Author: claimsbot

1. WO (water in oil) emulsion which contains a pharmacologically active substance, characterised in that the emulsion droplets have a hydrodynamic diameter of between 200 nm and 3000 nm and the aqueous phase that is used to prepare this emulsion is characterised in that a salt is dissolved therein and the aqueous phase has an ionic strength of more than 10 m M.
2. WO (water in oil) emulsion according to claim 1, characterised in that the salt dissolved in the aqueous phase is selected from among an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, an acid addition salt of an active substance or a combination thereof.
3. WO (water in oil) emulsion according to claim 2, characterised in that besides a pharmacologically active substance an alkali metal salt or alkaline earth metal salt, preferably NaCl, is present in the aqueous phase.
4. WO (water in oil) emulsion according to claim 1, characterised in that it contains as emulsifier a substance from the category of the block copolymers.
5. WO (water in oil) emulsion according to claim 1, characterised in that it contains as emulsifier a substance from the group selected from the category of the PEG-poly-(lactide-co-glycolides) and the PEG-poly-lactides.
6. WO (water in oil) emulsion according to claim 5, characterised in that the emulsifier has a PEG content of between 1 to 15% (% by mass, based on the total molecular mass of the block copolymer), a molecular mass of 37.5 to 600 kD, a diblock or triblock structure, the glycolide content is between 0-50% (% be mass based on the poly-(lactide-co-glycolide) or the poly-lactide) and the lactide content is between 50-100% ((% by mass based on the poly-(lactide-co-glycolide) or the poly-lactide).
7. WO (water in oil) emulsion according to claim 1, characterised in that a pharmacologically active substance is dissolved in the organic phase.
8. Process for preparing WO (water in oil) emulsions according to claim 1, characterised in that
a. an organic phase which contains an emulsifier that represents a substance selected from among the category of the PEG-poly-(lactide-co-glycolides) and the category of the PEG-poly-lactides,
b. an aqueous phase which contains a salt selected from among an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, an acid addition salt of a pharmacologically active substance or a combination thereof,

is incorporated by intensive mixing.
9. (canceled)

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A switching regulator comprising:
series-connected first switch and second switch that are connected to terminals of a DC power supply;
a resonant oscillation circuit connected to both terminals of the first switch or the second switch, including a resonance oscillation capacitor, at least one of a resonant oscillation inductance and a leakage inductance of a transformer, and a primary winding in a primary side of the transformer, serially connected;
an auxiliary winding that is provided in the primary side of the transformer and detects change of a voltage across the primary winding of the transformer;
a differentiation detecting circuit that differentiates a detection voltage detected by the auxiliary winding to detect a timing of start of reversal or a timing of end of reversal of the detection voltage; and
a dead time adjusting circuit that generates a second trigger signal at a timing of turning ON the first switch or the second switch after a predetermined delay time from the timing detected by the differentiation detecting circuit for the start of reversal or the end of reversal of the detection voltage detected by the auxiliary winding.
2. The switching regulator according to claim 1, wherein the differentiation detecting circuit comprises:
a differentiating circuit that delivers a differentiated signal of the detection voltage;
a first comparator that compares the differentiated signal with a first threshold value;
a second comparator that compares the differentiated signal with a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value;
a first one-shot circuit that detects a front edge of an output signal from the first comparator indicating that the differentiated signal is larger than the first threshold value, and delivers a first reversal start signal; and
a second one-shot circuit that detects a front edge of an output signal from the second comparator indicating that the differentiated signal is smaller than the second threshold value, and delivers a second reversal start signal.
3. The switching regulator according to claim 1, wherein the differentiation detecting circuit comprises:
a differentiating circuit that delivers a differentiated signal of the detection voltage;
a first comparator that compares the differentiated signal with a first threshold value;
a second comparator that compares the differentiated signal with a second threshold value smaller than first the threshold value;
a first one-shot circuit that detects a rear edge of an output signal from the first comparator indicating that the differentiated signal is larger than the first threshold value, and delivers a first reversal end signal; and
a second one-shot circuit that detects a rear edge of an output signal from the second comparator indicating that the differentiated signal is smaller than the second threshold value, and delivers a second reversal end signal.
4. The switching regulator according to claim 2, wherein the dead time adjusting circuit comprises:
a delay circuit that delays a first reversal start signal and a second reversal start signal, or a first reversal end signal and a second reversal end signal;
a minimum dead time setting circuit that receives a first trigger signal and delivers a minimum dead time signal;
a signal holding circuit that is reset in a period the minimum dead time signal is delivered, and is set and holds the set state in a condition that the minimum dead time signal is released and the delay by the delay circuit is terminated; and
a signal conversion circuit that converts the held set state of the signal holding circuit into a signal with a predetermined pulse width to obtain the second trigger signal.
