A need exists for a high speed screening device that can be installed in a new and/or existing facility and efficiently screen materials to a tight specification at an industrial minerals processing facilities.
A further need exists for a screening device that can make multiple gradation cuts, of particulate simultaneously while creating very little dust in the facility.
A need exists for a device that will prevent human harm during the screening of particulate.
The present embodiments meet these needs.
The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.


A current trend in the communications industry is to equip portable electronic devices with a wireless communication interface to communicate in an automated fashion with other devices within its communication range. Typically, technologies such as Bluetooth IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, or the like are used and these technologies are fast becoming industry standards. To facilitate universal communication between these devices, universal communication network connectivity arrangements have been developed such as Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). UPnP provides an industry standard architecture for pervasive peer-to-peer network connectivity of electronic devices to allow seamless proximity networking. Data may thus be communicated or exchanged between different devices in an uncontrolled and automated fashion.


In recent years personal computers have become very popular. Now, digital cameras that enable photographed picture information to be easily processed are rapidly becoming popular.
More compact and inexpensive digital cameras are being demanded; therefore, it is especially urgent to provide a more compact and inexpensive photographic lens for such cameras. To respond to these requirements, the inventor of the present application has developed a single focus lens that is formed of only three lens elements, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application 2001-156653. This single focus lens is formed of, in order from the object side, a first lens element having at least one surface aspheric and which has a weak refractive power, a second lens element of positive refractive power and having its image side surface convex, and a third lens element having at least one surface aspheric and which has a weak refractive power. Although the above-mentioned prior art can meet the requirement of being compact and inexpensive, additional improvements are required from the standpoint of aberration correction in order to provide a higher-quality model of single focus lens. Furthermore, as compared with a conventional compact camera that uses film, the design of a lens for a digital camera is much different not only because of the electronic image sensor that receives the image in a digital camera being much smaller, but also because it is necessary in digital cameras to have the light rays be incident onto the image sensor roughly perpendicular to the detecting surface of the image sensor. Further, a high aperture efficacy and a long back focus are required in digital cameras.


Certain printers are capable of receiving communications and printable content via the internet without being connected to a desktop computer, notebook computer, or other host computing device. An advantage of such a printer print jobs can be received for printing from other computing devices located anywhere around the globe.
The same part numbers designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures.


The invention concerns a method and apparatus for rapidly solidifying and cooling molten metal oxides and metal oxide-base compositions by continuous casting.
In many industrial processes an attempt is made to obtain rapid solidification and cooling of melted products based on metal oxides, for reasons either of safety or of convenience: for example, when exhausted drosses or slags from electro-metallurgical operations have to be taken rapidly to the tip without the risk of transporting them in the liquid or partially solidified state, or for structural reasons, when rapid cooling is necessary to give the product certain physical properties. For example, abrasives based on corundum and on corundum and zirconia are known to have mechanical properties which improve commensurately with the rapidity with which the molten product, manufactured by fusion in an electric furnace, is cooled. This fact has been pointed out particularly in French Pat. No. 1 332 975 in the name of CARBORUNDUM Company, which recommends casting in a graphite mold, in French Pat. No. 2 127 231 in the name of PECHINEY directed to casting the melted product onto steel balls, in French Pat. No. 2 133 595 in the name of TREIBACHER CHEMISCHE WERKE AG directed to casting onto iron spheres, and in French Pat. No. 2 166 082 in the name of NORTON directed to casting between solid metal plates 1.6 to 12.7 mm apart.
For obvious reasons it would be desirable for the rapid cooling to take place continuously. In the case of drosses and slags, as a matter of fact, cooling in ingot molds, which is the usual practice, is very slow and necessitates a large number of molds, which take up space in the workshop. In the case of abrasives with fine crystallization, casting between closely spaced metal plates or onto steel balls leads to very low productivity.
A certain number of processes for cooling rapidly by continuous casting have previously been described.
French Pat. No. 1 319 102 to NORTON describes the casting of electro-melted alumina, in a thin layer, onto a hollow cylinder which is cooled by sprinkling water onto its internal surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,119, and French Pat. No. 2 290 266 to NORTON, describe an arrangement for casting between stationary, thick metal plates, through their base onto an endless conveyor. The conveyor passes over rollers which causes the plates to move apart and the blocks of cooled abrasive to be separated and drop into a receiving means.
French Pat. No. 2 422 462 to NORTON describes another arrangement for continuous casting between cooled metal belts which are kept in contact with the solidifying abrasive by a series of guiding rollers.
These various pieces of apparatus are mechanically complex and ill adapted to cheap, continuous mass production of electro-melted abrasives with fine crystallization.


Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, data, and so on. These systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., bandwidth and transmit power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems.
Generally, a wireless multiple-access communication system can simultaneously support communication for multiple wireless terminals. Each terminal communicates with one or more base stations via transmissions on the forward and reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from the base stations to the terminals, and the reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from the terminals to the base stations. This communication link may be established via a single-in-single-out, multiple-in-signal-out or a multiple-in-multiple-out (MIMO) system.
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is one of the third-generation (3G) cell phone technologies. UTRAN, short for UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, is a collective term for the Node-B's and Radio Network Controllers which make up the UMTS radio access network. This communications network can carry many traffic types from real-time Circuit Switched to IP based Packet Switched. The UTRAN allows connectivity between the UE (user equipment) and the core network. The UTRAN contains the base stations, which are called Node Bs, and Radio Network Controllers (RNC). The RNC provides control functionalities for one or more Node Bs. A Node B and an RNC can be the same device, although typical implementations have a separate RNC located in a central office serving multiple Node B's. Despite the fact that they do not have to be physically separated, there is a logical interface between them known as the Iub. The RNC and its corresponding Node Bs are called the Radio Network Subsystem (RNS). There can be more than one RNS present in an UTRAN.
3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) is the name given to a project within the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to improve the UMTS mobile phone standard to cope with future requirements. Goals include improving efficiency, lowering costs, improving services, making use of new spectrum opportunities, and better integration with other open standards. The LTE system is described in the Evolved UTRA (EUTRA) and Evolved UTRAN (EUTRAN) series of specifications.
Semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) is a set of techniques for efficiently assigning resources for periodic traffic in a wireless communication system to support resource assignment with as little overhead as possible in order to improve system capacity.
Mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP or MIP) is a communication protocol that enables transparent routing of data packets to mobile devices in a wireless communication system. Under the Mobile IP protocol, a device can register with a home agent (HA), through which the device obtains a “home” IP address. The home address of the device can then be utilized to route data packets to and/or from the device regardless of the location of the device within a wireless communication network. Conventionally, a mobile device can register with a HA by first discovering a global IP address of the HA and subsequently setting up a security association with the HA based on its discovered IP address. Upon association with the HA, the device can signal updates to the HA relating to the location and/or status of the device. These updates can be utilized by the HA to provide data packets to the device, either directly or indirectly via an access point of a disparate network to which the device has moved.
However, complications arise regarding Mobile IP and policy charging control (PCC) interactions. In particular, the entities involved in the mobility management (i.e., mobile node and home agent) are different from the entities involved in quality of service (QoS) and policy (i.e., PCC) management, specifically named PCEF (Policy and Charging Enforcement Function) and PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function) respectively. When Mobile IP is not used, there is only one IP address used by the mobile node and this is communicated to the QoS management entities (i.e. PCRF). Based on this address the PCRF establishes the correct QoS in the system. However, when a mobile node performs a MIP registration with the HA, one of the IP address of the mobile node can change and the QoS management entities (i.e., PCRF) are not aware of that as they are not involved. Based on this situation, the PCRF does not know which addresses have been registered by the mobile node. Therefore, the PCRF cannot determine which PCC rules (e.g., IP flows and related policies) need to be sent to the PCEF located at the access gateway for a respective MIP registration.


