direction above the E/W base and then S/N above this same base. It thereafter passes in E/W direction above the N/S base and returns in a W/E direction above said same base. The orientation of the bases and the routes is not compulsory but it facilitates the interpretions measurements and calculations.
During these opposite passages, the permanent magnetization, which is associated to the vessel, turns with the vessel while the induced magnetization does not turn. In order to determine this induced magnetization, it is thus sufficient to subtract the two measurements corresponding to two passages in opposite directions. Once the induced magnetization and the total magnetization are known, the permanent magnetization is directly obtained.
The fact of having to complete two successive passages according to opposite heads is in itself a drawback, especially since it lengthens the duration of operations. Furthermore, it is necessary to set back the measurements, for example by interpolation, so as to perform subtraction on homologue points for both passages. Indeed, an inevitable variation exists between the routes in one direction and in the other. Since, furthermore, the trajectory measurements themselves are inaccurate, it can be seen that sources of errors accumulate.
Similarly, this method is limited to longitudinal and transversal magnetization, since it is obviously not possible to set the vessel vertical in order to separate the induced magnetization from the permanent magnetization according to the vertical direction. In this latter case, the two magnetizations are separated according to empirical methods based on the experience of the operators and measurements on models that are roughly representative of the vessel.
In order to overcome these drawbacks, the invention proposes to create in the vessel a supplementary known magnetic field that allows to generate a supplementary induced magnetization, the resulting magnetic field of which can be easily separated from that due to the magnetization of the magnetic field of the earth. This supplementary magnetic field is calculated so as to be geometrically as close as possible to that of the magnetic field of the earth in the vessel. It is obtained by means of alternating currents injected into the immunization loops. The magnetic field produced by the loops along with respect to the sensors can be calculated, thereby allowing to obtain by subtraction from the alternating magnetic field measured by the sensors of the immunization base the magnetic field due to the induced field in the vessel.


In many applications it is important to find objects that are carried by people and which can be concealed on their bodies. Detection systems are known which require an individual to pass through a fixed detector passageway (portal) equipped with magnetic sensors. When metallic objects of sufficient mass pass through the passageway, a warning signal is activated because a change in magnetic flux is detected. This type of system either detects or does not detect a metal object and sometimes makes no determination relative to the amount of metal present. Keys, jewelry, watches, and metal-framed eyeglasses may all trigger such a system.
While such magnetic detectors are capable of detecting metal objects passing through the detector passageway, such systems cannot determine whether the detected metal object is a threat object (e.g., a knife or a gun) or an innocuous (non-threat) object (e.g., keys, coins, jewelry, belt buckles). Moreover, these detection systems do not pinpoint the location of the metal objects on the individual's body. Likewise, these systems are useless in detection of modern threats posed by plastic and ceramic items and plastic and liquid explosives.
Moreover, there are situations when a person under surveillance need not be aware that he or she is being monitored. In such a case, the portal systems described above are not appropriate.
Another type of detection system also employs imaging techniques that acquire images of the detection space and then display the image to an operator. Moreover, imaging detection systems can use image recognition methods to convert the image into an indication (such as an audible or visual alarm). In order to recognize a specific threat object, the system has to compare the object with an electronic catalog of images of uniquely-shaped threat objects. In this case, unique orientations of the objects are also important, because an object may have a significantly different appearance if viewed from the sides, the top, etc. The observed uniqueness of a threat object also essentially depends on the image resolution of the system.
A good example of a concealed object imaging system that exhibits high image clarity is the cabinet x-ray system used at airports to screen carry-on luggage. Although very effective for certain security tasks, X-ray imaging can pose a serious health risk to living organisms due to X-ray exposure, and is therefore unacceptable to the public. On the other hand, RF radiation in the microwave and millimeter-wave (e.g., 5 GHz to 1 THz) range offers a possible solution for concealed weapon detection and imaging, because the RF radiation can easily penetrate clothing and also represents no known health threat to humans at moderate power levels (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,791,487 to Singh; U.S. Pat. No. 6,876,322 to Keller; U.S. Pat. No. 6,992,616 to Grudkowski et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,340 to Maharav at al.).
Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 6,791,487 describes imaging methods and systems for concealed weapon detection. In an active mode, a target can be illuminated by a wide-band RF source. A mechanically scanned antenna, together with a highly sensitive wide-band receiver can then collect and process the signals reflected from the target. In a passive mode, the wide-band receiver detects back-body radiation emanating from the target and possesses sufficient resolution to separate different objects. The received signals can then be processed via a computer and displayed on a display unit thereof for further analysis by security personnel.
A wideband millimeter-wave imaging system is described in the article titled “Concealed explosive detection on personnel using a wideband holographic millimeter-wave imaging system,” by Sheen et al., Proceedings of SPIE—The International Society for Optical Engineering, V. 2755, 1996, PP. 503-513. To form an image, Sheen et al. use a linear array of 128 antennas that can electronically scan over a horizontal aperture of 0.75 meters, while the linear array is mechanically swept over a vertical aperture of 2 meters. At each point over this 2-D aperture, coherent wideband data reflected from the target is gathered using wide-beamwidth antennas. The data is recorded coherently, and reconstructed (focused) using an image reconstruction algorithm that works in the near-field of both the target and the scanned aperture and preserves the diffraction limited resolution of less than one-wavelength. The wide frequency bandwidth is used to provide depth resolution, which allows the image to be fully focused over a wide range of depths, resulting in a full 3-D image.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,340 describes a security inspection system including a portal through which a human subject is capable of walking and a scanning panel including an array of antennas that are programmable with a respective phase delay to direct a beam of microwave illumination toward a target on the human subject. The antennas are further capable of receiving reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target. A processor is operable to measure an intensity of the reflected microwave illumination to determine a value of a pixel within an image of the human subject. Multiple beams can be directed towards the human subject to obtain corresponding pixel values for use by the processor in constructing the image.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,992,616 describes active imaging systems including an antenna apparatus configured to transmit toward and receive from a subject in a subject position, electromagnetic radiation. The antenna apparatus may move in a partial or continuous loop around the subject, toward or away from the subject, or in an opposite direction to an associated antenna apparatus. Antenna units in the antenna apparatus may be oriented at different angular positions along an array. Antenna arrays may also be formed of a plurality of array segments, and a group of arrays may be combined to form an antenna apparatus.


Wheeled carriages for supporting a patient in a substantially horizontal position are well-known in the art and a representative example of an early version of such a device is illustrated in Dr. Homer H. Stryker's U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,116, reference to which is incorporated herein. Dr. Stryker's innovative wheeled carriage included a fifth wheel which is raisable and lowerable by the attendant by directly manually manipulating the wheel support frame oriented beneath the patient supporting portion of the wheeled carriage. The orientation of the fifth wheel was sometimes awkward to reach and, therefore, made the operation of the raising and lowering feature of the fifth wheel difficult to attain.