5. The switching regulator according to claim 3, wherein the dead time adjusting circuit comprises:
a delay circuit that delays the first reversal start signal and the second reversal start signal, or the first reversal end signal and the second reversal end signal;
a minimum dead time setting circuit that receives a first trigger signal and delivers a minimum dead time signal;
a signal holding circuit that is reset in a period the minimum dead time signal is delivered, and is set and holds the set state in a condition that the minimum dead time signal is released and the delay by the delay circuit is terminated; and
a signal conversion circuit that converts the held set state of the signal holding circuit into a signal with a predetermined pulse width to obtain the second trigger signal.
6. The switching regulator according to claim 4, wherein the dead time adjusting circuit comprises a timer circuit that starts counting on receiving the first trigger signal, stops counting on receiving the second trigger signal, and delivers a signal to set the signal holding circuit when a period of the maximum dead time has passed since the start of counting.
7. A control device of a switching regulator for controlling a switching regulator, the switching regulator comprising:
series-connected first switch and second switch that are connected to terminals of a DC power supply; and
a resonant oscillation circuit connected to both terminals of the first switch or the second switch, including a resonance oscillation capacitor, at least one of a resonant oscillation inductance and a leakage inductance of a transformer, and a primary winding in a primary side of the transformer, serially connected;
the control device comprising:
a differentiation detecting circuit that differentiates a detection voltage detected by an auxiliary winding that is provided in the primary side of the transformer, to detect a timing of start of reversal or a timing of end of reversal of the detection voltage; and
a dead time adjusting circuit that generates a second trigger signal at a timing of turning ON the first switch or the second switch after a predetermined delay time from the timing detected by the differentiation detecting circuit for the start of reversal or the end of reversal of the detection voltage detected by the auxiliary winding.
8. The control device of a switching regulator according to claim 7, the control device further comprising a controller circuit that receives a first trigger signal and the second trigger signal that is generated by the dead time adjusting circuit and generates a signal to drive the first switch or the second switch.
9. The control device of a switching regulator according to claim 8, the control device further comprising: a voltage controlling oscillation circuit that generates the first trigger signal and delivers the first trigger signal to the dead time adjusting circuit and the controller circuit; and a driver circuit that drives the first switch or the second switch according to the signal generated by the controller circuit.
10. The control device of a switching regulator according to claim 9, the control device further comprising an error amplifier circuit that detects a difference between a reference voltage and an output voltage that is rectified and smoothed in a secondary side of the transformer, and delivers the difference to the voltage controlling oscillation circuit.
11. The switching regulator according to claim 1, switching regulator further comprising a controller circuit that receives a first trigger signal generated by a voltage controlling oscillation circuit and the second trigger signal that is generated by the dead time adjusting circuit and generates a signal to drive the first switch or the second switch.

1-166. (canceled)
167. An apparatus for dispensing biological particles in a liquid medium onto a deposition area of a substrate in a desired two-dimensional pattern comprising:
a substrate having a planar surface with a movable target zone, the movable target zone having a trajectory;
a dispenser for biological particles in a liquid medium, the dispenser having an aperture and configured to direct the biological particles through the aperture and to deposit the biological particles in the movable target zone; and
a controller to control at least one of the dispenser and the substrate to produce the desired two-dimensional pattern by moving the movable target zone along the trajectory while the dispenser is dispensing biological particles.
168. The apparatus of claim 167, wherein the dispenser is an aerosolizer or a nebulizer.
169. The apparatus of claim 168, wherein the dispenser is a spray brush.
170. The apparatus of claim 167, further comprising a substrate rotator, configured to rotate the substrate about the central axis while the dispenser is dispensing biological particles.
171. A method for dispensing biological particles in a liquid medium onto a substrate in a desired two-dimensional pattern, comprising the steps of:
introducing the biological particles in a liquid medium into a particle dispenser having an aperture;
dispensing the solution comprising biological particles through the aperture and toward a movable target zone on the substantially planar surface of the substrate, said movable target zone having a center;
guiding the center of the movable target zone along a path on the substantially planar surface while the dispenser is dispensing biological particles to produce the desired two-dimensional pattern.
172. The method of claim 171, wherein the dispensing step comprises spray-brushing.
173. The method of claim 171, wherein the path of the movable target zone defines a deposition area, and further comprising the step of achieving a biological particle packing density of greater than about 70% in at least a substantial portion of said deposition area.
174. The method of claim 171, wherein the particles are deposited in a monolayer over at least a substantial portion of the deposition area.
175. The method of claim 171, wherein the biological particles are cells.
176. The of claim 171, wherein the step of guiding the center of the movable target zone along a path comprises rotating the substrate about a central axis perpendicular to the planar surface of the substrate.