As computers and data processing equipment have grown in capability, users have developed applications that place increasing demands on the equipment. Thus, there is a continually increasing need to process more information in a given amount of time. One way to process more information in a given amount of time is to process each element of information in a shorter amount of time. As that amount of time is shortened, it approaches the physical speed limits that govern the communication of electronic signals. While it would be ideal to be able to move electronic representations of information with no delay, such delay is unavoidable. In fact, not only is the delay unavoidable, but, since the amount of delay is a function of distance, the delay varies according to the relative locations of the devices in communication.
Since there are limits to the capabilities of a single electronic device, it is often desirable to combine many devices, such as memory components, to function together to increase the overall capacity of a system. However, since the devices cannot all exist at the same point in space simultaneously, consideration must be given to operation of the system with the devices located diversely over some area.
Traditionally, the timing of the devices' operation was not accelerated to the point where the variation of the location of the devices was problematic to their operation. However, as performance demands have increased, traditional timing paradigms have imposed barriers to progress.
One example of an existing memory system uses DDR (double data rate) memory components. The memory system includes a memory controller and a memory module. A propagation delay occurs along an address bus between the memory controller and the memory module. Another propagation delay occurs along the data bus between the memory controller and the memory module.
The distribution of the control signals and a control clock signal in the memory module is subject to strict constraints. Typically, the control wires are routed so there is an equal length to each memory component. A “star” or “binary tree” topology is typically used, where each spoke of the star or each branch of the binary tree is of equal length. The intent is to eliminate any variation of the timing of the control signals and the control clock signal between different memory components of a memory module, but the balancing of the length of the wires to each memory component compromises system performance (some paths are longer than they need to be). Moreover, the need to route wires to provide equal lengths limits the number of memory components and complicates their connections.
In such DDR systems, a data strobe signal is used to control timing of both data read and data write operations. The data strobe signal is not a periodic timing signal, but is instead only asserted when data is being transferred. The timing signal for the control signals is a periodic clock. The data strobe signal for the write data is aligned to the clock for the control signals. The strobe for the read data is delayed by delay relative to the control clock equal to the propagation delay along the address bus plus the propagation delay along the data bus. A pause in signaling must be provided when a read transfer is followed by a write transfer to prevent interference along various signal lines used. Such a pause reduces system performance.
Such a system is constrained in several ways. First, because the control wires have a star topology or a binary tree routing, reflections occur at the stubs (at the ends of the spokes or branches). The reflections increase the settling time of the signals and limit the transfer bandwidth of the control wires. Consequently, the time interval during which a piece of information is driven on a control wire will be longer than the time it takes a signal wavefront to propagate from one end of the control wire to the other. Additionally, as more modules are added to the system, more wire stubs are added to each conductor of the data bus, thereby adding reflections from the stubs. This increases the settling time of the signals and further limits the transfer bandwidth of the data bus.
Also, because there is a constraint on the relationship between the propagation delays along the address bus and the data bus in this system, it is hard to increase the operating frequency without violating a timing parameter of the memory component. If a clock signal is independent of another clock signal, those clock signals and components to which they relate are considered to be in different clock domains. Within a memory component, the write data receiver is operating in a different clock domain from the rest of the logic of the memory component, and the domain crossing circuitry will only accommodate a limited amount of skew between these two domains. Increasing the signaling rate of data will reduce this skew parameter (when measured in time units) and increase the chance that a routing mismatch between data and control wires on the board will create a timing violation.
Also, most DDR systems have strict limits on how large the address bus and data bus propagation delays may be (in time units). These are limits imposed by the memory controller and the logic that is typically included for crossing from the controller's read data receiver clock domain into the clock domain used by the rest of the controller. There is also usually a limit (expressed in clock cycles) on how large the sum of these propagation delays can be. If the motherboard layout makes this sum too large (when measured in time units), the signal rate of the system may have to be lowered, thereby decreasing performance.
In another example of an existing memory system, the control wires and data bus are connected to a memory controller and are routed together past memory components on each memory module. One clock is used to control the timing of write data and control signals, while another clock is used to control the timing of read data. The two clocks are aligned at the memory controller. Unlike the previous prior art example, these two timing signals are carried on separate wires.
In such an alternate system, several sets of control wires and a data bus may be used to intercouple the memory controller to one or more of the memory components. The need for separate sets of control wires introduces additional cost and complexity, which is undesireable. Also, if a large capacity memory system is needed, the number of memory components on each data bus will be relatively large. This will tend to limit the maximum signal rate on the data bus, thereby limiting performance.
Thus, a technique is needed to coordinate memory operations among diversely-located memory components.


Total or near-total occlusions in arteries can prevent all or nearly all of the blood flow through the affected arteries. It has been estimated that 5% to 15% of patients on whom percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is attempted are found to have chronic total occlusions (CTO's) of at least one coronary artery. Chevalier, B. et al., Chronic Total Occlusion, The Paris Course on Revascularization, Pages 131–148 (May 2000) In patients who suffer from coronary CTO's, the successful performance of a PTCA is a technical challenge. The factor that is most determinative of whether the interventionalist can successfully perform PTCA on patient who presents with a coronary CTO is the interventionalist's ability (or inability) to advance a suitable guidewire from a position within the lumen of the artery upstream of the lesion, across the lesion (i.e., either through the lesion or around it), and then back into the artery lumen at a location downstream of the lesion.
In some instances, such as where the occlusive matter is soft or where the occlusion is less than total, the guidewire can simply be pushed through the occlusive matter itself, thereby allowing the guidewire to remain within the artery lumen. However, in other cases, such as where the artery is totally occluded by hard, calcified atherosclerotic plaque, the guidewire may tend to deviate to one side and penetrate through the intima of the artery, thereby creating a neo-lumen through the sub-intimal space (i.e., within the wall of the artery between the intima and adventitia). In these cases, after the distal end of the guidewire has been advanced to a position distal to the lesion, it is then necessary to divert or steer the guidewire from the sub-intimal space back into the lumen of the artery at a location downstream of the lesion. This process of causing the guidewire to reenter the artery lumen is often difficult and others have proposed various means for dealing with such problem. For example, PCT International Publication No. WO 00/18323 describe techniques where a catheter that has a through lumen terminating distally in a laterally directed outlet port is advanced into the sub-intimal space past the lesion and a penetrator or guidewire is then advanced through the catheter, out of the laterally directed outlet port, and back into the lumen of the artery. WO 00/18323 further states that optionally a wire may be passed through a lumen of the catheter and that such wire may further comprise an imaging apparatus such as an ultrasonic imaging means. Also, WO 00/18323 states that the catheter may include a marker near its distal end that is visible on fluoroscopy and that such marker may be configured to permit visual determination of the rotational orientation of the distal end of the catheter when viewed as a two-dimensional fluoroscopic image. However WO 00/18323 does not describe any means for correlating the rotational orientation of the catheter to the trajectory on which the penetrator or guidewire will subsequently advance. A number of variable can affect the trajectory on which the penetrator or guidewire will advance, including the location of the outlet aperture from which the penetrator or guidewire exits the catheter body, the density and resistance of the tissue through which the penetrator or guidewire advances and any bias, shape or curvature that the penetrator or guidewire will assume after it is no longer constrained by the catheter.
Another approach to bypassing a CTO, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,638 (Makower), U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,222 (Makower) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,353B1 (Makower, et al.) utilizes a tissue penetrating catheter device that has an on board guidance element that allows a tubular penetrator cannula to penetrate outwardly through the intima of the artery wall upstream of the lesion after which a member is advanced trough the cannula and bores through tissue located outside of the vessel's intima, to a position distal to the obstructive lesion, and then reenters the lumen of the artery at a location downstream of the lesion. Tissue penetrating catheters of this type, having on-board guidance and/or orientation capabilities and penetrator cannulas that are advanceable laterally from the catheter body, have previously been devised. (Transaccess® catheters by Transvascular,® Inc., Menlo Park, Calif.)
There exists a need in the art for the development of new and better techniques for catheter-based treatment of CTO and other total or near-total obstruction of arteries or other anatomical conduits, especially with respect to improving the available techniques for causing a guidewire to reenter the lumen of an artery from a location within the sub-intimal space or even outside of the artery wall and for facilitating verification of the intended re-entry into the artery lumen and prompt delivery of arterial blood or some other oxygenated perfusate to tissues that would normally receive arterial blood flow from the obstructed artery.


A system (hereinafter, referred to as a “wireless power feeding system”) using wireless power transmission in which power is supplied to an electric apparatus in a wireless manner without using a power cord or the like is being put into practical use. For example, an electromagnetic induction type wireless power feeding system using electromagnetic induction between antennae (coils) which are disposed to be separated from each other, or a magnetic resonance type wireless power feeding system using electromagnetic field resonance coupling is known. In addition, near field communication (NFC) is known as a standard regarding a wireless communication technique for transmitting information in a wireless manner, and IC cards or small portable terminal apparatuses conforming to the NFC standard also start to being widespread.
The magnetic resonance type wireless power feeding system is implemented by using a resonance circuit including coils and capacitors. The magnetic resonance type wireless power feeding system can have a longer transmission distance between a power transmission coil and a power reception coil than in an electromagnetic induction type of the related art by increasing a Q value of the coil, and has a feature of being strong to positional deviation of the power transmission coil and the power reception coil.
In addition, the magnetic resonance type wireless power feeding system has a feature of being hardly influenced by a foreign substance present between a power transmission side and a power reception side. However, since an amount of transmission power absorbed by a foreign substance is increased depending on the kind of foreign substance, power transmission efficiency is reduced, and there is also a concern that the foreign substance may be damaged due to heat generation caused by the power absorbed by the foreign substance.
The following PTLs 1 and 2 disclose techniques for detecting a foreign substance or an abnormality in a power feeding target in the magnetic resonance type wireless power feeding system.
For example, PTL 1 discloses a technique for detecting a foreign substance present between a power transmission side and a power reception side in a magnetic resonance type wireless power feeding system in which a power transmission coil is provided on a road, and a power reception coil is mounted on a vehicle, so that the vehicle is charged in a wireless manner. Specifically, according to the configuration disclosed in PTL 1, an impedance value is estimated by detecting a terminal voltage of a battery which is mounted in the vehicle and is charged on the basis of received power, and a notification of the presence of a foreign substance is sent and power feeding is also stopped in a case where a difference between the estimated value and an actually measured impedance value exceeds a threshold value.
In addition, PTL 2 discloses a technique for detecting an abnormality in a vehicle by detecting an increase in reflected power in a magnetic resonance type wireless power feeding system in which a power transmission coil is provided on a road, and a power reception coil is mounted on the vehicle, so that the vehicle is charged in a wireless manner. Specifically, according to the configuration disclosed in PTL 2, if a suspicious person gets in the vehicle which is being charged, impedance mismatching occurs due to a change in a vehicle height, thus reflected power increases, and a notification of an abnormality in the vehicle is sent when the increase in the reflected power is detected.