Other structure was added to the wheeled carriage to facilitate an activation of the brakes for the wheels on the wheeled carriage from positions adjacent the head end and/or the foot end of the wheeled carriage. However, if the wheeled carriage were to be placed into a position where the head end and the foot end of the wheeled carriage were inaccessible to the attendant, operation of the brake became difficult without first moving the wheeled carriage to a position wherein at least one of the head and/or foot end of the wheeled carriage would be accessible for operation of the brake. If a fifth wheel is present and is deployed to its floor engaging position, situations where this might be considered a problem would be where an overbed table was to be placed in association with the wheeled carriage and the fifth wheel was blocking entry of the wheeled carriage of the overbed table beneath the wheeled carriage because of the presence of the lowered fifth wheel. Thus, it became a desire to provide an easily accessible fifth wheel and brake activation device oriented at least within the lateral side region of the wheeled carriage as well as within the head and foot regions of the wheeled carriage.
As wheeled carriages for supporting a patient further developed from Dr. Stryker's earlier patent, the mechanism for raising the patient support relative to the wheeled base generally included a pair of horizontally spaced hydraulic jacks which were simultaneously pumped with hydraulic fluid by operation of a single foot activated pedal. Once the hydraulic jacks had raised the patient support to the desired elevation, either the head end of the patient support, the foot end of the patient support or both ends of the patient support could be selectively lowered by activation of one or two foot activated pedals. For example, one foot activated pedal, when depressed, would activate a hydraulic fluid release valve for allowing hydraulic fluid to exit the hydraulic jack at one end of the bed so that that end of the bed would be lowered. The second foot pedal would accomplish the same task. When it was desired to lower both the head end and the foot end of the patient support at the same time, it was necessary for both foot pedals to be depressed at the same time. Attendants have found this difficult to achieve. Accordingly, it became a desire to provide for an easy to use mechanism for effecting the simultaneous lowering of the head end and foot end hydraulic jacks.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a wheeled carriage for supporting a patient in a substantially horizontal position having a wheel braking and unbraking mechanism and/or an auxiliary wheel and support structure therefor mounted on a wheeled base, one and/or the other being actuatable by a manually manipulatable control element at at least one of the pair of lateral side regions or at least one of the head or foot ends of the wheeled carriage so that an attendant can operate the manually manipulatable control element to effect a movement of the auxiliary wheel solely from the head or foot end and solely from within the lateral side region.
It is a further object of this invention to provide brakes for the wheels of the wheeled carriage and a control mechanism for activating the brakes while the auxiliary wheel is in a position spaced from the floor surface and deactivating the brakes while the auxiliary wheel is in a floor engaging position, all utilizing the aforesaid same control mechanism.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a wheeled carriage, as aforesaid, wherein plural control elements are provided around the perimeter of the wheeled carriage to facilitate an attendant operating a selected one of the manually manipulatable control elements to effect a movement of the auxiliary wheel from its raised or lowered position and/or activation of a brake mechanism for the wheeled carriage solely from within a selected one of the head, foot and two lateral side regions of the wheeled carriage.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a control mechanism for actuating the raising and lowering feature of the fifth wheel and/or activation of a brake mechanism for the wheeled carriage by utilizing a rotational movement of the activating devices to facilitate compact construction of a rotary transmission device to interconnect the multiple locations for activating the raising and lowering of the fifth wheel feature and/or activation of a brake mechanism for the wheeled carriage.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a wheeled carriage, as aforesaid, wherein the manually manipulatable control element at each of the multiple locations around the perimeter of the wheeled carriage are identical to one another thereby standardizing the appearance of the control element to the attendant thereby minimizing confusion as to which of the many manually manipulatable elements on a wheeled carriage for supporting a patient in a substantially horizontal position is to be activated.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a wheeled carriage, as aforesaid, wherein the fifth wheel activating structure is durable and requires little or no maintenance over the lifetime of the wheeled carriage.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a wheeled carriage, as aforesaid, wherein the control element for activating the brakes and/or the auxiliary fifth wheel is a unitary pedal construction.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a wheeled carriage, as aforesaid, wherein hydraulic jacks are utilized to raise and lower the patient support relative to the wheeled base and wherein a unitary pedal construction is utilized to effect an independent lowering of the head end and the foot end of the patient support as well as a simultaneous lowering of both the head end and the foot end of the patient support.


Ever since the first experiments in variolation in 1721, and Jenner's vaccination methods in 1796, methods and compositions for disease prevention utilizing immunization have been extensively investigated. Many methods rely upon the use of active immunization, in which an antigen (or mixtures of antigens), such as a modified infectious agent or toxin is administered, resulting in active immunity. This active immunity is characterized by the production of antibodies directed against the administered antigen(s), and in some cases, induction of cellular responses mediated by lymphocytes and macrophages.
Traditionally, vaccines used for active immunization have consisted of live attenuated bacteria (e.g., Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) or viruses (e.g., measles virus), killed microorganisms (e.g., Vibrio cholerae), inactivated bacterial products (e.g., tetanus toxoid), or specific single components of bacteria (e.g., Haemophilus influenzae polysaccharide). Although active immunization with live organisms is generally superior to immunization with killed vaccines in producing long-lived immune responses, care must be taken to properly store and administer these vaccines, as serious failures of measles and smallpox immunizations have resulted from improper refrigeration of the vaccine preparations. In addition, pregnant women and individuals with compromised immune systems should, in general, not receive live vaccines, as the organisms may cause serious disease upon vaccination. For example, live vaccines have caused serious and fatal disease in patients receiving corticosteroids, alkylating drugs, radiation, other immunosuppressive treatments, as well as individuals with known or suspected congenital or acquired defects in cell-mediated immunity (e.g., severe combined immunodeficiency disease, leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]). Live vaccines may even cause mild, or rarely, severe disease in immunocompetent hosts. In addition, live vaccines may also contain undesirable components. For example, epidemic hepatitis has resulted from the use of vaccinia and yellow fever vaccines containing human serum.
Passive immunization using preformed immunoreactive serum or cells is sometimes utilized, especially when active immunization is not available or not advisable. In particular, passive immunization finds use in individuals who cannot produce antibodies or other immune system deficiencies, as well as in individuals who are at risk of developing disease before active immunization would be successful in stimulating a sufficient antibody response. Passive immunization is also used in conjunction with vaccine administration in the management of certain diseases (e.g., rabies vaccination and prophylaxis following an animal bite), management of individuals who have been exposed to certain toxins or venoms, and as an immunosuppressant. However, passive immunization does not produce long-term immunity and is sometimes associated with severe reactions due to the presence of foreign proteins in the vaccine preparation (e.g., anaphylaxis resulting from a reaction against human or horse [or other non-human animal] proteins present in the vaccine preparation).