177. A method for inspecting biological particles disposed within a liquid solution, comprising the steps of:
introducing a liquid solution comprising biological particles into a biological particle dispenser having an aperture;
dispensing the liquid solution through the aperture and toward a movable target zone on the substantially planar surface of the substrate, said movable target zone having a center;
guiding the center of the movable target zone along a path on the substantially planar surface while the dispenser is dispensing biological particles, so as to produce a two-dimensional pattern of biological particles deposited on the planar surface of the substrate.
inspecting at least a portion of the biological particles deposited on the planar surface of the substrate
178. The method of claim 177, wherein the dispensing step comprises the use of a spray brush.
179. The method of claim 177, wherein the path of the movable target zone defines a deposition area, and further comprising the step of achieving a biological particle packing density of greater than about 70% over at least a substantial portion of said deposition area.
180. The method of claim 177, wherein the path of the movable target zone defines a deposition area, and further comprising the step of depositing the biological particles in a monolayer over at least a substantial portion of the deposition area.
181. The method of claim 180, wherein the biological particles are cells.
182. The method of claim 181, wherein the inspecting comprises imaging the cells.
183. The method of claim 182, wherein the inspecting comprises performing cellular astronomy.
184. The method as claimed in claim 183, wherein the performing cellular astronomy comprises using a magnification of less than about 4 times.
185. The method of claim 177, wherein the step of guiding the center of the movable target zone along a path comprises rotating the substrate about a central axis perpendicular to the plane of the planar surface of the substrate.
186. A method for inspecting an analyte disposed on a substrate, comprising the steps of:
introducing a liquid solution comprising particles into a particle dispenser having an aperture;
dispensing the liquid solution through the aperture and toward a movable target zone on the substantially planar surface of the substrate, said movable target zone having a center;
guiding the center of the movable target zone along a path on the substantially planar surface while the dispenser is dispensing particles, so as to produce a two-dimensional pattern of particles deposited on the planar surface of the substrate;
contacting the deposited particles with a solution comprising an analyte; and
inspecting at least a portion surface of the substrate for said analyte.
187. The method as claimed in claim 186, wherein the particles are biological capture beads and the analyte is a biological material.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A spark plug for an internal combustion engine comprising:
a metal shell having a base end and a top end opposed to the base end in a lengthwise direction of the spark plug;
a hollow porcelain insulator having a length which includes a body and an insulator nose, the body being retained within said metal shell, the insulator nose projecting from the top end of said metal shell;
a center electrode retained within said porcelain insulator to have a top end protruding from the insulator nose;
a main ground electrode which defines a main spark gap between itself and said center electrode; and
an auxiliary ground electrode having a base end surface, a top end surface opposed to the base end surface, and an inner side surface extending between the base end surface and the top end surface, the base end surface engaging and directly being joined to said metal shell to orient the inner side surface to said center electrode,
wherein the inner side surface of said auxiliary ground electrode defines an auxiliary spark gap between itself and the insulator nose of said porcelain insulator so as to occupy a minimum distance between said porcelain insulator and said auxiliary ground electrode,
wherein the insulator nose of said porcelain insulator has a wall thickness T meeting a relation of 0.3 mm\u2266T\u22660.7 mm, and
wherein the inner side surface of said auxiliary ground electrode has an area which defines the auxiliary spark gap between itself and an outer peripheral side surface of the insulator nose of said porcelain insulator, the area having a length E in an axial direction of said porcelain insulator which meets a relation of E\u22670.5 mm.
2. A spark plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein the main spark gap has a length X, and the auxiliary spark gap has a length Y, the lengths X and Y meeting a relation of X>Y.
3. A spark plug as set forth in claim 2, wherein the lengths X and Y also meet relations of X\u22660.9 mm and 0.3 mm\u2266Y\u2266X\u22120.1 mm.
4. A spark plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein a minimum distance D between a top end surface of said center electrode and the top end surface of said auxiliary ground electrode meets a relation of D>T+Y.
5. A spark plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner side surface of said auxiliary ground electrode has an area which defines the auxiliary spark gap between itself and the insulator nose of said porcelain insulator, and a distance A between the top end of said metal shell and a top end of said center electrode along an axial direction of the spark plug and a distance C between the top end of said metal shell and a center of the area of the inner side surface of said auxiliary ground electrode in the axial direction of the spark plug have a relation of A\u2212C\u22663 mm.
6. A spark plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein said center electrode and said main ground electrode have noble metal chips opposed to each other to define the main spark gap, the noble metal chip of said center electrode having a transverse sectional area of 0.07 mm2 to 0.64 mm2, as extends in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the spark plug, and a height of 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm, as extends in the axial direction of the spark plug, the noble metal chip of said main ground electrode having a transverse sectional area of 0.12 mm2 to 0.80 mm2, as extends in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the spark plug, and a height of 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm, as extends in the axial direction of the spark plug.