This invention relates to wet-spun plural-end elastane yarn having a yarn linear density of up to 2500 dtex, high surface lustre and a ribbony cross section and formed from bonded-together individual filaments having an oval to circularly round cross section, the width of the elastane yarn in cross section being at least four times the thickness of the elastane yarn.
Elastane yams are synthetic filament yarns which are produced as mono-or multifilamentsxe2x80x94dependent on the intended usexe2x80x94within the linear density range from. 11 to about 2500 dtex. Most elastane yams are coalesced multifilament yarns and possess in their grooved or fluted surface a very specific textile character (compare P. A. Koch xe2x80x9cElastanfasernxe2x80x9d in Chemiefasern/Textilindustrie February 1979, page 97-98).
The cross-sectional shape of elastane yarn is substantially dependent on the production process. In the case of dry-spun elastane yarn, the cross-sectional shape will alter in some instances appreciably with the yarn linear density, relatively fine linear densities usually having roundish cross sections and coarser linear densities from about 500 dtex usually having oval to dumbbell-shaped cross sections. This is believed to be due to differences in the degree of evaporation of the spinning solution solvent under the particular spinning conditions. The particular spinning conditions thus influence the onset of coagulation and hence also the degree of shrinkage in the yam""s cross section.
These correlations between the cross-sectional shape and the solvent evaporation rate for dry spinning from polymer solutions, for example of acrylic fibres, are extensively described in the OPI document EP-A-31 078.
Using dry spinning for elastane yarn for medium and coarse titers of about 160 dtex, utilizing jets with several jet openings for glued multifilaments, will usually provide roundish to oval overall cross-sectional shapes, averaged over the entire cross section, medium and higher linear densities produced by wet spinning will usually prosses ribbony cross sections in multiple rows, strung up like pearls on a string.
The ribbony cross sections can be advantageous and disadvantageous in the desired final article. The ribbony shape is disadvantageous especially in wide fabric, for example articles having a large area, when its sparkle is unwelcome. On the other hand, ribbony cross sections are also of advantage, for example for the production of diapers. Owing to the wide cross-sectional shape, it is particularly readily possible to apply adhesives to the yarn which lead to firm incorporation and adhesion of the elastic yarn in the diaper article.
Wet-spun elastanes generally have an as-spun filament linear density which is between 15 and 25 dtex.
Known elastane yarn, in addition, has a comparatively dull surface due to the superficial and cross-sectional structure of its individual filaments. In certain applications for the production of textile sheet material, however, particular importance attaches to the visual quality of the fibres, especially their lustre. An objective measure of the lustre is the so-called lustre number which is defined hereinbelow. The lustre number of existing wet-spinnable elastane yarn is at best on the order of 10 to 20.
The invention has for its object to provide elastane yarns having a yarn linear density of up to 2500 dtex and a process for their production which have similar mechanical properties to known elastane yarns, a ribbony cross section and a very high surface lustre.
It has now been surprisingly found that raising the filament count whilst keeping the final yarn linear density constant leads to a distinct broadening of the ribbon shape of wet-spun plural-end elastane yarn by up to about 40% compared with the width of known elastane yarn when the as-spun filament linear density is less than 15 dtex, especially not more than 10 dtex.
This object is achieved according to the invention by wet-spun plural-end elastane yarn having a yarn linear density of up to 2500 dtex, high surface lustre and a ribbony cross section and formed from bonded-together individual filaments having an oval to circularly round cross section, the width of the elastane yarn in cross section being at least four times the thickness of the elastane yarn and the as-spun filament linear density being less than 15 dtex.
In particularly suitable elastane yarn, the width of the elastane yarn in cross section is at least five times, preferably at least eight times, particularly preferably at least ten times, the thickness of the elastane yarn.
In elastane yarn of particularly uniform surface quality, the as-spun filament linear density is not more than 10 dtex, preferably not more than 5 dtex.
Preference is given to elastane yarn which has a lustre number of at least 20, preferably of least 40, particularly preferably of at least 100.
Preferably, the elastane yarn comprises polyurethane comprising not less than 85% by weight of segmented polyurethane.
Segmented polyurethane is in particular a segmented polyurethane based on polyethers, polyesters, polyetheresters, polycarbonates or mixtures thereof.
The invention further provides a wet spinning process for producing plural-end elastane yarn having a yarn linear density of up to 2500 dtex, high surface lustre and a ribbony cross section by spinning and especially at least 25% strength by weight elastane solution into a coagulation bath, washing and optionally drawing the yarn formed, drying, setting, spin finishing and winding the yarn, characterized in that the as-spun filament linear density is less than 15 dtex and the individual filaments are converged on a diverting roller in the coagulation bath by means of a comb-type thread guide.
In the preferred process, the as-spun filament linear density is not more than 10 dtex, preferably not more than 5 dtex, particularly preferably not more than 3 dtex so to obtain an almost circularly round cross-sectional shape for the individual filaments.
It is particularly advantageous when the elastane yarn is additionally pressed by a press roller onto the diverting roller after the converging on the diverting roller in the coagulation bath.
The coagulation bath press roller contact pressure is preferably within the range from 1 to 5 bar (0.1 to 0.5 MPa), in particular for elastane yam having a linear density of up to 1000 dtex 2 to 3 bar (0.2 to 0.3 MPa).
The choice of the as-spun filament linear density, as well as broadening the ribbon shape of the elastane yarn, surprisingly also modifies the cross section of the individual filaments. Whereas an as-spun filament linear density of more than 15 dtex is observed to produce, for example, kidney-shaped filament cross sections, an as-spun filament linear density below 15 dtex, especially of about 10 dtex or less, is found to be accompanied by a change in the cross-sectional shape of the individual filaments into an oval to circularly round shape. At an as-spun filament linear density of less than about 5 dtex, virtually all the filaments present have a round cross-sectional shape. FIGS. 1a to 1c show the increase in the ribbon width with an increasing filament count for the 800 dtex yarn under otherwise identical spinning conditions. Magnification: 1 cm=about 70 micron. FIGS. 2a to 2c show individual filament cross sections for various as-spun filament linear densities for the 800 dtex yarn. Magnification: 1 cm=30 micron. As is discernible from FIGS. 2a to 2c, wet spinning an 800 dtex elastane yarn from a 385 hole jet using an as-spun filament linear density of 4.2 dtex gives round filament cross sections. The surface of such elastane yarn is smoother, has a lower groove depth and hence possesses a particularly high lustre. While an 800 dtex elastane yarn spun from a 172 hole jet using an as-spun filament linear density of 9.4 dtex possesses a lustre number of 60, the lustre number increases to 100 for an as-spun filament linear density of 4.1 dtex (cf. Tab. I1, Examples 6 and 8).
The distinctly higher lustre of the elastane yarn of the invention, which is particularly noticeable in sheetlike articles, is attributable to the smooth and unfibrillated surface of the filaments. The elastane yarn, moreover, has only weakly developed flutes parallel to the fibre axis, which are not interrupted, so that light incident on the elastane yarn is reflected by the individual filaments in a directional manner.
Reducing the as-spun filament linear density whilst increasing the filament count in spinning causes as stated a broadening of the elastane yarn. In the same way, applying additional pressure on the yarn, after coagulation in the coagulation bath, by means of a special squeeze roller which rests on a diverting roller for the yams which is disposed in the coagulation bath leads to a further increase in the ribbon width of about 30-40% depending on the as-spun filament linear density (cf. Table 2, Examples 6-9).
In general, a yarn linear density of up to 2500 dtex requires a contact pressure of 1 to 5 bar (0.1 to 0.5 MPa) so that this effect may be obtained. In the case of a yam linear density of up to 1000 dtex, a contact pressure of 2 to 3 bar (0.2 to 0.3 MPa) has proved particularly suitable. A particularly suitable means has proven to be an elastomeric press roller of about 50-100 Shore hardness, whose contact pressure is pneumatically controllable via compressed air.
The invention further provides for the use of the wet-spun elastane yarn according to the invention for producing textile goods, preferably sheetlike goods, especially for producing consecutive course formation knits, wovens or synchronous course formation knits.
The invention also provides for the use of the wet-spun elastane yarn according to the invention for producing disposable hygiene articles, especially for producing diapers.
The ribbon width is reported in the Examples in xe2x80x9cmicronxe2x80x9d (xcexcm). 1 cm is in each case equal to 10,000 micron.
The as-spun filament linear density (ASFLD) is calculated as follows:   ASFLD  =                    F        xc3x97        K        xc3x97        0.94        xc3x97        100                    A        xc3x97        Z                        (      dtex      )
where
F=pumpage rate of spinning solution (ccm/min)
K=concentration of spinning solution (% by weight)
A=coagulation of speed (n/min)
z=number of jet holes
The as-spun filament linear density is a measure of the filament weight immediately following exit of the spinning solution into the coagulation bath.
Measurement of lustre number
The elastane yarns are wound flat onto black metal plates so that the surface of the plate is completely covered by elastane yarn. The luminance of the wound yarn is measured as a function of the scattering angle using a goniphotometer. The angle of incidence is 45xc2x0. A plate of barium sulphate serves as the non-lustrous standard.       Lustre              xe2x80x83            number              xe2x80x83            z    =            Reflectance                    xe2x80x83                  of                    xe2x80x83                  sample                    xe2x80x83                  at                    xe2x80x83                  45                    xe2x80x83                  degrees              Reflectance                    xe2x80x83                  of                    xe2x80x83                  sample                    xe2x80x83                  at                    xe2x80x83                  0                    xe2x80x83                  degrees
The Examples hereinbelow illustrate the invention. Parts and percentages are by weight, unless otherwise stated.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a licensee notification system employed for the sale of software using a high speed communication network such as B-ISDN and a large-capacity storage medium such as a CD-ROM.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of high speed communication technology such as B-ISDN (broad-band integrated services digital network) and high-capacity storage media such as CD-ROMs (compact disk read only memory) such means can now be used to distribute computer programs or video data or audio data. For example, video works which were previously supplied on video tape are now being sold stored on CD-ROM. Also, game programs etc, which contain a large amount of picture data, are being sold stored on CD-ROM. The same applies to high speed communication networks, in which the software supplier can now distribute the software by various methods. One of these methods of software sales is the so-called "locked software" sales system. In the locked software sales system, a CD ROM on which are stored a large number of software items whose functions are restricted is sold cheaply. By using the various items of software on the CD-ROM that is purchased, in a condition with the functional restrictions imposed, the end user is able to make a decision as to whether or not he needs each software item. Then, if the end user does require the software, he obtains (purchases) a restriction-removal code corresponding to this software from a management center operated by the software distributor, and is able to use this restriction-removal code to remove the functional restrictions on the software.
Such a sales system may be implemented, as a specific example, using the software sales system shown in FIG. 10. As shown in this Figure, this software sales system comprises user terminals 31 and management center 32. The user terminal 31 and the management center 32 are connected by means of a communication circuit.
When actually purchasing the software (i.e. when purchasing a restriction-removal code), the end user, using a user ID etc, sets up a communication path with the management center and executes the prescribed procedure required to request that a restriction-removal code be sent to the user terminal 31. This procedure includes the input of a "contents ID", which is information for identifying the software item that is to be purchased actually. In response to the execution of such a procedure, the user terminal 31 sends to the management center 32 the contents ID and for example the characteristic information of the user, consisting of the ID of the CPU provided in user terminal 31.
Within the management center 32, there is provided a software database (software DB) in which software decoding keys employed for encoding the various software items are stored in association with the contents ID. When a contents ID is received from user terminal 31, the software decoding key corresponding to the contents ID is read from software database 33. Also, encoding unit 34 in management center 32 generates a user individual key by encoding the user characteristic information from user terminal 31 by the key "Ks". Encoding unit 35 sends the results of the encoding of the software decoding key from software database 33 to user terminal 31 as restriction-removal code, using the user individual key from encoding unit 34.
Encoding unit 36 in user terminal 31 generates a user individual key by encoding the user characteristic information with the key "Ks". Decoding unit 37 uses the user individual key generated by encoding unit 36 to decode the restriction removal code from management center 32, thereby generating the software decoding key. Installation unit 38 then uses this software decoding key to decode the software in CD-ROM corresponding to the contents ID sent to center terminal 32: thus the software is put in a condition where it can be used with the functional restrictions removed, and, in this form, is installed on to a storage device such as a hard disk device.
With such a software sales system, it is possible to determine the software item to be purchased after actually ascertaining its contents: thus, the possibility that the purchased software might be completely different from that intended, as could happen if the purchase were made solely on the basis of the details contained in a catalogue, can be completely eliminated. Also, since the software on the CD ROM is stored in a form which is not executable without knowing special information, illicit installation can be prevented.
However, once the software has been installed, it is an extremely easy operation to copy this. Thus, the problem has arisen of unscrupulous persons copying the software without the consent of the software supplier. Various methods (so-called protection methods) of preventing such illicit copying are known but there is no way to prevent illicit copying by a person possessing knowledge at the level of the BIOS (basic input/output system). Whichever method is used, it can do no more than make it more difficult to perform illicit copying.
For this reason, software is sold in which the name of the authorized user is displayed on start-up, with the object of preventing illicit copying psychologically rather than physically. That is, the aim is to prevent illicit copying of software by displaying the name of the authorized user of the software when the illicitly copied software is executed.
However, even with such software, if the copying is inclusive of the installation software that sets the user name, when the software is run, it can be made to display the name of the person who made the illicit copy: thus, sufficient effectiveness in preventing illicit copying was not obtained.