More recently, vaccines comprising recombinant DNA or RNA segments have been developed. However, use of these recombinant vaccines has resulted in problems associated with the expression of the desired antigen(s) in another organism (e.g., an E. coli or yeast host). For example, in addition to the desired antigen, other components, such as other antigens (e.g., protein and other components) from the expression host, preservatives, etc may be present in the preparation. In addition, adjuvants are sometimes required in order to provide efficacious vaccination with these vaccines. However as with passive immunization, undesirable reactions sometimes occur in vaccinated individuals due to the presence of these undesirable components.
Various adenovirus-based gene delivery systems have likewise been investigated for vaccine use. Human adenoviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses which enter cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis. These viruses have been viewed as being particularly well suited for gene transfer because they are easy to grow and manipulate and they exhibit a broad host range in vivo and in vitro. Adenovirus is easily produced at high titers and is stable so that it can be purified and stored. Even in the replication-competent form, adenoviruses generally cause only low level morbidity and are not associated with human malignancies. Various references provide reviews of adenovirus-based gene delivery systems (See, e.g., Haj-Ahmad and Graham, J. Virol., 57:267-274 [1986]; Bett et al., J. Virol., 67:5911-5921 [1993]; Mittereder et al., Human Gene Ther., 5:717-729 [1994]; Seth et al., J. Virol., 68:933-940 [1994]; Barr et al., Gene Ther., 1:51-58 [1994]; Berkner, BioTechn., 6:616-629 [1988]; and Rich et al., Human Gene Ther., 4:461-476 [1993]). However, despite these advantages, adenovirus vector systems still have several drawbacks which limit their effectiveness in gene delivery, such as cytotoxicity. Adenovirus vectors also express viral proteins that may elicit a strong non-specific immune response in the host. This non-specific immune reaction may increase toxicity or preclude subsequent treatments because of humoral and/or T cell responses against the adenoviral particles. Thus, problems remain even with the newer technologies for vaccine administration.
As briefly mentioned above, the major focus in the past has been on the development of antibody responses to vaccination. However, cell-mediated responses are of great importance in some situations. Indeed, cell-mediated immunity is of greater importance than the antibody-mediated response in the response to intracellular parasites (e.g., viruses and obligately intracellular bacteria). T-cells (T lymphocytes) play the primary roles in cell-mediated immunity, although there is communication via cytokines and other signalling compounds between these cells as the antibody-producing B-cells.
Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) play an important role in immune responses directed against intracellular pathogens such as viruses and tumor-specific antigens produced by cancerous cells. In particular, CTLs mediate cytotoxicity of virally infected cells by recognizing viral determinants in conjunction with Class I MHC molecules displayed by the infected cells. Cytoplasmic expression of proteins is a prerequisite for Class I MHC processing and presentation of antigenic peptides to CTLs. However, conventional immunization techniques, such as those using killed or attenuated viruses, often fail to elicit an appropriate CTL response which is effective against an intracellular infection. Thus, there remains a need for the development of vaccines that stimulate appropriate responses (i.e., cell-mediated as well as antibody-mediated immune responses), in order to prevent disease. Indeed, despite advances in vaccine technology, there remains a need for vaccines that are efficacious, yet avoid the problems associated with current vaccine preparations.


Due to advances in polymer science, the number of applications for polymeric tubing have drastically increased. These advances have resulted in polymeric tubing having outstanding thermal, mechanical, and insulative properties. Moreover, due to the wide variety of base resins, additives, and processing techniques currently available, tubing can be designed having specific physical properties, e.g. flexibility, flame resistant, chemical resistant, etc.
Typically, the base resins used for such polymeric tubing include polyolefins, polyvinylchloride (PVC), fluoropolmers, elastomers, and blends thereof.
Depending upon the materials and processing techniques used, such tubing may be "heat-shrinkable". For example, polyolefin materials are commonly extruded, irradiation crosslinked, and then expanded to form heat shrinkable tubing, as is common in the art and as described in: R. Kraus and D. Ryan, "Advances in Heat-Shrink Technology," IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine (1988) Vol.4, 31-34; and J. W. Hoffman, "Insulation Enhancement with Heat-Shrinkable Components," IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine (1991) Vol.7, 33-38. Upon subsequent application of heat, such tubing shrinks to approximately its originally extruded size and shape.
Although heat shrinkable polyolefin tubing exhibits many desirable mechanical, thermal, and insulative properties, in many applications including those having repeated exposure to high temperature and/or pressure, such polyolefin materials fail to maintain an adhesive bond to a substrate and/or fail to maintain heat sealability (ability to remain bonded to itself). Consequently, in these applications, an inner sealant or adhesive mastic liner is commonly used to help maintain a fluid tight seal. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,297,819 to Wetmore; R. Kraus and D. Ryan, "Advances in Heat-Shrink Technology," IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine (1988) Vol.4, 31-34; and J. W. Hoffman, "Insulation Enhancement with Heat-Shrinkable Components," IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine (1991) Vol.7, 33-38 all describe a heat shrinkable tubing including an inner thermoplastic or mastic liner which maintains an adhesive bond with an inner substrate, and an outer heat shrinkable liner which is typically crosslinked. Such tubing may be co-extruded thereby providing a tubing having the inner non-crosslinked liner and the outer crosslinked liner.
Many problems are associated with such tubing, particularly when used in environments having cyclic exposure to high temperatures and pressures. For example, when such tubing is used in the medical or food industries where cyclic autoclave sterilization is common, the inner liner of the tubing melts and flows in response to the sterilization temperatures and pressures. Moreover, at sterilization temperatures, the outer liner tends to undergo additional shrink thereby causing the melted inner liner to ooze or flow from the tubing. The melt and flow of the inner liner, although acceptable in some applications, is not acceptable in most medical applications. For example, one particular medical applications includes the use of the heat shrinkable tubing in connection with electro-surgical laparoscopic instruments. Such instruments typically include a cylindrical electrically conducting member having one of many possible surgical attachments secured to one end for performing a variety of surgical procedures, i.e. providing suction, irrigation, coagulating vessels, etc. The opposite end of the conducting member is securable to a hand-held control module which allows a surgeon to control the surgical attachment.
The conducting member includes a sheath or tubing disposed circumferencally about its length for electrically insulating the conducting member. The tubing is preferably transparent and of the heat shrink variety so that it may be easily applied about the conducting member. Moreover, the tubing must maintain an adhesive seal with the conducting member and maintain heat sealability with itself after cyclic autoclave sterilization in order to prevent the ingress of moisture between the conducting member and the tubing. The tubing must maintain its electrical insulating properties along with a sufficient hot modulus. Furthermore, the tubing must maintain all of these aforementioned properties after cyclic gamma, electron beam, or ethylene oxide gas sterilization procedures. Finally, the tubing must maintain its thermal stability at sterilization temperatures and not flow in response to sterilization heat and pressure.