7. A spark plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein said metal shell has a threaded portion formed on an outer periphery thereof which has a thread diameter of M12 or less.
8. A spark plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary ground electrode includes a slant section and a parallel section, the parallel section being defined to extend in parallel to a plane of an outer side wall of the insulator nose and the slant section extending in a direction diagonally inwardly toward an axis of said center electrode.
9. A spark plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary ground electrode includes a slant section and a parallel section, the slant section extending from the base end surface diagonally inwardly toward said center electrode, the parallel section extending parallel to an outer side wall of the insulator nose.
10. A spark plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary ground electrode includes a parallel section and a slant section, the parallel section extending from a top end of said metal shell in parallel to an outer side wall of the insulator nose, the slant section continuing from the parallel section and being oriented diagonally inwardly toward said center electrode, wherein the auxiliary spark gap is defined between the slant section and a top corner of the insulator nose of said porcelain insulator.
11. A spark plug for an internal combustion engine comprising:
a metal shell having a base end and a top end opposed to the base end in a lengthwise direction of the spark plug;
a hollow porcelain insulator having a length which includes a body and an insulator nose, the body being retained within said metal shell, the insulator nose projecting from the top end of said metal shell;
a center electrode retained within said porcelain insulator to have a top end protruding from the insulator nose;
a main around electrode which defines a main spark gap between itself and said center electrode;
an auxiliary ground electrode having a base end surface, a top end surface opposed to the base end surface, and an inner side surface extending between the base end surface and the top end surface, the base end surface engaging and directly being joined to said metal shell to orient the inner side surface to said center electrode,
wherein the inner side surface of said auxiliary ground electrode defines an auxiliary spark gap between itself and the insulator nose of said porcelain insulator so as to occupy a minimum distance between said porcelain insulator and said auxiliary ground electrode,
wherein the insulator nose of said porcelain insulator has a wall thickness T meeting a relation of 0.3 mm\u2266T\u22660.7 mm, and
wherein the inner side surface of said auxiliary ground electrode defines the auxiliary spark gap between itself and an opposed top end corner of the insulator nose of said porcelain insulator.
12. A spark plug as set forth in claim 11, wherein the main spark gap has a length X, and the auxiliary spark gap has a length Y, the lengths X and Y meeting a relation of X>Y.
13. A spark plug as set forth in claim 12, wherein the lengths X and Y also meet relations of X\u22660.9 mm and 0.3 mm\u2266Y\u2266X\u22120.1 mm.
14. A spark plug as set forth in claim 11, wherein a minimum distance D between a top end surface of said center electrode and the top end surface of said auxiliary ground electrode meets a relation of D>T+Y.
15. A spark plug as set forth in claim 11, wherein the inner side surface of said auxiliary ground electrode has an area which defines the auxiliary spark gap between itself and the insulator nose of said porcelain insulator, and a distance A between the top end of said metal shell and a top end of said center electrode along an axial direction of the spark plug and a distance C between the top end of said metal shell and a center of the area of the inner side surface of said auxiliary ground electrode in the axial direction of the spark plug have a relation of A\u2212C\u22663 mm.
16. A spark plug as set forth in claim 11, wherein said center electrode and said main ground electrode have noble metal chips opposed to each other to define the main spark gap, the noble metal chip of said center electrode having a transverse sectional area of 0.07 mm2 to 0.64 mm2, as extends in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the spark plug, and a height of 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm, as extends in the axial direction of the spark plug, the noble metal chip of said main ground electrode having a transverse sectional area of 0.12 mm2 to 0.80 mm2, as extends in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the spark plug, and a height of 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm, as extends in the axial direction of the spark plug.
17. A spark plug as set forth in claim 11, wherein said metal shell has a threaded portion formed on an outer periphery thereof which has a thread diameter of M12 or less.
18. A spark plug as set forth in claim 11, wherein said auxiliary ground electrode includes a slant section and a parallel section, the parallel section being defined to extend in parallel to a plane of an outer side wall of the insulator nose and the slant section extending in a direction diagonally inwardly toward an axis of said center electrode.
19. A spark plug as set forth in claim 11, wherein said auxiliary ground electrode includes a parallel section and a slant section, the parallel section extending from a top end of said metal shell in parallel to an outer side wall of the insulator nose, the slant section continuing from the parallel section and being oriented diagonally inwardly toward said center electrode, wherein the auxiliary spark gap is defined between the slant section and a top corner of the insulator nose of said porcelain insulator.