Omotically active compounds (osmotics) are used widely in pharmacy and medicine. For example, osmotics are used to adjust the tonicity of drugs, in particular parenteral medications, where the osmotic pressure of a drug is adjusted to be hypotonic, hypertonic or isotonic, depending on how it is administered. For example, the osmotic pressure of a parenteral drug solution may be adjusted to match the osmotic pressure of human blood by adding an osmotic agent (isosmotic solutions).
Furthermore, osmotics are used in dialysis therapy, in particular in peritoneal dialysis, to withdraw excess water from the dialysis patient.
The peritoneal dialysis method is based on the fact that a solution containing osmotically active compounds is introduced into the abdominal cavity of a dialysis patient through a catheter. The solution is left in the patient's abdominal cavity, where it manifests its osmotic effect for a certain period of time (usually a few hours). In other words, endogenous water is withdrawn from the patient into the abdominal cavity. After a certain dwell time, the peritoneal dialysis solution, which is then dilute, is drained out through a catheter.
This principle is employed in various methods of peritoneal dialysis therapy. For example, the methods of intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD), nocturnal intermittent peritoneal dialysis (NIPD), continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) or continuous ambulant peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) may be employed as needed. In IPD, NIPD and CCPD, instruments which support the patient in performing the peritoneal dialysis method are used. CAPD is a manual method.
By adding osmotically active compounds, it should be ensured in particular that the osmotic pressure of the peritoneal dialysis solution is high enough during the entire dwell time in the abdominal cavity to withdraw water from the patient. In other words, water goes from the patient's circulation into the abdominal cavity (ultrafiltration).
However, because of the transfer of water into the abdominal cavity, dilution of the peritoneal dialysis solution introduced there necessarily occurs. As a result of this dilution, there is a decline in the concentration of the osmotically active compound and thus also the osmotic pressure of this solution.
If the osmotic pressure of the peritoneal dialysis solution drops because of this dilution, this in turn results in a decrease in or even a complete standstill of the transfer of water into the abdominal cavity per unit of time. In these cases, there is no longer an effective withdrawal of water with advancing dwell time of the peritoneal dialysis solution in the patient's abdominal cavity.
Through absorption of osmotically active compounds into the patient's bloodstream, the direction of the transfer of water may even be reversed, i.e., water goes from the abdominal cavity into the patient's bloodstream (negative ultrafiltration). This is the case when the dilute peritoneal dialysis solution in the abdominal cavity has a lower osmotic pressure than the patient's endogenous water (e.g., blood).
By adding suitable osmotically active compounds to the peritoneal dialysis solution, the osmotic pressure may be maintained for a treatment time, which is suitable for peritoneal dialysis, so that there is no excessive decline in ultrafiltration within the dwell time of the solution in the abdominal cavity. A negative ultrafiltration is thus also largely prevented.
The solutions used in the peritoneal dialysis therapy usually contain sugar monomers or polymers, for example, glucose or polyglucose (e.g., starch derivatives) as osmotically active compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,634 relates to a peritoneal dialysis solution containing hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin.
JP 8071146 relates to a peritoneal dialysis solution containing α- or γ-cyclodextrin, 2-hydroxyethyl ether, 2-hydroxypropyl ether, 6-O-α-glucosyl or 6-O-α-maltosyl derivatives of α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrin.
However, the state of the art describes cyclodextrin compounds which are not selectively substituted. Instead these cyclodextrin derivatives are mixtures of a wide variety of compounds (different degrees of substitution, different positional isomers) because the substitution of cyclodextrins takes place selectively on certain hydroxyl groups of the cyclodextrins only to a very limited extent.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a dielectric ceramic composition mainly comprising barium titanate (BaTiO3) and a multi-layer ceramic capacitor using the same and, particularly, a multi-layer ceramic capacitor having internal electrodes formed of Ni or an Ni alloy and an electrostatic capacity with less temperature dependence.
2. Description of Related Art
For multi-layer ceramic capacitors used for electronic equipment such as portable equipment and telecommunication equipment, demand for reduction of size and increase of the capacitance has increased more and more. Such small-sized multi-layer ceramic capacitors having large capacity includes a multi-layer ceramic capacitor in which the internal electrode is constituted with Ni, for example, as shown in JP-A-2001-39765. Such a multi-layer capacitor can provide a multi-layer capacitor that satisfies an X7R property (satisfying the rate of permittivity change within ±15% within a temperature range of from -55° C. to 125° C. with 25° C. as a reference), having a permittivity of 2500 or higher, and having excellent reliability even when it is lamellated.
However, reliability under severe circumstances has been required in recent years for such multi-layer ceramic capacitors depending on the application use. For example, the multi-layer ceramic capacitors have been used for car-mounted electronic equipment such as electronic engine control units and anti-lock brake systems mounted in engine rooms of cars. In such car-mounted electronic equipment, since a stable operation is demanded under conditions of a low temperature lower than −20° C. or higher than +130° C., good temperature stability even under such conditions has been required also for the multi-layer ceramic capacitors used for the car-mounted electronic equipment.
For coping with such a demand, a dielectric ceramic composition and a multi-layer ceramic capacitor satisfying the X8R property (rate of permittivity change within ±15% within a temperature range of from -55° C. to 150° C. with 25° C. as a reference) are proposed in, for example, JP-A-2005-272263.
However, the dielectric ceramic composition and the multi-layer ceramic capacitor described above involved a problem that a sufficient specific resistance can not always be obtained in a case of further reducing the thickness of dielectric ceramics between internal electrodes for further reducing the size and increasing the capacitance. Particularly, they involved a problem that the specific resistance is not sufficient under a high temperature circumstance exceeding 125° C.