Prior art heat shrink polyolefin tubing, including those made from KYPRAN.TM. (registered trademark of Penwalt Co. for its vinylidene fluoride resin) and crosslinked polyolefins such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,592,881 to Ostapchenko, U.S. Pat No. 3,990,479 to Stine et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,177 to Atchison et al., may provide the necessary hot modulus strength, but lose their adhesive sealability to a substrate and lost sealability after exposure to the high temperatures and pressures associated with autoclave sterilization. Moisture leaks into the interface between the conducting member and the tubing, thus causing potential electrical and sterilization problems. Such prior art tubing also permanently discolor after cyclic gamma sterilization. Furthermore, the prior art tubing lose their electrical insulating properties after cyclic sterilization. Although co-extruded tubing such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,297,819 to Wetmore, may maintain a seal after repetitive autoclave sterilizations, the temperature and pressure associated with sterilization cause the inner liner of adhesive material to flow out of the tubing rendering the instrument unusable and susceptible to leaks.
Thus, a tubing is needed which is thermally stable and will not flow at sterilizations temperatures while simultaneously providing sufficient hot modulus, electrical insulative properties, permanent transparency, heat sealability, and adhesiveness after cyclic autoclave, gamma, and electron beam sterilization.


An electrical power system operates under a steady-state condition when there exists a balance between generated and consumed active power for the system. Power system disturbances may cause oscillations in machine rotor angles that can result in conditions like a power swing, when internal voltages of system generators slip relative to each other. Power system faults, line switching, generator disconnection, or the loss or sudden application of large amounts of load are examples of system disturbances that may cause a power swing event to occur in a power system. Depending on the severity of the disturbance and power system control actions, the system may return to a stable state or experience a large separation of load angle and eventually lose synchronism. Large power swings, stable or unstable, may cause unwanted relay operations at different locations in the system, which can aggravate the system disturbance and can result in major power outages or blackouts.
Further, asynchronous operation of interconnected generators in the power system as an effect of unstable power swing may initiate uncontrolled tripping of circuit breakers resulting in equipment damage and posing a safety concern for utility operators. Therefore, the asynchronous system areas may need to be separated from each other quickly and dynamically in order to avoid extensive equipment damage and shutdown of major portions of the system. In order to contain these risks, it is required as per international standards to have an optimal generator protection device, such as a generator relay, in place to isolate generators from the rest of the system within a half-slip cycle. The need to meet the international standards challenges protection engineers to ensure selective and reliable relay operation.
In a conventional relaying approach, a variation in system impedance determined at generator terminals is analyzed for detecting power swing. Various impedance-based protection approaches including power swing block (PSB) and out-of step trip (OST) are currently being used. However, these protection approaches may need an extensive power system stability study to arrive at an optimal setting for selective and reliable relay operation. Protection engineers typically use preliminary settings that are not adapted to accommodate variation in system configurations or operational dynamics, for example, changes in transmission and distribution layout during implementation phase or dynamically during operational phase. Extensive study and non-dynamic preliminary settings may result in the protection device being unable to selectively, reliably and dependably detect power swings and isolate generators during such events.
Other known relaying approaches estimate swing center voltage (SCV) for detecting power swings. Such approaches use approximate estimation that does not take into consideration real time power system dynamics. In some relaying approaches, a high-speed communication network such as fiber optic or global positioning system (GPS) communication is used to obtain data at a source end from one or more generators at receiving end(s), which is at a remote location from the source end, for SCV estimation. However, such approaches have economic challenges due to the cost associated with implementing and maintaining a high-speed communication network. Some approaches for SCV directly measure the rotor angle between the generator's internal voltage and terminal voltage for detecting power swing. In the absence of direct measurements, it is difficult to determine the power swing condition.
In one known SCV approach, the relationship between the SCV and a swing angle (θ) of a two-source equivalent system may be determined as per the below equation:
  SVC  =            ±      E        ×          cos                    (                  θ          2                )            where, E is an internal voltage of a source-end generator
In such approaches, the power swing may be detected by calculating a rate of change of the SCV. The time derivative of the SCV is given by below equation:
            d                    (        SCV        )              dt    =            E      2        ×          sin                    (                  θ          2                )                                d                                                  θ            dt
In this equation, for sin (θ/2) to be close to one, θ should be around 180 degrees (for example, between 90 and 180 degrees). Therefore, the above equation can be used for detecting power swing when the value of θ is around 180 degrees. However, for values of θ between 0 and 90 degrees, the above equation will result in sin (θ/2) to be close to zero. In other words, this approach is not suitable for a smaller range of values of θ (for example, between 0 and 90 degrees).


Aromatic compounds can be alkylated with olefinically unsaturated compounds employing a catalyst consisting essentially of aluminum halide and molecular iodine. Additionally, molecular iodine or iodine-containing compounds are useful in other catalytic conversions such as for example, Grignard reactions, carbonylation reactions, and the like. A problem encountered with such reactions is the removal of the iodine components from the reaction mixture so that color formation in the product is avoided. Methods disclosed in the prior art, such as for example, extraction with thiosulfate or bisulfite; treatment with other oxidants; distillation in the presence of acid or base, however, are not always successful in completely removing color forming impurities from the reaction mixture which contains the desired product.


Most of the detergents in use today are derived from precursor petrochemicals. The currently predominant precursors is linear alkyl benzene (LAB), which is commonly produced by the alkylation of benzene with a long chain linear olefin. The subject invention is directed to the production of monomethyl acyclic olefins and paraffins, which may be recovered as a product in their own right, or used in the production of various petrochemicals as through alkylation or oxygenation. The following description of the invention will mainly address the recovery and use of the monomethyl hydrocarbons in the production of detergent precursor petrochemicals, and in particular the production of alkylbenzene derived detergents.
Several quality characteristics of alkylbenzenesulfonate (ABS) detergents are set by the chemical structure of the alkyl side chain. For instance, linear alkyl groups have the advantage of increased biodegradability. Other characteristics of the detergent such as its effectiveness in hard water and its foaming tendency are also influenced by the structure of the side chain and its constituents. It has recently been determined that highly desirable detergent precursors can be formed from olefins which contain a single methyl side chain on the main alkane chain. This is a departure from the previous preference for straight chain alkanes. The subject invention is specifically directed to the production of monomethyl hydrocarbons for use in the subsequent production of these detergent precursors or ingredients.


The invention relates to a driver assistance device having a plurality of ultrasound sensors. Moreover, the invention also relates to a vehicle having such a driver assistance device as well as a method for operating a driver assistance device.
A plurality of different driver assistance systems or driver assistance devices for motor vehicles is known. A number of such driver assistance devices operate on the basis of ultrasound sensors that are designed for detecting the surroundings of a vehicle. Specific actions are carried out depending on this information, which is detected by means of the ultrasound sensors, e.g. information is output to the driver of the vehicle and/or at least one semi-autonomous process is carried out for driving the vehicle by the driver assistance device.
With current parking assistance systems or parking assistance devices the distance between an object and the vehicle is determined using the transition time of previously transmitted ultrasound signals. An ultrasound sensor transmits a defined number of ultrasound signals, which in turn are received by one or a plurality of the ultrasound sensors. These are always the same ultrasound signals. It is therefore not possible for adjacent ultrasound sensors to transmit simultaneously, because the received ultrasound signals cannot otherwise be unambiguously assigned.
Moreover, a method of operating an ultrasound sensor array is known from DE 101 06 142 A1. Said array comprises at least two transmitting units distributed along the circumference of the motor vehicle for transmitting ultrasound pulses, and at least one receiving unit for receiving ultrasound pulses reflected at an object in the monitoring area. A plurality of transmitting units can be operated in parallel and at the same time transmit ultrasound pulses that are encoded relative to each other. For encoding, carrier signals of the ultrasound pulses are frequency modulated differently for the individual simultaneously operated transmitting units at least during the pulse period and the received encoded ultrasound pulses are assigned to individual simultaneously operated transmitting units by the at least one receiving unit using the encoding.
Regarding the encoding of ultrasound signals, a plurality of options and procedures are mentioned in said DE 101 06 142 A1. Besides frequency encoding, in which the frequency of the carrier signal of a first transmitting unit is upward modulated and the frequency of the carrier signal of a second transmitting unit is downward modulated, amplitude modulation can also be carried out over one or a plurality of pulses.
Such ultrasound sensors, which transmit encoded ultrasound signals, are however relatively expensive.
Moreover, it is not necessary for each function of a driver assistance system to transmit such encoded ultrasound signals, but conventional unencoded signals are also sufficient.
The object of the present invention is to provide a driver assistance device with whose ultrasound sensors high functionality in respect of safe and reliable detection of the surroundings is guaranteed and which can be implemented inexpensively.
This object is achieved by a driver assistance device, a vehicle having such a driver assistance device and a method for operating such a driver assistance device according to the independent claims.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a gas monitoring system, and, in particular, to an integrated sample cell and filter for use in a sidestream gas monitoring system, such filter for separating undesired liquid components from respiratory gases to be monitored in the sample cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
During medical treatment, it is often desirable to monitor and analyze a patient's exhalations to determine the gaseous composition of the exhalate. For instance, monitoring the carbon dioxide (CO2) content of a patient's exhalations is often desirable. Typically, the carbon dioxide (or other gaseous) content of a patient's exhalation is monitored by transferring a portion, or sample, of the patient's expired gases to a suitable sensing mechanism and monitoring system.
Monitoring of exhaled gases may be accomplished utilizing either mainstream or sidestream monitoring systems. In a mainstream monitoring system, the gaseous content of a patient's exhalations is measured in-situ in the patient circuit or conduit coupled to the patient's airway. In a sidestream monitoring system, on the other hand, the gas sample is transported from the patient circuit through a gas sampling line to a sensing mechanism located some distance from the main patient circuit for monitoring. As a patient's expired gases are typically fully saturated with water vapor at about 35° C., a natural consequence of the gas transport is condensation of the moisture present in the warm, moist, expired gases.
Accurate analysis of the gaseous composition of a patient's exhalation is dependent upon a number of factors including collection of a gaseous sample that is substantially free of liquid condensate, which might distort the results of the analysis. As an expired gas sample cools during transport through the gas sampling line to the sensing mechanism in a sidestream monitoring system, the water vapor contained in the sample may condense into liquid or condensate. The liquid or condensate, if permitted to reach the sensing mechanism, can have a detrimental effect on the functioning thereof and may lead to inaccurate monitoring results. Condensed liquid in the gas sampling line may also contaminate subsequent expired gas samples by being re-entrained into such subsequent samples.
In addition to the condensate, it is not uncommon to have other undesirable liquids, such as blood, mucus, medications, and the like, contained in the expired gas sample. Each of these liquids, if present in the gas sample to be monitored, may render analytical results that do not accurately reflect the patient's medical status.
There are numerous ways in which to separate undesired liquids from the patient's expired gas stream to protect the sensing mechanism. For instance, it is known place a moisture trap between the patient and the sensing mechanism to separate moisture from the exhalation gas before it enters the sensing mechanism. The challenge, however, is to achieve the separation without affecting the characteristics of the parameters being measured, e.g., the waveform of the gas to be monitored.
By way of example, carbon dioxide (CO2) is effectively present only in the patient's expired gases. Therefore, the CO2 in an exhaled gas sample, transported through a gas sampling line to the sensing mechanism, fluctuates according to the CO2 present at the point at which the sample is taken. Of course the CO2 level also varies with the patient respiratory cycle. Disturbance to this fluctuation, i.e., decreases in the fidelity of the CO2 waveform, are undesirable, because such disturbances can affect the accuracy of the CO2 measurement and the graphical display of the waveform. For this reason, removal of liquids from the exhaled gas sample is desirably accomplished in such a way that it does not substantially degrade the fidelity of the CO2 waveform. Unfortunately, conventional moisture traps often disturb the waveform to a substantial degree.
Various other techniques have been employed to filter the expired gas stream of the undesired condensate while attempting to permit the waveform to be transported undisturbed. Such techniques include absorbents, centrifugal filters, desiccants, hydrophobic membranes and hydrophilic membranes. One well-established application which has shown some success is the use of hydrophobic hollow fibers as a filter for fluid separation. However, this application often-times still results in degradation of the waveform to some degree due to the physical requirements of the interface between the hollow fibers and the sensing mechanism.
Furthermore, a prominent existing application of hydrophobic hollow fibers as a filter provides a disposable gas sample collection unit that connects to a reusable sensing mechanism. It this conventional filter arrangement, the gas sample collection unit, i.e., the sample cell, is physically located some distance from the filter. The gas passing through the filter is transported to the sample cell via a relatively long tube.
The present inventor recognized that the conventional technique of gathering and transporting the filtered gas sample to a remote sensing mechanism degrades the CO2 waveform measured at the sample cell. More specifically, the present inventor recognized that by locating the filter element some distance from the sample cell and causing the filtered gas to pass through a relatively long conduit to get from the filter to the sample cell, this arrangement effectively dampens the fidelity of the CO2 waveform, for example, by dulling the rising and falling edges of the waveform. Accordingly, a gas sampling assembly that effectively and efficiently separates moisture from a gas sample and that does not substantially degrade the waveform of expired gases measured at the sample would be advantageous.


Golf balls generally comprise a core surrounded by a cover and optionally intermediate layers there between. The cover forms a spherical outer surface and typically includes a plurality of dimples. The core and/or the cover may incorporate multiple layers and the core may be solid or have a fluid-filled center surrounded by windings and/or molded material. Golf ball covers may be formed from a variety of materials such as balata, polyurethane, polyurea, and/or thermoplastic compositions such as ionomer resins including SURLYN® and IOTEK®, depending upon the desired performance characteristics of the golf ball and desired properties of the cover.
While conventional golf balls are white, some golfers enjoy distinguishing themselves on the course by playing a golf ball having a unique visual appearance. Accordingly, golf ball manufacturers have incorporated coloring agents such as pigments, dyes, tints, inks and the like in golf ball materials and/or coatings.