1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to airbrasive devices, and more particularly to devices for containing abrasive materials expelled by a gas-abrasive apparatus. The invention is particularly useful for dental applications.
2. Background of the Invention
The use of sandblasting devices to contact various surfaces has been known for some time. These devices are also known in the art as airbrasive or air-abrasive devices. Such devices vary in size and design depending on the particularly utility desired.
One area where use of these devices has proved advantageous is in the etching or abrading of small surfaces. Devices designed for this use are typically hand held and capable of delivering fine streams of air-abrasive material through narrow nozzles.
A number of decades ago, the use of air-abrasive devices gained favor in the dental art The methods developed were termed "airbrasive techniques" and were designed to supplement the use of traditional dental drills to prepare a tooth for cavity repair, prophylaxis or other methods that required that a portion of the tooth be removed or that required the roughing of a tooth surface. The advantage of using air-abrasive techniques is that the dental patient experiences less trauma to the oral cavity due to the absence of perceptible pressure, vibration, noises created by the contact of a drill to tooth enamel, and heat created by frictional forces. This has resulted in reduced pain, apprehension, and fear by patients.
One disadvantage of the use of air-abrasive dental apparatus is that abrasive materials are dispersed into the oral cavity during use in a relatively uncontrolled fashion, can be inhaled by the patient, and are difficult to remove after a procedure is complete. Another disadvantage is that such particles can be dispersed into the air and create a hygiene problem. Abrasive particles can carry pathogens and blood particles from the mouth and permit those pathogens and blood particles to contact otherwise uncontaminated surfaces.
Somewhat similar disadvantages exist with use of air-abrasive devices in other applications. Often it is desirable to prevent abrasive materials from contacting surfaces proximate to the target surface, from accumulating abrasive material on the target surface area, or from permitting fine abrasive particles from becoming airborne.
Several devices have been developed to affect the dispersion of abrasive particles within the oral cavity. Coston, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,876 discloses a splatter guard for air polishing dental devices. The guard comprises a bell-shaped flexible cone that is attached to the end of an air-abrasive device and guides abrasive particles towards the surface being treated. Ho, U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,292 discloses a dental sandblasting confiner in the form of a flexible transparent cup. The nozzle of a sandblasting device can be inserted in large opening of the cup which forms a mold around the nozzle. The Ho device contains additional openings for access to a tooth surface and for discharging output. Lokken, U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,992 discloses an anti-splash device that can be attached to a dental tool. The device comprises an inverted U-shaped member with legs for attaching the device to the dental tool. Wright, U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,868 discloses a spray shield comprising a modified tube that can be attached to the end of a dental handpiece. The device is used to direct material dispensed form the handpiece in a controlled fashion so as to minimize the amount of airborne particles.
While the above cited inventions address one or more of the described disadvantages of air-abrasive systems, they are subject to several detrimental limitations. Although minimizing the amount of abrasive material released, by guiding it downward for instance, has certain benefits, it is more preferable to contain a substantial portion of released abrasive material and permit facile removal. Many of the devices in the prior art guide, but do not completely contain abrasive material nor permit easy removal thereof. Other devices that do permit removal of abrasive material are obtrusive and interfere with visualization of the surface to be abraded, making it difficult to perform precise dental procedures. Furthermore, those devices that do permit removal of abrasive material typically rely on a vacuum source to remove that material. Such a vacuum source adds additional expense and can also be intrusive.
Thus, there is a need for a device that can contain a substantial portion of the abrasive material expelled from an air-abrasive device while not obstructing visualization of the surface to be abraded and permitting removal of the abrasive material without the aid of a vacuum source.


Reverse osmosis is a well-known process for the separation of solvent from a solvent-solute solution. The process utilizes a semipermeable membrane and high pressures to selectively diffuse solvent molecules through the membrane resulting in separation of pure solvent from the solvent-solute solution.
Reverse osmosis systems typically utilize a cylindrical filter having walls formed from a semipermeable membrane material. A solvent-solute solution, from which pure solvent is to be removed, is contacted with the outer circumferential membrane wall of the filter. Upon application of sufficient pressure to the solution and filter exterior, i.e. typically at least about 100 psi and often from about 500 psi to about 1500 psi, solution is driven toward the interior of the filter. Pure solvent is then typically collected from the ends of the filter.
Filter housings are provided for containing reverse osmosis filters. The housings are commonly formed from steel in view of the relatively high pressures existing within the housing during separation. As will be appreciated, steel housings are expensive and so have to some extent, limited the applicability and use of reverse osmosis systems.
Plastic filter housings have been introduced which although satisfactory in many respects, still present several significant drawbacks. Currently available plastic filter housings for reverse osmosis filters utilize end caps that are bonded or otherwise affixed to the filter housing. Such attachment renders accessing the interior of the housing exceedingly difficult. Even if an end cap is successfully removed without damaging the cap or housing, such as to replace a filter cartridge, the end cap must then be re-attached. Re-attached end caps are often susceptible to failure upon pressurization of the filter housing. Thus, there is a need for an improved end cap assembly that enables ready removal of an end cap and secure re-attachment thereof to a plastic filter housing, without a loss in the integrity of the housing upon reassembly.
Another drawback to currently known filter housings, metal or plastic, is the limited degree of installation flexibility. That is, except for custom designed housings and systems which are typically relatively expensive, commercially available housings are available in only a limited number of connection configurations. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a filter housing with an increased number of connection configurations.


Implantable electrical stimulation systems have proven therapeutic in a variety of diseases and disorders. For example, spinal cord stimulation systems have been used as a therapeutic modality for the treatment of chronic pain syndromes. Peripheral nerve stimulation has been used to treat chronic pain syndrome and incontinence, with a number of other applications under investigation. Functional electrical stimulation systems have been applied to restore some functionality to paralyzed extremities in spinal cord injury patients. Stimulation of the brain, such as deep brain stimulation, can be used to treat a variety of diseases or disorders.
Stimulators have been developed to provide therapy for a variety of treatments. A stimulator can include a control module (with a pulse generator), at least one lead, and an array of stimulator electrodes on each lead. The stimulator electrodes are in contact with or near the nerves, muscles, or other tissue to be stimulated. The pulse generator in the control module generates electrical pulses that are delivered by the electrodes to body tissue.


The present invention relates to an assembly inspection system and method for examining the connected or bonded state of electronic parts of BGA (Ball Grid Array) type or CSP (Chip Scale/Size Package) type.
In recent years, in mounting an electronic part such as an LSI package on a substrate or board, a face bonding method is mainly adopted. BGA type electronic parts and CSP type electronic parts are typically face-bonding type electronic parts. Once an electronic part of the BGA type or that of the CSP type has been mounted in position, a soldered state thereof cannot be visually confirmed. In the process of assembling the board mounted with such a BGA type electronic part or a CSP type electronic part into an electronic equipment, there is a case in which it is impossible to decide whether an equipment failure is due to a defective connection of the BGA/CSP type electronic part or due to another cause. Thus, it is necessary to correctly inspect whether the BGA/CSP type electronic part is correctly bonded on the board. For this purpose, there is proposed an inspection system in which through-hole-provided pads are formed on a printed wiring board in correspondence with ball-shaped solder pads formed on a back surface of the BGA/CSP type electronic part, and in which the state of connection between the BGA/CSP type electronic part and the printed wiring board is inspected after the reflow process according to whether the through-hole-provided pads are filled with solder, as disclosed in Laid-Open Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-127178. Also, as disclosed in Laid-Open Japanese Patent Publication No.7-234189, there is proposed an inspection system utilizing a fine connection inspection device using a sensor.
However, in the former of the above two conventional inspection systems, it is necessary to form on the printed wiring board the through-hole-provided pads corresponding to the ball-shaped solder pads on the back surface of the BGA/CSP type electronic part. Thus, the degree of freedom in designing a pattern deteriorates, which prevents a fine pattern design. In the latter of the two conventional inspection systems, it is necessary to introduce an expensive inspection device and thus the manufacturing cost becomes substantially high.