Such color agents typically contain chromophores. A chromophore is the group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the molecule's color. Specifically, bonds between the atoms allow the atoms to absorb some visible light while reflecting other visible light, with the reflected wavelengths of light attributing a certain apparent color to the molecule.
A notable drawback with chromosphore-based coloring agents, however, is that the apparent color fades/discolors from exposure to sunlight due to photodegradation. This occurs because the atoms in a chromophore will also absorb damaging photons within the wavelengths found in sunlight (i.e., infrared radiation, visible light, and ultraviolet light), which break down the aforementioned bonds between atoms, thereby changing the atomic configuration within each chromophore. While stabilizer packages are often used to improve light stability, such improvement can be temporary. And stabilizer packages have been known to actually contribute to discoloration as well.
Accordingly, there remains a need for golf balls having an apparent surface color that is not subject to fading or discoloration when exposed to sun light. The present invention addresses and solves this need.


The search for new therapeutic agents has been greatly aided in recent years by better understanding of the structure of proteins and other biomolecules associated with target diseases. One important class of these proteins is the sigma receptor, a cell surface receptor of the central nervous system (CNS) which may be related to the dysphoric, hallucinogenic and cardiac stimulant effects of opioids. From studies of the biology and function of sigma receptors, evidence has been presented that sigma receptor ligands may be useful in the treatment of psychosis and movement disorders such as dystonia and tardive dyskinesia, and motor disturbances associated with Huntington's chorea or Tourette's syndrome and in Parkinson's disease (Walker, J. M. et al, Pharmacological Reviews, 1990, 42, 355). It has been reported that the known sigma receptor ligand rimcazole clinically shows effects in the treatment of psychosis (Snyder, S. H., Largent, B. L. J. Neuropsychiatry 1989, 1, 7). The sigma binding sites have preferential affinity for the dextrorotatory isomers of certain opiate benzomorphans, such as (+)-SKF 10047, (+)-cyclazocine, and (+)-pentazocine and also for some narcoleptics such as haloperidol. The sigma receptor has at least two subtypes, which may be discriminated by stereoselective isomers of these pharmacoactive drugs. SKF 10047 has nanomolar affinity for the sigma-1 site, and has micromolar affinity for the sigma-2 site. Haloperidol has similar affinities for both subtypes. Endogenous sigma ligands are not known, although progesterone has been suggested to be one of them. Possible sigma-site-mediated drug effects include modulation of glutamate receptor function, neurotransmitter response, neuroprotection, behavior, and cognition (Quirion, R. et al. Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 1992, 13:85-86). Most studies have implied that sigma binding sites (receptors) are plasmalemmal elements of the signal transduction cascade. Drugs reported to be selective sigma ligands have been evaluated as antipsychotics (Hanner, M. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 1996, 93:8072-8077). The existence of sigma receptors in the CNS, immune and endocrine systems have suggested a likelihood that it may serve as link between the three systems.
In view of the potential therapeutic applications of agonists or antagonists of the sigma receptor, a great effort has been directed to find selective ligands. Thus, the prior art discloses different sigma receptor ligands.
International Patent Application No. WO 91/09594 generically describes a broad class of sigma receptor ligands some of which are 4-phenylpiperidine, -tetrahydro-pyridine or -piperazine compounds having an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy or alkoxyalkyl substituent on the ring N-atom. The terms aryl and heteroaryl are defined by mention of a number of such substituents.
European patent publication No. EP 0 414 289 AI generically discloses a class of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-spiro[naphthalene-1,4′-piperidine] and 1,4-dihydro-spiro [naphthalene-1,4′-piperidine] derivatives substituted at the piperidine N-atom with a hydrocarbon group alleged to have selective sigma receptor antagonistic activity. The term hydrocarbon, as defined in said patent, covers all possible straight chained, cyclic, heterocyclic, etc. groups. However, only compounds having benzyl, phenethyl, cycloalkylmethyl, furyl- or thienylmethyl or lower alkyl or alkenyl as the hydrocarbon substituent at the piperidine nitrogen atom are specifically disclosed. The compounds are stated to displace tritiated di-tolyl guanidine (DTG) from sigma sites with potencies better than 200 nM. As a particularly preferred compound is mentioned 1′-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-spiro[naphthalene-1,4′-piperidine].
European patent publication No. EP 0 445 974 A2 generically describes the corresponding spiro[indane-1,4′-piperidine] and spiro[benzocycloheptene-5,4′-piperidine] derivatives. Again the compounds are only stated to displace tritiated di-tolyl guanidine (DTG) from sigma sites with potencies better than 200 nM
European patent Application No. EP 0 431 943 A2 relates to a further extremely broad class of spiropiperidine compounds substituted at the piperidine N-atom and claimed to be useful as antiarrhythmics and for impaired cardiac pump function. The said application exemplifies several compounds, the majority of which contain an oxo and/or a sulfonylamino substituent in the spiro cyclic ring system. Of the remainder compounds, the main part has another polar substituent attached to the spiro nucleus and/or they have some polar substituents in the substituent on the piperidine N-atom. No suggestion or indication of effect of the compounds on the sigma receptor is given.
There is still a need to find compounds that have pharmacological activity towards the sigma receptor, being both effective and selective, and having good “drugability” properties, i.e. good pharmaceutical properties related to administration, distribution, metabolism and excretion.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas laser oscillating unit, in particular, a gas laser unit provided with a gas flow passage having a junction.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an axial-flow type laser oscillating unit, a gas flow passage of the unit has been improved, in which a laser medium or laser gas flows in an excitation part in order to generate a laser beam by discharging, a light reaction or chemical reaction. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-326379, a taper portion is provided on the inlet and outlet portions of a flow passage for a laser gas, in order to reduce the pressure loss of the passage. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-199772, the shape of the front portion of an excitation part of a gas flow passage is configured in order to make the gas flow in a discharge tube a spiral flow, thereby stabilizing the discharge.
Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2003-283008 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2004-235517, two excitation parts are arranged on the same laser beam axis, and two gas flows collide with each other at a junction part between the two excitation parts. It is advantageous to merge the two flows from the two excitation parts, instead of having two separate flows, since the number of components of the flow passage may be reduced and the length of the non-excitation part may be shortened. Due to a reduction in the number of components, the cost of the laser oscillating unit may be reduced. Further, due to the shortened length of the non-excitation part, the efficiency of laser oscillation may be improved, since the energy loss of the laser beam is reduced.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing an example of the structure of a junction part of a laser gas of the axial-flow type laser oscillation, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2003-283008 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2004-235517. As shown in FIG. 5, a tapered gas flow passages 161a is arranged between the excitation part 103a and a junction part 123, and a tapered gas flow passage 161b is arranged between the excitation part 103b and the junction part 123. The two opposing tapered passages 161a and 161b are symmetric about an axis 152 extending through a center point 151 of the junction part 123 and perpendicular to a laser axis 104. In other words, the two tapered portions are plane-symmetric about a plane including the axis 152 and perpendicular to the laser axis 104.