Sealed gas-tight containers require venting when gas pressure must be equalized between the interior and exterior of the container. Without venting, a flexible gas-tight container will bloat, leak, and possibly burst when the interior pressure exceeds the exterior pressure. Bloating can occur when the contents of the container generates gasses or heat by chemical reaction, for example when the contents include a peroxide-based toothpaste. Bloating can also occur when the container is stored in a heated environment. An unvented flexible gas-tight container will collapse when the internal pressure is reduced, for example when atmospheric oxygen is scavenged by one of the ingredients housed in the container. Some modes of transportation put a container at risk of both bursting and collapse. During vehicular transport through mountains and valleys, for example, a container is subjected to pressures that can rise above and drop below sea level pressure. Rigid gas-tight containers, such as glass containers, are susceptible to bursting or imploding if the internal and external pressures become sufficiently discrepant.
One way to equalize pressure is to provide a filter vent in the cap, lid, or other closure of a container. Filter vents generally include a gas-permeable filter, or other gas permeable microporous medium, which is interposed between the interior of the container and a vent aperture. The filter vent permits gases to diffuse in and out of the interior of the container, via the vent aperture, while excluding particulates larger than a threshold size, as well as liquids of a particular range of hydrophobicity. The term “filter cap” will be used as a generic term for all container closures fitted with a filter vent.
Filter caps such have a serious drawback. The pores of the filter are susceptible to being filled and clogged by the contents of the container. Existing solutions to this problem are not satisfactory. PCT Application No. WO 97/02994 to Vakharia (“Vakharia”) discloses a gas permeable membrane mounted at an angle to the inner upper surface of a bottle cap. Angling of the membrane is intended to cause liquid to roll off the membrane surface instead of remaining fixed to the membrane surface. U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,409 to Lake et al. (“Lake”) discloses a cap or container including a filter vent that has no structural adaptation to prevent the filter from contacting the contents of the container. Instead, Lake relies on the matching of the filter material to the physicochemical properties of the contents of the container, so that the filter material encourages the phase separation and run-off of contents that have contacted the filter. This material-matching requirement limits the selection of filter materials that can be used with any particular type of contents. Furthermore the encouragement of drainage of container contents after they have contacted a filter is less desirable than the prevention of contact between the contents and the filter in the first place.
Container-mouth baffles, such as sifters, are used to regulate the dispensing of granular materials through the mouth of a container. A typical example is the sifter top disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,781, to Ullrich, et al. (“Ullrich”). The sifter top includes a perforated liner extending across the mouth of a bottle suitable for containing spices or similar materials. Sifters typically include perforations large enough to permit the passage of granular materials out of a container.
Container-mouth baffles can potentially protect the filter of a filter cap from the contacting the contents of a container, but they have never been situated, or provided with appropriate perforations, to perform such a protective function. There is a need for assemblies and methods for protecting a filter cap with a container-mouth baffle.


Support matrices of the type given above are typically in form of porous monolithic beds or porous or non-porous particles. The support particles may be used in fluidised beds or packed beds. In order to reach a sufficient rigidity, the matrices often have to be cross-linked.
Typical problems associated with support matrices for the above-mentioned uses are:                (a) high flow velocities may lead to an increased back pressure which ultimately causes collapse of the matrix;        (b) when in particle form, the matrices may have a tendency not to withstand mechanical forces during packing in columns and other reaction vessels;        (c) tricky to manufacture; and        (d) the matrices may need a separate sterilization.
One previous way of manufacturing support matrices that have an improved rigidity is to start from a polymer carrying nucleophilic groups and groups that have a masked electrophilic reactivity activating the masked groups and permitting the electrophilic and nucleophilic groups to react with each other. The polymer is typically a polysaccharide. See WO 9738018 (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AB).
Another recent method is to heat a polymeric support matrix carrying residual unsaturated groups. This method is in particular adapted to support matrices obtained by polymerisation of mixtures comprising vinyl aryl monomers, aryl or methacryl monomers or other unsaturated monomers. See International Patent Application PCT/SE99/0126 (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AB).
WO 9726071 (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AB) and WO 9700255 (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AB) include electron beam irradiation and gamma-ray irradiation as two out of many examples for initiating polymerisation of unsaturated groups in order to manufacture support matrices for various uses.
EP 534016 (W.R. Grace & Co) describes chromatographic matrices with thermoresponsive properties. The publication suggests that one could cross-link beads consisting of linear polymers by irradiation with light, electron rays and gamma rays. It is also suggested that linear polymer after adsorption to a base matrix could be crosslinked in the same way.
WO 9603147 (Fidia Advanced Biopolymers) suggests production of gels and biocompatible substrates by electron beam irradiation of a polymer funtionalized with a plurality of unsaturations. The uses are as carriers in drug administration, as biocompatible substrates for cell culture in three-dimensional systems etc.
EP 159694 (E.I. Du Pont de Nemours) suggests electron beam irradiation for the production of gels from monomers with one and two polymerisable unsaturations.
There are no demands on withstanding liquid flow on the monolithic or packed bed formats of the matrices described in WO 9603147 and EP 159694.


1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an aerofoil having a slat mounted to extend and retract relative to the aerofoil to increase lift especially during landing and take off of an aircraft.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
In certain aircraft, it is usual to provide a data link between the slat and the aerofoil to enable data such as pressure and temperature to be monitored. Known data links necessitate use of the usual slat mounting track to form a component of the data link. That involves complexity and considerable expense and an object of the present invention is to provide an aerofoil having a slat with an improved data link arrangement.


Work vehicles, such as tractors and other agricultural vehicles, typically include one or more electronic control units (ECUs) configured to receive input signals and/or transmit output signals for monitoring and/or controlling vehicle operation. For example, work vehicles often include an emission sensor control unit communicatively coupled to one or more emission sensors, such as a nitrous oxide (NOx) sensor, configured to measure the concentration of one or more emission gases contained within the exhaust flow expelled from the vehicle's engine. As such, the emission sensor control unit may be configured to receive emission-related measurement signals from the sensor(s). Suitable control signals may then be transmitted from the emission sensor control unit to an engine control unit of the work vehicle to allow the operation of the engine to be controlled based on the emission-related measurements provided by the sensor(s).
In general, it is often desirable to position the control unit(s) of a work vehicle under the vehicle's hood to allow such control unit(s) to be in close in proximity to the components with which the unit(s) must communicate. However, electronic control units are typically required to be maintained below a specific operating temperature. Unfortunately, at high ambient temperatures and/or during high load applications, the under-hood air temperature of a work vehicle may often reach and/or exceed the predetermined temperature limit defined for a given control unit. As a result, there is an increased likelihood of damage occurring to such control unit due to overheating. In addition, after a hot shutdown, the under-hood air temperatures of a work vehicle often increases well above the under-hood temperatures typically experienced during vehicle operation, thereby further increasing the likelihood of damage occurring to any control units installed under the hood.
Moreover, conventional under-hood mounting arrangements typically require that a control unit be mounted to a separate mounting bracket installed under the hood. Such mounting brackets unnecessarily increase the number of under-hood components required for a work vehicle. In addition, since control units typically need to be isolated from vehicle vibrations to operate properly, vibration isolators must often be associated with the mounting bracket(s) to satisfy the vibration requirements of such control units, thereby increasing the overall costs of the installation.
Accordingly, an improved under-hood mounting configuration for a control unit of a work vehicle that addresses one or more of the issues highlighted above would be welcomed in the technology.