Therefore, two gas flows (having the same flow rate and velocity) are generated in two flow passages, and then the two gas flows collide with each other at or near the center point 151. In this case, the state of the gas flow in the junction part 123 is unstable or easily varies. For example, the state of the gas flow at a given time t1 is represented in FIG. 5, and then the state of the gas flow at another given time t2 may be changed as shown in FIG. 6. In other words, in the state of FIG. 5, the gas flows 180a and 180b flowing from the −X excitation parts 103a and 103b are biased to the −X and +X directions, respectively, and merge in the junction part 123. On the other hand, in the state of FIG. 6, the gas flows 180a and 180b are biased to the +X and −X directions, respectively, and merge in the junction part 123. At this point, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the X-direction is perpendicular to both the axis (or Y-direction) parallel to the laser axis and the longitudinal axis of a gas flow passage 162 (or Z-direction) arranged downstream relative to the junction part 123. In this example, the state of the gas flow is changed from time t1 to time t2, in other words, the state of the gas flow is unstable. Also, such an unstableness of gas flow, in two opposing gas flow passages constituting the plane-symmetrical structure, has been studied by numeric analysis, such as a finite element method of gas flow.
The laser gas, after flowing through the excitation part, is activated and has the property of absorbing the laser beam. Therefore, when the gas flow is unstable, the laser output and/or the shape of the laser beam mode may fluctuate. For example, in a laser machining process, the quality of a cut surface of a product may be deteriorated. Further, when the laser is used as a light source, the quantity of light may fluctuate.
The above Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-326379 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-199772 disclose ways to modify the gas flow passage. However, the ways are not directed to a technique for avoiding frontal collision of the gas flows as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2003-283008 or Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2004-235517.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming a single crystalline silicon layer, a structure including the same, and a method of fabricating a thin film transistor (“TFT”) using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of forming a single crystalline silicon layer with high crystallinity, a structure including the same, and a method of fabricating a TFT using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since poly crystalline silicon (“poly-Si”) has higher mobility than amorphous silicon (“a-Si”), poly-Si is applied not only to flat panel displays (“FPDs”) but also to various electronic devices, such as solar batteries. However, poly-Si is inferior in mobility and uniformity to single crystalline silicon.
In particular, single crystalline silicon is useful to a system on panel (“SOP”) structure in which a system is disposed on a display panel. The single crystalline silicon has a mobility of 300 cm2/Vs or higher. The use of single crystalline silicon with a high mobility is advantageous to formation of a high-quality switching device for a display device.
However, formation of single crystalline silicon is not free from temperature limitations. That is, a process of forming single crystalline silicon cannot be performed at a temperature higher than a temperature which a base substrate, for example, a plastic substrate or a glass substrate, can resist.
A process of forming a silicon-on-insulator (“SOI”) wafer, which is called a “smart-cut process,” includes a high-temperature annealing process that reaches a temperature of about 1000° C. Specifically, the smart-cut process includes thermally oxidizing a bare wafer with a predetermined thickness, forming a boundary layer by implanting H+ ions beneath the surface of the wafer, bonding the wafer to an additional substrate and separating the boundary layer to leave silicon on the substrate to a predetermined thickness, and performing an annealing process at a high temperature.
In this smart-cut process, the thermal oxidization process is performed at a temperature of 900° C. or higher, and the annealing process is performed at a temperature of up to 1100° C. Thus, there is a strong likelihood that these high-temperature processes inflict great damage on the substrate. Accordingly, the conventional method of forming an SOI wafer places a limitation on materials of the substrate and applies thermal shock even to a selected material of the substrate, thus adversely affecting the performance of a device obtained from silicon.
Another method of directly forming single crystalline silicon on a substrate is disclosed in “Formation of Location-controlled Crystalline Silicon” by Paul Ch. van der Wilt et al, Applied physics letters 72(12), p. 1819, 2001. This method is directed at forming single crystalline silicon on a desired location.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, an insulating layer 2 having a hole 2a with a predetermined pattern is formed on a glass substrate (or a plastic substrate) 1, and a silicon seed layer is formed in the hole 2a. However, according to this conventional method, the surface of a silicon layer 3 is not flattened around the hole 2a. Since the silicon layer 3 has an uneven surface, it is difficult to obtain single crystalline silicon with high crystallinity.


The procedure for correcting the lack of homogeneity is called shimming. It consists of two steps:
(i) mapping the magnetic field at certain points lying on the surface of a sphere centered at the magnet center, and
(ii) correcting field inhomogeneities by driving certain currents through individual shimming coils to generate new magnetic fields that correct for the lack of homogeneity.
Shimming the NMR magnets to improve the magnetic homogeneity presently is accomplished semi-manually. More particularly, the magnetic field of the NMR imaging systems is measured for homogeneity using probes in particular regions of the static magnetic field or by imaging phantoms in particular regions. Ideally of course, the static magnetic field should be universally homogeneous within the bore of th magnet. In practice there is a small but not neglectabe lack of homogeneity in all NMR magnets. Shim coils are used to correct for this lack of homogeneity. When the shimming coil currents are applied, new mapping is done and compared. Finally the current intensities are adjusted. The measuring and shimming steps are repeated until sufficient homogeneity is obtained.
This is understandably a very time consuming process. NMR systems are costly, therefore, in order to be cost effective for hospitals and clinics, the systems require minimum down time and maximum operating time. Accordingly, it is in the interest of manufacturers of the NMR systems to provide for shimming the magnetic field automatically to correct inhomogeneities in as short a time as possible and with the use of the least amount of manpower as possible.
In the prior art, attempts have been made to use phantoms within the central region of the magnet to map the magnetic field there. Such field mapping by imaging is, for example, disclosed in a publication of the Society of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Medicine at the second annual meeting of the society in San Francisco on Aug. 19, 1983 in a paper entitled "Field Measurement by Fourier Imaging" authored by A. G. Simon et al of the Columbia University of Physicians and Surgeons. In that article the authors suggest use of phantoms that comprise a single straight tube on an array of tubes in a circular disc. The article describes a phantom that is a thin water filled disc.
The use of the thin water filled disc measures the field homogeneity in only a single plane. A plurality of such water filled discs would test the homogeneity in a plurality of planes but would require a rather complicated and time consuming three dimensional computation to obtain a map of the magnetic field intensities. Thus the requirement for efficient inhomogeneity corrections persists.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for automatically generating moving picture highlights of video stored in a digital video storing device using scene change detecting algorithm.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, digital video content is delivered by a broadcasting system based on wired and wireless media such as a digital TV, and a user can store the digital video content using a storing device such as a PVR personal Video Recorder) as well as watch the digital video content.
Though the whole content of the stored digital video may be played and watched by a user, moving picture highlights of summarized type is also provided by a program supplier or automatically generated by a system in a user side so that a user could understand the content without watching the whole video in some cases.