Various antiphlogistic and analgesic agents are known but it is generally found that the antiphlogistic and analgesic agents conventionally used have a rather high toxicity and often induce various undesired side effects such as for example gastric lesions. There is thus a need for antiphlogistic and analgesic agents having a lower toxicity and no undesired side effects.
It is known that chloro-5-benzo(b)furyl-2 carboxylic acid, chloro-5-benzo(b)furyl-2-acetic acid, methoxy-5 -benzo(b) furyl-2-acetic acid and a derivative of substituted .beta.-(benzo(b)furyl-2) acrylic acid have a lower anti-inflammatory activity and a minor toxicity than phenylbutazone (Eur. J. Med. Chem. - Chimica Therapeutica, March-April 1975-10, N. 2, p. 182-186).
The present invention is concerned with the following 5-substituted-3-methyl-2-benzo(b) furylacetic acids of general formula ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom; an alkyl group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, e.g. a methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl or n-hexyl group; an alkoxy group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, e.g. a methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy or isopropoxy group; a cycloalkyl group containing 3 to 6 carbon atoms, e.g. a cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl group; a cycloalkoxy group containing 3 to 6 carbon atoms, e.g. a cyclopropoxy group; an alkenyl group containing 3 or 4 carbon atoms, e.g. a propenyl or 1-butenyl group; an alkenyloxy group containing 3 or 4 carbon atoms, e.g. a propenyloxy or isopropenyloxy group; a cyclohexenyloxy group; a phenyl group or a substituted phenyl group having the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 represents a methoxy group; a halogen atom, e.g. a fluorine or chlorine atom; or an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, e.g. a methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl or tert-butyl group; a phenoxy group; a benzyl group; a substituted benzyl group having the formula: ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 is as defined above; a trifluoromethyl group; or a halogen atom, e.g. a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom and phsyiologically acceptable salts thereof.
The present invention is further concerned with the discovery that the 5-substituted-3-methyl-2-benzo(b)furylacetic acids of general formula (I) show antiphlogistic and analgesic activities.
Thus according to the present invention there are provided pharmaceutical compositions comprising as active ingredient a compound of formula (I) as hereinbefore defined or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof in association with a pharmaceutical carrier or excipient.
Among the derivatives of benzo (b) furylacetic acid represented by the formula (I), the derivatives where R is a hydrogen atom [Chem. Ber. 97, 3577 (1964)], a methyl radical [Rocz. Chem. 44, 1913 (1970)] and a chlorine atom [Indian Journal of Chem., 2, 456 (1964)] were previously known, although it was not known that these compounds had antiphlogistic and analgesic properties. The other compounds of general formula (I) are however new compounds and constitute a further feature of the present invention.
The preparations of the three known compounds, 3-methyl-2-benzo(b) furylacetic acid, 3,5-dimethyl-2-benzo(b)furylacetic acid and 5-chloro-3-methyl-2-benzo(b)furylacetic acid are described in the above indicated literature references. However, these preparations have disadvantages of complicated steps and a low yield.
The present invention is accordingly to provide processes for preparing the derivatives of benzo(b)furylacetic acid of the formula (I) with a high yield in a simple manner. According to the present invention, the derivatives of benzo(b)furylacetic acid represented by the formula (I) can be prepared by the process exemplified as follows:
(A) Process using as a starting material 3-methyl-2-cyanomethylbenzo(b) furan or 5-substituted derivatives thereof having the general formula (II) ##STR4## wherein R is as hereinbefore defined.
The compounds of general formula (I) can be prepared from the starting compound by hydrolysis in an aqueous medium in the presence of an acid or alkali.
Acids which are preferably used for this purpose are, for example, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and para-toluenesulfonic acid. It is also possible to use a strongly acidic ion exchange resin.
Alkalies which are preferably used for this purpose are, for example, hydroxides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, e.g. sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide.
The hydrolysis is preferably effected in the presence of a solvent, especially an organic solvent which does not react with the starting compound and which is miscible with water. Preferred organic solvents include, for example, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, acetone, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol and lower alcohols, e.g. methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol and tert-butanol. Advantageously the organic solvent is present in an amount of from 1/4 to 4 times the volume of water. In the reaction, 0.01 mole to 1.0 mole, preferably 0.1 mole-0.5 mole, of the starting compound is used per one liter of the total solvent.
The reaction is usually carried out at a temperature within the range of from 50.degree. to 100.degree. C., preferably at about the boiling point of the organic solvent used. After completion of the hydrolysis, the reaction mixture is concentrated. If desired, the reaction mixture is treated with active charcoal prior to the concentration. The pH of the concentrated mixture is then adjusted to a pH of 2 with an acid, for example, hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, and is cooled to precipitate crude crystals. The crude crystals are then recrystalized from a suitable solvent, for example an aqueous solution of an alcohol to yield the purified final compound.
The starting compounds of general formula (II), 3-methyl-2-cyanomethylbenzo(b)furan and 5-substituted derivatives thereof, can be prepared, for example, by the process disclosed in DT-AS 1,203,277. They can also be prepared as follows:
Phenol or an appropriate p-substituted-phenol of formula ##STR5## wherein R is as hereinbefore defined, is reacted with an equimolar amount of sodium hydroxide in an aqueous medium to give a sodium salt of phenol or the p-substituted phenol respectively which is then treated with ethyl .alpha.-chloracetoacetate to yield a compound of formula ##STR6## wherein R is as hereinbefore defined. The ethyl .alpha.-(phenoxy)acetoacetate or ethyl-.alpha.-(p-substituted-phenoxy) acetoacetate obtained is then subjected to ring-closure by treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid to give 3-methyl-2-ethoxycarbonylbenzo(b) furan or a 5-substituted derivative thereof of formula ##STR7## wherein R is as hereinbefore defined. The resultant compound is subjected to reduction with lithium aluminium hydride in an organic solvent, e.g. diethyl ether, to give 3-methyl-2-hydroxymethylbenzo(b)furan or a 5-substituted derivative thereof of formula ##STR8## wherein R is as hereinbefore defined. This compound is then treated with thionyl chloride to give 3-methyl-2-chloromethylbenzo(b) furan or a 5-substituted derivative thereof of formula ##STR9## wherein R is as hereinbefore defined, which is then subjected to reaction with sodium cyanate to give 3-methyl-2-cyanomethylbenzo(b) furan or a 5-substituted derivative thereof of formula (II).
(B) Process using as a starting compound 3-methyl-2-acetylbenzo(b)furan or 5-substituted derivatives thereof having general formula (III) ##STR10## wherein R is as hereinbefore defined.
The starting compound, which can be obtained, for example, by the process described in Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr., 1970 (10), page 3601, is reacted with hydrogen sulfide or sulphur together with ammonia, a primary amine or a secondary amine in an aqueous solution or in an aqueous solution of organic solvent to obtain its thioamide.
Amines which may be used for this purpose include, for example, methylamine, pyridine, morpholin and the like.
The organic solvent which may be used for the reaction includes, for example, dioxane, piperidine and the like. It is also possible to use the amine as both the reaction material and the organic solvent. In the reaction, 0.01 mole to 2.0 mole, preferably 0.1 mole-1.5 moles of the starting compound is used per one liter of the total solvent. When morpholin is used as both the reaction material and the organic solvent, as for the amount of sulphur and morpholin, 1.3 to 1.7 moles, preferably 1.5 moles of both compounds are used per one mole of the starting material of general formula (III).
The reaction is preferably carried out at a temperature within the range of from 130.degree. to 200.degree. C. for about from 5 to 25 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture is cooled to precipitate crystals of the thioamide. If desired, it is also possible to otain the thioamide with a better yield by concentrating the reaction mixture, removing the solvent and adding water.
The thus-obtained thioamide is subjected to the hydrolysis with a suitable acid or alkali to give the desired 5-substituted-3-methyl-2-benzo(b)furylacetic acid represented by general formula (I). The acids which may with advantage be used for this purpose are exemplified by hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, paratoluene-sulfonic acid and the like; and the alkalis which are preferably used for this purpose include for example hydroxides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. In the reaction, 0.01 mole to 1.0 mole, preferably 0.1 mole-0.5 mole of the starting compound is used per one liter of the total solvent.
The desired final product can be isolated for example in the following manner.
The reaction mixture containing the desired final product obtained by the hydrolysis is adjusted to a neutral pH for example with sodium carbonate and then washed with a suitable solvent such as for example benzene. After this, the water layer in the reaction solution is adjusted to an acidic pH 2, for example with a suitable dilute acid such as dilute hydrochloric acid, dilute sulfuric acid and the like to isolate the desired acid which is then extracted for example with ethylacetate and the like. After removal of water from the extract, the organic solvent of the extract is concentrated to obtain the desired crude product. The recrystalization is then carried out by the use of a suitable solvent such as, for example, an aqueous solution of alcohol, ethanol and the like.
Preferred physiologically acceptable salts of 3-methyl-2-benzo(b)furylacetic acid and the 5-substituted derivatives thereof of general formula (I) for incorporation into the pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention are, for example, the sodium, potassium, calcium and aluminium salts (obtained by reaction with the appropriate metal oxide or hydroxide) and also the physiologically acceptable non-toxic ammonium and amine salts (obtained by reaction with for example ammonia, diethylamine or triethanolamine).
The pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention may with advantage be presented in a form suitable for internal or external administration, e.g. oral or topical administration, for example as tablets, granules, powders, capsules, ointments or creams which may be prepared in conventional manner.
Suitable daily dosages of the active compounds of general formula (I) whether administered internally or externally are generally in the range from 50 to 600 mg per man per day, depending upon the symptoms of the patient.
The compositions are preferably presented in the form of dosage units, each dosage unit being adapted to provide a fixed dose of active ingredient. Such compositions preferably contain from 25 to 100 mg of active ingredient per dosage unit.
Compositions in the form of tablets may be formulated with suitable amounts of various other ingredients such as, for example, excipients (e.g. lactose, glucose, sucrose or mannitol), disintegration agents (e.g. starch, sodium alginate, calcium carboxy-methyl-cellulose (CMC), crystal cellulose or sugar ester), lubricants (e.g. magnesium stearate or talc) and binding agents (e.g. simple syrup, gelatine solution, polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinylpyrrolidone). All of the abovementioned ingredients are used in the amounts conventionally used in the preparation of tablets. Dispersants (e.g. methylcellulose) and plasticizers may be used as coating agents for tablets.
Compositions according to the present invention presented in forms other than tablets and capsules, e.g. powders, preferably contain the active compounds of general formula (I) in amounts of from 5-10% by weight of the composition, together with other ingredients, generally excipients, e.g. lactose, glucose, sucrose and mannitol.
The acute toxicity, antiphlogistic and analgesic activities and the effect on gastric mucosa of 3-methyl-2-benzo(b) furylacetic acid and certain of the 5-substituted derivatives of general formula (I) according to the invention have been examined as described hereinafter. In the tests, the specimens Nos. 1-8 are the active compounds represented by the formula (I) according to the present invention and the specimens Nos. 9 and 10 are known compounds having known antiphlogistic and analgesic activities included for comparison purposes.


In today's modern society privacy issues have become a major concern. Modern technologies such as computers and the Internet enable people to access more information at rates never before possible. However, many of the tasks for which people use the Internet are considered highly private or confidential matters. For example, the Internet has streamlined tasks such as banking, filing tax returns, conferencing with business associates, and communicating with friends and family.
Coupled with the advantages that accrue from the Internet is an increased susceptibility to malicious eavesdropping and/or cyber-attack. Thus, as the tools with which people conduct their daily affairs advance in complexity, so too must the means by which private or confidential matters are concealed and the communication tools safeguarded from evildoers and/or failures. As such, industry leaders have organized a Trusted Computing Group (“TCG”) to address these concerns.
TCG is a an industry standards body, including computer manufacturers, device manufacturers, and software vendors who have a stake in promoting the security of computing platforms and devices (see, https://www.trustedcomputinggroup.com). One goal of TCG is to promote a security chip called the trusted platform module (“TPM”). The TPM is defined by specifications published by the TCG, such as the TCG Main Specification, Version 1.1b, Feb. 22, 2002. The TPM is an isolated silicon device built into the motherboard of a personal computer (“PC”), but separate from the central processing unit (“CPU”), for establishing trust and trust metrics in a Trusted Computing Environment. “The TCG architecture and the TPM enable platform level authentication, attestation, and the generation and storage of cryptographic keys. The TPM can also perform certain operations on these keys such as signing and hashing within its protected locations. The TPM specifications are designed to enable this increased level of trust and security while maintaining privacy, user choice and control.” TCG, Corp., An Overview Of The TPM And The TCG's Trusted Platform Architecture, Version 0.99D, (May 5, 2003).
Software vendors, such as Microsoft, have begun developing software platforms that will take advantage of the security features provided by a TPM silicon device. For example, a future version of Windows called Longhorn is expected to provide numerous security functions, including encryption, privacy safeguards, and digital rights management with use of the TPM silicon device.
However, widespread acceptance and implementation of the TCG architecture and the TPM is still uncertain. Furthermore, integration of the TCG architecture with network servers, where it is crucial to provide reliable, available, and serviceable functionality, has proven to be difficult. For example, some of the functionality defined by TCG architecture has been found to conflict with current techniques for “hot plugging” network servers.


Modern motor vehicles commonly feature occupant safety systems including, for example, seat belts, frontal collision airbags, side airbags, and curtain airbags. One or more sensors on-board the vehicle feed signals to an electronic control module which, based on the signals, detects a collision or other unsafe condition so that restraints and/or other safety systems may be activated.
A typical passenger vehicle has two rows of seats for the driver and passengers, and such vehicles often are equipped with a side impact sensor located in, on, or adjacent to the door or sidewall of the vehicle on either side of each seating row, for a total of four sensors (two on each side of the vehicle). The side impact sensors are typically accelerometers or pressure sensors. Such a sensor suite is effective for sensing lateral collisions or impacts that occur on the sides of the seating rows.
Extending this concept to larger vehicles that may have three or more passenger seating rows would require six or more total side impact sensors.


a. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a mobile communication device capable of a wireless communication, such as a so-called mobile telephone (or cellular phone), a personal handy phone system (PHS), etc., and particularly to such devices having a flat display of a relatively large size.
b. Related Art
In recent years, mobile communication devices such as a mobile telephone and a PHS are widely spread while the number of users of mobile PCs and personal digital assistants (PDAs) are rapidly increasing. In this connection, it becomes possible to perform a data communication outdoors or at an outside site with any desired person by connecting the mobile PC with the mobile communication device.
A product has recently been commercialized in which the two devices are integrated, i.e., a mobile communication device in the form of a PHS telephone with a PDA capability. This product could also be considered as a mobile information device in which a PDA is provided with a PHS capability.
This type of mobile communication devices are available for a person at a place other than his or her home or office not only for simply as a telephone but also for transmit ting/receiving e-mails and facsimiles, or accessing Internet WWW (world Wide Web) servers to browse home-pages.
For this end, such mobile communication devices include a display of a larger screen size than that of conventional mobile telephones.
In making a phone call, the dialing can be performed not only by pressing numeral keys, but also based on the phone number of a person selected from a telephone directory data, which is stored in the device, without the key entering of the phone number.
On the other hand, information of home-pages obtained from the WWW servers is written in Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML). A document written in HTML, itself, is a text file in which codes sandwiched by symbols "<" and ">", called tags, are used to specify character-attribute information or layout information. A program called a "browser" interprets the tags so as to display the HTML document.
An HTML document can have other text, image or audio inserted therein, and also have parts thereof linked with images or other HTML documents. That is, in HTML documents, a location (i.e., an anchor point or hot-spot explained below) in a document can be linked (or correlated) with another location or a separate file, etc. This enables an immediate movement from a location to another location of a linked destination, allowing the effective browsing of a variety of documents (including so-called multi-media). In addition, it is possible, based on a selection of an anchor point, to open a window for sending an electronic mail (e-mail) or to activate a particular function that is associated with the anchor point.
Thus, anchor points set in an HTML document with respect to various items therein allow a user to select them so as to view other documents or activate various functions which are associated with the selected anchor points.
Incidentally, most of the portable information devices such as a PDA are provided with pens, which are used as a pointing device to directly enter commands through a touch panel on a display of the device.
However, when using the mobile communication device simply as a telephone, it is bothersome to use the pen each time a user specifies one of the phone numbers in a telephone directory. Usually, therefore, motion keys are used for selectively indicating two directions to search a phone number. For example, phone numbers with anchor points set in a telephone directory written in HTML can sequentially be designated by the use of the motion keys or the like. The browser can recognize the position of the anchor points so that for selecting one anchor point based on the motion key operation, the anchor points are sequentially designated one by one simply by indicating a forward direction or a backward direction with the keys. Such designation of an anchor point is referred to as a "focus" in the specification. Also, the position of an anchor point that is currently focussed in a displayed HTML document is referred to as a "focussed" position. An operation to cause an execution of a particular function or a jump associated with such focussed anchor point is referred to as a "selection. The "selection" is distinguished from the "designation" which is a step taken prior to the selection.
In the above-mentioned mobile communication device with a PDA capability, it is preferable to include in the telephone directory not only names and telephone numbers but facsimile numbers or e-mail addresses, etc. Further, with the telephone directory being an HTML document, the additional items can be provided with various functions as described above.
However, in such a case where anchor points are set to various items in the HTML document, the designation of an anchor point by the use of the motion keys mentioned above suffers from a problem in which it is difficult to quickly find a desired telephone number because a lot of undesired anchor points could be encountered until an anchor point of the desired number is reached.
The present invention was made in view of the foregoing problem, and it is an object of the invention to enhance the operability of a mobile communication device with a flat display of a relatively large screen size, capable of displaying thereon an HTML document.
It is another object of the invention to provide a mobile communication device with a rotary push switch, in which a desired anchor point for automatic dialing is quickly reached in response to an operation for moving a focus.


1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates generally to back pressure valves, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to back pressure valves suitable for use in a workover string for acidizing of wells.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
During certain workover jobs on oil and gas wells, a tool known as a back pressure valve is run in the work string. The back pressure valve typically is a flapper type valve which when in a closed position prevents upward flow through the work string. The flapper is opened by a stinger tube which is pushed downward through the flapper. The operation of the stinger tube is typically controlled by a J-slot interconnection between the stinger tube and the housing which contains the flapper valve. Thus, the flapper valve is opened by the weight of the workover string above the back pressure valve which is available to be set down on the stinger tube to force the flapper open. Sometimes a difficulty is encountered when there are very high pressures contained in the workover string below the flapper. The back pressure valve is typically placed at a relatively high point in the work string near the surface, and thus the weight of the work string thereabove is sometimes inadequate to force the flapper open against the high internal pressures trapped below the flapper.
Thus, there is a need for a back pressure valve which can be operated reliably regardless of the pressures acting against the flapper and holding it closed.