The moving picture highlights are provided for playing important part of the stored video, while representing the whole relevant video stream.
The moving picture highlights are provided for separately storing or playing a specific interval of the video stream, and in case that a user wants to select and watch one of many videos stored in a digital video recorder for a limited time period, a user could save time necessary for searching the desired video content by playing only moving picture highlights for each video stream.
Also, the moving picture highlights could also provide a preview function that may be used for a program guide apparatus necessary for a user selecting video to be recorded in the digital video storing device besides summary information of the stored video stream.
As the moving picture highlight should separately extract meaningful part representing the video content for a user, determination of interval for which moving picture highlights would be generated is very complicated.
The method of the related art adopts a method that the program supplier separately produces moving picture highlights. But, in case of a program not providing highlights, it has a problem that there is no way for a user to obtain information regarding each program within limited time if a user recorded a plurality of programs simultaneously.
Therefore, in order to resolve the foregoing problem, a method for automatically generating these highlights is required.
Also, as the method of the related art generates the highlights by simply inputting time information, there is a problem that the related art method is unsatisfactory for automatic generation of the highlights such that the highlights begins at an actual scene change point.
Namely, according to the method of the related art, it is difficult to generate moving picture highlights for the digital video in automated fashion, and extraction of the part substantially summarizing the moving picture content in viewpoint of meaning is weak and performance or reliability in automatic generation of the highlights using the extracted part is insufficient.


This application claims priority to DE 101 47 192.0, a German patent application filed Sep. 25, 2001, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119(a)-(d).
This invention pertains to heat exchangers for vehicles and more particularly to such heat exchangers that include a block of heat exchange elements including flat tubes.
Flat tube block heat exchangers have rows of flat tubes that may be alternated with corrugated fins. The ends of the flat tubes provide flow paths between tanks located at the opposite ends of the flat tubes and the flat tubes extend from one header plate to another header plate at the opposite end of the flat tubes. Typically, the flow paths created by the flat tubes extend generally perpendicular to the header plates at the ends of the tubes. The header plates are manufactured and supplied separately from the flat tubes and are typically made from relatively heavy materials. Further, the header plates occupy space at the collection tanks located at either end of the flat tube block heat exchanger.
Headerless flat tubes have been formed by placing two tube halves adjacent to one another where the ends of the tube halves have been deformed such that the broad sides may be connected. Drawn or welded tubes have been slit in their narrow sides in order to deform the ends and connect the broad sides. In both cases the connected broad sides form a xe2x80x9cpeak-and-valleyxe2x80x9d surface that is not conducive to directing flow from a transverse direction into the flat tubes. Examples of heat exchangers with these types of flat tubes are disclosed in German Patent Application Nos. DE 100 16 113.8 and DE 100 19 268.8, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
While these constructions can perform satisfactory for their intended purpose, there is always room for improvement. For example, the pressure loss of the medium flowing through the collection tanks and flat tubes of a block heat exchanger could be reduced in order to improve their application opportunities, especially in the vehicle field.
In one form, the invention provides a heat exchanger that includes a pair of collection tanks spaced opposite each other. The tanks are fluidly connected by a plurality of flat tubes that provide flow paths between the tanks. The flat tubes have opposing ends that correspond to one of the tanks and each end has two broad sides and two narrow sides. Each broad side has an inner surface and is deformed to expose the inner surface. The exposed inner surfaces of each flat tube are bonded to the exposed inner surface of any adjacent flat tube to define a fluid barrier with the corresponding tank.
In one form, each of the narrow sides is connected to an edge of the corresponding tank.
According to one form, the deformed broad sides have two bends of about 90xc2x0 with the bonded inner surfaces arranged in parallel orientation to the broad sides of any adjacent flat tube. Alternatively, the flat tubes are arranged in oblique orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the flat tubes and the broad sides have a first bend of about 90xc2x0 and a second bend that corresponds to the angle of the oblique orientation. In another alternative, the deformed broad sides are curved to expose the inner surface with a cross-section that is semicircular or semielliptical.
According to one form, the bonded broad sides define a plurality of fluid inflow funnels to the flat tubes.
According to one form, the flat tubes are formed from two half-shells.
In one form, each of the narrow sides includes a cut extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the flat tubes, the cut separates the broad sides at the tube end.
In one form, each of the narrow sides includes two cuts that separate the broad sides at the tube ends and define a tab in each narrow side. In one form, the tab is bent inward into the flat tube.
In yet another form of the invention, a heat exchanger includes a pair of tanks spaced opposite each other, the tanks are fluidly connected by a plurality of spaced apart flat tubes to provide flow paths between the tanks. Each flat tube has opposing ends corresponding to one of the tanks, each end has a first broad side, a second broad side, and two narrow sides, each broad side has an inner surface and an outer surface. Each first broad side being deformed to expose the inner surface of the first broad side, and each of the exposed inner surfaces of each first broad side is bonded to the outer surface of any adjacent second broad side to define a fluid barrier with corresponding tank.
In another form, the invention provides a method for manufacturing a heat exchanger includes the steps of: cutting a plurality of flat tube ends to separate each tube end into a pair of broad sides; deforming each of the broad sides to expose an inner surface of the broad side; abutting the exposed inner surface of each of the broad sides to an exposed inner surface of an adjacent broad side of another tube; affixing a tank on the flat tube ends; and bonding the adjacent broad sides to each other and the flat tube ends to the tanks.
In one form, each flat tube end includes a pair of narrow sides in the flat tube end, and the bonding step includes bonding the narrow sides of the flat tube ends to the tank.
In yet another form, a method is provided for manufacturing a heat exchanger and includes the steps of: cutting a plurality of flat tube ends to separate each tube end into a pair of broad sides; deforming each of the broad sides to expose an inner surface of the broad side; abutting the exposed inner surface of one of the broad sides to an outer surface of an adjacent broad side; affixing a tank on the flat tube ends; and bonding the adjacent broad sides to each other and the flat tubes with the tanks.
In one form, each flat tube end includes a pair of narrow sides in the flat tube end and the bonding step includes bonding the narrow ends of the flat tube ends to the tank.
Objects and advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein and in the associated figures and appended claims.


The conventional carry-on case is typically a hand-carried travel case. Such cases are usually carried by a handle. It is generally necessary that this type of case be carried throughout an airport from places of departure to airplanes, from airplanes to airplanes, and from airplanes to places of arrival. For such cases there is provided a wheeled frame which is separately carried in addition to the carry-on case. The frame serves as a cart onto which the case can be strapped for transport. There are also cases that include incorporated handles and wheels so that the cases can be pulled by the handles, thereby permitting them to be towed about and transported throughout the airport. A problem with these prior art carry-on cases exists in that it is impractical, if not impossible, to use these cases as a support upon which to stack additional pieces of luggage without special devices or attachment hooks.
The present invention overcomes the above stated deficiencies of the prior art.